Raven waited before taking any more blood from Ontari. She put a drop of her blood under a microscope every day, counting the increased nanites. Her blood was darker, but still obviously bright red. She brought Ontari to her workshop one morning, partly to show her all they were doing but more to let her compare her blood to Raven's under the microscope.
Roger and Fay worked on the other side of the shop and couldn't hear the discussion. Raven explained again the difference between cells and nanites until Ontari could differentiate between them. Once she understood, and saw the difference between them, Ontari looked at Raven. "It is not enough."
"No," Raven agreed. "So later today, you can give me a boo boo and kiss it better."
"There are other things I would rather kiss."
Raven glanced at her minions before leaning closer to Ontari. "Anyplace you want," she replied with a filthy grin that got bigger when Ontari blushed. She kissed Ontari's cheek. "You have important heda things to do and I have to shut Abby up so I'll see you tonight."
"Sha," Ontari agreed, smiling. She kissed Raven once, gently, and left.
Second later, Raven's minions were on either side of her. "Did she?" Roger started.
"Are you two?" Fay interjected.
Raven raised her hand to silence then. "Yes, Heda and I are together. It's not a secret. Don't make a big deal about it or go talking about my personal business." Raven lowered her voice. "Heda would not like that."
"Got it," they answered together. Roger returned to his work area but Fay lingered. "Are you happy? she asked timidly.
"I am. I think Heda is. I know that she's thrilled with all the tech you guys are salvaging and repairing." Raven paused. "You know she's not some kind of monster, right?"
Fay hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"Really," Raven insisted. "She hasn't done anything except save our asses. She didn't have to let Clarke save us from Pike. She didn't have to bring us to her capital and make us her wards."
"The scars."
Raven sucked her lips in for a moment before summoning Roger to join them. "Are you still afraid?"
"Less than I was," he answered.
"Why are you both still scared? Scarification is an Azgeda ritual, one that shows warrior training is complete. Shit, Trikru practices it, too. Kill marks, right? They don't mark their faces, but they paint them for the same reason."
"We don't know what's going to happen," Fay said after a few seconds.
Raven laughed. "That's life. We never know what's going to happen. We just have to roll with it. But," she said slowly, "if you're OK working with me, you'll stay in Polis. The guards are a sign of Heda's respect for your skills, and they will always be there. Believe me," she added with a sigh.
"Respect?" Roger asked uncertainly.
"Mad respect," Raven confirmed. "The three of us are the only people with more than passing knowledge about all of this." She gestured toward the rest of the shop. "Heda is extremely interested in our technology. Radios and the hospital are the beginning. If you really don't want to keep helping me, tell me now and I'll turn you over to Miller to find something else to do. But if all you're worried about is Heda being upset, stop. She isn't." Raven paused a minute. "You two are going to have supper with us tonight. We'll talk, you'll see what I'm saying." She gave them a moment to digest everything. "OK?"
"Yeah," Roger answered, nodding.
Fay said nothing, but nodded her agreement.
"Cool. You guys keep at this. I need to go check on the hospital. If I don't see you before, I'll see you for supper. Your guards will bring you to us."
100 - 100 - 100
"Once the situation with Rock Line is stable, I would like to take Klark away."
"For how long?"
"Not too long." Lexa paused for a moment. "We have never had time for us."
"There is a hunting cabin a few hours inside Azgeda's borders," Ontari suggested.
"For you and Raven, perhaps. I know where I would like to go."
Ontari nodded. "As soon as we are sure Lander won't start a war."
100 – 100 – 100
Raven sighed internally as her minions were let into the suite. They both looked terrified. Ontari was with the Natblida, and was probably delayed there. She regularly lost track of time when she was with them. If Lexa was aware of Ontari's schedule, she made sure Heda left them in time to reach her next appointment.
Raven put them on the couch and gave them both a glass of wine. She started out with work. It was a safe subject that hopefully would ease their uncertainties.
Ontari arrived just after Raven poured a second glass for all of them. She greeted their guests before sitting sitting beside Raven on the arm of Raven's favorite chair. Ontari apologized for being delayed; she was, as Raven suspected, engaged with the Natblida.
"What do you do with them?" Fay asked, and conversation became easier.
That continued through dinner as they took turns talking about their favorite things. That let Roger and Fay see Ontari as another person, albeit one further up the food chain than they would ever reach. They took it to heart when Ontari thanked and praised them. Raven bit her tongue and saved her "told you so" for tomorrow.
When they left, Raven was pleased. Ontari was happy that Raven was satisfied. "Blood, then massage?" Ontari offered, and Raven quickly accepted.
100 – 100 – 100
A week later, Raven told Ontari there was something she had to see. Ontari smiled and nodded. So far, Raven gave her the best surprises. In return, Ontari gave Raven anything she requested.
Ontari was surprised to find Raven's minions waiting in the hall. They greeted Ontari correctly before falling in behind Raven and Ontari. As they walked, Ontari began to suspect what the surprise was, but kept it to herself.
They entered the hospital. Nyko was waiting although Raven knew where to go. They made their way to the back of the hospital. Abby was there, surrounded by Skaikru equipment from the Ark's medbay. Ontari grinned broadly as she asked Raven, "Ït all works?"
"It does. Do you want a demonstration?"
"Of course."
"Abby, you're up."
"Heda, how are you?"
"I am well Fisa. How are you?"
"I am well, too. Raven has powered the most essential tools."
"How do they work?" Ontari held back her impatience. Raven would be giving her a hands on demonstration by now.
"The x ray machine shows what's inside of you. With it, I can see broken bones and other injuries." Abby looked at Raven and gestured at the bed. Raven rolled her eyes while she complied.
It took a few minutes to set it all up. Ontari watched intently. Raven assured her many times that it would not hurt. Abby got what she felt was a long overdue image of Raven's hip and lower back.
She showed Ontari the image on a screen, explaining what they were looking at. When she got a look at the bullet, she re positioned Raven and took another shot.
"What is it?" Raven demanded after Abby took too long.
"I think the bullet moved."
"You said it might."
"We'll take a look again in a month."
"Sure," Raven said so Abby wouldn't annoy her about it.
Abby showed Ontari the centrifuge and autoclave.
"You will teach others to use these."
"Of course."
Ontari nodded and smiled. "Excellent." To Raven, Fay, and Roger, she said, "With me," and they followed her out of the hospital.
She held her comments until they were in the workshop. "You did well," she beamed at all of them."We do not need all of the old world, but some of it is quite useful."
"More stuff means we need more stuff," Raven said.
"The scrappers go out every day."
"I need to get the rest of what I can from the Ark."
"Fine. I will make arrangements. We will all go."
"With the rover," Raven coaxed. It was running properly again since the Natblida cleaning party to remove camouflage from the solar panels, windows, lights, and vents. The Natblida now understood why solar panels had to stay clear.
"Sha," Ontari, answered, amused, and looked at Roger and Fay. "Make sure you do something to remain in your seats."
"Hey!"
"It is true," Ontari told Raven. "Even the Natblida strap in, and they feared nothing until you took them in the rover."
"Hey!" Raven repeated, despite Ontari's smile. "Everybody gets where I'm going alive."
"Sha, and only a few need the healer."
"You hang out with Clarke too much."
Ontari just grinned, then told Roger and Fay, "Take the day off." She pulled two pouches of coins from a pocket and gave one to each of them. "You have worked very hard. Have fun today."
They smiled back at Ontari before bowing and thanking her, and left before Raven could overrule her.
Ontari barely noticed. She was still smiling at Raven, who pretended a few seconds longer to be offended by Ontari's teasing. "You sent my minions away. What am I supposed to do?"
"You have done nothing but work."
"For you," Raven interrupted.
"Sha," Ontari agreed. "You live here but you know very little about Polis. I will show you what I have learned."
"OK," Raven agreed. "Lead on."
"You do not need that," Ontari said when Raven reached for her crutch. She stepped up and offered her arm.
"Such a gentlewoman," Raven said, and got down from her stool. She allowed Ontari to support her. She didn't need help now, but she tired as the day went on.
Since they were in the market area, Ontari started there. She was used to the attention paid to her when she went out and Raven scoured the market alone or with her minions. They had become accustomed to hearing 'tek' passed from shop to shop as they browsed, but this was different for Raven.
"Why," she asked Ontari after the third time, "are they calling me Tekheda?"
"Are you not?"
"Am I not what?"
"Are you not commander of tek?"
"Uh, I guess," Raven answered uncertainly.
"Everyone knows now," Ontari reminded her. "They know that you and Klark returned Leksa from death. Klark says she could not do it without you. If she is Wanheda, commander of death, you are Tekheda, for you make all of it do your bidding."
"Huh."
"I made you speechless," Ontari teased.
"You really need to spend less time with Clarke."
Ontari laughed. Raven grinned at her, and they continued their walk.
100 – 100 – 100
Ontari noticed that Raven was much less tired than usual after they spent the day walking around. Raven didn't seem to notice. She was more annoyed by her inability to find a comfortable position to sit, and eager for her nightly massage.
Before she started, Ontari gently poked a spot on Raven's glute. "I do not remember this."
"Ow. Remember what."
"There is a lump."
"Where?"
Ontari circled it with her index finger. "It is not very big but it is hard."
Everything clicked for Raven. "Get Clarke," she said excitedly.
"Why?"
"So she can make sure."
"I do not understand."
Raven reached for her multi tool on the nightstand and opened something sharp enough to prick her finger. She squeezed out a drop of blood, then looked up at Ontari with a huge smile. "I think it's working."