DAY 25-26: RAVEN

Dr. Eugene Porter is a rather big guy, but other than that he looks to me like he won't hurt a fly - or at least he doesn't like to. He has a soft expression in his eyes and his braid makes him look a little goofy, but as soon as we start talking about the research I've set my hope on, I realize I should not underestimate this man's brain.

As I tell him about the nightblood and how it seems to work as a vaccine for the virus this world has been dealing with for far too long now, he listens with great interest and asks me the right kind of questions. The way he formulates them, well yeah, that's kind of... special. But I do get the feeling that this man might actually be able to help.

"Long story short," I wrap up my introduction, "I want to learn more. And for that I'm looking for some kind of lab, and a sparring partner to work with. Would that be something you're interested in?"

Seemingly without second thought, he nods. "That would be an affirmative, Miss. Strictly speaking I am no biologist, but if you have no qualms with that, I believe my gained knowledge on the matter should be sufficient to assist you on this scientific quest."

"Great!" I cheer. When I flash him a smile, he doesn't smile back, and I immediately wonder if he knows how to. "So, how about that lab?"

I take a look around me. This place is the nicest I've seen since we hit the ground, but it doesn't even reach the size of a small village. It's a neighborhood at most, and it's hard to imagine an actual lab around here. On the other hand, things could be hidden underground. It's not that I've never seen that before.

"If a laboratory is what you're promised, I need to disillusion you. I can offer you no such workplace. I do however know where to find one, up in D.C. That's the nearest city from here," he adds, explaining. "I found it a while back during a scavenger hunt. It's all there, from small equipment to computers and substantial machineries. I can't tell you if things still work though, since the place has been without electricity for years."

"But you've got power here, don't you?"

"Some, yes," he nods, his face still stoic, "We've got solar panels and generators. But the amount of energy that they produce is not enough for these kind of apparatuses."

I narrow my eyes. "So you left it all there?"

"The big stuff, yes. But I did bring some implements that can help us make a start. A microscope, for instance. And pipettes and test tubes. Some flasks, beakers and cylinders. Sundry liquids and acids. A pH meter and some other limited-sized gadgetry. A Bunsen bur—"

"You carried all that here with you?" I interrupt him, feeling like he could go on forever if I don't.

He shrugs. "I am a big fellow. I carry a big backpack."

"I bet your friends weren't too happy with your choices."

"They were not, Miss. The kids liked that burner though." Wait, is that a tinge of a smile? Nah, probably not. "Until we were out of marshmallows."

He clears his throat. "Anywise, with your consent I would like to take a better look at the atypical blood you mentioned. It simply cannot look different from the exterior alone."

For a moment my mind goes to the Flame, that's burning in my pocket and about to scream my name, now that I know there are computers somewhere within reach. I haven't told Dr. Porter about this part just yet, as I want to keep my promise to Lexa, and I do have to agree that I share his curiosity about nightblood. It really wouldn't be the worst to start with that.

"We would need multiple samples, since there might be multiple blood types around - just like with normal blood," he already goes on, drawing my attention back to him. "How many sources do you have available?"

"Right now?" Frowning, I make the count in my head. Lexa, Clarke, Madi and I are all Nightbloods nowadays. Magna and Jesus used to be. For that reason alone, I would really love to see how their blood looks like these days. To find out if there are still some traces from before, deeply hidden in their cells maybe. "Four," I answer him, "Maybe six."

"And everyone wants to cooperate?"

"I... don't know, actually," I answer him. I lean back in my porch chair and stare ahead, thinking about his question, and the fact that I haven't asked any of them yet. Not that I don't expect any issues with Madi, Clarke or Lexa, or even Magna, who's been very helpful so far. But Jesus seems a bit off at times, and after hearing about his history, it's not hard to sympathize with him, or his choices. I shake my head, snapping myself out of my thoughts, and abruptly jump up.

"Only one way to find out, right?"

... ...

A little to my surprise and a lot to my relief everyone agrees to give us some of their blood, including Jesus. His only condition is that we do it right away, since he wants to return to Hilltop at sunrise.

As there is still some time and Dr. Porter has all the equipment we need, this is no problem. We get our six samples, and decide to start our research first thing in the morning.

I spend the rest of the night settling in the house Lexa quickly arranged for us - apparently without any difficulties, since she basically only had to inform the people in charge that it was actually our group that defeated those Whisperers. Of course they wanted to hear more, and I know for sure Lexa wanted to negotiate with them about many other things as well, but that can all wait. After all, it's been a long day, and besides, she has a girlfriend to take care of.

The next morning, after at least ten hours of sleep in the most comfy beds since forever, Jesus leaves Alexandria as planned—together with Magna and Yumiko—and I go look for my new co-worker.

We start right after dawn and work side by side for hours, not stepping one foot outside our cobbled together laboratory. I'm not even aware that the sun is already setting until Madi comes over to get me for dinner. I can't remember having worked this focused since the days I spent in Becca's lab.

But enough is enough. There's more in this world than science.

"So what have you been up to all day?" I ask Madi as I close the door behind me and we start our way home together.

"I met some of the people who live here," she answers me. "A few of them are actually my age. Or well, kind of."

I briefly look at her and our eyes meet. Hers are laughing, and I realize I haven't seen her this happy and at ease in a long time. Maybe never.

"That's great," I smile. "What did you do?"

"Not that much. I needed to be at the house, for Clarke. Lexa had another meeting all afternoon. Turns out they have some kind of council here."

"Sounds official. And also like a lot of debating and parleying. You miss being part of that yet?"

I look at her again, right when she lightly jumps of the sidewalk and back on it.

"Are you kidding me?!" she laughs. "There's a girl here who owns a katana. We're gonna draw swords tomorrow. You know how much better that is than talking politics?"

Without slowing our pace, I nudge her with my shoulder. "To me, everything is!"

We reach our front door and step inside, where the smell of diner welcomes us. The very, very nice smell. I raise my brows. "Who cooked?"

"I did," Lexa answers from behind us. I turn around, right when she steps out of the kitchen. My eyes widen.

"You?"

"Does that surprise you?" She folds her arms and cocks her head, lifting the corner of her mouth just a bit. I think that she's teasing me, but I do feel a little intimidated nonetheless.

Subconsciously I mirror her pose. "You didn't strike me as a housewife, that's all."

"Well, to be honest, I did use my dagger to cut the tomatoes," she grins, and then we both break into laughing.

"There you go," I chuckle. "It smells delicious, by the way."

She thanks me by showing me another smile, then turns around to return to the kitchen. "Now let's hope that's how it tastes as well," she says over her shoulder, before pointing at a pile of plates. "Can you bring those to Clarke? We're eating in the living, so she doesn't have to leave the couch."

I pick up four plates and some cutlery and make my way to the living room, where Clarke is indeed installed on the sofa.

"How are you?" I ask her, while setting the coffee table.

"Still in pain and now also bored," she groans. She sits up without moving her leg, then gives me some kind of half-smile. "But, also grateful to be here. Did you see the food Lexa got for us?"

I sit down in one of the fauteuils. "Not yet. But my nose tells me it's good."

"Oh, it's good! Fresh vegetables, huge potatoes, and even some meat," she cheers. "It comes with a price though."

"We gotta pay for it? With what?!"

"With helping out. Just like we had to do in Oceanside," she explains, although I know squat about Oceanside.

I narrow my eyes. "You're saying we're getting jobs?"

"We're getting jobs?!" Madi echoes me before Clarke can answer.

"You don't," Clarke sets her straight. "As long as we're staying here, you're going to school. We're told that there are about twenty kids in Alexandria, and they've got someone teaching them."

Madi shoots up straight. "But I was gonna—"

"There's no discussion here, Madi," Clarke cuts her off.

My eyes find Madi's and I wink at her. "Still happy?" I whisper.

Her grumble is drowned out by Lexa's entry. She's holding a large pan. "I hope everyone likes stew," she says from behind the steam rising from it.

We fill our plates and quickly dig in.

"Okay," I gasp, my mouth still half full, and pointing toward my plate with my fork, "this is really good. And I'm not just saying that because I once had to eat algae for six years straight!"

After Clarke and Madi both agree wholeheartedly, we eat in silence for a little while, until I break the peace and quiet again once my plate is almost empty. "So about those jobs... you guys know I came here for science, right? Which is also kind of job. One that's actually about our future."

"I know," Lexa nods, shifting forward to refill our plates with the leftover stew without asking. "But with Clarke being unable to get up and Madi in school, I had to assent with you helping out at least a few hours a day."

"Doing what?"

"Making sure we don't run out of tomatoes," she grins. "You're now officially part of the kitchen garden staff."

"I'm... I'm what?!" I exclaim while trying to ignore Clarke and Madi's laughter. "I don't know anything about gardening! I'm from space, remember? I'm serious, there must be other jobs around. Don't they have a mechanic who needs a hand?"

Lexa shakes her head. "I'm sorry," she says, though I'm sure she isn't.

"Look at it this way," Clarke hiccups, wiping the tears from her eyes, "At least you'll be getting your hands dirty again."

"You're all having way too much fun about this," I mutter. "Just don't come crying to me when I ruin every carrot out there!"

Clarke stretches her arm to put her now empty plate back on the table, which makes her wince for a short second—imagine asking any of us for some help!—and looks up at me. "Raven, you'll be fine. There are plenty of people out there who can tell you what to do."

I set my plate on top of hers, then settle back in the cushions of my chair. "Ordering me around, you mean? Thanks, but no thanks."

"Hey, I can help you. You know, after school," Madi suddenly suggests. "Clarke and I used to have a vegetable garden when we lived in the Valley. I think I remember a thing or two, despite our endless nap."

I crack a smile, not able to keep up my grumpy act any longer. "Thanks kid, but I need you to go and have some fun. Try out that ke- ka-... that sword you talked about."

At the mention of the sword, Lexa shifts in her seat. "You met Michonne's kid?" she asks Madi.

Madi nods. "I did. Her name is Judith. You know her mom?"

"Yeah, I do," Lexa nods as well, "She's on the council. I just joined her security team." She turns to look at me. "Unless you want to trade jobs?"

I open my mouth to answer her, but don't get the chance, as the sound of someone knocking on our front door, followed my some immediate footsteps, makes us all look at the hallway.

It's Dr. Porter.

I stand up to meet him halfway. "What's going on? Is there something wrong?"

"Why would there be?" he asks, sounding just as befuddled as me.

Not able to help myself, I pull a face. "I don't know, maybe because you're storming in here like there's a huge fire somewhere?"

His face flushes. "Forgive my manners, Miss. I just wanted to share some results with you."

"Please, just call me Raven," I tell him, ignoring the chuckles behind me once again. "And it's okay. Just... take a chair, tell me what you found."

He does as told and joins us around the coffee table.

"Well, it's not a whole lot yet. We are obviously dealing with some very complicated matter, and I'm going to need a lot more time to fully understand it. But what has already been shown is that, just as with known matter, here too are clear traces of kinship. And it's in th—"

"Wait!" I interrupt him, "That... doesn't make any sense."

"Why not?"

"Because none of our test subjects are related," I tell him, while my mind already starts to race. Was I wrong about this guy? Am I wasting my time here?

A nervous cough escapes him. "I dislike having to disagree with you on the very first day of our collaboration, but results show us that two of them are. Siblings, to be specific."

When I stay quiet, too perplexed for a moment by this new information, Clarke speaks up.

"Raven, what is he talking about?" she asks me, but Lexa beats me in answering her.

"He's saying two out of the six of us are related by blood. Family, so to speak. So the real question should be: who is he talking about?"

Full of anticipation, we all stare at Dr. Porter again. For a moment he just glances back at us. Yet when he seems to realize we're waiting for his clarification, he coughs again and quickly goes on.

"Oh right, specifics. According to these results, we can say with a certainty of one hundred percent that test subjects two and three are sisters."

"Test subjects two and three?" Lexa cries out, "Who the hell are test subjects two and three?!"

I turn around to face her again. It's hard to tell if she looks bewildered or enthusiastic. Maybe it's neither, or maybe it's both?

I take a deep breath.

"Subjects two and three," I slowly answer her, "are you and Madi."

... ...