A second chance

by laserturret1

Not my story written by MaxiBrux

3. 3

Saving Roan

Chapter Summary

With Roan severely injured, potentially fatally, what can Clarke and her team do to make sure that he lives? Surprisingly, it's not just Clarke's medical expertise, or her power over death, that is needed to help him pull through.

Chapter Notes

There's some acronyms that some of you might not know:

IV - intravenous, where a needle is stuck into a person with a liquid being fed through a line direct into the blood stream;

NoK - next of kin;

NG - nasal gastric, a tubed fed through the nose direct into the stomach.

This is the chapter that one or two have been waiting for, the arrival of Roan, banished Crown Prince of Azgeda. I hope it is worth the wait.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

A while ago, Costia talked to Lexa and secured her agreement that it was better to make sure that the banished Azgedan prince was firmly on the side of the coalition, or at least not able to work with Nia knowingly or otherwise, against it. It was from there that she was able to get the Commander to agree that Echo, accompanied by Lincoln, should seek out the Prince and perhaps rather than foist him on the coalition, see if he could work with Skaikru.

The plan did not take into account the fact that there were factions loyal to Nia, and some who hated Nia but were unable to get to her, who wanted him dead. Echo and Lincoln finally tracked him down by a river in Floukru territory. He was severely injured, and there were three dead fighters, Azgedans, close by.

Lincoln looked over the banished prince and said that although he was still breathing, he would soon die due to the poison in his arm. Echo knew that Clarke would not like that so she used the radio that had been given to her and called Mt Orlan.

They followed the advice given by Jackson, trying to keep his arm as low as possible and limiting the blood flow to that limb as they rode to TonDC, taking the Azgedan horses with them. Naturally they didn't waste the time on properly disposing of the warriors' bodies.

Bellamy, with Clarke in the passenger seat, was driving the truck to a meeting point with Echo, Lincoln and Roan. The two leaders of Skaikru waited anxiously for what seemed hours, but was in fact only minutes, for Echo and Lincoln to bring the unconscious Roan to them.

Laying Roan down on the back of the truck, Clarke insisted that Lincoln and Bellamy help to strip him so she could look properly at the wounds, and to slow the blood flow due to the slight chill. The wound to his side would need treatment, but was manageable since it was not poisoned and seemed to have caused no major damage to necessary organs or arteries. The wound on his left arm was a mere scratch in comparison. But Lincoln was correct: the wound to his right arm was poisoned and Lincoln said that there was no antidote. Once it reached the heart, the victim died, in pain.

Clarke moved Roan so that his poisoned arm was hanging over the edge of the truck and sliced his wrist after checking that the tourniquet was tight enough. She then set up a transfusion with a bag of blood she brought in the other arm. Next, Clarke asked Lincoln to help her secure him so that Echo could take the horses to wherever they needed to go while Bellamy drove as fast as he could back to the mountain. Clarke had no idea that the horses were going back to the mountain too.

"How do we know how far the poison has travelled?" Clarke asked Lincoln.

"The pain is the main indicator, but you need your patient to be conscious for that, but also the blood bubbles slightly." It didn't seem to occur to Lincoln to ask why Clarke wanted that information.

At times it was difficult to hold Roan in position as the truck bounced over the track back to Mt Orlan, but the IV stayed in place and Roan was still alive when they got there.

As Roan was laid on the operating table he began to moan.

"Roan, Roan, can you hear me?" Clarke called as she scrubbed herself in order to help operate.

"Wanheda in person, I presume. Have you called me to my death?" Roan groaned in pain.

"No, I'm going to save you, with a bit of help from my friends" Clarke said.

"You can't, no antidote" Roan argued.

"I am going to save your life, and you have promise that you will live it, deal?"

"The great Wanheda thinks she can command everything" Roan mumbled as the anaesthetic

Jackson gave him took effect.

"What's the plan, Clarke?" Jackson asked.

"The poison in his right arm has no antidote. Looking at it, it seems to kill the tissue it comes into contact with. Lincoln said that it makes the blood bubble slightly. We need to amputate the arm, I think just above the elbow should be safe. If we're in doubt we can take more.

After we've done that, we treat the wound in his side, and then stitch the wound on his left arm. When that is done, we do a couple of hourly blood draws above the amputation site to confirm no poison in his system. When we're sure all is well, Maya can give him a bath and he can sleep for a day while I get the engineers to make a rough prosthetic arm."

Jackson and Clarke worked well together. Contrary to what she thought earlier, when it was necessary, Clarke's shaking hands steadied to do their job. They could see the difference in the blood and tissue where the poison had reached. They thought it would be safe to amputate just above the elbow, as Clarke thought, but decided to cut a little higher just in case. They kept an open wound on the arm so they could keep an eye out for any signs that the poison was still in the arm as well as confirmatory blood draws.

The wound in Roan's side was more serious than first thought. A small section of his intestine had to be removed, but that was the most dangerous part of that surgery. Knowing how Roan was likely to try to get up and be active too soon for his internal wounds to heal properly, after all, he couldn't see that his upper intestine had been stitched together and would need time for it to fully knit together; Clarke took the decision to keep him sedated. He could, and no doubt would, give Clarke grief for that but she would much rather he be alive and angry than dead.

Meanwhile, a decision needed to be taken about the horses: two stallions and one mare. After speaking with Echo and Lincoln neither of whom actually owned a horse of their own, it was agreed that they would each take one of the stallions and leave the mare with Skaikru.

Lincoln had agreed to help look after the expanding Skaikru stable, with the help of Ben and Charlotte who both agreed to follow Lincoln's instructions and learn all they could, and Octavia who seemed to have a knack for it. Echo returned to Polis and to advise the Commander on what they found. Clarke said she would notify someone as soon as there was something to report.

Four days after the surgery, Jackson inserted an NG tube into Roan so that he could be fed whilst remaining unconscious. Normally they would just feed through an IV line but they wanted to see how well his digestive tract worked. It worked very well, with no blood in the stool. The NG tube was removed and nutrients were fed to Roan through the IV.

Six days after surgery Roan started to awaken. He was very groggy, complaining that his bed was like a board and that the Queen needed to see to the comfort of her son and heir, but since she hated him he thought that was unlikely. He also complained about being captured when he was enjoying his freedom. All in all, Clarke gleaned some very interesting snippets from the dazed prince. She tried to help soothe him by repeatedly telling him who she was and where they were and the circumstances surrounding his presence.

Roan, banished prince of Azgeda could hear the voice of the mighty Wanheda as she tried to call him back to the living. It would appear that she had not surrendered him to the arms of death, but judging by the pain he was in, he might wish she had. He reluctantly opened his eyes, squinting at the brightness, only to look into the bluest eyes he had ever seen before.

"Hey, welcome back your highness" Wanheda said. "I know you're in pain right now, but we need to check that everything is going smoothly with your recovery. Let me carry out some tests then I'll give you a little water and you can sleep again."

He would let her carry out her tests; he would take her water; but he would not sleep again until she answered some of his question, of that Roan was adamant.

"I need you to close your eyes while I prick you in various places to check for nerve damage.

I want you to tell me every time you feel the pin prick, okay?"

Roan did as requested, letting her know when he felt the pin prick and was soon told "That was excellent. We were concerned that there might be some loss of sensation in your arm but all is well. We'll have you up and training in no time."

Roan was pleased with the words until he looked at his injured arm wondering how it was possible that it did not kill him. There was no hand, no arm. She had taken his arm!

"What the hell have you done to me? How can I live with only one arm? Why would you do that? Answer me, dammit!"

"I cut off your arm above the elbow before the poison could spread. You can live perfectly well with one arm and soon you will have a prosthetic arm to replace your other one which in some ways will be even better than a natural one. Same answer as previous with the addition that I wanted you to live, I believe you to be an important cog in this wheel of life so I did everything necessary to make sure you live. I am sorry that you weren't found before this happened, but luckily it was soon enough afterwards that we were still able to save you.

There, I've answered you. Now drink some water, small sips so you don't vomit." Rather shocked into submission, Roan allowed Clarke to raise his head and did as ordered and took several small sips of water to ease the dryness of his mouth and throat. Next he was offered a mint flavoured drink and ordered to swish it around his mouth then spit it out. He did feel better afterwards, even with the pain, some of which did not make sense since he had no arm in which to be hurt.

"We will attach a very basic prosthetic as soon as I'm satisfied that the wound has healed so that you can start to get used to moving it around. When you have control over it we'll work on designing a custom built arm that will be so good you'll wonder how you managed without it. Since it was your right arm, you'll have to work on improving the strength and dexterity of your left as well. All in all, you've got a tough winter ahead of you; but on the bright side, you won't have to do any hunting or worrying about being ambushed, or anything like that' Clarke was determined to be optimistic.

As he thought about not being able to use his bow to hunt, tie knots to set snares, even do his own braids, Roan began to feel depressed and wished that he had not been found in time for Wanheda to command death to leave him. This world was a cruel place and it had no use for a one armed freak.

It took less than two days for Clarke to realise that Roan was feeling sorry for himself and depressed. Piecing together all the snippets of words he had said, and what she knew of the grounder culture, particularly that of Azgeda, Clarke knew that she had to force a different outlook on Roan. "Come on, up you get, you're coming with me" Clarke said to Roan who was otherwise just lying in his bed wondering if he would have the ability to kill himself.

"Why? Where are we going and what is the point?" Roan asked as he levered himself into a sitting position and turned so his legs were off the bed.

"Here, put these on" Clarke passed a pair of pyjama bottoms with an elasticated waist, something that she doubted he had seen before.

"Aren't you going to help me?" Roan asked, surprised.

"No, you don't need my help to put those on so get dressed" and Clarke stood back and folded her arms to indicate that she was not giving in.

When Roan had surprised himself with being able to put the clothes on he stood up, barely.

"Take it easy" Clarke said. "Your legs haven't had to walk for a while so they need a little time to readjust. While waiting, put this on" and she passed a tee-shirt over. It didn't take Roan long to don that item.

Making their way slowly, Clarke led Roan to a busy part of the bunker. Roan was shocked that he barely garnered any looks and those he did receive seemed to be more in puzzlement than pity.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going yet?" he growled at Clarke.

"We don't have any footwear big enough for you so we're going to the shoe maker to get you measured for some shoes. You needed the exercise and to get out of the med bay, and I didn't want to have to ask Philip to come to you if I didn't have to." Clarke knocked on a door before entering. "Hey, Philip, I brought that guy I was telling you about" Clarke said as she led Roan into the shoe maker's room.

Roan was shocked as a man with no legs wheeled himself from behind a work table to point to stool with a contraption on it and said "left foot on there, please". Keeping his thoughts to himself Roan did as instructed as various marks were made to measure his foot. He then had to repeat with his right foot.

"Given what you told me, I prepared these earlier, just let me make a small adjustment" Philip said as he reached for a pair of soft indoor slip on shoes. "Not for outdoors, but they'll be fine for inside. I'll bring something that will do for outdoors tomorrow. They won't be perfect but they'll do until you get used to your new hand and can do ties again. Here you go" and he handed over the pair of soft shoes to Roan with a smile.

It took an elbow from Clarke to bring Roan back to senses. He took the shoes and said "thank you" and dropped them to the floor and pushed his feet into them. "How do I pay you back?" Philip looked at Roan in puzzlement. Roan understood, how would he ever be able to pay for them? Clarke snorted. "You don't. Everyone here gets everything they need. Everyone contributes with a job, as will you in due course. Today we work on getting you up and about, looking after yourself, probably won't take you half as long as it took Philip to be independent, and when your wound is fully healed we'll put on a prosthetic and start your training. I don't know how good you are with your left hand, but it shouldn't be too long before you're back to your best, and then we'll upgrade your prosthetic and you'll be better than your previous best. Of course here you won't need all the gadgets that Raven is planning on building into your new arm, but once you're out and about out there they may come in useful. I'm fully expecting that you'll be the most effective hunter in Spring; if you want to hunt that is."

"That man, Philip, he has no legs" Roan found his voice when he and Clarke started to walk to where he assumed was his sick room.

"I know. He has no penis and half his intestines are gone as well. What's your point?" Clarke wanted Roan to spell out his issues.

"How is he still alive, and more to the point why?"

"He is still alive because his son wants him to be. Philip was caught in the acid fog from this place's previous occupants. He was up in a tree with his son standing on his shoulders so he couldn't fall down. The fog reached his waist. We thought he wouldn't be able to pull through but I removed his legs and Raven built him that chair and we taught him to look after himself so he could go back to being a shoemaker and Ben's full time dad. He is in pain every moment of every day. His intestines are failing and at some point there will be nothing I or anyone else will be able to do to save him. But until he reaches that point, he and all the medical staff here are going to fight with everything we have to give him one more day with his son. So if he with all that he has lost can pull himself together to be a valuable contributory member of Skaikru, the least you can do is to stop feeling sorry for yourself and make sure that you do the same. You have so much to offer, and don't forget people went looking for you to bring you to me, and nothing that has happened has changed what we need and want from you; if you're willing to give. We will not, however, force you to stay with us no matter how much I want you to."

Roan looked at the small young woman and asked "what do you want from me?" in wonder as he saw that she really did want him to stay with her and her people. believe it, but let so omy ofice and ie can talker. Clark. Hed the way il her small office, passing the break room on the way so she could get them both a cup of coffee. She assumed Roan drank his the same as she hers; no milk, no sugar.

Sitting down on the chairs in Clarke's office, with a strange but welcome hot drink, Roan listened and studied.

"There are lots of things going on at the moment that I think are unconnected, rather it's just that when shit hits it comes at you from all directions, but I may be wrong and there is a connection that I am just not seeing. I don't know how much you know about me and my people but in order to make sure I tell you everything you need to know I may say stuff you're already aware of, but it's better to repeat than to miss stuff out." Roan merely nodded his head for Clarke to carry on.

"There's 365 of my people living here with Bellamy and me in charge. We used to live in space with 2000 more of us and had been told that there were no more people alive on earth and we had to stay in space for a further 100 years. Unfortunately the space station is running out of oxygen so unless more is made and, or, there's a lot fewer people there to breathe it in the people up there will suffocate. The Commander has made it clear that she does not want 2000 more people living in the coalition lands so we are looking for somewhere that the rest of the space people can settle before they die of oxygen deprivation. We could not support many more than 500 here so we will be split into two people, Skaikru and Arkers. Even if they find somewhere appropriate, we do not want to join up with them for various reasons, one of them being that they would have just killed Philip once they saw his injuries despite his wish to try to stay alive for his son, another because those of us sent down to earth first were deemed expendable and that is an attitude that we cannot tolerate, that anyone is deemed expendable.

"When the bombs were set off that almost destroyed the earth nearly 100 years ago, they did not allow time for the nuclear mega reactors of the world to be safely shut down. This next point is currently confidential and it would be best if you didn't let anyone else know, there is going to be another praimfaya when the mega reactors blow. We expect it to happen in about six months' time, probably less since the first one has already blown. We are securing this bunker to make sure that everyone who lives here will survive. We are looking for more bunkers: we have a lead on one in Polis that will house over 1000. We have given the information to Echo who will at some point find it now she is no longer looking for you and alert the Commander. We have other leads on other bunkers but those will not house very many so are focussing on trying to find more big ones. We will not be able to breathe the outside air for a minimum of five years. This forthcoming praimfaya is more like a death wave of fire that will sweep over the whole world so even once the five years has passed, we will need to start again with growing the earth and populating with animals unless some can survive in deepest caves etcetera. That is what we are preparing for here and that is something that I am sure you would be able to help us with. We need to know what we will have to store to survive in the world when there is nothing other than what we have. We will inform the Commander when we know what bunkers we can find to utilise.

"On a separate note, we think that Queen Nia plans to break to coalition and attack both us here and Trikru. We do not expect you to side with us against your own people, but we will defend ourselves against Azgeda if they do attack us. If Azgeda attacks only us then the rest of the coalition will not interfere, but if they attack only the coalition we will not interfere except that we will rescue any of our people caught out there and that, by the way, includes Echo formerly of Azgeda and Lincoln kom Trikru spouse of Octavia of the Sky."

Roan tiredly pondered Clarke's words. "You are correct that Nia will, at some point, attack the coalition but only when she thinks she can win which means that she will probably try for here first so she can use the mountain's weapons."

"We shut down the acid fog, although we could push though some sleeping gas, but that will result in damage to the vents that we will have to repair before praimfaya hits, but I doubt very much that anyone in Azgeda would know what to do for that; and we got rid of all the automatic rifles from here as agreed in the Peace Treaty. There are some missiles that could be launched from here but, once again, I doubt that anyone from Azgeda could do it, so the only gain would be strategic."

"Nia probably doesn't believe that you would keep your word about the weapons and she would assume that after a bit of torture one of your people would launch the weapons for her" Roan gave Clarke another perspective.

"Well she would probably be disappointed because there's only five people at most who could do it so the chances of saving one of the correct five are not good, and that assumes that we wouldn't win. It would take at least 1000 to beat us, do you think Trikru would allow that many to march through their territory and does Nia have that many warriors to lose?"

"No to both those questions but you took it with just a handful of warriors so she will assume that it won't need more than one or two hundred and she would just need to watch to learn your weak spots."

"Unless she has access to special tools that would allow Azgeda's scouts to watch from Azgeda territory no one can get close enough without us knowing. The only chance she has is if you or Echo plan on giving her information. I trust Echo, I want to trust you, Echo told me I could."

"I swear that I will not assist Nia in any attack on you, or the coalition, but I will not fight for you against Azgeda" Roan said.

"Fair enough. We shake on agreements instead of slicing our hands open" and Clarke offered her hand, "but where the exchange of bodily fluids is required" she added without thinking until she saw Roan's brow rise, and promptly blushed, "we spit on our hands before shaking" Clarke persevered.

Roan, for the first time in so long, laughed.

Clarke was talking to her mom about various issues. Abby tried to turn the conversation to more personal, family, matters but Clarke insisted that they stay professional.

"But, baby, I love you and I never expected Thelonious to float your father, or to lock you up.

I just wanted him to talk to Jake, friend to friend. It's not a crime to trust a friend, Clarke, why can't you forgive me?" Abby persisted.

Clarke sighed and gave in. "Okay mom, I guess we do need to have this conversation. I agree it is not a crime to trust a friend and believe that you thought that Jaha would be dad's and your friend rather than the Chancellor. That is a completely forgivable mistake and if you had explained and apologised at the time I would have forgiven you, maybe not immediately, but definitely after a short period of reflection." Abby went to speak but Clarke pushed on not allowing Abby to get her hopes up. "However, letting me blame Wells for it and spend over a year hating him for something you did is not. Wells used to try to visit me in solitary but I always turned him away preferring to be alone than to see the one I believed was responsible for dad's death and my sentence. You never tried to visit. That is not forgivable. Drugging me before throwing me off the ARC is not forgivable. Throwing the others off the ARC is not forgivable. Letting Jaha tell us that we are expendable is not forgivable. If you had talked to us and given us the choice of the options; that would have been welcomed. For your mistakes, you have not once apologised but expect automatic forgiveness; that is plain arrogance. love you, mom, but I really do not like many of your choices and I very much doubt that I could ever trust you again. Now, can we get back to discussing Pike and the possibility of transplanting his intestines into Rhodes?"

Abby was clearly shocked as well as upset. 'How could this be a surprise to her?' Clarke thought. In order to give her mom time to pull herself together, Clarke went over all the information again. Once the discussion on the medical possibilities was concluded, Clarke added that she would need to get Philip Rhodes' agreement and the agreement of Pike's nominated NoK."

"Why would you need approval from Pike's kin? You are in charge, if you want to do it, just do it. Once sewn back up no one will know" Abby went on. "Of course if we had the resources this is the type of experiment that I would have loved to carry out, the possibilities if it works are endless. You have to see that."

"This is one of the reasons I don't like your choices. If we do this, it will not be as an experiment, it will be to save someone's life. I cannot violate Pike's body without his approval, or in its absence the approval of someone who can speak for him, it would be very wrong to do so. And before you try to say something about Rhodes, let me tell you that I would never do anything medical to him without talking to him first as long as he is able to understand. It is his body and he is the one who has to live with the consequences so he has to be the one to make the informed choices. How is all this not medical ethics 101? I'll talk to you later about it and if it goes ahead set up cameras for you to watch. Bye" and Clarke ended the call.

"You're right, patient consultation and agreement should be ethics 101" Eric Jackson said. "I think your mom is regretting sending me down instead of her now, but I don't know how she would take you questioning every medical decision she would want to make."

"I'm glad it's this way. With mom I would actually have to question every medical decision because she is too entrenched in the ARC medical practice and would find it hard to break out of that mindset and embrace what Bellamy and I want to promote here: every life matters.

I find you to be very flexible and willing to think outside the box. I know it is possible that Philip Rhodes will die, but I want us to do everything we can to put off that day for as long as he wants us to. Still, it would be highly ironic if after all this though, either Rhodes or Pike's NoK say no."

Jackson nodded his agreement and acceptance of the possibility. "I thought you might want to know that I told Bellamy what was happening with Farm Station, it won't carry on here, we have no idea if it will on the ARC but they were growing something that made them feel full when eaten and it reacted with nut oil. I'll carry out tests every three months on them to see how long it stays in their system. I also heard that the algae was working up there and the oxygen levels were actually rising. They're planning on lining all the corridors with algae Dr.

House

farms. It will divert some of the power, but less light and heat, more oxygen seems to be a good exchange. With fewer people there and an end in sight, they have given everyone more clothes so that they can layer up to keep warm. There's now hope for everyone and you are a big reason for that."

Chapter End Notes

What special tools should I have Raven design into Roan's new arm? I have a few ideas but I think he would feel a bit overwhelmed with it all, (but not a cat in hell's chance that he would let anyone know that).

I'm still not sure about saving Rhodes. Part of me thinks that since he saved Roan, he should live, and Ben wants and needs his dad; but part of me thinks that he should have listened and followed advice. Huh, still time to make up my mind. Finding Bunkers

Chapter Summary

As the title says, they find some bunkers but they come with some surprising contents, and they tell the Commander about what is to come.

Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

"Holy shit!" Monty exclamined. "I do not believe this! How can it possibly be true? They have got to be kidding me, or am I dreaming? No one is going to believe me on this one. I'm not sure I believe it. Crap, this is so absolutely out of this world amazing! Who would have thought that it was true, that it actually existed?"

Roan, the only other person in the same room with Monty at that particular time, decided it was time to interrupt the monologue. "Are you going to let the rest of us know this amazing information or keep it to yourself in case we don't believe it?"

"What, I, yes, Roan, of-course" Monty was as clear as mud. "I, well, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment" and Monty ignored Roan's snort of agreement. "Do you think, would you mind, could you, I think, could you arrange for Clarke, Raven, Sinclair, Bellamy and anyone else to come here, please? I need a minute or two to gather my thoughts."

Roan could see that Monty really did need to gather his thoughts so he used the talking machine that Clarke and Raven had given him to call them, Sinclair and Bellamy to the control room.

When all those called were there Clarke asked Monty what it was that he had found.

"Area 51" was all Monty said.

"You have got to be kidding?" from Raven.

"That place is a myth" from Bellamy.

"How?" from Clarke, a sensible question in Roan's view.

"Look" Monty said pointing to his screen. Since Roan didn't understand all the tech stuff he stood back and waited until someone was able to fill him in.

"Can you get a voice link?" Sinclair asked. "Oh, yeah, sorry. Hang on" and Monty's fingers danced over his machine when a voice could be heard.

... ther. Come in, please. This is Dr Schmidt of Area 51 calling Mt Weather. Come in, please."

Clarke picked up the mic and spoke: "This is Clarke Griffin speaking to you from Mt Orlan, formerly known as Mt Weather. It is a very great pleasure to hear from you, over." In a totally un Clarke like reaction, tears were streaming down her face.

Roan pulled Bellamy aside and quietly asked him what all the fuss was about.

"Area 51 was a secret government bunker that carried out a lot of top secret work, supposedly involving extra-terrestrial life. It was thought that the place was actually a myth made up by the conspirator theorists or fiction writers. If it is anything like myth makes it out to be then it could help a great deal in the forthcoming years. I wondered if Clarke was mad to take Monty away from farming or botany, something he is so good at, to do computer work, but this, this has the potential to be the most important find ever. I really need to trust Clarke's instincts more" Bellamy said.

"Why don't you? Trust Clarke's instincts, I mean" Roan asked.

"Clarke is so very logical and uses her head so much that when she knows something that she can't explain with logic I think she doubts herself and unconsciously I pick it up and focus on that doubt. Do you trust her?"

Roan pondered Bellamy's question, not taking it at face value. "I trust Clarke with my life, your life and the life of everyone she wants to stay alive. I'm not sure how much I would trust her with the life of someone she would deem unimportant."

Bellamy smirked: it wasn't quite what he was really asking but it got close. "I think Clarke divides people into three, no, four categories: the first category is fairly small, people she deems personally important, important to her welfare and happiness and for some reason you are now in that category, I'll let you work out the rest us; the second consists of the people she thinks are either hers, Philip Rhodes being one, or still important to the continuation of the world, for example the Commander; the fourth category is made up of a tiny number of people who Clarke would like, or thinks need to be, dead; Pike is an example; and the third category includes everyone else alive for whom she would give her life to protect but not the life of anyone in category one, and it would depend on circumstances if she would sacrifice anyone in category two. Unless the person is in category four, every life she can save, she will, at the cost of her own if necessary. Now, are you worthy of being in the first category?" "No, well I know exactly where it is if it is here but I have yet to go in. Would it be possible for you come here for this? I do not want to trouble Heda with something if I am wrong. I do have that other item you asked me about." On the off chance that their radio conversation was overheard Echo had to be careful about what she said: it would not do let the fact that she had prior knowledge of the bunker's location get out.

"Okay, I do have some other news that I need to speak with the Commander about. I'll call her to let her know. See you soon."

After gaining the Commander's agreement, Clarke and Raven set off for Polis. Raven was not happy about riding a horse, but she did acknowledge the benefits of blending in. It was a full day's ride and when they reached the city limits they were knackered. Echo met them at the gate and led them to their accommodations whilst they were staying there. Echo handed over to Raven the grey back pack that Jaha used to carry everywhere with him to allow ALIE to travel with him.

"Wow, this is not what I was expecting, but I can certainly work with this. I'm not sure how valuable Becca's island is now with Area 51, but at least we can make sure that no other schmuck can liberate her. Thanks, Echo"' Raven looked reverently at the contents on the back pack until she came to the supply of the chips: then she looked angry and asked for a hammer.

Echo couldn't immediately provide a hammer, but the use of a knife to separate the casing allowed for the breakup of the tiny circuit boards which brought a little smile of satisfaction to Raven's eyes. They had barely put the pieces away when they were met by Octavia and Lincoln.

"Bell and mom were worried about your safety so they asked us to help protect you. We stayed behind you to watch your back. It was a slow ride though" Octavia said with a shrug.

She then looked at her partner and asked "Don't you have some friends you could visit for a while so we can engage in some girl talk?" with a sweet, innocent look on her face that fooled no one.

"Who will you be plotting against?" Lincoln asked.

"Bellamy of-course" Octavia said. "We need to either pair him up with Clarke, although I can't see that one happening now or find someone else for him."

"The Delfikru twins" Lincoln said after just a moment or two of thought. "I'll leave you to organise the details" and he kissed Octavia and left.

"Who are the Delfikru twins and what makes them right for Bellamy?" Octavia asked Echo.

"Yeah, what she said" Raven said.

Echo scrunched up her face in thought. "I think he's right, I've heard of them but I don't know them. We need assistance" Echo declared. Echo stuck her head out of the door and called for a message to be sent to Costia immediately asking if she would be so kind to join Clarke, Raven and Octavia of the Sky in Echo's apartment. Whilst waiting, Echo called for some wine. Raven muttered something about wishing they had brought some snacks to soak up the alcohol.

It wasn't long before they were joined by the Commander as well as Costia. "What is so important that it couldn't wait until tomorrow?" the Commander asked.

"Girl talk" Clarke replied. "You are very welcome to join us, but if you do, for this conversation you are Lexa and we are apparently planning on setting Bellamy up with the Delfikru twins, but so far no one has said anything other than they are twins from Delfikru, so us Sky girls are a little in the dark."

The Commander didn't know whether to look offended or pleased to be encouraged to join so lowly an endeavour. After a couple of seconds of thought, and seeing Costia sit to join the other females, Lexa shrugged her shoulders and joined them.

"The Delfikru twins are identical twins still attached together at one arm. Their mother died in childbirth and their father was urged to banish them as Freikdriena but he insisted that they grow up to do the work that their mother did. He has chosen again and now has other children so is regretting his decision. The villagers are starting to mistreat them. The women have always said that the only time they will leave is if they go in marriage to someone who will marry them both. No one from the coalition will take the freaks so they are in effect stuck. I believe that their father will offer all sorts of things as a dowry" Costia said. "Now why would you think of them for Bellamy?"

"It was Lincoln who suggested it" Octavia said. "It is possible that they could be separated, but Clarke would need to see them, that can't be the only reason. He would also relish in having two wives, he is a bit of a horn dog, and I don't think he would mind if they couldn't be separated on that front. How old are they?"

"I believe they have seen 19 or 20 summers so they are not young anymore" Echo added.

"You need someone who can look after your animals, correct?" Lexa asked.

The Sky girls nodded in agreement.

"That is what they do mainly. They are also good at tanning leather, making cheese, butter and cream, and I think they might also be able to make yarn from goat's hair. They would make excellent additions to your clan" Lexa was sure.

"Okay, it's clear that they would be good for us, and possibly Bellamy personally, but what could we offer them?" Clarke asked.

"Acceptance and appreciation, two things they don't have currently" Costia added. "The question is; how do we get them to you and allow nature to take its course with them?"

"I can command them to go, but how can we persuade Bellamy?" Lexa asked.

"I can work on Bellamy" Octavia smirked. He will be interested in them as soon as I say they will only marry if they marry the same man. Perhaps you could command them to stay with us over winter in the first instance as we asked for some help in learning how to look after animals in exchange for, what? What can we offer that you might want? Also, you will get the kudos of the clans thinking you were getting one over on us by lending us the freaks."

"That is very clever, yes, I can do that. Tekheda Raven, can you look at my elevator and see if you can make it more efficient? I will tell the Ambassadors of the exchange for you to look at it, and if you can make it better then I will compensate by giving you some more animals, what would you like?" Lexa asked.

Everyone looked to Clarke to answer. "Eventually we would like to have a bee hive or two, more goats, some pigs, sheep, mares, chickens, cattle maybe, anything really would be appreciated."

"Very well, if you Raven, look over my elevator and give me your report, I shall loan you the Delfikru twins for winter. Depending on what you are able to do to improve my elevator, I shall make a gift of some animals, agreed?" Lexa clarified.

"Agreed" everyone said.

"Now what else does 'girl talk' entail?" Lexa asked.

"Wanheda Clarke and Tekheda Raven, welcome again to Polis. With me is my Flamekeeper, Titus who is my trusted advisor" Lexa said as if they were likely to forget who he was after the debacle of the Peace Treaty translations. "How may I help you?"

"Commander, we very much appreciate the honour you show us by agreeing to meet with us so quickly. I regret to inform you that we come with grave news. You will recall that we said that our people believed that the earth would not yet be fit for humans to live on, we were taught it would need a further 100 years, and we thought that it was possibly an error made by our scientist. We have discovered that it was not an error. Commander, I do not know to what degree you have the knowledge of the previous Commanders, but if you are able to access the knowledge of your first Commander it would ease understanding of what we tell you" Clarke said hoping that the Commander would be able to access Becca Praimheda's memories.

"I do not have the details of things but I do have a basic understanding of her world, please continue" Lexa said.

"When the bombs were launched that made the first praimfaya, it was so sudden that there was not sufficient time to shut down the mega nuclear reactors around the world. These reactors are exploding and causing a wave of fire to sweep across the world. It will burn everything in its path, including the seas. It has already started with the explosion of a reactor in old China. There are two reactors in coalition territory that we know are getting ready to explode. Floukru may already be starting to get sick as they eat fish that has been contaminated by swimming across the ocean and how the radiation from leakage will travel through the ocean currents. The bombs of the first praimfaya hit particular areas leaving others untouched other than by radiation fallout. This death wave will leave nothing untouched" Clarke explained.

"How do you know this? How do we know you are not making this up?" Titus asked.

"Becca Praimheda knew this would happen and has prepared a place for us to wait" Lexa said to Titus's dismay and shock.

"If Becca Praimheda is Becca Franco then I do believe she and her friend Bill Cadogan did prepare a place. I asked Echo to search for it after we gave her all the information we were able to discover about it and she believes she has found the bunker here in Polis" Clarke said and Titus called for a guard to find Echo. "There are of-course other bunkers that could help, but even so we will not be able to save everyone. If the information is accurate, the bunker here can hold up to 1200 people, but you would need some of Skaikru to help you run it, and you would need some of the accommodation space for some animals, chickens, rabbits, goats.

"Additionally, we have made contact with people who live in a bunker outside of the coalition who have agreed to take 1000 of your people, plus some animals, seeds, saplings etc, and we have found two smaller bunkers both of which can take 100 of your people, but no animals but would be okay with seeds and dried food, materials such as wood and leather.

One is in TonDC and the other is somewhere near the border of Trikru and Azgeda and I have no idea exactly where the border is. They have all asked that priority be given to young families. The large bunker's current inhabitants have asked if a good shoe maker could be sent to them because they are in dire need of new shoes. They all, like the mountain men, cannot leave their homes, but I shall go to them with the same treatment we gave the ten people we saved from the mountain so that the doors can be left opened until the last minute, and the people there have the chance to see the beautiful earth before its end. We believe that there is another large bunker somewhere in Sankru territory, but we have found nothing yet that warrants a search" Clarke laid it all on the Commander.

"Why are you telling me this? Why not just save all your people and leave mine to perish?" the Commander asked.

"Your people survived the previous praimfaya against all expectation; I think you deserve the chance for your people to survive the next. I want to save as many people as I can. This plan gives all my people a good chance at surviving; more will have to come down to live in the larger bunker and help run it, and since it is outside your territory they will probably settle there with any who will continue to survive in space until it is safe to return again, and over 2000 of your people will survive with the possibility of more as we find more bunkers.

Although the earth will be a burnt husk, if we plan and prepare, we can survive underground until the air is safe to breathe again, both us and the people in Area 51, the large bunker, agree that it will be about five years, and we can help the earth to renew itself, give it a helping hand so it doesn't have to start from scratch. We believe that we can do it."

"I think we should see if this bunker is where Echo thinks it is" Lexa said in reply.

The five went to through to the Temple. Clarke immediately went up to Becca's escape pod, ran her fingers over the letters, paying particular attention to the burnt off 'AR' and said "Polaris, Becca's escape pod." She then looked at the wall art and asked "Is that a representation of Becca's fall to earth? Do you know who did it? Was it done at the time of her arrival or is it recent? Sorry, I'm very interested in art so I'm afraid I can be pushy at asking questions."

"It is quite alright, Wanheda Clarke. I believe the wall painting was carried out by a follower of Becca Praimheda shortly after her death. Now, the bunker, please" Lexa pushed.

"I believe the entrance is under the altar so if everyone can help me move it" Echo went to start pushing it aside.

"Leave that alone!" Titus exclaimed. "You cannot touch sacred objects like that. You have already desecrated the Temple by your mere presence!"

"The entrance is under the altar. The altar was probably put there to protect it, so help me move it so we can look at what it protects" Echo was exasperated.

Clarke and Raven moved to help push the altar, as did Lexa. Seeing his Commander help moved Titus to also help. Underneath the altar was clearly a bunker entrance. Titus went to open it only to discover that he could not.

"Do you have the key, Echo?" Clarke asked.

Echo went to put the key into what appeared to be the lock, but it still didn't move. Titus snorted in derision.

"So we were right, it is a clue" Clarke said. "Do you want to do the honours?" Clarke nodded to a flame.

Echo, under the scrutiny of the Titus and Lexa, set the key alight and dropped it into a bowl to burn away the excess. When the flame had died and the key cooled sufficient to touch Echo lifted the key and slotted it into the bunker door and unlocked it. Clarke managed, just, to not smirk at Titus.

"Who wants to go first?" Clarke asked with a smile at Echo and the Commander. The Commander led the way down the stairs into the bunker. The lights came on automatically to the surprise of Echo as well as the Commander and Titus.

"Raven, do you want to do your stuff?" Clarke said as Raven looked for the command room.

On finding the place she was looking for, Raven started to press buttons to cause the screens around the room to light up. "Now, this is what I'm talking about" Raven was excited. "Let's see what this baby has and she pressed more keys as a schematic of the bunker came up on one screen; another screen showed the list of rooms and how many people they could house the single Presidential Suite housing 2, 50 family suites each housing four, and 50

Dormitories each housing 20; another screen listed the stock of household items; another screen showed the outside temperature, radiation levels, air quality, length of time since sunrise and length of time until sunset; another screen, one that seemed to surprise Raven, showed the length of time until the apocalypse that was clearly re-calculating. The screen showed a countdown of 29 weeks, 5 days, 15 hours, 38 minutes, 54 seconds, 53, 52 etcetera.

It suddenly stopped and the words 'Re-calibrating: awaiting response from satellite AGLH 483'. Then the countdown began again, only this time the number of weeks went down from

29 to 21.

"What does that mean?" Lexa asked. "How long is a week?"

"A week is seven days. According to that countdown, and we don't know if it is accurate, I'll have to contact Area 51, we have just over 150 days until the death wave hits us" Raven said a little sadly. "I think you need to start organising things to go in here, dried fruit and meat, stores of leather, fur, cotton, wood, seeds etc. Can Echo and I stay here to have a better look around if you three want to talk?"

"What else should we wish to talk about now?" Lexa asked, a little shell shocked.

"I need your approval to approach Anya for permission to seek and open the bunker in TonDC and your permission to seek and open the bunker that we don't know exactly where it is but it could be in Trikru or Azgeda territory. If there is something that you could give me to show I have your approval, provided you do give it, that I can show people to demonstrate I am there with your agreement so that there can be no misunderstanding it would be greatly appreciated" Clarke asked.

"I will ask one of the nightbleeders who carry my insignia to accompany you. No one would dare harm one of the sacred children" Lexa said.

"Commander! You can't trust one of the sacred children to these heathens!" Titus exclaimed.

"Enough! We need to be concerned and prepared. I will brief Aiden and ask him to accompany the Skaikru on their travels. Echo, I release you from your duties to me and ask you to work for Wanheda Clarke and keep me informed of all relevant information. I understand you know how to use the distance talking machine, please speak to me on it every day. Titus, let us retire. We need to think about the best way to tell the clans this information.

Please arrange for all the Ambassadors to meet in the morning. I shall go and speak with Aiden. Wanheda, please wait to leave Polis until Aiden meets you at Echo's accommodations. I think I shall ask Octavia and Lincoln to accompany the Deflikru messenger so that they may then accompany the twins to Mt Orlan if that is acceptable.

Thank you for your time and efforts." The Commander was clearly shaken but determined to be stoic.

Clarke was surprised at how endearing she found Aiden, which in itself was a surprise because Clarke remembered that she liked him in the previous life and mourned his passing at the violent hands of Ontari.

"Wanheda Clarke, it is an honour to meet the person who took down the mountain" Aiden said to Clarke with a little bow. "I didn't do it alone, you know. I had help from lots of people, including Echo and especially Raven" Clarke added.

"Then it is also an honour to meet you, Tekheda Raven" Aiden said with a charming smile at Raven who seemed to immediately fall under his spell. Echo merely smirked in derision at the fallibility of the sky girls.

Octavia and Lincoln came to wave Aiden, Echo, Clarke and Raven off. They would be leaving shortly with the Delfikru messenger to collect the twins to accompany them to Mt Orlan. "Don't forget to emphasise to them that we are very grateful to them and look forward to their company and stuff like that" Clarke emphasised.

"I know, talk to them as if they were the second coming, or whatever" Octavia said. They will know that we value their expertise and appreciate their time and effort in helping us.

They are the ones doing us a very great service so anything we can do for them in exchange we will gladly do. They are to report to Zoe, but I'll make sure Bell makes them welcome as Co Leader. Don't worry, we got this. Now you go off and find bunkers."

Lincoln had spent so much time with Skaikru that he was aware of the general problem but had no idea that he would be included in with Skaikru when it came to allocating spaces.

Aiden merely raised a brow in surprise at the casual way it was mentioned in front of Lincoln. Clarke reassured him as they were riding away that Lincoln was very discrete and knew not to mention it outside the circle of people in the know.

"You will find that everyone from Skaikru knows about it and not to talk to others outside the mountain about the problem. The people currently living in the bunkers know about it, too.

They have been told not to talk about it in front of anyone, including us, until we say so. That precaution was put in place in case Anya accompanies us" Clarke explained.

Aiden nodded, impressed with the foresight of Wanheda.

It didn't take long to reach TonDC and to find Anya. Anya was shocked to see Aiden and Echo accompanying Wanheda and Tekheda. She realised that there was more going on than people falling out of the sky. When she was told that there were people living in a bunker in her village she was ready to take up arms against them.

"They are nothing like the mountain men" Clarke said. "They have lived and died in that bunker and have made no attempt to leave. We have made contact with them and the purpose of this visit is to make sure we know exactly where it is and how to get in. The Commander wants the bunker to remain intact, I am sure she will tell you why shortly, but I, or my people, will need access to make sure the people inside can leave. We plan to take them back to our home, if that is acceptable."

Anya looked to Aiden and upon the receipt of an affirmative nod said "That we never knew they were there shows they never wished us any harm. I am sure they long to breathe the fresh air of the outside. Please free them from their prison and escort them to their new home at will." vault type door. Clarke raised a questioning brow to Raven What now! It asked. Raven smirked in response and banged on the door with her fist, the booming sound echoing through the tunnel.

It took seconds for the door to open with a screech. Staring at them from the other side of a double airlock were nine middle aged to elderly people, all looking on eagerly at the first new people they were seeing, ever, some with tears running down their cheeks. The man in the middle nodded to what Clarke recognised as an intercom and she went to activate it.

"Hello, is there a way any of us can come in without putting you at risk?" Clarke asked.

A woman went to their intercom and said "we can let up to four in at a time. The people coming in will have to strip to their underwear and let their hair loose. On each side of the entrance is a decontamination chamber for an individual to enter, make sure that the blower can reach all of you, including your hair. When it is sure you are decontaminated the door to the next chamber will open and there will be some clothes that you can put on. When the four of you coming in are dressed we shall then open that door to here. So which of you will be coming through so that we can sort out appropriate clothes?"

Clarke looked at everyone in question. It was Echo who suggested that Clarke and Raven go through first and whoever finished their chamber first Aiden should follow. She, Anya and Tris could make sure no one else tried to crawl through the hole. Both Aiden and Anya nodded at that suggestion so the three left as Clarke and Raven began to strip and loosen their hair. "Just us three" Clarke said through the com when she was ready to step into one chamber.

Aiden pulled a face at the strange clothing he was asked to wear but none the less did as was asked. He met the strange new people with the handshake that Wanheda Clarke was usual for them to greet each other with, especially when meeting for the first time.

"Hello, I am Aiden and I am here to speak, and listen on behalf of our Commander. She has assured me that I may act in any way I deem appropriate in this matter. You may speak freely to, and in front of me."

Clarke could see that the others were confused as being spoken to in such a manner by a child and stepped in "Aiden is in effect being trained to take over as Commander when the need arises. Both Aiden and the Commander acknowledge that in this matter they are woefully unprepared and are content to be guided by me until such a time as the Commander needs to take control. As long as the discussions don't get too technical, and in which case they should be had with Raven or over the radio with Sinclair or Monty, Aiden is able to keep up; and I have no doubt that he will ask for clarification if necessary" Clarke smiled.

"I'm sorry for the apparent rudeness; we are not used to seeing young people and have rather become used to thinking of ourselves as the young ones here when our youngest is in fact in her late forties - sorry Lottie. Let me introduce everyone to you. "My name is Lucas, I am our technical expert, which is probably not saying much. I was the one who spoke with Monty. Beatrice is, for want of a better word, our leader. We each have a vote to decide issues but Beatrice carries the casting vote in the event of a tie. Mary, my younger sister, looks after the growing of our food. Calen is our resident medic and Lottie's father. Lottie, I'm afraid had been spoilt her whole life and does nothing except challenge us to games and things like that."

Clarke looked at Lottie who looked shocked and disgusted by Lucas's words and wondered if there was genuinely bad feelings between the two of them.

"Actually, I do all the laundry and cleaning of the common areas around here. My dear ex-husband thinks of that as nothing" Lottie said, clearly the bad feelings were real.

"So I think I should finish the introductions on our side" Beatrice said. "George and Elizabeth are our eldest residents, twins. Unfortunately their eye sight is not what it was but George still manages mend our rickety furniture and Elizabeth is our resident seamstress.

Tobias does all the cooking around here, and he is so looking forward to using some new ingredients. Finally we have Marietta who is in charge of entertainment. You might not think that a tough job, but keeping us all from going mad is, I think, harder than it sounds."

"It is very nice to meet you all. As you know, I am Clarke and am co-leader of Skaikru; that is people of the sky, who live in Mt Orlan, formerly Mt Weather. Raven is one of our technical experts. Aiden is one of a group of young people who were selected to live and work with the Commander, training with her so that if necessary, any one of them could take over the role of Commander, rising above their individual clan loyalties to always put the wellbeing of the coalition as a whole as their top priority. If you are all agreeable, I propose that we leave you shortly to return to Mt Orlan where I shall arrange for some bone marrow to be prepared and one of our medical staff will come back to inject you with new marrow so that the day after that you would be able to come back to our home over winter while we plan for the future. It would be helpful if you, Lucas, and Mary could return here at some point with a few of our people who could be trained to replicate your work if necessary. We'll sort out exactly who will stay where during praimfaya closer to the time, if that is acceptable to you, Beatrice?"

Beatrice indicated her agreement. Raven asked if the schematics with all the engineering details, as well as household details could be downloaded onto a tablet that they would take to Mt Orlan so that they have a real idea of the personnel needed in each location.

Having made the first contact, Aiden, Clarke and Raven went to leave.

"What did you think, Aiden?" Clarke asked after they had said their farewells to Anya and Tris and were free to talk.

"I think Lucas introduced Beatrice as their leader but he clearly thinks it's a role that he should occupy. If he is to remain there during praimfaya then the people from Skaikru, and the Kongeda leader will need to be strong enough to maintain their position" Aiden said.

"Yeah, I was thinking the same except I had mentally gone further and wondered if we would be able to send him down to Area 51. I think I'm going to flatter him into doing what I want. What do you think, Raven?"

"I think he is the perfect person to live with the Arkers, so yeah, let's flatter him into going down to Area 51. How about we suggest that for logistical purposes, those planning on remaining in or around Mt Orlan stay in the two mini bunkers or Mt Orlan itself, except for the Skaikru people who will have to stay in Polis? Those planning on settling in or around Area 51 should be based there. That will cut down on the transportation of people that we'll have to organise later."

"Yeah, having to transport a couple of assholes is going to be a real problem" Clarke agreed.

"But you're right. There may be a good few people that will want to settle in a different place and it would make sense to place them there if we can."

Aiden was very on edge when they arrived at Mt Orlan. That is, he was on edge until he saw how content the people were: there was no sense of the mountain being a place of death and fear any longer. The mainly younger people were going about their duties, or enjoying their break, presumably a sanctioned break since there appeared to be no animosity towards those who were not actively labouring. Clarke, Raven, and even Echo, were greeted with open friendliness, while he was greeted with nothing more sinister than puzzlement.

Aiden eagerly looked around as the group walked through the steel corridors through to the room that Clarke called 'the control room'.

"Hey, Monty, this is Aiden who is acting as Commander Lexa's second with regard to the current problem" Clarke said. "I suppose he is her eyes and ears so please speak honestly and answer any questions that Aiden has. Aiden, Monty is the one who is ploughing through all the old records to find bunkers that will withstand praimfaya and keep us safe. He found Area 51, where 1,000 of your people will be able live which led to the finding of the two smaller ones where 100 will be able to stay at each one. Monty is still looking, hoping to strike gold again. He does have a line on another bunker somewhere in Sankru, but nothing more definitive yet unless you have news, Monty?"

"There definitely was a bunker for the former United Nations in New York, but the city was heavily bombed, which is why the whole area is fairly dead, so we don't know what damage the bunker would have sustained. And even if it is still intact, we don't know if anyone made it there in time and there are more survivors since there has been no contact. Area 51 is targeting their communication satellite to try to pick up a signal. I'm taking a break from looking for that specific one and trying to find others in other countries since using the shuttle would make them accessible as long as we could get to them before the wave hits them. Olga in Area 51 will contact me if she gets any pings from the area around the old New York."

"Do you want to stay and talk to Monty for a while or tag along with me while I do some boring housekeeping stuff?" Clarke asked Aiden.

Aiden chose to stay and chat to Monty, asking questions about how he knows what to look for and, to be honest, not really understanding the answers. He later told Clarke as much and was most relieved when she snorted and admitted that she hadn't a clue how any of the tech heads did their stuff. "Which I suppose is fair since they wouldn't have clue on how to remove an appendix safely while I do. It is impossible for anyone to be good at everything, or at least I think it is, so one of the keys to effective leadership is knowing who is good at what and making sure the right people are doing the right jobs. We work differently to you, but how effective would it be to have a great sword maker being an average cook, the best horse trainer being an average hunter? One of the problems that the Arkers have is that a persons' job is determined by the job of their parents. Monty was Farm Station, his parents are farmers. If he had stayed on the ARC then guess what he would have been. He is our best computer hacker so we need him working with computers."

"What about your parents?" Aiden asked.

"My dad was the best Engineer, Sinclair's boss. My mom is Chief Medical Officer so I would have been accepted for either, I chose medical. I did however, want to study art, but that is not useful so I had to keep art as a hobby only."

Aiden didn't like to say, but he also thought that art was for recreation only.

In the med bay, Clarke reacted angrily to seeing Atom donating marrow again.

"I know, but it doesn't hurt that bad and I hate working with Clint so this way I miss that rotation. He keeps going on about how we shouldn't be housing so many outsiders and that we should keep all the bunkers for ourselves since we're the ones who discovered them and to be honest, sometimes I just want to punch him in the face. Donate bone marrow or work with Clint? It's a no brainer" Atom said.

Clarke thought that Clint would prove to be a problem if he couldn't work with outsiders so he may need to be repatriated to Area 51 as well as Lucas.

Maya and David Miller (to present a more mature face) were going to the bunker in Ton DC to carry out the marrow transplants. They would take one of the rovers and carry out two return trips to transport everyone to Mt Orlan. It wouldn't be the most comfortable of journeys, but it would give them all the opportunity to look around at the earth that they had never seen before.

Aiden, Clarke, Echo, Monty and Nate Miller took a rover and two horses to look for the other bunker. Aiden was there for liaison with any coalition people they might come across while Echo and Nate were there for security. Clarke was driving with Monty navigating with Nate sitting in the back making sure to look around; Aiden and Echo were riding the horses. Aiden called for a sudden halt.

"Echo is unable to travel further with us. This is the border with Azgeda and Echo is not permitted to enter Azgedan lands" Aiden said. "Echo can wait in the tree line with the horses and I shall join you in Rover."

Clarke managed to stop herself from smiling at Aiden's appellation of the rover.

"We're only going to that small group of buildings over there" Monty said pointing to the outline of what looked like a small village. "Never the less, it is in Azgeda land and Echo may not enter. If she were seen and recognised it would not end well for Echo" Aiden was emphatic.

Clarke could do nothing but indicate to Aiden to enter the rover and make sure that Echo had the radio.

Only three people awaited them in the former Camp David bunker: two elderly people, Edward and Isabella, and Isabella's daughter, Alicia.

"We've already downloaded everything and linked up the computers to the tablet so we can see what the external cameras see" Alicia said as Clarke injected her with the bone marrow.

They knew that they would have to wait a minimum of three hours before leaving. It was after two and a half hours that Edward alerted them to a potential problem.

Clarke called Miller on the radio. "Nate, potential for trouble coming up from NNE, can you see?"

Miller looked through the rifle scope and could just about make out half a dozen or so riders racing towards him. "Yeah, orders?"

"Get the rover turned around and the engine running ready to leave. Alicia, Edward and Isabella are donning radiation suits and Aiden and Monty are running out with their bags now. I'm going to call Echo and tell her to ride the horses back home the long way. Be ready to get the hell out of dodge and drive straight back home, fast."

Clarke called and gave the information to Echo, helped Monty and Aiden with the loading, and then helped Edward and Isabella climb into the rover. Aiden, Clarke and Monty made sure that the bunker was secure and dived into the rear of the rover and pulled the door closed as Miller pulled away.

"I take it those people are not friendlies, then" Alicia said.

"They may have been, but we didn't want to risk your safety if they're not since it looks like there are more of them than we could fight off without incurring loss or injuries" Clarke said.

If there's trouble as a result of this, the cover story is that a couple of our people were reported lost in this general area and since we don't know where the boundary is, the Commander allowed Aiden to accompany us to make sure we did nothing untoward. We are rushing away because one of our missing people is severely injured."

"They're trying to follow us, but they won't be able to keep up" Monty reassured. "You'll soon be meeting your friends from the White House bunker."

"Yeah, I think we'll get you sorted in your accommodations then we'll leave the strategy until tomorrow if that's okay with everyone?" Clarke asked.

Not only was that okay, everyone, but particularly Edward, Isabella and Alicia welcomed the brief respite, the chance to just take in the fact that they were now free. Of-course Queen Nia didn't want to give them the break from planning, did she? After a couple of days of hard riding by one of her messengers Nia thought she had the perfect excuse to attack.

Chapter End Notes

Anyone surprised, or disappointed with my choice of OFCs as potential mates for Bellamy? Clarke's reasoning behind her thinking that Bellarke is not on comes out later.

No additional tags yet since the OFCs are not there yet. Azgeda Attacks

Chapter Summary

As the title says Azgeda attacks, but is it mt Orlan or Polis?

Clarke and Roan begin to get a little closer (two snails would move quicker). Clarke and Anya begin to get a little closer (there could be fireworks with those two, couldn't there?)

Shumway is offered the chance to be a hero.

Chapter Notes

No major character deaths, I promise. Depends on how I feel, but we might have some more minor characters dying.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

After a very disturbing radio call with the Commander, the potential repercussions discussed at length with Bellamy and Sinclair, Clarke went to find both Echo and Roan since they, too, were affected by what was happening, or rather what the Commander and Clarke thought was happening. The two were training.

Echo was helping Roan to train with his left hand holding his sword but using his metal right arm as a shield. Clarke was very impressed with how much Roan had progressed, not only with his physical improvements, but also with his mind set. Roan had decided to live and to fight again. As soon as it looked like it would be safe to interrupt, Clarke made her presence known (although she suspected they were both aware the second she entered the room).

"Come to join the fight, Wanheda?" Roan smirked.

"No, it wouldn't do anything for my pride to be so roundly trounced by either of you. I'm afraid that none of the weapons we have available at the moment are right for me. The smith in TonDC is making me two, one of which will be for training only, and when they're ready I'll train with you" Clarke offered. "I came to talk to you both about some news that the Commander relayed. There was supposed to be a meeting of all the ambassadors this morning but the Azgedan did not appear. When he was searched for, none of the Azgedan delegation could be found. Trikru scouts report that there is an increase in the numbers of Azgedans near the border. The Commander believes that this is the prelude to war." Roan and Echo looked at each other and sighed.

"You need to check your defences" Roan said. "I maintain that Nia will try here first."

"Bellamy is on that. What do you two want to do?" Clarke asked.

"I pledged my loyalty to you above all else, Wanheda Clarke; I stand by that" Echo said.

"I will not ask you to fight your own people" Clarke assured Echo, if any reassurance was needed. "Roan?"

"I will not fight against my own people unless they attack me first" Roan repeated what he said previously; "but neither will I assist in any attack against you."

Clarke nodded her acceptance. "In that case, if we are attacked we are going to gas the attackers and put them to sleep, Sinclair is working on repairing the gas vents now. The Commander knows this and has agreed that we do it only for the release of the sleeping gas.

If either of you think that any of Nia's army would be loyal to you rather than her, let us know so that they can be separated from the others. I am going to meet with Anya to provide her with three masks that will prevent the wearer from being affected by the gas and apologise in advance if any of her people are affected. We will still have some masks here that would allow us to go out in the gas to secure the people who tried to attack. In the unlikely event that it doesn't work and we are beaten, would you two want to be made to look like our prisoners so you would have no problems with reintegrating with your people?"

"It matters not" Roan said. "I am now a freakdreina and would be killed regardless and Echo is a traitor who would be tortured and killed as a traitor."

"Okay, then the gas plan had better work, hadn't it" Clarke smirked to hide her worry.

"Clarke" Roan called, sounding very worried. "Have you heard about any of the plans for my new arm?"

"No, only that it should have a hidden knife. Why?"

"Because it seems to be growing to include a blade along the width of the forearm and poisoned spikes on the hand" Roan sounded incredulous.

"The blade along the forearm sounds like a good idea; and the poisoned spikes in the hand sound interesting, as long as you could make sure that the spikes, and the poison, were only released when you wanted them to be. I didn't know Raven had it in her to be so blood thirsty" Clarke said.

"It seems it is a joint effort between Octavia and Jasper with Raven encouraging them"' Roan bemoaned. "I thought you were a peaceful people."

Clarke smiled as she thought about her people thinking of bloodthirsty weapons that she was sure they meant only as intellectual exercises rather than be for actual use. "Why not wait until you are ready to start planning your new arm, which will be sooner than I estimated with your current progress, and sit down with Raven to talk through the options asking all the questions that have you so worried? If you can think of something that you think might be useful, make you feel safer or stronger, suggest it. It's your arm, make sure it's how you want it not how Raven or anyone else wants" Clarke offered the sage advice.

Clarke was talking with Anya about the potential threat from Azgeda. Clarke said that if they were attacked they would use sleeping gas to knock them out. "We don't know how far the gas will travel so it is possible that some of your near villages will be affected" Clarke warned. "I promise that it will only make them sleep. Whilst the Azgedans are sleeping we will strip them of their weapons and secure them. Roan and Echo will help us to separate out any who might not be loyal Nia and we will try to find out the purpose of the attack. When we have information we will contact you and the Commander to discuss what is to be done with the rest of the prisoners. We will involve you because they will have marched through your lands and we don't know how you will feel about that. I imagine that we will want to hand over the prisoners to you or the Commander, but that will depend on what we learn from the ones we will keep. Here" and Clarke handed over three gas masks, "if you wear one of these" Clarke showed Anya how to put on and safely secure the mask, "you will not be affected by the gas. I remember that the sleep gas is red, so if you see red gas you know what to do."

Anya clearly didn't like wearing the mask, and who could blame her? She did, however, appreciate knowing that she and two others could walk among the sleeping Azgedans and slit their throats if the Commander so sanctioned for daring to march an army through her lands.

Anya also realised that if her people were made to sleep she could have a little fun with that, but only if there was time from the more serious business of killing.

Clarke was on her way back to the mountain when she was radioed with news that there was about 200 Azgedans marching towards Mt Orlan. Clarke ordered that everyone be called into the mountain. She also asked if it was possible to link to a satellite to search for other warrior movements, perhaps towards Polis because she was sure that so few warriors could only be a diversion from what would be the main offensive.

Clarke's next call was to the Commander. "I will call again if we are able to spot more warrior movement towards you, Commander" Clarke offered.

Next call was to Anya. Anya, who was totally pissed that the Azgedan scum would dare to march through Trikru lands, asked if she might wait at Mt Orlan with Clarke. Clarke agreed and turned back to collect her.

Octavia was not so happy that she and Lincoln (and the two delightful, and perfect for Bellamy, twins) would miss all the fun, but she agreed that they would travel the long way back home so that they didn't get caught up accidently in any skirmish. Clarke, Bellamy, Roan, Echo, Anya and Monty who was controlling the cameras were all in the control room watching the Azgendan army march towards Mt Orlan. Once Anya saw that they had definitely entered into Trikru territory she nodded her approval to Clarke. They would have four to five hours before they would reach the mountain unless they camped somewhere in order to attack once rested.

Leaving one camera on wide angle to watch the army, Monty focussed on looking for other potential troop movements. He found three, much larger groups, clearly stationary, close to the border with Trikru, but not yet over it. "What are you waiting for, Nia?" Anya asked herself in Trig.

"For the news of the successful attack here before this one" and Roan pointed to the group closest to Polis, "no doubt with Nia and Ontari at front and centre, will march into Polis to challenge the Commander. Nia will challenge the Commander to Solo gonplei but will nominate Ontari to fight. Thave no doubt that Ontari's weapons will be coated in poison.

Ontari is a nightblood and thus will become Commander. Even if Titus insists on the conclave, Ontari will kill all the other contenders, probably in their sleep, maybe even before the challenge to the Commander. You might want to suggest to the Commander that she moves her nightbloods somewhere safe for the time being."

Anya thought for a moment and agreed. She contacted the Commander and suggested that Aiden leads the night blood children, temporarily until Ontari is taken care of, to the bunker in TonDC. It was agreed that Tris would also stay for a while with Lottie and Marrietta, both of whom were very glad to be of use, and would do their best to instruct the night bloods on everything about the bunker. Nate took a gas mask, just in case, and drove Lottie and Marrietta with Anya to TonDC so that she could brief Tris. He was back with Anya with a couple of hours to spare.

The small army arrived and stretched out around the mountain searching for a way in. Clarke took the mic and nodded to Monty to open the channel. "This is Wanheda Clarke of Mt Orlan. Please leave this area. If you have legitimate, peaceful reasons for being here, please fall back to the tree line and have three, unarmed walk towards the main door where you will be greeted. If you fail to comply it will be deemed an act of war and we will take all measures to defend ourselves. I repeat" and Clarke spoke her message again.

The Azgendan warriors were unaware that they could be seen in detail on the monitors and it was clear that they had no intention of pulling back. They started to get excited when they realised that they could reach the main door and started to try to break it down using a large battering ram.

Clarke tried one more time "This is Wanheda Clarke of Mt Orlan. This is your final warning.

Leave this area immediately. If you do not pull back we will take measures to defend ourselves."

The response was to try harder to break down the door. Clarke called up Sinclair and told him to release the gas.

It was Echo who spotted the lone horseman on the edge of the treeline who tried to get away when the gas was released. "The messenger" Echo said. The gas reached the horseman and both fell. Clarke wasn't worried about the rider, but she was concerned about the horse.

"I do hope the horse is okay and didn't hurt its self when it fell" she said to much amusement from the others.

Anya spoke to the Commander and told her what had happened. They agreed that those who Roan and Echo trusted could remain at the mountain, but the others would be marched by Anya to Polis for their punishment. Anya was most disappointed that she didn't get to kill anyone. Skaikru could keep any weapons found, and the horse - provided it did not hurt its self when it fell. The latter point was emphasised for Clarke's benefit.

Donning their gas masks they went outside to secure all the warriors. Anya was impressed that the door didn't so much as have a dent despite the heavy baton used to try to break in.

Those who Roan and Echo deemed loyal to him rather than Nia, merely 15 out of 200, (well 201 counting the mounted messenger) were secured in a separate room to the others. Echo and Anya were impressed with the cache of weapons seized, at least two per warrior, and suggested that some could be used to trade. Clarke thought that since they intended their people to move away from guns to the traditional weapons they would need to have different ones for them to choose from and so they would keep most of them.

The horse, a stallion, was woozy but seemed unharmed and happy to be led though to the former harvest chamber where the other animals were safe.

Harper and one of her team of hunters each took a mask to search for sleepy animals that may have been too close to the mountain. They found three deer. Knowing what was to come she decided to lead them to the indoor animal farm so that they would be safe from priamfaya.

They were not as happy as the horses, but then the deer had never been anything other than free. Zoe said she would keep an eye on them. They also found some squirrels, rabbits and birds. The birds were left but the rabbits and squirrels were quickly killed and prepared for the kitchen. They needed the extra meat since they had an extra 200 people to feed!

Roan and Echo were with the secured warriors who they believed would be loyal to Roan rather than Nia. They knew, but Clarke did not, that if they were wrong, the warriors would have to be killed. They could not risk them going to Nia with information about Roan and Echo's location, or anything else they could pick up. They gained the confirmation that Nia would be marching into Polis to challenge the Commander. Ontari was going to fight and the Queen was sure that Ontari would win since she had been trained for it her whole life. Both Roan and Echo knew how vicious Ontari could be: she thought nothing about cheating and had no honour when it came to winning.

Clarke, Bellamy and Anya were in the holding room for the 186 other prisoners as they began to stir. Anya looked forward to some fun. Clarke and Bellamy just looked forward to getting rid of them.

The only thing that the warriors were prepared to say was that Skaikru were rats from the sky that should be exterminated, as should the Trikru scum who befriended the rats. Anya got the pleasure of a few hits, but not enough to temper her anger. "Do you lot want some food?" Clarke asked. "I only ask because I don't want the cooks to prepare food that you're going to waste, but since you'll have a long walk to Polis tomorrow I thought you might prefer to do that on a full stomach."

One or two clearly wanted to tell Clarke what to do with her food but the leader pointed out that they should be well fed and rested for the victorious march into Polis. They were served squirrel pizza and fries, no cutlery required, offered to each individual on a napkin so no plates either, and a drink of water in a paper cup. The toileting was a bit more difficult to achieve, but Anya got in some kicks there, more mental than physical much to her disappointment, but it was better than nothing.

The conversation with the White House bunker went well. The nightbloods seem to regard it as a bit of a holiday from Polis and the very strict Titus. Lottie and Marrietta were a lot more laid back about imparting information than Titus was and since it was new information, they were eager to learn and ask questions. Both Lottie and Marrietta enjoyed being with so many young enquiring minds.

Monty was able to spot movement of the largest group from Azgeda heading towards Polis.

The other two groups remained stationary. The Commander was warned. Lexa said that there were orphaned children currently sleeping in the rooms of the nightblood children. Her people were told to protect those children as they would the nightbloods, but if what Roan feared did come to pass, then the children and their guards would meet their end that night.

First thing the next morning, Lexa called with the news that the children and guards were all dead. She was grateful to Roan for the warning so that the sacred children would be saved should she fail to defeat Ontari.

Clarke thought about what would be the best thing she could do. Because she firmly believed that Lexa was important enough for the future she needed to be able to do all that was necessary should Ontari manage to cheat despite the warning that had been passed along.

Calling out a list of instructions, Clarke moved quickly to sort through the weapons seized.

She found the one that was a good fit for her, but not perfect. She then went to Guard Shumway.

"Are you up to risking your life in the defence of our people?" she asked him.

"What do you mean? Are those savages threatening us?" Shumway asked.

Clarke sighed. "I don't know who you mean by 'those savages' but you know that a contingent from Azgeda, that is the Ice Nation attacked us last night and that they are all secured. Anya, the leader of our neighbours the Trikru, will lead them to the Commander who will determine their punishment. You are aware that none of our people were hurt and we have seized all their weapons. No, this is a bit of a "in your face' moment. The Queen of the Ice Nation is marching on to Polis, we believe to try to take power from the Commander.

She has killed all the children who were training to be possible future commanders when the current one died. Since the Queen does not know that her attack on the mountain was defeated, I thought we should, or at least I should, go to let her know. I'm offering you the chance to come with me knowing that there may be some risk of attack from the Ice Nation. Hore with treason our friends, lies and neighbours as savages then you will be

Shumway thought hard. He did want the chance to get in the face of the Ice Queen who had dared to attack, but he didn't want to have to fight with a sword since he couldn't get the hang of it.

"Can I take my gun?" he asked more in hope than expectation.

"No, but you can take a shock baton" Clarke offered.

Hoping that he might have the opportunity to at least shock one of the locals he agreed.

Chapter End Notes

I clearly felt good because we didn't even have minor characters dying (unless you count the squirrels and rabbits). I really don't think the next chapter will go so well. Polis or Bust

Chapter Summary

Clarke, Raven, Anya and Shumway drive hell for leather to Polis to be on hand to save the Commander, if necessary, and to confront Queen Nia.

Chapter Notes

I hope that ReadlikeHermione approves of what happens to Aiden and his cohorts. At least it's better for them than canon.

WARNING, PARTS OF THIS CHAPTER, TOWARDS THE END ARE A LITTLE BLOODTHIRSTY. IF YOU THINK THAT WILL UPSET YOU MISS THE PARAGRAPHS SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO SECTIONS OF *

Another warning, but slightly more light hearted, Clarke takes on the persona of an old fashioned misogynistic view of a ditzy blonde - she's only acting, promise.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

WARNING: PARTS OF THIS CHAPTER TOWARDS THE END ARE A LITTLE BLOODTHIRSTY. IF YOU THINK THAT THIS WILL UPSET YOU, SKIP THE PARAGRAPHS SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO SECTIONS OF *

Clarke knew the way and so she was the one driving. Raven knew how Clarke knew, but luckily Shumway didn't think to ask how she knew where they were going. What he did know was that he didn't like being driven around at such speeds along such bad roads. In that respect he was exactly like Anya who was also sat in the back glaring at Shumway.

Raven kept in touch with Mt Orlan by radio whilst they were travelling. In the light of the potential challenge to the Commander, the prisoners would wait at Mt Orlan until such a time as Lexa was able to pronounce judgement. If all went well it would only delay their departure by a day or two.

The Commander kept her radio open when she went to attend to the Ambassadors. Monty relayed to the travellers what he was able to pick up from Polis with the aid of Roan to translate. No one was any the wiser about what had happened with the Azgedan ambassador and his staff. The other ambassadors were able to relay the information they had about when their own leaders would be able to reach Polis in time for the important summit that the Commander called. Once again Titus made his displeasure known at the fact that the Commander had ordered the presence of Luna. Clarke wondered how Luna's presence would affect Nia and Ontari's plans.

Just as Lexa was beginning to tell the ambassadors of the attack on the night blood children, the door to the throne room was opened with a bang loud enough to travel through the radios.

Anya directed Clarke to drive and hide the rover near to a small, usually unused, entrance to the city. The four hurried through the streets as they listened in to what was going on.

Nia was telling the ambassadors that Skaikru had invaded their lands and so she retaliated by sending a small contingent to teach them a lesson they won't forget. The Commander asked what proof Nia had that Skaikru had done such a thing because the last she heard, two of their people had gotten lost and Skaikru sought assistance in looking for them. In order help their allies find their missing members, Aiden had helped the kru with their search. He did report that the missing kru had been found just inside the Azgeda border but since the border was not marked they had no idea that they had crossed it. Lexa pointed out that if the Azgedan ambassador had not disappeared then he would have received their apology for the brief incursion.

"So you take the word of the sky rats over mine, do you? This just goes to show that you are not the Commander of the coalition, but only of your friends. I challenge you to solo gonplei for the Command of the kongeda. My second, Ontari will fight for me." Lexa said "I accept your challenge, but don't you find it interesting that I sent Aiden, one of the sacred nightbleeders with Skaikru and it is his word that I had?"

"And where is this Aiden so that I may question him myself?" Nia clearly thought that the attempt at killing the nightbloods was successful.

"He is not here at the moment but that is beside the point of your challenge to me. Mid-day tomorrow at the arena" Lexa avoided the issue of the night bloods, just as we were entering the throne room.

"Commander, I do most sincerely beg your pardon for interrupting what is clearly a very important meeting if the Queen of Azgeda is here" Clarke piled on the brown. "Your Majesty, I trust you received our apologies for the slight incursion into your lands by two of our scouts and the team who retrieved them. However, Commander, I came post haste to inform you of some news and if I may, I shall pass it on at your earliest convenience."

Lexa clearly knew exactly what Clarke was doing. "Wanheda, I welcome you to Polis. You are just in time to witness one of our oldest traditions. Queen Nia has challenged me to solo gonplei. That is a fight to the death for my position. I know how you value life, and would find this a little, dear me, what is the word I am looking for?"

"Actually, Commander, the word that springs to my mind is silly" Clarke said. "Of course I do not know what led to the issue of a challenge, but for it to be a fight to the death is a waste of at least one probably very good fighter. However, it is not my place to criticise when the traditions of the people on the ARC are far from humane so I'll say no more about it, but wonder if I might be allowed to ask questions without giving any offense, because I promise, none is intended?"

"Since we wish to get to know each other better, you may ask your questions" the Commander generously offered. "But since you are in part the reason for the challenge, would you mind joining us so that I may ask you some questions?"

Clarke affected surprise and immediately went to sit in the seat that seemed to magically appear at the end of the semi-circle of ambassadors. Shumway went to stand behind Clarke as the other guards stood behind their ambassador.

"Firstly, Wanheda, how is your scout? I trust he was not too seriously injured and you had no need to call on your powers once again" Lexa said.

"Thank you for your concern, Commander. Atom turned out to merely suffer from a simple broken leg that will heal perfectly well in time and both he and Sterling were a little hypothermic hence the apparent seriousness of their conditions to those without medical knowledge. Aiden was most helpful, and, I have to say, very charming to all those with whom he interacted. If only my people were as grown up then Atom and Sterling would not have thought about climbing over those ruins without making sure that they were safe. Still, it is something new to them and one hopes that more familiarity with the ground will allow them to be more mature with how they interact with it" Clarke waffled.

"I am glad that it was nothing serious. What has Tekheda decided about my elevator?" The Commander clearly wanted to drag the discussion out and Clarke could see that some of the Azgedans were getting pissed about it.

"Raven has come up with a plan that will allow the original elevator car to be operated by your people. She could not come up with a way to make it fully automated quickly since it would need an external power source that we do not have, nor the tech to install one for you at the moment. But the upgrade will allow more people to use the elevator and for the ride to be smoother and safer. We will, naturally, leave it to your judgement as to whether such a small improvement is worthy of more than the assistance of the two women from Delifkru who will be teaching us how to look after our animals, something that you know we regard as almost priceless. Commander, I beg your indulgence, but how did we, Skaikru become part of the reason for your challenge?" Clarke decided it was time to get to the point because she could feel the hate and anger coming at her from the Azgedans.

"It seems that Nia has taken exception to your small incursion into Azgendan lands and deems it at attack. When I said that it was not she said it demonstrated that I looked more to you than the coalition" the Commander was phlegmatic.

"How could it possibly have been deemed an attack? We were barely over the border. In fact we could see the border from the location that we picked up our people. Aiden said that because it was so close to the border that there were no settlements for miles so who would we be attacking?" Clarke acted puzzled and innocent.

"You were seen very close to one of our villages but were luckily chased away by some of my warriors" Nia stated. "If Aiden thinks that you were within sight of the border, bring him in so that we can clear this up" she demanded.

"I have already told you, Nia, that Aiden isn't here at the moment" the Commander sounded long suffering.

"Of-course he's not. He, like the rest of his comrades, is dead. Killed in his sleep because you don't have the strength to look after your so called sacred children" Nia proclaimed.

"Are you admitting that you ordered the killing of the nightbleeders?" the Commander demanded softly, deadly as the ambassadors all reacted in anger to the news.

"I have my own nightbleeder and when she defeats you tomorrow she will be the undisputed Commander of the coalition" Nia declared to the cheers of the few Agendans there and the smug smile of Ontari.

"What does nightblood have to do with the alleged death of the sacred children and being the Commander?" Clarke asked all ignorance and innocence.

When the Commander explained that only nightbleeders were able to become the Commander Clarke interrupted.

"Oh, does that mean that I could?" and she pierced her finger tip to show the blackness of her blood.

At that Ontari went wild. She lunged for Clarke with her knife but was shocked by Shumway who felt very pleased with himself as he saw her seizing on the floor: proud of himself until he felt the sting of the knife wound in his shoulder. "Dammit the bitch got me!" he exclaimed.

"Shumway, let me look at that, see if it needs stitches" Clarke said as she went to remove Shumway's coat. Giving a quick look at Ontari, Clarke added "Don't worry, she'll be fine in a little while; someone just hold her head so she doesn't bang it too much. This looks like a fairly shallow cut, a few stitches and you'll be as right as rain. You'll just have a battle scar and a story of heroism to show off when we get back" Clarke tried to smile because she knew it wouldn't happen that way: the wound was poisoned and she didn't have any blood that she could give to Shumway.

"Don't bother" Nia said as Clarke grabbed her bag to look for morphine; "the blade is coated in poison. He will die as will the Commander and although Ontari was a little rash, you cannot be Commander since you are not part of the coalition."

Clarke ignored everyone else except for Shumway. She trusted that the Commander, and Anya, would have her back. Clarke injected a larger than usual dose of morphine into Shumway's arm and started to talk to him. "I'll tell everyone that you were a hero today" and she leaned forward to whisper in his ear for only Shumway to hear "Don't worry, one way or another she will die tomorrow" and spoke up again "but only a coward would use poison in such a way. You'd best make sure all the weapons are checked before your fight tomorrow, Commander. When you see my dad, tell him hello and that you saved my life: he'll love you forever for that." "He'll be so proud of you, Griffin" Shumway said and as the morphine started to take effect he began to hum to himself.

Clarke recognised the tune and started to quietly sing along " ... we'll meet again some sunny day. Keep smiling through, Just like you always do, 'Till blue skies drive the dark clouds far away. So will you please say hello to the folks that I know, Tell them I won't be long..."

When Clarke finished the song, Shumway whispered "hate to tell you this, Griffin, but you're tone deaf."

Clarke laughed and said "Yeah, I take after my dad like that, but don't tell him when you see him: he likes to think he's a bit of a crooner, y'know?"

At that Shumway smiled as he was remembering something and breathed his last "yeah, know."

Clarke took a deep breath and donned her leadership mantle. "Guardsman Shumway died today to save my life. We will take him back to Mt Orlan to bury him with full honours.

Raven, would you say that Guardsman Shumway suffered for about 15 minutes?"

"Yeah, about that" Raven agreed knowing that there was a reason for that number being picked.

"In that case, in order to make recompense for the unwarranted attack on Mt Orlan, and for the suffering of Guardsman Shumway we will keep 15 of your warriors for a period of two years. One year for each wrongdoing" Clarke said to Nia. "The rest of your warriors will be brought to the Commander for her to administer any justice she deems appropriate for the march through coalition lands and the danger this attack put the coalition in."

"What do you mean?" Nia asked.

"You surely didn't think that a mere 200 warriors would be able to take Mt Orlan, did you?

They were a mere irritant to us and they are currently all secured and all looking forward to their march to Polis for some reason."

At that point Nia turned an angry shade of red. Anya, sword at the ready, stepped closer to Clarke and gritted to Nia "I hope that the Commander allows me to punish the warriors for marching through Trikru territory, for the danger that my people may have been in if Skaikru were not prepared for such an attack. That is if there is anything left of Azgeda to punish for such a crime after you have been punished for the crime of attacking the sacred children; in their sleep no less."

"Thank you for reminding me, Anya" the Commander said. "Guards, place Queen Nia and all her guards under arrest. Any Azgedan found in Polis to be imprisoned with her. We will deal with that after I have killed Ontari tomorrow. Ambassadors, we will reconvene at sundown tomorrow briefly to discuss the punishment. I will proclaim for all of Polis to hear the next day. Your presence at the arena tomorrow is mandatory, dismissed." When everyone else had left, Clarke said, I brought some nightblood so we can give you some if necessary. It will stay fresh for a few days. I will wait until after I know you will survive the fight to leave for Mt Orlan. Could someone return the body for me, today? I'll call Bellamy and let him know what happened. We'll say I got injured slightly which is the reason for my delay."

With the repatriation of Shumway's body arranged they talked briefly about the warriors amassed at the borders and what might happen now. Clarke got on the radio to Monty and asked if there had been any further movements and what Roan thought. There had been no movements and Roan thought nothing would happen until word reached them of the Queen's incarceration. They would probably sit tight until after the fight when they knew the outcome.

Clarke asked if Monty had tracked the contingent coming into Polis.

"I'd say only a quarter, if that, actually went into Polis" Monty said. "The rest are parked about five miles, north, north west. That pack is about the same size as each of the two waiting in Azgeda."

"Too many for us to take without incurring heavy losses" Anya muttered. "You should have brought some of that sleeping gas."

"I can arrange it, if you want. We could also bring some night vision goggles and tranq darts for those not with the main camp" Clarke offered.

"No" the Commander declared. "It would be nice, but I don't want the ambassadors to have any excuse to side with Azeged and using tech weapons would tum some of them against you

"Okay" Clarke agreed.

The fight between the Commander and Ontari, the rogue Azgedan nightblood went almost as Clarke had thought. It was tougher for the Commander than her fight with Roan in the previous life; probably because Roan didn't really want to win and put his mother in control of the coalition. As advised, Titus oversaw the cleaning of the weapons to make sure that none were poisoned: but it didn't work as expected.

Ontari was on the floor, weaponless with the Commander about to end her fight when Ontari smiled. "Even though I die, so do you: I didn't clean the tip. It might only be a small amount, but you will still die, it will just take longer. Who will be Commander now that there are no known nightbloods. The coalition will fall and Azgeda will sweep in to take control. Long live Azgeda!" was the final statement from Ontari as the Commander ended her fight.

The Commander looked and saw that she had been cut at her breast and arm and wondered how long she would have. She heard about Skaikru's medicine, and how Wanheda had commanded death to leave Prince Roan when he was about to die. Could Wanheda do the same for her? "Imprison the Queen. Flamekeeper, dispose of the body. Wanheda, with me" Lexa ordered, determined not to show a hint of weakness.

Once the Commander, Clarke, Anya and Costia reached the Commander's quarters, Lexa said "She left poison on the tip of her blade. I need you, Wanheda, to see if you can save me" and Lexa began to strip so that Clarke could see all her wounds.

"Costia, I will need clean hot and cold water, my medical bags, two bowls and more light" Clarke said, knowing that Costia needed to do something to help her love. "Anya, I need two tables of the same height close together so the Commander can lie on them face down with her injured chest over the gap. Raven, can you get on the radio and ask if someone can get a dialysis machine here stat."

Clarke's requests were quickly carried out. When the Commander was lying face down as Clarke wished, Clarke sliced the breast around where the poisoned tip had struck. "I need to keep track of how much blood is lost so let it all fall into that bowl, please" Clarke instructed as she looked over the wound on the arm. "No poison here, I think. Costia, can you double check for me, please? Anya, can you see if you can get Ontari's body here? I want to take some of her blood, if possible. The Commander will need a complete blood transfusion so we're going to need all the black blood we can get."

Costia was given the job of washing down the Commander's body with cold water to check for any sign of other injuries and slow the blood movement. Clarke kept an eye on the poisoned breast. Giving the Commander little notice, Clarke cut away a portion of the breast that already showed signs of being diseased. The three units of blood that Clarke brought with her were pumped into the Commander as more than three pints fell into the bowl. Clarke drew nearly four pints from Ontari, letting Costia check that it was not poisoned in any way, before pushing that, too into the Commander. Clarke then drew a pint from herself, just in case it was needed before the dialysis machine could arrive.

"It doesn't look like there is any poison left, but I want to make sure, Commander" Clarke said. "However, I know you have your meeting with the Ambassadors and it wouldn't do for you to appear before them as anything other than well. I'll stitch and bandage you up for the meeting and be ready to continue treatment afterwards. I'm hoping that your blood should be completely cleaned by tomorrow."

"Anya, please make sure that Wanheda is given every aid she can be offered" the Commander requested of her former first.

"If Wanheda keeps you alive I will give her anything she asks for" Anya promised.

At the meeting of the Ambassadors, the Commander took the unusual step of allowing Wanheda Clarke in as her guest. "As you see, the poison with which Ontari tried to kill me is not working thanks to the efforts of Wanheda who has decided that death will not take me just yet. She will remain with me to make sure that death does not sneak in the night to take me like the Azgeda scum tried with the sacred children. It is thanks to the prior warning of Wanheda that the children were taken to a place of safety. However, that does not mean that all is well. The children who were sleeping in the beds of the sacred children, and their guards were all massacred. The Azgeda Queen attempted to kill the sacred children, and killed innocents in their place. The Azgedans attempted to attack our allies and tried to take over the coalition. What do you think I should do, Ambassadors?"

Clarke listened with disappointment as they all called for war to be declared on Azgeda. She decided to put forward her view. "Excuse me, Commander, I don't exactly know what was being said, my trig is still very rudimentary, but are you all agreeing that you should fight?"

"The ambassadors all agree, which is unusual in itself, they think we should declare war on Azgeda. What do you think, Wanheda?" the Commander asked.

"Firstly, I apologise that I do not understand your clan politics yet so my thoughts may be too simplistic and not take into account factors about which I am unaware and I beg that you educate me as my ignorance is manifested. Secondly, the attack on us should not be part of the reason for your decision: the Peace Treaty specifically says that you do not react when we are attacked but you allow us to defend ourselves. As to the challenge to the Commander, from the reactions of all of you I thought that was within your laws and therefore unpunishable. Surely, the only crime they have committed is the attempted murder of the sacred children and the actual murder of the innocents, so perhaps the word 'only' was incorrectly applied. I do not know what the expected punishment for the attempt on the lives of the sacred children is so cannot comment. The Queen's own words have condemned her desire to break up the coalition, so can you not kick Azgeda out? If you go to war, how many of your people will be killed? Is the very natural desire to fight worth the cost to the people of the coalition? What would happen if Azgeda was kicked out?" Clarke knew that kicking Azgeda out of the coalition would have the result of Azgeda declaring war, but Clarke wanted to be told that so that she could offer an incentive if the Ambassadors approved for Azgeda not to so declare.

It was Sankru who pointed out that Azgeda would declare war on the coalition.

"If you wanted, we could point out that we have the capability of knowing exactly where Nia's troops, sorry, warriors are and we would be willing to trade with you four cows and one bull for sending a missile somewhere in Azgeda. We now know that there are six missiles available. I think that they could do an awful lot of damage. To be honest, I would rather not send those missiles anywhere except into the middle of the sea, so would the threat be enough?" Clarke said.

"If you would be willing, I think that the threat would be enough to stop Queen Nia, at least for a while" Anya said. "It would buy us time to prepare better, and I would certainly be willing to trade for information on Azgeda warrior movement so that we would be better prepared to defend ourselves, if necessary. As you know Commander, I like a good fight as much as anyone, but I do not like to lose my people."

Clarke remembered how much Anya did indeed like a good fight and thought that her desire not to fight if possible was a strong indicator of how much she cared for her people. They only needed to put Azgeda off for four or five months. The death wave would take care of killing the rest: they didn't need to fight it out.

"Thank you, Ambassadors" the Commander said. "I shall think on all your words and tomorrow we shall reconvene with Queen Nia and I shall hear her words before I pronounce sentence."

"Wanheda Clarke, I should like the advice of Prince Roan on one or two matters. Can I speak with him over my radio?" the Commander asked when they were alone.

Clarke informed the Commander that she could; she just may have to wait a short while until Roan could be brought to the radio.

The Commander clearly didn't mind if Clarke understood some of the conversation, but since it was conducted in Trigedesleng, Clarke appeared to not be listening. It took a lot of restraint to appear neutral when the Commander said that she wished to execute the Queen and place the Prince on the throne.

"I thank you, Commander" Roan said, "but it would do no good since as of yet I am not in a position to take command of those loyal to Nia. Wanheda" and at the sound of her title Clarke looked up briefly before reassuming her neutral persona, "has indicated that she thinks I will be strong enough after winter. If I try to lead now I would be treated as a freikdreina and killed, probably by an angry mob. I suggest that for every child and guard killed one of Nia's people be killed and that Nia receive a none fatal but painful slice, perhaps some damaging the scars of which she is so proud. I agree that to banish Azgeda from the coalition will lead to the declaration of war, but the threat of the missiles will still Nia's hand. Declare that you will not make any attacks or incursions into Azgeda lands, but if any Azgedan warriors or assassins or spys are found in coalition lands they will be dealt with. Point out that you will trade with Skaikru for information that they can obtain through their tech so Azgeda could not attack without the coalition being prepared. The people who run the bunkers want to give priority to families. Perhaps some should be moved sooner rather than later. If Skaikru's predictions are accurate, and we have no reason to doubt them, you will not be able to save all your people, with or without Azgeda. A battle or two might actually save some an agonising slow death. I do not believe Wanheda would agree with that final point, though.

Wanheda would be more likely to declare that we must keep trying right to the last second to save as many as we can" Roan finished with a bit of a smirk.

The Commander finished her conversation and turned to see Clarke glaring at her. "Why was my title mentioned?" Clarke asked.

"Prince Roan said that you think he would not be ready to take command of Azgeda until Spring, and he didn't think that you would give up trying to save everyone until the very last second' the Commander replied.

Clarke humphed a little. "He's right. From what he has said he would be almost immediately challenged and he is not yet ready to fight anyone who is much better than average. As to the latter point, yeah, well, duh. Of course I will keep trying to find safe havens for as many people as I can for as long as I can. Part of the problem is that the safe havens, or bunkers can only protect for a while. The bunker in Polis definitely cannot sustain so large a group indefinitely without some outside help so there will be a severe shortages until the earth recovers, and since we don't know how long that will take, it could mean a life of starvation for almost everyone if there are too many people fighting over too few resources. Already we could save more people, but it would mean not saving the animals, then what's the point?" "I am glad that you are more pragmatic than Prince Roan seems to think you are" the Commander said.

Jackson came with the dialysis machine to oversee its operation on the Commander overnight.

There was still a little poison in the Commander's blood that was being held in check by the nightblood, but the dialysis machine was able to separate the poisoned blood when it could not extract the poison. Clarke's blood was used to make sure that the Commander would not appear to be the slightest bit weakened by blood loss. It did not matter if anyone thought that Clarke was a little weak since most of the coalition thought that Skaikru were physically hopeless and could only survive thanks to their tech. It was an impression that Clarke was happy for them to keep, for the time being.

The Ambassadors were waiting, watching the seriously ruffled Queen and her senior guards being manhandled by the Commander's own guard. There was a slight delay and the word was starting to filter that perhaps the Commander was not in the best of health. Clarke thought that she could have heard a pin drop when the Commander strode into the room the epitome of strength and good health. Since there were no pins, the sound of the Queen's teeth snapping together more than made up for the lack.

"I have called you all here today to discuss what is to be done with Azgeda and its treasonous Queen. Nia of Azgeda, do you admit you plotted the death of all the sacred children and their guards so that there would be no hindrance to Ontari taking command of the coalition should she have defeated me in solo gonplei?" the Commander got straight to the point.

"Of course it was my idea for Ontari to kill the nighbloods as they slept. I could not risk that one of them would get a lucky strike due to tiredness after she had battled you. With Ontari in Command I would have controlled the coalition and I would have done a much better job that you: giving succour to the sky rats who should all have been exterminated on sight; and I know that many of my fellow leaders, and their ambassadors agree" Nia stood proud.

Clarke thought that the leaders and ambassadors might have thought that at one point, but they certainly didn't now.

At a nod from the Commander, a guard opened the door and in strode the nightbloods who headed straight for the Commander, lined up and as one, went down on one knee to her. Nia clearly knew who they were because her face paled.

"Welcome back, children" the Commander said. "I hope you enjoyed your change of scenery and have learned something that could be used to help the coalition. I have arranged for you all to have new rooms. Why not go and settle into them. I will call for you all later so that we may discuss what you have learned." "Thank you Commander" they all said as they left. That is all bar Aiden. The Commander merely raised a brow at him. Aiden clearly understood that this particular brow was not a reminder to do that which she had commanded, but a suggestion that he makes his request.

"By your leave, Commander, I should like to stay to witness the punishment since it is in part to pay for what I have lost, and for what I could have lost" Aiden asked.

"You may stay, Aiden. I value your input" the Commander agreed, which made Clarke think that the Commander had already spoken to the children to tell them what she proposed and that Aiden had either agreed or made a slightly dissenting comment. Aiden went to stand by the side of the Commander, easing Titus away slightly (which made Clarke smirk in amusement, although she would deny it to anyone who asked that her smile was in any way connected to the way Aiden manoeuvred Titus).

"I know that all the children would feel it an honour to have died in the place of one of the sacred nightbloods, but that does not make it right. For the murder of the seven innocent children and five guards twelve of your people will be put to death" the Commander declared and 24 guards entered and went straight to the 12 who had clearly been previously identified.

"Your deaths, like those you pay for will be quick, but unlike the others, yours will be witnessed. Take them and tie them to the stakes I had erected in the arena. For the attempted murder of the sacred children Queen Nia, you will receive seven cuts, one cut to represent what you almost had taken from us. Take her and tie her to the other stake. The remaining prisoners will be escorted there to watch. The ceremony will begin almost immediately.

Aiden, do you still wish to take part?"

"By your leave, Commander, I ask that I be allowed to carry out all the cuts to the Queen on behalf of all my brothers and sisters" Aiden said. The Commander nodded her assent, a proud look upon her face.

Aiden walked up to Clarke, who was still lurking in the background since there was no official reason for her to be present, and asked "I require a small, sharp blade, I believe you called it a scalpel. Could I borrow one, please?" Clarke didn't think he could do more actual damage with a scalpel then he could with any sharp knife so saw no reason not to grant his request.

A crowd had gathered at the arena. They clearly saw that there would be more action with 13 people, including the notoriously brutal Azgedan Queen Nia, tied to stakes that had appeared overnight.

The Commander, with Aiden on her right hand side, and Gustus and Titus following behind, led the procession of the Ambassadors, the rest of the Azgedan prisoners, bound and gagged, Clarke and Anya and an assortment of others from the tower. Clarke wondered if Titus being gently pushed aside was receiving his punishment for not being thorough with his checking that the blades were clean.

"People of the coalition" the Commander spoke in Trig, "Queen Nia of Azgeda had admitted to plotting to kill all the sacred children while they slept in their beds. Thanks to the warnings of Wanheda the children were kept safe. Instead, seven other innocent children and five guards were murdered. To pay for those deaths I sentence these twelve Azgeda warriors to die as did the innocents."

At the nod from the Commander, one of the guards from the tower called out "Die as did" and they named either one of the guards or the innocent children and killed the Azgedan the same way as the person named was killed.

Once the twelve executions were carried out the Commander spoke again. "Because the Queen did not succeed in her plan, she will not be killed today" and the Commander raised a hand to quieten the sounds of disagreement from the crowd; "but she will receive seven cuts to her face, one to represent each of the children she tried to have killed. Aiden will carry out this part of the Queen's punishment."

Aiden kept his face resolute as he walked up to the Queen. "As nightbloods, we accept that we will be called upon to live for the coalition or to die for it. But if we die for it, we expect it to be in battle, or a fair and open fight, not to be murdered in our beds by those no better than cowardly thieves of the night. This is for Lettie" and Aiden made the first cut, a vicious slice down one side of her crescent scar: he had clearly heard about and followed Roan's advice as five more cuts were made until her scars were all but obliterated. For the final cut, Aiden swopped his knife for the scalpel which he then proceeded to stick up the Queen's nose and cut off the cartilage that separated the nostrils - bloody painful, or what? Clarke did not understand how the Queen had not passed out with the pain she had to be feeling, let alone how she managed not to scream her guts out, satisfying herself with guttural groans despite not being gagged.

When Aiden had returned to the Commander, seemingly to have grown a couple of inches in the time he was slicing Queen Nia, the Commander raised her hand to indicate she had more to say.

"Due to the actions of the Queen of Azgeda, the coalition was nearly left without a Commander, and without a nightblood to take the flame. She led an army that has camped a few miles away from Polis and has two more on the borders ready to take charge had her plan come to fruition. These points mean that I have no other option than to banish Azgeda from the coalition. Azgedans within the land of the coalition have until sundown tomorrow to turn themselves in to clan leaders to arrange safe passage to the Azgeda border, or to swear allegiance to another clan or be tried as a spy. Should Azgeda decide to declare war on the coalition, either by word or action, Skaikru has agreed to trade information with the coalition, and, in extremis, for four cows and a bull, send a missile to any destination that would harm Azgeda the most."

Clarke had to exert much self control to not react to the incorrect paraphrasing of what she offered to do; although it did receive loud laughter from the crowd. There was another point that the Commander wished to make. "Additionally, I wish to make clear, now that Ageda is no longer part of the coalition, if you make another attack on our allies, Skaikru, we reserve the right to help defend them. As you know, Skaikru do not kill those who attack them unless they see no other option; we are not so willing to see the good in everyone and Anya insists that many in Trikru would welcome the opportunity to end the Azgedan lives that Skaikru in their kindness wish only to value. We shall negotiate a new Treaty to recognise this new reality."

Clarke was worried about that but then decided the Treaty would be negotiated to call for volunteers rather than warriors being commanded: she could live with that.

Chapter End Notes

The song that Shumway was humming and Clarke singing was 'We'll Meet Again' made famous by Dame Vera Lynn when it became the theme for the troops (in the UK, at least) going off to fight in the second world war.

I have assumed that a dialysis machine in the future is slightly more than a dialysis machine is currently. I do not believe one could currently remove the poison the way the one in my story did.

I hope that the actions of Aiden did not offend anyone. I don't think they're enough to warrant a change to the rating (let me know if it's otherwise) but I some some people don't like gore, hence the warning.