A Second Chance
MaxiBrux
Summary:
Bellamy Blake is shocked when a young woman tells him that she knows about his secret sister. He is even more surprised when his sister knows the woman, and delinquents who are in the sky box.
After talking to both Raven and Octavia the three of them concoct a plan to save all of the Blake family and to keep as many of their people alive as possible once they get to the ground.
Will discovering that Medic Clarke also remembers the past life help?
How many changes can they make?
Can they avoid the catastrophe of praimfaya?
How many more people remember the previous life?
Notes:
I know there are many wonderful time travel fix it stories out there, the one by ScarletSprings is my favourite, but this is my take. If I miss something important from canon, or I don't follow my story points properly, please let me know.
I am from the UK so tend to use English grammar rather than Americanisms so if I am unclear at any point, also let me know.
Chapter 1: First Contact
Chapter Text
Bellamy Blake had never thought of himself as being slow on the uptake. In fact he had always thought that he was rather quick witted, able to find a way out of the many tight spots he often found himself – stealing food and medicines to give to his illegal sister, delaying surprise inspections so that Octavia would have time to hide and preventing girls from getting too close in case they got suspicious; but now, now it was being made quite clear that there was definitely something going on that he had missed: something that affected him and his family and he needed to get to the bottom of it.
He had noticed a very attractive older girl, maybe even a young woman, looking at him as if she expected something from him, something that he had no idea what it could be so he inevitably disappointed her. She had even bumped into him once and tried to engage him in conversation and he was positive that she wasn't flirting with him. Bellamy's only thought was that suspicions about him and his family had been raised and that she was probably a mole tasked with getting close to him to find out for sure if the suspicions were valid; he was therefore very brusque in brushing her off. What was her name? Raven, that was it, Raven something or another.
Given that he thought that he might be being watched he decided that he couldn't take Octavia to the masquerade ball that night afterall. When he went to talk to her to explain why he wasn't doing so she surprised him.
"It's just as well" Octavia said, "there's going to be a solar flare and IDs will be checked."
Bellamy assumed that it was just Octavia trying to convince herself that it was for the best and thinking of things that could go wrong; but that was just wishful thinking. There had indeed been a solar flare and all IDs at the masquerade were checked. How had Octavia known? Was it a lucky guess? It had to have been, a coincidence that that was the very scenario that Octavia had used to get over the disappointment of not attending. He had, however, agreed to walk past the large window with her so that she could get her first view of the earth. Octavia's response had surprised him again. She had just touched the window and whispered "I'm coming home soon" which Bellamy had thought odd since they had already agreed that as soon as she had seen the earth she would go back to their home.
Bellamy had just pushed the rations to the prisoner in solitary when he felt that he was being watched again. He turned around and there was that Raven girl, woman, whatever, staring at him and ignoring the teenaged girl she was apparently visiting. As Bellamy walked past, Raven turned to him and asked "Did you talk to her?"
"I beg your pardon?" Bellamy needed clarification as to what she was on about.
"Clarke, did you talk to her?"
"I'm sorry, but I have idea who you are on about. I don't know any Clarke." Bellamy was really starting to get annoyed by this Raven's persistence.
"Clarke Griffin, in solitary" Raven seemed to think the expansion cleared everything up.
"No, if she's in solitary we're not allowed to talk to her; and why would I want to?"
"But you didn't take Octavia to the masquerade, I looked in case you needed help but you weren't there and why would you not be there if you didn't know?" Raven seemed to be getting irritated at the point that Bellamy was clearly missing.
"I'm sorry, but I have no idea who you are on about, I don't know any Octavia either." Bellamy was now terrified: they even knew her name.
"Just tell her that Raven didn't get together with Finn and didn't go space walking so he's not here, and let her know who is in solitary. If that means anything to her, come find me, I'll be around." At that Raven turned to her companion and said "I'll come and visit again when I can, Harper" and she left.
By the time Bellamy entered his family's housing unit he was on the verge of panic. Octavia opened her mouth to start talking but Bellamy quickly shook his head and put his finger to his mouth indicating she should be quiet. Being able to detect her brother's unease, Octavia sat calmly on the bed and waited.
Bellamy changed out of his uniform, checking carefully for possible bugs and found nothing. He then put some music on; awful tinny sounding tunes from the piece of crap tablet that his family was allocated. He turned the volume up as high as it could go and spoke very quietly to Octavia.
"I think someone is on to us. I was approached a woman called Raven and she told me to tell you that she didn't get with Finn and since they didn't go space walking he didn't get arrested. She also said to tell you that Clarke someone or another was in solitary."
Octavia jumped up and looked so excited. She opened her mouth to talk and most unlike her, she took a deep breath and calmed down, sitting back next to Bellamy to talk quietly to him, just as he did her. "When did Raven make contact? Did she say anything else? What about Clarke; does she know too?"
Clearly the names Raven and Clarke meant something to Octavia. "Do you know these people, O?" When Octavia nodded Bellamy asked "Do you also know Finn and a girl called Harper?" At which Octavia nodded again.
Bellamy sat with his head in his hands wondering what he could do; where it had all gone to pot.
"Do you think you can bring Raven here to talk to us?" Octavia asked and when she saw Bellamy look askance she added "and ask her if she knows how to check for listening devices if it'll make you feel better. If you want, before bringing her here, ask her a few questions and let me know her answers and I'll tell you if I think it safe."
"Okay, but what questions?"
Octavia took a moment to think of what questions she could ask that would show beyond all doubt that Raven knew it all just like she did.
"Ask her the name of the love of my life and of my greatest enemy, what they called the death wave and if she is dating Wick."
Bellamy was astounded at the questions. How could anyone know the name of the love of Octavia's life when she hadn't supposed to have met anyone; and how could she have an enemy, and what death wave? When Bellamy mentioned his disquiet, Octavia suggested he ask a question too. He couldn't think of a single sensible question that he could ask this stranger so Bellamy decided to take a leaf out of Octavia's book and ask who the love of his life was. Octavia laughed.
It was all very confusing but he thought it best to get it over and done with.
Bellamy didn't have wander very far before he saw Raven with her familiar look of expectation. This time he thought that he would fulfil it.
"I don't know anyone called Octavia, but if I did know someone of that name, what would be the name of the love of her life and who would be her greatest enemy?" Bellamy asked.
This time Raven smirked at Bellamy, pleased to have finally got something to work with.
"I think that someone called Octavia would belong with someone called Lincoln" and Raven looked to see if the name meant anything to Bellamy, it didn't. Disappointed, she persevered, "and I think she would have an enemy called Pike who she would, naturally, vanquish with a sword. Anything else?"
Bellamy hoped this all meant something to Octavia as he asked "What did they call the death wave, whoever 'they' are, what's the name of the love of my life, are you dating Wick and can you find a way to test for listening devices?"
At that Raven laughed. "Praimfayre, Clarke, the one solitary, not yet, he's still with Mia and yeah. Since she's not in skybox we need to come up with a plan, one that keeps you out of trouble. I've not found anyone else who knows but I can't check with Clarke. Contact me when you want to ask me out. And by that I mean get to know each other but not in the biblical sense, been there and so not going there again." The latter point was mumbled so quietly that Bellamy was sure that he was not meant to hear (a good job that he and Octavia were so used to talking quietly to each other that his hearing was particularly refined). Leaving Bellamy feeling gobsmacked Raven sauntered off.
Octavia was so excited when Bellamy entered their quarters.
"Tell me everything she said, everything" she demanded of her brother.
Bellamy was astounded at the look on Octavia's face when he mentioned the name 'Lincoln', and the hate that fired through her eyes at the name 'Pike' and satisfaction at the thought of vanquishing him with a sword. Humour was there when he told O the rest, apart from the bit about already knowing him, which he kept to himself.
Octavia showed Bellamy a scrap of fabric onto which she had roughly sewn five words: 'Lincoln', 'Pike', 'Prime Fire' and 'Clarke' and then she started to unpick her sewing, leaving no evidence.
"Okay, Octavia, what's going on? It's clear you and Raven, and possibly this Clarke know something that the rest of us don't, and it's obviously important." As Bellamy tried to demand answers from his previously fairly biddable little sister, Octavia drew herself up and seemed to mature before his very eyes.
"The morning of the masquerade I woke up after what I thought was a powerful dream: a dream that felt so real, as if it had really happened and I was just waking up as Heda Octavia kom Wonkru and when I saw where I was I thought that this was the dream. Then I saw my appearance, I looked exactly as I did the day of the fateful death wave, tattoos on my upper arm and shoulder" and Octavia lowered her top to show some of the body art, "and battle scars on my arms and stomach" and this time she raised her top to show a violent looking scar on her abdomen. "I pinched myself and nothing changed. I tried to convince myself that the life I was remembering had to be the dream even though I felt and looked older. You came and told me that you had decided that we couldn't go to the masquerade and I remembered what had happened previously and agreed with not going. Now you're telling me that Raven is also in the same predicament and we either had the same dream or we somehow travelled back in time."
Bellamy thought for a moment. "Tell me what happened in your dream after the masquerade. I'll try to get hold of Raven to find out if she remembers the same things."
And so Octavia told Bellamy the story of the drop ship, the war with the grounders, Mount Weather, ALIE, Pike and the end.
"That's why Pike is your enemy, he killed Lincoln, and I helped him. Why is Finn important?"
"For some reason you took an immediate dislike to Finn but he took an immediate liking to Clarke; but he didn't tell her about Raven so when Raven came down in an unsanctioned modified escape pod Clarke found out about her and dumped him. Raven tried to make a go of it with Finn but he wouldn't leave Clarke alone. Anyway, in a fit of anger at both Finn and Clarke you and Raven slept together" and thus something was explained to Bellamy that he hadn't told Octavia about, "and that drove a bigger wedge between all the parties. When Clarke was taken by the mountain Finn completely lost it and attacked a village killing 18 people, including children. There was no doubting it was him, the remaining villagers recognised him and a death sentence was pronounced. There could be no peace unless Finn was handed over for sentence. Finn gave himself up. Often death is quick but in cases of murder it is by a thousand cuts; and in the case of 18 murders, 18 000 cuts. Finn would have been tortured to death. He was tied to a stake outside the gates for everyone to see and hear and Clarke offered to give herself in his stead since Raven begged her to save Finn. When Clarke could find no other way to save him she killed him quickly instead."
Bellamy didn't know how to take that. How could this girl cold bloodedly kill someone who was close to her?
"Did Raven kill her?" he asked.
"No, you wouldn't let her. You, well everyone apart from Raven, realised that the only alternatives to the quick death Clarke gave Finn was either a long, drawn out tortuous death by 18 000 cuts or full out war. There was no way Finn was going to survive the night. Eventually Raven realised that too and she and Clarke became best friends, like you and Clarke; although we all thought that there was more than friendship between the two of you, the UST was painful at times and we all wondered why you never got together."
Bellamy snorted. "Perhaps sleeping with Raven was enough for me."
This time is was Octavia who snorted. "Bellamy, you were a manwhore! I think that Clarke was the only girl over the age of 16 that you didn't sleep with."
Bellamy was a little disconcerted as being described as a manwhore. "Perhaps I don't like her, or she doesn't like me."
"No, at the start you didn't like her: you thought she was the Princess and you didn't mean it as a compliment. She didn't like you because you were making some incredibly stupid decisions but eventually you got over it and came to respect each other and worked together as co-leaders. When something happened to separate you is when things went wrong. You made good decisions when working together, bad ones when solo. It appeared to be so obvious that you were in love with each other. We thought that perhaps you just didn't want risk spoiling the closeness you had."
The next evening Bellamy brought Raven to their home.
Octavia and Raven took one look at each other and rushed into a hug.
Chapter 2: The Plan
Summary:
Bellamy, Octavia and Raven consider how they can arrange for the three of them, plus Aurora, to get onto the drop ship that will be sent to Earth.
Once they have that problem sorted, they need to think about how they can organise themselves once they get down there.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
As far as the whole of the Arc was concerned Raven Reyes and Bellamy Blake were dating, and were pretty serious. Of course they did nothing to counter the gossip since it allowed for Raven to spend a lot of her free time in the Blake apartment without raising any suspicions.
With Aurora noticing the difference in her daughter's attitude and realising that Raven was actually friends with Octavia and felt quite comfortable in talking to her, it became clear to Octavia and Bellamy that they had to tell their mother everything: so with Raven's help they did.
"And no one from Factory survived?" Aurora asked.
"Well, there was one woman who did. She was found clinging to a cliff face and one of the delinquents died helping to save her. Everyone else perished" Raven said.
"So we can't leave it to happen and hope we survive?" Aurora persisted.
"No" agreed Bellamy, "we need to come up with a plan to get all four of us on that drop ship."
"I can't think of a way that would get the four of us on the ship, but if Octavia can be scrunched up in a large crate for up to twenty-four hours I think we can get the three of us on it" Raven offered.
"Well, that's better than nothing" Aurora said. "At least I'll know that both my children survive even if I do not, and that is something that I was never able to be sure of. Tell us your plan."
And Raven did.
Four days later Raven and Bellamy highjacked a Council meeting.
"So very sorry to interrupt but we really needed to speak with you and it really can't wait" Bellamy said as he and Raven barged into the Council Room.
Just as the Chancellor was about to call for security Raven said "It's about the Oxygenation problem. We think we have a plan."
That got everyone's attention. They were invited to carry on.
Raven began. "I won't bore you with the details of the problem; I strongly suspect you already know. What we want to do is to take a drop ship, fully loaded with juvenile delinquents, and maybe some other volunteers, along with some equipment and check if the earth is survivable yet. I know it might not sound much, but if we remove 120 people from the Arc that buys a bit more time, and there is always the possibility that the estimates were wrong and we can breathe down there. The flora has renewed itself as we can see and it is always possible that the fauna has too – so we will need some weapons, just in case."
"It's a long shot" Bellamy added, "but we really want to give it a go and we thought that you might agree to including the delinquents rather than others, and we can't think that you have anything to lose. If we all die, then you have oxygen for a little longer, if we survive, you come down and we can return your stuff to you."
"What do you mean 'return our stuff'?" Marcus Kane asked.
"Well, we'll need tents and other things to start off with since it will take some time to be able to build huts, but hopefully, by the time you come down we have the huts built and can return them. We haven't planned all the details yet, we thought we ought to talk to you with our idea first" Bellamy said.
"We'll need to think about it. In the meantime, don't talk to anyone about this, to do so would be treason" the Chancellor said.
"My mom already knows" said Bellamy, but she said that she wouldn't talk to anyone about it because no one would believe her. I'll re-iterate the point, I promise she won't talk."
"She'll be floated if she does" Marcus Kane said matter of factly.
Four days later Raven and Bellamy were called to meet with the Council.
"We agree to go with your idea" the Chancellor said. "There will, however, be some conditions."
"Okay" encouraged Bellamy.
"There will be 100 delinquents to include a medic. You can choose the other 99."
"But a drop ship holds 120" inserted Raven.
"We will allocate the other 18 places" said Marcus. "From now on the two of you are assigned to a special project. You may begin choosing the 99 delinquents using their records and determining what supplies you think you will need. As you say, if you end up dying then they will be of no use to us in the long run. However, if you survive and we come down, we will be living in the huts and you will return to the tents until all the non delinquents have homes built for them."
Bellamy was about to argue at the unfairness of that when Raven grabbed his arm to shush him.
"We can work with that, but only if you come down near to our landing site, we can't very well move huts to where you want to live. Also, if we're going to have to build homes for everyone, we're going to need some help. I know that you want to make sure that people don't talk so is there a way that some of skybox can be kept apart from the other inmates so that we can work with them before hand? We'll need someone to study ancient woodwork to make furniture as well as homes, plants that have healing properties, ones to avoid, what berries are safe to eat, how to make a fire and how to cook on it, all sorts of things that would be too much for us to do on our own."
Jaha and Kane leant towards each other and had a quiet conversation.
"We can have two rooms, each able to accommodate four delinquents for your use. Tablets with computer access will also be available. One of you two will have to scour the library to see if there are any books that might have information to help and scan it into the system. We'll make available a goodly amount of metal for you to fashion into whatever tools or cooking implements or other things you think you will need. We can provide a small amount of synthetic rubber as well. Is there anything else?" asked Marcus Kane.
"You mentioned a medic" started Bellamy, knowing full well they were referring to Clarke Griffin, "if he or she is in lock up, what experience could they possibly have for you to mandate their inclusion?"
"She is a qualified medic and was part way into her doctoral apprenticeship" said Dr Abby Griffin. "She is well versed in stitches and setting broken bones, which we expect to be the main medical needs you will have."
"I'm assuming she can do that with the medical equipment that is in the Arc, but won't be available on the ground. Are there any medical texts that would be useful for her to have? Will she be able to insert contraceptive implants, treat anaphylactic shock, remove an appendix? There are a number of everyday medical issues that might come up that it would be helpful if she could have guidance even if she has no experience."
"You make some good points" noted Dr Griffin. "We'll make sure that all the females have a working implant for at least two years before you go down so you won't need to worry about pregnancies. I'll see what I can find to help with the theoretical knowledge to cover as many eventualities as possible, and will make sure you have a fully equipped medical kit. Anything else?"
"Not off hand, except when will you tell us about the others who will be coming down with us and who should we liaise with as things occur to us?" asked Raven.
"When we have an agreement of who the others are, we'll let you know so you can plan how to accommodate them and I shall be your liaison officer" answered Kane. "In the meantime, this tablet has access to the records of the skybox inmates so that you can choose your 99 and who, out of those 99, you want to help with your preparations."
Bellamy and Raven studied the details of all the delinquents in the sky box, tying up what they read with what Raven and Octavia remembered. They discussed the issues with taking under fourteens, in particular Charlotte. They decided to ask for a meeting with Kane to raise their concerns with their choices.
Before Bellamy and Raven could begin with their questions Kane handed over a tablet with a list of names with the word 'orphan' after each and their age.
"This information has been sent to the tablets you already have. These seven orphans will join you in the drop ship. We have yet to allocate the remaining eleven places although we do have some people in mind."
Bellamy and Raven looked over the list and were shocked at the age range. It stomped right over their concerns about taking delinquents under the age of fourteen. They began a whispered discussion about their response. Raven finally got her way and Bellamy calmed down.
"I have to say we already had concerns about choosing to take under fourteens, this just adds to them. We are not equipped to look after such young children. You have made it clear that this is one area we have no choice over and we need to go back to look at the list of those we were planning to take. However, we have picked the eight delinquents we want to help with the preparations." Raven tapped on her tablet and sent the list to Kane.
"Raven has also just had a good idea. As I said we are not equipped to look after such young children; but my mom could come. She already knows the general idea of the plan and has so far kept her counsel; she is a fine seamstress so could undertake repairs to clothing and make new ones as the children grow and she could be the primary carer for the youngsters. What do you say?"
Kane thought for a moment and then he indicated his agreement and added Aurora Blake's name to the list of departing non delinquents. "Anything else?" Kane asked.
Raven and Bellamy looked at each other before Raven nodded to Bellamy to go ahead.
"Is the medic Clarke Griffin? I ask because if it is, I want to raise a concern we have, if it isn't, then no problem."
Kane knew that it would be best to be honest even though the Council had not wanted that information to get out at all. "Yes."
"Well in that case we need to come up with a plan to make sure that young Jaha does not find a way onto that drop ship."
Kane started in surprise at what Blake was suggesting.
"It is only gossip that has been picked up, but word has it that he would do anything for her, and that includes putting himself in the line of fire if he thought it would help her. So if he got word of the landing he would want to be with Clarke and who knows what he would do to board the ship. And if he were somehow successful, his presence would only endanger himself and Clarke so it is imperative that he not be there."
"Why would his presence endanger himself and Clarke?" Kane picked up on the oddest point as Bellamy and Raven looked at him as if he were daft.
"The Prince and Princess would not be welcomed or liked by the rest of the delinquents. Clarke would be safe enough since she would bring desirable medical skills and that information would soon be made clear to everyone. Even in factory it was known that the Princess was a med prodigy. Jaha, unless there is something we don't know, has no useful skills that would outweigh the defect of him being the son of the Chancellor who floated most of their parents, locked them up and sent them to earth; and that takes into account that he is known to excel in Earth skills, it is theoretical not practical. Life is going to be tough enough without adding an avoidable problem."
"I'll talk to him, and get you involved if he finds out about the landing. The last thing we need is someone doing something stupid for love."
Bellamy and Raven smirked as got up to leave the meeting. "I'll tell mom the news when I get her alone. I think she'll be relieved to know that if I'm gonna die, she goes with me."
Raven and Bellamy were sat in a room with Monty Green, Fox Jones, Jasper Jordan, Harper McIntyre, Nathan Miller, Zoe Monroe, Sterling Moss and John Murphy.
"Word is being put out that you all appear to have caught some sort of infection and are now quarantined. What we are about to tell you, and what we do is classified and if any of you even hint at what's happening, you and the person you let on to will be floated forthwith: no hearing, no time to apologise, just immediate death and it won't matter that you are under eighteen. If anyone is left who asks questions, they will be told you died from the infection you have." Bellamy let that warning sink in with everyone.
Raven took the reins: "The Arc is dying. Unless a miracle occurs, everyone on board will be dead within a few months maximum. There is a problem with the oxygenation that we can't fix. The more people on the Arc, the sooner we run out of oxygen. That is why a drop ship with 120 people on board will be sent to the earth to find out if it is possible to survive there. You eight, and us two, will be amongst the 120 on that ship. Any questions about what we have told you so far?"
"And if we don't want to go and would rather take our chances up here?" asked John.
"As soon as the ship leaves the Arc, the Council will announce a new policy that will lower the age of criminal responsibility to sixteen. Only crimes committed by those under the age of twelve will be considered for review. I believe that none of your crimes were committed under the age of twelve which means that you will either be dead within a few days of our departure, or on your sixteenth birthday. You will still be kept segregated from the rest of sky box in the meantime. Anything else?" Bellamy asked.
"Who are the other 110 going?" asked Monty.
"There will be another 92 delinquents and seven young orphans who will not be informed before we go, my mom will be the guardian for the orphans in the first instance and we have yet to be informed who the other ten will be and have no idea why they will be selected."
"Why have you told us?" Nate asked the important question.
"Because we want to survive and live once we get down there, and that means we're going to need help. Despite Earth kills classes we have very little knowledge that will help us survive on earth in what will be primitive times. We will need to learn how to build houses out of trees, how to cook over an open fire, hunt and dress our meat, if there are animals down there, know what nuts and berries are safe to eat, what would make a good pain killer, how to make clothes, everything that they had to do before the industrial revolution we have to learn. The Council said we could choose eight people from skybox who we wanted to help study and prepare for life on earth and you're the eight we chose. If you decide that you don't want to come, then we ask that you help the others learn since you're going to be stuck here regardless."
"Oh, wow, I'm in" said Zoe.
"Yeah, why not? We have nothing to lose" said Harper.
"How do we know you're not lying?" asked John.
"You don't. You'll find out about the drop ship when we go, as for the rest, do you really want to take the chance?" Bellamy asked. "If you want, I can ask Kane to come and talk to you but do you really think we would be allowed here telling you this if wasn't all true?"
There was some grumblings amongst the eight delinquents but they soon all seemed to come to some agreement to at least play along.
Raven handed out the study assignments. "You are being paired off so you can either work together, or divide your area in sub parts and work separately, or even swop but let us know if you do that. But you must make sure that your partner knows as much as you and you have to keep us informed. You can spread the knowledge amongst yourselves, too, you know to brain storm and chat, and to be honest, some of your areas will overlap. You need to consider your subject matter in three separate, but connected parts: how to survive the first winter we are down there since we will have just a few weeks, three months at most, before the onset of winter; how to live not just survive through the next year or two after that; and how to thrive not just live in the longer term. Also, if you can think of any reason why we should, or should not, include anyone you know from Sky box, let us know. They can't form part of this little group, the Council has said eight only, but we still need to finalise some to be included in the ship."
"What are you two doing while we're doing all this study prep?" Nate asked.
Bellamy nodded to Raven and said "You first."
"I'll be making tools, cooking pots, spits, nails, tent poles, water pipes, anything that I can make that we'll need. I'm also going to try to make a flute and a trumpet so if you know anyone who can play, let us know."
"I'm going to be preparing maps, looking for places near to where we'll be that might have some supplies that could be useful to us, and giving myself an over view of all your subject areas so that I don't come across as a complete idiot when you tell us all you've learned and formulating questions that need to be answered. I will also prepare an initial plan of action for our immediate arrival" said Bellamy. "The good news is that you now have upgraded rations. I'm not sure that they're much of an improvement, but I guess it's better than nothing. Further good news, provided you know your stuff, and can handle the responsibility you could be put in charge of a little section when we get down there.
Notes:
The whole story would be so much better if the delinquents were better prepared but there was no way that I could foresee all of those going down being allowed to know in advance what was happening so this was my compromise.
Chapter 3: Coming Together
Summary:
Plans and people begin to come together to make the future on Earth look possible.
Notes:
New characters are mentioned, some of whom will play important roles in the future so make sure you don't forget them!
Chapter Text
The eight enjoyed their assignments. No one wanted to swop but they did agree that they needed to work together where their areas over lapped. They all thought that the improved rations were welcome and they liked their bigger rooms, even though they had to share with three others rather than the one. Unfettered access to their tablets was also welcomed.
Then they got a shock: gym clothes and equipment were brought in.
Bellamy walked in dressed in shorts, t-shirt and bare feet. He indicated the pile of clothes and told them all to change. Grumbling at the lack of privacy they all self consciously took off their outer wear and donned their shorts and t-shirts.
"Get used to seeing each other in underwear" Bellamy said. "Privacy is going to be a luxury and unless everything goes unbelievably well you will be sharing sleeping quarters with both sexes during the first winter. That does not mean it's an excuse to ogle or grope people. We're all people who are deserving of respect. However, it won't do any of us any harm to work on our bodies. We do not know what we will have to face down there. We do know we will have to carry out a lot of physical work and we cannot ask others to do something that we are not able to do ourselves."
So Bellamy led the eight adolescents through a round of exercises designed to show everyone their current physical limitations and working out what needed to be done to get fitter and stronger.
"No showers" yelled Bellamy. "There won't be showers on earth for a good while so you have to get used to the smell of body odour, wearing clothes that have not been washed for a week and finding ways to keep your nails short and your hair tidy. Get your breakfast and I'll tell you what I've found out."
The eight adolescents changed back into normal wear. The girls all cringed as they were doing so while the boys didn't seem to care.
"Everyone going down on the ship will be wearing underwear, socks, pants, a tee shirt, over shirt, jacket or sweater and sturdy guard boots. They will be given a bag into which will be three pairs of socks and underwear, two tee-shirts, one over shirt and pants plus either a jacket or sweater. There will also be one toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a small towel, one bar of soap and a rag for personal hygiene care. There will be a little extra room in which you can add something or things of your choice. You eight get to choose what goes in your bags, everyone else will get what is given to them but you can help to choose for them."
"I'd like a hair brush and some hair ties" said Zoe.
"Ooh yes, and some more soap" said Harper.
"Definitely. Some packs of cards perhaps" added Fox.
"A football" said John.
"Ooh, can we take …?"
"Nothing illegal" Bellamy interrupted Jasper.
"What about a music player?" Jasper completed with a smirk.
"I think that can be arranged. What I want you to do is prepare a list that you want us to try to get for everyone and we'll fit them in their bags as best we can, okay?"
"From what you've said, it sounds like it's going to be a lot of hard work down there, so I think we need to make sure we take stuff that will help us relax sometimes otherwise we're just going to end up resenting you and the Council even more" Sterling said.
"I know you're right which is why I want you to think of the luxury items to take. You will only have to pack for the other delinquents though.
"Now, although Raven and I are more or less the co-leaders in the planning, once we enter the drop ship Raven is abdicating to lead the Engineering. We did discuss whether there should be another co-leader or if it should be just me and we decided that we need another since power can corrupt and having someone to keep me in check should be a good thing. The person has already been chosen but I've been told I can't say who it will be. Raven and I also thought that there should be an under tier just in case we can't agree or something happens. I will need to talk to my co-leader before all that is agreed but do any of you have any thoughts?"
"If you mean something like a Council then you had better call it something else" muttered John.
"Will you and the co-leader have equal power?" asked Monty.
"Yes. There will be some areas where she, and yes it is a she, will have more sway, and areas where I will have more, but when it comes to the camp overall then we have to agree. If we can't agree then we'll have to bring in our advisors. The idea being that two heads are better than one. We will have to agree certain rules and punishments for breaking them, what ages do what work things like that. If I can't persuade the Council to let me talk to her beforehand then I'm going to have to prepare an outline of proposals that we can at least implement for the first few days pending review."
"Do you know the age range?" asked Zoe.
"From the list given to me, the youngest is 6 and the oldest is my mom."
"I don't envy the person who has to be teacher" muttered John.
Two days later Raven turned up with some tools.
"I'm taking all your bed frames so you need to remove your mattresses and place them on the floor. Get used to it because it will still be more comfortable than sleeping on the ground on earth."
"Why are you taking our frames" asked Fox.
"I need more metal to make a protective canopy for the camp fire so it doesn't go out if it rains and to make a cooking grill. Also I'm making some bow and arrows for hunting."
They all agreed that they were good enough excuses and well worth losing a little comfort.
"You'll also all have to sleep in the one room or there won't be enough space to do your workouts" Raven added.
That one earned a little grumbling.
"But we can sit on our beds while doing our research" noted Fox in the tone of someone looking for the silver lining.
As it turned out, they liked sharing a room, it meant that no one was singled out (Nate had been sharing with the girls) and it meant that they got used to seeing each other in their underwear so it soon became a non issue. Respect for the total lack of privacy developed into a close friendship without any sex related issues arising. No one thought that sex would not raise its head at some point, especially once they arrived down on Earth and people thought that they would have something worth celebrating.
Some nights either Raven or Bellamy would camp out in their room with them using a sleeping bag instead of a mattress.
The eight delinquents soon began to appreciate that living on the Arc had its good points: they never had to worry about hunting for food; no fruit or vegetables grown on the Arc were poisonous; clothes, threadbare as they were, were given and didn't have to be made by growing and weaving linen or shaving deer skin; they didn't have to worry about making fires and keeping them going; and it would never be an issue on where they could sleep. But they all felt that if they could overcome the hurdles of living on a post-apocalyptic Earth, it would be infinitely better than being floated.
When Raven had finished making the bow and arrows the delinquents were all given some archery practice after watching the recording of an archery tutorial. It came as no surprise to anyone that Bellamy proved rather good at it, but the best by far turned out to be Harper.
Kane gave Bellamy information on four more people who would be in the drop ship: Beppi Mkembi was aged 42 and dying of cancer. He was about to use up his medical allowance and no more help was available to him. Since he had agreed to go to earth he had been granted a medical exception to continue pain relief until the ship left; Molly Higgins was 31 and currently had a broken arm that needed setting; but she had already used up her lifetime medical allowance due to multiple broken bones, cuts and concussions due to domestic violence but she would never press charges. Going to earth was the only way she could be gotten away from her husband and have her broken arm set. Marcus assured Bellamy that provided a natural pain relief could be found down there Clarke would be up for the job. From what Raven and Octavia had said about Clarke's abilities Bellamy had no doubt that she could do that and more; Philip Rhodes (aged 39) was accompanying his son, Ben (aged 8). Mrs Rhodes had died in childbirth following a problematic pregnancy. Despite advice to abort the Rhodes continued with the pregnancy. Ben was autistic, suffered from epilepsy and had learning difficulties with a developmental age of three to four. Ben had already used up his lifetime medical allowance.
Bellamy knew he had to get Monty on to identifying a natural seizure control medicine. It was not going to be easy.
That left six more spots to be filled.
There was one point that Bellamy wanted to raise with Kane: "My mom thinks that your mom knows how to knit. If that's true, could you ask if she would be willing to teach my mom? We may have to make clothes down there and it could come in handy."
Kane said that his mom could knit and he would ask if she would be willing to give a few lessons.
Kane told Raven and Bellamy that the Council could not agree on whom to ask to go on the ship and wanted their input. Both Raven and Bellamy said that they would be happy to choose six more delinquents but Kane was adamant that there should be only 100. Bellamy decided to try to be a little creative.
"Charlotte Nevis aged 12 arrested for hitting a guard when aged 10. Charlotte had just seen her parents get floated and was in her family quarters gathering her things when the guards came in to hurry her along and remove her parents property. Charlotte tried to stop the guards from stealing her parents' things. Why was she arrested instead being given counselling? Why would the guards go in at that time instead of allowing Charlotte a little time to grieve and waiting until she had left the quarters? I think labelling her as a delinquent is wrong and I think you know it. She should be reclassified as a minor orphan and grouped with the others."
Kane smirked at Bellamy. "I see where you are going with this, and I think you are probably right in that Charlotte's loss should have been treated with more tact and respect. Very well, I concede your argument. Any more like that?"
"Ito Krecsh aged 11. He was arrested at aged 4 for running up to the now Chancellor and smacking him on the backside on a dare from two older boys – Wells Jaha being one of them. That was just wrong on all levels. How could any people who think of themselves as good lock up a four year old for doing something like that. What would have happened if it was Wells Jaha who had done the smacking? He would have just received a telling off. That is what should have happened to Ito. You then floated his parents when they tried to defend their son!"
"Yes well, everyone was surprised when the Chancellor reacted like that. You have another orphan. Any more?"
"Chrystal Glass is aged nine. She was arrested for stealing when she was aged six. When a six year old takes something on the instructions of their parent they don't know that it is wrong. In fact to them, not doing what they are told to do is wrong. Her parents were floated for the stealing. Chrystal should not have had to pay for doing what her parents tell her."
Kane seemed surprised by what Bellamy was saying and tapped away on his tablet.
"This is a mistake. I remember that case. She was not supposed to be arrested she was supposed to be placed with a family. You have a third. Any more?"
"None that I can think of off hand but I'll make a point of looking at all the records for those in sky box aged 13 and under. If any occur to me, I'll message you. Anyone else coming close to using their medical allowance?"
"Dr Griffin has assured me that baring an unforeseen event no one else is close. The Chancellor has said that he is most impressed with your designs Ms Reyes and wants the specs sent to him so that if appropriate more can be made before the rest of us venture to earth."
Raven smirked but nodded her agreement, meaning that she would keep some of her designs to herself, but she would share some.
Bellamy, Octavia and Raven were talking in the Blakes' room when Octavia started to play with Raven's hair, plaiting it into the warrior braids that were so practical.
"If you used a filament of copper wire into each braid you could use the end to tie off each braid" Bellamy said as if it was the most obvious thing to suggest.
"Ooh, yeah" agreed Raven. "How many actual braids would you usually do, O, 'coz it would be a good way to sneak some more copper wire down there if we were to do the other girls' hair that way before launch. We, Bellamy and I, could put a filament or two into each section of each braid and no one would be any the wiser. If it were questioned, we could just say that it was for practical purposes so their hair didn't get in the way of their studying or exercising."
"Don't forget that it doesn't need to be washed as often so it saves water, too" Octavia pointed out.
Chapter 4: Going Down
Summary:
The Delinquents plus some others are finally on their way to Earth.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
It was the day before the launch. Bellamy, Raven, Octavia and Aurora were very much on edge. They had to plan and time it perfectly to get Octavia on the ship without raising any suspicion and to keep her safe until she could be released.
"Are you sure you will be okay Octavia?" Raven asked. "You could be curled up in a cramped crate for up to 12 hours. What if you need to pee?"
"I will only take small sips of my drink and only when I really need to. I can go over 12 hours without peeing but if I need to then I'm just going to have to pee. The cramped quarters don't bother me at all because I'm fairly used to that. And by the way, I'm not Bell's sister: I am Octavia Geogiothopadopoulous arrested as a young child and kept in isolation for violent tendencies after both my parents were floated trying to control me. Perhaps I find it hard to deal with people and react badly to the hum of the Arc. I'll say something about liking the quiet on earth. Of course over time I hope I'll just have the one name, so much easier to remember and soon everyone will forget that I was ever called anything other than just Octavia."
Raven smirked as she thought about Octavia being locked up for violent tendencies and imagined the ways by which those tendencies could, and would, be demonstrated once they reached earth.
That evening, moving Octavia to the bay where her crate was waiting to be loaded onto the ship took cool nerves. Raven was already in the bay out of sight of anyone looking in the door. Octavia was wearing Raven's distinctive red jacket similar pants to Ravens and had her hair in the same ponytail that Raven often wore. Bellamy had his hands over Octavia's eyes and was using his body to disguise the fact that it was not Raven whom he was leading.
"Patience, Rae, we'll soon be there. I have a nice romantic evening planned for you so just wait and see" Bellamy said as they were nearing and passing others.
Octavia did her best to impersonate Raven as she grumbled but allowed herself to be led. Of course she really knew where she was going but had to pretend she was in the dark. When they reached their target, Bellamy nodded to the guard to open the door for him. The guard thinking that he was aiding a tryst just smirked and did as requested. Walking into the room, Bellamy stood behind Octavia, shielding her from the guard's view, and Raven clearly stated "Dammit Bell, I thought we were going somewhere romantic. The drop ship loading bay doesn't quite cut for me."
"What do you mean, Rae? We have all the comfy sleeping bags and it's deserted" and Bellamy led Octavia away from the view of the door where she quickly removed the red jacket and passed it to Raven who took her place close to Bellamy while Octavia stood close to the wall behind the door.
Seeing that they were still being watched Bellamy grabbed Raven and started kissing her. Raven not liking the ad lib started grinding her heel onto Bellamy's foot. She then broke the kiss, looked at the guard who appeared to be enjoying the show and slammed the door in his face. They moved away from the area that could be seen through the door window.
Raven showed Octavia the crate that she was to curl up in.
"There's holes in the floor and dotted all over but in such a pattern that no one will be able to see inside so you should have no problem with breathing. If anyone opens the bay door curl up in the crate and close the lid. As soon as it would be reasonable for us to retire and we're sure that no one is watching we can load you and a few other crates so we can spend the night in the ship. Everyone is supposed to start loading at 0700 so no later than 06.30 you'll have get in your crate and I'll cover you with this cloth and put some of the sleeping bags on top of you. It won't be heavy but if anyone were to take the lid off they wouldn't see you. As soon as it's safe, we'll get you off the ship. If Clark remembers no doubt she will help with the subterfuge, if she doesn't, she will agree to the pretence once it's all explained to her" Raven explained.
When it appeared they were alone the three did load a few of the crates, including the one that Octavia was to hide in and they spent the night in the drop ship.
As soon as she woke at five o'clock, Raven woke Octavia and suggested she void as much waste as she could into a large bowl and Raven would dispose of it. Octavia and Raven both decided that they were going to forget that ten minutes of their lives. Then Raven gave Octavia a fake wrist band to wear so that she would not stand out to the other delinquents.
Bellamy went to speak to the gang of eight to make sure they were ready. They were nervous and excited and kept rechecking the bags making sure the correct items were in the correct persons' bag. They had to hand the bag to delinquent as they boarded the ship to store under their seat. Bellamy took charge of Clarke's bag since he had ensured that there were art supplies as Clarke's luxury.
As it turned out, the final three places were not filled, something that grated with Bellamy since it meant that ultimately three more delinquents would die who did not need to just so the Council could have a nice round number.
Bellamy watched as the wrist bands were attached. The person had to identify themselves as the band was attached, even those who were known to Dr Griffin. Bellamy wondered how the doctor would get Clarke to identify herself if she was knocked out.
Back in the loading bay, all the crates being loaded into the top deck were secured in place so that meant it was time to load those sitting there.
The orphans, including the three former delinquents, under the care of Aurora were loaded next. Each was given a slight sedative to keep them calm and had help to strap in and store their bag.
Then came the Rhodes's; Molly Higgins, Beppi Mkembi and Clarke.
Bellamy said that he wanted to sit next to her to talk to her when she came to so the seat next to her was saved for him. Knowing that he was never going to get the opportunity again, Bellamy asked Abby if he could go and look at her cell.
Seeing Dr Griffin's puzzled face Bellamy explained "Your daughter is an artist and I have no doubt that she would somehow have found a way to make it her own."
Dr Griffin assured Bellamy that art was a mere hobby so it was unlikely that the cell would be anything other than standard. Both Bellamy and Abby went to look; each determined that the other would be proved wrong.
Bellamy was in awe of the detailed work covering the walls, part of the floor and ceiling of Clarke's former cell. Even though the drawings could only be black and white, and she had never seen the earth (probably) they were incredibly detailed and felt so life like. "And you think Clarke isn't an artist."
Once the top deck was full of assorted puzzled, scared looking adolescents, armed guards stood around telling everyone to remain in their seats and to make sure their bag was stored safely away.
Raven was closely supervising the storing of the remaining crates on the lower level. They were almost done. It wouldn't be long now.
When all seats were occupied and Bellamy was strapped in next to Clarke, the doors were shut and the engines fired. Bellamy closed his eyes hoping against hope that both Raven and Octavia were correct and that this was somehow a second chance for them and not the result of some strange dream they both had.
The ship was on its way.
Screens around the walls came to life and the face of the Chancellor could be seen.
Clarke began to stir.
Clarke woke in agony. She thought that when she last closed her eyes it would be for the final time; that her fight was over. Instead she was still alive; her body sore and aching from the radiation poisoning, her throat and mouth parched from thirst and her stomach angry at the lack of sustenance. Perhaps she had just one more day to fight. Or did she?
Instead of lying on the floor of Becca's lab staring at the remains of a hazmat suit she was strapped and seated on a chair dressed in clothes from the sky box. And she was sure she could hear the voice of Chancellor Jaha droning on in the background. That would mean that she was on the dropship hurtling towards earth and seated next to her, when she turned head to look, would be her friend Wells. Was she hallucinating in delirium due to her pain?
Clarke forced herself to look and see her much missed friend, but instead of it being Wells it was "Bellamy?" Clarke muttered disbelievingly.
"Oh, good, Clarke, you remember" Bellamy went to grasp her hands, drawing back when he saw the healing wounds. "Is that burns?" he asked talking quietly so no one else could overhear.
"I tripped and smashed my helmet, bad radiation. Healing now. Thought die because no food or water. Six, seven days now, maybe more. Why you in my dream? Did you not go?"
"This is not a dream. This seems to be a second chance. I'm told we didn't have enough oxygen to attach the oxygenator in time. I don't remember. I thought Raven was crazy when she approached me. And then I talked to O. You were already in solitary so we couldn't talk to you. O is hidden in one of the crates. When we land we'll find a way to get her out so she just becomes part of the group. She's not my sister. She's putting out the story that she's been locked up in isolation for as long as she can remember for violent tendencies. Can you say that you occasionally caught a glimpse of her when rations were served or something like that if it ever comes up?"
Clarke thought it was a good story but realised that it meant there were lots of other changes. Bellamy seemed to realise what she was about to ask because he explained more. "Raven and I persuaded the Council to let us lead a group down to earth. There's 100 delinquents and some others including my mom; we'll tell you the details when we can be sure of no interruptions. It's the second of August so we have a little more time to prepare for everything, but what can we do for you now? We'll need to think of a story to explain these burns."
Clarke thought that one was an easy question to solve. "Say guard thought fun to torture the Princess. Not know about drop ship and with me in solitary who would know?"
Bellamy hummed his approval.
"As soon as possible get me to the lake to clean and hydrate and wrap in sea weed. O'll know what to do. Are there any ration packs? I have no strength without food."
"I don't know how many we have, but I'll get you one as soon as possible. I take it you didn't have to go through solitary again?"
Clarke shook her head, just as the ship hit the atmosphere.
"O said she woke up the day of the masquerade ball and remembered. Raven woke up on her 17th birthday – the day she first kissed Finn before. She said she kept him as a friend only and refused when he tried to get her to space walk on her 18th so he didn't get arrested. I think you only just came back because you didn't need to change anything you did before now."
Clarke grunted her agreement with Bellamy's deduction whilst wondering why she wasn't able to go back far enough to prevent her dad from being floated when Bellamy and Octavia had been able to stop their mom from dying just as the parachutes deployed and the reverse thrusters engaged.
"Once we land, you stay here. I'll get something organised for everyone else, introduce you to my mom, and release O. When I think it safe, we'll take you to the lake, okay?"
Clarke, barely still conscious, could only nod her head in agreement and let her thoughts go where they may.
How was it possible that three women, Raven, Octavia and herself could somehow travel back through time, to different points and relive what was the end of the world? Could the three of them make the right changes to make sure that humanity survived the forthcoming apocalypse? Why just those three? Was it possible that more people on the ground or the Arc were living through a second chance? If so, how would they be able to tell? Who else could need to make changes to keep humanity going? Could Lexa also be living through a second chance? What did Clarke want to do about Lexa, whether or not she remembered? What specifically could Clarke do to make things right?
'Ughh!' Clarke thought, it was all too much for her exhausted brain and she succumbed to slumber.
Notes:
Clarke's point about not being able to save her dad will be addressed later in the story. I did want to keep him alive, for Clarke if no one else, but I just couldn't do it - sorry to those who liked Jake. I haven't decided if there's going to be Kabby or not yet, either way it won't really affect the plot but I am very ambivalent about their relationship.