Chapter 5
Clarke let out a breath she didn't even realize that she was holding. She didn't want to be there, but she knew that she had to be. Raven was off to the side, hidden by the trees. She knew exactly where all the warriors were hiding. She could find them, but she wasn't trying to out them. She was surrounded by Lexa and her guards that were posing as Ark Guards. They were all young, but Clarke had thought of a backstory for them all as they walked towards the Mountain.
The Mountain loomed ahead of her. The fortress in the ground was still the thorn in her side. Clarke knew that it would always be, no matter the life. Clarke was never going to be free of it. She would always have to deal with it, and she hoped that it would be in a peaceful manner this time. She knew that it wasn't up to her, either. It was really up to Cage. She hoped that it would Dante. He was the more reasonable, but Cage would hold a coup to take over and get what he wanted. But, that was why Clarke was there. She was giving them an option. He didn't know that it meant his eventual destruction. She would allow him to walk the Earth for a few minutes before she executed him. The Mountain and Cage were both the same problem. She sighed again.
"Do not let them see your fear," Lexa whispered to her as she stood closer to her.
"I won't."
"Do not let them see you falter," Lexa added.
"I won't. I can't," Clarke stated as she closed her eyes and took another deep breath. "I just need the nightmares to stay away."
"And, they will. This is not that life, Clarke. We can change things."
"I know that, Lex," Clarke said.
"And, you have something that you might not have had in other lives," Lexa told her.
"And, what is that?"
"Me, by your side, supporting you all the way through," Lexa answered.
Clarke gave her a trademark smile. She knew that Lexa meant every word. She'd heard too much about Clarke's lives over the past few weeks, and she'd decided that she would never leave Clarke's side. Lexa hadn't really let her out of her sight, since they came back together. She had definitely been watching her more and keeping closer than she had in other lives, and Clarke knew it had gotten more obvious since they started spending nights together.
Clarke reached over and squeezed her hand. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to them. They knew that they had to be discreet around the Mountain and the Mountain Men. They couldn't let their relationship be fully in the open. Cage and the others might try to use it against them. Clarke wasn't going to let that happen. She wasn't going to sacrifice herself or Lexa for the Mountain. She would destroy them all first. They weren't worth losing Lexa.
The eerie quiet did nothing to console her misgivings about this plan, but Clarke wasn't going to back down now. She needed this. She needed for things to work this time. The waiting was starting to get to her.
She felt the other guards come up behind her. Tris was among them, a young protégé to "Alex, a sister." It had been odd to see them all dressed as Ark Guards and not Trikru gona. She knew that it would take time for her to become used to it. They looked good.
Some of them took to cutting their hair. It was their choice. Clarke wasn't going to force it. Most of them were young and hadn't been too battle tested. It didn't matter though. They were still just as deadly as the older warriors that followed Lexa to the growing Arcadia. She was proud of the little platoon of gona that had all stepped up on their own for this duty. She knew that this was going to help their status among the older warriors, too. This wasn't just a protection mission. It was a spy mission and a training mission. Clarke knew that most of those chosen for this would be put in the bunkers to support the leaders at Lexa's discretion. This was also a test for them, to see how well they could work with Skaikru. It was a mission they knew they had to pass.
Clarke had made sure to bring extra suits with them. She knew how toxic the air was to those of the Mountain for now. She couldn't let them die before they were given the chance to live. She also kept her mother close by, just in case. She knew that Cage and Tsing would love to get their hands on her, so she was going to be under constant guard...very large and ruthless guards.
She wasn't sure if Cage was going to bring the five that she'd prescribed to come out of the main door, or if they were going to try to come out of the Reaper Tunnels or other access tunnels. She doubted that they would. Lexa and her warriors had made sure that the Mountain had very few access points to use. The cutting of their suits and the destruction of their outdoor cameras kept them inside and under Lexa's watch. They were getting a little more desperate for the blood that they weren't getting to help them survive. Cage had to be pushing for the right to go out and get what he wanted, and Dante was trying to keep him on a short leash. The Reapers proved that the leash wasn't as short as Dante may have wanted, but it gave him enough deniability that Dante let it go. So, her mind kept wondering what surprises Cage was going to try to hand her today.
The radio squelched. Clarke looked over to where Raven and her mother were hidden. She cocked an eyebrow, but kept her main focus on the Mountain.
"This is Lieutenant Carl Emerson, Mount Weather Security Detail, calling for Clarke Griffin," a voice on the radio called out.
Clarke tried to hide her smile. She knew that Carl Emerson was keeping his end of the bargain. He was doing what was asked of him in order to save his family. He was going to be an ally. He would do what needed to be done. And, part of that hurt Clarke, because she knew that she couldn't save him. He would have to pay for the sins that he committed against the Grounders. There was no way around that, but he could what he could in order to save his family. He could give them a better future with Clarke and the rest of the survivors of Praimfaya. The Emersons would be one of the Mountain families to find themselves in a new future, a future that none of them could think of, but the future nonetheless.
"This is Clarke," she responded as she pulled the radio from Lexa's hip.
Heda was a little miffed that Clarke took it, but she knew that Clarke had to be the one to answer him. Clarke had a rapport with him. They had an understanding, even if it was really one-sided. Plus, Clarke was the main contact that the Mountain Men had with those from the Ark.
"I have the medical detail ready to depart," he replied.
"That's good, Carl. And, are they ready for the journey?" Clarke asked but before Emerson could answer, she asked another question. "Who is among the detail? Have my stipulations been followed? Or, should I just leave and shut the Mountain completely?"
She could hear the snickers of the Guard around her at her words. She knew that the Grounders among them wouldn't mind if she close the Mountain up tight, so that none of them lived or really got to see the real light of day. She agreed with them all for the most part, but she also knew that some of those in the Mountain could be helpful in their future, not only in the bunkers, but beyond. She raised her hand and everyone went quiet.
"I have them with me," Emerson relayed over the radio.
"And, who are they?" Clarke asked.
"Vincent and Maya Vie, Gail Harmon, Sara Dover-Ball, and Sergeant Eric Lovejoy," Emerson stated.
"Is Cage going to come with them?"
"That is up to you, Clarke, per the President's orders."
Clarke just nodded. She didn't reply to that. Dante was still flexing his power. Clarke wanted to laugh, but she knew that she couldn't yet. She needed to get more of the Security Detail to turn to her side before she could. The more of them that she had, the more power she would be able to wield and keep Cage in check. Dante was doing his best, but she could tell that he was losing his reins when it came to Cage.
"Are you coming as well, Lieutenant?" Clarke asked him.
"I would love to come and speak with you, Clarke, but Dante wasn't sure that you wanted more to come with those already selected."
"If the President could spare you, I would love for you to accompany his son Cage on this little mission, Lieutenant. I would hope that your visit would allow us to foster better relations. I will that up to you, though," Clarke told him.
They all knew it was because of Cage. It was the underlying reason, but it wasn't Clarke's main one. She wanted to look him in the eyes. She needed more time with Carl Emerson to judge him and see if he was even worthy of trying to get the cure. Him keeping Cage in line was a just an added bonus. She knew that Carl was the one that had Dante's ear at this point. Keeping him on Clarke's side would Dante happy and let her continue this mission. She really didn't want to kill them all, but she would. She'd already told Dante as much.
This was all just a test of trust. She knew that she couldn't really trust Cage. She never could. Emerson was always a wild card. And, Dante would go with the side that the thought would get him back to the ground regardless of the measures taken to do so. He would "stay the course."
Minutes passed and nothing more was said. Clarke could only wonder Emerson was securing his permission from the President and not Cage to come along. She knew that he would be tasked with trying to study their encampment. Cage would want to take it over once they were out. Dante would try to maintain the peace and would hope that Clarke and her crew would join him in their "fight" against the Grounders.
The radio didn't make another sound. However, the front door to the bunker began to open. Several people began to walk forward.
Clarke felt Lexa tense behind her. As did the rest of the Guard that Lexa had selected. Tris was with her mother, waiting to run back to the Grounder camp with news as needed. Jacov, Mezi, and Kahlan were all dressed and kitted out as Ark Guards. They weren't going to leave Clarke's or Lexa's side. Thankfully, they all looked old enough to be in the Guard, where Lexa was stretching it a bit.
She could tell that they were being sized up. Clarke purposefully hadn't brought a large contingent of the Guard with her. She didn't want Cage or Emerson getting their real number. In fact, Lexa already had few guards back in TonDC that were shaving to act as night guards for patrols around the camp. (None of them had facial tattoos.) They would all mingle with the Ark Guard, as small as it was, and make it look bigger.
She also knew that Anya and Luna would have an entire Army between them. Luna would probably stay closer to the Ark as protection and Anya would settle in to watch and head off any problems that might arise from the Mountain. No one was leaving anything to chance. They had been prepared for this before they even knew that they were preparing for this. Clarke was grateful that, too. There were enough warriors to end those and then some who had come out of the door. Clarke wasn't afraid. She was just nervous.
There were two larger suits in the front of them. Clarke guessed that this was Emerson and Cage. She knew that Cage would demand to see her first.
She looked around them and saw Maya and her father. She barely cared about the two women that were also in their little party. She'd picked them just because of the areas of the bunker in which they worked. She'd never had any personal connection with them, like she did with Maya and Vincent. Lovejoy was still a favor for Bellamy, even if he couldn't remember. She would save them if no one else. They were the ones that she knew personally and wanted to protect. And, if by some chance, Jasper and Maya found their ways to each other, so be it. There were bigger things that she needed to deal with.
She smiled as they approached. She couldn't help herself. She missed some of the discussions that she had with Maya when she wasn't being a pill. Maya reminded her of how she was before she'd been arrested. Maya was a medical intern. She was smart and understood things. She also had a conscience. She resisted things that she knew were wrong, but she also tried to help the 44 that had been in the bunker that time. She knew that Maya would help her. She needed to get her alone and speak with both her and her father. They would help Clarke finalize her coup of the bunker.
"Good afternoon, People of Mount Weather," Clarke stated greeting them.
"Good afternoon, Clarke," Emerson replied as he moved forward. "As you've asked, we have brought the first five for the cure. Shall I introduce them to you?"
"Yes, please," Clarke answered, even though her eyes kept moving to Maya's.
Emerson stepped up and to the side. He didn't start with Cage. Clarke could see it in his face. It was calculated and ordered. She could tell that Emerson was doing what he was told to do by Dante. He stepped to Vincent and Maya's side.
"This is Vincent and Maya Vie," Emerson said.
"Hello, Vincent and Maya. I hope that you take the cure well and we can speak while you are in my camp. Today...well, today is the first day in a long day of days that you'll be able to be above ground and hopefully breathing the air, too," Clarke told them with a large smile.
Emerson moved to the other two with them, Sara and Gail. He introduced them to Clarke. The blonde reached out and shook their hands. She gave them a warm greeting and a smile. They seemed okay with Clarke and their mission ahead. Clarke made a small mental note to watch them. She honestly wouldn't relly know if they were really Gail and Sara until they got them into the airlock back at Arcadia. She knew that Raven had pulled the medical and personal files that Dante and Tsing had on everyone. It was another way to stay ahead of them all.
Clarke moved down the little party until she was in front of Sgt. Lovejoy. She eyed him. He was taller than she imagined. But, his eyes were kind. She hoped that he was someone that would help in their little coup. She really didn't want to take him from his son.
"We have a long walk. But, do not worry. I've stationed wagons on the way back to Arcadia to trade out your air tanks," Clarke told them. "We also have an airlock prepared for you five to stay in. Of course, we have cots and other things in there for you to pass the time between treatments. We have also prepared some special quarters for you to stay in while getting the treatments. Unfortunately, you will be alone in those quarters. We are doing everything that we can to make sure that your stay is as comfortable as it can be. If you are all ready, we should head back."
The five patients nodded. Clarke turned to lead the way. Lexa on her heels when she felt Emerson come forward again, Cage beside him. She hadn't greeted him on purpose. She wasn't going to give him power. If anyone of that group had any leadership qualities that Clarke would acknowledge, it was going to be Emerson and Emerson only. She was slighting Cage. She wanted him to fail the test. She wanted to imprison him.
Her thoughts were all over. She knew that this was dangerous. She knew that keeping Cage in Arcadia was going to be the safest thing for them. She needed him to break and do something stupid. She wanted him angry and feeling like he was slighted so deeply that he would have no choice but to act. She knew that he would attack. He was coming to Arcadia not to talk to Clarke, but to scope things out. He wanted to know what they had and what he would need to do in order for him to take over Arcadia once they were all cured. Clarke was ahead of him, though. Every mistake that he made between the march to Arcadia and while he was there, were going to be the nails in his coffin. She was given him just enough rope to hang himself.
She started towards the woods. She knew that they would be surprised as the rest of the "Guard" fell into step with him as they made their way back. She knew that knowing they were surrounded would cause them some anxiety. She hoped that it would. She needed them on edge. She needed them to betray their own leadership. But, she knew that she had to give them something, a little bit of a tidbit of truth in what they could expect during their stay.
"Oh, and one more thing," Clarke told them as neared the tree line. "While you are in Arcadia, you will be expected to follow our laws. I know that it shouldn't be a problem for you. While your President Dante is the leader of Mount Weather, I am the leader of Arcadia. Welcome to the surface."