Chapter 8

Vincent wasn't a fool. Clarke knew that. Maya was smart and medically trained. She had to know what the serum was and know that it wasn't just blood. She watched them as they thought about her words. She knew that they both knew how dangerous Cage Wallace to them and to their survival as the people of the Mountain.

"You selected us, why?" Vincent asked her.

"Because of who you are," Clarke answered.

"And, what do you know about us?"

"I know that you both lost someone very close to you a few months ago. She might have been your wife, Vincent, and your mother, Maya, but Daphne was the first among you to refuse the treatments. She did not last long after she started to refuse, correct? I am not giving you the blood of the savages. I am giving you the cure. I am giving your the earth above your heads to walk upon. I know that you are both in direct relations to the main functions of the Mountain. Maya in the medical wing as a nurse, and Vincent as a engineer and maintenance worker making sure all the technology that you have in the bunker still work. Both are honorable, and both are needed. You are also two of the few that have the full access to most of the Mountain. I know that Daphne was one of the teachers among your people. I know that you only have just over three hundred fifty souls inside, and your people are dying. And, those that survive are running out of materials, resources, and genetics. Soon, the Mountain will destroy itself from the inside. I'm offering you life outside it.

"I know what Dr. Tsing is doing behind the med bay in the rooms that most cannot see or even enter. I know that you, Maya, have been going in there and feeding the savages as they waited to be killed, bled for their blood, the life saving elixir for your people. I know that you don't agree with her tests or her experiments. I know that you take the blood only to live, but it is strategic. I know that you are both part of resistance. You wait until you ultimately have to the take the blood. I commend you for that. I know that it hurts and takes great restraint for you to do this, to the detriment of your own body. I know that you have being trying to figure out a way to help them, the free them, and to get word out that not all in the Mountain were evil and wanted to help those taken. I know that you don't approve of the other things that are done to them, but you don't know how to stop Cage or Dr. Tsing.

"I am that way. I will let them know and I will still help you. Is there more that you want from me?" Clarke questioned.

"Who is them?" Vincent asked.

"Them?" Clarke repeated.

"Yes, who is this 'them' or 'they' that you've referred to? Who will you tell?"

"Well, the Savages or Grounders as we call them. I will let them know that you want to help us. For you see, I've already told them what Cage and Tsing are doing in that Mountain and they are very angry. They want blood for the blood that was taken. And, to be honest, in all fairness and justice, they should be allowed to have it. But, I can also give you the cure."

"There is more to that story than you are telling us, isn't there?" Vincent probed.

"There is."

"Will you tell us?" Maya asked.

"Are you willing to do what I ask of you?"

"Why should we trust you?"

"Because I want to make things right, but I don't think that everyone in that bunker should have to suffer for what the Wallaces have put upon you. You aren't responsible for their sins, Mr. Vie. We both know that. I want the guilty to be dealt with, but I am not calling for the deaths of over three hundred people. That is genocide, and while well within their right to ask for it, their leader has given me permission to save some of you. The question is now: how many are worth saving and are willing to help us overthrow the Wallaces to make sure it happens?"

"You would kills us all?" Maya inquired.

"I could, but I don't want to do that. You are both the beginning of the end of the bunker. I know that you have friends that are part of your little resistance, those that will come to your aid. I need to know there names and the names of all the children in that bunker. I will not sentence an innocent child for their parents mistakes. If you are willing to give me that, I will make sure that no harm comes to you, here or inside the bunker. The choice is yours," Clarke told them before she stood up. "I'll give you an hour, here, to discuss it. Once you've given me your answer we'll start the treatment."

"And, if we refuse?" Vincent asked.

"You'll still receive the serum and be sent back to the bunker. I will still continue with my plans to save as many as I can, but I will not promise to protect. Once your in the bunker, you will have to decide what to do to ease your conscience. Do you tell the Wallaces what I've told you? Or, do you find a way to let me know who are the most innocent?" Clarke explained. "Have no fear though. I don't need your help, Mr. Vie. I already know the names of those I am going to save and those I am going to punish for what has been done to the Grounders. The more you help me, the more I can save. Either way, the Mountain will fall. It just depends on how many fall with it."

She walked away letting them stew over what she said. She exited the airlock and saw that Lexa was waiting for her. She could see the look in her eyes.

"Take me back to my...our quarters Alex. We need to talk. And, send word for Raven to go speak with Mr. Vie in an hour about the functionality of the Mountain. We're going to use him to insert a virus to make sure that Tsing and Cage don't get control back," Clarke ordered as they walked away from the cells.

Tris was already running away to go find Raven and give her the news. Lexa was giving Jacov and Messi more orders on what to do to the others in the cells waiting to be spoken with. She wanted to make sure that one of her trusted guards was there to listen in on what was being said. She also knew that Bellamy and Major Byrne were personally handling the Ark guards at the location.

As they exited the Ark for their tent, Clarke was never more thankful that Lexa had started changing things. Arcadia, or whatever they were going to call it, was open for the most part. Sure, they had erected the fence and electrified it, but it wasn't because of the Grounders. No, it was because of the Mountain. They didn't want Cage sending his men to try to persuade them to join their cause or worse steal them for their blood, finally figuring out that they needed the Arker's marrow to survive on the ground. Clarke wasn't going to let that happen. She irradiate the Mountain first.

She was tired. She knew that she really didn't have time for a nap, but she wanted one. She also knew that she had to get back with Gaia at some point and learn more about the histories and lore of Wanheda. But, that was for another day.

They kept walking until they got to their little camp near Raven's workshop on the far end of Arkadia. It was the farthest that Clarke could get from the cells, too. She knew keeping those that were posing as her guards and part of the Ark Guard there was a good idea. It kept them away from the bulk of the populace. It also helped that Raven had made a little entrance and exit for them in the fencing to hunt and gather food. She'd rather eat their pickings than whatever the mess hall had arranged on most days. It was also the Grounders that would be giving food to the five selected to receive the serum. Clarke needed the as healthy as she could. Good food and clean water were just part of that. When she saw her...their tent, she turned and headed for it. She didn't wait for Lexa to finish giving orders, but she understood the jest of it. Someone would get them when it was time to go back to the Vies to see what their decision was about helping them fell the Mountain.

Lexa followed her into the tent. She immediately went to Clarke's side. She was standing behind her. She reached up and rubbed her shoulders.

"Niron, you need to relax. We'll rest for this hour and then we will see what the Vies have to say. I am sure that you've made your point with them."

"Did I? I don't know. I basically threatened them into compliance, Lexa. How do we know that it will work? We don't. We're hoping that they will side with us. We can't guarantee it. Everything that I am doing is just to try to prevent some deaths. It isn't going to stop the Death Wave. It isn't going to make things totally better. It is just to ease my conscience. What does that say about me, Lexa? Hmm? I lead too much with my heart, right?" Clarke asked.

"No, it tells me that you care. It also tells me that you are taking on too much of this on your own. I know that you are trying to split things up, but you are still bearing the weight of it all, like a true leader. I know that you don't want to be this all powerful leader, but you know things that I don't. We've done what we can to make sure that the people would follow you and your commands before you ever landed. You are still Wanheda, my love. That will never change. Unfortunately that means that you have things to do. I will help you in anyway that I can. You know this, but you have to let me," Lexa replied.

"I'm trying, Lexa. I really am. I just..."

"Rest, Niron. We can talk about it later with the rest of the Twel that are here. We'll break some more things up. Anya and Luna should be back soon. We've got this, my love. We will not fail," Lexa promised her as she pushed her slightly more towards the bed. "Rest for now. I will keep watch."

Clarke scoffed and then chuckled. She knew that Lexa wouldn't understand it, but it always seemed like in every life Lexa would, at some point, watch over Clarke sleeping. She nodded and didn't say anything as she moved closer to the cot that she was using. After laying down on her side, she looked over to Lexa. She was admiring the way that she looked in an Ark Guard uniform. She filled it out well all things considered. It was vastly different than her usual Commander outfit, but she made it work for her. No one could deny her power, regardless of what she was wearing.

"Sleep for a while, Clarke. I will be here," Lexa told her as she took a seat next to the cot and reached out for Clarke's hand.

As soon as Clarke took Lexa's hand, her eyes closed. Lexa sighed. She knew that Clarke needed more than rest. She needed their help more desperately than originally thought. Her mind wasn't fracturing, but it was definitely fighting a battle. Lexa wasn't sure that she was going to be enough. She knew that Clarke had turned to the others before, but she doubted that she would now. She wasn't unwilling to share Clarke if it meant that she would be sane, but she doubted that the others would to step in because Lexa was alive and well in this lifetime. (At least so far.) She watched as Clarke slept, knowing that she needed to talk to Octavia and Echo as soon as possible. She'd realized that it was going to be the three of them that kept her going. Gaia would help her embrace what it really meant to be the mythological Wanheda, but it would be O, Echo and Lexa that made sure that Wanheda stayed the course and led them triumphantly through the toils of Praimfaya and into the new world beyond.

When she knew that Clarke was actually asleep, she let go of her hand. She tucked Clarke in and made suer that she was covered well. Lexa didn't want her getting cold or sick. Clarke had to stay healthy. She watched her sleep for a few moments before she moved towards teh front of the tent.

Jacov and Tris were waiting with notes for Lexa. She took the notes and sent them on their way. She read over the notes and started to prepare her answers to them. Indra was keeping things loose and ready in TonDC. Della was happy to work with those of the 100 that were still in Belle. Things were still progressing in the right directions, but Lexa knew that Clarke would want numbers. Those numbers would be given to Raven to calculate, and once those calculations were done, they would have a better idea of how many they could save and where to send them. Time was running out, but Lexa knew that the Mountain was the first step in their preparations for Praimfaya. Sangeda would be next, but all the while, Clarke would want to keep running numbers and moving people. The more bunkers they found and could use, the more people she could save.

Lexa could only hope that it was enough.

Raven came into the tent a while later with some of her tek. Lexa looked up from her parchments. Dark eyes met green and held.

"She sleeping?"

"I think so, but if not, at least, she is resting," Lexa answered.

"How do we help her?"

"We find things that we can champion for her and we do them. We are members of the Twel. We have to help her get through this."

"We will."

"I have a feeling that she will not rest until we are in Eden after Praimfaya," Lexa told her.

"And, you would be right," Clarke said as she made her way to where they were.

Raven and Lexa both looked at her. They could see that she was still tired, but she was also determined. Nothing was going to stop Clarke but Clarke herself. Raven wanted to think that it would be Death, but Clarke was the literal "Commander of Death," so... Lexa gave the mechanic a look that told her not to voice her opinions out loud. Raven shrugged and waited to see what Clarke wanted to do.

"I need to go back and speak with Vincent and Maya," Clarke told them.

"Yes, Niron, you do. But, there must be something else that we can do to help you. I know that you have Raven working on many things, and she has enlisted the help of others to make it happen. Give the rest of us something to do as well, so that we can keep preparing. This doesn't all fall on you."

"I know that, Lexa. I do. I promise you that I haven't forgotten. I know that you have all sworn your allegiance to me as well," Clarke stated before mussing on, aloud, for them both to hear it. "Even though, I think that is a silly notion. Lexa, you are still the leader of the world at the moment and I will not take that from you. I don't know want the job. And, there is nothing that you can do that will convince me that I should be the one doing it. You were literally made into the Commander. I will never take that from you."

"But, you, my Love, are the Commander of Death. You have literally overcome death in order to save us all. I cannot and will not belittle that. I know that your people aren't that religious and don't believe in the spirits like we do. I understand that, but you have to understand that our people have been waiting for the Wanheda for years. The last was with Becca Pramheda. It is an honor to our people. They will know you by your hair, though, Prisa. All the tales of coming were foretold. Most of us just didn't want to see it before. Gaia helped us see and she's helped spread the word of your coming. There is nothing that I can do to stop that. The people believe in you even though they don't know what is coming. I believe you in, Prisa," Lexa explained to her.

"And so do I, Princess," Raven added. "So, let's make a game plan and kick Praimfaya's ass."

"After I speak with the Vies," Clarke told them. "I need to see which side of the fence they are willing to be on before we finalize our plans with Mountain. They don't know it, but they are about to decide the fate of the rest in the Mountain. Regardless of what they decide, I will give them the serum. I will also extract a few more families and children, because I know they are mostly innocent to Cage and Tsing's depravity. The rest of them..."

"Will bleed for their callousness, immorality, and perversion," Lexa vowed with a seriousness that Raven hadn't seen from the young warrior Commander before.