Earth Skills
Flashback:
Year 2148
Location: Unknown empty room in a restricted area.
Valerie Johnson. 17 Years
The room was empty, safe for some tools in the background. It's funny how there were so many hiding places in a crowded place. Diana summoned Valerie to chat with Shumway outside the door, keeping an eye out.
"Valerie, on this next mission, I need you to distract the officer guarding the chancellor's office," Diana said.
"How can I even distract him?" Valerie asked.
"I don't know. Figure it out. Use your womanly assets—anything to get us inside." Diana scoffed at Valeire. Valerie's eye twitched.
"Do I need to remind you why Jaha placed a guard outside the office?" Diana asked. Diana's eyes darkened, and she shook her head.
"Not now, Valerie. Now go, there isn't much time!" Diana said. Valerie nodded with a scowl and disappeared out the door. 'Something's wrong. She's never been this desperate before,' Valerie mused. When she saw Shumway step inside the room, Valerie hid behind a stack of boxes. After a few minutes, Diana and Shumway came back outside again.
"She's becoming a liability. She's starting to ask questions." Valerie heard Diana. Her blood ran cold, and she started to sweat.
"Then why did you do all this, Sydney? Respectfully." Shumway asked. Diana chuckled and leaned against the wall. The pair clearly thought they were alone.
"I wanted to create the ultimate pet. Killing off the old folks was easy. But this…" Diana scoffed. Valerie's eyes widened.
"Want to cut her loose?" Shumway asked. Diana looked as if she considered it.
"After she's done being useful, toss her aside." She spoke. Valerie's world had just turned upside down. 'Fuck this, fuck her, that bitch.' She stepped forward, gaining the attention of the pair. Diana raised her eyebrows but remained silent.
"Valerie, why haven't you gone already?" Shumway hissed. Valerie ignored Shumway and stared daggers at Diana.
"How dare you! I did everything for you!" Valerie shouted. Diana stepped forward.
"How dare I? Please, Clara and Harry were fools. But you, Valerie, were just a convenient pet for me to use," Diana said with an arrogant smirk. Valerie teared up, her body shaking.
"I'm going to tell everyone. You're gonna float bitch!" Valerie shouted. Diana narrowed her eyes and nodded her head to Shumway. He instantly ran towards her. Valerie started running, trying to escape.
"Come back here!" she heard Shumway. She turned her head, losing him around the corner. She stopped for a minute, gaining her breath. She heard footsteps but reacted too late before several guards surrounded her. Three guards blocked every exit way, all armed with both stun batons and guns.
"Valerie Johnson, you are under arrest for trespassing in a restricted area. Come with us now." One of the guards said. Valerie blacked out, and all rational thought flew out of her head. She rushed at one of the guards, kicking him in the gut. The guards instantly closed in on her, trying to restrain her. They got a hold of her arms and held her tight. She kicked and screamed until one of them hit her in the back of her head. Her body went limp. Shumway hid behind a wall and waited until the guards were gone. He brought a radio up, the frequency set on a hidden channel.
"They've gotten her. What should we do?" Shumway asked.
"Make that bitch regret crossing me, plant a gun and a picture of the chancellor in her room. make sure she gets isolated from everyone, over." Diana was heard over the radio.
"It will be done, over and out," Shumway said, ending the transmission.
-End flashback.
Valerie was taken aback as she witnessed Clarke emerging from the shuttle along with Wells, who followed closely behind her. Clarke was visibly annoyed, and Wells appeared defeated.
Clarke said, "Johnson, we're leaving now." and walked ahead of them. Valerie raised her eyebrow at Wells.
"So… You talked to her yet?"
"No, let's go," Wells said and followed Clarke. Valerie huffed and followed the pair. She was surprised to find Clarke approaching Bellamy right next to Octavia. Valerie rushed towards Clarke before she could speak to Bellamy.
"Clarke, I need to stay. The camp needs someone behind to make a defensive wall. And Jaspers gonna need space." Valerie finished. Clarke raised her eyebrows but nodded after a moment.
"It's a shame you can't join. Either way, we'll bring Jasper home. Wells, are you staying with her?" Clarke scowled at Wells, who appeared to be disappointed. He paused for a moment, but then his expression turned resolute.
"I'm going with you whether you like it or not," he said, crossing his arms and glancing at Valerie, who nodded in approval. Clarke appeared surprised but disregarded it and redirected her attention to Bellamy. Valerie approached Wells, causing Bellamy to look at her curiously.
"Good luck out there, Wells. And be careful." Valerie smiled briefly and turned away to start bossing around, hearing a few goodbyes from the group.
Wells's eyes lingered on her briefly before he shook his head and turned to Clarke.
Valerie paced inside the shuttle alone while everyone else enjoyed the sun outside. Valerie's anxious footsteps echoed inside the shuttle. She was the only one inside, as the rest of the camp had abandoned the shelter to bask in the sunlight. The shuttle's interior was cool, offering Valerie a respite from the heat outside. Despite that, she couldn't shake off the restlessness and unease that had taken hold of her.
"Alright, think. What did I learn from my degree? How can I motivate these kids? Threaten or hope…?" Valerie paced for a few minutes before she heard some faint footsteps. The kid from before approached, her face settled in an unsettling apathetic look not fitting for a child her age. "Why do you even bother?" Valerie asked. She stopped pacing and looked at the child.
"Charlotte, is it?" The girl nodded slowly. Valerie sat on a chair and motioned for Charlotte to follow. Surprisingly, the girl followed and sat down beside Valerie.
"You ask me why I bother, bother with what?" Valerie asked calmly, and Charlotte appeared to ponder for a while before responding.
"You know, trying to fix things when it doesn't matter. Nothing will fix this." Charlotte finished, her face forming into a sad face. Valerie remained calm, thinking about how she could respond. The child clearly battled with some intense trauma.
"How do you think nothing will fix things?" Valerie asked Charlotte. Charlotte's face twisted into an angry scowl, and she stood up, staring directly at Valerie.
"It's obvious; everyone dies, and nothing changes. And even you who's friends with a killer should know that!" Charlotte shouted. Valeries head snapped at Charlotte. Her eyes narrowed.
"Don't you dare call Wells a killer when he had nothing to do with his father's actions. Now, I understand you seem to struggle with something, and I'm here to talk with you. But I never tolerate disrespect on my friends." Valerie remained calm, but her words had a sharp edge to it. Valerie walked out of the shuttle, leaving Charlotte inside alone. 'She needs some space… I need to keep an eye on her."
Valerie gathered her composure and found a steel plate and an iron stick. She began pounding on the plate and shouting.
"Everyone gather up, let's talk!"
Although they seemed disinterested, all the delinquents turned up, but some seemed bored and wanted to do something. Valerie stepped on the shuttle entrance, gaining the group's attention.
"As we know, we are not alone anymore. Now Bellamy and the others have gone to fetch Jasper. We need to do something here, too." Without Bellamy, the group were surprisingly agreeable. Someone stepped forward.
"Yeah, and why should we listen to you?" Octavia's voice resonated around the camp. Valerie cocked an eyebrow. 'Alright, let's play this game.'
"Well, Octavia, what do you suggest then?" Valerie asked in a loud voice. Everyone turned to Octavia, who seemed to stutter a moment before she made up her mind.
"Well, what did Bellamy say? Do whatever the hell we want?" She shouted, clearly trying to rile up the teenagers. Someone started to shout in agreement.
"Okay, fine, whatever the hell we want. And then what?" Valerie challenged the group. The chant stopped, and the delinquents. Even Octavia seemed unsure. Valerie decided to continue.
"So, we do whatever the hell we want, nothing gets done, we don't protect ourselves, we get lazy and vulnerable. What will we do if we get attacked? Look around, guys. What can we do to protect ourselves?"
"Calm down, miss nobody; Bellamy will figure it out!" Octavia shouted, and before anyone could respond, Valerie responded.
"Are you serious? Stake our survival at one guy when there's a lot for us to do. Don't you guys want to do something here?" Valerie shouted. But she wasn't finished.
"Look, I get the whole fuck the ark and fuck the leaders. But they are not here anymore. We are here. And it's up to us to survive. We got a second chance down here, guys. Let's do something worthwhile here. Let's use our second chance." Valerie shouted. The crowd finally seemed to move in her favour. Even Octavia seemed thoughtful for a moment before she disappeared with Atom. Another guy stepped forward. At least Octavia can listen to reason.' Valerie mused in her head.
"Then, what do we do?" He asked. Valerie put her hands on her hips and sighed. 'This is a god damned drama show, I swear.' Valerie gathered her thoughts for a moment before she steeled herself.
"First, let's get started with the basics. We need to build a wall around the camp; it will help protect us from the grounders here if they ever come. Now, everyone needs to contribute. We'll need to organise this right so it's fair for everyone. Now, I want everyone in ten lines…"
Valerie began to take charge and give orders to the delinquents. Soon, the campsite was organised with a clear purpose. Soon later, around midday, Valerie had finished arranging space in the shuttle for Jasper and went to look for Charlotte. She found her alone in the shuttle, sleeping. Valerie was about to leave her to rest, but then she heard Charlotte whimpering in her sleep. Concerned, Valerie walked over to her and saw that she was crying in her sleep. Charlotte suddenly let out a scream before sitting up and breathing heavily.
Valerie sat beside her, not looking at anything in particular.
"I'm here if you need to talk," Valerie said, waiting for Charlotte's response. After a minute, Valerie heard Charlotte take a deep breath.
"I see them every time I sleep. Every time I go to bed, I watch them die." Charlotte started to cry. Valerie embraced Charlotte in a hug, letting the girl cry.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that. What were your parents like?" Valerie asked and released Charlotte, who paused before realising her location and bolted out of the shuttle. Valerie sat on the floor and decided to go for a walk. 'Charlotte will come around', she thought. On the way, she saw Octavia helping build the wall alongside Atom. When Octavia noticed Valerie, she stopped her work and approached her.
"I gotta admit, for a miss nobody, you sure know how to stand out." Octavia smiled briefly before returning to Atom.
"Thanks, I guess… Anyway, I'm going to take a walk. Be back soon." Valerie smiled back, stepped out of the recently constructed walls, and discovered a river after a good walk.
As the sun slowly descended towards the horizon, it painted the sky with a breathtaking display of yellow, orange, and pink hues, creating a mesmerising scene that left her in awe. Valerie sat down by the riverbank, exhausted. Her eyes drifted around the forest surrounding the river. She looked around before deciding to take a swim. She scanned the river, ensuring no dangerous creatures were around, and the trees to find people. Finding nothing, she stripped out of her clothes, undid her braid, and sank into the water. She started to swim. The water was cold, but she didn't mind.
As she swam, she saw something red in the water. It looked like seaweed or algae. Valerie sat down at a rock, the dark settling in, and began detangling her hair. Her hair had grown far too long and was starting to get in her way. She trimmed her hair with a sharp rock, letting her red curls fall into the water as they followed the stream until it reached her shoulder blades. Her foot traced the red seaweed, soft and almost gooey. She braided several small braids at the back of her head. She had her hair half up in no time, with a few braids intermingled. Once she was done drying herself, she started to get dressed again. 'This feels like Aloy, badass! All I need now is a bow and machines to fight.' Valerie chuckles to herself.
"Look, I get that you're trying to help me." A girl's voice emerged from behind the trees. Charlotte stepped forward, startling Valerie; she slipped on her jacket, waiting for the girl to continue. 'Did she follow me?'
"I don't need your help. Stop trying to help me!" Charlotte repeated herself. Valerie remained calm.
"You miss them, right? I had an elderly couple looking after me: Harry and Clara. They were forced to take me in when I was a baby—or so I heard—but still, they took care of me like their own. Anyway, they died when I was a young girl. I miss them so much, but I know they would want me to be happy," Valerie said. She turned to Charlotte. Charlotte's anger had dwelled down, and a sad look appeared.
"Look, Charlotte, I get that you're angry. But blaming Wells isn't the answer here. That will only make you do something you regret." Valerie pleaded. Charlotte appeared defeated as she gazed at the stars. Valerie comforted her by placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Look, I'm here to listen if you feel like talking about your parents. I'm going back to camp now, but feel free to join me when you're ready," she said before walking back. Charlotte gazed at the sky for a while before eventually shifting her attention to the water below.
"Okay, I'm going to sit here for a while." Valerie heard before she walked away.
'Looks like the girl has some thoughts she needs to get sorted.' She thought.
The moon shone brightly, surrounded by stars scattered throughout the sky. Due to the absence of light pollution, Valerie could observe the hues of a faint green shimmering. It appeared to be a subtle version of the Northern Lights that she had witnessed in her previous life. 'Everything is different now. Even though I can't ever see my old family and friends again. I guess I've made new ones.' Valerie smiled while walking back. When she closed in on the camp, she could hear screams of joy and talk. She could smell food, and her mouth watered. However, the sight turned her mood sour. All in his glory, Bellamy and his gang ordered the delinquents to a food line—their wristbands on the ground and meat on sticks ready for consumption. 'I'll give him credit for not giving up at least…' Valerie wasn't surprised. She almost expected something like this.
"I'm impressed, Johnson. How did you convince them?"
Valerie turned her head to see Clarke, her arms folded and a slight smile on her face.
"It was easy with Bellamy out of the way; I only used reason. But I guess now it's gone." Valerie looked around the camp. The order she had created was gone the minute Bellamy stepped inside again. At least some resemblance of a wall had begun taking shape. Clarke handed Valerie a stick with a piece of meat on it.
"Here, I guess you didn't have time to eat yet," Clarke said and then got back in the shuttle, presumably back to Jasper.
Valerie took the piece and smiled at her. She sat down by the edge of the camp, her back resting against a tree. Wells approached her and sat down. He had two sticks of meat on it.
"I guess you've got your share" Wells chuckled and handed one of the sticks to another delinquent who was all too happy to eat.
"How's Jasper?" She asked.
"I'm not sure; Clarke won't let me near to help," he said sourly. Valerie looked towards the shuttle and back at her food.
"What is this?" Valerie asked, looking at her meat stick. Wells looked at her with a funny expression.
"I think it's called a panther."
"Well, it's my first time eating a panther, and I gotta say it's delish'," Valerie joked, and the pair laughed together.
"Who killed it?" Valerie asked, thinking it might have been Bellamy with his gun.
"Well, I did," Wells said proudly. Valerie made an impressed face.
"Wow, who knew you've got some serious earth skills, Wells? It's a shame the others have to take the wristbands to eat…" she said sourly, and Wells hummed in agreement. The pair sat in comfortable silence and ate before Wells was whisked away for guard duty.