chapter 43

Clarke wondered how she could have been so stupid.

Of course, the Mountain Men had a way to switch off the delinquents' powers. Why else would they allow everyone to roam freely throughout the Mountain without fearing what havoc the delinquents could wreak?

The Grounders themselves had their own way of shutting down powers with some sort of poison or plant so surely with the technological advances of the Mountain Men then they too had a way to affect the nanobots.

Whatever it was, though, Clarke was fairly sure that whatever the Mountain Men used to disrupt their powers might have something to do with why the nanobots within Maya were essentially dead.

Clarke couldn't be sure if whatever it was had been used on the delinquents or not, but even if it had Clarke knew that it didn't affect her own powers and that was all she needed to know.

"What's stopping me from killing you and everyone else in this mountain?"said Clarke as she finally broke the silence in the office. Clarke's anger was palpable and her eyes began to glow a dark blue.

There was a tense silence in the air and it stayed like that until Dante finally spoke,"So this is the power John was speaking about? I see why he had been rather terrified of it. Regardless, I'll make this simple Clarke. You may be strong, but right now your friends are under guard and if I don't give my men the all-clear they will all be shot. They're floors between you and them and yes you could make it on time to save some, but the ones you don't save? Their deaths would be on your hands and I'm sure the last thing you want is to be responsible for more of your peers' deaths."

Dante's rebuttal threw cold water over Clarke's anger and the light emanating from her eyes turned sky blue before vanishing entirely. Clarke stared at the man and said,"They're hostages, aren't they? You knew you couldn't shut my powers off when you read Darah's book, but that's where they come in."

Dante didn't even deny Clarke's accusations and nodded,"This facility is an installation of the USA military. It has had some of the world's best engineers and mechanics and some of the greatest technology ever made, but those nanobots have always been beyond our understanding even all these years later. We've discovered ways of shutting them off through various plants, technology and concoctions, but they were a heavy drain on our resources. Finally, a few years ago we stumbled upon something that changed everything. However when I had heard you had crushed tempered glass in your left hand, I knew that you weren't affected by the negator so I had to do what any leader would do. Ensure the safety of my people at any cost."

Clarke had to breathe slowly to control her anger and she eventually pushed it down though it was simmering just below the surface. Clarke looked at Dante and with a voice devoid of any emotion said,"If even one of my friends get hurt, I'll kill all of your people. No amount of guns or bullets will stop me from getting my revenge and that is a promise."

Dante didn't appear fazed by Clarke's threat and said,"Things don't need to go so far, Clarke. All we want is to escape this prison and finally return to the outside. No one in this bunker has felt the wind blowing through the air or the grass beneath our feet. You could make the dreams of everyone inside this mountain come true. "

Clarke felt anger spike within her and she glared at Dante as she said,"I don't owe anybody inside this mountain anything. I took care of the reapers on my own and we were about to get peace with the Grounders before you messed that up so don't think I care about whatever the hell you want for your people. We didn't want or need your help."

Dante looked perturbed by Clarke's harsh words, but before he could get a word in the girl spoke up again,"I'll heal your people depending on your answer to one question."

Clarke paused and when she saw that Dante was willing to negotiate she finally asked the question that had been at the back of her mind,"Where's Anya?"

"That is a discussion for another time, I'm afraid Clarke,"said Dante with finality in his voice and Clarke knew she wouldn't get the truth out of him yet,"I want you to think on my offer. I know you'll do the right thing to protect your people. "

Clarke glared at the man opposite her and she said,"What is best for my people? If I heal you then my people will definitely be enemies of the Grounders. They are way more of them than they are of you. There's no possible way for you to beat them all."

It was the truth. The Grounders had many times the amount of warriors than the Mountain Men did. Perhaps, the technology disparity between the two parties would be a factor, but due to the fact that the Grounders had powers that were capable of wreaking havoc then the Mountain Men's chances were grim at best even if Clarke gave them their freedom.

Dante, however, didn't seem to be worried as he said,"Clarke, you may think that the surface dwellers are powerful, but I can assure you that with you by our side then we can definitely wipe them all out. They would bow to our rule. The power of the Novus–"

Dante was cut off by a harsh laugh from Clarke. He looked at the girl and despite the laugh her face didn't show any signs of genuine amusement. The girl's eyes began to glow and they flickered between various shades of blue before returning to normal.

"You,"began Clarke as she tried to control her breathing,"You expect me to heal your people and then fight the very people I had just achieved an alliance with before you had abducted me and my friends who you're holding hostage so I can't retaliate? "

Clarke looked down to Dante's desk and her eyes caught the sight of Darah's journal. Dante noticed her gaze and he began to reach for the book, but there was a sudden blur before the book vanished and was now held in Clarke's hand.

Dante was about to reason with her, but the words died in his throat as flames burst into life on Clarke's hand. Darah's journal turned to ashes within seconds and Clarke deactivated the flames as she said,"I'll heal your people, but that's it. Furthermore, I'll only heal them once you let me go on one of the patrols for the survivors of the Ark."

Dante sighed and said,"There are no survivors at all. I've cancelled all patrols because the surface dwellers and cannibals seemed to have become more aggressive after you burnt 100 of those monsters to death. The surrounding areas have become impassable. I will not risk any of my men on this futile endeavor of yours. Your people are dead, Clarke. Once the fighting dies down then I can promise you that you'll be on the next patrol group, but until then I can't help you. In any case, I feel as though we have discussed quite enough for today. Perhaps we can reconvene tomorrow and try to reach a better agreement?"

Clarke knew that there was no room for negotiations at this time so she nodded and so she rose from her chair and swiftly exited the office all while thoughts of the Ark being dead kept swirling in her head.

This was the first time that Clarke had been given free reign of the Mountain and she relished the silence that came with it. She had barely had a minute to herself to orientate herself or come up with a plan of action and yet it seemed that unlike with the Grounders or reapers there was no way out of this one.

Clarke walked up to the elevator and she pressed on the button that she knew would take her to her destination. The elevator stopped and Clarke walked out as she began to survey the area for Maya.

With all that has been going on it only occurred to Clarke rather recently that she still wasn't sure where she was supposed to sleep. It was laughable really, but Clarke had spent all of her time sleeping in either quarantine or the medical wing so she didn't have much of a choice.

Clarke probably could try and ask one of the delinquents, but truthfully Clarke didn't feel like speaking to any of them at the moment. Her argument with Murphy and Octavia had really reduced her wish to speak with any of the delinquents.

Clarke turned a corner and she bumped into someone. Clarke had braced herself for impact and so she didn't even move back an inch, but the other person fell backwards onto the ground.

It was only when she got a proper look at the other person she realised it was Maya who was on the floor. Clarke felt somewhat guilty and she held out her hand to Maya who took it after she recognised who was standing in front of her.

"Sorry about that,"said Clarke apologetically as she helped the other girl to her feet,"I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. "

Maya waved her off and said,"It's okay, I was the one running. Were you here for a check up or something? I promised a friend of mine we would meet up, but I can check you out and get those bandages off now if you would like? It's a little early, but I think it'll be okay."

Clarke shook her head and said "No, I was actually looking for you."

Maya looked puzzled, but she understood once Clarke said,"I don't know where I'm supposed to sleep. I would have asked one of my friends, but we're not exactly on the best of terms right now."

Maya nodded solemnly and said,"I understand. Well, the rest of your friends are in one of the dorm rooms we have and you were supposed to be there too, but President Wallace decided to put you in one of the few empty units we have. I guess that's for the best now considering..."

Maya hesitated to complete her sentence, but Clarke brushed it off as they began to leave the medical area and said,"Don't worry about it. You can say it. My friends hate me and think I'm a monster. It's not like our argument was behind closed doors or something. "

Maya seemed to relax after Clarke reassured her, but she then turned to the other girl and said,"Jasper told me about everything you did and you shouldn't be so on yourself. You did the best you could under the circumstances and no one can say anything else."

Clarke was grateful to hear these words even if it was from someone who Clarke barely knew. Clarke felt guilty about all that she had done–even killing the reapers. No one had the right to play God and decide who lived and who died and yet that had been a choice Clarke had been forced to make again and again.

It ate her up that she had warped into this current version of herself. Perhaps the Ark had always kept her from discovering her true self. It had been roughly 7 weeks since they had landed and yet Clarke wasn't even sure who she was anymore.

She had become a ruthless killer and the transition had been so quick and so seamless that Clarke wondered if this was who she was always meant to be. If so then she could and would bear it. The delinquents were her people and she would do all that she could to help them even if they scorned her and recoiled at the very sight of her.

It was in her nature to put others first. She had learned it from her parents who had jobs that helped the people of the Ark survive despite the misery and monotony of their surroundings. She would help them even when they didn't want anything to do with her. It was just who she was.

That didn't mean that she didn't feel lonely.

"Thank you,"said Clarke finally as she snapped out of her thoughts,"I really needed to hear that."

The girl smiled at her and the two made their way to an elevator. Maya pressed one of the buttons and the elevator whirred to life as it took them to their destination. It was a short trip and once the doors opened Clarke followed Maya as they walked past various doors and turned down various corners before finally coming to a corridor that had a door at the end of the passageway.

There were only two other doors in the passageway and both were on either side of the door at the end of the was music emanating from the door at the end and Clarke was surprised to hear some voices she recognised.

"Turn that song up, Jasper!"said a voice despite slurring a lot was easily recognisable as Octavia's.

Clarke turned to Maya, but the girl shrugged and said somewhat embarrassedly,"Your friends may or may not have asked me to steal them some liquor."

Clarke didn't even have the energy to be mad at Maya and she turned to the door that they were in front of,"I'm guessing this is mine? "

Maya nodded and said,"Yes, this is the only unit we have available. I should have told you –"

"It's fine,"said Clarke dismissively, "How do I get in?"

Maya pulled out a key card and she held it out for Clarke to take. Clarke understood Maya's unspoken command and she pressed the card to the small black, panel that was next to the door.

The door opened with a whirl and the lights in the room lit up. The room was bigger than Clarke had expected and she was surprised to find herself standing in a furnished, adjoined living room and kitchen area. She saw there was another door and Clarke walked up to it and opened it to see a large bed dominating the centre of the room.

There was an en-suite bathroom that had a tub and shower and there was also a closet which upon further inspection was filled with various types of clothes and shoes.

"This is a lot,"said Clarke under her breath to no one in particular and so she was startled a bit as Maya said,"It's no less than you deserve, Clarke. President Wallace seems to hold you in high regard. This used to be his daughter's unit."

Clarke was stunned to hear that and she couldn't help, but ask,"What happened to his daughter?"

Maya looked pensive and said,"I'm sure you know of what the ambient radiation does to us? "

Clarke nodded and Maya continued to speak,"There had been a freak accident and the radiation scrubbers had stopped working on this floor. President Wallace's daughter had just barely survived the exposure, but she refused any treatments and she died. My mother died in the same accident."

"I'm sorry to hear that,"said Clarke and she truly was, after all she knew all too well the pain of losing a parent. She imagined for it to happen so suddenly and unexpectedly must have really hurt Maya. However, there was something that Maya had said that confused her.

"Hang on,"said Clarke as something Maya had said registered within her,"Why did Dante's daughter refuse treatments? Surely that would have saved her life?"

Maya looked extremely uncomfortable once that was brought up and she tried to leave, but as she turned away from Clarke and began to mutter apologies she was surprised to bump into Clarke. This time Clarke had caught her by the arm so she couldn't step away.

"Maya,"said Clarke coolly, "What's going on in this place? You guys basically kidnapped us and took us in. You work in medical. I bet you know that Dante is using my friends against me. You've got to help me. I can tell you're a good person, Maya. Please help me understand what this place is."

The music from the delinquents room was filtering through the room and it had caused Clarke to subconsciously raise her voice. Clarke was incessant in her interrogation of Maya and whether it was her words, tone or body language that convinced Maya Clarke wasn't sure, but she was extremely grateful.

"Okay, I'll tell you,"whispered Maya as she stared at Clarke and just as she opened her mouth to speak, Clarke was surprised to heat the whir of the door slamming and and a shrill alarm began to go off as a robotic voice began to repeat the same thing over and over again.

"Warning, Radiation leak in Sector 5F-A. Initiating lockdown and restrictment protocol."

It was when Maya let out a low murmur that Clarke realised where exactly Sector 5F-A was. Clarke turned to Maya and she was disgusted by what she saw.

Red burns and blisters had begun to spread their way across Maya's body and the girl almost fell to the ground, but Clarke managed to catch her on time.

Clarke ran towards the door with Maya in tow and she carefully tried to open the door with the card that was still in her possession. The card reader beeped before flashing red. Clarke sighed in frustration and she threw the card away and adjusted her grip on Maya before taking a step back to get some momentum.

However, just before she began her run up Maya spoke up and despite the pain she was in she was still coherent, "Don't kick t-the door. Radiation...spread through the Mountain."

Clarke felt trapped as she understood what Maya was telling her. Clarke either had to wait for help to come or she could kick the door down and take Maya to help. It was then that Clarke felt like kicking herself.

She ran back into the bed and she carefully placed Maya atop it. The girl's were lidded and her groans of pain were becoming progressively louder. Clarke placed both her hands onto Maya and said,"Its going to be fine, Maya. I won't let you die."

The girl barely seemed to hear Clarke's words, but she did grab onto Clarke's hand for just a moment before falling slack completely. Clarke felt a rush of adrenaline rush through her and she blotted out everything, but the girl who was dying right in front of her.

Clarke's right hand lit up in green light while her left hand stayed unlit. Clarke activated Insight and she saw that Maya was suffering from acute radiation exposure. Her immune system was shutting down and there wasn't much time.

Clarke placed her right hand onto Maya and the rate of damage to Maya's body began to slow until it reached a crawl, but it still wasn't enough. It was now that Clarke's left hand began to emit a white light.

Clarke had used this ability inadvertently when she had stolen Diana's powers and then erased her ability to ever manifest them again. It was another of the unique set of powers the Novus gave her and for once Clarke wasn't using it to hurt someone.

Clarke placed her left hand on Maya and the results were instant. The burns and blisters across Maya's body began to heal rapidly. It was maybe 20 seconds later when all the radiation burns were gone and Maya's skin had returned to it's normal tone as well a little more healthy than before.

The girl in question woke up suddenly as if she was waking from a nightmare and she began to scream and try to scramble to her feet ignoring Clarke's gentle words, but it was only when Clarke grabbed onto her shoulders firmly that she calmed down.

"Clarke?"said Maya as her eyes finally focused on the girl next to her "What's going on?"