Fallen

Chapter Fifty-Two: Praimfaya

The entire group walk up to the railing to see Raven staring at a screen with timers on it. She looks up to see them as they take off their helmets.

"What are you doing here?" she asks. 

"Like we would just abandon you," Bellamy smirks. They all head down the stairs. 

"We don't have much time."

"We know," Ash respond.

"But what if we just altered your plan a bit," Clarke suggests. "What if we go the ring?"

Raven thinks it through.

"There is still an algae farm and hydro-recycle on there. We could get those to work."

"Yay," Murphy sarcastically respond. "Algae salad and urine water."

"Better than nothing. But what about oxygen?"

"According to Murphy there's an oxygen generator in the Lighthouse," Monty states. "I can get it to work."

"You're an engineer, Monty," Raven states. "You know there are so many things that can go wrong."

"But there's still a chance."

"There's also the issue of oxygen on ship," Raven states. "The rocket is intended for only an hour use for two people."

"Then supplemental oxygen," Ash supports. "Each canister has about an hour's worth."

"So that would give us an hour in orbit and then to dock and start the generator. Not to mention we would need to pack enough supplies for food until the algae is grown."

"So give us our tasks," Bellamy responds. And so she does. Each person is assigned a job. Ash starts gathering food and medical supplies, putting it in the shuttle. A few work on fixing the shuttle while Monty and Murphy go to get the generator.  

Ash at one point stops to find Bellamy looking at a map. He seems to be processing everything once more. Ash grabs his hand.

"We'll make it," she promises. He nods his head.

"I know you and Clarke kissed," he informs her. "She admitted she kissed you not too long ago."

"I-"

"But we weren't together then," he points out. He looks her in the eyes. "I'm not angry. As long as you are safe and happy, that's all I care about."

"I don't know how I feel right now," she admits. "I think I like her, but I still like you. But in addition to that, I'm still trying to process Roan dying recently."

He gently kisses her forehead, holding her shoulders in a comforting manner.

"Well we'll have time to figure it out," he tells her.

"Yeah."

He walks away and she soon goes back to her tasks. After a bit, Ash hears Raven cussing. Her, along with Clarke and Bellamy, go to investigate. Raven is running a diagnostics check. Everything but life support and communication is fine. Life support can be ignored since they will be using oxygen tanks.

"It's just communications," Emori says.

"We would need it to get into the ring," Raven informs them. "Without it we can't open the doors."

"There has to be another way," Ash states. Clarke and Bellamy get her talking to the point she figures it out. They just need to use the radio tower. 

"You three with me," Raven orders. "The rest work on the ship."

Raven, Clarke, Bellamy, and Ash put on the full suits before heading out. As they walk to the tower, Raven explains what needs to be done. Murphy comes running over with oxygen generator but there is no Monty. 

"Monty needs help," he states. 

"I'll get Monty," Bellamy volunteers.

"I got the generator," Raven says. She quickly explains the process to the other two. They split up. Ash and Clarke get to work on the satellite tower. The screen shows it's not working. Clarke pulls out a walkie.

"Raven, it's not working," she says into it. No response. 

"Clarke," Ash states, pointing at sign just above their heads. After a quick read, they climb up. All the way to the top. There is a platform there, barely big enough for the two of them. Ash starts rewiring the panel. Only for the screen to say the dish is tilted wrong.

"I got it," Clarke states. She starts climbing around the tower to the dish. She struggle to readjust it. Ash looks in the distance. The death wave is getting closer. In the distance, the rocket goes upwards. At least they made it. Clarke and Ash have a higher chance surviving the radiation. Assuming the serum had worked. After so much struggling, Clarke manages to get the dish lined up. The two hurry down the tower and head straight towards the bunker. Part way there, Clarke trips and roll down the hill. 

Ash helps her up only to see her helmet cracked. They start running again, barely making it in the bunker. The two seal the door shut before shredding off their suits. Both collapse on the stairs in exhaustion. Clarke has clear radiation burns. She starts coughing; black blood spill on her hand. Ash holds Clarke's hair back to keep the blood getting in it. The sounds of the Death Wave slamming into the entrance above echoes through out. Finally Clarke stops.

"I guess it's just us for now," she jokes.

"For six years," Ash responds. "I hope you don't get tired of me."

"Never."

*****

After forty-five days underground, Ash and Clarke dig out. Clarke's body processed the radiation, meaning they can survive. Ash basks in the warm sun for a second, letting her eyes adjust once again. Looking around, everything is dead. Nothing survived. Clarke starts poking in the rubble until she hits something. The two work on digging it out to reveal the rover in semi-decent shape. The two smile at each other before piling in. 

Clarke drives them away from the bunker. Soon they make it back to Polis. The once bustling city now deserted and demolished. Even the tower that loomed over is gone. Clarke stops the rover where the entrance to the bunker is. Without saying a word to Ash, she starts trying to move boulders. Ash gets out to help. As soon as she gets close, she sees the destroyed building start to shift.

"Clarke," she calls. The blonde dives out of the way just in time and Ash rushes over. Clarke sits there in shock for a moment. She then starts crying some and Ash sits there with her arm wrapped around her. After a little bit, she stops.

"If you want to leave me, I understand," Clarke mutters. What brought this on? Ash pulls her into a tighter hug, repeating a single word Clarke said to her over a month ago.

"Never."