Against All Odds (Silent Moments Series: Book 2)

Chapter 9

As we sat in the tent, the tension was palpable, heightened by the waiting and the potential implications of Raven's work. Her focus was unwavering as she navigated the complexities of the encryption, a testament to her technical prowess.

Abby's impatience was understandable, given the stakes. "What is taking so long?" she pressed, her voice reflecting the urgency of our situation.

Raven, absorbed in her task, explained the technicalities of what she was doing. "I've almost got it. They're using a type of audio modulation here, like a feedback loop. I just need to pinpoint the origin point then I can get the pure transmission. I just need to find the right..." she trailed off, her fingers moving deftly over her equipment.

Suddenly, a voice crackled through the radio, clear and distinct. "Report back, over."

"You did it," I exclaimed, a surge of hope filling the tent. Raven had managed to break through Mount Weather's encryption.

"Has the veil lifted yet? Over," the voice continued.

"No sir, it's still descended. Over," came another voice.

My realization was immediate. "The veil. They're talking about the fog. It's a weapon," I said, the implications dawning on me. Mount Weather had orchestrated the Acid Fog, using it as a weapon against us.

"Which means they attacked us," Raven concluded, her expression darkening with the realization.

Abby, seizing the opportunity, spoke into the radio. "Sargent Porter?" she called.

"Yes ma'am?" came the response.

"Build your bomb. When the fog lifts, we take the tower down, copy?" Abby ordered, decisive and clear in her command.

"I copy, ma'am," Sargent Porter acknowledged.

Raven, however, was visibly conflicted. "We're listening to the enemy, blow the antenna and we won't be able to do that," she argued, her frustration evident.

Abby countered firmly, "Don't blow it and we won't make contact with any other Ark survivors, and we need those reinforcements, Raven."

Raven's remark, "Tough call. I know what your kids would do," was laden with meaning, a nod to the difficult decisions we had been forced to make since landing on Earth. It was a reminder of the heavy burdens we carried, the choices we had to make for the greater good.

Feeling the weight of the conversation and the tension in the tent, I decided to step out. "I'm going to see if the coast is clear," I mumbled, breaking the awkward silence. The decision before us was a difficult one, and I needed a moment to process it all.

Stepping outside, I was greeted by the eerie quiet that follows the Acid Fog. The air was still, the silence almost deafening after the tense discussion inside the tent. As I scanned the surroundings, the reality of our situation settled in. We were in the midst of a war, fighting an enemy that was both cunning and ruthless. Our next move could define the course of this conflict, and the responsibility of that decision weighed heavily on us all. As I informed the group that the fog had cleared, the tension in the tent eased slightly. We were all acutely aware of the urgency to act now that the Acid Fog was no longer a threat.

Emerging from the tent, I saw Clarke and Finn already making their way back from the woods. Their timely return was a relief, and Abby's immediate reaction was to embrace Clarke, her relief palpable. It was a mother's instinct, the need to ensure her child was safe. I approached Finn, noticing the hesitancy in his demeanor. Despite everything that had happened, the bond we shared was still there. "Hey," I said, pulling him into a hug. After a brief moment of hesitation, Finn relaxed into the embrace.

Finn then handed me a necklace, my necklace, which I had lost earlier. "Keegs, I found your necklace," he said with a smile, placing the chain in my hand. It was a small gesture, but in that moment, it meant everything. It was a reminder of our past, of who we were before the world turned upside down.

Clarke's concern for Octavia and Bellamy was evident as she asked about them. "They know this is the rendezvous point," I reassured her, confident that they would find their way back to us.

Clarke's question about the radio was met with Raven's response. "Still jammed," she said, indicating the ongoing challenge we faced with Mount Weather's communication blockade.

Clarke's surprise that we hadn't blown the tower was understandable, but I explained Raven's discovery and our decision to keep the antenna intact. "Raven found a way that we could listen to Mt. Weather. If we took out the antenna, we wouldn't be able to do that," I said, highlighting the strategic advantage we had gained.

Abby's focus, however, remained on the immediate concern of rescuing the 47 of our people held in Mount Weather. "We're gonna get them out," she said, her determination clear.

Suddenly, a cry for help pierced the air. "Help!" someone shouted, their voice filled with desperation.

The guard's instinct was to protect Abby. "Stay here, Chancellor!" he ordered, as we all turned towards the source of the cry.

"Someone help me!" the voice called out again, more urgent this time.

"Show us your hands!" another guard demanded, cautious of the potential threat.

As the figure emerged, Abby gasped in shock. "Thelonius," she uttered, recognizing the familiar face. Thelonius's message was grave and to the point, a direct threat from the Grounders. "I have a message from the Commander. Leave or die. We have two days," he said, his voice strained, before collapsing from exhaustion or injury.

The revelation sent a ripple of shock through us all. The Grounders' ultimatum was clear and non-negotiable. We now faced a new, pressing deadline. The situation was escalating rapidly, with the stakes higher than ever. Not only did we have to contend with the challenges posed by Mount Weather, but we also had to address the growing threat from the Grounders. In that moment, as we stood around Thelonius, it became clear that our next actions would be crucial. We needed to rescue our friends from Mount Weather and find a way to address the Grounder threat, all within a rapidly closing window of time.