The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 148

Raven stops tapping on the console and stares at nothing for a second.

"Rae?" I ask worriedly. "Raven?"

"Hmm?" She snaps out of it, blinking. "Sorry. I was just thinking... We don't know what'll happen when the missiles hit the water. It could blow up instantly, not explode, or hit the bottom and then..." Raven makes an exploding sound.

"And?" I prompt.

"And... Won't that kill a ton of fish? Just the crap ton of metal being added to the water, how the water will heat up when it goes boom, the fuel... Like that'll be an ecological disaster. And Luna's people, they fish. They could be out of a job. We would never be able to enjoy fish again."

"Raven, I don't think we've ever had fish." I say.

"Yet. But we never will if we blow up the fishies."

I sigh, knowing she's right. "So what are our options?"

"Um. Three that I can think of." Raven counts on her fingers as she goes through them. "One, we commit fish genocide. Two, we shrug and say 'meh' and leave it all here under the best security we can possibly have. Three, we find a place we know is deserted of human and animal life and blow it up."

"I think there is another option." Lexa says, sounding almost hesitant. "Now this tek (technology), you all know I am not good with it. But from what I understand, there is a way to neutralize the missiles. This-arm? Is that what it is called?" Lexa questions.

"Disarm, babe." I supply.

Lexa nods. "Yes, disarm. These missiles are made with metal and could have tek that is useful to the clans. So perhaps you could disarm them, Raven, and have a trusted team take apart the missiles. Sort the pieces into what is useful and what is not."

"That's actually a really good idea." Raven says, and I can practically see her mind going a mile a minute. She pauses and purses her lips. "Wait, there still is one problem with that."

"Major or minor?" I ask.

"Depends," Raven shrugs. "Okay, so the rocket fuel. That shit is crazy flammable and explodable." We all look around warily and step farther away from the nearest missile. "They're fine right now, in protective casings that minimize how much it moves around. So there could be a earthquake and they wouldn't blow up. As long as it's below 7 on the Richter scale, though. We're fine." She waves her hand.

"That's not reassuring, Rae." I say.

"I know. Okay! So the badness of this problem depends on what we want to do with the rocket fuel. We can use it or set it on fire, basically." Raven says.

"Use it how?" I prompt. "We don't have anything that needs gas, let alone rocket fuel."

"For war?" Raven says hesitantly. "It would make some pretty effective Molotov Cocktails and some nasty bombs. But other than that, yeah it's basically useless. Unless we want to go to the moon or something."

"I do not want them for warfare." Lexa says, shaking her head for emphasis. "Is there a way to safely destroy the rocket fuel?"

"Yeah. We have to be really careful, though. I'm sure there's a shock-resistant cart or something somewhere, they wouldn't have risked blowing themselves up."

"I know where it is, Raven." Bali offers. "I can take you to where it's kept later."

"Thanks." Raven says genuinely. "Okay, so what we need to do in order to get rid of this stuff is take it somewhere remote and set it on fire."

"Won't that be dangerous?" I ask, concerned.

"Nah. This stuff, you pour a little out and throw a rock and KABOOM!" She yells, making us jump.

"Maybe don't yell kaboom in a room full of missiles." I say once my heart stops pounding as hard in my chest.

"Right." Raven nods. "So I'm guessing you want this done before we leave for Polis. I'll need a trustworthy, smart team of people to help."

"Yes. I have a few people that may be able to help. And I am sure Luna and Anya would be happy to assist you." Lexa says.

"And Raven?" I interject before she can respond. "Is there a way you can set it up so you can leave for a short amount of time in roughly a week?"

"Probably, yeah. Why?"

"Jaha," I say plainly.

Her eyes widen. "Right. I almost forgot he's still alive. So I'm guessing that's when his execution date is?"

"Yes. Death by thousand cuts. It will be held at a Skaikru camp." Lexa answers. "If you would like it, I am more than willing to hand off my duty to you."

"Your duty?"

"Yes. Raven, he has wronged you the most out of anyone there. So I would like to at least offer the chance to be the last one to cut him."

"So..." Raven swallows nervously. "I would be the one to kill him?"

"Yes."

Raven purses her lips an paces back and forth a few times. "I don't know if I can do that. I hate him with every atom in my body, every fiber of my being, but I don't know if I can look into his eyes and kill him."

"If you cannot, that is fine." Lexa reassures her, placing her hand on Raven's shoulder. "Perhaps talk to Luna and Anya about it. They know how difficult a decision like that is."

Raven frowns, looking at Lexa more closely. "And you don't?"

Lexa's lips curl up in a sad smile. "I am Heda, Raven. And before that, I was a Natblida (Night Blood). I have never had a choice. You do. Talk to them and let me know. If you need anything, you know where to find Clarke and me."

Raven nods. "Thank you. I'll let you know what I decide." She sighs and looks out at the hundreds of missiles. "I'll need to work faster than I thought. Disarming all of these will take days."

"What if you have us to help?" I offer. "You can show us what we need to do, and we'll do it. Bali, will you help?"

"Yes, of course."

"Alright. I'll check over your work, make certain you didn't accidentally mix it up." Raven says.

And that's the chapter! A couple people pointed out that maybe blowing up missiles in the ocean isn't the greatest idea, so this way they have more technology and more metal and stuff! Win-win! Next chapter, disarming giant rockets and missiles! Whoo! Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!