When We Meet Again (The 100 Season 6 Clexa fanfic)

Chapter 2: Hope

Clarke refused to sit down in the ship, choosing instead to hover by the pilot's seat where Sierra was controlling their flight. Although, from the lack of movement, it appeared that the ship was steering itself, and Sierra merely sat there to maintain a facade of normalcy.

Sensing Clarke's attention, the girl turned her head and peered up at Clarke with curious eyes.

"It's odd, is it not, that you allow a child to make such vital decisions on behalf of your people?" she asked. There was no disguised judgement in her tone, only unbridled fascination.

"That's my daughter, her name is Madi." Clarke glanced over her shoulder, to where the distant sound of chattering signalled Madi and the others were locked in conversation. "And it's a long story."

Sierra's mouth curved into a smile. "We have approximately an hour before we arrive at the city. Please, have a seat," she finished, gesturing to the vacant passenger seat.

Clarke reluctantly did as told, yet found herself almost moaning at the luxurious padding of the seat. It felt as though she was sitting on a cloud.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't know your name."

Attempting a polite smile, Clarke replied, "My name is Clarke. I take it yours is Sierra?"

Indeed, Sierra gave her label a gentle pat before returning to their conversation. "Well then, you were saying, Clarke?"

"It's part of the religion of the grounders--people who lived on Earth after a nuclear war hundreds of years ago," she began. "There's this A.I. chip. Some call it the Spirit of the Commanders, some call it the flame. It's passed down through the leader of the grounders, someone known as 'the commander'. When one commander dies, another must ascend and take on the mantle." Clarke took a shuddering breath. "Commanders seem to always die young. And that's why their successors are so young, because it takes a child with...special blood, to be able to become Heda."

"You lost someone special to you," Sierra observed, noting the way Clarke's voiced had seemed to trail off, eyes becoming lost in ghosts and shadows.

Clarke merely nodded her head and patted her eyes with her sleeve, drying the tears before they had a chance to fall. "Her name was Lexa."

"She was a commander, then?"

"Yes. Lexa was special."

The air fell silent, the voices of other passengers being drowned out by the void wrapping around Clarke's heart, a blanket of darkness.

"And this...flame, as you called it. What exactly does it do?"

Hauled back into reality, the great Wanheda summoned up the mask of an unfeeling warrior. It was the only way she would make it through this conversation without breaking.

"It contains the spirits of past commanders. I'm not sure how it works exactly, but they're all in there. Guiding Madi, advising her. They help her to become a wise and just leader, speaking to her through dreams and visions."

"Interesting," the woman commented. "Even if my home, we have never heard of such technology. Perhaps I could take a look at it when we arrive in the city?"

Clarke dropped her gaze. "I'm afraid that's not possible. It's bonded with Madi's mind, right now. Only she knows the passphrase to remove it."

Clarke wasn't sure she would want to remove it, even if Madi agreed. She didn't entirely trust this woman--even if Sierra did seem to be one of the friendliest and warm people Clarke had encountered.

The sound of boots scuffling had Clarke whipping her head back towards Sierra, who was now perched on the arm of her chair, an expression of contemplation on her face. "It's just that...I'm not certain, but perhaps if the flame is able to hold a person's consciousness, then maybe..."

"Maybe, what?"

"Maybe we could extract that consciousness."

Clarke wasn't sure she was breathing.

"With our technology," Sierra continued with a newfound sense of motivation, "we have the ability grow human bodies in specialised laboratories. It might be possible for me to replicate the flame, only the new chip would contain a singular, dominant spirit, that would essentially be in control if we placed it in a body."

Clarke blinked. "Is that even possible?"

"Like I said, I would have to be able to inspect the A.I. chip to know anything for certain."

It wasn't possible. Couldn't be true.

Yet, Lexa's face flooded Clarke's thoughts. Not the face of the commander, with her war paint on and jaw clenched, but Lexa. With her unbound brunette hair, wild green eyes and smile that was capable of lighting up the world. Lexa, the girl, as she had been in their final moments.

Clarke had been in love with Lexa for a long time before she had allowed her feelings to show. They had spent so much time together, talking and strategising, but Clarke now felt those memories like something sharp in her heart.

If there was even the slightest chance of seeing Lexa again, of Clarke being reunited with her soul mate...

Life is about more than just surviving.

"I'll have to talk to Madi about it," Clarke admitted.

Sierra nodded in satisfaction. "I expected nothing less."

Accepting that as the conclusion of their discussion, Clarke rose from her seat and strode for the back of the vessel, before Sierra's voice halted her.

"Clarke."

"Yes?"

"I hope you can convince her to agree." Sierra's eyes softened. "I'm a sucker for happy endings."

Clarke said nothing more as she continued on her way, finding Madi and the others lounging in a cluster of seats set in a circular shape, all facing one another.

She didn't know what she would say to Madi. How could she ask her daughter to give up the flame, even if it was only for a short time? It was her birthright, it was her connection to the commanders.

But Clarke knew that if this worked, then Madi would have a previous commander here, with her, to guide her in person. And not just any commander, but Lexa, the strongest and wisest of any commander before. The only one to choose peace over war, to understand that blood must not be answered with blood.

Wouldn't that be more helpful to Madi than commanders communicating through dreams?

Maybe it was selfish, maybe it was foolish.

But Clarke had already made up her mind.