Saturday, 13/09/2149
Listening to the council meeting through the bug I had planted nearly two years ago was a common occurrence for me, but what I just heard was unusual.
I take 5 minutes to steel myself. I'm going to the ground with or without permission, but I set up a meeting with Kane, anyway.
In the Ark's cramped meeting room, dim lights flickered as Kane (security head and council member) sat opposite. The tension in the air was palpable as we started discussing the risky mission ahead.
Kane furrowed his brow, his voice tinged with concern. "Orella, you know the dangers of going down to Earth with the one hundred. You might all die; how do you know it is even worth it?".
I meet his gaze, my jaw set in determination. "Because I believe in destiny, and I understand the risks, Kane. The one hundred need someone to guide them, to protect them, and that someone is me".
Kane hesitated. He knows I am skilled and resourceful. "What makes you think you're the right person for this task?".
A flicker of emotion crosses my face before I take in a deep breath and reach into my bag. Solemnly, I used face paint to mask my eyes. Kane's eyes widened in recognition as the colours melded together to form the intricate patterns of The Skai Champion, a legendary figure who helps the workers of the ark in secret despite most of her activities being illegal.
"I am the Skai Champion, but I'm also your lieutenant. I have skills the 100 don't, and you know my ability to teach; I have to do this, and I will, with or without the council's permission," I declared, my voice steady, unwavering and a whisper.
I allow Kane to take a minute before I walk away. "I'll tell the council I recommend you after discovering your identity and tell them it would be better to send you than to float you," Kane yells after me.
I am quick to pack a bag; I include a change of normal clothes and a change of warm clothes, a small medical kit, an electric baton, five throwing spikes, a handgun with four clips, a water canteen, a solar powered light, two days' worth of rations and all my face paint.
On my way to the drop ship, I came across an injured Jaha and, standing over him, was former cadet Blake. I take in the scene before I check my watch and hurry along, pulling Blake with me.
"I'll tell no one of what you have done if you stand by my leadership of the one hundred". While we are walking through the halls towards the drop ship, Blake looks at me, surprised.
"Why are you helping me? I shot..." he practically whispers.
"Because I know what Shumway promised you. I wouldn't be the Skai Champion if I didn't have spies everywhere, too." I say, giving him a wink before pushing him into the dropship, which is guarded by two guards loyal to me and not the council.
I whistle loudly, attracting everyone's attention. Most are looking at me with recognition, but some are confused, probably wondering who I am, as I had not been in lockup with them.
"I am sure you all are wondering why we ended up on Earth."
"The council has been decreasing population by floating any criminals that have attained their majority and lessening consumption by putting minors in the skyboxes".
"Abigail Griffin, a doctor who has to decide daily who to save or not. Who to use medicine on and who to let die. And every time, she has to tell their families about how she 'tried her best to save them'. She also had her own husband, Clarke's father, who floated when he tried to tell the entire Arc about the Air system failings, and Clarke locked up in solitary for the same reasons".
Turning to Wells Jaha, I point at him and shout aloud.
They put Wells, son of Thelonious Jaha, in a skybox and sent him here, just like us, because he knew about it.
Spotting Octavia, who is looking at me with respect, I point at her.
"She also has a similar story of loss and pain. Same as all of you, stealing to feed or treat yourself or a loved one, locked up because you saw something you didn't even know was compromising or simply because the rules were too much and you had to escape but now it's different now, there is no more ark and no more guards".
The crowd was cheering me now, raising their fists as if in victory.
"No more Sky box or floating," shouted Bellamy from the crowd.
"No more rationing," shouted a couple of girls from the crowd.
"No more anything," shouted Murphy as he smirks at me.
"Yes, no more anything, and that's the problem," I say. My shout make the cries of joy lower. Bellamy and Murphy look at me, surprised, while Wells and Finn nod long.
"There is no food and water, no shelter, no clothes, no medicine and no protection from predators," and no more rules, just utter chaos.
The crowd had become quiet, now finally realizing where they stood and how difficult the days to come would be. I had every intention of capitalising on that realisation.
"We need to prepare, make a barrier using the fallen trees and cut more if needed, scout the surroundings for a source of water and food, but most of all, we need to make a fire or we will freeze tonight".
"Who put you in charge?" a boy from the crowd shouted out.
"Myself, did anyone consider how we were going to eat tonight or where we were going to sleep? If so, why didn't you speak up? I might have been a lieutenant on the guard, but I stayed in my birth station, mecha station. You are all more of my people than those I left behind. However, that doesn't mean we can do whatever we want, or else we might not survive. Now, how about it?" I look at Bellamy. He's been nodding along with what I've been saying.
"She's right. We need a plan, and everyone needs to help," I interrupt him before he says anything else.
"The plan is simple, we work with what earth skills taught us, one group will scout the surrounding area looking out for water and forgeable food, while another group will try their hand at hunting, we need to set up some makeshift tents and start building a barricade and lastly we need to get a fire going and we need it all before nightfall," I announce.
"Let's get to it", I shout one last time before everyone starts working together, gathering shards of metal to create small hatchets to cut branches from the fallen trees, using belts and straps to carry the logs to define the limit of the clearing. Two girls started creating a large circle using stones and piling up wood to build a fire pit.
I gather myself a team ready to bring back food and water for the camp.
As we trek through the vegetation, the sounds of nature surround us - the chirping of insects, the rustling of leaves, and the distant calls of unknown creatures. Each step we take is a reminder of how alone we are in this new world. Wells, Clarke, and Monty identify and gather various medicinal plants along the way.
Octavia leads us through the forest while I bring up the rear; we maintain a spread-out formation, close enough for me to defend everyone if we're attacked. Despite leading us, Octavia was looking back at me every so often; I wondered what she was looking for.
"Wow, look at that," a hushed voice from Finn drew my attention. I quickly make my way to his side, where a few yards ahead stood a majestic deer. Someone creeps behind me, stepping on a stick that breaks loudly in this quiet forest, scaring the deer to look our way, revealing its two heads. With swift precision and without hesitation, I fling a throwing spike, felling the wondrous creature, everyone looking back at me, stunned.
"I'm a former lieutenant of the guard; I've had a lot of practice," I state confidently as I stride towards the fallen beast.
"Murphy, come assist me now," I command, prompting him to grumble but oblige. I instruct Finn to bring the belts he had collected and fashioned for this very purpose.
"There, it should be easy enough for you to carry it by yourselves, take it back to camp but tell Blake not to do touch it before I come back, ok," Murphy nods his head bitching to himself as he and Finn starts dragging the deer back to camp.
"Come on, we still need to look for water and whatever else Wells, Clarke and Monty can identify," I signal Octavia to lead us once again.
She leads us to a vast river, its crystal-clear waters offering a refreshing water source once purified. Dropping my backpack to the ground, I strip off my clothes, much to Clarke's surprise. "What are you doing, Orella?" she questions, to which I merely flash a mischievous grin.
"Going for a swim," I declare before plunging into the cool embrace of the river, clad only in a singlet and underwear. As I resurface, met by concerned faces, Finn voices our collective inability to swim. I laugh, " But we can stand," I say, demonstrating by wading with the water reaching up to my belly button. However, my leisurely swim is interrupted by a sudden tug on my leg, dragging me beneath the surface, kicking and struggling.
"Throw me a spike," I scream out after as my head surfaces on top of the water for a few seconds before I'm pulled under again; I manage to grasp the throwing spikes sinking beside me. With swift action, I aim for the creature's eye, piercing its brain and killing it; its jaw unhinges from around my leg, allowing me to kick my way to the water's surface. Gasping for air, I return to the riverbank, jokingly remarking, "Well, that was fun," I say as I cough up water from my slightly drowned lungs, lying back as Clarke inspects my leg wound.
"No, that was incredibly reckless, and you should have known better," Clarke reprimands me firmly.
"Better me than one of you," I retort, looking at Octavia, who gives me an inscrutable look before wading into the water with Wells to retrieve the sea monster.
"I wonder how it tastes," I mused aloud, eliciting laughter from Jasper and Monty. Together, we hoist the unusual prey and begin the trek back to camp, our bounty in tow.
At the dropship campsite with the sun slowly sinking in the sky, Octavia, and I skilfully skin the deer while I let Murphy take over for me to cook the two-headed deer, four rabbits, and the peculiar sea creature, Which turns out to be a mutated freshwater eel as Clarke drags me into the dropship so she can look at my leg wound.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Clarke inquires for the fifth and final time.
"Yes, I've faced worse injuries back on the Ark; one guy I was pursuing stabbed me in the back with a fork, and your mother had to patch me up. So, yes, I'm sure I'm fine," I reassure her, but continue to let Clarke examine my wound with meticulous care.
I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for having her by our sides. Despite the harsh reality of our situation on Earth, moments like these made me realise how lucky we were to have each other. With her confident touch, Clarke treats my injury, her steady hands a symbol of resilience in the face of my actions.
As the sun dips below the horizon, the aroma of the cooking meat fills the air, making my stomach growl with anticipation. Murphy had taken charge of the cooking, I have to admit; the scent of the sizzling meat is enough to make anyone's mouth water.
Finally, the meal is ready and served on makeshift plates of leaves; I gather everyone around the campfire.
"Before we enjoy the meal Murphy has cooked for us, I just want to thank everyone for the efforts they have put in today if every day is like this one minor the injuries caused by dumb decision," I smile cheekily at Clarke who shakes her head at me, "our life on earth won't be as hard if everyone puts in an effort like today, so thank you for making today easier," I cheer for my fellow survivors keeping our spirits high despite the challenges we will face. We laugh and joke, enjoying the simple pleasure of a hot meal after a long day of hunting and surviving in this unforgiving landscape.
And as I take my first bite of the peculiar sea creature–the mutated freshwater eel–I can't help but smile. It's an adventure unlike any other, and I know that as long as we stick together, we can overcome anything that comes our way.