Bellamy's voice was low, rough with the weight of goodbye as he spoke into the radio with Octavia. I stood close, watching his shoulders stiffen at every pause. Clarke stepped up after him, trying to reach her mother, but by the looks of it.... The signal had already died. The static was merciless.

We all stood in front of the monitor as the death wave rolled toward polis. My stomach knotted, my fingers gripping the edge of the console so tight it hurt. That city- wasn't perfect, but it was home. It was the last place I'd felt the shadow of Lexa, of Lincoln, of everything we lost and fought to keep. I closed my eyes, praying the bunker held. When the camera feed cut out, I exhaled shakily. The silence after was heavier than the roar of the storm.

Ravens covid pulled me back.
"It's 210 miles from polis to the island. According to what was our last drone, the wave is accelerating. If we're not off the ground at least 20 minutes before it hits, the electromagnetic charge in the pyroclastic cloud will shut down the rockets avionics, meaning it won't fly. That gives us 90 minutes to run a 6 hour preflight check, retrieve the oxygen generator from the lighthouse, turn a cockpit designed for two into one that can carry 9, and load the cargo hold with enough food to keep us from starving in space while we wait for the algae to bloom" Raven explained

John snorted.
"I thought you said it was gonna be hard" he said

"That's not the hard part. Becca designed her rocket to dock with Polaris not the Ark. That means I have to pilot it into the hanger bay on the ring." She said

Harper frowned.
"What's so hard about that?" She asked

"That's not the hard part either." Raven muttered.

"What's the hard part, Raven?" Clarke pressed

"Assuming we blast off in time, CO2 scrubbers on a two-person rocket won't support 9 of us." She said

"So we use supplemental oxygen" Clarke offered

"Our tanks only hold an hour of air." Monty reminded

"Correct. We'll have one hour to get into orbit, land in the hanger bay, and fire up the life-support system using an oxygen generator built to supply a lighthouse bachelor pad." Raven said

John leaned back with a smirk.
"You suck at talking people into things. You know that right?" He said

I stepped forward, voice firm.
"Anyone here still need to be talked into it?" I ask

No one moved. No one spoke. Heads shook.

"Good" I nodded once, feeling the burn of determination in my chest.

Bellamy crossed his arms.
"Now we know the many ways we might die today, why don't you tell us what we have to do to live?" He said

Raven turned, jaw set, and put the timer on the screen. One hour, thirty minutes. That was it. That was all we had.

The teams split quickly. John and Monty left for the oxygen generator. Emori, Harper, Clarke, and echo worked with Raven on the rocket itself. Bellamy and I counted and re-counted rations, trying to convince ourselves we could make algae stretch into survival.

"Okay, so let's go over this again. I figure two months until the algae farm produces enough to feed us. If we ration the MRE's we should get there" I said, running the numbers in my head.

Bellamy wasn't listening. His eyes were on the rocket, his jaw tight. I pushed to my feet and walked over to him.

"Grounders in space. It's an oxymoron." Bellamy muttered

"Survivals a team sport. And from what i remember, we need it up there. It was the only choice. Only choice- also an oxymoron, by the way" a small laugh escaped me despite everything.

He glanced at me, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"So is a cold sweat" his hand brushed my forehead, damp from radiation sickness.

He sobered.
"Still holding up hope for the nightblood solution." He said

"There was never any solution. Allie was right about that." I whispered back

His eyes locked on mine.
"Our fight is not over." He said

I swallowed hard.
"Abby had a vision of me dying, Bellamy. Just like the one Raven had that told her there was a rocket here." I say

"It is not the same thing" he shook his head.

"They were both EMP'd" I countered

"Abby will be fine too. Raven told her how to stop it." He said

"That's not what I'm talking about. If anything happens to me Bellamy-" my voice cracked, low.

"Nothing is happening to you. Come on, let's run these water numbers again." His tone was final, sharp, like he could will it into truth.

"Please. Bellamy" I called after him, softer now.

"I need you to hear this" I said, he stopped barely, and turned back.

"We've been through a lot together, you and I. I know we didn't like each other at first- that's no secret. But even then, every stupid thing you did, it was to protect your sister. She didn't always see that, but I did. You've got such a big heart, Bellamy." I said, stepping closer.

"Diana-" his voice trailed off

"People follow you. You inspire them because of this" I say, I placed my hand on his heart.

"But the only way to make sure we survive is if you use this too" I said, placing my hand on his temple now.

His eyes softened, just for a second.
"I got you for that" he said

"Ravens premonition came true" I whispered

Before he could answer, a harsh zap cracked through the air. Sparks. Ravens curse rang out.

We climbed to the cockpit where Raven was frantically running system checks.

"Raven, what is it?" Bellamy asked

"There isn't enough time. We're pushing too hard." She snapped

"What's happening?" He pressed

"Computer systems check" Raven called, and the automated voice listed off errors.

"It's ok, we're using supplemental anyway. Just wait, two more. Comms talk to you." she muttered

"All communication systems are offline" the computer droned.

"Recommend repair options for communication system" Raven demanded

"Who cares? There's no one to talk to anyway" harper said quickly

"Quiet." Raven snapped.

"Damage beyond repair. Total system replacement required." It said

"Talk to us, Raven" I said firmly.

Her eyes lingered on the dead console before she exhaled sharply.
"We're not going anywhere. Computer, terminate launch sequence" she said.

She shoved herself out of the cockpit, fury and despair radiating off her. We followed.

"Raven, explain" Bellamy said.

"It's simple. There's no power in the ring. Two minutes ago, I thought it wasn't a problem because I could activate it remotely-" Raven starts

"Over the rockets comm system" Clarke finished, realization dawning.

"So we turn the power on from the inside" Bellamy said

"We can't get inside, that's the point. Without power we can't even open the hanger door." She said

"Raven, think. You've solved bigger problems than this before." Clarke pushed

"Yeah, not in fifty-three minutes" she snapped

"Raven-" Clarke tried again.

"It's over, Clarke. You know, maybe if I still had Allie's code eating away my brain I could figure it out. I'm not smart enough myself." Ravens  voice cracked, breaking in a way I hadn't heard in a long time. She sank into the stairs, shaking her head.

I caught Bellamy's eye and nodded for him to try. He sat beside her. His voice low, steady.
"Hey, Raven. You can do this. How many times have you saved our asses before you ever even heard of Allie?" He asked her

"Too many to count" raven muttered

"You're damn right. We don't need Allie on the Ark, we need you" Bellamy said. Her eyes flickered to him, something sparking. Then why widened.

"What?" Bellamy asked.

"Allie was on the Ark. Allie was on the Ark. I was right there, so close to the kill switch, but she got away by transmitting herself to the ring." Raven said, standing.

"Using the pod in the temple" emori added quickly

"Yes. If she can do it- so can we." Ravens words came fast, sharp with energy.

"Raven, we can't make it to polis and the radios are dead" Clarke reminded her

"We have something better than radios. The satellite tower. You three back in the cockpit, finish those restraints. You three helmets on, you're with me. Computer, resume launch sequence. Okay everyone, let's go" Raven ordered us around. Fire in her eyes.

I couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at my lips.
"That's the Raven I know" I said