Heaven Can't Wait - Chapter 46

[jennickels]

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Chapter Forty-Six - Out of Options

Clarke wiggles out of her jacket without removing her lips from his all while trying to tear his own jacket from his shoulders. It’s hilarious and erotic, and it makes him love Clarke even more. She laughs into the kiss when they both get stuck. Bellamy quickly pushes her jacket off her arms then squirms out of his own. His hand slides under her shirt and up her back. She tugs on his hair, pulling his lips back to her neck.

God, she’s amazing.

It doesn’t take long before she’s raking her fingers across the burning skin of his chest. She grabs the hem of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head. Whoa. His hands wander around to her waist. He tightens his grip, lifting her off her feet. Her legs wrap around him as he presses her against the closed door. Her lips trail butterfly kisses across his jaw. If they don’t take this to the bed soon, he’s sure he’ll just combust right here in her arms.

“Clarke,” he says—the name coming out more like a moan. Clarke shivers in his arms, deepening the kiss.

A squelch of static from the radio on his belt startles them both. Clarke jerks, smacking her forehead against his nose.

“Ow,” he mutters, rubbing his bruised appendage.

Clarke giggles into his shoulder as the radio continues to pop and sputter. Bellamy bites back a groan of frustration, pulling it free from his belt without putting Clarke down. He twists the dial until the frequency clears up. “Say again,” he says into the radio. “I didn’t catch that.”

“Bellamy,” Kane answers, “can you come down to Engineering.”

“Now?”

Clarke giggles again, her lips brushing the tender skin behind his ear, making him tremble.

“Yes, now.”

Bellamy sighs, letting his forehead fall against Clarke’s. “Copy.”

He slides the radio back into his belt then kisses Clarke again. It won’t kill them to wait a few minutes.

The radio crackles again. “While you’re at it, lover boy, bring Clarke along with you,” Raven says with a laugh.

Clarke snorts. Great, the word is out. He’s going to kill Murphy.

Slowly, Bellamy lets Clarke down. It takes him a moment to calm his breathing and center himself. Raven will never let him live it down if he shows up out of breath. They quickly dress, trying not to look at each other or they might never make the meeting.

A few minutes later, they walk into Engineering. Raven gives them a knowing look from her spot in the center of a grim-faced circle of people.

“There you are,” Kane says, obviously annoyed. “Let’s get started.”

“What’s going on?” Clarke asks, joining Raven.

“It’s the end of the world,” Raven answers.

“Yeah, we know that.”

She types something into her computer. “Well, it might be ending a lot sooner than we thought.”

Of course it is.

“Based on my analysis of the last few days of storms and the images from our long-range sensors-” She switches the view to an external camera showing a storm building in the distance—bigger than any Bellamy has ever seen. It roils and spits lightning across the black sky. He swallows hard. “This is it. We’ve got four, maybe five days, before it gets here.”

“Well,” Kane says. “We knew this was going to happen sooner or later. We’re as ready as we’re going to be.”

“What about the transformer?” Bellamy asks, dread pooling in his gut.

“We’ve got the power rerouted to an internal transformer now. We’re just waiting to disconnect from outside.”

“Uh, aren't we cutting it a little close?”

Raven’s eyes narrow. “I lost half my crew—I’m doing the best-”

Bellamy puts his hands up. “Right, I’m sorry. When are we making the switch? We have to do it as soon as possible.”

“I’ll be going out tomorrow morn-”

“No you won’t,” Bellamy interrupts.

Raven crosses her arms. “It’ll be faster if I do it myself instead of explaining it to someone.”

“No. Out of the question.”

“Bellamy, this isn’t your decision.”

Kane puts a hand between them. “No, it’s mine, and I’m with Bellamy. You’re too valuable to risk it.”

Raven starts to protest, but Monty raises his hand. “I’ll do it.”

Everyone turns to him. “Monty-” Bellamy starts.

“I know what you’re going to say—with Jaha and the other engineers gone, I’m too valuable to risk, too, but someone has to go, and we need Raven more than me.”

The group breaks into overlapping protests.

“I’ll do it,” Bellamy says loudly at the same time Murphy says, “I’ll go.”

Bellamy hadn’t even noticed him standing against the wall. Everyone turns to him. “I’m not an engineer, but I can follow directions. Just tell me what to do.”

The arguing continues. Bellamy watches Murphy. What is this about? It’s not like Murphy to risk his life. Murphy watches back then shrugs like he knows what Bellamy is thinking. “Someone has to do it,” Murphy says. “I’m expendable.”

Bellamy doesn’t like the way he says that so nonchalantly. “I doubt Emori would agree.”

Murphy shrugs again.

“Enough,” Raven says suddenly. “This isn’t even the reason I called everyone here.” That gets everyone’s attention. She switches the screen to a schematic of the station. “With the repairs we’ve been able to make over the last few months, the station is as ready as it will ever be except for the observation room. There isn’t the time or the manpower to finish it. It will be a no-man’s land after the wave hits. Thankfully, the airlocks work, and the internal insulation will keep the radiation out of the rest of the station.”

The news tears at Bellamy’s heart. It’s silly really—it’s just a room—but he can’t help remember Heaven twirling under the stars or telling her the stories of the constellations. He pushes down the lump in his throat and almost misses the rest of Raven’s report.

“The real problem, though, is this.” A section of the station on the west highlights yellow. “Although the station can withstand the radiation enough for us to survive, the Deathwave will be proceeded by superheated air that will overwhelm our limited cooling capabilities.” The screen shows an animation of the wave hitting the station, heating up the areas highlighted.

“What are you saying, Raven?” Abby asks with a frown.

“I’m saying we’re going to have to evacuate these areas of the station.”

“Evacuate?” Clarke asks. “To where?”

Raven types something then stands back up. “As far east in the station as we can get, preferably to the levels below ground.”

“That’s nearly a third of the station,” Kane says.

“And it’s mostly Grounders,” adds Clarke. “Where are we going to put everyone? We’re already doubled up.”

Raven sighs. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but we don’t really have a choice. It should only be for a week or so—enough for the front of the wave to pass and the air to cool off. There might be a spike in radiation, but that should dissipate as well.”

“A week?” Bellamy shakes his head. This is a nightmare. “People aren’t going to be happy.”

“I know. I’m telling you we are out of options unless we want everyone in this area to die.”

The group stares at the screens. Bellamy can imagine what many Arkadians will think of this plan. “We can turn the mess hall into a refugee camp,” he says with a sigh. “The lower storage bay, too. The crates can be used as beds. Bathrooms are going to be a problem.”

“We’re still going to have to triple up crew quarters,” Kane adds, pointing to a hallway in the yellow. “These are all Arkadian dormitories.”

Bellamy groans. This is not going to end well. Tensions are already high. Forcing even more people into tighter quarters. It’s a recipe for disaster. A powder keg being lit.

“All right,” Kane says, clapping his hands to get their attention. “Enough moaning. We can’t change the situation so let’s make the best of it. Monty, make a list of the sections needing to be evacuated and a time table. Murphy-” He turns his attention to Murphy still standing at the door. “Do you think you can learn how to disconnect the transformer in the next twenty-four hours?”

“Sure, why not?”

“Get with Raven then. I want us on internal power by tomorrow night. We’ll start evacuations as soon as we’re ready—to storage and the Mess Hall until we can get the rooms sorted out. Clarke, I’ll need your help organizing things.”

“Of course. I’ll get Niylah to help with the Grounders.”

“Good. We need to get this done quickly and quietly. I’ll talk to Indra tonight so she’s prepared then make an announcement after the power is switched over.”

Kane slumps against the table, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Abby wraps a comforting arm around him. Bellamy doesn’t envy either of them.

Bellamy joins Murphy and Raven. “You don’t have to do this,” Bellamy tells Murphy.

He shrugs. “Just don’t tell Emori I volunteered—she doesn’t like when I get all heroic.”

Bellamy smiles.

“I’m going to need you, too,” Raven says, pointing at Bellamy.

He sighs. Of course she does. “Tell me what I need to do.”

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