THERE ARE NO GOOD GUYS.

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LOST IN FIRE (book three).
°•        CHAPTER FOUR        •°

"        WHAT THE HELL?
LET'S BE GOOD GUYS.       "

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Both Raven and Bellamy were stunned as they walked through the path in between the beds. They were studying each prisoner hesitantly like they'd be the next to jump out as the first one had. Even Harley was weary, keeping herself armed with her sword as she peered through the frosted glass. The sleeping prisoners each looked the same as the first who tried to kill them, muscle wise, even the woman. But Raven reassured them she could tell their vitals on the screens next to each bed, wires leading to the inside to say whether or not they'd wake up. Still, Harley didn't feel safe. She could almost see them all wake at once and attack her family.

"Not too long ago, I'd have thought this was magic," Echo admitted in wonder.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Arthur Clarke," Raven quoted, observing a screen of vitals before rising.

"This isn't magic, it's real life," Harley replied realistically.

"How long can they live like this?" Bellamy asked quietly in addition.

Shrugging, Raven answered. "Technically? Forever."

"Or, we can kill them all right now." Murphy made his arrival known as he strolled in, his words sarcastic with the harsh truth behind them. He paused at the entrance, noticing how beat up the four looked. "What happened to you?"

"One of them woke up," Echo responded gravely.

"Question is how," Bellamy mused.

Taken by surprise, Murphy stormed forward until he was beside him. "No, the question is what the hell are we waiting for?" He snapped. "I'm serious, okay. We're all gassed up, let's pull the plug on this sleeping army and go home."

"That's not an option. Kill theirs, they kill ours," Bellamy protested as Raven wandered further down. "Raven?"

"The pods are all jacked in to the mainframe," Raven suggested, pausing in front of the one open bed. "I'm guessing they activated this one remotely from the ground, probably in response to us tripping their alarm."

"When he doesn't check in, they'll wake more of them," Echo finished for her.

Raven nodded. "I'd say that's a good bet."

"Then why the hell are we still talking about this?" Harley demanded, ignoring the way Bellamy's head was bowed.

"Ergo, my 'get the hell out of here' plan," Murphy proposed eagerly.

"Bellamy," Harley said his name with an edge in her tone so he'd look up. "You know what happens when these guys get to the ground. For once, John's not wrong - " Murphy snorted. "But this is an army. It took four of us to take out one of them. He didn't even flinch when my sword was in his chest," Harley went on seriously. "We have to stop them before they have reinforcements."

With a pause, Bellamy glanced from Murphy to Harley, unsure, before shaking his head. "We've been off the ring for less than a day, and we're already talking about murdering hundreds of people," he stated in disbelief. "Harley, this wouldn't even be an option to you six years ago - "

"Six years ago!" Harley raised her voice, cutting him off. "That's who I was... Six. Years. Ago."

"This isn't murder," Murphy said, sidestepping so he was in between them. "It's survival. Harley is right. They die now or we die later. If Clarke was here, this wouldn't even be - "

He stopped when Bellamy interrupted him sharply. "Clarke's not here."

"Exactly!" Murphy exclaimed. "She died so we could live, Bellamy, this is how we do that."

There's a wetness in Bellamy's eyes that he blinks away at the mention of what Clarke would do, had she made it six years ago. "Maybe not," Raven called to them from her further spot. "We can leave them here like this, but block the signal from the ground so they can't wake them up."

"They have a shuttle," Murphy said, shutting the idea down. "They can just come back up and do it themselves."

It's silent when Bellamy and Raven realize Murphy's right. Harley waits for Bellamy to agree, say that he agreed with her and her brother. That they could finally stop the murderous cycle by surviving now instead of dying later before Echo speaks up. "Can you rig it so we can kill them remotely?" She asked Raven.

Cocking her head, Raven thought it over. "It's tricky but possible. Why?"

"Leverage," Bellamy said, reading Echo's mind. "Put down your weapons, or we pull the plug." Harley shakes her head in exasperation as he joins Raven's side. "How long do you need to make that possible."

But Raven was already typing fast at her keyboard, eyes locked on the screen. "I don't know. But I'm on it."

Harley shares a look with Murphy that's identical to the one he gives her. She knew without a doubt this was going to blow up on them later, and soon, they'll all have too much blood on their hands to wash off. She clenched her jaw, knowing she couldn't change Bellamy's mind. He didn't want to kill anyone else. So instead, Harley marched away, Murphy trailing behind her in defeat. She heard Bellamy sigh.

"Murphy, Harley." It was the way Bellamy said their names with concern and caring that made Harley stop at the exit, her hand on the door's frame. "I want to know what you both think."

"I've made it clear, Bellamy," Harley said quietly without turning around. "We've all been here before, too many times, and I can't agree with you on this."

"I think it's a risk," Murphy admitted after her.

It's clear Bellamy is hurt by their disagreement, but he masks it. "You're right. It is," he said. "But Clarke didn't die for us to live just so we can go back to the ground and make the same mistakes."

And it takes all of Harley's strength to swallow her thoughts, say that this choice wouldn't be a mistake, that Clarke wouldn't have thought twice about pulling the plug and saving everyone like she always had. She knows six years ago Bellamy would have done the same thing, and she'd be the one in the position he's in now, arguing that this isn't who they are anymore. But they're here, and Harley knows she can't change his mind.

"What the hell?" Murphy said with a shrug. "Let's be good guys."

Despite the knowledge that Harley can't make any of them do a hard thing like this, kill hundreds of prisoners in their sleep, she finally looks over her shoulder with a scowl dark enough to kill before she speaks darkly.

"There are no good guys."

With that lingering in the air, Harley leaves, choosing to forget that this is going to blow up in their faces later and remembers that they were going to Earth after six long years of being good guys to soon realize there were none.

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The suit was hotter than normal as Harley pulls it over her skin, stepping into it. She has a hunch it's because she's still full of frustration and anger over the choice they made. She knows having leverage could be better, but they were already attacking Octavia and her people on the ground as far as they knew. Harley keeps her head down as she zips it up, double-checking that her sword was still in her sheath so it wouldn't slip out on their way down. The others seemed excited, all for Monty, reluctantly letting Harper help him suit up. Harley was still mildly upset herself, but she can't lie and says she isn't ready to return home either.

Bellamy, who had returned to the control room to grab Raven, turned a corner sharply with his helmet hanging in his hand at his side. "Let's do this," he announces, attempting to come off as prepared, but sounding strained. Harley sees why when he steps into the airlock. Raven isn't with him.

"Where the hell is she?" Emori demanded nervously. She had been pacing back and forth, and now her eyes were wide and full of fear.

"It's technical," Bellamy said calmly. "But someone has to run things from here." Stunned, Harley looks up, her helmet almost slipping from her fingers. Raven can't just stay behind, all alone. She was family - and they needed her.

Emori's outburst snaps Harley out of her thoughts. "So let it be John!" She states viciously, pointing to him. Harley's jaw drops at the coldness, seeing her brother stiffen and look at the wall like it stung more than anything else Emori put him through.

"I said, it's technical," Bellamy repeated.

With one look to Harper, Monty steps forward. "I'll do it," he offers.

"Monty!" Harper exclaimed as he ignores her, walking towards the exit.

But Monty is stopped when Bellamy puts his arm out, gently pushing him back. "Enough," he warns. "It has to be Raven. Once we have a truce, she'll come down with the prisoners. If we fail, she'll take the ship's escape pod." That should have brought some comfort to Harley, but she's still unsure, having a difficult time wrapping her head around what Emori said to her brother and having to leave a part of her family behind. "Either way, she will be fine," Bellamy finished positively.

"If I'm flying solo, she'll be the only one!" Emori insisted in terror.

Bellamy doesn't hesitate in replying like he's convinced Emori can do this without Raven's help. "You got this." Emori doesn't move as he nudges past her, calling out. "Let's load up!" Monty doesn't like it, hanging there briefly, before caving and following Bellamy towards their pod. Harley just grabs her gloves, focusing on pulling them over her hands when she hears Bellamy say; "Now, Murphy."

"I'm staying too."

Harley's head shot up. Murphy had started walking out of the airlock, bag hanging on his shoulder as he carried a look of indifference. "What?" She whispered, her voice cracking.

"Look, Raven might need backup," Murphy pointed out. Nobody says anything, even Harley, as she struggled to wrap her head around what he was doing. "What? With Emori flying, this is the survivor's move," Murphy teased with a smile on his face, completely oblivious to Harley's world falling apart around her.

Until Harley shouts. "Wait!" She rushes forward, stopping just before the air lock's seal. The pain she suffered when Murphy chose to leave before resurfaced and washed over her again, making it feel fresh. "I'm not... I'm not letting you leave me again," Harley said through a stammer, having to repeat herself. She can see Murphy become blurry, her blue eyes welling with tears. "I'll stay with you."

"This isn't leaving you, Harley," Murphy responded, too relaxed for the situation. "This is seeing you on the other side." He juts out his chin to the others in a nod before taking one step back and pressing a button.

Harley hears a faint beep before the doors start to slide. She can't move fast enough, lurching forward, only for the glass doors to seal right in front of her. Murphy doesn't turn around, even when she hits the glass with her fist, making it shake. "John!" Harley shouts, her voice muffled to him. She brings her bent arm back, prepared to hit the glass again until a hand grabs it tight enough to stop her.

"Stop." It's Bellamy, and he's gazing to her in concern. "You know that you'll see Murphy again, and right now, Raven needs him," he informs her. "Octavia needs you now."

There's nothing in this world Harley wouldn't do for Murphy, but Bellamy is right. Raven needs Murphy here and Octavia needs her on Earth. She doesn't have a choice. She sends one last sorrowful look through the door, refusing to let any tears fall, before shakily pulling on her helmet. No one says anything as they pile into the pod, one by one. From Harley's grief to Emori's fear, everyone is afraid of saying the wrong thing and setting them off no matter how comforting it was.

Once Harley was settled in one of the seats, buckle pulled over her chest, she shut her eyes, listening to Emori tapping on keys. She keeps the image of Murphy's face on the other side of the airlock door plastered in her mind, unknowing if it was the last time she'd ever see him. Harley's eyelids fly open when a lever is pulled and they drop, flying through space, and hurdling straight towards Earth once more.

It was too much like the dropship, Harley thought. Being in a small space with others just as frightened as her, not knowing if they'd make it. Her shot of Murphy faded and was replaced with her, being seventeen, never picturing who she was now. The idea of facing who she was then, an optimistic, sweet girl with long brown hair and blue eyes full of hope made Harley know she'd be stunned at what she'd become years later. Hell, she was locked up for a crime she didn't commit and still didn't lose her kindness until she went through hell.

"Nineteen thousand meters," the computer read.

The pod moved faster, a warmness coming in. Harley could feel the gravity changing rapidly as she took a deep breath, holding onto her belt. Emori mumbled under her breath as the computer went on, holding the steer, gaze focused on the screen in front of her, the target being Earth.

"Eighteen thousand meters."

"Seventeen thousand meters."

Emori stops to look at Bellamy. Harley can't see through her helmet, but she knows she's terrified, everyone's lives depending on her. "Just breathe," Bellamy reassures her.

"Sixteen thousand meters."

"Firing the cold gas thrusters to initiate roll maneuver," Emori announced, pulling down a small lever.

Terror shoots through Harley as she grips her belt tighter, head falling back and hitting her seat. She remembered being this scared on the dropship, when sparks from wires flew and the entire ship shook violently, all while unknowing what Earth had in store for them. This didn't feel much different.

"Twelve thousand meters."

"Computer light, boostback engines," Emori continued, turning a few knobs.

The computer read back; "Boostback engines fired in three, two, one..."

Suddenly, the pod jerked, and Harley's breath hitched in her throat. She tried to calm herself, knowing having a meltdown in a small pod was the last thing anyone here wanted to be around. She felt a gloved hand on her arm that shook with the movement of the pod, and she looked over to see it was Monty, somehow more visibly calm compared to everyone else. Harley's words were stuck in her throat, but she gave him a curt nod, knowing he understood.

"Two thousand meters."

"Deploy landing legs!" Emori called over the noise.

"Landing legs deployed. Grid fins activated."

"Here we go!" Emori exclaimed to the group. Harley released her belt to grip Monty's hand, remembering the last time she had shot through space, she was holding Murphy's arm. But he wasn't here, and Monty was her family too, offering her comfort to survive her terror.

"Two hundred meters."

Harley wasn't sure if she was breathing. Her gloved hand held Monty's so tight she was unsure if she was hurting him, waiting for this all to be over. Whether they'd burst into flames or survive this, Harley didn't know, but it only took a second to find out. The pod intensely jerked one last time before it was still, and the computer's voice spoke.

"Vertical landing successful."

Relief spread through Harley and her grip slowly loosened on Monty before releasing him. She sent him a thankful smile before processing what had happened. They landed. They were on Earth. Harley isn't sure if she's going to cry or not as she shakily reaches up, ripping off her helmet. The air wasn't fresh enough yet, not inside the pod, but she knew it would be soon because they were home.

"You did it," Harper whispered after slowly taking off her own helmet.

Emori looks to shocked to respond, paralyzed in the captain's seat. "Emori," Bellamy says, taking off his helmet before gently shaking her arm. "Emori!"

Finally, Emori reacts, reaching up to pull her helmet off. "We didn't die?" She asks him, her tone wobbling.

"No." Bellamy grins warmly, shaking his head. "No, we didn't." Harley's smile widens as she looks around, hand being brought down to press on her seat buckle to free herself eagerly.

"We'll celebrate once Murphy and Raven are back down too," Echo said. "There's no telling how many people saw us. We need to take cover in the trees before they get here."

The excitement dies down in Harley when she remembers the cycle they were in. But Echo is right, and the inmates are still here, could be watching them now. She stands, feeling her knees unsteadily shake. After being in space again for another six years, gravity draws Harley down further, but she mustered up enough strength to balance herself and open the pod's hatch for Bellamy to step out first.

Earth is dark and silent. It's night time, and Harley can hardly see through it, her vision struggling to adjust. She lands in the grass, her boots planted firmly as she stands up straight. Her head tilts back, blinking a few times. Trees whistling circle around them, due to them landing in the woods. Harley smiled again, memories of her very first day on Earth many years ago flashing through her head. Octavia's words rung in her ears.

We're back, bitches.

With a deep breath of new, fresh air filling her lungs, Harley grabs her bag and slings the strap over one of her shoulders so she still has access to her sword. She's so eager to see Octavia again it hurts in a way, but Harley had been waiting to do so for six years. Another day or so wouldn't hurt much.

"It's so quiet," Harper commented, breaking the silence as they abandoned the pod.

"Okay, so how do we find them?" Monty questioned next, glancing at the trees.

"We don't," Echo answered. "They'll find us."

Harley snorted softly. "We fell from the sky, of course they wi - "

Before Harley can finished, the trees they were approaching shifted quicker. None of them have the chance to even blink as three men appear, each as muscular as the first prisoner they had fought. They are dressed the same as well, tattoos on their faces and wielding firearms. "They already have," Bellamy mumbled, hands shooting up in defense.

"Everybody, on your knees!" One shouts roughly. Harley refuses, hand flying behind her to grab the handle of her sword and yank it out swiftly.

"It's okay, it's okay!" Bellamy exclaimed. "We don't want to fight!"

"Now!"

"We just want to talk!" Bellamy desperately tries to explain.

Nobody dares to move until one of them lowers their gun to bring a radio to his mouth, a finger on the button. "Colonel, we have five more hostiles. At least two are armed. Are we still playing nice?" He asked.

"Stand by."

Harley's eyes flicker to Bellamy, waiting for any signal from him. But their leader stands tall, hands still up, hoping that they could work this out peacefully despite the guns pointed at them. The hand holding Harley's sword becomes tighter, fighting the urge to fight back. A gun against a sword wins every time.

"Four of ours are dead," the Colonel finally replies. "It's time to even the score."

A cold smile spreads on the man in the lead's face. "Congratulations," he tells them. "Two of you get to live."

Bellamy shakes his head, mouth falling open to try and stop them. But nothing comes out when a whipping sound fills the air, and one of the three men fall to the ground with a shout of surprise. A spear is sticking out of his neck. Small footsteps hustle, gunshot noises following, making bullets shoot through the last two standing, killing them instantly. Harley watches with wide eyes as they fall, and a child lowering her gun appears.

"She's just a kid," Bellamy noted softly.

The girl who saved them can't be any older than thirteen. Her hair is a mess of red and brown braids, pale skin, and ratty clothing that looks too big for her. Her blue eyes land on the group of six, and she looks amazed at the sight. "Bellamy?" She questioned innocently. Harley watches as Bellamy's head tilts, knowing he didn't know her. The kid eagerly bounces forward, a wide smile appearing on her full cheeks. "Clarke knew you would come!"

The world around Harley stops moving briefly. Her jaw drops, her stomach churning as she processes what they were told. Her sword almost slips out of her now loose clutch, feeling ice-cold, like she can't move. Harley and her family spent six years thinking their friend, the one who sacrificed herself to save them, was long dead.

"Clarke's alive?" Bellamy choked out, overwhelmed with emotions that would spill as he tries to wrap his head around the news.

She nods. "She's in trouble," she confirms. "We have to go."

Harley clears her throat, finding her voice. "Wait!" She calls to the stranger. "What about Octavia? And everyone in the bunker?"

"They're still there," she said.

"What?" Bellamy shakes his head in disbelief. "No, no. How can that be?"

She quickly grabs Bellamy's wrist, tugging him forward. "Come on, I'll explain on the way!"

Harley's feet feel like heavy stones as she tries to run and follow. Even her head feels like a weight, swirling with all the new information with no answers. Clarke was alive, Octavia and their people were still in the bunker, and soon they'd all be trapped in another war that Harley feels like they won't be able to stop.