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chapter eight, Recruiting

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Madi, Nova, Octavia and Clarke were inside the bunker, inside Nova's office where Clarke was tending to Octavia's wounds. Octavia let out a sharp inhale while Clarke was stitching her arm up. "Gross" Madi breathes out making Nova look down at her and chuckle softly to herself. "Madi," Clarke warns before looking over to Octavia.

"The infection's passing. But this is gonna hurt. Are you sure you don't want Jackson?" Clarke questions and Octavia waves her off. "Jackson's tending to Indra and the others in medbay. Just do it" Octavia states as Clarke puts alcohol on a cloth and places it on Octavia's wound making her close her eyes and exhale.

Nova looks down to Madi who is looking up at her with admiring eyes and Clarke notices. "Sorry, she's a big fan- of both of you. I told her the story of Nova Bailey, the girl who won the conclave and saved everyone and heard heard every story about the amazing girl under the floor" Clarke says and Nova and Octavia lock eyes and smile at Clarke's comment.

"Well, how did this one survive for six years?" Nova questions and Clarke clears her throat. "Synthetic nightblood, like me. I took her to Becca's lab and shared my bone marrow to keep her alive" Clarke states and Nova lift her eyebrows and nods. "Woah, you are one lucky girl" Nova says placing a hand on Madi's shoulder before the door opens and Kara enters. "Ready to move?" Kara asks looking to Nova who nods.

"Octavia, you coming?" Nova asks as she stands by the door. "She needs another day's rest" Clarke states and Nova sighs, "Well, these are her people too. I think she needs to be with them" Nova states as her and Clarke meet eyes. "I'm done licking my wounds. Let's go remind the others what we promised them" Octavia says grabbing her jacket. Kara, Octavia and Nova exit the room and shut the door after them.

Octavia, Nova and Kara emerge from Bunker while sprinkles of rain land on top of them. Nova looks down at her feet as she steps down onto solid ground. She lifts her head and looks around at her people who will barley look at her and when they do they look scared.

"Why are my people looking at me like this Kara?" Nova asks as Kara rushes up next to her. "Hundreds are still refusing to come out of the bunker, afraid they'll be bombed in the streets" Kara answers and Nova sighs looking around. "You told me they needed me. They look at me like I'm a monster instead of the person who saved there damn lives" Nova mumbles as she looks over at Kara who looks hesitant about something. Nova stops in her tracks and grabs Kara's arm making her stop.

"Kara. What aren't you saying?" Octavia questions piercing her eyes into Kara's making her more scared. "Word has spread about our defeat in the wasteland. Diyoza's firepower has crippled us. The soil here is dead. I don't care how much it rains, it won't be arable for years. And, as you know, the hydrofarm can barely produce enough--" Kara begins to explain but Nova raises her hand to stop her from talking anymore. "Enough about the farm. We survived in a bunker for 6 years" Nova states and Kara shrugs her shoulders, "Because you forced us--" Kara begins before Nova swings the palm of her hand across Kara's face.

"I forced no one! There should be no reason my people look at me in fear" Nova states and Kara holds her cheek and nods her head slowly. "Yes, but I once betrayed you when you were vulnurable, when Wonkru was living in fear. Look around you. It will happen again unless you take control" Kara says and Nova steps towards her. "Stop it. Stop doubting my leadership skills! I have worked hard to get to this point and no one is going to-".

"Nova! How are you? Echo tried to get in to see you, but they wouldn't let--" Bellamy begins and Nova scoffs. "What is she doing here?" Octavia questions harshly taking a step towards Echo but Nova puts her arm in front of her stopping her from doing anything else.

"I just wanted to thank Nova for saving my people" Echo says sending a nod to Nova. Nova sighs and takes a step forward. "There is no your people. You were banned from Azgeda. There is only Wonkru, and there is no place in it for you" Nova states.

"I know there's a lot of history, but Echo is on our side. She proved herself dozens of times on the ring" Bellamy states and Nova furrows her eyebrows. "By history you mean when she made your sister fall off a cliff or do you mean when she shot me with an arrow and cut off a piece of my hair making everyone think I was dead" Nova voices looking over at Bellamy not wanting to meet Echo's eyes. "Besides, she was banned from Azgeda and Wonkru six years ago. I don't see how any of that could change" Nova says crossing her arms nearly over her chest.

"I want her gone in 24 hours or.. she fights to the death in the arena. I suggest you don't leave. I would love to see one of my people murder you in cold blood like you tried to do to Octavia" Nova says finally looking over at Echo before Octavia, Nova and Kara walk away.

"Octavia! Nova, stop. It was six years ago. You just can't cast her out. She won't survive" Bellamy says and Nova shrugs, "That's the point" Nova answers as a horn sounds in the air making Nova stop and turn around along with all of Wonkru. "It's Diyoza's ship!" Nova shouts as one of her people blow there horn and start escorting people inside the bunker.

"Let's go" Nova says as her and Kara begin to walk towards the bunker. Nova looks behind her and sees Octavia looking to Bellamy who hasn't moved yet. "Bellamy! Don't be like this get in the bunker" Nova states because as much as Nova didn't like Bellamy or enjoy his company for many years. He was on the ground with her and they've shared lots of memories together. She doesn't want him to die.

"Not without Echo" Bellamy states as he walks away. Nova rushes next to Octavia. "Keket! Bloodreina! You have to get below ground too!" Kara shouts in the distance and Nova grabs onto Octavia's arm. "Octavia, get in the bunker!" Nova says as Octavia sighs and snatches her arm away and begins following Nova to the bunker.

"Wait, look!" Kara shouts out and Nova and Octavia stop and look at the sky and see something coming down. Nova sees parachutes with supplies fall from the aircraft overhead.

"People of Wonkru, this is Colonel Diyoza offering you a chance for peace. I know you all suffered, I know you're hungry, and so many of you are weary of Nova's rule, but now you have a choice. Abandon your weapons, leave Wonkru behind, and join us in Shallow Valley. We have plenty of food and shelter for those seeking a better life" Diyoza says over the loud speaker and Nova tilts her head as she looks around at her people who let out whispers to each other. "When our ship returns tonight, head for the wastelands. Anyone waiting for us outside the ruins will be rescued. But come unarmed. If Octavia or Nova attack our ship, we will retaliate against your city with lethal force. We're watching everything, always" Diyoza says over the loud speaker before Nova grabs an axe out of someone's hands and walks over to the loud speaker thinking she destroyed by her hit.

"There is a place in the valley for all of us, so please chose wisely." Diyoza says one time and Nova groans in annoyance while looking at the loud speaker.

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"I know you're hungry and-" Diyoza continues on the loud speaker but Miller shuts off the P.A. with a click making her voice go silent. Everyone was now in Nova's office while she sat at her desk not knowing what to do about Diyoza trying to recruit her own people.

"That might be Diyoza's voice, but those are Kane's words" Octavia points out while Nova bounces her leg up and down as she sits up straight in her chair. "He knows where we're vulnurable and he's sharing it with the enemy" Miller states and Nova scoffs, "Him and Abby are traitors, what do you expect?" Nova questions but doesn't expect an answer. "We need to assume others will be willing to do the same. In the arena, Kane openly defied you to stir dissent, and dissent spreads like any virus" Kara says turning her attention to Nova who meets eyes with her.

"I want patrols along the perimeter around the clock. When that ship comes back, anyone caught beyond the ruins--" Nova orders as the door opens and Clarke, Bellamy, Harper and Monty enter. "This is a private meeting" Miller warns and Nova waves him off. "It's fine" Nova says as she sits back in her chair making Miller let out a sigh.

"We all have people in that valley that need our help" Clarke states and Nova stands to her feet leaning forward on her desk. "If you mean your mother, I do not want traitors anywhere near Wonkru. I'm trying to prevent more of them" Nova says crossing her arms over her chest.

"Your people are hungry and you're worrying about defectors? We should stop wasting time looking for enemies in Polis, and we should start trying to find a way back into that valley" Bellamy suggests and Nova chuckles humorlessly. "She can see our every move!" Nova shouts banging her hand on the desk.

"That's where Monty comes in" Harper adds and Nova clears her throat. "Laser-comm. It's dialed right into their mother ship. All I need is a relay tower on the ground that we build out of scrap in a computer. I should be able to blind the eye from right here" Monty states and Nova shrugs thinking the plan could actually work. "Good plan. Once it's down, we can attack" Miller states and Nova agrees.

"I agree. Good job Monty," Nova says patting his shoulder and turning around to face Octavia, Miller and Kara. Miller set Monty up. Kara, shoot anyone who tries to defect" Nova demands and Miller claps and begins to do as he's told. "Now that I have some time to myself. Octavia, come train with me" Nova states as Octavia nods and opens the door letting Nova exit first.