Chapter 8
Ranger Clarke Griffin sucked in a deep breath, counted to five then let it all out again. She tried to look anywhere but in front of her, tried to think about anything but who was in front of her,
“Is there a problem Ranger?” Marshall Lexa Woods asked, her tone playful, like she knew exactly what she was doing to the young Jaeger Ranger. Clarke was completely aware of how naked the Marshall was, and how much she really, really wanted to take another long look at her frame, but she knew she couldn't. She'd broken enough protocols that day. Clarke coughed loudly, turning abruptly on her heal as Lexa turned and dipped under the still running water from Clarke's original shower, giving Clarke just enough time to see that perfectly peach ass,
“No, no Marshall. I just have to - I mean, I need to-”
“Leaving so soon? Take advantage of the water, I know it's in short supply in the dorm areas,” Lexa continued to talk as Clarke shuffled back towards the door,
“No, no its cool. I've had my fill, thanks Marshall, thanks,” Clarke fumbled at the sliding door, realising as it slid open that she was still naked as the day she was born. By now the Ranger was pretty sure she was supporting a full bodied blush,
“Towels are on the rail, to the left,” Lexa called out, drawing Clarke's eyes back to her naked form. Her eyes were closed, back arched as water sprayed down the front of her body. Clarke swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly very dry. If it had been any other time, any other person, she would have confidently sauntered over to the naked woman, wrapped herself around her and kissed her exposed skin. She would have slid her hands over Lexa's soapy form, found her most intimate places and showed her how skilled she was in other areas.
But Lexa Woods was her commanding officer, and she was a barely experience Ranger, now matter what kind of relationship the Marshall had had with her previous Drift partner, Clarke wasn't about to risk that. Not over a heated crush. With one more muttered thanks, the Ranger grabbed a towel and headed for safety, away from naked women and the imposing doom of embarrassment.
It took only two days for the next Kaiju event to happen. The Shatterdome had been in a silent stalemate, waiting for the occurrence. The huge war clock loomed over every member of the team, sitting just below the LOCCET room, watching the main floor of the Shatterdome. Ticking upwards slowly, as of daring the Azgeda rift to open up and spill out its deadliest beasts. The LOCCET controllers had taken to betting when the next attack would happen, the Jaeger crews marking down the days on the feet of their Mechs, and the Marshall silently pacing her office till the shrill alarm went off.
Lexa had planned to contact her newest Ranger, set another Drift test into motion, but she found herself tormented by what could be revealed if she did so. Clarke had clearly been avoiding her, she knew that much. Since her foolhardy display in the Rangers shower block, Lexa had thought it may have broken the ice between them. Taking such a confident step into those waters had been wrong, if anything it had made Clarke draw away more, be ever the professional, curt and to the book. Much unlike the young Cadet who had first arrive at the ‘dome not six months prior.
Lexa knew their next Drift would reveal more than she probably should do in such a vulnerable position. Ranger Griffin may have seen her deepest, most shielded memories, but for the blonde to delve unwillingly into her lustful side would be more than unmanageable. But Lexa had seen Clarke blush, seen her fumble when she looked over her body, surely she could maybe just feel the same? Lexa shook her head, her chest suddenly feeling heavy as the newest wave of coughs took hold of her.
The Kaiju siren already blared, and of course now was the time her body decided to betray her. She found her arm chair, collapsing into it as she coughed hard, her fingers and palms flecking with black blood as the comp of running boots rounded into Lexa's private quarters.
“Marshall!” it was Clarke who called out to her, skidding to a halt before Lexa, her chest heaving in a pant, her navy jacket open just enough for kexa to catch sight of the young Rangers bosom,
“Cl..clarke?” Lexa wheezed, forcing herself to sit upwards,
“LOCCET are waiting for you. Anya, she said to come find you, get the orders for attack,” Clarke spoke softly, she was clearly assessing the situation she'd run into. Who wouldn't when they find their commanding officer hunched over, coughing up radiation poisoned blood. Lexa sighed, pushing herself shakily to her feet, “I didn't know...does anyone know?” Clarke asked meekly, eyeing Lexa's bloodied hands,
“The right people do. Ranger, time to focus, radio Miss Reyes, have Heda primed and ready to go,”
“But-”
“No time like the present to give it another shot Ranger,” Lexa gave a weak wink upward Clarke. Which only put a pink flush to the Rangers cheeks. They moved in silence towards the LOCCET command deck, Clarke ever ready to catch her Marshall if she wobbled or fell, but Lexa was a proud, determined, extremely stubborn woman who wouldn't have a rookie Ranger, and her crush, see her falter.
By the time they'd reached the LOCCET it was brimming with activity, people shouting out instructions, calling for data from other stations. Through the huge glass windows Trikru and Pauna was primed to go, choppers high above them connecting the carry lines to take them to the 10 mile miracle line.
“Marshall! Oh thank God, we've been -”
“No time Blake, Mr Green, give me the stats, what are we facing?” Lexa cut Bellamy short as he reached her side, Clarke eyed him carefully as she strode past, still at Lexa's aide. His face was flushed, tied loosened under his pressed blue blazer. He looked frantic, quickly following the two women,
“No, Marshall, I need to speak with you,”
“Mr Blake, it can wait,” Lexa snapped as she reached Monty, who looked fearful as she did, “Talk to me Mr Green,” the Marshall commanded and he nodded quickly,
“Two class four's M’am. Code name ThunderBack and Striker. They breached an hour ago, but they haven't moved from the rift. Just swimming back and forth, over and over,” Monty murmured, tapping away at his Holo-screen to show the Marshall the stats. The screens flicked blue and red, with two little green dots circling the line that symbolised the Azgeda rift. Lexa frowned hard, watching the two Kaiju hold their positions,
“That's...strange, right? They usually swim inland by the hour mark. What's going on?” Clarke jumped in quickly, reaching forward to tap the green Kaiju dots on the screen. Monty made a sound of protest, slapping her hand away,
“There's nothing wrong with my equipment Ranger!” the LOCCET controller cried out, Clarke grinned and wiggled her tongue at him, turning her eyes to the Marshall. Lexa was frowning hard, her eyes flicking from the primed Jaegers to the screen before her, she was calculating a plan. Something, anything.
“Marshall! This matter is urgent!” Bellamy cried out, finally lulling Lexa's attention to him,
“What the hell Mr Blake? What is so damn urgent that it overshadows a breach?” Lexa snapped, turning on her heel to face Bellamy and the over shadowing form of Councillor Jaha,
“Marshall,” the tall, dark figure practically grunted at Lexa. The Marshall gaped, taken back by the sudden appearance of the tall man. He looked stern, angry and powerful. Dressed in a finely pressed black suit, the breast adorned with rank stripes, a stark white shirt and black tie tucked beneath. But his expression, his expression wa some that Clarke probably knew more than Lexa ever did. It was some that Abby often shared with her daughter, one that was a mixture of disappointment and anger,
“Councilman Jaha, what a pleasure to see you in person,” Lexa practically growled through gritted teeth, “You're just in time for the big show,”
“I believe I'm just in time to stop you from doing something foolhardy Marshall,” Jaha’s tone was curt yet sliced like a knife.
“Marshall, as I was telling you earlier, Councilman Jaha has decided to visits the Shatterdome, before its closure at the end of the week,” Bellman jumped in, going Lexa a pointed look. The Marshall started from Bellamy to Jaha, then nodded quickly,
“Ah yes, of course. If you'd like to step into my office Councilman, we can discuss -”
“There is nothing my more to discuss Marshall, it's time to shut it down. The wall is complete, it's time to let go.”
“So this is it huh?” Raven sighed heavily, shoving another Shatterdome emblazoned hooded jumped Dinton her duffle bag. Clarke grunted from her bunk. 48 hours had passed since Jaha made it publicly known that he was shutting down Polis Shatterdome. Personnel were clearing out left and right, grabbing their severance checks or reporting to the wall for work. The ‘dome was down to a near skeleton crew which consisted mostly of the Jaeger crews. The ones who refused to give in or up. Marshal Woods had been holed up in her private quarters for nearly the entire time since Jaha made his statement.
The Councilman had dismissed her within minutes, sent Trikru and Pauna back to their docking bays and closed the doors of the Shatterdome. There had been uproar, with two class four Kaiju still swimming in open waters, the human race was left near defenseless. But Jaha had held steady.
The LOCCET was still active, watching ThunderBack and Striker still circle the rift, never moving more than three miles away from it, then returning. To every member left in the ‘dome this was highly unusual. And worrying. What were they waiting for? And how long would it last?