"The voice"
Days later.
Lexa let her head down into the couch covering her eyes once she read the text message for the fifth time and give a glance at her laptop were she was checking her e-mail. Everybody were going crazy because they know that the answers were at school, were professionals would tell them what was really going on, especially since there will be a world wild release were people were expecting to have answers because everything was staring to going out of control making their own theories and more.
But her classmates have been taking over the group chat on Facebook all day and she was starting to get annoyed by it. She personally send an e-mail to her professor of the program because she didn’t like the idea of left the program just like that, she had things to finish in her project and been at home wasn’t on her plans for the summer, not when she could be doing something more interesting, and not really expecting an answer but she did had one, and all it said was: The wait will be worth Woods.
What that supposed to mean? It make none sense. And is not that she wasn’t interest in the new planet, is because she was, if she were in the laboratory with people who see things the way she does, she was very sure by this moment she already would know if that planet was livable, well… maybe not to that extreme but she would have discovered something, and she was sure that they have already discovered, they must since the NASA asked for the professionals, so they needed time for do it by themselves.
She closed the laptop leaving it on the center table, covering herself with a blanket returning her attention to the documentary. Pretty much everything she has been doing since she got here, other than sometimes going out with Nick and his friends or with her mom, only with her mom rejecting the idea of spending time with Tom, something that it hurt her mother but she knew she could never convince her otherwise.
“Hey! You are watching Star Wars and you didn’t tell me?! How dare you!” Nick said going down the stairs still in his pajamas. Lexa frowned and looked up at him. “Wait” he said frowned as well “Is this new movie of Star Wars? Because I haven’t seen it yet and I don’t recognize any of this” he said pointing at the Tv.
“Is because it isn’t, is a new documentary of Netflix about Cosmos and I hadn’t had a chance to see it” Lexa said and Nick whined.
“You are so boring and nerd. Is summer watch something different for the love of god”
“Yeah” Michel said entering at the room with a bowl of cereal in hand “You have been watching that since this morning, some of us have other things to watch” Lexa made a gesture of annoyance just by hearing his voice.
“Yeah, and some of us have been living here forever” She said clenching his jaw.
“And some have already left and some of us live her now” He said upset.
“That’s what the raider said” Lexa went poker-faced while Michel grimaced with annoyance. Nick laugh while Michel make her way up stairs.
“Bye Felicia!” Nick said the corner of her mouth quirked up, Lexa couldn’t help a little laugh. Nick joins her with a little laugh too and takes a sit on the sofa next to her. “Are we for real doing only this the whole day?”
“No… I’m waiting for Costia and Mercedes; we are going to the beach”
“You are? Wow, I wasn’t expecting that… Can I tag along?” Nick said his whole face lit up.
“No you can’t” Her eyes narrowed.
“What? Why?”
“Because you have a crush on Mercedes I don’t want things to get awkward”
“So? You have one on Costia and you are still going you two, wait no...” He raised a brow “You two were a couple for a while didn’t you?”
“It’s different” She squeezed her eyes shut “She is my best friend above all”
“That’s what she said” He laugh when Lexa threw her pillow to him.
“I’m serious”
“And I’m Harry Potter” This time Lexa hit him in the knee, in the same moment the doorbell rang “Speaking of magic”
“Just shut up and stay there” She warned walking to the entrance, she sighed deeply before opening the door, is not like it was the first time she saw Costia after the break up, they even sat together on the plane, but it was still uncomfortable.
“Hey” Costia smile “You ready? Mer is in the car “She point over her shoulder.
“Yeah, just let me get my stuff” She smirk and Costia winced.
“Are you okay?” She asks when she saw the discomfort in Lexa.
“Yeah, I just really want to get out of here”. For a moment she looked up, curtly observing the planet in the sky, gently with a half- smile at the thought of how strange it was to think of something like that, a planet that could be seen as if it were the moon. “Just a moment” she look one last time the planet before turning on her heels and go for her bag.
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“Clarke” Raven insists for the third time when she notes the she wasn’t paying attention.
“I’m listening” She said but still looking to the sky, the sun was going down and she was loving the view, especially after been hours talking and arguing with Raven, Monty and Joan on how long was it taking to have a good signal of the transmissions that were more consistent with the days, according to Raven it meant something, and that something wanted to connect or communicate with them. The technology was better now, not like in the Ark, but it worked, and now this new transmissions that Raven recognized them as those of The Ark.
“What happen in Polis? This morning, you never tell me”
“Just some disagreement with a deal between two traders. Luna take care of it very well” She looks at Raven who lean on the wall with her “Something new?”
“We are working on it”
“Of course” She sigh.
“You okay? You seem tired” Raven ask after seen her that way in the past days.
“Yeah, I just haven sleep well. Last night I help my mother with a patient” She gulped and closed her eyes to the memory of the girl crying for them to stop the blood and the pain, but the memories were replaced by a fearful look but without any sound, only a pair of green eyes watching her as she held her hand over her stomach as the black blood trickled between her hands. She sigh and winced hating how difficult it was to talk about that day with someone else, she never could and never will. “I hate it, that’s all”
“Okay…” She said doubtfully but she would dare to ask more.
“Octavia is here” Clarke said taking a step away of the wall and Raven looked up in surprised to see her horse approaching, Raven and Clarke the both looked each other surprised when they saw Octavia dismount and approach them with a certain subtlety holding in her hand a black bag.
Octavia looked at both of them and Clarke shared a warning look with Raven when she stood beside her. Asking her in silent to be nice, but Raven raised a brow and turn her attention to Octavia.
“Well, well, well, little fox finally got tired of the sea. Doesn’t she?” Raven said and Octavia look at Clarke for a moment before speaking.
“And you still fell the adrenaline of saving the world by what I see” Raven smirk a moment.
“Is the never ending story in this place apparently, ask Clarke, she was about to open her hearth to me” Clarke couldn’t help a little smile.
“Speaking of it, Luna said that this might help” She up the bag before let it down on the floor “I heard a little about what you two are trying…”
“What do you mean?” Clarke asked.
“Well, there is a hearsay that maybe more people like” she made a pause “like us are coming one more time… and that you are trying to communicated with them. They are not very happy” Raven look at Clarke who look away. “Is that true?” Octavia ask very confused.
“We don’t know” Raven said “Yet… but we are curious about it. I mean is exactly like…”
“The Earth. I know I will never forget a view like that” O said looking up for a moment, still weird of the idea that there was a moment that she could never see nothing else more than white and grey, and now, she is even looking at the earth or something very similar.
“Raven! Clarke!!!!” The three look at Monty hectic running in their direction “We signal! We have signal!!!”
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Lexa observe the beach partially empty, there was a couple of people a little more withdrawn. Surely they all were watching the programming that was taking place at this time, but the purpose of leaving was to pretend that nothing was happening, even if it was inevitable to think what they must been talking right now. She looks at Mercedes taking pictures of the sunset and smile because she was always taking pictures, she was 3 years older than her but they somehow became good friend while Lexa was in High School and Mercedes was the team leader in the school newspaper.
“I can’t do this” Costia said sitting down next to her when she was lying on the sand. Lexa looked her in confusion.
“You can do what?” She asks a little shy of what she might say, Costia looked at her for a moment vacant and then she sigh.
“Ignoring that they are doing a transmission of what is happening”
“We’ll know when we get back to college”
“Yeah well, you might had the opportunity of work in it, but I don’t, so I need to know now” She said while looking for her phone on her back.
“What that’s supposed to mean? Lexa narrowed her eyes.
“Oh come on, you are the favorite of the Dr. She will include you if given the opportunity. Especially as her assistant is in love with you”
“She is not in love with me” Lexa said running her hand over her hair.
“She totally is” She said with a little smirk “You are so naïve Lexa, you didn’t even notice about me till I kiss you” She said and Lexa looked away. There was an awkward moment until Mercedes came over with a big smile.
“The view is so beautiful right now. Isn’t it?” She said without noticing the awkward expression of Lexa “What is going on?” Mercedes look at Costia typing on her phone.
“I’m looking for the live transmission, I just could ignore it anymore” She said and Lexa eyes went round. Mercedes sat in front of them while Lexa try to focus on something else, but looking out the side of her eye when Costia up the volume of the transmission, where several professors, scientists and NASA representatives discussed what was happening.
She saw some kids running and pointing at the sky, she couldn’t help of think of herself as one of those kids when her father took her there so they could see the stars and then he took her to a place far away were the lights were so visible so they could use better the telescope and talk about the constellations. She didn’t know how long she was distracted until she hears at Mercedes and Costia screaming.
“Wait What?!” Mercedes and Costia said talking bout at the same time without stopping even more surprised. Lexa look at them with confusion.
“They have known about it for years now!” Mercedes said and Lexa forehead furrowed getting closer to hear well.
“What do you mean for years?” She asks and Costia looked her for a moment.
“They have known about the other Earth for years, they call it Terra, they have known all this time but never said anything because they have been studying it with caution; they haven’t sent anyone, yet. But I can’t believe it…. They wouldn’t say anything if it hadn’t come so close to our Earth”
Lexa focus on the phone when she saw her professor speaking on the name of NASA, saying that according to what they know the Earth is 99% the same as theirs, the other percent is about to be discover when they know if it is currently inhabited or not. They assured not be sure that is their answer if global warming gets worse, buy that it could be a possibility.
“Did she just suggest that maybe there are people living on it?” Mercedes said and Lexa glanced at her phone when it started to vibrate with severe messages from Nick. “You have to be fucking kidding me!”
“SHHH!” Costia push her gently concentrating on what was happening “Something is happening” she said when Dr. Joan was interrupted by a man whispering something in her ear, she stoop out of leaving the room immediately while another professor continued for her. “Something happen”
“We need to go back” Lexa said.
“Wait for the transmission to end” Costia said looking at Lexa standing.
“I mean to MIT. We need to get back”
“We still have 4 days more” Costia said.
“I don’t care, I want to get back” Lexa said raising her voice with a totally serious look. Obtaining a surprised look of both. “Mercedes? Can you take me now?”
“To the airport? Lexa.. come on, are you crazy? Not now and I haven see you in weeks why are you doing this?”
Lexa didn’t know how to explain it, but being here wasn’t calling her anymore, It felt like she doesn’t belong here, she has been feeling that way since she can remember but even more since her father past away, she preferred been in a classroom, the library or studying in her bedroom, at the observatory even better, but here there was nothing more for her, not even the disagreements with her mother or the idea of Tom living in her house, there was nothing here for her, it was like floating in the void.
“Lexa!” Costia said again raising her voice when she saw her vacant expression. Lexa blink and sigh taking her bag.
“I will wait next to the car, please just take me home” Lexa mutter pulling away and ignoring the calls of Mercedes.
“What just happen?” Mercedes ask “I mean, she always have been so serious but is as if she weren’t here”
“I honestly don’t know, she has been this was for the last couple of months. Why do you think she walked away from me? I didn’t know what to do anymore…” She sigh “Just let’s go before she take the bus by herself or something, we will hear it on the radio o later”
Along the way Lexa stayed in the back seat until they reached her home, she said a little goodbye and enter her home, ignoring the questions of Nick, she walk straight to her room looking around of it, feeling like and intruder on her own room, it was already night and her telescope was by the window, it wasn’t as good as the one she had in her bedroom in college but it works the same.
She could hear down stairs her family discussing what they had seen on television, she closed the door and look thru the window at the sky, she then did something she hadn’t done so far, she take her telescope and try to see more closely to the other land or as now they say… Terra
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“I can’t hear anything” Clarke said after several minutes of trying.
“I swear that we hear words” Monty said looking at Joan and now Raven trying to recover the signal “There were words” he insist.
“The boy is right” Joan said “It had interference but we missed the channel”
Clarke and O looked at each other, O a little at defensive about what was happening, but lest at the time when they met for the first time after almost 2 years of knowing nothing. Clarke felt very relieved to have O back, even if it was just a moment, to see that she was still alive meant a lot, it meant that she fought and she personally understood that part. A part of her knew that she was upset with Clarke, because she saw things that other didn’t saw. Same as Raven, they lost someone too, and they are always fighting for it, even when they don’t said it out loud, they know.
“Is been almost an hour Monty” O said
“An hour?” Raven said “We had been working on this for days and we had an answer”
“You should just leave it…” O insists and Joan looks at Raven who looks at Clarke, waiting for an answer. Clarke hesitated a little.
“Maybe we should wait for Luna” Clarke said.
“Clarke” Raven insists.
“Try again” Clarke said and O sighs.
“I’m out of here” O said and Raven snarled. Clarke took a few steps toward O trying to stop her.
“Wait. O…” She said and O expression hardened.
“Don’t touch me” O said taking a step back.
“O stop” Clarke said just when O turn on her heels toward the door.
But just only then the room fell silent only be heard the radio interference which was interrupted by a “Hello, anyone there? Hello” the room remained silent everyone without expressions, they just stay in their places, same as O, while the interference of the radio became louder and came down again.
“Maybe is just any of our people” Raven said hoarsely.
“This is the Earth, is anyone out there?” the woman voice said again and very little they could hear voices behind her saying stuff like she must try another channel.
“Raven!” Clarke finally could speak and Raven got closer to the radio, same as Clarke, O just turn around looking from the door.
“Hello” Raven said “We are here. We can hear you. Copy” the radio remained in silent for short moments.
“We can hear you” The woman said and Raven swore softly while Joan took the radio of her hand, Clarke look at O who had a lost look.
Lexa buy the ticket for the plane from her laptop while she starts packing because her flight will depart in 3 hours and she honestly couldn’t wait any longer.
Clarke began to feel very anxious because it was that feeling again.
And on Earth Dr. Joan couldn’t believe that for the first time in years they have a connection with the planet they have been observing for a while now.
“Is this…” Dr. Joan said shocked “Is anyone hearing this?” she got close to the microphone in front of her, ordering that they could record it but not put it on live, not yet. “I would try again” She said clearing her voice as the rest of the people were silent “This is Dr. Joan who is this?” she wait for a moment.
“This is Joan too” they heard and for a moment they though they transmission were returned but weren’t exactly the same words. “Hello?”
“Did she say you name?” Monty said and Joan looks at Raven “Or we were ourselves? What are the odds that you two have the same name?”
“Monty stop” Raven said “Try again”
Lexa down the stairs with her suitcase in hand seeing her mother and the rest were still in the room waiting for the transmission to continue, because apparently was interrupted as it was only the image of NASA on television.
“Little constellation” Nick said when she saw her but ignore the suitcase on her hand “Something happen, they curt the transmission saying that there was nothing to be worry and just be proud that we found another planet” only then he notice the suitcase “Were you going”
“Alycia?” Her mom said and Lexa snarled.
“Don’t call me like that again!” She said.
“I’m sorry darling” Her mother said aware that she didn’t allow anyone to call her like that for so long now. “But what are you doing?”
“I need to go back to Massachusetts” She said.
“I knew something was happening” Nick said jolly “That’s why they call you back didn’t they?”
“Nick. Stop” Madison order looking at her daughter who remained silence “Is it really necessary?” Lexa winced looking down while nodding. Madison sigh “Okay… I will take you to the airport” Tom try to stop her but she gave him an expression of comfort before follow Lexa who just hug Nick in silence.
“This is Joan from Blue cliff clan. I repeat we can hear you” Joan said and they wait in anxiety.
“This is Dr. Joan Tallis from Earth. Is that your last name too?”
“Is the same name” Raven mutter.
“She is asking for a last name” Monty said.
“We don’t have one” Joan said.
“Ask something else” Monty insists and Joan look at Clarke who just nodded.
“Hello Joan, this is Joan, what part of earth are you?”
Dr. Joan looks at the people behind her speechless. She took a deep breath before continuing.
“Hello Joan, I’m from the United States” she said and waits.
“Where is that?” Joan said looking confused at Raven and Clarke who seemed run out of air for a moment, Clarke searching in her memories where she had hears that before and Raven recognition dawned on her face.
“Is impossible” Raven said looking at Monty and then O and Clarke.
“Can I ask how you look like Joan?” the other woman said and Joan hesitated before answering.
“I’m a person Joan, with blond hair and brown eyes, hands and a body of the woman if that’s what you re asking” They didn’t know but people on the other Earth were staring to make theories.
“Are you the leader Joan?” Everyone look at Clarke who sat up staring at the radio.
The road to the airport was quiet, Lexa was impatient and her mother could see that.
“I know that you weren’t expecting this change when you got here” Madison said.
“Actually I was, kind of” Lexa confess looking now in front of her. There was silent for a moment.
“Are you happy? If is not here, are you happy there?” Madison ask and Lexa closed her eyes “I know I failed you when your father left us, I know I focus more on Nick than you, even when you must needed me too”
“Mom” Lexa said but Madison continues.
“But I’m so proud of you darling, I am, because you follow what you want, even when I don’t understand too much about it, you had your own passions and you follow them. I know you are making big things and that all because of you. And you make me proud. But all I want for you is for you to be happy. So, if been there makes you feel that way, that’s okay, as long as you feel like home” She said and Lexa look true the window clenching her jaw while closing her eyes for a moment.
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It was about dawn in a couple of hours when the plane landed. She took a taxi to the Institute and took a shower taking her time because the last talk with her mother wouldn’t leave completely alone, she didn’t had the courage to tell her how out of place she has been feeling and who everything has change in the recent months, she would like to have the connection that once she had with her but she couldn’t for the moment, despite everything, she returning what the best option, it was strange but she felt better that way.
She couldn’t wait any longer so she went to the institute asking for the Dr. Joan, it take more that she was planning but she figured out with just one call to her assistant, who in lest of a couple of minutes connect her with the Dr. who gave her access to where she was.
“I would said I’m surprised buy I’m not” Her assistant, Rebecca, said when she saw Lexa walking towards her whit her identification hanging from her neck. “I knew you wouldn’t resist” Lexa smile a little.
“Hello Rebecca” She said walking next to her. “Everything seems like people are going crazy over here” she said looking how totally transformed the rest of the place, laboratories, desks where before they weren’t and people walking in all directions.
“And you weren’t in Washington, there is the real thing, but since we communicate first now every station is working for us”
“Wait” Lexa stopped for a moment “We communicate with them already?”
“It happen a couple of hours now, but we lost connection, they have been working on it since then, that’s why Dr. Joan want you here. She thinks that fresh mind might help” Lexa almost couldn’t believe that she was right here, where everything was happening. They continued and stop in front of the main room, where people were working surrounding the doctor who walked in circles with her cup of coffee. “Woods is here” Rebecca said and Joan looked up smiling a little.
“Is so nice to see a fresh face” She said walking toward Lexa “She is the best in my program people” She said raising her voice “If you are not careful she would take your job really soon. Is so nice to see you Woods”
“I can say the same Dr. Where do you want me?”
“Right here young lady, we need help, everyone is already too tiered”
It might past 3 more hours and Lexa was standing in front of the many screens, walking and staring at them, Dr. Joan retired for some fresh air, orders of the president, leaving her and a couple of workers making sure not to lose the signal completely, she didn’t show it but she was impress of seeing how many people were involve, people from other countries were brought to work on it, which according to the Dr. warned, she should kept the secret as much as possible to maintain normalcy in people. So it wasn’t only here at this moment, but in other places they were trying to communicate again.
“On Washington they heard something” One of them said and Lexa looked over her shoulder. “They are sending the signal to here” they look each other.
“Notify Dr. Joan” Lexa said walking towards the radio when she could hear the transference getting loud “NOW”
“I think I got it again” Raven said closing her eyes for a moment to hear better, she take of the earphones and look at Clarke. While Monty and Jasper with Joan were trying to make a better way to communicate with the radio. “I think I got it. Come on, said something” She hand it to Clarke who stood beside her supporting one of her hands on the table.
“She is on her way” The man said to Lexa who was now reading the readings on the screen and numbers going up and down on the radio.
“I think we got it” Lexa said approaching closer to the radio and holding her index finger over the red button on the microphone. Thinking that maybe she shouldn’t but everybody has been working so hard to just let it pass. She was going to do it but someone voice stops her.
“Hello? Are you still there?” it was a woman voice, but, younger… at least that’s what she heard in compared to the recording that Rebecca showed her of the first encounter.
“Try again” Raven insists and Clark took a deep breath before doing it again.
“Hello? Earth? Is anyone still there?” She said feeling some kind of lump in her throat.
“I’m here…” A voice said and Clarke stop for a moment feeling a little lost in her memories but she swallows the lump in her throat and continued.
“Good… is nice to know that” She said and wait for a moment.
Lexa stare at the microphone forgetting for a moment the reason she was there, her finger still over the red bottom she soak her lip for some reason thinking on what to say now.
“Are you still there? Who is this?” the voice said again and Lexa cleared his throat.
“Yeah, I’m still here. Who is this?” She ask only then realizing that she ask the same, she was going to answered but the girl do it first, this time noticing some kind of hesitation on her voice.
“Is Clarke…”
“Clarke” Lexa said without thinking “Nice too met you…” only then there is complete silence on the other side, Lexa waits, she doesn’t know why, because it feels as if it were not there at the time. “I’m Lexa…” She said almost in a whisper. She thought that maybe they couldn’t heard her.
“Lexa…?” The voice, well, Clarke said and without thinking her smile slipped a little, but she notices the hesitation on Clarke voice.
“Yes?”