"Emori! Echo! Little help here?!"

Once Raven changed her mind, making orders in a state of stress, Harley worked as fast as a normal human could. Her head shot up at the sound of Raven shouting, nodding to Emori to leave to give her a hand. She was so focused on working that after a scan of the inside of the rocket, she didn't see Echo anywhere. The grounder hadn't been much help, but Harley was too into her work under Raven's instructions that she hadn't noticed her disappearing. But there wasn't any time to worry, or even search for her, not when the countdown was getting closer to the time they were destined to leave for space.

Harley could hear them panicking in loud voices even from inside the rocket. She frowned, rising as she finished the last seat in place and crawled out of the opening. "As soon as this is tied down, I'm going after Monty," Harper was declaring. She and Emori were holding a large contraption, what Harley assumed was their source of oxygen in the ring. It looked heavy, but she got out of the way so they wouldn't drop it.

"Like hell you are!" Raven argued with her angrily.

Everyone can see the tension on Raven, meaning something wasn't right. "What's wrong?" Harper demanded to know.

It's silent, too heavy for Harley's liking when she sees Raven not answering. "Raven, where are they?" She asked. "They should have been back by now!"

"They'll be fine!" Raven exclaimed, ripping her helmet off. "Everyone has a job to do, do yours!" She commanded before whirling around, circling, trying to find the missing grounder. "Echo, where the hell are you?!"

Despite being stunned with worry, Harley tries to shake it off, trusting Raven's word as she gestures to Emori and Harper who struggled to lift the machine up up the staircase. "Come on, I'll help," she offered, gripping a corner with Emori as they backed up, cautiously making their way into the rocket.

"Hurry, we don't have a lot of time," Emori urged them, backing into the rocket first. Harley lifted the thing above her head, grunting at the heavy weight as they very carefully made it inside. Raven continued to shout for Echo, growing irritated when she received no response.

As soon as the machine they carried inside was tied down perfectly, Harley heard more shouts from outside the lab. "Let's get him downstairs, go!" She shared a knowing look with both Harper and Emori, before they took turns running out of the rocket and down the steps. Harley could have sobbed when she was the last one to step out of the rocket, seeing Monty being carried in between Bellamy and Murphy with his arms draped over their shoulders.

"Thank God, Monty!" Harper grabbed Monty pulling him into a tight hug as did Emori to Murphy. While theirs lasted, Emori stepped to the side just in time for Harley to launch forward, throwing her arms around her brother and whispering in grace that he was alright.

"How are your hands?" Harper asked Monty, tugging on his glove. "Let me see."

"No, leave them on," Raven protested, now in her full space suit Harley could see once she released Murphy. "There's no time, we'll deal with it on The Ark. T-minus five minutes and counting."

Taking off his helmet, Bellamy looked around, growing concerned. "Clarke's not back yet?" He questioned.

"Clarke?" Harley repeated, her head whipping to the side, seeing the blonde wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Where is she?"

"She's on her way by now," Raven tried to insist. "Everybody, refill your O2 tanks and load up!" She motioned for everyone to follow her to the oxygen tank. "Remember, we'll have an hour each. Don't turn them on until I tell you, and after that, breathe easy," she warned.

Emori gave everyone a hand with the hose as Bellamy questioned; "Where the hell's Echo?" Raven shook her head, making him groan in annoyance. "Great. I'll find her, you get everybody strapped in," he told Raven before taking off, running up the staircase, shouting for Echo.

"Here." Emori took Harley's tank, connecting the hose. She waited until it signaled it was full before moving onto Monty's.

Seconds after Raven sees Bellamy hadn't returned yet, she lets out a holler in frustration before she followed the direction he had went in. It's agonizing to wait, but in a minute, the three return, this time with Echo in Harley's sight. Echo holds a different posture as she slips back into her suit, having been in only a bra. Before it zips, she sees a bloody hand print on her chest, comparing to the white paint masking her eyes. But knowing there's no time, Harley ignores it, following the others into the rocket to strap herself in between Murphy and an empty seat.

Pulling her helmet over her head, Harley sees everyone but Bellamy preparing themselves in the rocket. She grabs her belt, tugging it over her chest and buckling it in. Harley knows who the seat beside her is for. Clarke, who she also knew Bellamy was outside waiting for. Raven caught on too, lingering at the open rocket door. "Bellamy..."

"I know, Raven," Bellamy counters faintly.

"The radiation's already affecting the avionics," Raven seriously speaks. "It's now or never."

Eyes starting to burn with tears, Harley hates that she knows what Raven means. "We're leaving Clarke behind?" She asked, broken. "But she..." She wants to finish, remind Raven that Clarke had saved them all more times than she can count on her hands. Clarke had sacrificed everything for them to survive, carrying the weight of death on her back. But Harley can't find the right words, opting to fall quiet as Bellamy joins them, a look of sorrow in his features. He closes the hatch behind him.

"Can we give her another minute?" Emori questioned hopefully.

It's shot down when Raven shakes her head. "We're out of time." She's just as upset as the rest of them, but she straps herself into her captain's seat.

"This is what Clarke would want us to do," Bellamy says firmly. "If we wait, then we die." Harley can't believe it, although she understood. She knows they have to leave Clarke, but it doesn't make it hurt any less.

"Wait, how are we gonna know she got the power back on, then?" Murphy spoke up in question with a well point.

Raven clicks her helmet on, shutting it. "We'll know when we get there," she said simply, clicking a few button before flipping a switch. "Opening launch door." A creak above them echoes as she looks over to Bellamy. "You sure about this?"

He doesn't hesitate in answering. "It's the only choice."

"Initiating countdown." Raven clutches a larger lever.

"Go for launch in T-minus," the speaker announced. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one..."

The rocket fires. Harley's hands dig into her belt, clenching her jaw as the rocket shakes. The firing noise isn't anymore comforting as she feels it shoot upward, leaving behind the lab along with the home she'll remember for the next five years. Harley can see past Bellamy's head if she tilts her head, seeing the screen showing what was beneath them. Fire is lit up beneath the rocket, shooting them up further and further from the ground until it's almost a speck. Harley remembered the fear she felt in the dropship when her and ninety-nine of the delinquents were forcibly sent down to Earth, and it compared too much for this. Harley's terrified as much as she was before, knowing she had no idea what her future held; if she would even live through this.

It's dark. Harley's breath hitches in her throat, knowing they were back in space. She can hardly believe it, but it's true. She was back in the place she had spent seventeen years of her life before being sent to their dream home; Earth, which was long gone. "Almost there," Raven announced, breaking Harley from her deep thoughts. "Booster separation in three, two, one..." She pulls another lever.

The rocket jerks, making Harley tighten her grip on the belt, hoping it wasn't tight enough to cut into her glove. She gasps as everyone clutches their helmets, trying to steady themselves. "Separation complete," the computer notified. There's something different about the air. Harley figures it out quickly when she realizes she feels like she weighs nothing, slowly releasing her belt and feeling her arms being held up on their own.

Raven laughs out loud. "Welcome to zero-g, boys and girls," she introduced. Murphy, ecstatic, rushes to take off his seatbelt but Raven quickly stops him. "No. Remember, oxygen is limited," she reminded them. "No floating. Your heart rate will rise, and you'll use too much air." Murphy becomes disappointed, but he drops his hands as Raven mumbled to herself. "Doesn't matter if the lights aren't on." She sighs before speaking to the computer again. "Computer, engage navigation system, preset coordinates. Get me to the damn door, and I'll do the rest."

"Preset coordinates engaged."

"We should be getting our first look at the ring right about now," Raven informed the group. Harley knows this is it. She leans forward, filling to the brim with hope that deflated just as fast when the ring floated in the screen, no lights on.

"She didn't get it done," Murphy notes dully.

"She will," Bellamy said with determination. "Ready for a space walk, Raven?"

Slowly nodding, Raven affirmed uncertainly. "You know I am, but if Clarke doesn't get the power on..." She stops when she sees everyone staring back in horror, shaking her head and unclipping her straps. "Suiting up." Harley watched as Raven floats, her body lifting into the space. Emori and Echo are in a state of amazement, gazing in wonder with their eyes lit up as the mechanic flips so her head is faced to the shut hatch. It's pulled open, exposing space, and giving Raven access to squeeze through.

Suited into a metal spacesuit, Raven is connected with a long, thick wire to the rocket as she floats to the ring. After a few minutes of nothing but silence, Bellamy heaves a deep sigh and slings his belt off. "Wait, Bellamy," Harley tried to stop him. "Raven said - "

"I know what she said," Bellamy interrupted her. "I'll be fine." Harley nods, becoming quiet as he floats to the circular window and peers out it, gazing to Raven and the still dark ring.

Murphy lifts his arm after a minute or so, looking at the percentage. "Fifteen percent," he said out loud. "That's ten minutes of air left." Harley takes a peek at her own, seeing the number sixteen. Murphy looks from Emori's to Harley's before loosely shrugging. "Well, this is good," he stated, seeing that each girl's numbers were higher than his own. "At least I die first."

"Be quiet," Harley whispered in a strain, unable to shut her eyes and imagine it. It was a sight she couldn't bear.

"I left her behind," Bellamy uttered, wretched, referring to Clarke. He floats to turn and face them. "I left her behind, and we all die anyways." Harley tries to keep her breathing shallow, but she can feel her heart stutter in grief.

It's silent as they all realize Bellamy is right. Clarke died like the rest of them will, soon. The quiet is broken when Monty exclaimed; "Bellamy, look!" Harley lifts her head at the sound, blue eyes landing on the screen to see the ring. Except, this time, it's lit a brighter golden than any star in space. Seconds after, the door slides open when Raven does so. Harley wanted to cry in relief, but she couldn't do so. They got this far, but they were still on limited amount of air.

Getting inside the ring was Harley's least favorite activity. It had to be quicker than the slow floating through gravity, with their air falling lower and lower as everyone loaded into it. She felt sick, could feel the air thinning in her suit every time she breathed in. Emori and Murphy were dragging a half-conscious Raven into the ring, Murphy saying sarcastically; "Home sweet home, huh?" Harley rolled her eyes, stumbling to keep up while taking small, slow breaths. She flickered on a flashlight brought along to see better through the dark halls.

"There's an access panel down at the end of the hallway," Raven slurred out, panting as her tank was at its last bar.

Echo pointed her flashlight to Raven's tank. "She's out of oxygen, what do we do?"

"We share," Emori answered.

"Put her down near the vents," Monty directed. "It's where the air will arrive first."

Harley held her flashlight up further, searching the wall for the vent. Once her beam of light shone on it, Murphy and Emori carefully propped her next to it. The rest ran under Monty's order to quickly worry about starting the oxygen while Emori took off her tank. "No, no, no!" Murphy tried to protest. "We'll use mine."

"I've got more!" Emori argued. "Get her helmet." Harley held her light over Raven's head, giving Murphy a source to see the clips and undo them so he could quickly pop them off. Raven was gasping, no air being sucked in, until Murphy took Emori's tank and hooked a mask to it, bringing it to her mouth.

"Raven, breathe it in," Harley tried to urge her, her chest tightening as her air thinned more. Murphy noticed, giving Emori the tank so she and Raven could swap and take turns so he could take off his own tank and rip off Harley's helmet. Her breath stopped, lungs tightening before her brother brought the mask to her face. It wasn't much, but she breathed it in slowly before shaking her head, pulling his hand off and pushing the mask onto his face.

The others were shouting in the background, struggling to hook it up correctly with Monty instructing them. Harley's chest burned, begging for air that Murphy delivered, pressing the mask against her face again. She tried to shake her head, feeling the air in his tank becoming too slim for them to share, but Murphy pressed it harder down. Harley tried to pull his hand off but he stayed firm, choking, until his arm lost its strength, falling weak as he made only pained noises.

Harley managed to push his hand off, taking the mask off and pressing it against his mouth. He doesn't move. She lifts it back to her mouth, trying to breathe in, only to discover it's completely empty. She looks to Emori and Raven, choking from having no air, only to see them both in the same state. Emori threw her empty tank to the side, and tears fill Murphy's eyes as he touched her arm, watching her eyes shut.

Well, Harley thinks, her head falling back to land on Murphy's shoulder. We tried. Her lungs don't burn anymore, she feels almost nothing as her eyes flutter shut. Her heart that was racing with adrenaline and panic slowed, the ache in her head fading. There's no yelling anymore, she's sure, as she hears a ringing in her ears before nothing. Harley's limp body leaned further into Murphy, comforted as her vision dotted black before becoming to nothing.

It all changed in seconds.

Harley truly thought this was the end; that this was it. They did their best, and they could all die in peace in space knowing so. But suddenly, the empty space around them turned into a slight breeze. She was still conscious, barely, having almost slipped away when she first only felt it brushing at her skin. Harley realizes she can breathe, feeling oxygen no matter how thin it was. They did it.

A hand grips Harley's arm, Murphy scooting to make room for her and lower her head to the vent next to them. She coughs, breathing in more air once she's close enough. Raven's lowered next to her, the mechanic gasping for air. Harley reaches out, searching for Murphy as soon as her eyes open, sight adjusting to the darkness. She finds his hand in seconds, rolling over until she pressing her face against his shoulder and squeezing his hand at the same time.

Murphy returns the squeeze, facing Raven as he grins and laughs. Harley's chest heaves as she laughs too, curled behind her brother, knowing that they survived. They made it through the hardest part, they all survived Praimfaya thanks to Clarke's sacrifice that Harley would never forget.

Now they only had to face the next five years together as one.

And it begins with a change.

━━━━━━━━

END OF PART FOUR.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

that's it! that's the end of season 4!

holy crap this is exciting (for me anyways cause i love harley). i've never been so excited to start a season! okay, book 3 should be up within a few days cause we all know my weird spontaneous updates. thank u so much for reading and prepare yourself for the angst that is in store for season 5.