3 months ago ( 7 months before mission to earth)
HARLEY

The dim-lit room of medical slowly came into focus as my eyes fluttered open. A dull ache persisted in the back of my head as I looked around, feeling disoriented. When I tried to process why I was in medical, a sharp pain went through my entire skull. I winced as I attempted to sit up, but I felt too weak to move. I turned my head, spotting Doctor Griffin talking to Jackson in a low voice. When she glanced back at me, she noticed that my eyes were slightly open.

She walked to the bed, placing her hand on my shoulder with a small smile, "Harley, welcome back."

It took a moment for the words I wanted to say to leave my mouth, "What... what happened?"

"There was an explosion, and you've been in a coma," Abby grabbed the clipboard sitting on the table by the bed. "Everyone's brain heals differently. Yours healed faster than we thought it would. Your memories may be a little foggy for a while. It may take some time before everything goes back to normal."

I already felt like going back to sleep, "Can I see my dad?" A grim expression covered Abby's face, and I gave her a confused look. "What is it?"

"Harley," she squeezed my shoulder in a comforting way. "Your father's been arrested."

Those words were enough to give me the strength to sit up, "What?!"

"You need to stay calm Harley," Abby said in a cautious voice.

"Why the hell was he arrested?" My anger made my head spin as I tried to stay awake. "Tell me!"

"I don't know," she said as she tried to get me to relax. "No one knows except the Chancellor."

"Tell Jaha I want to talk to him," I said as my vision started to fade. "Tell...him...please." I lost consciousness a few seconds later, suddenly falling into blackness.

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"Harley... Harley, can you hear me?"

My eyes opened, falling on the face the voice belonged to. I saw Wells leaning over my bed with an anxious look in his dark eyes. My last memory was Abby telling me my father was arrested. I sat up quickly, feeling more stable than the first time I woke up. I tried to think back before my coma, but everything was a tangled blur.

"Wells, can you get me out here?" I  looked around. "I have to go talk to your father-"

"You need to hurry," Wells said with urgency. "Your father's execution is in two hours. Doctor Griffin and Jackson will be back from their lunch break in five minutes."

Panic overcame my mind as Wells helped me to my feet, "Do you know why? Abby said no one knows anything about his arrest."

"No, my dad wouldn't tell me anything."

I reached to my left arm, wincing as I pulled out the I.V. Wells already had a change of clothes for me ready in a backpack. He handed me the bag as I began to feel nauseous. Maybe it wasn't a good thing to be moving so soon, but I had to get to Jaha before he executed my father. I needed to know what the hell was going on. So, I shut my eyes tightly for a few moments, forcing my mind on the task ahead of me. I had to be strong; I had to do this for my dad.

"You good?"

I nodded, opening my eyes, "I have to be."

I quickly went behind a curtain, throwing on the clothes from the backpack. Then, I looked around quickly as Wells watched the door. He signaled that the hallway was clear, and I moved as fast as my weak body would allow.

Okay, I needed a plan. What was my plan? Shit, I had no idea.

I headed straight to the Chancellor's office, determination etched on my face. My eyes widened when I saw Doctor Griffin exiting the cafeteria on the other end of the hallway. I jumped behind the wall to the left, holding my breath anxiously as she passed by, preoccupied by a conversation.

I continued down the hall when she was gone. I didn't have much time. As soon as Doctor Griffin returned to medical, she would notice my absence. I walked even faster as my body protested. My mind was yelling at me to sit down, but I pushed even harder as I spotted the door of the Chancellor's office.

It was locked, so I pounded my fist against it as loud as I could. I heard feet shuffling to the door, and then, when it opened, I was faced with Chancellor Jaha. He looked over me with disbelief and a bit of concern in his eyes.

"Harley?" He asked. "You're out of medical already? You just woke up a day ago."

I shoved past him into his office, "Let's just cut all the polite shit, Jaha. You and I both know why I'm here."

He closed the door, turning to me with a sigh, "Your father."

"Yeah," I answered rudely. "You wanna explain that to me?"

"He broke the law," Jaha replied. "I have no choice."

"Which law exactly?" I questioned with anger. "I deserve to know why my father; the only parent I have left, is being executed in two hours!" My outburst caused the room to spin slightly, and I rested my hand on his desk to steady myself

Jaha held up his hands in surrender, noticing I was in no state to argue with.

"Okay, you're right. You do," he took a step closer to me. "Two weeks ago, he was told by someone that Diana Sydney is the one who caused the explosion that put you in a coma. There was no proof; only an accusation. I told your father we couldn't place the blame on someone based on one person's opinion. I told him to let it go," Diana Sydney? Why would she do that? "He was convinced Diana did it, and he was so determined to prove it, that he looked into the Ark's surveillance footage. The footage from the day of the explosion had been deleted, which I admit was very suspicious."

"Obviously," I answered. "Council members have access to surveillance. That's not a crime."

"I'm not done," Jaha said. "Your vitals dropped really low. Doctor Griffin told your father it would be a miracle if you made it through the night, which drove him to an obsessive point. He... he broke into Diana's room two nights ago and tried to kill her. Luckily, someone tipped us off that noticed how unstable he had become, and we got there before he could."

I let Jaha's words sink in, completely shocked that my dad would ever do something like that, "No, no you're lying. My father wouldn't do that."

"Losing your wife, and then just five years later hearing your child could die too would drive anyone to insanity," Jaha gave me a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry. I wish I could save him, but I can't change our laws."

"You're the fucking Chancellor!" I yelled. "You can pardon him!"

"But what example would that set? It would tell the people of the Ark that council members get a pass. It might be different if it was a lesser crime, but attempted murder?" Jaha shook his head. "There's nothing I can do."

I couldn't believe any of this. How could my father risk his life like that? All for revenge? How could he be so selfish? Tears pooled in my eyes as I started to feel overwhelmed. I couldn't lose my father. I already had to watch my mother die. I couldn't do it again. I wouldn't.

"Abby lied about no one knowing why he was arrested, didn't she? That's why you can't pardon him? Because too many people know what he did?" Jaha nodded with a sad look on his face. "Can I at least talk to him? Please."

"I'll take you to him."

Thirty minutes later, I stood in front of my father's cell. I wasn't allowed inside, but the guard was going to unlock the small opening at the middle of the door where they put trays of food. I took a deep breath as I thought about what to say. I didn't have much longer left with him, and I didn't want our last moments to be an argument about what happened. I felt a tear slip from my eyes as I heard the keys jingle in the small lock.

Through the small opening, I saw my dad lean down so he could see who was at the door. His eyes softened when he saw me. Emotion was heavy in his eyes as they began to pool with tears.

"Harley," he breathed with relief. "They told me you were awake, but they wouldn't let me come to medical-"

I stopped him as I forced myself not to get choked up, "It's okay, Dad. I'm here now."

"I'm so sorry, Harles," seeing him cry made me want to lose it, but I stayed calm for him. "You deserve more than this."

"No, don't talk like that," I held out my hand through the opening, and he took it. "I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have you as my Dad."

"I just wish they would have believed me,"

Believed him? I gave him a confused look.

"What?"

"You don't know?" I shook my head. "I wasn't in Diana's room to kill her. Someone told me she had the erased security footage in her room. When I got there, guards were waiting for me, and they found a knife in my pocket. No one believed the knife wasn't mine."

I was taken aback. He was being framed. probably by Diana because he was snooping around, trying to prove she caused the explosion, "So, you're innocent?"

"Yes," he read my expression. "Harley, no. You can't do anything. I tried to go up against Diana, and look where it got me. If you investigate this, she'll get you arrested too. Is that what you want?"

"I can't just let you get floated for something you didn't do!"

"You have to," he told me, "they don't pardon people anymore, Harley. Yes, you'd get reviewed at eighteen, but they haven't let someone go in over eight months. You turn eighteen in six."

"So you want me to just let you die?"

"Yes," he said firmly. "This isn't a risk you should take. Diana has eyes everywhere."

"I don't care. Maybe I'll get arrested, and maybe they'll even float me, but I'm not just going to sit back and let you get punished for a crime you didn't commit.'

"Harley, I'm begging you. Don't go down this path."

I stood up, "Your execution is in an hour. I'm going to prove you're innocent, no matter what."

"Harley," I turned around and began walking away. "Harley!" I ignored him, heading swiftly to the one person who knew everything about this situation:

Diana Sydney.

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After almost passing out five times in the hallway and having to hide from Doctor Griffin and several guards, I finally made it to Factory Station. I felt my stomach churning in a very unpleasant way as my head pounded. I had to stop countless times to lean against the wall for support, but eventually, I found myself in front of Diana's Sydney's room. With heavy, labored breaths, I knocked on her door.

It was immediately pulled open. Her manipulative eyes scanned over me, but she didn't seem surprised that I was there. A smile formed on her face as she stepped out of the doorway.

"Harley, I'm so glad to see you awake."

"Shut up," I said with a tired breath as I walked into her room.

She closed the door, as she faced me, "I think I know why you're here. You think I'm trying to get your father floated."

I nodded, "Yeah. That sounds about right."

Diana walked closer to me, "Well, I can assure you that's not the case," she said innocently, "but I do think we can help each other."

I scoffed, "Oh really? How's that?"

"I know who's behind your father's arrest," she revealed.

I walked closer to her, "Who?"

She held up her hand, "Not so fast. I will tell you the name, but I need something in return."

"I'm not giving you anything," I said angrily. "An innocent's man life is at stake, and you want to strike a deal to get something you want?" I shook my head at her. "You're disgusting."

"Harley, I have what you need, and if you think you can just run to the Chancellor, think again, because I will deny all of this, and who's he going to believe? Someone who will say anything to save their father, or the victim of the crime?"

I hardened my gaze, staring at her with hatred for a few intense moments, "What do you want?"

"Tell me, Harley, how far are you willing to go to save your father?" She asked with raised eyebrows.

I immediately replied, "As far as it takes."

"Good," she walked over to the table by her bed, opening a drawer. My eyes widened when I saw Diana Sydney pull out a black pistol. She walked back over to me, my heart pounding. She held out the gun to me. "You want to save your father? Kill the Chancellor."

I glanced at the gun, "You've got to be joking."

"I'm not," she answered. "If Jaha dies, Kane will become the temporary Chancellor until an election can be held. I'll tell you the name of the person trying to have your father floated, and come forward saying I believe you. A trial will be held, giving him at least three more weeks. I have the support of almost every single Station. I'll become the new Chancellor, and my first action will be to pardon your father." Diana seemed genuine. She knew I was desperate; that I would do anything at this point. "So, I'll ask again. How far will you go for your family?"

I made up my mind as I grabbed the gun, "All the way to the pit of hell if I have to."

Diana glanced at the clock, "You've got half an hour. You better hurry," this was crazy; insane actually. Could I really kill Jaha? Wells' father? As I tucked the gun in my jacket and turned to the door, Diana said one last thing. "Oh yeah, how's Bellamy doing?"

I turned to her in confusion, "Who?"

END OF BOOK ONE

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well that's the end.

this is the edited version of the last chapter! i'm about to unpublish the sequel so don't freak out. the first chapter of it will be up soon!
thanks for reading! i'll catch you guys in the sequel.