Chapter 10

KILLER QUEEN CHAPTER 10

I was born in space, I've never felt the sun on my face or breathed real air or floated in the water. None of us have. For three generations the ark has kept what's rest of the human race alive but now our home is dying and we are the last hope of mankind. One hundred prisoners sent on desperate mission to the ground, each of us is here because we broke the law but on the ground there is no law. All we have to do is survive, we will be tested by the earth, by the secrets it hides and most of all each other.

I stand beside Bellamy as we watch Finn try to calm a hysterical Clarke, her cry's now being heard by most of the camp.

"What was that noise?" I look over seeing Octavia frantically coming our way.

Bellamy signs, "The exodus ship", he turns looking back at Clarke making Octavia's eyes follow.

"We don't know that she's dead, it's possible she wasn't even on board."

I look at her, " True...but we also don't know if she was." I look up at the ever so bright moon silently calculating how many hours until the sun rises.

"What are you thinking?" I hear in my ear.

I look up at Bellamy, " We've got ruffly five hours left until morning-"

"And let me guess you were going to run off into the night to got scope it out."

I smirk, "Well I didn't plan on actually telling you but now that you know, bye." I start to walk away knowing that both Blake's are following.

"I'll come with you." They say together.

"No!" Bellamy and I say together though his more fierce.

I turn to them smiling as Octavia glares at Bellamy, Bellamy looking furious at the thought of his little sister wandering around in the dark... or perhaps its because she'll be wandering around in the dark with me. My brows furrow at the thought before I look up to the siblings.

"Your not going anywhere outside of the camp!"

Octavia scoffs at her brother, "Are you going to stop me."

"Try me." He challenges making her even more angry.

"Enough!" I hiss at them realising how much time they're wasting, " Bellamy if you must come with me, Fine! But I won't slow down for you nor will I look for you if you get left behind. Octavia stay here. Watch over the camp and make sure Clarke being the emotional wreck she is doesn't do anything stupid! Okay!"

Both of them nod knowing I left no room for argument, "Good, Lets go!"

I walk out of the camp with Bellamy in tow, " You sure know how to give out orders Mystery."

" And you sure know how to waste time Blake, now hurry up. We're not the only ones who would have seen that go down."

Catching on to what I was saying Bellamy follow me quietly through the forest stopping as quickly as i did whenever I heard something or when I was surveying the area. Over more then an hour later we reached the crash site though we smelt it long before, the horrific smell of burn flesh wafted through the air.I stopped at the edge of the tree line doing a quick scan of the area and the wreck.

"You see anything", Bellamy whispers, I do one more pass of the area, " No... keep low and quiet, best to not risk it." He nods following me through the rubble. Fires were still blazing which provided some light but is also concerning if there is still hydrazine in the tanks, " Lets move quickly. See if you can find anything useful, hard drives , the black box, weapons, first aid, anything we could need."

Bellamy nodded about to walk away but I grab his arm causing him to look back at me, " If you happen to see a redish thick liquid, do yourself a favour and don't touch it."

" Your barking out a lot of orders today Mystery."

I smile at him, " I guess it comes with being the smart one."

He shakes his head, " Ha ha", my grin widens at his sarcastic laugh, " Alright Mystery get searching."

We part ways looking around for anything we could find but with the smoke starting to get thick in the air it was getting difficult and in the back of my mind a tinge of unease started to set in.

I hear a small cough, " Embry,"

"Over here." I call out to Bellamy being mindful of how loud. Bellamy appears through the smoke before me grunting, "Now I don't know about you smart one but I'm finding it hard to see and breath,"

"Agreed," I nod, " Did you find anything?"

Bellamy shakes his head, "Anything that could have been useful was burned to a crisped,"

I look around at the demolished burnt ship, "Let's head back, we've lingered for long enough." I turn back to the way we came navigating my way through the rubble with precise steps.

"What? Don't think you could handle a couple grounders all of a sudden Mystery?"

I don't bother looking at Bellamy keeping my eyes focused through the smoke, " I don't question my capabilities," With that I slip my bow from my shoulder an arrow quickly ready and shoot through the smoke. I hear the all too familiar sound of a thud hitting the ground. Bellamy's quick to walk past me to see what I had shot, I walk up next to him looking down at the grounder male whom is on his back, arms outstretched  .... an arrow pierced through his throat as he spurts out blood.

I stare at the blood, "I don't question my abilities Bellamy.. not ever..."

With that I look away from the body starting the trek back to camp with Bellamy not far behind.

No words were spoken.

*****************

It's been a uneventful day.

I spent most of it wandering around our campsite.

As soon as light came from the sky Bellamy organised another trip to the exodus ship crash site. Clarke, Finn and Raven being among  the ones that went, Clarke had asked me to join but I declined not feeling like being around the love triangle today.

It was dark once more and I was by the fire roasting the small animal I'd hunted earlier when someone sat beside me. I didn't need to look to know who it was. Only one person sits near me.

"Hello Octavia." I continue to spin the roasting meat.

"Embry! You've been quiet today, I've barely seen you."

"I've been here and there." I smirk over at her which causes her to squint accusingly at me and bump my shoulder.

I pull the stick back from the fire taking out a dagger and slightly pull back the meat to make sure it's cooked.Ready. I stab the stick into the ground.

I look at Octavia, " You hungry?"

She looks towards the meat with a grimace, " Nah I'm okay."

I stare at her blankly then look towards the meat, grabbing my dagger once more I cut a leg off and hold it in her direction.

"Eat." I left no room for argument so she grabs the leg gingerly bringing it up to her nose smelling it a bit before taking a bite. I watch her face change from suspicion to hunger as she swallows the tiny bite and goes in for more. I roll my eyes and shake my head before I start eating as well, every while I stop and cut Octavia another piece when I catch her looking at the stick again. Soon enough the whole animal was gone which left us both sitting by the fire. I close my eyes enjoying the warmth the fire was bringing me.

Not to long later I hear Octavia shuffle beside me as she gets up, " Thank you for the food."

I kept my eyes shut, " Its fine.. next time I ask just be honest."

I don't open my eyes to see her face, instead I lean back on the lodge behind me as I hear her shuffle off. I smirk.

*********

"Somebody hit the trip wire!"

I shot up from my slumber bow at the ready.

"Which wire?"

"Was is a grounder?"

"I don't see anything?"

"Are you sure it was a trip wire?"

I quickly walk to Octavia and Monty who were at the wall looking out.

"I got nothing. Conner?"

"Nothing"

"Something moved!"

"There, there , there!!" The boy starts to shoot at the spot but I quickly move around Octavia and grab the boys gun hitting him in stomach with the butt of it, " Idiot!" I hisses, "Your wasting ammunition! If you don't have a clear shot then guess what? Don't take the damn shot!" I chuck the gun down at the boy. Before turning back to the others, " You two! With me!" I point to the two gun wielding boys. The two boys, along with Octavia, follow me out the gate and to the spot where the third was shooting. Octavia slighting jogs in front until I grab her arm and pull her back giving her a stern look, she looks down then back at me shrugging me off a bit so I narrow my eyes at her.

Now is not the time for stubbeness

She looks away form me waiting so I look back and scan the area before nodding at them to continue. We get to the tree hearing something shuffle at the base of it so we slowly start to walk around it. A figure is crouched down in a protective ball, Octavia looks to me then grabs a stick from the ground. She slowly goes forward then gabs it's.The figure jumps out flailing it's arms causing me to quickly pull Octavia behind me. The figure finally stops moving resting on its back so we get a good look.

"Oh my god," Conner whispers out.

Before us was a badly bruised, injured and bloody Murphy.

"Murphy?" Octavia gasped out.

He holds up a bloody hand.

" Good god.... Where's that boy?  He's got a clear shot now."

**********

"Where is he?" Bellamy storms into the drop ship with Clarke and Finn in tow.

The small crowd parts quickly showing him the way to the bloody Murphy, "Everyone but Conner and Derek out. Now!" Everyone scatters save for myself, Octavia, Clarke and Finn.

"He claims he was with the grounders.", "We caught  him trying to sneak back into camp." Conner and Derek explain.

"I wasn't sneaking," Murphy whispers, "I was running from the grounders."

"Anyone see grounders?" Bellamy questions.

Conner shakes his head.

Bellamy raises his gun, " Well in that case..."

Finn rushes forward pushing the gun down, " What the hell is wrong with you?"

"We were clear what would happen if he came back." Bellamy spits back raising his gun once more.

Finn shields Murphy, "No! If he was with the grounders then he knows things that could help us."

"Help us? We hanged him, we banished him, and now we're going to kill him. Get the hell out of my way!" Bellamy takes aim.

Clarke reaches out taking Bellamy's arm, "No. Finns right." She starts towards Murphy.

"Like hell he is!Clarke, think about Charlotte." Bellamy says trying to get through to her.

Clarke crouches down to Murphy, investigating his wounds, "I am thinking about her, but what happen to Charlotte was as much our fault as his."

I scoff, " I don't remember you two trying to rally troops to kill her."

Bellamy looks at me nodding, "See. Even Embry thinks we should kill him."

I pull a dagger from my belt, "Want me to do it?" I spin my knife grinning.

"Jesus no! Give it a rest Embry," Finns says looking at me in disgust.

"Or what? You going to stop me?" I sneer at him.

Finns ignores my comment looking towards Clarke.

Scared Finny boy.

"He's not lying," I look towards Clarke who's holding Murphy's hand, "His fingernails were torn off. They tortured him."

"You and the grounders should compare notes." Finns directs to Bellamy.

"Please. That's nothing." I mumble under my breath causing the Blake siblings to side eye me.

Huh... forgot Octavia was even here.

"The grounders know we're at war. What did you tell them about us?" Bellamy questions Murphy.

I look at Murphy already knowing what his answer will be, "Everything."

" Great.... just great." I stare daggers at him.

Clarke gets up walking to Bellamy, "Once he's better, we find out what he knows, and then he's out of here, okay?" With that she tries to walk around him.

"What if he refuses to leave? What do we do with him then?" He questions her.

Clarke looks from Bellamy to Murphy then back to Bellamy, " Then we kill him."

"About time too."

***************

Once Murphy's fate was decided I left the camp, wanting to spend some time alone. I ran through the forest swiftly, dodging trees and jumping over fallen branches with quiet grace. Finally I reached my destination. I stay hidden behind a large tree while I scan the field, once done I let my eyes fall on the large shadow figure in the middle. He looks so peaceful here. I move out from behind the tree and let out a low whistle. Storms dark head raises from the grass he was grazing on. After some searching his eyes meet mine and he lets out a small neigh then shakes out his coat before trotting over to me. I reach my hand out to him but as he reaches me he pushes past it pushing his big head into my shoulder making me chuckle.

"Alright big fella don't push me over." I laugh at his excitement, Storm neighs back at me softly.

I grabs his big head in my hands and scratch his chin, "Yeah you know what I'm saying."

*************

I spent quite a while with Storm just wandering around, sometimes on his back and others just walking beside him. It feels refreshing. The silence. I spent such a long time in solitary on the ark that I had become accustomed to silence... befriended it. Lately, due to obvious circumstances, I've been tested. So right now, this very moment... is welcomed.

"Embry."

The sudden intrusive voice startles Storm causes him to slightly rear up, I step away from him and turn to the voice, dagger raised. My grey eyes meet blue causing me to shake my head and put my dagger away. I turn to Storm, slowly raising my hands to his neck to sooth him, " Its alright," I pat him, "Your alright.... it's just an idiot." I continue to pat down his neck until, he starts to neigh softly. Realising that there is still someone waiting for my attention I lean into Storm slightly so I'm near his ear, " Off you go Storm, thank you." He neighs at me one final time before turning and trotting away.

I wonder where he goes to stay safe.

I turn back to the blue eyed grounder raising my eyebrows at him, " Yes?"

I watch as his eyes scan over my face... as if looking for something, " What is it, Talon?"

He doesn't speak right away but finally, " You should head to your camp."

I tilt my head as him, " Why would I need to do that?"

He gives nothing away as he looks at me, "You've been gone all day, you should go back."

I look up at the sun realising I have been gone for some time..... maybe three more hours left of light. I look back at Talon, still suspicious of his behaviour.

" You should go... check on your friends." Red flag.

Not correcting the fact that barely  any of them are my friends I narrow my eyes at him, " Why would I need to check on them Talon."

He clenches his jaw, not breaking.

" Fuck!" I turn away not wasting another minute of trying to get answers and begin to sprint towards the camp.

***********

I lunge through the gate only to have guns pointed at me, " You better put those down before you regret it!" I hiss.

"Bellamy!" Bellamy runs over from the drop ship as his names called.

" You said to tell you when she's back." One of the guards says. Bellamy looks away from him, his gaze falling on me. I watch his eyes move over my face then to the rest of me, " If she was infected she'd be showing symptoms by now."

"Infected?" I question him stepping forward, "Infected with what?"

He sighs shacking his head, " We don't know, whatever it is, it spreads through contact so we had to make sure you weren't showing symptoms."

My eyebrows furrowed, "Why would I show symptoms?"

"Murphy. He didn't escape they let him go, bringing whatever this is with him." Bellamy's hatred showing clear on his face.

I process what he says nodding my head, "Biological war fare."

He nods "Yeah. Clarke mentioned that too."

"They're trying to cut down the battle field." I look to Bellamy, "They sent him to weaken us before they attack."

He nods at me, worry etching slightly on his face, "We need a plan."

"Hopefully for all our sakes, whatever this is, passes quickly with minimal casualties."

Bellamy looks down, "We've already lost some." He looks towards the drop shit, I follow his gaze to the five tarps that are covering the bodies of the fallen, "The rest who have had symptoms have been quarantined in the drop ship, Clarkes been helping them. Keeping them hydrated. Making sure they rest."

"Clarke's in there?" I question him, he nods, "She was one of the first to show symptoms." I think back to when she touched Murphy's hand.

"Good thing I didn't touch him then." I mumble before a thought hits me, "What about Octavia? She helped Murphy in."

Bellamy lets out a breath, "She hasn't showed and symptoms." Relief showed in his voice.

"Good. Where is she?" He looks up to the drop ship in worry.

"If she hasn't gotten it by now I doubt she will Bellamy," I reassure him, "She had full contact with Murphy, and no symptoms."

He breaths out through his nose nodding.

" Bellamy."

"What's is it?"

"The grounders?."

He nods "We need a plan of attack."

"You sure Clarke will go for that, she'll probably want to pack up and run."

He looks over to me nodding," We'll be divided..... What'd you think."

" Its the smartest option to go with."

He huffs, " I thought you'd be up for a fight."

"I am .... but are they?" I look out to all of the remaining hundred, "These kids aren't fighters Bellamy, they have little to no training. Yes, some of them can shoot but they're also trigger happy and wasting bullets won't win a war." I try to make him see logic.Bellamy's face contorts in anger but I know it's because he knows I'm right. The hundred wouldn't survive an attack.

But it's alway good to have a backup plan.

***********

I walk into Ravens make-shift work tent seeing her sitting down at the desk.

"Raven." I walk towards her to investigate what she working on.

"Embry?"

I pick up one of the cylinders in front of her, "Hey! Be careful with-"

I wave her off, " Yes. Yes, I know. Calm your feathers Raven. This is the reason I'm here." I hold the grenade back out to her.

She takes it from me carefully, "You're here for a grenade?"

I chuckle, " No. Not the grenade itself but the ingredients and it's more of a request."

I see the confusion on her face but look away to the raw materials she has on the table next to her. Two jars of hydrazine. I look back to her desk. Two jars of gun powder. That'll work.

"I need you to put away one jar of both the hydrazine and gunpowder."

She shakes her head, "What? No."

I stare at her, "I'm only asking that you hide them Raven. Just to put them somewhere safe and not use them."

Raven shakes her head again, " I can't do that. I need to make more grenades and bullets-"

"I'm sure the other jars will suffice."

"No Bellamy said to make this priority-"

I cut Raven off, " Alright! Listen up feathers. Your going to hide one jar of hydrazine and one jar of gunpowder. Not because I asked you too but now because I'm telling you too and if you don't I'll just come in here later and do it myself. Got it. Great. Enjoy your night." I start to walk out but stop, "Oh make sure you hide them in seperate spots. Don't want any accident."

***********

Light is stretching throughout the sky. A somber start to a new day as bodies are being carried from the drop ship. Throughout the night three more of the hundred passed on.

"All right. Shows over. Get back to your posts." Bellamy steps forward making all the onlookers return to their duties. I walk with him as he approaches Clarke, "We got enough food in there? Water?"

I look over Clarke. Still pale but is showing signs of progress. For one, her eyes aren't bleeding which is always good.

"Yeah. Some medicine might be nice." She jokes.

Bellamy lets out a breathy laugh, "I'll see what I can do."

Clarke nods before heading back inside the drop ship but stopped as Bellamy called out, " Octavia, you okay?" I step forward when I don't here a response and look up at Clarke.

Oh oh what have you done Clarke.

Bellamy starts towards her, "Bellamy, wait." Clarke shakes her head, "She's not here. I sent her to see Lincoln. Look, if there is a cure, he has it. I didn't tell you because I knew you wouldn't let her go." She tries to reason.

"For good reason Clarke!" I hiss at her stepping forward, " I don't know if you're aware but we're at war with the grounders. They could have scouts around our camp!" Bellamy grabs my arm looking at Clarke, " If anything happens to her, you and me are gonna have problems." With that, he lets go of my arm turning around to walk away.

"Bellamy." Clarke calls out, " Bellamy."

Bellamy goes straight for the gate, "Out of my way." He orders a boy. The boy turns making everyone panic. His eyes stained with blood.

"Dude you eyes."

"Nobody touch him,"

I watch as they all raise their guns.

"Get to the drop ship. Now," Bellamy orders.

Commotion to my right makes me turn.

"Hey,are you okay?" I hear Ravens voice before I see her. Two boys go to catch a girl as she falls to the ground but the girl coughs out blood. The girls blood splatters over the two boys. In their eyes. In their mouths.

Chaos is here

Everyone starts to scream and shout. Guns were raised at one another. Bellamy and Finn try to take hold of the situation but their commands fall on deaf ears, the panic was too much. They were too frantic to obey commands.

Bang bang. Bang.

I turn to see Clarke, gun raised up to the sky. Everyone silently watches her, " This is exactly what the grounders want. Don't you see that?" She walks into the middle of the camp, " They don't have to kill us if we kill each other first-" A guy steps forward with his gun raised at Clarke, " They won't have to kill us if we all catch the virus. Get back in the drop ship." Bellamy steps froward grabbing the guys gun and hitting him in the throat with the butt of it causing him to grunt out in pain and stagger back.

Bellamy looks to Clarke, "To state the obvious....your quarantine isn't working."

Clarke looks at Bellamy before dropping to the ground causing Finn to rush forward to catch her.

"Finn. Don't touch her." Raven calls out.

"Hey. Let me go. I'm okay." Clarke whispers out to Finn, "No you're not." He continues to lift her up into his arms.

Clarke looks at Finn, "Octavia will come back with the cure."

"There is no cure." I turn around at Octavia's voice, " But the grounders don't use the sickness to kill."

"Really!" Bellamy steps forward angry, " Tell that to them." He points to the fallen, " I warned you about seeing that grounder again."

"Yeah, well, I have a warning for you too." Octavia looks around at everyone, " The grounders are coming... and they're attaching at first light."

Panicked whispers filled the camp. Octavia looks to Clarke who's still in Finns arm and starts towards them. Bellamy reaches out grabbing her arm but she glares at him and pulls her arm away, " Come on. I'll help you get Clarke into the drop ship."

***********

Nightfall hit. Won't be too long now.

After all the commotion earlier I spent some time away from everyone, making arrows, sharpening my daggers and overall just thinking about every outcome.I considered leaving.... just turning away and not looking back. Just wandering the lands on my own. Surviving. It's what I'm good at, it's what I've been trained to do. So there is a part of me that's saying to survive.... I must go, I must leave the hundred and everything that happened on the ark behind and start new. These people won't survive an attack, it's that simple. It leaves me no choice.

I get up from my spot near the fire, making sure all my weapons are in place.

"Bellamy."

"No."

I listen to where the voices are coming from and swiftly dodge my way through the scattered tents.

"Stay back, make the shot. Find Finn. Go."

"Okay"

Jaspers hurries past me but I keep going to where he just was. I look down at Bellamy who has fallen into the side of a tent... blood coming from his nose... eyes red.

"You look like shit." I tell him cause it him to let out a shaky breath.

"Thanks Mystery." He coughs, settling down against the tent

I walk towards him grabbing his arm swinging it over my shoulder, " Hey, what are you doing? You can't get sick." He tries to push me away from him. I ignore his protests grabbing his arm once more and he's too tired to fight me this time so he gives in.

"Come on, lets get you to the drop ship." I heave him up and start towards the ship.

"Why?" Bellamy gasps out making me look at him with furrowed brows, "Why stay? Why help us? Why help me? You'd make it out there." He slurs out.

I stop our walking and look at him then stare out in front of me blankly. Why? I was just about to leave not even five minutes ago but here I am holding up a delusional Bellamy Blake who's sweating up a storm and has blood all on his face. I could have ignored him. I still could have left.... I still could leave..... or I could still stay. I let out a breath, " I don't know?" I told him honestly. Bellamy looked at my face and chuckled, " Well, Would you look at that. Mystery is a mystery even to herself sometimes."

I laugh quietly at his babble, " Sometimes, now get moving. If you die out here Octavia will kill me."

He groans, " No she won't. She hates me."

I scoff at him, " Octavia doesn't hate you, idiot."

"I'm losing her."

I shake my head at him, " You are not. I hate to break it to you but siblings argue Blake. It's practically a right of passage."

He was silent for a moment as we hobble to the drop ship.

"Did you argue with yours?"

His question court me off guard a bit, I had almost forgot that I mentioned the fact that he wasn't the only one with a sibling... or in my case siblings.

"Yes we fought."

He looked thoughtful, " Verbally or physically?"

I sighed, "Both.."

I went silent after that and I was thankful that he didn't ask anymore questions.

We finally made it to the drop ship and as soon as we were inside Octavia panicked, " Bell? No. Clear some space. Lay him down."

Octavia comes up grabbing his other arm and leads us over to a empty bed, us slowing laying Bellamy down. Once down Bellamy starts to cough up blood making Octavia panic.

"Quick! Roll him on his side." I tell her.

"Your Okay." She whispers to him, " Hey big brother." She starts wiping he blood off hiss face.

"Hi," Bellamy whispers out, " I'm scared."

Octavia looks like she's about to cry at her brothers words, " I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

Bellamy stares at his little sister, " Thats what I said to you the day you were born."

She smiles at him, " I know. You told me that like a thousand times."

She holds a wet cloth to his head and he grabs her hand, " I'm glad you here."

Octavia nods squeezing his hand, "Just get some rest now. Okay."

He nods blinking back tears.

I stare at the two.... their heartfelt words hit me like a brick. The spot in my chest that yearns for my siblings was ablaze with fire and pain. Their deaths starting flashing through my mind making me want to scream out and destroy everything in my path. Sudden a hot hand slicked with sweat was a top of my clenched fist, making me realise my eyes where squeezed shut. I open my eyes looking down at my fist that's was being covered by a larger hand. Then my grey eyes meet Bellamy's dark brown. Even in his disheveled state his message was clear through his eyes. Bellamy may not know what it's like to lose a sibling by death but he knows what it's like to lose a sibling in a way that's out of your control. Octavia.... his baby sister, was taken from him after his mother payed the price, leaving him alone in the world.

I slowly released my clenched fist, taking his hand in my own. Ignoring the look I'm getting from his little sister I stayed there, kneeling at Bellamy's side.

Thank you Bellamy Blake.

**********

Turns out, we'll live to see another day. While I was off contemplating leaving, Finn, Bellamy, Raven and Jasper had come up with a plan to blow up the bridge that the grounders would have to travel across to attack us. Raven, using her leftover hydrazine and gunpowder made a bomb that Finn was meant to place on the bridge and Bellamy was meant to shoot it. Though it didn't go to plan, instead Raven stole the bomb to place it on the bridge and was also going to take the shot but then she got the virus. Luckily, Finn figure out what Raven had done so him and Jasper went to the bridge so save her and take the shot.

Once again however, no one and I mean no one, knows how to shoot a gun because Jasper wasted all the bullets on some dirt. Monty ended up saving the day by following them bringing another gun so eventually Jasper made the shot and the bridge was no more. The hundred cheered when Monty and Jasper walked into camp but I stood in the back seemingly being the only one who realised that this is a small deterrent. This will not hold back the grounders forever. When Finn came through the gate with Raven he immediately rushed her to the drop ship so she could rest, the sickness had taken a toll on her but she will recover.

Later that night I stayed outside the wall. Constantly watching. Constantly listening. I look over at Clarke and Bellamy, both of them standing in front of the graves of our fallen looking upset.

I look away, focussing in front of me again.

They better get use to it....because this is just the beginning.

************