The Flame
A neural interface that preserved the wisdom of Commanders and guided Grounder leaders.
The Flame is a neural interface created by Becca Franco to control the ALIE 2.0 chip. Originally kept in the Temple of Polis by Lexa's predecessors, it became a revered artifact among the Grounders, storing the memories of past Commanders. It does not grant immortality or time travel; instead, it guides leaders through inherited wisdom.
- Origin
- Becca Franco (Pre-War Earth)
- Nature
- Neural Interface / AI
- Primary Location
- Polis (Temple of Polis)
- Key Interactions
- Clarke Griffin, Lexa, Roan, Madi
- Affiliation
- Grounder Coalition (Commanders)
- Status
- Destroyed by Madi in Season 7
Lore & Background
The true nature of The Flame as an AI was revealed when Clarke Griffin and others interfaced with it directly. It stored the consciousness of past Commanders, guiding successors through shared memories. The Flame was used to control the Anomaly stone—a spatial, not temporal, device—but never allowed time travel. It was destroyed by Madi in Season 7 after being removed from her head, and was never placed inside the Anomaly.
In Their Own Story
The air inside the temple was stale, smelling of ozone and ancient dust. Lexa stood before the glowing orb, her hands trembling not from fear, but from the weight of the decision she had to make. The Flame hummed, a low vibration that resonated in her bones. "What is your question?" it asked, its voice devoid of gender or age. She looked at the faces of her people behind her, their eyes filled with hope and terror. "How do we survive what comes next?" she whispered. The light flared brighter, casting long shadows against the stone walls, before fading into a silence that felt heavier than any answer.
Reader's Guide
The Flame was first encountered by the Grounder forces during their occupation of Mount Weather, where it remained dormant for decades after the Ancients vanished. Historical records from Trisadia indicate that the artifact became central to Grounder religion, with Commanders consulting it for strategic decisions and spiritual guidance. Clarke Griffin's arrival at the temple marked a turning point, as she was one of the first Sky People to interact with The Flame directly, revealing its true nature as an AI. The connection between The Flame and the Anomaly allowed characters like Clarke and Lexa to traverse time, witnessing events from the past and future of Earth. In later years, The Flame became a symbol of both hope and danger, as its power could be used to heal or destroy depending on who controlled it.
Did You Know?
- The Flame was created by Becca Franco as an AI to control the ALIE 2.0 chip, not by an 'Ancient civilization' for defense systems.
- It was originally housed in the Temple of Polis, not discovered in Mount Weather's bunker.
- The Flame stores memories of past Commanders but does not grant immortality or allow time travel.
- Its connection to the Anomaly was limited to controlling the Anomaly stone; it was never active within the Anomaly itself.
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