Cameron was treated by their medical staff – they needed to pick out pieces of glass from her side and stitch the wound – and she slept peacefully for three hours. She was even able to bathe for the first time in five days. Her once stringy, flat black hair was back to its wavy, soft texture, and her red, freckled, blood-spotted skin was beginning to return to its normal complexion, albeit darker and the blue and purple bruise that was forming over her left eye socket. She was able to change into a small, plain white t-shirt, and they washed her worn and ripped jeans for her. The kindness the staff was showing her either was because they were good people (much better people than her), or they didn’t know the chaos she had caused.

When the sun had disappeared over the horizon, a ball of anxiety formed in her stomach knowing she’d have to face Omega’s council over what had happened to their settlement and, of course, the box. This fucking box. She half expected a sentencing - it wouldn't have been her first time - and she made peace with it before setting foot into the room.

The empty chair in the council meeting made a lump rise up into Cameron’s throat. Retelling the story of Chesapeake being attacked and her journey to New York was difficult, often pausing to get a hold of herself, until she was eventually asked to take her seat again. Her eyes stayed on the floor as she listened to the discussion happening around her, only looking up if her name was mentioned. The energy in the room felt like it could be heavy enough to physically crush her. Every few times she adjusted her position on the chair, she would wince at the shooting pain in her side. 

At Justin’s whisper, her head slowly turned to him and she shook it softly. “No,” she replied at the same volume. Her eyes flitted across the room before turning back to him. “I don’t think there would be this much bloodshed over some formulas and equipment, though.” 

She stood up, honoring the request of Wynne and handing her the box. “If I may have a moment to speak, I…” she trailed off momentarily, shutting her eyes and taking a breath, “Chesapeake had access to plenty of purification equipment. I even have a portable one in my pack. I don’t think an elder’s dying wish would be for me to risk my life and walk over a hundred miles just to transport something we already had.” Her eyes landed on Justin for a moment. “I… I wasn’t in good standing with my village when it was attacked. They wouldn’t have given this to me if it wasn’t something significant.” She didn’t know how to end her ‘speech,’ so she walked back to her chair on plopped back into it, and her position shifted to her elbows resting on her knees and her face in her hands. 

The agony she had caused them, she knew, would not be forgotten by Omega. Even if they did let her stay, she would be a painful reminder to them of this awful day. Maybe it'd be best if she slipped away in the middle of the night. Cameron chewed on her lip after sitting back up and meeting the eyes of the leaders in the room. Her heart was thumping loudly in her ears, and she looked to Justin one more time. He had a calming effect on her, which was unexplainable, but she took a deep breath and addressed the council once more.

"We need to find this key, and fast, before these assholes come for it again."