The rest of the room allowed Cameron a few moments to process, Wynne examining the vials and the others looking at the various documents included in the box. Upon hearing her clear her throat, they all looked to her as she informed them of her willingness to help their cause. Justin gave her a smile, sticking his right thumb up in the air as he curled his fist. The universal sign of approval all but cemented her place in Justin's mind as an ally. She was sincere, willing to help and could handle herself in a fight. What more could he ask for?

"If that is the case, we'll welcome you with open arms. We don't have any kind of formal induction ceremony, but I do have the authority to designate travelers such as yourself a member of our community. With no other place to go, I feel like you need refuge and location to call home, just like the rest of us. Welcome to Omega, Cameron. With your talents, I'm sure you'll be a great fit."
"I'll say. If you could survive the trip all the way from Maryland up here, you've got a bright future." June added with a smirk before holding up a document she had been examining, telling the group:
"This has got some names on it from the old times. Delaware, Boston, Portland...looks like the list goes up."
"Goes up?"
"Yeah, like the coast. Delaware is south of us, Boston is north, then Portland. 'Course, no one has been up past Rochester in a decade or so. Not since we got shoved out of negotiations with the lead clan up there." Justin walked over to June, asking for her the document and comparing it to the map he had. 
"Ok, so...so this makes sense. The list matches up with the way these shapes are drawn. These must be the states...right?" June looked over them, tracing her finger up the map, then looked at the list, nodding in agreement.
"Yep, yep, looks like it. Here's Baltimore, which is the lowest one on the list, then Delaware, then...so they wanted to head north to Portland." Ryken leaned forward, contributing:
"This all makes sense, then. The clans have been ferociously guarding their territory. I thought it was just due to their devolved nature, but maybe they know something about what the researchers were attempting to do."
"I don't know about that, Michael. The people up there only seem to be concerned about procreating and consuming whatever food and water they can. I don't seem them as people who would want to discover the secret to promulgating civilization."
"In any case, we have to explore this course of action. Our previous attackers will more than likely attempt another assault if they have the manpower to spare. We'll need to prepare ourselves." He looked to Justin.
"Which means that I'll need my best scout to head up to Portland, find out whatever you can about the lighthouse. If this is the breakthrough we've been looking for, this could change the course of history."
"No pressure, right?" 
"Forgive me, Justin, but this...this is what we could use to restore order and balance to this wilderness. I need you to go up there."
"Do I have back-up?" 
"No. I can't spare anyone else. Besides, you tend to work better by yourself or with someone else..." Ryken trailed off, glancing at Cameron.