Cameron perked up at the mention of Portland, focusing her eyes on the woman, Avery, who was speaking to them.

“And you, Cameron, are you two on a mission of sorts? What is your objective?” Heat rose to her cheeks as she took a step forward. It was a smart move on Avery’s part to call on Cameron, she thought, because if they did have something to lie about, the nervous girl in the corner would definitely spill the beans. 

“Well,” she cleared her throat and glared at Justin for a moment as if to try to steal some confidence from him, “I had, um, I had been given a lock box with no key. My settlement was burned to the ground, no survivors to my knowledge, and I set out on a quest of sorts to find someone who could open it. Justin here,” she stuck a hand out towards him, “found me as I was just giving up and brought me to Omega. They had also been attacked, I guess assuming that I would have been there already. We were on our way to Portland when we were taken prisoner.”

Her eyes had been on the floor nearly her entire monologue, but she forced herself to look up at the council members before her.

“And, Cameron, who was the one who instructed you to take the box?” Avery and the rest of the board behind her peered at her quizzically. 
“John. An elder of Chesapeake,” she admitted, berating herself mentally for it instantly.
But Avery seemed pleasantly surprised at her response. “Ah, John. He was a good man. Probably the only good man left in that godforsaken gun-weilding settlement.” After realizing that she may upset Cameron by speaking of her home like that, so she offered an apology. 
“No, that’s quite alright. I never agreed with their ways and how they handled business. Or, at least, what I knew of. They tried to keep us in the dark, usually at all costs,” she explained, passion growing a bit in her voice. “I assure you, my goals align with Justin’s and all of Omega’s. We want to save what is left of not only their people, but everyone out there. To keep the formula out of the wrong hands and use it correctly.” 
“Thank you,” Avery nodded, “I shall convene with my councilmen and will retrieve you both when we’re finished.” 

Cameron thanked her and walked out of the meeting room with Justin and the two guards. “I’m sorry,” she said as she put a hand on her arm. “I didn’t mean to get carried away in there.” She swiveled around to one of the guards. “Hey, is there any way we have time to shower?” Her skin was still crusted with dirt and blood that had been collected on their journey. 

The guards looked at each other and nodded. “I don’t see why not. They usually take their time in these types of meetings. Follow me.” 

He led them to a row of stalls lining the trees, all with a fixture hanging above each one that functioned as a showerhead. “It’s not warm,” one guard spoke up, “but it gets the job done.”  

Cameron nodded and thanked the pair as they handed them fabric to use as towels. She slipped into a stall, closing the latch on the wooden door, and hung her clothes over the side so that they wouldn’t get wet. A lever was pulled to unleash the cold water, and the shock Cameron experienced from its temperature made her curse aloud. “Shit, shit, shit.” The soap provided looked like it was made in-house; she assumed it was some mix of herbs and some sort of cleaning agent. 

After drying off, dressing, and exiting, she worked her fingers through her hair first and the the laces of her boots, the guards approaching soon after that. 

“They’re ready for you two.” 

After being led back up to the podium, all of the council members were standing as they waited for them. Avery stepped forward into the center of the semicircle. “We have decided to extend an offer to Omega, one we have rarely – in our settlements history – have done. Your people are welcome to merge with us on the condition that some of their men will be used on a mission to Portland. We’ve lost too many, or have never heard back, and without the proper manpower, we will never find out what is happening up there.” 

She stepped forward. “I understand this will be up for discussion with your leaders, Justin. I will let you decide how to handle delivering this information, along with bringing back your decision to us.”