cascade | kotlc

24. The Morality of Selfishness

"Linh," Tam choked out. "What- what are you do-doing here? You're not supposed to be here. Why- why are you- Linh-"

She tilted her head up, her mouth contorting like she wanted to spit on him, before she panted and pressed her hand to her chest. The water ribbons around her crashed down in waves and she unslung her satchel, removing two intricate harnesses from within.

"Get them on," she snapped, tossing them to their feet.

June bent down wordlessly, fumbling with the straps and trying to process how the belt worked. It was identical to the one they had used for their Team Echelon White House mission, she realized. Linh seemed to be throwing it back, almost playing it like a taunt.

"Hey," Tam whispered. "I'm sorry."

"Not sorry enough." Linh pulled something out of her satchel again, a small 16-volt battery, two open valves on the edges. She adjusted some technical screw with her nails before she pressed the device to the elevator cable. It connected with a beep, and it stayed loosely magnetized to the metal cables.

"Sister. I didn't want you to get involved. It's- it's too dangerous."

"I know. I fucking know it's too dangerous. Yesterday. How many times have I told you? I want to come. Get that on!"

He knelt down, picking up the harness and examining it in his hands. "You were never like this before."

"And I've changed. What? You don't think I can change?" She kicked away the harness and bolted over. In seconds she had bound Tam tightly to the cable, the harness wrapped over his neck and knotted between his arms. "You've changed. So have I. You-" She blinked away tears and resolutely turned away, silently undoing Tam's bonds.

"Hey. It's- it's alright. I- I know." He gently brushed a strand of loose, wet hair from Linh's forehead, tucking it behind her ear. "You want to help. I- I can respect that. I..." He looked down, shuffling his feet and adjusting his harness, tightening a strap and clipping it over a carabiner and pulley wheel. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"You selfish bitch," Linh murmured, shakily separating the metal filaments in the elevator cable and attaching them to lever systems. "Dex prototyped this. Biana asked him. It should work."
"Where are we going?" June asked quietly.

"Down. We're rappelling down the shaft. Uses electromagnetism as its core principal. Eddy currents and whatever, it's supposed to slow you down. Who knows if it works?" She bit her lip, swallowing her tears, before she rounded on Tam again.

"Before you say anything," he told her softly. "I wouldn't be able to bear it if I knew- if I knew I dragged you into danger."

Linh laughed dryly, fishing out a giant pair of shears and snipping away at the cable, working to thin the thick strand. "Do you think it's not the same for me too? Do you think I could stand it- if- if you died because I wasn't there to help you? We're twins, Tam. I think it's time you accepted that. I'm not someone weak who needs you to protect -- I can protect you, Tam. But only if you want me to."

He didn't say anything. "I made June promise she wouldn't drag you into danger. But you came anyway."

"At my own accord," she retorted. "Biana asked if I could help. She- she didn't tell me I was helping you." Her eyes narrowed and water sharpened into long strands like needles, battering down at the slanted elevator. "What else have you not told me?"
"Nothing," he promised. "It was for your own good."

"YOU FUCKING SELFISH BITCH!" Linh suddenly screamed, coming up and slapping her brother. "FOR MY FUCKING OWN GOOD? I WANT TO FUCKING HELP, TAM! I WANT TO FUCKING HELP. AND YOU WON'T LET ME. WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU DO THAT?"