The Tides That Bind Us [AfroFuturism]

Homestead

"We have a situation." Cammi sat down in front of them and poured himself a cup of tea. He took a long sip as though it was something stronger than hot leaf water and looked to Pharah. "My sister may have dropped you brother's body in the Atlantic."

Zaharah shifted her weight and threw an arm around Pharah to catch her before she fell over and braced a foot to keep them both up. "Easy." She looked to Cammi. "We have to go find him. I know how to dive. I just need a suit."

"You're not going out there in the dark, but," he added before she could protest. "I have a friend who captains a Special Defence Force vessel and he is willing to... patrol the area. The water there is stagnant, there's a good chance he hasn't drifted away."

Roddi inhaled a deep breath that puffed out his chest and held it. "I know she's your sister and all. But that... fucking bitch! How could she be so cruel?"

Cameron breathed a sigh. "My sister is disgustingly spiteful. Always has been. When she can't have things her way, she lashes out, and I have my share of childhood scars to prove it. To think I shared a womb with her."

You're twins? Jade signed.

"Yeap. Identical," he answered, and Jade's confused look deepened. "I wasn't always the handsome, dapper lad you see before you." He set his teacup on a saucer. "But on to more pressing matters. My friend will provide updates. As soon as they find Devin I'll let you know."

Zaharah guided Pharah to a couch and sat with her. "So we just wait?"

"It's all we can do for now." He leaned forward and threaded his fingers in front of his face. "Aleesha said you all stole something from her."

She kissed her teeth. "She probably means the micro metal."

"The what?!" Elliot screamed, making Zaharah jump. She'd forgotten he was there.

Cameron reached under the coffee table again, and whatever he did made the curtains shift over the windows. "You have micro metal here?"

"Yeah." The word came out hoarse. "Is that bad?"

"It's... very illegal. You need a special permit to handle that stuff, and I'm guessing you don't have one. And neither do I. And you've been walking around the 700 with that in your possession, which is very illegal." He breathed another sigh, longer, heavier. "Let me see."

Zaharah handed over the bag Doctor Will had given her, and the vials clinked together.

"Where exactly did you get this?" Cammi asked as he unzipped the bag. Elliot had moved behind the couch to get a closer look.

"Dr Will gave them to me as his parting shot against the Director. He said they were harvested from me." The thought of it made her stomach turn over. Lab rat, that's all she was.

Cammi blinked. "I'm sorry. You said harvested?" She nodded. "From you?" She nodded again. "Aleesha used these on you?" Another nod. "I..." He leaned back in his seat and rubbed his face with both hands.

"I had no idea about this, I swear," Elliot said.

Zaharah shrugged a shoulder. "I think Dr Will stashed a copy of my medical records in there somewhere. There's isn't anything I can tell you because I didn't know what they did to me until this morning."

Cammi sat up so fast that the micro metal almost flew out of his lap. "And you didn't consent to this?!" He took a breath and his face relaxed. "Where the hell was Kass when all of this was happening?"

"You mean Dr Cyan? She was out of town. I guess her hands were tied, just like everyone else in that damn place." If fate favoured her, she'd never set foot in that place again.