The next morning, Zara woke before dawn to the sound of roosters crowing and rain pattering against the guesthouse roof. She pulled on her boots and a lightweight rain jacket, then headed out to the community center, where the smell of fresh bread and porridge already filled the air.
Inside, a dozen children sat at long tables, laughing as they ate, while a young woman with curly hair tied back in a ponytail moved between them, refilling bowls and wiping up spills. This had to be Sasha.
"Morning," Zara said quietly, approaching her as she set down a stack of clean plates. "You must be Sasha—I'm Zara. Mrs. Campbell sent me."
Sasha's eyes widened slightly, then she nodded, leading Zara to a quiet corner near the kitchen. "I've heard about what you did in Bellflower," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't think anyone would actually come to help us here."
"I know how easy it is to feel like you're fighting alone," Zara replied, handing her a card with their contact information. "But we're here to stay until this is resolved. Mrs. Campbell said you've been collecting information—can you show me what you have?"
Sasha disappeared into a back room and returned with a worn notebook and a USB drive. "I've been keeping track of every farmer Vance has approached, the offers he's made, and every incident of intimidation," she said, laying them on the table. "I've also got photos of the men he's brought in as security—some of them have criminal records from Port Cascadia."
Maya arrived just then, carrying her tablet, and immediately set to work transferring the files. "This is exactly what we need," she said, scrolling through the images. "If we can link these men to The Root's previous operations, it'll strengthen our case."
While they worked, Chen called with an update—he'd connected with a group of former sugar workers who'd been organizing against land exploitation for years. They'd agreed to meet with Zara later that afternoon at a small market on the edge of town.
After the children had finished breakfast and headed off to school, Zara and Sasha walked out to the fields to visit Derrick Morgan, the farmer who'd been attacked. His small farm was tucked away down a dirt road, surrounded by banana trees and cassava plots. When they arrived, they found him working in his garden, his arm still in a sling but his movements steady.
"Derrick—this is Zara," Sasha said, introducing them. "She's here to help us fight Vance."
Derrick straightened up, wiping his hands on his pants. "I appreciate the sentiment," he said, his voice gruff. "But talking won't stop them. They'll just come back harder than before."
"I know you're worried," Zara said gently, walking over to look at his crops. "But we're not just here to talk. In Bellflower, we built a network of farmers, teachers, and community leaders—we gathered evidence and worked with the authorities to put the people responsible behind bars. We can do the same here."
She pulled out her phone and showed him photos of the thriving farms in Bellflower, the new clinic, the children playing safely in the streets. Derrick's eyes softened as he looked at the images.
"My daughter used to love playing in these fields," he said quietly. "Now she's too scared to go outside after dark. I'd do anything to give her back a safe home."
"That's exactly what we're fighting for," Zara said. "But we can't do it without you. We need you to help us talk to the other farmers, to let them know they're not alone."
Derrick thought for a long moment, then nodded. "Alright," he said. "There's a meeting of small-scale farmers next week at the church in Riverbend. I can get you in—most of them are on Vance's list. But you need to be careful—Vance has people watching everything we do."