I like to think that my crew and I handled that situation well. I’m pretty sure that we didn’t but I like to think that we did. I couldn’t even bring myself to respond to Elliot other than just wordlessly shaking my head.

My thoughts were a jumbled mess, bouncing between what Harvey had just said and the urge to take Harvey up on the offer and run away to Nova as a ruse to save the kids on our base. I knew that it wouldn’t work but I still wanted to do it.

“How could he do that?” Cas demanded, breaking the silence. “Every time that I think he can’t stoop any lower, he finds a way! What a fucking asshole!”

His hand gripped mine almost painfully tight but I squeezed back just as hard.

I didn’t have an answer for him. I was just as lost as he was.

“It was a long shot. A fumbled attempt to win some sympathy,” Aquila mused quietly. “The people on Nova will see right through it.”

“I doubt it,” Peggy muttered quietly before realising that everyone was looking at her and flushing a deep red. “Um, sorry, Captain. What I mean is, some people will still believe him. Not everyone on Nova will see through it. I’ve been on some of the back channels and there is still some support for him. Some people even feel sympathy for him because of Cas.”

Cas’ hand twitched around mine.

“What do you mean?” Andy asked, cocking his head slightly.

Peggy’s tongue darted out to wet her lips and her eyes scanned the room.

“Well… there’s a rumour going around. One that he’s not really spoken about yet… Some people know that Cas is his kid but not many. I honestly don’t know how he’s managed to hide it for so long or if he even leaked the rumour himself. But then why would he do that? Surely, he wouldn’t want people to know. Or maybe it makes him seem more sympathetic. But actually, then people will see that someone so close to his heart can be corrupted, his words, so no one is safe,” she rambled, looking down at the table as her thoughts raced.

I swallowed, worry edging into my heart at her scattered words.

Her eyes flicked around the table and her face turned an even deeper shade of red.

“Sorry. Um, people online have said that Cas is his kid and that you kidnapped him and are holding him ransom,” she muttered quietly.

My eyes widened and I glanced between Cas and Andy, who had both been watching Peggy with concern.

The colour had drained from Cas’ face and the muscle in his jaw clenched.

“Could they not guess, based on the fact that I was a part of the Irision mission, that I want to be here?” he ground out.

Peggy shook her head, her eyes darting around the room again.

They think that we tricked you into it and then you were swept up in it. They’re saying… that you tried to be a hero to live up to your dad. To try and be more like him, she thought to us reluctantly.

My mouth dropped open. That did sound like something Harvey would say but it was so ridiculous.

“They’re saying online that we tricked Cas into the mission and that he wanted to be a hero, like his dad,” I said finally when it became clear that Peggy wasn’t comfortable saying anything else.

Silence stretched throughout the room again and I snuck a look at Cas.

His jaw was clenched again and his face was still pale but I could tell that he was thinking desperately to find a way to send a message to his dad or to tell the people of Nova the truth.

He needed to do something. I know what we did was… a lot but we needed to get the truth out there and none of us could think of any better way. No one was forced into it though, they all wanted to do it.

“Well,” Andy said finally. “I know you didn’t mean to do it and that it wasn’t your goal at all but you did become a hero.”

I sucked in a breath, not expecting Andy to say that.

Cas shook his head slightly.

“But unfortunately, I have to disagree with the rumour,” he continued in a light tone. “If you were trying to be more like your dad, it was a bit of a swing and a miss. Mostly, because you seem to be lacking one of his fundamental traits. He’s selfish and, well, everything you’ve done was to help others.”

They were true but the words didn’t seem to reach Cas though. He didn’t react in any way.

I need to leave, Cory managed to think finally.

You okay? I asked quickly, tearing my eyes away from Cas to where he stood by the door, his face red.

Guilt rushed through me that I’d hadn’t checked on him sooner.

I’m fine, I just need to go.

Do you want us to come with? Cas added, worry for Cory breaking through his thoughts.

No.

Cas met my eye and I shrugged slightly.

I wanted to disagree. To either ask Cory to stay or to make one of us go with him but I knew that it wouldn’t help. He needed to be alone.

Alright, but be careful, okay? Don’t do anything… dumb, I thought then winced.

I wasn’t sure how Cory was coping with everything that happened but I wouldn’t describe it as dumb. People cope in different ways and sometimes, that way is by hurting themselves. It wasn’t the healthiest and I worried about him but I knew that he wasn’t ready to see a therapist and that he’d be safe about it. He knew what he was doing.

Cory nodded quickly before turning and frantically tapping the button to open the door.

Andy glanced at him then at me before touching a button on his screen to open the door and let Cory escape. I could tell that he was worried about Cory too, about all of us really, but he had to trust us.

The conversation continued without us really taking part or listening for a little while. I wasn’t even sure what they were talking about. Every time I tried to pay attention, I was distracted by my own thoughts. My hands were still shaking and I couldn’t loosen my grip around Cas’ fingers.

My mind kept going back to Harvey’s offer.

If we returned to Nova, he’d let us back on the base. I was pretty sure that he was lying about that but he’d said it in front of the cameras so people would be expecting it. They might hold him to it. Demand photos of us on the base. Maybe if we made a big deal about going back, found a way to televise it, we’d be safe.

But then, it would be bad for morale. We couldn’t expect people to fight for us and then up and leave. Defect to the other side. That would make people doubt us and the cause. They’d maybe even side with the Council.

But then, if we told people why we were going, to help those on the base, surely the Council would find out and we’d never make it there alive. Or, if by some miracle we did, they’d be monitoring us so carefully that we’d be useless.

I couldn’t think of any way that the plan would work. There would be no way that we could go along with Harvey’s offer and help those on the base.

I have an idea, Peggy thought slowly. But I don’t know if it is a good one.

Okay, what is it? I asked, a little worried.

Part of me thought that her idea would be similar to mine. It would probably be a much better plan, even after everything, she was a much better strategist than I will ever be but I just couldn’t think of a way for it to work.

I think there’s a way we can ruin what Harvey said. You know, shatter this ridiculous illusion he’s trying to create as someone who cares about us and the kids on Nova… she thought slowly.

I nodded.

That would help.

If people saw through it, they’d have to doubt him and the Council. We could sever the last thread of trust that the people of Nova felt for him.

What are you thinking? I asked.

I think… I should say it to the group? I think I’d be able to explain it better then? she thought uncertainly.

Worry flooded through me but I had to trust her. I knew it would be a good plan

but I really didn’t want her to not be able to explain her ideas properly and then feel embarrassed. She’d told me that it felt like her mind was all over the place and that she was struggling to make sense of it since she got to Freo. I just wanted to protect her and I really didn’t want her to be sad or embarrassed. I think I’d subconsciously taken on Gem’s old role as her protector. I’d never do it as well as Gem did but I had to try.

Go for it, I urged, trying not to let my worry creep into my voice.

Peggy nodded, visibly taking a deep breath.

“Sorry to interrupt but… I think I have a plan.”