I forced myself to take a slow, deep breath as I stared at the screen. Someone behind me scrambled to turn down the music but I couldn’t look away. Harvey was going to appear at any moment and I needed to see him. I needed to know what he was going to say.

Anxiety churned in my stomach as I waited, knowing that he was probably dragging it out unnecessarily because he knew how much people feared what he was about to announce.

On Freo, we were watching just out of interest, to hear what lies he was going to spread and how we could react, but on the planets around us, they waited to hear if they were going to be executed for abandoning the Council. He wanted that fear. He wanted people to believe that he could swoop in at any moment or send the Guardians or even the IA to murder them all.

After all, without fear, how would he rule?

The screen changed and I leaned forwards without really even realising, eager for the briefing to start despite also dreading it. I mean, what would we do if he announced they were going to start bombing planets? Would we be able to get to them in time? And, then what?

He appeared on the screen, seated on what I could only describe as a throne. Another Councillor sat beside him in a large but less elaborate chair. Murray. They were both in crisp black suits, mourning suits. There was something just visible above the starched collar of Harvey’s shirt though. A bruise. It was faint, barely visible but it made me smile. Maybe Ortiz didn’t go down easily.

Councillor Vierstra was nowhere to be seen either but I assumed the empty chair on the other side of Harvey was meant for her.

Fucking thrones, Cas spat. Like that dumb Queen Estrela movie. Someone should tell him that the Council aren’t a monarchy.

I couldn’t help but smile slightly at the mention of that movie though, despite my anger. Cas had been so excited for it to come out, it was the latest in a ridiculous romance series that he loved, and when it did… it was a let down. He was almost as angry now as he was back then.

This is ridiculous, Peggy thought back. After all of the trouble the Council caused for the monarchy on Destitute? They almost murdered everyone to remove the royal family and now they’re just copying them! Wait!

I heard her gasp and spin around, grabbing a screen from the table.

Other people were watching her too but no one said anything as the Council tune morphed into a more sombre one and the Councillors continued to stare into the camera.

It was all a show. A pantomime of grief that I knew they weren’t feeling. No, Harvey wasn’t sad. There was too much of a glint in his eyes. He looked smug more than anything else. Tired but still smug.

It is the throne from Destitute. Wathak, sorry. Destitute was the Council-given name. That’s the throne that the monarchy used to sit on. The Council must have taken it when they killed everyone! Peggy told us, thrusting the screen towards me.

I looked at the grainy picture that Peggy must have found in a textbook before glancing up at the screen again.

She was right. It was shinier on the screen in front of us, Harvey must have had it polished and the red velvet reupholstered, but it was the same one.

You’re right, I thought. Show Andy.

Peggy took the screen back and I heard her slide it across the table towards him. A soft murmuring started up behind me but Harvey soon opened his mouth to talk.

“Thank you for joining us for this unfortunate update,” he said, his tone grave. “I’m aware that most of you will have read the bulletin that we released regarding Councillor Ortiz. I am now sad to announce that her death is not the only one we have experienced on the Council.”

A gasp tore through the room but I was ready. I had expected it.

Cas’ hand tightened around mine and I wasn’t sure if it was from surprise or worry.

“Yes, sadly, Councillor Vierstra has also been murdered. She was on a diplomatic mission, helping feed those that had turned their back on the Council and yet had not received any supplies as promised by the terrorists who are set on ripping our galaxy apart. She personally had taken it upon herself to travel to the planets, providing food and medical assistance using her experience from her time in the Guardians, however she was brutally murdered,” Harvey said before pausing and shaking his head.

“She was never a Guardian,” someone in the room muttered loudly. “She sat on their Board of Directors. She had no experience with any of this.”

“Yes,” Harvey continued in his overly solemn tone. “I didn’t want to announce this news, not until I received confirmation of who the murderers were and I am shaken by this.”

He looked away from the camera, shaking his head softly as he pretended to look sad. He still didn’t though. Everything about his movements was too choreographed. It looked like he’d practised it in front of a mirror.

“Unfortunately, I have received confirmation that Crew Seven Six One were seen fleeing the planet shortly after Councillor Vierstra was murdered.”

I genuinely did not see that coming and it took a moment for the words to sink in.

Maybe, I should have. I mean, I wouldn't have put it past him to lie about something like that but… I didn't think he'd blame us. It felt like a panic move. Like he wasn’t sure what else to do so said it was our fault.

Or it might have been something he was planning from the start. Maybe he wanted to blame it on us from the beginning. Too many people were defecting to our side, maybe he wanted to do something big to make people think we were evil. Murderous.

It wasn’t us, obviously. I mean, I shouldn’t even need to say that but an assassination wasn’t the kind of thing we would ever do.

“I understand your shock and I was surprised too when I heard the news. I never thought the crew would be capable of something like that,” Harvey said, sounding almost genuinely surprised. “I never thought my son would be able to do anything like that but… I guess the radicalisation that he and the rest of his crew have been through has been just too strong! It’s worrying, concerning really, but it just goes to show how convincing the rebels can be.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and I glanced around the room.

Everyone was pretending not to but they were definitely shooting us furtive glances. I knew they wanted to know if we’d done it too. The urge to stand up and shout that we didn’t, that we weren’t murderers, warred within me but I kept my eyes fixed on the screen before me.

It was ridiculous. We had been on the ship, we had attended meetings and briefings and although we had left the ship sometimes that was to see the Irisians or the kids. We wouldn’t have had time, even if we wanted to!

“I know. I felt the same way when I heard I know this is a briefing for everyone but I just want to say, in case my son is watching… Adam, please come home. Just know that what happened was not your fault, you were corrupted by people who have been doing this for years. They are experts at manipulating people and making them believe that they can actually help people when we, the Council, are the only people who can make a difference in this galaxy,” Harvey said, his voice rising powerfully. “The rebels have been lying to you, to all of you. They have been telling you that our actions have been unjust and unlawful when they are the ones who have been sneaking around and murdering people for years!”

Harvey broke off, his shoulders rising and falling rapidly as he fought to get himself back under control. Throughout this, Councillor Murray didn’t react at all. If it were for her blinking, I would have been convinced that she wasn’t real.

You okay, Cas? Peggy asked softly.

I glanced across at him, taking in his tense posture and the deep crease in between his eyes.

He’s so full of shit, was all Cas thought but his words were full of fury.

“I know that it might be tempting to listen to the rebels,” Harvey started again, “to give in to their manipulations, but just know, they cannot accomplish what they promise. They have no real power, we do.”