I don't know who rescued Etho, set everything on fire and saved me and Grian but they're almost my favourite person. And luckily, someone else does.

'We've figured it out.' Pix starts when I enter his office a few days after, arm in a cast but still deemed well enough to partake in normal life again. 'From what we managed to get from Etho, combined with recent news, we know who it is.'

'Who?'

'Bdubs.' I frown.

'Bdubs?'

'Following this.' I turn to the TV screen as Pix plays the footage.

'BREAKING NEWS. We have received information from inside the Crastle of the brutal murder of Sir Martyn Littlewood, King Ren's right hand man, by none other than Bdouble0,who coronated Ren and once stood in Martyn's position. None of the court are available for interview and guards will be roaming the streets to find Bdubs already.'

The video stops. I stare at the screen, shock filling me.

'When was this?'

'The report came after what happened here but I'm convinced the actual event was sooner, based on the lack of communication from the crastle recently. They would've tried to hide a huge incident like that. Ren wouldn't want everyone to just know it.

'Skizz will be after Bdubs now. Not me. Bdubs will be his main target.' I realise. For a moment I'm relieved, and then guilt fills me. 'I hope he's alright. Maybe he'll manage to escape to the Perimeter.'

Pix sighs. 'No one's heard from Doc or the perimeter in ages. And he seems intent in helping us instead of escaping.'

'Which means Etho isn't in the court.'

'We'd figured that out, but not why. It would make sense for the two to meet together. According to rumours, it was Bdubs who helped him before...'

Silence. My mind sticks on the story.

'Why would Bdubs kill Martyn? He's the only one who actually chose to be on Ren's side... Always justifying his actions.'

'Were you gone before Martyn took Bdubs' place?'

'Yeah. We thought he was going to snap then but... Never considered it as a real possibility. It was more of a joke.'

'How was Bdubs? Did he seem bitter at all?'

I shake my head.

'He was Ren's man through and through. Though he always had his outbursts...'

'My only thought is it's something to do with Skizz, though I don't know what. It's just the timing...'

'Everything's heating up again politically... And I'm right at the centre of the action.' I sigh.

'Scar, it'll be ok. I'm sure it'll all just die down again soon and life can go on in reasonable peace.  We'll rebuild after Bdubs' attack, keep staying low...' Pix looks over behind me. I turn too, seeing Jimmy, standing out of breath.

'Impulse called a meeting about Bdubs. For now.'

'Great.' Pix stands and I follow. Grian's part of the group of board members Jimmy's already gathered and to my immediate discomfort, Tango.

'Scar... I wanted to talk to you.' He's not looking at me. 'What I did was really crappy. I'm sorry. I acted like a moron and... and I'm so sorry for not trusting you or believing you. When I heard what you did...'

I don't reply, unsure whether to forgive or not. Instead, I just join Grian, picking up a conversation with him instead.

'Have you heard the news?' I ask. He shakes his head.

'Something to do with Bdubs, Martyn, and freeing Etho.'

'Bdubs killed Martyn. In the Crastle. And Pix reckons he's allied with Etho and... Wait, Pix, what if Bdubs is helping the resistance to spite Ren?'

'He set our base on fire.'

'Or... Helping me. Because Skizz probably still hates me after... Pearl... And the fact he's only got the Hotguy role because I didn't return. Bdubs and Skizz fell out, Ren blamed him. Martyn made Bdubs snap, Bdubs killed Martyn and ran away, found Etho and... helped me.'

'That's... Complicated.' Grian grimaces. 'Is that what you and Pix do?'

'...Yeah.'

By this point, we've reached the meeting room and I suddenly figure out the more important question.

'Wait, Grian... Since when were you on the board?'

'Since Jimmy chose me for... Sausage's role.' Silence follows at the thought of the two deaths, and then how Hermes must be feeling. But we take our seats, falling silent as Impulse starts the meeting.

'As some of you might know, Bdubs killed Martyn. And Pix is certain that it was Bdubs who then caused the fire in the entrance building, freed Etho and... Also provided aid for Grian and Scar.' We exchange a glance. Impulse sighs. 'What do we do about it?'

'I mean, how much will this affect us long term? It's clear Bdubs only attacked us for revenge. We just stay out of their way, and we move on with life.' Scott is first to reply

'Skizz- Hotguy- will be after Bdubs now too. He won't go for us any more. This is probably the best thing for our safety.' I add, feeling the same guilt as before.

'What were you thinking we could do about it?' Grian agrees. 'If Scott and Scar are right, then all this does is benefit us.'

'Well... I had another idea.' Impulse looks down, before explaining. 'We try to capture Bdubs and bring him to Ren.'

'Why would we help Ren?' Snaps Tango.

'And we tell him we'll give over Bdubs if he gives back Skizz. Or we threaten to make Bdubs join us.'

Silence.

'Would that work?'

'We know how dangerous Bdubs is. He fought off a lot of our guards, caused severe damage to our base... And with Etho on his side too.' Jimmy objects. 'There's no way we'd succeed without casualty, if we even succeed at all. I don't want anyone else to die.'

'To get back Skizz though...'

'He didn't hesitate on trying to kill you, Impulse. He appeared, aimed and shot. There was no hesitation.' I fall silent as Impulse slams his hands on the table.

'How would you know?'

'Because I shot into this place enough times to know how long it takes to prepare a shot, and how long I end up sitting there, knowing I'm about to end an innocent life.'

'Impulse, calm down.' Gem stands, arm around his shoulder. He shakes it off, standing. I see tears in his eyes as he glares at me.

'Skizz would never kill me. He'd die himself before he did. So either you're mistaken or you're lying.'

He barely forces out the words before running from the room.

Angst.