Facts Bare

Mikael stood at the bottom of the auditorium with hundreds of eyes focused on him. He could practically hear their thoughts. What was he going to do now?

The problem was Mikael didn’t know himself.

The presentation had been standard, an update on this situation in the Lorienar Major
system. Nothing that he, as the liaison between the corpse and the government, had not done numerous times.

He presented information, they asked questions, he gave facts, and everyone dispersed, if not pleased, at least appeased that they understood truth. And Mikael would report to his superiors that the government factions remained in line.

That had not happened this day.

The question had arisen from the left. Quietly said and just three short words. “Are you sure?”

Three short words which brought the auditorium to silence.

Three words brought Mikael to his knees. Figuratively speaking anyway.

The question’s audacity had caused the crowd to shift until Mikael easily identified her. Blonde, with clothing no better nor worse than any other, but her eyes. Mikael shivered. Those green eyes pierced him.

Silenced him.

The truth was, Mikael did not know what to do. And she saw it. Saw their lies, carefully crafted to create a sense of surety. The image they had long crafted had shattered.

The shards cut Mikael.

He picked up his pad with all the careful facts and details crafted for this presentation, and he retreated.

Whispers as loud as explosions followed in his wake. Mikael had failed.