The man, Houston, had re-joined them at some point. The doctor nodded at Atlas and stood against the only exit. Romy wasn’t sure if that was a purposeful move, or not.

Atlas turned his attention back to her knot. “You must promise to never repeat what I tell you. No one, other than Houston, myself, and a few select others know what I’m about to impart. Do you understand? You do not speak of it to anyone outside this room. Better if you don’t speak of it ever again.”

Romy nodded along with the others. But something in one, or all, of their expressions didn’t satisfy Atlas.

He approached, dark hair flopping forwards as he loomed over the knot. Romy shivered at the cruelty on his face.

Every inch of his face was carved from rock, inflexible and sincere. “I don’t threaten idly. If any of you speaks of this, your entire knot will die, including your friend who is currently recovering. And not by my hand.” He waited and then added, “And don’t forget, I didn’t have to tell you anything.”

She could tell the others’ reactions were as mixed as her own. In one sentence he had given them hope and crushed them with fear.

“We understand you completely,” Romy said coolly.

“Good.” He met her angry gaze with unflinching calm. “It would be a shame for Deimos to be killed when he’s just reclaimed his life.”

He studied the wall behind them. “There are three things you need to know. One, global warming has come and gone and humankind survived it.”

Air left Romy’s body in a whoosh. He’d said it so casually. Without care or warning. Every breath she’d breathed, global warming hadn’t just existed. It had been fact. It was the sole foundation for all they did. Their ancestors had ruined the world. They’d learned too late. The lessons, the history, the nano-libraries full of material. It wasn’t possible for everything she knew to be fabricated. . . .

Before Romy had absorbed the first point, Atlas moved on to the next.

“Secondly, you were all made for one reason only: to protect Earth from the Critamal, because no one else could or wanted to do it at the time.”

A pained moan came from Elara’s direction.

“Thirdly, everyone on Earth thinks you’re fully aware of all this and have consented to a life of service. That you willingly sacrifice your life so they are kept safe.”

Lies, Romy thought. All of it. She stared at the floor, feeling utterly empty.

“Who did this to us?” Phobos whispered.

She looked up at Atlas and saw his hesitation before he answered.

“The Mandate orchestrated the deception of The Retreat and continued it as a way to control the rest of humanity through fear.”

“What is the Mandate?” Thrym interjected.

The doctor answered from the door. “The world’s government.”