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"Good news," Peter said "Congratulatory notes"

Lukas shot hiht think otherwise

"Well…it is news" He looked across the table at her His hands were folded in front of hi on the ht both ers interlocked It would be so natural after weeks of practice But that was soht? Juliette pondered this while Lukas and Peter went on about elections

"Wait What?" She blinked and looked up fro back to her

"It was the ti about," Peter said

"Go back," she said "What did you say?"

Lukas took a deep breath "Bernard was running unopposed When we sent hi, the election was called off But then news got around about your miraculous return, and people showed up to vote anyway--"

"A lot of people," Peter added

Lukas nodded "It was quite a turnout More than half the silo"

"Yeah, but…Mayor?" She laughed and looked around the scratched-up conference table, bare except for the untouched glasses of water "Isn’t there son? Some official way to turn this nonsense down?"

The two ," Peter said

Lukas shook his head "I told you--"

"We were hoping you’d accept"

"Me? Mayor?" Juliette crossed her arhed "You’ve gotta be kidding I wouldn’t know the first thing about--"

"You wouldn’t have to," Peter said, leaning forward "You have an office, you shake sos, make people feel better--"

Lukas tapped him on the arm and shook his head Juliette felt a flush of heat across her skin, which just ," Lukas said as Peter sat back in his chair "We need you There’s a power vacuuer than anyone, and you kno long that’s been"

She was listening

"Rehts? Re me what that other silo was like? Do you understand how close to that we got?"

She chewed her lip, reached for one of the glasses, and took a long drink of water Peering over the lip of the glass, she waited for him to continue

"We have a chance, Jules To hold this place together To put it back to--"

She set the glass down and lifted her palm for him to stop

"If ere to do this," she told the from one of their expectant faces to the other "If we do it, we do it ive truth a chance"

Lukas laughed nervously Peter shook his head

"Now listen to me," she said "This isn’t crazy It’s not the first ti but thinking"

"The truth?" Peter asked

She nodded "I knohat you two are thinking You think we need lies, fear--"

Peter nodded

"But what could we invent that’s scarier than what’s really out there?" She pointed toward the roof and waited for that to sink in