What have you done?

'Welcome back to the SimNation News Network. Back to the top story today: a meteor strike in Sunset Valley. At around half past eight this morning, a large meteor struck the ground at the city hall. Mayor Tate Farrington was caught up in the blast and taken to hospital, where he is being treated for what a spokesman described as “non life-threatening injuries”. No other casualties have been reported.'

'I think I'll have aged ten years from this.'

'Jesus, I bet. What the hell are you going to do?'

'I don't know. I told Heath to take the kids and get out of the way for now. This could be ugly.'

'God, definitely. ...I won't lie, I would've been happy if the news had said Tate died, but Charon... He's never done anything close to this bad before, has he?'

'No, this is completely out of character. He's never been remotely violent.'

'Christ. ...I shouldn't really try to justify this, I know, but with some people, death is the best thing to put a stop to them. But that's not something for Charon to do, shit.'

'I'd be lying if I said the thought hadn't crossed my mind. Anyway. Let's get this done with.'

'So... Have you seen the news yet?'

'It's just been on.'

'Good.'

'You can thank your lucky stars that he isn't dead, then.'

'I know. I'm relieved, to be honest...'

'I should think you are relieved! What the hell were you thinking?'

'I was just fed up of living like this! I could see what it's been doing to everyone! I heard you before, when you got those photos of him setting Raya's house on fire. He just keeps doing things like this again and again! I'd had enough...'

'I understand where you're coming from, but to try and kill him is such a serious thing. I don't mean this as a lecture, just... If you're relieved he survived, then believe me, you'd feel as though you'd been hit by a truck if he died.'

'Exactly. This isn't you. You're not like that!'

'I thought it'd be a good thing. You know all he does is make people suffer. I thought it'd be easy, and then we'd be all be free...'

'The thing is, yes, some people are so evil and relentless that death is the only thing that can stop them. But a person who takes a life, unless they're as cold and unfeeling as he is, will find that in doing so, it's taken a lot out of them. Even killing in self defence, it's not easy.'

'She's right. It's because you're not like him that you couldn't do this easily. I understand why you tried, but... you don't have it in you.'

'You're right... Oh God, I screwed up so badly.'

'Take this as a learning experience. Let someone who really understands and is prepared to shoulder the mental - and legal - consequences of dealing with Tate.'

'Like who?'

'Right now, I don't know. ...I do understand why you felt you had to take matters into your own hands, though. I wanted to become a police officer to put people like him where they fucking belong, but given how he's managed to render himself invulnerable to us,  it's tempting to take matters into your own hands. God knows I fantasised about it myself.'

'I really get it. I know, it seems like I just do nothing but sit around fretting, but I'm really just too concerned about protecting us. I didn't want to rock the boat because I didn't want to put you kids at risk... But the sad thing is, he's a risk no matter what we do.'

'Exactly. Even people just minding their own business get hurt! Nyla never asked for it.'

'Sadly, yes. Look, between us four, I've done exactly the same thing before. And it's hard. It's really fucking hard.'

'Really?'

'Mmmm. I'm not proud of myself, but it needed to be done. He was probably just as bad as Tate, albeit in different ways, and he wasn't going to stop until everyone who crossed him was dead, and there were no other options like the police, so... Yes. It took a lot out of me afterwards, though.'

'That's rough... I know, you're all right about this... and I get it now. I really shouldn't have done it.'

'...Did you really ask Hazel's help?'

'Yeah. She was really good, actually. Saved my ass.'

'Well, that's something at least...'

'She didn't have to come back and help me. Y'know, because I was drained from the meteor... She's gone up in my estimation. Though I know she's the reason Edward got dragged into it.'

'Well, that was unintentional on both your parts, so I can't be too annoyed.'

'Yeah... Wonder what he thought of it.'

'Probably loved the idea, if it didn't interfere with his plans for a long drawn out revenge.'

'...Sorry.'

'It's okay.'

'...How air-tight was your plan? Just to be sure you don't get into any trouble...'

'Well, I was in the school building the whole time, so nobody can really put me at the scene. I was a little late to form, but everyone was just gathered at the window so I played along like I didn't know.'

'...Hopefully that'll be enough, then. Perhaps it could be pinned on a random, "unlucky" natural meteor. God knows it's not impossible to happen.'

'Yeah. It's not like there haven't been meteors in the area before. And I don't think there's a legal precedent for murder by meteor.'

'...He'll know it's me, though. Ugh, I feel sick...'

'Well, we can do whatever's possible to make sure you're kept away from him, at least.'

'We're all here for you. You know we'd choose you over him anyway. If it comes down to it, I'll protect you.'

'...Thanks, Dad.'

'It's okay. Come here.'

'Just... bloody hell, Charon, promise me you'll never do anything like that again. I can't handle this kind of stress.'

'I promise. I can't cope with it either. All those fantasies I've had about it, well, it's nothing like I imagined. I'm no hardcore criminal, that's for sure...'

'And that's the way it should be.'