Page 92 of No Time Off

The walk to the television station had been nerve-racking, but that was tempered by the ease of our entrance into the building. Our plan was proceeding on schedule, but there was always time for everything to go sideways.

I happened to know a lot more about that than most people.

Now was the moment of truth. Petra stood in front of the cameras as a woman with headphones on held up her hand and silently counted down from five on her fingers. I readied my phone, tapping the record button as Petra started talking.

“Good evening, fellow islanders,” she began, her voice strong but measured. “Today, our country stands at a crossroads. Forces outside our borders wish to see us become pawns in a game we did not choose. While we are a small nation, we will not be used or silenced.”

She succinctly explained what had happened, giving a brief summary of the proof she had gathered regarding Chinese involvement and Maivia’s complicity. Her calm words rang out, filling the studio. Despite the tension, there was a riveting power in her delivery. She was fighting for more than just her own survival. She was battling for the soul of the nation, and that came through loud and clear.

“The time has come to ask for your support,” the prime minister continued. “We must resist these forces and keep our ties strong with our historic partners in New Zealand, and with all nations that stand for democracy. We may be small, but our voice is not insignificant. Together, we fight oppression, we fight corruption, and we fight for the future of our children.”

A security guard appeared at Tane’s side, leaning close to him and whispering urgently. Tane waited for a natural break in Petra’s speech and took a moment to speak from off camera. “Prime Minister,” he called out. “Liko Maivia and some police are gathering outside the station. They’re coming for you.”

Petra’s face tightened, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, she kept her expression defiant. “They may take me away, but to stop the free spirit of the Cook Islands, they will have to remove every single one of us. The truth will be known.”

She stepped away from the camera as the crew moved quickly to cut the feed. I immediately stopped the video on my phone and dashed to my laptop to download and send it to Elvis and Xavier.

“Protect yourselves,” Petra said to the news staff. “Please. I intend to go out and face them. Just tell them you were coerced.”

“Petra, no, I will not let you do that,” Rangi protested hotly. “They might kill you on the spot. It’s lunacy.”

“He’s making sense, Prime Minister,” Tane said. “Listen to him. Think about what you’re doing.”

“I will not go into hiding again, and I’ll not stand down,” Petra said firmly. “The truth is out there now. What is done with it, my friends, is now up to you. But thank you, Tane and Rangi. You are both true friends, and I’m honored to know you.” She turned and faced an eerily quiet newsroom. “In fact, my gratitude extends to all of you for your courageous stand. I’m proud to represent you.”

I lifted my eyes from my laptop and saw Slash step away from the door, where the banging and shouting was even louder now. They would be here soon anyway.

Slash had picked up the filming from his phone now, and others in the newsroom had started doing it, too.

Our eyes met across the room, and I immediately knew what he was thinking, because I was thinking the same thing. The risks were high, but this was her show now. It was up to Petra to save her country. Slash and I had done what we could. Anything from here on out was up to the people of the Cook Islands.

Rangi finally fell silent, realizing nothing he could say would persuade the prime minister to change her mind. Petra walked past Slash, put a hand on his shoulder, and then came face-to-face with Manny.

“Open the door,” she instructed him.

“Petra, I—” he started, but she shook her head.

“Don’t argue. Just do it, Manny. Please.”

He stared at her for a long moment and then with a sigh began moving the furniture. Rangi went to help him while Slash came to stand next to me.

“I want everything on camera from this moment on,” Tane ordered his staff. “Multiple views and sound. We’re going live right now. Let’s show the people what’s really happening.”

The team behind the cameras scrambled as they yanked the equipment off the tripods and hoisted the cameras onto their shoulders. They moved into awkward positions around Rangi and Manny, filming between the prime minister and the door that was slowly opening.

“Let’s go,” Slash said to me, cutting off his video and sticking his phone in his pocket.

We grabbed our laptops—my video had downloaded and was now sending to Elvis and Xavier—and headed deeper into the station with several other members of the news crew.

I glanced over my shoulder as Manny moved the last piece of furniture and the police spilled into the room, shouting and grabbing the prime minister by the arms. The last thing I saw was Petra being escorted out of the station with Manny and Rangi right behind, shouting at the police. The news crew continued filming as they followed her out.

We ducked into a room along with the pregnant woman and the woman wearing the headphones. She locked the door behind us.

“Can you pull up the live feed?” Slash asked her.

“I can,” she replied and went to a laptop on a nearby desk. She typed several commands, and suddenly the feed was projected onto a wide screen attached to the wall.

The police had Petra outside in front of the station, held on either side by officers. Manny and Rangi were also being held—and Manny was already cuffed. The crowd had grown to twice the size it had been when we had arrived. Voices were rising in a swelling tide of anger and support. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but Petra’s stance was impressive and unshakable.

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