Occupy the Forest EcoCON — [IC] [MT] [Forest-only] [Merged]

[Middle Barael]

Hello nations of Forest!

I am pleased to announce that after a few-week hiatus, following N-Day and the Forest Keeper Elections, our RPs are finally back!

As I’m sure many of you know, Forest’s two recent RPs, “Occupy Forest” and “the Forest EcoCON”, are merging. That’s right. These two RPs, which we both set around the same time and which had been subtly influencing each other for a while, are merging together into one combined storyline. This merge happened once Shira Meron, the de facto leader of the Occupy Forest movement, made a powerful speech calling on the protestors to peacefully storm and “occupy” the Forest EcoCON conference in First Creek Falls.

We will begin this combined climax right about where they had left off, on the in-character afternoon of September 27th 2021. The rules will be the same; namely, this RP is Forest-only, mostly Modern Tech, Human-only, and meant to be relatively realistic. The only change to the rules will be that no new people may join, i.e. you may only participate in this combined climax if you have posted for either the Forest EcoCON or Occupy Forest RPs previously.

I will be linking the IC threads for the Forest EcoCON and Occupy Forest here, and I will also copy the final post for each of them here on the new combined thread. I will also be making an OP here too, just too establish some other details of what exactly this climax will be like.

I’m really excited to share this with all of you, and after months of waiting finally get to experience the climax, the endgame, the showdown, all the threads coming together. I’ll be excited to see how the different characters will interact: activists, diplomats, spies, national leaders, CEOs, pirates, and how all of the different story threads that we have been creating will weave together.

Will Lau Pupmin be welcomed back home in Jutsa, or will she and her dog forever remain left-wing outcasts in FASHIST’s laissez-faire regime? Will Madeline Zylkoven successfully integrate Daarwyrth into the international community and work with the rest of the world to decarbonize, or will Daarwyrth forever remain isolated and alone as the seas rise around it? Will Vyd get hopelessly lost in the city after he runs away from the scary supposedly-necromantic Chan Islanders, or will he overcome his trepidation and end up going on a food and architecture tour of the city with the pirates? Will Roven end up getting their wish for solar-powered ships, or will Juna and Roven be stuck at their booth nonstop for the next few days as protestors block the entrance? Will Kitsi the Boani spy and Captain Bluebeard the window-climbing pirate successfully radicalize and arm the protestors, or will they have to seek asylum in First Creek Falls to escape the wrath of the Analysis and the Pirate Death God? And what will happen to Shira Meron, Iris Dubois, King Solomon, Marc Nuya, Chloë Arborn, Thalia Lemaire, Asher Ben-Itamar, Alphonse Martí, and all of the other characters from Middle Barael?

Find out the answers to all of these questions, and more, in the finale you’ve all (hopefully) been waiting for: Occupy the Forest EcoCON!

[Middle Barael]

Link to Occupy Forest RP: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=507562

Link to the Forest EcoCON RP: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=509435

[Middle Barael]

Monday, September 7th, 2021
Union of Forest Headquarters, First Creek Falls
~30 minutes after Shira Meron’s speech


“So you’re telling me, Chlo, that the day we finally arrived at the Forest EcoCON is the day Shira Meron announced she’s traveling over here with a fleet of hundreds of protestors to “occupy” the Forest EcoCON?!”
“Uh, yes, Sol, that’s exactly what’s happening,” Chloë Arborn answered back.
King Solomon sighed. “Oy vey. I’m telling you, I still stand by my belief that 2014 was the height of human existence.”
“I’ll make sure to tell Shira Meron that when we see her,” laughed Chloë.” Oh wait, I think I see Thalia Lemaire over there, walking with…. is that Alphonse Martí?”
“Who?” asked Solomon innocently.
Chloë scoffed at her friend. “You know, 6th richest man in Middle Barael, net worth of 3.3 billion USD, current CEO of Ajmimi, founder of Beehive Bookstores…”
“Oh, him! Sorry, I didn’t know his name. My kids and I just call him the ‘HomeHaven advert guy’. Why, d’you know him?”
Chloë laughed. “No, but I met him once at a fundraiser event for breast cancer research in Cothon City, back when I was first campaigning for MP. He’s… an interesting fellow. Oh, I think they see us!”

Chloë waved at them excitedly, and Thalia Lemaire walked over to them, with Martí and beside them, a quiet, buff-looking man dressed in black Kevlar. “Ah, hey Sol, hey Chloë! You made it! Worst of timing, but still, you made it!”
At this they all laughed. “Yes, well, it seems it’s true, what they say about Baraelim always arriving late but right when it’s getting interesting”, said Solomon.
“Where’s Marc?”, asked Thalia.
“Oh, he just offered to drop off our bags at the Hôtel Lütz.” Seeing Thalia’s eyebrow go up, he added, “Things are fine now between us, he’s just at times a little removed or blur, but he’s not visibly angry anymore.”
“Ah, well that’s good. Must be hard for him, but what can you do? Anyways, allow me to introduce to you Alphonse Martí, 6th richest man in Middle Barael and big annoyance, and Asher Ben-Itamar of Escher Security Services, the head of security here at this event, who’s also a Baraeli.” They all shook hands and exchanged “pleased to meet you”s.

Chloë began, “So, Mr. Itamar—“
“You can call me Asher, everyone does,” he interrupted.
She continued. “Ok, Asher, so what is the state with the current security, with regards to the Occupy Forest protestors descending onto the conference.”
“Well, Ms. Arborn—“
“Please, Asher, call me Chloë,” she responded cheerfully.
“Well, Chloë, we have brought in a few concrete barricades to cover the entrance of the Chambers, and we’ve called in reinforcements of ESS security guards and the city police department, just to make sure that the peace is kept. We also—“
Solomon cut him off. “Hang on, I understand that this may be a legitimate security threat, but so far a majority of the protests have been peaceful, and Shira Meron herself made it clear in her speech that this would be a peaceful occupation, not a violent one.”
Asher continued, “I understand that that may be the case, which is why why the police and security won’t be carrying guns, and why we decided ultimately not to tell the UoF delegates to return to their hotel rooms. They’ll remain, at least for the time being, in the Forestian Assembly Chambers.”
Solomon looked troubled. “Will the protestors be allowed into the Chambers?”
“No”, Asher quickly responded.
“Why not? I mean it’s in their rights, the public is always allowed to enter the Forestian Assembly Chambers, and certainly at a public event like the EcoCON.”
Asher explained, “You are correct, and while technically they should be able to enter the Chambers, our security needs will in this case have to override that rule. I mean, we wouldn’t want the protestors to interrupt the vote for the new President of the Union of Forest, now would we?”
Chloë, taken aback, exclaimed, “you’re leaving? Since when?”
Thalia chuckled. “You guys must not have had a TV on your boat. I announced it about half an hour ago, right before Shira Meron started speaking. I’m retiring, at least for a couple years, and so now we’re picking my successor. I’d love for you all to join me in the Chambers to advise me who to vote for for UoF President, though I’ve already got my favorites. Well, all of you except for Martí over here.”
Martí pouted. “Alright, fine”, said Thalia, too tired to get into a whole argument over this. “But you don’t get to speak. Anyways, I’m quickly gonna return to my personal chambers, I need a power nap. I took one 15 minutes ago to de-stress, and already I need one again. Even considering the fact that these protestors will likely be peaceful, it’ll still be a long few days.”

[Jutsa]

The Free Government Transparency Report Channel Inc:
"The government holds no responsibility for the actions that may transpire tonight."

"And as you can clearly see, this fine Seaway Sansamooshi, which tied for Best Imported Cheese to the International Democratic Union, is not only carbon-neutral but actually helps the environment!" A lady in a maroon trench coat and scarlet scarf poses in front of a really cheesy display while a duck picks at her ankles. "Not only that, but it's also delicious, so long as you make sure to use the Ultimate Pleasantanizer!" She holds out a clothing pin.

"Madam, we only have less than thirty minutes before a massive protest forms outside the facilities", says an unamused Middle Baraelian middle-aged man amidst a small and surprisingly intrigued crowd. "And this is a convention on environmental technologies, not cheese... and plus you're Jutsaish. Aren't you supposed to be banned from even coming here after being disqualified for LEAF membership?"

He's not wrong. "Just try some! It has marijuana in it!" Fortunately she's persistent.

"Oo!" he says in delight, grabbing a questionably eco-friendly toothpick with a small cube of the green vegan seaweed yam and cashew milk product appended to it.

Getting into the event was remarkably easy, actually. Not only is everything in Jutsaish considered "green" - much like the cheese itself - but Jutsa is also pro-business, which basically guaranteed them the ability to participate in this year's festival. What made it easier is most companies never even showed up, either out of resentment or legal uncertainty regarding the LEAF incident, a genuine capitalistic fear of the rest of Forest, a strongly held belief that the flight would be too great a toll on their public carbon footprint reports, or sincere disinterest. Either way, it left most of the spots not only open but remaining vacant. Plus it didn't hurt she had the nod of approval from a LEAF delegate who was impressed both with the Ultimate Pleasantanizer and her personality - at least she thinks it was her personality.

"Pardon me, miss, but are you aware there's a duck pecking at your ankles?"

"Oh yes, I am painfully aware of this," she explains.

"Should we run or hide or something?" inquires a random person no one cares about.

"It'd be no good with this duck following me around," she says, before the duck quacks at her sarcastically. "Fine, have some more cheese."

"Since we're all here, we might as well enjoy the show while we can, I suppose. Tell me, this cheese may in fact be environmentally friendly - we all know that by now - but how exactly is it... beneficial for the environment?" inquires a snooty well-dressed nuisance with an aristocratic voice from a country she didn't catch the name of.

"Ahah!" She pulls out The Diagram, nearly dropping her linen-framed glasses in the process. "The seaweed is a great carbon sink and is also great for little fishes to cuddle in! As you can see-"

"Excuse me, but is that diagram compliant with Jutsaish environmental regulations?" She suddenly remembers the nuisance is a Jutsaish bureaucrat from the department of energy and fertilizer. Damnit.

"Uh. Yes! It is made out of biodegradable... uh... manure! Yes, that's it!"

"You are aware manure releases methane which is a horrible greenhouse gas, correct?"

"Uh, yes... this manure has already been processed into solid material and its methane used in green energy conversion."

The Jutsaish official looks at her smugly, while everyone else looks at the official with either disdain or a look of being genuinely impressed.

"As I was saying..."

---

"I really wish you gave me enough time to finish my tea," Lau Pupmin was still complaining.

"I told you, I wasn't expecting Shira Meron to launch the event this hour." Dido Martin forgot to take into account time zones, to which Jutsa has a special timezone unique to anywhere else in Forest.

"That sounds really incontinent if you ask me." Lau replied, wiping resin off of her hiny.

"Incompetent," Dido corrected, blushing slightly, which may have given Lau the wrong impression.

"Dogs are allowed on these things, right?"

"As long as she doesn't cause any trouble. We don't want any accidents, do we?" Dido helped Lau onto the boat. "That is if we get out of here... damnit, we really should've left before Shira Meron made her speech." She didn't expect the Jutsaish transportation system to be so cripplingly sluggish.

"Don't worry," Lau assured. "Our military really won't care. Like my brother Yu told me, all they care about is economics, ecologics, and ergonomics. I don't know what half of those words mean, but he assured me they don't care about what goes on in other countries unless their money is at stake."

"Well, that's what I'm worried about." She spoke with the captain. "Captain Lefebvre, are we all ready to proceed?"

"Yes, I'm afraid," he says in a thick French accent. "Alas, this is everyone we have at the moment." He points to another small boat with three people on it including the captain.

"That's it?" Dido was really getting ticked off with this country.

"In all fairness, Ms. Martin, I imagine there were quite a few more people who chose air travel... at least, at the airports that actually let them land there," he explained. "They really do charge a rather large service fee, not to mention the noise pollution tax."

"Oh, forget it!" This whole venture was turning up to be a logistical nightmare that was making Jutsa's transportation system look advanced. "How long until we get to First Creek Falls if we leave immediately?"

"About three to five hours. Maybe a day or two if we're unlucky." Dido forgot Jutsa was actually a rather large distance from Errinundera, not to mention the rivers leading to Ecocon exist on the opposite side of the continent.

"ffffu-"

"Hey Dido, you got any chips for Lulu?"

[Lura]

Thalia Lemaire approached the microphone again. "Quiet, quiet, shhh, all of you! The Occupy Forest protestors are going to be descending on the Forest EcoCON tonight. They’re currently on a bunch of zero-carbon planes and boats, heading from all across Forest to the city. We’ve got approximately one hour. You may panic now."

The Forestian Assembly Chambers were abuzz with the sudden new development. A number of representatives politely did as Thalia had suggested and looked like they were going to hyperventilate. The Luran delegation, composed of Lura's UoF delegate Sinin Änore and Tsarevich Venijo Duoron, appeared completely unfazed by the news.

Sinin reaches under his seat and looks at the ballot. "Ranked choice voting, and our choices are the current delegates to the UoF. It would've been nice to know I could suddenly be at the head of the Union today before now..."

Venijo looks around the room at the many delegates panicking in increasingly unusual and unhinged ways. "Well, at least we can see how our candidates would react when confronted with a crisis. I hope you were considering stepping up to the plate, because you might be the only sane person left in this room."

"I'd like to be the first person to rule myself out, but I may have to take on the responsibility if my name is already on the ballot."

"In that case, which of the... distinguished... members of the other delegations are on your shortlist? That fellow from Chan Island certainly looks capable."

The two Lurans consider where their votes should go when interrupted by another delegate sat next to them. Based on the alphabetical arrangement of the delegations in the chamber, they were likely from the Nation of Ecologists, but given the panic resulting in a scrambling of the delegations, they could be from any member nation. "How are you Lurans so calm about all of this? Have these protestors not been a thorn in your side like they have for almost everyone else?"

Venijo adjusts his green blazer as he turns to the delegate. "To be frank, you essentially have the right of it. There have been demonstrations in Lura, but they have been very small and really only in solidarity with the other protests around Forest. Lura is very tough on corporations, almost to a damaging degree, and supports unionising relatively heavily. It is a balancing act to keep both the corporations and the workers from exploiting the other, but we make it work as best as we can. And the results speak for themselves." He gives the room another look around, noting a few delegates who have evolved their panic into hysteria and set fire to a paper bin in the corner of the room. "Seriously, I thought we were reasonable people here. How did any of these... well, animals, to put it bluntly, get into any office?"

This was going to be a long hour.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

The convention hall was in disarray, with security guards rushing all over the place. Juna and Roven watched on by the train display, unfortunately still on duty and thus bound to remain near it. Roven looked even more dejected than before to see that something interesting was apparently happening out of his sight.

Roza calmly approached the display. There was one question on the Lurans' minds, and they had a mind to ask their boss about it immediately.

"Roza, do you have any idea what's going on right now?"

Roza wipes the dust off of her pants to improve her somehow still near-perfect presentation. "Those Occupy Forest protestors are on their way to crash the event, due to arrive within the next hour. And before you ask: no, you cannot leave the display. The event remains open, so I still need you to assist anyone who has any queries about our wonderful trains."

Roven looked like he was about to cry. Instead, he settled on burying his head in his hands in disappointment. Roza continued, "One thing that has changed is that the presentations have been suspended until further notice. I will be joining the two of you here as a result."

Juna sighed. "I was looking forward to our presentation. At least it would've been a little more interesting than manning the display..."

The already long day was going to remain long, it seems.

[Jutsa]

It was a long walk to Greenworx Labs from the horse pen where he left Lau and Sully. It's a darn shame cars cost an arm and a leg, but then again after hearing about the death of a book publisher in an automobile explosion in Panu he wasn't exactly ungrateful he didn't have one.

"I'm back!" Yu said, entering Greenworx Lab. Technically he said "Sister's an ass", but the literal interpretation doesn't actually lose much of its meaning in translation.

"Ah, Yu, I'm glad you're here," said his boss, the Director of Advertising for Greenworx Laboratories, looking slightly friendlier than usual. This couldn't be good. "I need to see you in my office."

Well this couldn't be good.

"So, Yu..." he sat behind a desk that looked like it was purchased from a James Bond villain. Too bad smoking is banned in Jutsa because a cigar would really complete the look he was apparently going for. "As I'm sure you are aware, there has been growing concern about socialist turmoil that has been occurring throughout Forest."

"I did hear something about that. On the news, actually. Shocking, just shocking."

"I've also heard rumors... that your sister was one of the speakers, at the event?" Yu gulped. "Cursing Jutsa for being a puppet of Domination Industrial Enterprises, who we happen to have extremely close business ties with, it being our official residence for tax purposes I might add."

Yu quivered a little. "Well... Haha... about that,"

"And I take it you saw that too?" he said, putting an illegal cigar in his mouth.

"Uh... yeah! And I - er - told my sister not to do that again..."

"Yu, she was holding a sign saying Screw Greenworx."

"I'm not my sister."

"No, but you are a liability. What are investors going to think if they see the brother of a prominent socialist reformist writing advertisements for the embodiment of capitalizm?"

"I can still embody capitalism" Yu said, unfortunately forgetting to properly pronounce the z.

"No you can't. And especially not when Mayooni's confided in me your sympathies to the cause, and supporting her while she's been out."

That backstabbing !(*%@! "I would NEVER! Mayooni is the one that went there with her!"

"Do you expect me to believe that Yu? Really! I watched the event to make sure! I saw your sister. I definitely did not see her!" Dangit! "And for what it's worth she would never stoop to making such a foolish mistake! You honestly expect me to take your word over hers?"

Yu sensed that he was probably referring to a previous incident that, quite frankly, especially given the other circumstances he's finding himself in, did put him in a rather bad spotlight.

"Yes I WOULD! And you can tell that hot backstabbing beautiful piece of garbage trash model that she can stick her hammer where the sickle don't shine!"

"Yu, get out. You're finished here."

"No I'm not. I'm protected my Fundamental, that's Fundamental Law, to stay here and strangle that wretched worm with licentious lips and evil disgustingly bashful eyes!"

"No you're not. Our company has the right to freedom of thought, and I have orders from the top that this sort of association cannot be tolerated under any circumstances! If you're not willing to comply with that, then you're just going to have to find some other place to work!"

"Well then @*#% that gorgeous !@($*%(!#$)#( (the word translates to a type of seaweed with a mildly erotic shape) and @(#*%&@ (the word roughly translates to [REDACTED]) YOU AND YOUR !)(*@%#& (the word roughly translates to either "tarantula" or "unimpressive") FACE! SEE HOW YOU GET ALONG WITHOUT ME!"

"Actually, I have a replacement for you already. Don't get me wrong, I mostly kept you on because you're attractive. You're honestly not that good a writer anyway."

"Well now I'm insulted AND confused!" His lip quivered. "And I'm straight, you !(*$%*!@#) (Roughly translated to "divorced male hedgehog")!" He slams the door behind him - unfortunately hurting himself in the process.

"Well," said the director, followed by a very loud and painful obscenity from outside his door. "That's one less problem to deal with." He dialed his office phone. "Hey, Leze (Lizzy)! I can accept those doughnuts now-"

Yu opened the door again. "WAIT!"

"I'm on the phone, Yu."

"THAT CIGAR IS ILLEGAL!"

He put the phone down, and paused for dramatic effect. "It's an e-cigar, you idiot."

"$#*!" he slammed the door again.

---

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They were rather fortunate that Jutsa allowed their planes to land at a nearby airport - which happened to be one of the only few in the nation. They were also fortunate that Jutsa actually had airports, unlike half of the nations in Forest. It seems that company policy mandates that they allow all foreign vessels in, even if they're warcraft from a sketchy nation, on account of a "technicality" in a treaty established with Chan Island. No matter, it was good for business.

"I can't believe we landed here safely!" Lau cries, bouncing off the plane with her Lulu in her hands. "It felt like months went by on that trip! Imagine how bad it would've been if we took the ferry!"

Dido wasn't listening, being tied up trying to get a hold of command. Unfortunately it seems this eco-friendly aircraft had bad reception so it was impossible to do so on the flight. The lack of cell towers in Forest didn't help matters. The three people on the other small boat also come off the plane, taking pictures while they admired the beautiful sites of the surprisingly preserved Errinundera. It seems more like they were a bunch of teenage tourists than actual protestors.

"Oh Lulu, you have to go potty don't you?" Lau takes her Lulu out to potty. "I'll be out for a bit Dido, don't run anywhere without me!" She still wasn't listening.

The airspace - what there is of one - turned out to be surprisingly crowded, well beyond intended capacity. Lau's pretty sure she saw a crash just behind a few trees, which she's also pretty sure was against environmental regulations here. She isn't even sure dogs were allowed to pee in the wooded area just off the runway. At least she thinks it was a runway.

Unfortunately she didn't have long to think about it since Lulu went ahead and peed on a poor sod's leg.

"@*#%!" the figure exclaims, turning around before falling over in a less than comedic fashion. First laid off, then the airplane food tasted awful, now this. This day just couldn't get worse, could it?

"YU!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lau gasps.

"@I(#! Sis!" Yu grimaces in agony while laying awkwardly on the ground. "I thought you were having dinner with your girlfriend!"

Dido had just gotten off the phone to hear that. This day was about to get much worse.

---

Having just got off work for the last time, Yu proudly collected all of the front desk pencils he could before marching into the street and nearly getting run over by bicyclist who obviously was rather inexperienced.

"Oh! My sincere apologies!" the man said. He was obviously not from around here. Not only was he an even worse driver than most local Jutsae, but his accent, pale white skin, and impressive height gave it away that he probably got lost somewhere on his way between Shimerta and what used to be Sand Point. The facial haircut and clothing looked Jutsaish, at least. "Are you alright?"

"Ah, yes, I'm fine," Yu said, picking up pencils with a visibly inflamed hand. "I'm just having a horrible day." In a fit of rage he threw the pencils at the building. "That probably counts as vandalism doesn't it?"

"Probably. You should be careful! Companies all across Jutsa are getting nervous about the whole social unrest going on across Forest. Especially, now that Shira Meron announced that the Eco Convention is going to be occupied within a few hours."

Yu looked a bit puzzled. Mostly angry. But still puzzled. "The ecocon? You mean to tell me they are protesting at the place of environmental hippy-ism, of all places?"

"You're surprised? Jutsaish CEOs were brought in there, some even the judges. Not that that's a bad thing, but where better a place to go then the place being ridiculed by those no-good judges working for the, what was it... Free Armed Services, Helping Individuals..."

"Save Trees", Yu finished. "I'm familiar with them. And I hate their !#$()*!@# guts."

"Woah, no need for language like that, sir! You've gotta relax, keep your temper down. That kind of attitude is not very Jutsaish of you." He was not wrong, actually. Maybe this guy wasn't a foreigner after all - he sounded almost as if he'd been trained on how to better be Jutsaish, that's how good he was at being Jutsaish. "You wouldn't happen to be trying to go to Errinundera, would you?"

"What, no! Why would I go there! I can't even get there, don't be silly!"

"Well, they have landed planes at the airport not far from here. You're absolutely welcome to go if you want to 'fight the man', as it were. I'm going there myself, for uh... yes! Joining the resistance! And definitely not trying to flee into a safer country like Plifte or Calenmor, haha!"

Yu thought about this. He knew very full well that this was a bad idea, but he did want to stick it to his boss's bosses and show them who's boss. "Sure! WHY THE @(!$ NOT!"

The man felt like he was in too deep in this increasingly hazardous relationship to make a ditch effort. "Do you have a bicycle?"

Yu thought of something he was sure he'd regret. But he didn't care. "Yes, I do in fact! Hahahaha! Give me two minutes!" He goes around the side of the building and takes his boss's bicycle. Fortunately he's aware that security cameras have recently been banned in Jutsa because they were deemed frightening to tourists, and his former boss never thinks to lock his bicycle. "God I hate these things." It was this or walking back to Sully. He'd definitely regret this.

---

"It's awfully quiet around here now," says a short, bald Jutsan with giant glasses and a less than collected demeanor. It's a temporary setback, he assures himself. In the silence of the book store, part of the wall burnt out, he walks slowly to the doors. He puts up the closed sign and locks the doors behind him. He turns around, looking proudly at the name of the store, before turning back to walk home.

"What did you just call me?" Dido exclaims angrily, standing over him dominantly. He's definitely regretting this.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuh", Yu replies, rather impressed with her stature. Jutsae are surprisingly short.

"Dido, this is Yu! He's my brother!" She smiles. "He thinks we're dating." She smiles more and winks at her.

"Uck!" she explains in quite visible disgust.

"Well that makes two of us," Yu says, trying to get off the ground and stepping in more of Lulu's pee. "Violet I hate that **#!@$@#($!%!@$ (translated: "pee-spitting") mutt!"

"Well that makes two of us," Dido replies.

Lau has no idea what was going on. "Why are you here, Yu!"

"I uh... I changed my mind!" Yu says, trying to retain what little dignity he has left. "I... walked up to my boss and told him I'm not having it. I figured I wouldn't wait around to get fired. Oh Sis don't give me that look!"

"I'M SO PROUD OF YOU YU!" Lau exclaims in joy, Lulu yipping around her in symbiotic glee.

"Well hey now it wasn't entirely my idea! I had some help from uh..." He looks around for that guy who drove him to the airport and took the plane with him. "Uh, a fellow who I came with. I'm not sure where he is - I could've sworn he came off the plane with me..."

"Oh that doesn't matter Yu! All that's important is that you're here, and we can change Jutsa for the better together!"

"And stick it to those dumb bosses I work for - I mean used to work for! That'll teach them not to fire - I mean mess with me!"

"Aw, how touching," Dido says sarcastically, looking at her watch. She could tell they were already running late. She only hoped that Shira announced the protest early to mess with the convention, since there was no realistic way they'd make it there any faster than they had. "Now we need to get going, we have only a few minutes until things go down."

"Wait!" Yu looks back. "Where's that guy? I don't even know his name but he brought me here-"

"We have another driver waiting for any latecomers. But I have to be there now with Lau, so either you come with me now or stay behind for your friend, if he isn't already on his way to the convention."

"Damn you're bossy." Dido doesn't look offended. "But you're right. Come on, Lau... lets do this thing."

Lau squeals with unimaginable glee as they clamor into the zero-carbon electric taxi together. This is the most luxury Yu has had all week.

[Gandenia]

Annoyed by the sheer stupidity of Abbas, Nonta and Gabriel tried to escape back to the clean transportation pavilion.

A blue light caught Nonta’s eyes. He stopped in his tracks. Nonta walked right toward the miniature hovercraft from which the blue light was emitted. It hung from the roof of the convention center. The vehicle’s wings were as wide as an eagle’s, and they patiently stood still. A big circle was carved out of the wing and a cold gust of wind shot out. Nonta could see a small portion of the glass windshield that spread across the front of the craft and onto the sides. It was spectacular.

All of that was interrupted when they heard a scream and a lot of banging on glass. Outside the translucent glass was a crowd of angry-looking protesters. Gabriel tried to read the signs, but they were too far away. They soon got closer as the doors burst open and the protesters charged through. They spread through the building at an alarming rate, although they remained not at all violent. Now Gabriel was close enough, and he read Occupy Forest! and End the hypocrisy! written on the signs.
“Why do they have to be here?” complained Nonta.
“I mean the convention was open to the public, they’re within their rights” replied Gabriel.
“But shouldn’t there be more security? We are important people,” Nonta said with his arms crossed.
“I think it’s good,” stated Gabriel happily. “Looks like they’re finally taking some direct action. And they’re coming into contact with important people. Hopefully people will actually notice.”
“What do you mean?” asked Nonta.
“Have you been watching the news? All of the protesters?” Gabriel asked.
“Yes, but I haven’t come into contact with them until now. This is wild.”

Suddenly, Nonta turned around to find King Solomon of Middle Barael, along with Baraelan PM Chloë Arborn.
“Nonta!” said Solomon in relief. “There you are, we’ve been looking for you since we arrived! Security’s telling us to head to our rooms! Why are you out here? Are you crazy? Who else is with you?”
Nonta pointed to Gabriel Ben-Artzi and introduced him. Behind Gabriel, Gandenian Prime Minister Henry Ibn Walid, showed up out of breath, his face red like an apple.
“Oh there you are,” he said. Nonta spun around and said hi.
“Where is Abbas?” Henry asked.
“We lost him in the Sustainable Food Production area.” Nonta looked around at the scene.

“C’mon, yalla, we can’t be here! Where is your suite?”, Solomon frantically yelled, gesticulating wildly.
“It’s over in that direction, in the hotel building next to the end of the East Wing.”
Solomon shook his head. “Ugh, it’s too far. Here, why don’t you guys just shelter with us, in the Hôtel Lütz where our rooms were all placed? Thalia Lemaire and Marc Nuya are already there, along with the Head of Security and a rather annoying billionaire who has unfortunately joined our delegation. And then hopefully this’ll all be over soon, seeing as the protestors are all keeping peaceful right now.”
“That sounds like a great idea”, Chloë exclaimed. “It is a shame that this had to happen. You know I mostly agree with their demands, and I’d even love to have a talk with this Shira Meron, but now with all the press it would be hard to sympathize with them and still look respectable.”
Gabriel nodded his head in agreement. “Yes, I feel the same honestly. Still don’t agree with why the corporations were brought in to the EcoCON, we could’ve avoided this whole bloody mess if they had just limited it to governments and activists. Anyways let me just send a quick Arbr message to the rest of our delegation, letting them know that we’re safe and sound at the Baraelan hotel suite. Okay, let’s go.”