The Morning After

[Steve Fox]

((I beat he'd love to do that, but he can't. Presidental requirements are part of the constitution, he can't change them without 2/3 of the states behind him and a passing bill from both Houses. Never happen.))

Steve punches the newly installed punching bag. He had to get one special ordered. Unlike a normal bag (leather and sand), this one was made with metal mesh, only covered by leather, with high density gel behind it. It was more like punching cement than anything else.

With each punch the bag bends, a dent forming around Steve's fist, then slowly expanding back out to it's old position. The boxer, wearing only his training shorts and a hair band, works the bag nonstop, punching fast and hard with amazing rythm. He had to keep his skills, he had to get stronger...

Steve knew, deep in his heart of hearts, that someday the royal family would show themselves once again, and call upon all those loyal to the crown, and to their homeland. And when that happened, he would be among the first to return. One day, England would live again. Hell, maybe America would pull it out of the hat. Someplace, any place, just has to start it. Then those who remembered... those who remembered would come back...

He stops as the door opens and Cynthia comes in. "Hey, love," he says, returning to the punching bag, "Have a good day then?"

[Toivo Koivisto]

I wake up from my nap when I hear a knock on my door.

"Oh heya Iivari, what can I do you for?"

He looks a little distressed. To tell the truth I caught part of the argument.

"You know Iivari, Grove and Roane aren't always right. Sometimes we can't help but look through a lens. We each have a paradigm through which we look at the world. I have a political and environmental lense. I would like to think I put the environment first, but I am human, I make mistakes, I have doubts, and sometimes I fail."

I motion for him to enter my room and take a seat.

"I understand that you have some doubts, and heck I would too! I mean your god works for Red Infinity, that has got to be confusing."

I try to be more sympathetic than Roane and Grove.

[Grove]

Grove looks up to see Bassarov and another man teleport in. He nods his head to him in greeting.

"Lots of visitors today. Nice to see you again Bassarov."

[Iivari Koivu]

"It is confusing Toivo, the others don't understand. They blame me and consider me a sympathizer with Red Infinity. But I know in my heart that Tapio is a good God. I have followed him faithfully all these years. I know he is right."

Iivari takes a seat and looks out the window sadly. Why does life have to be confusing? Why can't all of this start making sense?

"I care about nature. Roane says that Red Infinity is evil, but I know that is untrue. People are people. There are good ones and bad ones in every organization. Sometimes I wonder why we are fighting them. We are wrong to do so. We are wrong to put our petty political ideals over the environment. If we just submitted to them, we would be a lot better off."

[Draconius Freud]

((Look at it this way. Bush can't run again, we just have to survive four more years and then he's done. The only thing good that came out of this is that Kerry is pretty much done too. I really didn't like him that much.))

My draconic nature allows me to conduct all sorts of surveys over the cities. I must admit though, so many people have had problems with their families and strange, misguided sexual appetites. It staggers the mind how these humans can be so carnal. Having completed my task, I return to my office. Maybe someone will come to see me so I can psychoanalyze them.

[Valodya Bassarov]

"Hello Grove, good to see you, we are here to meet with Toivo, is he around?"

[Grove]

"I believe he is speaking with Iivari inside the treehouse. He would be on the 6th floor. That is where he usually sleeps."

[John]

((.... there is alot to worry about, he can screw this country up alot more in four years.... and he doesnt have to worry about what peple thiink since he cant be reelected.... so thats not a good thing...

<.< the smae goes for the same sex law steve... but he'll most likely try to find ways around it))

[Toivo Koivisto]

"I am very political. I really don't believe in Red Infinity's politics at all. If we didn't fight them, it would be a betrayal of the people and the environment. Sure, some trees may die when they come to fight us, but sometimes we have to make sacrifices in the hope that some greater good will come from it."

I try to be as reasonable as I can be.

"There is just and unjust law. An unjust law is a law that goes against natural law. We don't have to follow Red Infinity's laws if they are unjust."

I stare Iivari in the eyes.

"Injustice happens when people let it happen. People who turn a blind eye to justice are just as wrong as Red Infinity. Nuetrality and complacency are wrongs in this world that exceed Red Infinity, because they allow for the pepetuity of Red Infinity's injustices."

[Valodya Bassarov]

"Thanks Grove." Bassarov and Mischa head upstairs to find Toivo. Since he is busy, they wait outside of his room.

[Roane]

Roane swivels and sits so she is facing Grove. Her face is still hanging down.

What if he convinces Tovio to join? What if Tovio weighs the possibilities and thinks that joining would benifit the green party? I would be as good as dead. Grove what will I do?

[Iivari Koivu]

"That makes sense. I know that some laws are just and some laws are unjust. For instance, the nazi laws of persecuting Jews. All of that was perfectly legal in Germany, yet, unjust." Iiivar says as he nods his head.

"Red Infinity is like that. They make laws that sometimes hurt people. Even so, it is wrong to say that all people in Red Infinity are evil. Most have nothing to do with those laws. Most are people just like you and I who are trying to survive and make a living. We can not blame all of Red Infinity, but those at the top, since that is where the power is concentrated and the decisions are made. In some ways, I do sympathize with Red Infinity, but only because I value all life, and a red infinity officer has as much right to life as anyone else. Even Lin-Sat, the cruelest of them, has a right to life. It is absolute."

Iivari hears some people at the door so he gets up to leave.

"I am not nuetral or complacent. I feel deeply. Maybe too deeply, which is why I can no longer fight Red Infinity. This entire struggle is nonsense. I want peace and unity towards bettering the environment and the condition of human life."

He touches the door knob.
"I must struggle with all these conflicting feelings. A desire for peace, an absolute value on life, a desire to serve my god, the desire to serve the rebels, the desire to not harm Red Infinity, and the desire to protect the environment."

Iivari at last exists the room.

"I am not hard headed. I am just trying to understand things differently. If Roane and Grove talk to you, please try to explain to them what I feel and what I am going through."

[Grove]

"Well that is obvious. We would leave the Green Party and continue our work to help the environment. It could be a new Green Party. The Grove Party. Heh."

Grove attempted to make a joke.

"But I highly doubt that would happen."

Grove suddenly heard what Tovio had said through the wood. It peirced his heart, had he one. He was a representation of neutrality, and Tovio's claim that those like that are worse than Red Infinity was something he never thougth he would hear. He was stunned for a moment before finally snapping out of it and looking at Roane again. He smilled.

[Toivo Koivisto]

"Ah, you'll figure it out Iivari, I have faith in you. Come back if you have any questions."

I watch Iivari go and see that Bassarov and Mischa are at my door.

"Long time no see, how are my favorite communists?"

[Valodya Bassarov]

"We are doing well, I am a little stressed. How is our favorite "kinder gentler capitalist"?" Bassarov asks jokingly.