A Quiet Groan of Change

[Vaeris]

"NO! FIGHT ME!" I howl as I tear out a massive cylinder from the earth and surround Misery and his locusts.

[Phillippe Montaille]

I miscontrue her meaning and become quite flustered.

"Oh... er... Madmoiselle is too kind and I would love... er..." I trail off somewhat incoherently.

[Misery]

"I don't care about you, freak. I want to spill capitalist blood." This guy is getting on my nerves. I float in the air, avoiding this eathen cylindar thingy.

"Pouring Miseries!!" I bombard him with a falling rain of crimson energy.

What part of "I want to kill a capitalist" doesn't he understand?

[Cosette Hugo]

She is oblivious to his embarrassment.

"Here you go Phillippe. I hope you like chocolate."

She brings out the silver and clear bag and holds it up to him. She smiles sweetly hoping she had done something right.

[Phillippe Montaille]

Understanding dawns in my eyes.

"Ah, Madmoiselle is too kind, I do so love chocolate," I say as I take some of the kisses.

"Would Madmoiselle like to read? I would love to hear you read from your ancestor's work."

[Vaeris]

I duck under the attack, though it does hit me in several places. Tearing apart the earthen cylinder with sheer force of will, I hurl the individual chunks at Misery, howling in rage as I do.

[Trotsky]

Trotsky begins to write in Russian, in lemon juice:

To whatever remains of the fourth internationale:
It brings me both joy, and sorrow, to know that in times such as these, hardened revolutionary cadre still exist. It should already be self evident that with the death agony of capitalism, your tasks should be aimed at overthrowing the corrupt Stalinist dictatorship known as Red Infinity, while simultaneously avoiding all unholy alliances with what little capitalism that remains left on this planet.

He continues.

If anything can be said about this revolution, it's that the theories and principles of Lenin still hold up today, proven today, over 500 years after the rise of the Soviet Union and the beauracratic cancerous leadership known as Stalinism.
With the exception of its reach and power, there is very little difference between Red Infinity and the Soviet Union, therefore the same measures must be used to combat it. Mass action from without, refusal to compromise your politics in unholy alliances, and constant cadre building.

He concludes.

For history has known no greater an ally to humanity than a revolutionary true to Leninist doctrine. I urge you, humanity implores you, to continue the struggle for equality. We still have a ways to go.

-Leon Trotsky

Trotsky turns the paper over, and writes on the other side in a light pencil, so when the paper is held up to the light, the contents on the opposite side won't make it impossible to decipher what was written in lemon juice.

To those who are sympathetic to Lev Bronstein. (Trotsky's old name)

He writes down some unsorted thoughts on the paper, and at the very bottom, draws an arrow pointing to the other side of the paper, as though it were an unfinished note.

Now, how to get this note out without Lady Violet knowing...

[Misery]

I teleport away from Vaeris and the battle and return to my room at the ministry of Terror.
"d**n it!" I start throwing books around.

[Cosette Hugo]

"Sure Phillippe I would love to."

She sits back down and begins on Chapter 16. Jean ValJean is approached by a woman on the street. He had laid down on a stone bench. She tells him to knock on all doors. He says he had but has no money which was a lie. All had turned him away because he was an assasin a traitor. She gives him four coins and tells him to knock on one door in particular.

Cosette looks up for a moment and smiles at Phillippe. Perhaps her luck ws changing. She had not had any friends. It was a nice change to have someone care. She looked back down to read.

[Vaeris]

I howl in rage and walk away, muttering to myself.

[Phillippe Montaille]

I listen with the rest of my comrades in breathless anticipation. Cosette is a wonderful reader and it shows.

[Mr. Futsu]

I look at my note cards for the fifth time for tonight's press conference, repeatedly going over the questions that the press will most likely ask.

I have been so incredibly busy straightening out all the PR reports in regards to the destruction of cities, Lady Violet's personal life, and Stalin's sudden re-appearance, and not to mention that d**ned machine incident that Red Infinity still has no position on (other than quietly sweep it under the carpet since the machine has been defeated), that I have hardly had any time to breathe.

The car comes to a stop, Vincent tells me that we've arrived. I take a deep breath, and step out of the car.

[Lady Violet]

I return home and decide to check on Trotsky. I tap on his door.

"I'm home Leon, can I come in?"

[Cosette Hugo]

Cosette continues to read wrapped up in the story. She loves this one so much. It is very sad but tells the tale of ultimate love and sacrifice. She always gets too passionate when reading it. She feels her face flush as she realizes just how she had been reading. She notices the clock.

"Oh dear Phillippe when is visiting hours over for the hospital? I want to stop on a new chapter so as not to leave the men on edge."

She brings her thumb up to her mouth and bites it in an unsure manner.

[Trotsky]

Trotsky sets down his pencil, and answers the door.
"Yes, please come in." He says, not quite sure how else to respond, given what happened earlier this morning.