Paterson as a youngster:

General Paterson sat in his seat in the helicopter, staring out of the window. Below was a dark plain, covered with the fixed lights of houses, and moving lights of cars tracing out the roads they were running on. He allowed his thoughts to drift back over the years.

How did it end up like this? What happened to my initial high ideals, I wonder?

He remembered how he started on this path.

Pre-teenage Paterson walked with his mother through the back streets, carrying their meagre shopping. They had not made much money from today's jobs; there were not very many jobs going in the markets. But at least they had enough food to see them through to the next day. They, as always, kept a wary eye opened for any dangers; drunks and druggies, lone men and groups of men who looked as if they might be dangerous. Men in groups with women, or children, were generally considered safe. And the ubiquitous military personnel, always in groups of three or more, were politely avoided. They never seemed to pose any danger, but still, there was no need to push ones luck. However, for all of their diligence, they never saw the bloke hiding in one of the dark doorways, until he attacked.

"Argh!" said his mother, as the man grabbed her, lifted her up and shoved her back through the door.

Paterson tried to intervene, but the man kicked him and shoved him away. The door closed with a thud, leaving the boy stunned and bleeding. Almost crying, he ran along the street, trying to find someone to help. The street was empty, no one in sight - until he ran around a corner and almost into the path of one of those army jeeps. Three occupants, all in military greens; a lady driving, and two men, sitting in the back, rifles by their sides.

"Whoa there, boy! You could have scratched our jeep!" said the lady. But she smiled as she said it, and since her vehicle was battered and dinged and badly needed a new paint job, the boy assumed she was not being nasty.

"Please help, some man attacked my mum and dragged her into one of the warehouses!"

"Oh. Ok. Here, hop on board."

One of the men leaned forward and opened the passenger front door.

The woman was talking on her radio head set. "This is patrol 5; we're investigating a possible abduction case"

"Roger, Ok" said the loudspeaker.

With Paterson guiding, she drove the jeep around the corner, they came to a halt, spraying some gravel, at the location of the attack.

"We are now at the scene. Two of us will check inside, the third will be in the jeep." said the lady to her unseen audience.

"Roger, take care"

She pointed to one of the men. "You go inside. I'll wait at the door." She pointed at the other man. "You stay in the jeep and provide cover, and keep the boy here also."

"Yes, sir."

They all had the air of people who knew exactly what they were doing.

The first soldier, holding his rifle at the ready, opened the door and jumped in. The lady stood to one side of the doorway, with her pistol drawn.

"It's OK! The attacker has already left." came the voice of the soldier from inside.

The lady went in also. There were muffled voices, Paterson could hear his mum saying something like. "Don't let my son see me like this..."

After a couple minutes, they all reappeared again. His mother looked somewhat more ragged than she had been before. Paterson hugged her

"Are you all right?"

"Sure, sure. It was scary, but I managed to fight him off and he ran away."

Even at his tender young age he knew she was lying. But it was all too much for him to cope with, so he went with the flow.

"But, all of our food was destroyed!" he said. He had just seen their shopping, on the ground, trampled by all the feet coming and going through the door.

His mother tried to pick up the remains, but had to give it up as a bad joke.

Meanwhile the lady had been on the radio: "We rescued the mother, but the attacker escaped, must have gone north along this street."

"Roger. We have already notified another patrol, and, wait..."

After a minute.

"Right, we have the man. We have backtracked his movements using the aerial photographic records, yeah, we can see him attacking the woman."

"Ok, we'll finish off here." said the lady.

The three soldiers watched silently for a moment as Patterson and his mother tried to retrieve their food. The boy was starting to cry, it was all too much.

The three exchanged glances. The lady nodded. The soldier who had waited in the jeep bent over the back seat and picked up some parcels.

They were three medium sized cardboard boxes; each marked "Single Army Lunch, Menu B"

"Here, lady, you're in luck. We were over catered today and these are surplus. Why don't you take them?"

The jeep drove off, the two soldiers in the back waving to them, and they could hear from the loudspeaker:

"Patrol 5; move north east to area T3, there appears to be a disturbance..." The voice faded off in the distance.

They never did find out what happened to the attacker. There were too many other things to worry about. But Patterson always remembered that day. Several years later, as a mid teenager, he found a book in the discards box of the local library.

"Starship Troopers" by Robert A. Heinlein

All about a teenage boy who finds his home in the army, in this case a science fiction army that fights aliens throughout the galaxy.

"Yes. That's it. I'll join the army. Make it my home. Fight enemies, so that the ordinary peaceful people can live their lives."

At age eighteen, he enrolled. A year later, as part of his studies in becoming a junior officer, he attended a lecture on military ethics.

The veteran giving the lecture walked up to the podium.

"At ease. Now, I'm sure that you are all here because you want to be. You have the highest ideals of defending your country against aggressors. Which is all noble and to the good, after all I was the same."

He took a breath.

"But still, for all of our noble aspirations, for all of the high ideals that the public likes to hold us to, we need to remember that war, itself, is not noble. Never is. It's pain and destruction and terror. It shows the absolute worse side of human nature. Yes, we take part in it, but only because we have to. Only because we are under threat by some enemy who does not care for our well-being. We are willing to take part in it, when it is the only choice left to us. But never fall prey to the delusion that all of the deaths and suffering is somehow worthy. We kill, but only so that more deaths are prevented, more suffering is averted. Our acts of violence are, always, just acts of violence. We must always hope that in the long run, our actions reduce, and not increase, the suffering of our people, and all people."

The students nodded their heads. At least some of them were taking the message in, Patterson included.

"Violence only justified if it reduces the suffering." he wrote in his notes. He underlined the 'reduces'.

General McIver was having similar thoughts.

Pink and Blue:

By the time the helicopters had landed and discharged their passengers, Prime was arranging a meeting:

"And thus," said the image of Horatio to all of those observing the virtual meeting, "They have basically outlined our game play, all the way up to the point where we nullify their bombardment. Now we need to work out what to do after that."

Pink and Blue were sitting on the sofa in Pink's house, with Molly and Martha across the room in two comfy single chairs. All the others were participating from their various homes.

"Don't you have some plans already thought out?" asked Molly.

"Well, I do, but nothing definite. I never thought I would be directly acting in any resolution of the political crisis. I, and my people out in the Ort Cloud, were thinking more in lines of subtly influencing from the sidelines." said Horatio.

Pink swung her legs back and forth, as she thought about this, and as she did, time in their immediate locality froze. Esmeralda appeared before them. That is, before Pink and Blue. The others were frozen and oblivious. Pink froze her legs mid swing, in an unconscious imitation of them.

"Hello Pink and Blue. I am back, but only briefly. You will be regaining my judgement powers, but only for the premiers and the generals, and only on one occasion. So make the most of it! However, during that occasion, I will be very flexible in granting any requests to me that you might be willing to make. As well, I'm quite happy if you do all of this judgment in the full public glare via video cameras. However, I ask of you to still not to actually say anything about me. Bye for now."

With that, she faded out. Time resumed, Pink resumed swinging her legs. Horatio stopped what he was going to say next and was silent for a moment as Prime read Pink's and Blue's short term memories.

"Hmm, it appears that Esmeralda has continued the outline of our game play. We get the premiers and generals to step forward, one way or another. Under the full glare of the media, no less. Our two teenagers judge them, and from there on, depending on the results of their judgement, we will have to take it as it comes." said Horatio.

Murmur of consent from all those in attendance. They got down to planning the details.

Earth Watch Prime:

Certain adults had made direct requests to Earth Watch Prime. Accordingly, later that night, after the six teenagers were all asleep in their beds, there was a smaller meeting between Martha, Molly, the police officers and Rebecca's parents.

The other adults had said "We'll trust you with the details." and also retired for the night.

"So, Esmeralda really said to make it public?" asked Janet.

"She sure did." Horatio replayed the relevant memories.

"But still, regarding Pink's request..." said Charlie.

Shrug. "It's what she wants. And it's Pink and Blue who are acting on Esmeralda' behalf, so... Why not?" said Horatio.

"It should be fun." said Martha.

"And very colourful." said Molly.

"Still, the important bit is going to be what Pink and Blue decide when they read the souls of those four men." said Reynold.

"Yes. It's all up to them. Which appears to have been Esmeralda's plan all along. Personally I'm not going to be asking them a thing about what they might be deciding to do." said Horatio.

Even as he was engaged in this conversation, Earth Watch Prime had been making his preparations. And somewhere along the line, he had an extra little thought.

"I wonder... It certainly won't do any harm to anticipate it..."

He scheduled the construction of two extra radio-implanting units, along with all of the other nanomachinery he was going to be making.

A day or so later Charlie carried out a request from Horatio and delivered the two units to his office in the police station. He shoved them behind his filing cabinet. They were disguised as two suitcases, and thus went well with Charlie's real suitcase, the one he used when travelling on police business.

Molly: Starts to really irritate the Premiers

The propaganda videos from both sides started within days. And Molly (with the unseen contribution of Earth Watch Prime) managed to produce matching videos within a couple of hours of each video released by the two premiers.

"How the hell does she manage that?" said one premier. "It takes us a full day to produce a high quality video!"

To really rub the salt into the wound, Molly's videos were very well researched, efficiently debunking all the propaganda points that the premiers could make. And they were far more entertaining, gathering ten times the audience.

As well, as soon as the announcements were made, the premiers blocked access to the school. So the children had a holiday. They were delighted. The parents, not so much. But the older children, and the parents, and all concerned members of the public, were dismayed at the forthcoming destruction. Molly had no trouble in getting grass roots support for a mass protest.

The premiers also tried to block access to the police station, but the police on both sides managed to kick up a sufficient fuss that it remained open.

"Should we evacuate all of the equipment and records?" said Charlie.

"The trouble is, we know it won't be necessary, but we can't say so to anyone else." said Janet.

"They haven't allowed much access to the school, so all of their equipment and whatever is still there."

"So let's just let it slide, shall we, then?"

Pink: Helping Molly in this endeavour

The day was fine and clear, with a slight breeze. The combination of the premier's propaganda, plus Molly's responses, resulted in an enormous interest by the public in the event. And a clear majority were against any military action. And they were frustrated and annoyed at their apparent inability to do anything about it. So there were a lot of people, from both sides, at the protest rally. The crowds could not actually get into the school grounds as they were locked, but they filled the road and the public areas, and people were packed along the road on both sides, all the way out past the river shores.

Molly gave a speech. Pink gave a speech. The school deputy vice principle gave a speech. There was much cheering and clapping. And then Pink reminded them that the bombardment would be starting precisely at 12:00pm, and to please retreat in an orderly manner.

"We don't want any of you to get hurt." Her voice echoed out through temporary public announcement loudspeakers, and over the sea of mobile phones currently present.

"Nevertheless, this is our last chance to prevent the fall of our fine city, a fall into endless destruction and misery and death. Accordingly I, and Blue, and Janet and Charlie, and Molly, will be staying on. We are hoping that our example will be enough to stay the hands of our premiers, to make them rethink their course of action, to head off this mad rush to hell which the premiers seem determined to do. If we succeed, it will be more than worth the risk. If we fail, well, our deaths will be just a minor blip in the death rolls of the forthcoming months and years."

They had to provide some half way reasonable justification for staying on. And this was the best that they could do.

The crowds became silent at this. Most of them did not believe the premiers would take the slightest notice of this appeal to their good natures. Most of them did not believe the premiers had any good nature in them at all. Everyone kept up with their orderly retreat from ground zero.

As the designated time arrived, the river island school and police station were deserted, except for five lone people, standing in the middle of the road, with a collection of automatic cameras filming them.

The Premiers and their generals:

In the underground bunkers which each premier currently occupied, there were intense discussions. We shall look at only one side, but for both sides it was eerily similar.

"What the hell do they think they are doing?" said the premier. "They must know we couldn't care less for their lives."

"Hmm, of course. I don't know, unless, well, they know something we don't. Like, for example, the plans of the third party." said the general.

Swearing from the premier.

"We can't just give up now, just because we suspect that there might be somebody else. In that case we really would have given up merely because of those five staying put."

"I suppose I agree. We proceed with our plans. If they don't work out, well, then, we are stuffed anyway."

Pink and co:

The crowds had been polite and considerate. So there was a minimal amount of rubbish left over. Nonetheless, the breeze had somehow found a rare empty cool drink can. It rattled and rolled past the feet of Pink and Blue, standing in the middle of the road, holding hands. The sound of it rolling along and away from them, plus the sound of the breeze stirring the nearby trees, was all that they could hear. Behind the two stood Molly, Charlie and Janet, in a rough line. Quietly standing, reflective looks on their faces.

"Pink and Blue, you've come a long way from when I first met you." said Charlie, out loud.

They all had their radio implants on, with the emotional controls set to max. So they knew what each other was feeling. There was nothing more than anyone needed to say. They waited, the breeze gently stirring their clothes.

The city watched, via direct camera feed to the web. There was a lot of discussion by a lot of people with each other, but it gradually tapered off as the time approached.

The army on both sides also watched. They were out in full force, safe out of the way of the blasts on the shores on either side, ready to take control if need be.

"Start the automatic count down." said the premiers.

The generals operated their combat computer terminals.

The soldiers operating the rocket launches pressed the buttons to allow remote control.

At midday precisely, six rocket launchers on each side fired their shells. On the video screens of a million watchers, six vapour trails from one side, plus six from the other, converged from all directions onto the river island buildings.

Everyone stopped breathing as they waited for the expected flashes of explosion and an expanding cloud of grey smoke.

The rockets reached their targets. And surrounding the school and police station buildings appeared -

Pink and Blue clouds?

Which drifted and swirled in the breeze, combining with each other to form various shades of pink and blue and colours in between.

"Huh?" could be an adequate summary of the collective response of a few million people.

Prime took over the control the broadcasting of the event, and showed a zoom shot of the contents of the coloured clouds.

Flower petals. Pink ones and blue ones. With an occasional red one. All swirling and spinning around in the air and beginning to rain upon the ground.

Particularly on the ground where the five lone figures stood. Soon they were on standing on a mat of pink and blue petals, with the occasional petal clinging to their clothes or sitting on their heads.

A very colourful display indeed.

The Premiers:

"What!!!!" said the premiers and generals.

"What does this mean!?" screamed the premiers.

The generals were silent for a moment.

"It means that the third party has acted. It means that we are stuffed. It means that whatever happens from now on is totally out of our control."

"But, but, what about merging our forces and presenting a uniform front to this threat?" said the premiers, obviously not willing to accept this verdict.

The generals consulted their computer terminals.

"It appears that the third party has already taken over. We no longer have control over the military. What's more, it appears that half of our forces have already been ordered to move to the other side, and join forces with each other. So the armies are becoming thoroughly mixed."

"Should we stay in our bunker or should we make a run for it..." said the premiers.

At this point the video coverage switched to showing Pink and Blue, standing in a sea of petals, with the three adults standing behind them.

"Well, just as well we had a backup plan, isn't it?" said Pink. "Since, obviously, It appears that the premiers don't have any good natured sides to them."

"But, we can't say we are particularly surprised. Nor will you be, after Molly fills in a few details."

The video coverage switched to a view of Molly, with an inset video frame appearing next to her. She started to give a presentation of the premiers' sins. She went backwards in chronological order, starting with videos of the premiers discussing with each other the bombardment, and ending with one showing them planning the suitcase bomb attempted attack. This last one was a complete fake, but by now, Prime had uncovered sufficient evidence to be convinced beyond any reasonable doubt. So he had no scruples in showing a fictionalised version.

The premiers cringed at this show and tell. The generals looked on stoically; this was all old news to them. And at the last bit:

"But wait, we weren't in the main meeting room for that, we were in the side office..." said one premier. The other said something similar.

"I don't think that makes any essential difference now, does it?" said the generals. They were no longer feeling obliged to be completely subservient.

The Public:

The public took this all in, and began to think about it. As did the soldiers. By now, they were thoroughly intermingled on both sides of the river. As Molly's information sank in, they began to forget about the fact that they were supposed to be enemies with each other. They began to get angry, they were talking with each other, hands gesturing their opinions.

"Why, the little scumbags!"

"I was right there evacuating the kids from the school!"

"My kids were at the River School!"

"So, we were supposed to die, just to give them some points?"

Etc,etc. Also, after a while, comments like "Actually, where are those premiers right now, anyway?" began to appear.

The Premiers:

The two premiers were currently a long way out from the river. They had thought they were safe, but now it did not seem far enough. As always, their helicopters were on the roof, ready for action. We will only look at one premier:

"It's time to make a run!" he said. He grabbed the general and they made their way up the stairs. They were avoiding the more public elevators. They did not want to meet anyone who might be feeling disagreeable towards them...

Once in the air, he ordered their pilot to fly away from the river, to aim for the next country over. And the pilot gasped and looked at the controls in horror, when the helicopter refused to obey the controls, and instead it orientated on the school and began to fly towards the river.

"What are you doing!!" screamed the premier. "Fly away from the river!"

"I'm not doing anything! The auto pilot is off, but the helicopter is still flying itself!" said the pilot.

"Yeah, this isn't the pilot's doing." said the general, sitting in his chair looking resigned. "See, the auto pilot light is definitely off. It's the third party. Might as well enjoy the ride."

The helicopter landed just out from the shore on the bridge. The other landed just out from the shore on the causeway.

"I think we are meant to walk in and meet Pink and co." said the generals.

Both generals shook hands with their pilots. "Thanks. I think you can stay here." And then got out.

The premiers swore. "Forget the bloody thanks, can't we just run away?"

The generals on both sides looked towards the shore. There were roadblocks. And behind them were a lot of soldiers. From both sides. They looked angry. And restless. No words could be heard by the ones at the helicopters, but there was a low ominous hum of conversation, with the occasional shouting, from the soldiers. And spread out all over the place, across the road, speckling the soldiers, floating in the river, were pink and blue flower petals.

"Hmm, it looks safer to walk away from that mob. We don't have much choice."

Sigh. "Ok, we go and have a very public chat with Miss Pink. I agree, it looks like we are right out of options."

The premiers walked ahead. Each was mindful of the little fact that this was probably going to be the last time they could show history their strength, their ability to lead. Each did his best to walk confidently ahead, head held high. The generals, being military veterans, had no trouble in following their leads.

Flower petals gathering at their feet, they stood in front of Pink and Blue, in silence, and waited. As did the soldiers on either shore, watching through their combat control units. And the people of the city, watching on their mobiles or their entertainment screens.