Bertha remained standing. "It was a peaceful protest!" she protested. "We weren't hurting anyone! We just wanted our voices to be heard!"
"Citizen! You must sit down now!"
"I will stand proud for my convictions," cried Bertha.
"Here we go," muttered the Volcomanian man.
WHOOOSH!
All the policewomen simultaneously turned their hoses on Bertha, hitting her directly in the stomach with a gigantic stream of water. She went flying like a rag doll and landed about a hundred feet away with a horrible wet thump.
Nicola closed her eyes. What a cruel planet!
"Citizens! Do not move!" boomed one of the policewomen. "You will be arrested shortly and escorted to the Protester Removal Van. Resistance of any kind will not be tolerated!"
Nobody moved.
Nicola craned her neck, looking around for the rest of the Space Brigade. Gradually she picked them all out. Everyone seemed okay, although they all looked shaken and drenched.
Would they be arrested, too? They wouldn't be much help to Shimlara's family if they were stuck in some jail.
What would a real journalist do if she found herself in this situation?
Nicola took a deep breath. A real journalist would report on the story.
She stood up.
"Are you out of your mind?" said the Volcomanian man.
Nicola could see both Katie and Shimlara making frantic "Sit down!" gestures at her. She ignored them.
"Citizen! Are you a slow learner?" boomed the policewoman.
"I am not a citizen!" shouted Nicola, holding up her wet fake press card. "I am an Earthling journalist! My crew and I are here to report on the War on Whimsy." She pointed at her friends. "This is the Space--I mean, this is Space News from Channel, ah, Nine!" The rest of the Space Brigade stood up warily, trying hard to look dignified in their dripping tropical clothes. Together with Nicola, they picked their way through the protesters and puddles of water toward the policewomen. Nicola kept her eyes fixed on the giant hoses. She could see the policewomen were confused. They were talking nervously to one another.
She heard one policewoman say, "Let's just hose them down!"
Another one said, "But it's true Mrs. Mania doesn't like upsetting journalists from other planets."
"They're only Earthling journalists."
Greta spoke up. "I am the Space News producer. Obviously we only interview people in senior positions. Is there anyone qualified to appear on camera?" She gave a snooty sniff. "Or are you all . . . juniors?"
That got the policewomen bristling. Suddenly they were all arguing with one another over who should be interviewed.
"You can interview me! I'm perfectly qualified!"
"Excuse me! I'm the most senior one here."
"You! I've been in the police force since you were in diapers!"
While the policewomen were all looking at one another, the Space Brigade exchanged smiles.
"I'll interview all of you," said Nicola quickly.
"Would you all like a little lipstick first?" offered Katie.
Now the policewomen were transformed into giggly schoolgirls.