In a massive contradiction, Xen and I had wasted years as enemies.

    But allies now, and looking at things as a good politician would, I realized that we were stronger together.

    Recalling my youth, I even considered the pair of us the new-age version of Yolandi and Ninja...

    Rightly so, I stalked onto the Sub Colony stage like 'Yolandi the Lioness' and stood next to 'Ninja the Dragon'. The fire-breather had already introduced me over holotron. "Xen, thank you," I began, "and greetings go out to you and The Eligible aboard your orbital star. Citizens of Earth, the 'Elder Secretary' and I will speak to you now in response to the travesty which recently blighted our planet..."

    Before I'd sunken teeth deeper into our memorial speech, Michael Chang and Michelle Zungai moved beside Xen on screen. Then from his left side, Sarah Lai and her adorable infant entered the frame, too. Saddened, yet clinging to hope, I began the first part of our message in order to galvanize our new agenda. "I was not always an activist. Thankfully, I had The Youngest of Elders to show me the light. Therefore, all that Green Justice ever achieved is as much Greta's victory, as it is, ours. In respect of Thunberg's service to the world, I want to use this opportunity to revisit her words. Especially the ones I'd heard decades ago, which inspired me to pursue my purpose. As a child, she warned:

    'We are right now in the beginning of a climate and ecological crisis. And we need to call it what it is. An emergency.

    'We must acknowledge that we do not have the situation under control, and that we don't have all the solutions yet. Unless those solutions mean that we simply stop doing certain things.

    'We admit that we are losing this battle.

    'We have to acknowledge that the older generations have failed. All political movements in their present form have failed.

    'But Homo Sapiens have not yet failed.

    'Yes, we are failing, but there is still time to turn everything around. We can still fix this. We still have everything in our own hands.

    'But unless we recognize the overall failures of our current systems, we most probably don't stand a chance.

    'We are facing a disaster of unspoken sufferings for enormous amounts of people. And now is not the time for speaking politely or focusing on what we can or cannot say. Now is the time to speak clearly.

    'Solving the climate crisis is the greatest and most complex challenge that Homo Sapiens have ever faced. The main solution, however, is so simple that even a small child can understand it. We have to stop our emissions of greenhouse gases.

    'And either we do that, or we don't.

    'You say that nothing in life is black or white.

    'But that is a lie. A very dangerous lie.

    'Either we prevent a one-point-five degree of warming, or we don't.

    'Either we avoid setting off that irreversible chain reaction beyond human control, or we don't.

    'Either we choose to go on as a civilization or we don't.

    'That is as black or white as it gets.

    'Because there are no grey areas when it comes to survival.

    'Now we all have a choice.

    'We can create transformational action that will safeguard the living conditions for future generations.

    'Or we can continue with our business as usual and fail.

    'That is up to you and me.

    'And yes, we need a system change rather than individual change. But you cannot have one without the other.

    'If you look through history, all the big changes in society have been started by people at the grassroots level. People like you and me.

    'So, I ask you to please wake up and make the changes required, possible. To do your best is no longer good enough. We must all do the seemingly impossible.

    'Today, we use about a hundred million barrels of oil, every single day. There are no politics to change that. There are no rules to keep that oil in the ground.

    'So, we can no longer save the world by playing by the rules. Because the rules have to be changed.

    'Everything needs to change. And it has to start today.

    'So, everyone out there, it is now time for civil disobedience. It is time to rebel.'

    "Everyone," I said with gusto, "this has been my rebellious mantra since I'd heard it. And despite failing the first time around, as UN Secretary-General, I now ask that you join me in the second effort to save what remains..." Afterward, I stepped to the side. Then, while brushing shoulders with Ling and The Jongs, I'd gestured for Xen to take over on holoscreen, with the opening of my palms.