I'm not moving one goddamn inch.
A government far away that has no idea what the people of this city care for is not going to dictate to me what is and isn't fucking moral.
The National Guard soldiers train their scopes on my NYPD and I can see the red laser beams pointed on their kevlar vests.
Several things happen at that point simultaneously and it's important I tell you what happens in order so that you're able to follow along, because I don't know if I believe it myself.
The first of the aerial news helicopters starts coming into view and circling overhead.
Right. I expected that. That's what the fucking phone call was for. I can't tell you who yet.
But the news vans arrive too.
They're coming through the side streets - through the sections of the city that the NYPD didn't close down.
Specifically for this event.
See, I didn't ask the police to close shit down to make dying easier for me.
I had them close streets down so the news crews could get here sooner.
And they line up now, training an even more powerful weapon on the National Guard than the AK-47 rifles the NYPD SWAT teams have - the fucking camera.
You can hear the whir of the helicopters overhead.
The boom mikes are being extended. They want to capture every last shot.
Good.
This is what I intended.
That's when the first protester runs past the barricades that were set up.
Holy fucking shit.
This throws everything into chaos. I can't risk the lives of ordinary New Yorkers. Not for Amy and me.
"Let me through," I say through clenched teeth and I can feel Amy squeeze onto my arm. She's fucking worried. Makes sense. "Let me out."
The NYPD Commander looks at me. He's wearing at least two layers of kevlar. He could get hit with a bullet form a 9mm and be okay. A bit winded.
I'm wearing a suit and tie.
"Sir, it's not safe," he says to me. "The situation is tense. They could take you out without cover."
He's right.
National Guard snipers operating under orders from Kate would have a clear shot to my head. Be able to take me the fuck out. Call me an enemy combatant. Be absolutely justified.
But that's when the second protester rushes through.
I know, the police did everything they could to detain the crowds. They put up pickets. Chain link fences on streets. Barricades.
But give me a break.
This is Times Square. In New York fucking City. 8 million fucking people.
"You're gonna have to kill me too, motherfucker!" the protester yells and I can see tension ripple through the National Guardsmen.