The creature community mobilized faster than ever before.
Petitions circulated. Media campaigns launched. Human allies—millions of them now—voiced support.
Director Valdez hadn't expected this.
"They're just creatures," he muttered, watching news coverage of a massive rally in Manila. "They shouldn't have this much influence."
"Sir," an aide said carefully, "they have 50 million social media followers collectively. They're not 'just' anything."
The rally was peaceful but powerful—creatures and humans standing together, holding signs: "Citizens Not Specimens" and "My DNA, My Choice" and "Tracking Chips Are For Luggage, Not People."
Glad spoke to the crowd.
"Director Valdez wants to remind us who's in charge. But here's what he doesn't understand: we're not his subjects. We're not his specimens. We're citizens—taxpayers, neighbors, friends, family. And we will NOT be tracked like animals."
Thunderous applause.
"We've built something beautiful here. Something the world watches. And we will protect it—peacefully, persistently, powerfully."
The cameras loved her.
The public supported her.
And Director Valdez, for the first time, realized he might have made a terrible mistake.