Those friggin' protesters are really starting to get on my nerves.  Granted, that was some clever wordplay, and I always enjoy confusing people (just look at the double entendre in this sentence!), but they really are causing more problems than they are fixing.  I mean, the whole reason they have the "Imperial Army" at the bottom of the steps is because the protesters are there.  Don't they *get* that?  THEY are the cause of the violence!  If they weren't there, the guards wouldn't be either and no-one would even be yelled at, much less swung at.  
Garrr.  
There's a similar situation here, which is why I'm so up-in-arms about it in the story.  

In any case, great writing!  I'm still really enjoying this.  Only part I'm ... disappointed(?) with is the fact that they *still* haven't gotten out into the city to find the source.  Not sure if my ... upset(?) is because I've been thinking about it for a week, or if it's actually dragging on.  I'm still not very used to this whole serial-novel thing.  

Anyway, really enjoying the story!