Cyber Wars ch.11- Trials and Tribulations
 

The day of the trial had finally arrived.

Jade was led into the courtroom handcuffed and with an armed escort. As she entered the room she noticed that it was packed with many key figures from both the Real World and Cyber World branches of the military. She didn’t see Wolf and the others, they were probably being held somewhere else until they were allowed to be called up to testify. To her left was a bench which seated the General, some other government officials she had worked under, and her parents. Great they’ve come to testify against me…figures. Jade knew that the General was doing this on purpose to piss her off; not showing her who was going to help her, and only showing those who were going to hurt her. Well, he wasn’t going to get to her. She quickly looked away and down when their eyes met. “All rise! The honorable Judge Gaiman presiding.” The middle aged man had an air of wisdom about him, and Jade had this funny feeling inside of her that he was actually going to be fair. He made his way over to his podium and banged his gavel once. “Be seated. This tribunal is now called to order and will be concerning the competency of on Colonel Jade LaFleur and her ability to lead the Cyber Force. Col. LaFleur’s ability to lead will be determined by testimony from various individuals who have chosen to speak here today. We will not hear a testimonial from the accused. Once her competency has been determined, we will then open the floor to the discussion of the disbanding and replacement of the current Cyber Force team.” The judge turned to Jade with a stern look on his face. “Col. LaFleur, are you aware that if you are determined unfit for command you will be stripped of your rank and will face charges for up to thirty years in a reformation prison for your past crimes that were lifted due to your involvement with the Force. You will be charged with twenty separate counts of hacking into a government institution and 6 counts of destruction of Cyber property all committed between the ages of 13-18. Is this understood?” “…Yes.” “Very well, this trial is now in session. Will the first witness please step forward?”

*ding* The marble around Coyote cracked. Coyote stood and shook off the bits of marble he dusted himself off. He now wore a black suit, with a black silk shirt and a White tie. he dusted himself off. "I have business to do." He put out his arms. His children put a black robe on him. and handed him a skull mask. He put the mask on. A scythe appeared in his hand. He flew out of the room.

A group of his children began to play on a plethora of instruments.

All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain… we can be like they are
Come on baby… don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand… don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly… don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man...

Valentine is done
Here but now they're gone
Romeo and Juliet
Are together in eternity… Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday… Like Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday… Redefine happiness
Another 40,000 coming everyday… We can be like they are
Come on baby… don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand… don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly… don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man...

Love of two is one
Here but now they're gone
Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn't go on
Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew then disappeared
The curtains flew then he appeared… saying don't be afraid
Come on baby… and she had no fear
And she ran to him… then they started to fly
They looked backward and said good bye… she had become like they are
She had taken his hand… she had become like they are
Come on baby… don't fear the reaper

Monk opened his eyes to see darkness, save the green light from the clock next to his bed. He had covered every window woth their blinds, and made sure the door let no light through. It was a time of mourning for him.

It was the trial, and he knew full well of it. He also knew that anything he said could and would be used against him and Jade. It would be better for the others to say what they have to say. They have a better chance of getting her back in position. He would try his best, but he would only hurt the case, not help it. Turning to the clock, "Yep... she's just sitting down now. There's nothing I can do. I could fight and win any fight, but this is one where the more I fight, the more I hurt. This is one battle I have to retreat. He felt bad about breaking the PDAP that was given to him. He really liked that one too. "Running away won't change anything, huh?" He sat up in bed. "Me running will give her a better chance." Tossing the covers aside he walked over to a corner and took out a candle. Lighting it with a match from his pocket, he sat in front of it, and stared into it.

He could feel calm come over him. All his troubles seem to burn away in the fire. Grinning and closing his eyes, he began to recount all the good times they all had, all the ones he wished he could have, but they would all stay memories, dreams.

Dreams... and Memories...

Memories... and Myths...

Dreams... and Myths...

Myths...

Myth...

OOC: Oh crap...

IC: Angel walked over to the stand. He was (amazingly enough) in a full business suit with rank attached to it, with his hair cut and properly shaved. It was the most respectable anyone had ever seen him.

The (guy who holds the book!) said, "Please state your name and rank for the court."

Angel said in very crisp military discipline, "Angel, and I have no given rank sir."

There was an awkward pause. "Why do you not have a rank?"

"Two days ago, Jade authorized a mission to Moscow sir. Until it, I had been trapped in the Cyber World as a wanted subject for Mastermind. In effect, she esentially saved my life sir."

"You may take the stand Mr. Angel."

Hushed, he asked, "Aren't you going to swear me?"

"We got Mormons and Budhists here, so no."

Angel nodded and took the stand.

The Col himself came up to question.

"Angel, how long have you served under LaFleur here (nice french name. You can tell you live in Canada. :D)?"

Angel counted briefly and said, "About three years now."

"Would you explain to me how that came to pass?"

"Um...I was driven into the CyberWorld by double m, hid for a year, until Jade found me and offered me a chance to get back at him."

"How exactly."

"She said that if I used to Aegis to aid her, she could direct me, eventually, straight into Mastermind."

"So you're saying she was cocky?"

"No, I'm saying she knew what she wanted to accomplish."

"Another question...is it or is it not true you came near death while under her command."

"Nothing near about it. I did die."

"So, she led you to your death and you still stick up for her? She sleepin' around?"

"Colonel, with all due respect, you insult her like that again, and I will kill you. And no. I was not acting under her authority at the time, nor was I within the bounds of her orders. I was acting under my own accord."

"And what killed you exactly?"

"I assaulted a complex and stole a Berserker program. After I loaded it up, a rogue virus named Coyote removed the dampeners on the Aegis program. I overloaded, and exploded."

"And yet she has not yet punished you yet?"

"Generally, when one of your friends dies, you're glad to see them alive Colonel. But that would require having friends I guess."

The judge glanced at Angel and said, "Please remain respectful."

Angel grimaced.

"Now, did you just state that Jade excersizes little discipline, and is familiar with her subordinates?"

"No, I'm saying she's willing to become our friend so we aren't blindly running into a trap. We'll also fight for her now, more than if we were yelled at non-stop by someone."

"But she does not show her authority and discipline you?"

"She doesn't have to. Instead of ordering us into a trap, she'll tell us that she thinks its a trap and ask us if we're willing to risk it. Success rates are oddly high if she's incapable as you say, aren't they?"

The judge glared at Angel.

The colonel smiled evilly and asked, "But what of her disciplinary measures for acting outside her orders."

Angel smirked. "They often aren't needed, because we're usually dead by the time she can discipline us."

The colonel glared at Angel. "Is there anything you would like to say to the court?"

Angel glanced at the jury, and nodded. "I want to say that Commander LaFleur has been one of the best officers I have ever met. She is a pride to her training, and has commanded us in a way that has beaten the odds almost every time. She has done nothing wrong. She's is being charged today because mister two pips over there can't stand the idea of a female leading an elite group that isn't what he imagines as such a group. He is biased against her, and biased against us. The idea of someone remaining their own person while serving is entirely alien to him."

The colonel glared at Angel and said, "Let the record show that she has turned them against me."

Before the judge responded, Angel glared at him, and said in a very icy voice, "You did that yourself two years ago when you said I was a no good stray dog that deserved to be shot. And why did you say that general? Because Aegis allowed me to survive a car crash that I was in the middle of, while it killed our informant. Did we succeed? Yes. Did you thank us or congratulate us? No. You told us we were a disgrace. And then you told Jade she shouldn't be a commander."

The judge held up his hand, "Angel that is quite enough. You may step down."

Angel walked out of the courtroom with a vein sticking out of his neck. "That could've gone better..."

OOC: Oooh very nice SS. Extra brownie points for you, that was some good testimony. Coming up later today (after I get some sleep), Jade's mommy takes the stand.

OOC: Brownie points? Can I exchange it for Cheesecake points?

OOC: Yes. Yes you can.

A squad of AI soldiers gaurded the main entrance to the Cyberworld base of the cyber forces. Coyote scythed through the obsolete programs. He plunged his hand into the chest of one that intrigued him. He ripped a shining light out of the Ai's chest. He crushed the light in his hand absorbing the bit of code he wanted. The AI fell done and like the rest was deleted. Silently Death Coyote entered the building.

A woman in her late fifties was next to take the stand. She had silver hair and was wearing a flowered dress and hat. "Please state your name and information for the court."

"Linda LaFleur, I'm Jade's mother." The court was silent as she spoke in a soft whisper.

"Can you please tell us what Jade was like as a child?"

"Well, she was a troubled child. She was difficult behaviorwise since she was old enough to walk. She had these bouts of rage at school, but the teachers always looked the other way because she was a top student. But, I knew it would amount to trouble some day. We had to move a lot because of my husband's work, and she never adjusted well like the other children. Once she hit her teens, she secluded herself in her room and took up this hacking. We hated it, but it was keeping her out of trouble so we never said anything. But then we started getting reports of someone who was hacking into military establishments. Immediately we suspected our daughter and had a squad come to our house. They arrested her and threw her into a Juvenile detention center. After that it went downhill. Everytime she got out, she was put right back in. Our good military name was being tarnished by a delinquent child who had no respect for her parents. Once she turned 18, we were certain that she would be put in jail, but then the General kindly offered her a position in the military instead. We thought that would straiten her out, but apparently not. From what I've read and heard, she has endangered lives and is a disgrace to the military." She said it with such conviction in her voice. Jade couldn't take it anymore. "Maybe I wouldn't have turned out so bad if I had a caring family! But no, I get you two. You can't possibly know about my records, I haven't spoken to you in years! You threw me in jail everytime I got out just so I wouldn't get in your way!"

"Col. LaFleur don't make me put you in restraints."

She held up her shackled hands. "I already am!"

Her mother stepped down as Jade calmed down and took her seat again. So far, this wasn't going so well. Hopefully someone else would be able to offer better testimony.

OOC: I won't testify just yet...I think maybe after 1 more person. Right now...I'm just bookmarking the thread...and..uh...doing this.

BIC: Beowulf sat in what was more or less his home...Wolf's PDAP. His mind kept coming back to what Monk had said just before smashing his own PDAP.

He's been in her mind...only he knows the pain she's been in...why does he think that he should run and leave her now...?

Then he began remembering who Monk was exactly. Maybe he fears that he's going to be separated from her because of his past...but only Wolf, Jade, Wraith, and I know of that...the General's monitors were out when...

A sudden call jerked Beowulf out of his ruminations. A line of text scrolled in front of him.

"URGENT: Guard AIs at entrance are not responding. Suspecting Suspicious activity...but no alarms."

Beowulf immediately went on alert. It's either Mastermind or someone else...either way it can't be good...can it? Beowulf grabbed a .357 revolver and headed towards the cyber entrance...unsure of what he would find.