Iudicium
26 Sep 2016Hersilia
A scrape of chains and the clang of grav-boots on a cold, hard, metal floor echoed throughout the courtroom. Looming grey walls folded over on themselves, creating an arched, cathedral-like ceiling.The dark walls were adorned with master painted portraits of notable Federal admirals, captains and officers."Prisoner Zero-Six-Four-Zero." a loud voice boomed through the court room, catching Hersilias attention and drawing it to a raised platform upon which stood a deep grey Judges bench, above it was a immaculately framed painting of President Hudson. Hersilia frowned at the painting, she loved the Federation but she hated Hudson, many did. The symbol of the Federation was embossed into the front of the judges bench in fine gold. Her eyes flickered upwards from the gold to the owner of the voice who was cast in shadow. His face was impossible to make out.
"You have been accused of the murder of official Federal medical staff, how do you plead?" suddenly a very thin man appeared out of shadow next to the judge and whispered something in his ear, then quickly he retreated.
"I have just had word that you are also being accused of murdering your cell mate while you were in custody." a huge man leaned down from the judges bench bearing an ugly, sneering face. Hersilias expression was solemn and didn't change. The chains around her wrists clinked gently as her body swayed ever so slightly. Her eyes moved down to look at the symbol of the Federation she cared about so deeply, then back up to the sneering judge.
"She...was an accident." she paused, words hung on her lips but they didn't make themselves heard.
"He deserved it." these words caused her to clench her fists, anger starting to rise at the lack of feeling once again. Bright, all blue eyes darted up the judge, challenging him to test her. The large judge breathed in deeply through his nose and lowered himself back into his chair, shadow concealing his face again.
"That he did. I don't know how someone of your size took him down but..." the deep voice echoed around her. The tone of the judge caused suspicion to rise within her, she raised an eyebrow in silent query. After a moment he spoke once more.
"That beast defiled my daughter and took her from me." he sounded pained and angry. She could tell he was speaking through clenched teeth, his voice did not boom so much as before. A fist slammed down out of the shadow and into the light of the judges bench. Hersilia stood perfectly still in silence, her gaze fixed on the silhouette of the judge.
"He took her from me and I could do nothing! We didn't even have a body to bury.." he leaned forwards and she caught a glimpse the darkened furrowed brow of the judge before it was covered by his huge scarred hands.
"I must thank you for ridding this galaxy of his existence, although I cannot ignore my duties as a high court Federal judge, and you must pay for your crimes. It seems like you are not so stable yourself..." he picked up some papers and looked through them.
"The nurse you killed in the medical bay...why? You say it was an accident, but I've heard that too many times. Explain." he demanded, the authority in his voice slowly returning. She cleared her throat and glanced down at her left arm.
" I...I've been butchered!" she was partially laughing out her response, surely the judge would know about such cases with new augments? It mattered not. She was here.
"I panicked and she was unlucky enough to be in the way after I had woken up from..this..being.... fitted" she lifted her left arm slightly and grimaced in disgust.The judges figure stayed still, unwavering. Time past. Finally the judge picked up the papers that lay in front of him and started to look through once again. Page after page, time was prolonged for Hersilia. The cold weight of the shackles around her wrists bore down on her shoulders, the weight of her new limb was enough and the strain started to show on her face. The judge took no notice of her condition. The judge raised his hand and from his side emerged the thin man from the shadows. They spoke in hushed tones for what seemed like an eternity. Finally the thin man returned to the shadow, the deep voice of the judge echoed through the court once more.
"In light of recent actions, the Federal Court of Daedalus sentences you to be exiled from the human bubble for a galactic year. Two months food and supplies will be loaded onto your ship, you will have to fend for yourself for the rest of the duration. You may not contact anyone within the bubble or within 2KLy out from the bubble for the duration of your punishment, failure to do so will result in further punishment, in this case, it's the death penalty. Release her and escort her off the station." With his final words the judge stood up, his face moving into the light. He stared directly at Hersilia with a solemn expression on his face, but she was sure she saw him wink at her. Heavy hands took her by the arms, turned her round and lead her out of the court. Once in the docking bay Hersilia tried to guide the guards towards the landing pad her Cobra was on but, their tight grip forced her in a different direction.
"Um..Lads...My ship is that way." She gestured behind them with her head. Silence was their response as they pulled her round a corner to reveal a dim khaki-green Asp explorer. Ground crew were hounded by Federal officials who barked orders for them to load the ship with supplies as fast as possible. Hersilia was moved closer to the ship, then one of the guards released her from her shackles while the other spoke before they both quickly span round to return to their stations. His words;
"Courtesy of the Judge."