“Please state your name for the trail.” Judge Lawence Caine asks me.
“Lucy Killworth” I reply curtly.
“Please spell your first and last name for the record.” Judge Caine orders in a soft but commanding tone.
“L U C Y K I L L W O R T H.” I spell my name slowly.
“Would you like to swear on a holy book or a law book?” He asks, as on Perdasis it is customary for the oath of truth, which it’s not only legally but also culturally viewed with the highest regard.
“Criminal law book please.” I reply, choking down a lump in my throat. One is brought over to me and I lay my left hand and raise my right.
“Do you, Lucy Killworth, swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?” Judge Caine asks.
“So mote it be.” I affirm.
“Please be seated.” The judge orders, I, sit.
Lucas Altbright, my defence attorney watching me closely knowing there is not a damn thing he can do to keep me from, not only from keeping me out of prison for the rest of my life, but from being extradited at some point to other worlds to face rigged trails. I am going to die by the hands of some government that I pissed off and there is not a damn thing he can do to stop it. He knows I am guilty, that was the first thing that I told him, that yes, I am in fact guilty of about 75% of what they are charging me with. That is why we are on Paradise, the one planet in the ‘verse that all for 8 of the 192 other planets and systems agree on prosecuting interstellar criminals, despite Paradise being a monarchy, they are not just the brightest legal minds… everywhere, but considered to be the most trusted and unyielding in the pursuit of truth and unbiased justice. When some moon or planet wants to break away, or an entire system wants to unite under one flag, when war criminals are needed to be tried, they come here to get it done legally. Neutral ground this plane is considered.
“Prosecuting counsel Alyssa Bombgardner you may begin your examination of Ms. Killworth.” Judge Caine says with pure authority.
“Ms. Killworth, what was your role in the gang?” Aylssa Bombgardner, the ruthless prosecutor the 102 planets and systems hired to take me down, asks me.
“Objection, gang is prejudicial and assumes facts not in evidence.” Lucas calls out as he stands.
“Sustatined rephrase your question counsel.” Judge Caine agrees.
“Yes, your honor. Ms. Killworth, what was your role in the crew?” Aylessa asks.
“The mastermind, 1 of 2 hackers, alternate pilot and grifter. I was also the owner of the Multimah and the Ruh Gastalo.” I reply matter of factly.
“You are a grifter?” Alyssa asks.
“Objection, Lucy just answered.” Lucas objects for the second time.
“Your honor, how am I supposed to clarify Ms. Killworth’s testimony if I am not allowed to ask questions that are seemingly already answered?” Alyssa asks Judge Caine annoyed.
“Overrulled. You may proceed prosecuting counsel.” Cain says also annoyed.
“Ms. Killworth you said you are a grifter. Is that right?” Alyssa asks me once again.
“I was with my crew, yes.” I reply wondering where she is going.
“What is the role of a grifter?” Alyssa asks the question that everyone already knows.
“Simply put, I am an actor, instead of a camera or a stage, I excel in person where only my crew and I know that I am acting and no one else. Give me a script and put me in front of a camera or on a stage and I am worse than a 3 year old’s school play.” I chuckle softly and so does the jury.
“So a conwoman?” Aylssa asks confidently.
“Objection your honor, mischaracterization of the witness and argumentative.” Lucas stands and objects clearly unamused with the line of questioning coming from Alyssa.
“Sustained, rephrase your question council, and the jury is ordered to forget the last question.” Judge Caine says curtly.
“Would you say that your actions as a grifter could be seen to others as being a conwoman?” Alyssa asks.
“I guess to those that we brought to justice I could be seen that way.” I answer not telling the whole truth.
“Ms. Killworth, please answer truthfully.” Alyssa asks me almost combatively.
“Objection!” Lucas calls out as he raises to his feet in a quick and swift motion.
“Your honor to think that my client did not answer truthfully is beyond egregious, mischaracterization and not to mention the clearly combative way that the prosecutor asked the question. How is Ms. Killworth to know what others think of her?”
Judge Caine while looking over his glasses at Alyssa. “Prosecuting counsel, that was improper and without merit, another” he pauses “baseless question will be met with a fine and you will be held in contempt.”
He lets out a long sigh like a school teacher dealing with unruly school children. “The jury is to forget the last question and prosecuting counsel is to move on with her line of questioning.”
“Ms. Killworth, may you explain, in your view, what the role of mastermind is and why you out of your entire crew was chosen to be the mastermind?” Aylssa asks of me.
“Well, the mastermind is considered to be the hardest job. The role consists not only to plan out the entire job, but to know who can be used to get inside, which of the crew could be used to use said mark. The hardest part in my opinion is knowing every single strength and weakness of the crew, one slip up and the job falls apart. The answer to the second part is tricky, we did not have a dedicated mastermind, while yes for the most part I filled that role, we usually trade that hat depending who could best fill that role for the individual job.” I answer truthfully.
“Expand on that please. Why would someone else fill the role?” Alyssa asks interested.
“Well for Elliot to be the mastermind would be because we are doing a job, well it would be because it was combat or military related, which was surprisingly common.” I answer curtly.
As The Universe Turns 