Be it claims of him murdering people he’d never seen before to people he’d fought in prison, Ronin had to listen to it all. He tried defending himself, but every time he did, the judge brought up some false evidence to prove him wrong. The only case they were actually right about, was Marvin, but that guy had had it coming. He'd not only given Ronin a defective mask on his first day in prison, but he'd also tried to stab him in his sleep soon after.
This tribunal, from the very beginning, had been nothing but a sick perversion of justice. But Ronin could take it, he could keep himself in check, all the way until the last witness was called…
The balding judge coughed, before saying in a raspy voice: “As our next witness, we call Scrabby Tulsi. Please step forward.”
The sickly-sweet smile on the judge's face told Ronin all he needed to know. They’d called up Scrabby deliberately in order to target him.
The small boy walked up before the tribune and the judge leaned forward, his voice dripping with sickening sweetness:
“Go on, child. Tell us how you met this man. What did he do?”
Scrabby shuffled uncomfortably, but as he looked upon Ronin, his expression firmed.
“I met him after he came from Exodon. He killed many men when he came.”
Scrabby’s eyes shifted about as he talked. He did not sound believable at all. The way the boy looked back and forth between Sima Hui and the judge, made it obvious he was looking for approval.
So that's why Sima Hui kept whispering into his ear, Ronin inwardly cursed.
Scrabby had been fed half truths about him, then, after his hate towards him had been sufficiently stoked, he’d been coached on how to lie when called as a witness.
“Good,” the judge said. “And what about the… incident at your new apartment?”
Scrabby furrowed his brows, as if thinking of what to say. “Ronin entered our apartment with the alien, then asked it to eat mom. He then tried to hurt me.”
The judge leaned back in feigned shock. “He colluded with an alien!?”
Ronin grit his teeth as he tried holding himself back. This was getting ridiculous!
“Scrabby, they’re lying to you!” He shouted. “They’re only using you to get to me! Don’t listen to them!”
“Silence!” The balding judge slammed down the gavel. “That is enough from you. If you do not calm down, we will be forced to restrain you. This will be your last and final warning.”
“...”
Scrabby had to answer more questions, but, fortunately, it didn't last long. There was a limit to how many words a small child could be made to memorize. So, when he began going off script, stuttering as he began talking about things that were too crazy even for this court, he was guided out by someone nearby.
The judge looked to the audience:
“Is there anything anyone would like to add before we conclude?” he asked.
The room remained silent. Not a single person stood up.
Ronin let out a breath in relief. At last, the tribunal was about to end.
“Very well, then...”
“—Wait!” A voice shouted from the crowd.
“Bartholomew Simons?” The judge seemed taken aback. “That’s quite the surprise. You do realize that what you say here will reflect back on your family, right?”
“I do,” replied Simons. “But I do have some words to share before you condemn this man.”
Ronin’s mind began spinning. Why had Simons, of all people come out? Was he about to tell them what happened at the Happy Pearl restaurant? Was that why he’d come along, to expose him as the Defiler, the bioterrorist? Every man had a limit and Ronin felt he was getting close to his. Void help him if he did.
Simons walked out in front of the crowd, then began speaking:
“I’ve known Ronin Maximus for a few months now and have been working with him closely. I have seen much of how he behaves and who he is as a person. Now let me tell you, and I want to make this perfectly clear. I have never seen Ronin act in any way like you’ve been describing him here today. He may be many things, but he’s not a heartless killer, he’s not an alien sympathizer, and he is not a terrorist. Make of that what you will.”
The judge shook his head. “Strong words, but the evidence is clear. Let us take a short break as we settle upon a verdict.”
Ronin felt as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. Simons, like a ray of light in the dark, had stepped out to defend him. When the whole world called him an enemy, one man stepped out and stood by his side. It may not be much, but to Ronin — it was enough.
A few minutes passed by as the room buzzed with quiet discussion. Finally, it seemed a verdict had been made and the older judge walked up the tribune.
“After much discussion, we have settled upon two possible outcomes,” he said. “By any normal account, you should have gotten the death penalty, but many have argued that you can still be of use. That, due to your particular... situation, instead of spreading misery, you can use your gifts for good. We will therefore make a rare exception and offer you two choices. Ronin, you can either sign this contract or face execution, the choice is yours.”
Ronin was notified of an incoming message on his optical implant. He opened it.
Ahh, now I understand. All the puzzle pieces clicked into place as he looked upon the document before him.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
This was a slave contract.
He’d received one of these before… When Raverus Ravent offered to help him with his bounty problem, the condition had also been a contract like this.
Unlike the last contract, however, this one was even more restrictive, but that was only the beginning of it. Whereas Professor Ravent’s contract required him to sign away his rights for 10 years, this one… lasted a lifetime.
He would be a slave for as long as he lived.
This all probably happened because I refused to sign the first contract, Ronin reasoned.
But it was too late to go back now. He had to sign it. Still, now that he knew what this tribunal was really about, he should be able to change a few things.
“I will only sign this thing under two conditions,” Ronin said.
“I’m afraid you're in no position to negotiate,” replied the judge, lazily.
“You have only begun to see how useful I will be to the state. To be frank, up until now, I have only shown you a fraction of what I am really capable of. If you grant me my two small conditions, I will do everything in my power to help Tar.”
“Alright,” The judge sighed. “Speak.”
“My conditions are simple. First, I will not replace my implant with a government issued one like you’ve stated in the contract. Also, I wish to continue working at my current job. If these conditions cannot be met, execute me right now, because these terms are non-negotiable.”
The judge gave him a sardonic smile. “Do you really mean that? Very well. Guards, prepare to fire!”
Several in the room stepped out, then pointed their lasguns at him.
Ronin inwardly grit his teeth. Here goes nothing.
Pretending to be calm, he spread his arms, then closed his eyes. His act had to be perfect. They needed to believe he was willing to die. He only hoped he’d read the situation correctly. If he hadn’t…
“Sigh, hold your fire.”
Ronin almost collapsed from relief as he heard the judge speak. It had worked!
After pondering for a moment, the judge continued:
“I’m sure we can arrange for some minor changes... For a criminal such as yourself though, such freedoms would need certain… safeguards. To make sure the people are safe, we will therefore make this tribunal public. Everyone will now know what kind of a person you are Ronin. They will all know what you've done. The people deserve the truth after all... With you loose on the streets, at least now they can keep themselves away.”
He’d bet his life on it, and it had paid off. At least he had some privacy now, as well as a factory. He still didn’t know how to use these things to get out of this situation, but at least there was a chance now.
After a few minutes of adjustments, the contract was changed, and Ronin signed down his name. As he typed the final letter, however, he noticed a drop of blood on his hand. He brought his hand to his nose, noticing even more blood on it. A nosebleed? That was strange, he hadn't had issues like this ever since he absorbed the alien artifact...
“...”
Wiping his nose, Ronin walked over to Simons as the tribunal wound down. He couldn’t not thank him after what he’d done.
Bowing his head, Ronin spoke with a heavy voice: “Thank you. Your words may not have affected the trial, but they meant the world to me.”
“No problem,” Simons said, then winked his eyebrows. “But I expect first priority on every engine made from now on.”
Ronin chuckled but soon became serious again. “That decision, to make the tribunal public. It was probably decided before this thing even began. Are you sure you still want to stay with the company?”
“They slipped up the moment they insinuated you blew up your apartment, Ronin, and to have Scrabby testify on top of that? No, I know you’re innocent, that is enough for me.” Simons replied.
There was a lull in the conversation as Ronin could see Simons struggle with something. He kept quiet. Whatever internal struggle his friend was having, it was not for him to influence.
“You know...” Simons finally said. “People always keep telling me how it's an honor to meet me, they bow, show me reverence, but it's all hollow. Me and my father, we're exiles. We've been cast out from the family, stripped of all our influence and wealth. Its why we live down here and not up there.” He pointed towards the sky. “We are still treated as if we're nobility, but that feels more like a curse now, it's like a constant reminder of our banishment... My time at Maximus Solutions, however, has made me feel like what I do matter again.”
Ronin sighed, then looked upon the circular courtroom. “Again, thank you, but you should hold off on that decision. A lot of things are about to change right now. This tribunal will make me a social pariah, it will take away the key needed to take part in society…If my guess is correct, they did this to make me so hated by the public, I'd do anything for redemption…The fact that the government so openly took away my social key based on false pretenses, only means they could just as easily give it back.”
Ronin tsked, continuing:
“Destitute, isolated, hated... who wouldn't cling to hope if there was a chance to get their old life back? That hope could've made me the perfect slave, and they'd use the people to do it.”
“That’s why you demanded keeping your current job!” Simons erupted.
“Yeah, in part. If I keep working at Maximus Solutions, it doesn’t matter how much I’m hated. If we announce we're looking for workers, people will come. There's probably some who will reject us, but for every rejection, there's at least ten people out there willing to jump at the opportunity for a job — I know I would've.” Ronin gave a slight smile. “No, the dream isn’t over, not yet. Just don’t tell anyone about this, alright?”
Simons nodded back.
He had not only backed Ronin up at the tribunal, but he’d also kept a dangerous secret. Simons deserved the truth.
It was faint, but Ronin felt hope fill him. There was sure to be a path out of this, and if there wasn’t, he’d build one with his own two hands.
Just then, Simons’s expression changed.
“Ronin, while we’re on the topic of work and constracts…” he said. “You're the real owner of Maximus Solutions, aren't you? It was you who added that clause into my contract, right?”
Ronin coughed in surprise. “C-Clause?”
Simons pointed towards his neck as he began reciting:
“The employee is required to possess or develop a strong ability to communicate. I GOT LIPOSUCTION BECAUSE OF THAT CLAUSE YOU BASTARD!”
“...”
Status table:
Name Ronin Maximus Paradigm Potentia Panorama Gates Great gates (0/9), Major gates (0/2187), Minor gates (4/17487) Body strengthening Kalvrakian Embrace vol.1: (14/108), Meridian Forging: (2 / N/A) Mind strengthening Battle soul Combat techniques Near-Death-Sight (4.1x / unknown), enhanced instincts, Snapshot, Presenceless
End of Arc 1/Book1