Blary cleared her throat. “The decision is made, as stated. Mr. Dawes version has the ring of truth to it. BlueCleave appears to have intentionally removed substantive information surrounding the incident. They are clearly the primary cause of both damage and injury, while Mr. Dawes did indeed attempt emergency aid as he was able,” Blary announced. “In light of this evidence and information, the injury of BlueCleave officers and damage of BlueCleave property was done in clear defense of the public. Recommendation for an independent review is to be formalized at the end of this hearing.”

Tazha had warned me that one day was all I would get in front of the assembly, and I saw why. Only an hour had passed since I set foot in the building.

“The final incident before us today requires the assembly to delve into matters we do not usually consider. Namely, emotional states,” said Adjudicator May. She opened her own folder and an image of the destroyed statue in Central Plaza filled the evidence wall.

“In totality, this assembly is tasked with determining whether or not a very powerful individual may threaten or pose undue risk toward the single most important and influential affiliate now in the BuyMort network. And thus, all civilized life within the BuyMort network. This requires a more comprehensive view of the events under question, as well as the individual’s history. Accusations of damage are the destruction of a planetary monument, albeit a monument of the accused, and shoplifting. Let us begin.” May pulled a sheet from her folder.

“Mr. Dawes, how would you describe the events in Central Plaza the night of your arrival? Please be candid about your emotional state. It will be relevant to our findings,” she told me.

I started a nod, then caught myself and held my head still. “My first day back was confusing,” I started. “Admiral Omen’s removal of my head caused cognitive issues that I was still recovering from when I entered Prescott. I stole a shirt to fit in, to protect myself from discovery. I was still concerned for my life, but that was not the reason I stole the shirt. It was just a calculated decision I made in order to prevent discovery.”

“Admission of guilt in the shoplifting accusation is entered into the record,” May announced. “Go on.”

“Next I took a shuttle to the city. I was trying to understand what my world had become while I was away, while trying to avoid discovery,” I said.

“The testimony you provided this assembly beforehand said that you announced your identity to two individuals before you arrived at Central Plaza. Could you expand on those actions please?” May asked.

“I told a bartender at a Morbin Time Bar and Grill my identity in order to establish a rapport and get directions. And I told a yarsp cart vendor in Prescott in order to gauge his reaction. I wanted to know if people would believe I was still alive at that time,” I said. “After a conversation with the yarsp cart vendor, I went to Central Plaza. The . . . nature of the statues was upsetting. That sense of upset grew until I read my own statue. At that point, I became angry and filled with despair, so I destroyed the thing that made me feel that way.” I left the description of both individuals vague, knowing their run-of-the-mill jobs at oversized chains would provide them anonymity.

“Why did a memorial statue of yourself cause this emotional response?” asked May.

“I didn’t like the thought of leaving a memorial of myself standing when I was still alive,” I started, hesitantly. “But mostly it was Admiral Omen’s betrayal. My assassination. A century may have passed for everyone else, but it was all very fresh for me. I lost everything, in the space of a few seconds, at the hands of a friend. I was still having trouble internalizing everything that had happened, as well as how much my former affiliate had apparently changed.”

I paused to let the audience and press absorb it all. “However. I made certain there were no civilians nearby. I was careful to avoid hurting or frightening anyone. It was late at night, and Central Plaza was mostly empty. My destruction of the monument was not an act of blind rage, or unnecessary recklessness. It was a political statement. An announcement that I was alive. To myself if no one else.”

“A political statement?” May asked, sitting forward. “This is new information.”

“Yes,” I replied. “It was my intention to announce to all of Nu-Earth that I had not died the way my statue would have them believe. I knew I would be on camera, and thought that the press would make my destruction of the statue public.”

“You wanted the multiverse to know you had destroyed the monument?” May asked.

“I wanted the multiverse to know that I was not dead,” I corrected.

“This trial has more than accomplished that,” May retorted.

“Yes. I understand that my actions were needless now, but that understanding only came at the long end of a series of realizations regarding Silken Sands current operating methods. My return was not announced, not publicized at all. I was taken in secret and told that I would be put in prison for these acts. At that point, I fled, again in fear for my life,” I explained. “I did not think I would be allowed to survive my imprisonment.”

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“This council has already decided on the most grave of your accusations, there will be no imprisonment so long as the Knowle Leadership council accepts our findings. Remuneration and civil service is the likely penalty for your accused crimes,” May said. “However. The task this council faces today is to ascertain your potential continued danger to the affiliate. This requires a broader perspective than just your actions upon your revival. We must delve into the history that surrounds your former residency as CEO in order to determine the risk factor of your return.”

Another series of images filled the projection wall. A fuzzy image of the vortex spider featured front and center. It had already destroyed the Nahgah Prime gate and was perched in the center of it, trying to destroy my former fleet.

“This creature has never before been seen in the BuyMort system,” May started. “It is the single most damaging occurrence of a ‘BuyMort bug’ in recorded history, and it caused untold damages, even destroying a BuyMort gate, which cut off an entire universe from easy transit and business. This cost many lives and morties, and permanently altered the balance of power. It was also a direct consequence of Silken Sand’s war with the Church, which you instigated and led.”

I nodded, staring at the images of the horrible creature.

“This court must also recognize that it was your immediate action that removed this creature from the multiverse, quickly after its summoning,” May continued. “But at a cost, of course. Many innocents died as a result of this creature’s abilities. People simply waiting in line to use the gate. Press, bystanders of your battle with the Church. What do you say to that fact-assessment, Mr. Dawes? I am curious to learn your perspective on the still-uncountable number of casualties that resulted from the Church War, the basis of the monuments in Central Plaza.”

Concern creased my brow unconsciously and I looked down at my feet for a long moment.

“Death and destruction was never my primary goal,” I finally said. “It was a tool that I used during my time as Warlord. From my perspective I was forced into action at every turn. From the moment I accidentally purchased a starfish suit, my path through BuyMort felt beyond my control. I was simply trying to survive, to protect those I loved. Eventually that extended to my people, those Nu-Earthlings who had survived BuyMort’s arrival. Then my planet, when Kraken threatened. Eventually the Sleem, and finally the Church. It never felt like I was the instigator of the violence, only ever responding to it.”

I took a breath and paused, looking between the adjudicators. Each was paying rapt attention, students of history learning from a living fossil of their own past.

“I tried to build,” I started. “I built up the original Silken Sands, in the campground. That was mostly to defend what few people I had at the time from the dangers of a newly included BuyMort planet. Then I helped my friend Axle build his library. It is so different now though, much larger. I rebuilt Prescott, down the mountain from its former ruins. And all the while I built a successful affiliate, following the rules that BuyMort set out for us all.”

“Your perspective is noted. Moving on to our next incident of note, you mentioned the Sleem genocide. While the Sleem are recorded to have been a dangerous species, they were also a top-tiered member of the BuyMort system. Behind only TransPoCo and the Church itself, their affiliate, while unconventional, was an important part of the greater BuyMort ecosystem. Their sudden removal had severe consequences to the entire multiverse. While this court acknowledges the threat to sapient life the Sleem represented, there is some question as to your personal motivations when removing them. Would you please expand our knowledge of this incident?” Adjudicator May asked.

“Yes of course,” I started. “First, I must regretfully correct the court on a matter of fact-analysis. The BuyMort system is not the entire multiverse. There are myriad universes and worlds beyond its touch, and it is important to recognize that fact while operating inside of BuyMort. It is not our entire world. It is merely a system that we operate within.”

The adjudicators leaned in toward one another and conferred for a few quiet, tense moments. Then May nodded and lightly tapped her gavel. “Your correction is entered into the record. I apologize for my loose language. Please, continue.”

I nodded. “The Sleem were not people in the way that we are people. In the way that Knowles, Hobbs, Orkreshi, Nah’gh, humans, and Gobbs are people. They were a completely different form of sapience, one that more closely resembled a hive of ants than an intelligent individual. I say this not to minimize my actions in killing them, but merely to explain some of their more dangerous behavior. At the time, there was a surge in aggressive Sleem activity across the entire BuyMort system. My . . . encounters with a beholder that took over part of my base of operations led me to the realization that they were behaving in a more aggressive manner because the next planet being added to BuyMort was another Sleem.”

“How does this planetary addition explain the behavior of Sleem already present within BuyMort?” May asked.

“The Sleem were a gestalt intelligence. Their minds were all connected, even those outside of the BuyMort network. At a rudimentary level, they were capable of communication with one another. This led to a massive build up of Sleem on the new planet, prior to its inclusion in BuyMort. They sensed it coming, and were primed to take the entire system for themselves. To consume all living matter within the system. My actions of genocide against them were defensive in nature. My goal was to protect the BuyMort system from an overwhelming number of newly included Sleem, which would have overrun all affiliates’ defenses and destroyed the entirety of civilized life,” I explained calmly.

“My desire was not to kill them all, it was my only option to protect my people. To protect all life within the system,” I finished.

“Perspective added to the record,” adjudicator May said. “Moving on, there is also the matter of the beholders themselves. Once thought of as only myth, there came a frightening reality to all of the denizens of BuyMort when your actions revealed them as not only real, but threatening to all affiliates other than the Church. Of primary concern is the manner in which you dealt with the Blackguard, known at the time as Inky. Records state that your actions placed the entirety of Nu-Earth in harm's way, used as bait to attract the creature. Could you please expand upon your own perspective of this event?” Adjudicator May asked.

I sensed a pattern. “Those records are incomplete, in that case. It was not a matter of using the world as bait. After dealing with the beholders and killing several, I understood Inky’s behavior. I knew they would be coming to Nu-Earth after recovering from their wounds at the hands of this very world ship. In order to choose the moment of the creatures attack, so that I could destroy them and protect my world, I brought the fleet home and announced it to the multiverse. I used only military assets as bait, and succeeded in destroying the last beholder threat. The Church’s final relic ship followed, which I had anticipated and needed the fleet to counter. Fortunately, I was able to destroy both threats before any damage or casualties were sustained on Nu-Earth.”

“Perspective added to the record. Thank you, Mr. Dawes, for your testimony today. Court will adjourn to chambers to discuss this testimony and new information,” May stated. “A final judgment on the risk factor individual Tyson Dawes presents to the Silken Sands affiliate will be relayed as soon as it is reached. Good day.”

With that, the Knowle adjudicators stood and gathered their folders, before retreating out of the back of the room. As soon as they were gone, the building erupted in sound. Press, individuals, and guards all raised their voices and attempted to assert their own control over the arena.

Terna and Tazha both grabbed an arm and directed me out of the room, through a line of guards.