2.49.

The court was closed to the public. The topic in question was the welfare of a child, and such matters, no matter how interested the public may be in the outcome, were always considered sensitive and private.

Olivia sat quietly as she waited and listened to the discussion. John was present, sitting next to her quietly nearby. He was still stronger than any boy his age should be, but no longer at the superhuman levels and they were beginning to relax security.

She noticed that he kept exchanging looks at the man in a colorful garb with ribbons in his hair.

“Do you know him?” she asked, having never met the man before. She would have recognized him if she paid closer attention to the television or news feeds.

“I ripped his arm off,” John confessed to her. “It was right after I woke up, and I thought he was an enemy. Do you think he hates me?”

Olivia suppressed her reaction for John’s benefit, but the casual admission of the violence that the boy had been capable of disturbed her. “I don’t know, John. I don’t know who he is or why he’s in court today. We’ll have to wait to find out.”

“I also killed his Topokans,” John admitted. “I feel guilty about that too. When I was young I was taught that they were an enemy of humanity, but today they are our allies. And I killed them.”

“Let’s discuss those feelings in therapy later, John. I don’t think that now is the time,” she said, glad that they were whispering and that the court session hadn’t started yet.

“Right, okay,” he agreed.

The judge arrived moments later, and the court was called into session. The topic was the custody of John Doe, AKA Eodar of the Yonohoah. The judge had a serious expression as she examined those present in the room.

“Let me start by saying that I strongly disapprove of the descriptions I’ve received of the child’s living arrangements. While I understand that he possessed superhuman abilities prior to his suicide attempt, which seems to have disabled the technology that gave him those abilities, he is still a child.”

The council for the government began to make arguments and excuses.

“I understand the necessity of making sure that John is not a threat to himself or the public, Counselor. That doesn’t make the way that the government has been treating him during his transition period any more humane. I am very disinclined to return him to the setting in which he has been kept since he was taken into custody,” the judge persisted. She adjusted her seat and sighed.

“That said, the alternatives for the state are not much better for a traumatized former child soldier. I worry about how he would cope in a group home. I do not think that a standard foster family would be equipped to deal with him. And I hesitate to return him to his own people given what they have done to him in the past.”

The man in a colorful outfit abruptly stood up.

“May I please address the court?” he requested.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“In what capacity are you relevant to this case?” the judge questioned.

“I am Eolai of the Yonohoah. Eodar is my father.” Eolai frowned. “I understand that Yonohoan traditions are different from the Earth sensibilities on the matter, so allow me to clarify. A clone who shares ‘John’s’ childhood memories and his genetic information fathered me. By Yonohoan tradition this makes all versions of Eodar my father, whether they are the individual man who was responsible for my birth or not. However, whether you subscribe to that belief or not, I am John’s closest living relative.”

John was shocked at the man’s words. He had known that Eolai claimed to be a son of one of his other selves. He just hadn’t put the name together with the man who had greeted him when he had come out of stasis. The man he had assaulted and believed that he had killed.

Olivia put a reassuring hand on his and squeezed. He looked at her and calmed down a bit.

“The court recognizes you as his closest living relative, Eolai of the Yonohoah. Are you disputing the court’s opinion that this child has been seriously mistreated by the people who subjected him to brutal training in turning him into a soldier?” the judge asked.

“I do not dispute that. I dispute that it was the Yonohoan people who did such a thing,” Eolai said. “The actions you are objecting to were performed by High-Command. At the time that these events occurred, the majority of my people were hunter-gatherers. High-Command came and took our children from us to train as soldiers to prosecute the Liberation Wars. It is for that reason we would celebrate John’s return to our care. He would be beloved and cherished if he were to return to planet Totola.”

The judge frowned at him, but nodded. “I thank you for correcting my understanding of history, Eolai. I stand corrected. In that case, returning him to his people does seem to be a valid option, although I remain hesitant to allow him to go into an environment which I am myself unfamiliar with. We are under directives from the president herself to ensure that he is rehabilitated, and I am unfamiliar with the Yonohoans methods on such a matter.”

Eolai nodded. “I myself am not an expert on those matters either, your honor. But we have a long tradition of welcoming lost and abandoned soldiers back into the light. I assure you that we can handle any troubles that might plague him.”

“I am formally requesting more information on the rehabilitative services of your people, Eolai, but as of this meeting the child will remain in state custody until it can be determined what his best interests are.”

“I understand the decision of the court,” Eolai said. “I thank you for taking the welfare of my father so seriously. I am pleased with the efforts that have been put into his well being thus far.”

He sat, and quietly waited for the proceedings to continue.

“So, let’s discuss the alternatives.”

“Your honor, if I may?” Olivia said, standing.

“The court recognizes Doctor Olivia Nunes at this time,” the judge said.

“You have objected to John’s care in the secure facility where his decommissioning has been observed. This is understandable, and I myself have concerns about the isolation that he was under. However, the structure and routine have been good for him, as has the, well, quite frankly the boredom. He was trained under constant stimulation, with one training exercise blending into the next as his trainers placed his squad into stasis rather than allowing them to rest and decompress. Having nothing to do for long periods of time has brought out surprisingly normal childhood behaviors in John and allowed the staff of the facility to connect with him on a level which I don’t believe would have been possible otherwise.”

“Your observations have been noted. Your professional experience is recognized and your opinion is given the proper weight. Do you propose returning him to that environment?” the judge asked.

“No, your honor. I think that a transition into a less secure setting is in order,” Olivia said. “I believe that he would do well under the care of a foster parent who is trained and prepared to deal with a child who has undergone his level of trauma. And I am prepared to volunteer for that position.”

John almost fell out of his seat at the announcement.

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