Gamer Man stepped into the court and was awestruck by the sheer concentration of starpower. The Vanguard Squad was sitting along one wall, and various senators were sitting across from them with Elliot Dawson was prosecuting. Meeting the Sensational Sword Saint Sailors was more exciting, but all the important people here had Gamer Man wondering what the adventurers had actually done.

Speaking of, Gamer Man looked to the adventurers. They had a bard with them, a woman so attractive that Gamer Man wondered if the broadcast of the trial would need some censorship. Bards were supposed to be good at social stuff, Gamer Man knew, only the adventurers were…

They were…

“No,” Gamer Man muttered. It took Gamer Man a moment to recognize it, but when he noticed that none of the adventurers, aside from the fighter who was being cross examined, were actually looking at anything, and they were all sitting with the same posture, so relaxed they were hardly even breathing.

The adventurers were waiting.

"Did you murder Janet Mard?" Elliot Dawson asked.

"I don't know," the fighter said.

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Annabeth Finch demanded.

"Look, I've killed a lot of people," the fighter explained, "Most of those people, I didn't even know their names. I'm not going to remember everyone I ever killed."

"Previously you claimed to have a perfect memory," Elliot said.

"And I do," the fighter said, "But trying to remember everyone I've killed would take forever. Look, I've basically been killing people since I got here."

"And when exactly did you get here?" Elliot asked.

"Some time ago," the fighter said, "A goddess told us to save this place from a great disaster, you should be glad we're here."

"Ignoring your delusional comment, can you tell me when you started killing since you got here?" Elliot asked.

"Objection," Annabeth said, "My client did not mean to say that God-"

"A goddess," the fighter said.

"-told him to go on a murderous rampage," Annabeth continued.

"What?" the fighter said, "Yes I did."

"Overruled," the judge said.

"Really, what are you doing here?" the fighter asked Annabeth.

"I'm your defense attorney," Annabeth said.

'And who are you defending me from?" the fighter asked, pointing to Elliot, "Him? Because I could take him."

"Mr. Fergus-" Elliot said.

"Call me fighter," the fighter demanded.

"Can you recall the first murders you carried out since your," Elliot said, pausing to think of the word, "Vision?"

"There was some kinda cult set up a few miles from town," the fighter said, "They had a fairly standard dark tower, covered in evil sigils, and the people there turned into shape shifting monsters."

"The seismic outpost?" Elliot asked.

"Coulda been," the fighter admitted.

"Pardon me," a voice called out, "It was the seismic outpost.

"And who are you?" the judge demanded.

"She-Wolf, private investigator," She-Wolf said, "My partner, Lady NightRaven, and I have been investigating this group since they arrived."

"Your honor," Annabeth said, "I request that court be adjorned until this new information can be fully understood be the court."

"Ms. She-Wolf," judge Marcus said, "How detailed is your investigation?"

"As thorough as we could make it," She-Wolf said, "Which wasn't as detailed as I would have liked. You're really hard to track down."

"Thank you," the fighter said.

"Ms. She-Wolf, unless you have any objections, court will adjourn for three hours," Judge Marcus declared.

The adventurers, Elliot Dawson, and Annabeth Finch all moved to a private office, with the Vanguard Squad, ranking governors, and general public retiring to the lobby. Gamer Man pushed through the crowd, trying to get to the adventurers, only to be stopped by a security guard as he reached the door.

“No entry,” the guard said, holding his nightstick across the door.

“Please, I have important information,” Gamer Man said.

“Then speak with Judge Marcus,” the guard told him.

“I’ve met them,” Gamer Man pleaded.

“Speak to the judge,” the guard warned, “Before I call security.”

Inside the office, She-Wolf was reviewing the case she and Lady NightRaven had compiled against the adventurers. The adventurers sat quiet and motionless. It was unnerving to Elliot Dawson, and infuriating to Annabeth Finch. They would respond to questions with brief grunts, little more of an affirmation that they heard, and possibly even understood, the question. This became a problem when Annabeth Finch said, in her most calm and collected lawyer scream, “If you plead insanity, we have a chance of a not guilty verdict!” only for the barbarian to respond with a “Hrrm.”

As Annabeth was trying to explain what would happen if they were found guilty, the bard’s ears perked up and alertness filled her eyes.

“Hey,” the bard said, clamping her hand over Annabeth’s mouth, “Do you hear Artificer?”

“Artificer?” She-Wolf balked, “You have a seventh?”

“Eh, kinda,” the bard said, “He occasionally shows up.”

“And what does he do?” Elliot asked.

“What do you mean? He builds stuff,” the bard said, “He’s an artificer. Do you hear him?”

“Yep,” the fighter said, “Barbarian, what about you?”

“Of course I hear him,” the barbarian said, “Rogue, you want to check it out?”

“I could,” the rogue said, “But this whole thing is some sort of law and order thing?”

“It is a trial!” Annabeth shrieked.

“Right, so if I left, it’d be breaking the law, right?” the rogue said, “I think the cleric would be against that.”

“I would,” the cleric confirmed, “No civilization can survive on chaos and anarchy.”

“But we break the law all the time,” the barbarian said.

“You have criminal records?” Elliot asked.

“Oh yeah, we’d get in trouble all the time,” the barbarian said.

“Usually, we walk up to kings and chop their heads off,” the cleric said, “Because they’re evil. Then we need to make sure some other evil noble isn’t going to take the throne, but then for some reason all the other nobles start trying to attack us.”

“I never understand that,” the fighter said, “They know the king was evil. We told them, and they know that if the king wasn’t evil we wouldn’t have chopped his head off.”

“How can you just decide someone is evil?” Annabeth demanded.

“Look, I don’t decide anything,” the cleric said, “I call upon the power of my Goddess to distinguish evil from good, then if someone is evil enough we nip that in the bud. Can’t have evil people running around, it’s evil.”

“And I suppose you think I’m evil?” She-Wolf asked.

“No,” the cleric said, her eyes flashing with golden light.

“She said she was going to attack me in that forest!” She-Wolf insisted, “You told her to attack me!”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Only because you and your friend said you were going to attack me,” the bard retorted, “You were even threatening me with lethal weapons!”

“That- ugh, I was trying to arrest you!” She-Wolf said.

“We’re getting off track,” Elliot said, “She-Wolf, can you continue going over your investigation?”

“Right, sorry,” She-Wolf said, “So, they were moving through Kings Head, and the reports of a murder in the area matched what we knew from them. Some woman who worked at a music shop.”

“She was an evil shape shifting monster,” the bard said.

“There were also reports of people waking up, naked, behind dumpsters,” She-Wolf continued.

“We returned their clothes,” the rogue said.

“But I don’t know where she got her armor from,” She-Wolf said, “I was paying attention to gold prices at the time, and if they bought the materials this artificer used to build the armor, I never noticed.”

“Artificer didn’t build the armor,” the bard said, “I bought it.”

“You- you bought a power frame,” Annabeth balked, “Sale of powered armor and powered frames is highly regulated. Who did you buy it from?”

“Some guy,” the bard said, prompting a groan from She-Wolf and the lawyers, “I paid in gold bars.”

“Anyway,” She-Wolf said, “According to them, one of their accomplices is nearby. An unknown manifested, who supposedly has frequent contact with these- these people should be viewed as a danger.”

“Vanguard Squad is down the hall,” Annabeth said.

“Better safe than sorry,” Elliot said.

“No, I meant Brain Wave is here,” Annabeth said, “If someone here is as crazy as them, she’ll have noticed.”

“Still,” She-Wolf said, “I’d like to question him. Any opinions?”

“As much as I’d like to win a case against Elliot Dawson,” Annabeth said, “These people are clearly dangerous. We still have a bit of time, go find their seventh.”

She-Wolf stepped out and made for Vanguard Squad, her guts slowly knotting up as she dared approach the greatest heroes of her time.

“E- Excuse me,” She-Wolf said, “Miss Brain Wave, I’d- Information has come up regarding the accused. A brief interrogation revealed they have a seventh member.”

“They do?” Aurumite asked.

“And according to them this seventh member, Artificer they called him, was- is nearby,” She-Wolf continued.

“Scanning people’s thoughts is a massive invasion of privacy,” Brain Wave admitted, “I try to avoid it. But, given the circumstance, I can check for outlying thought patterns.”

“This “artificer”, did they give any information on him?” Aurumite asked.

“They said he built stuff for them,” She-Wolf said.

Eyes slowly turned to Battle Crow.

“I don’t want to point fingers,” Grand Master said, “But you do build a lot of stuff.”

“I have never had contact with these people,” Battle Crow said, “And if anyone can confirm where they’ve been, I will produce evidence that gives me an alibi.”

“Hey, we’re not accusing you,” Brain Wave said.

“Well, was anyone standing around that door?” She-Wolf asked.

“Some kid,” Battle Crow said, “He was wearing a light blue shirt and a cheap hero mask.”

“Thanks,” She-Wolf said, walking off in search of Artificer.

“Excuse me,” Gamer Man said, daring to approach Vanguard Squad, “I was told that to talk to the lawyers, I’d need to report to the judge first. Do you know where his office is?”

“Just down the hall over there,” Aurumite said, “Hold on, I think you forgot your press pass.”

“Huh? Oh, I’m not with the press,” Gamer Man explained, “I need to talk to the adventurers.”

“Are you-” Aurumite said, “Are you Artificer?”

“No, I’m Gamer Man,” Gamer Man said, “Um, the adventurers call me Artificer though.”

The trial resumed, Gamer Man having explained his time spent with the adventurers, and the charges against the adventurers had increased.

“Fergus-” Judge Marcus said.

“Call me fighter,” the fighter insisted.

“You and your team are accused of conspiring with Gorestrike,” Judge Marcus said, “What do you have to say for yourselves?”

“I don’t know who Gorestrike is,” the fighter said, “Never met him.”

“Your Honor,” Elliot said, “I request that a projector be brought in.”

“Sustained,” Judge Marcus declared.

A projector was brought in, a white, fabric screen lowered, and before long the adventurers were looking at a picture of Gorestrike.

“This,” Elliot said, “Is Gorestrike.”

“And?” the fighter asked.

“Was your team speaking to him?” Elliot asked.

“I don’t know,” the fighter said.

“Wait,” the wizard said, “Hey, it’s that one guy.”

“So you have met him,” Elliot said.

“Oh, sure,” the bard said, “He seemed nice enough.”

“Now, I realize that, now more than ever, you can’t judge people on their appearance,” Elliot said, “But did the blood red armor not give you pause for thought?”

“Hold on, what’s wrong with blood red armor?” the barbarian asked, “Red’s a distinctive color, and it can help your allies pick you out in the thick of combat.”

“And the giant spikes on his armor?” Elliot asked.

“Nothing wrong with spike armor,” the fighter said, “It prevents enemies from grappling you.”

“And the skull collection!” Elliot said.

“What’s so bad about a skull collection?” the cleric demanded, “It intimidates the enemy and proves your skill and battle prowess.”

“Are you really telling me,” Elliot said, “That you saw no problem talking to someone who calls himself Gorestrike-”

“We never got his name,” the bard said.

“And has been terrorizing Kings Head from his lair, Castle Gorestrike,” Elliot finished.

The adventurers were silent, and for just a moment, Elliot Dawson, Annabeth Finch, Gamer Man, and Judge Marcus hoped against hope that the adventurers had somehow seen reason.

“He has a castle?” the fighter said.

“Yes, his lair, Castle Gorestrike,” Elliot repeated.

“Right, definitely evil,” the fighter said.

“He owns property,” the rogue said, “It’s a dead give away.”

“Can’t trust castles,” the barbarian said, “Or the people who own them.”

“Honestly, I’m surprised,” the bard said, “He seemed like such a gentleman. Did he ever build a team?”

“Yes!” Annabeth barked, “And his team are terrorizing Kings Head!”

“From the castle?” the wizard asked.

“Of course from the castle!” Marcus shouted.

“Well, that’s a shame,” the wizard said, “Who told you this, anyway.”

“Your friend, Gamer Man,” Elliot said.

“Who?” the fighter asked.

“Artificer,” Elliot said, pointing to Gamer Man.

“Oh, hey,” the fighter said, “It’s Artificer.”

“My name is Gamer Man!” Gamer Man yelled.

“He also informed me that he had business deals with you,” Elliot continued.

“Hold on,” the cleric said, “Look at him.”

“Hmm?” the bard asked.

“Look!” the cleric cheered, “He’s a paladin!”

“He-” the bard said, actually looking at Gamer Man, “He is a paladin! A great and mighty hero, a stalwart defender! Paladin, I am overjoyed to see the spirit of heroism grow in you!”

“I- I wouldn’t really call myself mighty,” Gamer Man said, “I haven’t really, you know, won that many fights. I’m nowhere near as strong as you! I still get butterflies in my stomach when I think of adventuring with you. Lately I’ve been thinking that I’m really not cut out to be a hero.”

“Nonsense,” the bard insisted, “You are a hero, it is in your nature. And, it pains me to say, we are not worthy to journey with you.”

“But you’re way stronger than me,” Gamer Man said.

“This is true,” the bard said, “Worry not, your journey is yet beginning. We are unworthy of you, not for a lack of strength, no. We are warriors of justice, delivering judgment upon the guilty. You are something greater, a hero of mercy. We are unworthy of you because, where we would only leave corpses and cold examples, you would strive to redeem and honor those who have strayed from the path of righteousness. A selfless hero to embolden and enrich your fellow man, truly a legend of the ages!”

“Then-” Gamer Man said, “Then why are you doing this? Why sit through this trial?”

“Oh, this?” the cleric said, “Well, usually it’s much less of a hassle to just let the legal system of the land run its course. It gives us a chance to find any corrupt mayor, or governor, or baron, or king, or emperor, and then chop their heads off. Or, if evil dares flee from our sight, we at least get to find violent criminals at the end.

“Still, I’m wondering when they’re going to put the real evil people on trial,” the cleric said, waving her hand towards Vanguard Squad, “Like those people.”

“Your Honor,” Elliot said, “I request the court be adjourned for five minutes.”

“For what?” Judge Marcus demanded.

“Erm, I made dinner reservations,” Elliot said, “And after reviewing the case, I expected this to be over sooner. I just want a moment to reschedule.”

“Very well,” Judge Marcus said, “Court is adjourned. Dawson, you have five minutes.”

Elliot Dawson had never made dinner reservations, but knew that he would need to now. His wife watched his court cases when she had the time, and it seemed that maternity leave had given her nothing but time. The idea of twins still came as a shock to Elliot. The five minute adjournment, it was a hunch. Elliot Dawson knew he could trust his hunches.

Elliot Dawson calmly strode down to the security office, giving the door a light knock.

“Sir?” the security guard asked, opening the door.

“Real quick, I want to check something,” Elliot said, do you have a camera in my courtroom?”

“Yessir,” the guard asked.

“One of the accused, Claire,” Elliot said, “Can you show me her gesture? Just now, she pointed towards Vanguard Squad, I want to check something.”

Elliot Dawson would never know this, but luck was on his side that day. His life was saved by a matter of seconds. After Elliot left the security office, he quickly stepped into a nearby bathroom to compose himself. Just as the door closed, a shape shifting alien monster stepped down the hall and walked towards the security office. The shapeshifter stepped inside the security office, the security guard saluted, and the alien monster killed the security guard.

After that, the shapeshifter checked the security feed of the adventurers’ courtroom, and just as the door to the security office closed Elliot walked from the bathroom back to the courtroom.

The cleric had, briefly, pointed directly at Battle Crow.

The person who made up crazy stories said that one of the greatest heroes on the planet was evil.

The woman who said divine power gave her the power to detect evil, who was one of six people to ever draw blood from Tremortis, who said her entire purpose in life was to kill bad guys, had labeled Battle Crow, the most reclusive, most secretive member of Vanguard Squad, as a villain.

Elliot Dawson didn’t know what to do.

He needed to tell Aurumite.