Dolores's lips thinned to a pale-white line. "Your Honor, may I petition the Courts to expedite a criminal trial?"

Supreme Judiciary Lugh stroked his luxuriant silver beard, studying Dolores with eyes of electric blue. "You may. However, that would forfeit any claims deemed unharmful to the Orthenian Tenets. Are you prepared to drop all private grievances?"

"... No."

"Then please itemize your civil allegations for the Courts' consideration."

Exhaling a throaty breath, Dolores enunciated, "Your Honor, esteemed Daoists of the jury, I formally accuse the defendant of the following:

"Count One: Nine billion unsolicited homicides of Celestial Tract citizenry.

"Count Two: Four unlawful genocides of Orthenian minor sects.

"Count Three: One omnicide of an Orthenian-sanctioned Celestial Tract."

The Supreme Judiciary, 12 jury members, and 46 onlookers looked to Karma Bunny with quirked brows and narrowed squints.

"Counsel for the defendant, you may proceed with your opening statement."

Nodding, Karma Bunny solemnly cleared his throat. "Your Honor, distinguished Daoists of the jury, I vehemently deny all levied accusations.

"Not only are they disingenuous, I have ample reason to suspect foul play. Foremost among my defense is that the plaintiff's sole witness—herself—was asleep during the period in question."

The Courts' scrutiny shifted to Dolores's trembling form.

"Daoist Dolores, you may now present any relevant evidence to the Courts."

"Yes," she uttered through clenched teeth, summoning an illusory model of her devastated planet. "Exhibit A: A scaled-down, real-time projection of my Celestial Tract."

"Exhibit A admitted."

"As the Daoists of the jury can see," Dolores cycled through numerous snapshots of beggared scenery, "my planet, a registered Orthenian outpost, is terminally absent of all life—"

"Objection, Your Honor!" rang Karma Bunny. "The plaintiff's testimony is misleading. I request the Courts observe the mystic realm entitled 'Schrödinger's Crucible' to debunk all claims of omnicide."

"That's preposterous! Your Honor—"

"Sustained. Will the plaintiff please navigate Exhibit A to the locale in question?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

Gasp!

Atop a craggy, dune-white gulf, a raving male ruffled his shaggy brown mane. Marching in circles, they repeatedly jabbed recriminating fingers at empty air.

"The audio, Daoist Dolores; the Courts would like to hear it."

Dolores snarled, flicking her wrist.

"Melissa, don't be delusional; of course, they'll come back for me! One has employed me for decades, and the other ... Well, he might not care, but Lance would!

"Too trusting!? Like I trusted you with my heart when all you wanted was my spatial pouch? Calm down? I am calm!"

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

"Thank you, that's enough."

Lorenzö's raging dialogue quieted.

"The Courts strike all accusations of omnicide as null and void. Does the plaintiff wish to submit any further evidence?"

Dolores tightened her fists. "Yes, Your Honor." The illusion morphed into a void-sodden plateau featuring a cowled figure, a blurry male, and a floating bunny. "Exhibit B: The defendant can be viewed amid a thwarted escape. This establishes motive and potential conspiracy."

"Admitted. Anything else?"

"That'll be all, Your Honor."

"Very well. Defendant, do you have any counter-evidence?"

"I do, Your Honor. I ask the Courts to summon one Daoist Li, formerly Elder Li of the Abyssal Crow Sect, to bear witness."

"On what grounds?"

"The man seen in Exhibit B cited Daoist Li as his teacher."

"I'll allow it. Bailiff, activate the Subpoena Array!"

**

"You jest, Palatine Du," chuckled Daoist Li, lightly shaking his head. "What truly transpired following my abdication?"

Palatine Du poured a cup of jasmine tea. "Just as I told you: Dolores's outpost dimmed to grey, then grey to black. This is all I know; what informants we had on-site were routed amid the chaos."

Fanning a plume of aromatic steam to his nose, he added, "Though, our satellite artifact did capture an unusual aftermath."

"Which is?"

"After the planet waxed, a frightened bu—"

"Daoist Li," reverberated a cavernous pitch, "your testimony is hereby demanded in the name of Supreme Judiciary Lugh."

Indomitable glyphs noosed Daoist Li's personage, wrangling him through eddies of time and space.

**

"I, Daoist Li of the Celtic Tao, do solemnly swear to the Courts, the Dao, and the Sovereign Principle to bespeak truth and abhor falsehood," intoned Daoist Li, bowing to the Supreme Judiciary's towering dais.

"Permission to approach the witness, Your Honor?" asked Karma Bunny, straightening his whiskers.

I'm not sure if this'll be my most brilliant gambit or saddest folly. Only one way to find out! Worst case scenario, I'll just die.

Supreme Judiciary Lugh leaned back into his loamy pastel garbs. "Granted."

**

Daoist Li, fraught with perplexion, watched a bipedal bunny hop up to him on its hind legs.

"Good afternoon," said the bunny, pointing to a hovering mosaic. "Kindly direct your attention to Exhibit B; do you recognize the man wearing deep-green robes?"

Is that ...?

Torn between fear and reminiscence, Daoist Li nodded. "I do. He was a student of mine."

"And, are you aware of the unfortunate fate of Overseer Dolores's planet?"

"I am." Turning to Dolores's podium, he lowered his head. "My deepest condolences, Venerable Overseer."

Did her lip just twitch? Why?

"Curious; billions are dead, many of greater prestige than yourself. Can you explain to the Courts why that is?"

He thought back to Palatine Du's portent. "To my immense fortune, I was recalled by my superiors before the cataclysm."

"Indeed, what luck! And why was that, exactly?"

What's this rabbit playing at? Aren't I its witness?

"I was only told not to 'waste any more prodigies.'"

"That prodigy being you? Are you insinuating, not a retreat, but a promotion?"

"I would like to think so. I may be old, but the spirit is willing."

"Inspiring words, Daoist Li! A prodigy and a teacher: your cognition must be quite impressive, wouldn't you say?"

"I have my moments."

"Objection, Your Honor, relevance."

The Supreme Judiciary glanced at the bunny.

"Almost there, Your Honor."

"Overruled."

"So, could a remarkable scholar such as yourself tell the jury your student's name?"

Daoist Li's breath hitched.

"I ... cannot," he murmured.

"Sorry? His name is 'Icon Knot'?"

Please, don't ...

"No. I do not know his name."

Please ...

"Then an alias, perhaps? I'll remind you of your oath."

Daoist Li shut his lids, feeling an onset of heat about his tear ducts.

Twice now, I've invoked the calamity's ire.

"The Great Cleanser," he whispered.

A hushed cacophony roiled across the amphitheater.

"Louder—so the jury can hear you."

"The Great Cleanser!" shouted Daoist Li, baring his bloodshot gaze.

Doomed. I am doomed.

Panicked exclamations and yoking jeers ululated throughout the Courts.

"Order! Another outburst like that, and my trial docket fills to the brim!"

**

Karma Bunny fought down a triumphant smile.

It's time.

"In your boundless wisdom, between me—a mere bunny—and a potentate referred to as the 'Great Cleanser,' who seems the more probable culprit of mass extinction?"

In the Death Bunny realm, a Karma remnant furiously drowned Daoist Li's oceanic calm with anxiety and suspicion—both courtesy of Lorenzö's ongoing plight.

Maybe I should rescue him as a reward? Hmm, I'll have a remnant pick him up when Dolores goes back to sleep.

"... The latter."

"Thank you. No further questions, Your Honor."

Wow! Now that my main body is an Earthly Monarch, Daoist Li's mental strength isn't nearly as immutable. To think, all it took was killing off—eh—never mind.