Before Mina could enter the courtroom, Blind grabbed her sleeve. He led her aside. His handsome face was even more stern than it usual was.

Inside the courtroom, Mina caught a glimpse of the permed Ashley Ryan in her emerald green pantsuit. Immediately, Mina knew what her boyfriend was about to say. It was all about Miss Snooty Ba-Tooty.

"I know you think I was the toughest prosecutor you ever faced," William answered. "And I'd still like to believe that after today."

"Oh," Mina smirked. "You were tough, but secretly I always knew you were a big softy!"

"Heh," Blind chuckled. "Maybe outside the courtroom when I'm around someone like you."

Mina blushed as he seized her shoulders. "But Ashley isn't like that at all," he warned. "She knows so many tricks in the book, she basically is the book!"

Mina stood up straight in her heels, a confident expression on her face. "Deep down," Mina said. "I know she's just your jilted, jaded ex and there's no reason to be afraid of a mess like that!"

"Good," Blind said, and he leaned in to kiss her. "When this is over, I'll be waiting at Les Scargos for our celebratory lunch."

Mina frowned and then giggled. "I might need to go some place less French after this court case!"

Blind nodded. "We'll figure it out."

Mina bid her beloved boyfriend goodbye and entered the courtroom. She had taken so long talking (and flirting) she didn't realize that the proceedings had begun without her.

The judge glared at her as harshly as a librarian confronting someone with a wheelbarrow full of overdue books.

"Sorry I'm late your honor!" Mina said, rushing to her stand where Todd waited. "I…"

Ashley sneered and spoke in her bookish voice. "2 minutes and 39 seconds. Your honor. That's how late this Rookie was. I do believe she should be penalized!"

Mina gulped. She didn't realize it had been that long. "I…I…"

The cobalt skinned judge raised her glasses with the pearly strings. "Where exactly were you, Miss Hawkins?"

Mina hesitated, before realizing the truth was the best plan of action with the judge. "Your grandson, Willy just wanted to wish me good luck!"

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The judge smiled fondly. "He always had such a kind and noble heart. I'll let it slide this time, Miss Hawkins."

Ashley was silent, but her light eyes seared like a pair of emerald bonfires. Quietly, she stoked up her next plan of attack

Mina wanted–so badly–to cross her eyes stick her tongue out and sing "Na-Na-Na-Na Boo-Boo!" at her new adversary. But she was mature and quietly approached Todd with her court papers in hand.

"Miss Hawkins," Divine Justice said, "We were just about to call your client, Todd Le Matinee up to the stand in order to discuss his relationship with the victim, Mr. Christian DeChampS De Frere Jacobson."

Mina turned to face Todd. He was smiling brightly, as usual, but there was some beads of sweat running down his glistening forehead. He nodded and then, much to everyone's amazement, pressed a button on his helmet. Immediately, his face was enveloped with the visor of Mantron.

He walked up to the central podium like a mechanical mime. Mantron was tall and rigid, his steely exterior shining in the overhead lights.

The judge, being quite over-the-hill, asked him with great confusion. "Er…client. Please state your name and uh…the reason you are dressed like a Star Bores character?"

"Affirmative…" Mantron answered. "My unit number is T-0DD M8TTIN33, otherwise know as Mantron. And I am a robot… with a heart."

The judge's eyes bulged incredulously behind her glasses. "A robot with a heart? Now I've seen everything. Please explain to us your relationship with the victim."

"Affirmative," Mantron answered. "CDCDFJ-5, otherwise known as Ladtron was my robuddy from another manufacturer. Him and I were always brobots before hobots and.."

"Ahem!" Ashley Ryan said, an enormous smirk on her face. "I do believe I have an objection already."

"Already?!" Mina and Divine shouted.

Mina was especially astounded. "He's barely through his first testimony!"

"It's not his testimony," Ashley said, smirking like a proud lioness. "But rather his manner of presentation.

Ashley heaved an enormous book, about the size of five copies of Lord of the Earrings and placed it on the podium. It really, "Big Book O'Law!"

"Where the bejesus did you store that book, Miss Prosecutor?" Divine asked, dumbfounded.

Mina, trying to remain ahead of her new foe, rolled her eyes. "It probably fit up her a…"

"Ahem!" Ashley said, and began to flip through the book like a witch searching for a spell. "It says here, in Subsection A-1 that clients who use artificial intelligence in court will be penalized."

Mina gasped, but she quickly put on a brave face. "Excuse me, Miss Snooty. You know as well as I that Mr. Matinee is not really a robot?"

Ashley's thin tongue brushed her lips. "Oh?" she said, her head tilted. "Perhaps you haven't read the subsection to Subsection A-1, the Artificial Artificial Intelligence Act. Since you're clearly an undergrad, you probably missed it. Clients who pretend to have artificial intelligence will be immediately court marshalled!"

Mina squeaked in horror. It was true she didn't know that law. Already her new adversary had gained the upper hand.

"Rule number one of hard lawyering," Ashley smirked. "Every subsection has a subsection!"