The Area Court

It was a brand new day, 12th July, 2293; the day of the hearing. Maurice Fortin was trying his best to keep out the Media from finding about the hearing of Judy. He didn't want the paparazzi to cover about Judy's hearing just because she was his daughter, and he also didn't want the public to criticize him because of his daughter.

Maurice was in his own office room and his secretary, Brandon, was standing in front of his desk in an attentive position. "I have to go to the Area Court to attend the hearing. I have asked the Chief Justice to make this hearing a closed one. But if somehow some paparazzi make their way to the court or outside the court, I want you to deal with them. This news shouldn't be out in the public."

"I understand, sir. You don't have to worry about it. I have already sent a squad of your personal bodyguards to check and secure the perimeter. No unrelated people will be allowed in there." Brandon briefed about his preparation to his boss with confidence.

Maurice liked this about Brandon. He would usually do the tasks beforehand without him having to give out specific orders. "That's good. We'll leave exactly at 10:50, make preparations accordingly."

Maurice glanced at the watch; it was 10:25 already. He contemplated for some seconds and said, "And send someone to fetch Judy, I don't want her to be late or cause any kind of trouble. Bring her to me. We'll leave together from here."

Brandon nodded his head with the same confident look and asked, "Sure Mr. Fortin. Is there anything else that you want me to do?"

"No, that's all." Maurice waved off his hand.

Brandon walked out of Maurice's office and got back to his own desk. He dialed the telephone number of the Fortin mansion, which was received by the butler, Mr. Harold.

Harold spoke in his calm voice as always, "Hello! Fortin Mansion. How may I help you?"

"Mr. Harold, I'm Brandon." Brandon replied to the butler.

"Yes, Mr. Brandon, what can I do for you?"

"Will you please ask Miss Judy to get ready immediately? I'll send a driver to pick her up in 10 minutes. Mr. Fortin wants Miss Judy to come to his office and they will head towards the Area Court together." Brandon lay out the detailed plan for Harold.

"I'll inform Miss Judy." Harold ended the call while furrowing his brows. He knew that the task was not up to him. If Judy decided to protest or insisted on leaving on her own then there was nothing he could do.

But Harold had to deliver the message anyway so he paced towards Judy's room and knocked on the door. "Miss Judy, I have some message for you."

Judy opened the door to her room after a few seconds and Harold raised both of his brows in surprise. He did not expect one bit to see what he saw. Judy was already ready, and not in her usual "bad bitch" dress but in a formal suit.

Seeing the butler just staring at her, Judy raised one of her brows and asked in a monotone, "The message, Mr. Harold?"

"Oh! Right. Umm… Your father will send a driver to pick you up in 8 minutes. He wants to go to the Court together with you." The butler slowly reiterated what Brandon had told him, still suspicious that Judy was up to something else.

Judy nodded her head in acceptance, "Sure. Is there anything else?"

"I'm afraid that is it." The butler was confused about the way Judy was behaving. Was she really agreeing to what he just said? Without revolting?

"Great then!" Judy gave a soft smile to Harold and slammed the door behind.

Mr. Harold tilted his head and furrowed his brows. "Did I just see Miss Judy smiling at me?" He narrowed his gaze and shook his head to clear off that thought, "No, I must have hallucinated." Then he walked away.

Alexis and Melissa were also getting ready for the Court Hearing. Melissa was assured that today's hearing was just a formality and that the offenders would be punished.

Melissa noticed that Alexis was taking deep breaths and was slightly flustered. "Lexi, are you nervous?"

Alexis nodded while taking another long breath. "A little bit."

Melissa held Alexis's hand and tried to calm her down, "You don't have to be afraid. I've hired a good lawyer. Mr. Johnson will handle everything properly. All you have to do is speak the truth if that offender's lawyer calls you for questioning."

But that was not the reason Alexis was nervous about. "No, mom. I am confident that I can handle the questioning. What I am worried about is my power."

Alexis's face started to turn gloomy. "I tend to lose control when I am angered. And I am not sure if I can control my anger when I see her, Judy."

Melissa caressed Alexis's face and gave her a warm smile. "I'll be by your side. I'll make sure that you won't lose your cool."

Alexis loved this warm gesture from her mother. She smiled at her mother and quickly changed the topic, "Okay, I have booked us a cab. It'll arrive any minute now. Let's go!"

The mother-daughter duo went downstairs and waited for their cab. Within a few seconds, the cab hovered in front of their house and slowly landed on the road. Both of them got inside the cab.

As soon as they closed the door, the cab's engine started and the thrusters pushed the cab off the ground, hovered for a second and took off towards their destination.

The Court of Area P was located in the P-5 Street. It took them around 9 minutes to reach the Area Court. Melissa transferred 40 points to the cab driver and both of them got off the cab.

When they were about to enter the Area Court, they were surprised to see guards wearing full black suit scattered around the Court. It was their first time in the court but it was unusual to see such a high level of security.

After entering the main building of the Area Court, they were greeted by a humanoid robot. "Welcome! Will you please state the purpose of your visit?"

"We have a hearing at 11 AM." Melissa spoke for the both of them.

"Will you please give me your name?"

"I'm Melissa Emerson. And she is…" Then she glanced at Alexis who was busy staring at the impeccable architecture of the building.

The building was massive and all white in color. On the dome-shaped ceiling just above them, she could see various sculptures of ancient gods. Other than that particular ceiling, everything else was built as per the modern architecture, strong as well as eye-catching.

The outer structure as well as the foundation of the building was made up of Astrostial, which is a type of metal imported from Planet A-11. It is one of the strongest metals found on that planet. It means, the main building of the Court could even take several bombings and it would still stand tall.

Melissa nudged Alexis with her elbow and her attention was brought back to the humanoid robot. "Your name please?" The robot asked again, making eye contact with Alexis.

"I'm Alexis. Alexis Emerson."

The robot was holding a portable computer which looked like an ordinary glass screen, and a pen which had synthetic stump instead of tip. It handed the screen along with the pen to Melissa and said, "Please sign beside your name."

Melissa and Alexis took turn to sign and returned the screen and pen back to the robot. Then the robot pointed its hand towards one of the lift and said, "Please take that lift and go to room number 101 in the first floor. Your hearing will take place in that room."

Both mother and daughter obliged and headed towards that room. They reached the Court room they were assigned to but found the room to be empty. They were 15 minutes early so they waited for rest of the concerned people to arrive.

Five minutes passed and Alexis noticed that few of the guards were now outside the door of the room they were in. Then Alexis thought to herself, "Judy's father must be a powerful Area Leader. He was even able to take Judy out of the custody. I should not lose my control in front of these people, no matter what."

A sound of footsteps was heard in the room. Both Alexis and Melissa turned their heads to see who it was.

Melissa got up and quickly greeted, "Mr. Johnson, Hello!" Alexis also followed her mother and greeted the lawyer.

Mr. Johnson had informed Melissa that he would reach the Court at 10:45 but he ran a bit late. "Hello! Ms. Emerson. I'm sorry I'm a little late. Actually I had arrived here five minutes ago but there was one crazy girl outside fighting with the guards of Mr. Fortin. And I had to wait for some time there."

Melissa had no idea who Mr. Fortin was so she was surprised to hear that those guards that they saw were his. "I'm sorry did you just say guards of Mr. Fortin, as in the father of Judy Fortin? What is such a big deal about him?"

Johnson didn't expect that Melissa was unaware of Mr. Fortin's position. "Don't you know? He is one of the Area Leaders. But you don't have to worry Ms. Emerson. The law is equal for everyone. I took this case despite knowing him and I know the court will also make its decision impartially."