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Starfall: Chapter 24: The Roswell Trial: Part One

A lighthearted jingle plays, echoing through the living room as the screen goes from a two-dimensional ad, back the three-dimensional program.

“Hello and welcome back." A feminine shaped silhouetted figure occupies most of the right side of the screen, the rest being a clean office like newsroom. “For those of you who haven't been paying attention to the news for the past month, today's the day everyone's been waiting for." Behind the figure, the scene changes to an overhead view of the Mercer family farmhouse, from the angle and movement displayed, one can tell it's recorded from a camera drone.

“What started as a simple contract dispute between the small family owned business, Mercer Traditional Produce and Meat, and Aquis ltd. Has blossomed to 'the' trail of the twenty-second century dubbed 'The Roswell Trial!' "

A video of a casually dressed Usako from what appears to be a drone, replaces the video of the outside of the Mercer family farm house. The Zootopian Arctic Fox is making her way from the farm house to the Bio-Morph enclosure at a leisurely pace.

Partway to her destination she stops, ears twitching, then looks up at the drone. The visual feed pixilating her form instantly upon her looking up.

“As you can see here, this being is no mere Bio-Morph. Or is at least what the current owner of 'Mercer Traditional Produce and Meat' claims. We've had to blur her out because our station has it on good authority that she's displaying a rude gesture of her people at the camera, displaying it would violate our stations incorporate content policy."

With the last word the location on the screen where the silhouetted form changes from the side to the center as the background's replaced with a generic court room scene.

“Those of our viewers who own Bio-Morphs, and the smaller sub-set of those who've actually read their contracts know. There are health and well-being clauses in them! Yes those fancy white collars put on your new pets and, or helpers do more than just make sure they don't wander away to chase the nearest butterfly!"

Holding out her hand, the spokeswoman has a three-dimensional render of a collar float over it. “Since the Bio-Morphs leased or otherwise owned by the Mercers fell under this contract, and when the monitoring system detected multiple unauthorized removal's of the collars. It was well within the rights of Aquis ltd to call in a welfare check in accordance with their lease agreement."

The render of the collar's replaced by an artist's render of Usako naked but in PG style, t-posing. “Upon arrival of local authorities a situation came to light that I am not at liberty to say with the files sealed from the media. What I can say is one of those collars registered to a Bio-Morph named 'Trinity' also went off-line along with leased and offspring from leased bio-morphs. Following this, and a failure of the contract mandated mediation session between the two parties. The situation fell to a judge only trial as a jury trail's reserved for actual criminal cases."

The anchor's silhouette moves back to the right part of the screen and the background changes back into the newsroom scene from earlier. This is followed by the upper left-hand portion of the screen filling up with photos like how you would slide them over to someone sitting at a desk in front of you.

“And that ladies and gentlemen was the story up till a month ago. Nothing more than a boring contract dispute going to trial, until these photos leaked from the police department's evidence room onto social media."

She reaches over and grabs the photos. Holding them like a hand of cards in one hand, she uses the other to hold up each in turn towards the viewer.

The first photo is of a flat bed truck backing into a police large item warehouse, filled with cars and other vehicles. On its bed is a mangled, burnt and crumpled aerospace cockpit, covered in dirt and marred by scorch marks.

It looks kinda normal, if not for the next photo the host holds up. Which is like the last one but with rulers, tape measures, and yard sticks used to document the size and proportions of it.

Showing that it's too small for a human, to small for even a small breed Bio-Morph.

The anchor pulls out the third photo, a shot of the inside of the mangled cockpit. “As you dear viewers already know if you've read the leakers thread. Those maker markings on the damaged avionics and serial numbers match no known company nor product past or present."

An ejector seat with a sheered off back is the next set of photos, same measurements, same zoom in shots with maker marks and serial numbers clearly marked out in each photo.

Next comes a photo of various smaller objects arranged on a large table in front of the person holding the camera. Each on with a catalog number tag and similar measuring tools within the shot. The torn up and slightly singed remains of Usako's flight suit being the largest one, two black box's event though they're a shiny chrome sitting next to them. Bits and pieces of the emergency medical kit too are arranged for the camera.

Followed by photos of the wording on a surviving pill bottle, nothing on it mentioning humans. Just various mammalian species and sizes for proper dosages.

The anchor puts the photos down, and another artist's rendering of Usako, this time in an intact version of the flight suit appears and t-poses to the side of the anchor. “Once leaked it didn't take long for internet sleuths and armchair forensics experts to push this minor web curiosity into the public's attention by hounding both the police department in question and the parties involved in the suit for answers."

The camera feed switches to a press conference timestamped three weeks prior. Where the chief of police of the local police, along with the governor of Texas stand in front of podium outside the police station. Taking turns explaining the time line of events in as many words as possible to explain as little detail as possible to the public. Just enough information to confirm the buzz upon the 'tank' controlled U.S. internet though.

When the feed ends the Anchor and the newsroom return. “After this press confrence a trial date, which is today, was set. Citizen Steven Mercer of Mercer Traditional Produce and Meat insists due to a 'misunderstanding' one supposed alien Usako Chasofito, had to remove a Bio-Morph collar mistakenly put onto her. In the process also removing few other Bio-Morph's collars to force legal resident, one Angela Mercer, his sister to cease her poor treatment of the Bio-Morphs and abuse of Usako. In such they claim they did not violate their welfare clauses and should not be liable for the remaining lease of just over two and a half million dollars."

A stock photo of both Mercer's appear on the screen. The former from Steven's citizenship ceremony after completing the required and grueling public work to gain citizenship. The latter from Angela's legal resident ID, entitling her all the same rights as Steven, minus being able to vote or work for any government agency. Nor any private firm dealing with the government.

This is followed by a recorded statement from Steven, set from just outside their house as he talks to some reporters, the date of the recording timestamped on the video is of just under two weeks prior.

Multiple non-human snouts can be seen peeking though the curtains off to the side, though the anchor doesn't pay them any attention.

“In contrast to that and after repeated requests for a statement. Our channel has received the following email from the plaintive." The view's replaced by a cgi rendered letterhead looking like an official document.

'It is the policy of Aquis ltd, a subsidiary of but legally distinct entity from Yakeru-tech ltd. That employees are not to contribute to public gossip on ongoing legislation dealing with contract breaches of leases of Biological Robots, commonly refereed to as 'Bio-Morphs' until such litigation has been settled.'

The paper fades back to the hostess and the rendered newsroom.

“With that we'll keep you, our loyal viewers updated as the media has not been allowed into the court room. What we can say is today will mostly be a formality as the parties introductions and retreading of the information already known to you is presented to the judge."

A slight pause as the silhouetted figure shrinks and the background's replaced with one of the lower Midwest of the united-states. “Now onto the day's weather forcast…"

With a grumbling snort, an arctic fox's finger smashes a button on the TV remote to change the channel.

A more angular, less neutral toned newsroom replaces the previous channel. Jutting out and using the TV's full potential of showing a three-dimensional scene with two full detailed, if not fuzzy around the edges humans. One male, one female, each facing each other with a table between them, said table follows the same design hints as the room. Angular, with bright red and blue stripes.

“I say they're faking it! Some kind of publicity stunt for the town, which has been losing residents, and thus tax dollars for years to the two nearest mega-cities for years. Huston and Kansas-City." The woman on one side of the table speaks loudly, grabing a folder off the top of papers in front of her and pulls out a piece of paper showing a printed out copy of a website. She's dressed professionally, minus the cut of the suit showing a bit of cleavage.

“As you can see here, this is your basic gene editing kit you can buy off the web." She slides the printout over to the person in front of her, a man in a business suit, well shaved and a bit older than her. “Is roughly about one thousand dollars, well within the finances of the town, let alone one small-time farmer like Mr. Mercer."

Picking it up, the man reads it over and then sets it down. “What about the fact the Bio-Morph genome is fully black box patented? Meaning they can't even get information on fur color. Are you saying that they somehow got their hands on it? They'd need it to use that kit for more than making green glowing mice for a grade school science fair this kit's sold for."

Smirking the woman grabs a thicker folder and tosses it at the man now labeled as a genetics expert on the banner at the bottom of the screen, in quotation marks.

“They wouldn't need that information. With some digging our show's gotten a hold of the Mercer's lease agreement form when Steven Mercer's parents originally bought their current pack of those beasts. They opted for full breeding rights with the pack. An option normally only used by larger corporations and not small-time companies like theirs."

The woman waves her hands about animatedly as she speaks using it to emphasize her words. As she does so, the station edits in graphics in real time, so she's pointing to something for the viewers. The man across from her turns his head and eye's move to a location off camera indicating there's a screen there, so he too can see what's going on.

On screen is a crude, high school level understanding of breeding and genetics rendered with t-posing models of Bio-Morphs and how, starting from the initial leased Bio-Morphs. “See, knowing the genome would only help if they had only one to work on and one shot to get it right. Considering the size of the pack they leased and the breading rights, they could have dozens of cubs to modify to try to get these results. Only keeping, in this case the one successful cub to be able to mimic human speech before teaching her to do so."

It disappears and the expert looks at the female host again. This time acting like she's on a roll, she pulls another set of papers in front of her before sliding over to him. “And here's what our team found for searches of 'human larynx' or, if that didn't work, 'parrot larynx' on the non-tank controlled web, well, lets just say it's just as easy as making those glowing mice."

The host moves to cross her arms, under her bust, bringing them up a bit for the viewers. “Here's what I think. Either a dying town contacts the Mercers to allow this to be done with their leased Bio-Morphs, in return they'd pay their 'substantial' debt. Or the Mercer's thinking they could make a fortune by faking aliens did it themselves. Personally I think it's the latter, as Steven mercer, just this year alone. Lost his parents."

She removes the elder Mercer obituaries from the pile of papers on the table and tosses them in front of the expert. “Then shortly after he loses his younger brother."

Mark's obituary joins the pile in front of the man. “Along with the fact that the company he worked for. Franklin International Conglomerate of Stellar and Intergalactic Trade."

The hostess mutters how much of a mouthful that name is under her breath.

“Are refusing to release the funds Mark Mercer earned working on their resource running claiming it's not known if it was an accident or not. The sum total of about Sixty-Three or so million dollars hangs in the balance. That's a lot of money they've been denied access too, so why not do the next best thing. Edit some Bio-morph cub to mimic speech, and concoct such obviously fake story to earn money and fame. Frankly the judge should throw out this case, and force him to pay back the loan like the adult and citizen Steven Mercer claims he is!"

“What a load of lizard-shit." Muttering, Usako smashs the power button on the remote, shutting off the TV. Then places the remote on the coffee table.

Standing, the Arctic Fox adjusts her formal looking, and mostly correct service dress uniform over her winter fluff. Closely trimmed as to make the warm Texas winter bearable to the arctic mammal.

[I don't think they know any better Usako.] Anna shifts a bit on the couch cushion, rubbing her casts on the non-cushioned parts. The only signs left of her battle a month ago with some still delinquent pack members.

Lowering her ears, Usako nods. “Yea, I guess. Though they will soon once this trial is over."

“I seriously doubt it."

Usako and Anna's ears swivel, pointing at the stairway before they both turn their heads. Watching Steven in a full business suit, followed by Angela wearing a formal evening dress and a purse on her shoulder descend the stairway.

Angela's more casual, night out at a dress code enforcing restaurant style of clothing contrasts in quality with Usako's best approximation to a formal small female mammal's dress uniform for her branch of service. Mainly because it was tailored by Angela from Usako's verbal description. So the arctic fox gives the youngest Mercer sibling a mild antagonistic glare for a moment or two.

Shrugging, Steven walks over to the Arctic Fox and Female wolf breed Bio-Morph. “If I heard who I thought I heard from the TV, she'll just try to claim our winning all a conspiracy to implement a world government."

Turning his attention to Anna, Steven gently helps her sit up straighter on the couch. “Take it easy Anna, you're not as young as you used to be and you don't want to aggravate the hairline fractures."

Usako opens her muzzle to ask 'why the lady in that show hasn't been forced to retract or stop with the wild accusations she makes', but shuts it upon remembering the lecture Steven gave her on free speech the last time this subject came up.

Climbing off the couch and adjusting her clothes, Usako sighs. “Guess it's about time to go, isn't it?" The Arctic fox watches both Mercers as Angela nods in reply.

“Yea." Sighing, Steven nods as well. Turning, he leads the two over to the front door. “Unless you guy's want to lose the trial over a no show?" Jesting jokingly, fully knowing what they'd say.

“Hell, no" Angela and Usako answer simultaneously. Both the Human and the Arctic Fox momentarily look at each other.

Smirking a little at both being correct in what they'd say, Steven looks over at Anna. “Don't know when we'll be back sadly, but Balto or Charlie should be by in a few hours to help you if you need it. Just 'try' to stay there unless absolutely necessary that you need to move."

[I'll be fine Steven. Just go make sure we can keep our home.]

Usako dutifully translates before Steven opens the front door, politely letting his sister and Usako exit before closing it as he follows the two.

“Do you want to drive Steven, or should I?" Angela glances over to her brother as he catches up to her and Usako as All three make their way to the family truck.

Holding up the keys, Steven shakes his head. “Nah, I got it. It'll give me something to focus on other than what could possibly go wrong…"

Usako sighs and gently pokes both Mercers in their legs to grab their attention before pointing up.

A few seconds later their human ears pick up what Usako's Vulpine one's have been hearing since they left the front porch. A handful of camera drones, each one covered with the logo of the channel that owns it.

“At least they're being obvious this time." Angela growls as much as a human can upon looking up. Steven only momentarily glances up before unlocking the driver's side door and hopping in. Then reaching over to unlock the passenger side door for his sister and the rear driver's side door for Usako.

Climbing quickly onto the rear seat, Usako buckles in. Mainly to get out of sight of the camera's, before closing the door behind herself as Angela takes the front passenger seat.

Flattening her ears at the sight of one of the drones lowering itself to look into the windshield the vulpine grumbles. “You wern't the one they spied on via that window in the upstairs bathroom, nor having photos of me in the bare fur on that karma dammit morning talk show as they try to compare me to a household pet."

A thought occurs to the Vulpine as she speaks. 'If I still had my service pistol, rather than have to give it up as evidence. I could've shot the damn thing down.'

“Would you rather have hordes of people here, just outside the house trying to get in? I know I wouldn't. Thank god they have to get permission from the property owner to physically set foot on private property unlike in our grandparent's time." Steven glances back at Usako as he starts the truck. Causing the drone in front of the windshield to fly away least it gets hit from the eldest Mercer sibling pulling the truck out onto the road.

Usako's ears fold back even further as her tail bristle at the thought of an actual peeping tomcat, or well 'tom' here in this world, rather than a camera. “No, no I would not."

“Neither would I" Angela pipes up as Steven puts the truck into a higher gear as he drives down the road.

Raising her ears back up as they leave the swarm of camera drones behind, Usako looks at Steven via the rearview mirror. “Do you think we'll stand out like this? I mean, while this looks fairly modern to me, you said yourself this car is almost a hundred years old."

“Nah." Steven waves it off with one hand. “Old internal combustion vehicles like this are still commonly used around here even if fuel's a pain to get. Simply because even with its computer systems controlling fuel injections and what not It's still easier to work on compared to a modern vehicle."

Passing by the processing and packing plant, they all wave at Charlie and Pippin who're taking the pack to work. Their body language though is more upbeat than a month a go. Usako's amazed at how much just giving them a simple choice has done to their spirits.

“Because of that we'd stand out more if we did have a modern vehicle. Not to mention the built-in cell phone system would be ringing off the hook from news reporters like them trying to get in touch with either me or you Usako." He points to the large crowd standing on public property, just past where their private road connects with the local rural route two lane parkway.

Except, as soon as Steven points to them, the crowd erupts with photography flashes, instantly blinding him. Stomping on the brakes and pulling the parking brake he growls the trucks tires squeal as they come to a sudden stop. “Fucking hell!"

“Shit! Steven, let's switch seats." Unbuckling herself, Angela helps Steven unbuckle his. Then with a swift and practiced motion, she and Steven switch seats. Just as Usako's ears perk up at hearing something different over the din of a few dozen reporters trying to talk over each other.

Rubbing his eyes as Steven buckles himself back in by touch alone, he then pats Angela on the shoulder as she buckles back in as well. “Thanks sis."

Using one hand to shield her eyes from the flashes, Angela uses her other to deactivate the parking brake and put the truck back in gear.

Tapping Angela on the shoulder, Usako points in the direction they were going to turn. “I hear sirens."

Nodding once, Angela keeps her foot on the brake and waits. Soon enough multiple police cruisers arrive. Some pull off to the side of the road the media are swarming while two cruisers maneuver to fall into an escort formation next to their truck. With one in front of them, the other behind them.

A familiar officer exits the leading cruiser, the red-headed male they met a month ago whom they've learned is named Mike. He walks up to the driver's side window of the truck and taps on it gently.

Angela presses the button to lower the window as Steven's sight starts to return, though not as fast as the elder Mercer sibling would like.

“Sorry, the protests in town held us up, we were supposed to escort you to the courthouse to prevent something like this from happening." Mike nods slightly in the direction of the media as his coworkers get them to 'stop' with the constant photography.

Lowering the visor to block out the still present, but more infrequent flashes, Angela turns to look at him. “We weren't notified of it?"

Sighing the officer shakes his head. “Yea it was a last minute order. The preacher of the mega church the next town over posted a public 'bounty' more or less to stop 'white devil'." He gestures towards Usako. “His words, not ours. From arriving at the trial to stop satan from winning."

Rolling her eye's, Angela mutters 'baptists' like a dirty word under her breath. “What are you going to do about him?"

Mike shrugs. “Not our jurisdiction, though from what I've heard. The Federal Police Force will look into it as an attempt to interfere with a federal trial. Doesn't stop some religious nut from trying to cash in though. So we'll be escorting you in just in case someone, even one of your neighbors want to try something."

He turns his attention to Steven. “We 'can' press assault charges on the media over there if you want. This does fall into the 'excessive' amount of flash photography, digital or not."

Shaking his head, the elder Mercer sibling declines. “That'll just mean yet another court date and this one we're going to has been enough for me for a lifetime and it hasn't even started yet."

“Alright then. Follow my cruiser's lead. Though this would have been easier if you had a modern vehicle, you could just slave it's self-driving program to our cruiser." He steps back as Angela shrugs.

“Our grandparents, and parents loved the vehicle for that exact reason, no self-driving stuff. Steven and I tend to agree we'd rather drive than let a computer do it for us."

The officer nods and as he walks back to his cruiser, Angela presses the button to roll up the window. “So tell me Usako, I'm kinda curious. Would this 'Karma' of yours have priests that would call for shit like this if you were Human, and we were um, Zootopian?"

Usako raises her ears to a more neutral position as Angela puts the truck into gear following a few yards behind the police cruiser.

“I can't say for certain not every 'priest', for lack of a term you would understand compared to this christiandom. Would or wouldn't act in the same way if an alien or Human was in a similar situation back home. What I can say is that the sect that my family's raised in, from before my grandmother up to me and my sister. It would be seen as being spiteful to Karma herself as any such being would be seen as an outsider, thus a litmus test of your deeds."

Usako glances out the window as they leave the throng of reporters behind, really glad they can't step foot on the Mercer property as there's a veritable army of them.

“Why is it a litmus test?" Steven turns his attention to Usako via the rearview mirror as Angela concentrates on driving.

Tapping her claws on the door. “Because they wouldn't have the biases and views you have, giving them a clearer view of your deeds." The arctic fox pauses for a moment. “Other than their own biases and such." She shrugs.

The elder Mercer sibling nods once. “Well, I can see some logic behind that kind of view."

“Same." Angela Chimes in.

Usako looks between the two Humans. “What I don't understand is why one of your faith's priests would call me a white devil. Then again the book it's based on is just as confusing."

Sighing, Steven shakes his head. “That would take longer than we have to even begin to explain the differences between a 'baptist' and what we are. Let's just say that each group just picks and chooses what they want from the book, while ignoring the rest. Then calls others who chose differently heretics and not true Christians. My Grandparents where hard core believers, my parents were faithful and I would like to think I'm faithful too."

The Arctic Fox tilts her head a bit. “I get that. While not nearly as contradictory, the writings of Karma are, 'kinda' treated similarly. There's one sect who puts emphasis on making sure they're in good graces at the end of every day. I've seen the sheets they have to tally good deeds and what they consider being in good graces and it's ridiculous what they think needs to be done every day to do so. What I don't get is why I'm considered a 'devil' just for being me."

Turning the vehicle off the main road to a side one while following the cruiser, Angela tilts her own head a bit and doesn't even notice she's picking up the habit from the Arctic Fox. “You did read the first part right? The whole 'created' in god's image and being perfect, yadda yadda."

Usako stays quiet as she notices the youngest Mercer sibling picking up a habit of hers. “Yea, but I treated it like our own creation myth. A myth that few still treat seriously even among the faithful too Karma or the other gods."

This causes Steven to let out a long sigh. “There's not an insignificant portion, despite all the evidence to the contrary, who believe the literal interpretation of that part of the book. So in their mind and worldview, not only are humans special, but if anything other than a human was sentient. They'd view it as the work of the devil. Leading us to what that baptist idiot did."

The arctic fox folds her ears back a bit and opens her mouth, only for everyone in the vehicle to jump upon hearing a similarly old, but not as well maintained truck careening at them. Only for it to miss-time its attempt to hit them and hit the police cruiser behind them instead, T-boning it. In response the cruiser in front of them flips on its lights and turns on their siren while speeding up.

Steven grabs the handle above the passenger side door and braces his legs in the foot well while Usako digs her claws into the rear seat's upholstery as her ears flatten. Trying to block out the tones of the noise from the electric motors in the cruiser in front of them. “Angela, gun it. Keep up with the cruiser as well as you can." The elder Mercer sibling yells.

Slamming her foot down onto the gas, Angela grips the wheel. Plastic creaks in protest as she zigzags the truck along the same path as the police cruiser in front of them through the minimal morning traffic for the small town they're in.

Suddenly, the passenger side mirror shatters, spider-webbing the window and causing Steven to curse out loud. Usako, keeping the bulk of her body behind the backrest of the rear passenger seat, carefully peeks over the backrest.

“Theirs a truck behind us now! With a guy in the back, holding onto the flood-lights with one hand and a rifle in the other!" Ducking back behind the seat after a rent appears in the upholstered ceiling of the truck and causing both Steven and Angela to slouch down a bit. Vainly hoping the seat backs will provide enough protection.

Following the lead of the police cruiser in front of them, Angela swerves the truck back and forth to make them a harder target. “Get down in the foot-well!" Steven yells back at Usako as the rear-view mirror shatters along with the windshield spider-webbing from the shot.

The Arctic Fox does so without protest as Steven's phone rings. The elder Mercer sibling slouches down a bit further into the front passenger foot-well as he answers it.

He instantly looks up at his sister. “Next intersection, the cruiser will take a turn without stopping. Try to keep up because they have two cruisers ready to pincer that truck just past it! They only have one shot at this."

“Got I… SHIT." laminated pellets shower and cover everyone as the next shot takes out both the front and rear windshields. “Fucking hell." Steven yells simultaneously with his sister.

Having to let go of the wheel with one hand to shield her eyes from the force of the wind hitting her face, Angela barely notices the police cruiser taking the earlier mentioned turn. Causing the electric cruiser's motor to whine at the right frequency and forcing Usako to cover her ears as their tires leave skid marks from the maneuver.

Gritting her teeth, Angela yanks the wheel. Engine roaring and tires squealing in full internal combustion glory. The youngest Mercer sibling follows the police cruiser as best she can, ignoring the resulting angry honks of a couple other drivers on the road and barely misses hitting them.

Their tail is not so lucky. Its driver, also ignoring the other traffic copies the same maneuver. Only to have the tail-gate clipped by an electric sedan's front bumper. Sending the similarly old truck into a spin, and the shooter on the roof flying off, head first into the pavement, and his death. The two police cruiser's pull out of side streets and skid to a halt in front of and behind the vehicle, forcing it to stop.

Angela slams on the hazard blinker's and pulls the truck over as their escort does the same. “Steven!" Leaning over, Angela with worry plastered on her face, helps Steven back up into his seat. “You alright?"

Using a hand to brush some pieces of the windshield out of his hair, he nods. “Gonna have a few bruises later.." Stopping he suddenly looks to the back seat, then down into the rear passenger foot-well. “Usako?"

“I'm fine… My ears are ringing a bit from the motors in those cruisers. You guys 'really' need to wrap them in sound proofing!" The Arctic Fox groans as she pulls herself back up into the seat, brushing off laminated glass pebbles from her fur.

“I'll be sure to tell the manufacturer as soon as we get home." Steven snarks and rolls his eyes.

Usako lowers her ears. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you humans don't have as good as hearing as I or Bio-Morphs do." Glancing back through the now missing rear windshield. She sees multiple officers have pinned to the pavement a balding, pot-belled man. A yellow cap with a cut up snake on the front lays nearby as he struggles to get free from the officers.

“Everyone alright?"

Turning her attention back to the front of the vehicle Usako watches the red-headed police officer open the driver's side door, helping Angela out of the truck. Then to the passenger door next to her to help her out as Steven exits under his own power. Usako carefully steps onto the pebbled glass covered pavement lamenting the lack of protective footwear.

The only pair that would even fit her foot-paws sits in the police evidence locker room with the rest of her flight and space suit.

“We're fine Mike. Our family truck on the other hand…" Slouching her shoulders in despair she looks at the truck. Cars weren't her 'thing' growing up, but a family heirloom is still a family heirloom and it saddens her to see the truck passed down from their grandparents riddled with bullet holes and missing most of the glass.

Not telling what kind of internal damage could've been done, she sadly muses.

Nodding, the officer gestures to his cruiser while Ignoring the stream of expletives from the driver of the other truck aimed at them and at Usako. “Well, get in. We'll have someone take the truck to a repair shop of your choice on the city's dime of course. We still need to get you to the courthouse as we're nearly late as is though." Mike pulls his radio handset off his shoulder, then tells dispatch of the change in transport, and to have them inform the courthouse of the incident.

Gingerly hopping about as to avoid stepping on glass. Usako follows Steven, Angela and Mike to the police cruiser. The elder Mercer sibling opening the front passenger door for his sister and helping her inside. He opens the rear passenger door for Usako next.

The Arctic Fox climbs in and scoots over to the rear driver's side seat, allowing Steven to take the rear passenger side before they both buckle in.

Hopping in a moment later Mike quickly closes the door and buckles in as the cruiser turns on with no input from him. “Hold onto something." Reaching up, he flicks the switch for the sirens and pulls the vehicle out onto the street.

Folding her ears back, Usako then covers her ears with her hand-paws as she glares up at the ceiling of the cruiser. Only to feel a hand gently rubbing her upper back in sympathy. “Too loud Usako?" Smiling gently, Steven looks down at her.

“No, it's not just that…" Usako huffs once as her fur stands on end. “Unlike your TV and music players, there's some squealing and other static like noise. Similar to what's coming from the electric motors in this vehicle, only much louder."

Steven looks up at the ceiling of the cruiser musing over the possibilities as he holds on to the armrest of the door least he gets thrown about by Mike weaving the cruiser through traffic.

Traffic that's supposed to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle, but don't.

“Ah, I think I know what it is." Steven looks back down at her. “Lossy compression. I've heard sometimes a Bio-Morph may hear the digital noise left over from the sound being compressed where storage is an issue and that's why they'd wince or whine at music or in this case police sirens."

Usako grips the armrest on the door as the cruiser takes a sharp turn without slowing. “I know what lossy compression is Steven, Mp3's don't sound like this… Well at least from home."

“Well most non-human animals have better hearing than humans and such audio files conform to the human hearing range." Using his right arm, Steven pushes against the rear passenger side door least he slams against it as Mike makes a sharp turn now in the opposite direction.

Letting out a whine, Usako straightens back up in her seat. “Then I hope to Karma I don't have to ride in one of your human police cruisers with the sirens on ever again."

“Speaking of which." Mike reaches up and shuts off the sirens and lights. Followed by the cruiser pulling up to the sectioned off part of the curb in front of the courthouse. Only to have the occupants nearly blinded again from sheer number of camera flashes. “We're here."

Officers already stationed at the courthouse barely keep the media, and throngs of protestors at bay as soon as the cruiser pulls up. Glancing outside Usako can't tell of the two groups they've divided themselves into, which of them are more worked up about her presence here.

Mike quickly opens his door and exits before going to the front passenger side of the vehicle, opening the door for Angela. Then doing the same for Steven. Once outside the vehicle, Steven presents his hand to Usako, who takes it. She thanks him for helping her onto the sidewalk.

Despite their thoughts of it not being possible, the noise and camera flashes kick up another notch as soon as Usako's visible. Folding her ears flat against her head and forcing her tail to stay still, the Arctic Fox closely follows the officer and the two Mercer siblings towards the multiple story municipal building.

“Devil!" An older woman with her hair in a bun wearing an ankle length dress showing almost no skin yells.

“Is it true you're pregnant with Bio-Morph cubs?" A man in a tv studio friendly suit bellows above the din of noise.

“Abomination!" A man of indeterminate age wearing a 'jesus saves' t-shirt, an American flag hat, and holding a sign reading 'ONLY MAN WAS CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE' screams.

“Are you a Bio-Morph?" A young girl who looks no older than fifteen yells at Usako while holding up the tiny near paper thin device that she's come to learn is the new 'trendy' phone model.

Because she was looking in the direction of the young girl, Usako catches a momentary glint in the corner of her vision. Ducking, the fur on the top of her head registers the movement of air as the liquor bottle sails over her head.

Seeing this, Mike quickly moves behind the three and pushes them forward as other officers swarm the assaulter. The two officer's guarding the entrance open the courthouse doors, so they don't have to stop moving until they're safely inside.

The Neo-Artdeco doors sadly only dull the roar of the crowd outside a little and do nothing to stop the camera flashes from the media and the curious.

Both Mike and Steven kneel next to Usako, looking her over for any injury. “Are you alright?" Steven asks.

“I can hazard a guess." Mike speaks next. “But do you want to add attempted assault, and attempted murder to the charges the guy who threw the bottle, and the driver of that truck respectively are already facing?"

“I'm fine." Usako smiles back at Steven, before looking over too Mike “Only if I don't need to go to yet another court hearing."

Mike shrugs. “Alright, but if someone actually does injure you, you'll have no choice." Both the elder Mercer sibling and the Officer stand.

All four of them ignoring the noise from just outside the building they head further into the courthouse. Usako though grumbles as she, by hand-paw, tries to adjust her fur and her clothing till Angela pulls a brush out of her purse and hands it to her.

“Thank you." Usako smiles back up at her as Angela pulls out a compact mirror, checking herself over too before noticing Steven hasn't fixed his suit.

Muttering 'men' under her breath, Angela stops her brother a bit before the actual courtroom and straightens up his suit. All the while Mike just stands there curiously watching Usako use what he recognizes as a pet fur brush on herself, mainly her tail and head fur.

“I'm fine sis." Steven protests, only for Angela to roll her eyes as she straightens his suit jacket again and fixes his hair.

“You are now." Angela backs off, then takes the brush back from Usako when the Arctic Fox hands it to her.

Nodding in the direction of the courtroom, Mike looks at the three of them. “Okay, we're late enough already. Better head in before they consider you three a no show and you end up losing without even a word." Walking up to the door, he politely knocks. In response a well-built court bailiff cracks open the door.

Visually examining the four of them, including the Mike's uniform, the muscle-bound bailiff opens fully opens the door.

On their way into the courtroom, Mike gently taps Steven's shoulder. “I'm rooting for you."

Smiling back, he nods. “Thank you."

Once Steven, Angela, and Usako are inside the court room, the bailiff closes the door and loudly locks it.

Usako doesn't know what surprises her more upon entering the courtroom, that it is actually familiar, if sized for mammals larger than her. Or seeing Aquis rep suddenly stand, and despite the wishes of the lawyer next to her from what the arctic fox can hear. She's determined to do something a legal councilwoman thinks is a bad idea.

“Objection. Till we prove this being is who and what she says she is. She shouldn't be in this court room. This trial is only between Aquis LTD and Mr. Mercer of Mercer Traditional Produce and Meat."

The moment she stops speaking a couple bangs of a gavel draws Usako and the Mercer sibling's attention to the judge's podium.

“Denied." An elderly male, thin and frail but with vibrant and inquisitive eyes speaks with more force than his body betrays. His voice having a Russian accent that lends authority to what he says.

“At least have the common courtesy of letting them take their seats in the defendants table with their lawyer." He nods to the young man sitting at said table.

“I was informed they had run into some difficulty in their journey here today. Something you did not have to contend with."

The Aquis rep huffs and sits back down, allowing the three to walk past the empty audience seats, up past the swinging half gate and to the defendant's table. Their lawyer quickly picking up a child's booster seat, obviously gotten from a fast food joint from its puke brown plastic color, and places it on one of the chairs.

The Arctic Fox mentally sighs at how it'll makes her look, but uses it anyway.

“Some difficulty is a slight understatement your honor." Steven takes a seat next to the lawyer and Anglea takes her seat on the other side of Usako with the arctic fox between her and her brother.

“The media nearly blinded me as we left our property, then multiple people tried to cash in on the illegal bounty put on Usako's head by a baptist televangelist. As well as an attempted assault upon entry to the building."

The old judge frowns, though, knowing the area. He's not surprised. “I'll order a more complete protection detail and restraining orders for the media from now on." He then turns to the Bailiff, who stands next to the judge's seat.

“All rise." the well-built bailiff bellows out." The judge and everyone else stands. Usako though takes a bit longer to stand. Due to having to do so on the booster seat, putting her at about the same height as the others.

“ The honorable Judge Belitrov presiding."

After a few moments, Belitrov motions for everyone, including himself to sit. “Bailiff, state for the record, though it's not technically necessary. The name of the case for the court's recordings." He motions to where the stenographer would be, if the role hadn't been replaced by secure recording technologies. Backed by E-fuses and quantum cryptography to prevent alteration, Though such technology was not the judge's area of expertise.

He only knows that he misses having more people in his court staff.

“Case file 73023157, Aquis Ltd, subsidiary of Yakeru-Tech vs Mercer Traditional Produce and Meat. Mr. Steven Mercer representing the latter and Ms. Laura Faith representing Aquis and in turn Yakeru-Tech." The Bailiff looks at each party in turn as he speaks.

Belitrov bangs his gavel, once and lightly. “Court is now in session." The judge pauses. “Thankfully for all the parties involved, today's session is more of a formality. Mainly to be entered to the court's records so this should be short. Please state for the court and official record your position in this contract dispute." Belitrov turns in his seat to look at the prosecution table where the Aquis rep is sitting.

Looking over to the lawyer, Laura, and her talk for a couple of seconds in hushed tones. The lawyer giving her a stern look, Laura stands. Reaching up, she adjusts her hair a bit. Usako noticing that it's to keep her ears covered. The Aquis rep then keeps them politely at her sides.

“Just a bit over a month ago, Mr. Mercer accrued a second welfare point on his family owned company lease of multiple Bio-Morphs. Triggered from the unscheduled and unauthorized removal of multiple universal tracking devices, commonly referred to as collars. So according to Aquis LTD protocol we notified local law enforcement. Whereupon they discovered a distressed Angela Mercer with multiple Bio-Morphs present in her dewlling."

The lawyer for the Mercer's quickly stands. “Objection. It has not been determined that one Usako Chasofito is or is not a Bio-Morph. So the Ms. Faith should refrain from referring to my client as such."

Belitrov bangs the gavel once and then looks to the Aquis representative. “Sustained. Fact's, not conjecture Ms. Faith."

Putting her hands on the table in front of her, Laura smiles. “Sorry. Whereupon they discovered a distressed Angela Mercer with two Bio-morphs, and one 'unknown being'." The Aquis rep glances at Usako momentarily then continues.

“According to the police report, they stated that in the compromised emotional state of Angela Mercer, she. Mistreated the 'unknown being' and the Bio-Morphs leased to the Mercer family for their company, Mercer Traditional Produce and Meat. To the point the 'unknown being' removed multiple collars and opened the Aquis approved and construction enclosure to escape."

Moving her hands back to her side, Laura goes quiet as if thinking while keeping her focus on the judge. Belitrov motions for her to continue after looking to the Mercer's lawyer who in turn nods.

“It is the position of Aquis that, Angela Mercer had not mistreated any of the leased Bio-Morphs under the undue health and environment clauses. As well as the fact that due to this 'unknown being' having a normal heat cycle, and a successful conception with one leased Bio-Morph named 'Charlie' by the Mercer's. That this 'unknown being' 'is' a Bio-Morph, and because of that, this counts as a second strike on their lease agreement. Whereupon due to the agreement their parent's signed, and one Steven Mercer inherited. Aquis initiated the process in which this trial is a part of, to request that Mr. Steven Mercer pay the remainder of the lease."

Sitting down, Ms. Faith smiles ever so slightly at the Mercer's and Usako in particular.

Banging his gavel a single time, judge Belitrov looks over at the recording device. “I recognize Ms. Laura Faith, the Aquis representative to for the prosecution's opening statement." He looks to Steven and the Mercer's lawyer and bangs the gavel again.

“Mr. Steven Mercer, you may now present your opening statement or decide to wave it, which is your right to do if you so desire."

Usako's ear twitches despite her trying to stop it as she listens in to Steven and their lawyer conversing. A battle she stops resisting upon the lawyer recommending Steven doesn't contest the status of 'unknown being'. He points out they did get her on trying to call Usako a Bio-Morph, and he feels it may be 'pushing their luck' to try to get her to call her a person. Despite the fact the entire case revolves around if she 'is' one.

Standing, Steven keeps his hands at his sides. “We do not dispute the time frame listed. If the court allows, I would like to enter into the record a statement on the welfare and treatment of the leased Bio-Morphs and the 'unknown being' in question and how the change in that treatment led to the removal of the collars."

The Aquis rep's lawyer stands, keeping her hands on the table. “Objection. Angela Mercer's treatment, no matter the clarification, is still within the bounds of what's considered 'reasonable treatment' in their lease agreement for leased Bio-Morphs compared to out-right purchased models, which have no such clause."

Belitrov bangs the gavel, yet again. Inwardly sighing, even if he knew it would be like this from the start. That this trial would boil down to what the definition of 'is' is. He's still annoyed at how its already started, and they're only in the opening statements.

The old judge is just happy he got the media banned from attending.

“Partially sustained. Mr. Mercer the exact details of your historic treatment of your leased Bio-Morphs should be contained only to the evidence presented later in this trial. You 'may' however state you meet or exceed the stated minimum required standards as defined by your lease agreement up to the situation in question."

Steven politely nods. “Sorry your honor. With any Farmer or Rancher worth their salt, they know that they have to treat their animals with respect to get the best productivity out of them. So I would like to enter into the record on top of the time frame listed by the prosecution. The Mercer family normally treats their leased Bio-morphs in such a way that exceeded the required minimum listed in our family's lease agreement."

Judge Belitrov looks between the lawyers for; Steven Mercer, Angela Mercer, Usako Chasofito. Then the lawyer for Laura Faith and the company she represents Aquis Inc. “Are both parties finished with their opening statements? This will be your last chance for add to them."

He holds the gavel in his hands, ready to conclude the first session of this trial as court officer's open the door's. Multiple uniformed officers enter the courtroom with their uniforms disheveled and dirty.

“Can I get a reason for the interruption of the current case, officers?" Judge Belitrov lowers his gavel. Glaring at them, showing how annoyed he is at the interruption.

The lead officer fixes his hair. “Apologies honorable Judge, but we have to inform you the defendant known as Usako Chasofito is in danger. A group of locals, all armed, have rolled up to the police barrier. We are out numbered and out gunned. They demand we hand over Usako Chasofito, or they'll storm the courthouse, and I quote. 'Rather than let the forces of Satan corrupt the divinely blessed court system of the new United States of America and the god it stands for.'"

Picking the gavel back up, Judge Belitrov bangs it twice quickly. “For the safety of all the parties involved. The opening statements portion of this trial's finished and will reconvene the day after tomorrow, and we'll be keeping all parties involved in the courthouse till we can contact the proper state authorities to get this situation under control."

Ms. Faith stands. “They only want the 'being' in question, I have other appointments today over other leaseholders I have to get to, so I will be heading out anyway."

'That is until they learn of your parentage' Usako inwardly smirks. 'Considering they hate my guts for simply being an alien, I doubt they'll love a human/Bio-Morph hybrid walking around like a full-blooded human.'

“And do you think they wouldn't use you to get to her?" Belitrov glares at Ms. Faith, stopping her in her tracks. Said with an air of 'I've seen it before'.

“May I speak freely Judge Belitrov?" Faith looks back at him and he nods.

“If those red-neck hicks know anything about the case, they'd know I don't want anything to do with 'Ms. Alien' so I'm safe."

Frowning, Belitrov looks to the court officers. “Knowing the kind of people they are, I doubt they would. So for your own good I will put everyone in this room under our officer's care till we can get the state guard to clear them out." He stands and heads out of the courtroom to put in a call to the governor to do just that.

---

End notes: Leasing a Bio-Morph is more or less like if you 'lease' a car. The leaser will have stipulations on treatment like the car dealership would have some on yearly milalge etc.