legionnpcs (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
legionnpcs) wrote2017-09-09 09:26 pm
legionnpcs) wrote2017-09-09 09:26 pm
Custody Trial
[Brainiac 5 is pictured in a court room, wearing a suit, seated at one of the tables with one of the Legion's lawyers. The judge is a two-armed purple Jaquaan, like Dr. Gym'll and Dr. Ry'kerr, and has a very serious look on her face.]
Judge: Mr. Dox, the court has some concerns regarding the nature of Six's crimes -
Brainy: Merl.
Judge: I'm sorry?
Brainy: I've named him Merl. Merl Dox. I already had my lawyer enter it into his records.
Judge: My apologies. Merl's crimes are of a very serious nature and while his criminal trial found him unable to be judged as an adult due to his age, and found his legal guardians guilty as per the dictates of Coluan law regarding minor crimes, I still have some concerns about his placement due to his destructive nature.
Brainy: Understandable.
Judge: UPgov representatives have made a case for releasing him into custody in a secure facility that can potentially meet his needs until it can be ascertained that he can safely interact with the civilian population -
Brainy: He's a civilian.
Judge: I'm sorry?
Brainy: He's a civilian. He's a child.
Judge: Yes, of course, but -
Brainy: Those same UPgov representatives have discussed this facility with me. They seemed to feel that visitation rights would somehow mitigate the fact that he'd effectively be imprisoned and treated as if "innocent" sentients need to be kept away from him. They also claimed they could provide him intellectual stimulation by giving him problems to solve, without realizing their aims of using him as a convenient - and free - intellectual thinktank are completely transparent.
Judge: That's not how this facility was framed -
Brainy: Colugov didn't frame the abuse of my intellect to solve Earthgov and UPgov problems as intellectual slavery when I was child, either. Child labor is supposedly illegal in the UP, yes?
Judge: Yes. You have a point.
Brainy: However, what matters most in these proceedings is that I won't allow anyone else to have custody.
Judge: Excuse me?
Brainy: I simply won't allow it.
Judge: I'm sorry, but if the court decides otherwise, that decision is binding.
Brainy: Yes, that's all well and good, but even if the court deems otherwise, it would be an idiotic decision and I'd elect to ignore it, so it renders this all very moot.
Judge: You can't just ignore what the court orders, Mr. Dox.
Brainy: Your honor, I've only known my child for three days, but after his exploitation - after my own exploitation as a child by my legal guardians - I refuse to trust anyone else in the galaxy with his well-being.
Judge: So you're saying you will engage in illegal actions if custody is taken away.
Brainy: Yes.
Judge: Is that a threat, Mr. Dox?
Brainy: Absolutely. So far, the galaxy has only ever faced Brainiacs that were motivated by a simple desire for power or knowledge. They were fueled by a lack of remorse or emotion. For just a moment, I would like the entire UP to briefly envision what would happen to the galaxy if a Brainiac were motivated by the depths of emotion that come from parental love and concern.
Judge: Mr. Dox.
Brainy: In all this time, despite the public treating me as monstrous, no one has ever seen me actually angry or purposefully destructive, and anyone who tries to keep my child away from me would do well to remember that.
Judge: Mr. Dox, you will get nowhere by attempting to intimidate this court.
Brainy: Moons. I'll start with the moons.
[There is a tense silence as Brainy stares the judge down.]
Brainy: Meanwhile, regarding Brainiac 6 blowing up moons, if I'm given custody, I promise I'll teach him not to. [A brief smile flashes over his lips and then flickers off again.] Also, everyone needs to face this situation with some honesty - if he tries to blow up any moons, you all know that I'm the only one that can actually enforce any boundaries and keep him from creating doomsday devices.
[The Judge looks mostly enraged, slightly intimidated, and yet in reluctant agreement.]
Judge: Given the nature of the abuse your son suffered, Mr. Dox, I'm going to overlook your threatening comments, especially since they demonstrate the depths of your affection and concern for the child. And given the nature of his intelligence, I'm forced to acknowledge the truth - that there is likely no one else in the UP intelligent enough to contain or guide him. I will therefore be granting you permanent custody. Gods help me.
Brainy: Thank you, your honor.
Judge: Mr. Dox, the court has some concerns regarding the nature of Six's crimes -
Brainy: Merl.
Judge: I'm sorry?
Brainy: I've named him Merl. Merl Dox. I already had my lawyer enter it into his records.
Judge: My apologies. Merl's crimes are of a very serious nature and while his criminal trial found him unable to be judged as an adult due to his age, and found his legal guardians guilty as per the dictates of Coluan law regarding minor crimes, I still have some concerns about his placement due to his destructive nature.
Brainy: Understandable.
Judge: UPgov representatives have made a case for releasing him into custody in a secure facility that can potentially meet his needs until it can be ascertained that he can safely interact with the civilian population -
Brainy: He's a civilian.
Judge: I'm sorry?
Brainy: He's a civilian. He's a child.
Judge: Yes, of course, but -
Brainy: Those same UPgov representatives have discussed this facility with me. They seemed to feel that visitation rights would somehow mitigate the fact that he'd effectively be imprisoned and treated as if "innocent" sentients need to be kept away from him. They also claimed they could provide him intellectual stimulation by giving him problems to solve, without realizing their aims of using him as a convenient - and free - intellectual thinktank are completely transparent.
Judge: That's not how this facility was framed -
Brainy: Colugov didn't frame the abuse of my intellect to solve Earthgov and UPgov problems as intellectual slavery when I was child, either. Child labor is supposedly illegal in the UP, yes?
Judge: Yes. You have a point.
Brainy: However, what matters most in these proceedings is that I won't allow anyone else to have custody.
Judge: Excuse me?
Brainy: I simply won't allow it.
Judge: I'm sorry, but if the court decides otherwise, that decision is binding.
Brainy: Yes, that's all well and good, but even if the court deems otherwise, it would be an idiotic decision and I'd elect to ignore it, so it renders this all very moot.
Judge: You can't just ignore what the court orders, Mr. Dox.
Brainy: Your honor, I've only known my child for three days, but after his exploitation - after my own exploitation as a child by my legal guardians - I refuse to trust anyone else in the galaxy with his well-being.
Judge: So you're saying you will engage in illegal actions if custody is taken away.
Brainy: Yes.
Judge: Is that a threat, Mr. Dox?
Brainy: Absolutely. So far, the galaxy has only ever faced Brainiacs that were motivated by a simple desire for power or knowledge. They were fueled by a lack of remorse or emotion. For just a moment, I would like the entire UP to briefly envision what would happen to the galaxy if a Brainiac were motivated by the depths of emotion that come from parental love and concern.
Judge: Mr. Dox.
Brainy: In all this time, despite the public treating me as monstrous, no one has ever seen me actually angry or purposefully destructive, and anyone who tries to keep my child away from me would do well to remember that.
Judge: Mr. Dox, you will get nowhere by attempting to intimidate this court.
Brainy: Moons. I'll start with the moons.
[There is a tense silence as Brainy stares the judge down.]
Brainy: Meanwhile, regarding Brainiac 6 blowing up moons, if I'm given custody, I promise I'll teach him not to. [A brief smile flashes over his lips and then flickers off again.] Also, everyone needs to face this situation with some honesty - if he tries to blow up any moons, you all know that I'm the only one that can actually enforce any boundaries and keep him from creating doomsday devices.
[The Judge looks mostly enraged, slightly intimidated, and yet in reluctant agreement.]
Judge: Given the nature of the abuse your son suffered, Mr. Dox, I'm going to overlook your threatening comments, especially since they demonstrate the depths of your affection and concern for the child. And given the nature of his intelligence, I'm forced to acknowledge the truth - that there is likely no one else in the UP intelligent enough to contain or guide him. I will therefore be granting you permanent custody. Gods help me.
Brainy: Thank you, your honor.