By morning, a large crowd had gathered for the trial of the infamous bounty hunter, the White Bolt. The Visionaries' Court of Justice – vast, built to accommodate hundreds – was filled to capacity.
Outside, beneath the marble steps, people gathered not in anticipation of justice, but in quiet calculation – placing wagers, debating odds, as if a man's life were nothing more than a game of chance.
Inside, the architecture of the court alone bore the weight of tradition with arched ceilings, stone pillars, and tiered seating that rose in layers around a central floor. The front of the hall was divided into three distinct sections of authority and relevance.
To the right, in a raised and enclosed box, sat the Seear along with his personal council, senior Zaatsus, and members of the Parliament. They watched and observed but their power to interfere in proceedings was constitutionally limited.
Opposite them, a similar box was reserved for key figures tied directly to the case. At present, the seats were occupied by the Zeta Squad, who had brought the accused into custody.
Between these two enclosures and slightly elevated sat the Justice Council. Composed of randomly selected citizens over the age of 45, from within the city of Ayn, this council served as the deciding authority on all cases – civil or criminal. Each member held a three-year term, and while the Seear's council maintained the right of oversight, their ability to overturn decisions was minimal. The Council was the true heart of the courtroom's judgment.
The front rows of the general gallery were reserved for active Martial Artists of the Eye. Behind them, civilians and lower-ranked combatants filled the rest of the gallery, their murmurs fading as the proceedings began.
Upon the Seear, Renekom Mujin's instructions, a chair was placed in the middle of the Hall, in front of the council and right in between the Zeta Squad and the Seear. The senior most Mystic at the time, one of the closest councils to the Seear, Mystic Master Hedish Norma, then called, "Bring out the prisoner!"
Amidst whispers and gasps, two guards dragged Vincent out, blind-folded with hands and feet tied up, and sat him on the chair. A man from the Seear's council, with a huge scroll in his hand, then got up and began addressing the court.
"Good Morning!" he exclaimed. "By the Seear's leave, I shall now ask the champions of the Zeta Squad to please rise!"
The Zeta Squad stood up and were greeted by a huge cheer from the crowd.
"The names of the members are thus," he said then opened the scroll and read, "Unit Zeta 9, otherwise known by the codename Zeta Squad, assisted by 11 helpers for the mission, is: captain Zaatsu Master Hugo Baylis, Zaatsu Master Neil Baylis, Sokidu Masters Gina Hart, Marcus Bernthal, Ella Clay, and Camille Baylis."
With each name the clapping and the cheers grew louder. They were after all, the captors of the White Bolt himself. The buzz around the Palace and Ayn was loud and the thirst for justice was all but unquenched. The bounty hunter had killed Zaatsus, he had stolen Scriptures of Dark Arts, he was the first man in years to be so universally accepted as the face of evil, and the public demanded that he be brought to justice. And that day had finally arrived. All because of the Zeta Squad.
The Seear raised his staff and said, "Please be seated." Everyone sat.
Adel Abayomi, the chief councillor, then stood up. Adel was a civilian citizen of Ayn and served the Palace as a scribe for the Seear and also held a post at the library. The slender, dark-skinned tall man, rocking a comb-over hairstyle and a goatee, was wearing the council's signature silver robe. He looked at the Seear.
"By your leave, my Lord…" he said with a half-bow.
Renekom nodded.
"Thank you," the councillor continued. "The 2nd of August 2006, Vincent, the infamous bounty hunter, known as the White Bolt, was apprehended by the Zeta Squad near the Gold Coast, Australia, after a grand showdown. The criminal resisted but our champions brought him down."
He waited as the crowd once again cheered loudly this time accompanied by the Seear and all attendees.
"Thank you," he said, and the crowd slowly stopped. "We would, at this point, like to become the voice of one and all and thank the squad led by the illustrious Master Baylis, for their great service, not just to the Palace, but for humanity. They have time and again proved that they are, as of right now, our most celebrated squad of Martial Artists."
The Seear tapped his staff on the ground and once again there was a loud cheer, albeit it did not last as long.
"And now," Adel continued looking at Hugo, "As is tradition, I give you the chief captor: Zaatsu Master Hugo Baylis."
Hugo got up and walked up to Vincent amidst yet another cheer. He circled around the prisoner with a bowed head and stopped in front of the Seear. The two shared a look before Hugo quickly turned around and removed Vincent's blindfold. He then once again walked to the other side.
'Where to begin,' the Zaatsu thought. 'I have to do this right.'
The crowd grew restless, and Hugo stood scratching his head. One of the senior masters leaned forward to say something but was stopped by the Seear.
"We are no champions," the Zaatsu eventually said. "I believe we were doing what we are meant to do. We were just living up to our name… just doing our job. We are supposed to defend the world against criminals of this kind, and so, I will have to politely decline the title of champion."
There were whispers going around the hall. His seniors looked at each other and smiled. They knew Hugo was never a man to take a compliment well. He was way too shy and humble for that.
"Anyways," he finally looked up and continued. "As is tradition…" he chuckled. "Like my good friend Adel said, we apprehended the White Bolt near the Gold Coast, where we had a skirmish first with the bounty hunter. We acquired the remnants he was after and used them to lure him out. But rest assured people, he is no pushover. He eluded us for many hours before we were able to get a drop on him and bring him in. The battle was fierce and dangerous, but good execution of plans meant that not only did we come out without a casualty, but we also captured the man. Now… ah…"
Hugo turned and looked at the Seear first then at the prisoner and said, "Vincent! Your turn."
The tired prisoner looked up at him befuddled.
Many masters and the council leaned forward. "That's a bit unnecessary, don't you think, master Baylis?" Adel asked.
"As is tradition, councilman," Hugo quickly replied. "As is tradition, the prisoner will be given a chance to explain his side of the story, to give his take on the predicament and take a moment to maybe come clean about his criminal nature and activities."
Vincent smiled. "Tradition has long been lost," he said. "I am going to die anyway, what difference does it make?"
And he was right. In recent years, the Court's hearings and procedures had become quite one sided, with frontier justice being served by the council and the Seear. Never in the leadership of the Seear Renekom Mujin did anyone ever contradict the justice council who would almost always give severe judgements with the captor either being hanged or have their heads cut off.
"Master Baylis, we should not be having to remind you of how severe this man's crimes are," Adel said. "He is a murderer. He has killed as many as 17 Eye compatriots and even stole Dark Arts Scriptures from outsourced safehouses and other unknown locations! Will you be willing to except his apologies?"
Hugo dropped his head as the Hall went silent. Vincent was smiling and the atmosphere was tense. Before Hugo could say anything though, the bounty hunter said, "Not once has anyone asked me where the remnants are. Not once has anyone asked me where the scriptures are. No evidence has been provided to support the claims of this damned fool here! Can you even be sure that I actually am the White Bolt? What kind of horseshit are you people running here? This is your due process?"
The bounty hunter was giggling. "You don't even know my name! Vincent. What Vincent? Who's Vincent? You have absolutely nothing on me! Anyone who doesn't comply by your stupid rules is deemed worthy of death!"
"Silence!" the Seear exclaimed. "You dare talk about the Eye…"
"Yes, I dare, sticks!" Vincent said, interrupting him. "You and your sadistic, nonsensical regulations and your puny regime… you're intoxicated, old man. Intoxicated by power. Cults see you as enemies. Order laughs at you. You're running a freak show here. Calling yourselves leaders and defenders?"
He spat on the floor between him and the Seear.
"You wanna see power, sticks?" the bounty hunter taunted. "Get me out of these damned ropes and I'll show you power!"
Adel yelled, "This court will not tolerate such insolence!"
Vincent paused for merely a second before continuing in a calmer tone, "The world is well out of your hands, Eye." He looked at Adel. "It slipped from your wet and sweaty hands the day this buffoon took charge. Your outposts have become so utterly fruitless that it took them almost a year to find out about my operations and then it took you a further six months to send in the one capable squad you have in this entire God-forsaken place. Let that sink in before you try to silence me, you fucking moron!"
People looked around dumbfounded as Hugo laughed. "Time's up, hot shot!" he said. "Nice speech, though."
Renekom got up from his seat. "Master Baylis," he said.
"Yes sir?"
"Quite a few stones were skipped, and quite a few heads turned, when you asked for this man to be captured alive. I believe this is the part where you prove that decision was a sound one."
Hugo shook his head. "Where are the Zaatsu who faced this man in battle?" he exclaimed looking at the crowd.
Zaatsu Masters Beatrix Asimov and Sammy Labeau got up.
"Good. Tell our seniors here how good of a fighter this man is. And also tell them how we as Zaatsu have never faced a guy who could go toe to toe with us so easily." Then he quickly turned to face the Seear and said, "In case you're wondering, he has no affiliations with the Order either."
"I have heard what they have to say, Baylis," Renekom reminded the Zaatsu with a few lines beginning to appear on his forehead. He shook his head in frustration then added, "And for the same suspicions that you are pointing at, we all came to the conclusion that he should be removed from the equation."
Hugo put a hand on Vincent's shoulder. "Are you not even a little bit curious about who trained this man?" he asked with a smile. "When he came up against my team, he did not look like a mere bounty hunter who was stealing some remnants. Oh no. He looked like a trained Martial Artist. He knew about us. He knew Ella was a Mystic and kept throwing defensive spells around himself whenever she was in striking range. Against Neil, he kept at the defensive knowing that my second in command attacks hastily and with his speed he could counter him very comfortably. But against me and Marcus, he was on the offensive. He attacked first and was as fast as he could be. If we hadn't gathered the intel, or if we didn't have what he was looking for, he could have easily picked us apart."
There was silence again in the hall as the Zaatsu continued. "All I'm saying is that I intend to find out who trained this man and who provided him with the info about my squad."
"And just how do you intend to do that, Hugo?" Adel asked.
"The Eye used to have good interrogators," Hugo replied scratching his head. "They're all gone now. So, I guess I'll have to try some other way."
"Such as?"
"Alright here's an idea," he said looking at the prisoner. "Let's ask the prisoner whether he has any conditions? Like I could give him something and in return he gives me what I need…"
"You will do no such thing!" Renekom yelled.
"What does the council say?"
Adel looked at his fellows and they all had the same confused look on their faces. In fact, everyone in the hall was confused. Regardless, thereafter, the Justice Council demanded a brief moment to discuss the matter in private.
But it was not brief. The following hour passed slowly. Hugo decided to sit away from his team and the Seear alike. Vincent remained on his chair and the restless public kept buzzing about. However, once the council returned to their seats, the court went silent. Adel Abayomi shuffled through some papers and then the council discussed some more, whispering so that no one would be able to hear them. They kept having slanted looks at Hugo and many a time looked at the Seear.
Hugo walked up and stood next to Vincent.
"They are worried more about pleasing you and the Seear than about the actual issue," the bounty hunter whispered.
"Been the case for more than six years now," Hugo replied in kind. "Are you willing to help me out here?"
Vincent looked up at him. "I don't know what your game is," he said. "But I don't trust people all that often or all that easily."
"I thought a Ki pill would be enough to shift the balance in my favour."
"Think again… besides," he looked away. "That was your sister, not you."
There was a moment's silence before Vincent looked back down, took a deep breath and, shaking his head, whispered, "You've ruined everything. Now do what you have to, and I'll do what I have to…"
"Master Baylis," Adel called. "Shall we begin?"
"Of course," Hugo quickly replied.
"Lord Mujin, by your leave…"
"Proceed," the Seear said raising his staff.
Adel stood up and began addressing the attendees, "Ladies and gentlemen, the court is in session now. Let it be known that the Justice Council has taken all the variables into account to come to this unanimous decision. Be it the uncommon opinions of Zaatsu Master Baylis or the severe crimes of Vincent the bounty hunter or the opinions of the many senior masters calling for severe punishments, all have been considered."
He paused and Vincent smiled.
"We looked into the matter and found the bounty hunter known as the White Bolt worthy of death."
"Oh no no no," Hugo calmly commented as he shook his head.
"Excuse me?" Adel asked.
"I said, no. Not on my watch. As long as I have a say in the matter this man remains alive."
The council again discussed, whispering amongst themselves.
One of the other councilmen said, "That is absurd Master Baylis, and you give us no material to even have a proper discussion."
"Are you deaf, or just stupid?"
"What is the meaning of this, Hugo?" the Seear exclaimed.
"I have already told you!" The Zaatsu looked at the leader of the Eye. "We must know who trained him. There should be no one but the Eye and Order who could prepare someone like this. He outsmarted us for months, outfought us many times, and has information on us as if he had insiders. Does that not demand further investigation?"
Renekom took a deep breath. "That investigation does not require the bounty hunter."
"Are you sure?"
The Seear could not reply.
Hugo smiled. "I thought so." He looked at the council. "We need to know more before we execute this man."
Adel looked at the Seear and said, "But isn't that highly unlikely to happen? I mean what chance do you have of acquiring that information from a man of his skill and cunning?"
Renekom nodded.
Hugo sighed. "How about you let me worry about that?" he said standing with arms akimbo.
Vincent laughed and taunted, "Looks like we have a Mexican stand-off, boys."
The decisive voices in the hall went silent once again. Hugo was ready to go to any lengths to keep Vincent off death row, while everyone else was more than ready to put him down. The crowd was growing more and more impatient. The process had already been dragged far longer than they expected or hoped for. They were chatting loudly now.
On the other hand, the bounty hunter did not look bothered at all, poking fun at his captors and mocking their process and ranks, which made the whole scenario even more frustrating.
The Seear's council members sitting all around him now began to lean in and whisper. Hugo, standing about six inches from Vincent's shoulder, dropped his head and whispered, "You're not making it any easier, man."
"What are you trying to gain here?" the White Bolt asked.
"I'm not sure, exactly."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I need to get you through this first."
"Alright postpone it!" Renekom exclaimed. "Postpone it, councilman." He then looked at the guards, "Take the prisoner back to his cell. This matter will be decided privately."
Hugo tapped Vincent on the shoulder. "Mission accomplished," he whispered as the bounty hunter shook his head and let out a sigh.
"Hugo!" Renekom called. "In my hall, now!"
He smiled and said, "Sure."
The crowd hooted and booed then as the prisoner was blindfolded once again and dragged out. The furious Seear and his personal council, followed by Hugo and the Justice Council, stormed out of the court. Vincent was taken back to his cell and very soon, the Visionaries' Court began emptying.