"Redemption"
By: Q2
Prologue
After the defeat of Mizar, who was actually Barry in a powerful machine, peace finally inhabited the Tribals' corner of the galaxy. On Goldwood, Barry had been banished away from the Tribals. Juno, Vela, and Lupus, the vanquishers of Mizar, kept the existence of Barry a secret from Jet Force as King Jeff of the Tribals had requested. With Mizar destroyed and Barry exiled, the Drones automatically lost their function thus dying almost instantly. One year later, sudden attacks and kidnappings upon a few Tribal colonies were reported to Jet Force. Through investigation by Juno, Vela, and Lupus, it was known as the return of Mizar. This time Mizar was more powerful than he was before. Juno, Vela, and Lupus sought to defeat the evil creation once again. While the battle went on, several Mizar Drones escaped with the kidnapped Tribals. Personally at the hands of Juno again, Mizar was defeated. Again, all that remained was Mizar's head, and Barry was released from it again. Barry, however, appeared unconscious of any activity. King Jeff was not around this time and the federation was already at the scene. Barry's existence was acknowledged and the secret that Juno, Vela, and Lupus had kept from the federation was soon uncovered. The slight dishonesty portrayed by Juno, Vela, and Lupus went unpunished yet unforgotten; however, a much greater fate lied for Barry. The whereabouts of the kidnapped Tribals remained unknown.
"Are you ready, Vela?" Juno was formally dressed. He wore a navy blue suit and red tie. He stood outside of Vela's room waiting patiently for her to come out.
"Gimme a break, Juno! Damn." Vela's voice came bursting out of the door. She was in the middle of getting dressed.
Their spaceship was parked in a parking lot reserved for spaceships from the Jet Force. There weren't many spaceships around, but there were some. Juno's head faced the ground as he waited for his sister. Suddenly the sound of a door opening caught Juno's attention. He looked up and before him stood Vela. She had on a red suit and a skirt. She glared at Juno and placed her right hand on her hip. Juno faced her eye to eye. He hadn't a clue as to why she was looking at him like that.
"Vela, why are you looking at me like that?"
It was the first time Juno ever asked her that question since the second defeat of Mizar. Ever since, Vela eyed her brother coldly. She closed her eyes and shook it off.
"Sorry. I still don't know how you got me to do this, but if we sit here we're gonna be late. Let's just get this over with."
Vela walked ahead of her brother and called for Lupus. After hearing her voice, Lupus barked and ran to lick at her ankles. Vela kneeled over and petted Lupus' head. Juno walked from behind and shut the door on their way out.
Juno, Vela, and Lupus arrived at a courthouse. They went in and walked into a courtroom. It was Barry's trial beginning to take place. Several policemen escorted Barry into the room. Barry wore prison clothes with an ID tag on the left side of his torso. He walked over to the defendant side and took his seat. The only person beside Barry was his brother, King Jeff. Soon, the judge arrived and the trial commenced.
Soon, it was time to call in witnesses.
"I like to call Juno to the bench," Jeff addressed the court.
"Well, here it goes," Juno said to himself.
Juno rose from his seat and walked over to the bench. Vela still sat with her arms and legs crossed while kicking and tapping impatiently. The bailiff greeted Juno as he stood before the bench. The bailiff held out a bible and Juno placed his hand on it.
"Juno," she said, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
"I do," Juno replied.
"Please be seated."
Juno sat down and Jeff began his questioning.
"Juno, please tell the court what you witnessed on the day in question."
"Well. That day when we heard about the attacks on the Tribals, Vela, Lupus, and I rushed to see what was happening. We did see Mizar. We engaged him and nearly wound up in the same situation as we were before. Vela and Lupus were knocked into unconsciousness and I was left standing. Although it was tough, I did destroy Mizar's body. His head rolled away from the explosion. As I went to get a better look at it, the hatch opened up and a pod came out of it. The pod opened and there was Barry, but he looked unconscious too. He collapsed out of the pod and laid there for a while. Then, Vela and Lupus woke up we all saw Barry awaken. He was confused. He kept asking where he was. Then the federation came and took him away."
"Did Barry seem to have any recognition as to anything that happened during Mizar's attack?"
"No. He didn't."
"Did Barry ever remember what happened before someone told him what happened?"
"No. He looked very surprised when the other Geminis read the charges against him."
"Okay." Jeff turned the judge. "No further questions, Your Honor."
With that, Jeff took his seat, but he didn't appear too confident. Barry turned to Jeff.
"That was the best you could do?"
"I told you, Barry. I'm not a lawyer, nor have ever done anything like this before."
"Yeah, I know. I know."
The prosecutor was ready for cross-examination.
"Juno. When you fought Mizar, was it a hard fight?"
"Yes it was."
"Really. Will you elaborate on the movements of Mizar?"
"Yes. He moved more frantically than last time. It was hard to keep up and hard to take aim. It was like he was going as fast as a real flying insect. If it weren't for my upgraded Homing Missile ammunition, I don't think I would have won."
"Were Mizar's movements reckless?"
"...Reckless?"
"Okay, okay. Let me rephrase that. You said that Mizar was incredibly fast."
"Yes."
"Then, would whoever controlled Mizar have to move equally fast?"
"Yes."
"But if someone cannot react as fast, then that person would suffer some damage as he or she is swung around."
"Yes."
"And you said the head rolled away from the explosion."
"Yes, I said that."
"Did Barry look as if he had sustained a lot of pain?"
"…Yes."
"No further questions," the mole turned to the judge and took his seat. Juno got up and walked back to his seat. Barry grew tenser. Jeff approached before the court.
"I'd like to call Vela to the bench."
Vela threw her arm up in detest and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. She and Juno walked passed each other avoiding eye contact. Vela stood before the bench where the bailiff was holding the bible. Vela placed her hand on it.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
"Yes."
"Please be seated."
The bailiff walked away and Jeff came. Vela sat down and folded her arms.
"Vela, please tell us what you remember from the day in question."
Vela sighed and prepared to talk.
"I don't remember much from that day. We received calls about a horrible attack and went to check it out. When we got there, we saw Mizar. As we tried to attack, I was hit by one of Mizar's energy balls and fainted. When I woke up, I saw Barry on the ground motionless. When he woke up, he was wondering what happened. Then the federation came and took him away."
"When the federation took Barry away, did he seem very vengeful?"
"No, he didn't."
"Did Barry act bitterly in anyway?"
"The only thing Barry did when he was being taken away was repeatedly said that he didn't know anything and it wasn't his fault. He never stopped trying to explain to them."
"Okay… um…" Jeff was running out of ideas, but suddenly one hits him. "Vela. Barry was banished to Rith Essa, right?"
"Yes. That was after the rule of Mizar. He was banished from all Tribals."
"You've been to Rith Essa, right?"
"Yes."
"What's it like there?"
"It's a huge jungle basically. It's mostly made up of trees, lakes, and caves."
"Do you recall any type of metal there or anything representing advanced technology and mechanics?
"There were very few metals there, and if they were there, it couldn't have been made on that planet. It had to have been shipped onto Rith Essa. As for technology, there was very little of it if any at all. The houses were wooden."
"So, do you think there's a possible chance for someone to recreate Mizar being limited to the material on Rith Essa?"
"…No. I don't think so. Especially not the Mizar I tried to fight against. The improvements made on it makes it even harder to believe."
"Thank you, Vela." Jeff turned to the judge. "No further questions." He returned to Barry who had a surprised look on his face.
"Good call, Jeff."
"Don't thank me yet."
"Your witness," the judge said to the mole.
The mole advanced over to Vela. Vela watched him coming. Still impatient, she crossed her legs. The mole quickly caught attention to Vela's action, but shook his head a bit to remain on the subject. "Vela?"
"Yes?"
"From your experience on Rith Essa, how much life would you say is on Rith Essa?"
"What do you mean by life?"
"Oh. I mean intelligent life such as Tribals, humans, that sort of thing."
"I only found one mole and several Tribals, but I rescued the Tribals. Other than the mole, wild animals, and plants, I don't remember any other kind of life."
"Were there any type of surveillance to keep an eye on things on Rith Essa?"
"No."
"Were there any kind of communication hardware or devices?"
"There are communication devices available in the landing and take off pads. That's what lets our ships know where to land."
"Are there any other communication devices?"
"No."
"Was there any way to detect if a ship was going to or coming from Rith Essa?"
"No. No satellite orbits around Rith Essa. Any type of telecommunication or electronic transmission would have to be done on the planet itself."
"Would there be a way to detect a ship of supplies coming in?"
"No."
"And since there isn't much life on Rith Essa, is there any way for anyone to keep constant surveillance?"
Vela paused for a second knowing where the questioning was headed. "…No."
"Okay." He turned to the judge. "No further questions."
The prosecutor and Vela returned to their seats. Barry knew it was his turn next. He grew very tense. Jeff looked a little puzzled.
"Your next witness?" the judge addressed to Jeff.
"Your honor," Jeff said and stood before the court. "I'd like to call…"
Barry began to get up from his seat.
"…Lupus."
"Huh?"
"That's right. Lupus."
An immediate roar of puzzlement and conversation erupted over the entire courtroom, but it did not drown out the loud voice of someone who cried, "What the hell?" Barry fell back into his chair and collapsed on the table in utter embarrassment. Even Lupus had to raise an "eyebrow" in confusion.
"Your honor, I object!" the mole yelled, "This is obviously contempt to the court! Besides, how the hell is someone gonna interrogate a dog?"
"Order!" the judge banged the gavel. "Order!"
Barry sarcastically joked to himself, "I'll have one bullet to go on my trip to Hell."
The crowd silenced down. Jeff quickly tried to explain.
"Lupus is a trained Jet Force Gemini. That makes him completely acceptable to conversation. And Lupus is still a witness in seeing what happened to Barry."
"King Jeff," the judge addressed, "I will not allow you to bring about this madness into a serious courtroom affair."
"I am fully aware of the seriousness in this trial, Your Honor. That's the very reason why I ask to bring Lupus into question. Being a trained Jet Force Gemini, possessing an understanding of moral instinct and character, displaying an ability to rescue Tribals, and proving his worth against the bane of Mizar, Lupus has proved that he is capable of anything we are. Lupus has placed among as an intelligent individual. If he is able to rescue hostages, defeat Mizar, and pilot a spaceship, surely he is able to answer under examination."
The judge sighed. "That is a well settled argument. Very well. Proceed with your examination."
"Thank you, Your Honor."
"What?" the mole asked. "This is nonsense!"
"Silence," the judge banged the gavel. "I will allow this."
Vela still couldn't believe it. She turned to Juno who just shrugged back at her. She looked down to Lupus. "Well, boy, I guess you're up now."
Lupus whimpered silently.
"Go on, boy. Just answer what they ask you."
Lupus walked down the aisle toward the front of the courtroom. All eyes stared at him. The bailiff looked down at Lupus by her feet. Lupus looked back up at her. The bailiff shook her head in embarrassment and kneeled down to Lupus. She held the bible to Lupus and Lupus placed his paw on it.
"Do- you uh… swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
Lupus performed his trademark howl.
The bailiff raised an eyebrow. "I guess that means yes." She got off her knees.
Lupus walked over to the chair and jumped in it. He faced Jeff and sat down. Lupus' tongue hung out and he breathed quickly and loudly.
"Lupus," Jeff said, "Juno and Vela claim that Mizar had hit you and Vela with energy balls that knocked you both out cold. Is that true?"
Lupus barked affirmatively.
"And when you woke up, you saw Barry there."
Lupus barked again.
"In Barry's state, did it look as if he could pilot Mizar?"
Lupus shook his head as if he was drying himself after a bath.
"Was there anyway of telling that Barry was conscious at all during the attack of Mizar?"
Lupus paused for a moment and then shook his head.
Jeff ran out of ideas, but gratified himself for trying his best to help Barry. "I have no more questions." Jeff returned beside Barry. Jeff didn't look very happy and Barry was still embarrassed.
The mole approached Lupus and muttered under his breath, "I can't believe this." He looked up to the dog and gave an obviously fake smile. "Hi there, Lupus!"
Lupus growled bitterly.
"Hey!" the mole replied, "What was that for?"
The crowd began to laugh. Even Vela, through all of her impatience, managed to snicker. Jeff and Barry chuckled together. The judge banged the gavel and demanded order again.
"Lupus," the mole continued, "you know how to pilot a ship, right?"
Lupus barked in confirmation.
"You also know how to drive a tank. Is that right?"
Lupus barked in confirmation again.
"So if you had to engage in a battle, you had to stay focused and conscious. Is that true?"
Lupus barked again.
"If you fainted, didn't your vehicle cease as well?"
Lupus paused for a second but barked again.
"No more questions." The mole rolled his eyes back and turned to his seat. Lupus glanced back at him, but then Lupus dismounted from the chair and went back to Vela and Juno.
Later, Barry was at the bench. He sat quietly yet anxiously. King Jeff rose from his chair and approached Barry.
"Barry, are you at full acknowledgement that you are under oath?"
Barry felt extreme tension. The sense of worry overpowered most of his actions. His eyes remained widened. He laid his hands on the bench with a firm grip.
"Y-yes. I know I'm under oath," Barry spoke nervously.
"Then, please tell us in your own words what happened on the day in question."
"Okay," Barry was still very nervous. "Early that day, I was resting in the bed I made. Everything was quiet until I heard a tree branch crack. I sat up and looked around. I didn't see anything but a bunch of trees. So when I decided to rest again, something nailed me right on the head. I fell down and soon, everything blacked out. The next thing I knew, I woke up on the ground. I looked up and saw Juno looking back at me. Then I saw Vela and Lupus gathering around me too. My head ached. My body was sore. I could barely move. I didn't know what happened at all." Barry held his hands against the sides of his head. "I don't know what happened! Yes, I admit that the power and authority of that creation overtook me before I was caught and exiled, but now-" Tears began to form out of Barry's eyelids. "I understand that I was wrong. I admitted that to Jeff a year ago. Now, it's totally different. I- I didn't control that second Mizar!"
"Okay, Barry. Calm down."
Barry was still crying, but he wiped the tears away and looked at Jeff. "Okay."
"Barry, do you have any idea who hit you?"
"Not a clue. I don't know who it was."
"Okay." Jeff sighed for a bit of relief. "I have no more questions." He walked back to his chair and thought to himself. "I wish I could do a lot better than this. I can't conjure up a good argument. I'm sorry, Barry. I'm still trying, but it's not doing any good."
The mole was in front of Barry. "Barry, are you also aware that part of the charges against you are also based on your initial reign of terror as Mizar?"
"Yes. I know that."
"Were you the only person who knew how to operate Mizar?"
"Yes, I was."
"Were you the only person who knew that Mizar wasn't real?"
"Yes, I was."
"According to what you and Jeff claim, you were on an asteroid when you were defeated, correct?"
"Correct."
"And the asteroid was destroyed along with Mizar's remains?"
"Yes it was."
"How long did it take you to build Mizar?"
"A long time."
"Can you be more specific, Barry?"
Barry lost his confidence. He was certain of his loss. "One year."
"And how long has it been between your first defeat and the day in question?"
Barry glanced back at Jeff. Jeff only looked back with a saddened face. Barry depressed his head and closed his eyes. "One year."
"No further questions, Your Honor." The mole went back to his seat. Barry returned to Jeff's side. Barry depressed his head and wept. Jeff placed his hand on Barry's shoulder, but Barry didn't respond.
Juno narrowed his eyes and palmed his chin. He thought about what happened during the examinations. Vela was still ready to leave and Lupus sat patiently.
Later in the end of the trial, the jury returned with their decision. Barry quickly sulked in his chair. Jeff stared at the jurors as they retook their seats. Juno paid very close attention to the trial, Vela was checking the time on her wristwatch, and Lupus still sat.
"Jury," the judge called, "What is your verdict?"
A man in a suit stood from his seat. He took the sheet of paper in his hand and read it. "We find the defendant, Barry, guilty of the attack by Mizar. We also find the defendant guilty of the previous reign of terror known as Mizar."
Barry hadn't changed his emotion, but Jeff depressed his head in defeat.
"Barry," the judge called. Barry peered at the judge. "Due to your act of intergalactic terrorism, betrayal to the colonies, enslavement, murder, and attempt of continuation of your crimes, I hereby sentence you to death after 6 years of imprisonment."
Jeff gasped, but Barry still didn't change. The police grabbed Barry and escorted him out of the courtroom while Jeff trailed behind them. The judge dismissed the trial and everyone began to leave, but Juno still sat in his seat thinking. Vela and Lupus walked a few feet before noticing Juno wasn't behind them.
"Juno," Vela looked back, "Aren't you coming?"
Juno snapped out of his thought and looked at Vela. "Oh. Sorry. Here I come."
With that, the three Geminis exited the courthouse and returned to their ship.
The next day, Barry laid in the discomfort of his jail bed. The room was damp, filthy, and small. Insects crawled along the walls in random directions. Barry felt as if he was imprisoned inside a soda can. Hopelessness was all that Barry felt. He wept again hoping for some way to escape from his fated death sentence, but the only response his ears received was the sound of a tear splash onto the hard floor.
"Barry!" a familiar voice cried from beyond the cell door.
"Huh?" Barry replied. He propped up his back and looked outside. He saw King Jeff looking back at him. "Jeff!" Barry leapt off the bed and nearly rammed himself into the bars. "Jeff! How'd it go!"
Jeff appeared saddened. His face depressed and the grip on his scepter loosened. Barry found the answer to his question in Jeff's facial expression. Barry slowly gripped the bars and sagged to the floor.
"The Union completely denied my request. Not only that, but they also disavowed any recognition of you as a Tribal anymore."
"Great." Barry lost hope again. "Just great."
"I also spoke with the Federation and the government. They disallowed the option of bail."
Barry sighed. "Why is this happening to me?"
"This whole thing is also part of the reason why I wanted to take this back to Goldwood. I knew if the Earth was in control, they would punish you much more harshly."
"No one even believed a word I said." Barry gazed at his brother. "You believe me, don't you?"
"Uh-" he stumbled, "Um- of- cour-"
"You don't believe me either?" Barry screamed. "Then why bother helping me? Why even try?"
"Barry! Listen! I believe you. You're my brother. I know when you're telling the truth or not. It's just that-"
"-my story sounds like total crap?" Barry finished.
"I wish it was a bit more believable," Jeff sighed. "I just don't know what to do. Maybe there's nothing I can do."
"Well," a different voice boomed into their conversation, "maybe there's something I can do."
The two Tribals were startled. They turned their heads down the corridor and Juno stepped out from the shadows.
"Juno?" the brothers asked simultaneously.
Juno was dressed casually. He wore a short sleeve t-shirt, a pair of blue jeans, tennis shoes, and a baseball cap on his head.
"Juno?" Barry asked again. "What are you doing here?"
"I presume the same reason why Jeff is here."
"Do you think I'm innocent?" Barry jumped up excitedly.
"No. Not exactly."
"Huh?"
"Well, I'm not really sure if you're guilty, but I can't be for certain you're innocent either. I'm just a little skeptical all together."
"Oh. I see." Barry's eyes closed and his head drooped.
"I just thought it would be best if someone further investigated the problem. I don't mean by the charge of you being Mizar in the first place. I mean the second charge."
"You'd do that?"
"Yes. It isn't right if you're innocent, but I'll have to see for myself if you're really telling the truth."
"Oh! Thank you, Juno! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Um," Juno responded uneasily, "Y- you're welcome."
"If you're gonna personally investigate, I should tell you where it took place. I was up on the Ascent. I stayed right around those old wooden buildings."
"Thanks, Barry. I'll look into it."
"Please help me as soon as you can. I swear I'll make it up to you."
Juno slid his hands into his pants' pockets. He gave a nod to Barry and then one to Jeff. Juno headed down the hallway and into the depth of the shadows.
Many hours passed by. Quietness fell over the ship. Vela's room was shrouded by darkness. Vela slept silently in her bed. The calm air caressed her hair and all was peaceful until noises abruptly caught Vela's attention. Her eyes blinked open as more sounds came into the room. She leaned up from the bed and readjusted the shoulder straps on the nightgown she wore. The sounds became recognized as someone unloading and packing heavy objects. Vela rubbed the sleep out from her eyes and pulled the blanket off of her. She swung her legs over the bed and stood straight up. Picking up her Pistol as she walked by her chair, Vela went to find the source of the noises.
Vela found herself heading towards the Launch Area. She peeked inside to find a figure moving along the shadows. Vela carefully rubbed against the wall searching for the light switch. Once she felt it, she flipped it on and pointed her Pistol at the figure. "Freeze!"
Caught completely surprised, Juno jumped back and nearly tumbled over. "Wha- What?"
"Juno?" Vela snapped in a sense of both shock and anger. She lowered her arms relieving her a little, but then she glared at her brother. He was completely in uniform. "And exactly what the hell do you think you're doing? You woke me up!"
"Oh. Sorry, Vela."
Vela rubbed her face trying to ease the stress, but then she noticed Juno's spaceship's door open. Inside were a few guns and other cargo.
"Hey," she asked. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Uh, nowhere. I'm just going out."
"Have you been drinkin' that cocoa flavored coffee again?" Vela leaned over to Juno and sniffed around his mouth.
Juno pushed Vela's shoulder forcing her to lean back. "Hey, stop that!"
"Well, you don't smell like you're high on coffee. So where are you going?"
Juno sighed, as he knew he wouldn't be able to escape Vela's mood. "I'm going to Rith Essa."
"Rith Essa? But... what-" Suddenly, an idea hit her. "Oh, I get it. You're gonna try to prove Barry's innocence, aren't you?"
"No. Well, sort of."
Vela folded her arms across her chest and intensely glared at her brother. Juno immediately realized she wanted to know everything.
"No," Juno said to himself, "not the stare."
Vela's trigger finger repeatedly tapped on the side of her pistol. Her impatience was apparent.
"Alright!" Juno surrendered. "When I went out today, I went to see Barry. I volunteered to go out and see if there was anything that could prove Barry's innocence. I just think there's a possible chance that Barry could be innocent. Even if he's guilty, it's best to make sure."
Vela closed her eyes trying to accept the information.
"So, I'm going to Rith Essa to look for anything. You can join me if you want."
Vela did not say a word for a few seconds. In a moment, she turned around and headed back to bed.
"Do whatever you want," she shot back.
Juno stiffened up from her words, but relaxed a bit afterwards and watched her leave.
"Mr. Hero," Vela murmured under her breath.
"Mr. Hero?" Juno repeated what she said. Vela stopped realizing she snapped too loudly.
"What do you mean, Mr. Hero?" Juno asked Vela.
Vela made no motion answering Juno's question. She ignored her brother and proceeded off to bed. Juno shrugged and prepared to take off for Rith Essa.