Disclaimer: What is a copyright? Does anyone really own anything? Ownership is an intangible, fleeting concept in my mind that tells me that nobody owns anything and therefore I also don't I own any right to the TV series Kim Possible. Ergo, I don't make any money, another hypothetical concept in my mind, for using the character, ideas or locations from the show. They are the intellectual property, (another vague ideal in this supposedly corporeal world,) of the Walt Disney Company; A company originally based on a cartoon mouse of all things! How screwed up is that!
Author's Notes: I've been thinking a lot about the "Black Hole Deep" threat and what would happen if Ron disappeared right after he and Kim had a small argument. (I have waaaaay too much free time on my hands!) This takes place after college and our crime fighting twosome are planning to get married in a week or so before settling down in their jobs.
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Black Hole Deep: The Prosecution
Pretrial Part 1
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"Order in the court! Please rise!" the Denver Federal Court Bailiff called out to get everyone's attention. As the four other people in the room stood up, a man in a long, loose black robe entered the courtroom and took his seat behind the bench. He was an older man, probably in his late sixties with a touch of gray just starting to salt and pepper his hair, but he was still a handsome, well-proportioned man. The Bailiff announced, "The Honorable Judas D. Crimination presiding."
Judge Crimination banged his gavel a couple of time and said, "You may be seated." He turned to the Bailiff and asked, "What case is this?"
"Your Honor," the Federal Prosecuting Attorney, Sue Indictable, got the Judge's attention as she stood up at the prosecutor's table. "This pretrial hearing is to consider the case of the United States verses Dr. James Timothy Possible. He's being indicted for Murder One, for the disappearance and possible death of one Ronald Dean Stoppable, his daughter's fiancé."
"If this is a simple case of murder," Judge Jude, as he liked to be called, asked, "then why is it being held in a federal court? Isn't this a case for the State of Colorado, or even the municipal court in Middleton?"
"Your Honor," Defense Attorney Edward X. Onerated cut in as he stood at the defense table with Mr. Dr. Possible sitting beside him. "The State of Colorado didn't want to touch the case because of the lack of solid evidence and the... unusual, mode of transportation used in the supposed crime by Doctor James Possible. The court's position was that it may have crossed state lines in it's trajectory and is therefore a federal crime."
"Ah, I see," Judge Jude absently nodded as he glanced through the file in front of him. "Possible death by rocket ship."
"Your Honor," E.X. Onerated loudly said, "I move that the case be dismissed due to lack of evidence."
"Miss Indictable?" The Judge begged as he looked over to the Federal Prosecutor. "Would you like to address the motion?"
"Your Honor. Dr. Possible has been heard on numerous occasions by a number of people, threatening Ronald Stoppable by sending him to a black hole if the young man caused any harm to his daughter, Kim Possible. An argument occurred between Ron Stoppable and Kim Possible on the night in question, approximately two months ago, and Dr. Possible launched a rocket from the Middleton Space Center, his place of employment, early the next morning. Ron Stoppable has not been seen since."
"Your Honor," Mr. Onerated stood up to continue the argument. At the nod of the Judge he stated, "The Prosecution isn't taking in to consideration that young Mr. Stoppable has left Middleton under similar circumstances twice before; once during his sophomore year of high school, and once after the Lowardian invasion was over. Both times Ronald went to Japan to participate in an ongoing exchange program with a sister school. Who's to say he isn't there now?"
The Judge and everyone else in the courtroom looked to the Prosecuting Attorney for the next volley in the verbal debate.
"That exchange program," Ms. Indictable started, "was a high school program, Your Honor. Miss Possible and Mr. Stoppable have just recently finished college together and were planning on getting married approximately one week from today. There's no reason for Ronald to have abandoned his fiancée so close to his wedding, for two whole months, for a program that had supposedly ended four years ago."
Both the Prosecuting Attorney and Defense Attorney sat down, indicating that the debate had ended and that they were ready for his ruling.
Judge Judas Crimination let out a heavy breath while considering both sides of the argument. After a quick minute he came to a decision.
"Since all media and spectator have been banned from these proceedings because of the notoriety brought on by the Defendant's daughter and the alleged victim, I will let this pretrial hearing proceed." He leaned forward and spoke directly to the three people in his line of sight: the Prosecutor, the Defense Attorney and the Defendant. "Since all present have agreed that no jury would be seated for this hearing, I will remind everyone that a strict gag order is in effect. Absolutely no one is to discuss or speak about these proceedings outside of this courtroom, except for people on the need-to-know list that you've all received."
Of course he didn't have to remind the other two people in the courtroom, the Court Stenographer who was sitting just in front of the bench and the Bailiff who was stand beside the bench. They knew far to well what could and would happen if they talked about a case out of turn. A previous Bailiff had been caught discussing a non-sequestered case seated in front of Judge Crimination with someone else, and he was now in prison.
The Judge leaned back in his comfortable high back rolling chair and said, "Ms. Indictable, call your first witness."
Sue moved in front of her table, looked over to the defense and said, "The prosecution calls Dr. James Timothy Possible to the stand."
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This will be another one of my quick, three chapter stories that came to me while planting my vegetable garden. I sure hope my tomatoes turn out like they did last year. I had one plant that produced over 2 dozen tomatoes, all the size of softballs or larger! I had enough salsa and pasta sauce to last the entire winter. (Canned it myself!) It's no wonder I gains 15 pounds last winter.
