"Next case!" the judge called
"Two mercenaries, both had bounties on their heads. Felix and Locus." The guard said
"Bring them in."
The court doors opened and two men were escorted in. One tall man with dark skin and hair that went down to his shoulders. The other man was short and had a young face with hair that used to be shaved into a Mohawk, but grew out after so many months in prison.
"Put Felix on one side and Locus on the other." The judge said, not looking up from the files he was reading over.
The younger was placed further away from the taller. "Okay then. Felix and Locus." The judge sighed, looking at the younger and then the older
"Well hello there, judge. Funny how much time passes." Felix smirked
"Can it, Felix! If you cooperate, you can have your sentence reduced." The judge barked
"If I may ask, what is our sentence?" Locus sighed
"Since you actually asked nicely, Locus. If you both are convicted of the charges you have, which you definitely are, you would be sentenced to life in the detention facility." The judge answered, ignoring Felix for Locus
"Why aren't we being executed then?"
"Because, you were hired to take down these colonies and ships by Malcolm Hargrove of Charon Industries. We have all your bank statements and transfers between you and Charon. Malcolm is already sentenced to death for his involvement. You two were merely just pawns in his schemes." He explained
"...How unfortunate." Locus shrugged, unfazed by the sentence, "If we cooperate, what would we be doing for a lesser sentence?"
"Well, since you both were hired to kill an entire town in the 17th colony, you can either take care of the only survivor, which just so happens to be a baby girl until she decides she no longer needs you and you would just be sentenced to two years, or sit in the detention facility until the day you die. Your choice."
"How the fuck are we supposed to take care of a baby?! We were mercenaries, not babysitters!" Felix snapped
"Well guess what, Felix. You're not being this little baby's babysitter!" the judge said cockily, "If you choose to, you'll be raising the child with Locus if he chooses to. You'd be her father of some sort!"
"Fuck that! I'd rather rot in prison!" Felix snarled
The judge when back to looking over files. "Really? Well, you don't have to give me an answer today. But if that's how you feel, then you freely state that tomorrow morning. And we'll arrange for you to be sent to the highest security prison with solitary confinement." he said, sounding condescending, "You have tomorrow to give me your final answer. Next case!"
Felix and Locus were then led away, back to their cells. Locus was sitting on his bed, thinking if raising a child was worth being sentenced to two years. While Felix was having none of that. "Fucking moron! I'm so not taking care of a baby, I can barely look after myself." he ranted, "Like I said, I'd rather rot in prison than raise a fucking squalling excuse for a human being!"
Locus was deep in thought at this point. On one hand, I only get two years. And maybe this baby could have potential in her, he thought. On the other hand, child raising sounds just as bad a life in prison...
"If they think I'm gonna agree to something stupid like that, they're in for ten worlds of wrong." Felix chuckled, "At least you'll be here with me, right Locus?"
Locus looked up at Felix. Felix was looking so goddamn smug, thinking Locus was always going to side with him. Locus slowly shook his head. "I don't think this time, Felix." he sighed, "I think prison is ten times worse than the option we're given."
Felix's smiled dropped, looking shocked. "But Locus, we're partners! We need each other!" Felix reasoned, "How am I going to survive prison without you?!"
"You'll just have to, I'm taking the other way out." Locus said
"But we're mercenaries! Not babysitters!" Felix yelled
Locus then chose to ignore Felix for the rest of the night, which turned out to be the hardest thing to do. Felix kept shouting at him and throwing things at walls. But he somehow managed to do it. Finally, after 7 hours of hearing nothing but Felix, it was quiet. Locus was laying on his prison bed, looking up at the ceiling. Sorry Felix, he thought, But I think this is where we finally part ways.
Morning came too quickly for Locus' liking. The prison guard came in and cuffed him up again. "Time for your decision." the guard said
Locus looked over at Felix's cell. He was being cuffed up and looking less sinister than normal. He looked rather solemn and sad. Both were walked down to the same room like the day before and placed in the same spots. "Locus, have you made your decision?" the judge asked, not looking up
"Yes," he said, "I wish to take care of the child."
"Very well," the judge said, "And Felix?"
Locus was prepared to finally say goodbye to his partner. What came next took him aback. "I also wish to take care of her."
The judge stopped and looked up at Felix with a perplexed. "Did I just hear you correctly, Felix?" he asked, unsurely
"Yes." Felix answered
The judge looked at the guards and then at the paper on his desk. "Um, very well. Felix, Locus, you two will be this girl's parents." he said, weakly, "You two will be sent to Earth and raise the child there. I'll make arrangements for your release and find you a suitable place to live. Dismissed."
Locus was still shocked as they were sent to the release quadrant. Locus was about to say something when Felix spoke first. "I can't be in prison alone! I would have gone insane!" he confessed, "I need you more than you need me!"
Locus could help but grin slightly. "Interesting, you being a parent." he sighed
Felix then gave him a slight smirk. "It's a baby, how hard can it be?"