Characters created by: Rebecca Sugar
Chapter 14: The Trial
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Paris, France
The ship descended down upon a landing platform in the middle of a military base just outside of Paris. The ship landed smoothly, and the bay door opened. The blue Gem hovered over the control panel, turning to Steven and Connie, still handcuffed, sitting nearby.
"Alright, you two. It's time."
The Jasper and Peridot grabbed the two and started leading them out.
"Remember, Gems," said the blue Gem, "big smiles. Don't let them no we hate their guts."
She put on a big smile, extending to both sides of her face. She looked to the Jasper, her smile turning into an angry frown.
"Jasper! Smile!"
The Jasper slowly started smiling. The blue Gem smiled again, talking through her teeth.
"Wonderful…"
They all stepped out of the ship. They walked up to a man in a blue uniform, with medals, and a bicorn on his head. Behind him on both sides were two Imperial Guards, guns on their shoulders. The man saw Steven and Connie in handcuffs.
"Ah. You caught them."
The blue Gem, still smiling, giggled.
"Yes! Just like the Emperor wanted!"
"Very good, Aquamarine." said the man.
Steven and Connie's eyes widened.
"Wait." said Steven, "Your name is Aquamarine?!"
She turned to him.
"Yes! Why is that so surprising to you?"
Steven looked to Connie, who just shook her head in disagreement. He looked back to Aquamarine.
"Um. Nothing."
Aquamarine put a finger to her cheek.
"Oh, yes. I remember now. That's what you named your son."
She gave a big smile.
"I'm very honored that I was the inspiration for naming your youngest son."
Steven hesitated.
"N-No! We didn't name him because of y-"
"Steven…"
He looked to Connie, he shook her head again in disagreement. He sighed. Aquamarine turned back to the man in uniform.
"Well. Enough chatter. Shall we head out?"
The man nodded.
"Yes. Most definitely."
The man turned and walked. Everyone else followed. They walked up to two military jeeps. One of the Imperial Guards opened the front passenger door of the first jeep, and the man with the bicorn stepped in. The Guard then closed the door. The other Guard, still with the others, looked to Steven and Connie.
"In the back."
They complied and stepped up into the back seats. The two guards sat beside the two. Aquamarine and the Gems sat in the seats of the other jeeps, keeping their smiles.
The jeeps started their journey, being joined by other vehicles, both behind and in front of them. It was now a convoy. They stopped at the gate of the base, which opened, and they continued their journey.
They drove through a dense forest. Eventually, they could see buildings ahead. They were now in the outskirts of Paris. Soon enough, they saw crowds of people gather on the sidewalks. Imperial Guards stood in front of them, keeping them off the streets. Some people either cheered or booed, but most just stared at them as they passed by. Connie couldn't help but look at them. She wondered why they were so silent. She thought the majority of citizens would be happy about this, but they all looked sympathetic, like they didn't want this. She saw one man put his hand to his right eye, rubbing the side of his face while staring at her. He put his hand down and said something to the man beside him, but she could not read his lips. The man beside him kept staring at her as he responded.
The convoy continued on down the streets of Paris. The Eiffel Tower loomed over the city.
The convoy eventually stopped in front of a large domed building, with steps leading up to the entrance. Steven and Connie looked to the people. Someone in the crowd flew a large French flag. An Imperial Guard stood atop a ledge nearby, and while looking at a hologram in his hand, spoke out at the crowd.
"Aujourd'hui, les deux personnes qui ont défié la résolution de l'Empire rencontreront leurs destinées face à l'empereur lui-même! Que Dieu aie pitié de leurs âmes!"
As he spoke, he occasionally looked to the hologram device. The two guards got out of the jeep and opened the two doors. Steven and Connie stepped out and walked up the stairs, escorted by the two guards.
The door opened, and they saw men wearing blue uniforms with medals, and wearing tricorns. They were conversing with each other, until they noticed the two. They all turned and stared at them in silence. The two lowered their heads, not trying to make eye contact. Steven couldn't help but dart his eyes towards one, who grunted in response. He looked back down to the ground. From behind followed the Gems.
Another door opened, and they stepped into a large court room. Men sat in the rows, all turning to them. A man sitting behind a court desk, wearing a court robe, with brown hair, and an aging face. Steven and Connie were directed by their guards over to a large desk with three seats. The Gems sat in the front row behind them.
The men began conversing again, many keeping an eye on the two.
Then, the judge hit his gavel, and the whole court room went silent. He laid his gavel down and spoke.
"Presenting His Imperial and Royal Majesty, Jacques Lacroix."
A door opened behind him, stepping out the Emperor himself. His black-haired bearded face, wearing a tricorn, blue uniform, and a few medals. Following was a younger man, in his 30s, with brown hair, wearing similar uniform and tricorn. They both sat down on both sides of the judge. Everyone in the rows, including the Gems, stood up, and took light bows before sitting back down. The three men whispered to each other, then the judge hit his gavel.
"Alright. Let's get started. The court has been assembled to try Steven and Connie Universe of foiling the efforts of the empire, by staying alive. Bring out their lawyer."
Two Imperial Guards opened the two large doors on the other end of the room. There, a man with messy black hair, a black suit and pants with a blue tie, and black polished shoes, stood there. He took a few steps forward before taking a light bow for the Emperor. He was sweating as he looked back up, and darted his eyes around the room. He walked over to the desk with Steven and Connie and took the last seat. He reached his hand out. Connie knew immediately what he was doing, and shook his hand. He then reached his hand out further to Steven, who hesitantly shook his hand. The man then whispered to the two.
"Hello. I'm your lawyer."
Connie just nodded, but Steven raised his hand and said "Hi…".
The judge hit his gavel and spoke.
"The Universes versus the Third French Empire will begin."
The judge looked to the two.
"Steven and Connie Universe, you are both charged with the capital crime of sabotaging the efforts of the Empire."
Their lawyer stood up, hands on the table.
"And what would that be, Your Honor?"
"Well, a few events, but more specifically, President Universe sending soldiers into Austria in order to halt our invasion, AND her husband reviving her after our semi-successful assassination attempt."
Connie's eyes widened. She stood up as well.
"You mean to say this was France's doing?"
The judge gave her a cold look.
"Sit down…"
She sat down and gave a cold look back. The judge answered.
"Yes. The Emperor authorized your assassination. But your husband had foiled it. Your attempted sabotage on France was so heinous, that we had to take action and capture both of you."
The lawyer spoke.
"But, Your Honor. A warring nation sending their soldiers to help an ally is expected. It may be heinous to us, but think about it. These two are saints compared to other people. Remember, back in the World War, Germany violated Belgian Neutrality in order to advance into OUR homeland. And your enemies, the British also violated Greek neutrality in the World War. Russia has always treated people brutally. Joseph Stalin can arguably be called one of the most heinous humans who ever lived. And you are sentencing these two, who didn't even want to be involved in this war?"
The lawyer pointed to Connie.
"She's the leader of a country who has been friends with France since the beginning. We WERE the ones who supported the American Revolution in order to get back at Britain. Sure, America and France had a few disagreements, the Quasi War being a good example, but, until now, America and France had great relations. Would this extraordinary woman want to endanger both American and French lives?"
"Let's also take into account what she's done in the past. She fought with the Crystal Gems to keep Earth safe from the Gem Homeworld nearly thirty years ago. Not just fighting for the ones she love, but also for the safety of ALL of us on Earth. We might not be here today without her and the Gems.
The Gems behind them rolled their eyes. Aquamarine also gave a loud "Pfft.". The lawyer turned to them and gave a nervous laugh.
"No offense to you guys."
They just stared at him while Aquamarine gave him the middle finger. He shook and sweated.
"Uh…"
He then turned back to the judge.
"A-And let's not forget her husband. Aside from also fighting for our right to live, he is also famous for being friendly and peaceful. He only wants to make friends and make the world a better place, where everyone is treated equally, and are happy. He's influenced many people with his peaceful nature. A truly admirable man."
Steven had stars in his eyes. He smiled and nodded three times. The lawyer turned to him and smiled.
"So please. If you are going to punish them, AT LEAST let it be a more minor sentence. Maybe 3 years of imperial custody. Living here together with her husband in France under your watch until Connie's term is over."
The lawyer cupped his hands together, his eyes turning into cute puppy eyes. The judge turned to Lacroix, who stared at Steven and Connie. The two stared back at him.
"No…"
The lawyer hunched his upper body down, his arms hanging, and looking at the Emperor in shock.
"B-But."
"These two are too dangerous to be kept alive." said the Emperor, "They are capable of things no ordinary person is capable of."
"B-But Sire. This "Heinous crime" is but a light breeze compared to huge storms. There are much worse things that can happen to France."
"We cannot risk it." said Lacroix.
"But, they never meant harm to France… At first…"
He turned and put his hands behind his back as he looked to the rows.
"Only after the disastrous engagement between French and American naval forces was Connie provoked. An incident that YOU started!"
He pointed to the Emperor. The people in the rows gasped. Aquamarine laughed.
"Well, what an accusation!" she said.
The lawyer continued.
"It was the French fleet that fired the first shot, and the American fleet was only investigating your fleet, AND THEN IT HAPPENED! And then there was the Charleston. Oh, the poor Charleston. Patrolling off the beautiful Bahamas with the Eagle, then came the ships from Haiti! Fire on the patrol. Charleston is sunk! France calls it justified. What did President Universe say in her inaugural address? Oh yes! "Leave us alone, we'll leave France alone."!"
He looked at the rows one by one.
"The ones to blame here are actually sitting around that court desk up there!"
The young man in blue uniform hissed in anger. Lacroix rose up from his seat and looked face to face.
"You dare insult the Emperor?"
The lawyer began sweating, but stayed in his position.
"I-I'm only speaking the truth! Just let them go!"
"That is not happening." answered Lacroix.
"You sentence these two when you are the ones provoking them!"
"I did no such thing." said the Emperor.
"Yes you did, "Sire"! And what's up with that? This is the TWENTY! FIRST! CENTURY! Napoleon has been dead for over 200 years! Empires are sooo dated! This isn't the damn 1800s! THIS IS THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY! I WAS HAPPIER BEING A LAWYER DURING THE REPUBLICAN TIMES!"
He took deep breaths. Then, he sighed.
"Nothing further, Your Honor…"
Lacroix pointed to the Imperial Guards by the large doors, then to the lawyer. They walked over to the lawyer and hand-cuffed him. They walked off with him out of the room. Steven and Connie looked on in disbelief. Steven gulped.
Then, the judge spoke, and the two looked to him.
"Steven and Connie Universe, for the crime of attempted sabotage of the Empire's efforts, who are both hereby sentenced to death by firing squad."
Both of them were shocked.
"Wait!" said Connie, "What?!"
Suddenly, the entire court room heard the lawyer screaming outside.
"Oh, fuck you! You fucking piece of shit!"
Connie rose up from her seat.
"Lacroix! You cannot do this!"
"I am the Emperor." he said, "You're in my territory now. What I say goes."
"No… I should've sent soldiers straight to Paris! I should've stopped you when I had the chance!"
Steven looked to her.
"Connie…"
She turned to Steven and back to Lacroix.
"You sentence my husband to death too?! He didn't do anything to you! What is wrong with you?! You insane psychopath!"
She quivered.
"Don't let him die, Lacroix!"
"Too late…" he said.
Connie started shaking. She welled up with tears. She put her hands to her face and screamed in a muffled voice.
"What have I done?!"
"Restrain her." said Lacroix.
Two Imperial Guards walked up to Connie and handcuffed her. She lowered her hands from her face and stared at Lacroix, tears in her eyes, silently pleading with him. He just stared, with a cold look.
"Take them away." he said.
Two Imperial Guards grabbed Connie by the shoulders and dragged her off. Two other guards took Steven and took him off. They all went through the doors and into the hall. Then, both Steven and Connie were led away from each other, Steven being led to a hall on the left, and Connie on the right. Steven called out.
"Connie!"
Connie turned to him, tears in her eyes.
"Steven! I'm sorry! I'm sorry for everything!"
He was led further down the hall. Connie screamed out.
"I love you!"
Paris Prison-Twenty Minutes Later
Through the halls of the prison, Connie saw the cells of inmates. She lowered her head, and a tear fell. She was eventually led into an empty room. White walls, stone-cold white floor. She was pushed in, and the guards locked the door. Connie welled up with tears. She broke down, sniffling.
"I'm sorry… This is all my fault…"
Prison Ten Miles Outside Of Paris-Thirty Minutes Later
Steven was thrown into a cell next to others with inmates in them. He started crying.