"Rise for the honorable Judge Hangan!"
"Be seated," said Ginpatsu Kouhei Hangan as he entered the court. The judge was a silver-haired man of advanced years who, to Gohan and Videl at least, projected wisdom and dignity. He sat down behind his bench, adjusted his glasses, and peered at a piece of paper.
"Let's see, today we will be hearing the case of...Son vs. Nukeana. I assume we all know the basic facts of the case. Does either counsel have any requests before opening statements begin?"
"Yes, Your Honor." Itachi Nukeana, who was acting as his own attorney, rose. "I ask the court to issue a restraining order forbidding Mrs. Son from leaving her husband's class until this trial is concluded."
Judge Hangan nodded. "So granted. Anything else?"
It was Jennifer's turn to rise. "Your Honor, my clients and I have two requests to make. First, that an order be placed on Mr. Nukeana forbidding him from arranging the details of next year's curriculum. Second, that the tenure hearing of one of my clients be frozen, so that it would not be unduly affected by current events. Both to last until this trial's conclusion."
"Both granted." Jennifer shot a quick, nasty glance at Nukeana, who apparently had been anticipating neither request. "Is counsel for the plaintiff ready to present her opening statement?"
"I am. Your Honor..." As she launched into her opening statement, Gohan and Videl looked at each other, just a tad nervously, and clapsed hands.
Jennifer's statement is too long to reproduce here in full, so I'll summarize. The essence of her opening statement ran thus: While the rules of the college *could* be interpreted as allowing a breach-of-contract suit (the first thing every law student learned was to make a concession or two), that was only if you played fast and loose with much of the language. Further, expecting a college professor to teach his own wife was an exercise in insanity; indeed, in wickedness. Not only did it have the definite possibility of causing marital strife, but it would damage both of their reputations. Henceforth, they were suing Nukeana for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
"I think I did all right," she whispered as she sat back down.
"All right?" Gohan replied. "You did excellent. He should award us the case on that speech alone. Great job."
Judge Hangan, who seemed not quite as impressed, nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Bengoshi. Mr. Nukeana, are you ready?"
The weaselly little man nodded. "Yes, Your Honor, I am."
***
Mirai leaned back in a Capsule Corp. recliner and blew air out of his mouth in frustration. He was bored. Very bored. Incredibly bored.
He was bored of being bored.
As a half-Saiyan, he couldn't fight all the time, like his father or Goku or Turles or Broli or any of the various full-bloods. He had the fighting compulsion, yes, but not to nearly the same degree. His main source of pleasure was, of course, Jennifer (not like THAT, he corrected himself hurriedly, not yet) but she was always busy during the day. He recalled her sweet voice whispering both sarcastic witticisms and professions of love in his ear, her soft touch around his waist as they held each other tight, the feel of her lips on his as they interlocked tongues--
ANYWAY. She wasn't an option until the evenings. What else was there...
Even with all the channels that Capsule Corporation received, there wasn't too much good on television during the afternoon. And he just couldn't sit around all day, fighting and watching TV. He had to do something more fulfilling. This must have been what Gohan felt, he realized suddenly, to make him become a professor. After all, as first boyfriend, then fiance, and now husband to Videl Satan, he didn't need the money. He did it to have something to do. The same for being the Great Saiyaman; sure, it satisfied his need to do good, but it also was a way to pass the time. And Mirai needed to do the same.
He had to find a job.
Now THERE was something he never thought he'd want to do.
***
Jennifer grinned as Itachi Nukeana sat back down. Though his statement had contained a few good points, it had been a bit rambling and pointless. Just the kind of thing she'd seen before in people who represented themselves.
"Thank you for that lucid statement, Mr. Nukeana," said Judge Hangan. "Now, on--" He was cut off as one wall of the court exploded. As the smoke cleared, no one appeared seriously hurt. A figure stepped into the room.
"I am General Sairai!" said the figure dressed in a crisp military uniform. "I am the leader of the New Red Ribbon Army, and I have come to--"
"Red Ribbon Army, you say?" asked Gohan. "I know a veteran of the old Red Ribbon Army who I'm sure would love to help your cause."
"You do? Where can I find this person?" The professor stated some directions. "Excellent. I shall go recruit them. Be warned, you haven't seen the last of General Sairai!" He stalked back the way he came.
"Trust me on this," Gohan said, grinning at everyone who was looking at him enigmatically.
***
General Sairai stood at attention, in front of a small house on a tropical island. The door he had knocked on a few moments ago opened, to reveal an attractive blonde woman.
"May I help you?" Her tone of voice indicated that by no means did she want to.
"Are you the one called Juuhachigou?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Excellent. I am General Sairai from the New Red Ribbon Army, and--"
"Ah. Say no more." She grabbed him by his shirt and, one-handed, threw him far off the island. "Damn Red Ribbon idiots."
***
"Due to the partial destruction of the courtroom," said Judge Hangan, "This court will recess for one week. Court is now in recess!"
As Gohan, Videl, and Jennifer left, a figure darted into a doorway. It must not be seen by them, not yet...
"Be seated," said Ginpatsu Kouhei Hangan as he entered the court. The judge was a silver-haired man of advanced years who, to Gohan and Videl at least, projected wisdom and dignity. He sat down behind his bench, adjusted his glasses, and peered at a piece of paper.
"Let's see, today we will be hearing the case of...Son vs. Nukeana. I assume we all know the basic facts of the case. Does either counsel have any requests before opening statements begin?"
"Yes, Your Honor." Itachi Nukeana, who was acting as his own attorney, rose. "I ask the court to issue a restraining order forbidding Mrs. Son from leaving her husband's class until this trial is concluded."
Judge Hangan nodded. "So granted. Anything else?"
It was Jennifer's turn to rise. "Your Honor, my clients and I have two requests to make. First, that an order be placed on Mr. Nukeana forbidding him from arranging the details of next year's curriculum. Second, that the tenure hearing of one of my clients be frozen, so that it would not be unduly affected by current events. Both to last until this trial's conclusion."
"Both granted." Jennifer shot a quick, nasty glance at Nukeana, who apparently had been anticipating neither request. "Is counsel for the plaintiff ready to present her opening statement?"
"I am. Your Honor..." As she launched into her opening statement, Gohan and Videl looked at each other, just a tad nervously, and clapsed hands.
Jennifer's statement is too long to reproduce here in full, so I'll summarize. The essence of her opening statement ran thus: While the rules of the college *could* be interpreted as allowing a breach-of-contract suit (the first thing every law student learned was to make a concession or two), that was only if you played fast and loose with much of the language. Further, expecting a college professor to teach his own wife was an exercise in insanity; indeed, in wickedness. Not only did it have the definite possibility of causing marital strife, but it would damage both of their reputations. Henceforth, they were suing Nukeana for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
"I think I did all right," she whispered as she sat back down.
"All right?" Gohan replied. "You did excellent. He should award us the case on that speech alone. Great job."
Judge Hangan, who seemed not quite as impressed, nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Bengoshi. Mr. Nukeana, are you ready?"
The weaselly little man nodded. "Yes, Your Honor, I am."
***
Mirai leaned back in a Capsule Corp. recliner and blew air out of his mouth in frustration. He was bored. Very bored. Incredibly bored.
He was bored of being bored.
As a half-Saiyan, he couldn't fight all the time, like his father or Goku or Turles or Broli or any of the various full-bloods. He had the fighting compulsion, yes, but not to nearly the same degree. His main source of pleasure was, of course, Jennifer (not like THAT, he corrected himself hurriedly, not yet) but she was always busy during the day. He recalled her sweet voice whispering both sarcastic witticisms and professions of love in his ear, her soft touch around his waist as they held each other tight, the feel of her lips on his as they interlocked tongues--
ANYWAY. She wasn't an option until the evenings. What else was there...
Even with all the channels that Capsule Corporation received, there wasn't too much good on television during the afternoon. And he just couldn't sit around all day, fighting and watching TV. He had to do something more fulfilling. This must have been what Gohan felt, he realized suddenly, to make him become a professor. After all, as first boyfriend, then fiance, and now husband to Videl Satan, he didn't need the money. He did it to have something to do. The same for being the Great Saiyaman; sure, it satisfied his need to do good, but it also was a way to pass the time. And Mirai needed to do the same.
He had to find a job.
Now THERE was something he never thought he'd want to do.
***
Jennifer grinned as Itachi Nukeana sat back down. Though his statement had contained a few good points, it had been a bit rambling and pointless. Just the kind of thing she'd seen before in people who represented themselves.
"Thank you for that lucid statement, Mr. Nukeana," said Judge Hangan. "Now, on--" He was cut off as one wall of the court exploded. As the smoke cleared, no one appeared seriously hurt. A figure stepped into the room.
"I am General Sairai!" said the figure dressed in a crisp military uniform. "I am the leader of the New Red Ribbon Army, and I have come to--"
"Red Ribbon Army, you say?" asked Gohan. "I know a veteran of the old Red Ribbon Army who I'm sure would love to help your cause."
"You do? Where can I find this person?" The professor stated some directions. "Excellent. I shall go recruit them. Be warned, you haven't seen the last of General Sairai!" He stalked back the way he came.
"Trust me on this," Gohan said, grinning at everyone who was looking at him enigmatically.
***
General Sairai stood at attention, in front of a small house on a tropical island. The door he had knocked on a few moments ago opened, to reveal an attractive blonde woman.
"May I help you?" Her tone of voice indicated that by no means did she want to.
"Are you the one called Juuhachigou?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Excellent. I am General Sairai from the New Red Ribbon Army, and--"
"Ah. Say no more." She grabbed him by his shirt and, one-handed, threw him far off the island. "Damn Red Ribbon idiots."
***
"Due to the partial destruction of the courtroom," said Judge Hangan, "This court will recess for one week. Court is now in recess!"
As Gohan, Videl, and Jennifer left, a figure darted into a doorway. It must not be seen by them, not yet...