"Come to order! Court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Lynn Toler presiding." Joe says, his booming voice shouting into the room.
"Good day, ladies and gentlemen. I'm here today with Cindy Admire and Jacc Ashcroft. The two of you have been dating for 5 years. You are here for a dissolution of cohabitation. Mr. Ashcroft, you would like to save this relationship. Miss. Admire, you are done. I'll start with you Miss Admire, why don't you tell me a little bit about your relationship and why we are here in divorce court, today." Judge Lynn Toler says.
"First off, your honor. Cindy Admire died in a car accident." Sindy says staring at Jacc. "As my ex-boyfriend would say, I am a Synthetic Intelligent Neuron Droid of Yonderyear, Sindy for short. Secondly…" Sindy takes a step back from the lectern, holding her arms out showing her metallic parts, gleaming in the light. "Look at me, your honor! I am a monstrosity because of that man, right there." Sindy says, pointing at Jacc.
"For starters, your far from monstrous but go ahead and tell me what happened." Judge Lynn Toler says.
Sindy closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. "On August 2, 2020, we were in a car accident. He managed to survive, I didn't."
"How are you standing here, today?" Judge Lynn Toler asks, leaning forward, crossing her arms on the bench.
"It says in Exodus 20:2, one of the ten commandments states, Thou shalt have no other Gods before me." Sindy says.
"Correct" Judge Lynn Toler says.
"Well, apparently that doesn't apply to Jacc." Sindy says.
"Is that true, Mr. Ashcroft? Do you see yourself as a God?" Judge Lynn Toler asks.
"No, your honor. I just couldn't bare to live without her." Jacc says.
"That's a good sentiment." Judge Lynn Toler turns toward Sindy "Is it not a good thing that he brought you back to life? I mean, you've been given a second chance." Judge Lynn Toler says.
"Have you ever seen any of the Final Destination movies?" Sindy asks.
"That's the one where a group of friends try to escape their deaths, right?" Judge Lynn Toler says.
"Yes, exactly, but in real life you can't escape death. If it's your time to go, it's your time to go. It's fate." Sindy says.
"Ok, I see what your saying. Would you like to respond to that Mr. Ashcroft?" Judge Lynn Toler says.
"Yes, if we have to technology to bring the dead back to life, why shouldn't we use it?" Jacc says.
"It's fate, Jacc! You can't mess with the natural order of things." Sindy says.
"Miss… er… Sindy, please don't speak out of turn." Judge Lynn Toler says. "Now, Mr. Ashcroft, what made you think this experiment would be a good idea?"
"Well, like she said, I couldn't live without her." Jacc says.
"Weren't you afraid of the repercussions? What if something went wrong?" Judge Lynn Toler says.
"I didn't think about that. I just wanted her back." Jacc says.
"At any cost." Judge Lynn Toler says.
"Yes" Jacc says.
"Even if it meant she would come back as a zombie and your little experiment started the apocalypse." Judge Lynn Toler says.
"Yes" Jacc says.
The crowd boos.
"That's pretty selfish, don't you think, Mr. Ashcroft?" Judge Lynn Toler says.
"I… I wasn't thinking." Jacc says.
"No, I'll tell you what you were thinking. You weren't even thinking about her." Judge Lynn Toler points at Sindy. "All you were thinking about was what you wanted and you were willing to risk all of our lives to get it. Am I right?"
"I…" Jacc says.
"You can attempt to deny it all you want, Mr. Ashcroft, but you know I'm right." Judge Lynn Toler says.
Jacc remains silent.
"How did you even manage to do it?" Judge Lynn Toler asks, leaning back in her chair, hand on her face.
"I electrically recharged her brain and heart to get them pumping, again, and from there it was a matter of finding a steady rhythm for the electricity to flow through her veins." Jacc says.
"Well, I'll give you this, you are a very highly intelligent young man to accomplish such a task." Judge Lynn Toler says.
"Thank you, your honor." Jacc says.
"Don't get me wrong, that still doesn't make it right, what you did to this young lady over here." Judge Lynn Toler points at Sindy.
"Yes, ma'am." Jacc says.
Judge Lynn Toler turns toward Sindy. "Is there anything else he's done within the relationship that I should know about?"
"That's what makes his betrayal so heartbreaking. We never had any problems until the accident." Sindy says.
"Betrayal? How did I betray you. I thought I was helping you." Jacc says, talking over Sindy.
"Mr. Ashcroft, don't interrupt." Judge Lynn Toler says then turns toward Sindy. "I understand if you're not able to forgive this man for what he did to you, I wouldn't either. I just hope you're able to find a new propose with the new life that you've been given and with that this court is adjourned." Judge Lynn Toler bangs her gavel and exits the courtroom.
"All rise!" Joe says. "The parties may leave the court."
Sindy and Jacc leave, separately.