Chapter Three
Night had fallen, but the city shone brighter than ever, yellow-gold lights illuminating the entirety of it and spreading out several miles beyond the boundary walls. But it wasn't enough to see any approaching threats clearly. It made Hershey's skin prickle and a deep unease settle in her stomach. She walked the perimeter of her section of the wall, the judges spaced widely apart to the right and left of her doing the same. Until the maintenance team managed to repair the spotlights, they were stuck with the low-level emergency ones, which meant that they all had to be extra vigilant.
Her eyes flickered briefly over her fellow Judges, one question clear in her mind. Can I really trust any of you? She was certain now, after all the recent brutal attacks from outside, that someone inside the city must be helping the mutants. Arming them. Someone or multiple people with inside access to the Hall of Justice, no less. She hoped the SJS was looking into it.
The mutants had been attacking in greater numbers and with less fear than anyone could remember in recent memory, daily finding ways over the walls and shooting their way out of tight spots with weapons from a bygone era of human history (AKMs, Glocks, various grenades including Molotove cocktails). Even worse, they actually had proficiency at said weapons, and far too often succeeded at vanishing into the depths Mega-City One never to be found. They hadn't dared sending any more Judges out beyond the walls after the last ten had been delivered back to them mutilated and headless.
Mega-City Two and Texas City had been having the same kinds of problems if their communications could be believed.
Now all this bullshit with the lights not working. This was the third time this month that they'd gone out due to "unidentified electrical failure" and she wasn't buying it anymore. She hadn't bought it the first time as a matter-of-fact, but felt it would be imprudent to say something for fear of coming across as paranoid. When she got off this shift though, she would definitely bring it up with the Council of Five. Chief Judge Pike alone, if possible. He was very busy. If they wouldn't listen, she would go to Dredd and ask him to bring it to their attention. She was lucky enough to be in his good book... or whatever equivalent of that he had after their excursion to the planet Titan. They'd gained a great amount of respect for each other and he was now one of the few she trusted one hundred percent. She was certain he'd take her concerns at face value.
Hershey was drawn out of her contemplation by the sound of an approaching vehicle. From the look of it, it was heading for one of the exits. The one closest to her. She steeled herself for whatever encounter might follow and walked over to the steel grate they'd erected around all the exits.
Her senses, which were constantly on high-alert, sharpened as she saw that it was a large van, dark blue, with non-tinted windows. She heard Judge Nelson approaching from the right and saw him make it to the car ahead of her. She stood close by, figuring he'd be grateful for the back-up even if he didn't know her from Adam. The driver's side window was rolled down.
"Citizen, you are not authorized to drive beyond this point. Free access beyond the walls has been prohibited unless you have been granted express approval from the Council of Five and Chief Judge Pike." From the little Hershey could see inside the car around Nelson's back, the woman behind the wheel appeared way too laid back, looking around with honest interest but not drinking in a word of what Nelson was saying. She was middle-aged, with closely cropped dark-purple hair and a mouth that was up-tilted, giving the impression that she was very prone to smiling. Hershey couldn't help wondering if she was one of those creepy child-shrinks.
"Ma'am. Did you hear what I just said?" Nelson asked evenly.
The woman looked a little startled and exclaimed, "Yes, yes. Hold on a moment, please. Let me get you those signatures." The woman started rummaging in a satchel sitting on the passenger seat, causing Hershey (and Nelson too probably) to become just that much more on edge.
Hershey took comfort in the firm grip she kept on her Lawgiver as Nelson said: "I will need to see identification also."
Another few seconds and the woman handed Nelson a PADD and a small ID card which he took a few minutes to inspect. Hershey wanted very much to look over his shoulder or to ask to inspect them also, but that was just the paranoia talking.
"Everything looks to be in order." Nelson handed her items back and walked over to the control building to open the gate. Usually someone from Control did that, but the Judges had been put specifically in charge of the gates after a few too many power outages -like the current one- had taken place.
Hershey, who'd decided to keep an eye on the woman while he took care of that, felt lucky when whoever-she-was (who looked like the chatty type) didn't try to engage her in conversation, and just sat there humming tunelessly. When the gate opened the woman put her van in drive and gave Hershey a polite "have a good night" before moving on.
Hershey didn't continue walking the perimeter though. She stood right where she was until Nelson closed the gate once more and returned. She didn't beat around the bush, jumping into it immediately. "Did she really have permission from the Chief?"
"Yes. From him and the Council. She's a teacher of some sort," he added arbitrarily.
"Do you know why she was going out there?"
Nelson shook his head. "Classified, apparently." He sounded just as perplexed as she felt.
"Maybe she's going to another city," Hershey put in, not believing it even as the words left her mouth. If the woman had really gotten special authorization, surely they would have let her take a hovercraft. Had she been given a secret assignment? The woman hadn't looked like a Judge, but one couldn't always truly tell out of uniform. All the same, she made a note to mention this to Dredd, as well. Definitely.
She and Nelson both brooded in silence for a bit longer then began walking along the perimeter again in opposite directions, waiting for the lights to come back on or another band of mutants to attack, unsettled.
OOO
After being pulled from sleep late at night and brought to the Justice Building with haste and told that she was needed to read the minds of some new captives, Cassandra Anderson had not been expecting to feel bored. After all, perps were usually brought to the interrogation cubes for that. She hadn't been expecting them to be ten, tongueless mutant kids either.
She'd done as she'd been ordered though.
After working her way tediously through nine dull, slow minds, she was starting to feel dull and slow herself. None of the kids had had any useful information because they simply hadn't cared what was going to be done with them or where they were or who the men were. All they cared about was getting properly fed. She felt like she had when seven years old, trapped with other orphans whose thoughts and feelings were so yawningly vacant.
The consciousnesses behind the two-way mirror were getting bored too. The Council of Five, Chief Pike, several SJS and Psi-Div members. They had been bright and pulsing with interest three hours ago, now they were dim, thoughts flickering randomly from subject to subject. Most of them were as eager for this to end as she was. It was annoyingly distracting. How the fuck did they expect her to concentrate on the task at hand when bacon and doughnuts kept flitting across their minds?
Only one left. Only one. Thank God. Maybe they would let her finish her sleep.
This room was usually used for a different method of was questioning and was rather small, but a table and chairs had been squeezed inside somehow. Cassie had been having the children sit in one of the chairs while she knelt beside them. Her knees and thighs ached from the position.
A Judge brought in the last child and set her in the chair. She was small, like all of then, pale and twisted. Her hair was lanky brown and tangled around her face. She didn't huddle in on herself like they others had. She sat as straight as she could in the chair that was much too big for her. Her toes barely brushed the floor.
Her eyes were different from the others Cassie noticed instantly. The life that shone out of them was vivid and intense. Intelligent and aware in a way the others had not been. They were a beautiful deep green, the color of emeralds.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you," Cassie found herself murmuring. She placed her hands on either side of the girl's head and closed her eyes. She allowed her mind to meld with the child's as gently as possible. Pushing through the confusion and fright at the initial breach and searching for a space where they could communicate.
After flitting rapidly through a series of emotions and images until she found a plane that was calm and steady. She focused on it, trying to draw the girl there with her.
Cassie blinked open her mind-eyes and found herself in a bedroom that couldn't belong in any building other than a Mega-Block. The ceiling and floor were made of concrete. The walls probably were too, but she couldn't tell for certain as the entirety of it was covered with colorful chalk designs that seemed to shift and change if she tried to look too closely.
Sitting at a small desk in the corner was a little girl with deeply tanned skin and silky dark hair that had been brushed until it shone. She was writing in a pocket diary but closed it on a finger and laid her pen aside at Cassie's approach. Her green eyes were filled with caution and something that looked liked loathing.
Cassie really didn't want to force information out of her if she didn't necessarily have to, so she asked softly, "What's your name?"
"I don't have one. You can call me whatever you like... How about Anna?"
"That'll work," Cassie said, kneeling beside her chair, mirroring the position she was really in in the interrogation room. "I need to ask you some questions, Anna. Will you answer them honestly for me?"
The girl hesitated. "Is this real?"
"Sort of. I'm a psychic and we're inside your head right now, so I can talk to you. Is this your room?" It was an idiotic question. The answer was so obvious.
"It was a long time ago," the girl answered.
Cassie tried to look as harmless and nonthreatening as possible. She took a breath that she didn't technically need before she proceeded. "Those men you were with, did they kidnap you?"
The girl looked at her with an impressive amount of disdain for one so young. "No. They were asking kids to join them. They said that we would be fed, taught to read and write, trained with guns. Most of us had guns but we didn't know how to use them right."
Cassie wished that Pike and the Council had briefed her more thoroughly before they'd had her do this. "Where were they taking you?" Cassie asked, keeping a calm mask on.
"Dunno," the girl answered, returning to her diary, pen zipping across the page. Cassie refrained from taking a peek. It was awfully tempting. "Out of the city."
"Were they the ones who cut out your tongue?"
The girl shook her head, then brushed the escaped hair behind her ears again. "I don't remember who did that. Some boys..." her expression darkened and she stopped writing for a second. Cassie blocked her own mind from the memories that threatened to invade. She needed to stick her current task.
"Who did the men you were with work for?"
Anna narrowed her eyes and gave Cassie a look that made it clear she thought she was incredibly stupid. "Nero."
When Cassie asked who that was, the girl gave her a sly look. "He helps people like us. That's all I know. I never got the chance to meet him. He moves around a lot," she stated matter-of-factly.
"He helps mutants, you mean?"
Redness infused the girls cheeks at that. "People," she insisted. That loathing returned tenfold and she refused to speak to Cassie again.
Cassie wasn't inclined to linger in the girl's mind any longer and she'd already gotten some potentially useful information. She felt strange and unsteady when she returned to her own body.
She stood and faced the two-way mirror, ignoring the way her joints and muscles protested. She didn't want to look in Anna's face again, those eyes that called her a traitor. "I'm going to need to see the other kids again. I have a name to run by them."
OOO
Jim grimaced when he caught sight of his reflection on his way up the steps into the Hall of Justice. He'd eaten a good breakfast, showered and shaved. Listened to upbeat music. Yet dark circles persisted in ringing his eyes and he looked drawn and ragged. He didn't even attempt to put on his usual semi-cocky grin, knowing how ghoulish it would it look on him today.
He'd gotten more than enough sleep last night. More than he was accustomed to. Yet he'd still woken exhausted. It seemed to be a mental state rather than a purely physical one though and he was determined to jump back into work.
The marble entrance hall was always teeming with people, most of them in a great hurry. The pungent smells of sweat and soot from on-duty Judges mingled oddly with the crisp, fresh smells of shampoo, perfume and cologne from others, along with coffee and sugar-free baked goods. Many people were munching and drinking as they walked while still attempting to talk.
Jim added his footsteps to the cacophony of echos from the hundreds of others, giving polite nods to Judges and random personnel he recognized, wishing he'd thought to keep his helmet on. He could put it on now, but that would be incredibly idiotic seeing as he'd taken it off right before he stepped inside the building. Bad habit.
He avoided people's curious eyes and especially the few that were unmistakably sympathetic as he wended his way determinedly to the elevators. He had to fight to squeeze himself into the crowded space of one and press button 78. There were only two large rooms on that floor and Jim was headed to one of them. The Chief's office. He'd never been there before and might have once looked forward to seeing it for the first time.
The elevators were very fast, but with over twenty stops to make it seemed to take forever. Eventually it stopped at floor 78 and Jim had to fight not to dash out, even though it was almost empty by that point. Mandy from Control gave him a quick pat on his forearm as he left and Jim clenched his teeth. Everyone from Control knew. Bad news traveled fast.
He felt ashamed of himself. He was a Judge. How was he supposed to command respect and fear if all anyone felt was sorry for him? Not that any perps would ever know about it, yet it was still humiliating. He stood still for a second, pinching the bridge of his nose while trying to keep his growing temper in check. When it was at a controllable level he went in search of Pike.
He didn't have far to look. The Chief's office was immediately ahead of him, behind an oak door that needed some serious polishing. It was labeled with a small unburnished plaque that read: Chief Judge's Office. He guessed they never inscribed the name of the current chief on it since they tended to change every year or so. Pike had been Chief for a little over a year-and-a-half now. It was something of a record.
Jim rapped his knuckles firmly against the door, figuring it was just good manners to knock first. He pulled his hand back quickly when he realized he'd left several new scratches on it. "Shit..."
Not half-a-moment later, Pike called out: "Come on in!" He sounded slightly irritated and Jim felt a smile pulling at his lips as he stepped inside. It had been a long time since he'd last seen Pike and he'd missed the old bastard.
The walls of the Chief's office were made of plate-glass and the view they offered was the first thing Jim noticed upon setting foot inside it. They offered a broad, breathtaking view of Mega-City One and it looked almost beautiful from a healthy distance. Especially when the gray concrete was awash with the soft pinkish-orange light of early morning, innumerable pastel shades, as the sun rose valiantly from behind the thick clouds of smog that always enveloped the city. But it also looked so so vast, like it encompassed the entire world. The only one he knew.
Not always, he reminded himself. There had been something else once, though he could hardly remember it at all now.
The second thing he noticed was Pike was seated at a large desk with three computers and many precariously stacked documents; starched, pure white papers poked out of their folders, some actually drooping towards the floor. Pike had to be the only person in the world who, when he said paperwork, meant it literally. Most everyone now did their "paperwork" on computers, but Christopher Pike had always been notoriously distrustful of that method as nearly every citizen in all the Mega-Cities now had some degree of aptitude when it came to hacking.
Pike's frown disappeared in an instant when he saw that it was Jim, then reappeared once more as he took in his countenance. He set the manila file he'd been persuing on his desk none too gently, causing several groupings to tip slightly closer to the edge.
"Come on in, Judge. Take a seat." He gestured to the two chairs before his desk. "You came right on time to end my torment."
The chairs were made of metal and extremely straight-backed. Jim sighed as he settled into one, holding his helmet in his lap. It was even more uncomfortable than it looked. No human's back could be so unnaturally straight. It just wasn't possible.
"We don't have much time to talk I'm afraid, so I'll try to make this fast. Did you get the message I sent you this morning?"
"Yes, sir." He'd read the report about the mutants picked up at Willow Grove, the escaped/rescued perps. He thought he knew what Pike wanted ever since he'd finished reading it. To track them down. Jim was already preparing to relish it.
Pike leaned over his desk and gazed at him seriously over his steepled fingers, all business. "I don't think I need to explain to you the critical situation we find ourselves in. It's always been difficult enough to maintain order in the cities without outside interference. And now we're facing possibly the worst threat since Death. Not only are our citizens turning against us and helping the mutants, but we believe that there may be several or more Judges helping them too."
Jim didn't bother feigning surprise, but he read the worry and anger on Pike's face and tried not to take it close to heart. It was already heavy with his own worries and he didn't want to shoulder anyone else's.
"We've had the SJS investigating, of course, but they haven't uncovered anyone yet. It's only a matter of time before they do." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself that that was true. "Several maintenance units have been arrested and interrogated about the numerous power outages we've had. Still nothing. Even worse, we think that whoever is working with the mutants isn't motivated by monetary gain. I had you come here today, because I trust you entirely. You're one of the only ones actually. The Council of Five doesn't even know about this meeting."
Jim's attention sharpened at that.
"We had a member of the Psi-Division trying to extract information from the mutants minds, as you already know from the report. She didn't uncover much, but she did discover from one of them, that the perps were taking orders from a man called Nero. He's been managing to sneak out weapons, helping to rally the mutants. The mutants are under the impression that some kind of training takes place outside the walls. They seem to be building their own army out there. We also believe," Pike looked very grim for a moment, "that we may be the ones responsible for supplying their "soldiers"." He said the word with subtle disgust.
"Every time we've exiled a mutant to the Cursed Earth," Jim noted unnecessarily.
"Exactly. The Council of Five and I are meeting in a few hours to discuss it. The most likely solution is that we'll now confine mutants to the Iso-Cubes."
Jim shifted uncomfortably in his seat, pushing down the protestations that attempted to make their way out of his mouth.
"That's neither here nor there," said Pike waving it away, looking dissatisfied. "What I want is for you to track down this... Nero. Find him, but try not to kill him. I want to know what he's planning. Whether his so-calledarmy wants to destroy the city, or if they want to take it over. Just find this man."
"Is that all, sir?" Jim was very eager to get started. To do something. To have a purpose.
"No." He cast a hollow grin, Jim's way. "The Council had instated two knew policies for the Judges that I want to make you aware of. First, the Council believes that the Judges have been given far too long a leash lately -that's my paraphrasing- so all of them, unless they're senior Judges or heads of their divisions, have to turn in their PADD's."
Jim's first impulse was to shout what?, but he managed to hold his tongue. "Okay," was all he could think to say, feeling like a heavy weight had dropped into his stomach. Then he kind of wanted to laugh at himself about getting so upset over losing a frivolous electronic device. "What's number two?"
"A majority of the Judges are going to be ordered to pair up until our current situation has been resolved. We've lost far too many lately and the Council felt it would be safest for everyone."
"Let me guess. The Judge I'm partnering with is also gonna be helping me search for Nero."
"You guessed right. He was specially chosen by me, obviously, so no complaining."
"Who is it?" Jim ask warily.
Pike watched his face closely when he answered. "Judge Dredd."
"Ah, okay." That weight in his stomach kept on getting heavier. "Why, uh, him?"
"Because you haven't been a Judge that long, so it made sense to pair you with someone that has more experience. Also, he was the one who found those perps at Willow Grove and he's going to be trying to hunt them down anyway. Do you have a problem with him?"
"No," Jim said hurriedly. That wasn't exactly a lie. He didn't have a problem with Judge Dredd himself, but clones had always made him uneasy. It mostly stemmed from jealousy and irrational fear of their enhanced abilities. This wasn't just some clone, he had to remind himself, this was the Dredd.
Somehow that made it even less appealing.
"Good!" Pike clapped his hands together. "Even though you're no longer going to have a PADD, Dredd is allowed to keep his and you'll communicate directly with me through it. Do not contact Control if you find anything related to the "case". If there are traitors in Control they'll contact the corrupt Judges and we'll have another scene like the one that happened last night. If you encounter any other crimes on your way -which is a guarantee- feel free to take care of them normally but don't prioritize them over the assignment I've given you."
Jim nodded his head with growing trepidation. Was there anything else to say?
"Well then. Dredd is going to be here in thirty minutes, He's supposed to be anyway. That should give you time to go back to your sector house, get your PADD and turn it in. Dredd will meet you on the front steps when you're finished with that. Anything else you need to know?"
"No, sir."
"In that case, get out of here," Pike said, glancing disgustedly at the mountains 0f paperwork and the screens of his computers. "I've got work to do, as well." He looked as exhausted as Jim felt.
OOO
Judge Christopher Pike didn't look happy. He had been very prone to frowning ever since the Council of Five had voted him in as the new Chief a year-and-a-half ago. This was hardly surprising given the stress of the job, especially now, with the new dire situations befalling Mega-City One. But when Dredd walked into his office, which was situated on one of the upper floors of the Hall of Justice, Pike's expression shifted from its general air of grimness into a full-on scowl. He rose from behind his desk (which was overflowing, as always, with important-looking documents and several different computers) and walked around it to stand in front of Dredd, leaving only a foot of space between them.
Dredd was almost weary from last nights efforts and his arm right arm still ached a bit. So, when the Chief crossed his arms and gave him a look that said he currently ought to be confessing something, Dredd was less happy about it than usual. He had a slight idea what it might be about, but he was not fond of playing guessing games and chose to remain silent.
Pike didn't waste time with early morning pleasantries (who had time for that?). "DuPont told me that after having your arm taken care of, you blatantly disregarded her recommendation of getting at least five real hours of sleep. She told me you used a sleep-machine… and not only that, right afterward you went right back out onto the streets trying to track the perps down. You knew I wanted to talk to you this morning. Alive. You know what I want you to do."
"You didn't order me to stay off the streets till then," Dredd pointed out.
Pike's eyes narrowed. "I'd thought that was self-explanatory, as I did order you to forgo your regular schedule."
Dredd opened his mouth to make another point, but the Chief cut him off. "Yes, I'm aware that technically you weren't following one. But dammit, no Judge is safe these days. Not even you, as was made infinitely clear last night. You're the best Judge we've got Dredd. Everyone knows it. This city can't afford to lose you. Especially not now. You will begin following my orders and start taking the doctors advice more seriously. Do I make myself clear?" He was positively glaring now, blue eyes hard.
"Yes, sir," Dredd agreed reluctantly, feeling prickly at the reprimand and the ridiculous insinuation that he wasn't concerned with his own well-being. And there was no possible way he could have sat idly by after last night's events.
Dredd was livid about it. They'd been ambushed while transporting the pat wagons containing the perps, mutants and weapons (which had been packed in the metal crates) from Willow Grove to the Hall of Justice last night. Three Judges had been gunned down and Dredd had taken a shot to the arm which, though hardly fatal, was enough to keep him from raising it. The bullet had lodged itself in one of his joints, making any movement excruciating. He'd had little choice but to crouch to the ground and hope fervently that he wasn't about to get shot in the head while he fumbled with the grenades in his belt. By the time he'd been able to pull one free, the masked criminals had already slipped away into the dark, taking the two perps and the weapons with them.
The children had been left alone, however and Dredd had at least managed to deliver them safely to the Justice Department.
"Good," the Chief said abruptly. "Now please, take a seat. So I can fill you in on why you're here." He gestured to one of the uncomfortable seats in front of his desk. Dredd chose to stand. Both seats were made of titanium, very uncomfortable. They were essentially reminders to anyone who visited that he'd rather you didn't take up too much of his precious time.
Seated, Chief Pike had to look up to Dredd, which felt bizarrely inappropriate for their respective stations. If the Chief noticed, it didn't seem to bother him in the slightest. He'd always been a strong-willed self-assured man. It was something that bought both Dredd's admiration and irritation, depending on how much their opinions differed on any given subject.
He listened without interrupting as the Chief outlined what he wanted from him. Basically, he was supposed to help another Judge locate Nero. It would be easier said than done, obviously, but Dredd was looking forward to finding the perps who'd shot him. It was wasn't only perfectly plausible to look for them in connection to the assignment, but a necessity.
"Which Judge will I be working with?"
"Judge James Kirk. He's from Sector 17." The Chief began scanning through his various computers and occasionally his PADD. "I'm sure you know who he is."
Most Judges knew who Kirk was. It had been something of a scandal when Judge Pike had returned from his mission in the Cursed Earth with a young boy in tow. A young boy who had not only been born and raised beyond the walls, but was also the child of a traitor.
Dredd had only just graduated from the Academy at the time and had his own new life and set of problems to deal with, most notably involving his brother Rico, so he hadn't listened much to the gossip or particularly cared. Still, he'd been aware of it.
"How long has he been on active duty?" Dredd asked.
"Only two years." Chief Pike gave him an almost amused look. "Ten years ago, you awarded him best marksman in your training sessions at the Academy. He was one of the few trainees who qualified for your sharpshooter lessons."
"I remember." Though Dredd had taught countless people at the Academy over the years, most who's faces he'd forgotten, he did remember James Kirk. Dredd recalled how leery he'd been when he'd found out that George Kirk's son had qualified for them. It turned out that Kirk was one of the best marksman that Dredd had taught. Also the most reckless, which at first glance many instructors mistook for awe-inspiring bravery.
He'd found the boy quite disarming for numerous reasons. Part of it was the manic obsessive way with which he concentrated on learning any task set before him, viewing every single one as an obstacle he had to conquer. It was most notably Kirk's eyes that troubled Dredd the most.
Kirk could have the most calm countenance and perfect posture; he could freeze his face when he was being yelled at or praised. It was impressive, yet even so those eyes gave him away every time, shifting fluidly from earnest to fully pissed off, to deeply concentrated in a matter of seconds as if they were literal windows into his soul. It was... disconcerting and very odd in a Judge. Or aspiring Judge, as he'd been the last time Dredd had seen him face-to-face.
During their time at the Academy, trainees were expected to be blank slates. Clay to be molded into whatever their instructors wanted them to be. Dredd had heard from others and witnessed firsthand all those years ago, that James Kirk did not care to be molded. He would obey and speak respectively to his superiors, but that spark of rebellion never quite left his eye.
He hadn't seen Kirk since those lessons and there was a very good chance that he'd changed... but Dredd doubted it somehow.
If he sensed Dredd's discontentment, Chief Pike didn't mention it. He didn't resume their conversation at all when the uncountable beeps issuing from his computers became too insistent to ignore any longer. His eyes were fixed on one of the screens as he began typing out a message rapidly. He looked more disgruntled and displeased with every passing moment.
"What do we do if it turns out East-Meg One is involved?" Dredd asked. "That perp on the walkie-talkie definitely sounded like he was from there."
Pike looked away from his work, thoughtful and troubled. "We'll worry about that if it turns out to be true. Until then we have more than enough problems to deal with. You realize the boundary walls were breached three times last night?"
Another second of silence. "Where is Judge Kirk?"
"He's waiting on the steps. The entrance steps," Pike specified. Dredd turned to leave. He'd just made it to the door, when the Chief added with un-hidden humor, "You're going to be spending a lot of time with him from here on out, so don't be shy."