Chapter 33

"Closing Arguments"

By the time we had come to the closing arguments, it was August of 2011, a time when children would be preparing to go back to school for a new school year. We had done many testimonies from all the other defendants who expressed repentance and regret for the crimes that they had committed. Like Jessie and James, they wished that they could take back what they had done, but they couldn't. In fact, throughout the previous weeks, Victor Vicious and John Fuji were the notable defendants who had expressed repentance the most. However, it was time for me to make my closing argument to the court and that when all was said and done, these people would pay for their crimes, one way or another.

"I call on the chief prosecutor for his closing argument," said Judge Avery and I stepped up to the podium and began my closing speech. After everything that we had done in the past few months with this whole trial, I was looking forward along with the rest of our teams on how the guilty parties would be sentenced.

"For the past three months," I began. "You have seen evidence of unlike anything you have never of before or since. These people who sit in the dock were responsible for some of the worst attacks against humans and Pokemon alike. On a clear bright Tuesday morning in 2001, the skyline of New York City was forever changed when hijackers, armed with powerful Pokemon given to them by these people, flew two fully loaded Boeing 767's into the World Trade Center towers killing 3,000 people in the course of two hours. They have also managed to kill 164 people at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and 40 people aboard a Boeing 757 that went down in an open field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania."

Giovanni snickered to himself as I looked over to him with a look of determination to see him hang for his crimes. After a moment, I looked away and turned my attention back to the judges on the bench.

"You have heard stories from witnesses who recounted the horrors that these people have bestowed upon them," I continued. "Many of these Pokemon trainers have had their lives and dreams stolen from them all because these thought of their Pokemon as nothing more than weapons used to cause terror and make money doing so. When you walk out of this courtroom today, I want every single one of you to think about the lives that were taken away by these people, whether it would be by the 9/11 attacks and bombings, the commuter rail system in Madrid, a double decker bus in London or on the streets of Mumbai. Every single one of these attacks were carried out by men using Pokemon who were seemingly were born without an evil bone in their body and these people put evil bones into their bodies and minds. If you think that any or all of these defendants are not guilty, then it would be to say that there was no crime and that there was no war. In the words of Spencer Tracy from the movie Judgment at Nuremberg: 'This whole trial can be summoned in three words: truth, justice and the value of a single human being.' In this case, the value is not of a single human being, but the value of a Pokemon's life as well."

I stepped down from the podium, feeling confident that my argument was good enough and it was now time for Giovanni to make a statement before the court, a statement that he was not allowed to make at the start of the trial.

"Dr. Giovanni Sakami will make a closing statement for the defense," said Judge Avery, and Giovanni rose to his feet and opened the yellow folder he had been carrying to the trial every day.

"How do I begin this trial?" he began. "Well, from what myself and the other defendants have witnessed from this court was of nothing more than lies. Team Rocket was founded on the purpose of making a better world and Pokemon are viewed as nothing more than power to be obtained in order to create that goal. Everything we have ever done was for a greater world and nothing more. It is also during this time that we'd think in our cells of the accusations against us and that if you put to death the wrong people, you are putting to death the dream that we have always longed for ever since we formed many years ago."

"I don't get it," whispered Amanda, jabbing me in the stomach. "He's tightening the noose around his neck again."

"Let him finish," I replied. "He's not going to get off either way."

"We have always longed for a better world," continued Giovanni. "Worlds where Team Rocket would rule over and make the enemies who desire to rule this world for themselves bow down to us. However, we needed help to accomplish that goal and that is how we joined forces with your enemy, Osama Bin Laden and together, we dreamed of creating that better world. But, now, all of that seems to be nothing more than a dream and it's all thanks to the devils of the United States of America and the Kingdom of Great Britain."

He then sat down and put on his sunglasses pouting at his apparent defeat at the hands of the country that killed Bin Laden.

"Defendants Jessie Musashi and James Kojiro," said Judge Avery. "Will also now speak on behalf of the defense."

Jessie and James stood up above the other defendants and faced the judges who looked back at them with remorse yet stern expressions.

"James and I would like to say to the honorable judges present," began Jessie. "We fully accept responsibilities for our crimes and for 15 years, we ruined the lives of Pokemon trainers everywhere only because we needed money and instead we became murderers and criminals, something we didn't know about until it was too late. However, we want to commend the American and British governments for stopping our reign of terror on the world. The blood is on our hands and James and I seemed to be the only ones who could stop it from the inside. Instead, we'd let it go on for this long and it resulted the loss of more lives. These are lives that will never return because of our actions. If you choose to send me and James to the executioner, then you will show the world that all of Team Rocket is not innocent and that they should be put down like the monsters that we truly are. But, let us live, then we can either slowly reconcile with the people and Pokemon we have hurt or live with the consequences of our actions until the day we die. In closing, James and I say to you, May God protect the People and Pokemon of America, Britain and all of the world from our future plans of evil."

Jessie and James sat down and at that moment, Judge Avery banged his gavel and we were dismissed while the judges would sit in judgment.

In a matter of days, the defendants would either be sentenced or be freed of their crimes. In other words, it was time for the waiting game to begin…