Over the next few weeks, I will share #SaturdayScenes for Prime Decision, episode one of Quantum Law. You can get the full download of Prime Decision by registering through my Reader’s Club:

If you need to catch up with previous part of this or other stories, you can access them at my #SaturdayScenes page…

As he entered the courtroom, Jerry’s head was still spinning. His legs wobbled under him like rubber, and the ground underneath him rocked like the deck of a small boat on rough seas. His stomach kept churning, like he needed to throw up.

He would’ve kept on cursing himself over his poor choice if the sight at the front of the courtroom didn’t command his attention. Wobbly legs and all, he stood closest to the room’s center isle with Ace to his left. He set down his briefcase on the dull aluminum tabletop and snapped it open. He stole a glance to his right, checking out the opposition. Accuser 423, if memory served him.

“Glad you could join us.”

The deep, baritone voice from the front of the room sent an electric tingle down the back of Jerry’s damp neck. He looked up to face the three black towering racks of floor-to-ceiling computers. Their lights flickered yellow, blue, red, green, and maybe purple. Jerry couldn’t tell for sure. At their base, a trio of panel screens flashed on to display the case summary.

“Efficiency, Mr. Simmons,” the voice said. “One of the chief goals of our judicial system is to render speedy trials, as our forefathers envisioned. Your… episode has diminished our efficiency today, hasn’t it?”

Jerry placed one hand on the table to steady himself. It felt cold to the touch. The remnant voice vibrations rose from the metal surface and through his arm.

“My apology… your honors.”

“Sometimes the quickest route isn’t the most efficient,” another voice said. It came from Jerry’s left, as the flashing lights on the left tower of computer racks confirmed.

“We hope you have learned this lesson,” a third voice said, female in intonation, and coming from Jerry’s right.

He took a deep breath. “Thank you, your honor.”

“Very well,” the first voice said. “Let’s proceed.”

A solid metal door to Jerry’s left clanked open. He turned to see it part, its dull, mat gray shifting in color under the overhead panels of square white lights, until it opened in full. The defendant rolled in, strapped to one of those scooter things local cops rode. Except his client wasn’t riding it. He was bolted in, at the waist. His clenched hands poked together through solid metal handcuffs that looked more like a vice. Oh, it all looked shiny and clean, but it made Jerry’s stomach churn nonetheless.

Jerry placed his hand on the table to steady himself again. He looked straight ahead, at the center bank of tiny blinking lights. “Your honor, are restraints necessary?”

“You have read the charges, haven’t you?” the center voice said.

“Ah… yes, your honor, but—” Jerry exchanged a quick glance with Ace.

She shot him a sideways glance before she snapped to attention again, looking straight ahead with lips drawn into a tight little line. She almost looked human doing it.

“Then you should know the danger your client poses.”

Jerry faced his client. For the first time he met his gaze. There he stood, hard and chiseled, his sharp brown eyes drilling into Jerry.

“Your client stands accused of subversion of and direct attacks against Quantum Law,” the center voice added. “This included an act of quantum-cyber terrorism.”

Jerry looked around. He guessed they had a point. Besides him, the defendant, Advocate 359 and Accuser 453, the courtroom stood empty. Not a single hybrid officer stood guard. Probably in deference to him, Jerry guessed, given the sordid, violent history between humans and hybrids.

“In any case,” the center voice pressed on. “This is a simple plea hearing. It should not take long for Mr. Alfonzo Enriquez to return to the comforts of his jail cell.”

Right, Jerry mused. Efficiency would have them out of there in another thirty seconds. Sure enough, it took only a minute for the three in-unison voices to speed-read the summary charges.

“How does your client plead?”

“I refuse to enter a plea in this mockup, made-up court,” Alfonzo Enriquez said with a rumbling, gravelly voice. “You have no authority to charge me with anything, much less try me for crimes that are no crimes at all.”

Ace raised her hand, then placed it on Enriquez’s forearm.

He glared at her. “Unhand me. You have no place here, either.”

“Mr. Simmons,” the center voice said. “You will please instruct your client to behave in accordance with—”

“We made you,” Enriquez screamed, his thick voice turning shrill. “We made you and you serve us, not the other way around. You have no right to—”

Enriquez froze. It took Jerry a second to realize. A buzzing sound rose from the scooter. The metal fittings holding Enriquez in place changed in color, from silver to a pulsating pink.

Jerry turned. “Your honors—”

“It’s quite safe and humane, we assure you.”

“You honor, I request a word with my client.” Jerry held on to the table again, but not because his world was wobbling. Not anymore.

“Your client has had ample pre-trial consultation.”

“With counsel he did not accept.” Jerry paused for only a second, sure the AI had a perfectly logical answer seconds before he said the first word.

“Another client meeting would not be efficient,” the left voice said.

“It would take more time, yes.” Jerry forced himself not to grin. “But a few minutes ago the court expressed how the fastest course of action isn’t always the most efficient.”

“I hope you’re not trying to grand-stand us, Mr. Simmons.”

Jerry raised his hands waist high. “It is highly irregular for lead counsel not to have met with his client prior to the plea hearing. Such an irregularity might stand as cause for appeal. Might one say that wouldn’t be efficient?”

Her slight movement made Jerry look over at Ace. For a split second, he could swear he saw approval in her eyes.

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