'No way of knowing for sure, but... personally, I believe they'll do something. Call it a gut instinct. Besides, if there really is a bounty on me, they might want to come back for another go at taking it.'

Dianne: "If they do, I'll have to kill them, then find the bounty holder and kill them too. Can't collect a bounty from a dead person."

'Yeeaah... We'll worry about that if it comes down to it.'

It wasn't long before Armin's house came into view. Going inside, he found it empty and quiet. He immediately went upstairs to get himself a weapon.

(For the sake of simplicity, I'll say that both Armin and Rex have a house key now.)

(Alrighty.)

{Dianne walks upstairs and reaches under the bed. She pulls out the Ghost Pike, wrapped in a cloth.}

Dianne: "This is good. Let's go."

Armin eyed the pike with distaste, but didn't say anything in objection. He picked up his enchanted sword, put on a belt, and sheathed the blade under the belt. Heading back out of his house, he locked the door behind them.

{Dianne begins to walk for the courthouse.}

Dianne: "I see you scowling at my choice of weapon. Relax. Last time was a fluke."

'Yes, a fluke that nearly killed you. That thing is a liability. I'd much prefer if you used a normal weapon, but it's up to you.'

Dianne: "I promise, it won't happen again. The reports said the brothers had a very tough armor. This pike will get through it."

'Well, that's one thing...'

As they neared the courthouse, they would spot Ryder sitting on a wall a short distance away. He was wearing a thick winter coat, barely concealing a cuirass underneath. He looked up when he saw their approach and raised a hand in greeting.

{Dianne shoulders her pike, waving back.}

Dianne: "Hey, Ryder, nice armor. Is it enchanted?"

'Can't say it is,' said Ryder, standing to meet them. 'But it should lower my chances of getting shot like last time.'

He looked them over, taking in Dianne's better armour, Armin's lack of any, and their weapons.

'So, you guys are going to be around for this trial? I'll be staying outside along with a few others.'

Dianne: "Yeah, we'll be inside. After this, swing by my place, on the plains. I have an extra set of enchanted armor, looks about your size."

Ryder looked intrigued. 'Is it the kind of armour that transforms with you when you shift?' he asked hopefully.

Dianne: "Yes. It's heavy steel plate, but well made. Should deflect smaller caliber stuff, but watch out for rifles. "

'OK. Cool. I'll have to get used to it, and stuff, but I bet it'll be really useful. Are you sure you don't need it though? I mean, you wouldn't have an extra set for no reason.'

Dianne: "It's part of my hoard. Don't worry, I have my backup sets. Besides, that one doesn't really fit me."

'OK, great.'

While they were talking, Fred appeared. No longer wearing his work uniform, he was dressed in his usual shirt and white jacket.

'Good afternoon,' he said to Dianne and Armin.

Dianne: "Afternoon, Fred."

{Dianne says cheerily.}

Dianne: "No more dumb kid shenanigans?"

'I'm glad to say no. Ryder did inform me that you wanted to discuss something, presumably involving monetary compensation in return for your past, and possibly future, services. Which, we will discuss, but not now. I just came to talk about what may happen today.'

Dianne: "Of course. The trial should be our primary concern. Do you have any idea on what the brothers might do?"

'Given that we know what they look like, it's possible they'll be disguised somehow. Although I doubt they'll remove their helmets, as they have never been known to do so.'

'What's with those helmets, anyway?' said Armin. 'Are they ugly?'

'Well, it's likely they're enchanted. My associate, who chased them the other day, said that they always seemed to know where he was, even past walls and smoke screens. As if the helmets enabled them to see through obstructions.'

Dianne: "Their visors we're likely Sightstone. A rare, magical crystal that makes magical essence visible when viewed through it. We'll have to stay alert. They have the element of surprise."

'Ryder and several other people are going to stay outside the courthouse and keep a lookout. They'll alert you if they see anything.'

He withdrew two golf ball-like objects, which he passed to Armin. Armin put them in his pocket.

'Impact explosives. They're effective for knocking them down.'

Dianne: "Alright. Let's hope this is a uneventful afternoon. Ready to head inside?"

Armin nodded, pushing the grenades deeper into his pocket. Frederick walled away without a goodbye.

'Yeah, let's go.'

{Dianne walks in, looking around attentively.}

Dianne: Haven't been here since the Sargon trial..."

'And it'll probably go a similar way. They'll order his execution, I bet. Hey, is Jerry going to be here too?'

Dianne: "Yeah...Everybody be nice to him, yeah? Can't imagine this feels great."

Armin didn't reply, quietly gazing around as he waited for things to start. //Hope he doesn't stick around to watch his dad's execution, if it comes to that. It might happen, but that doesn't mean he should see it.//

{Dianne falls silent as well, waiting for the trial to start.}

(So, am I supposed to be writing the trial, or...?)

(I have no idea. XDDDDD

I can do it, like the Sargon one. However, I will sleep first.)

(Alright, you can do it later)

(Alrighty!)

{After about an hour, the trial was to soon begin. People began to fill the courtroom as the jury, defense lawyer, and the plaintiff, along with limited spectators. Among them was Jerry. Jerry quietly stayed at the back of the room, looking pensive as his family was brought into the court in handcuffs. As they walked by, they glared daggers at every non human they saw.}

Armin remained quiet and still beside Dianne, watching everyone file into the courtroom with a fierce intensity. //No weird helmets or armour that I can see... Well, it's not like the Tussock brothers would just walk into the courtroom.//

He briefly turned his gaze towards Jerry, then looked away without making eye contact.

{Dianne watched them all file in with a similar intensity to Armin. Once everyone was in and seated, one of the guards began to speak.}

Guard: "All rise for the Honorable Halbarad."

{Judge Halbarad, the same judge who presided over the Sargon trial, entered the room and took his seat.}

Hon. Halbarad: "Alright, let's get this over with..."

Armin eyed the judge. //Hmm... is he the same guy from the Sargon trial?// His memory wasn't that great for people he didn't know personally, so he brushed it aside and continued watching the proceedings.

Outside, Ryder and several other non-humans waited discreetly. None too close to the courthouse, but lingering in backstreets or sitting on walls nearby. They were keeping an eye out.

{With everyone seated, the trial began.}

Hon. Halbarad: "Sam Garvey, you and your 11 compatriots have been accused of attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms. How do you plead?"

Defense Lawyer: "My clients plead not guilty, your Honor."

{A murmur of surprise rises from the crowd.}

Armin scoffed, though quietly, and glanced at Dianne. //Not guilty? Yeah, I bet they believe that,// he thought.

Hon. Halbarad: "Very well, plead your case."

Defense Lawyer: "Your Honor, these people have not broken the law. They have been accused of attacking a man four provinces away, an event for which there is no proof. Further, the man they're accused of attacking, this, Armin Alscher, is a known criminal, guilty of murder, known accessory to the Windglen Slaughter, former associate of Sargon, and holds a legitimate bounty. Last I checked, bounty hunting was still legal in this city. To recap, their offenses cannot be proven, and even if they could be, their supposed actions fell within the curfew of the law."

'Can't be proven?' Armin spoke up indignantly. 'It was all over the news, their attacking us. Alexandria set a bounty on /them/ because of it.'

Despite his words, he felt a stirring of unease. For the first time, he wondered if the Garveys would be able to lawyer their way out of getting any sentence at all.

{At that, Halbarad slams his gavel down.}

Hon. Halbarad: "There will be order in this court!"

{Dianne walks over to Armin and pulls him aside, whispering.}

Dianne: "Armin, you're not supposed to talk in a courtroom! Keep that up and he can detain you!"

Armin growled, as if he didn't care whether he was supposed to talk or not, but didn't say anything more.

Hon. Halbarad: "Now, if we're done with the interruptions, the Plaintiff may speak."

Plaintiff: "Your Honor, these individuals are guilty. Not only was an official provincial bounty issued for them, there is video evidence of the attack, provided by the Alexandria police department. If the court will allow..."

Hon. Halbarad: "I will. Show me."

(You may continue)

{After a few minutes, there was a TV set up for all to see.}

Plaintiff: "Be advised, what you are about to see is graphic."

{The video they played showed Armin's encounter with them, when he was ambushed walking back to the hotel.}

Armin watched the footage with interest, seeing Sarah coming up behind him, firing a crossbow, and the ensuing brief scuffle. //Not only were they attacking me, they're also endangering innocent bystanders... starting a gunfight in the open street... that's got to be bad, right?//

{After the video played, the judge speaks up.}

Hon. Halbarad: "Defendant? What have you to say?"

Defense Lawyer: "They can't prove that the people in that footage are my clients. That video could be doctored for all we know."

Plaintiff: "I have an eyewitness. I call Armin Alscher to the stand."

Armin's expression shifted to momentary surprise, then he stood and walked over. Deciding it was best not to speak until he was asked a question, he remained quiet.

{Once Armin took the stand, the plaintiff approached him.}

Plaintiff: "Mr. Alscher, can you describe the events that occurred on November 11th?"

'It was about 11PM, and I was on my way back to the Canopy hotel. While walking down...' He tried to remember. 'I think Serpents Road, Sarah Garvey ambushed me from behind with a crossbow. Caught me a glancing blow. I knocked her down in self-defence, then other members of the Garvey family, including Sam, showed up and started shooting at me. At that point, the police showed up and they all fled through a portal.'

Plaintiff: "So, would you say that the footage we just saw was real? Not doctored or altered in any way?"

'Yes. I confirm that nothing was altered and what we saw there, was how it was.'

Plaintiff: "And that,

...Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is conclusive proof that Mr. Alscher was attacked by the defedants illegally."

Hon. Halbarad: "Does the defendant have anything to ask the witness?"

Defense Lawyer: "I do."

{The lawyer walks over to Armin.}

Defense Lawyer: "Mr. Alscher, do you know why my clients, supposedly attacked you?"

Armin considered responding with, 'Because they're intolerant bast.ards,' but decided against it.

'All I know is that they're pursuing a bounty set by the parents of somebody I was forced against my will to kill, around a year and a half ago.'

Defense Lawyer: "So, you murdered someone, as you clai, against your will? Was there a trial that found you, not guilty?"

'No. There wasn't a trial, and the man who ordered me to do it is long dead, so he can't testify it's the truth.'

Defense Lawyer: "So, you murdered someone, claim that you were forced to do so, but can't prove it? Mr. Alscher, the bounty system was created specifically to deal with situations like this. You committed a crime, refused to go to court, so now, you have a bounty. Sounds like any attempt to claim said bounty is lawful."

'I might not have any proof, but nor do they. Can they prove that I killed that person of my own free will? You can't just say somebody is responsible for something, put a bounty on them and claim it's lawful.'

Defense Lawyer: "I assure you, Mr. Alscher, there is a lot of proof, but that is for another trial. No further questions."

Plaintiff: "You may return to your seat, Mr. Alscher."

Armin remained stubbornly standing there for a moment, then returned to his seat. He didn't look at Jerry, Dianne, or anyone else as he sat down.

{Dianne walked over to him and wordlessly patted him on the shoulder.}

Hon. Halbarad: "We'll take a brief recess, then the defendant will go. Dismissed."

Armin paid no attention to Dianne's gesture. He looked angry and frustrated, but was holding it back. //A lot of proof? A lot of proof, my ass... I didn't kill her willingly and there's no way they can prove I did. Dammit, why is Sargon still screwing over my life even after dying?//

{Seeing his demeanor, Dianne tugs on his shirt.}

Dianne: "C'mon, let's get some air."

Armin silently accompanied her. Outside, Fred's people weren't being conspicuous. All of them, including Ryder, had made themselves scarce. They were probably still around, though.

'They're going to get off,' Armin muttered. 'Those f**king psychopathic murderers sell you out to the Bloodrazors, try to kill me, without a real reason to harm either of us, and they're going to get off scot-free.'

{Dianne removes her helmet, looking him in the eyes.}

Dianne: "I wouldn't be so sure. They're so obviously guilty, I doubt the jury will find them not guilty. Also, the king may yet intervene. If he decrees that they be punished, that supersedes the courts."

Armin looked away, breathing slowly.

'I shouldn't have assumed that Sargon's death would be the end of everything, should I? It never occurred to me that the things I did back then would haunt me in reality and not just in my mind.'

Dianne: "Everything is going to be just fine. Trust me. We are going to get through this, and Sargon's influence will end."

'You don't know that...'

He sat on a low wall near the courtroom, staring blankly into space.

{Dianne sits next to him, rubbing his back.}

Dianne: "Neither do you. You probably thought Sargon would never die, either, but he did. This is just the next step."

Armin closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on her touch.

'...I suppose it's not so bad... I'm glad they're currently only after me, not you or Fred or anyone else... But that might still happen... and that's why I really don't want them around. They could decide to kill any of you.'

Dianne: "Deciding and succeeding are two completely different things. If push comes to shove, I'll deal with these hunter slimes, myself."

'I don't doubt it. But still.'

He sighed and looked around as if only just noticing they were outside.

'So, what now? What's going on?'

Dianne: "It's a short recess. They'll call us back soon. Let's go."

{Standing, Dianne heads inside.}

Armin quietly followed, still unsure how all of this was going to turn out.

{Once they headed inside, the court resumed.}

Defense Lawyer: "Your Honor, I hold in my hand, an official copy of the bounty registration, filled out to post the bounty on Mr. Alscher. As you will see, it is a legitimate bounty, the pursuit of which would be lawful. Meaning, if my clients truly did assault Mr. Alscher in pursuit of this bounty, they would have done nothing wrong."

{The judge takes a moment to look over the paperwork.}

Hon. Halbarad: "Well, Mr. Deacon, you would have a good point, except each province honors and posts its own bounties. In Alexandria, this bounty is void."

Armin felt a bit of relief upon hearing this. //Alexandria seems to always have our back.//

Defense Lawyer: "Well, judge, most Hunter organizations don't recognize Alexandria as a province and consider it a lawless state."

Hon. Halbarad: "Mr. Deacon, Alexandria has been an independent province for a little under 400 years now. It's recognized by all the surrounding provinces, including this one. What hunter organizations choose to consider a province is moot."

Defense Lawer: "True as that may be, this is how Hunter organizations have operated since Alexandria's founding."

Hon. Halbarad: "By partaking in illegal activity? Just asserting that this is the way it's always been done, doesn't make it lawful, Mr. Deacon."

//Hunters really seem to think they're above the law, don't they?// Armin thought. //They're all the same; these guys, the Bloodrazors, they just think they can make their own rules...//

Hon. Halbarad: "Make your point, Mr. Deacon."

Defense Lawyer: "Your Honor, if my clients did do what they are accused of, they believed they were within the law."

Hon. Halbarad: "Criminals always do."

{As the judge was about to ask the plaintiff to present the next bit of evidence, there was a sound outside. It sounded like someone driving recklessly, with honking and screeching tires. All at once, the back of a bus smashed through the wall, right where the jury was. All the bystanders screamed as the wall and part of the ceiling came down. The back door of the bus flew open to reveal one of the Tussock Brothers.}

Jack: "C'mon, let's go!"

Shock made Armin motionless, but only for a second. With a cry, he drew his sword and started forwards, aiming to block the Garveys from entering the bus.

Outside, there was no possible way for the commotion to go unnoticed. Ryder and a female vampire, both with light armour and revolvers, ran over and started shooting at the front end of the bus sticking through the wall. Bullets smashed through the bus's windows.

Dianne: "Armin, wait!"

{As Armin rushed forward, Jack raised a shotgun and fired at Armin.}

Sam: "What are you doing? We were going to win that trial!"

Jack: "Like hell you were! Now shut up and get on!"

Armin twitched aside when he saw Jack raise his gun, and the shot barely missed him. Skidding to a halt near Sam, he kicked the old man's legs out from under him, then swung his sword at Jack, projecting a cutting wave of wind magic.

{The old man fell with a grunt. Jack put his arm up, the wind cutting into him. Sarah jumps on Armin's back, trying to get him in a headlock while the other members scramble onboard.}

Sarah: "Quick, someone shoot him!"

{Dianne closed the distance quickly, stepping on Sam and stabbing at the other members with her pike.}

Armin grabbed Sarah's arm as she tried to restrain him, and with his greater strength, contemptuously dragged her off his back and slammed her into the floor.

Outside, Ryder smashed his way through the front door of the bus and leapt on board, gun raised. He was expecting to find Carl in the driver's seat.

{Getting inside the bus, no one was in the driver's seat. It seems Jack had come alone. The seat had weapons and ammo on them, which Jerry's family we're picking up. One sees Ryder and starts shooting at him with a revolver. After Sarah hit the floor, Dianne shoves Armin out of the way, turning her back to the bus. Jack fired his shotgun, but instead of hitting Armin as he intended, the buckshot slammed into Dianne's back plating.}

Some of the shots hit Ryder's cuirass. One grazed his arm, which was only protected by his coat, leaving a shallow wound. From his position by the door, he shot back. //All these guys are probably unarmoured...//

Armin grunted as he was shoved down. He jumped up again, barely aware that Dianne had saved him from being hit. He threw another wind strike at Jack, then followed it, running towards Jack for a direct attack.

{Jack blocked the strike with his shotgun, but the wind blade cut it in half. Discarding his ruined weapon, Jack pulled a revolver and fired at Armin with that. Ryder managed to hit one of the Garveys, but another one picked up an assault rifle and fired at Ryder with it, looking to drive him off the bus. }

Armin didn't have time to dodge the revolver shot, which hit him in the gut. Barely feeling pain despite the severity of the wound, he lunged at Jack again, trying to grab the revolver from his hand while simultaneously slashing at him.

Ryder swung himself from the bus door and jumped out, quickly ducking below the window level to avoid being shot.

{Dianne hopped into the bus with Armin, stabbing a member of the Garvey family with a pike. Jack raised his arm, getting Armin's blade lodged in it. He then unloads his revolver when Armin grabs it, trying to shoot him. The member with the assault rifle doesn't pursue Ryder. Instead, he gets into the driver's seat and starts the engine.}

Armin hung onto the revolver, keeping himself out of the line of fire, trying to wrench it from Jack's grasp. He pulled his sword out of Jack's arm and stabbed at his chest with it, snarling to show gleaming fangs.

Ryder moved away from the bus and pressed his back against the courthouse wall. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a single impact grenade.

{Jack yelled at being stabbed in the chest, but the blade only partially penetrated his armor. Jack, with his hand free, pulls out a knife and stabs Armin in the arm, trying to get him to drop his sword. Dianne didn't help because she had three people wrestling with her, trying to shoot and stab her. Every time Dianne stabbed or disabled one, another family member would fill the gap. The driver steps on the pedal, trying to drive off.}

Armin was aware of Dianne in his peripheral vision, but he made himself focus on his own fight. She had heavy armour, so he figured she'd be OK for now.

He drew his sword arm back, grimacing, and proceeded to kick Jack hard in the leg, trying to knock him off-balance.

As the bus showed signs of movement, Ryder lobbed the grenade right under the front wheels, trying to cause some damage.

(posting new room)