Edna, the prosecution attorney, glanced at Harris... she wondered if he recognised her in this body. He must know though who she was from the court records, but he made no mention of it at all as they walked side by side.
Was he being... polite about it?
It was too late to talk to each other though, as the case was about to restart. The defence was... impressive. As always, Harris weaved a story of impeccable detail. However, she had right on her side and that had to mean, there was something... some way, to break it out of Anderson.
"Trial recommences," Said the judge. "Your witness, Prosecution"
"We call Anderson, to the stand" She said. Despite her change, it was curious she didn't slur her S's or anything. She had a very human form, that just happened to end into a snake tail. She was glad for that. It was tricky to make an argument if you looked like the devil's advocate. Mind you that tended to be the defence...
She couldn't help but wonder, what form Harris would take under the sunlight. From his past conduct, he was either the noble defender or the absolute scum of the earth... then again, who said such aspects were actually considered by the change? She was aware of drunken fools becoming angels. More proof that it was all random.
She focused on her job. To prosecute... to bring this man to justice.
"Anderson," she started as she approached. She noted his tension, clearly he didn't like the changed... that could be used to her advantage. "You spoke to this court you were blackmailed. Why didn't you tell the police?"
"I- was worried... I just didn't know what to do."
"What did you have to lose by contacting the police?"
"The blackmailer said I was being watched. I just reacted... I mean, if I hadn't done what he said, maybe I would have been pushed into the sunlight." Anderson sweated, glancing at Jay again. The fox was staring at her... for the love of God don't look at her! Stupid animal...
"Your story of blackmail and coercion is quite convenient. However, there is no evidence of it. Can you show to the court, one shred of evidence, any communications at all, of this?"
Anderson looked angrily. "As I said, no. That was part of the deal."
"What was that deal, Anderson?" Edna got closer to him.
"I-I just had to make my station for humans. I mean I didn't want to get rid of anyone. I was happy with them taking other jobs anyway-"
"What would the blackmailer have to gain from this?"
"I don't know! He was some pro-human group I guess," Anderson said.
"Do you agree with those ideals, Anderson?"
"Objection" Harris said. "My clients views are not on trial."
"Objection, the defendants views are necessary to establish a probable cause to incite instruction."
"Sustained..." The judge said. "You may answer the question, Anderson."
The man looked uncertainly. "I- well-" How much should he lie here? Hell, he already admitted he was 'uneasy' with the changed. Wasn't that enough? How the hell could they understand this? They were loosing their jobs to the changed! The world was becoming theirs every single day. There were less humans around... "No. of course not," He said quietly.
"People were afraid of the sunlight in your station. Did they perhaps fear they could lose their jobs?"
Anderson was getting angry at this snake bitch. "We- had to ensure certain appearances that's all-"
"Appearances? And Toby opposed that didn't he?"
"No! I mean- It was all Jay's fault-" Anderson paused turning slightly white. He was letting this snake get to her. He had to keep a cool head.
"What was Jay's fault, Anderson?" The snake lawyer asked carefully.
Harris watched with barely an emotional twitch. His client was digging himself deeper... but there was no questions he could object to at the moment.
"There was a screw up with communications... Just mixed up. Jay threw this big drama thing, and got Toby to go against me. I explained it was an honest mistake. A miscommunication."
"And how did a blackmailer figure into all this?" The Snake lady raised her voice a touch.
Anderson looked wide eyed. Hell! His brain froze. He got it quickly back on track. "I- as I said the blackmailer wanted humans on the news... Maybe the miscommunication happened when I panicked... I can't really remember. I gave him the money and I thought he would leave me alone after that. I guess he wanted to leave his mark by getting Toby exposed... That's all that happened!"
"The prosecution can find no evidence of any blackmail. It would seem strange that you did not keep such evidence, to exonerate you in the future, isn't it?"
"I- didn't want to take the chance." Anderson explained.
The Jury glanced at each other finding that one line of reasoning a little strange.
The trial continued.
Effie waited, glancing around the Wii console. The place felt 'small' to her. However it was obvious they were not running under the Wii's processor directly. That they were here at all indicated it was processing 'something' of their aspect. It was a sad state of their new existence, that they needed a processor of some kind to exist within the system. The more the better.
Despite the small feeling, they were able to exist, at least for a while. Amy had warned them of a time dilation problem if they existed in a small processing environment completely. However she had also said there were signs when it was happening. A lagging effect on their movement and thoughts. So far that has not happened.
Effie glanced down at the orbs of her small breasts... was she getting used to this? She hoped not. The idea she can return back to her own body and world was still in her head. She had revealed she wanted to see her parents again... but not like this. They would never accept her.
Would they?
She glanced at Nadine who occasionally paced back and forth nervously...
"Ah ha!" Dennis grinned.
"Hm?" Effie looked to her companion.
"I don't believe it, I've been so stupid. The Wii has a bluetooth adaptor as part of its controller system!" Dennis smiled.
"So?" Nadine asked.
Dennis started writing on his editor, as a blue light started to shine across it. "We are not bound by the programming of the system we are in. We can force it to sync with anything nearby. Such as a mobile phone. I'm going to try connecting it..."
It took a few moments but the program returned another hardware synchronising with the bluetooth short wave radio. "I think... yep... I've got a mobile phone here. Maybe one of your parents?"
"Oh yes!" said Nadine recognising the name. "It's my dad's phone."
Effie looked in awe at Dennis. He had networked two things that were not supposed to go together!
"Can we speak to them?" Asked Effie
"Dennis shook his head. "Not with our voices. Remember we are still just 'information' here. Unless we can get the console to render our voices, and that would take a lot of time and local processing... I think we can get a text message to them though."
"Okay... Nadine? Try writing a message to them" the ME fairy encouraged, her voice gentle- even surprising to herself.
Nadine typed the message carefully onto Dennis' editor.
I'm here. Its me Nadine. Please turn on the television and look at the Wii
Mr Travis was sick with worry. it had been days now since their daughter's disappearance. His wife had gone to work, having changed in the sunlight and he was at home just waiting now for word.
The police said they couldn't find her, but advised to look carefully around the house in case she had turned into something very small. However he couldn't find anything. His imagination was going wild and he couldn't sleep. What if she had become something so tiny and was eaten by a mouse? The thought's just became worse from that and it made him sicker and sicker.
His phone rang, as a message came. Who would message him now? He jumped as he saw Nadine's name. Anxiously he tried to look at the number it was from but all that came back was a mix of letters and numbers as the caller. It was not a callable number whatever it was.
Turn on the Wii? Was this some kind of sick joke?
He went into the living room, and saw the flashing system... Anxiously, he did as instructed and turned the TV on...
and was greeted by eerie static.
Travis thought this was just someone's sick joke, until he heard a voice in the television. It was highly digitised, and a bit choppy, but it was recognisable to him.
Dad? Are you there?
"Nadine! Oh my God... Where are you!" Rationality had gone out the window. If it was a dream or not he didn't care. His daughter was alive, somewhere...
His phone rang, and again it was that strange number. He immediately answered it, but was greeted by static.
we can hear you with the phone Another voice said through the television. This one was male. Speak into the mic
Travis tried to ignore the static, focusing on the words as best he can. "Where is Nadine? Please, just tell me..."
She is with us a female voice spoke. We're inside the console
Its me dad really! Nadine's voice was filled with emotion despite the digitised nature of it.
Travis broke down, collapsing onto the floor. "Can you get her out?"
There was a long pause.
I'm sorry. She is digital life now, just like us, said the female voice.
Travis was about ready to lose patience. He wanted to smash the screen were it not that it was his only means of communicating with his daughter. Who were these people? Were they keeping his daughter from her? Was she even safe with them? "Please... don't hurt Nadine. I'll do whatever you want."
It's okay Dad Nadine spoke. Dennis and Effie have been really nice to me. They helped me come back here
The father still wasn't sure if to trust these two. For all he knew they might have kidnapped her... But it looked like he had no choice. "I want to see my daughter," he said.
We can't... I'm sorry, the female voice spoke. It must have been that Effie. We are pushing the limitations of this hardware just to talk to you
Travis broke down in tears. All he wanted was to see his daughter again. He touched the screen pitifully, The barrier that kept them apart. "I'll find a way to get you home, I promise Nadine!" He shouted on the phone. "I promise! Do you hear me!"
I know Dad... Nadine cried back.
The CPU is overheating.. we need to stop for a few minutes Dennis spoke
the static suddenly died.
Nadine cried upset, as she finished her message. Effie did her best to comfort her but there was no consoling the poor child.
"W-what do I do?" she asked.
"The only way to render you in the real world, is with an AI," Dennis explained. But from what he could tell, such transformations were extremely rare.
Effie tried to think of some other way, but could find nothing. There was no other hardware in existence, that could breach the real world...
