If it pleases the Court, I would like to make a statement.”, Dee said.
Lynn’s robotic eye opened in a wide and worrisome, almost human expression of concern over what Dee might say.
         “Proceed.”, Volker said.

         “I’m an American citizen from the planet Earth. As far as my recollection permits, I never agreed to be brought to this time period and location, much less be subjected to its draconian laws.”
         “I was recruited from Earth in the year 2022, where I was a New York City Police Detective, by people whom I later found out were members of my own Realm Military unit. I didn’t believe a word they said at first but in the short time that I’ve been with them since they contacted me, we’ve faced dangers, saved each other’s lives, and began rebuilding the bonds that made us teammates and friends. For this reason, as well as countless memories which they have of me, I believe they acted to defend me when General doofus and his ass clowns attacked us in that bar. Being the highest in rank, I take full responsibility for their actions, even though I know this entire trial is one deceptive farce after another.”
         “I don’t recall my prior life in this time, because I’m suffering from a temporary form of amnesia that blocks memories. I find myself at complete odds with a life, and experiences, which I’ve apparently lived for the last several hundred years. I have best friends whom I don’t recognize, a home I only remember in memory fragments, a husband I barely know, and until recently, access to technology, rank, abilities, and responsibilities that I would never in a million years have thought possible.”
         “What I do remember is the difference between good and evil, cowardice and loyalty, lies and truth. Those things were the same in my time and they should be the same here, but what I’ve seen take place during today’s proceedings tells me that that just isn’t so.”
         “I’ve been kidnapped, imprisoned, abused, and whipped like an animal before, so whatever you do to me on Mars, Jupiter, or wherever, is irrelevant. What is relevant is that over the last six hundred years this technologically superior human race of ours has devolved into a group of idiot savants who can write impossible algorithms, zip across the universe in the blink of an eye, time travel and make humans into supermen, yet interpret a simple bar fight among soldiers as a landmark case requiring incarceration and torture. It’s more than amusing that my subordinates and I were charged with attempted murder. Based on Bender’s own testimony I could have wiped out that whole pub by myself with my level of enhancement, so why would I have had a need to ‘attempt’ anything if that was in fact my goal?”
         “In my time New York was filled with criminals, slick lawyers, lying politicians, and other assorted thugs and dirtbags. I can say with confidence that General Bend-over, his mascot Captain Wolf-man, and this Tribunal including you, Mr. Volker in that silly, Saturday Night Fever disco-outfit, would’ve fit in nicely there. As for The Council of Twelve I’ve yet to meet them or understand why they set up this woefully flawed justice system, but if they regularly appoint turds like the lot of you, then they’re a bunch of fucking idiots too!”, Dee said.
           All their faces turned blank with shock and disgust except for Nala who seemed to be fighting a smile. Dee turned around to look for Crudup in the audience, but he was nowhere to be found. “So much for true love.”, Dee thought.