Hearing. (2)

"The Council calls upon Enforcer Relovan – please approach the stand."

The Adjudicator tapped the gavel on the crystal once more, and a podium rose up from a split in the floor. A gate in the booth also opened, and as it did, Earth Essence in the shape of rocks and boulders rose up from somewhere within the chasm, and began to form a bridge between Relovan's booth and the stand. The Enforcer didn't even wait for construction of the bridge to complete, and he strode forward confidently. The cape flapped about behind him as he did, and as if it was preplanned, Relovan caught up to and walked in time with the bridge, right up until they both reached the stand. He then stepped right up to said stand, stood at attention and emphatically saluted the members of the Council that hovered above him. He felt their gazes on him once again as they stared at him in quietly. This lasted for quite a bit longer than either the Council, or the Adjudicator anticipated, however when they realised why things were the way they were, one of them spoke to Relovan.

"At ease, Enforcer."

Relovan nodded and did indeed stand at ease. He then stood with his feet shoulder width apart, and his arms behind his back.

"So… you are indeed the Human Police Enforcer we have heard so much about, are you?"

"Yes, Council member."

"I see… well, let us not waste any time and review the video footage."

"Very well." The Adjudicator said before looking at Relovan. "We will play the footage, and at any point while watching it, a Council member will have the footage paused, and ask you questions. Answer the questions to the best of your ability, Enforcer."

"Yes, Adjudicator."

"Then, let us begin."

A very large, holographic screen then appeared and without delay, the footage began to play. Relovan couldn't help but feel a little taken aback, as it showed pretty much everything that happened from the moment Relovan, Captain Biggum and the rest arrived at the Station. Only, it followed Relovan, his actions and what happened to him, all with multiple camera angles, zoom levels, and more. The Enforcer was aware that there was surveillance, but not to that extent. The cameras had even captured what he said, and at random points, one Council member or another would indeed have the footage paused in order to ask about his motivations behind certain actions, if he would have done anything differently, and other such questions. Once they got to the end of the footage, Relovan was actually able to see how the Chief landed in front of him right as things went south, and shielded him from taking any further damage. He quickly shot Nura a glance which the Adonian understood, despite how brief it was.

"Enforcer." One of the Council members called as their visage grew in size. "This is Councilman Ya'Guul – I have something to ask."

"Councilman." Relovan said with a nod, before facing him.

"Do you not find fault with the way that you handled things with Void Lords Vox and Juxtae?"

"In what way, Councilman?"

"In every way, Enforcer. These two are beings far beyond your understanding, and even your station."

"While the Void Lords are above my station, they are neither above my understanding nor the laws created especially for them."

"Can you even comprehend the reason for the position of Void Lord having been created, Enforcer?"

"Void Lords are agents of the Council, are they not? Beings of immense power and ability, who are beholden to the Council, they are given territories and Planets in the far reaches of Coalition Territory. Authority, power, the ability to act on behalf of the Council, these beings have a near limitless amount of power within the Coalition, and are subject to laws vastly different to those the rest of us have to follow." Relovan stated, as if reading a brochure.

"Hmph, so you know this much, yet still have the gall to try and have Void Lords Vox Juxtae sanctioned for what happened? Preposterous."

"Yes I do, because regardless of their virtual omnipotence within the Coalition, they are still governed by rules and regulations – which not only they, but their subordinates broke as well. Line six, paragraph twenty-three of the Chapter 'Laws of the Void and Void Lords' in the Constitution clearly states—"

"Oh stop being so naïve, Enforcer!" Ya'Guul sneered as he interrupted Relovan. "Those rules – all of them – are simply there to appease those members of the populace who feel the Void Lords wield too much power and are unchecked. They are barely worth the script they are written on; you whelp. What happened to you and your people on that insignificant spec of a planet does not have the gravitas to make us act in earnest."

"Councilman!" The Adjudicator scolded as he tapped his gavel.

"Silence, Tenzo! I'm just stating what we all already know. This blasted Hearing has gone on for long enough, and wasted enough of our time!"

The other Council members remained silent during the exchange between the Enforcer, the Adjudicator and the Councilman, and after those three stopped speaking, the silence prevailed. Vox was clearly smirking as he watched the proceedings unfold, and he even sniggered, as if he himself wasn't the cause of everything. Everybody within the chamber suddenly became aware of one thing – the change in the atmosphere of the room. Everybody saw the air around the Enforcer change and become thicker, as his clenched fists shook behind his back. His jaw was also clenched, and his glaring and damn near glowing eyes, were fixed squarely on Councilman Ya'Guul.

"…as a member of the police and an Enforcer of the Law, I have sworn to not only protect the laws written within the Constitution, but also uphold and enforce them. Anybody who refuses to follow them or breaks them is a Constitutional Delinquent, and it is my duty to ensure that they are brought to justice! I care not if it is a bum on the street, a Void Lord, or even a Councilman, if you break our laws, I WILL arrest you, and throw you in jail!"

Relovan, who was shaking during his rant, looked as though he was about to attack Ya'Guul, who just looked down at the Enforcer. The sound of laughter then began to echo in the chamber, and Ya'Guul, who was clearly amused by what Relovan had just said, even ended up slapping his knee.

"Da-Xa's tits, who do you think you are, Human? You fragile little thing, you certainly are bold – thinking that you are even the slightest bit qualified to not only address me like that, but even call me a delinquent and threaten to bring me to justice! I could eviscerate you with a mere thought, yet you think you can arrest me?! Council members and Void Lords live in a different stratosphere to a pathetic, transient little being such as you, Enforcer. You can't do a thing to us."

"This isn't an issue of can or cannot, Councilman… duty has no grey area. I must do what I must do."

Relovan said this as he took a few deep breaths and regained control not only of his composure, but his body as well, unclenching everything and looking at the Councilman with calm, dull eyes.

"Adjudicator, I request that we play the last surveillance clip again, and skip to 3:26."

"May I ask why, Enforcer?"

"The Councilman mentioned something that I feel will be clarified if we play the clip."

"Are we going to allow this thing to lead these proceedings now, hmmm?" Ya'Guul practically spat.

"I'll allow it." One of the Council members chimed in, with the other three following suit.

"Very well." The Adjudicator said with a nod, before completing Relovan's request.

The video that was shown on the holographic screen was that of Relovan speaking directly to Void Lord Vox.

"Don't think for even a second that I care about the Council and it's laws. I only follow and answer to the voice of Da-Xa, and He tells me to do whatever it is I want, whenever I want to do it. Right now, what I want to do is crush this Void Lord and her two worms."

Relovan then raised his hand as he nodded at the Adjudicator, who then paused the video. The Enforcer then looked directly at the Councilman's visage and spoke.

"Councilman, you did hear what the Void Lord said, did you not?"

"Of course I did – what of it?"

"He openly declared that he cared neither for the Council, nor its laws. I may be wrong, but that declaration and flagrant disregard for the Council and those very laws that give him the position and authority of a Void Lord… would that not constitute him willingly giving up the powers and privileges granted to him by very same Council and laws?"