LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 1110 Punished Instead Of Praised?
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Once we returned to the mothership, I wasn't greeted with more cheers, congratulatory messages, or people thanking me for what I have done. No, my Warrior Machine was taken away from me, and there were five robots standing around me, while a woman with short blonde hair and sharp silver eyes stood in front of me.
Her clothes alone told me she was of a higher rank than everyone else here, in fact, there was a small silver colored plate attached to her military-looking jacket.
It said [Security Guard Officer: Henriette Star (C Rank)].
"Blake Goathorn, isn't it?"
"Yes, miss Security Guard Officer…"
I looked around, the giant machines, resembling Warrior Machines but much smaller, without their armor plating, but looking strong enough to easily subdue a man, glared at me.
Their heads were in the shape of triangles, and they only had a single red-colored "eye", a light that shone brightly, probably letting them analyze their surroundings through visual cues.
"What did I do to deserve such warm welcome?"
"You know exactly what you've done. Unauthorized usage of Warrior Machines, the absorption of the precious Neutonium Cores into your own Machine, and even killing a fellow pilot in cold blood to steal his machine, it is very clear that you're not right in your head, pilot."
"Hah, so that's what it was…"
I looked at the ceiling, the clear glass allowed me to see the beautiful and eternal night sky of outer space, stars shining brightly.
"Yet I brought victory to you when nobody could. I also saved the pilots that would have surely died. And the whole thing about killing someone cold blooded… Is not wrong, but he was suffering and infected by a Xenoid," I explained. "If my Genetic Memory serves me well, there's no cure for that other than execution.
Don't tell me now that a Pilot has no right to take a fellow pilot out of their misery?"
"They were still being infected and still held into their minds, they are legally still people, and not Xenoids. Therefore, it is illegal to execute them until they turn into Xenoid Larvae," she explained. "I am only following orders, pilot Blake. I am well aware of your achievements and how important you were for the mission to protect the mothership.
Without you, we wouldn't have been able to buy enough time for the acceleration procedure, that would have helped us get farther away from the Xenoid Colony…"
"Then?"
"However, orders are orders, and law is law," she said, society and without changing her face expression. "Your Warrior Machine will be indefinitely confiscated, and the Neutronium Ability within its Core shall be studied. The power is interesting, but it cannot be used in the hands of a criminal. Now follow me, the Elders will judge you in one hour.
You're allowed a time of rest in that time frame, a small meal, and the bathroom if you wish for."
"…Understood."
There was no point fighting. I felt that my body was still fairly strong, I could easily destroy these machines and break that woman's neck, take back my machine warrior and escape somewhere else in space.
But that would be counterproductive, the mission of this trial asked me to protect humanity, doing that would make me an enemy of humanity, therefore, the trial would be lost.
This is simply the result of my own actions, but it isn't as if I hadn't been judged in my previous life, many times, when I was weaker, I was captured by the forces of law of several kingdoms, countries, and empires across the galaxy.
And many times I either broke out of jail eventually or was pardoned after I sweet talked my way out of it. And I believe the latter is my best bet.
After all, my strength is the real deal, and they need me.
They say they could take the machine and use it for themselves…
But can they really do it now that the Nuetonium Core has created a permanent connection with my Mind?
They led me across several long, metallic corridors, until we reached a floating platform, entered, and flew across dozens of kilometers within this massive spaceship.
The surroundings were all mechanical and of high technology, dark blue and silver steel adorned mostly every massive visage I saw. Flying platforms carrying people everywhere moved, there were also residential areas for those awake right now, but most people were stored on gigantic skyscraper-shaped buildings, on cryogenic sleep.
Eventually, we reached a metropolis within the entire spaceship, large buildings interconnected by enormous cables and tubes, more flying artifacts everywhere, lights everywhere, I could see giant signs, and people moving around as they pleased.
Although most of humanity was on cryogenic sleep, there were those that were awake right now, the people necessary for the entire spaceship to work. Although they have robots for most things, they can't do everything as their artificial intelligence is surprisingly not as advanced.
"Fascinating."
"Lower your head while you enter the Elders' Spire."
"Hm."
I didn't lower my head, and I was punished by an electrifying touch from the machines, it didn't even hurt so I didn't care.
"Insolent little lab rat…"
Henriette had quite the sharp tongue.
"Now, stay here until the hour passes."
They threw me inside a completely white room, with a single table where some fruits, bread, and water were awaiting me, alongside a bathroom.
"Hah, this is sure nostalgic…"
How many times have I been thrown into such a place back then? It's almost ironic I get to live this again through a trial in a completely unrelated world.
"Well, I might as well prepare."
I started eating as I felt hungry, the food was all real, filling my stomach. Then I went to the bathroom, washed my face, and did some warmup exercises.
After the hour passed, the door opened, and they led me to the deepest part of the spire.
There, I stood in a gigantic hall, where five towers surrounded me.
Above them, the Elders stood.
Or well, rested.
Their bodies wrapped on black machinery, they were on a semi-cryogenic sleep state, their bodies completely frozen and asleep, yet their minds remained within the machines.
Eternal rulers.
"Genetically Engineered Pilot Blake Goathorn, today you've been called by the council of elders to be judged for your crimes."
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