The Bloodline System

Author's Note: Unedited Chapter

-----------------

Empress Dahria continued;

"At a young age I watched my family get slaughtered. I was brought to earth to hide out until I was old enough to take back the throne which was where I met my friend Matilda.

Unfortunately, after a couple of years I was discovered and forcefully taken back. I was on the run again and I did my best to seek for help even from planet Earth and the alliance but... No help came. I was ignored because the tyrant put money in the pockets of any alliance investigator. For over a decade, I was imprisoned... I had lost all hope.

Until he came. When the entire universe ignored my plight... The plight of my people...He restored peace to our world and brought justice to our people. Are you going condemn such a man on false basis and lies spinned by people who haven't done half the things he has?"

The entire hall was briefly thrown into silence after her testimony. It had no doubt caused a stir in their minds. Earthlings were sheep who followed the narrative of superior authority.

They rarely ever questioned it when leaders made a particular claim. This was why a lot of them accepted it when Gustav was proclaimed a planet destroyer.

All of these testimonies had them wondering if they had been wrong all this time. Had they foolishly swallowed the lies of the world government without giving it any proper thought?

Veran Kess suddenly attempted to interject, but the judge silenced him with a stern look. "Let the witnesses speak."

Jareth Cole seized the opportunity to strengthen Gustav's defense. "These testimonies are not isolated incidents. They are part of a larger pattern, a pattern of heroism and selflessness that defines Gustav Crimson. He has saved countless lives, protected planets and fought against true evil. These witnesses are undeniable proof."

"Gustav Crimson is not a criminal. To condemn him would be a grave injustice."

Gustav's lawyer paused briefly before turning to stare in Jack's direction.

Jack nodded, signalling that he was prepared.

"I will now call on Jack Shirwin to give his testimony of what happened on the day of Gustav's capture..." Jareth Cole slowly moved away as Jack stepped forward.

As he walked up to the witness stand, the hall fell silent as anticipation hung heavy in the air.

Jack finally took the stand and his presence commanded the attention of everyone in the courtroom.

Jack began speaking in a deep tone that resonated through the hall. "I want to clear the air about my last encounter with Gustav Crimson."

He paused, making sure everyone was listening intently. "At the time, I was about to kill Angy because she was a threat to the entire Earth. She was under the influence of a dark power, wreaking havoc, and endangering countless lives."

There were murmurs among the audience, but Jack's steady gaze silenced them quickly. "Gustav interfered and saved Angy. He didn't just stop her; he brought her back. He saved her and, in doing so, also saved the Earth."

The prosecutor, Veran Kess, jumped to his feet. "Objection! This doesn't change the fact that Gustav has been responsible for countless crimes. He's a danger to society."

Jareth Cole, Gustav's lawyer, stood up to interject. "Your Honor, what Jack is saying is crucial to understanding Gustav's actions. He didn't act out of malice or self-interest. He acted to protect and to save."

The judge nodded; "Continue."

"As I mentioned, Gustav saved Angy from the dark influence by absorbing it into himself and went into an unconscious state to prevent himself from being a threat to this world. I didn't capture him. I merely took him back to see if the MBO could be of any help," Jack's statement caused a visible stir across the world.

Everyone could hardly believe their ears but since it was coming directly from the mouth of the world's strongest, it had to be true, right?

Jareth turned to the audience with a firm and clear voice. "You've heard the testimonies of those Gustav has saved. You've seen the evidence of his heroism. Gustav evaded pursuit not because he was guilty, but because he was on a mission to protect us all. His actions were necessary to stop greater evils."

Jack nodded in agreement. "Gustav has been fighting battles we didn't even know existed. He has been dealing with threats that the MBO and the alliance have overlooked. Without him, many more lives would have been lost."

The room was silent as Jack's words slowly sunk in. Veran Kess, however, was not ready to give up. He stood up again, his voice dripping with skepticism. "And how can we trust that Gustav's intentions were pure? He has a history of violence and destruction."

Jareth Cole stepped forward, his eyes blazing with conviction. "Gustav's actions speak for themselves. He saved Angy, he saved countless others, and he has been protecting us all this time. The real question is, why are we so quick to condemn a man who has done so much good?"

The audience murmured among themselves as the doubts and suspicions were slowly being replaced by a sense of admiration and respect.

But as the courtroom buzzed with this new perspective, a consOriginal was slowly brewing. Hidden in the shadows, a group of powerful individuals plotted to ensure that Gustav would never be free. They whispered among themselves, their plans taking shape as the trial continued.

Meanwhile, back in the courtroom, Angy, Aildris, Falco, and E.E. watched with bated breath. They could see the shift in the atmosphere, the growing support for Gustav.

"This is going well, we might not even need evidence of Gustav not being in control of the Gustavo alliance," Aildris whispered.

Angy and Falco nodded, feeling relieved with every second that went by.

Angy turned to where Gustav was being held with a look of hope; 'Hold on for a little longer my love... You'll be free soon.'

As the hearing continued, the tension continued to grow. The mix of humans, aliens, and other extraterrestrial spectators hung on to every word spoken.

A panel member seated behind the judge with emerald skin and elongated features leaned forward. "And what of Gustav Crimson's connection to the Gustavo Alliance?" he demanded, his voice echoing through the room.

Veran Kess seized the opportunity. "Exactly, Your Honor. This question goes to the heart of the matter. There is no concrete evidence proving that Gustav isn't the leader of the Gustavo Alliance. Given their actions, this is a crucial point."

"Looks like I spoke too soon," Aildris muttered with a look of dejection at his position.

Angy turned to where E.E was seated trying to give him a signal.

E.E who was seated among the MBO officers, had been discreetly trying to contact Elevora through his communicator.

He muttered under his breath, "Come on, Elevora, pick up..." But the transmission kept failing, adding to his growing frustration.

It seemed like Elevora was in a position where she couldn't accept this transmission and E.E understood how dangerous it was but the situation demanded for it.

Jareth Cole stood to counter Veran's accusations. "Your Honor, this is a baseless claim. We have presented extensive evidence of Gustav's heroism and his continuous fight against real threats. The Gustavo Alliance is merely using his name to instill fear and confusion."

The spectators murmured among themselves. Many had already begun to doubt the villainous portrayal of Gustav, especially after hearing the testimonies of those he had saved. But the shadow of the Gustavo Alliance's atrocities still loomed large, casting doubt on his innocence in this regard.

Leader 2 finally spoke; "We need substantial proof that Gustav has no ties to the Gustavo Alliance. Until then, these allegations hold weight."

The back and forth between Veran Kess and Jareth Cole grew more heated. "Mr. Cole," Veran pressed, "you cannot deny the Gustavo Alliance's actions. They have taken over multiple planets, killed innocent species. How can you absolve your client of these connections without irrefutable evidence?"

Jareth responded firmly, "We are working on providing that evidence. But we must remember that mere association, without proof of command or involvement, does not make someone guilty."

Suddenly, a crackling noise filled the hall.

The ceiling began to tremble as the ominous crackling noise filled the vast hall. Spectators, officials, and security personnel alike looked up in confusion.

Everyone wondered where the sound was coming from but outside the hall, the crowd gasped in surprise as a crack appeared in the sky.

The crack widened, causing blistering winds to swept across the surroundings.

From the rift emerged a swirling vortex of dark energy, pulsating with malevolent power.

The atmosphere grew colder, and the lights flickered, casting eerie shadows across the vicinity. Through the widening crack, a figure began to descend, cloaked in an aura of darkness that seemed to absorb all light around it.

The figure was draped in a hooded robe as black as the void of space. The robe flowed and billowed, as if alive, and its edges seemed to shimmer with a dark, ethereal energy.