The Judge read over her notes as the crowd took their seats.
"It's the people of Tukistan vs Allison Cameron, Shelly Crane, Michael McCarthy, Emily Moody, Steve Moody, Sarah Rivers, and Melody Song of planet Earth," Judge Justice said. "The prosecutor is Samael Vallard. The defence attorney is Athena Eorum."
The Judge then turned to the teenagers. "Before we begin, I would like to tell these kids how a trial in Oberon works," she said. "When it comes to a federal defense, there is no hearing. Both the defense attorney and the prosecutor will give their opening statements. After that, they will give their opening statements. Finally, they will present their evidence, etc. Our court system is very similar to Earth. Almost identical. Are there
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"Order in the court," Judge Justice said as she banged her gavel. "Mr. Vallard, your opening statement, please."
Vallard got up from his seat and he stood in front of the jury.
"Ladies, gentlemen, non-binary, other kin, and androids of the jury," Vallard said. "These kids left Earth because the Kratos government sent its army to invade. When their ship crash landed, our beloved government granted these kids refugee status. In this country, we educate these refugees about our laws, our history, and our culture. In other words, they have to pass a course before they're considered citizens. But they tried to leave the camp before they've completed it. Therefore, these kids are illegal aliens."
"Thank you, Mr. Vallard," Judge Justice said. "Ms. Eorum, your opening statement, please."
Eorum got up from her seat, and she approached the jury.
"People of the jury, these teenagers didn't come here by choice," Eorum said. "They didn't seek refugee status, and yet, our government gave these teenagers and two adults refugee status anyway. My clients were officially charged with breaking refugee status. However, they were not charged with entering our country illegally. Breaking your refugee status is not an actual law. You break your refugee status by committing a federal offense. But they were not charged with a federal
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"Excuse me, Ms. Eorum," Shelly said. "What do you mean by 'let us go?' We're stranded on this planet."
"Call me Athena," she said. "To answer your question, most likely, if you're found not guilty, the government will deport you back to Earth."
"We still need to look for that reality engine," Shelly thought.
"But, Athena," Shelly said. "We've completed the course. Plus, we're not safe on Earth. Can't we gain refugee status?"
"Yes," Athena said. "However, this is a convoluted case that doesn't make much sense. Because of that, there's a lot of red tape to cut through."
The Judge and the jury returned to the courtroom ten minutes later.
"I've done some research," Judge Justice said. "When you step outside a refugee camp before you complete your course, you are an illegal immigrant. Technically, you teenagers are not refugees, since you did not come here willingly. Also, since you were technically charged with a crime that doesn't exist, I have no choice but to deport you teenagers, as the two adults who've crash landed here, back to Earth. Case