Felix would never forget the first time he put on the glitter and
accessories, he felt invincible. Since that first night, he had sneaked
out more times than he could count, always terrified that the others
would discover him. It wasn’t just a dress up, it was a new identity, a
bulletproof amour. When he entered that bar, he entered a new world.
One night he was almost caught by one of the other horses in the stable but he managed to get away with his sparkles and horn.
Nocturban #3
It was 3 in the morning and in front of a bar two broad men were having an argument using mainly their fists.
Suddenly, a small and very local cloud of smoke appeared, not that the two fighters noticed in their own fog of alcohol.
The cloud lifted and revealed a cape-wearing figure striking a heroic pose, cloak waving in the wind.
“Police! Hands in the air!” Inspector Joden shouted before the figure could attack the unaware men.
Nocturban #2
“There’s something seriously wrong with this city. Last week we had to arrest a group of cape-wearing idiots beating a poor drug addict to death because he’d stolen some old lady’s purse.”
The bartender handed Inspector Joden another scotch.
“When the first so called heroes began to show up in Nocturban, everyone was thrilled,” said the bartender. “Now we’re all afraid. When people begin to take the law into their own hands, nobody’s safe.”
Nocturban #1
The cold night rain looked almost luminescent in the blinking lights from the neon signs above the bar.
Inspector
Joden was watching the entrance to the bar from the other side of the
street. He was hiding under his hat, shoulders up under his ears, not
from the suspected but from the rain. At least he tried to.
Freezing
and soaking wet to his skin he decided to abandon his post when a
cloaked shadow entered the bar. It happened almost too fast to be seen.
But Joden knew what he was looking for.
‘You know what the problem with this town is?’ He thought to himself as he crossed the street and unsecured his gun. ‘It has too many god damned heroes.’
Urban fantasy gardening
A woman wearing an umbrella hat was watering her balloon lilies when
suddenly she encountered a tiny thumb soldier hiding among her flowers.
‘Oh!’ She exclaimed and raised her eyebrows in surprise.
“I’m just on patrol, ma’am.’ The soldier excused. ‘Guarding the area from moles.’
‘How awfully nice of you!’
‘Just doing my duty, ma’am.’
Chapter 7: Not a confrontational type
Mike Williams series: A courtroom drama in space
Mike
Williams had always been afraid of conflicts. Whenever the clouds for
an argument started to gather he was the first to leave the room.
Growing up, his two big sisters and father had always loved discussions
in a very aggressive way. They would discuss any subject just for the
sport of it, and they still did.
Mike would usually withdraw to the
kitchen and help his mother. He often brought homegrown vegetables or
herbs for her and together they would clean them up in a comforting
silence.
One evening the whole family was gathered for dinner, Mike was the only one of the siblings still living at home but his sisters were both visiting. His father made a rather unfunny homophobic joke and to everyone’s surprise, Mike raised his voice. In some very well articulated points, he put his father in place. They were all baffled, not with Mike’s opinions, but that he had had one at all. Mike was the most surprised of them.
Continue reading “Chapter 7: Not a confrontational type”Chapter 6: Not a screen-friendly look
Mike Williams series: A courtroom drama in space
Mike Williams hated to watch himself on video. His voice sounded strange and his face always had weird proportions on a screen.
As
a kid, he always hid whenever his mom decided to pull out the video
camera and record whatever he was doing. They had several videos from
birthdays just showing Mike running out of the room and hiding in a
closet.
Lately, his mother had insisted on video-calling him and he
just couldn’t stop looking at his own face in the corner of the screen.
All bloated and chinny.
Luckily, sitting in the stand Mike had
his back against the giant screen showing his face. The last thing he
wanted was to throw up in front of the entire United Galaxy Council.
Again. Unfortunately, he couldn’t stop staring at the countless legs on
prosecutor Nai’zest Qalong, and they somehow made his stomach turn.
Chapter 5: Not like a TV-show
Mike Williams series: A courtroom drama in space
Mike Williams had seen a lot of TV in his life. As a kid, he would often join his friends at Sesame Street in the afternoon. In his teens, he had watched an unimaginable amount of courtroom dramas. He was fascinated by the charisma and eloquence of the lawyers. How the right speech could turn the jury and win the case. The fierce lawyers never seemed to have problems with wet palms.
At the door to the
council, Mike and Morgan Freeman met up with Carl. Carl the lion, Mike
thought and then, I wonder if that would be offensive to him? It
probably would. I should note not to call him that.
‘You seem prepared, Mike Williams,’ Carl greeted him.
‘Not at all.’
Carl
looked like he didn’t know how to respond to that answer. But at least
his whiskers didn’t curl. Instead, he turned to Morgan Freeman.
‘Ready to defend the lawbreakers, Lay’tek?’
‘You make us sound like criminals!’ Mike interrupted.
‘But you are?’ Carl sounded confused.
‘What kind of law? Alien law? How does that apply to us?’
Morgan Freeman cut them off.
‘Save it for the hearing, Mike, you’re going to need it.’
Somehow he made it sound reassuring and not condescending. Must be the Morgan Freeman look, Mike decided. Damn well chosen.
Chapter 4: Not a lucky number
Mike Williams series: A courtroom drama in space
Mike
Williams had never won anything in his life. He was never costumer
number 1.000, had the winning ticket or the lucky numbers. It wasn’t
because he never competed in anything, sometimes he would answer a quiz
or participate in a draw, but he never got picked and he never had the
right answers.
His grandma always won at the local bingo game, she
would bring home a turkey or a box of tissue, but the times Mike had
joined her, he left emptyhanded.
To his defence, Mike obviously was an optimist, because he would still buy a lottery ticket from time to time.
‘We
only have limited time to prepare before the hearing,’ Morgan Freeman
said. ‘But I think it can be to our advantage, that you know as little
as you do. In that way, you will seem more genuine.’
‘I’m not sure I
agree. You see, I like to be prepared. A lot. Before making a phone call
I always take notes on what to say and how to say it. I sort my
shopping list into categories to make the shopping more efficient. I
never leave the house without gum and bandages, for Christ’s sake!’
Chapter 3: Not the driest palms
Mike Williams series: A courtroom drama in space
Mike Williams didn’t like to speak in public. It always seemed to make his palms sweaty. Once, at his parents anniversary, he was expected to make a toast. For weeks he was tormented and had a terrible stomach ache. On the big day, he tapped his glass, stood in front of all the guests, his palms all wet and managed to stammer ‘To mom and dad!’. It was a disaster.
He wasn’t sure how many people – or aliens –
would be at the United Galaxy Council, but he was pretty sure that this
crowd wouldn’t fit in his parents’ living room.
‘How am I supposed to address all the members of that council?’ he asked Carl.
‘The
UGC? Ah, you see, Mike Williams, as soon as we go aboard the M/S UGC,
you will get to meet your legal counsellor. Shouldn’t be long now.’ Carl
glanced at a digital board at the wall showing a couple of weird
symbols.
There were so many questions building up in Mike’s head, that they seemed to stumble upon one another.
I wonder what was in my drink, Mike thought to himself.