Chapter 206
"I hope Greg's okay. I mean with the custody hearing coming up," Amy said. It was a rare moment when both she and Patterson were eating breakfast at the same time.
"He's probably not doing well, but if he wasn't then there'd be something wrong," Patterson replied.
"Yes..I guess, I wish there was something we could do," Amy said.
"If I don't miss my guess we'll probably be forced into doing something."
"Why? What?"
The doorbell rang.
"Their timing is downright worrying," Patterson muttered. "I might as well get it."
"All right,"Amy said.
Patterson walked to the door, looked through the peephole and saw just who he expected to see. He opened the door for a well dressed man in a suit and tie.
"Donovan Vincent Patterson.." the man said.
"You're supposed to refer to me as D.V. you know.."
"Sorry..I'm not the records office," the man replied.
"The last guy got it right."
"What can I say..."
"You got something for me?"
The man nodded and handed D.V. a piece of paper.
"I also have one for Miss Anderson, is she here?" the guy said.
"She is," Patterson said and walked back inside.
"Who is it?" Amy asked.
"Process server, he's got one for you too.." Patterson said with some degree of bitterness.
"Oh.." Amy said and headed over to take it. The guy then nodded and headed off.
"How did you know..." Amy asked.
"Well..I would have expected, but then I also was spying on Greg's mother, their going to call us to the stand."
"Why? We're Greg's friends."
"Right..but we're also Greg's half-siblings," Patterson said.
"Something wrong with you Patterson?" Amy asked bluntly.
"Wha.."
"Well..you're confident to the point of blatant sarcasm..I just noticed," Amy said.
"Oh..that..no idea.." Patterson said.
"So..you were saying.."
"Greg's mother will want to stress that she is the natural mother and also stress that Greg's father is not the father, what better way then produce his two relations."
"So they're just going to show us off?" Amy asked.
"Well..there is cross examination," Patterson said.
"Then we'll get to speak on Greg's behalf."
"Probably."
"You know something..though. I'm beginning to really hate the inside of courtrooms."
"Me too," Patterson said.
Greg hadn't slept that night.
This could be the last day I spend with my father. He thought. It could be
the last day I see my friends. Or close to it. And why did my parents have to do
this to me anyway? Well..my father didn't do this. My mother did, and Amy's
father did. And this is where I am now. Caught in the middle. If a middle
actually exists. Guess I have to live with it though. But I don't want to. I
wish I could somehow make this all right. But that isn't going to happen. I just
have to hope for the best.
"I need to go visit the lawyer and consult before the trial, you think you can get to the courthouse on your own?" his father asked that morning.
"Sure," Greg said. "I'll get there."
"Okay..see you there..and I won't let anyone take you."
"I know," Greg said.
His father nodded and headed out. Greg sighed.
"But what does that mean if he loses custody? Would my father go that far?"
Fifteen minutes passed and Greg was headed out the front door of his father's house towards the bus stop. When he was halfway there a figure appeared in front of him.
Greg dashed behind a nearby house. The goddess didn't follow. He transformed and returned to face the goddess sword drawn. She just stood there waiting.
"I'm waiting," she said.
Several minutes later in court, everyone was waiting for Greg's arrival. Amy, Greg, and the three Guardian scouts sat in the gallery waiting equally concerned.
"Mister Thomson, where is your son?" the judge asked impatiently.
"I don't know sir, he was going to meet me here," Mister Thomson said.
"There you go your honor, he can't even keep track of Greg!" Greg's mother said.
"Patterson have you found him?" Amy whispered. Patterson was typing into his computer.
"Two problems..if he's in human form, I won't be able to, and if he's transformed, but within the radius of a goddess..no luck.." Patterson said looking at his watch.
"We should try anyway shouldn't we?" Amy said.
"Yes.." Patterson said.
"You going to look for him?" Rick asked from beside them.
The two nodded. Amy, Patterson, Rick, Mike, and Steve, were soon heading for the door.
"Now where are they going?" General Patterson asked himself.
"You two are witnesses aren't you?" The bailiff asked Amy and Patterson as he headed for the door.
"Hey, the trial hasn't started yet," Mike pointed out.
"Where are you going?" The bailiff asked.
"To find Greg Thomson so you can have a trial."
"Hmm..." the bailiff said and opened the door. The five rushed out.
"Assuming Greg's in trouble," Amy said.
"Which is highly likely," Steve said.
"What's our next move?" Amy said.
"Patterson?" they asked.
"Head to Greg's father's house and work from there," Patterson said.
"Good plan," The guys said.
"Hah..so we meet at last Guardian Saturn!" the goddess said.
"I had no idea you were looking for me."
"Ehh..that's not the point..here!"
The goddess tossed an object at him.
Saturn ducked it.
"Typical," the goddess said. "You see that thing right there is a bomb."
"What?" Saturn said.
"That's right..it is possible for you to disarm it, but it'll take your intense knowledge to do it. You've got ten minutes."
"Strange..just why are you doing this? Wouldn't it just be easier to attack me?"
"Well that's the other thing, while you're solving the bomb problem I'll be draining away your mental energy, which is just as powerful as physical energy I might say."
"Oh.."
"But you've got a bomb to work on here, unless you want this entire block to be vaporized."
Saturn reluctantly looked at the bomb and began the process of figuring it out.
"I'm the goddess of intelligence by the way," the goddess said.
Saturn blocked her out and did what he could.
"Is Saturn even capable of beating one of these things on his own?" Guardian Uranus asked.
"Depends...these goddesses aren't all at the same power as I understand it," Mercury said.
"Apparently," Maverick said.
"If he wasn't getting a ride, he probably would have taken the bus right?" Guardian Neptune asked.
"Which is why we're following the exact bus route back to his house," Guardian Pluto said.
"I hadn't noticed.." Neptune said. "Wait a minute..who memorized the bus route?"
"It's on computer file," Maverick said.
"Oh..all right...you had me worried there," Neptune said.
"Only at that point in time? I must be slipping," Maverick muttered.
"When did he get sarcastic?" Neptune asked Mercury nervously.
Guardian Saturn felt the drain on him as he strained to figure out how the bomb worked, the goddess sat there draining his energy away. He didn't know what to do, he wanted to just draw his sword and beat her back. But he couldn't risk the consequences. This doesn't even have to be a bomb, and there might not even be a way to solve it. He thought in realization. After all, once she gets my energy what does she care? The energy required to vaporize an entire block must be a lot. She can't have that much. He planned his next movements carefully, and then without hesitation he drew his sword and fired straight at her.
She was completely caught be surprise.
"Saturn Ice Rings Blast!" he shouted hoping he could hit her before she had enough time to recover. He got lucky and she was thrown back into the ground.
"Are you kidding? You're risking the lives everyone around here!" the goddess said standing up.
"I think you're bluffing," Saturn said and fired more sword blasts at her.
The bomb disappeared as the goddess reabsorbed the power.
"Very good..but I assure you I still have enough power to take out one weakened Guardian Scout!"
She said and launched an attack. Saturn dived out of the way and fired back with his sword. The goddess avoided it.
"Whatcha going to do next?" the goddess asked. Saturn stared her down and raised her sword. He fired several shots into the air.
"A signal! You jerk!" the goddess said and unleashed another attack. Saturn was hit and pushed back.
"I'm having a bad day and you've made it worse!" Saturn shouted and charged forward. The goddess fired another attack. Saturn avoided it and fired his sword at point blank range.
The goddess was blasted back.
"Saturn Ice Rings Blast!" He shouted.
The goddess was blasted to the ground, she lay there trying to get up, she was bombarded with four colored blasts of energy. She let out a scream and disappeared.
Saturn looked up to see the Guardians standing there with Sailor Mercury.
"That was just what I needed right?" he muttered.
An hour later.
"It is good to see that the person in question actually managed to make it here," The judge said. "I think now we may be able to begin...late as you are. Begin opening statements."
Greg's mother's lawyer got up, he was not surprisingly the shyster Gadsden.
"This case may seem a bit strange to you...but it is the matter of a mother concerned for her son's welfare. You see the man over there is not Greg's biological father. And thus has no legal right have him compared with his natural mother. Furthermore, we have other evidence to support that Greg should be taken away from his father as soon as possible, because he is a bad influence."
Gadsden continued on outlining his case and then sat down.
"Mister Leslie," the judge said to Greg's father's lawyer.
"Ladies, and gentlemen, natural mother she may be, but running off for fifteen years is a pretty good way to forfeit that right if you ask me. The person who cared for Greg during this time was the person sitting right beside him. And I'm sure Greg will tell you, and his friends will tell you, who the only real parent of Greg has been these past years."
Mister Leslie finished his statement and sat down.
"State your full name.." the bailiff said.
"I remember you, you're enjoying this aren't you," A now uniformed, Patterson said.
"Patterson, just say your name,": the judge muttered.
"Donovan Vincent Patterson.."
"What's with the uniform?" the judge asked.
"Well since you asked. I'm also Provisional Third Lieutenant Donovan Vincent Patterson in the SDF," Patterson replied.
"Sir I object, he must be making that up!" Gadsden said.
"He's your witness.." The judge said.
"Yes..but.."
"You didn't have to call him."
"I called, Donovan Vincent Patterson high school student," Gadsden said.
"D.V. will suffice," Patterson snapped.
"Patterson, just how did you earn this commission?" the judge asked.
"I am a scientific advisor to Self Defense Forces," Patterson said. "My military rank is given for other legal reasons."
"Such as?" the judge asked.
"If I was merely a civilian, I would not be allowed the license to operate a tank in times of emergency crisis situations for one."
"Your honor what does that mean?" Gadsden asked in shock.
"Enough..all right..Third Lieutenant..just answer their questions," the judge said.
Patterson nodded.
"Mister Patterson.." Gadsden said.
"Uh..sir..I would only be addressed as Mister if I was a petty officer, my rank is Lieutenant."
"Fine.." Gadsden said.
General Patterson and Greg's entourage all started laughing.
"Patterson please stop badgering the lawyer," the judge said.
"Patterson...what is your relation to Greg Thomson?"
"Same father, different mother, so we're uh..half brothers I'd assume."
"I see..but your father...where is he now?"
"My biological father I believe the State Penitentiary, unless he broke out," Patterson said.
Mike, Rick, and Steve started cackling. Amy glanced at them.
"Sorry..." they muttered.
Hmm...D.V. shows usually a little more care and compassion, but then again he is awfully sarcastic. I can forgive him for that. Amy thought.
"Sarcasm is not necessary," the judge said.
"Sorry," Patterson said.
"So Greg's father is not the man sitting over there."
"Ah..interesting question..Greg's biological father isn't there, his real father is sitting right there."
"Patterson, you are not the judge or the jury," Gadsden said.
"Neither are you..you asked me a question I answered it."
"Now..here's another question, does Greg live in a house you own?"
"He does to remain in the Juuban High School district."
"I see..but Mister Thomson does not live in this house?"
"No."
"That's an odd situation isn't it?"
"Objection.." Mister Leslie said.
"Withdrawn," Gadsden said.
"No further questions."
"Cross examine."
"Lieutenant Patterson," Mister Leslie said. "How long have you known Greg Thomson?"
"Over a year."
"So you are close friends?"
"Absolutely," Patterson said. He knew it would help Greg, to hold his own unwillingness to call anyone a friend, in check.
"Has he ever brought personal problems to your attention, looking for assistance, or just advice?"
"We've had a few situations to deal with?" Patterson asked.
"So if there was a problem with his father he would bring it to you?"
"Objection.." Gadsden began.
"You're honor..Patterson should be considered an expert witness on Greg's activities, he should be able to offer his opinion."
"Overruled," the judge said.
"I think if Greg had a problem, he would let me know."
"And did he ever say anything that lead you to believe that Greg wasn't happy with his father?"
"Object.." Gadsden said.
"It's a stretch Mister Leslie..but overruled," the judge said.
"When Greg's father moved, Greg expressed concern over not seeing his friends anymore, however, he also realized his father had to move to work, and accepted that. Families face hard choices sometimes."
"So..overall..Greg seemed very supportive of his father."
"Yes."
"Thank you Lieutenant."
"Redirect?"
"Well since we're asking for opinions..Patterson..Greg does not live in your house anymore does he?" Gadsden said.
"He moved back with his father over the summer," Patterson said. "Which only made sense."
"Did he express concern over this?"
"Not much"
"But a little?"
"There is no such thing as all or none in the universe, everything exists, even in microscopic quantities."
"Touche," Gadsden said.
"Miss Anderson, I trust you have no military titles attached to you?" Gadsden asked.
Amy couldn't resist.
"No..but I've worn a Sailor suit on occasion," she replied.
Her friends all started laughing.
"What's so funny?" the judge said.
"Nothing," they replied.
"Miss Anderson, it is Miss right? I don't know what to expect from your family.." Gadsden moaned.
"That's what makes us so dangerous," Amy said her eyes narrowing. Greg and Patterson glanced at each other and smiled.
Gadsden sighed.
The judge contemplated retiring.
"Miss Anderson..how long have you known Greg Thomson?"
"About two years."
"How did you meet?"
Amy chose her words carefully, she didn't want to lie, just omit.
"We met at school."
"I see...but then Greg moved away correct?"
"Yes."
"But you met up again?"
"When he moved back here yes, a few times before."
"Why, was it half brother meeting half sister?"
"We did not know we were related at the time."
"Oh...wasn't that a bit important? Here you two are meeting happily, going out for milkshakes together.."
"We weren't dating, we were very good friends," Amy said blushing slightly.
"Whatever..and all the while you didn't know you were sharing chromosomes?" Gadsden said snidely.
"He's going to come face to face with a laser sword barrage fairly soon," Patterson whispered. The guys nodded.
"The two of us sharing chromosomes would be an interesting site indeed," Amy said with annoyance. "But we did not know we were related."
"I see..well okay..now that we've got that settled. Now...it says here on an occasion in the past Greg's house was destroyed by an accident of some kind, it's unspecified."
"Yes...one wonders how these things happen," Amy said with a grin, managing to get a kick out of this.
"Yes, and then Greg moved in with you. Is that correct?" the lawyer asked.
"More or less."
"So he chose you over his father?"
"Objection.." Mister Leslie said.
"I'll rephrase."
"You'd better," the judge said.
"So..Greg chose to live in your house rather then his father's?"
"Yes."
"Did he say why?"
"Yes."
"And that was?"
"Because he wanted to remain in the same school district and be with his friends."
"Doesn't that seem a little odd, living away from your father because of a mere school district?"
"Objection.." Leslie said.
"But you're honor...she is also an expert witness isn't she?"
"On Greg, not on the philosophical idea?" Leslie said.
"Then I will rephrase. For Greg to do this, did it seem strange to you?" Gadsden said.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because everyone has their own quirks. I lived away from my family at various times. As a student it sometimes does me good to live alone to concentrate on my studies."
"But he wasn't living alone," the lawyer said.
"I merely am saying that being separated from one's parents can be for no other reason then the need for ones own personal space."
"I see..and is that why Greg lived at your house?"
"I told you what he told me."
"All right..fine.."
Several minutes later.
"So who would you like to live with?" Mister Leslie asked.
"My father. The one who I have lived with all my life," Greg said.
"So he's treated you well?"
"Yes."
"You sure?" Leslie asked.
"Yes."
"So why'd you move away?"
"My friends were very important to me."
"More important then your father?" Leslie asked.
"No...but my father and I have a good relationship, and with his work he was very busy anyway."
"So he wasn't caring for you."
"I didn't say that? He's a single parent, like my mother is."
"I see. "You think your father will treat you better."
"He's been there for me before. He didn't run off for fifteen years."
"You still visit him?"
"Every weekend during the school year, and I'm living in his house right now."
"Well okay. So you love your father very much."
"Yes."
"Do you love your mother?"
"I can't really be sure, since she was never around."
"This is a complex case," Mister Leslie said concluding his closing
statement. "It is true that the woman over there is Greg's natural mother, but a
parent is supposed to be there for a child. She wasn't. She can be remorseful
about it, but she lost her chance when she ran away. It's unfortunate, but it's
the way it is. Greg's father has cared for him and has been a father to him for
all these years. I don't see any way you can take him away from his son."
"It was circumstance that separated Greg from his mother. A circumstance that
held her back for fifteen years, but she fought against all odds, to get him
back, because she knew she could be a good parent. She knew she could prove
herself. You have to give her that chance," Gadsden replied finishing his own
closing statement.
The judge returned forty three minutes later.
"Unfortunately one of you has to go home disappointed, but I'm afraid that
after fifteen years, one does wonder just how good a parent each of you could
be. That man sitting over there has watched Greg grow, he's been there. You
madam have not. And I may turn some heads, but custody will remain with his
father. Court is adjourned."
CHAPTER 201 CHAPTER 202 CHAPTER 203 CHAPTER 204 CHAPTER 205
CHAPTER 206 CHAPTER 207 CHAPTER 208 CHAPTER 209 CHAPTER 210
CHAPTER 211 CHAPTER 212 CHAPTER 213 CHAPTER 214 CHAPTER 215
CHAPTER 216 CHAPTER 217 CHAPTER 218 CHAPTER 219 CHAPTER 220
CHAPTER 221 CHAPTER 222 CHAPTER 223 CHAPTER 224 CHAPTER 225