Robert doesn't waste any time after stepping on the platform.

"As my dear, deluded brother has already said, I have been approached with a tempting offer. However what he failed to mention was, who approached me. It was an Asmodean woman."

He makes a pause to allow his words to sink in and a similar amount of murmuring immediately ensues.

Robert begins pacing on the speaker platform, trying to address each one in the room individually. Did I move at all? I don't think so. Damn it, what was I even thinking...he's a professional at talking in front of people!

He raises his hands to ask for silence and then continues speaking.

"I decided to not share this offer with you for the most obvious of reasons...to protect our people from a fate most terrible. For even if the gates opened, I find it hard to believe that the Asmodei weapons and defense systems would cease to function. We would be like lambs to the slaughter, giving them the long sought after reason to kill us all!"

More murmuring and a dangerous high count of nodding heads and sounds of approval.

"Why, even this very assembly here could already be considered an act of rebellion against them! So when the time comes to decide, I beg of you to make the right decision. They have long since proven, that they are incapable of mercy or goodwill. Remember our ancestors. Remember all those who have been punished and even killed before us. Did they not teach us better?"

Robert makes another pause and I scratch my head.
'Remember all those who have been punished and even killed.'
But when I do, I feel anger. Hatred. And I want to pay them back for what they did to us even more. Am I really that strange?

No. No, I'm not. I know that countless people feel the same.
I can actually use this!
I look up at Robert, who still elaborates on how many ways this can only be a trap and can't help but wonder.
It's not like him to blunder like that.
He's a planner. A strategist. He exploits mistakes like that but doesn't make them.

Suddenly, the elder addresses me, "Do you have anything to add, Mister Loctor?"

I snap back from my thoughts and look up into the eyes of the old man.

Shoot, I spent most of Robert's speech fussing over that one sentence! What else did he say?

I close my eyes and try to remember, but my mind comes back blank.
Why in the world am I so damn useless?!

"Mister Loctor? Are you alright?"
"Yes...yes, I'm alright, Elder. And I do have something to add."
"Then step on the platform, please."

I nod and step on the platform, take a deep breath and then look up.
I only have one shot at this.

"Robert has said something very interesting..." I say, beginning to pace, but keeping my eyes on Robert's expression.

"'Remember those who died before us. Didn't they teach us better?' Allow me to answer this question. Yes, they have taught us well. All those who got killed by them died, because they couldn't bear the terror anymore! They chose death over slavery! I myself felt the burn of their weapons just recently! We, as the people of block D, as members of the human race, owe it to the people who have died for what they believed in to take this chance! Maybe it is a trap! Maybe we will die if we step outside! But I know for a fact, that we will die as slaves if we don't!"

I huff.
I didn't even realize that I had started yelling.

Suddenly a thought crosses my mind and I add, "If this isn't a trap, it means that those in control of the ship have lost their position of power, even if just temporarily. Now, I may be naive...but if we refuse to move, they will not allow this to happen again. They could decide to slaughter us all just to keep this from happening again. As such, we only have two choices here...we can either die as obedient little sheep...or we can fight for our freedom and eventually die as free men!"

A lot of the younger ones yell out in agreement and I actually get some applause.
Did Robert get any applause?
I peer over to him, to see a reaction, but he just stands there, his arms crossed and his face completely emotionless.

The elder walks up to me and says, "Thank you, Mister Loctor...now, without any further ado, let us proceed with the vote."

The elder asks me to stand to his right, while Robert remains standing to his left and then asks the people to stand on the side of the party whom they wish to vote for.

The people quickly scramble, many of them standing on the pathway dividing the two halves.
Many of the younger men stand on my side.
However, most of the women and, unfortunately, most of the older people stand on Robert's side.

I don't think we even need to count this and I'm just about ready to start crying as the pressure of the trial and the weight of my imminent failure crash down over me when I suddenly hear a little voice shout out, "What is wrong with you?! Are you really going to let them boss us around for the rest of our lives?!"

I look up and see Sam standing there, at the line.
Tears are running down his cheeks as he yells at Robert's side.

Many of the grown-ups frown at Sam being there and the Elder walks over to him and asks, "What are you doing here, little guy?"
"Deciding over my future, that's what!"
"Aren't you a little young for that?"
Sam shakes his head energetically and says, "No, Sir."
"...alright, then answer me this. What happens to the person who loses?"
"They lose their...what was it...ah yes, their name."

The elder rises back to his feet and asks aloud, "Alright, who told this kid about the trial?!"
I sigh and raise my hand.
The elder groans and mutters something I can't make out.

He then shakes his head and says, "Fine...get back to your side. And don't yell at people, just because they have a different opinion than you. That's not a good thing for adults to do."

Sam lowers his head, but then the most amazing thing happens.

The elder starts walking...to my side.
Robert shouts out, "Father, what are you..."
"Did I not just tell this child not to yell at people just for having a different opinion?!"

I blink a few times and wonder if I'm dreaming.
The elder stands firmly on my side and all of a sudden, people start moving again.

There's a whole lot of people who suddenly walk over to my side and at the end of the movement, both sides look somewhat balanced and a count becomes necessary.

With bated breath, I watch one of each side walking through the two blocks to count the votes.

They approach the elder and tell him the result.
He nods, walks up to the speaker platform and raises both hands into the air.
The time has come for the verdict and I think I can actually detect some sort of nervousness in Robert.

Maybe, just maybe, I somehow made it through to them.