The judgment echoes through the hall, reverberating off the cold, marble walls. A collective breath is held, the finality of the verdict sending a shiver down the spines of those present.

Darius finally lifts his head, his eyes moving slowly to the screen where the votes are displayed in stark contrast. The words "Guilty" and "Execution" are emblazoned across it. He stares at them for a long moment, his expression unreadable, his body still as if carved from stone.

Then, in a voice that is almost a whisper, but clear enough to be heard by all, Darius speaks.

Darius Becket - Thank you.

His words, simple and unexpected, hang in the air. There is no defiance in them, no anger—only a quiet acceptance. His gaze remains fixed on the screen, even as the guards move toward him, their steps heavy with the knowledge of what comes next. His face is calm, almost serene, as if he has made peace with the outcome, with the fate that awaits him.

A military officer by the window glances outside the big windows of the courtroom, his eyes narrowing in confusion. A figure is hovering in the sky, clad in a black T-shirt, his presence ominous.

Before the officer can raise the alarm, the windowed wall explodes with a deafening roar. Glass shatters, and a massive hole is blasted into the side of the courtroom, sending a shockwave of dust and debris throughout the chamber. Everyone inside is thrown to the ground, coughing and choking as the dust clouds the air. The guards scramble to their feet, weapons drawn and aimed at the gaping hole.

Darius is seized by the two guards nearest to him, their grips tightening on his arms as they try to secure him amidst the chaos. The dust begins to settle, revealing a figure slowly emerging from the cloud of debris.

Hugo, still dazed from the explosion, squints through the settling dust and sees him—a man, about six feet tall, sitting nonchalantly on the desk before the Chief Justice. His presence is both casual and menacing, a predator among prey.

One of the counselors, his voice trembling with both fear and fury, shouts out.

Counselor - It’s Artair Callahan! Arrest him immediately!

The guards begin to move, their boots crunching over broken glass and debris, but Artair remains unfazed. His eyes, cold and piercing, lock onto the Chief Justice’s with an intensity that silences the entire room.

Artair (calmly, but with deadly seriousness) - Remove all the charges from Darius Becket and hand him over to me. If you don’t cooperate, I’ll make sure none of you motherfuckers see the face of tonight.

The room is deathly silent for a moment, the threat hanging in the air like a guillotine. One of the braver counselors manages to speak up, his voice quivering with both fear and defiance.

Counselor - And why would you want him?

Artair smirks, his eyes glinting with a dark humor.

Artair - Because finders keepers, assholes.

In a sudden movement, Artair leaps down off the desk, raising his arms to his sides in a T-pose. He stares up at the ceiling, his expression eerily calm as every gun in the courtroom begins to levitate, pulled from the guards’ hands as if by an invisible force. The weapons hover in the air, pointed ominously at the now panicking guards and counselors.

Artair - Your puny-ass soldiers weren’t competent enough to capture him. I’m sure you all know that. Then who do you think actually brought him in? It was me.

The counselors exchange glances, the reality of the situation dawning on them. Artair’s words are laced with a grim truth, his power evident in the hovering guns. Artair continues, his voice calm but edged with a chilling resolve.

Artair - I captured him because only I can control him. But if you idiots try to kill him, you might just make him uncontrollable. And then he’ll go on a killing spree that’ll make today’s trial look like a picnic. The best thing you can do for this little wonderland of yours is to hand him over to me.

One counselor, his fear overridden by desperation, spits out a defiant response.

Counselor - Over my dead body.

Artair’s eyes darken, the smirk fading from his face as he raises a hand. The floating guns shift in the air, their barrels turning toward the counselors. The room tenses, the threat of violence hanging in the air like a sword.

Artair - Fine then.

Just as he’s about to give the command, a voice cuts through the tension, firm and commanding.

Oliver - Enough, Artair.

All eyes are on Oliver as he steps forward, his presence commanding attention. The counselors, shaken and wary, exchange uneasy glances.

Oliver (calm and measured) - I have a proposal by Artair Callahan to present before the council.

One of the counselors, his voice sharp with suspicion, interrupts.

Counselor - Commander Oliver, whom do you serve? Are you standing by his side?

Oliver’s gaze remains steady, his tone unwavering.

Oliver - I serve the citizens of Dome City, and only them. But the proposal Artair entrusted me to deliver will benefit all of humanity—both inside and outside the Dome.

Another counselor leans forward, curiosity piqued.

Counselor 2 - And what is this proposal?

Oliver pauses, glancing briefly at Artair before addressing the room with the weight of his words.

Oliver - To use the power that Darius holds as a military asset—to deploy him to eradicate the one threat that looms over us all: the Headhunters.

The room buzzes with murmurs, the counselors exchanging worried looks. One of them voices the collective concern.

Counselor 3 - But that’s incredibly risky. What if he loses control and the damage turns against us?

Oliver nods, acknowledging the danger but pressing on with conviction.

Oliver - That’s why we need to cure him first, to teach him to control his power before deploying him on the battlefield. Artair proposed that eliminating a vital entity like Darius is not feasible. Alive, he can provide valuable insights—insights that could solve this issue.

Another counselor shakes his head, the fear evident in his voice.

Counselor 4 - But what if something goes wrong during these tests?

Oliver steps forward, his eyes locking onto each counselor as he speaks.

Oliver - That’s why Artair has offered to join our military ranks, to oversee Darius, to ensure he remains under control if anything goes awry.

Artair’s face contorts with irritation, his voice low and menacing.

Artair - What the fuck?

Before he can say more, John steps up beside him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder and whispering into his ear.

John - Shut up.

Oliver continues, his tone firm and unyielding.

Oliver - Artair possesses more knowledge, power, and skill than anyone in this room when it comes to the matters at hand.

Doctor Karl, who had been slumped in his seat, struggling to maintain his composure, slowly rises. His eyes meet Oliver’s, and there’s a silent understanding between them. Oliver turns back to the counselors, pressing his point.

Oliver - Doctor Karl has already indicated that he has someone like Darius under his supervision. Adding Artair and Darius to the military alongside could be the turning point in this war. We cannot afford to dismiss this opportunity.

Darius listens in silence, his expression unreadable, while Artair’s irritation only deepens. He leans toward Oliver, his voice a low, angry whisper.

Artair - You can’t attach your strings to me.

Oliver ignores him, addressing the room once more.

Oliver - To resolve this crisis, we must unite. We must pool our resources and our strengths.

A counselor, still skeptical, challenges him.

Counselor 5 - But how can we trust Artair? John - He won’t defect. I can assure the council of that.

Oliver continues, driving his point home.

Oliver - The document presented to the Chief Justice by Commander Hayes includes signatures from every captain and commander who believes our military strategy needs to change. What better option do we have than this?

The counselors sit in silence, the weight of the decision pressing down on them. After a tense moment, one of them turns to Doctor Karl, seeking his input.

Counselor 6 - Doctor Karl, are you okay with this?

Doctor Karl, his voice calm but weary, nods.

Doctor Karl - I’ve known Oliver for a long time. I trust his judgment.

The counselor looks around the room, gauging the others' reactions before making the final call.

Counselor 6 - Whoever supports Artair Callahan’s proposal, raise your hand.

Six hands rise slowly, while the other six remain firmly down. John, noticing the stalemate, speaks up.

John - It’s a tie.

All eyes turned to the Chief Justice, who had been silently listening to the matter. After a brief pause, the Chief Justice raised his hand, his expression resolute. The counselors glance at one another, the decision made.

Artair smirks, a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes, as he turns to the room.

Artair - Since this is a court, I believe the proposal is accepted by majority.

Darius, who had been silent up to this point, suddenly speaks. His voice, filled with defiance, cuts through the heavy atmosphere.

Darius (firmly) - I won’t do it.

Everyone in the courtroom turns to face him, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern. Darius stands tall, his face etched with determination as he continues.

Darius - I won’t turn back into that monster again, and I won’t let him come out either.

Oliver, sensing the weight of Darius' words, slowly walks toward him. The room falls silent as Oliver approaches, his steps measured, his gaze steady. When he reaches Darius, he looks him straight in the eyes, his voice calm but insistent.

Oliver - Even if it could save more lives outside the Dome, than the inside?

Darius hesitates, the question hanging in the air. Just then, Sarah’s voice breaks through the silence, soft yet pleading.

Sarah (with a mixture of concern and desperation) - Accepts the offer, Darius. This way, you’ll stay alive.

Darius turns to Sarah, his expression shifting from defiance to anger, his voice tinged with frustration.

Darius - How could I live? What purpose would I have?

Oliver steps closer, his tone becoming more persuasive, almost coaxing.

Oliver - The same purpose you believe the people outside entrusted you with—to protect them.

Darius’ gaze drops, his thoughts racing as he contemplates Oliver’s words. He glances over at Artair, who watches him intently. Artair, sensing Darius' indecision, raises his hand and gives him a casual thumbs-up. John, standing nearby, catches Darius' eye and gives him a slow, reassuring nod.

The room is silent as everyone waits for Darius' response, the tension palpable. Darius looks around at the faces staring back at him, he looks at Hugo and Mark and sees a reassuring look at their faces, then finally, with a deep breath, he closes his eyes, wrestling with the decision inside.

When Darius opens his eyes again, there’s a flicker of resolve in them. He turns back to Oliver,

Darius (quietly, but with firm resolve) - If I do this… and anything goes wrong, Don’t try to control me, kill me right on the moment.

Oliver nods, understanding the weight of the compromise on Darius he is making. The room, still tense, seems to exhale collectively, knowing that a fragile agreement has been reached.