The
celebration was cut short as security guards entered the control room and
quickly surrounded Ryan. “Ryan Edwards, you are hereby ordered to report to the
Tribunal immediately,” one of the guards said with a sneer on his face. You
could hear the proverbial pin drop in the room; the silence broken only by Liam’s
muttered “here we go again.”
As
Ryan was escorted out, everyone followed in the wake; Liam pausing momentarily
to lock down the travellator control systems with a security password known
only to Duncan, Colin and himself.
With
a repulsive grin on her face, the chief magistrate stood. “Ryan Edwards,” she
began with a bone-chilling tone in her voice, “you were warned that if you ever
returned to this time the death sentence would be reinstated. It is so ordered.
Guards, restrain him.”
The
feeling of horror was so thick in the room it was almost palpable as everyone
in the room watched as the chief magistrate opened a case and removed a
syringe. Everyone knew that the contents of the syringe would bring Ryan’s life
to a slow, agonizing death. “At last I shall have my revenge,” she whispered.
Unbeknownst to everyone in the Tribunal chamber, Liam
had hooked his comp-com into the building’s paging system and soon the room was
filled with people. He grabbed Chris, who was absolutely horrified over his baby
brother being put to death, Colin and Adrienne by the hand and pulled them
forward, standing between the magistrates and the security guards who were
having a hard time restraining the frantically struggling Ryan.
Other
members of the TPC quickly caught on to Liam’s plan and suddenly there was a
wall-to-wall linked line of people acting as a barricade.
As
the chief magistrate advanced on Ryan, ordering everyone to disperse, magistrate
Samantha Conrad stood up, banged her gavel several times and yelled “Silence! The death sentence is hereby
permanently commuted. All information regarding any and all proceedings against
Ryan Edwards is to be expunged from his record.” Everyone breathed a collective
sigh of relief. Guards, release Mr. Edwards immediately.”
Her
voice turned cold. “Gloria Massini, you are hereby relieved as chief magistrate
and remanded into custody immediately on the grounds of abuse of power and
conduct unbecoming a magistrate. Guards, remove her from this chamber. As the
guards removed her, the Magistrate turned to Ryan.
“Mr.
Edwards, I am deeply troubled by what has happened to you. Clearly there are
some loopholes in our charter that must be addressed. I know I speak for
Magistrate Doles when I say that we deeply apologize for what you have been put
through. You have been an exemplary agent and it would be a great tragedy to
lose you. I sincerely hope that you will continue on with the TPC, although I
cannot blame you if you don’t.
“It
would appear that a serious review of all Tribunal proceedings needs to be
conducted by Megacity Legal. I will be sure forward a record of your case to
them. You, Mr. Edwards, are free to pursue any form of litigation against this Tribunal
you see fit.”
“I
thank you, Magistrate. From the time I was little I’ve always wanted to be a
TPC agent. Being reinstated is enough for me. That and being able to be with
the man I love more than life itself.” Ryan took Ethan’s hand.
“Mr.
Evans, is it?” Ethan nodded. “I sincerely hope that you will not allow your
perception of our time be swayed by one maniacal woman. You have been an invaluable
asset to the TPC for which I am grateful. To that end, allow me to officially
welcome you to our time and I hope you will be very happy here.”
“Thank
you, Magistrate.” Ethan snuggled into Ryan. “I am very happy here. This place
is amazing, beyond my wildest dreams.”
The
magistrate smiled warmly at Ethan before turning to Duncan. “Duncan, Mr.
Edwards is to be awarded six month’s pay for punitive damages. I will have the
funds transferred immediately.” She banged her gavel. “These proceedings are hereby
closed!” Everyone started cheering.
The
magistrates approached Ryan and shook his hand, apologizing profusely for what
he’d been through. Ryan readily accepted their apologies, recognizing that
everything that had happened to him was the result of one deranged woman hell
bent on getting revenge. Revenge for what, Ryan didn’t know or care. It was
over. It was finally over. He was free to pursue the career he loved and be
with the man he loved.
Standing
up at the head of the table in the restaurant where everyone gathered together
to celebrate, Ryan tapped his water glass with a spoon which garnered him with
strange looks. “I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their
unwavering support. I couldn’t have made it through all of this without you. I
love you all, one person in particular.”
He
knelt down at Ethan’s seat. “Ethan, we’ve been through a lot together, and your
love for me never wavered, nor mine for you. I love you with every fiber of my
existence and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
Everyone looked stunned with the exception of Colin, who knew what was going to
happen.
With
tears flowing down his cheeks Ethan grabbed hold of Ryan and said in a loud
enough voice that could be heard throughout the entire restaurant, “What took
you so long to ask me? Of course, I will marry you, you big lug. I love you.”
Everyone stood and applauded.
The
entire staff of the restaurant surrounded them and applauded as well, since
Ryan and Ethan were regulars. The owner came forward and announced that in
light of the proposal and acceptance, everyone’s dinners were on the house.
Later
in bed after an intense round of lovemaking where each gave and received
numerous times, the discussion turned to the events just past. Ethan couldn’t
understand any of it. “Hates gonna hate. There’s nothing we can do.”
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