Trial

Returning. The Second cube opened and The Hologram gave its speech and the memories began. One down and the second started soon after. Lore found themselves beside themselves. Lore sat alone in a cold and empty room, their hands bound and their mouth dry. Lore looked at the version of themselves before them and wondered why they looked off…
“When is this?” Lore broke the silence.
The Hologram entered. “The date doesn’t matter because time isn’t quite a concept any more in the Temporal Sciences Guildhall but, for them, its been about a week since the end of The Three Year Month.”
“And why are they cuffed?” Lore examined their past, still wondering what was wrong with the picture. “They helped bring peace. They brokered a treaty between The East and Western Quatarrii.”
“That’s why.” The Hologram removed a large blue tome with golden bars running its circumference. It opened it and flicked through its pages before slamming it shut. “Their mission wasn’t to win the war, it wasn’t to bring peace, it was to end the war in extinction or as close to it as possible so that The Guild could crack the planet open and mine the Tempora.”
The cell door screamed as it opened.

Lore was brought to a pitch black room. One by one, the lights on the walls illuminated, giving the void shape. A blinding flash of white filled each balcony; arches of light lit them up and down the walls, casting shadows of the occupants as they did. Lore lost count as to how many there were but eventually, the flashes slowed. They could feel the anticipation as if it were a companion holding their hand; Lore could feel the past trying to ground themselves, fight their training and their want to reveal their great secret. A minute or so after the flashing stopped, one of the shadows moved into the light. A robed man with a heavy yo-yo in his hand stepped forward and let the yo-yo fall. It crashed against the floor twice in rapid succession, creating a sound that alerted all present to step forward. Lore recognised every face. This cube seemingly acted faster, allowing them to name each Inquisitor that appeared. There was one face missing. They counted fifty Inquisitors.
“You stand here today, Former Inquisitor Loren.” The Judge started. He was abruptly cut off.
“I think you’ll find I’m the Former Inquisitor Formerly known as Loren.” Lore couldn’t help but chuckle at their own joke.
“Yes…” He sighed. “You stand accused of a litany of charges, how do you plead?”
“I would like to submit a motion of neutrality. My actions were justified however, I would like to plead guilty to forty-two of those forty-five parking violations. I’ve been meaning to pay those off.” Lore laughed
“Silence!” The yo-yo fell hard. “Might I remind you, you stand accused of a great many violations of our most sacred codes. To endanger time to such a degree as you have would be grounds alone to enact the most strict of sanctions.”
Lore tried to find a more comfortable position to hold their arms in. “However, you can’t remove me from the timeline. Without me, none of this exists.” Their fidgeting continued.
“There are other ways to remove you.” The Judge’s voice grated. “A unique STA unit has been constructed for just such individuals.”
Lore shook their binds. “Pray proceed with the trial.”
“Former Inquisitor, chronologically speaking, a month ago, you were sent to Quatarr to bring their civil war to an end in a way favourable to The Temporal Sciences Guild.”
“Objection.” Lore piped up. “Chronology, in this case, is individualistic. For me, it was three years ago. Please use less relativistic terminology.” More mumbling.
“Sustained.” A new voice chimed up. “Technically, it has only been a week so…”
“Thank you, Inquisitor.” The judge let out a sigh. “Let me rephrase my question then. Inquisitor, on the twenty third of April, 2263, you were ordered to bring an end to the Quatarrian civil war in the year 1973 to benefit the expansion of The Temporal Sciences Guild.”
“I was.” Lore paused. “I also technically achieved that mission. Post war, I negotiated a deal that would have indeed, benefited the expansion of The Temporal Sciences Guild.”
“I would now ask Head Inquisitor Crait to stand forward.” The judge boomed. A light illuminated Crait’s podium.
But before they could, Lore spoke again. “I see the trial’s outcome has already been decided.” They nodded. “Shame, I liked my uniform. I also really liked Gideon but I assume they’ve been decompiled so, I assume I’m the last one standing.”
“Your fate isn’t quite sealed.” Crait spoke again.

There was a lengthy pause. “It is now.” Lore watched as their past whipped their right hand away from their left; there was a meaty thud followed by the rattle of chain against metal. Rolling on the floor by their feet, a rather large silicone arm. Where it had once been, a second, much smaller arm remained. Lore looked back at themselves and saw what had irked them earlier. The Lore stood in the centre of the room had two significantly different sized arms. One far larger and far more tanned than the other; this was accentuated when they removed their right. The synthetic skin sloughed off, leaving their actual arm looking more like a bone underneath. As the silicone rolled down to their wrist, it revealed their Breacher. The gallery, save Crait were stunned, immobilised by the sheer audacity of such a stunt; Lore added to their confusion by taking a bow before spinning on the spot. They tapped at their Breacher mid flourish. “It’s been a pleasure serving with some of you… Actually, it really hasn’t. Bye!” They shouted as they slammed their hand through their Breacher, disappearing in a flash of white light. The moment lingered. The Hologram appeared beside them.
“They spent three weeks on that.” It sighed. “But this, for better or worse, was the beginning of your story.” Pause.