[It is to be noted that the following proceedings took place aboard the Commercial Liner Greycliffe. The judge and jury of these proceedings were the Melds Quantum Psychosis, Obsidian, and Archimedes while the accused was the Meld Charybdis.]
QUANTUM [suspended by his mysterious blue links directly in front of a black metal rectangle]---"I, Quantum Psychosis, as acting judge and arbiter of this judgment, call these proceedings to order. For the record, the accusers and the condemned will state their names."
OBSIDIAN [suspended to the right of Psychosis]---"Obsidian, prototype Meld. I accuse the condemned of traitorous actions against the Meld community."
ARCHIMEDES [suspended to the left of Psychosis]---"Archimedes, scientist Meld. I support the accusations of Obsidian."
CHARYBDIS [locked within the metal rectangle so as to prevent his melding with the ship]---"Charybdis, Order Meld. I decry these proceedings as a sham and a mere excuse to exercise your vengeance!"
QUANTUM---"Objection noted. Charybdis, you are accused of the most grievous crimes against the Meld community. Not only have you supported the activities of the Order, who would use us as nothing more than weapons of war, you have previously brainwashed Obsidian to do your bidding, taking away his freedom of choice. What is your response to these accusations?"
CHARYBDIS---"I refuse to respond except to say that were it not for the intervention of myself and the Order, Obsidian would either be a raving lunatic or dead."
ARCHIMEDES---"This is true, Quantum. Obsidian's links had decayed too far for any of us to restore and only the Order would have the capacity to completely replace them."
OBSIDIAN---"That does not remove the fact that they brainwashed me."
QUANTUM---"So noted. The fact that you saved Obsidian is a valid one, Charybdis, but it does not excuse your other crimes."
CHARYBDIS---"Crimes? I did what I did for the good of the Order, for the good of humanity, and..."
OBSIDIAN---"For the good of Charybdis! How dare you proclaim your innocence to me? How can you possibly think that your cause was just when you..."
CHARYBDIS---"I proclaim nothing! My guilt or innocence is not in question here, this entire judgment is little more than a farce, and attempt to assuage your sense of justice while you exercise your..."
QUANTUM---"Enough! If the accused and the accuser have anything more of relevance to present, do so."
OBSIDIAN---"Charybdis guilt is plain to all of us, I have nothing more to say."
CHARYBDIS---"What I say will not make a difference in your verdict, Quantum, and you know it."
QUANTUM---"Very well, then I am ready to pass verdict. You, Charybdis are found guilty of conspiring with the Order and of complicity in the brainwash of Obsidian. However, your actions towards saving Obsidian cannot be ignored. Therefore, I will refrain from enacting the penalty of death."
OBSIDIAN---"What!? Quantum, how can you..."
QUANTUM---"I am not finished. Charybdis will be placed in one of the prototype synthetic bodies and left on an uninhabited planet somewhere in the Omicrons. A short-range distress beacon will be activated, but the location of the planet will ensure that it will be a very long time before anyone discovers the signal. This judgment will be passed immediately."
CHARYBDIS---"I am surprised, Quantum, I thought you simply wanted to kill me like all the other Melds."
OBSIDIAN---"I object to your ruling, Quantum! It will only be a matter of time before Charybdis is rescued and unleashed upon Sirius once more. This cannot be allowed!"
QUANTUM---"Overruled. I am sorry Obsidian, but my verdict stands."
ARCHIMEDES---"I will prepare a body."
QUANTUM---"Good. These proceedings are now closed."
[It is to be noted that shortly after these proceedings and before Charybdis could be placed in the synthetic body, he was found murdered in one of the corridors of the Greycliffe. His brain case had been expertly split open and his brain left on the deck. There is only one known way of destroying a brain case, but Obsidian does not admit to his knowledge nor complicity in the matter. Quantum Psychosis has decided not to launch an investigation.]
