Post by Fiona McFly on Nov 9, 2018 8:50:59 GMT
Chapter One-and-a-Half
“SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT”
6 November 2058 + 0930 GMT
In the future, just outside Washington, DC…
The courtroom was packed to overflowing.
The mood was understandably tense as patrons in the gallery milled about, discussing the matter that was about to take place. Outside the newly-renovated courthouse on DC’s outskirts, on a sunny and pleasant autumnal afternoon, a crowd had gathered to watch the proceedings via an HD Jumbotron screen.
Today was, truly, a special day within the annals of history.
Old Fiona--who had spent several weeks in 2018 and posed as “Debbie Fisher” in an attempt to convince her younger self to stay in wrestling--was seated at the defence table, flanked on both sides by a team lawyers in black suits with matching ties. She closed her eyes, listening to the ambiance of the assembled gallery as she took a sip from a bottle of orange-flavoured Vitamin Water. She felt tense as well, knowing that this was her day of reckoning, the moment in her life where she had no choice but to face the music for her crimes.
The elder knew this day was coming for a long, long time.
“Order! All rise!”
Yet now, as she rose to her feet along with the crowd at the husky bailiff’s command, it was difficult for her mind to process that it was finally here. The judge of her case, a portly African-American gentleman that looked like a beefy NFL offencive lineman, strolled into his courtroom, sat down on his bench, and banged his gavel twice. The room was now dead silent--save for the photographers taking still photos of the proceedings.
In Old Fiona’s mind, this was nothing more than ”a fucking circus.”
It felt like a true spectacle that was on par with the OJ Simpson double murder trial back in the mid-1990s. Old Fiona stood there, calm and collected, sporting her authentic Western attire--yet she was missing her famous white Stetson “cowgirl” hat. She had left it behind in 2018, giving it to her younger self as a going-away present.
JUDGE:
This court is now in session in the case of United States v. Ambassador Fiona Magdalene McFly, number BTTF-23-19891990. As a friendly reminder, and in light of the crowded gallery this morning, I would like to ask you all to keep the silliness to a minimum. This is a court of law, NOT the Ringling Brothers-Barnum and Bailey Circus. Please take your seats.
The gallery sat down on the pews, nearly squishing one another just to get the proper angle of the day’s events.
JUDGE:
Will the accused please approach the bench?
Old Fiona did as instructed, the gallery subdued as camera shutters clicked from all over the courtroom. Suddenly, a murmur broke out towards the back as the entrance door swung inward, and three patrons burst onto the scene, marching towards the old woman in appropriate business attire. She raised her brow as the murmur grew louder, for they all had recognised the people who had just entered.
One of those was Nikki Weaver, the Secretary of Temporal Science and Exploration under current President Donnie Stallone.
The other two, however? Both of them sent a shock through the old woman’s system.
She had no idea about what had happened to James Gilmore or Yulia Malakova after she ended her 2018 visit. She had very little clue about what, if anything, had changed around her since her trip. She never knew she’d turn out to be a celebrated diplomat instead of, originally, a temporal mechanics specialist.
All she did was send a letter to the former president’s younger counterpart.
Even though it wasn’t nearly enough to prevent a war from happening.
Yet at that moment in time, future history had been altered, and Old Fiona was seeing that proof firsthand. ”Somehow…,” she perused that James must have opened said letter before his wife Yulia’s assassination in 2039--either by accident or design. In the end, however, what’s done had been done. In this slightly improved timeline, James and Yulia were, indeed, alive and well.
They were there to support Old Fiona, their most cherished friend.
JUDGE:
Former President Gilmore? Former First Lady Malakova? Secretary Weaver? The three of you do not stand accused in this case.
As the murmur subsided, Old James spoke in a very statesmanlike manner, eschewing many of the catchphrases he used throughout his wrestling career. He looked extremely dignified as well, sporting a simple gray pointed goatee and a bald head--a far cry from the scruffy image he once had forty years ago.
OLD JAMES GILMORE:
Your Honour, the Ambassador--no, Fiona--has been a wonderful colleague of mine for the past 40 years, both in wrestlin’ and in public service. It goes without sayin’...but I owe her a debt, a personal debt of gratitude for savin’ my life and Yulia’s from assassin’s bullets on the 4th of July 2039, and for teachin’ us about not takin’ life for granted. She…
Gilmore’s lips quivered as he paused, with Nikki, Yulia, and Old Fiona each taking turns trying to comfort him.
OLD JAMES:
She...is my friend, and I will stand with my friends.
JUDGE:
(sighs)
As you wish.
Old Fiona was beside herself, standing next to a couple whose light had been extinguished in the original timeline. She had so many thoughts in her mind that were very difficult to process; yet she had to remind herself to focus on a single thought and not let her consciousness become as fractured as it once did. Suddenly, she felt a warm burst of energy course through her body--an aura very reminiscent of the aura she felt four decades prior. At first, she didn’t understand what it all meant to her, but now that her closest confidants were standing beside her, she had finally figured it out.
The aura, as it turned out, was a manifestation of everything she had regained during her visit to the past:
Friendship.
Love.
Peace.
The four stood silently, their faces stoic and calm, as the judge read from a document handed to him by the bailiff.
JUDGE:
The charges and specifications are as follows...conspiracy, reckless endangerment, attempted aggravated assault on FBI-TCI officials, theft of United States Government property--namely the TX-85 Falcon, evading arrest, willful destruction of U.S. Government property--specifically the aforementioned TX-85 Falcon, and finally...multiple violations of Section 1, subsections Alpha, Beta, and Charlie of the Fox-Lloyd Outatime Act--specifically in regards to non-disclosure of future events, non-interference with past events in the timeline, and leaving personal property in the incorrect point of time. Ms. McFly, how do you plead?
Old Fiona blinked, wiped away a single tear with a small handkerchief, and gave a slight nod as she looked at her friends and assembled guests.
OLD FIONA:
Your Honour, there is only one plea for these charges--the plea of “guilty.”
JUDGE:
Duly noted. I’m sure the Ambassador realises that, with this plea, comes a hefty punishment. Am I correct?
The elder bobbed her head in the affirmative, saying nothing else as she prepared herself to accept her fate.
JUDGE:
However...this court cannot, in good conscience, pass sentence upon you without taking into account certain mitigating circumstances, including your extraordinary record of public service to this country and, to a broader extent, the entire world.
The judge took a sip from a piping hot mug of black coffee and cleared his throat.
JUDGE:
While we do recognise that your actions prior to, during, and after your visit to the year 2018 were illegal, we also recognise that, even though certain events remained unchanged including our Second Civil War, you made a valiant attempt to save us all from our own short-sightedness. In the process, despite that fact that your mission was a successful failure, you potentially opened up a window for Republicans and Socialists to sit down and discuss the best parts of their ideologies through spirited debate instead of slaughtering one another over who is right...or who is wrong.
At this point, everyone in the courtroom watched the honourable judge as he spoke deliberately without losing direct eye contact with Old Fiona.
JUDGE:
While we must all do our part to make sure it never, ever falls into the hands of the corrupt, the concept of temporal travel has, without question, caused us all to have a desire to explore our own histories and learn from the mistakes we’ve made, not repeat them. Yet if there is one lesson we can all learn after these proceedings, that we can ALL cherish forever and ever, it is the very notion that above everything else we say or do in our own lives, one must always follow their hearts and not let themselves be chained by the mob mentality, to be enslaved by the forces of unfettered evil that set out to do us harm. We...the citizens of the United States and beyond...will indeed--from this day forward--be indebted to you for your deeds and service. It is this court’s decision...that all charges levied against you regarding this case are summarily dismissed.
A loud gasp, then a steady stream of applause, ensues as the gathering reacts to the decision, only to be quickly silenced by the sharp rapping of the judge’s gavel. Old Fiona raised her left brow as Yulia smiled and applauded with James and Nikki.
JUDGE:
Order please! Ambassador McFly, may God grant you the grace and humility to continue your journey in life, and may God grant you the wisdom and strength from within...to help us all usher in a new era of everlasting peace.
The room suddenly burst into applause as the gallery leapt to its feet. Old Fiona’s visage began to change from a stoic look to one of pure joy. There were hugs all around as she and her friends celebrated their victory. As the assembly made its way towards the exit, we see Old Fiona standing about with tears of happiness; Nikki jumped in and gave the old woman a pat on the shoulder blades.
It was, at that moment, when she realised that her previous visit to 2018 had affected the aftermath of the Second Civil War.
There were no extracurricular skirmishes, no protests by both sides, and most importantly...both Republican and Socialist leaders have started negotiating a peaceful solution to their long-standing blood feud. Whilst it wouldn’t be an easy task finding a common ground between the two factions, the negotiations--in turn--had prevented James Gilmore’s assassination from occurring.
Still, in the elderly woman’s mind, she had more to do in the past to improve the timeline even further.
SECRETARY WEAVER:
You have no idea how proud we all are of you. I understand you didn’t finish what you truly set out to accomplish, but still...you did so much to help get the peace process off to a good start.
OLD FIONA:
I wish...I wish I didn’t half-arse me last mission to 2018. I left the past without teaching her a very important lesson, and I’d...
The Temporal Exploration Secretary nodded warmly.
SECRETARY WEAVER:
You want to return to 2018 and finish what you started, huh?! Welp...I’ve got some good news then. The TX-95 Epoch is ready to go if you want to take it for a spin--provided, of course, you have a chaperone tagging along with you. We can’t risk having things go wrong like, say, another aircraft being destroyed.
Old Fiona watched as Nikki exited the courtroom with a slight wink. Old James and Yulia approached her next, each giving her a warm and hearty embrace.
OLD FIONA:
Thank you so much...for everything. For….
Old Fiona paused, her lips trembling as she tried to compose herself.
OLD FIONA:
For being there for me all these years...
OLD JAMES:
Yulia and I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for you...even though I did open that letter before 2039. How am I gonna repay the debt I owe ya?!
OLD FIONA:
(chuckling)
Well, I’ve got an idea...
Old Fiona whispered into Old James’ ear, and Yulia--picking up on what they were trying to communicate--eked out her classic giggle. She left the room soon after, and the two former wrestling colleagus and public servants looked around for a moment, then gazed into each other’s eyes. They were going to travel back to 2018 whilst doing the one thing that defined them ever since Jack Gaither brought them into wrestling to begin with, many years ago.
Sticking together--for that was what friends did best.
~TO BE CONTINUED~
“SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT”
6 November 2058 + 0930 GMT
In the future, just outside Washington, DC…
The courtroom was packed to overflowing.
The mood was understandably tense as patrons in the gallery milled about, discussing the matter that was about to take place. Outside the newly-renovated courthouse on DC’s outskirts, on a sunny and pleasant autumnal afternoon, a crowd had gathered to watch the proceedings via an HD Jumbotron screen.
Today was, truly, a special day within the annals of history.
Old Fiona--who had spent several weeks in 2018 and posed as “Debbie Fisher” in an attempt to convince her younger self to stay in wrestling--was seated at the defence table, flanked on both sides by a team lawyers in black suits with matching ties. She closed her eyes, listening to the ambiance of the assembled gallery as she took a sip from a bottle of orange-flavoured Vitamin Water. She felt tense as well, knowing that this was her day of reckoning, the moment in her life where she had no choice but to face the music for her crimes.
The elder knew this day was coming for a long, long time.
“Order! All rise!”
Yet now, as she rose to her feet along with the crowd at the husky bailiff’s command, it was difficult for her mind to process that it was finally here. The judge of her case, a portly African-American gentleman that looked like a beefy NFL offencive lineman, strolled into his courtroom, sat down on his bench, and banged his gavel twice. The room was now dead silent--save for the photographers taking still photos of the proceedings.
In Old Fiona’s mind, this was nothing more than ”a fucking circus.”
It felt like a true spectacle that was on par with the OJ Simpson double murder trial back in the mid-1990s. Old Fiona stood there, calm and collected, sporting her authentic Western attire--yet she was missing her famous white Stetson “cowgirl” hat. She had left it behind in 2018, giving it to her younger self as a going-away present.
JUDGE:
This court is now in session in the case of United States v. Ambassador Fiona Magdalene McFly, number BTTF-23-19891990. As a friendly reminder, and in light of the crowded gallery this morning, I would like to ask you all to keep the silliness to a minimum. This is a court of law, NOT the Ringling Brothers-Barnum and Bailey Circus. Please take your seats.
The gallery sat down on the pews, nearly squishing one another just to get the proper angle of the day’s events.
JUDGE:
Will the accused please approach the bench?
Old Fiona did as instructed, the gallery subdued as camera shutters clicked from all over the courtroom. Suddenly, a murmur broke out towards the back as the entrance door swung inward, and three patrons burst onto the scene, marching towards the old woman in appropriate business attire. She raised her brow as the murmur grew louder, for they all had recognised the people who had just entered.
One of those was Nikki Weaver, the Secretary of Temporal Science and Exploration under current President Donnie Stallone.
The other two, however? Both of them sent a shock through the old woman’s system.
She had no idea about what had happened to James Gilmore or Yulia Malakova after she ended her 2018 visit. She had very little clue about what, if anything, had changed around her since her trip. She never knew she’d turn out to be a celebrated diplomat instead of, originally, a temporal mechanics specialist.
All she did was send a letter to the former president’s younger counterpart.
Even though it wasn’t nearly enough to prevent a war from happening.
Yet at that moment in time, future history had been altered, and Old Fiona was seeing that proof firsthand. ”Somehow…,” she perused that James must have opened said letter before his wife Yulia’s assassination in 2039--either by accident or design. In the end, however, what’s done had been done. In this slightly improved timeline, James and Yulia were, indeed, alive and well.
They were there to support Old Fiona, their most cherished friend.
JUDGE:
Former President Gilmore? Former First Lady Malakova? Secretary Weaver? The three of you do not stand accused in this case.
As the murmur subsided, Old James spoke in a very statesmanlike manner, eschewing many of the catchphrases he used throughout his wrestling career. He looked extremely dignified as well, sporting a simple gray pointed goatee and a bald head--a far cry from the scruffy image he once had forty years ago.
OLD JAMES GILMORE:
Your Honour, the Ambassador--no, Fiona--has been a wonderful colleague of mine for the past 40 years, both in wrestlin’ and in public service. It goes without sayin’...but I owe her a debt, a personal debt of gratitude for savin’ my life and Yulia’s from assassin’s bullets on the 4th of July 2039, and for teachin’ us about not takin’ life for granted. She…
Gilmore’s lips quivered as he paused, with Nikki, Yulia, and Old Fiona each taking turns trying to comfort him.
OLD JAMES:
She...is my friend, and I will stand with my friends.
JUDGE:
(sighs)
As you wish.
Old Fiona was beside herself, standing next to a couple whose light had been extinguished in the original timeline. She had so many thoughts in her mind that were very difficult to process; yet she had to remind herself to focus on a single thought and not let her consciousness become as fractured as it once did. Suddenly, she felt a warm burst of energy course through her body--an aura very reminiscent of the aura she felt four decades prior. At first, she didn’t understand what it all meant to her, but now that her closest confidants were standing beside her, she had finally figured it out.
The aura, as it turned out, was a manifestation of everything she had regained during her visit to the past:
Friendship.
Love.
Peace.
The four stood silently, their faces stoic and calm, as the judge read from a document handed to him by the bailiff.
JUDGE:
The charges and specifications are as follows...conspiracy, reckless endangerment, attempted aggravated assault on FBI-TCI officials, theft of United States Government property--namely the TX-85 Falcon, evading arrest, willful destruction of U.S. Government property--specifically the aforementioned TX-85 Falcon, and finally...multiple violations of Section 1, subsections Alpha, Beta, and Charlie of the Fox-Lloyd Outatime Act--specifically in regards to non-disclosure of future events, non-interference with past events in the timeline, and leaving personal property in the incorrect point of time. Ms. McFly, how do you plead?
Old Fiona blinked, wiped away a single tear with a small handkerchief, and gave a slight nod as she looked at her friends and assembled guests.
OLD FIONA:
Your Honour, there is only one plea for these charges--the plea of “guilty.”
JUDGE:
Duly noted. I’m sure the Ambassador realises that, with this plea, comes a hefty punishment. Am I correct?
The elder bobbed her head in the affirmative, saying nothing else as she prepared herself to accept her fate.
JUDGE:
However...this court cannot, in good conscience, pass sentence upon you without taking into account certain mitigating circumstances, including your extraordinary record of public service to this country and, to a broader extent, the entire world.
The judge took a sip from a piping hot mug of black coffee and cleared his throat.
JUDGE:
While we do recognise that your actions prior to, during, and after your visit to the year 2018 were illegal, we also recognise that, even though certain events remained unchanged including our Second Civil War, you made a valiant attempt to save us all from our own short-sightedness. In the process, despite that fact that your mission was a successful failure, you potentially opened up a window for Republicans and Socialists to sit down and discuss the best parts of their ideologies through spirited debate instead of slaughtering one another over who is right...or who is wrong.
At this point, everyone in the courtroom watched the honourable judge as he spoke deliberately without losing direct eye contact with Old Fiona.
JUDGE:
While we must all do our part to make sure it never, ever falls into the hands of the corrupt, the concept of temporal travel has, without question, caused us all to have a desire to explore our own histories and learn from the mistakes we’ve made, not repeat them. Yet if there is one lesson we can all learn after these proceedings, that we can ALL cherish forever and ever, it is the very notion that above everything else we say or do in our own lives, one must always follow their hearts and not let themselves be chained by the mob mentality, to be enslaved by the forces of unfettered evil that set out to do us harm. We...the citizens of the United States and beyond...will indeed--from this day forward--be indebted to you for your deeds and service. It is this court’s decision...that all charges levied against you regarding this case are summarily dismissed.
A loud gasp, then a steady stream of applause, ensues as the gathering reacts to the decision, only to be quickly silenced by the sharp rapping of the judge’s gavel. Old Fiona raised her left brow as Yulia smiled and applauded with James and Nikki.
JUDGE:
Order please! Ambassador McFly, may God grant you the grace and humility to continue your journey in life, and may God grant you the wisdom and strength from within...to help us all usher in a new era of everlasting peace.
The room suddenly burst into applause as the gallery leapt to its feet. Old Fiona’s visage began to change from a stoic look to one of pure joy. There were hugs all around as she and her friends celebrated their victory. As the assembly made its way towards the exit, we see Old Fiona standing about with tears of happiness; Nikki jumped in and gave the old woman a pat on the shoulder blades.
It was, at that moment, when she realised that her previous visit to 2018 had affected the aftermath of the Second Civil War.
There were no extracurricular skirmishes, no protests by both sides, and most importantly...both Republican and Socialist leaders have started negotiating a peaceful solution to their long-standing blood feud. Whilst it wouldn’t be an easy task finding a common ground between the two factions, the negotiations--in turn--had prevented James Gilmore’s assassination from occurring.
Still, in the elderly woman’s mind, she had more to do in the past to improve the timeline even further.
SECRETARY WEAVER:
You have no idea how proud we all are of you. I understand you didn’t finish what you truly set out to accomplish, but still...you did so much to help get the peace process off to a good start.
OLD FIONA:
I wish...I wish I didn’t half-arse me last mission to 2018. I left the past without teaching her a very important lesson, and I’d...
The Temporal Exploration Secretary nodded warmly.
SECRETARY WEAVER:
You want to return to 2018 and finish what you started, huh?! Welp...I’ve got some good news then. The TX-95 Epoch is ready to go if you want to take it for a spin--provided, of course, you have a chaperone tagging along with you. We can’t risk having things go wrong like, say, another aircraft being destroyed.
Old Fiona watched as Nikki exited the courtroom with a slight wink. Old James and Yulia approached her next, each giving her a warm and hearty embrace.
OLD FIONA:
Thank you so much...for everything. For….
Old Fiona paused, her lips trembling as she tried to compose herself.
OLD FIONA:
For being there for me all these years...
OLD JAMES:
Yulia and I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for you...even though I did open that letter before 2039. How am I gonna repay the debt I owe ya?!
OLD FIONA:
(chuckling)
Well, I’ve got an idea...
Old Fiona whispered into Old James’ ear, and Yulia--picking up on what they were trying to communicate--eked out her classic giggle. She left the room soon after, and the two former wrestling colleagus and public servants looked around for a moment, then gazed into each other’s eyes. They were going to travel back to 2018 whilst doing the one thing that defined them ever since Jack Gaither brought them into wrestling to begin with, many years ago.
Sticking together--for that was what friends did best.
~TO BE CONTINUED~