Project Seraphina [LitRPG, Magitech, GL]
3.44 The Deposition I

Planet Earth, Year 1 A.I (June 2023 C.E., 14 weeks after System Integration)

“Ugh,” I mutter under my breath as I get changed and otherwise ready to head downtown for the deposition. I was awake later than I probably should have been last night, going over some research materials that Mr. Rutherford included in his address about what sorts of questions I should expect, along with some general guidelines on how I could address them. He’ll be there at the deposition as well to offer further guidance, but the last thing I want is to bring legal jeopardy upon myself. This turned out to be extremely good motivation to have studied my ass off all day yesterday.

A part of me is telling me that I should dress in a more formal sense. I think there’s a pantsuit in Chloe’s closet that could fit me, more or less. Would be a bit uncomfortable, but I could pull it off.

However, even knowing what the social expectations are, I still feel far more comfortable wearing my armor instead. Especially after yesterday, I just can’t help but worry that something horrible is going to happen. Like I’m going to need to spring into action to protect something.

I’m not sure why. I– I don’t want to say that I trust the lawyers. But if they try anything nefarious, it’ll be of a legal sort. Bury me in paperwork, attempt to bring the hammer of the law down on me. Try to arrest me, maybe— not that the state really has the means to effect that outcome if it wanted to try.

But there’s that feeling in the back of my mind that keeps me from taking the perhaps more ‘professional’ option. If this really is a black market smuggling operation that we’re dealing with, then there’s no shortage of individuals with potentially powerful weapons who might try to silence me, law and consequences be damned. Not to mention I might be requested to demonstrate some of my techniques. If so, my armor and other equipment will be necessary.

And of course, there hasn’t been an attack on the city courtesy of the System in the past couple of weeks. Wouldn’t be surprised if it happened today.

With this in mind, I suit up into my armor. Chloe seems to have had the same idea, choosing her robes instead of an outfit which might’ve been considered appropriate for a business meeting in the before times.

Hard to believe that the System arrived a mere fourteen weeks ago. Already Chloe’s and my life have changed so drastically that there’s hardly any relation left to the paths we were on back then. That life of going to school, attending classes, preparing for college and eventually careers and maybe families of our own…

Well, that last part might still be happening right before my eyes, I muse, taking Chloe’s hand in my own as she plants a kiss on my cheek. The two of us slip our arms around one another and stand there in the middle of the sitting room for about half a minute, silently enjoying one another’s company until Mrs. Jacobs calls up to us.

“Chloe, Sera, I’m taking off now! Call me if you need anything!” she says, followed by the sound of a door opening and the grating of metal against metal as the garage door slowly raises.

“I guess we should get going soon as well,” I say.

Chloe nuzzles into my chest, completely uncaring that her hair and face are getting scratched by the scaled plating of my armor. “A couple more minutes? Please?”

I smile, rubbing my fingers through her hair absentmindedly. For her, I can deny nothing. And so we stay there for nearly three minutes. I suspect we would remain like that even longer if not for the fact that my stomach takes the worst opportunity to growl and demand further satiation.

We oblige it, taking a quick breakfast of cereal and oranges, and before long, we’re off in the air and heading downtown.

“You know, love, there is one thing we can celebrate.”

“Oh, and what’s that, Chloe?”

“We won’t have to worry about paying for parking!”

This gets a laugh out of me. Not having to pay for parking, not having to drive downtown with all those goddess-forsaken one-way streets. No overpriced car garages and no having to try how in the unholiest of hells to parallel park! And no getting lost circling around the streets, either. For all the downsides that have come with the System, being able to fly is total upside. Plus, it’s better for the environment to boot!

We arrive scarcely eight minutes later, meaning we’ve definitely beaten Mrs. Jacobs here, even after she drove and had a ten minute head start. Finding the building wasn’t too difficult, either— a lot easier than I’d expected given a lack of outdoor signage. Right on the north side of fourth street, a couple blocks east of Main. An older building in the art deco style, as are many others downtown.

We enter the rather small lobby, my wings nearly getting clipped by a pair of well-dressed young professionals trying to exit at the same time we’re walking in. It takes a few moments for the receptionist to greet us, the young, dark-haired woman getting into quite the heated discussion on the phone. But she does, with a smile I know is faked and practiced. And that makes me feel awful, knowing that she has to do so every day, even though her own world might be collapsing just as the world around her is.

“What can I do for you?” she asks.

“I’m scheduled for a deposition at 8:00,” I say, handing the receptionist the letter. “I know we’re a few minutes early. Not sure if we need to wait in the lobby or outside or…”

“Looks like Mr. Rutherford is already here. I’ve just let him know that you’ve arrived, and he should be right out.”

The two of us end up standing just outside the lobby— the expensive leather waiting chairs not compatible with my metal wings— for about five minutes before we’re greeted by my attorney. Today, however, instead of business casual, he’s dressed in a full business suit. I’m not sure if the blazer and pants are made of silk or some exotic fabric, but they look glossy, chic, and expensive as all hells. As in, it probably costs a month’s salary even if I do take this new teaching job.

He gives us a handshake and we exchange some brief pleasantries before he guides the both of us to a rather spacious office on the second floor. He sits down not behind the dark, mahogany desk, but instead on a comfortable-looking chair in front. Legal pad in hand, he offers us a seat on the loveseat a few feet away. Chloe sits, but I again remain standing, pointing out my wings. To his record, Mr. Rutherford is completely unfazed by them; I wonder what other odd artifacts and equipment people have made or found in the months since the System arrived.

“Thank you for meeting with me,” he says. “I know that notice was short, and for that, I apologize. Normally the courts don’t move nearly this quickly, but this case is taking place on an expedited schedule.”

He pauses for a moment. “I know you’ve expressed some concerns about the responsibilities of people with greater than baseline mastery of their System-granted Skills and strengths. And this court case, along with a few others across the state and nation, is going to be one of the… pardon the pun, but trial cases to see how the courts are going to interpret current and nascent laws and legal precedents to these changing times.”

I nod. “So, how exactly is this going to work?”

“In a few minutes, we’ll be heading into the conference room down on the floor. The defense attorney, the court stenographer, and two of the men involved that day will be present as well–”

“Wait,” Chloe says. “How is that going to work? And I thought they were currently in jail pending trial.”

“Two of the men involved that day have chosen to invoke their Constitutional right to be present during the deposition, while the others have waived that right. They will be handcuffed and have been thoroughly checked to ensure that none of them have any Ethertech items that could be used to threaten your safety or those of any other people present.”

As if any of them are actually capable of threatening my safety, but I appreciate the sentiment.

“So,” I ask. “How long will this last, and is there anything in particular we need to prepare for?”

“By law, in this and most other jurisdictions, depositions are not allowed to go on for more than seven hours. Unfortunately, while I would love to say that it shouldn’t take anywhere near this long, I’m positive that there are going to be dozens of questions about the security footage that aren’t easily explained. There will be an hour-long break for lunch, but other than that, I’d expect to be answering questions all day.”

“This sounds less than pleasant,” I message to Chloe.

“You’re not going to ditch this,” Chloe retorts.

“Of course not. I am still going to silently complain that we’re losing a whole day to something that wasn’t my fault.”

“Oh yes, very silent.”

“You know what I mean. And I appreciate you, Chloe.” I place my hand on her shoulder and gently caress it. “Now and always.”

“Before the actual questioning begins, you will be sworn in and informed that you are obligated, under penalty of perjury, to speak the truth to the best of your knowledge. With that said, because you hold a reasonable belief that you may be charged with committing crimes during the incident, you’ll have the right to remain silent and to not have that used against you. If that happens, we’ll agree to object on that ground. But you’ll still be obligated to answer, in either case.”

“Wait,” I say. “I thought I had the right to remain silent, but now you’re saying I have to answer anyway?”

“If such a circumstance comes up, I will raise an objection and work to get that portion of the deposition sealed, preventing those admissions from being used in any current or future criminal proceedings against you, including both any ongoing ones or those which may come up in the future. However, it’s important to assert that right and raise the objection now, or we may lose the right to do so later.”

I’m not sure that all of that is correct, especially if there are going to be prosecutors present as well as myself and the counsel. Or maybe that is legally correct, but damn does it sound shady that the prosecutors can both use my testimony against those men, and then have to pretend they forgot it if they decide they want to come after me. I think I’m beginning to understand where the term ‘legal fiction’ originates.

“I understand,” I say, even though I really don’t understand everything that’s going on.

Which is why I’m paying more money than I wish I needed to solicit proper legal advice on this and other legal matters. Now that I think about it some more, I’ll probably also need an accountant to help with finances, because how in the nine hells am I going to figure out how I’m supposed to calculate income from crafting and selling gear, or dungeon delving, or my hazard and military pay and… Yeah, better set aside a lot of time and money in February to meet with… No, wait, I’m going to have to make quarterly estimated payments, aren’t I? Yeah, this all sucks. What a way to spend what is supposed to be a week off.

While I’m lost in thought, Mr. Rutherford continues giving me advice on how to answer the questions. Take a deep breath after every question, assert myself, don’t let the opposing counsel throw me off by raising his voice or screaming or cursing or anything else he might try to do to ruffle me. Don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions, take my time, and always wait for Mr. Rutherford to raise any objections he might have before rushing into answering.

I can do this, though. I’ve fought for my life against humans and monsters alike. I’ve experienced the peripheral pressure of a monster over a hundred levels higher than I am. I’ve overcome my distaste for public speaking, giving a five-hour lecture broadcast to most of the world, basically going viral in the process. And, with Chloe’s help, I’ve started to open up and learn to love and be loved as a romantic partner. In comparison to all that, this deposition should be easy as pie.