“Are you ready? It's just about time,” Doctor Anderson asked quietly.
“How is it out there?” she asked in return.
“Full, but don't worry. I expect the ruling to be at least partially favourable. Just use this opportunity to say what's on your mind.”
“Right. Let's get this over with,” Ayan said, exhaling slowly and steeling herself.
The doors to the side chamber opened and she walked out. It wasn't a courtroom, it was the Parliament floor, the size of an arena. The four of them walked quietly from the side to the back of the main walkway with Ayan in front, the Doctors behind and Minh-Chu at the rear. She was happy he was allowed to come along, his levity made her smile, which was just as important as anything Doctor Anderson or Milan could do for her then.
When she was half way down the long sloping walkway her entourage stopped and took a front seat in the observer's area. The rest of the seats, over twenty rows in an oval surrounding the moderator's seat as far as she could estimate, were filled with Ministers, Senators, and Military representatives. Her gaze flitted across the ones just in front and to the left and right, there were hundreds, not a single seat was empty.
At the bottom of the sloping walkway was a clear oval space with a circle of desks for House Clerks, the Moderator's High Seat was behind that, and above it was the Council Bench. It was actually a long, dark wooden desk that loomed over everyone in the room, especially the Petitioner's Dais standing opposite. The dais was set at the bottom of the sloped walkway and when she stopped to stand there the massive chamber ground down from a lively chatter to dead silence.
Ayan had never felt so small. She knew what she wanted to say when it was her time to make a statement, understood what was about to happen, what was required of her, and that she did have some influence. While the floor was hers she'd have the very rare opportunity to address all the representatives publicly, without having her statement screened beforehand. None of that eased the lump in her throat, settled the butterflies in her stomach or stopped her palms from sweating. In an attempt to feign calm she folded her hands over the front of her loose shawl and held her head up high.
“All rise for the Members of the Judiciary Council,” the Mediator's Aide called out. The sound of thousands of representatives and gallery attendees standing was like rolling thunder, echoing across the large open space. She hadn't noticed the upper gallery above the observer's seating before and regretted looking across the standing multitude. There were thousands sitting there, more still below them in the observer's seating, and she avoided the appraising gazes of the various representatives. It felt like each one weighed her against some kind of preconception or value she wasn't privy to.
The seven judges came out of a back room and each quietly took their seats behind the high bench. The judge in the center was always the last to vote on any matter and the first to speak unless she predetermined another member should be the primary on the matter. The role of the Judiciary Council was to decide on unprecedented matters that would result in the creation of laws or drastic change in government or military policy. Parliament could debate, refine or contest the laws that resulted from their judgements, but it wasn't commonplace, since the Judges were chosen from each of the leading parties.
The woman in the center, Judge Moore, was silver haired and round faced. She was not the eldest, however. That honour was reserved for Judge Barnes, a tall, lean fellow with no hair at all. He had served longer than any three judges on that panel combined. All of them looked bone weary.
When they were all seated Judge Moore addressed the court. “It seems only days ago we were called to assembly to consider this strange case. It has actually been two weeks. This Council hasn't consulted with so many doctors and scientists in decades. Before we issue our ruling, it is within the scope of due diligence that we disclose the process we undertook to come to our conclusion in general terms. Before we enter that information into the record we would like to offer the first being to be affected by our rulings today to speak on her own behalf.”
Ayan nodded and cleared her throat quietly before answering. “I would like to take that opportunity, your Honour.” Her voice seemed wrong as it echoed back at her, her light Britannic accent was awkward in her ears.
“Please proceed.”
She took a moment to sort her thoughts and concentrated on looking at Judge Moore, who sat up high, looking on with interest. “Everything I remember is from another life,” she tried not to flinch at her solitary voice cutting the silence. “I can recall experiences of every kind, everything you could expect from a lifetime that was lived in health and eventual terminal sickness.
Two weeks ago I woke up healthy and I was told that a body scan taken of me before I was too ill for it to be viable was used to imprint my experiences onto a new form. A process that took over thirty years and involved sacrifices that I don't know if I could make myself. I cannot fully express my gratitude to the people who gave me a second chance at life. All I can do is honour them in how I use this opportunity. I request nothing more than the freedom and means to be of service to them and the rest of the Freeground Nation. I submit to this Council that I can best accomplish that by continuing my previous existence, to legally become Ayan Rice with the rank and history attached to that name. Thank you,” she finished.
“Thank you, petitioner. Please remain where you are to hear our statement of due process and our ruling. As our review of this matter is complete, I'll read a summary of our process and findings into the official record. Our first task was to verify that Ayan was raised in the manner Doctor Anderson and the crew of vessel 42-2100-14C claimed. That is; created using natural materials, altered so a natural evolutionary course replaced centuries of genetic manipulation and then implanted in an artificial womb for thirty years. The passing of which was undergone in vessel 42-2100-14C inside a time compression wormhole. The actual passage of time outside of that space was four years, one month and eleven days. This Judiciary Council finds no falsehoods in these claims.
After reviewing physical evaluation, psychological evaluation and therapeutic logs we also find Ayan is sound in mind and body. Unfortunately, we also found that her genetic profile is so different from any known to our records that we cannot find ancestral ties. It is the personal opinion of this Judge that we should consider that finding as more of a statement on how much each of us have been genetically altered rather than consider it any kind of failing on the part of the petitioner or those responsible for her existence.
With those findings finalized, this Council was satisfied that our review of the evidence was complete and unanimously decided that our findings should be read into the public record. It was also decided that the Sentient Clone Freedoms Act does not apply to the primary petitioner. She is not a clone, but a natural being created through the legal use of modern technology. After much deliberation the fact that she possesses the memories of another being does not make her a copy. There are more than enough unique characteristics for the young woman we see before us today to be considered as a separate entity. Her future development and growth will differ from the original possessor of those memories thanks to good health and other significant physical changes. If both Ayan Rice and the Petitioner were to live their lives side by side we are absolutely certain they would do so very differently but with equal sentience.
Having verified her sentience we conclude by majority that the Petitioner, Ayan, is immediately to be considered a Citizen of the Freeground Nation. Ayan will not, however be treated as a replacement or given the same military rank as Ayan Rice, the woman from which her memories originated. The petitioner is not to be permitted to enlist in the military, she will not be permitted to work in a civilian position that requires access to sensitive materials and will have no special authority or special access to the materials or data belonging to Ayan Rice. The possessions of the deceased will be managed by a predetermined executor, her mother; Admiral Jessica Rice. Petitioner Ayan is also not required to submit to further testing, treatment or procedures for any reason.”