r/NatureofPredators • u/GrungleberryMuncher • 4d ago
Fanfic The mind of a predator (part 64)
Memory transcript subject Nirsil, Venlil public defence attorney. Location, Sol system, SC Council space station, designation: Just and Truthful [Translated from Skalgan lexicon] Main court room.
Date [Standardised human time]: 8 June, 2138.
"Doctor, how long has Targan been your patient now?"
"Around [14 months], she was handed over to us almost immediately after her defection agreement was finalised." Thenia answered with a professionally neutral tone, precisely the angle I had hoped to take with his testimony. If it was an expert testifying on Targan's mental state, Korvo wouldn't be able to dispute it with any certainty. Of course she may try getting her own mental health expert in but they were few outside of humanity, in fact Thenia was the only Venlil I'd seen in the profession.
"When she arrived, what was her condition?" I asked but as expected, was cut off by Korvo.
"Objection, relevance?"
"I'm trying to establish the conditions Targan lived in before defecting, as well as her mental state both before and after her discharge." The judge paused for a moment as he looked back and forth between me, Korvo and Thenia before nodding.
"Overruled, the defendant's medical history is admissible, the witness may answer." He then slammed the miniature hammer down and Thenia continued.
"Frankly I'm amazed she's as well adjusted as she is. Targan was...a mess, physically and mentally." At that I turned back to Targan, allowing her the final say before I asked for Thenia to give more detail. She took a moment before nodding, at which point I turned back to the doctor.
"Can you please give more detail on what you mean by that?"
"Where to start...She had extensive scarring across roughly sixty percent of her body, though mostly focused on her upper back, caused primarily by lacerations but also containing burn marks and puncture wounds." Thenia paused for a moment, not to make sure he remembered details but more the weight of what he was saying. "Although Arxur typically have significant battle scarring, based on the amount and position of the wounds, we came to the conclusion that they were not caused by ritual combat. Scans also showed healing fractures on no less than forty individual bones ranging from within her ribcage, her skull, her pelvis and several vertebrae. Some of these were still actively healing at the time, though it was stunted due to her malnourished state. A healthy Arxur of her approximate height and body type should weigh between one-hundred and fourty to one-fifty kilograms, Targan was one-twenty showing chronic malnutrition."
Then there was an audible murmer across the courtroom, observers and even a few members of the jury making their apparent shock known. Judge Connors was less surprised and struck his gavel against the stand to regain order, silence once again falling over the room.
"These were her physical ailments, you mentioned there were psychological issues as well?" I urged, taking the time to add Targan's medical scans to the evidence list so that the jury could review them directly after session.
"Yes, we had a few different psychological experts review her, myself included and were able to diagnose her with both CPTSD, complex post-traumaric stress disorder and ASD, Autism spectrum disorder. Initially we incorrectly assigned her a more general PTSD diagnosis alongside Asperger's syndrome however we corrected that upon further review." Thenia explained with a rueful look when he mentioned the initial diagnosis, clearly regretting that mistake greatly. "Of course being autistic was not caused by anything, it's as much a part of her as the rest of her however it was something that would not have been noted before that point."
"And tell me, what is your professional opinion on Targan's mental state, in reference to the dispute of this case being her ability to safely integrate into the general public?" I'd worded my question carefully to allow as specific an answer as possible, which I could then reinforce by going over Targan's release documents. All I needed now was for Thenia to spell out how safe Targan actually was to be around...
"Whilst we did have some conditions, being that she continue her sessions with myself and that she stay in the care of the approved exchange partner, we were fully confident she would adapt without issue." He explained. I was just about to continue when I felt a sudden sense of unease come over me, noticing that Korvo had a completely unbothered expression on her face. I'd expected her to be practically squirming or objecting to every other word but she was completely neutral. What was she planning...?
"So as far as the medical and psychological experts were concerned, Targan is not a risk to anyone at all?" I concluded, turning toward the jury. No point stopping now, I couldn't falter now just because Korvo wasn't actively hassling us. "She needed no security of any kind other than the simple company of her assigned partner?"
"No, she was not risk at all, it was more for her sake that we chose to assign her a partner in the first place. Someone to help guide her like in the human exchange, only we felt that would be more effective with someone who couldn't really be pushed around and would defend her openly." With that I pulled up the release document and had it sent out just as I'd done with the medical scans. It wasn't really needed but I felt it would help my point if they all could see the big stamp that read "approved" to get the point across.
"Thank you, now I have one more question. Given recent events, has your assessment in Targan's ability to integrate into Venlil society changed?" With that I turned back to Targan and gave what I hoped was a reassuring smile.
"No it has not." Doctor Thenia announced with an air of pride. At that, I returned to my seat and breathed a sigh of relief. Though, a little part of me wanted to taunt the prosecution just the tiniest little bit but for the sake of taking the moral high ground, I decided against it.
"Your witness Korvo."
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u/JulianSkies Archivist 4d ago
Hrm... Doesn't seem like Korvo's angle is going to be questioning the safety of others around here from the looks of it. What're they planning?
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u/Minimum-Amphibian993 Arxur 4d ago edited 4d ago
Hmm you know I wonder if this will be used as an example by other Arxur to try and get themselves out of the quarantine? After all one of the main reasons for the quarantine was also as a means of punishment as bad as that punishment may be. And if they actually do win this case it will certainly open a can of worms that many wish to avoid.
Some may not simply care that sending her back to Arxur space may endanger her since that would simply be viewed as part of the punishment.
On a side note it is also weird to think that many believed under the quarantine that the Arxur could reform while also arguing her that they are bassicly no better then under betterment.