Somewhere in the world, the secret society named The Order of One Justice hid beyond the borders and the reach of the UEN. Case Carswell, leader of this underground organization, sat in his courtroom with only his bailiff, Dillon, beside him. It went without saying that all leaders of secret societies were strange fellows with strange ideas, but Case was an oddball even among them. He configured his organization like a Courthouse even though there was only one Courtroom and no legitimate cases were ever heard before the court.

After hackers hired by the Order of One Justice stole the data and research from the UEN’s National Laboratory and delivered it to Case, the Order’s scientists worked non-stop to reverse-engineer the data. They wanted to replicate the results of UEN scientists who had achieved 99.999999999% teleportation accuracy, a triumph of the human mind over nature. The Order’s scientists, as hard as they tried, reported slow progress. Case, however, was impatient because he felt all the pieces of his puzzle were in place and he saw the big picture of his diabolic plan coming together. Anxious and agitated that progress moved at the pace of sloths, he quipped to his bailiff, Dillon.

“The leaders of the CoC are fools, aren’t they, Dillon? Prepare for the next phase of my plan!”

Dillon did not want to disobey, but he saw no logic in Case’s haste. Whenever disagreeing with Case, it was best to be diplomatic.

“Your honor, are you sure it is wise to push ahead so soon? Your scientists haven’t even begun to unravel the secrets stolen from the UEN’s National Laboratory yet. Their progress has been terribly slow.”

Case was undeterred. “Yes, but is only a matter of time before they figure it out. I’m sure of it! The answers are all there!”

Dillon noticed Case’s breathing was labored and worried about the condition of his health.

“Your honor, please calm down. Your medication! Do you remember taking it this morning?”

“Bah!” Case coughed. He had not taken his medication. “I don’t need what the doctors tell me to take.”

“Perhaps you should consult your jury for advice then?” Dillon tried to talk some sense into the judge.

Case considered it. Perhaps his jury would have a different opinion. His tone softened and he calmed down a bit to Dillon’s relief.

“Maybe I should. I haven’t talked to them in several months. With the new developments happening, maybe I should see if they agree. Very well, summon in the jury!”

“As you desire, your honor.”

Dillon pushed a button on the side of the wall of the courtroom where a bank of light switches were to summon the jurors. A loud, whirring sound of a mechanical motor filled the courtroom. It sounded like an elevator approaching its floor. Over at the jury box, the floor fell away as the courtroom vibrated under their feet. Within a minute, a panel of twelve jurors seated in their chairs rose from underneath the floor. But these were not typical jurors. They were android jurors with metallic faces and limbs. Imbued with Artificial Intelligence, they sat up straight in their chairs ready to weigh the arguments and evidence presented to them. Devoid of human emotions, this jury was superior in Case’s estimation.

Case began with his opening statement. “Members of the jury, I ask you to listen to my logic and reasoning. Please grant me the wisdom of your judgement.”

The android jurors sat silent. Only their diagnostic lights blinked in a random pattern. For not doing anything but listening with complete impartiality, they appeared quite menacing.

Case continued with his argument. “Is it not true that the current world order is unfair? That the world should be separated into the technology haves who reap all the benefits of this world and the technology have-nots who must accept their oppressive lives with no choice in the matter?”

Again, the jury made no move or sound. If they heard Case’s argument, they did not show outrage. They were always calm and detached when they listened. Only their blinking diagnostic lights on their faces and bodies gave any indication they still operated.

Case went on. “And is it not true that if I have the power to balance this inequity, that it would be a moral failure on my part if I sat and did nothing?”

The jury remained undecided.

“Assuming those two arguments are, in fact, true, then please allow me to explain my plan to you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury.”

The jury awaited Case’s explanation.

“So far, I’ve convinced some rogue members of the Coalition of Countries to finance my scientists and spy network for the promise of delivering teleportation technology to them so they can use it for their own purposes to try to force the UEN’s bargaining hand. But these countries are led by power hungry, greedy, selfish fools! If they ever obtained the power of teleportation, they would only create weapons and try to start a world war. They must never be allowed to have possession of this technology for themselves.”

The jury did not appear impressed nor unimpressed to learn that Case just used these CoC members’ money and resources to steal teleportation technology for himself and never intended to give it to them.

“Therefore, it is only I who possess the morality and righteousness to use the power of teleportation against the UEN to topple their grip on the current world order and restore balance to the world for everyone’s benefit. It is only I who can decide how the new world order will be established, and I will create an ultimate court of arbitration to decide who will benefit from technology and who will be punished for abuses. Does the jury agree?”

For the first time, the twelve androids leaned toward each other as if being closer together allowed them to create a neural net of Artificial Intelligence. Some turned their faces to each other appearing to confer and deliberate their decision. After a mere minute, the androids returned to their original seating position. They reached a decision and reported it to the court. One of the androids elected jury foreman by the other eleven stood and read the verdict with an electronic voice.

“After careful deliberation and examination of the facts, we the jury do agree with Mr. Carswell.”

As soon as the verdict was read in court, the android jury sank down into the jury box underneath the floor until needed again. The whir and vibration of the elevator motor which lowered the jury filled the courtroom again. Case waited for the jury to disappear into the floor and the motor to stop making its noise.

“Excellent!” Case had won his argument in front of the AI jury. “You see, Dillon? I knew I was on the right side of justice!”

Dillon was not all that surprised at the outcome. Very few disagreed with Case, including AI androids. “You invariably are, your honor.”

“Then prepare the next phase of my plan. Start gathering and organizing the commando units of the Order of One Justice. Once our scientists crack the secrets of teleportation from the stolen data, we will invade the UEN’s Capital City and topple the Ruling Party. Then I will arrive triumphant into the UEN and seize control as Supreme Leader of the only superpower on the planet!”

Dillon knew he could not stop Case even if he disagreed or thought Case might be straining his health. “As you so desire, your honor.”

“With me in control of the UEN, the CoC will be powerless to oppose me and then, I can finally have my revenge.”

Dillon bowed his head in deference to Case.

“If that is what you want, your honor.”