Revolution 9

My head is spinning, my ears are ringing. 

I open my eyes, but it takes some time to adjust to the brightness.

As far as the eyes can reach, in any direction, there is only a vast night sky vision: the dark void with loads of stars, constellations, galaxies and every other celestial body one can imagine.

Looking down is the weirdest feel. I'm stepping on nothing, visually resembling walking on glass, but there isn't any feeling from the ground either.

I am not alone here, there are a huge amount of people, some I even recognize: My friend Biel and this Daniel kid I just met. Nobody looks older than 25.

There are enormous doors in front of the crowd. At least ten meters high and six meters wide. Nameplates are on top of them.

This whole situation is so confusing. Where is this place? How did I get here? 

Come on. How did my day start? I came back from school, had lunch, went to my room and started doom-scrolling.

Then …

[Memory]

Okay … I think I've seen this one before … Today, actually …

I should just go study or something …

I don't get it. Why do people post these memes with a random cat below it? 

… Lily is probably reading that 'Clã de Ataque' Isekai right now.

Why am I thinking about her right now? What are the novels people read these days? 

I should really do something better with my life. At least look at something more useful on TuTube.

Oh. An 8-year-old going to be judged in the international criminal court? That is so weird. What can someone even do at that age.

There are activists protesting? I mean, of course there are — There is no way this is fair! This kid is way too young. I'll join it, the tribunal is close-by.

I should really get new shoes, but I guess these old sneakers should be enough. The Rose shirt and Beige pants, no doubt. Hair, just scruffy enough so that it doesn't look like I care. I wish I had more of a beard ... Well, whatever, I'm ready.

“Mom, I'm heading out. Can you get me some leather boots later?“

“You're already 16, you can get some things yourself already. Also, where are you … “

SLAM

Alright, I shouldn't go alone.

TOC TOC TOC

“Who is it?”

That is Biel's voice, no need to answer that, he'll follow.

“Oh, it's you. Where are we going?” He says.

I've been friends with Gabriel since he moved here from his home country of Braxil. He looks Azian, but with curly hair. What is he wearing? How is he outside with a torn shirt? He is wearing beige and gray, really? I sometimes think he moved here because he is too boring for his own country.

“Some 8-year-old is getting unfair treatment, probably bundled up with some war criminals. We're going to see the protests — Collective punishment is a war crime, you know?”

“Oh, you mean Daniel … Why though?”

“What do you mean, why? How can it be fair to lock up a child?”

“I meant why are we going? Also, I don't think they'll only lock him up, nor that you know what he did … besides it's not like we can do anything about it”

“What could he have done? He is only 8, he IS innocent either way! Wait … do you mean he is getting the … capital? That is even worse.”

“Look, I really don't like to talk about this stuff.”

Tsk. Such a smart guy, what is it so hard for him to understand? Whatever … We've arrived.

The courthouse is a beautifully white, very large structure. Probably Greek inspired, with the marble pillars in the entrance. At least ten meters high. Beautiful, well-maintained green garden on the north side, with a path stretching maybe twenty, thirty feet down the middle. It ends with large steps, at least five of them. There is a fence in all sides, preventing the crowd to get close to the building proper. On the south side I can see a slope, it is the personnel parking lot, and it seems to be at least a whole floor below ground level. We're currently closing in the north-eastern section.

Lots of patrolling inside, but I can see some of them slacking more than others. Particularly close to the southern side where there is someone straight up sleeping. 

The crowd seems mostly calm, probly because the defendant is not here yet. Although I can see some suspicious movements on the west side, people with concealed weapons, facial masks and full backpacks.

“It'd be cool if we could get in. See the trial while it is happening.” — I provoked, maybe he thinks of something?

“We'd have to act now. Once the defendants are here, there will probably more unrest and more security to deal with it.”

“I see. Those guards seem a bit sleepy, if we can provoke someone to start rioting there early? They could breach.”

“You think you can jump over this fence?”

“What are you? Stupid? It is too high!”

“Stay here. Dê seus pulos. I'll create the opportunity.” 

What does that even mean? 

He took off … I guess I'll just know when 'opportunity knocks'? God, I have terrible friends … 

Hmm … let me think. What do I have around here? Possibly I can get on top of the fence, if someone lifts me. That guy seems pretty big … Okay, think of something sad … What is the name of that weird girl in my class who always has some story to tell? Well, it doesn't matter, but I do remember something about some half iron chemist mixing a dog and a little girl …

…

…

Alright, tears falling

“Hey” snif “Could you lift me? I can't see my mother.”

 I am the best actor in the whole god's universe. Now, only make a cute face and lift my arms. Échec et mat.

“What the hell is your problem? You have at least 18 years old. You have a beard! Why would you think that would work?”

“Shut up dude, just lift me!”

BOOM!

Okay. Obviously, Biel did his part. The security is converging to the other side, only the lazy one is here.

“Man! Lift me up right now!”

… 

Wow. He ran so fast … God, why is he so big if he is going to run like that?

Wait … Look. It seems the south gate closed off as an emergency. That car is stopped really close to it. I can jump from it to the top of the gate.

HUMP

“What are you doing, boy? You'll damage my car, get out.”

Okay. Concentration. I'll jump from this car to the top of the fence on 3. Ignore this guy …

1 … 

2 …

3 …

Alriiiight … I did it — Oh no. Ops. 

TUMP

What is this pain in my head … Did I fall from the gate … 

“DKASDN ou okay?” 

“What?”

“Are you okay?”

“Biel?” 

My head is hurting. Pulsing. I feel bloody streams.

“Sorry. I think I got it way past the necessary, and then everything got worse when the defendants arrived. This is a war zone. We should try to get first aid inside.”

I must have fainted for at least 10 minutes. There are some people around me, but I'm not the main attraction. I can see the riots, there is fire and a crumbled wall on the west side. 

BANG

A pistol? What have we done? 

Wait … I cannot see well … I'm dizzy.

…

SLAP

“Ouch! What was that for?” 

“I’m with the ICC medical team—you fainted. How do you feel now?”

BOOM BOOM

What was that? 

CRACK

“The defendants arrived, things intensified. Daniel was hit by something, he is right there.” Biel added.

We are currently inside the courthouse receiving care, but not properly into an ICC room. We're in a corridor. 

I turn to look at Daniel. He looks at me. 

His eyes have less life than the cracked wall behind him. But somehow are still fearsome. Short black hair, very scruffy. Looks like it never saw shampoo. Wearing rags … He definitely lived in poverty. 

Lights dim and flickering. He is with his back against the wall, the only sign that it really is a real person is a stream of blood down his arm into his twitching hand.

I can see the building cracking more and more, right behind him. It is like a tree being born and rising from his head. He's still just a kid. So much could grow from him.

BOOOOM!

So, this is it. Are they really bringing everything down? I'm going to die for nothing … And I didn't even hear mother's last words to me … 

…

Then this sky realm. So that is how I got here … 

What is written on top of each door? 

CLÃ DE ATAQUE

CLÃ DOS PADEIROS

CLÃ DOS MADEIREIROS

etc …  

I don't recognize those worlds … Wait … I kind do the first one.

So I suppose we got group-Isekaied? Now we have to choose the world for us.