Homeless Gregor took his time, piercing his gaze over the crowd, he started from the top and patiently proceeded downwards. Hovering his a surprised glance past the many eyes of unwavering stares.
One row at a time. The lower he went, the sooner he began to recognise some of them. And suddenly without knowing, his jaw dropped ever so slightly, and his eyes brows raised so lightly.
"Mother", he faintly said under his breath, "it can't be"
"Is that you?", he asked, what was an expression of bafflement quickly turned into surprise, with a tone of relief. The mortal was stunned.
However, the woman to which his words addressed, gave nothing in return, showed nothing in return, she like all the hundreds upon hundreds others had only a stern stare on display.
Without care, the Homeless mortal went on, "I didn't think I'd ever see you again", he confessed with wet eyes, "so, this really is the afterlife?" he asked, smiling softly the woman remained unmoved.
"I gave you a worthy funeral"
"..."
"Not the best...it wasn't grand", he said, "but to the best of my ability…did you see it?"
"Did you like it?"
Nothing. The woman remained mute her face and ears deaf. Homeless Gregor, bowed his head and took in a breath so heavy he exhausted an uncomfortable sigh that does nothing to neither Panteku nor Ansi who remain firm on their feet.
When left to grunt out his frustrations alone, Homeless Gregor looked up again, this time he impatiently pierced through the crowd, and understood his father was present too, his paternal grandparents, maternal grandmother, former classmates, teachers and principles, were all seated too. Acquaintances, friends, best friend, past lovers. All have made their presence felt. No one was going to miss his biggest moment.
The jury of a cosmic court, he correctly assumed, is the stand of all people he has encountered and interacted with during the longevity of his life.
"Wait a minute", he murmured, "why are you all here?"
"It is as I've said…I only ever recall burying my mother"
"Sure some of you we were never close enough for me to receive an invite to your funerals, so I wouldn't know if you died before I did"
"But...", he said while looking at his friends and family, "I'm pretty sure, you guys are still alive…right?"
"I left you alive"
He glanced between them expecting a reply. But none spoke back.
"Why won't you talk?", he submissively demanded, "oh, wait, are you all here to denounce me!?"
"Is that why you've come?"
"You are all here to denounce me, and see me perish?", their silence was beginning to eat him up.
"They are on mute", Panteku finally informed.
"No matter what you say to them, no one will respond"
"Because this isn't your mother's trial, nor your father's, it is solely yours, so they cannot speak, unless I or one of the others, give them permission to"
"The archetype of speaking only when you are spoken to, comes to life between these walls", the devil's advocate clarified.
"As for your questions, yes they are dead, and no they are alive", it answered.
"They are dead, because judgement takes place at the ends of infinity, so whatever mortal that ever harboured life, has sailed away from it by now"
"And they are alive"
"Because your world does not exist at the ends of infinity, so everyone you left behind is still alive as we speak"
"Fascinating isn't it?", asked Panteku after a short pause, "On your world, some of these folks are currently burying you right now, they'll be burying you while unaware that they are taking part in your grand trial that determines the fate of your eternity"
"As they usher you away with goodbyes and mournful tears, escort you into the afterlife with eulogies to sparkle narratives they have of you"
"They simultaneously partake in a trial that will unravel the reality of you"
"Fascinating, truly fascinating"
"Tell me", it continued, "mortals from the place you come from, have this tendency of saying 'rest in peace', 'rest in peace', when burying their loved ones, yes?"
Homeless Gregor agreed by way of a nervous nod, "right", said Panteku.
"Do you think their words will apply to you?"
"Panteku", handler called out.
"Yes, your honour"
"There is no significance in this, just proceed", the handler advised.
"Will do, your honour"
"Very well then, let's continue"
Pacing away from the centre and towards the audience, the prosecutor opened up both arms, as if attempting to hug an imaginary friend, "welcome", it rejoiced.
"I welcome you all to the last judgement of a man you all have met and interacted with a least once in your lifetimes"
"Some of you have never actually met him"
"But you are here, because you lived in his head as a thought of emotion"
"Or maybe as a fantasy of lust", the Prosecutor giggled.
"He is a man whose life you influenced one way or the other, and a man whose decisions, and actions had in turn influenced your own lives"
"This is a safe place, the safest place in the extensions of existence", it proclaimed, "you are free to speak your mind, sound out your impressions of him"
"I am a prosecutor, so of course I take delight in sending every possible folk to hell"
"But I sincerely reassure you, nothing you say during this trial will be used against you in your own trial"
"Because remember, it, this does not happen in your lifetime"
"Yes!", exclaimed the prosecutor.
"It is a guarantee that he is part of the jury in your own trials, except for those he met in his head", it informed.
"But you do not have to worry about that, because he, like you, will have no recollection of what happens here"
Panteku placed a right hand on the middle of its chest, it gave it much effort to appear sincere, yet still the gesture looked like and awful rehearsal, "if you do not believe me, try recalling what he had to say about you during your own trial"
"Given the nature of this cosmos, it is not out of reach to assert that all mortal trials occur simultaneous of each other"
Panteku had left the audience with something to muse on, pausing its extravagant speech to focus on their facial expressions. And they did as suggested. Each of them tried to recall what Homeless Gregor had said, but their demeanour alluded to the fact that none such memories existed.
The experience held true to the fact that no new memories can form at a place between life and death. The allocation of such memories would have bridged empty space, and this passage is not a gateway.
"The evidence of the truthfulness of my words are in your heads", Panteku said, "dear guests, holy and unholy"
"When I point at you, you will stand and speak with your chest before the cosmic court"
"You will tell us who you are"
"But do not be misled, in this trial, who you are is exactly what you were to the Homeless mortal, the relationship you had with him is your whole identity and your bane of existence"
"I advise you to speak your mind, answering questions posed, and none of those left unpinned"
The devil's advocate brought the speech to a close, with a wryly smile, bringing both arms together and made use of their collision to point at a young man in the second row.
"I'll begin with you"
"Stand, and introduce yourself before the court"
With that, the man stretched to height and kept both hands behind him as a sign of respect, "My name is Chase", he introduced.
"And I have known Gregor since first grade, we've been friends ever since…Though we were not so close during our adult years"
"I'd still say he was my best friend", Chase said while clearly avoiding the Homeless man's gaze.
"Homeless Gregor", Panteku is quick to correct, "but I guess you don't need to keep up with formalities"
"Anyways, straight to the point"
"If everything was left to you, where would you send your friend?"
"Hell or Heaven?", the Prosecutor, masked its childlike excitement of the question as best it could.
"Heaven", Chase replied without hesitation to Homeless Gregor's relief.
"Either then him being your friend, on what grounds would you send him there?"
Chase needed a moment to think, in doing so he finally met his dead friend's gaze.
"At his funeral, I wished for him to rest in peace", he replied, "and I've seen an earnest man suffer, who should not have to anymore"
"Well, who was I kidding", Panteku sighed, "Why was I expecting a logical reply"
"I already know emotions form the basis of most of your decisions, which is exactly what I seek. I'll have to work with the little you give me"
"You used the word, 'earnest', why did you FEEL, he was earnest to you?"
"We shared adventures, memories, and he was a very supportive friend, with whom I trusted with everything", Chase replied rather confidently.
Panteku smiled as if a motive was reached, "thank you", it said, "you may have your seat"
The Homeless mortal was moved by the words of his friend, smiled at him, and nodded in his direction. But was left wondering, what was the point of his and all other testimonies?
Since the court does have access to Cretone, he felt it was pointless to kneel through these testimonies when Panteku can deduce these verdicts by simply paging through the Eye. He was convinced there was more to this.
"Your honour", the prosecutor called, "to move forward with these testimonies of truth, please, grant me Tretone"
"The Ear of Thoughts", it requested.
"Ear of Thoughts?", Homeless Gregor immediately questioned, "…you…don't mean…?"
"Yes", Panteku blissfully replied, "You guessed it"
"Like a history book, we have a record of every thought you've ever had about everyone you've ever known"
The announcement ran a shiver down his spine that he could no longer connect his gaze with his audience. He looked away from them and back to the one entity that could possibly get him out of this dire situation.
Ansi still kept to itself, peacefully observing the trial like a bystander. It was not confidence only bleakness he got from his lawyer. That left him with his chin beneath his shoulders, perhaps, this will be a short trial.