Galactic Verdict

A short story by D.J. Soto

Space Medics is a unique blend of human creativity and artificial intelligence. The story, characters and world-building were imagined and crafted by human author D.J. Soto, but brought to life and materialized through the power of AI. This graphic novel is a testament to the potential of AI to enhance and augment human storytelling, rather than replace it.

Your honor, it is clear to this court that Captain Nova acted with reckless disregard for the safety of his patient," the prosecutor argued. "He landed his Cutlass Red spacecraft too quickly and with too much force, causing the landing gear to crush the patient's legs. This was a clear act of negligence, and he must be held fully responsible for the serious injuries sustained by the victim."

The defense lawyer stood up to respond. "Your honor, we must remember that Captain Nova was not trying to harm the patient, but rather, he was attempting to rescue them in a highly stressful and dangerous situation. The patient has not needed to undergo regeneration, and their viability score remains strong, evidence of the minimal impact of the injury on their overall health. The patient's recovery is also due in large part to the use of a highly advanced robotic limb, which has allowed them to regain full function in their injured leg. Captain Nova is a highly trained and experienced space medic, with a long and distinguished career. This was a tragic accident, but it was not an act of negligence on his part."

The prosecutor interjected. "Your honor, the defense is trying to downplay the severity of the injuries sustained by the patient. While it is true that they have not needed a regeneration, that does not change the fact that Captain Nova’s actions were reckless and irresponsible. He should have known better than to land his spacecraft in such a manner, and he must be held accountable for the harm he caused."

The judge nodded. "Thank you, both counsels. The jury will now deliberate and return with their verdict."

As the jury left the courtroom to consider the evidence, the tension was palpable. It seemed as though the case could go either way.

Finally, after much deliberation, the jury returned with their verdict. To the surprise of many, they declared Captain Nova not guilty, stating that they believed he had acted in good faith and had done everything in his power to save the patient.

There was a sigh of relief from Captain Nova and his supporters as the verdict was read out, and the pilot was able to walk free. But as he left the courthouse, Captain Nova couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right. He couldn't help but wonder if his external camera had been hacked by a rival medical organization, which might have been keen to see him punished for the accident. Although he had no concrete proof, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had been set up.

Despite the outcome of the court case, Captain Nova knew that he would always carry the weight of that terrible accident with him. But he also knew that he had done everything in his power to save the patient and that he would continue to do so in the future, no matter what challenges came his way.