Courtroom, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

On 1 January 1995, the court came to order.  "Bring forward the accused," Larry ordered.

            The door in the rear opened.  Steelheart and Kevin entered and walked heroically to the defence table, where Perry Mason was waiting.  They stood before their seats.  "Please be seated," Larry declared.  "Prosecutor, please state the charges against the defendants."

            Hamilton Burger stood.  Clearly, he did not want to be here; but clearly, he had no choice in the matter, either.  "Yes, sir.  The defendants are charged with attempting to block the Koopa Kingdom's conquest of the Galactic Group."

            "Clearly, that attempt was unsuccessful."

            "Yes, sir."

            "Those are all the charges?"

            "Yes, sir."

            "Then, call thy first witness, please."

            "Certainly.  First, I call Luna, the Empress of the Plundarrian Empire."  Riding Amok, Luna approached the witness-attorney area and went to the stand.

            The bailiff said, "Lift thy right hand, please."  Luna raised her right hand.  "Dost thou swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

            "Yes," responded Luna.

            "Please state thine entire name."

            "I am the Empress Luna of the Plundarrian Empire."

            "Which languages dost thou speak?"

            "I speak English, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Spanish."

            "Which dost thou prefer to speak in public?"

            "I prefer English."

            "Very well."  The bailiff returned to her seat.

            Burger asked, "Empress Luna, with which branch of the Extended N-Team are you most familiar?"

            "The Thunder Cats," Luna responded.  "For a millennium now, the Thunderians have been trying to prevent the Plundarrians' expansion."

            "Excuse me for my error," interrupted Larry.  "I should like to state that my courtroom still uses VideoLand Standard.  The dialect makes a distinction between singular and plural in the second person.  'Thou' is singular, 'you' is plural."

            "I thank Thine Honour," said Burger.  "Empress Luna, have you Luna-tacks been defeated in your every encounter with the Thunder Cats?"

            "On most of the occasions I can remember, we have," Luna said.  "But not every time."

            "I see.  Did the N-Team attempt to keep you Luna-tacks from exiting the Milky Way on 23 July 1993, when you were going to Plundarr?"

            "Yes, Mr. Burger.  That plot failed, however."

            "What were your actions concerning the Wilykat Race?"

            "We advised His Grand Imperial Highness, Emperor Ludwig 'Kooky' von(Bowser)Koopa, as to their activities.  He sent his brother, the Highly Honourable Prince Larry 'Cheatsy' (Bowser)Koopa, to capture them.  That happened."

            "In other words, His Honour captured the Wilykats?"

            "Yes, sir."

            "I thank thee, ma'am.  Thy witness, Mr. Mason."

            "Empress Luna," Mason said, "when did the adversity between Thundera and Plundarr begin?"

            "About a thousand years ago," answered Luna.  "Fighting broke out during the first contact.  Guilt on our part; and our declaration that we would conquer the Thunderians made us enemies."

            "Ooh.  When did the war between the Plundarrian and Thunderian Empires end?"

            "Technically, it never did," said Luna.  "The 'truce' was understood but never written.  It is understood to have ended about seven years after it began, when Jaga and the Wilykats stormed the capital of Plundarr and removed Emperor Rataro from power."

            "I see.  No further questions."

            "No re-direct," announced Burger.

            Larry said, "Thou mayest step down, Empress Luna."

            "Thank you," said Luna.  She and Amok returned to their seat.

            "Thy next witness, please, Mr. Burger."

            Burger said, "I call the Empress MotherBrain to the stand."  MotherBrain came to the stand.

            The bailiff said, "May Your Excellence raise her right tentacle, please."  MotherBrain raised her right tentacle.  "Does Your Excellence swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

            "Yes," answered MotherBrain.

            "Please, may Your Excellence state her entire name."

            "I am Empress MotherBrain of the Third Koopulan Empire."

            "Which languages speaks Your Excellence?"

            "I speak English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Modern Latin, and other languages.  I prefer Portuguese and Italian, but I regularly use English and French."

            "Very well."  The bailiff sat down.

            "Your Excellence said that she preferred Portuguese and Italian," Burger said.  "Does a specific reason exist?"

            "Yes.  With Italian, it's my son's favourite language, and I like it very much.  Now, for Portuguese.  I specifically created the Metroidian dialect, the one used by most VideoLandians and made the official dialect of Portuguese in VideoLand."

            "I see.  Why did you create the dialect?"

            "Objection," said Mason.  "Inappropriate number of pronoun and verb."

            Banging his gavel, Judge Larry ruled, "Sustained.  Mr. Burger, please attempt to refrain from using 'you' in a singular sense unless in a phrase such as 'Your Excellence.' "

            "I am sorry, Thine Honour," Burger said.  "Empress MotherBrain, why did Your Most Imperial Highness create the Metroidian dialect of Portuguese?"

            "I knew the original dialect was plagued by its lax pronunciation," MotherBrain said.  "Therefore, I personally constructed a new method of pronunciation.  I attempted to keep some of the more romantic elements while mandating exact pronunciation and no lax slurring of vowel, consonant, or semivowel sounds.  I knew somehow that my Portuguese was going to rival Spanish not only with its non-changing vowel structure but also with its sound quality.  I left room for the English S-sound only in certain areas."

            "I see.  Where?"

            "Specifically, when S occurs at the beginning of a word that begins a breath group, or where S is doubled.  Similar to the Spanish trilling of the R, a system which also exists in my Portuguese."

            "Hm.  What caused thee to create this dialect?"

            "The speakers desperately wanted a regular pronunciation system, a problem that plagued the language since the Reconquista.  I feel some amount of control over those who make daily use of the dialect.  I also felt some control over Spanish.  It was losing popularity to my dialect, as the Latin Americans had innocently plagued Spanish with a few severe phonetic problems.  If I had not made the Metroidian dialect of Portuguese, I would have been unable to significantly alter the popular development of Spanish and Portuguese."

            "I understand.  Now, wast thou opposed to Princess Lana's unification of Portuguese and Spanish into Iberian?"

            "Yes.  She would have decreased my influence on the two languages if she had succeeded.  I did not want her do it.  Eventually, I shall perform such a change, but it will be through alterations to each language to make them closely alike so there will be no difference between them."

            "I see.  How shalt thou proceed?"

            "I am unsure at this point.  However, my next move shall deal with Spanish."

            "Thank you."  He opened his briefcase and removed his spiral notebook, opened it, and took some notes.  "Where was Your Excellence born?"

            "I was born in Monsteropolis, first-Earth, MegaLand," said MotherBrain.

            "What year in VideoLand's history?"

            "Nine hundred ninety-five."

            "Who was the attending surgeon, if thou rememberest?"

            "Doctor James Wright, related to Dr. Thomas Xavier Wright.  It was the altered measles vaccination he gave me that caused this to happen.  My brain grew to become both Metroid and this mass in my jar."

            "What happened to thy body?"

            "My face became what thou seest.  The rest of my body had to be removed."

            "I see.  What offence did the N-Team take against thee?"

            "They continually hindered the Brain-Team's conquest of the galaxy.  It took a long time to subdue them."

            "How big is the empire?"

            "It is a circular region whose centre is the Palace of Power and whose radius is about nine thousand times ten to the hundredth power megametres.  Calculation reveals that our power extends in an area of approximately eighty-one million times ten to the two hundredth megametres squared times p (pi)."

            "What is thy position in the government?"

            "I actually have two positions.  My more important one is as imperial legislator, creating the laws governing everyone in the empire, including the emperor himself.  My other position is governor, executing as prime minister the laws in the VideoLand Kingdom."

            "Then, thou hast more power than Emperor Ludwig?"

            "Definitely.  I create the laws that he must execute.  He is free to do as he wishes only so long as I approve.  He cannot create any laws of which I disapprove.  Larry is the Chief Justice of the Imperial Court; he rules the Milky Way as well.  As Chief Justice, he must interpret laws of which I approve.  As ruler, he may only execute laws of which Ludwig and I approve but may do whatever he wants with the governmental structure."

            "I see.  Who among the defendants has presented the greatest obstacle to the Brain-Team's intergalactic conquest?"

            "They would be Steelheart, Captain N, Lion-O, and the Wilytwins."

            "Thank you.  Mr. Mason, thy witness."

            "Thank you, Mr. Burger.  Thine Honour, before we may continue, the defence should like to make its plea."

            "Very well," Larry said.

            "The defence pleads guilty to the charge."

            "Does this reflect the N-Team's wishes?"

            "It does, Thine Honour," Steelheart said.

            Kevin agreed, "Indeed it does, Thine Honour."  It was most dubiously that he stated the final two words.  He found nothing honourable about Larry.

            "Very well."  The courtroom doors opened.  Ludwig entered.  "Greetings, my brother!"

            "Good day, my brother," Ludwig said.  "I request that no one kneel before me on this occasion.  I come to publicly announce my official languages and the official capital of the empire here, that they meet with Empress MotherBrain's approval.  The official capital of the Koopulan Empire is the Palace of Power."

            "I approve," said MotherBrain.

            "The official languages shall be as follows:  Italian, French, English, Iberian, Romanian, Modern Latin, Dutch, German, Romanised Russian, Danish, Swedish, Modern Greek, Romanised Japanese, and any languages closely related to those that I have mentioned.  Examples include Thunderian, MegaLandian French, Chemistrian, Portuguese, Spanish, Thunderian Portuguese, Classical Latin, Cyrillic Russian, Norwegian, Plundarrian Spanish, Thunderian Swedish, Thunderian Greek, Classical Greek, and Symbolic Japanese.  No others may be used on an official basis but may continue in use as common languages."

            "I approve."

            "Very well.  I remain in order to observe the trial."  He went to sit with Burger.

            "Since defence has plead guilty," asked Larry, "does it wish ruling to proceed now?"  Mason turned to Steelheart and Kevin, who nodded.

            "Yes, Thine Honour," Mason said.

            "Very well.  I now commence sentencing.  The Silver Hawks shall be deprived of their Silver Hawk armour."  Steelheart's metal suit disappeared.  Luckily, she and the other Silver Hawks were fully dressed.  "The extra-Wilykat Thunder Cats lose their powers to the Wilytwins, their leaders, and may be only as strong as humans."  All the N-Team appeared in the room.  The Wilytwins and Wondertwins were wearing little necklaces.  They were irremovable, and they contained lithium super-Thundrainide, but only enough to affect the wearer enough to suppress the Q-cubed powers.  "You are guilty of the charge of attempting to prevent the Brain-Team's conquest of the galactic local group.  As punishment, I officially dissolve the Extended N-Team as a group.  I also hereby dissolve each division of the N-Team, including the Thunder Cats.  Most of you have two basic options.  If you wish to continue making contributions to society, you may live anywhere in the empire, where you may study or teach the young people of the empire.  However, if your desire is a life wherein every day is an endless struggle to continue living, you'll be transported to Siberius in MegaLand and dropped off.  Either way, you'll be made to live forever by the emperor's newest invention."

            "True," said Ludwig.  "It'll keep you at your present age forever.  It will let pre-adolescents stop ageing soon after the age of puberty.  Only the N-Team and the Brain-Team shall undergo the process."  He smiled diabolically at Kevin.  "No pets, not even your precious Duke."

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid.

            Ludwig led the N-Team into the control room on Metroid.  "Here we are," said he.  "Who wants to be first?"

            "I do," said Steelheart.

            "Very well.  Follow me, please."  She followed him to a door, which he opened.  "Enter."  She did, and he followed her into a cylindrical, spacious room with a computer control panel across a forty-five-degree arc and an elevated, circular platform in the centre.  At ninety-degree angles to the next were four rods, each topped with a sphere; the rods surrounded the platform.  A device pointing toward each sphere was on the ceiling directly above the centre of the platform.  The room was brightly lit.  "Ascend upon the platform and position yourself directly underneath the projection from the ceiling, if you please," Ludwig requested.  Steelheart complied.  "This may tickle."  He went to the computer, entered the password, and told it to do its thing.

            Within a minute, bright navy blue beams from the ceiling device shot out from the spheres, which absorbed them and glowed when the beams terminated.  Seconds later, the same occurred, except these beams were pure white.  In ten more seconds, the device sent out rainbow-coloured beams to each sphere.  The beam soon changed to a bright yellow.  During this stage, the spheres created a bright leaf-green circle of energy around the platform by simultaneously shooting a ninety-degree arc of energy to the next sphere.  They then each shot an orange beam upward thirty degrees so the beams would converge at a point thirty feet above the platform's centre.  The spheres then decreased the angle at the same rate so that the point of convergence would descend to Steelheart.

            When the beams struck her, they altered molecular and atomic aspects controlling her ageing.  They rendered her DNA unaltered for the most part.  She experienced no pain at all.  In forty-five seconds, the beams all terminated.

            Excited, Ludwig grabbed a medical tricorder and ran over to examine her.  He experienced a high degree of elation, to say the least.  "By. . .!  I've done it!"

            "You mean that it worked?"

            "Yes!"

            "Now what?"

            "Now, I can put several people up there at a time.  The beam automatically adjusts for genotype.  The spheres will create a cone of energy for everyone placed up there; where the person is placed depends on the obliqueness of the cone.  I just had you take centre position because it uses less energy."

            "Maybe I can help MotherBrain combine the Iberian languages.  I have a doctorate in linguistics."

            "Great idea!  I would have known.  Which languages have you studied?"

            "Ooh. . . English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Romansh, Provençal, Romanian, Latin, Ancient and Modern Greek, German, Flemish, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, Russian, Polish, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish, Anglo-Saxon, Chinese, and Japanese."

            "Oh, my gosh!"

            "Originally, I majored in mathematics, chemistry, physics, and engineering while minoring in physical education; I originally taught chemistry for a few years while moonlighting for a double-major in Italian and French.  That was about 300 years ago.  Over most of that time, I had time to double- and triple-major to get baccalaureates for all those languages.  Afterwards, I worked for a doctorate in mathematics, chemistry, and physics; Italian; French; and linguistics and a master's in engineering and all those other languages."

            "What about your brother?"

            "His major was physical education and his minor mathematics, chemistry, physics, and engineering.  His language training only involved English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Danish, and Russian."

            "I see."

            "Other than that, it was exactly the same as me.  He was usually lazier than I, except when it came to sports.  I did much better scholastically; I had so many extracurricular activities in high school and college that I learned to learn material in the class, learn material stored in books as I read, and do homework and projects in fifteen to twenty minutes.  In my senior year of high school, I could read and understand War and Peace completely in five minutes.  Will actually made that challenge."

            "Wow.  How did you do upon entering high school?"

            "First semester, I made all C's.  Second semester, I became the person I've just described and got all A+'s.  I still remember all of King Henry.  I could recite Japanese grammar rules in my sleep if I were a sleeptalker.  Will did well, but he did not develop my skill.  He taught health and P.E. when I was teaching chemistry."

            "Interesting.  Well, Steelheart, we need the others."

            * * *

            Palace of Power.

            "So long as you all follow the laws, you're free," MotherBrain told the N-Team minus the Wilytwins and Wondertwins.  "Behave well for some time, and you'll become the empire's nobility.  You are already exempt of certain things pertaining to regular citizens, such as taxes.  Those of you with high education will greatly benefit.  As it is, most of you do well scholastically.  Princess Lana, if you wish, you may remain princess of VideoLand.  Princess Zelda, you may continue to govern Hyrule.  Queen Peach and King Spike, you may continue to rule the Mushroom Empire.  Quicksilver, I request you to remain in control of the greatest hospital in the empire.  The former Mason-Team is invited to ensure the proper handling and presentation of evidence as they have been.  All of you have special privileges; you may arrest people in the act of committing crimes if you wish.  The laws will be similar but executed with great stringency, much more than in the past.  I guarantee that Ludwig cannot get away with not following my legislation.

            "Have you any questions?"  Kevin raised his hand.  "Yes, sir, Captain N?"

            "Can you guarantee the just legislation, execution, and interpretation of laws?" Kevin asked.

            "Most certainly.  The people will elect guides for all three branches of government on all levels.  Most levels will have a voluntary prime minister, elected by the guides.  The head of a local unit is subordinate to the head of a planetary unit.  In the same fashion, the head of the justice must interpret laws executed by the head of state, who must execute laws legislated by the head of legislature.  I am, thus, the most powerful person in the empire.  Ludwig can do nothing of which I disapprove.  If I don't want him to expand, he cannot.  If I don't want a death penalty - and I definitely do not want that - Larry can sentence no one to be executed in any way, be it by firing squad, electrocution, hanging, decapitation, lethal gas, lethal injection, crucifixion, or any other means.  Any more questions?"

            "I have one," said Tygra.  "Your Highness, what shall become of the Wilytwins, Astutus-twins, and Wondertwins?"

            "For the Astutus-twins, I am uncertain," said MotherBrain.  "The Wilytwins and Wondertwins are extremely powerful like Ludwig, and I naturally can't let them loose with such power until I am sure they can't use it.  As for the Astutus-twins, Ludwig must check them for that power.  If they don't have it, they're free.  If they do, I don't know.  Tygra and Cheetara, you ought to raise your children as Thunderians.  Cultural identity is important.  Education shall be required of everyone.  I want you Thunderians in here to make sure that the Wilykats are educated well once they are released."

            "Which language should they know the best?"

            "The only ones I'm definitely not changing are English and French," said MotherBrain.  "Make sure they know those two.  Your languages shall remain the same.  I'll probably make a some alterations in Italian.  Spanish and Portuguese will be changed gradually until they are identical, when they will be merged.  Do you know of a language called Chemistrian?"

            Lana said, "I do, ma'am."

            "Do you know any of it, Princess?"

            "I know much of it.  The amount of verb conjugation makes the 'proper' form difficult, even for the native speakers.  Chemistrian grammarians refuse to give way to the form they call 'improper.' "

            "They had better once I have Ludwig order them to do it," MotherBrain said.  "Their verb-inflection system is unnecessary.  The language will take the so-called 'improper' auxiliary system by my decision.  The verb-piling system is outdated and confusing."

            "Yes," Lana said.  "That is the complaint of all Chemistrians except for the grammarians."

            "Very well.  Once Nuclesís has defeated Chemsos and Physicost. . . like it'll happen!  He's just a human-Chemistrian hybrid born in MegaLand."  She activated her radio.  "Liquidator, get Mega Volt and come to the Palace."  A warp opened, and Liquidator and Mega Volt came through.

            "Good day, Your Majesty the Empress!" said Liquidator.  "How can we serve Your Most Imperial Eminence?"

            "Go to Nuclesís's mansion on Chemistra," MotherBrain said.  "Help him catch Chemsos and Physicost."

            "Yes, ma'am!" said Liquidator.  "Delivery of merchandise is guaranteed!"

            "Aw, shut the fu-. . . shut your goldarn mouth!" cried Mega Volt.  "Let's just go help Charles blow the hell. . ."

            "I want them alive, Mega Volt!" cried MotherBrain.

            "Oh, all right!"

            * * *

            Home of Jane Physicost and James Chemsos, Chemico-Physic City, Chemistra.

            "They'll not conquer Chemistra," Jane said with her common conviction.

            James said, "Not as long as we are around."  They both deplored the past two years.  All the Milky Way except for Chemistra had been conquered, along with ten galaxies.  The strongest and most secure race in the eleven galaxies that comprised the empire was the Chemistrian race, which had so far managed to deflect the Brain-Team's assaults.  "Or unless they get really lucky."

            "Yes.  Last time, Nuclesís might have won.  He was not so strong before."

            "I know, Jane, dear.  No matter what happens, we'll always love one another."  She smiled.

            "To the end."  The two closed their eyes and kissed.  Physically, they were alike, except of course for their one-gender characteristics.  Jane was just a little smaller and shorter than her fiancé.

            Financially, they were very well off.  They imported rare chemicals and instruments that brought them a tremendous income.  Chemistrians were exceptionally adept at physical and earth sciences, especially chemistry, physics, and astronomy.  It was the national hobby.

            Chemistrians and MegaLandians interacted very much.  In fact, Chemistra would have joined MegaLand right after its admission into VideoLand, but that date was when MotherBrain declared her conquest of the Palace of Power.

            All this flowed through their minds as Liquidator flowed into the house!  He quietly opened the door to let in Charles Nuclesís and Mega Volt.  Nuclesís's 'bozo-squad,' the Atomic Idiots, had remained at his mansion atop Atom Mountain, which loomed ominously over the city.  They were to Nuclesís as Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo were to MotherBrain:  the brainless servants who did almost nothing correctly.  Liquidator gestured to Mega Volt, who blew a shocking beam of electricity at Physicost and Chemsos and electrified them until they were rendered unconscious.

            "Hee, hee!  You pay good attention, Mega Volt!" said Nuclesís.

            "Thank you, Charles," Mega Volt said.

            "Her Most Exalted Majesty will be pleased," said Liquidator.  "Good thing Chemistrians don't hear quite as well as Thunderians."

            Nuclesís said, "I have a world to subjugate for MotherBrain.  See you, guys!"

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power.

            "Caught off-guard!" said MotherBrain.  "I love the sound of that."

            "They're out, all right," said Wily.  "I'll nullify their chemical- and physical-control powers."

            "Good."  She turned to Mega Volt and Liquidator.  "Excellent work."

            "I followed Nuclesís's advice to the letter," Mega Volt said.

            "Well, good for you!"

            "I've finished," said Wily.  "They can no longer stop us."

            "Well done."  A door opened, and Eggplant Wizard frantically ran in.

            "MotherBrain!  There is an uprising!" reported the idiotic legume.

            "Oh?"  She was glad it was time to demonstrate her authority  "Where?"

            "In Hyrule, Your Magnificence.  The inhabitants of Kakariko Village are storming the new edifice intended to be the tax collector's office!"

            "I'll take care of this personally!"

            * * *

            Kakariko Village, Hyrule.

            The phrase escaped lips in four or five different tongues:  "No taxes!"  Indeed, the Hyrulians were unhappy.  Their pride had been hurt tremendously by the ruinously huge taxes imposed by the new tax office.  The tax office was in ruins, despite the efforts of MotherBrain's troops to push the small rebellion back.

            She appeared soon thereafter, and the crowd hushed.  "This would render you all dead if I weren't in a good mood," she said.  "Back away from the rubble now!"  Everyone obediently followed her command.  The tax office flew back together, good as new.  "I am ashamed of this!  You are supposed to be civilised people!  As easily as I resurrected this tax office, I can blow apart a billion planets simultaneously.  I don't want to have to demonstrate!"  Everyone was convinced.  "There are more effective ways of expressing your displeasure.  They would not anger me as much as this normally would.  Do not try my patience; next time, some may wind up dead.  Good day."  When she had left, everyone returned home.