RR's next chapter and FTMD continues to be worked on, but over the last few hours, I've been typing up some style details for a possible new story. It's based on a gaming universe (roughly, SJG's "Car Wars" universe), and it's.. a different place. For example, this is part of a legal document important to the story.
This document states that both parties have a serious grievance and as to save time and legal resources have agreed to use the forum of the live show: "Trial by Autoduel Combat" to settle this dispute.
As part of this agreement, both sides have agreed that following the conclusion of this event, that both sides have agreed to refrain from further airings of the same grievance against each other, in any venue, be it private or public.
The parties have also agreed to the expectation that said grievance involves a possibly-lethal autoduelling contest, and as such that they hold each other blameless, and thus waive all legal claims for any injury, disfigurement, dismembering or death that may occur during the show.
Both sides have been advised that the trial, (referred to henceforth as "Duel") will take place in the Houston Duelodrome on April 5th, 2118. The agreed format for the duel is using custom Division 20 dueling automobiles.
Both sides will be allowed a five-minute pre-duel review of their opponent's vehicle per American Autoduelling Association standards. That is, both sides can observe the vehicle from a distance of no less than ten feet.
At that time, they will be allowed to make any objections to the show's producers about potentially illegal weaponry and/or equipment. A member of the show's technical team will be on hand to make a ruling on any such objections. Such decisions are binding, and as thus, are to be considered final.
Any items disallowed by the technical team will be required to be removed expeditiously, and extra time to replace said items will not be granted.
Should either participant fail to appear at the scheduled time for the duel to commence, they will be adjudged the loser of the grievance, with all legal remedies to follow, forfeit all appearance money, as well as be required to pay a $25,000 no-show fee in addition.
Participants have been advised that during the duel a direct audio channel will be established between the two vehicles for the purpose of making settlement offers. This audio channel is not part of the televised process but is recorded solely for the purpose of enforcing any deals agreed to, should terms be established.
However, the parties have been reminded that terms are not formally agreed to, until the conclusion of the duel. For example, it is legal to agree that one driver will let the other one exit the duel on terms should they exit their vehicle, and then complete the duel by attacking the other, either by means of vehicular weaponry, or physical attack.
The duel will complete under one of two conditions:
A) The death of one of the two parties
B) One of the parties formally surrenders by stepping into one of the no-go safe zone bunkers throughout the arena. A party who has stepped into one of these safe zone bunkers will be seen as prima facie admitting defeat in the trial, and lacking an agreement made prior to said admission, has agreed to be judged the loser of the dispute, as made in pre-show filings.
Again, as a reminder, such surrenders are not binding on either party until the conclusion of the duel. If Party A offers to surrender to Party B, but then uses it as a lure to continue combat, Party A will not be judged at fault, as such agreements are not formally made until the conclusion of the duel.
Just think of what kind of universe would have such televised trials. Just think of the type of grievances that would lead to said duels. And the type of person who would find this the only way to find justice.
It's an interesting mind exercise. Can I turn it into a story? Who knows.