Chapter 8: The Verdict and The Grand Escape
The Grand Hall of Bureaucratic Justice had never been more silent, the air thick with tension. The multiversal judges, their faceless eyes now entirely fixed on Percy, Zippy, and Chrono, stood frozen, poised to make a decision that could decide the fate of reality itself.
Percy shifted nervously on his feet, and it didn’t help that Zippy was still standing with an unsettling grin as though he were waiting for someone to throw him a party. Chrono, meanwhile, had taken refuge behind a stack of paperwork, trying to look invisible—an act that, frankly, seemed more appropriate for him than for anyone else in the room.
The Eraser, still floating smugly at the opposite end of the hall, had been absolutely silent ever since Zippy had dropped the loophole bomb. His once-ironic smile had vanished, replaced by a grim frown of cosmic disapproval.
The lead judge, now tapping his eternally unflappable clipboard, spoke in that echoing, dispassionate voice that could shake the very fabric of reality:
“The court has reached a decision.”
A shiver ran through Percy’s spine. He had no idea how this would go. He didn’t belong here—but then again, did anyone? Was the entire multiverse just an illusion of order, enforced by arbitrary powers? Was it truly possible to convince an entire bureaucratic machine that he, Percy Fogg, had a place among the stars?
The lead judge continued, “In light of the defense’s compelling argument—and an unprecedented filing error in the original paperwork—we find that the subject, Percy Fogg, shall remain classified as Anomalous Yet Acceptable.”
Percy blinked. “Wait, what?”
Zippy bounced on his heels. “Did we just win?”
The lead judge didn’t acknowledge the interruption. “However, given the peculiar circumstances surrounding Mr. Fogg’s existence, he shall be placed on probation.”
Percy’s face went white. “Probation?!”
“That’s right,” said the judge. “You shall be monitored for any further disturbances in the fabric of reality.”
Chrono’s gears clicked. “That’s… fair enough.”
Percy’s eyes widened. “Fair enough? I’m still being watched?”
Zippy snorted. “Mate, it’s either that or be erased from existence altogether. Take the win, yeah?”
Percy, still stunned, could only manage a bewildered nod.
The judges went on, unfazed. “You will also be required to attend periodic Reality Maintenance Sessions, and periodic updates on your existence will be submitted to the Multiversal Monitoring Authority.”
"Fine," Percy mumbled. “But I don’t have to get, like, a Reality Tattoo, do I?”
Zippy laughed loudly, his voice echoing throughout the hall. “Nah, mate! Just keep doing your thing. Being a librarian and all that. The paperwork will sort itself out.”
“Librarian?” The lead judge’s voice remained completely flat, as though he couldn’t quite process the concept. “Please understand, Mr. Fogg, your future remains subject to review.”
Percy nodded. “Okay. Whatever. As long as I don’t have to sit through another one of these bureaucratic hearings.”
The lead judge, suddenly showing the faintest glimmer of… something? A sense of amusement, maybe? shrugged his ethereal shoulders. “We will now file your case. Case dismissed.”
With that, a blinding flash of paperwork and cosmic force flooded the courtroom. Everything whirled, documents flying in every direction, until the hall seemed to collapse in on itself for the briefest moment of uncertainty.
And then—
Silence.
The Grand Hall was empty.
Except for Percy, Zippy, and Chrono, who had magically found themselves back in the Master Index Vault.
Percy blinked. “What just happened?”
Zippy grinned. “We won, mate.”
Chrono gave a little clap, though it seemed slightly forced. “That was… unexpectedly successful.”
“Wait a second,” Percy said, his face pale. “So, I’m… free? I’m not going to get erased? I still have a place in the multiverse?”
Zippy gave him a solid pat on the back. “That’s the magic of bureaucracy, mate. They can be a pain in the rear, but once you show them a loophole and remind them how much paperwork they’ll have to deal with, they’ll just let you go.”
Percy stared at the room around them. It was still the same ridiculously vast, imposing vault of indexed realities, but somehow, it felt more alive than before. Maybe it was because he was now part of the system, in some twisted, bureaucratic sense. Or maybe it was the sheer relief that he hadn’t been wiped from existence.
And then…
A voice echoed from nowhere.
“Congratulations, Percy Fogg. You have completed your probationary trial.”
Percy flinched. “Wait. Who is that?”
“You may now resume your regular existence. However, please be aware that your case is still under monitoring.”
Zippy shot Percy a thumbs up. “Look at that, mate! You’re officially a reality anomaly—but still here, nonetheless.”
Chrono let out a low whistle. “I have never been part of a case like this before. The multiverse has issues, but I’ll take the win.”
Percy ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, okay, so we’re all good? I don’t have to—”
The vault doors suddenly swung open with a horrifying creak, and a new figure stepped inside.
It was a new bureaucratic official, her face stern and impassive.
“I’m here to remind you,” she said, holding a large stack of paperwork, “that this is your official Reality Status Update Form. Please fill out and submit within 30 galactic days. Otherwise, your case will be reevaluated.”
Percy stared at her.
And then, with a heavy sigh, he muttered:
“I can never get away from paperwork, can I?”
Zippy laughed. “Nope. Welcome to the multiverse, mate!”
And thus, with a mix of reluctant acceptance and a good deal of confusion, Percy Fogg’s bizarre and probationary existence continued.
But at least he still had the most important thing of all:
A place in the multiverse. For now.
End of Book One.
