Chapter 127 – The Verdict

Bonus Chapter

Alexander had been awake for hours.

What had started that morning as a frantic series of preparations had gradually transformed into something far more organised, and now Industrial Illusions was operating under emergency procedures.

Roland was coordinating employees, facilities, transportation, security, and the temporary shelters. Alexander's father was making calls through Roxxon's network, contacting people and organisations Alexander himself could never have reached. The preparations at Promethean Academy were also discreetly underway, and the mansion was ready to receive anyone Alexander had asked to bring there.

Everything that could be done was being done, and that was precisely what made Alexander so uncomfortable, as there was nothing left for him to prepare. Now he could only wait.

Alexander sat behind his desk in his office, staring at the clock.

The radio was playing quietly nearby, tuned to the station that had been following the Rodney King trial and the events surrounding it.

Outside the windows, Los Angeles looked completely normal.

Traffic continued moving through the streets. Businesses remained open. People continued working. Employees inside Industrial Illusions were carrying out their jobs, although the ones who weren't essential had already been sent home or redirected toward safer locations.

Nobody looking at the city from outside would have thought it was only hours away from descending into chaos.

Alexander checked the clock again, then again.

Roland noticed and commented, "You've checked that clock six times in the last ten minutes."

Alexander didn't look away from it and said, "It feels like it's moving slower... All this waiting is very agonising."

Roland remained silent for a moment before saying, "There is little we can do to make time move faster."

"I know."

Alexander leaned back in his chair while thinking, 'I know what is coming... I don't know precisely when and where, but I'm aware of the final result. Thousands of injured people. A lot of deaths. Property damage of over 1 billion dollars... And I don't even know if my preparation will have any effect on any of that.'

That was the worst part. Everyone else was waiting for the verdict because it was the conclusion of a trial, but Alexander was waiting because he knew what came afterwards.

Eventually, the time approached 3:15 p.m., and the radio suddenly became more active.

The music cut off, then there was a brief burst of static, followed by the familiar click and hiss of someone coming on the air.

"We interrupt our programming with a news update from Simi Valley."

Alexander looked up.

"We’ve just received word from the Ventura County courthouse, where the jury has reached its verdict in the trial of four Los Angeles police officers charged in connection with the beating of motorist Rodney King."

A brief pause before the radio host continued.

"The jury has found Officer Laurence Powell..."

Another pause, as though the radio host were checking the information in front of him.

"...Officer Theodore Briseno, Officer Timothy Wind, and Sergeant Stacey Koon not guilty on the charges against them."

Alexander froze while the radio host continued, his voice measured but noticeably faster now.

"That’s three officers and their sergeant acquitted. We repeat: the jury has returned not-guilty verdicts for all four officers in the Rodney King beating trial."

Alexander stared at the radio as the radio host continued, "The jury has, however, failed to reach a verdict on one count involving Officer Laurence Powell. That count..."

A faint rustling could be heard behind the announcer.

"...that count is being reported as a mistrial."

The words seemed to hang in the room, not guilty.

The radio host was already moving on, "We are attempting to get more information from our reporters in Simi Valley. There are reports of demonstrators gathering outside the courthouse, and we are asking listeners to remain calm as this situation develops."

A second voice briefly broke through in the background, muffled and indistinct.

The radio host stopped and said, "We’ve just been handed another update."

Alexander didn't move.

"Again, the verdicts have been returned in the Rodney King case. Four Los Angeles police officers have been acquitted of the charges arising from the March third beating of King. The jury remains deadlocked on one count against Officer Powell."

He took a breath as he was delivering every word as fast and clearly as possible before he continued, "We’ll have more on this developing story as it becomes available."

The radio continued talking, but Alexander barely heard it as he remained perfectly still for several seconds, simply staring at the radio.

He had known this was coming. He had known since realising the date, yet hearing it happen was different.

Knowing something intellectually and watching history repeat itself in front of you were two completely different experiences.

His stomach sank while Roland watched him carefully.

Alexander finally exhaled and muttered, "Well... shit."

This time, there was no uncertainty left; The verdict was real, and so would be the upcoming reactions. Now everything Alexander had prepared for would be tested.

Meanwhile, the radio reports quickly shifted toward the public reaction.

Outside the courthouse in Simi Valley, protesters were gathering. The crowd grew rapidly, eventually reaching more than three hundred people.

The situation was tense, but initially remained under control.

Alexander listened carefully before he quietly said, "This is only the beginning."

Roland nodded, "I know."

Alexander stood and moved closer to the radio.

He wasn't listening merely for the verdict anymore, but he was listening for signs of escalation, and eventually, they came.

Reports shifted toward South Central Los Angeles.

Near Florence and Halldale, two officers had requested assistance in apprehending a young suspect who had thrown an object at their vehicle before fleeing on foot.

Approximately two dozen officers, commanded by a 77th Street Division lieutenant, arrived.

The sixteen-year-old youth was arrested and forced into the back of a police vehicle.

The rough handling of the young man, who was already well known in the local community, further agitated an uneasy crowd, and so people began shouting at the police.

The police formed a perimeter around the officers making the arrest. The crowd grew larger, and more officers arrived.

Then came reports of further confrontations and arrests.

Alexander's expression hardened before he decisively said, "Start activating everything."

Roland immediately reached for the telephone and replied, "Already doing it."

Back at Industrial Illusions, the preparations from the previous hours finally began turning into action.

Employees in vulnerable areas had already been warned. Several facilities had been secured. Warehouses had supplies ready. Private security personnel were moving into position. Company vehicles were standing by for transportation and evacuation.

Alexander kept receiving updates.

One employee had reached home safely. Another group had moved toward one of the designated shelters. A warehouse had begun receiving people. A security team had reached one of the vulnerable facilities.

At the same time, he also learned that Roxxon had started moving resources, a sign that the preparations were working.

Not perfectly, not enough to stop what was coming, but they were working.

Alexander looked at a report showing dozens of employees already accounted for.

For the first time that afternoon, he allowed himself to think, 'This is actually helping.'

Then another report arrived and another as the city was beginning to change.

At approximately 4:58 p.m., Mayor Tom Bradley held a press conference.

Alexander and Roland listened to the broadcast together.

"Today, this jury told the world that what we all saw with our own eyes wasn't a crime. Today, that jury asked us to accept the senseless and brutal beating of a helpless man. Today, that jury said we should tolerate such conduct by those sworn to protect and serve. My friends, I am here to tell this jury, 'No. No, our eyes did not deceive us. We saw what we saw, what we saw was a crime...' We must not endanger the reforms we have achieved by resorting to mindless acts. We must not push back progress by striking back blindly."

Bradley's anger was obvious as he condemned the verdict while simultaneously urging Los Angeles residents not to respond with violence.

Alexander initially felt a small amount of relief as at least the mayor was calling for calm, but then he listened more carefully.

Bradley described the verdict in terms that reflected the seriousness of what had happened to Rodney King and expressed his condemnation of the outcome.

Alexander understood why he was speaking that way, but he also understood something else.

Thousands of people were already furious.

For people who felt the justice system had ignored them for years, hearing the mayor himself condemn the verdict could validate their anger without necessarily providing them with a constructive outlet.

Roland noticed Alexander's expression and guessed, "You think this is going to make things worse?"

Alexander didn't answer immediately, but then he sighed and said, "I don't think he's trying to make things worse."

He looked toward the radio and added, "But I think people are going to hear what they want to hear, and angry people need very little to unleash their worst instincts."

Roland nodded slowly in agreement.

Alexander wasn't blaming Bradley, as the mayor was trying to calm the city, but once anger reached a certain point, even a message intended to encourage restraint could be interpreted through that anger, and Alexander suspected the situation was already approaching that point.

Within the next hour, reports began arriving faster.

Demonstrations spread. Crowds gathered. Traffic became unpredictable. Confrontations were reported. Then vandalism. Then looting. Then fires.

The radio broadcast became increasingly chaotic.

Different reporters were describing different situations happening throughout Los Angeles.

Alexander stopped reacting emotionally and instead became coldly focused, as this was what he had been preparing all morning for.

Then he looked at his trusted butler and called him out, "Roland."

"Yes?"

"How many people have been accounted for?"

Roland checked his notes before asking, "Industrial Illusions employees? Everyone we can reach."

"And the facilities?"

"Most secured. The vulnerable ones have security teams moving in now."

"Promethean Academy?"

"Preparing to receive people."

"The mansion?"

"Your friends and their families are on their way."

Alexander nodded, then another report arrived.

Several employees had already reached their homes. Another group had reached one of the company's prepared shelters. Emergency supplies were being distributed. Roxxon resources were moving. Private security was protecting selected locations.

Alexander listened silently.

All his preparations weren't stopping the riots, as they weren't supposed to, but they were keeping people out of them.

Eventually, Alexander and Roland were among the only people still physically present at the Industrial Illusions offices.

Most other employees had either been sent home or were helping operate the shelters and refuges.

Roland looked toward Alexander and suggested, "We should head back to the mansion."

Alexander nodded and agreed, "Yeah."

Roland took the driver's seat while Alexander sat beside him.

The streets were already changing. Traffic was becoming less predictable. People were rushing in different directions. Smoke could occasionally be seen in the distance.

Alexander kept watching the city through the window.

They had barely made it partway back when Roland slowed the car and muttered, "What is that?"

Alexander looked ahead and noticed that smoke was rising from a building.

There were people nearby, but no firefighters had arrived yet, and then Alexander saw someone trapped inside, and without hesitation he said, "We have to help them."

Roland looked at him and tried to calm him down, "Master Alexander—"

"Spot the car."

Roland understood immediately and followed his order.

Alexander stepped out and moved toward a secluded location where nobody could see him.

He opened the YGO System and quickly focused on the Card Database, searching for the perfect card for this situation.

Before long, Alexander found what he was looking for and selected the card he needed, Aqua Madoor, a Level 4 Monster.

The card manifested in his hand, and he used 100 DE to summon the Aqua Madoor Duel Spirit to his aid.

The card shone briefly before shattering into motes of light that gathered together to form Aqua Madoor.

Aqua Madoor appeared with his staff in hand, surrounded by water, and Alexander quickly directed him toward the burning building, asking him to deal with the flames while being careful not to harm the nearby people.

Under the Duel Spirit's command, a massive wall of water surged from within the building, crashing over the flames and extinguishing enough of the fire to create an opening.

Seeing that, Alexander didn't waste the opportunity and rushed inside.

Smoke filled the building, but thanks to his enhanced physique, he didn't have too much trouble, and he quickly found the trapped person and pulled him out.

Once they were outside, Alexander immediately began administering first aid.

The man coughed weakly as Alexander kept working until he was certain they were stable enough to move, and after that he was transported toward the nearest prepared refuge where he could receive further medical assistance.

As Alexander returned to the car, he looked back at the building while thinking, 'One person has survived because of me. Someone who might otherwise have died.'

For the first time since the verdict, Alexander felt something other than dread, fulfilment and pride.

At the same time, he realised that while what he did wasn't enough to save everyone, as long as it saved one more life, it mattered.

He got back into the car, and Roland looked at him before asking, "Are you okay?"

Alexander nodded, "Yeah."

He looked out the window again and added, "One person is still alive because we were there."

Roland started driving while saying, "Then it was worth it."

By the time they reached the mansion, the situation had deteriorated further.

Alexander's friends and their families were already there.

Ginny, Chuck, Julia, and their families had safely reached the mansion, protected by the preparations Roland had put into place.

They thanked Alexander for warning them.

Alexander didn't know how to respond to some of the gratitude, as he didn't feel like he had done enough, but at least they were safe.

Outside, evening was beginning to settle over Los Angeles, and somewhere across the city, Blade and Hannibal King had begun doing what Alexander had asked.

They moved through the areas they could safely reach, intervening when they encountered people who were about to be seriously injured or killed.

They rescued people. They stopped particularly violent individuals. They helped people escape dangerous situations. They couldn't stop the riots. At this point, none of them could, but they could save individual lives.

Inside the mansion, everyone gathered around the television.

The news broadcasts were becoming increasingly chaotic.

Violence was spreading. Smoke was appearing over parts of the city. Emergency services were becoming overwhelmed. Reports contradicted one another. Different parts of Los Angeles seemed to be experiencing problems simultaneously.

The television showed fires, crowds, police, people fleeing.

Alexander watched silently.

Then another report appeared, which showed that one of the shelters he prepared was operating or another Industrial Illusions or Roxxon facility that had opened its doors to civilians.

The news report praised the swift response and the preparations that had been put into place.

Another report mentioned that the California Army National Guard was swiftly deployed and was now assisting the police in containing the riots and helping the innocent people however they can.

Alexander listened while the city was still burning and the riots were still spreading.

His preparations had not stopped them; they hadn't even come close, but they had made a difference.

People were alive who might otherwise have been caught in the chaos. People were sheltered. People were receiving medical treatment. People were getting home.

Roland eventually looked toward Alexander and asked, "What now?"

Alexander kept his eyes on the television and for a moment, he said nothing, then he answered simply, "Now we keep going."

Because the riots were far from over and Alexander knew they would last for several days.