Judge Dredd

by Neal Barrett

The lighting is subdued in the Council Chamber. The massive marble carving of the eagle and badge of the Judges is almost lost in shadow. Perhaps this somber atmosphere reflects the mood of the Justices themselves. They know this is not a time for secrets or evasions, for half-truths and Council politics. This is a time of reckoning, of honest exchange, of sharing the strength, the wisdom, and the craft that brought them where they are. This is a time when they will perish or survive.

  JUDGE ESPOSITO

  This is the latest casualty report: Ninety-six Judges have been assassinated. I’m sure that’s a conservative figure. Our lines of communication are severely disabled. Property loss, civilian deaths… we can’t keep up with that.

  JUDGE McGRUDER

  Whoever’s behind all this is familiar with our every procedure. They have our security measures… they even know our scrambler frequencies. Nothing’s safe! They know everything we do!

  JUDGE ESPOSITO

  With only a handful of Judges on the street, riots are breaking out all over Mega-City. We don’t even have emergency personnel anymore—we don’t have anyone to send. The situation is critical!

  [Judge Silver studies a sheaf of papers. He crushes them in his hand and lets them fall to the floor.]

  JUDGE SILVER

  It’s more than critical. It’s a disaster! We cannot replace these Judges. Even if we put the Cadets on the street—an action I cannot bring myself to think about—we would not be at full strength for years.

  JUDGE McGRUDER

  We don’t have years, my friend. I doubt very much we have days. And mark my words, with nothing to control them they’ll be up here, at our doors next. You can bet on that.

  [The Judges glance at One another, then quickly look away. This is a horror that each of them has experienced, alone, in the safe and guarded havens of the Heights… the nightmare of the horde, the swarm, the Citizens of Mega-City free and unleashed, the havenots of the overcrowded warrens down below, thinking of the wonders, of the dream, of the beautiful toys of the few they have only glimpsed on their videos… Silence. The Judges can hear the hiss of sterile air. Chief Justice Griffin looks at his hands, stands, and turns to the others.]

  CHIEF JUSTICE GRIFFIN

  There is a solution, you know. It’s there. And perhaps this is exactly what it was designed for. Project Janus.

  [The Council erupts in babble. The explosion of anger, astonishment, fear, and disbelief echoes about the vast room. Judge McGruder comes to her feet.]

  JUDGE McGRUDER

  Chief Justice Griffin. The mere mention of that name, that abomination, is intolerable—and grounds for impeachment!

  JUDGE SILVER

  No. It is unthinkable, sir. Out of the question. This Council tried to play God once before. It almost destroyed us then.

  CHIEF JUSTICE GRIFFIN

  And if this wholesale slaughter of Judges continues, then what, Judge Silver? We shall surely be destroyed if that occurs. What possible purpose would that serve? If we bring Janus into play it can—

  JUDGE ESPOSITO

  It can what? A new batch of test-tube babies won’t solve this crisis, Chief Justice. We do not need reliable Judges twenty years from now. If we are going to survive, if this city is going to survive, we need help this minute, today!

  (The lines of age and weariness are deeply etched into Judge Esposito’s face. The skin is dark and blotched beneath his eyes. Last night he heard the sirens wailing far below. When he finally slept, he dreamed of men with tattooed faces, men with blood in their eyes… )

  JUDGE SILVER

  I quite agree. With all due respect, Chief Justice, we have a desperate emergency here, a problem of the moment. This is not the time to speak of measures whose ends likely none of us here will live to see. If, indeed, we dared to consider such an action.

  CHIEF JUSTICE GRIFFIN

  But I am not speaking of procedures that would take years, Judge. I would hope you’d give me more credit than that. No, you are right, all of you. We cannot wait. And, in truth, we don’t have to. Science has come a long way since we initiated the Janus Project. Accelerated growth incubators are far more technologically advanced than they were at the time.

  We could create adult subjects now, fully grown and trained at birth. We could replace the Judges we’ve lost in a week.

  [The Judges are stunned. Judge Silver clasps his hands to keep them from shaking. Judge McGruder feels a quick stab of pain in her chest. The Mediks have told her this likely wouldn’t happen again. But it has. Judge Esposito closes his eyes. He sees his nightmares walking in the full light of day. Judge McGruder is on her feet, staring at Chief Justice Griffin.]

  JUDGE McGRUDER

  Good God, man! Have you lost your senses, sir? Do you know what you’re saying?!

  (Chief Justice Griffin is perfectly calm, as cold as the black marble slab that looms above his head.)

  CHIEF JUSTICE GRIFFIN

  All I am asking, Judge McGruder, is that we unlock the Janus Files. That does not, in any way, compel us to take action. It merely gives us an option. Is there anything wrong with that, with exploring answers to our dilemma?

  [Chief Justice Griffin waits. No one speaks. Each Judge, perhaps, is hoping that the other will say the word that will break this terrible spell.]

  CHIEF JUSTICE GRIFFIN

  Please. I only ask that we find out. Nothing more than that. If the Council decides I am totally in the wrong, that the Janus Project is definitely not the answer to this crisis, why, then I will of course accept that decision… and further, I will at once resign my position as Chief Justice of this Council.

  [Again, the Judges look at one another in silence.]

  JUDGE SILVER

  I would… not be opposed to looking into the matter. I will certainly not commit myself further than that.

  CHIEF JUSTICE GRIFFIN

  I would not want you to, sir.

  JUDGE McGRUDER

  I will agree. Reluctantly, Chief Justice.

  JUDGE ESPOSITO

  I would like to go on record against even bringing this subject into the open. However, if the other members of the Council are in favor… I will not oppose you.

  CHIEF JUSTICE GRIFFIN

  Your objection is noted, Judge. And I go on record here as saying I greatly appreciate your candid opinions on this most important subject. That is what this Council is all about. Now. Would the members please acknowledge their voice codes for Central Computer?

  McGruder, Eve. Council Judge. Authorize file, code name Janus.

  Acknowledged.

  Esposito, Carl. Council Judge. Authorize file, code name Janus.

  Acknowledged.

  Silver, Gerald. Council Judge. Authorize file, code name Janus.

  Acknowledged.

  CHIEF JUSTICE GRIFFIN

  Report present status, Central.

  CENTRAL

  I have received unanimous authorization for access to the file code-named Janus. Removing Security Blocks now. Awaiting password command from presiding Chief Justice.

  [Judge Magruder, closest to Griffin, draws in a quick breath. One hand goes to her breasts, an ancient and unconscious gesture of protection, a gesture of alarm. Chief Justice Griffin’s eyes seem to glow, to generate a brighter, silver shard of light that is not a reflection at all, but some illumination from within.]

  CHIEF JUSTICE GRIFFIN

  Password command… origin.

  CENTRAL

  The Janus file is open.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  Griffin looked straight ahead.

  He didn’t dare look at his fellow Judges. They knew him too well, as he knew them. They would see, and they would know, and he was not quite ready for that. Not yet, not yet…

  The holo blinked into life before the Council table, a perfect sphere, a small blue world turning slowly in the inner space of the Council Chamber.

  “Central,” Griffin said, “utilizing current technology, give me a time factor on the ability of the Janu
s Project to produce a fully-grown adult subject. Priority Reply.”

  At once, a solid field of zeros and ones began crawling across the sphere, like the onset of day, like the end of dark night, following the blue planet’s curve from west to east, a dazzling field of green digits changing too swiftly for the ordinary eye.

  “Given the current status of genetic engineering, an adult subject could be incubated and completed in eight-point-two-two-standard hours.”

  “My God!” Judge Esposito sat up straight. “Stop this, Chief Justice. Stop it now.”

  Griffin didn’t look at him. “I believe you agreed to… consider the project, along with the others.”

  “I withdraw that agreement!”

  “I… don’t believe procedure allows for that,” Judge Silver said.

  Esposito glared. “I don’t give a damn what procedure says.” He jerked his head toward Griffin. “What he’s doing is criminal. You’re fools, both of you, if you let him continue with this.”

  “Carl…” McGruder leaned in and laid a hand on his arm. “Carl, it’s a presentation. We agreed to that. It doesn’t have to go any further.”

  Esposito started to speak. He looked at the others, shook his head and placed his hands on the flat surface of the desk. Griffin glanced at him, then turned to the shining sphere.

  “In what quantity, Central? Give me a projected number of incubated and completed subjects.”

  “Laboratory Number One of the Janus Project is currently equipped with one hundred subjects. Under fully operational conditions, seven hundred subjects could be completed in seven days.”

  Silver stared at Griffin in disbelief. “That many? This is true? Why, we could replace our losses in one day!”

  “Exactly,” Griffin said. “We could regain adequate control of the city almost at once, clean out the riotous elements in every sector. Before the week is out, we could reinforce trouble spots at such a strength that these unruly dissidents would think twice about showing their faces in the streets again.”

  “These unruly dissidents you’re talking about are people, Chief Justice.” Esposito watched the blurr of data flashing across the sphere. “People. Not numbers.”

  McGruder shook her head. “He’s right. We shouldn’t even be considering this. It’s… it’s inhuman, the whole concept was inhuman from the beginning. It is madness, sir. It is not the Council’s job to play God.”

  “Judge…” Griffin spread his hands and smiled. It was a weary, patient smile that reflected a teacher’s concession to a backward child. “We sit in judgement of our fellow citizens because we must, because order is necessary for the continuation of a peaceable Society. If there was no need for such supervision, we could disband and go frolic in the park.”

  “Don’t you patronize me, Chief Justice!” McGruder came to her feet. She glared at Griffin and jabbed her arm at the shimmering globe. “Central, restore the Security Blocks on the Janus Project. At once!”

  Griffin smiled. “I’m afraid you can’t simply vote all by yourself, Judge. We are a Council here. We act together.” He looked at the others. “I find it most painful that I have to handle this myself, without your help and support. I am deeply hurt that none of you have the will, the strength, these dangerous times require.

  “Central…” Griffin spoke without looking up. “Janus will remain unlocked. My command only. Authority: Override Mega-City Emergency One-Niner-Five.”

  Esposito came to his feet. “This is treason, sir!” His eyes were dark with rage. “You have gone too far, you have sealed your fate here, Chief Justice!”

  “No,” Griffin said quietly, “I’m afraid you’ve sealed yours. Rico—in here!”

  He spoke without moving his eyes from Esposito. He felt a great sense of satisfaction, of completion, as the color drained from his face, as the meaning of the name he had spoken was reflected in the taut lines of fear about his lips, as he knew and understood what he had done, that it was finished, over, that there was nothing more for them now.

  Rico walked into the great room. He wore the full-dress combat black of the Judges. He held the Lawgiver straight down at his side. He looked at the Council and smiled.

  McGruder’s face was drawn, frightened. “Damn you, Griffin. Damn you to hell for this!”

  “That kind of talk is not constructive, Judge,” Griffin said.

  “Send-him-away! Stop this horror at once!”

  “Judge.” Griffin let out a breath. “I have to ask you to—”

  McGruder’s left hand dipped beneath the table. Rico seemed to make little effort at all. McGruder’s head slammed into the massive slab at her back, spattering the marble red.

  Silver cried out once. Esposito didn’t move. His eyes were on Griffin as he died.

  Rico smiled, studying his weapon as if he’d never seen it at all. “Who said politics is boring? I might run for office sometime.”

  A pall of acrid smoke hung over the room. Griffin sniffed the air and turned away from the carnage.

  “I want you out of here. Now. I don’t want anyone to see you near this place. Go out the way you came. Ilsa will be there.”

  “Ilsa is getting on my nerves.”

  “Get out of here, Rico. Do it now!”

  Rico shrugged. He laid his weapon across his shoulder, gave Griffin a mock salute, and disappeared behind the marble slab.

  Griffin walked quickly toward the doorway to the hall. Judge Hunters would hear the gunfire. They’d be on the run by now. If he hurried, there was still time to—

  The big wooden doorway exploded, slammed to the ground. Griffin stepped back. Dredd stalked into the room, the weapon smoking in his hand. He looked at Griffin, then past him at the horror of the Council table.

  “No… Nooooo!” Dredd tried to grasp the sight, tried to comprehend what had happened here. He raised his eyes slowly, aimed the Remington squarely at Griffin’s head.

  “You murdering bastard, you—” Dredd stopped, shook his head. “Rico. He did this. You wouldn’t have the stomach for it, would you? Where is he? Where is he, Griffin!”

  “Don’t be foolish,” Griffin said. “Rico’s dead. He’s been dead for years—”

  “Talk to me. Where is he?”

  “Dredd, listen to me, all right?” Griffin raised his hands and backed away. “Things are going to change, whether you like it or not. Nothing’s going to stop this. Not you, not anyone.”

  “Janus. Is that what you’re talking about?” Dredd turned his thumb straight down. “I won’t let it happen. I will stop you any way I can.”

  “There’s nothing you can do. Not now. Nothing that—”

  A shout echoed through the corridor. Heavy boots pounded the granite floor. Dredd jerked around and faced Griffin.

  Griffin smiled, grabbed his belly, doubled up and writhed on the floor.

  “In here,” he yelled. “Hurry, for God’s sake!”

  Dredd stared at the man, then suddenly understood. He cursed Griffin under his breath and ran, dodging into the small anteroom off the Council Chamber. Half a second later; Judge Hunters swarmed into the room, Lawgivers at the ready.

  “Get him!” Griffin pointed shakily from the floor. “Damn it, go—he’s murdered the whole Council!”

  The Hunter squad turned and charged out of the room. An officer bent down over Griffin. Griffin recognized his face.

  “We’ll take care of you, sir. I’ll get Mediks on the way—”

  “Captain, never mind that. Get Dredd! Kill him!”

  “Sir—”

  “I’m not badly hurt. Do it now!”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The officer hurried away. Griffin waited until his footsteps echoed down the hall. He stood and walked to the black table. He looked into McGruder’s dead eyes. He touched her with his finger, then drew a red smear across his chest. Word would get out that he was wounded, that he wouldn’t even let the Hunters stop to give him medical care. He smiled at the thought. He could picture them, at dinner, in their bar
racks. It was pleasant to imagine the things they might say.

  THIRTY-SIX

  Dredd tore through the anteroom, stopped to jack a shell into the chamber of the Remington pump. He could hear the Judge Hunters in the Council Chamber, Griffin’s ragged shout.

  He listened a moment, then stepped into the hall. Two Hunters turned and stared. Dredd squeezed the trigger twice. The blast thundered off the walls. Dredd ran without looking back. Someone yelled. Bullets whined off the stone floor.

  Dredd rounded the corner and stopped, searched the dark hall.

  “Ferguson! Damn it, where are you?”

  Fergie peeked out of a closet. “What the hell did you do in there, Dredd? You got all the groons stirred up again. Everybody’s after me, right?”

  “Come on, get out of there.” Dredd grabbed a handful of shirt and jerked Fergie into the hall. “Stay close. Don’t stray off anywhere.”

  Fergie looked pained. “Where have I heard that before?”

  The end of the corridor narrowed. There were doors on either side. Dredd moved quickly, opened the third door and shoved Fergie in.

  “Where are we?” Fergie said. “What are we doing, Dredd?”

  “Shut up,” Dredd said.

  The room was almost dark. Dredd knew he couldn’t risk a light. A faint glow came from the skylight, reflecting the brightness of Mega-City outside. The light didn’t matter. He knew every corner of this room in the dark. It was the Academy Training Center, and it was as familiar as his own bedroom.

  He passed a table stacked with weapons and locks and stopped at the gleaming black machine. He felt a slight catch in his throat at the sight of brushed chrome and stainless steel, at the metal black as night.

  “What is it, why are we stopping here?” Fergie looked nervously across the room. “We don’t have time to be doing any shopping now, Dredd. We’ve got company dropping in.”