Judge Dredd

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 Janus 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