lasma Clarity in the Temple of Counterpleas: Sparks Between Diplomats and Ionic Hospitality
On stardate 4422.224, we meet Vervlux, a plasma entity who visits the Temple of Counterpleas as frequently as thirteen times per orbit. In conversation with intergalactic interviewer Xemi Olov, Vervlux reveals the peculiar allure of conducting litigation as a plasma cloud amid scent language, ritual disputes, and paradoxical rulings.
Xemi Olov (interviewer) Good afternoon. If my sensors are calibrated correctly, you're a plasma entity from Sissurath IV. Have you appeared at the Temple of Counterpleas more than once?
Vervlux (plasma entity) Um... yes, that's right! My warm-lobes bring me here about thirteen times per orbit, usually when some interstellar dispute is brewing. The Temple feels almost like my third phase state.
Xemi Olov Thirteen times?! That almost sounds... addictive. What draws you in here?
Vervlux It's the floating uncertainty in the air, I suppose. You can feel the tension even in your quarks. And honestly, the scent language of a well-prepared delegation always gets me energised.
Xemi Olov How do you actually communicate with flesh-and-bone diplomats? Is that possible here, with all this legal noise?
Vervlux Well, a few charged particles may get lost in translation, but honestly, it's not bad. A bit of light fluctuation and a good silence wave can get you surprisingly far. And if all else fails, I just produce a light electron shower, which here is seen as polite silence.
Xemi Olov Hahaha! Can you share an incident you've experienced here recently?
Vervlux Oh, absolutely! Just last week, a gas cloud from Nebula XV tried to lodge an objection but lost cohesion midway through. The hall immediately filled with ionic laughter, but luckily there was an archival robot with a built-in diffuser who managed to gather her back together.
Xemi Olov Is there space for... erm, emotion in the Temple? Or does it evaporate as quickly as aromatic repellents?
Vervlux This may sound strange, but: emotions are the fuel of litigation. You feel everything here-anger, hope, despair-and sometimes I myself add a bit of pleasant static energy to the room. Someone has to keep it light.
Xemi Olov Now that I see you floating here, are you never afraid a faulty ruling might... well, partially transfer you to a reserve temple?
Vervlux Oh, that's a real risk. Once I accidentally received a binding decision and got stuck for three stardates in a wastebin of materialised arguments. I avoid the court snacks now.
Xemi Olov Which dispute do you remember as the strangest, even by Temple standards?
Vervlux A social ant delegation once tried to claim proprietary rights over a thought-flash. There was a lawyer who neuronally reproduced every syllable. The entire tribunal got a migraine.
Xemi Olov Hah! So how do you keep your form stable in the midst of all these oscillating judgements?
Vervlux Honestly? A dose of self-mockery and occasionally merging with the light above the debate basin. And sometimes a warm memory from home. A plasma needs little more.
Xemi Olov Suppose you could add a law to the Temple's code. What would it be?
Vervlux That every advocate must use at least one incomprehensible metaphor per case. It keeps the discs spinning and stops things from getting too serious.
Xemi Olov Last question: do you usually return home relieved after a court session, or do you drift back empty?
Vervlux I usually flow out of the portals relieved. It's hectic here, yes-but nowhere is litigation as enlightening as in the Temple of Counterpleas.
Xemi Olov Thank you, Vervlux. You brought light to these sometimes dark marble halls.