7. Security Breach

It was a rare occurrence for someone to enter the dome without authorization, and Jasper had managed to do just that. Dressed inconspicuously among the bustling crowd, he approached a young woman with a confidence that belied his intentions. His usual charm, which often allowed him to slip through the cracks of the system unnoticed, however did not work quite as well today. Usually, he would sell at least two trips beyond the dome to its not-so perfectly conform inhabitants. That ambitious girl with the blond ponytail was certainly in possession of some goods that were hard to get below, what a pity she denied a deal. While Celestria turned away to walk back home, openly confused, Mr. Dean left the court for lunch break. Lost in thoughts, he made a final attempted to decide both over his promotion and the case, yet not making any notable progress. “Dear Lord!” He thought, when spotting Jasper in the corner behind the court building. “Not now!” Mr. Dean knew Jasper quite well. Since his childhood, Jasper had been a regular visitor at his workplace. He was a troublemaker, although not a serious security risk. In fact, Jaspers family was known for providing all kind of black market opportunities to both people below and inside the dome. Mr. Dean usually didn’t trade with them, as he wasn’t the kind of person who would risk their conformity token for an adventure. Yet, he tolerated their activities, as they didn’t cause any harm to anyone and their customers were usually satisfied with the deals they made. It was a known secret that Mr. Li and his children were up to neither good nor bad – they were up to making business, with a talent of delivering everyone what they needed. Sneaking into the dome midday to sell illegal activities on the street, however, went a step too far.

The rules dictated that he must report such an incident immediately, but something held him back. He decided to approach Jasper, his footsteps heavy with the weight of his conflicted thoughts. “Jasper,” Mr. Dean called out, his voice tinged with a mix of caution and intrigue. “I’m afraid you’re not authorized to enter the dome. How did you manage to slip through undetected?” Jasper, never one to shy away from a challenge, met Mr. Dean’s gaze head-on. His eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as he replied, his voice laced with a subtle playfulness, “Ah, the beauty of the unknown, Mr. Dean. Sometimes the system fails to see what it isn’t looking for. But don’t worry, I mean no harm.” Mr. Dean took a breath, collecting his thoughts. “Your family has a reputation for engaging in activities that may not be entirely lawful within the dome. It is also rumored that your mother possess knowledge and wisdom that surpasses even the capabilities of our advanced technology.” A knowing smile played on Jasper’s lips as he nodded. “Yes, judge, my mum keeps the knowledge from our ancestors. Some people pay a big amount just to talk to her.” Mr. Dean hesitated, his curiosity and desire for knowledge warring with his responsibilities as a judge: “I want to experience myself what she has to say.“ Jasper’s eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and mischief. “Are you suggesting that you’re interested in buying trip beyond the dome, Judge?” “You entered the dome unauthorized, I want to talk to your parents”, Mr. Dean countered, wondering if he would regret this choice.