Chapter 15: Courtroom Showdown
The Los Angeles courthouse loomed like a concrete monolith under a gray morning sky, its steps slick with early drizzle as Sam Rivers, Mia Torres, and Javier Reyes hurried inside. It was Thursday, four days after the electrifying IndieFest Austin performance, and the air crackled with tension. Today's hearing could make or break Sam's career. Eclipse Records' injunction sought to block his releases, claiming "Rebel's Anthem" and "Unsilenced" infringed on Lily Voss's sound, while their new defamation charge targeted his X posts as "libelous." The screenshot of the IndieFest sound booth logs—proof of Eclipse's sabotage—was Sam's ace, but playing it too soon could backfire.
Sam's phone buzzed with the Hitmaker System's interface, its holographic text glowing: "Mission Progress: 100%. Objective: Leverage evidence in hearing to counter Eclipse's claims. Target: Secure favorable ruling or settlement. Reward: Legal Defense Module (Level 2). Warning: Competitor narrative gaining traction. Counter-strategy: Release 'Break the Chains' post-hearing to capitalize on outcome." Analytics showed "Rebel's Anthem" at 700,000 streams, "Unsilenced" at 450,000, and #IndieRebels dominating X, but Lily's "Broken Promises" held #1 on iTunes, her tearful narrative swaying fans. The five-city tour, with tickets dropping today, was sold out in San Francisco and Seattle, thanks to last night's Q&A.
Inside the courtroom, the air was stale, the wooden benches packed with reporters and a few #IndieRebels fans who'd snuck past security. Sam sat beside Javier, his hoodie swapped for a borrowed blazer that felt like a straitjacket. Mia, in a black denim jacket, whispered, "You got this, Rivers. Javier's got the screenshot. Eclipse is toast."
Sam nodded, but his stomach churned. The system's Legal Defense Module had fed Javier a script—highlight Eclipse's bad faith, present the sabotage evidence discreetly, and lean on public support. But Eclipse's lawyer, Diane Carter, was a shark, her tailored suit and cold smile radiating confidence. Jake Harlan sat behind her, smirking, his presence a silent taunt.
The judge, a stern woman with gray hair named Judge Alvarez, called the hearing to order. Diane stood, her voice smooth. "Your Honor, Eclipse Records seeks an injunction to halt Sam Rivers' unauthorized releases, which mimic our client Lily Voss's proprietary sound. His defamatory X posts have also damaged her reputation, costing millions in lost revenue."
Javier rose, calm but firm. "Your Honor, Eclipse's claims are baseless. Mr. Rivers' songs are original, backed by Soundwave Collective and millions of streams. Their lawsuit is a desperate attempt to suppress an independent artist. We have evidence of Eclipse's bad faith, including sabotage at IndieFest Austin."
Diane's eyes narrowed, but she didn't flinch. "No such evidence exists. Mr. Rivers signed a contract assigning production rights to Eclipse. His releases violate that agreement."
Javier slid the screenshot across the bench—a timestamped log showing the manual sound cut during Sam's set, with Greg, Eclipse's rep, named in the metadata. "This log, from IndieFest's sound booth, proves Eclipse orchestrated a disruption to harm Mr. Rivers' performance. This is not protection—it's sabotage."
The courtroom buzzed. Reporters scribbled; Jake's smirk faltered. Judge Alvarez studied the screenshot, her expression unreadable. "This is serious, Ms. Carter. Can you explain?"
Diane stalled, flipping through her binder. "This is new information, Your Honor. We need time to verify its authenticity."
Javier pressed: "The logs are verified by festival staff. Eclipse's pattern of harassment—legal threats, platform flags—shows intent to silence a competitor. Mr. Rivers' X posts are protected speech, reflecting his experience. The public agrees—#IndieRebels has millions of supporters."
The system pinged: "Public sentiment impact: +20%. Strategy: Amplify post-hearing with exclusive release." Sam glanced at Mia, who gave a subtle nod. The fans were their shield, but the judge held the gavel.
Judge Alvarez leaned forward. "I'm not convinced by Eclipse's infringement claims—the similarities are too vague. The defamation charge is also thin; public statements fall under free speech unless proven malicious. However, the sabotage allegation is concerning. I'm dismissing the injunction for now but ordering discovery to investigate the sound booth logs. Next hearing in three weeks."
Sam exhaled, relief flooding him. Mia squeezed his arm, whispering, "We won this round." Javier packed his briefcase, a rare smile breaking through. "That screenshot was a game-changer. Eclipse is on the ropes."
But outside, Diane cornered them, her voice low. "Clever move, Reyes. But Jake doesn't lose. Watch your back." She strode off, Jake trailing her, his glare cutting through Sam like a blade.
The system chimed: "Legal victory achieved. Strategy: Release 'Break the Chains' to capitalize on momentum. Suggested: Tie to tour announcement." Sam pulled out his phone, drafting an X post: "We fought Eclipse in court and won—for now. 'Break the Chains' drops tonight, our anthem for the fight. Tour tickets live! #IndieRebels #RebelRising." He attached a 10-second clip of the song's chorus, filmed at IndieFest: Break the chains, light the flame.
Mia grinned, checking her phone. "Tour's selling out—Denver's gone, Chicago's close. Let's drop the single at 8 p.m., live from KXLA's studio. They offered airtime."
They raced to KXLA's downtown studio, a sleek space with neon signs and a live audience of 50 fans, waving #IndieRebels signs. Dani set up cameras, capturing the raw energy. Sam and Mia performed "Break the Chains" live, the system's Production Suite enhancing the broadcast mix—crisp guitars, booming drums. Sam's vocals were fire: No one can stop us, we'll claim our name. Mia's harmonies soared, the crowd chanting along. The stream hit 30,000 viewers, and "Break the Chains" launched on Spotify, racking up 50,000 streams in an hour.
X exploded: "Sam and Mia just ENDED Eclipse!" "#BreakTheChains is my anthem!" But Eclipse countered. A new post from their account: "We respect the court's process. Lily Voss's truth will shine. #StarlightReign." A clip showed Lily at a charity event, handing out food, her smile saintly. Her fans rallied, accusing Sam of "bullying" her.
Sam's phone buzzed—a text from Leo: "Carlos got spooked, won't testify about the logs. But I found another tech who saw Greg near the booth. Working on a statement." Sam showed Mia, his pulse racing. "If we get a witness, we can nail Eclipse at the next hearing."
Mia nodded, eyes fierce. "Then we keep pushing. Tour starts in a week—San Francisco's gonna be huge. Let's tease a new song there, keep the fans hooked."
The system pinged: "Next objective: Debut new track at tour opener to sustain momentum. Suggested title: 'City Lights.'" Sam scribbled a lyric: We'll carve our names in the city lights, / Rebels rising through the endless nights. The courtroom win was a spark, but Eclipse was regrouping. The tour was their next battlefield, and Sam was ready to light it up.
As they left KXLA, a black SUV idled across the street, its tinted windows gleaming. Sam's gut twisted, but he gripped his guitar case. The chains were breaking, and the flames were rising.