The court named the prisoner facing punishment:
"Commander Jameson Smith of the ''Martian Freedom Core.''
"Freedom? You call that freedom? You sadistic son of a …" shouted a victim''s father.
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Spectators clapped and cheered.
"Order, order in the court!" The judge gaveled. "Commander, I sentence you to 20 years empathy training."
"No! It''s inhumane!" He pulled at his restraints.
"Proceed," said the judge.
Guards placed a neural helmet on the commander:
For only a few hours, he perceived 20 years while meeting with his victims and, at times, becoming his victims and their surviving family members for ''full-spectrum virtual rehabilitation.''