Prisoner's Dilemma

Chapter 1

I swear I was framed. I know everyone says that, especially during times like these, but I promise I was. The council didn't believe me of course. Back in the old days, I guess they had a jury of twelve people to all decide whether the defendant was guilty or not. That's what I read in the books they provide for us here, anyway.
You'd think that in a world where surveillance is everywhere, they'd have no problem catching the bad guy. The council said they had a tape but they never showed it at the meeting.
I didn't forget. I could never forget. The days leading up to it, those are the ones that went by in a blur. I even have a difficult time remembering the exact details of the arrest. The meeting though is burnt into my mind forever.
"Mister Pane." The ancient one's voice filled the chamber, causing all other elders to fall silent. "You have been charged with the murder of James and Melissa Hart. What have you to say for yourself?"
I glanced around the room for a friendly face- anyone to pander to- and found only six other elders wearing black robes on their shoulders, and scowls on their wrinkled faces. The ancient one was the only elder wearing white.
I took one last look around before deciding that there was nothing I could say or do. I could already see that each and every person in the chamber- elder, priest, or civilian- had already made up their minds.
"Well I must first say that I love the way your outfit matches your hair, really stunning." The ancient one's frown deepened, which I didn't think to be possible. "Also, can we get some lights in here? Judge Judy had more lights than this."
"SILENCE!" Another of the elders shouted. His voice was deeper than the ancient one's, but it didn't have nearly the same kind of command. "Since you obviously have no defence against the accusations pressed against you, we have no choice but to vote on your fate."
"Right you are, elder of destiny." Said the only woman at the table, "For all who see Thomas Pane as a guilty man, say aye."
The elder of destiny was the first to speak, "Aye!" The rest of the elders followed suit with their approval, leaving only the ancient one. The only elder with more power than the others. The only one who could possibly still save me. The only one who still mattered.
He glared at me for what felt like hours, even though I knew it had been mere moments since the last elder spoke. "I, the ancient one, elder of time, vote aye. For I see that there is no other way that James and Melissa Hart could have died, than by your hand. I condemn you to either life imprisonment, or twenty years in the military."
My heart sank when I realized that I wasn't lucky enough to get out of this. The female elder tapped her gavel on the table and cleared her throat, "Mister Pane? What is your decision?"
It wasn't a difficult question now that I think about it. Looking back on it now, I had made my mind up immediately after hearing the offer. I suppose it was just the shock of my life being over. Of all this metaphorical concrete finally solidifying and trapping me in the sidewalk just because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Mister Pane!"
"Military. I choose military."