Also just gonna point out that it's actually been awhile from the last time I watched the cartoon, soooo I may be off with some of the more subtle details
Chapter 2 - Podium
"Please step forward to the podium."
He stood from the bench he had been seated at; a marked spot he had been waiting at for the last past hour as the court council gathered and settled themselves. Five raised positions were seated against the back wall of the closed court room. Those positions filled by three women and two men, an older serious looking woman being the middle and lead of the council. There wasn't many in the small court. The five council members, the bailiff, the court reporter, the BCA Official who would remind anyone of the facts of the case and law, then the four officers. Three stationed at the two doors of the room, and one standing right behind him.
As he shuffled forward the chains around his hands and feet made their selves known with a soft shink shink noise. He didn't like them, and wished the police had allowed their removal, or at least a change of clothes. But he was a criminal. A convicted one at that. Still, The chains and the bright orange prison jumper would put an instant bias in the courts mind. He already had too much bowing against him, he didn't need another straw on the proverbial camels back. He straitened his own back and rested his hands on the flat top of the podium. There where two other podiums on either side of him. Those two would have been preserved for any legal council, character witnesses, or experts who would have been on his defense.
He snorted lightly; He had none of these. He had no one who could vouch for his character-well anyone who would have anything good to say-, he knew no experts who could go into the aspects of psychology and science he would need to argue his case, and he still didn't trust public lawyers. Bellum had done a great many things to finally help heal the city of Townsville during her rise to mayor, but even she could not change the more innate corruptions of the legal system. He was thankful though. Thankful of the changes she had made. In many ways she would be his savior this day. He would plea for them to be punished under the Bellum Correctional Accord. The crowning jewel of Mayor Bellums laws and acts, but he still had so much against him.
He was screwed. He knew it. He'd even bet the court already knew it.
But he wasn't pleading so much for himself. He knew his fate was sealed when he took the fall. Took all the blame onto himself. If he was in it for himself he wouldn't of even been arrested. For once in his life he hadn't done anything wrong. No, he was doing this for them. The hopes of giving them a chance, it's why he came back to Townsville at all. To see how they where doing, maybe give then a nudge in the right direction. He just wished all of it hadn't come to bite him in the ass. They say karma's a bitch. He supposed that's true. He'd done so much to change his own life, but that didn't change the terror he was in his youth.
He took a deep breath and looked at the council.
"Bailiff, please announce the convicted and his case for the court." spoke the lead council woman in an important steady voice.
The male bailiff placed his glasses on and read aloud, "Case number 743327A. Ace D. Copular vs the City of Townsville. Pleaded guilty and convicted of: one account destruction of public property. two Accounts of destruction of privet property. One account of Gang related felony. And-"
Ace took another deep steadying breath as the last account was read
"One account of second degree murder. The convicted has filed and request that he, and the following inmates be punished under the Bellum Correctional Accord: Inmate 1223 Sanford D. Ingleberry alias Snake. Inmate 1224 Grubber J. Gribberish. Inmate 1225 William W. Williams alias Big Billy. And Inmate 2577 Arturo de la Guerra alias Lil' Arturo. All the known members of the Gangreen Gang."
"Thank you bailiff Mathews." The middle aged council member who sat at the end nodded his head to the bailiff and then to the BCA Official, "Official you may now remind the court of the main purposes of the Bellum Correctional Accord and the function of this council and court."
"Yes," The rather dorky looking twig of a man placed a page from a folder on top of the stack in his hand and stood from his single chair, "the Bellum Correctional Accord was created to offer alternative punishments and therapy to any person or persons whose criminal activity, cause of which, can be directly linked to the activities and attitude of the city of Townsville. Those whose criminal activity can also be connected to factors extreme and outside the norm may be considered for the Accord. This includes but is not limited too genetic manipulation, Alien encounters, radiation alteration, and more listed in subsection A1 of the Accord. The Accord may also be considered if traditional punishment has yielded no positive results and alternative treatment presents a solution. More details and aspects of the laws are itemized in the full document.
The functionality of this court is to allow anyone who has filed the ability to argue on the behalf of any convicted and present their case of why said convicted should be considered. The function of the council is to consider all factors presented during court, any attached documents to the filed application, and the preexisting record or records of the convicted, with the court advisories and decide if the convicted qualifies for the Accord. If the convicted dose, it is this councils duty to create a new rehabilitation plan."
In other words, any Villain who was in essence created by the city or by more supernatural means had an opportunity to become a good guy and not rot in prison. Ace himself had first scoffed at the announcement of the law, but sens its activation nearly 7 years ago it had done some amazing things. Townsville had always been a magnet for trouble and the weird. In many ways the City it's self was to blame for all the "freaks" and villains; aggravated by a rather incompetent Mayor at the time. Ace had been very surprised at how things had changed when he had come back to Townsville. The RowdyRuff Boys aided the Powerpuff Girl often, and it was no secret they intended to join the police ranks after high school. Mojo Jojo was building machines to help defend the city from monster attacks and was a known lecturer at the college. He was even granted proper parental custody of the Ruff boys. Even Princess was turning out decent. In Aces opinion the annoying brat had defiantly grown into a teenage bitch still jealous of the Girls, but she wasn't braking any laws anymore.
Now it was his turn. He hoped he could make a good enough argument to at-least get the rest of the Gang on an alternative punishment outside of just prison. Bellum had made the local correctional facilities more impregnable, so it wasn't like when they where dumb kids. Where you would get arrested break out the next day and let the cycle repeat. Besides, he didn't want them to break out. He wanted the gang to have actual opportunity; that meant getting them out legally.
"Mr. Copular , you have the floor. Please, why do you think you and your companions deserve to be placed under the accord?"
Ace pushed his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose, collecting his scattered thoughts. He had never shared his story with anyone. None of the gang spoke of their shared experience at the facility. Where to begin? He thought looking up at the lead council member, "Dat's a good question. We, the Gangreen Gang and I, have been asked many questions over the years. Why dos we do what we do? Why don't we straiten up?" He did a dry chuckle, "I know I've been asked on more den one time why am I such a jerk...but no one has ever asked the big and obvious question."
Ace looked down at his own hands, "Why green? I'm not getten at why we named ourselves Gangreen Gang. I mean, no one has ever asked us why are we green. Townsville is so messed up and has been for so long none of yous even think to care why five kids where walkin around green. Or even beyond dat is why we look so different! Where are our parents? Why don't we have a foster home? The gang lives in the city dump! Dose dat seem normal for a bunch of kids?!"
"Mr. Copular," The lead member interrupted in a sharp tone, "we'll remind you that you are not a child anymore; you are far beyond the age of juvenile. In fact," She snapped her finger and gestured to the BCA Official, who in turn handed her a file, "it says here in your gangs records that none of you would be considered Juveniles. The only exception would be one Arturo de la Guerra at the age of 19, under the Bellum Correctional Accord of which you are pleading for. The BCA allows anyone of teenage to be considered a juvenile if a persuasive argument is rendered. Your other three friends will be 21 by the end of the year, and would most likely not be included." She closed the file and looked sternly at the green young man in front of her, "Then their is you Mr. Copular, at 25 you are well beyond the age. I would also remind you that you are pleading to win over the minds of this council and it's advisories. Snapping will not gain you favor."
Ace turned his head looking up; The woman had also gestured a hand up at the wall opposing the council. On the high wall was a series of three mirrors. Ace knew them to be two-way mirrors. On the other side hidden from view was anyone who wished to watch the court proceedings. It was a means to allow observers with out disrupting. This court was reserved for "Villains", and a villain pleading their case could often lead to outburst from the peanut gallery. This was the best means, but it wasn't just simple observers behind the mirrors. The Council advisories would also be watching. The Council officially had the final say and vote on what would happen, but truly it was those behind the mirror that would decide the fate of those pleading. The people who would decide his fate. The fate of his friends. It was mostly city workers: The chief of police, a social worker, those types. The mayor might be up there, though he doubted mayor Bellum would be up there. Even with the gangs long standing history with the city. The people who concerned him the most, the people who would have the most sway, where the ones he truly needed to convince. It was common knowledge that they had say in the dealing with Villans. After all they had dedicated a large portion of their childhoods to fending them off. It was only fair Ace guessed.
He could feel his skin prickle as he looked up at the mirrors. It was caused by the feeling of being watched intensely. He knew three sets of eyes where on him even if he couldn't see them. He turned back to the council, making a silent prayer that the Powerpuff Girls would have an open mind.
"I... Yes, we're not kids anymore, but we where. We where kids once, and not to long ago we where normal kids. Dat might be hard to believe as yous've only ever seen us as we are. Green, and malformed. Yous've only ever seen us as a freaky group of hoodlums. I'm not gonna play ignorant, dere is reason why we're seen dat way. But it's not how we started, it's what we where turned into. It started as a means to survive and turned into a life we didn't know how to get out of."
He paused and gauged the members of the council. They remained stern and professionally attentive, but he could tell he peeked their interest.
"It's hard to talk about what happened to all of us, we do our best to forget. With dat said I'm gonna make this quick and to the point. I attached the full story and records to back up what I'm sayin' tos my application...None of us really remember what our lives where like before...before the people who changed us." He looked at his hands again, "I used to have a tan, dat I do remember, but I don't remember what color my eyes used to be. I don't remember what my mom and pops look like, but I remember a lot of fighting, a lot of yelling, and a lot of things being broken. Sos I was six when I ran away, and I was eight when dey got me. I don't remember who dey where, and I was never told why dey took us, or explained what exactly dey where doing to us. I only remember faceless people givin' me shots and the food tasting. I, dunoh... Different every three days or so."
Ace reached up and slowly removed his sunglasses. Keeping his eyes still mostly closed he looked at the black sharp rims, "I think everyone thinks dese are some kinda statement. And don't get me wrong I totally pull dem off, but the fact is I needs dem." He looked back up squinting at the room lighting, almost seeming to have difficulty seeing, "Extreme sensitivity to light. At first I though it was because of the dark cell dey kept me in, but dey kept me in a dark cell because dey gave me extreme sensitivity to light." He put his glasses back on. "For years I was given a shot after shot den placed back in a cell with solid stone walls and little lighting. I watched as what I thought was bruising spread across my body till I was completely green. I was scarred when my teeth fell out and where replaced by fangs. teh, a little thankful sens a bad cavity went with dem... I was about 9 when I heard a voice on the other side of the wall. It's when I learned other kids where dere. Four other boys. All younger den me.
"We don't know what the name of the place was. The Gang has only ever called it the Facility. The day we broke out we where happier den we had been in a long time. We had run as far as we could and ended up runnin' into a forest. For the first time in along time we all had a taste of fresh air and slept under the stars. However the novelty ran out quickly."
"Novelty?" One of the council women on the side asked. "If what you say is true, you should have been ecstatic. Freedom is something of a gift."
Ace rolled his eyes. For most of his story he had remained calm, and a little disconnected to his words. Now his tone shifted to one that was more aggressive and annoyed. A disdain clear, "I was a eleven year old boy with three seven year olds and a five year old! We didn't know what ta do! Lil Arturo was the youngest an' had barely been dere when we escaped. We'd hoped the new spots of green on him would go away... dey didn't. In the end we where five green kids dat didn't know where we where, where our parents where, or what to do. We could barley comprehend what had been happenin' to us the years prior let alone the fact it was over!... I was the oldest, sos I tried what I could to take care of dem. We made a shelter in the forest and I walked everyday to the city to find things we needed. The City I came too everyday was none other den Townsville. How Luckily Unlucky for me; the city was already going under with crime and people bein' distrustin'. Dey made assumptions I was some diseased little punk. Out for no good. Sos when I tried to earn money I was turned away if not yelled or screamed at. I dumpster dived a lot, but it wasn't good enough.
"Sos dat's how it started. It was donation bins at first. It was clothes and food meant for hungry down on deir luck kids. Dat's what we where. It was for us, sos what did it matter if I took a jacket here or thing of milk dere. Den came the day I just snapped. I had started letting the boys come along with me. Hoping that seeing all of us might stir up some sympathy or somethin'. It worked some times, not enough, but sometimes. I remember dis couple. Lil' Arturo always got the most sympathy being our little guy. He had walked up to dem, the woman screamed calling him some 'diseased little createn' and the man shoved him out of the way. 'Don't touch him, the little hoodlum probably has gang green or somethin' horrible. Just look at dat skin.' Snake had run out to be a shield for Arturo. Next thing I know Arturo is wailing and Snake has blood allover 'im. We where all out in a flash. We where just protecting ourselves, but the couple must of took it as an assault. I 'd never seen someone empty dere pockets so fast and den run off.
"I knew it was wrong to keep the money he'd thrown at us, and dere's a difference between petty theft and muggin'. But when I saw Arturo crying and Snake bleeding... I just didn't care anymore. We'd tried to do it the honest way. We'd tried getting help from the people of Townsville, but in dat moment. I knew it was never gonna work for us. Dat was the moment the Gangreen Gang was born! Sos we moved into the city, and we became the nuisance we're known as today. The city never gave us a chance sos how else where we to get along?"
There was a pause in the court room, the lead council woman leaned back and whispered a few remarks to her colleagues. After a moment of back and forth the lead woman leaned forward again, "that is quite a story."
"It's not a story!" Ace snapped, "It's what happened."
"Mr. Copular Why didn't you ever seek out help?" The woman ignored his outburst, "Seek police help or a doctor for your skin condition?"
"I was a eleven year old kid who'd been locked up for years! I wasn't exactly thinkin' strait, I was scared dat the people who took us would come after us again,and we where scared of loosin' each udder. We became each udders family. We didn't want to be separated in a foster system. Lets be honest: Do you know anyone who would take in five green, not normal, kids?"
There was another pause, before the lead woman was shifting through papers in front of her, "Mr. Copular-"
"ACE! My fucking name is Ace. The Mr Copular is gettn annoying."
"Ace... It says here that you started a some what successful career as a musician. You even left Townsville to pursue it two years ago. You say your friends and you are like family. Why did you leave your family behind."
Ace stretched his neck and rotated his shoulder, "I thought it would be good for everyone... I... I realized I needed to grow up, and I knew dey needed to grow up. Dey'd all become too reliant on me.. I needed to step away."
"Mmhm, Ace It appears here that in the last few years that you where leader of the Gangreen Gang the over all criminal activity of the Gang was going down. It had a slight increase in the years you where gone, and then there was the most recent incident."
"What's your point."
"Your most recent crime is a lot more severe then whats listed on your preexisting arrest record. You want us to believe that all your criminal activity is directly linked to the events of your early childhood and then exasperated by the mentality of the city. Yet you showed that neither of these things held you back. You cleaned up and your green skin actually helped you with your music as a hook."
"What's your point."
"You want us to place you and your gang under the Accord. This would result in what many would consider a much lesser punishment then what you would usually experience on the assumption that the city is truly to blame. However your actions seem more based on your bond with this group... I also feel it necessary to point out that there are still questions and speculation about your role in the building collapse. Your, and your gangs, motivation is in question. Now you wish us to free you all. All five of you together to most likely fall back on bad habits."
"No! I don't want us released together!" His voice cut through the room, "I, you hear me, I was responsible for the building collapse! The others just tagged along. Like they always do. I'm the ring leader! The Gangreen Gang has always been a nuisance on the City, but that's it! Outside of a couple of incidents they're Just a nuisance not any real threat. We've never been as bad as Mojo jojo, HIM, even the RowdyRuff Boys have caused more damages then us! But the City down right failed us! The first time I was arrested and put in prison I was 14 years old! That means the others where 10 and 8! We didn't go to juvey we went to prison! And nearly every year after the Powerpuff Girls came to town! The City had plenty of opportunity to separate the Gang! You could of sent us to foster care! Split us up and send us to different towns and cities, but you didn't."
He took a deep breath, "You didn't so we clung harder to each udda. I'm responsible for the death, not dem. I'm the threat dey're just a nuisance! Dey just followed me like dey always do. Dey deserve a chance to change. Even if I'm not accepted I beg you to accept dem. And Yes, We cling to each udda even still. And clinging to each udda means we'll all cling to our old ways... I hate to do it to dem, but dey dos need separated. It helped me when we where apart, sos how ever you chose to help dem dey need to be away from each other... At least for a while." Ace held his head with his hands, "...please."
The council again leaned back whispered amongst each other. As they did Ace breathed deeply, allowing his hot blood to cool and looked back up.
"Please tell us," it was the other male member, "If you where granted your freedom under the accord, what would you do with you newly found freedom?"
He looked up, a bit confused, "I...," Not a question he had been expecting. He honestly had already excepted the idea that he would spend the better part of his life behind bars, "I think I would do what I've been doing... What I've been doing sens filing for the Accord... I've been tryin' to find the people who hurt us at the Facility. The group, or company, dat started it. Dat's what I'd do." He shrugged, " Might start playin' music again."
"And what would you do if you are denied?" It was one of the women.
"If just me? I'd still try to find information on the group, it would be more difficult while locked up. And if all us where denied I'd just keep filing for the gang to be excepted."
There was quiet murrmer.
"Any closing remarks or information you'd like to state?"
Ace shook his head, "No... No I guess dat's it."
"Very well. Your case will be discussed by this council and its advisories. You will have our decision in no sooner then three days no more then thirty days. Bailiff, please escort Mr. Copular out."
Ace let the Bailiff put a hand on his arm and pull him towards the door with one of the Police officers following. He took a glance up at the two-way mirrors. One month. He'd know no later then one month if his friends would have a real chance in life.
And maybe, just maybe, he still had a future too.
