I'M BACK, GUYS! There's another note at the end of this chapter, but I wanted to say something here first. Long story short, I hate this chapter. I don't feel like it's written all that well, and I'm not even sure if the whole legal thing seems logical (I could be overthinking things, but still). I'll try to go back and edit this more at some point, but I hope you guys enjoy it for now.
After three weeks, the date of Sly's court date had finally arrived. His mood hadn't changed at all during that time, however. He stayed in his bed most of the time, and when he was allowed outside, he always sat against a wall in the shadows. He didn't eat much during meal times, but his appetite did get better as the days passed. The only thing he really did was work out to keep in shape, even though he didn't really see a point in it. He was convinced that he was on death row, so, to him, nothing he did seemed to matter anymore; he would just wait for his sentence, nothing more. What depressed him the most, however, was that he didn't see his family even once since he was arrested, and he truly believed that he would never see them again.
On the day of his trial, he was awakened by a koala officer early in the morning. He didn't know why; his trial wasn't until later that afternoon. He was groggy, but he got out of bed anyway and walked up to the guard, who had already unlocked the door to his cell and was standing there waiting for him. "Someone's here to see you," was all the guard said. Sly was baffled. Who would come to see him? He figured it was probably a parole officer or someone who would explain to him what all was to happen that afternoon.
The guard led him out into the visiting area, which was currently vacant. Sly looked at him, even more confused. "Have a seat," said the officer. "I'll go and bring them in." Them? Now Sly really wondered who it could be.
He sat down with his head hanging and his arms folded in his lap. He didn't really care who was there to see him; he knew nothing would change his situation. However, he was taken aback when he saw who his visitors were when they entered the room: Betty and Shazza. The officer had opened the door to let them inside, but he remained on the opposite side of the gate. They slowly walked over to the bench opposite of him. Sly was puzzled; he could understand why Betty was there, but why Shazza, too?
"Hey, bro," Betty said softly.
"…Hey," Sly quietly replied, still bewildered but also partially relieved that she still acknowledged him as her brother.
The girls sat down in front of him. Shazza felt a bit awkward since she didn't know Sly, and he could tell that she was slightly uncomfortable. Betty, on the other hand, was anxious; she couldn't help but think of her brother's upcoming trial and worry about what his sentence might be.
After a moment of awkward silence, Betty spoke, "Sorry no one could come to see you earlier, Sly. They wouldn't let us for some reason; we were never told why. We had to beg them to let us see you today."
"Prisoners aren't allowed to have visitors until after their trials. That's what I was told, anyway" said Sly flatly.
"Oh…ok," said Betty.
"So why just you and Shazza?" Sly asked, keeping his head bowed but looking up at them.
"Mum and Dad were told that those testifying in court couldn't come see those who are to be put on trial," Betty responded. "It's got something to do with emotional bias at the hearing I think."
"You're not testifying?" Sly was surprised.
"No…I- I couldn't do it, especially since you're involved…" his sister answered gloomily.
"…And that's why Ty isn't here, right?"
"He had no choice. He and Maurie were the ones who found out what Cass's plans were, so he's a valuable witness; he has to say something."
Sly gave a low hum in response. He supposed that was a good enough excuse. Although he wasn't looking forward to having his own family testify against him, he realized that he didn't deserve to feel that way after what he'd done. Justice would be enacted later that day, whether they liked it or not.
"So how've you been?" Betty asked, not really knowing what else to say.
Sly shrugged. "Alright I guess."
Betty looked pitifully at her brother. Sly glanced up at her, then shook his head, "Don't give me that look, Betty. You knew that this was coming. Everyone did. It's not like we can change anything."
"I know, Sly," Betty sighed. "That doesn't make this any easier, though."
"I'm not saying it does, but since we can't change anything, there's no point in feeling sorry over it."
"Is that what you've told yourself?"
Sly clenched his jaw and looked away from her. She was right; she always was. Somehow she had always managed to discover exactly what was either going on with or eating away at him. His lack of his response only confirmed her suspicion.
She sighed before speaking, "Look, Sly, I know you don't think you have a right to feel guilty about what you've done, but you do. It's natural for animals to feel guilty if they've done something wrong. I'm actually glad you're feeling this way; means I haven't lost you." She paused. "You've grown up a lot since I last saw you before all of this mess got started, but you haven't changed that much."
He looked at her sideways, studying her and considering what she said. She had a point, but he couldn't completely agree with her. He shook his head, "I get what you're saying, Sis, but that won't work for me. I don't really see a point in feeling sorry for myself. My guilt won't change anything but my attitude, and I'd rather not be consumed with regret in my last hours."
"Sly, please don't say things like that-"
"You know as well as I do that there's only one way this trial is gonna turn out."
"There's always more than one way, Sly."
"Always?"
"Ok maybe not always, but a lot of the time there's more than one outcome that can occur; we don't know what'll happen until we hear the verdict."
"You sure that's not just wishful thinking, Betty?"
Her voice rose slightly, "Maybe it is, but given the circumstances, I really don't think that they'll deal out the worst punishment."
"Maybe, but I'd rather not hold onto false hope in this case; that might be the one thing that'll actually break me…"
Betty stared at her brother with a pained expression on her face. She wanted so desperately for Sly to be set free and tried to be as optimistic as she could about the whole situation; that's how she'd always been in a bad situation anyway, and more often than not her optimism would pay off. She just hoped that today would be one of those times.
Sly looked up and noticed the tears in her eyes. He sighed again, "Sorry. I know this wasn't the reunion you were looking forward to."
"Actually, I kinda figured that you'd be this way."
"You did?"
"I told you you haven't changed much, Bro."
"I guess you're right."
"I realize it might be stupid, even pointless, to be hopeful in a time like this, but I can't help it, Sly. It's how I am."
"I never did really understand you, but you're right; from what I remember, you've always been that way. Whatever happens today, though, promise me that won't change."
She thought for a moment, then replied, "I promise, but, Sly?"
"Hmm?"
"No matter what the verdict is today, know that we don't see you any differently than we before all this mess happened."
"We?"
"Our family."
He sighed, feeling himself deflate, "I really wish I could believe that, Betty."
"Maybe soon you will."
The koala officer from earlier peered around the doorway. "You sheilas have five more minutes."
Betty twisted around to face him. "Right. Cheers," she responded, then turned back around to face Sly. "Looks like we better get going soon. Was there anything you wanted me to say to anyone? Even if it won't change anything?"
"I'm sorry I failed."
"Sly, you didn't-"
"Betty, please…"
She didn't press him; he had that cold, focused glare in his eyes. She had seen that glare in their father once, so she knew that there was no arguing with him. She reluctantly stood up, and so did Sly and Shazza, who had silently watched the two siblings converse. Betty hesitated for a moment, then grabbed Sly in a tight hug that caught him off guard.
"Betty, physical contact isn't allowed here-"
"Shut up, Sly; I don't care right now. You're not a disappointment, no matter how much you believe you are."
Sly only sighed in resignation; they were definitely related, both of them having the same obstinate tendencies.
Unfortunately, the office spotted them. "Miss, I'm gonna have to ask you to exit the room now; physical contact's not allowed here. The other sheila can stay until your time's up."
"Yes, sir," she forced out after she released her younger brother. She gave him one last look while trying to force a smile, then turned on her heels and walked away. Sly figured that was the last time he'd see her unless he saw her at the trial later; he sighed at that realization, but then turned towards Shazza who was still standing there looking as if she wanted to tell him something.
"Is there something you wanted to say?" Sly asked gently.
"I'm not really sure what to say right now," she answered, rubbing a hand down her arm.
"Why are you here by the way?"
"I came for Pos- I mean Ty; he wanted me to come since he couldn't be here."
Sly nodded. Some older brother I turned out to be, he thought. He shouldn't have to go through this, too. "How is he?"
"About the same as you, really. He hasn't been holdin' up too well, especially these past few weeks."
"You been helpin' him out any?"
"As much as I could. Even when I did get through to him, his mood didn't change a lot; he knew today would still come."
"I see."
"I know this probably won't mean much to you, but Betty was right about your family not thinking you're a failure or anything. They still love you, Sly." When he didn't respond, she spoke up again. "Ya know, before Ty and I started dating, and even after that, he told me about his family- well, what he remembered anyway. He told me all he knew about his family goin off to stop Cass and how you were the last family member he saw. I never understood how or why, but he always believed he'd see you again, all of you. He knew I didn't really believe it, but he at least appreciated that I didn't try to tell him differently."
"You stood by him the whole time? Even when he went to fight Cass?"
"Sure did, and I helped out in any way that I could. Got kidnapped once, but Ty wound up saving me." Just like he saved me that time at Cass's base, Sly remembered; he exhaled and shook his head. Shazza gave him a puzzled look. "What is it?"
"Nothing. Just glad he picked a good sheila to stand by him." He wasn't lying; he was glad that his little brother had found someone like her, and from what he could tell, they were a pretty good match for one another.
She blushed, "We're not, I mean…I don't think we're that serious right now…"
"Right, but still. If I can ask a favor of you…for however long you two are together, will you look after him? If he really is in the same state I'm in now, then he shouldn't spend too much time alone for a while."
"Yea, I will. Ya know, after he told me he fought another Tiger, I started to wonder how anyone could betray their own species. I started to think that you were just a heartless, no good black snake, but I was wrong. I can see that there's a lot of heart in you like there is in him."
Sly didn't even have time to process what she said before the guard interrupted them. "Time's up, Miss."
"Right," she responded, then looked up at Sly. He had a few inches on her, but he certainly didn't tower over her. "One last thing: he wanted me to tell you that no matter what, you're still his brother, and he's glad that he found you." She then bowed her head as she turned and walked away, not giving Sly a chance to respond. He didn't have words at that point anyhow; he stood there stunned by the message he had just received.
When Shazza left, Sly was escorted back to his cell. Once inside, he paced around, mind swimming in his own thoughts as he contemplated all that Betty and Shazza told him. He really wanted to believe that death wasn't the only option left for him, that, somehow, he could get another chance, that his family really did still love him, but he was afraid of clinging to that kind of hope. He didn't want to be disappointed and be crushed any further, but he didn't dismiss those thoughts completely. He then walked over to and lay down on the bed, mentally preparing himself for that afternoon.
Betty was driving to the courthouse with Shazza in the passenger seat. They were nearing the establishment, the ride having been mostly silent up until this point. Shazza didn't really know what to say; she had seen Betty often when she went to visit Ty, but they never hung out with each other, let alone had an extensive conversation with one another. Shazza wasn't shy by any means, but she didn't really know how to approach Betty, or even what to talk to her about at that moment. She knew that she must've had a lot on her mind, but she didn't know if talking would help her in this situation.
"So are you ready for this?" Shazza finally spoke up.
"I guess," Betty sighed. "I don't really know how I'm feeling about all of this to be honest, though. I just want it all to be over."
Shazza hummed in response. Betty continued, "Sorry you've been dragged into the middle of all this."
Shazza shook her head, "No worries, Betty; it's no trouble or anything."
Betty chuckled, "Seems like Ty's rubbed off on you."
"Yea, he has," she replied, a faint blush rising in her cheeks.
"How's he been doing? I see him at home, but he goes off on his own a lot. Is he with you when that happens?"
"Sometimes I guess. I don't know how often he's alone. For as long as I've known him, though, he normally wanders off without anyone knowing, but if somebody finds him when he's down, he doesn't send them away either. I guess he just needs a minute to himself before someone tries to talk to him or something."
"Hmm…that must run in the family then. My dad and Sly seem to have that trait, too. Even when Sly was a cub he was like that."
"Really?"
"Yea. It's weird, though, how Ty and Sly really developed that trait without being around Dad for so long, especially Ty…Guess family ties are really tough to break…" Betty drove on for a bit, but she wasn't really focusing anymore. She suddenly swerved when she realized that they were about to be hit by an oncoming car; she had drifted into the opposite lane without realizing it. After she was back in the right lane, she proceeded to pull over onto the shoulder of the road, then braked the car. She panted heavily and ran both hands through her hair as she propped her elbows against the steering wheel. Shazza was a bit shaken up by the sudden jerk, but she was more concerned about Betty at that point. With so many things on her mind, it probably wasn't a good idea for her to be driving right then.
"Betty, do you want me to drive?" Shazza asked tentatively.
"Please…if you don't mind," she whispered, voice almost cracking near the end of her sentence.
"Sure thing," she replied, wasting no time unbuckling her seat belt and exiting the car on her side. Betty, however, took longer to collect herself. She didn't cry because she knew that if she had, she wouldn't be able to make it through the day. She had to hold it together for a few more hours, then she could let all her emotions out.
Once she had pulled herself back together, she slowly undid her seat belt with trembling hands and exited the car. It was almost as if she was a zombie; there was no life in her eyes or movements, and her body moved sluggishly but mechanically. Shazza climbed in the driver's side when Betty had cleared it. She was buckling the seatbelt when Betty opened the door to the passenger's side and hauled herself in. Once she was settled, she leaned her head back and shut her eyes, forcing herself to keep her breathing even. Shazza looked at her dolefully, almost cursing herself for not being able to help her more; however, she figured driving her there was the least that she could do, so she turned the key, bringing the truck slowly to life, and drove silently on the way to the courthouse.
Shazza slowly parallel parked the car on the curb next to the courthouse. Betty had opened her eyes during the ride, but she wasn't looking at anything. She wasn't there; her spirit had been nearly crushed because of this day. Although she knew that it had to happen, it didn't change the fact that she didn't desperately wish that it didn't have to. Once Shazza turned off the car, Betty muttered a tired, "Cheers, Shazza."
"You don't have to thank me, Betty," Shazza responded quietly. "It's really the least I can do." She offered a small, sympathetic smile, but it went unnoticed by her companion, who was still looking forward but not really focusing on anything. She took a deep breath, then unbuckled herself and exited the car, walking towards the entrance of the courthouse. Shazza watched her leave, then got out of the car herself. She stared at the old building with its Doric columns standing tall and strong, almost as if they were its broad shoulders. The many steps leading to the door could either be the most dreadful walk of your life, or your next steps into freedom. Shazza wondered which one it would be for Sly today. The sound of footsteps approaching from the right snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned to see Ty walking toward her with his hands in his pockets and downcast eyes, and she felt both excitement and sympathy as she saw him.
His eyes flicked up when he was a few feet away from her. They widened a fraction when he saw it was her, but he wasn't as happy to see her today as he usually was. "Hey, Shazza," he said dismally when he was next to her.
"Hey, Possum," she replied, turning to face him. She studied him for a minute before speaking. "You ready for this?"
Ty sighed and turned to look at the building. "No, but I don't really have any other choice. Has to be done sooner or later."
She walked over to him and grabbed his arm, gently pulling his hand out of his pocket as she grasped it with both of hers, running small circles over the back of his hand as she watched her thumbs work. He looked down at his hand before looking up at her face. She looked frustrated, sad, desperate, and focused all at once; he was amazed at how much emotion her eyes conveyed at times. They didn't say anything, but they didn't have to. Ty knew that she didn't know what to say or how to help, although she really wanted to. Her eyes even looked like they were pleading to whoever would listen that this situation would turn itself around or didn't have to happen. He sighed again; normally, he would smile when she tried to comfort him, appreciating the fact that he had such a caring girlfriend, but he couldn't smile today, not with what he had to do. Instead, he turned his palm over and gently grabbed her hand. She gazed up at him; his face was neutral, but his eyes told him that he understood, that he was grateful for what she was doing, that she didn't have to be so hard on herself. She sighed, then they both turned and wordlessly walked up the steps holding each other's hand.
Sly was hunched forward on the ride to the courthouse. The same officer that brought him out to see Betty and Shazza came back early that afternoon to prepare him for transport. He was handcuffed, then led out of his cell to the police van as the officer explained what would happen that day. The prosecution would present the charges against him, then proceed with cross-examining the witnesses. He didn't know who all would testify against him, but he did know who the most valuable witness was: Ty. That part of the trial he dreaded the most; once that was over, however, he assumed that he'd be able to breathe a bit easier for the rest of the day, granted he would see the end of it. Once they reached the van, Sly stepped in and sat down, hunching over with his eyes fixed on the floor. The officer walked away for a few moments, but then shortly returned. Sly only watched him out of the corner of his eye when he came back. "I was told Ranger Ken was gonna accompany you today, but there was an incident in the outback that he had to look into," he explained. "Apparently some frills were causing trouble in one of the towns west of Rainbow Cliffs." He stopped and stared at Sly suspiciously, as if he might know what was going on. Sly only gave him a confused look, "Frills in the outback? What sort of trouble were they causing?"
"Theft, vandalism- that's all I was told anyway. No one was hurt, though. Why? You know what they're up to?"
Sly shook his head. "No, I don't. If Cass was involved then I could guess, but if they're acting on their own then I have no idea."
The officer curtly nodded, then closed the doors to the back of the van. Sly listened as he walked around to the front of the van, entered, then started it. He turned his gaze back towards the floor when they started moving. He didn't think about anything on the ride there; there was nothing more for him to think about; only thing left to do now is to see what his verdict will be.
Thirty minutes later, the van came to a stop. Sly looked toward the back doors, slightly anxious for this trial, this whole day, to be over. He never thought about running away; he wasn't the type of tiger to run away from anything unless his life was in danger, but rather the type that would live to fight another day. This time, however, he wasn't running. He knew that he had to answer for what he did, and he wasn't gonna run away from that; he certainly wasn't a coward. A few moments later, the doors of the van were flung open by the officer, and Sly noted several other armed officers lining his path to the courthouse. He took a deep breath, then stepped out of the van and walked towards the door with the officer in tow. There was no turning back now.
If having his own family testify against him was the worst part of the trial, then Sly wondered how much more that was going to hurt than the countless eyes staring at him, some in judgment, some in condemnation, some in fear, some in anger, and some in hurt. Although he told himself that he deserved every look that he was given, it didn't make that walk of shame any easier. He walked over to the defendant's table and stood in front of the chair closest to the aisle. There were two chairs present, but he didn't have a lawyer. If he wasn't famous to Tasmania before, then he was certainly headed that way after Ty defeated Boss Cass. No lawyer wanted to take a case they know they would lose, so Sly was left to defend himself. He didn't look around; he wanted to see his family, but not like this. He saw the prosecuting lawyer, a young male dingo, probably not too much older than he was, take his place behind the plaintiff's table. A Tasmanian tiger officer came alongside of the judge's stand, voice echoing throughout the room, "All rise for the honorable Judge Fantine Brown." Everyone stood up as the judge walked in. Her strides were long and purposeful, and her demeanor seemed domineering and cold. Sly was surprised to see that the judge was a feral cat; they were known for being sneaky and self-centered. He knew he had no right to judge anyone else, but it still caught him off guard.
"Be seated," she commanded. Her voice was authoritative, but not harsh. Sly could already tell that she wasn't the type to mess around; it was best to shoot straight with her. After she sat down, she looked straight at Sly. He could feel her eyes on him, studying him and sizing him up; he almost felt like squirming under her gaze. "I'm not gonna waste time with any formalities. This trial shouldn't take longer than it needs to. I assume that the defendant is already aware why he's here…" Her voice trailed off as she pointed her gaze at Sly, who responded with, "Yes, Your Honor."
"Hmm…so the former henchman has some manners? Interesting," she said with a flick of her tail. Thought this crony was different, but we'll see if he's good enough to be a candidate, she thought. "There is one thing I should mention first: although there is already a certain punishment that goes with each crime, authority is given to me under the New Leaf Act to judge a criminal and give the punishment that I see fit. In my courthouse, my sentences are final under all circumstances. Now, to both the prosecution and the defense: keep your statements concise and get to the point quickly. Say what needs to be said, then return to your stands. Is that clear?"
"Yes, your honor," Sly and the prosecuting lawyer responded
simultaneously. Looks like she's already sized me up, Sly thought. Guess the trial is just a tedious formality for her then. Seems like the type that plays by the book, too.
"Very well. The Prosecution may now speak."
"Thank you, your honor," the lawyer boomed. "This court convenes today to try Sly Tiger, a former henchman of Boss Cass. According to the information provided by Ranger Ken, who handles law enforcement out in the bush, he was one of Boss Cass's most trusted henchman, willing to do some of the harder, dirtier jobs that he didn't trust to his other flunkies. He aided Boss Cass in building a giant robot, which was responsible not only for damages to the countryside, but also many homes of innocent bystanders. The defendant himself is accused of many accounts of theft, assault and battery- in some cases on unarmed civilians- disorderly conduct, stalking, vandalism, and aiding and abetting."
"Well, that's quite a list Sly. Care to deny any of that?"
"No, Your Honor," he replied. The court gasped in response.
"Really? You're not even going to try to excuse yourself?"
"No, Ma'am."
"And why's that?"
"There's no way that I can."
"You're not even gonna try to deny one of those charges?"
"No, Ma'am."
So he is different, she mused. "Interesting response. Normally criminals such as yourself try to make excuses, saying that they were tricked or forced to do whatever they did or something along those lines. Are you saying you want whatever's coming to you?"
He shook his head, "No, Your Honor, but I'll accept it."
The judge squinted at him. "I hope you realize a sudden change of heart isn't going to change any of this. You've got quite a record there, and even you aren't denying that."
"I realize that my actions now won't change anything, ma'am. I'd just rather be someone I can live with for now."
"Hmm…" She flicked her tail again as she pondered. "Very well then. Be seated, Sly. Mr. Douglas, you may proceed."
"Thank you, ma'am. I would now like to begin cross-examining the witnesses, first to hear more about Cass's overall plans, then more about Sly's personal involvement."
"Sounds like a waste of time, Mr. Douglas. I believe I made it clear in the beginning that I wanted all parties to be as straightforward as possible. Only cross examine the witnesses who are directly related to this trial."
"Very well, Your Honor. I would like to call Ranger Ken to the stand."
Aside from Ranger Ken, two civilian Tasmanian Tigers from the outback, a koala officer, and a frill were all called to the witness stand. Even though Judge Fantine was keeping the trial running as smoothly as possible, it still seemed to drag out. After two hours, everyone was beginning to get restless. The judge called for a fifteen minute recess, and Sly was escorted by the bailiff into a hallway separate from everyone else. He leaned against the wall and stared at the floor. He looked to his left when he heard the door open to see the lawyer stepping outside the courtroom. He gave Sly a haughty look before turning walking in the opposite direction; it didn't phase Sly at all. The bailiff led him back in when the fifteen minutes were almost up. Once everyone else had returned and was seated, Judge Fantine called the court to order again. The lawyer then walked over to the witness stand and said, "I would now like to call Ty Tiger to the stand." Sly's heart stopped; the moment he had been dreading had finally arrived. He looked up and saw Ty walking toward the witness stand with his head bowed. His heart sank when he saw how torn Ty looked. Some older brother I turned out to be, he thought. This shouldn't have happened; he shouldn't be forced to do this.
Ty sat down, head slightly bowed and paws in his lap. He looked up as the lawyer approached him.
"Now, Ty, I understand that you're related to the defendant. Is that correct?"
Ty eyed Sly out of the corner of his eye; his brother knew that look all too well, even though it'd been years since he'd seen it. Ty gave that look when he felt backed into a corner and was looking for a way out. Don't do this, bro; we both know this has to be done, Sly thought. He curtly nodded, signaling to Ty to answer him. The younger brother sighed in return, then spoke. "Yea. I'm his younger brother."
"And what was he like in your childhood?"
"From what I remember, he was kinda quiet, but protective and looking for ways to help out when he could."
"Do you remember any signs of hostility in him? Any at all?"
"No, sir."
"How did you two get separated?"
"It was shortly after our parents had given us to a bilby family to raise while they were gone fighting Cass. One night he snuck out, telling me that he'd be back soon after he found out where Mum and Dad were."
"And he never came back, correct?"
"Right."
"Did you have any contact with him?"
"No, sir."
"When was the next time you saw him?"
Ty gulped. "I was in the rainforest looking for Thunder Eggs for Julius' Talisman retrieval machine. A lyrebird was there, and after a while told me that a princess was trapped inside an abandoned building."
"Did you believe him?"
"No. He kept steering me wrong way before then, but I knew that someone was inside; I just didn't know who."
"So who was it?"
"…Sly."
"And how did that encounter go? How did he react towards you then?"
"He was ready to fight me; I guess Cass told him that I was the one trying to stop him-"
"So he was hostile towards you?"
"…Yea."
"Interesting. What happened after that?"
"Well…he- he attacked me-"
"Was he armed or unarmed?"
"Armed, with his rangs."
"I see. And were you armed or unarmed?"
"Armed with rangs, too."
"Well at least he gave you a fair fight. Can't speak for the rest of his victims, though. Did he know who you were?"
"No; we didn't recognize each other. I thought he looked familiar, but I couldn't place him right away."
"Did you realize who he was during the fight?"
"No, sir, not until the final confrontation with Cass."
"I see. So you won the fight in the rainforest?"
"Yea."
"Did he say anything after that?"
"Yea…no one's beaten him in battle before, and I hadn't seen the last of him or something like that."
"So we can infer that you weren't the first mammal he's attacked by his statement. We also know that he threatened to attack you again. What's even more disturbing is how quickly he was able to turn against his own kind and help a criminal as evil as Boss Cass. To me, that sounds like he doesn't have very good judgment. Wouldn't you agree, Ty?"
"I…guess the evidence could point to that."
The lawyer paused and squinted his eyes at Ty, noticing his hesitation; then he continued, "Did he only attack you once?"
"No. There was another time, right before I went to fight Cass one-on-one."
"Really? So he assaulted you twice?"
"Yea…"
"And what happened during that confrontation?"
"Pretty much the same thing. He ran towards me, and I ran towards him, but I threw my rangs at him. Knocked him off guard."
"And what happened then?"
"He almost fell into the lava, but I grabbed him just in time."
"And how did he react that time?"
"He was shocked."
"And?"
"Told me to put him down-"
"Did he threaten you again?"
"…yea, kinda I guess."
"Did he or didn't he?"
Ty sighed, "He did."
"I see. Now please tell the court what happened during your confrontation with Cass."
"Well I jumped onto his giant robot before it got out of the hanger. I had to take out some flame throwers at the top, then destroy part of it inside. After that, Sly jumped out and tossed me a boomerang, saying that I'd need it. Cass wondered what he was doing and called him a traitor, even after everything he'd 'done' for him. That's when Sly mentioned something about Cass lying to him and wished me good luck."
"Hmm…very interesting how quickly he can switch sides like that. Did the boomerang actually help you defeat Cass?"
"Yea. I wouldn't have been able to defeat him without it."
"I see. And you're telling me the absolute truth about all of this, not just the part where he helped you defeat Cass?"
Ty was taken aback at that. "Yea, all of it was true."
Mr. Douglas narrowed his eyes at him, trying to see if Ty would show any signs of lying. When he didn't, the dingo spoke again. "Alright then. No more questions. Thank you, Mr. Tiger."
"Yea…no worries," Ty replied skeptically as he exited the witness stand. He and the judge stared each other down as he walked away; both suspected the other of having ulterior motives. Sly looked on with growing irritation; he hated how the judge believed Ty was bluffing. He was the guilty one, not his brother. He didn't notice the judge carefully watching him as well as Ty and Mr. Douglas, judging the situation from the different angles presented.
"Are you through with the cross examination now, Mr. Douglas?"
"Yes, You Honor. I am."
"Good. Finally this case is winding to a close. Proceed with examining the defendant."
"Yes, Your Honor. I call the Defendant, Sly Tiger, to the stand." Sly dutifully rose to his feet and walked over to the stand, trying his best to ignore the condescending look the lawyer was giving him. Once he was seated, the lawyer spoke, "So, Sly, can you validate everything that your brother said about you? Including your childhood and confrontations?"
"Yea. He was right about it all."
"You don't strike me as a person who'd be that gullible, but then again I could be wrong. Maybe you're after years of being a deceiver yourself. How old were you when you began working for Cass?"
"I was seven when he found me; turns out that happened shortly after he sent my family into the Dreaming. I didn't see what happened, but I felt a huge earthquake. Cass found me and told me that my family had just abandoned me. I didn't believe him at first, but he told me to give it a while to see if they showed up. I waited for five years, and they never did. Everyday he kept telling me how evil mammals were, and I slowly came to believe him."
"Did he force you to believe anything he told you?"
"No, sir. He didn't."
"So everything you did for him was done of free will?"
"Yes…sir."
"Interesting. And you never thought he was wrong for attacking defenseless marsupials?"
"It didn't always make sense, but most of the time it really did seem like they were the enemy, not him."
"And what exactly did he tell you his purpose was?"
"He was gonna make mammals pay for abandoning their own kind. At first, he told me that he was gonna catch them all and bring them to justice in the courts, but eventually he told me that he had another goal in mind. He planned on sending them to the Dreaming, arguing that the world would be more impartial without them. I was skeptical at first, but I eventually bought into it."
"So what I'm getting from this is that you were essentially lied to and had no other choice to do what you did. Is that correct?"
"Not fully. Yea he lied to me, but I did the things I did on my own accord."
"Everything?"
"Well, almost. I was coerced in the beginning."
"So why switch sides in the end and help your species?"
"I knew I had to help set things right in some way after I knew the truth. Cass had to be stopped."
"So why didn't you take him out yourself?"
"I was on his side. I helped him do the evil things he did. Someone else had to stop him; that's the only way things could really change." Everyone's eyes widened at his bold statement.
"Hmm…interesting. You don't talk like one of his cronies, but you were still one of them all the same. You may have helped stop Boss Cass in the end, but it looks like you only fight for what you believe is right at the time. You sided with your family at first out of loyalty to them, but when it seemed like they had abandoned you, you turned not only on them, but also you own kind who had done nothing to you. A lot of innocent civilians were harmed due to the actions of Boss Cass; there's no question about it. Point is, you're too easily manipulated, and that's not too comforting. If you really wanted to put your trust in someone, Sly, would you want him to be easily persuaded by just anyone?"
"…No, sir. I wouldn't" he responded dejectedly.
Noting Sly's change in tone, the lawyer decided to stop questioning him. Although it didn't show on his face, he was practically radiating smugness, sure that he had won the case. "No more questions, Your Honor."
"Very well," the judge replied. You may both return to your stands. The jury is dismissed to make their decision."
The jury departed to a room in the back of the courtroom while Sly and the lawyer returned to their respective stands. The lawyer didn't seem concerned at all; in fact, he seemed perfectly calm and confident that he had one. Sly, on the other hand, felt even number than he had in a while. He knew that the odds were against him, so why did it still hurt for him to go through this? He didn't have much time to ponder, however; the jury returned to their stand after ten minutes. The judge watched them file in, then turned to face Sly as she spoke, "Now, Sly, I'm sure you're aware of what happens now. The jury decides the verdict, but I decide the punishment based on the evidence presented in court. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Your Honor," he responded, much of the bravado gone from his voice.
She only blinked in acknowledgement before turning to face the jury. "Has the jury reached a verdict?"
A middle aged male Tasmanian Tiger stood up and glared at Sly for a moment before looking at the judge, "Yes, your honor. We find the defendant, Sly Tiger, guilty of all charges."
Sly only exhaled; he knew it was coming. There was murmuring from everyone else in the courtroom, but Judge Fantine remained unphased. "I expected as much. No doubt it didn't really come as a surprise to anyone else here." She stared at Sly for an agonizing moment, then spoke again. "Alright, Tiger. I've made my decision. For all the crimes you have committed, you will not be receiving capital punishment, but you will be imprisoned until further notice."
Until further notice? He wondered. What exactly does that mean? A communal gasp followed by even louder murmuring filled the courtroom; shock was the universal emotion held by everyone in the room at that time. The judge banged her gavel, then barked, "Case dismissed." She stood and quickly exited the courtroom while the bailiff walked over to escort Sly back out to the prison transport car. The latter moved mechanically, not really knowing how to feel about the verdict. Once he was back in the police van, he sat there in stunned silence and remained that way for the duration of the ride back to prison.
Sly lay on his back on his bed in his cell, pondering what could possibly happen now. He expected to be given the death penalty for his crimes, but he was allowed to live instead. Having already prepared himself to die, he hadn't thought at all about what life would be like after the trial. He didn't even see a reason to continue living at this point, if all he was destined to be was a condemned criminal.
Footsteps echoed somewhere in the hallway, and Sly turned his head as he heard them getting closer to his cell. His eyes widened in surprise and confusion when he saw Judge Fantine approaching the door of his cell with a dingo officer who unlocked the cell for her. Sly jumped up when he realized that she was being let inside. The feral cat sauntered inside the cell and stopped in the middle while the officer remained at the cell door; Sly cautiously approached her, not having the first clue as to why she might be here. "Judge Fantine?" he started.
"Not happy to see me, Sly?" she replied with a smirk, tilting her head up slightly to look him in the eye. "You're not mad at me for giving you life in here, are you?"
"No, it's not that. Just…"
"What am I doing here?" Sly nodded in response. "Well, I have a proposition for you."
"Proposition?" he cocked an eyebrow.
She nodded. "We're actually not that different, Sly; I'm from the same side of the outback as you are, even have the record to prove it. When I was younger, I went to trial for my crimes, certain that I'd be executed for what I'd done, but I was sent back to prison, same as you. I was then approached by a Tasmanian Tiger who needed someone to help with some odd jobs around his firm. Long story short, I was released on parole due, thanks to my good behavior in prison, to that tiger's custody. In a few years' time, I was free and offered a position as a judge. I'm here to present that same opportunity to you."
"The opportunity to be a judge?"
"No, silly, to get out of here. I was appointed as a judge because I can tell who deserves to be in here and who deserves to be on the streets, and I know for a fact that you don't belong in here. There's no excusing your crimes or anything, but things are bad enough as they are in this country, and we need more good blokes like you back on the street to help fix things. Besides, in the end, when you knew the truth about Boss Cass, you proved whose side you were really on."
"So…I won't be in here for the rest of my life?"
"No. You will be in here a while longer due to the paperwork that we need to fill out, but there's already someone willing to take you under their wing, or paw, as it were."
"Who?"
"His name is Max Cooper. He's a Tasmanian Tiger like yourself, works in the police force, has a wife and daughter. He'll be monitoring your behavior for an indefinite period of time; whether you'll be released into society will be determined after that."
Sly didn't know how to respond to that. He was being given another chance, a chance he felt that he didn't deserve. Fantine saw the confusion in his face and continued. "There're no catches if that's what you're thinking, and yes, this is really happening. You're being given another chance, Sly. Sounds better than spending the rest of your life in here, wouldn't you say?"
"Yea…I just…" he couldn't find the words to express how he was truly feeling. He wasn't sure whether to be happy or not. Even if he did become a free tiger again, would it be worth it? He remembered all of the hateful, judgmental stares he had been given earlier that day and thought that he would experience that wherever he went, and he certainly didn't want his family receiving those some glares because of him.
The judge softened a bit. "Sly, I know you're thinking about your family now, but I need an answer. I know it's hard, but you can make it. I did."
He looked her in the eyes and was comforted by her sincerity. I'm already at the bottom, he thought. What more do I have to lose? Can't get much worse from here. "Alright. I accept," he responded.
Fantine smiled genuinely at that. "I'm glad you did, Sly. Well, now I have to go talk to Mr. Cooper and the warden about getting you released. You should be able to leave tonight if everything gets cleared."
"Cheers, ma'am," Sly said quietly.
She nodded and turned and walked out of the cell; the guard shut and locked the door behind him. Sly stood there frozen for a few moments before going back to his bed. His mind was still blank, to overwhelmed at being given an opportunity to redeem himself; he just hoped that he didn't blow it this time.
It was well into the night now; it had been a few hours since the judge's visit, and Sly had nodded off. He woke with a jolt when he heard his cell being unlocked. As he sat up, he noticed that the same guard from earlier had returned, but he was accompanied by a male Tasmanian Tiger. That must be who Judge Fantine was talking about.
The guard spoke after he had unlocked and opened the door, "Sly Tiger, you're being released now. This is Mr. Cooper; you're being released into his custody like the judge told you earlier."
Sly curtly nodded and walked towards them. Once he was at the door, Mr. Cooper smiled and extended a hand towards him, "It's nice to meet you, Sly."
Sly was slightly taken aback; this tiger smiled at him and didn't seem to harbor any resentment towards him. Nevertheless, Sly returned the courtesy and stuck out his hand. "Likewise," he replied as he grabbed his hand and shook it. Mr. Cooper seemed friendly enough, but Sly still studied him closely; he didn't want to be tricked again. Mr. Cooper then released Sly's hand and turned to walk down the hallway. Sly did the same, followed by the guard. Still studying Mr. Cooper's body language, Sly became even more flabbergasted by how calm he seemed about a known criminal being released into his custody; he couldn't believe it. Even though he had chosen this option, he still remained skeptical. He decided that it would be best to keep to himself from now on. Even if Mr. Cooper was genuine, he didn't want to take any chances yet.
Like the walk out of the prison, the car ride had been silent. Given how friendly this tiger was at the prison, Sly expected him to be talkative on the drive to his house, but that wasn't the case. Sly felt awkward trying to initiate conversation, feeling like he didn't even deserve to be there at that moment. He already knew that his past would haunt him for the rest of his life; even if he was eventually able to be a free tiger again, he knew he would have difficulty being accepted by everyone else. Again, he wondered what the point of receiving a second chance was if he was just gonna be dealt a miserable hand for the rest of his life. Besides, he wasn't the only one working for Cass; why should he get a second chance and no one else? In his eyes, he was no different from Cass's other henchman.
Sly followed his guardian into the house, taking tentative steps and noticing his new surroundings. The house was a decent size: not small, but not huge either. A small hallway led into a medium-sized living room with a small kitchen just beyond it. To the right of the hallway was a set of stairs leading to the second floor, and a dining room and another hallway to the right of that. Sly guessed that all the bedrooms were upstairs. Mr. Cooper's house felt homey, just like his old home did. The realization pained him even further when he realized that he wouldn't have any sort of contact with his family for a full year.
"You alright, son?" Mr. Cooper said when he noticed how quiet Sly was.
Funny, that's what Dad always said, Sly thought. "I'm fine, Sir, but please, just call me Sly," he responded quietly.
"Alright, Sly, but you don't seem fine. What's on your mind?"
He doesn't need to know. "I'd rather not say, sir."
"Did you have to address Cass like that or are you always this polite?" he said, somewhat jokingly. It caught Sly off-guard and even offended him slightly. The other tiger took note of his facial expression. "Forgive the harshness of my tone, but you don't have to be so formal around me. Yes, you're in my custody, but you're not my slave."
"You were told back at the prison everything that I did. You know I'm a criminal, Sir. Why are you treating me like I'm not?"
"For starters, me taking you into my custody is to help rehabilitate you into civilian life, so treating you like a criminal wouldn't work. What's more is that I don't see a criminal when I look at you."
Really? "Then what do you see?"
"Another Tasmanian Tiger." Sly was stunned. He really doesn't see me any differently? How? he wondered. Although the situation wasn't funny, Mr. Cooper looked amused by Sly's facial expression. He smiled and shook his head, "Follow me, Sly. There's a room down here where you can sleep."
Mr. Cooper led Sly down the hall past the dining room to a small guest bedroom. He opened the door, and Sly stepped inside, observing his surroundings as he did when he first entered the house. The room was small; a twin-sized bed lay to the right, facing a halfway filled bookshelf on the opposite side of the room. A nightstand was on the far side of the bed, and a large window was located directly in front of him on the opposite side of the room. Sly walked over to it; after being imprisoned for months, he forgot how peaceful nature could be at night. He drank it all in: the crickets chirping and hopping through the grass gently bending in the breeze, the moonlit pond that lay off to the right at the end of the yard, the stars shimmering in the night sky. His guardian watched him silently for a few moments, then spoke, "I may have some clothes that'll fit you, but if not we can always get you some. Dunny's down the hall to the left, and I'll be making breakfast in the morning. If you need anything, just give me a holler."
"Cheers, Mr. Cooper."
"Goodnight, Sly." Sly couldn't even return the curtesy; his jaw was clamped shut in astonishment. He was being treated no differently than any other Tazzy Tiger, even though Mr. Cooper was perfectly aware of what he was capable of.
After remaining frozen in shock for quite some time, he surveyed the room again before sitting on the bed and kicking his shoes off, putting them neatly under the bed like he did in prison. He paused for a second when he remembered that he wasn't there anymore. For one thing, the mattress was actually comfortable, and he could see natural light again. He took off his vest, letting it fall on the floor beside his bed, and put his rangs underneath his pillow; surprisingly, he wasn't asked to hand them over when he walked in the door. He stretched out on his back and gazed out of the window; he forgot how long it'd been since he saw the moon, and on such a clear night as well. It seemed to smile on him, telling him that everything would be peaceful and beautiful for the rest of his life, but he knew that wasn't the case. He couldn't help but think that he'd be an outcast for the rest of his life, figuring that even Mr. Cooper would cast him aside someday. He felt so alone, realizing that there wasn't really anyone that could empathize with him (except Judge Fantine, but she didn't really seem like the emphathizing type). He exhaled his weariness over his isolation, then closed his eyes. He didn't know exactly what he needed to help him get through life again, but right now, he needed sleep.
I AM UBER SORRY THAT I'VE BEEN ON HIATUS FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW! Please forgive me. As much as I love writing fanfics, it's hard for me to stick to them, especially when writing the dull parts. And let's not forget to mention that wonderful writer's block that comes up with EVERY CHAPTER I WRITE. Ugh. But really, I'm sorry it's been a while, and if you guys are still reading this, then thank you. I hope this chapter'll satisfy you guys for a while, until the next one that is. I do want to finish all the fanfics I've started; it's just gonne take a while (especially with college and stuff). Thank you guys again for reading and commenting on this fic and some of my others; it means a lot to get feedback from you guys. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Sly didn't die; yay but he's still depressed The next chapter's not written yet, but I do have ideas in mind for the next chapter and the rest of the fic. Next chapter I don't see him improving much in terms of his depression and what not, but good things happen; you'll see