Chapter 12: The Verdict
Everyone was told to take a thirty minute recess while the jury looked at all their notes as well as the video and documents on the flash drive, courtesy of Rogue.
"Kurt, Ah will be out when they are done lookin' at the flash drive an' Ah have it back. F'r now Ah need ya t' stay with the group, no teleportin' outside t' see the others. As the second senior X-Man 'ere, Ah need ya t' stay with all o' them, ok?"
"Yes swister, I understand." He made a goofy face and Tommy and Sarah laughed.
"Kurt, Ah'm serious!"
"So am I. Vatch me entertain the kids." He turned off his image inducer and made an ugly face. He stuck his tongue out between his fang like teeth and rolled his eyes up towards the ceiling.
"Save me Amara!" Tommy ran into Amara who only tossed him at Kurt and the small group erupted into laughter.
Rogue groaned, "Ah'll be back."
She turned away as Kurt said, "All right then Schwarzenegger!"
Rogue walked away muttering under her breath, "Little brothers are so annoyin' an' Ah don't sound anythin' like Schwarzenegger." She then walked over to the far side of the Court Room keeping her eyes glued to the flash drive the whole time.
Once the jury was seated around the lap top Rogue waited patiently. She listened to the clicks of the mouse button selecting files. She heard mutterings of someone reading one or more of the documents quietly to the rest of the jury and finally heard the video re-play. She also heard her own voice on the video and felt some eyes wander her way only to fall back to the screen. She felt sick, 'Oh ya, the prof. is gonna love this. Ah jus' handed ova our last battle. Well, not much Ah could do about that now was there?'
After ten minutes of combined video, audio and written documents the head of the jury brought the flash drive back to Rogue. "Thank you for your co-operation Miss Darkome."
"No problem. May Ah go now?" He nodded. "Thank ya." With that Rogue left the Court Room and went to find Kurt and the others. It wasn't as hard as she thought it would be her group was the only one with a six year old boy who at the moment was in hysterical laughter.
"You are back! How did it go…Rogue, vhat is it?" Kurt was looking at Rogues' expression. It was one of stress, worry and uncertainty. He tried again when she did not answer. She seemed to be lost in her own thoughts. "Rogue, vhat happened?"
"Hum, oh, they watched more o' the video Kurt." Rogue lowered her voice a bit but it did not hide her anger. "Ah was on that video fightin' with Creed. Now Ah don't know what they will think. Ah'm gonna kill the Prof.!"
"Whoa, slow down Rogue! You know they have to base it on all the evidence, not just the video. They have seen the files from the flash drive, the video and took notes from all the speakers like the kids, Calysto, you, me, Rebecca and Emily. Ve vill be fine, ja."
"Ya, Ah suppose ya are right. Ah jus' didn't like 'earin' mahself on the videos all."
Kurt nodded in understanding. "Hey, vhat do you say ve get some food after all of this?"
The kids cheered, "I want pizza."
"No, chicken nuggets!"
Rogue looked at Kurt, "Seriously, is food the only thang ya think about?"
Kurt smiled, "No, I only think of food half the time. The other half is divided into other sections like the DR, Logan killing me, schoolwork, and my loving swister." She rolled her eyes and Kurt added, "Besides Rogue, ve never got to eat breakfast and it is almost 11:00! I don't know about you, but I am starving!"
Kurt did have a point. She had been hungry way before the Court session began, and her stomach had been growling since the first recess. She looked at her brother and then at the two little kids she had in her possession. They had been so good this whole time. If she and Kurt were starving she guessed that they were too. "Ah guess we could go somewhere t' eat." Kurt's face lifted into a grin until Rogue finished, "As long as Logan doesn't 'ave other plans."
Kurt's face fell. "Noooo! Rogue, I am starving! Please, I am begging you; can't you pull the "Ve don't care" thing vith him?"
"Well, do ya mean the "Ah'm outa here", or the, "Ah promise t' come right back" thang?"
"Rogue, I don't care. Vhatever one vill get us fed."
Rogue couldn't help but laugh a bit at this, "Al-alright than Kurt. Ah promise t' find a way t' get us all fed."
Kurt threw his arms around her, "Thank you Rogue!"
"Kurt, get off! Please, ya know it's a bad idea. No, now look what ya've caused. Off, all o' ya get off!" Kurt had let go only to have Tommy and Sarah wrap themselves around her.
Emily and Rebecca couldn't help but let out laughs. "Anyone who says that they can get a group of people food after eight and a half hours becomes your best friend, didn't you know that?"
"Ah don't care; it ain't healthy t' hold on t' meh!"
Amara took a step closer, "Tommy, come tell me what you want to eat." Tommy let go and jumped into Amara's arms. She then called over to Sarah, "Sarah, what's your favorite restaurant?"
Sarah however did not detach herself from Rogue; she just called over her shoulder, "Chuck E Cheese!"
"Come tell ze blue fuzz ball vhy," Kurt coaxed the girl over.
"Thank you!" Rogue mouthed to them. She took in a deep breath. "News!" she called out.
"What Rogue?" Calysto looked at her.
"We didn't send any news! No update!"
They glanced at one another. Kurt sent Sarah over to Emily and said, "I am on it," and he left in a puff of smoke.
"What is taking them so long? I've seen people come and go for the past twenty minutes." Logan started pacing.
"Patience Wolverine, I am sure everything is fine. Perhaps they just got held up. They do have two little ones with them."
'Bamph' "Kurt!" Kitty screamed with surprise and relief.
Everyone gathered around. "What is happening in there Kurt?" Scott asked.
"Yeah, we were starting to worry," Jean added.
"Wolverine was ready to charge and…"
"Do you vant to know or not?" Kurt cut them off.
"Please tell us what is going on inside Kurt." The Professor encouraged the blue boy to speak.
"Ok, vell ve just had open court. Ve vere the only ones vho spoke against Viser, but ve did manage to make him uncomfortable." The group smiled at this. "Ve have eight more minutes before the jury makes their final decision. Rogue shared the flash drive vith the Court, but she vould not leave it unattended vith the jury. She vanted to make sure it vould not be copied."
Logan grunted, "That a girl Stripes."
"Ve shared our stories, the videos from the drive and files from the drive. Rogue also managed to get Viser to semi confess about vhat happened if you didn't take all fourteen pills, and vhat happened if you did."
"Thank you Kurt, we will let you get back to the others so that we can let you hear the verdict," Storm said. With that there was another "bamph" and Kurt was gone.
"I hope they listened to them with open minds," Charles said.
Storm looked at him, "I am sure everything went fine Charles." She was not as convincing though when a little grey cloud formed over head. She was thinking about what Kurt had said about the first half of the hearing.
"'Ro, I liked the sun," Logan said.
Storm looked at him, "What Logan?" He pointed to the sky. "Oh! I am so sorry, I got lost in thought." She waved away the cloud and the sun shone back down on them.
The students looked at her. It was not like Storm to loose control so easily just by getting lost in thought. Whatever she had been thinking about had really upset her. "Storm," Jubilee asked timidly, "Is everything alright?"
Storm looked at the worried faces. "Yes child, everything is fine. I am sorry if I frightened you." She smiled at them. 'Oh please let the children come out soon,' she prayed.
There was another announcement over the loud speakers, "Court will re-convene in five minutes, please take your seats."
Everyone took their seats. There were many whispers floating around the room, and eyes shifting towards Rogue and her group and then back to the front. Judge Luke entered the room and took a seat. Rogue looked towards the Judge and then towards the jury. "Court is now in session."
Judge Luke looked at the jury, "Has the jury come to a conclusion?"
"Yes your honor, we have."
Rogue folded her hands together and prayed, 'Please, please say Guilty. Ah jus' want this nightmare t' end.' Kurt hung his head and closed his eyes, 'Ve just vant peace. Viser needs to go back.' Tommy and Sarah looked nervous 'I want the medsin man to go away.' Emily, Calysto and Rebecca glanced at each other, 'This bastard should be locked away for life. Oh please, say you listened to us!' Amara looked at the two siblings, 'Rogue is a great leader and did everything she could to put Wiser behind bars the first time. Please, let her put him back.'
Judge Luke nodded, "Continue."
"After carefully reviewing all the former evidence and the new information presented today, we, the jury find that Mr. Jake Wiser was quite sane while performing all of his actions and find him guilty on all his previous charges."
Most of Rogue's team was smiling. Tommy and Sarah looked at them and asked, "What does "Guilty" mean?"
"It means the medicine man is going back to jail," Amara told them.
"Both of them?" Tommy asked.
Judge Luke spoke, "The defendant has been found guilty and is to spend his remaining time behind bars with no form of early release. Court is adjourned."
Some faces fell, "Don't worry about that medicine man kido. It will be alright," Calysto told Tommy.
Wiser passed the group, "I hope you are happy."
Rogue looked at him, "Quite, but Ah 'ave t' know, why ya are askin'?"
"My colleague or medicine man as some call him. What do you think the future holds Rogue? You have put Creed away and me away twice now. Do you honestly think that that will stop people from doing what we started?"
Rogue looked at him with a partial smile, "No, Ah don't, but Ah know it's a start." With that security escorted Jake out of the Court Room and in to the hall letting Rogue and her group pass.
Once outside Rogue said, "Ah don't want t' see any smiles ya hear meh?"
Kurt looked at her, "Vhy not Rogue?"
"Because Ah want t' be the one t' tell 'em the news and have a celebration."
"Rogue, you are scaring me. Vho are you and vhat have you done vith my swister?" Rogue smacked his arm. "Oh, there she is."
Amara picked Tommy up and Rebecca took Sarah's hand as Rogue led the group around the corner. Rogue kept a stern gaze and Kurt looked down. The other X-Men and Junior X-Men looked at the approaching teams. "Stripes, what happened?" Logan did not like the way the teams were coming back.
Suddenly Rogue broke out into a smile and ran at Logan. "GUILTY!"
Logan grabbed the charging teen and swung her in a circle. "Stripes ya had me worried for a moment, but, oh screw it; I am so proud of you."
Rogue smiled up at him, "Thanks Logan! Does that mean we can all go and eat now? If ya say no Ah will jus' take the keys t' the van."
Logan chuckled, "Yeah Stripes, ya can go eat. I think everyone is hungry. Where are ya going?"
Rogue looked at the children and their parents, "Mr. and Mrs. Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, would it be alright if we took the kids t' Chuck E Cheese?"
There were cries of "Please Mommy!" and "I'll be good."
The adults looked at one another and finally, "Why don't we al go together?"
Tommy and Sarah threw themselves around their parents and then charged Rogue. Once again they wrapped themselves around her and glued themselves there.
Rogue started panicking again and everyone laughed as she tried to get the children off. "Ah told ya before it ain't safe t' grab meh. Off, Amara help! Ah like ya two and all, but f'r ya own safety ya might wanna let go."
Rogue heard Remy laughing, "Remy, 'elp meh!"
Remy walked over, "'Cuse moi, but I do believe my Cherie owes m' a hug." He pried Sarah off and sent her to her parents. He then picked up Tommy and said, "Monsieur Jones, you will 'ave t' find yourself a different fille, dis one is taken." He then placed a very confused looking Tommy down shooing him away and wrapped his arms around Rogue's waist. He pulled her in for a close hug and then said, "Chuck E Cheese huh?"
She rolled her eyes, "Ya got a problem with that Remy?"
"Non Cherie, Remy likes pizza an' games. Maybe Remy even win y' a prize." He smirked and gave a wink.
"Remy LeBeau, ya ain't cheatin' on any o' them games t' win meh a prize." Remy pouted. "Put that pout away, it ain't ever gonna work. Sides, Ah already got two prizes t'day."
"Oh, what were they?"
"Seein' Wiser go back behind bars."
"Cherie, dat's only one. What is de second one?"
She smiled, "Gettin' t' see y'." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He bent down but she pushed him away. "Remy, we are all starvin' so if ya ever want a hug or kiss again ya will drive us t' Chuck E Cheese this second!"
Remy was taken aback but said, "Qui Cherie." A hungry Rogue was a dangers Rogue, almost as dangerous as a coffee-less Rogue. He jumped in the drivers' seat of the van and Rogue jumped in the passengers' side. Tommy and Sarah climbed in the middle and Kitty and Kurt climbed in the back.
Everyone else dispersed into the various other vehicles. Logan pulled up beside Rogue on his motorcycle, "Does it have to be Chuck E Cheese?"
"Yes Logan. Y' didn't 'ear these two at the bench. They earned Chuck E Cheese," she said firmly.
"Fine, how large is the party?"
"Well if everyone comes it is 'bout twenty."
Twenty, alright Stripes, I'll see you there."
"Love ya Logan!"
Logan took off down the street. Just as Remy started to drive off Rogue's cell phone started ringing. "Hello?"
"Yes, hello darling, I was wondering when you were going to come and get me!"
"Remy STOP!"
Remy put on the breaks and looked at Rogue. "Cherie, what's…"
She silenced him. "Mystique! Oh Gawd, give meh two minutes." Rogue jumped out of the van. "Professor, wait! Where's the real secretary?"
Storm and Erik looked at him. "Charles, you didn't just leave her now did you?" Magneto asked.
"Rogue, I am waiting!" came an annoyed voice on the other end of the line.
"Jus' give meh a minute, the prof. has t' wipe 'er mind." Rogue spun on him, "F'r heaven sakes, can't ya hurry it up!"
"Rogue this is a delicate procedure, you of all people should know that."
"Yeah, but…"
"Tell Mystique to put up the "Away from the desk" sign and come to the back door."
Rogue sighed, "Did ya 'ear that? Take out the sign that says that y' 'ave stepped out for a minute and come to the back doors."
Rogue heard a drawer open and things shifting inside of it. She then heard the drawer close. Mystique looked around and then placed the sign on the desk. "I am so sorry but I will need to call you back." She hung up the phone, stepped out from behind the desk and headed for the back doors.
Once she stepped out she shifted back to her normal self. The professor was projecting an image of Officer Ryan and said, "Well thank you for your help Sandra. I am sure you are needed back at the front desk." The secretary walked back into the building and back to her desk.
Mystique glared at Rogue, "You were going to leave me there weren't you?"
Rogue shifted, "Well, no, not on purpose or anythin' like that. We are goin' to Chuck E Cheese now."
"Don't change the topic Rogue," Mystique scolded.
"Ah'm sorry that we almos' forgot ya. We were jus' so excited that we won the case an' very hungry that…"
"That you forgot me."
Rogue's temper started to rise, "Ah said Ah was sorry! Are ya joinin' us or not?" She stamped her foot and crossed her arms.
Mystique looked at Charles and Erik. Charles said, "It is a celebration Raven, we are all going, even if just for a little while."
"Are you going Erik?"
"Why of course I will attend a celebration, besides lunch is included."
She rolled her eyes. "Very well, but I'm not playing any games."
"Chicken," Rogue called and she sprinted back to the van hopping in and yelled, "Drive Remy drive!"
Magneto, Storm and the Professor looked at Mystique. She rolled her eyes up to the sky took in a deep breath and then looked at them, "Yes, that is my girl, happy?"
Ororo smiled and the men gave small chuckles. She just glared at them. "Are we going or not?"
They all climbed into the X-Jet and headed over to the celebration.
