Chapter Seven: Justice

The trial was quick. No time was wasted in reaching the verdict. Five counts of murder, one count of resist of arrest, one count of armed invasion, one count of illegal signal interference, one count of hostage taking. Guilty on all counts. Normally the punishment would be a simple death sentence. However, in this case, things were slightly different
"Alex Reist, you have been found guilty on five counts of murder, one count of resist of arrest, one count of armed invasion, one count of illegal signal interference, and one count of hostage taking. With consideration of your powers, your punishment will mean your escort to the Sorceress Memorial, where you will be sealed from the rest of the world. Dismissed."
The crowd gave the expected gasps, and up in the front rows, Veronica Reist cried.

***

Miles sat down and quickly glanced at his friend, then diverted his eyes and nervously looked around the room. Lee sat, nursing the cup of coffee, staring down at the table.
The silence reigned, then, finally, Lee looked up, "Sorry."
Miles raised an eyebrow, "Sorry?"
"Yeah, I mean… damn it… I raised him…"
"Whoa!" Miles leaned forward, "These kids were a group effort. Alex, Peter, Julia, Neos… we all raised them. Don't blame yourself. In the end, the decision was his to make, and he made it."
Lee sighed, "I just… he killed Jasmine… but I can't hate him… he's my son."
Miles nodded, "Hey, don't kill yourself over this. No one cares what you think. I'll understand either way."
Lee shook his head, "No… he may be my son, but what he did… the lives he took… I can't forgive him. But… I have to see him again, before they seal him."
Miles nodded again, and stood up, "Then let's go see him."

***

As Miles walked through the halls of the Sorceress Memorial, he was overcome with a horrible feeling of despair. This place was not a happy place. So much history, yet all of it so violent. It was like Deling City, or Tear's Point. He had never been here before, but he immediately recognized the feel.
He looked to his right, where Lee walked alongside, taking in the sight of the building, understandably with less enthusiasm.
Miles sighed, -Poor guy. Can't help but feel sorry for him, what he's gotta be going through right now…-
Lee looked up at Miles, "Something wrong?"
"What?"
"You sighed, any particular reason?"
Miles shook his head, "…Not really."
Another voice came from behind, "Not really? Interesting reply, dontcha think?"
Miles turned his head back towards Veronica, who was walking behind them, "What do you mean?"
"Well… 'Not really' reveals so much about a person, when you think about it…"
"…Not really."
Veronica gave a weak smile, "Funny."
Lee stepped back and paced alongside her, draping his arm over her shoulder. Miles gave the pair a smile, and turned back towards their destination, his mind ablaze with memories of love long lost.
They came to the entrance of the control room, where two guards simply nodded, and the doors came open. The trio walked inside, and was greeted with an array of electronic devices and computers, all on and working for what must have been the first time in ages.
As Miles looked around, he realized many of the scientists didn't work here full time.
Lee coughed, "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to say goodbye."
One of the scientists glared at him, then out the windows, where Alex Reist stood, flanked by heavily armed guards, "I guess it's alright."
Lee nodded, and began to walk out. Miles looked at him, then Veronica, "You're not going, Veronica?"
She shook her head softly, "I can't… I just…"
He nodded and embraced her.
***

Lee stepped out alone onto the walkway, and the guards gave him a quick look. They stepped a few feet back from Alex, who turned around towards his father. Lee stepped closer. They were only a foot away now. For a minute, they just stared at each other. Finally, Lee spoke up.
"Why?"
Alex gave a grin, then responded, "Why? You want to know why?"
"Alex, why did you have to do this? What happened to you? When did you become…"
"You should know above all people. You were there, weren't you? Alexian Harket ring a bell?"
A memory flashed through Lee's mind:

-Harket groaned, and everyone focused on him, as his finger pointed at Veronica, then collapsed back down. The body jerked for a second, then a sheer blast of light filled the room.-

"You mean… that? He passed his powers to you… when you were in the womb?"
Alex grinned again, "That's right, dad."
Lee shook his head, "That still doesn't explain anything. Why did you have to do it? Why did you kill Jasmine?"
"Would it be any comfort if I told you that I didn't mean to kill Jasmine?"
"What?"
"Dad, I want you to consider something for a moment. Every other sorcerer and sorceress, they've all tried their take over the world bit, and they've all failed. Why? It's actually simple. One organization exists that always gets in the way…"
"SeeD."
"That's right. To complete my mission successfully, I had to dispatch of SeeD."
"So why Jasmine?"
"Once again, it wasn't Jasmine. Jasmine wasn't supposed to be in that car. Someone was supposed to keep her in the classroom longer that day."
"Then who…?"
"Dad, who would have turned that key if Jasmine was still teaching?"
It hit Lee like a brick, "Miles."
"Yes. Disabling the leadership would cripple SeeD."
"You…"
"Unexpected result, unfortunately, but I'll still succeed."
"Oh no, not where you're going."
Alex smiled, "And where is that, SeeD leader?"
Lee suddenly frowned, and before he could react, Alex pressed his hand up against his father's chest, and bursts of energy flowed into Lee's body. The guards ran to assist, but with a wave of his other hand, the guards were quickly pinned down. Alex waved his hand again, and grinned.

***

Inside the control room, every alarm went off. Miles cursed and ran for the door, only to find it locked.
"Open this door!"
One of the technicians responded, "We can't, all our systems are shorted!"
"Can't we get out of here?"
"No! The glass can't be broken, and all the doors are locked! We're trapped!"
Miles cursed and ran to the windows, where Alex dropped Lee to the catwalk, then looked up at the control room, still grinning. Then, with a puff of smoke, he was gone.
Every alarm went off, and the doors rushed open. Miles and Veronica ran outside, Miles sliding down to his friend's side. He took one look, and turned away, ushering Veronica away from the scene.
Lee Reist was dead, and his son, his murderer, was gone.