Hang Him Higher

by Ichigo Morino

Because Doc has his own demons. – Millennium ficlet –

Summary: Because Doc has his own demons. – Millennium ficlet -

Disclaimer: I own nothing, nothiiing. Kouta Hirano does. The italicized lines within quotes are lyrics from Wumpscut's "Hang Him Higher."

A/N: Based on Wumpscut's "Hang Him Higher," the Nuremberg trials, and painful thoughts. Translations at bottom.

Hang Him Higher

By Ichigo Morino (1-20-04)

"Was zum Teüfel bist du?"

It opened in darkness.

First there was only a stool. Center stage. Illuminated in yellow-white.

Slowly, more objects appeared. One by one. A courtroom materialized, dark brown and yellow.

Around the stool, a man paced. He stopped, faceless, staring. And continued on his way, 'round and 'round. Stopping, peering, staring, turning, facing a faceless audience. His constant, accusatory screams were, for the time, muted.

Upon the stool, a man sat. Back straight. Facing forward unflinchingly. He had once worn spectacles, made thick by numerous lenses. Now he wore none. They had been torn off and smashed by foreign hands.

Gradually, noise became reality. And the accusations were heard.

They were drowned out by the jury's screams. Every faceless person screeching louder than the next.

"We want him!"

"We want to see him pay!"

"We want to see him hang!"

The faceless prosecutor turned upon the center-stage stool, baring yellowed teeth.

"It isn't the discovery, it's what you do with it."

The seated man looked back at him coldly.

"What did you do with it, Herr Doktor?"

"We know who he was!"

"We know how to treat him!"

"Our folk never forgives!"

Behind the vigorously pacing man, another materialized. He wore a heavy uniform drenched in black red. A cap was drawn over his eyes.

The prosecutor turned to this new apparition. Questioningly.

"Er war…mein Freund."

And he faded into darkness once more.

The faceless prosecutor turned upon Herr Doktor, eyes burning with hate anew.

"We want to see him pay for all the things he did!"

"We want to see him hang right here in our mid!"

Hands reached out. Groped out. Clawed out. Herr Doktor could do no more than stay still.

"We came to see him dead!"

—And Doc awoke, drenched in perspiration, within the darkness of the laboratory's record room. He gasped silently for air before shakily switching the lamp back on.

Men of genius are often hated, a silent voice told him.

"We came to hang him higher," another said.

~ Ende ~

Translations:

Was zum Teüfel bist du? – What the devil are you?

Er war…mein Freund. – He was…my friend.