Courtroom Confusion

The next day a very bruised and confused Judge Brooks was conferring with the Jack and another new Prosecutor. "Listen," Judge Brooks breathed out. "Even though the other day I was…absent for much of the testimony I will allow it. I've seen it on film along with all of America. As unorthodox as obtaining that piece of information was, it is vital to this case."

"Your honor," The Prosecutor sighed. "I've just been reviewing the notes for this case. I think we should end this in a mistrial and start over. I mean we don't even have any jurors anymore. After the past few events even all the alternates fled the case and I can't blame them."

"You don't even have a case against Evan Daniels," Jack said. "We should just throw it out altogether."

"The DNA evidence…" The Prosecutor began.

"Is inconclusive!" Jack finished. "If you'd…"

"SHUT UP!" Judge Brooks snapped. Then he rubbed his head. "There is no way in hell I am going through all this again. And surprise, no other judge wants to deal with it. So here is what I am proposing…"

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"You can't be serious," Evan blinked.

"That's the DA's offer," Jack sighed. "They're willing to plea bargain. If you plead guilty to a misdemeanor they can lower your sentence to a few years."

"Forget it!" Evan snapped. "I'm not gonna confess to something I didn't do!"

"What about those weapons you supplied the Morlocks?" Jack asked.

"I never gave the Morlocks any guns," Evan smirked. "Did anyone actually see me do so? Did anyone ever see me with a gun? I don't need one."

"Judge Brooks isn't the only one who's getting a headache from this case…" Jack moaned.

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The next day Judge Brooks had another headache. "What do you mean your witness is unavailable?" He snapped at the Prosecutor.

"Mr. Creed is currently…hospitalized," The Prosecutor coughed. "Apparently he's not feeling well."

"He's in the nuthouse that's where he is," Logan snorted. Several of the X-Men were in the courtroom as well.

"Yeah what few supporters he has left stashed him there so that the Feds couldn't touch him," Rogue remarked. "Post traumatic stress my eye!"

"Yeah well at least that knocked him off the presidential campaign trail," Scott remarked.

"Yeah but he still has some supporters," Jean sighed. "The FOH called a press conference calling Creed a hero, struggling against, get this…mutant oppression."

"With a mother like mine that's not exactly far from the truth," Kurt grumbled. He was wearing his image inducer and it was turned on.

In his place the prosecution was allowed to call another witness. Duncan Matthews was soon on the stand. "Yeah I remember one instance," Duncan snorted. "This freak skewered my car! Then he attacked me and my friends!"

"So you believe Daniels is dangerous?" The Prosecutor asked.

"Hell yeah. Oh sorry your honor but look at him!"

"What the hell did you ever see in him Jean?" Rogue asked as Duncan was questioned.

"I don't know…" Jean moaned. "I can honestly say I don't know."

Soon Jack was cross-examining him. "Mr. Matthews you say the defendant attacked you and destroyed your car, but that was only because you were threatening some mutant kids from the institute, is that true?"

"Hey one of them wrecked a wall!" Duncan snapped. "We were just gonna teach 'em a lesson that's all."

"I see," Jack said. "And by teaching mutants a lesson you then went and stole some drill bits and dynamite from the mining company where you worked and attacked the Morlocks?"

"Hey I paid for that!" Duncan snapped. "I did some time."

"30 days thanks to the lawyers from the FOH," Jack said. "You owe a lot to Mr. Creed don't you?"

"Hey the man saved my life. I'd do anything for him."

"Even help him frame someone for a murder he committed?" Jack asked.

"Oh no I see where this is going…" Duncan snapped. "I knew you were gonna try and pin this on Creed, Daniels! You can't blame him for this either! You were there too!"

"What are you babbling about?" Judge Brooks asked.

"Keep your mouth shut you idiot!" An FOH supporter shouted from the back.

"Quiet!" Judge Brooks snapped.

"Creed was nowhere near the Power 8 plant and you know it Daniels!" Duncan snapped.

"And how would you know that Mr. Matthews?" Jack asked.

"Nothing I just do," Duncan clammed up.

"I think you do know more," Jack held up a videotape. "Your honor I have another videotape for evidence."

"Another video?" Judge Brooks winced.

"This video is from the security cameras at the FOH headquarters the night Guy Spears was murdered," Jack told him.

"And how the hell did you get that?" Duncan snapped.

"I'd like to know the answer to that question," Judge Brooks looked at him.

"Uh…Confidential sources," Jack gulped.

"Oh yeah right," Duncan sneered.

"Your honor clearly this 'evidence' is tainted," The Prosecutor leapt up.

"This evidence clears Evan Daniels of murder," Jack said. "It places him with Creed at the time of the murder."

The entire court started to stir. "What?" Judge Brooks snapped. "Why the hell didn't you enter this evidence before?"

"We've only recently acquired this video," Jack told him.

"And how did you exactly acquire it?" Judge Brooks snapped. "I'm not so sure we can enter another dubious…"

"Oh let them see it!" Duncan snapped. "At least it will prove Creed couldn't have offed Spears! I told you we should have said something that night!"

"Wait you were there the night of the murder?" Jack asked.

"Yeah we were just talking about…stuff at our headquarters when all of the sudden Daniels bursts through the door and starts threatening us!" Duncan said.

"What time was this?" Jack asked.

"Around 8 PM," Duncan admitted. "I remember it because the game was on in the other room and it just started."

"So Evan Daniels was at the FOH headquarters?"

"Yeah that mutie was there," Duncan snarled.

"Your honor…" Jack said.

"The witness will refrain from making any derogatory remarks about the defendant," Judge Brooks warned sternly.

"Fine Daniels was there," Duncan said sarcastically. "But he totally must have killed Spears before he got there!"

"Your honor…" Jack said. "That is speculation."

"Speculation my ass freak!" Duncan hissed at Jack. "You freaks think you're gonna set Creed up and make him take the fall well think again!" He leapt at Jack.

"Bailiffs! Restrain that man!" Judge Brooks pounded his gavel. "Court will break for recess. I need a drink…"

"I swear this is all a set up! I know you set up Creed," Duncan shouted at Evan as he was dragged away. "Somehow you're responsible for all this! Well you don't fool me! I know the truth! You killed Spears and that's that! We'll get you for this! We'll get you and your damned sewer freaks if it's the last thing we ever do!"

"And it may be," Rogue muttered underneath her breath.

"I hate my life," Judge Brooks moaned.

"Boy those FOH lawyers are gonna be real busy this weekend," Logan grunted.

Next: A night of romantic madcap insanity and destruction begins!