The Power of Hope

Chapter Eight

By: Lily Handle

Author's Note: Ugh, I caught the flu, lost all motivation for writing and am completely miserable. I honestly didn't mean to leave you readers hanging for so long, but I'm just dead. At least it's spring break now and I don't have school to deal with. Here's chapter eight, now I'm going back to my little cave of blankets to hide and wallow in misery.

When Murdock sat back down, the judge looked up, "Is the prosecution ready to call its first witness?"

"Yes your honor, we will be calling Agent Andrew Johansen." Hope instantly recalled the name, it was one of the two MPD agents who had arrested her. Murdock had gone over every witness McKenna would call with her only a few days before the trial had started and she hadn't even known who Agent Johansen was, but now she didn't even need to glance towards him to recall his face. He had been the one to tell her she was under arrest for murder. He was a stocky man, over forty with a bald spot, but he looked professional in his blue suit with his copper badge shinning brightly for all the television lights. Hope felt a little shimmer of fear as he was sworn in. It was this man who had convinced the federal government to charge her. He had spent three months working on her case, gathering evidence so she would end up here and eventually behind bars.

"Please state your name for the record, spelling the last," McKenna said, standing back from the witness box.

"Andrew Johansen, J-O-H-A-N-S-E-N."

"And what is it you do, Mr. Johansen?"

"I'm a special investigator for the Mutant Policing Division."

"How are you involved with this case?"

"I was the lead investigator, along with my partner Agent George Drake, into the death of Wilson Trask."

"Will you please tell us about your investigation?"

"We were called to investigate when the medical examiner listed Mr. Trask death as suspicious. We, my partner and I, started looking first into the last person to see Mr. Trask alive, Dr. Hope Chandler."

"And what did you discover through the course of your investigation?"

"We discovered that whoever was responsible for Mr. Trask death would have to be a mutant who could generate an electrical power of some sorts. Dr. Chandler had this type of abilities. We found Dr. Chandler's hand prints and foot prints in Mr. Trask blood at the crime scene and there were bloody footprints and handprints in Mr. Trask cabin. The blood was later matched to Mr. Trask and the footprints and handprints again matched Dr. Chandler."

"And what did you conclude from this evidence?"

"That Dr. Chandler was the one responsible for Mr. Trask death."

"Through your investigation did you find an evidence that would point to Dr. Chandler acting in self-defense?"

"No, the evidence didn't point in that direction."

"I have no more questions for this witness, you honor." McKenna glanced once at the jury and then sat. The judge asked Murdock if he was ready for his cross-examination, Murdock rose and carefully made his way to stand in front of Agent Johansen.

"Mr. Johansen, during the course of your investigation did you look into any other suspects?" He asked.

"No, the evidence didn't warrant it."

"So even though Mr. Trask was a known terrorist, responsible for the attack on the Capitol building, you never checked to see if anyone else could have killed him?"

"No, the evidence…"

"Thank you," Murdock interrupted, "Now, Mr. Johansen, did you ever interview my client?"

"No."

"So you never once in the course of your investigation asked my client to tell her side of the story?"

"We had a previous interview conducted by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that we used during the investigation," Johansen explained, staring Murdock down.

"Ah, okay, I see. And what did this interview say?"

"Objection!" McKenna shot to his feet, "Relevance, your honor?"

"Over ruled," The judge fixed a hard stare on McKenna, "I see where Mr. Murdock is going with this. Please continue."

"Thank you, your honor," Murdock nodded once to the judge then focused again on Johansen, "Now, what did this interview say, Mr. Johansen."

"I don't remember the exact wording."

"Ah, okay," Murdock walked carefully back to the table and picked up one of his carefully arraigned folders, "You honor please let the record show that I am showing the interview conducted by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to opposing counsel."

"So noted." Murdock handed the folder to McKenna and Hope could practically feel him growl at Murdock. Murdock then approached the witness stand with the folder in hand.

"Mr. Johansen could you please read the highlighter portion of the interview?" Murdock asked as he handed over the folder to Johansen.

"It looks like Dr. Chandler acted in defense of herself and her life, S.H.I.E.L.D will conduct no further investigation."

"That's all the questions I have for this witness, your honor."

"Any redirect, Mr. McKenna?"

"No, your honor."

"Then call your second witness."

"The prosecution now calls Dr. Jessica Clearwater to the stand." A woman in her mid-thirties rose from the gallery. She was taller than Hope, with cropped blond hair and shockingly blue eyes. Hope recognized the arrogant tilt to her chin as a doctor's ego. She had carried herself like that many times before. Once sworn in and announced to the court McKenna smiled charmingly at the doctor.

"How are you involved in this case, Dr. Clearwater?"

"I preformed the autopsy on Mr. Wilson Trask," she answered in a slight New York accent.

"And what did you find?"

"Mr. Trask died from severe internal bleeding."

"Caused by?"

"From the looks of his blood vessels they burst and he bled out."

"Was there anything else unusual about Mr. Trask's body?"

"Yes, there was. His whole spinal column was in a liquid state and his nerve endings had been shredded."

"And what did you theorize could be the cause of this?"

"Well, after doing some research the only explanation that was plausible was from some sort of mutant attack."

"Did you ask for any sort of second opinion on this conclusion?"

"Yes, I asked Dr. Shaun Anderson the country's top pathologist and an expert in mutant genetics for his opinion, he said…"

"Objection, hear say," Murdock said quickly cutting Dr. Clearwater off.

"The prosecution will be calling Dr. Shaun Anderson at a later time to corroborate Dr. Clearwater's statement," McKenna interjected.

"Then let Mr. Anderson make the statement, Ms. Clearwater's statement will still be hear say," Murdock shot back.

"You've made your point Mr. Murdock, the objection is sustained. Either rephrase or call Dr. Anderson now, Mr. McKenna."

"I withdraw the question your honor, and have no further questions for this witness."

"Are you ready for your cross examination, Mr. Murdock?"

"Yes your honor. Ms. Clearwater, have you ever seen an autopsy with similar results as Mr. Trask's?"

"Yes, some similar ones, but never one like this."

"And what caused those results?"

"One was caused by a main artery being blocked, and the other a man was electrocuted."

"Could one of these reason be the cause of Mr. Trask death?"

"It's highly unlikely."

"But there is a chance?"

"Mr. Murdock, for Mr. Trask to have such results by such causes every single one of his blood vessels would need to be block, and the electrocution would need to be so severe as to cause death, but leave no external markings, and that's impossible. So yes, there is a chance that he could have died by other reasons, but it's about as likely as you sprouting wings and flying."

Kitty was spending way too much time around computers. She saw blue screens when she closed her eyes, and could hear the tick-tick of keys and the hum of processors where ever she went. It was driving her nuts, but at least she was doing something to help Dr. Hope out. The other kids were always talking about how they wanted to help, and she had to sit there, keeping her mouth shut. She wasn't allowed to talk about what she was doing instead of going to school. Of course she still had to do all the homework Jean brought her, which was a pain. At least she got to weasel out of training sessions to monitor the computers, and she got to watch the trial. Logan had beat her down to the computer room, like always, but he hadn't been watching the monitors with that almost creepy intensity he usually did. The television was on and he was scowling at it, like it had done something wrong.

Kitty had silently chewed on her lip for a minute before asking, "Something wrong, Mr. Logan?"

He hadn't even glanced towards her, "Nothin'."

"Oh, uh, okay." There had been a short, awkward silence, "I'll just, like, get to work, then." His only response had been a grunt. Normally he'd at least chat with her a bit. She thought he knew she got bored and tried to keep her from losing her mind from it. Today, though, they'd worked in silence, the only sound the television on low and the hum of the computers. I should have brought my CD player, Kitty thought, then jumped as the phone rang.

Logan grabbed it before she could, "What?" He said rudely. Yikes, Kitty thought, someone's in a bad mood. Logan listened to whoever had called for a few minutes, then, "I'll tell him." And hung up. That was it and Kitty frowned. She'd heard of short phone conversations but this one took the prize. What had it been about, and why did Logan suddenly have that closed off look on his face? She mentally growled, why did she even bother wondering? It's not like he'd ever reveal what went on in that head of his. Annoyed and bored Kitty turned back to the screens and pulled up a game of solitaire.

When Hope returned to the Institute she was fired by stress and fear. She just wasn't cut out for this sort of thing. And in one day of court they'd only gotten through two witnesses! Two! If that was the pattern for the rest of the trial it would take months to finish this. She couldn't handle months of this. At least she'd managed to get her family to agree to go back home instead of camping out in the Institute. Her mother's constant hovering, her father's constant bad mouthing of the government and Thea's insane up beat denial of the seriousness of the situation would only fray Hope's nerves more. She put up with a few minutes of working the Infirmary, but when she couldn't get her hands to stop shaking she gave up and retreated to her room. There she popped open a cupboard in the bathroom and pulled out a decanter of bourbon. Completely against the Institute's rules she had kept it anyway and now she was glad she had. She didn't bother with a glass and took three swift swallows. She coughed as it burned into her stomach and put the bottle back into its hiding place, disgusted with herself. Drinking to ease nerves, what was she? An alcoholic? She'd have to find something else to steady herself and pulled the bottle back out and dumped it down the drain. This trial was ruining her life, but she wasn't about to help it along by turning to the bottle.

Now I need coffee to dull the bourbon, Hope thought and headed for the door to her room. As she walked by Maverick's she paused at the sound of voices coming through the door.

"So, it's time then?" She recognized Maverick's voice, but his tone was so deadly serious she had to inch closer to listen.

"We move tonight. Dock eighteen, warehouse six. Fury says McKenna and Holtzhour always show up with at least ten guards in full body armor and heavily armed. The third party brings more. He'll call us when McKenna and Holtzhour take off, then we've got two hours." It was unmistakably Logan's growling voice and Hope scowled. What was going on? Why was McKenna involved and the head of the MPD for that matter?

"You gonna stand out there ease droppin' the whole night, Doc?" Hope took a step back and stared at the door in astonishment when Logan called through the door. Damn those heightened senses, she thought as she pushed the door open and walked guiltily into the room. Well, if she was in for a penny, she was in for a pound and squared her shoulders. She might as well try to get some answers out of the two brutes.

Author's Note: Blah, so short, so horrible. I don't like doing court scenes, but they're so important to this story. Thank God the next chapter won't have any until the end. Don't ask how long it will take me to get chapter nine out, I'm pretty sure I'm dieing. Please read and review.