The next day at the courthouse, jury selection wrapped up. And already the jurors were well aware that this was not going to be another hassle to weasel out of, nor another vacation paid for by the government. The defendant was being charged with all kinds of heinous crimes. Yet she didn't look or even act as if she was capable of hurting even a gnat. Her attorney, on the other hand looked far more worthy of the shackles she wore than she did. He had just angrily requested to approach the bench. The trial hadn't even really started, and already things were getting interesting. A few of the jurors leaned in hoping to catch a little of the apparently heated exchange he had at the sidebar with the prosecutor and the judge.
"It's one thing if the grand jury that's in session happens to have no mutants on it, but to deliberately select only non-mutants for this jury violates my client's right to a trial by her peers."
"Your Honor," said the prosecutor. "The defendant had for years been passing herself off as human and even to this day identifies herself as human. An all-human jury should suffice. Besides, we don't want to risk, say, a telepath on the jury manipulating the proceedings."
Judge Montgomery was not comfortable with the regulations placed upon mutants, but she was first and foremost an interpreter and enforcer of the law. "Mr. White, while I appreciate your point, as we had explained to the selection pool, it is your client who is on trial, not mutant regulations, nor," she looked hard at the prosecutor, "mutants or mutation in general. Swear in the jury."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"And our reporter is coming to you live from the Washington DC federal courthouse, where the trial of mutant spy Kassandra Altheim just got under weigh this morning. How are things going out there?" said the anchorman.
"Things are already getting quite heated out here," said the newswoman, indicating the crowd of anti-mutant protestors and attention starved goofballs trying to get their faces on television.
"And the cross-examinations promise to be even more so. Witnesses are being brought in from as far away as England, France, Italy and Altheim's native Namibia to take the stand. And even witnesses from the United States include people such as CIA Director Gerald Karst, Warren Worthington III, and various members of the notorious band of mutants, the X-Men."
"Will Charles Xavier be there? I understand he was a longtime friend of the Altheim family."
"No. As telepaths, he and Dr. Jean Grey will actually not be allowed there at all. Some other witnesses, due to the nature of their mutations, will also not be allowed in the courtroom. Rather, they will have to deliver their testimony via closed-circuit feed. Others might- and this is purely speculative- but they might be allowed in on the condition that they wear inhibitors while delivering their testimony or leave immediately when they're finished. The only one who will be allowed to stay in the courtroom for the duration of all the proceedings will be Altheim herself, also on the condition that she wears inhibitors and restraints."
"So I bet the mutant rights activists will be up in arms over this treatment," said the anchorman.
"Oh, they are," said the reporter. "But if you look at it one way, it's really no different than forbidding weapons in the courtroom."
"The defense would like to call Warren Worthington III to the stand."
Archangel was sworn in, then took his seat by the judge's bench. Kassandra had not seen as much as she would have liked of him lately, but was glad to see that he was looking remarkably well, especially considering all he'd been through. And she was even more pleased to see that nobody insisted on binding his wings.
"So, Mr. Worthington," said Jack, "I've heard you've had a rather checkered history with my client. Would you agree with that description?"
"Yes," said Warren. "Yes, I would."
"And why?"
"In the time I've known her, I've known her as an ally, an enemy, and finally as a friend."
"How would you describe her in each of those capacities, Mr. Worthington?"
"As an enemy, make no mistake. She can be dangerous. As an ally, she can be difficult and unpredictable, and may not take orders or suggestions well. But as a friend, she is very loyal."
"Would you say she extends that same loyalty to her country?"
"Absolutely. I can't tell you how many assignments she'd taken at risk to her own life out of her sense of patriotic duty."
"But based on what you do know, do you think she is the sort that would intentionally betray or kill anyone."
"No." Warren thought for a bit. "No. Not intentionally."
"Thank you, Mr. Worthington." Jack took his seat.
Fitzsimmons rose and approached the stand. "Mr. Worthington, could you state for the benefit of the jurors who may not already know what your occupation is?"
"I am chairman emeritus of Worthington Industries."
"And how did such an illustrious person as yourself come to regard Miss Altheim as an enemy in the first place? Was it anything she did?"
"No, it was not."
"What happened, then?"
Warren hesitated, one wing giving a nervous flutter.
"Jack, you've got to stop this!" Kassandra whispered frantically.
Fitzsimmons pressed on. "Did it have anything to do with your affiliation with the mutant known as Apocalypse?"
"Kassandra, it might help if the jury knew you went up against that guy," Jack whispered back.
"Still," Kassandra replied, "She's going to ask questions Warren can't legally answer."
"Objection!" said Jack, aloud. "How is this relevant to the case?"
"Your Honor," said Fitzsimmons, "this bears upon the witness' credibility as well as his relationship to the defendant."
"Permission to approach, Your Honor?"
"Granted," said Judge Montgomery.
"Your Honor," said Jack, "this line of questioning could compel Mr. Worthington to reveal information that, while potentially helpful to my client, the CIA itself has determined is irrelevant to this case, and has kept classified."
"Your Honor," said Fitzsimmons, "Information on Mr. Worthington's involvement with the Horsemen of the Apocalypse was easily available courtesy of Mr. White's own colleague Jennifer Walters."
"But no information on my client, Your Honor," Jack retorted.
"Overruled," said Judge Montgomery. "Ms. Fitzsimmons, you may present to the jury your evidence about Mr. Worthington's affiliation with Apocalypse, but I suggest that, I suppose in the interest of national security, you change your line of questioning. And rephrase the question."
"Looks like I won't be calling on Logan to testify," Jack muttered as he returned to his seat.
Fitzsimmons presented the documents in question to the bailiff, then resumed pacing before the witness stand, trying not to look like she'd just shot herself in the foot. "Very well. Mr. Worthington, can you say if Apocalypse had anything to do with the one-time animosity between you and the defendant, without going into classified specifics?"
"Yes," said Warren. "It did."
"And now," said Fitzsimmons, "could you elaborate on how you came to regard the defendant as an ally? Did that have anything to do with the ties you share with Charles Xavier?"
"Actually, no."
"Why, then, did you go from being casual acquaintances with mutual friends to actually working together?"
"After the depth of my uncle's involvement in diamond smuggling came to their attention, the CIA recruited Kassandra to expose that syndicate's connections in Angola, South Africa, and Namibia. I had to keep her and her station chiefs updated regarding developments on my end."
"And as a diamond heiress, the defendant had a personal, vested interest in ending this illegal competition, right?"
"What about it?" said Warren, a little annoyed. "Most agents take assignments for personal gain. And do you know what she and her family have been doing with their money?"
"Mr. Worthington," snapped Judge Montgomery, "answer the question."
"Yes, she did," said Warren.
"And you were officially a contact for the CIA during that operation. Did this relationship with the agency continue up to and during Operation Conclave?"
"Officially, no."
"And yet, we have on record that she continued corresponding with you about an operation that was supposed to be top secret." Fitzsimmons presented some more papers to the bailiff, who handed a couple to Warren before distributing them to the jury. "Did the defendant send you these emails?"
"Yes she did."
"And did she call an unauthorized conference with you, the mutant formerly known as Weapon X, and Dr. Jean Grey?"
"Yes."
"Did she discuss her intentions to go to the Cathedral, without a warrant or any federal authorization?"
"Yes, she did, as well as her reasons-"
"Thank you, Mr. Worthington."
"Now just a minute-" Warren about jumped from his seat, wings whirring in indignation.
"That will be all Mr. Worthington," said Fitzsimmons, sharply. "Thank you."
