"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," said Fitzsimmons, "from the time Miss Altheim lied to the FBI about not being a mutant, she has proven risky to national and international security, and eventually a threat to human lives every time she gets into a scrape. And in the rare instance when the people have reason to believe she is being completely honest, she admits openly to being responsible for all these deaths. That she premeditated these crimes. While she may claim that her intent was to prevent further bloodshed, we have little evidence supporting the allegations that the Church of Humanity posed such a threat to the world as she suggested. Whatever her intentions, her intent was clear- to complete her mission regardless of the cost, even if it meant violating orders and at the expense of innocent people's lives.

Ladies and gentlemen, while you deliberate, consider the following. The men who died because of this mutant may have been pawns in an evil scheme. But that does not mean they deserve to die. And consider the precedent any leniency might set. If you decide, despite the evidence, that the accused is not guilty, what's to prevent mutants, in the government or otherwise, from taking the law into their own hands? Every law would be rendered pointless, and our nation, our civilization, our way of life, will give way to chaos and vigilantism. On behalf of humanity, I thank you in advance for your role in removing this woman from the general population."

Fitzsimmons resumed her seat, and Jack stood to address the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen, my esteemed counterpart brought up an interesting point when she mentioned intent and premeditation. As you know, the prerequisites for being convicted of these charges are motive, intent, and premeditation. Sure, Kassandra had motive. Her testimony and the reports submitted for your consideration make that abundantly clear. But think about how you'd react if your church leaders were threatened, your friends and loved ones kidnapped, assaulted, enslaved, or even murdered. That happened, yes, and by the same people who twice tried to kill her even before they knew she was a mutant. So yes, she had motive.

"But as for intent, we also have in her reports as well as the testimony of several witnesses now that her intent was, at worst, that of someone plotting the surrender of enemy combatants who had declared war upon all mutants and their sympathizers. Bear in mind, the supreme pontiff had issued statements openly declaring war upon mutantkind. Only after she tried to negotiate with the very people who were, at that same moment, firing upon her, did she finally react- to defend herself. The evidence, such as her behavior at St. James' Hospital, actually proves that she did not intend to kill anyone.

"And as for premeditation, that also has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. There is a tremendous difference between planning to commit a felony, and knowing the likelihood that you might do something terrible in the fulfillment of your mission, and trying to avoid having to do so.

"The same goes for the other charges. We cannot say beyond a reasonable doubt that she is a traitor when the evidence overwhelmingly shows that in this, she was motivated actually by loyalty to the ideals of our nation.

"Ladies and gentleman, your duty is to find my client guilty only if the evidence is convincing beyond all reasonable doubt. If there is any doubt in your mind whatsoever, the Constitution dictates that we must presume innocence, and acquit."

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Gamesmaster normally was not interested in wasting concentration on anything after being defeated once. But the proposal of that extradimensional character with the tertiary mutations and the nigh-impregnable psi-blocks intrigued him. For a chance to play such an important role in the upcoming war of mutant ascendancy, he was willing to make another attempt.

"Kassandra, ist alles in Ordnung?" Vincent asked. He did not like one bit the look Kassandra's face took on as they prepared to leave the courthouse.

"Oh, ja," she replied. "Warum nicht?" Indeed, why not? While she had been raked over the coals and very much dreaded the verdict, she looked forward to this evening. Evening Mass at St. Philip Howard's with Kurt, Mama, Lucy, Vincent, and Michael, then meeting all the others for supper. And after that, whether to have some fun on the town, turn each to more prayer, or ideally some combination of both remained to be seen. At any rate, it was more time with family and friends, and she was not about to let her apprehension, no matter how much it made sense, ruin it. But this sudden depression- and the urge to hide it rather than get it out of her system- she had no idea where that came from. And that frightened her.

Vincent remained unconvinced. Maybe Kassandra could lie with the easy composure necessary to pass a polygraph examination, but emotional distance while among people near and dear to her was not normal.

"Level with me, Schwesterlein," said Vincent.

"Only if you stop calling me that." Kassandra lightly punched him in the shoulder as they strolled out. On their way, they overheard Trish Tilby reporting.

"Yes, the testimony that has been delivered today does shed new light on the evidence, and if the jury does indeed hold no bias, things look very good for the defense…"

Kassandra sighed with relief. "Well, it appears I've accomplished what I intended."

"And the rest is in God's hands now," Vincent replied.

Not if the Gamesmaster had anything to do with it.

"Still, maybe Mama or Lucy should stay with me tonight. I'm not feeling quite like myself," said Kassandra.