Thanks to Patty & Syl for their great beta work. Hope you all like this little part. Char :-)

COURT MARTIAL: Part 5:

Wally set two mugs of steaming hot coffee on the table in his quarters. "This sucks."

"Damn straight," Roy growled as he sat back in his chair. "Who the hell do they think they are telling us we can't see him tonight?"

"Wonder Woman told us we couldn't see him until tomorrow and I'm pretty sure she knows who she is," Wally replied. Grabbing the chair with one hand, he flipped it around and straddled it, leaning over on his elbows. "Considering it's after four in the morning, tomorrow is getting closer and closer."

"Bullshit!" Roy said before taking a sip of the hot liquid. "This is a bunch of fucking bullshit! Dick's not a murderer and they all damn well know it."

Wally looked across the table at his friend. "Agreed. Roy I just ... felt ... sick. Ya'know. My head, my stomach, physically sick. Dick seemed so ... resigned to this. He wasn't protesting, he wasn't saying that Superman was wrong, he ... just was ... just taking it. Like he was ... guilty."

Roy stood and angrily marched across the room. "Dick ain't guilty! Not of murder. Stupidity, yeah. Anal retentive, yeah. Murder, uh-uh not in our lifetimes." He released a pent up roar of frustration. "DAMMIT! We gotta do something."

"Do what? We can't do anything? What'dya wanna do? Go up against the entire JLA?" Wally asked standing up and moving toward his friend.

"If I have to," Roy said determinedly.

Wally paced in front of Roy. "What ... what if ... What're we gonna do if they convict him? They're gonna send him to some prison on some other planet Roy."

"That is fucking insane!" Roy's face was as red as his hair. He stormed around the living area of Wally's quarters. "How the hell did they come up with that asinine idea?"

Wally flopped down on the sofa, his shoulders slumping. "Green Lantern said that no matter what the League came up with on earth that the Titans or Outsiders or certainly the Bat squad would find a way to get Dick out. So he convinced the League to remove the temptation and also make the punishment fit the crime."

"Sonovabitch. He's no Hal Jordan. If Hal was here, he would've punched Stewart in the mouth." Roy sighed and sat beside Wally on the sofa. "So, they don't trust us, huh?"

"No."

"They're smart."


Plastic Man and Mr. Miracle escorted Nightwing into the Hall of Justice. Nightwing was glad to have a fresh uniform and a mask. It was easier knowing that his friends and colleagues couldn't see his eyes. The large round conference table that usually sat in the middle of the large room had been moved out. In its place sat two rectangular conference tables with a third, larger one with five empty chairs, at the head of the room. Nightwing had observed all of the current active members of the Justice League along with several reserve members and a old Titan or two. He stopped himself from making eye contact with anyone. Stopping at one of the two tables in the center of the room, Nightwing stood and softly drummed his gloved fingers on the tabletop. Mr. Miracle and Plastic Man stood a foot behind him.

Superman stood before the head table and cleared his throat. "We ... uh ... need to get started. If people will take a seat." He watched as everyone congregated to the area of seats behind the tables. His dark blue eyes followed Batman as he moved over to stand beside Nightwing. Superman ached for his friends. He also ached for himself. This was the most unpleasant duty he had ever had as League chairman. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "We all ... know why we're here. Bludhaven Police issued a warrant for Nightwing's arrest this morning. The warrant charges him with first degree murder. State and federal authorities ceded criminal jurisdiction to the Justice League to try Nightwing just after the warrant's issuance. At this time, we need to decide how to proceed. I'll recognize the Martian Manhunter at this time."

J'onn J'onzz moved beside of Superman. "Our charter and bylaws authorize the League, upon the indictment of at least one active member to bring any League member, active or reserve, before a tribunal of founding members as defined in our bylaws. Further, Article fourteen of the Charter enables the League to punish criminals in certain situations, when requested by the governing authority, and to that end, to devise a method of detainment under the review of either the United Nations or a recognized interstellar law enforcement agency."

Superman looked down before he spoke. "At this time, does any active member have anything to say ... any motions to make." Superman watched the room to see who stood to speak. You wouldn't have needed superhearing to have heard a pin drop in the Hall of Justice. Silence swallowed the room. After a few uncomfortable moments, he spoke again. "Hearing no --"

"I'll do this, if no one else will." All eyes in the room turned toward the current Green Lantern, John Stewart. "I don't know why we're all walking on eggshells about this. Since it's obvious someone has to, I'll vote to indict him for murder. First degree. Alternatively as an accessory and aider and abettor, both before and after the fact."

Nightwing exhaled the breath he had been holding and rested both balled fists on the table. He didn't watch as J'onn noted the official charges in the record. Instead, Nightwing kept his head bowed. He didn't believe the shame he had brought to Batman. Standing here, in the Hall of Justice, before the only people on the planet except for Alfred Pennyworth, Leslie Thompkins, and Jim Gordon, that Batman respected and was respected by, Nightwing felt like a worm. In a second of not remembering the code that he had followed since he donned a mask – the code taught and lived by Batman, he had walked away from Tarantula and Blockbuster. In that second, he had lost everything that mattered and became everything he had always fought against. Never once did it cross his mind when he consciously moved to the stairs what effect his actions would have on Batman. He allowed Tarantula to kill Blockbuster to stop Desmond from ruining his life and the lives of those he loved. Yet, Blockbuster had managed to achieve that from the grave. Despite Nightwing's best actions, he was damned.

Stewart sighed and walked further towards the front. "Since I seemed to be elected by default, I think we need to look at Nightwing's League status while we're at it."

"What do you mean?" Superman asked.

"The Charter allows us to hold hearings on suspension or expulsion upon indictment of any member. Upon his conviction --"

"IF he's convicted," Superman interjected. "That's not a foregone conclusion."

Roy's jaw flexed as he sat in the back watching the proceedings. "Damn right it's not," he whispered in a low growl. Engrossed as he was in watching the proceedings, he almost didn't realize someone had moved into the seat beside him until a green gloved hand rested comfortingly on his.

Stewart continued undeterred, "In the event that he's not convicted, I'm issuing an indictment under Article sixteen for suspension of Nightwing's League membership for deliberate dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming a League member."

Nightwing felt the weight of his body in his arms as he leaned slightly over on the table. It wasn't just the weight of his body pressing down upon him. It was the weight of his sins.

"If he's convicted, I move that a permanent record of expulsion from the League be entered in the record." John looked around at the hard glares of several league members, the slight nods of assent of others, and the uncertainty in still others. His eyes lingered slightly on Batman's ramrod straight stance and then the defeated slumped posture of Nightwing. Finally, he turned back to Superman's frown. Stewart sighed. "Look, I'm just saying that no matter the outcome, we have to deal with this as if it wasn't someone we know or even like." He shook his head. "I understand what you're thinking and I know some other League members feel the same way. However, we cannot afford to let this slide. No matter my or anyone else's personal feelings on this, the League can never seem to be anything but on the right side. We hold a trust and if we appear to be anything less that what we are, we will validate Luthor's and others viewpoints on the power the League wields."

Superman shook his head. "This isn't the time for this --"

"No, it is. We're moving into dangerous territory here. We're acting as enforcement and judicial arms in this case. Why? Because we have a murderer in our ranks --"

Superman interrupted again. "Accused," his voice held an uncharacteristically hard tone.

"Fine. Even though the evidence appears to be overwhelming, let's set that aside for a moment. An accused murderer in our ranks casts suspicions on our ability to be fair and follow the laws, rules and guidelines of the governing bodies of the world. We must make sure that everyone understands that this will NOT be a kangaroo court, but will have meaning. The first step is to show these charges are going to be dealt with seriously. Very seriously. AND the best way to do that is to show the world that we are willing to set Nightwing aside from the League. Show a clear, united front that we will not hesitate to remove Nightwing from any privileges or preferences of hero status in the League … permanently."

Roy's body jerked forward in an effort to quickly stand and move toward the front of the Hall of Justice, when Green Arrow's hand closed hard around his. The movement stopped Roy as if he had been knocked back, and Green Arrow spoke to him, "Not now boy. It's not the time or the place."

"But it will be," Roy growled. "Soon enough."

J'onn noted the additional charges and looked up. "Our Charter establishes the tribunal as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and myself. However, Batman will naturally have to recuse himself from this proceeding and Superman has informed me that he will have to recuse himself as well. They have the right to choose their replacements on the tribunal."

Blue Beetle stood and spoke in a clear firm voice. "I would like to be recognized by the chair to address a point of order."

Superman turned surprised eyes toward the normally quiet hero. He hadn't even considered the possibility that Blue Beetle would involve himself in these procedures. "Chair recognizes Blue Beetle."

Blue Beetle took a deep breath and moved forward. "I understand that many here know and may have held Nightwing in high regard in the past. However, several here have served with him both in the JLA and in the Titans especially during his tenure of leadership in both organizations. I would respectively submit that it be formally noted that the qualified replacements cannot have served with him."

Wally crossed his arms. "Yes, we wouldn't want someone that actually thinks highly of Nightwing to be on the panel. God Forbid."

Ted Kord whirled angrily on Wally. "Exactly. We need people who won't go into this with a verdict in mind. Maybe nonmetas who NEVER have crossed this line and understand exactly what it takes to not make this decision."

"I think both Batman and I know not to choose someone who would only have to recuse himself," Superman answered angrily. Usually he held his emotions in check but the last twelve hours had worn his ability to do that to a thread. Regaining his composure, he turned toward J'onn. "My replacement will be Captain Marvel."

J'onn nodded and turned to Batman. "And your replacement?"

Batman had remained motionless during the entire proceeding. Looking at Blue Beetle, he spoke, his voice flat but with the slight hint of rage that seethed below the surface. "Green Arrow." Seeing Connor Hawke flanking Roy along with Oliver Queen, Batman clarified his choice. "The first Green Arrow." He wrapped his cape tightly around him when he spoke.

Roy's head jerked and he looked at his mentor. "You knew?" Green Arrow nodded. "Sweet."

Nightwing still stared at the table top. He started shaking his head. Why were they going through all this? It was just stupid. The whole thing was stupid and surreal and -- "What's the point?" he angrily asked aloud. "What's the dam--" Batman quickly grabbed Nightwing's arm. Nightwing looked up into Batman's face and his voice left him. The anger and shame that was overwhelming him broke its hold and he simply sighed. His jaw flexed as he held Batman's gaze. "Why?" Batman remained silent, yet his grip never wavered. Nightwing exhaled again before pulling his bottom lip in slightly and bringing his teeth down into the skin. If Batman felt he had to go through the farce of a trial, he would. It was only the beginning of his punishment.

"Very well," the Martian Manhunter began bringing the room's attention back to himself and away from the tormented young man who stood in its center. "Green Lantern, you seem to be the proper person to prosecute, unless you have any objections to this position." Seeing Green Lantern's reluctant assent, J'onzz nodded toward Blue Beetle. "Would you assist?" Ted Kord nodded. J'onn finally turned back to Nightwing and asked, "Have you decided which League member you want to defend you?"

Nightwing shrugged and started to speak. He never did, however. The computers in the watchtower came to life like sentient beings, and the hologram generators allowed the pixilated presence of the all-seeing Oracle to enter the proceedings. The extra-large holographic images of the funerary mask of the Trojan oracle Cassandra appeared to float throughout the Hall of Justice. Nightwing looked up into the large, glowing green face floating in the center of the room. The face was that of the long-dead Trojan prophetess of doom. Behind the face, was the woman he loved. The woman who no longer wanted a relationship with him. Did she know ... what else ... had happened on that roof? Nightwing had no way of knowing. He only knew, deep in his soul, that this was a harbinger of his doom.

TO BE CONTINUED ...