Thanks to Patty for her beta work. She is the bestest :-) I hope you all enjoy part 15. Happy New Year. Char :-)

COURT MARTIAL: Part 15

Wonder Woman needed solitude. The evening had been more than troubling. This case was not just a case. Nightwing was not just a defendant. He was a son, friend, and leader among most of the people in their world. The heroes of the world united in the various teams to work together, but it was more than just that. They were friends, family; they were close, a community. Nightwing -- Dick Grayson -- had been very special to her sister Donna.

What would Donna say about all this? About her part in this? Perhaps, perhaps she should have recused herself from the Tribunal? But, if everyone Nightwing has touched or meant something to them or a loved one recused themselves, no one would be available to sit on the Tribunal. And their primary objective was, after all, justice. And justice was not always the easy way out.

She moved into the Observation Room for some quiet meditation. She froze in the door way. Her eyes fell upon Batman. His cowl was off. He seemed transfixed at the large windows looking at the earth below them. The scene was beautiful. The earth sat in the tapestry of space like a large blue Christmas ball hanging in an ebony tree. White clouds floated over the blue surface. Wonder Woman turns to leave him alone with his musings.

"You don't have to leave Diana," he called out never moving from his position.

"How did you ... never mind. I ... I don't think we need to talk right now. I'm one of the judges and I don't want to be unduly influenced."

"Do you really think I'd try to do that?"

"No. But ... he is your son and I ... I think that I would let myself be influenced. I may even want to be."

"Understood." He pulled his cape tight around him and turned, "You can stay. I'm leaving."

"No. No ... this is more of a place for you and contemplation."

"That's the problem. Too much ..." he sighed. "Nevermind."

"Too much?" she asked moving closer to the window and Batman.

"Contemplation. Sometimes I ... I think too much."

Cocking her head, she smiled. "It is what you are."

"Yes. And we can't change who we are."

She sighed. "Some have."

Batman's jaw flexed. "I better go. Princess." He headed toward the door. His heavy strides on the metal floor echoing and reverberating in the room.

"No ... that ... that was uncalled for. I apologize. I should not have said --"

Batman whirled and looked at her. His face a mask of emotion, however his eyes betrayed him. "I don't want to unduly influence you Diana ... but ... just ... listen to him before you make up your mind. At least, ... give my son a chance. More of a chance in the trial than you gave him in the hearing earlier tonight."

She lowered her head. "Bruce." She watched him as he stood immobile except for the flexing of his jaw muscle. "I think ... I should go."

His voice was gravely when he spoke. "No. Stay. Contemplate. I need to call home. I ... I'm staying in the watchtower until this is ... over."

She watched him leave. There was such an empty, hollow, feeling inside her. "Oh Bruce," she sighed and turned back to the view of the earth below them.

"Kind of like Olympus," the voice suddenly beside her said.

Diana shook her head without looking at the familiar presence. "No. It is different. This maybe thought of a place of gods, but it really is a place of justice. At least, I hope." She smiled , "In any case, Hephaestus. Welcome."

"I heard you had need of my services, Diana."

"Yes," she said as she faced the ancient Greek god of the forge. "I need special restraints. Let me explain exactly what I have in mind."


"So, this is the moon. I've never been here before," Catwoman said. She followed Starfire and Huntress to the secure area of the Watch Tower. Starfire dragged the nearly unconscious and fully restrained Tarantula along.

The women rounded the corner and stopped. Before them Nightwing was being escorted into the secure area.

"Dick," Starfire whispered.

Catwoman's eyes narrowed. "They're treating him like he's a criminal. I don't like this at all."

Huntress crossed her arms over her chest. "Neither do I. At least we're going to put the right one in jail," she said kicking Tarantula's feet.

Starfire headed for the secure area, "We have a prisoner for you," she called.

The three men turned towards her. Nightwing saw Tarantula in Starfire's grip. Turning back he headed into the common area between the cells. He ignored his jailers and walked into his cell to the far wall. He wanted them to close the door. He did not want to see ... her. Ever again.

"Quidero," Tarantula called out weakly.

Nightwing closed his eyes, took a deep breath and tried to use a meditation technique to ignore everything that was happening around him.

Booster watched Nightwing. He moved over and pressed the buttons causing the heavy promethium reinforced titanium vanadium door slide shut behind him. He turned in time to see Starfire glaring at him. She threw Tarantula into the common area.

Nightwing found it difficult to concentrate on the meditation. The clanging of the cell door and the sliding of the locking mechanism invaded his thoughts. Meditation wasn't working. He pulled his mask off and angrily threw it across the cell and listened to the familiar, yet angry voice in the common area. Shaking his head, he plopped down on his bunk.

"That is the murderer! Lock that up! Nightwing does not deserve to be in a cell," Starfire spat.

Plastic Man took Tarantula by her arms and helped her up. He moved her into a cell on the other side of the secure area from Nightwing's cell and sat her on a bunk. Gently, he removed the restraints on her, moved out into the common area and caused the cell door to close behind him, trapping the young woman inside.

"She took a beating," he said thumbing back toward the cell door.

"Not enough of one," Catwoman said as she lithely roamed the area, her hand sliding on the smooth metal walls. "Clostrophobic place, isn't it?"

"It's supposed to be. It's a confinement area," Booster said looking her over cautiously.

"It's a jail," she replied. "It's a jail on the moon, but it's still a jail. I know a jail when I get close to one."

"Aren't you," Booster shook his hand pointing toward her, "Catwoman?"

"Yes," she purred.

He scratched his head and looked at Plastic Man. "I'm confused. I thought Catwoman was a villain. Why's she on the Watch Tower and who let her in?"

"She came with me," Starfire replied. "She works with Batman."

"Smart cookie, this red head," Catwoman added. "Works with ... not FOR ... Batman. There's a big difference there." She stopped, having made her way around the round area to Nightwing's cell. She looked in the small portal that allowed her to glimpse into the cell. He had thrown his mask across the cell. He sat on the bunk, one knee pulled up, his arm crooked around it, his head down. He seemed so far removed from the laughing boy daredevil she had known since he was ten. She did not like this at all. Something deep inside her was churning. Her mouth set hard and she whirled around. "I don't like this at all. Where is Batman?"

Plastic Man shrugged. "I dunno. He was still in the Hall when we left after the hearing."

"Hearing? What hearing?" Huntress asked.

"About how to restrain him," Booster replied pointing toward Nightwing's cell.

"He seems restrained to me." Catwoman moved from the cell door and headed toward the main door to the secure area. "He's in a cell."

"That's obviously not enough," Plastic Man added. "He let himself out earlier tonight and it caused a stink. The higher ups have decided to place him in additional restraints as soon as they can make them."

"WHAT?" Catwoman whirled. "What kind of additional restraints do you mean?"

"I dunno. I think they're going to keep him chained up."

"Chained. Up." Starfire was angry. "That is not at all acceptable!"

"Damn straight it's not," Catwoman added. "Where's Batman?"

"I don't know," Booster said. "He'll probably go to his quarters."

"Which is?" Catwoman asked. "I've never been on this bucket of bolts before. Spill with the directions. Now."

Huntress moved beside Catwoman. "I know where it is. I'll show you. I ... I need to get away from here. Before I hurt someone."

Starfire's green eyes seemed to glow. "Let me see Nightwing."

"I'm not sure if he's supposed to have visitors," Plastic Man started. "Until he's restrained."

"I was not asking."

Plastic Man entered the code to open the cell door and allow Starfire entrance. Quickly he closed the door and moved to a table in the center of the room. "I don't know who's worse, her or Batman."

Booster shrugged and slid a pad and pen to his friend. "You've got a schedule to make. Do you think we could get a TV up here?"


Huntress showed Catwoman to the living quarters of the active members that were situated on level two of the facility. "Each current active member has a personalized suite," she said as if giving a tour as they walked.

"Can't wait to see the bats in his room."

A smile cracked on Huntress's face. "You think that's what he put up?"

"Probably hasn't personalized it at all, if I know him. He would consider it a waste of his time."

"You know him very well don't you?" Huntress asked.

"Yes, as well as anyone I suppose," Catwoman replied, memories coming unbidden to her mind.

"This has to be hard on him. He's ... protective of Nightwing."

Catwoman nodded. "Yes, but he has a reason to be."

"This is Batman's suite. I ... I'm gonna go back to Gotham. Let him know that," Huntress looked down, "that we'll take care of the city until he and ... Nightwing ... are back."

Selina nodded and watched Huntress walk away down the corridor. Turning to the door she said to herself, "Do I knock or ... no." She pressed the buttons causing the door to slide open and entered the sparcely decorated room. "I knew it," she said looking around.

"Knew what?" the deep baritone called from the shadows.

"Your decorating tastes."

"Umhm. Why are you here?" Batman moved from the shadows. He was still attired in his full costume, but for the cape, cowl and utility belt.

"We delivered Tarantula. I've never been on the moon before so I thought I'd tag along." She moved to the window looking down. "Interesting view. You people could make a killing selling vacations up here."

"Selina," he half growled.

She turned and leaned into the wall. Taking one hand she pulled her goggles and mask off and let them drop to the floor. "I'm surprised you're here and so ... calm. You do know what they're planning on doing to Nightwing. Where they're holding him?"

"I'm aware."

"And you're so calm," she stated incredulously.

"I am anything but calm," he answered.

"So what are we going to do about it?" she asked.

"We are gonna to do nothing. You are going to return to Gotham." He crossed the distance between them, looked into her green eyes, turned on his heels and headed toward the kitchenette.

"Not so fast buster. You aren't dismissing me like this."

"I'm not dismissing you Selina, I just ..." he turned and walked past her handing her a cola as he passed. "You don't need to involve yourself in this."

"I am already involved." She sat the drink on the counter and followed him to the black leather sofa and sat beside him, her hand coming to rest on his thigh. "This involves Dick and you and that means it involves me. Like it or not. Whatever you are planning, you better plan on three rather than two."

"Selina,"

"No. Don't you 'Selina' me, Bruce Wayne. Besides, I have more experience in being on the lam from superheroes than you do." He turned the infamous Bat glare on her. She smiled. "Don't try that glare with me. It's never worked. Honestly, I don't see why it ever worked with anyone else either. I know exactly what you have on your mind and I intend to help you. Get used to it."


Dick turned from Kory at the sound of his cell door sliding open. He stood up from his bunk as he watched Wonder Woman and the Martian Manhunter enter the cell. Behind them, he could see Barbara and Ted Kord in the commons area.

Wonder Woman looked at Starfire and spoke, "Would you please excuse us. The Tribunal has business here."

"I know your business," Koriand'r stood, moving between the Amazonian warrior and Nightwing.

"Then you know you need to leave," J'onn added.

"Kory, it's okay. Go," Dick reassured.

"But," she protested.

"No. It's okay. Go on."

Barbara spoke up, "Koriand'r, you may observe with me." She held her hand out beckoning Starfire to her side.

Wonder Woman turned to meet Barbara's stare. "I'm afraid she needs to leave entirely. Only members of the prosecution and defense teams ... "

"She is a member of the defense team. Part of our 'in the field' investigation team. She stays."

Wonder Woman gauged the determined look in Oracle's gaze. "Very well."

Ted shook his head. "Is there anyone not on your defense team?"

"You," Barbara snapped back without even glancing in his direction.

"Blue Beetle, that is enough," J'onn warned.

Wonder Woman turned back to Nightwing. "J'onn," she started.

He opened the black case revealing the contents. Four silver appearing cuffs approximately an inch and a half wide lay in the case. "You need to remove your gloves and your boots." Wonder Woman took one in her hand and turned to Nightwing.

His unmasked face showed confusion. He lifted an eyebrow in quizzical fashion. He pulled the two black and blue gloves from his hand letting them fall to the floor.

"May I see your wrists." she asked. Nightwing held them out. She placed one cuff on and then the other. "These were forged in the fires of Hephaestus. They are the least restrictive means we could devise and I believe, will not be uncomfortable while you are in your cell. Please place your foot on the stool."

He looked at his seemingly unfettered hands, shrugged, and sat his foot on the stool. He pulled his boot off and watched as Wonder Woman applied the cuffs to his ankle, then repeated the process. "I don't get it. These aren't doing anything. They aren't connected."

"Mystically, they are." Wonder Woman turned and walked into the common's area. "Follow me Nightwing."

He sat on the stool and replaced his boots, his eyes following Wonder Woman. Standing, he walked to his cell door. Her hand beckoned him to step outside the cell door. His eyes moved to the metal around his wrists. Every sense he had told him something was going to happen, something he wasn't going to like. Slowly, he stepped from the cell.

As soon both feet left the confines of the cell, his arms pulled together. Chains appeared connecting the shackles, snaking around his waist and heading in a Y shape to the chains that connected the manacles around his ankles. His eyes followed the chains and he noticed that the fetters had appeared overtop his boots. Scowling, he looked up at Wonder Woman.

"I am sorry, Nightwing, you gave us no choice. When you are in your cell, that conference room," she said pointing to the meeting area contained within the secure area of the Watch Tower, "and in the Hall of Justice, the chains will not be evident. Only when you are elsewhere in the Tower will they be present. That is because anywhere else in the Tower is off limits to you."

"Fine," he growled.

Barbara's hand wrapped around Kory's who stood beside her. She closed her eyes, his pain too much to bear. Ted Kord watched Barbara and sighed, hanging his head.

"I need to warn you Nightwing," Diana continued. "Those chains could hold Superman. Further, any attempts to tamper with the cuffs will result in a painful experience to you."

"What do you mean painful?" Kory asked, angrily.

"The restraints also contain the power of Zeus' thunderbolt. Any tampering will result in excruciating pain as you are struck with the thunderbolt. Painful, but not lethal, unless it is continuously used in a short period."

"So in other words, if I try to escape and get shocked, stop trying." Shaking his head he turned and walked back into his cell. The chains disappeared and the manacles disappeared under his boots again.

Wonder Woman turned to J'onn. He looked down before pressing the keypad with the commands to close and lock the door.

Nightwing stared at the cuffs encircling his wrists. Felt the smooth, cold metal of the cuffs. His chest expanded and contracted in labored breathing. "ARRRGHHHH!" His fist punched the wall at the back of the cell as his pent up rage escaped him. He attacked the wall as he had attacked Blockbuster's hired thugs, as he had pummeled Desmond until he was towering over the defeated criminal. He executed a numbed of kicks and punched at the wall.

His mind replayed Tarantula's appearance in the stairwell, her climbing on top of him, having sex with him, and Tarantula just now in the corridor. Dick hurried to the door, looking out the small circular window. His blue eyes hardened as he stared across the space to the cell he knew she occupied. His fist beat the cell door and he kicked it again. He punched and kicked the walls and doors of the cell as he wanted to do to Tarantula.

Dick did not know how long he had ranted in his cell. His guards never looked in on him during his tirade. Perhaps they understood. Exhaustion eventually overtook him and he dropped to his knees in the center of his area of detention releasing a guttural sound of rage, pain, and shame. He hung his head for a moment, but then his head snapped upwards and he stared straight ahead. Pain and shame were replaced with resolution. Looking down at his hands, they were bloody .... it was a good start. In order to perform penance, he had to win his freedom and he would ... Tarantula would not take anything else from him. Ever. Again.


John Stewart walked into an office in the Courthouse in Bludhaven. "Gentlemen," he said as he extended his hand to the two men seated around the conference table. "I'm John Stewart."

The men, both dressed in suits and ties stood taking his hand. "Mr. Stewart, or should I call you Green Lantern?" the taller of the men asked.

"John will be fine."

"Sit down John," the second man invited holding out a chair. "I'm Vincent McCoy, and this is Eric Deacon. We're from the Gotham State Attorney General's Office. Thank you for agreeing to meet with us."

"Anything I can do to help," John said smiling at them.

"We understand that Catalina Flores, the woman known as Tarantula, and Nightwing's accomplice has been captured and is being held on the Watch Tower?" McCoy asked.

"That is correct. The Elongated Man, who is leading the investigation, plans to question her later today."

"Not only is she being charged in Blockbuster's death, but we're re-opening the investigation into police chief Redhorn's murder. We believe her brother, who resigned today as Bludhaven's district attorney, manufactured false evidence to free her from that charge," McCoy continued as he opened a thick manila folder.

"So, what do you need from me?"

"Well, its what we might need from each other. It's going to be very likely that one of us will need to broker a deal with the other one's defendant," Deacon stated, matter of factly.

"You want to make a deal with Nightwing? Shouldn't you be talking to his attorney rather than me? I am prosecuting him," John asked annoyed.

"We know that. There's no doubt that Flores will be convicted. I'm not so sure about Nightwing. There are many people who see that vigilante as a hero."

Stewart bristled at McCoy's words. "That vigilante is a hero. All of the Justice League are technically vigilantes and I think it's fair to say that we're all considered heroes. Just because Nightwing crossed the line doesn't negate all the good he's done."

"But you are going to try and convict him?" Eric Deacon questioned.

"You can bet on it," Stewart replied somewhat defensively.

"Then talk to Tarantula. See if she'll roll. We're willing to take the death penalty off the table for her and offer her second degree murder on Desmond and Redhorn. Two life sentences that she can serve concurrently. She can petition for parole after twenty-five. It's a good deal."

"Better than she deserves."

"It saves the state money in two trials and may give you the evidence you need to ensure Nightwing's conviction."

John stood and walked to the window. "I don't know. I don't like making deals with murderers."

"No one does," McCoy said joining him at the window. "But that's how these things work. Two convictions are better than one."

Deacon joined his partner. "Flores will roll. We're going to tell her attorney the facts of life. Her only chance at remaining off death row is a deal. Redhorn was a cop. He might have been a dirty one, but he was still a cop and that's special circumstances."

Stewart shook his head. "This is not how we work."

"We who?" Deacon asked.

"The Justice League."

McCoy smiled. "This isn't about justice. This is about punishment and sometimes you have to sacrifice a little truth to get it. She's a solid conviction, Nightwing's iffy without her testimony. She's an eyewitness; more than that, she's his co-conspirator. She rolls, he's toast."

TO BE CONTINUED ...