Thanks to Patty and Tammy for their beta work on this chapter. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Char
Court Martial: Part 23:
Blue Beetle felt his stomach knot. He really hated what he had to do and the pangs of guilt that stabbed him did not make it any easier. He stared across the room at the colorfully clad teenager who sat on the witness stand waiting for his next question. Robin felt Beetle had betrayed him, and sitting in this courtroom, Ted Kord could not help feeling that in some way, he had. He hated it, but he had a job to do.
"Robin, I know this is distasteful for you, but could you please tell the court what happened between Nightwing and Joker two years ago after the Joker excaped from the Slab?"
Robin turned his head to look directly at the prosecution team sitting behind the dark wood counsel table. "What do you want to know? Joker escaped the Slab, he Jokerized a bunch of villians to act like him, and he set them loose on society. Nightwing, Batman and the rest of us had to find them, stop them, and put them back in prison."
Blue Beetle nodded. His mind went back to that night two years ago when he first worked with this young man. His youthful innocence and enthusiasm. "Because you're the greatest, Ted!" Robin had exclaimed. He'd say it no more ... not after today, and that bothered Ted more than he had realized it would. "But it was more than a simple case, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Robin replied looking down, his eyes not meeting the prosecutors.
"Nightwing has killed before hasn't he?" Ted asked, looking straight ahead at the teen.
"No." Robin replied defiantly.
Ted shook his head. "We both know that's not correct, don't we Robin?"
Robin's eyes flashed. "We BOTH don't know that. I know that I was stupid and trusted you once. I shared something with you and I shouldn't have. That was my mistake, it won't happen again."
Ted frowned, and tried not to look at the tribunal as he heard them shifting in their chairs. He knew that several were uncomfortable with Robin being on the stand and the betrayal of the unspoken confidentiality between heroes. He reminded himself he had a job to do. He tried to ignore the nagging voice in the back of his mind as it went on another tirade. He pushed its incessant background tirade that it was wrong to use what Robin said in confidence to him in Bludhaven, it was wrong to put Robin in this position and it was wrong that Robin would probably feel very guilty about trusting him and what his time on the stand would do to Nightwing's case. "Well, he did beat the Joker so severely that his heart stopped. If Batman hadn't used CPR on the Joker, Joker would have remained dead, isn't that correct?" Beetle asked, standing up and moving to the front of the table. He folded his arms across his chest and waited for an answer.
The muscle in Robin's cheek twitched back and forth, his eyes darted from Blue Beetle to Nightwing. He turned toward the Tribunal, most of who impassively stared at him. Green Arrow gave him a small smile and J'onn sensing the nervousness radiating from the boy, nodded. Robin took a deep breath, looked down, and answered, "Possibly. I guess. I dunno. He nearly killed Joker with his bare hands but ... he didn't."
"Because Batman stepped in and prevented it from becoming permanent. Not because of anything Nightwing did," Beetle said pointing toward the defendant.
"I'm confused, are you asking something there?" Robin shot back with as much insolence as he could. He looked up at his inquisitor, and then turned to face Nightwing. Nightwing gave him a slight, reassuring smile and Robin nodded.
Beetle drew closer to the witness stand. "Isn't the situation in the stairwell the same as in the church the night Nightwing "killed" the Joker?"
"No. Not that I was there in the stairwell, but I don't think it's anything like that."
Beetle wanted to respond that it was different because Blockbuster was still dead unlike Joker, but he could not bring himself to say that to Tim. He was just going to stick to the facts and let the facts speak for themselves. "Okay, let's see. Nightwing thought that you were dead and that Joker was responsible?"
"Yes," Robin replied sullenly.
"And Joker was responsible for the death of the Robin before you." Ted stated, as Tim looked down nodding.
"I'm sorry. You're going to have to respond verbally." Captain Marvel prompted gently. "It's for the record."
Robin nodded again and stopped himself. "Sorry, I will." His voice dropped lower and his eyes looked away from Batman. "Yeah… he killed him."
Ted continued, faltering just a moment to look at Barbara. "And Joker ... paralyzed ... Oracle?"
Tim nodded again. "Yeah," he said softly, almost imperceptibly.
Ted looked over toward Barbara who was looking down at her notepad, her face strained. The telltale signs of clenched hands and that twitch in her check indicated her struggle to remain calm. His heart ached at making her re-live that horrible night. Ted knew that she thought about it every day and he hated himself for having to bring it up. But he had to bring it up. Ted watched as Nightwing slipped his hand over hers, the calming effect he had on Barbara. His eyes lingered on them only a second before he turned back to Robin.
"When you arrived at Gotham Cathedral, Nightwing was pummeling Joker unmercifully. Didn't you have to physically pull him off Joker?"
Tim thought back to that awful night. He remembered grabbing Nightwing's arm and pulling back with all his might ... trying to stop Nightwing from doing something he did regret immediately afterwards. "I ... stopped him. At first he thought I was another illusion. But ... yes, I ... I stopped him."
"Physically?"
"Yeah."
"Similar to what happened in the stairwell with Blockbuster?" Beetle pressed on.
"No. I wasn't there."
Beetle nodded, "Yes. You weren't there to physically stop him, but wasn't it the same that he was upset, angry and was striking out at someone he believed had killed or hurt those he cared for?"
"No. I mean I wasn't there, but from what I heard Rage wasn't there either, so I don't think it was similar."
Ted's composure faltered and he stopped, confused by what Robin had said. "What?"
"Rage is a meta who heightens anger to a artifically high level. Overwhelming berserker rage ... he was in the church the night the Joker provided "proof" that he had killed me. He was affecting Nightwing that night so that Nightwing could not stop himself until after Rage transported out of the church."
Jean looked up and over at her opposition's table. She caught the slight smile that had crept onto Barbara Gordon's face. They both knew Ted was being led into a trap ... into the dreaded "one too many" question. Before she could stop him, he voiced his question and she just shook her head and braced for the answer.
"So you're saying that Nightwing killed the Joker in an altered state and then in another, coincidental, altered state he kills someone else. Coincidental don't you think?" Beetle asked as he walked toward the witness.
Tim remained calm despite his overwhelming desire to hit something or someone in blue. "No, that's not what I'm saying. I wasn't in the stairwell. In the church, his state was altered by a supervillian -- we do occasionally run into emotional and mind control in our line of work. In the stairwell, from what has been said, Nightwing was exhausted, beaten and emotionally abused. Someone else shot Blockbuster, and he was incapable of stopping it. I don't see the coincidence. Seems pretty different to me."
Jean popped up as Blue Beetle opened his mouth again, interrupting him before any sound could come out. "Your honors, a moment to confer with my colleague?"
Beetle walked over and leaned over the table asking her, "What Jean?"
Jean looked at him and whispered, "Shut up and sit down."
Blue Beetle blasted out of the shiny silver sliding doors of the courtroom on the morning break. He waved off Booster who tried to speak to him. Ted Kord was upset. Their last two witnesses had gone very badly for them. He had to fix this, bolster their case. He had an idea ... but he needed more information. He headed to the archive room and what he hoped would be his way of breaking the defense Barbara seemed to be putting on during the prosecution's own case.
"Wonder where Mr. Screw-up is heading in such a hurry?" Roy asked the assembled Titans, thumbing at the Blue Beetle who was leaving the Hall of Justice.
"You should not call him names," Starfire stated standing from her seat. "We do not agree with his position, but he is a member of the Justice League and should be treated with --"
"Don't say respect, doll. I ain't doing it. I don't respect what they're doing, I don't respect the sanctimonious attitudes and I damn well do not respect the JLA anymore. Batman I respect, many years of respect and fear are not going to change and he's on our side. Same with Superman and the New God contingent have been pretty cool. The rest of them though, forget it." Roy interjected. He was full of salt and vinegar without having the luxury of hitting whom he wanted to. He was seething and the only outlet for his pent up rage was verbal.
"What about Wally, he's a member of the Justice League," the Tamaranian princess pointed out.
"Wally's a Titan. First, foremost, and forever." Roy turned toward the front of the room, his eyes falling on Robin, Flash, and Nightwing who were deep in conversation with Oracle. He could only imagine how Robin felt after having to testify against Nightwing. It only made Roy madder.
Gar turned toward the door. "I don't like the way Beetle left outta here. He's up to something."
Cyborg nodded, "I think Green Genes here is right. Wish we knew what it was?"
A smile crossed Gar's face. "Well, they don't call me Beast Boy for nothing. Anyone up for a fly on the wall?"
Roy nodded, "I like the way you think."
Gar bowed before the smile melted from his face. "But which way did he go?"
Cyborg elbowed him in the stomach and rolled his eyes. "Time I take the bloodhound for a walk." He grabbed Gar by the arm and headed toward the door.
"We're being deceptive," Kory said as she and Roy watched their friends leave.
"No more so than people who record and play private conversations between a father and son," Roy replied as he propped on the back of a seat from the row in front of him. He watched Catwoman and Batman talking quietly in the corner with Wildcat. "It's a good thing you have the starbolt powers and not me. I'd have blasted so many --"
Starfire nodded. "It is very tempting. All the good Dick has done in his life, to put him through this hell over Blockbuster ... a man who no one mourns and most of the world is glad to be rid of. The funny thing is," she started looking past Roy to her former lover who sat at the counsel table, "it's only the restraint that Dick taught me that has kept me from attacking the prosecution through this trial."
Oracle leaned behind Nightwing and asked Flash, "Are you ready to cross Ralph?"
Flash nodded. "Yeah. I've got all our notes on this. It's just going to be the facts and we just want to point out that the facts could lead to a different conclusion."
Oracle nodded and smiled. Flash had been learning his job as defense counsel well.
"You think Ralph is who they're calling next?" Nightwing asked.
"He's the only one left on their witness list unless they're going to use rebuttal evidence. And its a bad sign if they're using rebuttal evidence in their own case," she replied. Barbara made a few quick key strokes into her laptop and accessed the transcript of the trial proceeding thus far. "I'm going to be pulling out the parts that make our point so we can make a motion to dismiss when they rest."
Nightwing watched her a few moments. Her red hair fell across her shoulders vibrant against the black of her jacket. She looked every inch the Grande Avenue attorney who would have been as home in Rae Green's law firm as she was here in this make-shift courtroom on the moon. "Think they'll grant it?"
"No," she responded curtly never looking up from her laptop. "But it doesn't matter, I need to make the motion to preserve it. If I don't make it we waive it and we're not waiving anything. But more importantly, I want to go ahead and have them start thinking of the holes so that when we put on our case they remember."
"I love it when you're smart," Nightwing said with a grin.
"Don't flirt in the courtroom," she chided him with a wink.
Nightwing chuckled softly as he turned to Flash. It felt good to laugh, even in this place under these circumstances ... or perhaps it felt good that he could laugh in this place under these circumstances. Flash was busy pouring over his notes. Nightwing rifled through some of the files on the desk and pulled out the extra copy of Elongated Man's report. Pulling a pen from beside Barbara, he started making notes.
He heard the room filling as the spectators returned to the room from the break. He didn't look behind him. It was best to not know who was there to watch. It had crossed his mind that if the villains united, this would be a perfect time to strike as the majority of earth's heroes seemed engrossed in his trial. His family and friends were there to support him and he appreciated it more than he could ever tell them. Others, though, he wondered about their reasons for being here. Was it a search for the truth, was it moral outrage at his behavior or lack thereof, or was it simply morbid curiosity? He didn't know, and part of him did not want to know.
Turning to his left Nightwing saw Blue Beetle coming past the impermanent bar. He seemed excited ... like a kid who had found a cookie jar. Nightwing watched Blue Beetle's agitated whispering to Jean and Green Lantern. Nightwing nudged his counsel, "Babs, look."
Barbara looked up from her computer and over at the prosecution table. "What are they up too?"
Beast Boy leaned across the bar, "I have an idea." He huddled with the defense team and whispered, "I kind of followed Beetle ... he was pulling up old Titan mission logs."
"How could he do that?" Dick asked.
Flash shrugged, "The JLA asked to archive all the teams mission logs. You weren't exactly receptive to talking about the Titans at that time because Donna had ... well ... " Dick looked down. Wally paused a moment before continuing, "Anyway, Roy, Vic and I thought it was a good idea at the time so we uploaded them into the archive system."
"What could Ted have been looking for?" Barbara asked, her gaze falling upon the three Titans.
Gar shrugged, "I don't know. Ted tried to swat me and came really close. I was almost fly splatter!"
Dick sighed, "AND?"
"Oh yeah. Anyway, what I did see had something to do with Brother Blood." Gar stood back as the Tribunal entered the room taking their seats.
Barbara glared at Dick. "Any ideas?"
"One."
"Now would be a good time to share," she added. Her hands were flying over the keyboard as she found and accessed the Titan logs on the JLA system. She started a search for Brother Blood.
Before Dick could answer her question, Blue Beetle stood and stated, "The prosecution calls Starfire to the stand."
Dick dropped his head in his hand before turning around to the gallery. Starfire's liquid green eyes glowed with fury. He wasn't quite sure from her stance if she was going to walk to the stand or attack the prosecution. Dick held his breath hoping she'd do the former. He tried to signal her that it was okay and to just go.
"Oh they are stupid," Wally whispered in his ears. "Calling Batman's one thing calling Kory ... I hope they're wearing their flack jackets ... and they're starbolt proof."
Dick turned to his best friend and started to protest, "Kory wouldn't --"
"If she'll shoot starbolts at you, she'll shoot them at anyone if they make her mad enough," Wally replied. "You know, on second thought, I like this move."
K'oriandr moved to the front of the room, her movements regal, and yet, lethal. Her eyes bored into the prosecution as she strode past their table to take her place on the stand. Slipping her hand through the loop of the lasso, she took her seat.
Beetle walked to the front of the Tribunal's table, addressing them directly. "Since it is well known that Starfire and Nightwing used to be involved. In fact, they were engaged to be married at one time, I would like permission to treat her as a hostile witness."
Wonder Woman nodded, "I think that would be appropriate."
"Thank you," Beetle said and walked until he stood three feet in front of the witness. "Starfire, you and Nightwing had a relationship when you were in the Titans. You were engaged and almost got married correct?"
Nightwing and Starfire's eyes met. So much passed between them ... shared memories of their life together, their hopes for a future that would never be. They did not need to speak; they had a connection stronger than words. While they both had moved on and were no longer "in-love" with each other, they would always love each other in a way few people could understand.
Without taking her eyes off Nightwing, Starfire replied, "Yes, we were." Nightwing smiled reassuringly at her and she returned the smile.
"During that time period you served in the Titans together?" he asked casually walking around the room.
"We did," she replied, her voice soft and lyrical. She broke her gaze with Nightwing and turned her attention to Blue Beetle.
Stopping slightly in front of the defense table, Beetle continued. "And the Titans fought a criminal known as Brother Blood?"
"Many times." Her green eyes took on a harder edge as her mind raced back to the tortures the Titans, and most particularly Dick Grayson, had endured at the hands of the cult leader.
"Once when you fought Brother Blood, Nightwing was not with you, but he was there ... as a member of Blood's church, is that correct?"
"He had been brain-washed by Blood. Blood was a master manipulator. The first time we met Blood he tortured Dick. Dick was Robin then. You have no idea what that maniac did to him." Both of her fists pounded the arms of the chair she sat in. Her anger growing as she remembered helping tend Dick's battered and scarred body after they escaped and finally returned to their home in New York. Righteous fury swelled within her as she recalled how Blood's agent in the press had tried to frame the Titans for murdering Blood who wasn't even dead at the time. Now, to her, the Justice League was trying to frame Dick. Glowering at Blue Beetle, she continued, "Yet, he escaped and he saved the rest of the Titans. Alone. He saved us alone."
"That's commendable," Ted said with a nod.
Roy leaned over to Vic and whispered, "That condescending sonova--""
"Yeah," Vic said. "Of course, if he keeps it up she will blast him to the other side of the Watchtower."
"Titan's together," Roy replied, his eyes narrowing as he watched the proceedings continue.
Blue Beetle walked to his table and picked up the transcript of the Titan mission logs he had accessed. "The second time Brother Blood captured your team, Nightwing was working for Brother Blood, correct?"
"He was NOT working for Blood! Dick had been captured, he was being manipulated, and he wasn't himself!" She had almost stood with her answer. "How dare you imply that Dick would willingly betray the Titans!"
Beetle held his hands up, palms out, "Whoa, hold on, Starfire, I did not say that nor did I mean that. In fact, I want to make clear that Nightwing was not acting of his own volition when he was ordered to kill the Titans."
"Of course he wasn't," she yelled at him.
"And even though he was under Blood's influence, he fought it. Fought against the brain washing and manipulation and refused to kill the Titans didn't he?"
"Yes, he did. Because that's the kind of man he is. That's the kind of hero Dick is," she said indignantly.
"Exactly. Nightwing could break out of someone's mind control to save his friends, he just can't do it to save his enemies." Beetle said turning from her toward the Tribunal.
"Objection!" Barbara bellowed, her angry fist slamming on the table.
"Withdrawn!" Beetle said as he turned his back on the witness waving his hand. His eyes caught Barbara Gordon's stare. He could not help thinking of the old adage if looks could kill. Looks, however, were the least of his worries.
"You ... deceitful ... "
Blue Beetle saw his co-counsel stand extending his ring hand. Whirling, he saw the Tamaran princess standing in front of her chair, her hand glowing green, her eyes glowering at him. She was poised to attack.
"Kory," a voice in a normal, low conversational tone spoke firmly without anger or inflection from behind Beetle. It was simply spoken and its lack of urgency, but certain quiet authority caught Beetle's attention.
The fierce warrior turned toward the sound of her name coming from her former lover, leader and friend. Nightwing gave a slight shake of his head. Taking a deep breath, she strode off the platform and down the center aisle. Intentionally, she bowled into Blue Beetle knocking him back onto the prosecution table and stormed from the room.
Before the doors leaving the Hall of Justice slid closed, they heard the sounds of starbolts shooting through the corridor. Warning sirens flared and a mechanical voice detailed the hull breach in sector fourteen-d. It detailed the safety precautions of the WatchTower -- how the forcefield was containing the breach.
Seconds that seemed like minutes ticked by as the occupants of the Hall of Justice stood seemingly immobilized by some unseen force. Barbara tapped her fingers on the wooden table, looked up at the Tribunal, and said, "I have no questions."
"Someone is going to have to pay to repair the damages she just caused to the WatchTower," Green Lantern said sternly.
"Send me the bill," Batman flippantly replied. Robin, sitting between Batman and Catwoman, beamed a smile toward the prosecution.
Captain Marvel cleared his throat. "Well, yes, I, um, now would be a good time for lunch. We'll resume in ninety minutes."
Nightwing walked back to the defense table and propped against it supporting himself on his arms. A loud sigh escaped his lips.
Flash looked at Oracle and then at Nightwing. "Dude, you really go for the volitile women." He started to grin but instead let out a loud "Oww!" when Barbara hit him on the head with her legal pad.
"I'm so disappointed."
"You've said that a hundred times already, Roy," Victor Stone chided as he, Roy, Gar and Garth headed down the corridor. They were making their way to the cafeteria for dinner. Vic was still not sure why the JLA who was suppose to be the best of the best couldn't have actual edible food.
"But it's so not fair ... she didn't kill anyone, she didn't maim anyone. Dammit, all we got was a hole in the wall." Roy flayed his hands in the air.
Garth placed his hand on Roy's shoulder. "I'm so sorry you did not get to witness the destruction you were hoping for."
Roy glared at him. "Cut the attempt at sarcasm before I have to dehydrate you."
"It's been a long day, Roy. I just want to ask that you don't start any fights in the cafeteria," the Titan statesman begged.
Roy looked incredulously at Garth. "Do you really think I'd start something?"
"Yes."
Roy rolled his eyes. "Dude, I don't want to start any fights ... unless I run into Ted Kord or John Stewart. Now, them --"
"We know," Gar interjected. "We all feel the same way." He looked at Garth before adding, "Some of us are just better at controlling ourselves than others of us."
"Besides, I don't think today was a total loss." Vic said stopping outside the cafeteria door. He leaned against the silvery gray wall and crossed his arms in front of his chest. Robin did good. He really held his own. Ralph didn't hurt Dick. I know partly because he's such good friends with Batman." Vic smiled as Roy shuddered. "Batman does have friends, Roy."
Garth nodded in agreement. "Yes, I was pleased with Elongated Man's recitation of the facts. Flash did a good job in pointing out that no one could come to any conclusions from just the information he gave."
"Except that Dick was in the stairwell watching when Tarantula blew Blockbuster's brains out," Roy growled.
"A fact not in dispute," Garth added.
Roy turned to move into the cafeteria but froze, holding his hand up for his friends to stop. He whispered the words, "It's the persecution."
Garth rolled his eyes and pulled Roy away. "We are NOT eavesdr-"
Gar had transformed into a mouse and was listening intently at the bottom of the door as Roy interrupted and moved back over to the door, "Quiet! I'm trying to listen."
Jean Lorring's voice filtered out from behind the closed door, "I think you need to put Tarantula on the stand."
"No," John Stewart replied.
"I know you don't like the idea, John, but the fact is Tarantula already has the deal. Whether we call her or not, so why not use her?"
Green Lantern's voice rose in reply. "Because it is wrong. She's a murderer. She pulled the trigger. It's not right for her to get less of a sentence than Nightwing just because she's dishonorable enough to turn on him. They murdered that man together, they deserve at least the same punishment. Truthfully, she deserves to get more because she actually pulled the trigger although it's hard to give more than a life sentence. The deal is wrong and if I call her to the stand then I'm condoning that wrong. I become a part of it. And I'm not going to do that. If not calling her causes me to lose this case, then so be it, Jean." There was a pause and Stewart continued. "I still think that we should call Captain Atom to testify --"
Jean's frustrated voice cut him off, "To what? That Nightwing can defend himself when attacked by a crazed woman? Keep focused John, she attacked him."
"But his anger --"
"Once again, his anger there could be viewed as justifiable. She attacked him. Besides, we know that Aquaman and Wonder Woman already know about the incident. Green Arrow is almost a lost cause. Martian Manhunter knows about everything including Nightwing's anger and throwing himself into the door, because he was in medical when Nightwing was checked out. Captain Marvel is the only one who may not know and I think when they deliberate it will come out. At this point, it wouldn't do any good." Jean shook her head. "No, let's focus on what works. Ralph didn't help, but he didn't hurt. He got the information in that had to be there. Very neutral. What works is what Ted did today. Ted did an excellent job with Starfire. I think he made the point and repaired the damage that Batman and Robin caused. Let's get with Ted and talk about if there is some place else to go with that."
The four Titans looked at each other before backing away from the cafeteria door. Roy tripped slightly avoiding the green mouse scurrying between their legs. "Gar, get back to normal. Well as normal as you get. We need to find Wally," Roy growled as they headed for the turbo lift. "I hate Tramp-antula." A derisive laugh escaped his lips, "Like that would help them."
Dick's fingers caressed and massaged the strained neck muscles of Barbara Gordon. "That feels so good," she sighed. "I needed this."
"Good, glad to help. I have to pay my bill one way or another," Dick teased playfully.
"This is a good start." Barbara laid her head on her folded arms and enjoyed the massage he was giving her. Breathing deeply, she took in his scent from his pillow. With her eyes closed she could imagine they were in his apartment or her clocktower rather than the small cell they occupied. She wished she could figure a way to stay all night with him. She needed to be with him. But she knew he needed her at the top of her game. Their case in chief would probably start sometime the next day.
Barbara lost her concentration as Dick's fingers found a knot of nerves at the base of her neck. A soft moan escaped her lips. He grinned. "Like that?"
"Oh ... yeah."
"Good," he said as he moved down from her neck, his fingers tracing the line from her neck down her back.
"This is nice," she said savoring the feeling of his hands on her skin. "I've missed it. I've ... missed you."
Dick's hands stopped, a slight sigh escaped his lips as he looked down on her lying on his bunk. He looked around his cell. "This ... isn't the place --"
Barbara turned on her side, propping her head on her arm. "Not the place for what? For us to talk to each other about something other than this trial?"
Dick sat on the metal stool across from the bunk. "Well ... yeah."
"You're wrong. We need to talk about something else. Think about something else, even for a little while."
His blue eyes surveyed her lying on his bed. He wanted to reach out and take he in his arms, but another part of him shuddered at the thought. "I understand that, but ... us. That's a heavy subject."
Barbara twirled a lock of her hair as she watched him. She could see the conflict in his face. "Well what do you want to talk about, the nice weather we're having on the moon?" she asked sarcastically.
Dick rolled his eyes. "Yeah. It's nice and airless this time of year." He looked down, and then slipped off the seat to crouch in front of Barbara. Gently cupping her chin with his hand, he pulled her into a kiss. "I do love you. It's just that ... it's not fair ... to either of us."
"What's not fair?"
"Talking about our future. Not when we might not have one." He held his hand up to her mouth to stop her protesting. "Look, I know you're going to fight and they still don't have any idea what's about to hit them. I was your partner for years, I know what Barbara Gordon can do when she puts her mind to it."
She held his hand to her chest. "Especially when I have everything to fight for. Everything important to me."
"Important to both of us. They don't know what's about to hit them, especially when we're fighting together." Dick wanted to believe. At the same time he didn't want to hold on to false hope, but Barbara's eyes looked at him with such determination he felt himself believing. "We're going to win."
The crowd assembled in the Hall of Justice for the start of the day's proceeding. All eyes in the room were focused on the prosecution table. John Stewart, Ted Kord and Jean Loring were huddled together like a football team preparing for a big offense play.
Dick smiled at Barbara and Wally as he took his chair between them, Captain Atom walked behind him to the chair slightly to the right of the defense. "Morning," Dick said. He turned around briefly to give a slight smile greeting his family and friends gathered on the first two rows behind the bar.
Tim reached across the bar taking Dick's hand. "Hey bro."
Before Dick could reply, Wally touched his elbow. Dick turned and stood with the rest of the room as the Tribunal filed in taking their seats. Everyone but Ted Kord sat down.
"Is the prosecution ready to proceed?" Captain Marvel asked.
Ted cleared his throat. "Yes sir, your honor. The prosecution was going to rest today but ... we would like to recall a witness to the stand if we may. We would like to recall Robin."
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
