"This has been the most unusual case I've ever had to oversee." Judge Ramirez states as she does a once over of all the facts. "It seems to me the prosecution is the defense attorney." The judge says as she looks at the D.A. Stacy Rochelle. "And the defense attorneys are the prosecution." This time the judge looks at Matt Murdock and his partner on this particular case Jennifer Walters as She-Hulk.
At that glance the two attorneys looked to their right to see Spider-Man in his high-tech suit. He kinda seemed like he was asleep. As if his future wasn't on the line.
"The court will now call for a recess of this case. The state of New York versus Spider-Man (for those of you who don't know)." The officer in the room stated.
Judge Ramirez knew before she even tried this case that she wouldn't find Spider-Man innocent. He all but admitted to killing them after he handily beat most of the super heroes on the planet. When the PROSECUTION called for character witnesses more super heroes showed up then the judge could recall. They all had nothing but the best to say about Spider-Man and what he did. However they all seemed to hate the way he did it. Almost all of them talked about how annoying he was or how he always seemed to go off on his own. But then they turned around and said everything he did usually worked out though. Seemed to the judge they didn't know how to feel about him themselves.
The biggest shock to the world came when Victor Von Doom appeared and testified in court on Spider-Man. And out of everyone that was on the stand ,from Iron Man to Mr. Fantastic, Dr. Doom had the best and most poetic things to say about Spider-Man. It was a surreal moment for Ramirez.
Spider-Man just seemed so larger than life. He was a walking legend and the people who were supposed to be trying to put him in jail seemed more like they were trying to keep him out of it. She knew it was unethical but Ramirez already knew she couldn't find Spider-Man guilty of anything. This recess was really so she could give herself the courage to say what she needed to say. For his part throughout the day Spidey didn't seem to have payed much attention to the proceedings. Most of the time it looked like he was asleep.
Eventually the court was once again in session and Ramirez was about to give her sentence when something happened that made the entire room get silent like a grave. Spider-Man had raised his hand.
"Yes Spider-Man?!" Ramirez said a little too excited for her liking.
"Can I take the stand?"
"Umm yes... yes you may."
Having made his way and been sworn in.
"Firstly I'd like to ask the various people in this room. In what way am I connected to you? Did I ever save you or something?"
Judge Ramirez was the first to speak. "You probably don't remember this. Years ago my son was having an asthma attack and we were stuck in traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge. I was outside desperate to try and find a doctor among the sea of cars, you happened to be swinging by ,but I could see the fires in the distance. I knew there must have been trouble. I don't know why but I decided not to try and get your attention. I guess I figured you had bigger problems. But not even two minutes later you showed up asked what was wrong. You took me and my boy to the hospital."
Now here tears started falling from Ramirez's face as she remembered that day in great detail. She remembered how Spider-Man sat with her outside an operating room as it turned out to be a mix of an Asthma attack and her son's chronic Bronchitis acting up simultaneously. She remembered crying into Spider-Man's shoulders while her own husband was unable to make it to the hospital. She remembered Spidey being there for her in the scariest moment of her life the entire time. He stayed with her until her son was stabilized. The only reason he left her after that was because of a super villain attack. Her son was 8 at the time.
"I remember. I actually stopped by a few times after that to help him with his homework although I don't think you saw."
"Are you kidding me. You kept coming by. You helped with his math. Algebra, geometry, Trig, Calculus. You even helped him with his science projects. You were more of a father to him than his own father. You tutored him off and on over the years. Thanks to you he's now in ESU, top of his class." Ramirez continued. "To be honest Spider-Man I don't think I have it in me to send you to prison for any length of time. Besides I hear you might get a presidential pardon anyway."
That was part of the reason why Ramirez kept stalling the proceedings. She had it on high authority that President Osborn had plans to pardon Spider-Man for his FIVE counts of murder.
After that people, regular citizens and even heroes, kept going on and on about how he saved their lives DIRECTLY. It was actually several hours later after hearing everything people had to say with a lot of tears being shed that Spidey responded to their sentiments.
"Look people I get it. I understand I've saved all of you. You guys have no idea what it costs to keep you all safe. And as I keep finding out the guy that has to lose the most, that has to pay the cost is me. Quite literally every person I love is now dead. No family, no real friends so the very few people I still care for I want to protect. So I'm taking myself out of the equation. The way I see it. Any supervillain that had a grudge against me or still harbors one will probably be glad to see me behind bars. And if I'm in prison it means those few i don't care for, they'll never be targeted because of me. Not like my family..." Peter trailed off.
There was an interruption and that was of Norman Osborn himself walking into the courtroom. Obviously this threw the court into a frenzy. After ordering the court to well order the judge called for what was to be the final recess. She figured Norman was here to give Spider-Man his pardon. Before recess was officially called Peter requested that he speak with Norman alone. Though he remained in the adamantium handcuffs he had been wearing.
(With Peter and Norman)
Norman didn't really know what to think. Currently he was watching a seated Peter Parker ,still dressed as Spider-Man mask and all, in chains. It was a very surreal moment because Norman remembered the little boy and fine young scientist that loved to hang out with his own son Harry. He just couldn't fathom how that child could become this broken shell he was looking at now.
"I've come to bring you some good news Parker-"
"Peter Parker is dead." Peter responded in a low voice. "He died with the wife you killed."
"Peter son Oz killed your wife and that's not me not really. You testified for me on the stands remember. You told the world that Norman Osborn and that monster Oz are not one in the same."
"I know what I said because I'm the one who said it. And I meant every word of it... At that time."
"What do you mean."
"Listen Oz if you think having me be a free civilian will make it easier for you to keep track of me don't worry. I have no intention of fighting any sort of crime. I'm not going to do any Black ops missions for Fury or anyone else. My plan is to rot inside a cell for the next 60 to 70 years and then die and maybe see MJ again on judgment day." Peter says all this with a half smile. A hopeful look on his face. "Right before the saints sentence me to hell." This was delivered with deep sadness that even Oz felt if only for a moment.
"Okay Spider-Man so you honestly don't want a pardon?"
"No I don't Oz and you can sleep easy, whatever plan you have going on I'm not even going to try and stop you even if you succeed.I won't show up to change anything."
Giving a nod Norman turned to leave before he turned his head back while looking Peter in the lenses with his green eyes and said one last thing. "Why do you insist on calling me by that monster's name?"
"Last I checked Norman Osborn had brown eyes. He only had green eyes when Oz was in the driver's seat."
After a moment Norman's face shifted into a smile. The same smile he wore when Oz gutted Peter's Aunt May. The same smile Oz wore the day Mary-Jane was captured. For Peter's part he just sighed and leaned back on his wooden chair. That wasn't the reaction President Oz had been hoping for. It seemed not only was Peter Parker dead so too was Spider-Man. For some inexplicable reason Oz was saddened by this.
(Back in the court room)
Peter had once again taken the stand and was in the middle of a speech of sorts.
"As you guys have found out I turned down the pardon. Heh you know there are only two reasons in the world why I'm still here. There names are Jimmy and Leah. Actually there may be four reasons, anyway. I decided I couldn't keep on living. At the same time I decided I couldn't just kill myself either it would probably make those kids cry. That's why I went to Mr. Murdock. I asked him to set this up for me because I need to take myself out of the equations. You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain. Well I say bullshit. Even in the fall you can still do some good. I am volunteering, pleading guilty, whatever you want to call it. And the reason is because I can feel myself... my opinions changing. I can't stand the idea... of those four little kids seeing me as a villain.
The only thing I request is that you all lock me in a prison that could actually contain me. And that I keep my secret identity. While my family are all... There are still a few co workers and loose friends I want to protect."
Judge Ramirez spoke next though she was actively crying "Spider-Man do you realize what you're saying what you're asking of me, of New York, of this entire country?"
This next part is delivered coldly. "I'm asking you to do your job. What kind of example are we setting for children and criminals. You do bad and if you have the right connections you get off scott free?" Peter frowned at that. "No, kids and criminals need to see and understand the law is the law for a reason. They need to understand that if you break it ,like I did, than you have to pay the consequences.
Besides I've already quit life. What you see right here. It's just an empty shell. Nothing worth missing."
"Spider-Man... I... I... I sentence you to... to thirty years in prison for each of the five counts or life whichever comes first. Court is... Now dismissed."
With that judge Ramirez rushed to her chambers and cried at her desk. Eventually she would notice her phone ringing. The caller ID would let her know it was her son. Even knowing it was her son she didn't answer it. She was simply doing what most people in the world were doing at that time. For the world it felt like Spider-Man had just died. It felt like they were all in a world without Spider-Man. It was the unknown and the unknown comes with great fear.
Let me know if you guys are okay with this becoming a mix world with DC characters in the reviews. I'm still shocked at this stories popularity.