And Injustice For All 2
Chapter 31: The Trial of Bruce Wayne.
The capital building
12 hours ago
"Please state your name for the record," said the judge in a courtroom.
"Bruce Wayne."
"Do you have a statement you like to read?"
"No."
Now...
"Alfred? Are you awake? I made Earl Grey tea and crumpets. I can decipher the mind of the Riddler, but I can not work out how you're supposed to properly toast a crumpet. Alfred... I'm going out."
In the courtroom...
"Mr. Wayne, we want to know happened. The entire country wants to know what happened, what went wrong? How did it go so wrong? How did the terrorist known as Jackson Hyde (Aqualad) end up in a position where he could assassinate our government? You met with President Boon and President-elect Dalkin. What did you discuss?"
"Changing the world."
"Just like that?"
"Yes."
"His response?"
"We were interrupted by Ra's Al Ghul's attacks."
"Did you know these were coming?"
"No?"
"Did the President-elect seem open to your suggestion of "changing the world?"
"As I said, we were interrupted."
"But you must admit, from what I know from the two of you, your valued hardly aligned."
"We hoped to find common ground."
"I mention this because Jefferson Pierce was in the room as well, was he?"
"He was."
"And Pierce was the highest ranking member of Congress not in attendance at the inauguration. He is now President Pierce."
"Yes."
"So I would assume he would be far more amenable to your world changing agenda?"
"I don't like that insinuation."
"Mr. Wayne, that glare may work on some of the criminally insane inmate of Arkham you could never seem to keep locked away, but it is far from appreciated in this chamber. You said you were attacking Ra's Al Ghul's hideout when the inauguration was happening. Did you notify the any government? Any military installation that you have found a man responsible for killing thousands in the July 7th attacks?"
"We felt it was better to act quickly and quietly."
"You did, did you? And did you apprehend Ra's Al Ghul?"
"No."
"Acting, as you say, quickly and quietly, did you put a stop to his terrorist organization?"
"No."
"Mr. Wayne, did you threaten the President-elect in your private meeting?"
"No."
"But Jackson Hyde was in this private room."
"Yes."
"And you brought him into that room."
"Yes."
"You have a history of threatening Presidents, do you not?"
"I don't know what you're..."
"6 years ago, you entered the Oval Office and threatened the President of the United States. You mentioned superpowered friends and told President Boon that his "body would be found orbiting Saturn" Is this correct?"
President Boon had ordered a black ops team of mercenaries led by supervillain Mirror Master to kidnap Superman's civilian parents in order to..."
"That is outta line!" Another judge counters. "The President is not here to defend himself."
"No, he isn't. He was killed, Mr. Wayne by the man you sent to protect him. Tell me, Mr. Wayne. A man of incredible wealth, then as a vigilant, has the law ever appiled to you?"
"I have enormous respect for justice."
"That hardly answers my question. "Setting aside criminality for a moment, I want to ask you something else? Do you feel that you have failed your country?"
No answer.
"I'll tell you what i see. I see another man wearing a costume and decides to act for us rather than with us. Another man who has made things catastrophically worse. Superman had Noble intentions. He was also trying to protect us. The only difference between you and Superman is I can see, Mr. Wayne, was that Superman was a far more competent dictator."
Outside, after the hearing, Batman was punching a criminal when he was stopped by Catwoman.
"I'm pretty sure that scum has had enough. I heard about the hearing."
"You're not supposed to be here."
"You trying to take the whole thing on one person's face?"
"You're supposed to be locked away, Selina."
"I was, but it wasn't entertaining so I left. Honestly, I assumed someone would let me go at some stage. I did it to keep you alive, Bruce. Can you still not see that?"
"Come in."
"Where?"
"My place."
At Bruce's place...
"I should have seen this coming."
"What?"
"Everything."
"You can't see everything."
"No, not yet. Beef Bourguignon."
"Huh?"
"Bruce? You have a batcave under your batcave? Of course you do."
"This is just the beginning."
"What is?"
"Hello, Selina Kyle. I am Brother Eye."
