6-The Pride of a Man

Batman nodded as he scanned the strand of hair as Gear hovered uncertainly next to him. They had come to the batcave, but, unlike his last time there, he wasn't in the least bit interested in his surroundings. The rest of the league stood around waiting to hear the results of the test, as Flash chewed distractedly on a slice of pizza, which he was now doing purely on auto drive, his full attention on the screen.

"Well, I think you've got your guy. His name it Pete Halo" Batman stated in his usual monotonous voice. For a second, Gear thought how boring it would be to listen to him if Batman had been a teacher at his school, or simply giving a presentation in the auditorium. But the moment of joy only lasted that one-second and he heard Flash grumble " What and ironic name." Before returning his full attention to the information on the giant monitor while Batman continues talking. " He was arrested twice, once for trying to rob a liquor store, and other for assaulting his girlfriend. They couldn't prove the robbery, but he went to prison for hitting his girlfriend, but got out on good behavior."

Flash saw his cue to cut into the conversation. "Somebody must have been paying the parole board some big bucks to pull that off."

" You're right Flash," Said Superman as he scanned the page, leaving Flash staring at his fellow superhero with bewilderment. " After setting Pete free, the board was anonymously charged with taking bribes."

" Does it say where he lives?" Asked Hawkgirl, her mace resting on her shoulder. Gear didn't want to come too close.

"It's in the rundown part of Dakota." Said Gear, " I've been around the place where that building is countless times."

"Um, we need to make one stop before we go get this Pete Halo." Just saying the man's name seemed to dirty his mouth, and Gear could almost feel the grime pilling up in his tongue.

" Where's that?" Asked Superman, finding it odd that Gear was putting off doing exactly what he wanted to; rip the crook's head off. Even though they wouldn't actually allow him to do that, Superman knew it was Gear had been waiting to do.

" The hospital, I need to tell Static's family what's going on in the investigation." Gear said, surprised that his voice had help firm the entire time he had been with the Justice League. He had expected to start mumbling somewhere in the middle of a conversation, but that scene had not taken place, leaving Gear relived that he had managed to stay firm throughout the ordeal of the investigation. Except that one part with his father.

Batman nodded, turning the Justice League aircraft slightly toward the direction of the hospital. Everyone stayed silent the rest of the way their, the only sound that could be heard was the soft murmur of the engine. Gear would have sworn that everyone there had heard his heart hammering against his chest, and each intake of air seemed to have the same affect on him as standing next to a church bell. But if anyone had happened to hear it, nobody said a word.

The intimidating silence was shattered once the aircraft landed on the roof of the hospital with and barely audible thud. The Justice League climbed out, followed by Gear who then took the lead in getting to their destination. The window, of course, was the best entrance to the private room. They were all used to it by now, though that didn't stop Gear from getting the idea of flying away as quickly as his boots would let him. With a deep sigh, he entered the room full of beeping machines, which despite the volume of each one combined, it couldn't seem to muffle the loud drum-like noises of his heart.

Robert turned around in his chair, shock evident on his face at the picture in front of him. He had no idea that the Justice League would be joining the tragic game, then again, the events of the past few days should have confirmed to him that anything could happen. He saw Gear step forward, and little plastic smile on his face, and although it didn't reach his eyes, Robert knew that there had to be some good news, or else he doubted that Richie would have been able to come and face everyone.

"Mr. H, I'd like you to meet the Justice League." There it was, the moment he had been dreading; Richie had lost his voice. Although he hadn't expected it to happen now, he wasn't really surprised. They all nodded in greeting, but that was as far as the salute to each others existence went. " Mr. H, we, um, we know who did this. Well, one of the guys anyway. We're on our way to pick him up now."

" Good." Robert didn't' know what else to say, so he simply nodded. As the band of super hero's turned to leave, he remembered something that Richie would like to hear. " The doctor said Virgil is improving. It's not much, but his vital signs are better." Gear turned around to look between his best friend, who still looked as lifeless as the day he had had to perform CPR on him, and his best friend's dad, who's worry showed plainly on his face, along with lack of sleep.

With a nod, he turned along with the other hero's as they made a haste exit out the window, leaving Robert alone with his worries, praying that his son would soon wake up.

Upon arrival, Gear was ready to slaughter the man they knew was in on the bank robbery. Somehow, it didn't seem important weather or not that this man, that this Pete Halo was the one who had shot Virgil. It really didn't matter to the teen, who's were clutched so tight, for had it not been for the gloves, you would have seen the extreme shade of white they had turned into. The whole team sensed it, as all eyes fell on Flash, instantly making him the 'volunteer' to go talk to the angry young man.

With an agitated sigh, Flash moved forward, and the moment he came to the young hero's side, started talking. " You wanna kill him don't you?" At receiving no response, he figured that was his cue to continue talking. " What if he wasn't the one who shot Static? What if he didn't want anyone to get hurt?" Flash was grasping desperately at straws, and for a moment when Gear turned to face him, he thought that he had been able to somehow, without his own knowledge, been able to talk the kid out of doing something stupid. But he was oh so very wrong.

" Yeah!? Well maybe he was the one who planned the whole thing?! Maybe he's the one who pulled the trigger!?" Gear's face grew red, his eyes sending daggers at anyone who would dare disagree with him, but Flash paid no mind to it.

"Well what if he IS the guy who shot Static? What then? I trust you, we all, " Flash paused, scanning his team with a wave of his arm, " trust you, Static trusts you, and most importantly, you have to trust yourself. You have pride, and I know it, and deep down, you know you have GOT to make sure it lives. Since that's the case, we're going to stand behind you in your decision, so you do what had to be done. BUT, the second that it's over, if we believe that what you did was wrong, we have no choice but to treat you like a criminal." Flash paused once more, making sure the Gear had heard every word. " So make your choice." The last statement was so close to a whisper, Gear almost didn't catch it.

Looking up, he could feel everyone's gaze on him, yet it didn't bother him as he nodded and stepped forward. " What are you waiting for, lets get this guy to jail." The tiniest of smiles played on Gear's face as the Justice League moved in behind him. He new knew exactly what he was going to do. He was going to let that man rot in prison, and he was going to make himself proud.