Chapter 10: Justice
"Tell me Julian?" The dark figure from behind the desk asked, his heavily built figure outlined by the light that shone from the giant monitor behind him. "Just who are you? What kind of person could create…"
"I am a bringer of Justice." Julian interrupted. Julian's features were slightly more lit up that the man that sat behind the steel desk. The yellow symbol of the Black cat organization shone brightly on the monitor and Julian examined its shape.
"Justice? Then, what justice do you fight for? The so called justice of law? The greater good? Or do you fight for our justice?"
"It's true that justice is simply a word that means something different to each and every person. Someone like me who simply spews out the words 'I fight for justice' is simply stating 'I fight for what I believe is right based on my own moral compass or a set of rules put into place by an organization in order to try and give some tangible being to the word JUSTICE'. But that is simply who I am. I fight for what I believe is right. I make actions almost completely based on my moral compass rather than disregard it or have a convenient moral compass, where I take action first, then add onto my moral compass afterwards in an attempt to justify what I have done or am about to do, such as killing a man that I would normally see as innocent, then claiming that I was just because he had beliefs that infringed my own. You begin to get a god-complex that way, which is something you never want. To believe that one being is automatically more important or just in their actions than all others regardless of what they do… is ridiculous."
"So then…" The man began asking Julian. "I can assume that you do not fight for the law, country, or government."
"The law. It pales in comparison to the greater good. But what is the greater good than what we agree on with our morals that are decided by the chemical reactions in our brain and the outside phenomena that make us, us. But since we ourselves feel these emotions and opinions, we must assume the best and that we are all equal in our ability to feel and thus anything that threatens our free will, good emotions and overall well-being is against the greater good. However, with such variation of moral opinions, the line between good and evil is as blurred enough that the world is grey. The law was created to try and form a clear line between good and evil. To separate the two into definite regions. Thus all who wish to be morally just would conform to one side of the line and the morally sick would be forced into the latter region. But since there is no definite way of pinning down the worth of each good deed and crime considering the variation between moral compasses, the law forces everyone to conform to a single ideal. A single moral compass that is automatically more important and just than anyone's opinion or moral compass regardless of the effect it has on the world. Therefor it is possible that the law itself infringes the greater good. What if the law gets in the greater good's way? What if it ends up hurting innocent people and allowing the morally sick to roam about untouched. If the law fails in its only purpose, the solidification and upholding of the greater good, then it becomes obsolete and should there for be disbanded. It is my opinion that the law has become obsolete and thus my moral compass points me in your direction. To seek out your aid and aid you in return for what we both believe in." The white wolf's face hadn't changed from its complete seriousness that had been plastered onto it the entire time he had been inside the Black cat headquarters. The CEO of the organization raised his head a little, his big yellow eyes glowing in the darkness that covered his front. His slit pupils becoming more narrow as he eyed Julian down.
"So then, are you an anarchist? You know we wish to create a new order in the world."
"I am no anarchist. I do believe in freedoms and rights, but I would be a fool to believe that complete freedom is a viable option. The morally sick would be able to go around doing what they do best. Those sickened by that would become avengers, vigilantes or simply revenge seekers shedding the blood of the sick with the trauma of the morally sick setting their own morals into stone. 'What I have done is just because that man was morally sick. I know this because his beliefs infringe my own' is what they would say. Then eventually, those with similar beliefs in justice would band together and create a new order with a set of rules that coincided with their own morals. All who wished for the greater good, but had a different moral compass would be seen as heretics, or potential criminals that must be brought to justice. For this new order, these new set of rules known as the law that is forced upon people to conform them to itself… The law would be god. The law that no one must dare disregard. They must obey without question and without a second thought. There is only the law, your opinions, your free will, your morals, your pleasures, your hopes and dreams. Forget them. They are disgusting and vile unless the law allows it. This is the law. This is justice." Julian's eyes narrowed. "Freedom only begets the start of a new order left unchecked until its members get god complexes and see only their justice as THE justice. I wish for an order that is always checked on, always questioned. An order that fights for justice, but always contemplates what justice is. What the greater good really is. Its rules won't be set in stone, but they won't be as easy to wash away as some messy stain. An order that allows the freedom of opinion, of its citizens to believe in their own style of justice and pursue it. One that protects the morally just and the innocent. One that reprimands the morally sick, but not so much that only more pain is brought into the world. One where those who have committed a heinous act shall be reprimanded accordingly but forgiven if they truly wish to fight for the greater good and bring more happiness into the world, for if they can do so, even if they can never take back what they have done, they can never fix the problem they made, they can never compensate for it… they can still go on to make the world a happier place. I dream of a world of happiness and forgiveness where all are bound to each other by the greater good but their hands are unbound, free to pursue their pleasures and dreams and wishes and goals and their own justice in a way that either brings more happiness into the world or at the very least does not infringe it. I do not wish for a line to be set between the two paths of good and evil. I simply wish for a blurred area separating the two, wide enough and fading into the two halves that we may step in a part of it and contemplate whether settling it onto one side would beget more happiness or sadness." Julian finished. The CEO's pupils dilated and he stared in astonishment at the man before him.
"You truly believe such a thing is possible?" He asked.
"No." Julian replied simply. The CEO drew back in shock before returning to his slouched position over the desk and both his eyes and the pupils within narrowed.
"Then why do you speak of such things as if you want to achieve them?"
"I wish for an order like that. But I understand the necessity of the line. I would love to eventually create a world where its people only strive for their own way of creating happiness, but even if we got rid of the sick, converted those we could to seekers of justice and raised the world as a people that seek only justice, people will always have their own opinions that greatly infringe others and even our own. Eventually others will try to make their own order beneath the one I wish and they will say, we are just and we shall argue the same back. All orders in the world will believe in their own god, their own justice just as everyone does. There will always be people sick enough to harm others. We could not make everyone happy without satisfying the sick. With everyone's differing moral system, the sick will always rise, new orders of holy, unalterable justice shall always rise and with chaos that ensues comes true freedom and with true freedom comes the order that shall rise above our own failure to make the world happy, an order that believes their justice is far greater than the happiness or wellbeing or those who have a differing opinion. That is the purpose of law. Without a definite line to cast the sick behind, they will always be in our society. So if I want to help create an order, those I see as sick shall be crushed into the dust. There is no other way. I shall help you create an order that rules over the world with an iron fist and carves a line into the earth that will allow us to see the morally sick and completely obliterate them. As more appear, we come and destroy them, lest they upset the justice that we have set in stone."
"But wouldn't that be creating the kind of order you hate and setting your own morals automatically above others?"
"That's true. The system we are creating will be heavily flawed. However, if we carry on with the obsolete law we currently have, then nothing will change. We can at least create an order where people are set out more equal than they are now. An order that puts happiness and the wellbeing of innocents before peace, even if that means killing off those we see as morally-sick in order to do so. It is a system that, much like our current one, may end up catching innocents in the cross-fire. However, it shall not be a failure. It is simply a means to an end. It will be the beginning of a new world. The order shall crush those we see as evil, even if innocents in order to bring about happiness for the majority and eventually we can adjust and tweak it until it is almost flawless and less morally just people are hurt for having a differing opinion. It will never be perfect, but my wish for a perfect world is ridiculous. Perfection is unachievable; flawlessness is unachievable. We still strive to create what is closest to it though. That is what I believe in.
"So that is what you believe we can achieve?"
"Yes." The white wolf said calmly. "I believe that my co-operation with your organization will achieve this… Black."
'That was back when I first sought out Black cat and joined up with them. I remember giving that long speech to him, but he understood. I don't get why you don't understand it Neyla.' Julian sighed as he walked through the grassy fields. He had called the police, but only to get the girl to safety without him having to directly escort her to the station, which would have been troubling for him. 'The police are still good for some things.' He thought. There are many corrupt or morally sick in the force, but others are just morally just people joining up and conforming to the law in order to fight for justice legally. Julian had made sure to mention that he was the one who had killed the three men so they didn't have one spec of suspicion on the woman, even if it would have been obvious otherwise. He remembered how shocked the policeman sounded on the phone when he told them that he had just murdered three individuals for what they were doing. He had explained the criminals motives in detail after stating his crime, then handed the phone back to the woman and leaving on his own. Julian looked down at his right foot. His boot was smeared in blood and it was still pretty wet. He ignored it and decided to carry on towards Christina's fort. "I suppose you'll be there to, huh Carmelita." He looked up at the fort in the distance. "You've always been a bit morally confused, but I can tell that you have good intentions. But, your previous partner, Neyla." He sighed. 'I don't want to adjust your brain because of how it could affect your psyche. Even if I could try and programme your brain to conform to my ideals by making your brain part mechanical, I would never do that because of my beliefs on free will and freedom to decide your own moral compass, even if you must be dictated by another in order to keep that freedom safe.'
"So you must be this Christina person that I've heard about?" Carmelita eyed the cat up and down. "You don't look like much." She said plainly. Suddenly Ruppi caught up to her and stood over her. "I can't let you go any further." He went to grab her.
"Wait!" Chris put her hand out in an open palm, signalling Ruppi to stop. "Let her stay."
"Chris!" Ruppi began as he held Carmelita in place. She struggled to break free, but this guy was freakishly strong. "You're far too lenient when it comes to keeping out people who could potentially cause you harm. I can't just stand by and…"
"Don't worry!" Chris waved her hand at him. "I'll be fine. I'll let you stay inside the arena this time for extra protection if that makes you feel better."
"Well…" Ruppi sighed, then grunted and walked away from Carmelita to a position closer to Chris. "Fine."
"I knew you'd come around Ruppi." She smiled. Ruppi turned his face away from her so that she couldn't she him blushing a little from the affection.
"Yeah, sure. Just don't get reckless."
"I won't." Chris replied with the smile still stuck to her face. Carmelita began making her way over to Sly. "You better not try anything!" She said as her eyes tracked Carmelita's every step. "Ruppi is super strong! He'll beat you up if you don't play nice!" Ruppi glared at the two 'guests'.
"What're you doing here Carm?" Sly asked nervously, still a little shaken from before and surprised at the sudden appearance of his on/off, sort of, not really girlfriend who also happens to sort of be his rival and or not really, mortal enemy. "You didn't change your mind about letting me go, did you? Hehe." He laughed nervously as his eyes wandered around for possible escape routes that might help him escape from the two ladies that he guessed both wanted to impale him and roast him on a spit for the world to see.
"I'm not with the police anymore." She said plainly, looking over at Christina who was patiently waiting on the stage. Sly was a little drawn back by this statement.
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Spike got me fired from the force for letting you go and took over as captain. I have no real reason to capture you anymore. Until I get my job back that is."
"So you came here to capture me and get your job back?" Sly felt like getting some distance between them, but he didn't move away. He wanted to know.
"I said UNTIL I GET MY JOB BACK, idiot! That means I'm not gonna pursue you until the cops give me back my place on the force. Don't go giving me ideas, ring tail."
"Oh, right." Sly scratched the back of his head. 'Harsh as ever, eh.' He turned back to face Christina who was beginning to get impatient.
"I want to help you out, Sly." Carmelita said.
"Help me?"
"If we can find that shooter who put a hole in you, I might be able to get my job back and you get to take down the guy who tried to kill you. It's a win-win."
"Oh, ok. For a second there, I thought you were just trying to be nice to me. But, of course you have your own goals."
"Am I not allowed to have my own goals now?"
"Wha… Of course, I didn't mean…"
"Just do what you do best." The ex-cop started. Sly looked at her face carefully and studied her expression as she continued. "Take down the bad guy and leave them for me to tie up."
"Well, I don't really…"
"It's just that…" She cut him off again. "This time I'll be along for the ride." Sly looked at her for a while, a short silence filling the air.
"Right." He nodded and turned his gaze back to Christina, whom Carmelita had been watching the entire time.
Sorry for the long wait. You guys must have thought this fanfic was dead or something. I'll TRY to get some more chapters done when I have time. Please leave a review with some thoughts or something (I know you probably want to wait 'till the end to do that but I do like receiving and reading reviews and it encourages me to keep writing, so if it wouldn't be too much trouble). Again, I apologize for the time gap between the last chapter and this one. I shall make the next gap much shorter. Also, I hope you didn't mind that long exposition speech from Julian.