Chapter 2

Trial

A long pause came into the courtroom as he entered within. The large bench ahead of him, loomed in a foreboding and ominous manner as if it were the seat of Fate itself. Fourteen rows of benches, pew-like seats, stretched forward, a single narrow aisle before him marked the final path he had to travel. There was a rail between the two desks with six chairs, three at either table. A low partition would separate these seats from the audience.

Murmuring was heard when he started the walk down the middle. Hateful glares could be seen out of the peripherals of this emotionlessly, somber gaze. This was the day that would either sentence him to the rest of his life in captivity, or after a long and arduous journey, finally set him free. A bated breath was taken and held for what seemed like forever. The seats slowly passed by as the gate of the partition was opened, held by a guard that would not allow himself to get attached. A rattle of chains was all that could be heard as he slowly made the way toward the seat for the Defense.

Shackled by wrist and ankle, he was left without any means of self-defense should it be required. As he seated, the cuffs on his wrists seemed to become heavier, and he gazed at the steel bands restraining him. Taking a deep breath, he gazed upward to the empty bench ahead, his black eyes seemed to take in every detail there was as he quietly waited.

"All rise! In the case of Prince Vegeta versus the State of Maryland, this court is now in session. Judge Timothy Carter is presiding over this case."

As the bailiff announced it's beginning, everyone rose from their seats in a muffled shuffling. The distant sound of chains chinking would mix into the bustle. A man dressed in clean dress attire wore a black robe as well over his clothing, appearing from the double doors to the right. Only after he seated would they seat as well. Then the Judge allowed his own chocolate colored eyes to skim over a case he had read over thoroughly in his chambers. Taking note of whom all were present, he spoke in an older, cracked, and gruffly deep voice that seemed to speak wisdom. "In the charge of first degree murder, how does the Defense plead?"

The Saiyan had no lawyer, choosing to defend himself while three others sat at the desk for the Plaintiff. Silence screamed at this point as the shackled Defendant rose. Vegeta had one thing on his side in this. He was a well noted Master Tactician. He could defend himself with fists and powers as well as he could with words. There was no fear in the fiery coal black eyes. He then put forth his plea with a gruff, deep, and accented vice that would sound more proud than foreign. "The Defendant pleads not guilty, Your Honor."

The Plaintiff looked over at Vegeta with a critically scrupulous gaze as if trying to find a soft spot in the Defendant's unusually calm surface. What they wanted to know was why a black steel band was worn upon the throat of this person. However the Judge himself held the one thing that could remove it with ease, the original slave document that had held him captive for approximately 600 years. It seemed unreal. Try as they might, no one could seem to find any weakness in this bold and confident figure.

Judge Carter wrote down the notes and then nodded as the Plaintiff came up to make his opening statement. The jury upon the side shifted in an uneasy manner as the man stood up. He began by speaking in a baritone voice, firmly, but still very much in the calm, as if trying to convey emotion through the words. It was able to be pointed out easily that it was staged and no actual feeling was behind the opening.

"Members of the jury, today we have an open and shut case. In this trial, you will see strong evidence in the case of first degree murder. The Defendant had every intention of killing Jason Raven. He planned every moment of this death and for what? Nothing more than a piece of paper believed to be over 600 years old. This document has no real value to it, and yet to the murderer, it must have some importance, enough to kill for."

With that now stated, the Plaintiff gave a light grin at the Defendant as he sat down. It was Vegeta's turn to make an opening statement and it was now that all went eerily silent. The rattle of his shackles resounded through the courtroom with a light scrape. It was then that the jury leaned forward to hear what he had to say. The Saiyan made eye contact with everyone in the jury box before he spoke. His voice seemed worn, tired, but strong.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you here today in a collar and bound in shackles. It is a collar that has not been off my neck since the creation of the document years ago. Imagine if you may, a piece of property that has been handed down through the years from father to son. This property goes through years of abuse not only from being used, but also by whim of its Master as well. I am that piece of property. For the duration that I have been a slave, I have had to face horrors that would make you lose your most recent meals. I have been called every derogatory name in existence, numbers, even been stripped of all identity save the simple word 'It'."

"Arguably anyone that kills in self-defense is hardly planning a murder, especially if they did not do it. Yet because the wife told her story and claimed me to be 'vicious', I have no choice but to continue to find myself bound in shackles. I have undeniable proof that it was not me that did the killing, but that of the wife herself. It is by her planning that I fall victim to another of their ruthless schemes, this time to forever seal the very document that would mean everything to me, you, and all others. I want only one thing that I have not had since I was 23 years old. I want what each of you take for granted every day of your lives. Freedom."

As Vegeta sat back down, it was only at this point, this juncture of time and circumstance, he finally realized his fight was so close to ending. Yet to declare victory would still only be premature. The weight upon him came crashing down around his shoulders. Glancing between the Judge and jury, he would quietly sit with his shackled wrists upon the table before him. The Plaintiff rose up looking at a worn down, tired Defendant, an easy crush to put the blame on the slave next to them.

For one brief moment though the Judge looked upon the lone person and held up any further comments. Gazing around, he saw only an audience here to see how it would play out or for the Plaintiff, but no one here in support of the Defendant. This piqued his interest. "Will the Defendant please rise?"

As if it had been engrained upon him, he stood without thought, his gaze remained down. However Vegeta remained in silent, again odd as he noted perhaps a look of exhaustion upon him. The Judge took note of this before speaking. "I'm just going to ask directly Vegeta. I see onlookers, and people here to support the Prosecutor, their family and such. I am however, perplexed why you don't have anyone here to support you. I don't even see anyone related to you here. Do you care to explain this to me and the court?"

Vegeta's eyes would slowly close as his head dipped in painful recollection before slowly allowing his hand to caress a single leather bound book. Gazing upwards, the Judge could see the silent wash of agony within the coal eyes. To Timothy, it seemed as if truly all hope remained between himself and the shackled prisoner. It was a question the Saiyan knew would have to be answered. "Please forgive me Your Honor; it has been a very long and hard life. My wife and kids had long since passed away. Any relatives I've had were killed. There is no one here for my support because I truly have no one else who meant more to me than anything else. I come before the jury and you Your Honor, to face what fate may have in store for me, be it to remain in captivity, or if it means freedom. However either one will be faced alone."

The Judge sat back, disbelief in his steel blue eyes. Looking at the lone Defendant, he knew deep down that he'd told the truth. Putting it out of his mind, he called the Plaintiff to summon their first witness. This would set off a low murmur but ultimately, he remained for more a poised shot. The Plaintiff spoke loudly. "The State calls Jane Hartford to the stand."

A young lady would rise from her seat and then finally walked up the aisle to the witness stand. She had her hair kept up neatly in a bun as her sky blue eyes looked to the attorney, Jim turned and nodded as he took up the file, then slowly and clearly he spoke. "Mrs. Hartford, you have on numerous occasions been to the Raven Estates; did you ever see the Defendant at that residence?"

Jane looked over at Vegeta and with a nod, she replied. "I have seen him there a few times. He was their field hand and butler."

Jim continued. "How would you say his temperament was during those visits?"

Jane shrugged casually. "He was quiet, polite, timid, and even a bit shy. He never looked me or the late Jason Raven in the eyes. He seemed there in body but not in spirit."

"A fair judgment," Jim pressed on. "Has he ever shown any sort of ill temper or aggression?"

She straightened up and then nodded. "I remember one time he argued with Jason and the butler was reprimanded shortly after. It is safe to say that he was aggressive at the moment, yes."

Jim grinned and turned to Vegeta. "No further questions Your Honor." He stated as he sat down. The Judge nodded to Vegeta. "Your witness."

The Saiyan stood up, dipping his head. "Thank you Your Honor. Mrs. Hartford, you say Jason and I had an argument, would you please recall what it was about?"

Jane thought for a moment. "It was over eating a meal when he'd told you that it was off limits for your consumption. You argued back that you had not eaten for four days."

Vegeta nodded slowly, going to make eye contact. He could see her lightly tense and catch her breath when he did. "So the argument was over gaining food when I had been deprived for four days. Tell me, in your opinion; wouldn't you get irritable if someone withheld food from you as well for four days?"

Jane nodded. "I guess I would, yes."

Slowly, the warrior slave would look between her and the Judge then back again. "Just how was I punished; can you recall that for the Court?"

Jane again hesitated. "You were shocked by your collar and then stabbed. After that you were taken down to the basement where you were chained up and beaten heavily. When it was done, you were nearly dead."

The warrior looked her in the eyes, allowing a penetrating gaze to meet her own. "Was there any attempt for medical assistance? Also was there anything stated after he went back upstairs?"

Mrs. Hartford replied, still seeing the collar around his throat. "No, no medical help was sought. He did state, 'The slave should learn It's place.' It was as if he spoke of you like you were a thing, an object, rather than a person."

Vegeta nodded quietly. Then turned and took a brief but hesitant view upon the others. "No further questions Your Honor."

The case wore on through the day and as it did the Saiyan's lack of sleep seemed to become more and more prominent, drawing upon his reserves. The attorney looked over toward the Dark Prince, and then grinned. An easy crucifixion, at least what it seemed, and he jumped at the chance. "The State calls for Officer Jeremy Vanders to the witness stand."

Vegeta looked toward Jeremy and then watched as the reluctant cop took the stand. The officer glanced briefly toward the one he'd pulled from that living nightmare he'd found the slave confined to. After the oaths were taken, the officer sat down. In his vision, Vegeta still looked like hell, unfit physically to take up any sort of a fight. The Saiyan though was caught once more in the legal hands that must have kept him in such a condition. The attorney spoke up. "Officer Vanders you were called on scene to this call. Can you tell the Court what the Defendant's temperament and condition were versus the wife's own?"

Officer Vanders nodded. "He was quiet, backed in a corner, chained, and emaciated in appearance. I neared the wife first; she had a handprint on her cheek. The Defendant claimed he was cornered, and his life threatened as the reason he fought back. To follow up on the claim, I looked him over without a contact again and could see he'd been whipped, clubbed, and scratched, if not even choked. Further examination also indicated horrific scarring, burn marks, and even brandings."

The attorney stood in shocked silence for a moment before nodding. Clearly he'd called the wrong person. "No further questions Your Honor."

Vegeta rose up quietly. "Officer Vanders, before I ask you any questions, have you had much contact with me, even in the prison that may make you be unbiased in any way?"

Jeremy shook his head. "My law enforcement training makes me impartial to any situation no matter how I may personally feel. The only contact I've had with you is to strictly gain evidence in a legal and binding manner."

Vegeta nodded. "That day you came in like a hardened critic, what changed that day? Can you tell us what went through your mind that afternoon as you responded, what you found prior, and then when you went down to the basement?"

Officer Vanders nodded, taking a deep breath. "I responded to the call of a 'vicious person who was supposedly detained with severe penalty to the wife'. Looking at the blood trail, it was followed to the basement, but there had been really no struggle on the main floor. It did not seem a vicious attack had occurred as reported. I took various fingerprints that matched more the wife doing the crime than you. When I made it down to the basement I first questioned the wife, whose act of hysteria was evident that she was not truly the victim. No tears were shed, which gave it up that the gun was planted nearest to you so that she could claim 'vicious'."

"That is when I looked you over and though I didn't question you directly, I could see a gaze in your eyes that I had never seen before. One of a long life lived in harsh circumstances and though you didn't say anything, you seemed to be accepting of a fate that you had no control over, one that had probably been on you for much of your life. When I finally came to get you out of there, you cringed more involuntarily, but didn't struggle when you were cuffed and brought to your feet. You staggered a bit, and then straightened up, as if you'd been beaten for a reason even I don't know to this day."

"As we walked up the stairs into the light, you tried to shield your eyes, something that would not have occurred if you had done the crime since it was recent. Your eyes would have already been adjusted to the light and that also gave me the noted factor that you could not have been the killer, not to mention you simply did not have the strength. You could barely carry yourself up the stairs let alone struggle and kill Mr. Raven. Another indicator that triggered more suspicion upon the wife was that she was already used to the light and the gunpowder was found on her hands, the one that had shot the victim. I shielded your eyes and when I went to help you into the cruiser, your hair was matted, and then my hand came away wet with blood from your head. Still you gave no complaint, you didn't say anything, even though you were read rights, you didn't react to them, as if you'd been told to be silent all along or rather conditioned to silence."

Vegeta looked to him quietly and nodded, his gaze finally lowering once more as he moved to sit back down. "No further questions Your Honor." Vegeta stated as he felt the last of his strength leave him. It was then that he slumped in his seat, his collar started to glow a light blue. At the same time the Judge noted the single paper also started to glow, that the two were connected in some manner. It was only now that Timothy knew his fate truly lie in his hands. The Judge would then adjourn court until further notice as the paramedics would then surround the fallen figure and took him to the nearest hospital. They would have to wait until he woke before they could question him further, it would indeed be an interesting story indeed to hear.