The television flicked to life the lounge room Edward, Jonathan, Jervis, and Harley were all squished together on the couch. No one in the room spoke.
"The Court will now here the case of Elizabeth J. Howard versus the City of Gotham. The charges are four accounts of homicide, three account of attempted homicide, and the destruction of private property. How does the defendant plead?"
"Insanity, your Honour."
"Very well would the prosecution make its opening statement?" The camera focused in on Greaves with his slicked back hair and two hundred dollar suit; Harley boo-ed under her breath earning a sharp nudge in the ribs from Edward.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury we gather here today under very sad circumstances. The loss of four members of our community rests on the shoulders of this woman. We find it offensive that she would try to claim insanity and not take responsibility for her actions. Today I will show you beyond reasonable doubt why this woman is not insane and why she should be sentenced to serve time in Stonegate prison." Greaves sat a smirk hidden behind his cold composure.
"We will now hear the defendant's statement."
The Rogues perked up when Elizabeth was shown for a fraction of a second when the camera shifted its focus on to Lesh. "Today, Ladies and Gentlemen, you will hear testimonies provided by the prosecutor that will tempt you to put this poor woman away in Stonegate or even Arkham. But Elizabeth Howard is no different from the rest of you except that she ran into circumstances that caused her mind to temporarily break and caused her to attack and kill people. She has been through trauma that would have caused most of you to crack much earlier on; and even the stank that is Arkham Asylum she preservers better than anyone would expect."
"The Prosecution will now present its first witness to the stand."
"Thank you, your Honour; I call Eric Johnson to the stand." A middle aged man walked to the stand, he had a slight limp in his right leg and as he was being sworn in everyone could see large scars on his right hand.
"Mr. Johnson you were a security guard at Wayne Industries correct?"
"Correct."
"And you were present at the time of Miss Howard's attack?"
"Yes."
"Could you tell us what you saw? Please be as detailed as possible."
"I was standin' in my usual post outside the lab when I heard an awful crash and Dr. Dysart screamin'. I rushed inside. Hisoma—Dr. Jyuugatsu, was layin' on the floor and she was advancin' on Dr. Dysart. She leapt at the doctor and slashed her in the chest. I rushed up and went to hit and knock her out but she was too quick and bit me on the arm like an animal. I pried her off but then she tackled me and knocked me out. When I came to Batman was wrestling with her and dragging her out to the police."
"Thank you Mr. Johnsen, can you tell us the extent of your injuries?"
"Sure, my arm and hand were shredded," he pulled back the sleeve of his dress shirt revealing the long scars on his forearm. "And she chewed on my leg too when I was knocked out, now I have that damn limp."
"Thank you, could you describe the mannerism of Miss Howard when you saw her? Did she look sane?"
"Objection!" Lesh called out, "The witness is not an expert on whether Miss Howard is sane or not."
"Granted," the judge said pounding his gavel, "if the Prosecution has no further question the witness is dismissed."
"None, your Honour," Johnsen left the stand, "the Prosecution now calls on Bruce Wayne." A whisper went across the audience as Bruce Wayne was sworn in, the playboy billionaire rarely made court appearances.
"Mr. Wayne could you tell the court what Elizabeth Howard was doing at Wayne Industries?"
"Of course, for the past four years Wayne Industries has been working to reverse Miss Howard's genetic mutations. Our scientists had come up with a formula that destroyed the wolf genes in her blood and it was ready to be tried on her. She was there to be changed back to normal."
"Could you describe the accident in which Miss Howard became mutated?"
"I don't think I'm in position to do that." Greaves' lip twitched this wasn't going how he wanted.
"Very well, could you describe your relationship to Miss Howard?"
"Good acquaintances. My company gave her scholarship to get her Master's degree and we're still attempting to find a cure for her condition even though she no longer wishes to be helped."
"Why don't you think she wants to be helped?"
"I can't comment on her personal state."
"Could it be that she likes her condition?"
"Objection!" Lesh yelled again, "he is leading the witness."
"Granted, careful Greaves two objections already."
"Of course, your Honour, Mr. Wayne that is all. For my next witness I call upon Dr. Simon Grout." As the doctor was being sworn in there was a noticeable shift in greaves it seemed as though this is who he was counting on.
"Dr. Grout could you inform the court of your relationship to Miss Howard?"
"Yes, four years ago Miss Howard became my patient, I was treating her for post-traumatic shock."
"Why were you treating her?"
"She had been attacked and severely wounded by wolves and suffered from extreme chemical mutations."
"What was her behavior like during your sessions?"
"Angry at the people she held responsible yet she was still able to see reason."
"Do you think she could ever act on her anger and lash out?"
"I don't think I'm in a position to judge what she might do now it has been three years since I've talked to her last. I will say, however, that if her mental state is anything like how it was back then I would be very concerned for the wellbeing of those who wronged her." For the first time the camera focused in on Elizabeth. Her expression was neutral but her eyes seemed to glint under the harsh courtroom lights.
"Thank you that is all."
Greaves brought two more witnesses up to the stand. One was Berg, the guard she had bitten at Arkham and one of the ones who had beaten her; and another security officer from Wayne Industries. Along with the second guard Greaves had shown the security footage of Elizabeth's attack. Needless to say nearly all the jury members were sick and along with half the court room, including Elizabeth. This inability to perform resulted in a forty minute recess. Lesh had opted out of cross examining any of Greaves' witnesses; he must have been pretty confident to do so. The judge banged his gavel, court was back in session.
Lesh now held the floor and his first witness was Dr. Gullenrow. "Dr. Gullenrow you were the psychologist that examined Miss Howard, assigned by the court correct?"
"Correct."
"Can you tell us when you first met Elizabeth Howard, where and why?"
"I first met Miss Howard when she was working as a building inspector and she came to inspect Arkham…on the April 23rd I believe. I was in charge of guiding her through Arkham and informing her of all the protocols."
"So you got to know her before the incident at Wayne Industries."
"Yes."
"Could you describe her mental state back then, as best you can?"
"Well she was just like any average citizen of Gotham, a little less fearful of Arkham than most but still no distinguishable traits from anyone else."
"And from what you have gathered from the tape and your sessions with Miss Howard could you describe her state of mind during the attack?"
"Completely detached from reality. She—in the truest sense of the phrase—had no idea what was going on. That in itself in the definition of psychological insanity. Not to mention that even under hypnosis she could not remember any details about the event."
"Thank you and could you tell the Court of her mental state now?"
"Severely traumatized by what she has done even though she cannot remember it and terrorized by the idea that she could lose control of herself so fully like that. In addition she suffers from the extreme paranoia that she is no longer human. But she is able to function with others at a normal level."
"Do you believe her a threat to the citizens of Gotham if released?"
"No."
"Thank you that is all, Mr. Greaves would you like to cross-examine the witness?"
"Yes," Greaves stood a think folder in his hands, "Dr. Gullenrow, I have here Arkham records that say Miss Howard went into another rampage during her time at Arkham. Wh—?"
"She was being attacked by the Scarecrow at the time," Dr. Gullenrow interrupted.
"But still does this not mean she could attack again if released into normal society?"
"I do not believe so, the second incident, I said before she was being attacked by Scarecrow; that in combination with her raw psyche from just having killed four people a few days before sent her into a short relapse. One that I might point out was not nearly as violent or as long as before. And I have it on good authority by Jonathan Crane's doctor, Dr. Bartholomew, that he was purposely trying to send her into another break from reality." Greaves was scowling slightly, this was not going as it was meant to.
"But could not she be sent in to another break if threatened again?"
Dr. Gullenrow thought for a moment. "It might be possible but it would not only have to be a threat but one that caused her extreme stress, not anything that would be found under normal circumstances."
"Very well, I have no further questions." Dr. Gullenrow left the stand and Elizabeth tensed. This was it. Lesh stood at the desk but did not approach the floor.
"Your Honour, I have no further witnesses. I rest my case." A murmur crossed the crowd.
"Are you sure Mr. Lesh? This is highly irregular."
"I am aware. We have made our case."
"Very well," the judge said flustered, "the Prosecution may now make it closing statement."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the Defendant how shown you little evidence in support of their plea. This, apart from being unprofessional, shows how weak their case is. Now you will go into the jury room and decide this woman's fate but also remember that you could also be controlling the fates of the citizens of Gotham." Graves sat down smirking. At his last sentence about half the jury had shifted uncomfortably in their seats and more had looked worried. Maybe this would be an easy victory after all.
Lesh now stood looking confident. "Members of the Jury, Ladies and Gentlemen, today you have seen the desperate attempts of the Prosecution to give my client a cruel punishment for an event that was out her control. You have heard from a competent psychologist from Arkham Asylum who says that she is no longer a threat to society. Condemning her today would be blatant error of judgment and misconduct of sensibility." Lesh nodded towards the jury and sat.
"Very well. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, all of the evidence, the charge of the court, and the closing argument of counsel are before you. The case is formally submitted to you and you may begin your deliberations. Please accompany the bailiff to the jury room. The Court is now adjourned until the Jury reaches a verdict." The gavel slammed down echoing loudly across the room.
The media buzzed around Elizabeth as she left the court room escorted by two guards. "Miss Howard! Miss Howard! How do feel about the Jury's decision? What will you do now?" Camera shutters were flashing, people were shouting and Elizabeth mind was still reeling in shock.
"If you please," Lesh yelled to the media frenzy, "Miss Howard will take any questions out on the steps in ten minutes, if you will all wait there!" The guards escorted her to a side room of the court house.
"Thank you Mr. Lesh," Elizabeth said when her lawyer joined her inside.
"Oh I was just doing my job. Oh!" Lesh cried in surprise when Elizabeth through her arms around him.
"But you did an excellent job, thank you ever so much."
"Of course, I have arranged for a car to take you back to your residence and your personal items should be…" The door opened again and Wallace came in with Elizabeth's items in a plastic bag and a fresh change of clothes that he had picked up from her apartment. "Perfect timing Wallace. Miss Howard we will leave you to change." Elizabeth quickly removed Arkham's jumpsuit and threw it across the room. She never ever wanted to wear a jumpsuit again she would rather walk across Legos in bare-feet. Wallace had grabbed one of her summer suits: a lovely sky blue blazer with a white blouse and a light grey pencil skirt. The kid has good taste.
"Damn I've gained weight," Elizabeth muttered, as she struggled a bit to zip up the skirt. She had just buttoned up the blouse when a side door opened and Greaves stepped inside.
"Congratulations," he said coldly.
"Thank you, though I don't think you mean it."
"It would have been easier for you if you had just gone to Stonegate. They wanted you to go to Stonegate"
Elizabeth stared at him, behind his cool lawyer exterior he was nervous, she could smell him sweating and hear his heart pounding in his chest. "What do you mean? What's wrong?"
"I did something stupid," he looked straight into her eyes, "I'd run Miss Howard before they can get to you." There was a rap on the door. Greaves startled and ran from the room.
"Are you almost done Miss Howard," Lesh asked through the door
"Yes, just touching up. Give me a couple more minutes." Elizabeth slide on her blazer and slipped on the heels. She removed everything from the plastic bag and threw it all into her large purse. Gathering up the jumpsuit from the corner she folded it, laid it on the table, and placed the undergarments and shoes on top. Adjusting her skirt she took a deep breath and opened the door. She walked determinedly to the front doors of the courthouse where the media was waiting.
The summer sun felt good on her face; somehow it seemed infinitely different than the sun she'd been seeing during Arkham. It was brighter, warmer, and so much more cheerful. Elizabeth smiled undisturbed by the flashed and shutters of the cameras. A portable podium was set up with multiple microphones attached. This was actually happening. She stepped up her mouth suddenly dry. Hands shot up and Elizabeth pointed to the one nearest her.
"Are you pleased with the Court's decision?"
"I think anyone would be pleased with not going to jail."
"But you still need to spend three months seeing a therapist."
"And I had to spend six weeks in Arkham, after that three months of therapy is a like a foot message." The crowd chuckled lightly. Elizabeth pointed to the reporter on her right.
"What will you do now?"
"Go back to my apartment and start dusting." 'This is actually pretty easy. No one has mentioned anything about being a Rogue. I thought that'd be first.'
"Do you have plans for the future?"
"Get a job, find a new place to live, and get on with my life."
"Don't you think people will treat you differently after this?"
"Of course they will, but I can take it." Elizabeth answered about twenty more mundane questions or so before the question she was dreading was asked.
"Do you have anything to say to the families and friends of the people you murdered?"
Elizabeth was silent for a second, she had thought about this a lot the past few weeks but she still didn't know if what she wanted to say was right. "I would like to say I am sorry but that wouldn't help in the slightest. I wish I could give you back your loved ones but I can't and it's no use wishing. What I can do, however, is give you a promise. A promise that I will never harm an innocent person ever again." The crowd was silent as the reporters scribbled Elizabeth saw Lesh wave at her and point at the car waiting by the curb. "Thank you everyone for your attention, but I'm going to go dust now."
The crowd surged forward desperate to take those last photos before Elizabeth slid into the car. Lesh shut the door for her. Elizabeth and Lesh shook hands through the window.
"Thank you again, thank you."
Elizabeth stared out the car window at the crowd around her apartment building. It wasn't very big but it was large enough that there was no way to sneak around them unnoticed.
"Would you like me to take you somewhere else Miss Howard," Wallace, who was driving, asked.
"No, no but—call the cops if any of them touch me. I won't fight them but I don't want to be beaten to death."
"Of course, I'll wait then." Elizabeth nodded and opened the door. The shouts of the mob assaulted her ears. Curses, insults, and threats came at her from every direction.
"Bitch! Murderer! Get outta our city! You're not wanted here! Freak! Mutant!" Elizabeth held here head high she couldn't let them affect her. She walked forward and the crowd parted just enough so she could pass but not so much that she felt comfortable doing so. Her ears were now ringing from the noise but she reached the front door and quickly let herself inside. Nobody was present in lobby except for the building manager's cat that hissed and ran away at the sight of her.
Elizabeth made her way to the 6th floor, the building was unnaturally quiet. No hum of TVs, no children playing, she wondered if everyone had left for the day because the psychopath was returning. She stepped on the 6th floor landing and noticed several sets of eyes peeking through cracks in the doors. The doors slammed quickly as soon as they saw her causing the bangs to echo down the silent hallway. She could hear whispers behind the doors as she walked past. After what seemed like a life time she reached her door. There were notes posted on her door. 'Get out!' 'Go away!' She tore them off and opened the door.
The air inside was slightly stale. Without turning on the lights she kicked off her shoes and dropped her bag onto the counter. She made her way into her bedroom undressing as she went. Elizabeth threw her clothes into the basket and peeled off her tights. Grabbing one of her large PJ shirts she flopped down onto her bed and cried.