Memories

Inquisition

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The crowd jeered as they brought her out. She blinked in the bright sunlight, tilted her head away. She made out signs. Fry the Mutie seemed to be a common one. But she felt a soft flutter of hope when she saw a placard held up with pictures of members of the Avengers gone wild and the question Equality for All? proudly splashed across it. There were others, all basically saying that because she was mutant, she was being tried. But she pushed those thoughts aside. Then something whistled through the air and she felt eggshell crumbled on her head and yolk and white get tangled in her hair. She could so easily react, turn round and swipe out. Everyone there knew the handcuffs were just for show. All of the Avengers were trained in lock picking. And they hadn't even put a power suppressor on, as Steve had correctly claimed it would eventually kill her.

So instead of reacting, she just walked silently to the doors, Jamie Madrox at her shoulder. As soon as they closed the doors, a woman hurried up with a bowl of warm water, smiling shyly at Tora, who nodded in thanks.

When she entered the courtroom, her hair was still damp. She saw the sad glance Jen gave her, oddly tender. Glancing to the side, she spotted a few familiar faces in the crowd. And in one corner, Matt Murdock raised one hand in silent greeting. He'd come to see her shortly after, offered to defend her. And she refused, not because she doubted his abilities –far from it- but she had to protect him. Her eyes scanned left and right. Bobbi –Mockingbird, how droll in the courtroom- sitting in another corner, next to Hawkeye. They were holding hands and both looked serious. She continued to look. Tony was near the front, pointedly ignoring the reporters. When he saw her, he nodded. Silent respect. And then she saw Logan, sitting quietly in one corner, unable to stand as family because they kept their life so secret.

And then she was in the dock, waiting, waiting for the longest silence in her life.

"You are the superhero known as Dragon?"

"Yes."

"What is your real name?"

"Which do you want? My birth name? The name I grew up with? The name I use because I am neither Marie Circen or Weapon X-ii?"

"Your real name."

"Marie Camille Circen."

There was a quiet ripple of silence, as people placed the name.

"Date of birth?"

"December 28th, 1984."

"Place of residence?"

"The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, 1407 Greymalkin Lane, Salam Center, Westchester County, New York."

"You live at the school?"

"Yes."

"You also teach there?"

"Yes."

"It says here you teach… Advanced Languages, Mutant History and…Cosmic Entities –What We Ignore About the Fundamental Truths of Life…?"

"Yes."

"Can you explain the last one?"

"We talk about the cosmic beings such as Galactus and their place in the universe, as well as the things almost everyone knows but happens to be wrong. Like Death prefers to be referred to as 'she' and how to face the Living Tribunal. Without wetting yourself."

"Are you making fun of this court?"

"No, sir. Just stating my job description."

"You also counsel a few troubled students?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I wish someone had been there for me when I was their age."

"Why wasn't there?"

"Between the ages of fourteen and twenty, the only human contact I had was with Sabretooth. He wasn't one for talking. More…eviscerating and torturing."

"Why were you with Sabretooth for that long?"

She stiffened.

"I'd rather not answer that question."

"Were you in league with him?"

She hissed through her teeth.

"I was sold to him, because I was an inefficient weapon. Whoever heard of a weapon that wouldn't kill?"

There was silence and she lowered her head.

"I respectfully request we no longer talk of my childhood. Merely why I am here."

She heard Jamie hiss. She was effectively sabotaging her own case. But she couldn't talk about that. She wouldn't.

"Shall we skip through, just watching the interesting bits?"

"You did that to everything."

"Eidetic memory, remember? I don't want to clutter my head with insignificant details."

"You fast-forwarded through every single Olympic opening and closing ceremony, despite the fact others wanted to watch them."

"They're three hours long each! I had better things to do!"

"You also threw a bowl at the TV at the 2012 closing ceremony. Yes, I heard about that."

"It was sacrilege."

Hope fidgeted in her seat. The sight of the teenage girl who was so obviously nervous appeared to appeal to the judge, who spoke kindly.

"You go by the name Hope Summers?"

Hope nodded, swallowing, glancing again and again at Tora who was sitting silently, staring at the floor. She did a lot of that. Just staring at the floor, barely reacting to anything said.

"Do you have another name?"

"They… Baby Spalding… I was at Cooperstown… My dad –only he wasn't my dad- he saved me but they never got to name me."

"It says here you were raised in the future. Who by?"

"Nathan… That's Cable… My dad… And… And Tora…"

"Who is Tora?"

Hope glanced over at the silent woman.

"You mean to say the defendant raised you?"

"No… Not her. Another Tora."

"But it was a woman like her?"

Hope nodded.

"Was that why you didn't fight when she kidnapped you?"

Hope leapt up, her eyes flashing.

"Tora didn't kidnap me! I went with her because she was the only one who treated me as a person, not some sort of weapon! She asked me what I wanted, not told me what I needed! I went with her because she'd make sure I wasn't hurt!"

"Yet she exposed you to this… 'Phoenix Force'?"

"Yeah, but at least she told me what it was. I had one set of people telling me I was going to be the Phoenix, another set telling me they were going to hide me from the Phoenix and Tora telling me what the Phoenix was, what it did and did I want to do this! She was the only one who didn't treat me like a baby!"

She sat down, folded her arms and every time someone used the word 'kidnapping', she would drawl 'Went with her willingly". By the time she had finished, the judge looked rather annoyed at her.

Phoenix grinned.

"That's a good girl. Phoenix through and through."

"I don't know. That stubborn streak is more conducive with our host, Phoenix dear."

The masked woman shot a glare at Death, who ignored her.