Legion Extreme Issue # 15: Trials and Auditions
Fortunately, Dragonfist turned himself in.
Two weeks later
[Cameras and reporters in winter coats buzz around the sidewalk in front of the Boston Courthouse…The intrepid journalists fight their way around the drifts of freshly plowed snow to get a better location as close to the doors of the courthouse as possible. Standing to the side with an air of casual interest is a cameraman holding a vid-cam with the initials SNN in bright blue…The reporter in front of the camera speaks…]
“This is Jimmy Haskell standing outside of the Boston Courthouse, waiting for word on the highest profile case to date involving Super-humans. Anaka Ai Lee, aka Dragonfist of Boston’s own Legion Extreme awaits arraignment for the alleged murder of Harold Diggs, also known, allegedly, as Soulfire, a student at the School for the Mentally Gifted and Talented in Millenium City. Those in the know, know who they front for….Due to the Parahuman Act of 1999 this trial has been bumped to Boston Superior Court.”
[The reporter pauses and puts a hand to his ear to better hear from a microphone that sits inside…]
“Wait. I’m now getting word that Dragonfist has been charged with 1st Degree Murder. Wow! That’s political. Clearly, the municipal government wants to send a strong message that vigilantes will not be tolerated in their city. This reporter is just surprised as you are, true believers especially with Legion Extreme’s ties to PRIMUS. Hold on! I’m getting word that Mr. Lee has entered a plea of Not Guilty. No surprise there! They’re telling me that he’s s on his way out…”
[The reporters, including Mr. Haskell begin crowding around the large double doors of the courthouse as they open and spill out the defendant, his team of lawyers, and his mentor Jae Sun Lee, the prominent Chinatown businessman. A silver blur zips past the throng of reporters that mob the orange-suit wearing, handcuffed Dragonfist. At the same time, a helicopter appears overhead, and a dark-blue, armored vehicle with the word PRIMUS emblazoned in bright yellow speeds to the curb, screeching to a halt. ]
**
“Dragonfist, we’ve heard that you’ve entered a plea of not guilty.”
“Dragonfist, is it true that you’ve been charged with capital murder?”
“Are you still going to be a member of Legion Extreme?”
Anaka looked around, overwhelmed at the dozens of journalist who assaulted him with questions. PRIMUS agents led him to the lock-up wagon. He wanted to cry, but Jae Sun told him he had to be as impassive as possible. He simply looked down at the concrete steps and did not answer as the agents hurried him along. Jae Sun had also told him to let the lawyers do the talking.
“My client has been advised not to answer your questions.”
The reporters turned their attention to the attorney.
“Mr. Gershowitz, what do you think the chances of Dragonfist being proclaimed innocent?”
Albert Gershowitz, one of the best criminal lawyers in the business, spoke smoothly, “Mr. Lee will be found innocent of capital murder.”
“Is it true that Dragonfist killed a teenager?”
Jae Sun Lee standing next to the lawyers growled sub-vocally. Al got the hint.
“No comment.”
He answered the plethora of questions that came his way as he and Jae Sun pushed towards their limousine. The car drove steadily away. Once inside, Jae Sun activated his holowatch.
You know that there is no need for that, right? came the voice of Somnus in his head.
I am just not used to your ability to mind link as of yet, Somnus. Anything?
No. I cannot believe that They are not here. I will check again.
Sigh… Jae Sun rubbed his temples in consternation.
“I was not expecting such a stiff charge, Mr. Gershowitz.”
“Well, it looks like we might have to change our strategy. We should start thinking about a plea-bargin.”
“You think that he did it? On purpose?”
“It is obvious that he killed Mr. Diggs. And unfortunately, the judge is going to allow video evidence from the scene. Mr. Lee I’ve seen the footage. It was excessive.”
“But you know as well as I do that Diggs was a member of Psi. You have been briefed on that already. Anaka says that Soulfire attacked him first.”
“All I’m saying is that we should be prepared.”
They rode the rest of the way to Chinatown in silence.
**
Slipstream had to get out of there. The stuffy courtroom. The stuffier judge. Bleepin’ D.A..
“Curse me and my ‘meat-puppet’ mind. If only I’d been there, and not been swimming towards England. Sorry dude, sorry,” he said to himself looking over at Dragonfist.
Slipstream looked over the mass of reporters and was of the mind to blind them all. Of course, it wouldn’t look so good. It would only continue to contribute to bad PR for the Legion. It just kept going from bad to worse, and this day, hearing how the Man had accused his boy of murder was the culmination of a bad two weeks. And without bail neither.
“You don’t know what Psi does!” he had wanted to shout.
Somehow, with papa Lee watching, he had kept his cool.
Who was left? Slipstream snorted as he first ran ahead of the PRIMUS-wagon to the PRIMUS office. Valor had hung up his cape. The death of his innocent students had been too much. Cosmic Knight had decided to stay up in Millennium City and go solo. Yesterday, Darkfire and Vivian had taken off to Paris to launch my little pony’s modeling career. He hadn’t seen Scooby in over two weeks. Ever since the Crowns of Krim.
I guess its just us serious heroes left… he mused.
He was stopped at the entrance as the agents led by the local Silver Avenger, Molly Flannagan escorted D’fist into the building. Slipstream gave him a wave that Dragonfist barely acknowledged. The martial artist, he who blew-up destroids, and had saved Slipstream’s bacon on more than one occasion looked dejected. He took off, not wanting to even be tempted to follow the hoverjet to the “undisclosed” maximum, security prison where Dragonfist was being held.
Today couldn’t get any worse. he sighed as he sped towards Beacon Hill.
His superior hearing caught the sound of running water as he zoomed in the back door.
“Grandma?” he asked hoping that it was not his grandmother whom he had explicitly told to stay in Millennium City with the Champions and Doc Silverback.
He slowed down and ran up the stairs. The bathroom door was wide open. Water spilled out into the bedroom, then it slowly materialized into a voluptuous female form.
“Hi Honey. I made myself at home. Aren’t you happy to see me?”
Naked, she ran up to him and kissed him wetly on the lips.
Crap! cursed Slipstream
It had gotten worse.