Biased Justice
Fandom: X-Men movie verse
Pairing: Charles/Erik
Rating: M
Status: Complete
Series/Sequel: "Lost Past" part 7.
Disclaimers: They aren't mine. You know that. I'm just borrowing them.
Thanks:ERIKA, as always, my lovely guiding light, you have kept me on the
path that keeps this series coming. Also, to my darling Nadja, who reads all
this work, and who I beta work for. Hayate, you do the most beautiful
pictures, keep doing them honey, I love you for it.
Summary:The court trial that will either stop the war, or start it.
Warnings:Adult themes, slash themes, violence and porr representation of the
justice system. I made it a bit nicer and not quite correct.
Charles sat in the court room, hands tightly clenched on his lap. He gave no sign of stress or worry apart from his hands, as he turned to give Erik a tight smile.
Erik looked dashing in his suit, dark charcoal colour, one which Charles imagined even Scott would approve of.
The thought brought a tear to his eye. That was why they were here. Scott. His son. Abducted by the World United Countries Defence Organization as stolen property, to be reacquired for further testing.
Behind him, in the stands, Jean and Ororo sat close to one another, Ororo's arm around Jean's slim shoulders as she cried. Both were dressed in neat business suits, like Charles and Erik, and Raven, who sat with Erik out the front.
Further back, where the journalists would sit when the court decided if they could come in or not, the space was currently filled by the students of Xavier's School for Gifted Youth, and Logan, who slouched among them.
On the other side was three rather snooty looking lawyers, and two other men. Charles recognised Mr Walker, but the smaller, older man he hadn't met. Presumably he was the head of Walker's department.
The orderly stood up. "All rise for Judge Kevin Sullivan."
The judge, a wizened and bitter looking man, shuffled in and sat down. "Get on with it."
"The case is Charles Xavier and the Xavier School for Gifted Youth versus the research department of the World United Countries Defence Organization. Xavier is suing for wrongful imprisonment and enslavement of property officially known as WMM-311276, also known as Scott Summers."
Sullivan waved his hand. "Well? Hurry up then. Plaintiff?"
Erik stood up. "Erik Lensherr, representing Mr Xavier, this is my assistant Raven Darkholme. We are suing the World United Countries Defence Organization for the release of Scott Summers. Mr Summers, the adopted son of Mr Xavier, was kidnapped by the organization two weeks ago, when they claimed they owned him. As a human being, Mr Summers cannot be owned, and is therefore being wrongfully imprisoned and effectively enslaved by the company."
The defence stood up. "James Copenhagen, my associates are Linda Davenport and Marcus Shelby, representing the World United Countries Defence Organization research and security departments. The defence pleads dismissal of charges. The entity known as WMM-311276 is not human, and furthermore has been proven not to be sentient or fully intelligent. As little more than an animal, we can own him, and have done so since December of nineteen seventy six. He was legally our property then, and as such was stolen goods. We reclaimed him. No harm was done to any students of the school, nor any property."
Charles could hear Logan's snarling behind him, and Jean's soothing voice telling him to calm down.
Sullivan banged his gravel. "Silence in court! Yes, you, the hairy man."
Logan snarled once more, but leant back in his seat, arms folding across his chest in an stubborn manner, warning everyone they hadn't heard the last of him.
Sullivan sniffed. "Well, defence, put forth your case."
Mr Copenhagen smiled and stood up. "We felt it best to settle this quickly, so, to cut things short, we would like to show the court exhibit 'A'."
Sullivan nodded. The orderly walked out and came back in, followed by a shackled and bruised individual who was pushed to sit in the dock. "Exhibit A. WMM-311276, or, as the plaintiff would prefer to call him, Scott Summers."
The court burst to life. Charles ignored all the chatter, reaching out for the mind of his son.
It was chaos. Something had been systematically repressing and blocking most of his memories, leaving the remaining memories confused, scattered and scared.
He had been reduced back to the state that he was in when Charles first found him, staring around wildly with taped shut eyes.
Sullivan looked down. "Does he speak?"
"No, not on his own. When we took him back, he dropped his mask. You see, WMM-311276 is a very cunning animal. He is capable of imitating people, but more like a parrot would. He can hide, but never fits in quite right."
Charles was going slightly pink. Logan leapt to his feet and started to hurl abuse at the lawyers, until he was dragged out still screaming by security. Mr Copenhagen coughed and straightened his tie. "As you can see, many mutants border on sociopathic, or impaired."
"Objection!" Erik roared.
"Sustained. No basis for that, two mutants hardly constitute as most."
Charles was surprised. He hadn't really seen Sullivan as the sympathetic sort.
"Comment withdrawn." Copenhagen shifted. "We have scientists here who are willing to testify about the mental condition of WMM-311276."
"Well?"
The wizened man stood up. "My name is Jackson, I am the head of research at the WUCDO. I am going to perform a series of routine tests on the subject. He will not be harmed in any way." He walked out the front and gripped Scott's jaw in his hand. Scott sniffed slightly, before trying to bite the hand, thrashing violently until the man backed off. "WMM-311276. Listen to me. Do you understand?"
Scott rocked slightly, before he tried to pull off the tape. He slammed his feet on the ground. "See."
"What do you mean, WMM-311276?"
"Want see. Dark. Bad dark."
Charles reached out to brush over his mind. Something was stopping him from talking properly, something had been done to him to make him seem impaired.
"WMM-311276. I want to ask you some questions. Do you know what one plus two is?"
Charles felt the answer Scott was thinking. A snide quip, about one what plus two who, but his face twisted, and Charles felt the struggle to find the words. "One what?"
"What do you mean?" Jackson said loudly.
"Three." Scott grinned. "One plus two is three."
Jackson nodded slowly. "Very good. Now, how do you feel?"
Once again, that long pause and rocking. He twitched suddenly and thrashed out, nearly biting Jackson, who leapt back. "My point, your honour. He has no idea of what to do in this situation. He can parrot, but something like how do you feel is beyond him."
"Objection!" Erik stood up. "Testing was done by defence, of course they want to prove he is impaired. I want to have him examined by a professional."
Sullivan sighed. "Anyone here?"
"Yes. Professor Xavier is a doctor of medicine and psychology. I want him to examine Mr Summers."
"Who?"
Erik didn't sigh, to his credit. "Exhibit A."
"Righto then. Hurry up."
Charles smiled tensely at Erik and wheeled himself forwards until he sat near Scott. "Scott, can you hear me? It's Charles."
He reached into his son's mind, calming slowly. He could feel the tension ebb out of Scott at hearing his voice. "Charles?"
"Yes. Do you remember me?"
"Yes. No." He looked confused. "Vague, wheelchair. Aberdeen. Aberdeen."
Sullivan looked at them. "What's this about Aberdeen?"
Charles smiled and took Scott's hand. "I found him at Aberdeen, well, very near it."
Scott was rocking again. Charles went to reach for his mind, when Scott suddenly threw himself forwards with a snarl, nearly biting Charles.
Charles pushed himself backwards, stunned and shocked. Copenhagen sniffed. "You see, no true intelligence. He doesn't even understand that this was the man he lived with for ten years."
Sullivan nodded slowly. "We shall come back to the subject later, when he has been calmed down. You may take him."
"Objection. The plaintiff want Mr Summers to be released into neutral hands until the end of the case."
Sullivan paused. "Very well. Accommodation will be arranged. Ten minute recess while that is done."
"All rise." The orderly yelled.
Sullivan shuffled out and Charles stared as Scott was taken out, still fighting and lashing out. He turned to Erik. "What have they done?"
"I don't know. But he should recover away from them. I think I know what to do next."
"I hope so, Erik."
"So do I, Charles. So do I."
Logan was pacing outside when recess was called. He grabbed Ororo as she came out. "What happened?"
"Scott attacked Charles. He didn't seem to know who he was. It was," she paused and looked down. "I was scared of him. For the first time in my life I was truly scared of him."
Logan stared at her. "Ro, it's slim, he wouldn't hurt ya."
"He tried to attack Charles. If he could attack Charles, he could attack any of us."
"Where is he?"
"They're taking him to a neutral area for the duration of the trial."
"I want ter see him."
Ororo tried to stop Logan striding in, but he walked past her and into the court room. Ignoring security, he jumped the barrier and landed next to Scott. "Hey, bub."
Scott's head whipped around. "Wolv. Wolv?"
Logan reached out and lay his hand on Scott's face slowly. "Yeah, Wolverine. They treating ya good?"
"No, bad. Dark. So dark."
"Oi, no talking to the evidence!" A security guard ran over, only to be stopped at claw point. Logan snarled. "He ain't evidence, he's a person. His name's Scott Summers, and ya treat him right, or I'll be after ya. Got it?"
"Ye, yes." The guard stammered.
Logan grinned, claws disappearing. "Slim? I gotta go, but ya take care, okay? Ya give 'em hell."
Scott cocked his head, like he had back at the quarry, and nodded slowly. "Look, take, Charles. Look for Charles. Safe. Yes?"
Logan nodded. "Yeah, I'll look after him, bub. Don't ya worry."
Logan let security take him away, as Scott was moved back to a separate room.
Charles was getting more stressed as they moved back into the court room. Erik smiled at him, tightly, but a definite smile, before he turned to the judge. "I wish to call a witness, your honour."
"What? Yes, alright."
"I call to the stand Mr Logan."
Logan stared at them and sighed, standing up. Jean and Ororo watched him, faces tense, as he went down and was sworn in. He sat down, propping his feet up on the wood. Erik glared at him, but simply continued. "Logan, would please tell the court your full name."
"Hell, Lensherr, ya know I don't remember it."
"Exactly. You have virtually no memory of your life, correct?"
"Yeah. So?"
"Have you ever encountered any of the people in this court before?"
Logan looked around, eyes glazing slightly. "Yes. That prick, the doctor. He was in the facility I was kept in."
"Objection! Speculation!"
"Overruled. I want to hear this. Continue."
"Logan, would you please tell us about your life in the facility."
Logan eyed the doctor off. "I'd rather not, but I will, fer slim."
"Slim?" The judge asked.
"Scott. Call him slim, cause he's so skinny."
A few laughs from around the stands, but they were tense. Sullivan glared at everyone. "Get on with it, Mr Logan."
"Right. I don't remember too much, but I remember when they experimented on me. They cut off pieces of me flesh to put metal on me skeleton, and stood around laughin' while I was screamin' with the pain, cheerin' each other about how successful it was. I can also remember this boy next to me. I don't know what his name were, they called him BMM-150280."
"Do you know what that code meant?"
"Blue Male Mutant, acquired on the fifteenth of February, nineteen eighty. He were seven when I knew him."
Logan's tone was glazed, he didn't seem to really there as told his story. "I also remember the boy opposite him, WMM-311276. I don't remember much, except that the two of them used to try to reach each other through the bars, like they needed human contact."
"Objection. Unsubstantiated and irrelevant."
"The witness' testimony is proof to the fact that the organization mistreat and imprison people for experimentation. This in itself is highly illegal and would prove that the defence would attempt to sabotage any chance that Mr Summers may have of returning to normal society."
"Objection, once again no evidence and irrelevant."
Sullivan looked down at Copenhagen. "I will decide what is irrelevant, Mr Copenhagen. Continue Mr Lensherr, I think is very relevant to the case."
"Logan, would you tell us about Mr Summers? How long have you known him?"
"About six months." Logan rocked on his heels. "I got this feelin' I knew 'im, but I weren't sure where from, until he remembered. He had taken off his glasses, and he remembered when he saw the colour."
"What glasses do you speak of, Logan?"
"He wore these red glasses, to control his optic blasts, but he didn't seem to need it then, as he remembered more he seemed to be able to control it."
"Thank you. I reserve the right to recall the witness for further questioning."
Erik sat down and Copenhagen stood up. He straightened his jacket and walked towards Logan. "Mr Logan, you are also known as Wolverine, correct?"
"Yeah."
"You are also highly dangerous and unpredictable I believe the reports have said. Have tendencies towards violence and wanton destruction."
Logan's lips snarled, but his voice was steady. "I jus' look after me family."
"What family would that be, you claim to have no memory from before you were allegedly experimented on."
"Allegedly! Fuck you, they cut chunks out me to put in this metal frame! And my family are the people here, the people I love. Rogue, Jean, Ro, Chuck and Scott. They're my family, and I only protect them."
"Would the witness please restrain himself. And defence, no more tactics like that or I'll have you thrown out."
"Yes, your honour. Mr Logan, how old are you?"
"I don't know. I can't remember."
"Very well, how old do you believe you are."
"Medically, me body's about thirty."
"How long ago were you allegedly in the hands on my client?"
"About ten years, I guess. No, bit less, nine or eight."
"No more questions at this point, your honour."
"Mr Logan, you may step down. Plaintiff, call your next witness."
"I call Mr Charles Xavier to the stand."
Charles blinked, surprised, but too the stand, dismissing the guard who tried to help him into the dock, competently transferring himself over. Erik stood up after the swearing in. "Mr Xavier, how long have you known Mr Summers?"
"Ten years."
"And what is you relationship to him?"
"I adopted him when I found him Scotland. He was apparently unsocialised but very bright, and quick to learn."
"Was he violent towards you?"
"No, never. He seemed more protective towards me, though I couldn't say why. He asked me to stay with him, and kept trying to feed me like an over protective parent."
"What state was he in at this time?"
"He was wary and edgy, but willing to trust. He was very pale, the sunlight seemed to hurt him, and he reacted strongly to bars, but showed no fear of guns. He was timid, but gentle. Slightly undernourished, scarred and he was wearing a visor, which stopped his optic blasts from destroying everything he looked at."
"How long did it take him to start talking?"
"Two weeks for one word. He was learning from scratch just about. He knew some basic words and gestures, but it was as though he had been isolated from human contact. He learnt quickly though, but never grasped some ideas that are ingrained in most of us from the start, such as subterfuge. He was very honest."
"What sort of upbringing do you believe he had had?"
"Objection. Statement of opinion."
"The witness is an expert in psychology and psychiatry. He is medically qualified to give evidence on this."
"Overruled. Continue."
"He had been brought up in an extremely isolated situation, with an absolute minimum of human contact. He had little idea of social interactions, which would suggest that any contact that had been made was not personal, but more professional. He had no memory of any encounters before when we met, and had not recovered them when I last saw him."
"You raised him as your own?"
"Yes," Charles closed his eyes briefly, trying to stop the tears. "I love him, he's my son."
"No more questions, your honour."
"Mr Xavier, you found WMM-311276?"
"If that is what you wish to call him, yes."
"Did you attempt to find his parents?"
"Yes. I reported to the local police station and also attempted to locate his parents by means of posters and news articles."
"And yet, somehow, he never came to the attention of authorities."
"You mean the department that he escaped from?"
"Yes."
"I can't explain it. They simply never asked about him."
"You are recognised as the world's most powerful telepath, correct?"
"Yes."
"And you never managed to find out anything about his past?"
"No. Just what are you implying?"
"That you never searched, and in fact tried to hide the boy from authorities, as a pro-mutant statement."
"I never did that."
"Then how was it that you never managed to find anything from his past out?"
"He has extremely strong mental shielding, stronger than most telepaths, and something had effectively ruined his memories. I do not know how, but his mind had been tampered with, scrambling his memories and thoughts. Much like I believe has been done now."
"Objection!"
"Sustained. That has no basis."
"I am a telepath. I have experience with this sort of thing, and then sheer degree of disorder compared to when I last saw indicates strong tampering and probably abuse and or programming."
"Objection!"
"Overruled. I'm interested bout this. Mr Xavier, do you believe that he has been brainwashed?"
"Essentially, yes. That sort of mental condition does not occur naturally."
Sullivan leant back. "I want a full examination conducted on Mr Summers, and he is to be treated with care. I want to have him watched for several weeks. I believe only time will tell us if he is intelligent or not, but so far, I not at all convinced by the defence's case. Work on it, gentlemen. I am calling for recess. We shall reconvene in two weeks, after the examinations. Neither side is to be in direct contact with the subject, though his, uh, family, may be given permission to visit after one week. That would be the people I have listed here, Ororo Munroe, Jean Grey and Mr Logan." Sullivan looked around the court. "Understood?"
Everyone nodded. Both lawyers answered, "Yes, you honour."
"All rise."
Sullivan left and Charles embraced Erik. Things were beginning to look favourable.
The End