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"Good Morning. I'm standing outside the Los Angeles Federal Courthouse on this, the first full day of the testimony in the trial of Carl Sands A.K.A. the Shadow Thief for the murder of Superhero and former member of the Justice League Firestorm." States the T.V. Reporter as she begins the coverage of the trial. She goes on stating that this is one of the biggest trials "this city has seen since O.J. Simpson". The reporter says that, members of the JLA and JSA apprehended Carl Sands four weeks ago, and the eyes of the world have been on L.A., wondering how the prosecution can convict him without the body of the presumed-dead Superhero. The reporter goes on saying that, "Kate Spencer has kept a short leash on her plans for this case, but legal experts agree that even a Lawyer of Spencer's prowess may face an uphill battle in this case against Sands."

The reporter begins to question the large gathering of people outside the courthouse. "I say they fry him! I mean these heroes risk their lives for us every day. They save us from stuff we never even hear about and they never ask for a thing! How can we expect them to keep defending us if we don't help 'em out when we can?" says one man in the crowd. A woman in the crowd says, "I am here as a staunch anti-death penalty advocate. Who has the right to decide who lives or dies? I'll tell you: G-O-D. That's who." The last person that the reporter has chosen says, "The whole Metahuman Community despises us. I think this is all some sort of conspiracy for them to infiltrate the Justice System and mock us." "Well, there you have it. Three divergent opinions that could very well serve as a sampling of the whole nation... wait a minute, I'm hearing that witness testimony is about to begin. The Prosecution's first witness is a big one...former JLA and current JSA Member Hawkman."

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" the bailiff asks Hawkman. "By the Pantheon I belief in, yes, I do." Hawkman states. Kate Spencer asks Hawkman, "Is it true that Carl Sands used stolen technology from the planet Thanagar in his identity as the Shadow Thief?" "Yes, the shadow belt he stole is meant to be used sparingly and as a proactive device by Thanagarian Police. Long-term use, or abuse, is considered unhealthy at best, and extremely dangerous at worst." Hawkman answered. Kate asked Hawkman in his many confrontations with Sands, if he warned him of the dangers of prolonged use of the device. Hawkman answers, "When he wasn't trying to kill me, yes, but Carl wouldn't hear of it. He believed that he was stronger than the belt and ignored my multiple warnings." Kate states that she has no further questions and the Judge turns things over to Counselor Joshua Logan.

Joshua begins asking Hawkman about the timeline of Hawkman in different teams. He begins with, "There was a Hawkman in the Justice Society during World War Two, and then there was a Hawkman in the Justice League, and there was that armored commando-guy Hawkman a few years back, and now there's you. So, tell me--who are all of these guys?" "All of them. "they" are all "me". It's difficult to explain." Hawkman answers. Joshua tells Hawkman try me, and Hawkman states just take my word for it. Joshua then asks, "Take your word for it? And why would we do that, exactly? Is it not true that you were arrested by the St. Roch Police-in connection with a series of serial murders?" Kate thinks to herself "deep breaths, Hawkman. Deep calming breaths..." just as Hawkman explodes slamming his fist into witness stand. "ENOUGH! You play your pathetic word games in here while we are risking our lives for yours?!?" "Sir, restrain yourself! This is a Courtroom, not some field of medieval battle!" the Judge tells Hawkman. Hawkman apologies for his outburst and Joshua states nothing further. Damon asks Kate, "It could have been worse, right?"

"Man, I'm not sure about this..." states a maintenance man to the tabloid reporter as he unlocks Kate's apartment. The tabloid reporter tries to comfort him by calling him a patriot. "Yeah, well, I'm a patriot who wants his money, Mr...?" "Shoemaker, you'll get it after I get a look around." the reporter states. "So, this is how a fancy Lawyer lives, huh? The place looks pretty good for having had a "natural gas explosion"." The Maintenance man answers, "Huh? We never had no problems with the gas lines in this building." "I was being sarcastic, dude." The reporter responds. Shoemaker then starts to go through Kate's books shelf and finds some dust on one of the shelves. "Hello, what's this? "Quincy" ain't got nothin' on me." states Shoemaker as he scraps the dust into an envelope. The Maintenance man asks "Quincy?" and Shoemaker responds, "C.S.I's grandpa, dude. OK, I was never here...got it?" as his puts some money in the guy's shirt pocket.

Back at the Courthouse, the Judge tells Kate to call her next witness. "Your Honor, if it please the Court, we have a change in the order of witnesses. The Prosecution would like to call Superman." Kate states. "Your Honor, I object! This "sudden change" is obviously a stunt!" Joshua says, standing up. Kate asks if she could respond saying that there is no stunt, Superman requested a last-minute change in his testimony due to an urgent commitment off-world. "Your Honor, I need more time to..." "To what? Research him? He's not exactly an obscure witness. Superman was always on the Prosecution's list, so I see no problem in moving him up on the schedule. Do you have a problem with that, Counselor?" the Judge says interrupting Joshua. Joshua sits back down and tell the Judge "no, sir." After the swearing in of Superman, Kate thanks Superman for his time for the trial and asks him if "Firestorm was a friend as well as a colleague?" Superman answers, "Absolutely. He was a relative newcomer when he joined the JLA, but Firestorm already had the heart of a hero."

"Man, you ever have one of those days that you can't believe you're living?" asks Firestorm. "I'm not sure I know what you mean, Firestorm." Superman states. "Well, I've been a Superhero for, like, ten minutes it seems, and I'm hangin' with Superman! How cool is that? It's like being a rookie on the Yankees and playing catch with the "Babe"!" Firestorm explains. "I'm not all that impressive once you get to know me." Superman tells him. "And you're modest, too. Geez you sure set the bar high for us newbies. I haven't been good at much in my life so far. You, and all the JLA, make me wanna be great at this. I know it sounds brown-nosy, but you inspire me." Firestorm tells Superman.

As Superman finishes his recount of what Firestorm told him, he continues telling the Court, "He took being a hero very seriously. And he truly rose to the occasion. He ended up being an inspiration to us." Kate says your witness as she thinks to herself "and that's why they call him Superman." Joshua tells Superman that it is an honor to meet him, then asks, "Your tag line is about fighting for "Truth, Justice and the American way", is it not?" "I don't know if I'd call it a "tag line", but--yes." Superman answers. "Well, then, tell us the truth. Didn't you, too, die once?" Joshua asks. "It wasn't quite as cut and dried as that. You see, after my battle with Doomsday, I sustained severe injuries that left me" "It was a yes or no question, sir. Please answer it that way." Joshua interrupts. Superman answers yes, then Joshua says he has only one more question, "What is your legal identity?" Superman pauses, then answers, "I can't answer that. I'm sorry. There are too many of my family and friends that would be placed in jeopardy if I revealed that information." "I see. So, even though you are under oath, you are refusing to answer a direct question. Hm. Perhaps your new tag line should be "Truth, Justice and the American way except for when it doesn't suit me"? Nothing Further." Joshua states.

Lake Placid, New York. "You're getting old, Thor. The squirrels aren"t even afraid of you anymore." Says an old man walking down a trail to his dog. "I don't know about you, but I could go for some of that beef stew. Sound good?" he says as the dog barks. The man walks up to a mailbox that has written on the side 'Dan Richards'. He says, "Oh, well, look at this, I may have won 25 million dollars. The odds are better that you'll sprout wings and fly." as he pulls the mail out and walks into his home. A person in the shadows of a tree thinks, "Doddering old fool." As Dan walks into his home, he walks over to his fireplace to start a fire, saying that it is getting chilly, that it seems like winter was only yesterday. Just then, his lights went out and his dog starts barking. He lets his dog out saying, "What is it, boy? Another squirrel come to taunt you?" as Thor runs into the yard. "Crazy old dog." Dan says right before Thor comes crashing through the front window. "Good God!!" "God can't help you now. Dan Richards." Says the man that was by the tree. "W--who are you? What do you want?!" Dan says. A loud scream comes from Dan's home right before a snap.

"I've got it, Dad!" Ramsey says as the doorbell rings. Ramsey opens the door to a courier states that he has "a delivery for a Mr. Ramsey Robinson." "Cool! That's me!" Ramsey states. Ramsey opens the letter and pulls out a picture that has a note paper clipped to it, stated "Hope you like this, xoxo Mom" "Whoa!" Ramsey says as he lifts up the note to see a picture of Superman, autographed personally to Ramsey. "Who was at the door, Ramsey?" Peter asks. Ramsey shows his dad the picture that Kate sent him and says, "Dad, look what Mom got for me! She rules!"

"Can you believe this guy? We're carting him around in his own little Pope-mobile! Hey, Shadow Man, do the royal wave for me, huh?" says one of the escort guards. One of the other guards says that he looks more like Travolta "Bubble Boy" TV movie and asks if they remember that one. Just then the lights in the hall went out and the guard says "Hey!" "Relax, Demarco. We live in the land of rolling blackouts, remember?"

"This would've been so much easier if I'd killed him in that cemetery. Damn JLA." Kate thinks to herself as she walks to her car. "And when did that P.D. get so damn good? I've gotta get in gear. I can't lose to that punk. He looks like he doesn't even shave yet. God, I want a cigarette..."

"Dammit! The backup generators shoulda kicked in--AAAAH!" one of the guards say just as the container that held Carl explodes. One of the guards yells at the others, "Hold your positions around the prisoner!!" as the others are getting killed.

"I'm gonna go home, order some "chin-chin", take a nice long bath and..." Kate thinks as she turns the key to start her car, making a klik sound. "Klik"? Oh,no,oh,no,oh,no,oh,no-!" Kate thinks as she opens her door and dives out of the car, right before it explodes.





"Hello, Carl. Your friends have been worried about you." Says the woman standing in front of Carl....




"C-Cheshire?"




To be continued

Characters:

Kate Spencer/Manhunter (LA District Attorney)
Damon Matthews (Assistant LA District Attorney)
Public Defender Joshua Logan
Ramsey Robinson
Peter Robinson

Hawkman
Superman
Firestorm (Flashback)
Dan Richards (Manhunter I )

Carl Sands
Cheshire

Unnamed T.V. News Reporter
Unnamed Judge
Unnamed Maintenance Man
Tabloid Reporter Shoemaker (First name given in issue 8 )
Unnamed Stalker/Killer
Escort Guards

Issue summary written by: glguardian (Tad Dupre)