The Trial
The Commandos arrived, a massive court room, Erik sitting in the center, bound by massive chains. As soon as he saw Bride......
"My love!" Bride's face scrunched up as he calls her, "I knew you would defend me! There is no greater honesty than true love!"
Everyone had different reactions; Weasel and Grundy growled, Humanite sneered in disgust, Medusa simply shook her head, Phosphorus spat a burning lugi at Erik's direction, G.I.Robot narrowed his visors, and Onomatopoeia waved his index finger, while saying.....
"Tsk, tsk....." Flagg just rubbed the bridge of his nose how Erik actually acts around her. He still can't believe he was going to help this stalker get Bride.
Nina's reaction wasn't towards Erik, but towards Bride. Her reaction held nothing but worry for her girlfriend.
"You doing alright?" Nina decided to ask, placing a gentle hand on Bride's arm.......which made Erik go berserk!
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY-" Erik was caught off when Diana slammed his head into the ground, practically making a massive fissure in the ground.
"Diana!" Batman yells, "We need him coherent enough to stand trial!"
"Don't worry," Diana assures, "If he's half as tough as the stories tell, he should just lose some teeth and a little facial structure."
Indeed she was right, when Erik sat back up, several of his teeth fell out and it appears his nose is broken. Bride and Nina almost laughed, Nina being polite and holding her's in.......Bride not so much.
"Yeah, get yer ass kicked, you fucking stalker!" Bride yells as she flips Erik off.
"Enough!" Superman yells, shaking the entire room, "This trial has been long overdue! Erik Frankenstein, you stand before the Justice League, the Creature Commandos, and many teams of Heroes to discuss your crimes and then decide your punishment!"
"The only crime I am guilty of is falling in love!" Erik exclaims, being his usual, delusional self, "She is not her Bride! She's my Bride!"
"In what way gives you any right to lay claim to her?" Diana asks, clearly outraged by the monster, "From her tales, she's describes you as a stalker, that all.you have done is take away anything that made her happy!"
"They were obstacles, in the way of our love!" Erik yells, "I refuse to let anyone or anything distract my love from our destined union!"
"Dude, do you honestly hear yourself?" Flash asks, "Have you ever bothered to ask her what she wants?"
"True love knows your love's desires," Erik exclaims, disturbing more heroes, "I refuse to let that, adorable, petite cutie who can make a wetsuit both functional and casual!"
Nina was confused, did he insult or compliment her......
"Man, it's obvious she wants nothing to do with you!" John Stewart states, "She's told us how everytime you come near her, the two of you duke it put and she's trying to kill you."
"Love is not a simple road!" Erik responds, "It is a difficult maze where only one's resilience can bring victory!"
"Erik, you need to say something that will help you in your defense," Superman advises, "Because if you're unable to defend yourself in any of these accusations, we can only settle on the harshest punishment......." The man of Steel noticed Batman has said nothing, "Batman, do you nothing to say on your behalf?"
The Dark Knight thought for a moment before he decided to say his peace.
"More show then tell," Batman exclaims as he stands and approaches Diana, "may I borrow the Lasso of Truth."
Diana simply nodded as she hands her signature weapon to Batman. The Detective walked acrossed the table till he was face to face with Bride. Batman unwound the Lasso slightly, hold the end towards Bride.
"The Lasso compels anyone bound to it to speak the truth," Batman exclaims for anyone who doesn't understand, "as long as Bride and I hold it, neither of us can lie. That is.......if she agrees?"
Bride knew how the Lasso worked, Diana used it on her multiple times, forcing Bride to reveal her past. The Patch-work woman groaned as she held out her hand, allowing Batman to tie the end around her wrist. The Lasso glowed, signifying it was active.
"Is Bride your real name?" Batman asked.
"No......I was never given a name." Bride answers, "My creator, Victor Frankenstein, never named me before 'he' killed him." Everyone turned to Erik, wanting for his defense, he gave it.......but nobody liked it.
"He was corrupting her! He was an obstacle to be removed!" Erik was really starting to unnerve everyone. Batman then asked the only question that mattered to Erik.
"Do you love him?" Erik's grin widens, believing Bride would say yes.......only for his hopes to die.
"Are you insane? Fuck No!" Bride basically yells, unconsciously grabbing Nina's hand, who intertwined her webbed fingers with her patch-work ones, "He's stalked me for nearly 200 years, and times when I found my own happiness, friends, and.......people to love, he killed all of it! There's no obstacles of love, I want him to leave me alone! I don't love him, I want nothing to do with him! I love Nina, from her beautiful smile to her cute gills........wow, this thing really works....."
To say Nina appreciated hearing Bride saying those last things was an understatement. She didn't hesitate to kiss Bride's cheek, who gave a smile back to her. Erik though.........
"LIES! ALL LIES! SHE WAS MADE FOR ME!" Erik yells, then he proceeds to yell all the things he would do to her.
Yeah.......there was no defense for Erik......
Batman untied the Lasso from Bride's wrist and walked up to his colleagues.
"Have you come to a verdict?" The Dark Knight asks, knowing full well the answer. Superman looks between his friends, who all nodded, he then leans back into his chair, allowing the oldest member, whose lived long enough to appreciate life and make impossible decisions.
Martian Manhunter stood, his face neutral and near emotionless, but all knew he loved life more than any other hero. With him being millions of years older than all present, he was the most certified to pass the final jufgement.
"Erik Frankenstein, known as the Frankenstein Monster," J'onn announces, "we have come to our conclusion. You're crimes against Bride and all victims you have killed without remorse. And even the constant, attempted murder on Nina. We have concluded you are......guilty. Though the League has taken an oath to never take a life, you're sentence will be worse than death....."
As the Martian finished, a podium rose from the floor, on top, a strange device that almost reminded Bride of a Victorian flash camera, but far more.......alien......
Superman, with a grim look on his face, stood and walked over to the device. As he picked the device off the podium, his eyes showed no hatred or satisfaction.
"This device was used on Krypton to sentence the worst of all criminals. The League uses it for the same purpose, which we have sentenced villains who threatened the universe." As Superman explained, several images of many villains appeared; Doomsday, General Zod, Despero, Starro the Conquerer, and many others, "Your actions have condemned you to this Limbo, where you won't die......but you won't feel like your actually living. Know this, that everytime I use this device, it brings me no joy or satisfaction to send a living being into the Phantom Zone."
Erik glared at Superman, defying the power that was the Justice League.
"I will escape.....and when I do, I'll reunite with my love......" Erik used as his last words before Superman aimed and fired the device, engulfing Erik's form in a bright light before it died down......and Erik was gone.
Bride suddenly fell to her knees, Nina also descending down to hold Bride steady. The realization hitting her like a truck.
"He's gone......he's finally gone....." Bride muttered, gripping Nina's hand to keep her grounded......both tears and laughter escaped her and all Nina could do was gently hold her patch-work girlfriend.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Batman snuck away, a trick everyone was used to, and so did Flagg. The two met up in a separate hallway, The Question waiting for them.
"The trial is over?" Question asked, Batman merely nodded, "Good......with how long the Frankenstein Monster ruined Bride's life enough......though I would've liked to have asked him questions that may help my various investigations......but I'll figure them out like I always do."
"Getting to that," Flagg stated, "you got all the info?"
"Of course I do," Question nodded, "every dirty deal and action ARGUS has done when it was first founded, to their latest acts. I also made sure to have backups on my hard drives, and even printed out several copies I've sent out to my various safehouses. So, even if Waller figures out who you hired, I've got some friends I've assigned to deliver this kind of information to every major city in America. Waller's crimes and desecration of the Ammendments and Constitution will be brought to light, one way or the other."
"I've recently received one of your copies and I've already downloaded it onto the Batcomputer." Batman states.
"Good," Flagg responds, "with that type of info, Waller will have to listen to our demands-"
"It's not blackmail," Question interrupts, "the people deserve the truth, even if it's ugly."
"He's right," Batman concludes, "Waller has gotten away with too much to simply be blackmailed. We need to shit ARGUS down, once and for all."
"And the Commandos?" Flagg interjects, "What about them? We just put them back in their cells and forget about everything they did! Bride alone has done so much good for the world, G.I.Robot fought the Nazi's.......and Nina doesn't even belong there......" Flagg's face saddened, knowing exactly his involvement in furthering the suffering of Nina, "I'm their commanding officer! And I won't let you do that."
"You misunderstand my intentions," Question counters, "despite some of your members checkered pasts, they prove when push comes to shove, their real heroes. So while Waller will pay, they will be rewarded. An organization that acts similar to the Justice League, giving those a 2nd chance to do some good.......and even those who are rejected by their peers."
"Is that a good idea?" Flagg asks, "Most of them are known criminals, I don't think the American Government will allow that."
"Not if the American Government want to avoid a war with Atlantis and Themyscira." Batman states, "Aquaman plans on making Nina a citizen of Atlantis and Wonder Woman has acknowledged Bride as a fellow Amazonian. Though banished, Diana now represents Themyscira as a political ambassador. Then we bluff, telling them the Lantern Corps. supports the League's decision."
"Do they?" Flagg asks, actually curious how an intergalactic police force works.
"They don't," Batman answers, but then smiles, "but the government doesn't know that. The organization will also have funding from various companies the League was able to convince. WayneTech and Wayne Industries, along with Queen Industries and STAR Labs."
Flagg was.....to say surprised was an understatement, but then it clicked.
"You guys have been planning this......even before I contacted you!"
"Are you really shocked people like us could easily find the information that tells us about your team?" Question asks, "I do hope you'll tell your team about all this.......after you reunite Nina with her father....."
This was all a little too much for Flagg to take in......but he understood the last part.
"That girl deserves something of a normal life....." When Flagg got word of Nina's death, he was ready to shoot himself, how could he have been so stupid......his team needed a leader, one that didn't fall for the first pretty face he sees, "Thank you, for everything....."
As Flagg walks away from the detectives, Batman decides to ask an important question.
"So there's no way to convince you to come back?" Batman asks, since it has been nearly over a year since Question quit the League.
"You all didn't bother to find me when I was captured and tortured by ARGUS," Question states, "it took Helena kidnapping Superman's best pal to get anyone to respond.......I understand none of you like me, so many leaguers put so much effort into avoiding me, only coming to me when they need something. Only Helena ever willingly hangs around me and actually enjoys my company. I don't belong in the League, I never did." Question fixes his collar and walks away, only to stop, "Just remember if you need me, I'll be there."
Batman nodded, watching as the only man Batman considers a greater detective than even himself leaves the League for a 2nd time.