A Scripta

Linda Mallory smiled to herself as she entered the judge's chambers with her charge. The assistant DA, Jimmy Carr, along with his usual entourage, followed behind her.

She knew this judge, and blessed her lucky stars that it wasn't someone worse. Judge Anna Lorraine oversaw many cases of "heroes gone bad". However, she didn't know if her defense would fall on deaf ears, because Judge Lorraine was also one of the many judges that disliked temporary insanity as a defense.

After murmured "good afternoons", Nathan sat down. She had him wear normal clothes and his dark hair was touseled just-so, enough to cause many of the women in the area to turn their heads.

"Now, then," said the judge, shuffling papers, "Mr. Greene's competence to stand trial is brought before the court. He has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Bipolar Disorder. He confessed to murdering eight people while under the influence of a drug he made himself." The judge looked up at Mallory. "Did he intend to kill the people when he took the drug?"

"No, your honor."

"Why did he create it?"

"So that other children could be able to defend themselves."

"Which," said Carr, "is the same thing as intending to use it to hurt the people who attack them."

"He was attempting to level the playing field, your honor," said Mallory. "He was a tiny boy who found himself constantly beaten by children twice his size. He wanted to create a substance that could make the body larger. It wouldn't make the child a berserker, at least that was his intent."

"But a child with a larger body mass would feel more powerful and therefore choose to turn that size on his aggressor--"

The judge interrupted, "We are speculating on something that doesn't exist. His intent was to increase body mass. The side effect was becoming Mr. Hyde, am I right?"

Mallory nodded. "I present before the court that he had no control over his actions--"

Carr interrupted, "He premeditated these murders for years. He knew what he wanted to do before he did it, the drugs merely gave him the ability."

"He premeditated them because of what had happened to him over the years. It's not any different than someone who has been attacked who dreams of hurting their attacker or even killing them."

"The difference is that he did it."

(Mallory refers to domestic violence cases)

Mallory continued: "Domestic violence is still the systematic abuse of someone." She leaned over to the judge. "Remember, that little boy who was beat up wasn't this man."

The judge studied Masonry, who looked up and held her eyes. She drummed her fingers against her cheek, watching him. Masonry looked away from the scrutiny, blushing. She looked over at the assistant DA. "He is competent at this moment to stand trial," the judge declared. "However, I don't believe that the prison is the right place for him to receive the kind of psychological care necessary for him. He is still allowed to contribute to assisting heroes?"

"Yes, he has been with Longbow Guardian Jason Pace for a few dozen assignments, especially in Croatoa recently."

"And how has that been going?"

Masonry squirmed and avoided her eyes. Mallory said, "We're working on that."

"Masonry's a distraction," snapped Carr. "Guardian Pace has had to surrender most of his time taking care of Masonry's issues in the middle of battles. He should not even be out."

"Which proves that he is psychologically unable to participate out in society."

Masonry whirled his head and stared at his attorney.

"At least with Guardian Pace and his companion. However we have not seen the same issues among other teams he had joined - teams that he is haphazardly assigned to. He has been seen in Pocket D and has not contributed to any aggression there - in fact, he does not drink anymore."

Carr turned to Mallory. "Paradigm of humanity, is he?"

"I never said that, Jim. I'm illustrating that it happens to be Guardian Pace and the teams he builds that causes these issues."

"Then maybe we should remove him from access to Mr. Greene."

Masonry's jaw dropped. "No," he muttered.

Mallory put her hand on his arm. "Guardian Pace abuses Masonry verbally constantly. Unfortunately, psychologically speaking, it is what Masonry is used to and therefore accepts this abuse as required for friendships."

"Oh, so you're a psychologist now?" Carr jeered.

"It's in the forensic psychologist's report that I submitted with the brief."

"So you believe that if Guardian Pace is removed from the scene that it will assist him? Then Mr. Greene does not have to be remanded to an asylum."

"The prison psychologist can only do so much. Masonry cannot have medication because of the high probability of addiction and adverse effects, both to him and the Kheldian residing in him. Solitary confinement with his Kheldian - who was not a professional psychologist - helps some, but he has much more work that needs to be done."

"Why Kirkbride?"

"It has a special Kheldian unit, and it also has a secure unit for criminally insane. He would be placed in the Kheldian unit because it is believed his Kheldian can keep him calmed down."

"I know of Lodestar when he was Powerhouse Jack," said the judge, nodding. "All right. Thirty days, he can go to Kirkbride Psychiatr for psychological counseling and testing."

"Can he still be allowed to work with other heroes in the field?"

"Provided these heroes understand that they may have to restrain him at some point."

Mallory nodded. "They are already informed of that or they wouldn't accept members from the Zig Work Detail."

The judge took out a pen and signed something. "Make sure he gets the care he needs."

The assistant DA held the door open for Mallory. "You should go work in the Isles." Carr looked up at Masonry. "We'll be seeing each other again, Mr. Greene."

Masonry slowly nodded once.

========================================

"Congratulations, Mr. Greene. You now get to spend some sunny afternoons in a high-class hotel over in Skyway City." The Longbow Guardian narrowed his eyes at him. "Hope you enjoyed your stay."

Masonry bit off a retort as his attorney, Linda Mallory, put a hand on his arm. "C'mon, Nate, they're just goading you."

He sighed. "Some hero that I get the Longbow pissed off at me."

"That's why you're going somewhere that can help you."

The Longbow snorted and slammed shut the gate. "That's exactly how E feels -"

"Nate, look at me."

The big man focused on the shorter blond woman standing before him.

"Guardian Pace is one of them - " she thumbed at the Longbow still standing at the gate. "They're perfection in motion, or so they think, and anyone who makes a mistake drops a few points in their book."

"All E wanted to do was help me."

"Of course he did. And what he does to you now is 'help' you? Treating you like he does? Both of them?"

Masonry closed his eyes and waited for calm to come from Lodestar. It didn't.