🚀 go-pugleaf

[Part Two]
                                   * * * * * *

     The bell was rung, two fast rings, followed by a half-second's pause, and
then two more.  *Ding-ding,* *ding-ding."
     "This Council is now in session," Trashman said coolly.  "What is the next
petition or case?"
     "Disciplinary Action, Top Priority," Mandy Harken -- the Liaison with the
Rogers Foundation and Administrative Director of the A.L.U. -- said.  "Brought
by the Masked Bruce, currently a member in good standing,  against Spandex
Babe, currently a member in good standing and Deputy Leader of the Adjusted
League Unimpeachable."
     "Please take your places," Trashman said.  Spandex Babe moved to the
Defendant's Chair on the left side of the room, from Trashman's perspective.
The Masked Bruce moved to the Prosecutor's position from the right side.
     "This case is now open," Trashman said.  "Mister Prosecutor, please make
your case."
     "Thank you, Chief Counsel," the Masked Bruce said.  He seemed more alive
now.  He had apparently been waiting for this case.  Waiting for this chance.
"I hereby charge Spandex Babe with acting against the spirit and letter of the
A.L.U. charter through specific charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping,
kidnapping, accessory to kidnapping, conspiracy to initiate assault and battery
without cause, assault and battery, accessory to assault and battery,
conspiracy to commit murder, accessory to murder, and premeditated murder
itself."
     He paused, letting the charges soak into the listeners.  "As has already
been detailed in the previous case, Spandex babe along with Unorthodox Girl
responded to a distress call.  They found what appeared to be a woman fighting
a mage.  This woman, who identified herself as Carol Hunter and later codenamed
herself Hunter, told the two heroes that the mage -- now apparently deceased
through Hunter's actions -- had slain her child.  The two entered Hunter's
confidence.  Later, hearing of a coalition forming in Bob City with the express
purpose of enacting a pogrom against magi, the three traveled to Bob City and
joined forces with a small group calling itself the Industrial Revolution.
This group was under the nominal leadership of Bulletproof from the Extreme
Team and Space Moose's partner Benedict.  At this time, Spandex Babe willingly
joined this group and accepted its views.  She did not, however, inform the
Adjusted League Unimpeachable of her decision.  Nor did she formally or
informally resign.  Therefore, she was still bound by all codes and by the
spirit of the charter of the Adjusted League Unimpeachable.
     "As has already been stipulated in Unorthodox Lass's case, the
Revolutionaries -- at that time numbering nine -- had split into two teams of
four, with Benedict coordinating.  One team left for Texas, as we have already
heard.  The other, consisting of Bulletproof, Hunter, Spandex Babe, and an
armored man called Wayne went to Ithaca, New York.  Their goal was to attack,
subdue and either capture or kill Scholarman, a minor mage they knew was
operating in that area.  At that time, Scholarman had committed no crime known
to any Revolutionary.  He had not threatened to commit a crime.  In fact, the
only facts they knew at that time was that Scholarman had risked his life to
assist the Adjusted League Unimpeachable capture the renegade paranormal called
Professor Backslash.
     "Once there, the four entered into a conflict with Scholarman,
Ignorantman, and the renegades Radian and Shadebeam.  During the conflict, a
Mage named Doctor Vincent Von Bizarre was killed by Hunter -- a fact which
Spandex Babe knew but did not act upon.  Doctor Bizarre was not involved with
the battle, and was not even actively defending himself.  His actions
apparently were designed to save the life of Scholarman.
     "The four Revolutionaries then captured and incarcerated Shadebeam, who is
a wanted felon.  However, they made no effort to contact the appropriate
authorities, nor did Spandex Babe contact the Adjusted League Unimpeachable and
inform her superiors of the successful incarceration.  At that time, Spandex
Babe also learned that Deckmaster and Princess Ariella of Terrania had been
kidnapped and were being held, despite their not having committed any crimes of
any sort.  Spandex Babe did not attempt to assist the captives.  Indeed, she
aided and abetted their captors and acted to continue their incarceration.
     "The Revolution began to recruit several other members, most of them
normals, who Spandex Babe helped to train for the coming `Revolution.'  She was
an active participant in their planning sessions, although the Prosecution must
allow that she advocated containment of the so-called `problem magi,' not
extermination.
     "Eventually, the magi the Revolution was targeting -- along with concerned
citizens -- counter-attacked in an effort to protect themselves and free the
hostages.  In the course of this battle, Spandex Babe acted as one of the
leaders of the Revolution and fought against the Counter-Revolutionaries
fiercely.  It could be argued that she was unaware of the massive loss of life
taking place, right up until Scholarman -- the same Scholarman she had
attempted to kidnap -- surrendered in the name of the Magi, and got shot in the
back.  Spandex Babe had argued with Scholarman during his surrender, and
Spandex Babe had seen the reprehensible attack.  However, she did not attempt
to help Scholarman.  In fact, she fought against Andy Awesome himself, and then
attacked and murdered a mage named Wilhelm, who was not participating in the
attack."
     Spandex Babe looked down at the floor.  The Masked Bruce continued, a fire
in his eyes.  "Wilhelm was not a warrior of any kind.  He was unarmed, and knew
no attack or defense spells.  His one action was to tell Spandex Babe that
there was still hope.  Spandex Babe attacked without restraint, assaulting
Wilhelm with lethal force.  Her physical blows were enough to kill Wilhelm, but
she followed them up with Neophotonic blasts that literally tore his body to
shreds and set it on fire, before her eyes."
     The Masked Bruce paused again, and seemed to be containing himself
slightly.  "That's when... I mean, at that point I was forced to regard her the
same way as any other supervillain, and I neutralized her threat."  He looked
up at the Tribunal of Counsels.  "I didn't see as I had any other choice.  She
had crossed the line."
     "The Prosecutor is reminded to not personalize the account," Trashman
said.
     The Masked Bruce nodded.  "In summary, Spandex Babe acted in a way not
only against the spirit of what the Adjusted League Unimpeachable stands for,
but completely contrary to that spirit.  She crossed the line between hero and
villain.  She did not do this for a grand purpose, or as a noble sacrifice.
She did this out of unreasoned prejudice against a minority class, and the man
she sacrificed was a helpless innocent.  The government has stated, publicly
and privately, that no matter what crimes were committed in that battle, no
formal charges will be brought to bear.  Therefore the burden of justice falls
entirely to us.
     "It is unconscionable and unethical for an organization dedicated to the
protection of the innocent to continue to have any association with a woman
capable of such wanton destruction.  It is incomprehensible that this
organization, which millions look up to and to which so many have pledged their
lives, will not take the only logical action."  The Masked Bruce's voice was
strong, like a preacher in the pulpit.  Trashman's eyes were cool, and guarded.
     Spandex Babe still looked at the floor.
     "This concludes the Prosecution's testimony, sir.  As is required by the
Charter of the Adjusted League Unimpeachable, these events and charges, as well
as the potential for others of which we may not be aware, are brought forth in
open council, sir."
     "Are you prepared to prove these events and charges, if it should prove
necessary?" Trashman asked.  He was calm -- apparently unaffected by the
testimony as given.
     "I am," the Masked Bruce said.  His voice was strong.
     Trashman's gaze fell on Spandex Babe.  "Spandex Babe, you have heard the
Masked Bruce's statements.  I am now going to ask you if you contest or do not
contest them.  If you do not contest them, it will be taken as an admission of
guilt in the matter.  Do you understand?"
     Spandex Babe looked from the floor.  Her eyes rested on Trashman's gaze.
There was a look of crushed nobility in them.  "I understand fully," she said.
     Trashman nodded slightly.  Next to him, the Dash began to cry quietly.
Trashman didn't seem to hear it.  "Spandex Babe, given the statements,
testimony and charges that have been brought before the Executive Board of the
Adjusted League Unimpeachable by the Masked Bruce, I now ask if--"
     "Objection!!!"
     The shout echoed through the chamber like a gunshot.  The Masked Bruce
whirled.  Someone said "what the Hell--"
     And a man was scaling down one of the curtains from the gallery into the
Council Chamber itself.  He dropped the last five feet, landing easily, and
turning.  He wore an expensive grey suit with a red tie over a powerful looking
from.  His eyes were brown.  His hair seemed unnaturally black, except for the
one broad white stripe down the center of it.  "Objection," he repeated.  "The
Defendant is being asked to incriminate herself without benefit of council."
     "Nouveaux Skunk," Dangerousgirl breathed from the Active Members' box.
"What is *he* doing here?"
     "This is a private matter," Trashman said sternly, and it is not a trial,
Nouveaux Skunk.  I must ask you to--"
     "Private matter?" Nouveaux Skunk asked.  "You have the news services of
the world here!  Not a trial?  You'[re right -- because a trial implies that we
all have rights, whether we are accused or not.  But here--" he swept his arm
in an arc that encompassed the Council Chamber, "you have a lovely little
drumhead court martial designed to implicate, judge and execute without a right
to be seen.  Spandex Babe's accuser is her prosecutor.  Her judges have
political concerns to consider as well as the truth of the matter.  This
travesty is a mockery *of* a trial, not a trial.  And you are railroading a
woman into making the only possible response she can, without giving her
benefit of counsel -- or even giving her the sense that someone -- *anyone* --
might be taking her side.  Her side hasn't even been presented."
     "And you're here to present it?" the Masked Bruce said, pushing past the
prosecutor's lectern.  "This is an internal matter!  Who do you think you are?"
     Nouveaux Skunk smiled.  "Me?  I'm an attorney-at-law, among other things.
And I'm a believer in those old inconvenient rights.  And I'm a man who asks...
who *demands* that if you are going to destroy that woman--" he turned and
pointed to Spandex Babe, who looked as amazed as the rest, "--that you're not
going to get to do it without someone speaking up against this mockery of Civil
and Human Rights."
     "Look, if you don't leave right *now--*" the Masked Bruce started, as he
began to draw his Tihorn.
     Trashman struck the bell three times, hard.  "Mister Prosecutor, the
Counsels are fully capable of keeping order without your assistance," he said
coldly.
     The Masked Bruce spun, snarling.  "Trashman, I--"
     "Return to your place, Mister Prosecutor, before you find yourself in
Contempt."  Trashman didn't sound angry, per se, but his voice conveyed a sense
of doom.
     The Masked Bruce stared a long moment, before replacing his Tihorn and
returning to his lectern.
     Nouveaux Skunk was laughing.  "Contempt.  There it is again, Trashman.
The trappings of justice.  The assumption of judicial authority, in a land
where private judicial authority is illegal.  Spandex Babe is charged with no
crime."
     "Indeed she is not," Trashman said.  "However, this is a disciplinary and
review board set in place to determine if Spandex Babe is in violation of her
contract and the Charter she has agreed to uphold, not a court of law."
     "Agreed, Chief Counsel," Nouveaux Skunk said.  "But I would remind the
Council that it is illegal to deprive an employee of Legal Representation, and
that summary discharge and discipline of an employee without such
representation opens the organization to a lawsuit for wrongful discharge.
Furthermore, conducting such an inquiry and hearing in public opens the
organization to charges of violation of privacy and defamation of character."
     Trashman weighed Nouveaux Skunk's words.  "Sir," he said finally, "I
cannot argue with your reasoning concerning legal representation."
     "*What?*" the Masked Bruce demanded.
     "Maintain order, Mister Prosecutor.  As I was saying, I cannot argue with
that point.  However, the open nature of the proceedings reflects the public
nature of the profession Spandex Babe is in.  I cannot in good conscience close
the proceedings to the public.  It is my firm conviction that they have the
right to know how their custodians conduct their affairs, so that they in turn
can keep watch over us, even as we keep watch over them."
     "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" Nouveaux Skunk asked with a slight smile.
     "Precisely.  Therefore, in answer to your objection, though technically
you are not in any way empowered to make an objection of that or any kind, at
this time, Spandex Babe is not required to answer the query of the Council or
any other query without first appointing counsel and consulting with that
counsel, at her discretion."
     Nouveaux Skunk nodded slightly and turned on his heel.  He marched over to
Spandex Babe.  "Ma'am," he said, holding his hand out to her.  "My name is
Nouveaux Skunk -- for all intents and purposes, anyhow -- and I hereby offer my
services as attorney-at-law for a retainer which will be negotiated at a later
date.  Do you accept?"
     Spandex Babe, still mystified, took Nouveaux Skunk's hand.  They clasped
and shook.
     Spandex Babe gasped, and her eyes grew wider.
     "Do you accept?" Nouveaux Skunk asked again, a little more quietly.
     "Yes," she said.
     Nouveaux Skunk turned back to Trashman.  "Thank you for your indulgence,
Chief Counsel.  For my part, I am familiar with the Charter and Codes, and as
such I hereby recognize that and agree to the provisions binding me to this
Council's authority to levy fines and keep order, as well as render judgment in
this case."
     Trashman nodded.  "Do you require a recess to consult?"
     Nouveaux Skunk glanced back at Spandex Babe.  "No sir," he said.
     "Then I again submit the question.  Spandex Babe, given the statements,
testimony and charges that have been brought before the Executive Board of the
Adjusted League Unimpeachable by the Masked Bruce, I now ask if you contest or
do not contest them as given."
     Nouveaux Skunk spoke before Spandex Babe could say a thing.  "Sir, I have
been instructed by my client to formally contest the interpretation and content
of the charges and testimony brought against her."
     There was a commotion in the gallery.  No one -- but *no* one -- had
expected Spandex Babe to fight the charges.
     "Do you wish to add to the testimony given?" Trashman asked.
     "We contest the whole, sir," said Nouveaux Skunk.  "We refute the events
and charges the Masked Bruce has levied against my Client.  Therefore, it falls
to him to prove them, by the codes."
     "What is that supposed to--"
     "*Mis*-ter Prosecutor," Trashman said coldly, his patience obviously
stretched, "the Defendant has contested the charges and testimony you have
brought forth before this Council.  Do you alter, modify or withdraw these
charges?"
     The Masked Bruce stared at Nouveaux Skunk with undisguised hatred.  "I do
*not*, sir," he said.
     "Then open arbitration is called beginning three days hence at eight
thirty A.M., going until four thirty P.M. with appropriate recesses during the
day and continuing each day hence until the case is resolved.  This Council
stands adjourned."  He rang the bell with three slow strokes, and then swiveled
out of his chair and was gone, as though he had expected this turn of events.
Mighty Guy and the Dash followed, each looking shaken and confused.  The
gallery erupted into an uproar.
     "I don't know what your game is," the Masked Bruce spat at Nouveaux Skunk,
"but you're *not* going to get away with it."
     Nouveaux Skunk laughed.  "We'll see you in court, Counselor.  I hope you
learn to control that temper between now and then.  I'd hate to win by default
after you get sucked into a Contempt charge.  Come on, Spandex Babe.  I need a
cognac and *we* need to talk."
     Spandex Babe rose.  She looked at the Masked Bruce, pleading in her eyes.
He turned away.
     She followed Nouveaux Skunk out of the Council Chambers.


WHAT IS NOUVEAUX SKUNK'S INVOLVEMENT?
DOES HE AND SPANDEX BABE HAVE A PAST OF SOME KIND?
DO THEY HAVE ANY HOPE OF WINNING THE CHARGES LEVIED AGAINST THEM?
HOW WILL THE PUBLIC REACT?
WILL THE MASKED BRUCE BURST A BLOOD VESSEL?
WILL RAT AND SHE-DEVIL BE LESS BORED, NOW?
ARE THE WHOLE PROCEEDINGS UNCONSTITUTIONAL ANYHOW?
AND JUST WHAT EXACTLY MAKES THIS PLOTLINE AN "ORIGIN," ANYHOW?


The answers to these and many other questions should be submitted to the
opposition as per the terms of the disclosure laws, but in the meantime kick
back and look for "Knights in Blue Spandex Part the Second," only on Superguy!