"They're beautiful," Maggie told Elisa, as she sat one of the hatchlings back in the crib. The black-scaled female cooed softly, snuggling into the blankets around her, her tail curling up as she did so
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Elisa and Maggie parted ways as they came in, taking up positions beside Goliath and Talon, respectively.
On the whole, Elisa understood what they were doing. Something had to be done about Sevarius and their situation was too precarious to leave him to conventional authorities. Part of her, the part that in some ways still considered herself a police officer, balked at that. It was placing themselves outside the law. Above it, even.
But it wasn't just the adults here they had to worry about. They were capable of fending for themselves. No, the had to think about the future of their children. Nash and Tachi, Hope, Bear and his little sisters, the newly adopted hatchlings...
And it was justice, in a way. Gargoyle justice. For crimes against the Clan and its allies.
"We are ready," Goliath said. "Bring him in."
At Xanatos's signal, a Steel Clan robot brought Severius in, bound tightly, dropping him roughly down in a chair. If looks could kill, everyone in the room would be dead now.
"Oh, how nice," he sneered. "The whole freakshow is here."
"Sevarius." Goliath made the word a growl, and Elisa placed a gentle, but restraining hand on on bicep, to keep him from doing anything rash.
"You stand accused of numerous crimes against both humans and Gargoyles. To wit, the mutation of four innocent humans, the creation of several clones, designing a poison intended to wipe out all mankind, and precipitating the slaughter of the Paris Clan."
Another sneer. "You say that like it's not something to be proud of. You and your little firecracker friend there."
"Let us deal with the most recent charges first," Goliath said. He looked over to Jubilee. "If you would, please explain for us what you saw Sevarius doing, when you investigated him on our behalf."
"With the clones?" Jubilee closed her eyes. "If it is okay, I think my video capture will say a thousand words."
Walking over to a set-up television, Jubes pushed in her security tape from her spying mission and pressed play. Letting everyone in the room see what Anton had been planning with the new batch of clones.
Pretty damning evidence, as far as Elisa was concerned.
Goliath regarded Sevarius coldly. "Have you any defense for your actions?"
Somehow, Sevarius managed to maintain his arrogance. "There will always be those who stand in the way of progress."
"Progress?" Derek roared, lightning dancing on his fngertips. Only Claw's greater strength managed to restrain Elisa's brother. "You call this progress?"
"Ya know we had people like you back home," Jubilee is not going to admit she is from another dimension to Anton. "People who thought they were breaking new realms of progress. When in fact they were hurting and using people."
"Those clones are dead! And you do not care. It was all a pet project for you." She glares at Anton. "How would you feel if we decided to mutate you? If we decided to transform you into something to meet our definition of progress."
"The thing I dislike most about arrogant bastards is their memory," Jubilee reaches out a hand and tugs on Anton's energy again. Just like she did with Xanatos to take him down.
"Did you forget who had the guts to take you down and get you here?" She narrowed her eyes.
"It was be rather easy for me to manipulate your atoms on a sub-atomic level. Changing you. Forcing you into something different. Creating progress of my own." It would be extremely hard for anyone to tell if this was a lie or not, the way Jubilee was speaking it made it sound so possible.
Sevarius crumples, groaning in pain, a curse dying on his lips. For one of the first times in his life, his expression is one of pure, unrestrained fear.
Watching this display, Talon actually chuckles. "Lady, I like your style."
Jubilee took a step forward, "See Anton. You are not the only one who will do anything for progress. And in my eyes, you are not the way of the future. So tell me..."
"You freely hurt whoever you wanted to create the progress of your dreams. What would be the difference of me doing the same, by destroying you?"
Jubilee had heard Talon's comment. She was almost privately worried what the other gargoyles might be thinking of her now.
Letting go of her hold on Anton's energy. She spoke calmly. "You are not the only one facing trial, Anton. Show some remorse, and perhaps your fate will not be as vicious as others who you have laid claim on."
All things considered, Elisa's impressed. She didn't know Jubilee had this much of a fierce side. Making a perp sweat a little was never a bad thing, so long as you knew when to back down.
Anton gasped and wheezed when Jubilee released his energy, unable to look at anyone, his usual arrogant bluster gone.
"Your crimes against Talon, Maggie, and Claw speak for themselves. Since Fang seems to enjoy his new form and abilities, we will not consider him... But the crimes against the others must be answered for," Goliath said. "Are you able to reverse their condition?"
Sevarius shook his head. "Altering genetics is one thing... restoring them once they've been altered, especially after this much time, is impossible."
Maggie broke down into tears, and Derek pulled her close to comfort her.
"Have you anything else to say for your crimes?" Goliath asked.
Sevarius said nothing, though his trembling belied his emotions.
Glancing over to Maggie, Jubilee thought of something. Hopefully the mutate gargoyle would not be pissed at her. "Ya know Anton. It would speak wonders for your case if you could provide some evidence that children born from your creations would be healthy. That there is hope for the future generations."
When everyone gasps, Jubilee closed her eyes for a moment. Hopefully she just didn't offend everyone. But something had to be said.
Opening her eyes again, she looked at Anton. "One more thing. Whatever the judgement, I want you to know that I have memorized your energy signature. And if you try this shit again, there will be no trial. No second chances for you."
"Take this opportunity to change your life, Anton. Because if I have to face you again... nothing will hold me back."
On the whole, Elisa understood what they were doing. Something had to be done about Sevarius and their situation was too precarious to leave him to conventional authorities. Part of her, the part that in some ways still considered herself a police officer, balked at that. It was placing themselves outside the law. Above it, even.
But it wasn't just the adults here they had to worry about. They were capable of fending for themselves. No, the had to think about the future of their children. Nash and Tachi, Hope, Bear and his little sisters, the newly adopted hatchlings...
And it was justice, in a way. Gargoyle justice. For crimes against the Clan and its allies.
"We are ready," Goliath said. "Bring him in."
At Xanatos's signal, a Steel Clan robot brought Severius in, bound tightly, dropping him roughly down in a chair. If looks could kill, everyone in the room would be dead now.
"Oh, how nice," he sneered. "The whole freakshow is here."
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She was not sure of what her purpose would be here, so waited for the event to proceed.
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"You stand accused of numerous crimes against both humans and Gargoyles. To wit, the mutation of four innocent humans, the creation of several clones, designing a poison intended to wipe out all mankind, and precipitating the slaughter of the Paris Clan."
Another sneer. "You say that like it's not something to be proud of. You and your little firecracker friend there."
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Walking over to a set-up television, Jubes pushed in her security tape from her spying mission and pressed play. Letting everyone in the room see what Anton had been planning with the new batch of clones.
Reply
Goliath regarded Sevarius coldly. "Have you any defense for your actions?"
Somehow, Sevarius managed to maintain his arrogance. "There will always be those who stand in the way of progress."
"Progress?" Derek roared, lightning dancing on his fngertips. Only Claw's greater strength managed to restrain Elisa's brother. "You call this progress?"
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"Those clones are dead! And you do not care. It was all a pet project for you." She glares at Anton. "How would you feel if we decided to mutate you? If we decided to transform you into something to meet our definition of progress."
Reply
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"Did you forget who had the guts to take you down and get you here?" She narrowed her eyes.
"It was be rather easy for me to manipulate your atoms on a sub-atomic level. Changing you. Forcing you into something different. Creating progress of my own." It would be extremely hard for anyone to tell if this was a lie or not, the way Jubilee was speaking it made it sound so possible.
Reply
Watching this display, Talon actually chuckles. "Lady, I like your style."
Reply
"You freely hurt whoever you wanted to create the progress of your dreams. What would be the difference of me doing the same, by destroying you?"
Jubilee had heard Talon's comment. She was almost privately worried what the other gargoyles might be thinking of her now.
Letting go of her hold on Anton's energy. She spoke calmly. "You are not the only one facing trial, Anton. Show some remorse, and perhaps your fate will not be as vicious as others who you have laid claim on."
Reply
Anton gasped and wheezed when Jubilee released his energy, unable to look at anyone, his usual arrogant bluster gone.
"Your crimes against Talon, Maggie, and Claw speak for themselves. Since Fang seems to enjoy his new form and abilities, we will not consider him... But the crimes against the others must be answered for," Goliath said. "Are you able to reverse their condition?"
Sevarius shook his head. "Altering genetics is one thing... restoring them once they've been altered, especially after this much time, is impossible."
Maggie broke down into tears, and Derek pulled her close to comfort her.
"Have you anything else to say for your crimes?" Goliath asked.
Sevarius said nothing, though his trembling belied his emotions.
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"She has a point, people," Xanatos points out. "No one knows more about the Mutates than Sevarius. You have anything on this, Anton?"
"Just... theory," the scientist admits. "This is a new frontier, after all."
"Turn over everything you've got on them... and we might go easier on you."
"Hnn. Agreed."
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Opening her eyes again, she looked at Anton. "One more thing. Whatever the judgement, I want you to know that I have memorized your energy signature. And if you try this shit again, there will be no trial. No second chances for you."
"Take this opportunity to change your life, Anton. Because if I have to face you again... nothing will hold me back."
Reply
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