I sit in my holding cell, waiting for my trial. It's in a few days. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Someone set off a bomb which destroyed several buildings and killed hundreds. I rushed over to help the survivors. Thing is, one of my powers is to cause explosions, and my nemesis happened to be in the area. People assumed I got tired of chasing the villain and tried to take him out permanently.

I could have run, but I want to make a statement. I don't want to just run and hide. I'm confronting this. It doesn't mean I'm not terrified.

My cell door opens. A guy in a guard's outfit stands in front of me. Except he isn't a guard. He's my nemesis. "What are you doing, Derick? You could be in a lot of trouble!" Most supers treat their identities like Schrödinger's cat, but Derick and I have a bit of a friendly relationship. Yes I'm always trying to drag his ass to jail, but neither of us want the other seriously hurt.

"We both know you being here is BS, Valerie. I'm getting you out. I'll deal with the consequences."

I shake my head. "No. The law has decided to trial me, so I'm going through with it."

"Val, the law will do its damn best to find you guilty! I know we've never really seen eye-to-eye, but I won't let you be mistreated! I'm springing ya!" He goes to grab my arm.

I forcefully shove him away. "Derick, listen. I know you don't care much for the law. But busting me out will just make BOTH of us look bad. If you want to help me, be present at my trial. Vouch for me. If I'm found guilty, then that will simply prove you right. You can pressure the courts. Get people to rally behind you. I can't do anything. But you can. It's up to you."

Derick looks at me thoughtfully, then leaves. I just lie back down on my stone bed. I hope justice prevails...

DAY OF TRIAL

I'm marched to my stand. The manacles on my wrists and ankles are tight and uncomfortable. Guards are either side of me, each holding onto an arm. I'm locked into my stand, at the mercy of the court. The judge clears his throat. "Hero Beacon, you are charged with the crimes of vandalism, terrorism and murder. How do you plead?"

"No... not guilty, your honour." I look back at the audience. Many eyes filled with fear, anger or sadness. I stare at my hands.

"Are you sure? I'll do you a courtesy and tell you what's at stake. There are dozens of reports stating that an explosion was heard, then when the dust and debris cleared you were standing right in the centre. It is well-known that you can cause explosions, and it's also reported that Skydive was in the area, a clear motive. If you confess now, I can at least spare you your death."

"Your honour, I am, first and foremost, a hero. I'd NEVER do anything to put anyone's life in danger. I, too, heard the explosion and went over to investigate and check for survivors. Another known power of mine is regeneration, which I can share with other people. I didn't know Skydive was there until after the fact. The explosion must have been from a bomb. I maintain, your honour, that I am not guilty." My body is shaking and crumbling, the stand being my support. I can feel fury coming from all around.

"Your honour" the prosecution says, "she claims that she just 'happened to be there'. But we must consider that she's NEVER just hanging around - she's ALWAYS doing something. Is she to suggest that she just so coincidentally had business there?"

I begin to realise I'm fighting a losing battle. Suddenly I hear the courtroom doors burst open, and Derick is right there. "YOUR HONOUR! THIS TRIAL IS A FARCE AND BUILT ON NOTHING BUT LIES AND DECEIT! I DEMAND TO PRESENT MY EVIDENCE!"

The whole courtroom gasps, and the judge slams his gavel. "ORDER! ORDER!" He turns to Derick. "Skydive, you don't have any business being here."

"Neither does Beacon. As everyone knows, I've dedicated my life to fighting against the court system. Now I have my chance to prove why. I WILL be heard, or I will tear this whole building apart!"

"You understand you're helping your enemy, right, Skydive? Not to mention attempted murderer."

Derick scoffs at the prosecutor. "I'm simply fighting for what I believe in. If Beacon were legitimately a criminal, I'd be singing to the high heavens. But as it stands, a group of terrorists wanted to frame her. I did some investigating. I found this." He dumps a plastic bag onto the prosecutor's bench.

The prosecutor opens the bag to examine the contents. "This appears to have been a bomb..."

Derick nods. "Think about it, Mr Prosecutor. An explosion goes off, what is the most likely reason? To be more specific, what has caused explosions during wars?"

"Well, bombs have been used widely in his..." the man trails off.

"Your honour, I have documents of bribery from the terrorist group, that the police will get a LOT of cash if they assume any explosion comes from whomever is at the scene of the crime. I also have a witness statement from a man who asked Beacon for help with his son, who was going to die without surgery but the family couldn't afford surgery. According to him, he was getting worried when she didn't arrive, so he decided to find out why. Then he saw the news. He didn't want to believe what happened, but it's not like he could SAY anything. After all, he wasn't a witness." I watch Derick smirk, as the prosecutor's face falls and the judge looks horrified.

Derick then turns to the courtroom. "Ladies and gentlemen, Beacon has been your hero for a long time. She has helped you all, stood up for justice, and been the nicest person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. For empty words and false guesses to lead to a situation like THIS... this injustice is what I fight against! Am I really the villain here? I want to encourage you all, today, to fight for what's RIGHT, not believe whatever nonsense is spoonfed to you. DEFEND YOUR HERO! SET THE BEACON FREE!"

The courtroom is silent for a moment. Then a voice shouts "SET THE BEACON FREE!" A few people begin to join in. Before long, the whole courtroom is chanting.

"SET THE BEACON FREE! SET THE BEACON FREE! SET THE BEACON FREE!"

The judge slams his gavel several times. "ORDER IN MY COURT!" He turns to Derick. I'm fighting to hold back tears. He really did it. He stood up for justice... without being a villain...

"In light of all this new evidence, I have no choice but to grant full pardon to Beacon. Guards, release her."

I'm let off the stand, my manacles are removed. I rush up to hug Derick. "Thank you."

Derick hugs me back. "You were right... I wasn't handling things how I should... I need to change that..." he lets go, marches over to the guards, and places the manacles on himself. "I can't speak up for justice, then run from everything I've done." He looks at the judge, a smile on his face. "I was ready to surrender, if you chose let Beacon go. It's time I face what I've done."

Surprised but undeterred, the judge nods. "Very well. Skydive, you've been accused of reckless endangerment, theft and vandalism. How do you plead?"

"Your honour, I am guilty on all accounts of all crimes. I've looked into what Beacon has written about my exploits. Unlike the law, she was honest in every statement. Everything submitted to the police by her is true. I trust any... additions will be ignored?"

The judge thinks for a moment, then nods. "I'll ensure that your sentence is fair. 40 years. If anything is off, I'll make sure that is reduced."

"Thank you, your honour." He turns to me and whispers "Thank you, Valerie." He's then escorted away, being taken to the prison for superhumans.

"No... thank you... Derick..."

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