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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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Thank you for reading! More stories here!

[removed]

My gosh, I felt the fear, I felt the relief, the end almost brought me to tears. Thank you, wonderfully done.

Glad you liked it!

Damn this legit made me tear up as I read the last line🥺🥺

Sorry, I think I forgot to put away the onions!

Damn when I first started reading this I thought Derik was going to be the Lawyer but this is really good twist!

My blood turned cold when I heard the news, the cup I was holding fell and shattered on the floor. The other villains in the room turned toward me with confusion in their face. It took someone shaking my shoulder to wake me from my shocked silence. I immediately ran as fast as I can to the Inner Circle. I need to do something fast before it's too late!

Curse my last assignment forcing me off world and only returning today, or I could've prevented this event. My nemesis, the superhero Mister Sunshine was charged with misuse of powers and imprisoned on The Rock, the most secure prison made specifically for Meta Humans on the planet. Having been an occupant there myself, I know the place is very well defended and be next to impossible to break into, but we have to try and rescue Mister Sunshine at all cost.

I barge into the Grand Meeting Room of the Inner Circle, interrupting a meeting between several dozen of the most powerful and dangerous villains out there, the ruling cadre of the House of Sins, the villain international organization. They were furious at me for the sudden interruption which is a total breach of one the House primary rules, an act punishable with Death. Not a second later I felt the Red Lady cold Katana at my neck and Ghozmull the Ghost King's spirit claw around my heart, ready to kill me.

I shouted "Opus Absolotum", a secret code known only to those of the Higher Ranks in the House of Sins. Acknowledging it, the Red Lady and Ghozmull pull back and returned to their seat. The Opus Absolotum, absolute need, is a privilege given to a villain by the House of Sins. It's a one in a lifetime Favor that the villain can use for getting helps from the other higher ranking villains without any question asked. Since you can only used it once, it is understandable of it's urgency when someone invoked it.

I told everyone in the room of my urgent plan; to attack The Rock and spring my Nemesis Mister Sunshine out as soon as possible. Some gave me weird look and even angry that I would use my special Favor just to help liberate a goofy hero out of prison. However, they all understand the significance of the Opus Absolotum, and will commit to the prison break plan. In half an hour, we have readied an attack force of almost two thousand individuals and collective powers to destroy a continent. As we made our way to the Prison, I kept thinking about him...

You`re stronger than I am.

But, in my defense, author MUST have been chopping onions somewhere..

See - u/MikeColorado - the author ADMITS it.
I`m just defenseless against onions.

I first met Mister Sunshine eight years ago when he interrupt my heist job. He flew in straight through the bank's roof and landed in the middle of me and my goons. There stood this middle aged goofy looking hero with his bright multi colored outfit, saying he's here to stop us. We all laughed and made fun of him, until he started moving and taking down my goons. The next thing I was escorted into a police armored transport with my goons in tow. I swore my revenge and declared him my Nemesis, as per tradition.

After more encounters over the year, I started to get to know my Nemesis better. Mister Sunshine is one of those rare few Meta Humans with more than one power manifested. Super strength, speed, and flight, what a combo. And unlike most Meta, his power manifested only recently during his late thirties and not at puberty. His advanced age combined with the rarity of his power has made him the object of envy and ridicules in the heroes community.

I first noticed this during one of an impromptu team fight. It was me and two other villains versus five heroes. Even in the chaos of battle, I can clearly see how the other heroes treated him. The fight ended with us retreating, but it piqued my interest on Mister Sunshine situation. I approached him when we both in civilian mode, to get to know him better. We started to regularly get drinks togethers at a local bar, and slowly we became friends.

Mister Sunshine, or Harold Smith is a simple man. A tad slow, but he's a good man that truly believe in the good of people and tried his best for the cause of good. Originally he's just a regular janitor, not the most interesting job but he's content and happy with it. His world changed when his power manifested and he's recruited to be a superheroes. All the new responsibilities overwhelmed him, but still he tried his best. He confided to me how he knows what the other heroes really thought of him. He may be slow, but he's not stupid...

It was during a rare both side team-up that I first saw it. Both heroes and villains are working together to stop an alien invader and his monstrous hordes. During the fight, I first saw it. We both were fighting a monstrous alien monster and having a hard time, when Mister Sunshine entire demeanor changed. His eyes turned black and he killed the monster with a single blow through it's body, and disintegrated it in mere seconds. His eyes returned back to normal after with his demeanor, and asked where the monster we were fighting went to. I just saw first hand of the darkness lurking underneath Mister Sunshine's psyche...

I scoffed as I read more on Mister Sunshine supposed crime. The news article said Mister Sunshine used his power and reputation to stole money from several places. The other heroes apprehended him and after a brief trial, he was sentenced to The Rock.

What a damn joke. First off, Mister Sunshine isn’t interested in riches, or he would’ve turned side long ago. He’s always believe in the good cause. Second, the trial is a mockery to justice. He was not represented by any lawyer, the evidence is some blurry videos and the witnesses are too sketchy. It was plain and simple to see, Mister Sunshine was used as a scapegoat by the Legion of Light.

Most of the public doesn’t know this, but there are those in the Legion more suited to be with us in the House of Sins. They smile and wave at the public while robbing them from the back. Cowards, at least we in the House is sincere in our intentions. Mister Sunshine probably stumbled upon these evil in the Legion, and they have to get rid of him fast. I can only imagine being betrayed by those he trusted will do to his already straining psyche..

This is bad. We been sieging the prison close to an hour now and only managed to break through the third level. The data we gained from hacking shows Mister Sunshine is placed at the seventh level, on a special solitary cell. Legion’s reinforcement almost force us to pull back, but the released convict is more than happy helping by keeping them busy. We found a service tunnel that should led us straight through to the seventh level, by passing all the defence and security. We almost managed to crack the code and open the gate of the service tunnel when it happen.

A massive explosion throw all of us back, including the prison’s security and heroes from the Legion. But a second later I felt a pull instead, pulling everything and everyone into the ruin of the prison. Luckily it only lasted for several seconds and we all fall down to the ground. A massive blast and an implosion right after? There’s no prisoner with that kind of power at the prison, unless..

From the burning ruin of the prison a dark figure slowly ascended. Covered in inkling blackness across his body with hints of red all over, he’s no longer Mister Sunshine. His fragile psyche has broken down and the lurking darkness has manifested itself fully. Even from this range I can feel the raw power radiating from him, and it scares me.