Jason intoned, “All rise for the honorable Judge Stone. This court is now in session.”

  We all stood, and then sat after the judge did. I won’t recount the whole trial, otherwise this account might be over twice as long, and would bore anyone reading it to tears. Honestly. Most of it would be a regurgitation of events already covered anyway.

  Ironically perhaps, the only thing I’ve been repetitive about in this account is my desire not to be repetitive.

  Suffice it to say, every count of misuse of my power was gone over. Three hundred of illegal memory modification when I’d taken the triggers out of the federal agents, and two hundred of outright mind control. Just over two hundred really, including arresting my own father.

  They also didn’t fail to add in the charge of fleeing and evading the authorities, resisting arrest, regardless of the fact I’d turned myself in that same day. Jerks. The problem with that one was I’d so far not thrown Death’s Mistress under the flying bus. I’d kind of been leaving that part out of the story. But if they asked the right question I’d have to spill. Lying would invalidate everything I was trying to do here.

  It took the prosecution almost two whole days to list it all, along with the documented proof of the telepaths who’d verified it. Fortunately, the testimony didn’t cover each one, they had a handful of each really. Otherwise, the trial would’ve taken weeks. Of course, that handful were witnesses for all of the counts since they’d have witnessed the crowd at police headquarters.

  While that was all happening, I’d also received the news my father had been sentenced to life in prison without parole. He’d been responsible for a lot of deaths in the last forty years along with all the other stuff, so that was some good news for me. Hopefully I’d never see or hear from him again. Plus, just this one more paragraph in my account of my early life was all the bastard deserved. Just to tie up the loose end.

  It was on the morning of the third day that the prosecution rested, that I finally took the stand.

  “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”

  “Totally do.”

  Jason’s lips twitched, and he gave me a little glare before returning to the wall.

  Deep breaths. I wasn’t being flip on purpose, just nervous as hell. It’d slipped out. Fortunately, all the empaths and telepaths in the room already knew that, including the judge, which is probably the only reason I wasn’t held in contempt of court.

  Really great start there, Anna.

  Brian stood and questioned me. I won’t recount that either, since it amounts to what the people reading this account have already read, earlier. He basically walked me through events with questions, and he drew out what I was feeling at the time, the justifications for it. All of that. Even my beliefs that the laws were wrong, too narrow, and it’d been the right thing to do. Moral.

  He was even trying to get me off, in his own way. He managed to draw parallels. Such as breaking and entering being illegal, but no one seemed to mind a fireman doing it when their house was going up in flames. Things like that. Of course, it didn’t really count, because there were provisions in the law for all of those things. There were no provisions for telepaths.

  Which, in the end, I supposed was his point. He was trying to help me out, by singing my tune, and pointing out the disturbing lack in the case of telepaths and empaths. It wasn’t just homicide that had a narrow provisional justification. Almost all walks of life did, except us dreaded telepathic menaces.

  Yeah, that last part was heavy on the sarcasm.

  Then the prosecution got a go at me. I felt a little nervous as Kevin stood up. Since I’d pretty much just admitted to doing it all, he probably should’ve just said no questions and sat back down. I wasn’t sure why he was asking any questions in the first place, to be honest. The reason why became self-evident fairly quickly, he was on the same train.

  Kevin asked, “Listening to you, I have to ask, do you really think you should walk away free?”

  “I think if the laws were just, that I wouldn’t even be here today. I know none of you have a choice though.”

  Kevin frowned, “Isn’t you playing the martyr a little narcissistic? There are legal ways to drive change in the laws, instead of using sensationism. Do you believe you’re above the law?”

  “No. I’m not above the law. I also had no choice. I’d have preferred to write my congressman, but it was break the law or let people die. That it put me in a position to champion a change to the laws is because the laws are obviously unjust in this case.”

  Kevin shook his head, “Yes, at the FBI, but that wasn’t enough for you. After that, you fled the FBI and went on to mind control over two hundred people. Just to make a point. No lives were in danger then.”

  I challenged, “Weren’t they? How many children and woman die from spousal abuse a year, both from direct assault and suicide because of the fallout? How many drug users overdose and die because of the drugs coming in our country? How many enslaved prostitutes die because they’re forced into addiction to drugs and used up by their captors, while the evil people in charge don’t care because they can import more? Yes, I did do it to make the point of the laws being unjust even more glaring. At that time, I was already there for the right reasons in total, so I figured why not, but that truth doesn’t invalidate the other. I also did it because it was eating me up inside, walking through the city and hearing women and children cry for help in their thoughts, while feeling the anger-tinged thoughts of an abusive man.

  “Telepaths are exposed to that kind of thing every day, but by the law we’re bidden to ignore it, because it doesn’t meet the burden of proof. You may have a point with the extortion, but even that is not a victimless crime.”

  He shrugged, “People get angry all the time, it’s natural, and sometimes they think bad things they’d never do. Are you suggesting telepaths should be some kind of thought police?”

  I shook my head, “We’re any of the ones I sent to confess innocent people just daydreaming of mischief? The distinctions are easy for us to pick up. Us being telepaths and empaths. Once pointed out the normal procedures of law and order kick in. To answer your question, no. A thought is not a crime, an action is. That should never change in my opinion. It’s also my opinion that someone thinking about an illegal action they committed, should be probable cause to investigate.”

  He shook his head, “You seem very certain about it all.”

  I shrugged, “I was raised in superhero headquarters, and that’s where my morals and beliefs on justice come from. I don’t think any reasonable person would deny saving a life can never be wrong, no matter what the means used.”

  He walked away, “No more questions, your honor.”

  It occurred to me then, that he’d just covered what all my major detractors in the press talked about most. That I was arrogant, that loosening the strictures would lead to a thought police state, and that my forcing confessions had just been grandstanding, breaking the law merely to make a point. Which on that last one, I was kind of guilty of, even if I’d done it for the right reasons as well.

  It wouldn’t keep me from being convicted, but it would get my responses on the record to those objections. Not only on the record, but also made in a room full of telepaths and empaths who would not only read it as the honest truth, but also read the passion, conviction, and resolve in my mind while I said it.

  That I wasn’t just championing all of this, in the hopes it’d get me out of trouble. Which really, was my hope, but also wasn’t why I was doing any of it. The jurors would be able to say truthfully that I wasn’t just a shallow but clever teen trying to get out of trouble with all of this, when they were interviewed in the press later.

  My mom had told me days ago that there was a growing movement among telepaths and empaths to push for those laws being changed. Perhaps even like me, in the hopes they could be superheroes in a world that didn’t want us to be. At least, subconsciously, where they hid their bigotry while outwardly just lightly shunning and avoiding us. I really believed that too, that it wasn’t consciously done. Prejudice for the most part was a thing of the past, and socially something that would engender shame.

  I just hadn’t realized my defense attorney and the prosecutor would be among that number that hoped for change.

  Brian stood, “The defense rests, your honor.”

  I won’t drag out the suspense. The jury really had no choice in the matter. I was quickly found guilty of five hundred and six counts of telepathic assault. The judge sentenced me the minimum, one year per count, which meant I’d be in jail for the first third of my life. Just over five hundred years.

  Of course, I’d be eligible for parole in just two hundred and fifty-one years.

  I think I was in denial, because it felt a little surreal as I was taken away.

  Six weeks passed.

  They even gave me a computer watch so I could finish my schooling during my incarceration. It was limited of course, I couldn’t make calls, nor surf the info web. Just school and educational books. They didn’t even give me contacts, I had to use the built-in holographic systems. Which really made it real to me, being in jail I mean. It was depressing, I won’t lie about that.

  I hoped the laws changed, but I wished I didn’t have to pay for it with a sixth of my life. It would also mean no family, something I’d never really given a lot of thought to. But living fifteen hundred years or not, I’d still only be fertile the first thirty or forty years of it. Limited supply of ovum, and all that. So no, it wasn’t easy facing the long sentence.

  A part of me hoped I’d be pardoned at some point, but I worried that would never happen.

  I’d already read and memorized the textbooks of the eleventh-year curriculum, but of course I didn’t have perfect recall of it anymore. Not with my power suppressed all the time. But it was all in there, percolating in my gray matter, so there was that. I was fairly sure I’d coast through the material, until I made it to my senior year.

  It wasn’t the easiest time in my life, being in the big house. Especially since so many of the inmates had been sent there by my family and friends. There was a wary peace however, since I’d made the first two attackers look like fools. They ignored me, and I ignored them, so it was lonely.

  Six weeks, not so long, but it’d felt like forever with the weight of the years in front of me. I was just sixteen, two hundred and fifty-one years sounded like eternity.

  But that was when the president acted. He addressed the country, and I got to watch it on my computer watch. I wouldn’t find out until later that I was granted that privilege by his request. Personally. Which, was pretty cool of him, actually.

  “My fellow Americans. The day I took the oath of office I was proud of our country. I still am. We’re a nation of laws. Laws I’m proud to enforce, as the head of the executive branch of the government. Many social ills that plagued the world in the past have been solved, and America usually led the charge in those changes.

  “I’d thought we were done with that. That we’d attained the gold standard, and I merely had to stand behind our laws and hold off corruption of them. But recent events have changed my opinion, my blindness. There is still work to do, and there are some laws that do not yet meet my standards. Laws that when enforced, do not make me proud.

  “You all know what I’m talking about. The news hasn’t stopped talking about it for over two months now, both sides in the telepath and empath debate firm in their convictions. I wanted to come out on the record where I stand on it, and I want to now urge congress to work toward a resolution. I believe a miscarriage of justice has occurred, and it has been occurring in a smaller way for over a hundred years now. Ever since the laws limiting telepaths and empaths were incorrectly formed out of old fears and prejudices.

  “So again, I urge congress to address these shortfalls, and to take careful and deliberate steps forward as they explore the issue from all sides. I urge them to get it right, this time. Anna Cortez, a young woman of principle, who this country owes thanks to, has been convicted and sent to prison instead. Not something we can take pride in.

  “To that end, as soon as I get back to my office after this address, I will be immediately signing a complete pardon, and her records will be expunged. I would however, also caution any tier two telepaths and empaths, and above, to be patient. Wait for congress to address the problem. Thank you, and good night.”

  I may have felt a little dizzy for a moment before I remembered to breathe. His message was also taken to heart, there would not be more second chances. I needed to follow the bad laws until they were fixed.

  I’d have to refuse any offers of internships, at least, until the laws were fixed. I’d been given a second chance, and it’d be a bad idea to put myself in a situation where I’d have to do it again. Because I would, if it meant the difference between life and death, for anyone.

  It wasn’t perfect, but I was just sixteen. It was my hope then that they’d fix it before I graduated high school in two years. So I could seize my true dream, and be a superhero. After all, I couldn’t be a superhero until I’d turned eighteen anyway.

  Congress was slow, granted. But two years was a long time, and there’d be a lot of pressure for them to get it done.

  That was the hope. I couldn’t be sure of course, not until it happened, but I was… optimistic.

  The only thing I was sure of was I was just getting started.

  Afterword:

  I hope you enjoyed this story, if you did please leave a review. Reviews are the lifeblood of independent authors, and I would greatly appreciate any constructive feedback or opinions.

  This is the first book in a second three book arc in the Origins of Supers series, fourth of six in the series as a whole. The world has settled down, the rapid changes and new society with superpowered individuals had stabilized, five generations after World War three. Eight generations, since the first generation of supers born in the nineteen nineties.

  About the Author: If you have any comments or suggestions you can send me an email at dlharrisonauthor@gmail.com If you like my work, or even if you don’t, please consider leaving a review of this book. I can also be found at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7456808.D_L_Harrison

  Other books by D. L. Harrison:

  http://www.amazon.com/author/dlharrison

  The Formerly Dark Mage, by D. L. Harrison – This stand-alone fantasy book follows the life of Silvia and takes place in a world unique and separate to our own.

  Silvia is a dark mage. Unfortunately, she finds herself about to be sacrificed. Someone must have told her evil master about her plans to kill him and take over. After that, things just seem to go downhill. She has no choice but to escape the kingdom of Zual, something that to her knowledge has never been done before. She will need to deal with many issues she never had to face before.

  Among those issues, the white mages, and her conscience.

  The Rise of a Dark Mage - This stand-alone fantasy book follows the life of Cassandra, it takes place in the same world as The Formerly Dark Mage, but happens three hundred years later, long after Silvia is gone and some shocking changes have taken place in the world.

  Cassandra is a dark mage in the kingdom of Zual, she’s also a mage prodigy.

  She hates both her kingdom, and her master. She wants him dead, not to take his place, but so she can leave and explore the world. Her ambition will drive her to rediscover the secrets of the strongest of magic.

  She is determined to succeed, or she’ll die trying.

  Celia Winters Novel Series

  Witch’s Moon: A Celia Winters Novel Book 1

  Celia Winters was raised by her single mother, and her earliest memories are of the store her mother owns and the nearby coven, who have always been her family’s close allies and friends.

  She grew up believing her magic was weak, but she was satisfied with her life, and happy. She was a midwife, healer, and supplier of surrounding covens.

  Then her mother died, and she’s about to discover she isn’t who, or what, she believes herself to be, not completely. She will learn that her entire life up until now was a lie. She’ll need to figure out her place, who she is when she no longer recognizes herself, and try to hold on to her closest friends as she gathers enemies for the simple crime of her existence.

  She’s stronger than she believes, but will it be enough?

  Power of Air Series:

  Just a Psychic: The Power of Air Book One starts off this series.

  Ben has grown up with missing memories of his early childhood.

  He has known he was a psychic since his earliest memories, seeing the future and gaining knowledge with his gifts.

  Is it possible he isn't just a psychic?

  Ben's world is about to be turned upside down as he turns twenty-one, all is not as it seems.

  Alicia Jones novels is a series that follows a bright young inventor and scientist named Alicia Jones. It is a space opera and light science fiction.

  The first book is titled First Contact:

  Alicia Jones is a genius, and a little odd. At just twenty-three years of age, she is close to finishing her doctoral dissertation. But when she tests her latest theory in the lab to generate a strong EM field, it has very unanticipated results. Results that lead to faster than light travel, and first contact with another race.

  Her life just gets more complicated after that, when she finds out who she really is, and that the universe may not be as nice a place as she’d been told. Her determination to help keep Earth safe takes her to places more dangerous and strange than she’d ever envisioned.