Courtney let out a shaky sigh as Mist and Sleeper's partner left the store. The door closed behind them, and she didn't try to follow. Mist had been right about caging her, and Sleeper's partner seemed to have an invisibility Miracle. Chasing after them now would be fruitless.
Rather, she had to get Sleeper some medical attention. When she leaned down next to him, she could barely hear his ragged breathing. Somehow he was still alive.
If only Jumper's portal friend would help her here! Courtney glanced towards the door, where the military were filing in, their rayguns trained on her and Knight. They'd have to do. She couldn't count on the portal friend for everything.
"We need emergency medical attention," she said briskly, raising her hands and walking towards the officers. "Man, late twenties to early thirties, severe burns and a stab wound. I don't know if he'll survive to the hospital, so please hurry." She moved out of the way as a couple officers went to check on him, a third calling for more help.
Courtney kept her voice level. These weren't from Barron's squad, so while she recognized most of them, she wasn't as familiar with them. They were probably less likely to recognize her too, but that also meant she had no rapport with them. She was just Lightning, a member of that crazy Legion faction that kept causing problems.
"Hot Rod is unconscious over here," she said, gesturing with her foot to where he was still knocked out from her last hit. "I'm sure you can figure out exactly how much of this damage is his doing."
The sergeant nodded, looking exhausted. Sergeant Pena, if Courtney remembered correctly.
"Take Hot Rod into custody," Pena said, making eye contact with a few of her subordinates. "We'll put him in solitary like Phantasma and Scattershot while he awaits trial."
"What?" Knight asked, coming out of his stupor. "You can't arrest us! We're the Legion. We're the heroes."
"Stand down, Knight," Courtney said firmly. "You're not exempt from the law. If Sleeper dies, Hot Rod will have to be charged for it."
"Sleeper's a bad guy. He's a villain. We had to stop him." Knight took a step towards her, though she wasn't sure if even he believed the words he was saying.
"Sleeper was low on our priority list," Pena said with a sigh. "Unlike Paris and his Phalanx, or Team Chaos, he only stole. No one has ever been injured in his robberies, except for injuries sustained from the fall when he puts them to sleep." She looked at Courtney. "How did Sleeper get a stab wound? I thought Hot Rod just burned his victims."
"I don't know," Courtney confessed. In her peripheral, she saw Knight startle and start to back away. Ah. So it was him. He looked pretty guilty anyway. She'd leave him be for now, since he hadn't caused much trouble and she wanted to stay on at least somewhat good terms with the Legion. If Pena noticed though, she wouldn't protect him.
"Archer, how's he look?" Pena asked, glancing around as her officers checked on the other sleeping people. Most of them were relatively uninjured, though a few were sporting burns from Hot Rod's rampage. Compared to Sleeper, though, the injuries were minor.
"Not good, Sergeant," Archer answered. "His mask has partially fused to his face, and while the stab wound has been cauterized and isn't bleeding, the burns are just as bad as that girl we picked up last week."
"From the Team Chaos attack?" Courtney asked. "How is she?" Regret gnawed at her insides. That girl had haunted her since she brought her to the hospital.
"I don't know," Pena replied. "We haven't heard of her death, but she was pretty close when she got into the hospital. Maybe the hospital just hasn't bothered to inform us."
Two officers had lifted Hot Rod and slapped a pair of handcuffs on him. Luckily, he didn't seem ready to wake up any time soon. Pena glanced at them and jerked her head towards the door. The officers nodded and carried him away.
Hopefully he'd learn after a stint in prison. Solitary was rough, but there was no other way to protect the people around him.
"No..." Knight muttered. "You can't arrest him. He hasn't...done anything wrong..." As Courtney watched Knight's gaze bounce between Hot Rod and Sleeper, she got the sense he was just trying to make excuses. When faced with Sleeper, he couldn't defend Hot Rod - not really.
"Knight, go home," Courtney said. "If the military needs to talk to you, I'll try to let you know."
Not that she could do much now that she was expelled. So much for trying to be the bridge between the Legion and the military. So much for trying to get them to work together.
Medical staff finally arrived with equipment. While they went to tend to Sleeper, Courtney, Knight and Pena moved outside.
"W-what are his chances?" Knight asked, looking forlornly at Sleeper.
"Not good," Pena replied. "I think he'll be lucky if he makes it to the hospital."
"I'm sorry, Sergeant," Courtney said. "I didn't think the Legion would be doing things like this." Pena sighed.
"I should probably take the two of you in for questioning. Put you in an interrogation room and wrestle with you until we know everything about Achilles and the rest of the Legion."
"Wouldn't do you as much good doing that with me," Courtney chuckled. "I've been expelled. I got some anonymous message about this incident, but I'm completely out of the loop now. I can't even tell you where they're located anymore."
"We'll probably question Hot Rod when he wakes up too," Pena said. "But..." She turned to the two of them. "Lightning. Knight Errant. I hate to admit it, but you're our best chance against Team Chaos. Please do what you can to make sure they don't hurt anyone else. I'll let you go for today with the understanding that you'll be better than this. Better than Hot Rod."
"Of course," Courtney replied. After a moment, she added "I'm going to try and get myself back into a position to deal with all of this."
Knight nodded meekly, like a kid being scolded by his teacher.
"Do you really have to arrest Hot Rod?" he asked. "He can help too. The Good Miracle Giver chose him."
"Don't tell me you believe that bullshit too," Courtney sighed.
Knight didn't reply. He just stared at his shoes.
"Oh, and Sergeant." Pena looked up at Courtney. "Be careful with Hot Rod. I don't want what happened with Phantasma to happen to him too."
"We'll do our best," Pena replied, a tired expression settling on her face.
"Someone outside the military seems intent on killing any Miracle Bearer who ends up in prison," Courtney continued. "I don't know anything about him, but he has approached me. I'm going to try and get closer to him to stop him, but please. Do your best to protect Hot Rod. He's terrible and deserves to pay for his crimes, but death before trial shouldn't be the penalty."
Pena and Knight looked at her in surprise.
"Do you have a name?" Pena asked. "Or a description?"
"I'll send a photo when I can," Courtney replied. "I've been working with Sergeant Barron, so all information will go through him. I don't have a name, but when I can, I'll give you an address and whatever other information I can. I don't know how he gets in and out of the prison without alerting anyone, but I intend to find out."
Pena's brow furrowed. "Be careful. We don't know what that maniac is capable of."
"I will, Sergeant. He seemed willing to discuss things with me. He's trying to convince me he's right, so I can use that. I don't think I'd be in any immediate danger, but I'll keep my guard up."
She and Pena looked at each other a moment, then saluted. Pena glanced at Knight.
"Would you two mind giving me your account of events in the store? I'll use it as evidence in Hot Rod's trial. For better and for worse. Your entire testimony will be put into evidence."
"Of course," Courtney replied.
Knight looked uncertain for a moment, then nodded, determination hardening his features.
Whatever happened next would be handled by the law.
