Issue 1 Downtime

"Please stand," Lord Exodus commanded, staring down at the old woman from his place at the head of the trial.

The trial had been relatively short. Telepaths tended to expedite things as far as presenting a defense. The courtroom of Genosha had been completely destroyed during the attacks and so the public trial of Livia Raphael was being held in one of the storage rooms of their military headquarters.

The crates of equipment had been moved out and benches brought in for interested parties to watch the proceedings.

"Under the laws of Genosha you have been found guilty of your crimes," Exodus says, making no effort to hide his contempt for the old woman, "Before you are sentenced, do you have anything to say in your final defense?"

Livia rose to her feet, not without difficulty "Everything I did, I did for the good of Genosha. The new generation is weak, complacent, and soft. They didn't have the stomach to do what had to be done. I did what needed to be done, for the good of Genosha and for the good of my family."

"If it were up to me, you would be executed for your heinous crimes," Exodus says, "But our laws are clear."

"You committed the greatest acts of betrayal in order to gain power and position. And now you shall have neither."

"You will be stripped of your powers and exiled from Genosha. You are no longer welcome among our kind, Livia."

"And I've never believed in outstaying my welcome." Livia replied. "When this month is over, all of you will wish that our plan had been successful. Tell Cassiel to enjoy the time he has left with his bastard-she'll be dead in a month, as will that piece of garbage she's allowing to pollute our family." Livia paused, starting to gasp for breath "I die as a I lived, a faithful Acolyte."

And with that, the poison that she'd taken before she was summoned to see Cassiel took effect, and Livia collapsed. She was dead before she hit the ground.

The crowd erupted in a clamor of voices. A mixed reaction of surprise and fear.

ORDER

Exodus' command blasted through the mind's of all present.

"Get that filth out of here," Exodus says, "This trial is over."

And with that, Lord Exodus exits the room.

"She's dead." Kyra whispered to Daniel. "She's....dead."

"Coward," he muttered.

"I wonder what she meant." Kyra said "Gra-Livia wasn't given to empty threats."

"Babe, if she was really still that good, she wouldn't have just been tried for treason."

"I hope you're right." Kyra said, leaning into him "I hope she didn't.....I just hope you're right."

"Come on, babe," Daniel said, helping her up. "Let's get the hell out of here."

Kyra leaned against Daniel "Thanks, hon." she said, very, very aware of all of the eyes on her.

There were, indeed, eyes on them. And as they exited, Daniel looked back, a flash of fire in his angry eyes that set many of them turning away quickly, others still staring shamelessly at them. "Enough of this mess," he said, quietly. "Let's go start packing our stuff to get back out of here. I get the feeling neither of us wants to be on Genosha longer than they have to right now."