The courthouse is still busy - nothing seems to have changed from the last time a hearing was held in this case: the lawyers, clerks, and secretaries bustling through the halls, the low roar of conversation, uniformed guards trading quips with police officers...Judge Pierce's courtroom is one again, packed to the gills, though it seems to be much more subdued than the arraignment was. The press in the back is much quieter and only one television camera and one still camera can be seen. Grant slouches in the same seat he was in the last time, with just about the same people. Sena's attorneys, John Wilkes and Lee Miller are sitting at the defendant's table - Wilkes is leaning over the bar to discuss something with his corpulent partner, who sweats in the front row. Miller is doing his best to avoid the pair. The District Attorney sits across from them, checking over his notes one last time. The conversations in the room buzz as Sena is brought in. Sena walks in, head down as to not look at anyone. She never did like crowds, and this is one of them. She's gotten to the point to where she doesn't care what happens to her anymore. That cell, no one visiting. What about her father. Her belief in others has gone dramtically down, as before. Bobby sits towards the front of the courtroom, looking around in amazement. As Sena is brought in, he tries flashing her an encouraging smile. Bobby can't tell if she caught it with all the guards and such surrounding her. He sits back and waits for things to begin. Grant's eyes fall on Miller, and he looks at him carefully, studying him so intently that Miller turns and looks back. Grant says something to the uniformed policeman next to him, who chuckles and shakes his head. The row Grant is in gets, as usual, uncomfortably silent when Sena is brought in. Heavily armed SHIELD troopers stand on guard near Sena. The woman has an inhibitor collar on but they're not taking any chances. Most of these men think she's guilty and want to see her fry but one of them has been pulling duty guarding her cell. He's seen how she acts now. She's timid, scared, and wouldn't do a thing. Still, he has his orders. Sena closes her eyes as she advances, her thoughts being alot more calm, not really scared anymore. Funny how intellegent you actually seem when you're not a quaking pile of nerves. . o O ( It doesn't matter to you anymore, does it Sena. It shouldn't.. nobody really understands, or even wants to. If they wish me such hate and disgust, then why did they create me? They made me the way I am now.. and I'm starting to feel that, just maybe.. there's no hope for them, or me.. ) The bailiff calls out "All rise." and the courtroom gets to its collective feet. Judge Pierce walks in and sits down, and says "Be seated." As the rustle of people sitting down slithers around the courtroom, Pierce nods to the clerk, who says, with a boredom they cannot possibly feel, "This is the time set for testimony and hearing on the Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment in State versus Sena Ceyzar alias Lilith alias Calamity alias Discord, criminal docket number one seven eight nine seven three five five, honorable Judge H. William Pierce presiding." Judge Pierce looks at the prosecutor. "Is the State ready?" The prosecutor rises long enough to say "Yes, your honor." Pierce repeats the question and gets the same answer from the defense attorneys, even, grudgingly, Wilkes. Bobby peers around the courtroom and sees Grant. He gives the cop a small nod. Bobby figured Grant would show up. Surprisingly, he doesn't spot any other familiar faces. Even better, he doesn't see anyone who looks suspicious. You never know, some psycho could show up trying to kill Sena. Still on his guard, Bobby settles back in his seat and watches things unfold. Judge Pierce looks at a thick packet of papers before him. "I understand that the state and the defendant have stipulated to my being the finder of fact." Miller nods, and the prosecutor says, "That's right, your honor." Judge Pierce leafs through the motion and indicates Miller. "The defense may proceed." Miller rises, buttons one button on his smooth coat, and says, "The defense calls Doctor Solomon Levy to the stand." Levy is a short man in an expensive suit. He takes the oath and is seated on the stand. Miller questions him briefly about his background: Dr. Levy is a practicing psychologist and has been for twenty years - he has a great deal of experience with criminal psychology and murderous psychoses. And he had a chance to interview Sena on three occaisions during her incarceration with SHIELD. "Could you tell the court briefly your professional opinion regarding Ms. Sena Ceyzar's mental condition?" Levy says "In brief, I believe she has come through a series of traumas, the nature of which I am almost completely incapable of imagining. She is a very troubled young lady. She does not seem delusional when you speak with her briefly, but from time to time she will say something that she knows is not correct." Miller folds his hands before him. "How do you interpret this, doctor?" Doctor Levy tilts his head slightly. "They appear to me to be the remnants of past delusional or even psychotic thinking. The mentally ill do not believe their delusions in the same way you or I do. They are immune from all but the most shattering attacks - and I believe her own beliefs have undergone that kind of terrible shattering more than once over the last few years." Miller says, "You do not now believe she is delusional?" Levy shakes his head. "I would not go that far. She still possesses deep-seated difficulties with the real world, great difficulties indeed. Some of these difficulties may be part of some deeper delusional structure which I was unable to find." Bobby listens intently to the doctor's analysis. He has no idea what this guy is talking about but it sounds like he's saying that Sena wasn't in a sane state of mind. That's good, right? Bobby wonders what's going through Sena's mind right now. Is she scared? Does she have any idea how serious this is? Miller says, "So you do not feel that she is able to consistently tell the difference between right and wrong." Levy says, "Consistent with her experience? No. She still suffers from amnesia regarding many events and continues to have difficulty with understanding moral judgments." Miller turns from the doctor and starts to walk back to the table. Wilkes rises, "Doctor, when you examined Ms. Ceyzar, she was in the custody of SHIELD, is that correct?" Levy nods. "Yes..." he says. "That is all," says Wilkes. The judge nods to the prosecutor, who says "I have no questions, your honor." Grant looks at the prosecutor, then -looks- at him again. He scowls a little, then nods slightly, as if understanding. Doctor Levy steps down. Miller stands again and says "The defense calls Robert Drake." Bobby sighs and gets to his feet. He adjusts his uniform and heads to the stand. The clerk offers Bobby a Bible and administers the oath. Miller approaches. "Could you state your full name for the record?" Bobby was told to be on his best behaviour. Actually, if you wanted to be exact, he was told he had better be on his best behaviour. Bobby got the riot act read to him by both Montgomery and Bruce. He clears his throat and says "Robert Aaron Drake" Miller says, "What is your occupation, Mr. Drake?" Sena thinks . o O ( Aaron? How cute. ) Bobby answers "I'm currently a SHIELD agent assigned to Project: Guardians." Miller smiles a little. "SHIELD is the federal agency which has kept custody of the defendant for the last several weeks - is that correct?" Bobby replies "She has been kept in SHIELD custody because we were the only ones properly equipped for that. Miller nods. "Have you been able to speak with the defendant while she was in custody?" Bobby nods "Yes, I've visited with Sena on a number of occasions." Miller nods. "Please briefly explain to the court what you as a layman were able to tell about her mental condition. Do you feel she is competent to stand trial?" Bobby shrugs "To be honest, even as a layman, I'm not the person to judge something like that. I can tell you that I've spoke with her before all this and she wasn't in control of her actions. But right now, she scared, confused, and not a threat. Miller nods. "You say she is scared and confused. Do you know why?" Bobby nods "She told me some of the events that happened between her disappearance and her reappearance as Discord. It involved abduction and experimentation. As Discord she said she had no control over the rage that took over." Miller says, "Do you believe her?" Bobby looks Miller squarely in the eye and replies "Yes, I do. As I said, I had spoken with her before she 'became' Discord. She didn't want to hurt anyone. And she was afraid people were after her, trying to kill her." Miller says "Could you please tell the court a little about the treatment available to Sena during the time she is in custody with SHIELD?" Bobby shakes his head "That's not really my thing. I know we're had doctors working with her but I'm no shrink. I couldn't say exactly what they're doing." Miller says, "But the technology available and the doctors available to SHIELD operations are first-rate - am I right?" Bobby nods "Absolutely!" Miller says, "I have no further questions." Wilkes rises, looks at Bobby, opens his mouth and is about to say something, but then decides better of it, instead saying "I have no questions for this witness." The prosecutor rises and says "No questions." The judge nods to Bobby. "You may step down." Bobby nods to the judge and steps down. On his way by Sena, he smiles and gives her a small nod trying to let her know it'll be all right. Sena only sighs lightly. Bobby heads back to his seat to watch the rest of the trial. The judge nods to Miller, who rises and says "Your honor, on the basis of this testimony and the written motion before you, the defense moves to dismiss the charges on the grounds of incompetency to stand trial, inability to assist in her defense, an unsound mind at the time of the commission of the crimes." The prosecutor rises. "The state opposes this motion on the grounds that it has not been proven." Bobby tenses up, awaiting the judges decision. The judge ponders only for a moment, then says. "The motion is denied with respect to the unsound mind at the time of the commission of the crimes. However, it is clear from the testimony of Dr. Levy that she continues to have emotional and mental problems in understanding the world. I retain doubts about the ability of SHIELD to treat her properly, but that can be dealt with in writing. The charges are dismissed without prejudice and may be refiled at such time when she is capable of assisting in her own defense. The present custody order will be maintained under a decision is made on SHIELD's competency to treat Ms. Ceyzar." The prosecutor looks unhappy, but nods. Even Wilkes looks unhappy. But Milled smiles beneficently. "Court is adjourned." the judge says, tapping his gavel. "All rise!" calls the bailiff. Everyone stands again, and Pierce withdraws. Grant's row is silent and sullen, for the most part. Bobby sighs in relief that it's been dismissed. He's a little confused about the part with SHIELD custody but Bobby figures the higher ups will handle that. All said, this is the best he could hope for. Now maybe Sena can start healing? Grant heads for the door. Miller smiles at Sena. "I'm glad to have been of service. You still have my card?" The SHIELD troopers lead Sena out and begin the drill they'd practiced, making sure Sena remains safe and sound on her way back to SHIELD. They stop as Drake comes up to the group. Sena doesn't look joyed about the desicion as she stands. Maybe she wanted to fry, or maybe it's just thather spirit has been shattered with all this. She says nothing. Miller doesn't seem to care one little bit. He heads for the door, too. Wilkes looks more sympathetic, but he says nothing. He and Schoonover disappear into the crowd, for once in his life, Wilkes dodges the reporters. Grant suddenly stands in Miller's way. "Why -this- one?" he says. "Why fix -this- one?" Miller says "Excuse me," and pushes his way past. If Grant got to him, he hid it well. Bobby nods to the SHIELD troopers and goes up to Sena. "I'll be in to see you as soon as I'm cleared to, okay?" Sena simply nods, no change in how she seems to be acting. Bobby arches a brow before heading off. He wonders what's wrong? Why is she so cold now? Bobby sighs and leaves the courthouse to go back to HQ. Grant steps outside and lights up a cigarette. A few other policemen and women leaving pat him on the shoulder like they're consoling him, but he obviously doesn't need consolation. He's trying to figure out an angle, thinking distantly, turning the situation over and over in his mind. "Is this case ever gonna go away?" he asks a colleague petulantly. The colleague laughs humorlessly. "Nothing in this city ever goes away." Grant says, answering his own question. He head s down the steps, back into the crowded sidewalk, and disappears. Sena gets escorted out, her thoughts racing through her like a flowing river. But it doesn't look like she'll share with anyone. The camara's flashing on her, and she looks up at the greedy live-for-only-me people who push and scream and beg for comments, call her names and even the ones touching her to escort her along... her stomach gurgles. Hunger, or disgust. It's hard to decipher.