We appear back in the courtroom, the twelve random people seated having heard the case on both sides. Destructo Boy stands up from the plaintiff’s table, staring at the defendant stand ins of Malakai and Gravedigger before breathing deeply. He passes his gaze over the jury for a moment before beginning to deliver Burning Justice’s closing statement.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, tonight we have stated our case for why Malakai Midnight should feel the full wrath of the people’s law for his crimes against Arcadia. But there is not one person on trial here tonight, there is two accused of grievous crimes against Arcadia. The prodigal son of the devil himself, Gravedigger.”
“Now at first glance, his crimes are much different then Malakai’s. He doesn’t use or coerce others nor has he manipulated the minds of those he views as lesser. No, in fact you could argue that Gravedigger has been manipulated and coerced into his crimes by his master Tombstone. A vile individual who has raised this man from infancy to follow a doctrine of hatred and violence, to view and love the Ferryman like his own father.”
“Yet does that excuse the actions of Gravedigger? Does that excuse the assaults, the brutality, the murder and chaos he has caused just because it’s in another man’s name?”
“No. Because there is always a choice.”
“Gravedigger is not under mind control, he has not been coerced or manipulated into doing these acts other then the fact someone he cares about asked him to. No, Gravedigger committed these heinousĀ crimes of his own volition, because he wanted to. Because he is just as vile and evil as his master is, if not more. The proof itself is in the acts he has committed in his time here so far in OSW.”
“From the very beginning where he entered Olympus battering a helpless Felix Foley with a shovel, he has carved a legacy of pain and chaos throughout this city. Innocent people broken at his very feet, a helpless woman assaulted and hospitalized in her own home simply to send a message to two of the few men who try and uphold the laws of Arcadia and not two weeks later, tried to bury both of those good men alive for a simple ten pounds of gold.”
“Compared to others, are Gravedigger’s crimes on the lower scale? Yes. There are other individuals who deserve to be on trial. Tombstone, Narcissa, Zeus himself has committed far greater atrocities then Gravedigger has but through fear, manipulation and a perpetual wave of apathy, they have made themselves immune to the consequences of the law.”
“Gravedigger has not and in order to make Arcadia better, there needs to be an example. A line in the sand that shows that no matter who you are, if you willfully do wrong against Arcadia, you will brought to justice. No one, not even the gods themselves are above the law.”
“Six Feet Under is guilty of crimes against Arcadia and this is only the beginning.”
“Because The House of Judgement may forgive themselves but the burning flames of justice will not.”