Team Omega by Christopher G. Nuttall Read Free Book Online Page B

indefinitely.”
     
    He cleared his throat.  “SARA also allows the government to secure superhumans whose power makes them a danger to everyone around them,” he continued.  “Those also fall into two categories: those who have no control over their powers are treated fairly well, even if they are isolated from normal society, while those who are criminally insane are treated as high-risk criminals and stored in the Pit.”
     
    Jackson frowned.  “The Pit?”
     
    “A prison for superhumans,” Hayworth explained.  “It’s designed to hold them permanently.”
     
    “Looking back at registered superheroes, they are supposed to obey the dictum of minimum necessary force—but it isn't always easy to tell what the minimum necessary level of force is .  For example, Horsley v. SDI suggests that the superhuman on the spot is the judge of what level of force is required, but Torrance v. SDI suggests that the courts have an oversight role.  Both of those cases are included in the briefing notes you are required to read, I am afraid.
     
    “There are also other legal issues around police relations with superhumans.  Those who are legally deputized to the police force itself don’t often have problems, but the ones who are more generally assigned don’t tend to wait around for paperwork to be completed—which can cause legal problems down the line...”
     
    “I’ve never understood that,” Jackson admitted.  “If there is a flaw in procedure, that doesn't mean that the guilty man is actually innocent...does it?”
     
    “Unfortunately, our litigious society now insists that the police have to document everything,” the Professor said.  “If there happens to be a gap in the chain of custody, for example, a wily defence lawyer can probably call the validity of all the evidence into question.  Or...if a superhero captures a rapist in the act and breaks both of his legs, his lawyer could argue that the rapist had been abused while in custody and use it to manipulate the DA into dropping the charges.  It is extremely difficult to legally hold a superhuman responsible for such...overreactions, so the blame tends to fall on the police force involved.”
     
    “Because they’re scared of provoking a reaction from the superhuman community,” Jackson said, slowly.  He had known about superhumans and superheroes, of course, but he hadn't realised just how much latitude they were granted by mundane society.  Some people had shied away from him when they realised that he was a Marine; how much worse would the reaction be, he asked himself, if superhumans were involved? 
     
    “And because the bigger names have powerful corporate backers,” the Professor added.  “Whatever the... justice of any case, very few people could bring a suit to bear against a superhuman with access to such deep pockets.  Certain superhumans even have connections with powerful political figures.  It’s much easier to drop the case than risk drawing attention from those quarters.”
     
    “Why?”  Jackson asked.  “Why do we even tolerate this situation?”
     
    The Professor shrugged.  “Different reasons for different people,” he said.  “Some believe in the legend of Superman, Batman and others who upheld the ideals of law when the government, police and military were hopelessly incompetent.  Groupies, basically.  Others think that provoking trouble between humanity and the superhumans will eventually lead to outright war, one we might lose.  And still others want the United States to maintain the lead in superhuman power—Iraq’s taken over most of the Middle East, Latin America has its own force intent on keeping the Gringos out and Bangladesh is turning into a superpower.  The next war will be a superhuman war.”
     
    “Shit,” Jackson said.
     
    “I wouldn't argue with that,” the Professor said, mischievously.  “I also wouldn't argue about the legal problems involved in your operations, which