DC: Democracy’s Last Hope

Chapter 4: The Law is Absolute

Ibrahim Al-Farooq sat in his dimly lit office, staring at the holographic display floating before him. The system, Lex Legis, was his greatest weapon—an AI-powered legal assistant unlike anything the world had ever seen.

It was not some overpowered cheat that could instantly win cases or predict the future. It was something far more valuable: a database of every law, precedent, and legal loophole across the world.

More than that, it had the ability to analyze arguments, cross-reference court rulings, and detect inconsistencies in testimonies. Every document submitted, every statement made in court—it processed everything in real time, providing Ibrahim with the sharpest legal strategies possible.

A soft chime rang in his earpiece.

[New evidence detected in Gotham vs. Langley. Corruption funds linked to offshore accounts in Switzerland. Would you like to file a new motion for asset seizure?]

Ibrahim exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Compile the evidence and prepare a motion. Make sure it aligns with Gotham's international finance laws."

[Understood.]

The system wasn't magic. It didn't fabricate evidence or rewrite reality. But it did what no human lawyer could do alone—it processed information at speeds no judge, prosecutor, or defense attorney could match.

Ibrahim leaned back in his chair. "Show me pending cases."

The display flickered, revealing a list of cases:

Wayne Enterprises vs. Gotham Environmental Agency (Environmental Violations)

Gotham vs. Victor Langley (Corruption & Human Trafficking Cover-up)

Metropolis Financial Board vs. LexCorp (Corporate Monopoly Investigation)

Civilian Request for RTI on Justice League Operations (Transparency Case)

Pending Lawsuit Against Arkham Asylum for Human Rights Violations

The last case caught his attention. Arkham Asylum. A black hole where Gotham's worst criminals were kept in a perpetual cycle of capture and escape.

The heroes believed it was necessary. The villains treated it as a temporary prison before they inevitably escaped. But the law? The law saw Arkham as a place of failed justice.

He tapped the case file. "Lex, what's the probability of winning an argument that Arkham's practices violate basic human rights?"

[87%. However, it will face strong opposition from Gotham's elite, including Bruce Wayne, as well as organizations tied to psychological research. Additional data on Arkham's internal operations may be needed to ensure a favorable ruling.]

Ibrahim smirked. "Then let's get to work."

---

The courtroom was packed once again, but this time, the tension was different.

Ibrahim stood before the judge, his system feeding him critical details through a discreet earpiece. Across from him, the Arkham Asylum representatives looked calm, but he could see the cracks beneath their confidence.

"This is not a case about whether criminals belong in Arkham," Ibrahim began, his voice carrying through the courtroom. "This is about whether Arkham is fit to hold them in the first place."

He gestured toward the large screen behind him, where images of severely neglected patients, inhumane conditions, and illegal experiments flashed one by one.

"For decades, Gotham has accepted Arkham as a necessary evil. But when criminals escape only to commit more crimes—when rehabilitation is nonexistent, and the system is exploited—then Arkham is not a prison. It is a revolving door for crime."

Murmurs filled the room. Even the judge looked troubled.

Arkham's lawyers quickly objected. "This is an emotional appeal. The fact remains that these criminals need to be contained, and Arkham is the only facility in Gotham designed for that purpose."

Ibrahim didn't flinch. "Then the problem isn't whether Arkham should exist. The problem is that it is unregulated, unchecked, and ineffective. And under Gotham's constitutional law, any public institution failing its duty is subject to oversight—or removal."

He leaned forward slightly. "No one is above the law. Not even Arkham."

The judge narrowed her eyes, tapping her gavel lightly. "Proceed."

---

As Ibrahim exited the courtroom that evening, a familiar presence emerged from the shadows of the courthouse steps.

A deep voice, calm yet heavy.

"You're making dangerous enemies."

Ibrahim turned, meeting the sharp gaze of Bruce Wayne—or rather, Batman.

He smirked. "I'm just enforcing the law."

Batman stepped closer, his figure towering even without the cape. "Some laws are fragile. You push too hard, and everything falls apart."

Ibrahim didn't blink. "Then maybe it was never strong to begin with."

A pause. Then, without another word, Batman disappeared into the night.

Ibrahim exhaled, adjusting his cuffs. His system chimed softly in his ear.

[New case update: The Court of Owls has issued a private threat against you. Probability of an assassination attempt within the next 72 hours: 65%.]

Ibrahim smirked.

He wasn't afraid. The law was absolute. And he would prove it.

---