Spaceknight Saturdays: Trial of a Spaceknight

This is it! Terminator goes on trial for going batshit crazy and downing a sovereign king for looking at him wrong. Move over O.J. Now for some real justice!

But first...

Let's go back to Clareton, VA, where inker Joe Sinnott joins Sal Buscema in bringing us our human heroes worrying over Rom's fate. Steve is preparing to turn his homemade analyzer on Rom's neutralizer to see if he can't peer into Limbo or something. Wondering how an auto mechanic from small town Virginia can build such a thing? Wonder no more!
Imagine the scientific advances humanity could make if only scientists thought less about snatching their +5 Vorpal Blades and more about curing cancer. (Oh the irony of a guy called Steve Jackson slagging RPGs!)

Anyway, Steve critically fails his skill roll and the thing blows up, but coming out of the smoke... It's so BIG!
"My gizmo brought him back," says Steve. "No, I entered the rear door," replies Big Rom.

What follows is a lot of soul-searching as Rom recalls the vision of Galador destroyed the Wraiths showed him. Is it a future vision? And while we're on the future, he also muses about Secret Invasion.
I agree, Rom, I really do.

Cut to a Dire Wraith stronghold/Osama's cave, where the Wraiths are preparing their next big threat...
...the MURDER MOLE!

But before they can unleash this perfectly named monster on our world, the High Wraith shows up with a flashlight and makes the MURDER MOLE whimper away. During the ensuing blame game between Wraiths, they are visited by an evil-looking Spaceknight-like character called... MENTUS.
He's really powerful and has fresh breath. Teaming up with the High Wraith (who still won't show his face), he has his own minions to send after Rom... Starshine and Terminator!!!
But how can that BE?! Rom is totally befuddled by seeing his two friends, one of which is facing a murder trial 200 years ago in the back-up story. Naturally so. Until Brandy comes out in a frilly number and makes the attacking Spaceknights show their hand.
Attacking Rom is one thing. Attacking an Earth girl in a frilly number is clearly EVIL. You'd be surprised what Mentus can do with a pair of goggles and a couple of Wraiths. Rom? Will you do the honors, please?
That's a yes, by the way. Mentus, for his part, isn't worried or surprised. His whole deal is making Rom miss Galador. He's got a trap for Rom set up there and is hoping Rom will make the 200-year journey back so he can spring it. Mentus is a long term planner, to be sure.

A couple Wraiths got their due. Are you ready for some MORE justice?
I can't believe Starshine just accused Terminator of "murder most foul". Anyway, she serves as Prosecution. The guy on the throne is the Prime Director, he's the judge. And Rom will thus act as advocate for the defense.
Ladies and gentlemen, that was the Secret Origin of Rom's Name. And here you thought it meant Read Only Memory.

Terminator, as it turns out, doesn't really want to be defended. He pleads guilty. The Prime Director, moved by Rom's speech, still gives Terminator his choice of sentence.
Wow. Harsh. On himself. Starshine learns a hard lesson about making accusations, Rom leaves Galador for Earth, and Terminator is burned alive. But wait!
Who's that Obstructor of Justice? No, it can't be!
So is Terminator part of the trap awaiting Rom back on Galador? Well, you'll just have to keep coming here on weekends to find out!

BONUS: WRITE YOUR OWN SNARK!

Sea of Green's entry