The LP Turnabout: A Documentary on Japanifornian Law with Phoenix Wright

[morsrattus]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Investigation (Day 3) - Part 2

: Yep.
: I never imagined he might be the real murderer! …
: Ah-HHHHEM!
: …! (I’d know that clearing-of-the-throat anywhere!)

: Ah hah, hello! What might you be doing here? Out for a walk, hmm? “Ahh… the days of my youth… like the scent of fresh lemon…” you see.
: Mr. Grossberg!
: This is no time for idle reminiscing! Mr. Edgeworth’s trial ends tomorrow!
: Er… that is true, yes.
: But from what I saw of today’s trial, Edgeworth should be fine, right?
: Well… I’m not so sure about that.
: Ho ho! What do you mean by that?
: Well… I’m not sure.
: Hmm…
: If you find anything out, come by my office at once. I may be able to offer you some assistance.

He leaves.

: Thanks… i[/i]
: What do you think Mr. Grossberg was doing here anyway?
: Who knows…

The shack was apparently left unlocked, so we head in.

: …
: Nobody’s home.
: “Hello! Hello!” squawk
: Hey! It’s Polly!
: I wonder where your owner’s gone, Polly?
: “Hello! Hello!” squawk
: I can’t believe he’d run off and leave his poor parrot to fend for herself!
: “Hello! Hello!” squawk

There was something we couldn’t check out yesterday…

: That reminds me, Nick!

: Yeah, that’s right.
: Polly, what’s the number to the safe?
: “1228”! squawk
: Let’s open it, Nick! C’mon!
: I’m sure there isn’t any money in there.
: Aww…
: But, hey!

: I’m not so sure…
: Okay, Nick, let’s see what’s in there!
: (I guess there might be a clue or two…) …

: A letter? Aww… boring!
: (Hmm… There’s no name or signature on this thing. It’s handwritten in very precise, clear letters…) … “Get your revenge on Miles Edgeworth…” Edgeworth!

: N-N-Nick! Why would Mr. Edgeworth’s name be on here…?
: How should I know!? I’m going to read the whole thing…!

It also says: “This is your last chance! Now is your time to get revenge on the two men who ruined your life!” …

: (The rest of the letter goes on to describe the murder plot in detail! How to kill Robert Hammond, and frame Edgeworth… …Calling Edgeworth out to the lake, getting on the boat… firing twice! This is exactly what I figured out today in court! It’s all here… in perfect detail!) …

: I don’t know… but it looks like these are instructions for that caretaker.

: But who could have written that letter?
: And… what does it mean, to “get revenge on Miles Edgeworth”…?
: Look, I don’t know, okay? But one thing’s for certain. This letter is an amazing clue!

Now that we have this letter, maybe we should let Edgeworth know about the conspiracy against him.

Now, we get out the letter.

: Hmm?
: This came out of the safe in the shack where that boat rental caretaker lives.
: I see…
: …!

: Revenge… on me?
: Who is that old guy, anyway!?
: I… I don’t know.
: Could he be an innocent defendant you got declared guilty or something?
: Nice, Wright. But I don’t remember that old man. Not at all.
: So, he was following this letter, then?
: Which means there was someone else behind it!

: Two men… meaning myself and Robert Hammond?
: It also says: “This is your last chance!”
: Last chance…? Wait, maybe… Maybe he’s talking about the statute of limitations on the DL-6 Incident!
: … Wait… Wait, that old man…!
: Wh-what is it!? Do you know who he is!?
: Yogi… Could he be Yogi!?
: Yogi?

: The suspect in the DL-6 Incident. The one who was found innocent.

: Yanni Yogi was a court bailiff at the time. We just happened to be in that elevator together 15 years ago.

: We were there for so long, it felt like forever. The air thinned… and the darkness closed in on us in that little box. We became… unsettled.

“Quiet! I said quiet! You’re not making this any easier!”
“I want to get out! Help! Get us out!”
“Don’t shout! You’ll just use up more oxygen!”
“…!”

: When I came to, I was in a hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling.

: They claimed the oxygen deprivation and stress had caused temporary insanity. In the end, the claim passed the ocurt, and Yogi was found innocent.

: Why would he want to take revenge on you?
: … Wright.
: Yeah?
: There’s something that’s been troubling me these last few days. I… didn’t know whether or not I should tell you.
: You mean the nightmare?

: A memory of a crime… that I committed.
: A crime you committed?
: …A memory… of a murder.

: I think the time has come to tell all.

: For the last 15 years, I’ve had the same dream almost every night. I wake up in a fearful sweat, every time.
: What kind of dream?
: It’s a dream about my father’s killing… in the dark.

“Quiet! I said quiet! You’re not making this any easier!”
“I want to get out! Help! Get us out!”
“Don’t shout! You’ll just use up more oxygen!”
“I… I can’t breath! You… you’re using up my air!”
“Wh-what!?”
“Stop breathing my air! I’ll… I’ll stop you!”
“Aaaah! Wh-what!? What are you…!?”
“Stop breathing my aaaaair!”
(No! Father! He’s attacking Father!)

: I don’t know if it was evidence from that day in court, or the bailiff’s… In a daze, I pick up the pistol…

: It’s a bone-chilling scream. A scream that has rung in my ears for the past 15 years.
: … B-but…
: That’s just a dream, right? Right?
: … That thought is the only thing that has kept me sane for the last 15 years. But what if I’m wrong? What if it’s real? They say that sometimes people shut out memories in self-defense.
: Maybe it was I who killed my father!
: What!?

: “Get your revenge on Miles Edgeworth.”
: Think about it. Yogi was really innocent. That’s why he wanted revenge against me!
: Wait, Edgeworth! You… you mean…!
: It was me.
: I was the true criminal of DL-6. I shot my father!
: This is bad…
: What are we going to do, Nick? What can we do!?
: I don’t know… I don’t think there is anything we can do. Like it or not. If there’s someone else who knows a lot about the DL-6 Incident, maybe…
: …!
: There is, Nick!
: There is someone else who knows about DL-6!

And we’d better go visit him.

: Ah, hello there. What’s wrong? You look troubled.
: No kidding! I can’t believe you’re not!
: M-my my my… Just calm down and tell me what’s happened, hmm?
: It’s M-Mr. Edgeworth! He… He… sob

Fade out and in again as we explain what happened.

: I see… So, Edgeworth dreamt he shot his own father?

: It’s o-only a dream! Only a dream!
: … I wonder…
: W-what…?
: If that’s the case, then why do you two look so troubled, hmm?
: W-well…
: Also, consider this. Yogi quite certainly holds a deep grudge against Miles Edgeworth. So deep he’d want to frame him for murder. This leads me to surmise… That Mr. Edgeworth’s dream was NOT a dream. It was real. As you imagined.

: the pistol fired… and the deed was done. …

: I don’t believe it!
: Yogi was suspected of murder, and his career as a bailiff was irrevocably wrecked. Thus, he sought revenge on Miles Edgeworth. This was his last chance, of course, with the statute of limitations so close.

: What do you know about Edgeworth’s father?
: … He was a defense attorney without peer. It sounds trite, but it’s true. Well, he may have had one peer now that I think about it. Your mentor, Mia Fey.
: My sister…?
: Gregory Edgeworth was very disapproving of Mr. von Karma’s techniques.
: (That’s no surprise…)
: von Karma is an extreme man. Forged testimonies and evidence are nothing to him. The result: he has a perfect win record in court. To beat him, Gregory Edgeworth tried to call attention to his methods.
: And…?
: He lost. And died in despair, as it were.
: I see…

: When Gregory Edgeworth was killed, the police called on a spirit medium.

“The one who shot me… was the bailiff… Yanni Yogi.”

: That’s when my mother left us.
: Everyone called her a fraud.
: That’s right. Everyone thought she was, you see. Yet… now that I think about it. It seems the one who lied was Gregory Edgeworth’s ghost… Gregory Edgeworth must have known who shot him.
: I don’t believe it… So you’re saying he falsified his “testimony”? That Edgeworth’s dad lied to protect his son…?
: It’s only a possibility, mind you. But… a possibility nonetheless.

We show Grossberg the caretaker’s letter.

: It does seem that Yogi was following this letter… when he killed Hammond.
: But, why kill Robert Hammond?
: Hammond was a skilled defense attorney. But… he defended clients not for their sake, but for his own.
: Huh? His own sake?
: He never trusted his clients, that one. The only thing he trusted was his own ability.
: But, he got his client found innocent. So why should it matter?
: Actually, my dear, it’s quite different.
: He won that innocent verdict for no one but himself. Yogi was a free man, but socially, he was ruined.
: i[/i]
: You’ll understand soon enough.
: … Wait!
: What is it?

: I’ve seen this handwriting somewhere before… a long time ago!
: Whose handwriting was this…?

: Miles Edgeworth?
: Wh-wh-whaaat!? Why in heavens would he write something like this!?
: Why, this letter is an attempt to destroy Miles! Think before you speak, greenhorn!
: (Uh oh. He’s angry.)
: Think again! Do you have any idea who wrote this?

: Maybe it was Yanni Yogi?
: Yanni Yogi!? You claim he wrote himself this letter… then followed his own instructions?
: Uh… Yeah, I guess that would be what happened.
: Harumph! Perhaps you think Mr. Yogi has a split-personaltiy, hmm?
: I think that’s definitely a possibility, yes…
: Hmm… No, I think not. I do not know this Yogi, in any case. There’s no way I would recognize his handwriting.
: Oh, right…
: Yes, Wright. I’ll ask you again.
: Do you have any idea who wrote this?

: Hmm… could it be Manfred von Karma?
: von Karma? Why would he have something to do with this?
: Um, well, I’m not sure…
: … Hmm? von Karma… von Karma…
: W-wait! You’re right, my boy! This is von Karma’s handwriting, I’m sure of it! I used to see it all the time on court reports…

: But… but that means…! Th-the one who told Mr. Yogi to kill was…
: Correct. Manfred von Karma, himself!
: What does this mean, then? Why would von Karma want to frame Edgeworth…?

Next time: Is there more!?

[quote=Pactus Legis Salicae XVII (circa 500 CE) (translated)]Concerning Wounds
4. He who hits another man on the head so that his blood falls to the ground, and it is proved against him, shall be liable to pay six hundred denarii.
5. He who strikes another man on the head so that the brain shows, and it is proved against him, shall be liable to pay six hundred denarii.
6. If the three bones that lie over the brain protrude, he shall be liable to pay twelve hundred denarii.
[…]
8. If a freeman strikes another freeman with a stick but the blood does not flow, for up to three blows, he shall be liable to pay three hundred sixty denarii, that is, for each blow he shall always pay one hundred twenty denarii.[/quote]

[morsrattus]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Investigation (Day 3) - Part 3

We left off still talking to Grossberg about von Karma.

: He would know that Miles Edgeworth had accidentally killed his own father.
: …!
: He’ll say as much tomorrow in court, I should think. He’ll press the point until the court finds Miles Edgeworth “guilty.”
: Oh no!
: B-but how could von Karma know about Mr. Edgeworth’s past like that? Even Mr. Edgeworth thought it was just a nightmare!
: Hmm… That, I do not know. Yet I do know that von Karma is both persistent… and a perfectionist.
: He may be seeking to satisfy a grudge against Gregory Edgeworth by hurting his son.
: What do you mean?
: It was fifteen years ago… von Karma met Gregory Edgeworth in court, and von Karma did win… But he didn’t make it through the trial unscarred.

: What happened in the trial between Edgeworth’s dad and von Karma?
: von Karma got the “guilty” verdict he wanted. He won the trial. But Gregory Edgeworth accused von Karma of faulty evidence. And though he lost the trial, Mr. Edgeworth’s accusation stood.
: Faulty evidence?

: It was the only penalty von Karma has ever received in his career as a prosecutor. Gregory Edgeworth dealt a blow to his perfect trial record.
: Wow.
: It must have been quite a shock for von Karma. He took a vacation for several months after that, you see.
: A vacation…?
: Yes, an unusual event for the man. That was the first, and the last vacation he’s taken in his many years of prosecuting.

: Like… go to the sea, or, uh, to the mountains?
: Don’t tell me he’s never been to Europe!?
: You have strange ideas about vacations, Maya.
: In any case… That was the only time he took a vacation from work. I believe the penalty upset him quite a lot.
: (Odd… If he wanted to keep a perfect record so badly… why would he take such a long vacation?)
: What do we do, Nick? von Karma is going to bring up DL-6, you can bet on it!
: What if Mr. Edgeworth pleads guilty to DL-6!?
: I won’t let him!
: Erm, yes, Mr. Wright… I hate to say this… But even accidental murder is murder, you know.
: I know that! … I… I just believe in Edgeworth’s innocence! I can’t believe he’d kill someone!
: B-but, Nick! Mr. Edgeworth admits it himself! His father must have lied to protect him, from beyond the grave…
: I don’t care! I know he’s not guilty!
: … Mr. Wright… If you say so, I suppose I could go check again. The police files might hold something of interest.
: Mr. Grossberg… thank you!
: I can’t promise anything. In fact, I think the chances of finding something are slim.
: I understand. (The police materials… hmm.)

We should check those out…but let’s stop back at home first and regroup.

: Yeah… I know.
: Well, no time to waste! Let’s get going!

: What do you think we should do now, Maya?
: You would know best, Nick!
: Just do what you do! That should work.

: Well? Had any good ideas?
: This is all tied to the DL-6 Incident… We’d better find out as much as we can about that murder before tomorrow!
: (Something that happened back then has a hold on Edgeworth and it won’t let go.)

So, to the station!

: There’s hardly anyone here…
: Everyone must be out looking for the old guy… Yogi.

: I don’t think Gumshoe’ll be coming back today. He’s staying out late looking for someone.
: Sounds like Detective Gumshoe is pounding the pavement for real!
: Um, we were wondering if we could check out the Records Room again…
: Well, now, I can’t have just anyone wandering around in there. But… I guess Mr. von Karma is in there now, anyway. You can go in as long as he’s there.
: von Karma…?
: Yes. He just arrived actually.

: N-Nick! Let’s hurry!

: Dusty as always!
: We were only here just yesterday. I’m sure they just haven’t had time to clean… …
: What’s wrong, Nick?
: Nothing. I was just noticing that he isn’t here. von Karma…

But something has definitely changed…

: Huh? One of the drawers here is open.
: Someone must have been looking in it recently.
: The label says, “Unsolved Cases: Evidence”

Yeah, they forgot a period.

: Hmm… “Unsolved cases”?
: Nick! The file for DL-6… it’s completely empty!
: Wh-what!?

: v-v-von Karma!
: You…! … How do you know my name?
: Huh?
: Have we met?

: We see each other every day, don’t we?
: We’re Miles Edgeworth’s defense team!
: Defense team…?

: They are like bugs to me. Needless things, to be crushed.
: (I can see how this guy was Edgeworth’s mentor.)

Hey, he seems friendly enough! Let’s chat.

: Uh, umm… Mr. Edgeworth was your student, right?
: … A romanticist who could never shed that veneer of amateurism. Just like his father. Always second rate.
: Mr. von Karma… You had an axe to grind with Mr. Gregory Edgeworth, didn’t you?
: Me? A grudge against a mere defense attorney? Why?
: Because he dealt a blow to your otherwise perfect trial record?
: Hmph.
: So you did… but what I don’t get is… Why did you take his son under your wing afterwards? The son of your most bitter rival?
: … That, my dear attorney, is none of your business.

: Tomorrow will be the last day of this trial. It’s been a while since I’ve had a defense attorney last this long. Still, you will lose in the end. Miles Edgeworth will admit his own guilt.
: His guilt of 15 years ago, you mean?
: … You’re quite the researcher. If you’ve done your homework so well, then certainly, you must understand. You know what Miles Edgeworth will tell the court tomorrow.
: (We were right… So von Karma is going to bring up DL-6 in court tomorrow.)

We can show him things, but with one exception, they don’t do anything helpful.

: You think I, a prosecutor, would give you, a defense attorney, information? Bah!
: i[/i]

But hey, maybe we should confront him with that letter he wrote…

: …
: This was you, wasn’t it? You instructed Yanni Yogi to commit murder.
: … Yanni Yogi… How many years has it been since I’ve heard him called by that name.
: He’s a fool. I told him to burn it after he read it.

: …!
: S-so you admit it! You… you wrote Mr. Yogi this letter!
: Yes, my dear defense attorney. Thank you for taking the trouble to bring it to me. You’ve saved me from a lot of needless hassle.
: Wh-what!?
: N-Nick! What is that thing!?

: A stun gun. For self defense… usually.
: Indeed. 600,000 volts will course through your body like a dog touching an electric fence.
: Six hundred thous…!?
: Oh, don’t worry. People don’t die from it, usually. Now, give me the letter.
: i[/i]
: Nooooooooooo!

: M-Maya!
: Out of my way!

: (Ugh… He got us. The letter’s… gone, of course. And he took the DL-6 evidence… all of it. Back to having no clues. Wait… Maya jumped first. Maya…! Is she okay? …)

The letter is gone from the Court Record, though at least the DL-6 files we got yesterday are not.

: Maya! Open your eyes!

: Maya!
: … The letter! Did he take it?
: Huh!? Oh… yeah. A-are you okay!?
: …

: I… I couldn’t stop him. I jumped as fast as I could, but one shot from that thing knocked me out cold. I’m useless. I’m no good as a lawyer, or a medium! I can’t even call my sister. Not even now, when we need her the most. I wish I hadn’t woken up at all.

She fades back into unconsciousness.

: (Grr! There has to be some way I can help her! I’d better do something about her self-confidence, first.) …? (Maya… she’s holding something!)

: “DL-6 Incident, Evidence No. 7 Taken from the heart of Gregory Edgeworth.” I remember… von Karma was holding this when Maya jumped him.

: (I’ll prove it to you, Maya. You’re most definitely not useless! I’ll prove it to you in court tomorrow!)

Next time: Well, shit.

[quote=Pactus Legis Salicae XX (ca. 500) (translated)]1. The freeman who touches the hand or arm or finger of a free woman or of any other woman, and it is proved against him, shall be liable to pay six hundred denarii.
2. If he touches her arm below the elbow, he shall be liable to pay twelve hundred denarii.
3. But if he places his hand above her elbow and it is proved against him, he shall be liable to pay fourteen hundred denarii.[/quote]

[morsrattus]

(the story of saint guinefort: there was a dog named guinefort guarding a baby, and a snake came in. dog kills snake before it can eat baby.)

[morsrattus]

(dad comes home, finds dog with bloody jaws, assume it attacked baby, kills it. dad then finds baby and dead snake, realizes his error, and throws dog down a well, which he builds a cairn around. people begin to venerate dog as sainted martyr.)

[morsrattus]

Bonus update, because Spirit of Justice comes out today! If you like Ace Attorney as a series, support it by buying Spirit of Justice!

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Trial (Day 4) - Part 1

: (Today, things are going to get settled at last… a lot of things.)

: Wh-what’s the big idea!?
: S-s-sorry, Nick!
: I only touched your shoulder!
: I guess the “shock” hasn’t worn off from my run-in with the stun gun yesterday.
: Anyhow, today’s the last day of the trial! Good luck, Nick!
: Yeah… thanks, Maya.
: …
: (Edgeworth is looking glum as always. I hope von Karma doesn’t push him too hard.)
: …

: Sorry! I’m sorry!
: I just thought I’d ch-cheer you up with a pat on the back…
: Maya… Maybe you should go outside and discharge?
: Right. Good idea.
: (Try not to electrocute anyone on your way out…)

: What’s gotten into that girl?
: Detective Gumshoe!
: Morning! Mr. Edgeworth?
: Uh… good morning.
: How did it go, Detective?
: Have no fear! As promised, I’ve captured our runaway caretaker!
: I just brought him in. Took all night, pal.
: Thanks, Detective Gumshoe. You must be tired.
: Actually, after that shock I got on the way in, I feel pretty good.
: (Yogi says he’s forgotten his own name… But that has to be a lie! Why would he want revenge on Edgeworth if he couldn’t remember his past!? He does remember… and I’m going to prove it!)

: Court is now in session for the trial of Miles Edgeworth.
: The defense is ready, Your Honor.
: … The prosecution… is ready.
: …
: U-uh… right, very well. We have reached the final day of our proceedings in this trial.
: I ask that the prosecution submit decisive evidence.
: Understood.
: …
: (C’mon! Don’t be awed into silence by every little thing he says!)
: Very well, Mr. von Karma, your opening statement.
: Right. Thanks to Detective Gumshoe’s efforts, the boat rental shop caretaker has been arrested. In yesterday’s trial, the defense asserted that the caretaker was the murderer. However, the caretaker has yet to confirm this. I would like to ask the defense to cross-examine him as much as necessary.
: Very well!
: Please bring the witness into the courtroom.

: Ladies and gentlemen of the court… I believe you all remember our witness. He lives in the boat rental shop on the lake, from where he witnessed the incident. In addition, he has currently lost memory of his name and identity.
: Witness! Why did you run away yesterday?

: The witness was not running away, as he will now testify.
: I-I see.
: Very well, please begin your testimony.

: Zzzz… mmph?

: Hmm… Very well.
: Let’s begin the cross-examination, shall we?
: (He has to know his name!)
: (Yanni Yogi! You’re Yanni Yogi and I’m going to prove it!)

: I’d call what you did “running away,” and not “just leaving.”
: You heard Larry’s testimony, and realized you were in danger!

: Now, Mr. Wright, there’s no need to rush to conclusions.
: As I said, the witness was not “running away.”
: Listen to the testimony.
: (He sure seems relaxed!)

: Then why did you leave!?

: He’s just about to say why! Is it so hard for you to just quietly listen when someone is talking!?
: (If I sat quietly, Edgeworth would be guilty in three minutes!)

: Food…?
: Well, Polly is a bit of a gourmand, you see.
: She only eats these high-quality bird pellets from France. They only have them in the big pet shop downtown.
: But you weren’t arrested until this morning!
: Why didn’t you go back to the caretaker’s shack?
: Er… well…
: I kind of got lost, you see.

: The witness has trouble remembering things sometimes.
: When police apprehended him, he was on his way back to the shack!
: (Yeah, right! Nice try von Karma! No one’s going to believe that!)
: Hmm… I see! So he was lost!
: (Please! Your Honor, come to your senses!)

: You’ve lost much of your memory, is that correct?
: Er… ayup, seems like it.

: Then how could you know that you didn’t have anything to do with this incident!
: Uh…
: Or… Or maybe you’re lying about not having your memory, hmm?
: You know exactly who you are!

: The witness has testified quite clearly that he has no memory of who he is.
: If you claim he’s lying, then show the court proof!
: i[/i]
: (How am I supposed to prove what’s going on in that old codger’s head? That’s impossible!)
: Hmph! I’m glad you’ve come to your senses, Mr. Wright.
: Very well, witness. Please continue.

: How can you say you had no motive? I say you do!
: You had a grudge against Edgeworth and the victim, Robert Hammond!
: That’s why you took revenge on them! Right?

: Please don’t make me repeat myself, Mr. Wright!
: This witness has no memory of anything beyond several years ago! He can’t hold a grudge! It’s impossible!
: (I have to prove he’s lying about his memory… Otherwise, it’s going to be the same thing over and over until the trial ends!)

: Might I say something, Mr. Wright?
: Yes… Yes, Your Honor?
: You’ve been saying the same thing now over and over. You’ve been calling the witness’s memory of the past or lack thereof into question. But, does this really have anything to do with the current case?

: Of course, Your Honor. The witness has said he has “nothing to do with this case” and “no motive”…

: Order! Order!
: Mr. Wright! There is a serious problem with your claim! Or… are you saying… Are you saying you know who this witness is!?
: Of course, Your Honor!

: Ho hoh! Now, this is interesting. I would like to know myself! So, who is he?
: (Don’t play dumb von Karma!)

: His name… is “Gregory Edgeworth”! …
: Er… Mr. Wright? All of us here remember what Gregory Edgeworth looked like. And he looked nothing like this, believe me.
: (Wow… that’s pretty harsh, Your Honor…)

: Now… let me ask you again. Mr. Wright, please tell us this witness’s name.

: His name… is “Robert Hammond”!
: …
: Mr. Wright. Robert Hammond is the name of the victim in this case.
: Uh…
: Generally, the victim in a murder case is no longer living.
: That’s true…

: Mr. Wright, please tell us this witness’s name.

: His name is Yanni Yogi, a former court bailiff!
: …
: Yogi…? That name seems familiar. …
: Oh! Yanni Yogi! From the DL-6 Incident!
: (I thought the judge would have heard of it… it was a such a famous case.)
: But, what does this mean?

: Your Honor! If this man is Mr. Yogi, then he has a clear motive!

: Tsk tsk tsk…

: Jumping to conclusions again, Mr. Wright! This man, this witness, is Yanni Yogi? Fascinating! However…
: How do you propose to prove this to the court?
: …
: This is a court of law, as you may recall. You need proof!
: And, allow me to repeat, once more, that the witness has lost his memory!
: (This is it… I have to do this now! If I can’t prove he’s Yogi right here, right now… Then I’ve got nowhere else to go!)
: Nick! How are you going to prove it!? How can you prove that he’s Yanni Yogi?
: It’s okay. It’s actually quite simple.
: Your Honor!

: Then, we’ll compare them to the fingerprints on file for Yanni Yogi 15 years ago…
: I see… that makes sense.
: Tsk tsk tsk!
: Huh?
: I’m so very, very sorry, Mr. Wright.
: Wh-why?
: The witness… has no fingerprints!
: What? What!? No fingerprints!?

: Er… you see, before I worked as a caretaker, I worked at a chemical plant. I burned my fingers working with the stuff. Ayup.

: (Yogi, you sneak! You burned your fingerprints off to hide your past!)
: Hmm…
: Well, if the witness has no fingerprints…
: I guess we will not be able to prove his identity.
: i[/i]
: Tsk tsk tsk… Well, what will you do, Mr. Wright?
: Uh…
: Hmm?
: It seems that the case has been decided, no?
: (No!!! I know what happened! I know everything! I… I just can’t prove it!)
: (But no… I can’t let it end like this. I can’t lose! There has to be another way!)

: There is no one who can testify as to who this witness is! No one!
: Nick! What are we going to do!?
: I didn’t even consider that he might have erased his fingerprints…
: (What do I do!?)
: Tsk tsk tsk… Well, Mr. Wright? Perhaps you’d like to cross-examine the parrot for a little comic relief, hmm?
: (Yeah, yeah, very funny. You’re a sore winner, von Karma. …)
: (Wait a second… “Cross-examine the parrot”?)
: Wh-what is it, Nick? No… you’re not going to…!?
: Your Honor!

: The defense would like to take Mr. von Karma up on his proposal!
: Take Mr. von Karma up?
: On his… proposal?
: Exactly, Your Honor!

: O-order! Order!
: Uh… well, what do you think, Mr. von Karma?
: Need you even ask!? This is a farce! I object!

: Wait a second!
: You were the one who suggested I cross-examine the parrot, von Karma!

: I have a right to do as you suggested!
: Mmph…
: …
: Well, if you’re so desperate, then please, be my guest.
: !
: Of course, should you go through with this…
: And nothing comes of it, then I hope you’re ready for the consequences.
: Nick… this is crazy!

: (You know, come to think of it… This is a really stupid idea.)
: Tsk tsk tsk… I’ve heard of desperate men grasping at straws… But this is the first time I’ve heard of men grasping at macaws! Hah!
: (Think! von Karma is a perfectionist in all things. He’s probably rigged every piece of evidence and all the testimonies…)
: (If I can’t do the unexpected I’ve no chance of winning!) Your Honor. I’ve thought about this proposal…

: And I’m going to do it. I’m going to cross-examine the parrot!

: Let the parrot take the stand.
: I will cross-examine her, Your Honor.

Convergence.

: !
: This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!
: (von Karma’s rigged every person’s testimony, ever piece of evidence… Except the parrot! She’s my last chance!)
: (At least… I think so.)

: Bailiff! Bring in the parrot.

Next time: The parrot.

[morsrattus]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Trial (Day 4) - Part 2

: That’s… quite a bird. Please tell us your name?
: “…”
: Name!
: “…”
: The witness is ignoring me.
: (It must hurt… to be ignored by a bird.)
: Ahem. Very well, witness…
: Who is your owner? Please, er… testify for us.

: Hmm…
: Certainly the most concise testimony we’ve had so far.
: Very well, begin your cross-examination.
: Right…
: What are you going to do, Nick?
: … I… I don’t know! What do we do, Maya?
: Hmm…

: Witness! You can’t just say “hello” and expect us to get anywhere!
: I want you to testify!
: Maya, you talk to her.

: (Remember… two days ago…)

: squawk “Don’t forget DL-6!” squawk

: (That will prove that the caretaker had something to do with DL-6!)
: Um, Polly? Have we forgotten something?
: “… … Hello! Hello!” squawk
: …! That’s not what you’re supposed to say! Forgot! Something we forgot!
: “Hello! Hello!” squawk
: Uh oh. It’s not working, Nick! She won’t say it!
: (This is ridiculous! Why won’t she say it!?)
: Tsk tsk tsk… Something the matter, Mr. Wright?
: (Wait… Don’t tell me von Karma expected this! He couldn’t have retrained the parrot… could he!? Did he train her not to respond when we asked if we’d forgotten anything!?)

: Witness, you’re here to speak! You must speak to me!
: “…”
: Frankly, I can’t believe that you’re speaking to the parrot.
: W-well…
: I guess we should try to get some information out of her!
: We need to show the judge that her owner is Mr. Yogi!

And loop. But what if we tried another tack?

: (Maybe I should get her to say her name?)
: Polly! Polly! What’s your name?
: “Pol-ly! Pol-ly!” squawk
: Mr. Wright… I think we’ve established that this parrot is named “Polly.”

: Uh, well, I guess it doesn’t really have anything to do with that, no.
: Hmm…
: Please only ask questions pertaining to the matter at hand.
: Very well, witness. Continue your testimony.

Obviously, this is not correct.

: Yes it does!
: !!!
: Hah! Fascinating!
: You claim that the parrot’s name will prove her owner’s identity? Then show us this proof!
: Nick! Don’t you think you’re taking the bluffing a little too far?
: Listen. We’re not here to answer the question of “who is the caretaker.” We’re here to prove that he is Yanni Yogi! All we have to do is tie the name “Polly” to Yogi!
: Your Honor.

You may want to go back and read the case file from when we found it.

: The DL-6 Case file?

: That’s quite a large file you have there! Which page is this “proof” on, then?

: Show us, or stop wasting our time!
: Hmm…
: Very well. Mr. Wright, please show us the page.

All the wrong answers for this section are essentially identical, so I’ll only show this one.

: It’s on the “Case Summary” page!
: … I’m sorry… But I don’t see anything here that relates to the name “Polly.”
: At least, not on this page.
: Hmph! A bluff! As I expected!
: I’m afraid I have to deny your claim, Mr. Wright.
: The witness may continue.

: It’s on the “Suspect Data” page!
: …?
: This page has all the information about Yanni Yogi! Right after he was arrested, his fiancee committed suicide, see?
: Hmm… Indeed, it does say that, yes.
: What was his fiancee’s name?
: “Polly Jenkins”… “Polly”!
: Exactly, Your Honor! He remembered the name of his fiancee who committed suicide.

: That’s why he named his parrot after her!
: I see! I guess that is possible.

: Bah! A mere coincidence, that’s all! My granddaughter has a dog she calls “Phoenix.”

: Well, Mr. Phoenix Wright? Does this make you my granddaughter’s fiancee!?

: Hmm… Indeed.
: Alone, it is a little weak for evidence in a murder trial.
: We would need some other corroborating evidence…
: (Where am I going to find that!?)
: Nick! We’re getting closer!
: One more! If we can just get one more piece of evidence…!
: (Right… but what?)
: Hmph!
: Very well, witness. You may continue.

We only have one option left - we’re going to have to ask the parrot about that safe code.

: (Maybe I’ll get her to say the number of that safe…)
: Huh? The safe? Why?
: Let’s just try to get her to say anything, okay?
: Polly! What was the number of the safe in the shack?
: “1228… 1228…”
: … My, what a reckless parrot.
: Well, Mr. Wright?

: Actually it does! That’s why I had her say it!
: Hah! Ridiculous! How can the number to a safe tell us who the caretaker is?

: Show us your proof!

: The DL-6 Case File? What is this obsession you have with that case?
: Mr. Wright.

: It’s on the “Case Summary” page!
: The Case… Summary?
: Specifically, the date on which the DL-6 Incident occurred!
: The date of the incident? December 28…?
: Why, that’s today’s date. Fifteen years ago!
: And the number on that safe is 1228!
: Ah!
: He used the date of the DL-6 Incident as the number for his safe, Your Honor!

: That’s how important that date was to him!
: I see… It certainly is an interesting coincidence. People often do set their secret numbers to dates.

: Bah! This is not tangible proof! I set my ATM card’s number to “0001” because I’m number one!

: This has nothing to do with a date! Nothing!

: That’s enough!
: I think we’ve reached a conclusion here.
: This is mere coincidence, that’s all!
: True, that is a possibility.
: However, two coincidences at the same time seems more like a “pattern” to me.
: Wh… what are you saying!?

: Summon the caretaker of the boat shop. Immediately!

: Witness… Tell us your name.

: Wait! This witness, he doesn’t remember…

: …!

: I’ve accomplished what I wanted to do. I’m done.
: Nick! He looks totally different!
: This is the real Yogi, I think. Finally. He’s been acting feeble to hide his true identity. Acting… for 15 years!
: W-well…! Let me ask you again.
: Please state your name for the court!
: My name… is Yanni Yogi. 15 years ago, I served as a bailiff in this very court.

: Order! Order!
: Yanni Yogi! So was it you who killed Robert Hammond…? And tried to frame Miles Edgeworth for his death?
: … Yes. It was me. I did it. …

: They put me on the witness stand 15 years ago… Robert Hammond… he said I was mentally unsound.

: So… I pretended to have brain damage…
: I was innocent, really! But he didn’t believe me!
: We won the trial… But I lost everything. I lost my job, my fiancee, my social standing… … Then, this year, 15 years later…

: The plan was written out in careful detail. It was a plan for me to take my revenge on the people who ruined my life. I didn’t care who had sent it. I thought this was my chance, after 15 years, this was it! Finally, a chance to have my revenge on Robert Hammond and Miles Edgeworth… I have no regrets.
: W-wait a moment! Revenge… against Miles Edgeworth? What do you mean?
: I’m not at liberty to speak on that matter. Why don’t you ask Mr. Edgeworth yourself?

: von Karma… Where is Mr. Yogi?
: Under arrest, Your Honor. I saw no room for error in his confession.
: Then… the defendant, Miles Edgeworth is…
: Innocent. In this case, at least.
: Hmm.

: Very well. Will the defendant please take the stand?

: There are a few mysteries left unsolved.
: Still, you are cleared of suspicion for this particular case. So I would like to pass judgment on the murder of Mr. Robert Hammond.
: Any objections?
: …
: …
: …
: (I don’t believe it! Why isn’t von Karma saying anything?)
: Very well. This court finds the defendant, Mr. Miles Edgeworth…

: That is all. The court is adjourned!

: D-did someone just say “objection”?
: (It wasn’t von Karma…! Wait, but that means…) No…

: Your Honor.

: Wh-what do you mean?

: As we have heard, Yanni Yogi killed Robert Hammond in revenge. But, revenge for what?
: Nick! Edgeworth is going to confess! He’s going to say he’s guilty! He’s going to tell them he was the murderer in the DL-6 Incident! He’s going to tell them he killed his own dad!

: The judgment has already been passed! I object to Edgeworth’s outburst…

: Didn’t something like this happen yesterday, too? I believe a certain witness raised an objection after a guilty verdict was passed.
: (That would be Larry…)
: We must hear this new argument!

: We must hear Miles Edgeworth!

: He’s right. We have a duty to hear Mr. Edgeworth out.

Or…

: (No… I’m sure Edgeworth thought about this one long and hard. This isn’t my place to interfere!)
: Nick, are you sure!?
: There’s nothing we can do about it. This is his problem, now.

Next time: Convergence.

[morsrattus]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Trial (Day 4) - Part 3

: For fifteen years… I have had a recurring dream. A nightmare… it’s only a nightmare. That’s what I told myself.

: But now I know, it wasn’t a dream. Yanni Yogi wasn’t the killer.
: You mean… in the incident where your father died?
: From the distance of the shot, it wasn’t suicide, either. Everything was as clear as day. The murderer…
: The criminal in the DL-6 Incident…
: It was me! Your Honor! I confess my guilt! I am guilty for DL-6, the statute of limitations of which ends today!

: Order! Order!
: This is certainly unexpected! The defendant, declared innocent, is confessing to a different crime!
: A crime for which the statute of limitations runs out today!
: I’m not really sure how I should deal with this…
: Bah! It’s obvious. We hold a trial. Right here. Right now.

: We try this man for his crime of fifteen years ago!

: I think… I think I would like to take a five-minute recess. During this time, I will consider the appropriate course of action to take.
: Court is adjourned!

: I’ve just wasted all of your effort.
: … Mr. Edgeworth… I just don’t believe it, pal! I mean, you… kill your dad?
: I didn’t want to believe it myself, Detective!
: But… it’s the truth. I deserve to be punished.
: Murder is murder, no matter what the circumstances.
: This is crazy! Just crazy!
: …
: …? Nick? What are you doing?
: Huh? Oh… I was just reading through the Court Record once more. I’m getting my case ready.
: Your case… for what?
: Huh? Isn’t it obvious? I’m going to prove that Miles Edgeworth is innocent.

: …! Wh-what are you talking about, pal! He just admitted to it!

: He confessed that he did it! In court!
: I’m sorry, Edgeworth. But I don’t believe your “nightmare.”
: Wh-what!?
: It’s just a dream. It’s not real. The truth is right here in this Court Record. In any case, tighten your belts. The real fight is just beginning. I’ll prove you’re innocent. Trust me.
: W-Wright…

: Then, I would like to resume our trial.
: Judge!
: Miles Edgeworth has admitted his own guilt. He has confessed his crime. Let us begin by hearing his testimony.
: Then, though pointless, let the defense do their cross-examining. The statute of limitations on the DL-6 Incident runs out today. Though it’s unconventional for me, I’d like to run this one by the book.
: I see. Does the defense have any objections?

: No, Your Honor. (von Karma… you knew this was going to happen from the very beginning, didn’t you!)

: Very well.

: Will Miles Edgeworth take the stand?

: Will the witness state his name and profession.
: Miles Edgeworth… I am a prosecuting attorney.
: Mr. Edgeworth. Fifteen years ago, you mistakenly killed your father, Gregory Edgeworth.
: Is this correct?
: … It is correct.
: Then testify about this matter to the court.
: (When Edgeworth was telling me about his dream yesterday I noticed something… One detail didn’t quite fit.)
: (That will be the key… but only if I can get it to work!)
: Please… Please…

: Hmm…
: And until now, you thought this memory was a “dream”?
: We were stuck in that elevator for five hours. The oxygen in the elevator ran out, and I lost my memory of the events.
: Bah! The same claim Mr. Yogi has made!
: Very well.
: Mr. Wright? Your cross-examination, please.
: Yes, Your Honor.

: What was the trial your father was involved in on that day?
: I don’t remember things very clearly. Only two things…
: I know my father lost, and Mr. von Karma was the prosecuting attorney.

: Mr. von Karma? You were handling that case?
: It was fifteen years ago. I don’t remember the details.
: (That was when Edgeworth pointed out the problem in von Karma’s evidence…)

: So, there were three people including yourself trapped in that elevator?
: Yes. Myself, my father, and Yanni Yogi.
: We were fine at first…
: But then as time passed, and no one came to help…

: What did you do then?
: I was a nine-year old boy at the time. What could I do? I was scared… Trembling, in the corner.
: But then…

: What was it?
: A pistol.
: I assume it was the bailiff, Yanni Yogi’s. The safety must have come off when it fell from his holster.
: And you picked it up. What happened next?

: Did you know it was a pistol when you threw it?
: I think I knew. I knew it was dangerous.
: But… the air was getting so thick. I panicked.

: So, you’re saying that you threw the pistol at Mr. Yogi.
: I was… in a daze.

: The gun fired once?
: Yes… I think… after I threw it, I lost consciousness. Since then…
: They’ve echoed in my head, every day. That gunshot and that horrible scream.
: The scream…

: “To this day”…?
: Yes. I can practically hear it now.
: I doubt I will ever forget that scream as long as I live.
: (There it is! One part of that testimony clearly contradicts the evidence…)
: (But I don’t know what it means…! I’d better find out, and quick…)

And we loop. Can you spot the contradiction?

: Are you sure you only heard one gunshot?
: Yes. I’m sure of that. I heard the shot, and the scream…
: Then everything faded. I was unconscious until the rescuers came.
: I see…

: But that doesn’t make sense!

: This plainly contradicts the witness’s testimony.

: You do enjoy dragging out that file, don’t you?
: I don’t accept this evidence! Unless… you can tell us what page it’s on!

The wrong answers aren’t interesting at all, sadly.

: Look at the “Victim Data” in this file!

: It says it quite plainly: “the murder weapon was fired twice”!

: Miles Edgeworth only heard one gunshot!
: Yet, the murder weapon was fired twice! The first shot was the accidental firing when the pistol was thrown.

: Hmm…
: Was there, perhaps, another shooter who fired that second shot?

: Your Honor. As I’m sure you’re aware… This incident occurred fifteen years ago. The evidence is dated…
: The pistol did fire twice. However, we do not know WHEN that second shot was fired.

: It might have been fired the day before the incident!

: There is no proof that the second shot had anything to do with this incident!
: i[/i]
: Hmm… I see, I see.
: You do have a point. Mr. Wright?
: The murder weapon was fired twice, as we have heard. One of those shots was fired by the defendant, a boy at the time.

: (Grr… I didn’t think of that.) I, uh, don’t have proof.
: Hah! As I suspected!
: Hmm…
: Given that all this happened fifteen years ago, it’s doubtful any proof remains.
: Nick! Take a look at this!
: The Court Record…?
: Look… doesn’t this make you think…
: Wh-whoa! (She’s right! That is strange!)

Which leaves us where the other option starts.

: Your Honor. I think I will be able to show you proof.
: Wh-what!? Impossible!
: Now, now, Mr. von Karma. Save your surprise for after you’ve seen the evidence.

: Very well, Mr. Wright. Show us your proof.

: I can see that the victim lying there is Gregory Edgeworth…
: This proves the murder weapon was fired twice, at the time of the incident!
: This photo proves it!
: …
: … So, let me get this straight. This photo proves two shots were fired? Where?
: (Y-Your Honor, please… Please get a clue!)

: As should be obvious, the contradiction is here.
: I see… a bullet hole in the door…

: Your Honor!

: Yet, there is also a bullet hole in the elevator door! We also know that the murder weapon was fired twice!
: Thus…

: O-order! Order!
: Mr. Wright! What are you driving at?
: It’s simple, Your Honor.
: At the time of the incident, two shots were fired.

: The other hit the elevator door.

: Remember that the defendant lost consciousness after the shot he fired rang out. In conclusion…
: We must agree that the second shot was fired by someone else!
: M-Mr. Wright! But who could that someone else be!?
: The murderer, of course!

: … I knew I should have stepped in before your wild fantasies got out of hand. Mr. Wright…
: Look once more at the DL-6 Incident case file. Look closely. Try the “Case Summary” page.
: (The “Case Summary”… that’s on page 1.)
: Look what is written there!
: “Not a single clue was found on the scene.”

: …!
: If the pistol had indeed been fired two times… Then the other bullet would have been discovered on the scene!
: He does have a point.
: That second bullet has never been found!

: Because the second bullet does not exist! The bullet that claimed Gregory Edgeworth’s life was the one fired by his own son!
: That is the truth of this matter. The whole truth. It was undoubtedly something else that made that bullet hole in the door.

Next time: Contradiction?

[morsrattus]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Trial (Day 4) - Part 4

: Order! I will have order!
: … Mr. Wright has proven one thing to us quite clearly… That the murder weapon was fired twice at the time of the incident.
: However! As Mr. von Karma says, the second bullet fired was not found.
: It is highly unlikely that the police merely overlooked this second bullet.

: So, all we have is the single bullet fired. I’m afraid I have to discount the defense’s claim.
: Tsk tsk tsk… I praise the judge for his wisdom in this matter.
: (Gah! How did this happen!? I don’t believe that the second bullet didn’t exist! Was I wrong? Have I been wrong about this whole incident?)
: What are you doing, Nick!? Why aren’t you raising an objection!?
: … I’m sorry, Maya.
: What?
: I… It looks like I was wrong.
: Nick…?
: If the second bullet wasn’t there, then all my conjectures are for nothing!
: N-no…
: But you said you’d do it, Nick! You said you’d get Edgeworth declared innocent!
: … I’m sorry… It’s just, when I saw the photograph, I thought that two shots had been fired. I was so certain of it. I thought I’d won! I thought there was another person, someone else who fired the killing shot. But now… I was wrong to think it could be that simple. This case has stood unsolved for fifteen years!
: Nick…

: Well, it seems that we have finally cleared up this incident. Only one bullet was found at the scene of the crime.
: That shot was fired by Miles Edgeworth.
: Precisely.
: I would like to ask one thing of Miles Edgeworth before passing my verdict. Have you been paying attention to the trial so far?
: Yes, Your Honor.
: Do you have any objections?
: No… No, I do not.
: So you killed your father, though that was not your intention?
: … Yes, I did.
: … Oh no… He’s confessing… …

: Very well. The statute of limitations on the murder of Gregory Edgeworth runs out today. Therefore, I must pronounce a verdict on the defendant today, right here…

: Right now!
: Indeed.
: Does anyone have any objections?
: (I’ve been here before… It’s just like my first day in court… There are so many things I know I should be saying… But my mind’s gone blank, I can’t find the words…)

: (Every lead I thought I had has been squashed. This is really the end. Edgeworth… I’m sorry.)

What was it that I had been doing all this time?
Wasn’t my whole life leading up to today?
But now that I’m here… I know I’ve failed.
Mia… I’m sorry.

: !!!

: Maya…?
: What?

: (What’s happening to me…? I have to think…! Wait… don’t think… act!)

: Your Honor!

Which drops us off at the other answer.

: Your Honor! I… I object!
: Tsk tsk tsk.

: Mr. Wright, on what grounds do you object, hmm?
: Oof!
: Nick…?
: (I… I don’t know! His case is perfect!)
: Oh no…
: Grah!

: !!!

: What did you just say?
: N-nothing!
: (The second bullet must exist?)
: (But where!?)

: …
: It seems waiting is not going to produce us any answers from Mr. Wright.

: Wait, Your Honor!
: Hmm?
: I, uh…
: Th-the second bullet! It, uh, it exists!
: What!?
: But we’ve just heard proof that it did not exist!
: I-I realize that, Your Honor. (I’m really grasping here!)

: I-it’s just, someone took it from the scene of the crime! That’s what happened!
: But… Who!?
: Th-th-the murderer!

: The murderer? Then tell us, just who is this “murderer”?
: I’m… still thinking about that one.
: Hmm…
: So the criminal took the second bullet? Why would he?
: Huh?
: First of all, how would he have found it?
: It’s not easy to find a stray bullet, Mr. Wright!

: O-of course there was a need. That’s why he took it!
: Bah! What possible reason could he have had!?
: W-well…

: Er… Maybe he thought that the bullet would be used as proof?
: Proof…?
: It was a special bullet, so he took it with him…

Or…

: Uh… Well, the murderer was a very cautious sort, you see. That’s why the murderer had to search for that bullet…

Convergence.

: If that was the case, then he would have taken the bullet from inside Gregory as well!
: Huh?
: Why would he only take one of the two shots fired!?
: Oh, right.
: Mr. Wright? Have you really thought this through?

: (Argh… This isn’t going so well.)

So if neither option is correct there, what is?

: (Why would the murderer have spent the time to look for that stray bullet…?)
: (I haven’t got a clue!)
: What’s wrong, Mr. Wright?
: Uh… Um…
: Bah! The murderer had no reason to take that bullet!
: You don’t want to admit it, but it’s true!
: Urk…

: (Had to take it…? The murderer? What does that mean?)

: Y-yes, Your Honor! (I have no idea what I’m doing…) U-uh, well, the murderer had no intention of taking the bullet from the scene.
: But… uh, the murderer HAD to take that bullet.
: “Had to,” Mr. Wright? What do you mean?
: Well, for instance… (For instance WHAT!?) Uh, maybe the bullet, uh… hit the murderer?
: The bullet… hit the murderer?
: J-just saying, for instance.
: I mean, if it hit you, you would have to take it with you, wouldn’t you? It’s not like you could perform surgery right there.
: Y-y’know?

: (Wait a second… I was just talking off the top of my head, but what if that’s really what happened?)
: Let me just get this straight. So at the time of the murder, the murderer himself was shot?
: And he left with the second bullet still inside!? Thus leaving only one bullet at the scene of the crime?
: Uh, yes… I guess that’s how it would work, yes.
: But there’s a problem with that! The other two people rescued from that elevator… Miles Edgeworth and Yanni Yogi were both unharmed!
: So that would mean…
: The murderer came from outside, yes.

The pistol discharges, and the bullet…

: Mr. Wright. You are truly the most unpredictable defense attorney I’ve ever known.
: I can tell you’re grasping, yet I cannot deny the possibility of what you say.

: What are you saying! Deny it! Deny it! No one involved with the incident was wounded! There was no “murderer”!
: Hmm…
: (No one was wounded at the time of the incident…)
: (He’s right. I can’t think of anyone…)
: Hey, Nick.
: Huh?
: I just thought of something really crazy.
: Crazy?
: Remember what Mr. Grossberg said yesterday?

: Wow.
: It must have been quite a shock for von Karma. He took a vacation for several months after that, you see. Yes, an unusual event for the man. That was the first, and the last vacation he’s taken in his many years of prosecuting.

: But took it because he was injured!

: Which would mean…
: It could only mean one thing!
: He was the murderer in the DL-6 Incident!
: He was the man who shot Gregory Edgeworth!
: It was… von Karma!
: (Oh man!)
: Something wrong, Mr. Wright? You seem… dazed.
: Uh, n-no, Your Honor.
: Well? You have indicated the possibility that the murderer came from outside. Can you give us the name of your suspect?

: (Wait… I don’t have enough proof yet. This is my trump card, I’d better save it for the right time.)
: Mr. Wright? Something the matter?
: I-I’m fine, Your Honor.
: Tsk tsk tsk… Shall we carry on with the trial then, hmm?

: That said, we have no farther to go. All that is left… is the finish. In other words… the verdict!
: Wh-what! Not yet!
: Think, Mr. Wright. You have said that someone from the “outside” was the murderer.
: Yet you cannot suggest anyone as a possible suspect! Which means your conjecture… is worthless.
: And will be rejected. Of course.
: Nick!
: Now’s no time to be holding on to that trump card!
: The trial’s almost over!
: A-alright! I may not know what I’m doing… but here goes!

And we’re left with the right option.

: Your Honor!
: There is a suspect… one lone suspect!
: …
: Well, this is certainly interesting news. Very well, Mr. Wright.
: Who is your suspect?
: V-V-V…
: (Urk! My h-hands are shaking!)
: V-what?

: von Karma!?

: You mean, THE von Karma? The prosecutor? Sitting right there?
: Bah.
: You… don’t object?
: Hmph. I see no need.
: Why honor this ridiculous outburst with my objection?

: Because you took a vacation for several months starting the day after the incident! Yet you pride yourself on a perfect record!
: Why would you take such a long vacation without any reason!?
: So you’re claiming that I took a vacation to heal my “injury” from the incident? Fascinating!
: Prove it. I would have needed surgery, no? Where did I go under the knife at, Mr. Wright!?

: Bring the doctor that operated on me! Have him testify!
: Urk…
: Nick! Let’s find out who his doctor is!
: It’s no use.
: E-Edgeworth!?
: I know von Karma. Perhaps too well.
: He’s perfect. He wouldn’t leave clues. He probably didn’t undergo surgery.
: That would leave a doctor as a witness.
: (Grr… Nobody’s that perfect!)
: So… so what, Nick?
: Did von Karma pull the bullet out by himself!?
: That’s insane!
: No… he couldn’t have. You can’t just pull bullets out of yourself! …
: (Wait… What does that mean…?)

Next time: What that means.

[morsrattus]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Trial (Day 4) - Part 5

When we left off, Phoenix was thinking about what it has to mean if von Karma got shot but wouldn’t leave witnesses.

: Tsk tsk tsk… Well, Mr. Wright!

: (It would be impossible to find the doctor who operated on von Karma now… Even if von Karma did undergo surgery!)
: Hmph! It seems you have finally come to your senses.

: You’ve realized the truth: You can’t prove something that didn’t happen!
: i[/i]
: Nick…

: (The Court Record…? What could be in there!? Gah! There’s no time! I’d better think on it as I go…)

Which leaves us where the right choice would.

: Alright, von Karma, I’ll prove it. And I’ll even use evidence… I know how you like it so much.

: Wh-what!?

Can you guess?

: von Karma is perfect… He wouldn’t risk surgery, leaving an evidence trail.
: So then, I ask, where is that bullet now?
: I think it unlikely that von Karma performed surgery on himself!
: …! You… you don’t mean!

: I do.

: I-is that even possible? For all these years!?
: Well, there’s one way to find out.

Your challenge is now to draw where Nick’s been carrying that damn thing this whole time.

: Well, von Karma?
: I’m going to run this over you, and see what we find.

: I… refuse!
: Y-you refuse…!? But, refusing this means…

: Order! Order! Order!

: Your Honor! The defense requests that we be allowed to use the metal detector!

: Judge! I call for a suspension of this trial! This is an invasion of privacy!

: The statute of limitations runs out on this case today!

: It was you who said we had to end it right here, right now!
: Mm… mmmph!

: Enough!
: I permit the use of the metal detector. Mr. von Karma, you will submit yourself to testing!
: Nick! What does this mean…?
: I don’t know… but we have to give it a shot!

: (It reacted! Something’s inside his right shoulder! The bullet!)

: Mr. von Karma…?
: … You! It was you!
: … I was afraid this would happen. And so, I remained silent.

: …?
: Indeed, there is a bullet in my shoulder.
: However… it has nothing to do with this incident!
: What!?
: I was shot in the shoulder long before the DL-6 Incident!

: I claim that the bullet in my shoulder has no relation to DL-6!

: B-but, Mr. von Karma! Can you prove that?
: “Prove”?

: I have no obligation to prove anything! It is you who must prove something here, Mr. Wright!
: Not I.
: M-Mr. Wright?
: Well? Can you prove it? Can you prove that the bullet in von Karma’s shoulder was from DL-6?
: Of course he can’t! You don’t have any of the DL-6 evidence!
: (That’s because you took it out of the Records Room yesterday!)

: With no proof, you cannot convict me of any crime!
: So sorry, Mr. Wright.

: No… I’m the one who’s sorry, Mr. von Karma.
: Wh-what!?
: You were close… one day away from freedom.
: You see… I have proof!
: Wh-what!?
: Who would have thought you would have dug your own grave trying to convict Edgeworth! I can link that bullet in your shoulder to the DL-6 Incident…

: Th-that’s…

: Where did you get that!?

: This was taken from the heart of the victim, Mr. Gregory Edgeworth.

: The bullet is preserved quite nicely, with all the ballistic markings intact.
: Ballistic markings…

: It came up in the first trial, two days ago.

: All bullets fired from a gun are marked with that weapon’s unique pattern. By examining the markings, you can tell which weapon fired the bullet. It’s quite accurate.

: The other, Mr. von Karma, is the bullet buried in your shoulder. We could analyze both bullets… Then, if the markings matched…

: We would know that both bullets had been fired from the same gun!
: The very same pistol… in other words, the murder weapon that killed Gregory Edgeworth!
: Mmmph… mmmph!
: Mr. von Karma? You will let us remove the bullet from your shoulder.

: And solve this case once and for all!

: Mmmrrrrrrgggh!

: I’ve heard that scream before…
: Wait… I know!

“Quiet! I said quiet! You’re not making this any easier!”
“Stop breathing my air! I’ll… I’ll stop you!”
“Stop breathing my aaaaair!”

Uuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

: Fifteen years ago…

: Mr. von Karma?

: So… it was you!

He’s gonna keep hitting his head slowly throughout this next bit.

: Your father shamed me with a penalty on my record! And you… you left a scar on my shoulder that would never fade!

: von Karma! It’s not like you to make this kind of error… I never would have thought that Edgeworth would be the one to catch you.
: I… was careless.
: I’m sorry, but you will have to be penalized. I’ve covered for you in the past, but not this time.
: …! Edgeworth!!!

Me? Penalized!?
It took hours for me to regain my composure.
Suddenly, I found myself in the darkness…
I was in the court records room.
I must have wandered in there without thinking where I was going.
The room was pitch black. The lights must have gone out.
I went out in the hall and felt my way to the elevator.
I pressed the button, and nothing happened.
Then… there was a noise!

Just then, the lights came back on. The elevator door opened before my eyes.

Much to my surprise, a pistol lay at my feet.
I knew then… it was destiny.

He died, never knowing who had shot him.
Later, he spoke through a medium, blaming Mr. Yogi.
He was fooled! It was the perfect crime!

: Who would have thought another man would have come to open that elevator door?

: Judge!
: Wh-what?
: What are you doing? Do your job! Bring an end to this miserable charade!
: Now! End it!
: V-very well.

: It appears that we have come a very long way to the end of this maze. Fifteen years later…
: Mr. Miles Edgeworth?
: Yes, Your Honor.
: You were innocent. You are innocent.
: …
: As you said, it was all a “nightmare.”
: Yes, Your Honor.

: This court finds the defendant, Mr. Miles Edgeworth…

: That is all. The court is adjourned!

Next time: You think it’s over? It’s not over.

[morsrattus]

You guys have been real good, so you get a bonus today! I hope you’re ready for it, because it’s the end of the game.

…sort of.

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Trial (Day 4) - Part 6

: Did you see his face!? von Karma looked even paler than usual!
: He’s pretending to be all cool, but inside you crushed him, Nick! Crushed!
: I gotta say, I’m impressed.
: Heh… It was pretty close, though. I was sure we’d had it.
: I know, I was on the verge of tears the whole time, myself.
: But now it’s all just a good memory!
: …
: So, it’s finally over, Edgeworth.
: … Wright.
: Yeah?
: … I… I’m not sure how to say this.
: I know! I know!
: Try “thank you.”
: I… I see. …
: Th-thank you, Wright.
: Y-you’re welcome.
: I think you could have done better than that!
: Oof! S-sorry… I’m not good at this sort of thing.
: You got a lot to learn, Edgeworth!
: (Dear, dear…)

: Amazing, pal! You pulled through just like I thought you would! I’ll never forget this! I owe you one, pal.
: And tonight, let’s party! Dinner’s on me!
: Yeah, my salary went down a bit this month…
: But who cares!
: See, Mr. Edgeworth? You should take a lesson from Detective Gumshoe!
: That’s how you say “thank you”!
: Mmm. I… I see.
: ahem
: Whooooooooooooop! …
: I… I feel foolish.
: Don’t worry. Take it a little at a time. You’ll get used to it.
: (It’s been fifteen years since I’ve seen Edgeworth this… unguarded.)
: Hey, y’all!
: Lotta!
: Y’all were great in there!
: Thank you!

: Er… thank y’all very much.
: I knew you were innocent from the start, of course. Just look at you! You wouldn’t stick your hand in the cookie jar even if no one was there!
: You… were the witness on the first day of the trial, weren’t you.
: Yeah, well, let bygones be bygones, eh?
: Speaking of which, what are you doing now, Lotta?
: Who, me? Aww, I went back to college.
: I gave up trying to be an investigative photographer pretty quick.
: Really? That’s too bad.
: Huh?
: ?
: Isn’t that the hotdog guy from the park?
: Huh?
: It’s over, Nick! My life is over!
: Wh-why the sad face, Larry!? What happened now!?
: Oh, Nick… I’m not long for this world.
: Uh… you don’t look sick…
: It’s Kiyance! Sh-she’s goin’ to live in Paris! Paris, Nick!
: She’s leaving me behind!!!
: (Larry, Larry…)
: Yo, Edgey! There you are!
: Um, yes, here I am.

: Celebration? That’s unusual for you.
: Harry Butz! You come along tonight too! My treat, pal!
" Huh? Uh… thanks! Looking forward to it!
: (Yo, yo, Nick! That’s the suit that questioned me!)
: (When he says treat… that’s not police-talk for prison food, right? Right?)
: Uh, I think you’ll be fine, Larry.
: Wright…
: Yeah? What’s up?

: Well, yeah. That’s not that strange. People give money away to celebrate sometimes.
: It’s $38.00, Wright.
: Huh. What a weird amount. I mean, it’s not a little, but it’s not a lot either. … $38.00 exactly?
: N-N-Nick!
: Wasn’t that exactly the amount of lunch money that was stolen Mr. Edgeworth in school!?
: $38…! No… No!!! Larry, it was you!!!
: What are you so surprised about, Wright?
: Huh?
: Larry was absent that day from school, right? But that doesn’t automatically rule him out as a suspect.
: What?
: Think back to that day, fifteen years ago. Larry took the day off, but he was bored, he came in to school anyway.
: Then he saw the money lying there… and the rest is history.
: I never was good at History! Heh…
: … Edgeworth… you didn’t know, did you?
: I suspected. I just couldn’t picture Larry protecting you like he did that day. Everyone else was saying you did it. The whole class was against you, remmeber?
: Yeah… too well.
: Wright, you may not know this, but we used to have a saying back in school. “When something smells, it’s usually the Butz.”
: I know, I know.
: Really, Wright. I’m surprised you didn’t figure it out!
: Well, this is sure an unexpected turn of events, eh?
: Edgeworth…
: Hmm?
: You should have told me!
: Now, now, Nick. It was fifteen years ago!
: Don’t you think the “statute of limitations” has run out, Mr. Edgeworth?
: I’d say so, yes.
: There you have it!
: Grr… Where does that leave me!? I became a defense attorney because of what you two did!
: Well, I’d call you a goody-two-shoes to the extreme.
: Yeah! And you get worked up too easily, too!
: D-death! The death sentence for both of you! Man, if I only had known, I’d have become a prosecutor!
: The same goes for me, only the other way around… For the longest time, I thought that I might have killed my own father. I thought I might be a criminal.
: I became a prosecutor in part to punish myself. If I had known the truth, I might have become a defense attorney after all.
: Edgeworth…
: Want to switch, Wright?
: Hey, y’all! Line up, I’ll take a photo!
: Hey, photo time! Let’s go!
: And after that, dinner on me!

: We celebrated Edgeworth’s new found freedom. Although, Edgeworth was still in detention.

: My head hurts… Huh? It’s still only 5:00. Maybe I should go back to sleep…

: (What’s this? A letter?)

: You were really impressive yesterday. Seeing you…
: It made me think about what I’m doing here.
: I’m a spirit medium… in training, of course.
: I wanted to help Mr. Edgeworth too. I wanted to help you.
: But I couldn’t. I was useless.
: So, I’ve decided to go back to my training. I’ll become a full-fledged spirit medium, for starters.
: I couldn’t say it to your face, so I left this letter.
: Goodbye, Nick.

: Gah! The first trains for the mountains have already left! To the station!

: I guess I’m too late… …
: Hey! N-Nick!
: Maya!
: …
: …
: …
: So… you’re leaving?
: Yeah.
: It’s hard being a spirit medium who can’t talk to spirits. And… I think you’ll do fine without me, Nick. Be good… okay!

She starts to leave.

: What?
: … I never could have saved Edgeworth without your help.
: Huh?
: On the last day of the trial… I heard her. I heard Mia’s voice!
: You heard my sister…?
: Yes… only her voice, but still… It was at the very end when I thought we’d lost everything.
: Well, that’s my sister for you.
: Detective Gumshoe helped, and Mr. Grossberg, and even Larry…
: I’m the only one who couldn’t help. I was useless, Nick.
: But you were the one who stopped von Karma, Maya!
: Huh?
: I-I didn’t do anything!
: All I did was wander around in a daze…
: Sorry, but I have evidence that you helped!
: E-evidence?

: von Karma was convinced he had taken all of the evidence pertaining to DL-6! But you were the one who rescued the last piece of evidence we needed! This was the bullet that put an end to von Karma! And you were the one who gave it to me!
: Nick…
: Thanks, Maya. I couldn’t have done it without you.
: … … I’ll be back soon.
: Huh?
: I’m going to complete my training, and come back!
: … Okay. I’ll be waiting. …
: Of course you will. You can’t run that office by yourself! You’re hopeless!

: Uh, I don’t know about that…

The train whistles.

: So… bye.
: Bye.

and say goodbye to the novice defense attorney that I once was…
Now a new story begins…

(Click here to watch the credits sequence in video.)

: Mr. Wright. Perhaps you’d like to rethink that claim?
: Er… yes, Your Honor.
: (Uh oh… I got a bad feeling about this…)

: Talk about a pleasant surprise!

: Kind of like he was embarrassed or something. Strange, huh?

: Who, me? I’ve been working at a cheese shop!
: That Missy’s a nice lady, but she not exactly what you’d call a “cheap date.”
: Huh? Oh, she’s in Hawaii right now, yeah…

: I hear he’s been busy lately.
: You know, not to ring my own bell, but I sort of taught him everything he knows. I’m sure he’s grateful.

: Ah! The defense attorney for whom I wrote that affidavit for, yes! Oh, you should know, I’ve taken over management of the Gatewater Hotel recently. Should you be in the area, please, stop by…

: Phoenix Wright? Ah yes, Mia’s understudy, was he not? I wonder how he’s doing. Haven’t seen him of late… “Ahh… the days of my youth… like the scent of fresh lemon…” you see.

: Well, I’m not buying it! You can’t be a star with a name like “Phoenix”!
: Did you know that they’re finally putting some of Hammer’s old movies out on DVD in one of them box set thingies that you can buy now-a-days and all
: not that I know what a “DVD” is or why they use three-letter words for just about
: everything these days how am I supposed to keep it all straight anyhow, hmm?

: I sure owe that Mr. Wright a great deal. sniff Oh, and I’m keeping my face out of the public eye till the show’s over.
: I wouldn’t want ot ruin any kids’ dreams, y’know.

: It sounds like she caught a cold standing under a waterfall. I wanted to visit, but didn’t have time, so I sent her some Pink Princess trading cards.
: She says she can’t buy them where she is. What kind of place is she living at anyway?

: But… you know. I snuck into the studio the other day. And I saw her… the one inside the Pink Princess suit!
: Ugh! What a dog! It was kind of a shock for a boy of my tender age.

: Huh, me? I’m in training to become an paranormal photographer!
: You know that picture I took of everyone? Well, just behind them there’s a ghost!
: For real! Now that’s talent! I’m gonna be famous!

This was, in the original Japanese GBA release, where the game ended. However…

In the DS rerelease (and first English release) it isn’t. They added a bonus case, taking place two months after Case 4 has ended.

Next time: Rise From The Ashes

[morsrattus]

(now i am able to post again, so have some filler before Rise from the Ashes)

[morsrattus]

(god, we’re over a hundred posts in this thread, all of them mine, between posts and filler)

[morsrattus]

(welcome to the endless case)

[morsrattus]

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 1) - Part 1

(Click here for video.)

: Two months without a single trial. I’ve had offers… But none I took. That is… until the day that girl showed up.

: (It’s not like I want to work…)
: There you are! Finally!

: … … Um… who are you?
: It doesn’t matter who I am! It only matters who YOU are!
: You’re the famous defense attorney, Mia Fey!
: …
: …
: …

: I’m sorry but Ms. Mia Fey no longer… works here.

: I’m Phoenix Wright… A defense attorney.

: You’re THE Phoenix Wright!?
: The Phoenix Wright from the Edgeworth murder case!?
: Um, yes, that’s correct. (It wasn’t Edgeworth who was murdered, though…)

: I’m sorry… I’m afraid I’m not taking cases right now.
: But, you are Phoenix Wright, right? The undefeated defense attorney?
: Look, I’m not accepting any new cases. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to try elsewhere.
: Please!
: I’m out of time!
: But…
: Please, you have to help! I-it’s my sister!

: Okay. I’ll hear you out.
: R-really!?
: Thank you so much! My name’s Ema, Ema Skye. I’m a scientific investigator.
: (Scientific investigator?)

Let’s check out the office before anything.

: Looks like it’s cleaning day again at the hotel across the way. I hear they’re planning a second branch outside the city. Egads! The bellboy was staring right at me.

: Mia’s plant, “Charley.” I’ve been taking care of him in Maya’s absence.

: There’s a poster of the Steel Samurai on the wall. Maya stuck it up here on the day that she left. I didn’t have the heart to take it down.

: I do sometimes get strange looks from the clients, though.

: Mia’s desk. I sit here even less now that I’ve stopped taking cases. I ought to at least dust it off once in a while.

: Difficult-looking legal books stand in a formidable row. They mock me. I tried reading one, and it made my head hurt. When I closed it, it slipped out of my hand. Then my foot hurt too.

Now, let’s chat with Ema.

: Ema, was it? So you’re a “scientific investigator”?
: Yes! That’s right! Is… something wrong?
: No, it’s just, you seem kind of, er, jumpy. Or maybe just… young?
: Young?
: I’ll be sixteen years old this year!
: Oh, I see… wait! Only sixteen!?
: I’m set to be formally assigned to Forensics in three more years. My work is becoming quite well known…
: At my age, no less!
: Um, so what exactly is your current position, then?

: I guess you’d call me an “Eleventh Grader.”
: But I’m ready to do my job! At my age, no less!
: (Great, another future professional in training…)

: So what’s this about a case? You said the trial’s tomorrow?
: My sister didn’t do it!
: She wouldn’t stab someone with a knife! She wouldn’t!
: So… it’s a murder case.
: I don’t care if there’s a witness who saw her do it! She didn’t do it!
: I know she didn’t do it! It’s a scientific fact!
: And… there’s a witness.
: J-just talk to her!
: You have to talk to her!
: Right… I suppose I will.
: I promised her I’d bring Mia Fey, but…
: (That’s interesting… How would she know Mia?)

: So, you want to be a scientific investigator when you grow up, then?
: E-excuse me?
: I’m not a child. I’ll have you know!
: Still, it’s good to have a goal. Albeit a very unusual one.
: I believe investigations should be done scientifically!
: Don’t you?
: Uh, yeah. (Sure can’t fault her for a lack of enthusiasm.)
: If this case is handled scientifically, I’m sure my sister’s name will be cleared!
: Your sister…?
: I’ve been doing research, you know!
: I’m developing a new scientific method of case investigation!
: I’ll show you when I’m done!
: I’m looking forward to it. (Guess I should get down to the Detention Center and talk to her sister.)

: My sister asked for her specifically. Mia Fey…
: was a few years below her in school.
: (So she went to the same school as Mia.)
: She always told me to go to Mia if I ever needed a defense attorney… And, well…
: I need one.
: Um, incidentally, Mia is a woman.
: Mia… Yeah, I thought it was a little strange when I saw you, too.
: Well, it’s nice of you to help your sister out like this. You must be close.

: ?
: Well…
: Actually, when she gets like she is now, I kind of hate her.
: i[/i]
: But… But she’s my only family.
: Your only family? What about your parents?
: They died in a car accident when I was little.
: Oh… I’m sorry.

And we present the badge.

: Ahh! Well! I’ve never seen a real one before.
: (You’re the first one who’s actually been interested in mine, believe me.)
: Its composition is mostly silver. The gold plating is flaking a bit.
: (She analyzed it. Scientifically…)

: Sorry, but it’s not for sale. Yet…

Now, let’s get moving.

: …
: (Hmm, I wonder what’s wrong with Ema? She got quiet all of a sudden as soon as we arrived.)
: Guard… I thought I told you I didn’t want visitors.
: S-s-s-sorry, ma’am! It’s j-j-just, your sister…
: No excuses! Or did you not want a raise this year, hmm?
: U-u-u-understood, ma’am!
: (Wh-wh-wh-what was that all about?)

: Funny. I seem to remember specifically telling you NOT to come here. Perhaps my memory is failing?
: L-look…
: I didn’t want to come here either, okay? But your trial’s tomorrow and you still don’t have a defense attorney!
: I’ll be the one in court tomorrow. This has nothing to do with you, Ema.

: Hey! How do you know me?
: Mia mentioned you. I’ve heard… quite a bit.
: Er, I’m sorry. What exactly is it that you do…?
: My name is Lana, Lana Skye. I’m Chief Prosecutor for this district.
: Y-you’re a prosecutor!?

A brief look around is in order.

: This guard monitors the visitor’s room. He’s frozen in fear of the frigid Miss Lana. I’m feeling a bit chilly myself.

Now, let’s chat with Lana.

: There’s something you should know from the start.
: W-which is?

: Huh?
: W-wait! But the suspect…
: The suspect is…
: Me. I did it.
: Well, Mr. Wright?
: Well… why don’t you begin by telling me exactly what happened.

: That’s quite specific.
: It was in the witness’s deposition.
: A witness clearly saw me committing the crime.
: Uh… My, that was a bit of bad luck, wasn’t it?
: The crime took place in the underground parking lot at the Prosecutor’s Office.
: The body was found in the trunk of my subordinate’s car.
: The Prosecutor’s Office, huh? (In your subordinate’s car trunk? Classy…)
: I was arrested on the spot. Caught red-handed, as it were.
: (My, my…)

: So, who was the victim?
: An investigator with the Police Department. I suppose the correct term is “Detective.”
: A detective…?
: Death was due to a loss of blood. He was stabbed once in the stomach.
: By… you?
: Death wasn’t immediate, but the wound was fatal.
: I see…
: Allow me to repeat myself, Mr. Wright. The victim was a detective. You know what that means,
: don’t you?
: Uh oh!
: What? Mr. Wright? What does it mean?
: Well, it means…
: The police department will consider it a matter of pride to have me found guilty.
: They will use any means at their disposal to do so.
: (This case gets worse and worse with everything I learn.)

: So, you’re the Chief Prosecutor?
: That is correct.
: I’m responsible for overseeing every trial handled by prosecutors in this district. I make sure the prosecutors have what they need to do the job, and manage every aspect.
: Those are my responsibilities, in a nutshell.
: (That’s an awfully large nutshell.)
: Still, I’m a little surprised.
: I would think you’d recognize the district’s Chief Prosecutor, Mr. Wright.
: Huh?

: Um… Lana? What happened to your hand?
: Oh, this?
: I cut myself by accident. When I stabbed him, that is.
: Huh?
: I’m not very good at being a criminal, I suppose.
: (How am I supposed to defend this!? Time to change the subject… Wait, she was in the class ahead of Mia, wasn’t she…?)

: Um, you were in school with Mia, correct? A few years above her?
: …
: Ema told you that, too, did she?
: W-well, why not? I did drag him all the way here from his office!
: Although it seems he has very little in common with Mia…
: i[/i]
: It was in law school. I was in my third year, and she was auditing the class. She was different than the other students.
: Different?
: She was strong… She’d do anything to become a defense attorney. Anything.
: That… was probably why she was attracted to me.
: E-excuse me!?
: Intellectually attracted! Lana was top of her class in school.
: I was the best there was.
: Oh…
: I’m doing pretty good in school too, by the way!
: (It sounds a bit different when Ema says it…)
: Well, Mr. Wright?
: E-excuse me?
: As you can plainly see, I am admitting my guilt. I think it’s safe to say…
: there’s no way you can take this case. None.
: B-but, Lana!
: …
: You… you were always this way, weren’t you?

: You never think of anyone but yourself.
: …!
: I know you didn’t do it, Lana, I know! So…
: So how can you say you did!?
: …
: If I lose you…
: I’ll be all alone! I…
: I hate you, Lana!
: …

: Mr. Wright?
: Y-yes?
: I believe our discussion here is ended. The rest… I leave to you.
: …! Um… you mean, you’re requesting my services as your defense?
: Don’t lose any sleep over it. Your client has confessed, after all. The case is over.
: Right… I’ll do what I can to get to the bottom of this.
: …

: (But something doesn’t fit.)

Next time: Investigation.

[morsrattus]

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 1) - Part 2

After the last scene, we are automatically dropped off back at the office.

: Huh? About what?
: My sister… She’s not always like that you know.
: … I just never expected to be defending another prosecutor again.

: She used to be so gentle, always smiling. Everybody liked her.
: I see… (Sorry, but I’m having trouble imagining that.) What happened to her?
: I don’t know for certain myself… I think maybe she… Well, maybe not.
: (Sounds like there’s something there that defies a simple scientific explanation.) Let’s go check out this underground parking at the Prosecutor’s Office, shall we?
: O-Okay!

: So this is the lot where it all happened?
: Looks like they’re still investigating…
: (Funny that my first visit to the Prosecutor’s Office should be like this…)
: Hey everyone! Keep up the good work!
: H-hey! What are you thinking?
: Well, they are going to be my coworkers three years from now after all.
: No harm in saying hello…
: Actually, there is. You know attorneys aren’t supposed to examine crime scenes? I’m trying to not stand out too much, here, see?

: You 'specting to go unnoticed here, pardner?
: P-Pardner?

: What do we have here? Looks like a bambina got loose from the ranch and is up to no good!

: M-Mr. Marshall!

: (Marshall? Looks more like a sheriff to me…)
: Lookie here, bambina. I know how you feel. But this is my gang’s gold strike,
: see?
: Strike…?
: This is our claim, our territory. And the goldmine is… evidence.

: You know what dreams the cacti out in the desert dream? You want to?
: (What’s this guy talking about?)

: You head along home now. Happy trails, bambina!

And he leaves.

: …
: …
: Was that uh, hombre, a friend of yours?
: Uh… kind of… sort of… Yeah. He’s a detective.
: (Who thinks he’s a sheriff from the Wild West it seems.)

Let’s look around.

: Um, excuse me! Officer!
: W-w-waaaait!
: What are you doing, Mr. Wright!?
: What am I doing? I just found this wallet, so I’m handing it over to the police…
: I don’t believe it!
: This is real basic: anything at a crime scene is evidence! Let’s be scientific about this, please!
: Just put it in your pocket.
: H-how is that scientific? (Sounds like theft to me!)

But hey, we pocket it.

: I’m called to duty already, and at my tender age! Here, I’ll teach you the trick to examining evidence in detail, okay?
: (By the way her eyes are sparkling I can tell she’s been waiting for this…)
: Okay, okay, now. Look at the Court Record!

This method of evidence examination will be in this case, and this case only, for…oh, the next three games or so.

: Now. Let’s start examining! From every angle!

We can rotate evidence to look at points of interest from every angle.

: You should check it out! Press the Examine button.

: This… This is an ID card. (Detective Bruce Goodman, ID# 5842189…)
: See? Well? Isn’t scientific investigation useful?
: I guess… Though I don’t see what “science” has to do with it.

And the wallet transmutes into the ID.

: Let’s be sure to examine every piece of evidence we find!
: (I guess I’ve got to be on my toes from now on…)

: “Detective Bruce Goodman, ID# 5842189”
: I wonder why they only use numbers for IDs.
: What else would they use?
: Letters, silly! They’re the reason we have a written language in the first place!
: True…

: See? Wouldn’t that be better?
: “YABADAB”? Well, it does have a certain ring to it…
: Exactly my point! Tee-hee!
: (It doesn’t take much to amuse her.)

: This is where the cars leave the lot.
: The arrow on the ground makes it look more like an entrance.
: What are you talking about? It’s plainly an exit!
: Well, maybe it’s both. Kind of a dual purpose?
: Ah hah! The theory of relativity!
: What? Uh…
: I’ve got to write this down.
: Ah! Hey, hey, Mr. Wright!
: Maybe you know… Was Mr. Relativity, German? Or was he British?
: Mr. Relativity? Are you sure that was his name?

: Look! A door! This must mean something!
: I’m not sure that doors “mean” anything.
: No! It won’t open! A mysterious lock!
: I fail to see what’s mysterious about it.
: Mr. Wright…
: You need to learn to enjoy life more.
: Let’s finish our investigation first, shall we?

: Ah hah! A ladder.
: Um… That’s a stepladder.
: What’s the difference? In scientific terms, please.
: S-scientific huh?
: Look at the basic nature of things, Mr. Wright.
: (This all seems so horribly familiar somehow…)

: Hey. Don’t touch stuff we don’t need to be touching.
: …
: I can’t hear anything!
: My ears! No, my ears!
: Maybe it’s due to the barometric pressure…
: (What is she babbling about?)
: Hey!? What did you just say?
: See? You can hear just fine. The phone’s broken!

: An oil drum. Looks like it’s filled with water.
: I-it’s heavy! I can’t even budge it!
: The drum over here is on its side.
: Wait! I know! I’ll hide in here and do a stake-out!
: I think you’ll probably just get arrested. (In fact, you may not even have to hide in the drum to get arrested.)
: What? I’m not suspicious!

: This wall is in our way.
: It’s got a faucet for water.
: Wait! I know!
: This “wall” is merely a facade, hiding the truth…
: This is no wall, but a water tank!!!
: (I fail to see how it makes any difference either way…)

We can look at the other half…

…but it doesn’t really matter what we look at.

: Well, no time to waste! Let’s get hunting for clues!
: Hmm… I wonder what this is?
: Well, pardner. Looks like you got no intention of going home quietly.

: Like I said before, this here’s our claim. You’d best be moseying along.
: Unless you’re fixing to bite the bullet.
: (Gah! Scary!)
: C-could you just tell us one thing…? Who owns that car?

: You want to know who rides that red mustang with the body in her saddle, eh?
: Please!
: No problem, pardner. 'Bout time for vittles anyway.

: Might just find you a cervesa you like.
: (Prospector’s Office? Where does this guy think he is? And when, for that matter!?)
: Note to self: look up vittles, saloon, cervesa.
: (Maybe we should check out room 1202… the High Prosecutor’s Office!)

We are faded to the other side of the room.

: You can look around here all you like, just keep your paws off our claim.
: (Right… great.)

He leaves again.

: Great! Maybe there are some clues around here, Mr. Wright! Let’s check it out!
: Excuse me? Were you two all set?
: Us?

: Y-you’re selling lunches? Here?
: This is a crime scene!

: Oh. Uh, thanks.
: And you, sir?
: Y-yes?

: Uh… thanks. (Interesting way of doing business.)
: This area is off limits to anyone without clearance.

: Uh… no, but you…
: You don’t exactly look like the type to have clearance.
: Well, that’s hardly a way to greet someone! Even if my days as the “Cough-up Queen” are over…
: C-cough-up? Huh?

: I’m quite connected to this case, you see. The images are burned into my eyes, you might say.
: Yes, all the sordid secrets…
: Secrets…?
: Dear me.
: You are a slow one, aren’t you?

: Whaaaat!?

: Please! Cough-up Queen! Tell us what happened!
: The name is Angel Starr.
: Don’t you go forgetting it. Or before you know it
: I’ll have you whimpering at my heels.
: Y-y-yes, ma’am! (Yipes! She means it!)

: Somehow… I knew. Yesterday was a day of destiny… I knew something was going to happen…
: Just like I know that the Daily Special on Friday every week is salmon.
: Destiny…? Was yesterday special for some reason?
: You’re a defense attorney, right? You should know then. You should know the foul methods of the evil ones who haunt this den of inequity!
: E-evil ones?
: Prosecutors! They have no qualms at all about blackening the name of innocents! And yesterday they paid homage to the most evil one of all!
: They gave an award for “King of Prosecutors”… What a farce!
: So, she’s saying…
: There was some sort of prosecutor’s convention yesterday.
: I was almost compelled to lace their lunches with something foul…

: Or is there some kind of scientific evidence of this, um, “evil”?
: Young miss… Mock me at your own risk!
: You’ll soon find out why they call me the “Cough-up Queen”!
: Ew!
: The most heinous of all the evil ones, the one they awarded yesterday…
: It was in
: his car that they found the body! Proof that he devours the evilest lunches of all!
: R-really!?
: (Really what? I’m totally confused… One thing’s clear. This lunch lady has a thing against prosecutors.)

: So, what exactly was it that you witnessed, Ms. Starr?
: It was a fascinating spectacle, to be sure! I now feel I know what they say when they talk about a “woman’s wrath.”
: To see Lana Skye wield that knife so…
: !
: Her knife flashed in anger, bringing him to a sad end.
: It was truly a sight to see.
: Y-you mean you saw the very moment of the crime!?
: The sound of his silvery ties to this world being cruelly cut still rings in my ears.
: And the rhythmic beat of Lana Skye’s knife…
: Wait a second! You know Lana Skye?
: Hmph. Of course. It’s quite a feat… becoming Chief Prosecutor.

: She… always travels light.
: (Now why would this pretty lunch lady know the Chief Prosecutor’s name?)

: Um… Could we ask you a bit about yourself, Ms. Starr?
: I come here every day to sell lunches. I import only the freshest and best from the Far East.
: For some reason, the box lunches are a hit here.
: Why not make the lunches here rather than import them?
: Did you say something?
: N-no…
: Only true conossieurs can understand…

Not my misspelling.

: Ah… Nevermind… You win.

: Anyway, I come here every day to sell lunches.
: My boyfriend works in the security room here at the Prosecutor’s Office.
: Y-your boyfriend?
: See the security room over there?
: The glass-walled booth?
: I sell my lunches and, since I’m here anyway, I drop in to see him.
: (Since you’re here anyway… I guess selling lunches is more important than romance.)
: So, to scientifically analyze the data available so far… You, Ms. Starr, are
: a lunch vendor with an ulterior motive for coming here!
: (Useful analysis. Not.)

: Did you have a bad experience with a prosecutor, Ms. Starr? I sense some… hostility.
: Hostility? Hah! Perhaps.
: Prosecutors are all alike. And the bigger they get, the worse they smell.
: Kind of like 10-day old clams in the chowder.
: (I wonder if Ms. Starr was involved in some sort of legal trouble in the past?)
: That’d be a sure cause of food poisoning! Scientifically speaking, of course.
: I mean, now you’re talking “Cough-up Queen”!
: (I thought she was just a lunch vendor, but now I’m not so sure…)

And the badge, of course.

: How about you? Do you think you can win?

: (A box of pickles…? Kind of a sad lunch if you ask me.)

Next time: Upstairs.

[morsrattus]

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 1) - Part 3

: This is the kind of room that just screams “I can do the job.”
: Quite a change from your office, really.
: Thanks.

: (A trophy? What, that shield?)
: It takes real nerve to display stuff like this.
: Whoever’s office this is, he must be a real stuck-up jerk!
: Mr. Phoenix Wright… You never tire of prying into other people’s business, do you?
: (That voice…!)

: Huh?
: Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!
: M-M-Mr. Edgeworth!
: …! You know him from somewhere?
: O-of course! I’m his
: biggest fan!
: My sister introduced us once, and…
: (Right… her sister was the Chief Prosecutor, after all.)
: Well? What brings you here?
: I’ll warn you… I’ve been known to be a real stuck-up jerk…
: N-no! Did I…? No! It was just, Mr. Wright here, he…
: Hey! Don’t blame me!
: W-we’re just here to investigate a murder case!
: Murder…?
: A body was found in this nasty, bright red sports car in the parking lot…
: Hmm?

: Whaaaaaaaaaaaa!?
: Y-y-y-your car!?
: (I’ll say one thing, she certainly can scream.)

And now, we get the chance to poke all around Edgeworth’s office.

: Wow! This jacket is even lacier than his usual ones!
: This must be his lucky trial jacket!
: Lucky jacket, right… I’ve never seen him wear it.
: I’m sure there’s a story behind why it’s in a frame!
: Maybe I’ll be naughty…
: and take a picture!
: (She’s getting way too excited about this.)

: It has a big “K” on it.
: mumbles of Prosecutors…
: Huh? What’s that?
: It’s the “King of Prosecutors” trophy.
: K-K-K…
: “King of Prosecutors”!?
: It’s a great honor. They send that shield to the best prosecutor each year.
: What! So?
: So that “K”… that’s…
: “K” stands for “King”?
: Yeah, you got a problem with that?
: I didn’t design the thing!
: “King of Prosecutors”…
: Kind of like “Employee of the Month,” only better!

Nothing to talk about on the object itself, however.

: Mr. Edgeworth has such a comfy sofa!
: Sofas like this make me want to curl up and take a nap.
: I bet he pours over his case files here until the wee hours of the morning… Then he takes off his jacket, rolls up his sleeves…
: And goes to sleep using his arms as a pillow!
: (I don’t believe it. She’s actually daydreaming about Edgeworth working…)
: I bet in the morning he has sofa hair, and little creases in his cheek from the seams!
: He’s so cool!
: Sofa-hair is cool!?

: A work desk. It’s quite tidy, as one might expect.
: What a nice desk! Easy to use, and easy on the eyes!
: It’s polished so well I can see my own reflection.

: (Strange… Why did I just picture Detective Gumshoe?)
: Maybe I’ll take that name plaque as a souvenir.
: Don’t. He’ll sue you.

: My, my, my! What an amazing bouquet! Just right for Mr. Edgeworth.
: No kidding. Hey, there’s a card on it… “Back from the Dead – Wendy” (“Wendy?” … I’ve heard that name somewhere before.)
: And beside it…
: A giant Steel Samurai!
: Wow, I want one!
: Huh? There’s something written on the bottom of his foot. “Between a rock and a hard place – Wendy”
: Wendy? Is she Mr. Edgeworth’s fiancee?

: Um… I don’t think so.

: Whoa!
: What a view! It must be nice to have an office on the 12th floor.
: I guess you would feel… important.
: Incidentally…
: Were you to jump out this window, the time until impact with the ground would be…
: …
: Got it!
: Approximately 3.23 seconds!
: (That’s handy to know…)

: Oooh! Cute! What a pretty tea set!
: I go more for the instant tea bags myself.
: Amazing! The drawer below is filled with packets of tea leaves!
: They’re all sorted by place of origin and flavor!
: Look at this Royal blend! What an exquisitely splended concoction!
: (There’s such a thing as taking a hobby too far…)

: Whoa! These are all case files!?
: They’re stacked up to the ceiling! There’s even a ladder…
: Odd… I thought Edgeworth wasn’t good with heights.
: He must have someone get them for him.

: (Strange… Why did I just picture Detective Gumshoe?)
: He must study these case reports so closely…
: He’s so cool!
: You wouldn’t say that if you saw him sweating bullets up on that ladder.

: Hey, a chessboard!
: I’m not too up on my chess but it looks like Blue’s in a bit of a tight spot.
: The Red Knights have surrounded the Blue Pawn…
: Huh?
: Those horses are mounted knights. Their swords have really sharp “edges!” And check out that poor pawn, his head is kind of spiky… Kind of reminds me of you.
: Mr. Edgeworth must be an avid chess player!
: What’s wrong, Mr. Wright?
: (Edges… surrounding a pawn with spiky hair… Nah… It’s nothing.)

Now, to question Edgeworth.

: So, the body was found in your car?
: Go ahead, say it, Wright. You think I did it, don’t you?
: After you went through all that trouble to help me last year, no less.
: N-no, we don’t think you did it!

: Uh, wait, no, she didn’t do that! I mean…
: Wait…
: So you’re the Chief Prosecutor’s little sister, then?
: Y-yes, sir! Ema Skye!
: It, uh…
: It’s nice to meet you again!
: (Now that didn’t sound forced at all…)
: Ah, now I remember. You’ve… really grown.
: I’ll admit, it was a surprise to me, too.
: To think that my own car would become the scene of a murder.
: More surprising still… Now I’m forced to prove my superior’s guilt.
: I can understand… W-wait!.. What did you say!?
: Lana Skye is the Chief Prosecutor… the top prosecutor in the district.
: She can’t prosecute herself, so I’ll be the prosecutor at the trial tomorrow.
: You!?
: Mr. Edgeworth…

: To be honest…
: It’s a bit of a miracle I’m still here at all.
: What do you mean?
: Rumors. You’ve heard the rumors about me, haven’t you?

: Wh-what? That’s crazy!
: Hmph. Some people need very little excuse to think ill of others.
: It’s a fact of life. Impossible to stop.

: They think it’s funny.
: (Toys? That bronze shield? There’s got to be a story behind htat one…)

: It was my first big case.
: That’s right, I remember.
: (Two years ago… I wasn’t even a lawyer yet.)
: Since then, I always felt that she was looking out for me…
: It appears I was mistaken.
: M-mistaken!? Why?
: I mean, I know she’s not the warmest person…
: But I’m sure she felt some responsibility for you!
: Then… why?
: Why did she stab someone in the trunk of my car?

: Wha… Whaaaaaat!?
: Mr. Edgeworth! Your knife was the murder weapon!?
: To be specific, it was the knife kept in the toolbox in the trunk of my car.

: Um… Edgeworth?
: What?
: Are you sure you didn’t do it?
: …
: (C’mon, can’t he take a joke?)
: You have a strange sense of humor, Mr. Wright!

Examining the knife…

: Either that, or Edgeworth cut himself peeling an apple. What’s Edgeworth doing with a knife like this anyway?
: Hey! Maybe he spends his weekends roughing it in the wild!
: Edgeworth? In the wild? I think my fruit-peeling theory is more likely.
: Are you kidding? I always pictured him as an outdoorsman!
: (Now there’s a scary thought…)

Presenting the badge…

: What? You wanted to be a defense attorney, Mr. Edgeworth?
: Yet, my path is laid out clearly before me…
: I have no time to reflect on what might have been.

Presenting the trophy…

: I lost a day of work to receive that travesty.
: Huh? Why’s that?
: I had to go to the Police Department ceremony to receive that broken shield.
: The Police Department?
: Yes. Right next to the Police Station downtown. You’ve been there, correct?

: What does it matter?
: I’ve got more important things to worry about.
: Oh. Right…
: (He doesn’t seem too concerned about his award, for better or for worse.)
: Yesterday was a very busy day for the Prosecutor’s Office.
: Maybe… we should ask him more about yesterday?

Presenting the ID card…

: M-Mr. Wright!
: Huh? What?
: Are you sure you should be showing that to Mr. Edgeworth?
: Oh. (He’ll take it for sure, won’t he.)
: sigh I wish I could be on the same side as Mr. Edgeworth…
: But then my sister would be found guilty!
: (If she sighs any deeper I’m going to start getting depressed…)

And now we have a new topic.

: Could you tell me more about yesterday… the day of the murder?
: Yesterday was the annual cleaning day at the Prosecutor’s Office.
: Cleaning day?
: Working with the Police Department, we sort and file all evidence for solved cases. We call it “evidence transferal.”
: Wiping your hands of old cases, in other words.
: Oh, and another thing…
: A ceremony was held at the Police Department. There’s an annual review and awards for outstanding police officers and prosecutors.

: I was at the police department yesterday afternoon… I got back here at 5:12.
: That’s… very precise.
: People like myself and Mr. Edgeworth pride ourselves on our precision, Mr. Wright.
: No, I place little faith in my memory.

: This is the parking stub from the underground lot.
: (The murder took place around 5:15…)
: So the murder happened right after you got back.
: What, Wright?

: Um…!

: I’m Edgeworth. What is it?
: I’m here, sir, at the request of the Chief, sir! I’ve got your report, sir!
: Report? What? Did you find new evidence in the case against Chief Prosecutor Skye!?

: (I don’t like the way this conversation is going at all…)

: No name of that kind, sir! Not in this report, sir!
: …!
: (I think I just heard Edgeworth’s lid blow.)
: Mr. Edgeworth’s lid isn’t on very tight, is it?
: I made a clear request to the Police Department, did I not? I need to focus on the trial tomorrow, so don’t bring me anything unrelated!

: Sir! But, but sir!

: I wasn’t aware of the particulars of your arrangement with us, sir!
: Give me your name!
: U-uh, yes… yes, Sir! M-M-Meekins, sir. Officer Meekins!
: Right. Officer Meekins?
: Take your report and leave. And good luck with that raise next month.

: (Poor guy. Looks like he was absent on the day they gave out brains and good luck.)
: Wright.
: Y-yes, sir!? (Gah! He caught me off guard!)
: As you can see, I’m busy.
: You may leave now.
: L-let’s do what he says, Mr. Wright!
: The victim was a detective from the same department as that patrolman just now. Go down to the Police Department.
: You can ask more there.
: U-uh… Thanks. (He seems to have finally calmed down at least.)

Examining the parking stub…

: This is dated the day of the crime.
: The murder took place three minutes after Edgeworth parked his car. If only he was held up at a couple extra red lights…
: he wouldn’t have been caught up in this whole affair.
: Perhaps…
: It just goes to show you never know what’ll happen when you run a yellow light!

Next time: Cops.

[morsrattus]

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 1) - Part 4

Since we have to pass through here anyway on our way to our next destination, a brief stop to present the ID card to Angel, which I forgot to do earlier.

: …
: Lunchland vendors only accept cash. No cards.
: Especially not a card belonging to someone else!
: No, no, this isn’t a credit card. It’s an ID card. It belongs to a detective…
: And you’re showing this to me, the lunch lady, why?
: That’s like showing a fine honeyed ham to a detective!
: (Why do I always feel like I’m being mocked?)

Anyway, to the police department.

: Whew…
: We’re finally here.
: Why would they put the detectives so far away from the Prosecutor’s Office?
: That took almost 30 minutes by taxi… and traffic wasn’t even that bad. This is my first time to the Police Department, actually.

Something flashes.

: ?

: They’re trying to make him the police mascot.

: Forget the Blue Badger! Who’s that next to him!?
: Someone appears to be… dancing with the Blue Badger… Uh oh. He noticed me.
: He sure is running over here fast…
: H-h-h-hey, pal! W-w-w-what’re you doin’ here!?
: That’s my line, Detective Gumshoe. Specifically, why were you dancing over there?
: What!? Um, well…
: (Well, at least he doesn’t seem to be busy. This is our chance to get information!)
: Hey! I’ll have you know I’m a very busy man, pal.

But before we ask Gumshoe anything, let’s stare at the scenery for a while.

: I always get excited when I come to the police station.
: Why is that?
: It just feels like I’ve jumped into a movie.
: Huh?
: You know, with all the police and criminals.
: W-well, I don’t know if this is all that exciting.
: Sure it is! Look at those two officers over there.
: They’re probably talking about the latest bust!
: … Funny, I thought they were talking about the weather.

: The detectives in there look pretty busy.
: Just imagine! Right now… Behind those doors…!
: A police drama in action!
: … (Somehow, the thought fails to excite me…)

: What? The Dancing Blue Badger?
: It’s my masterpiece!

: Poor Blue Badger… fated to dance until he drops.

(Sadly, the check is just the Blue Badger unmoving.)

: Look, that patrolman is saluting the other guy. He must be a detective!
: And then I said “hey, you do that, your soup will get cold, buddy.”
: Th-That’s hilarious, sir! I laughed so hard I cried!
: …
: I guess he wasn’t saluting, he was wiping tears from his eyes.
: They make a good pair.

: Mr. Wright! Do you know why patrol cars are painted black and white?
: No idea. Why?
: Well, I think they’re designed after a panda!
: A panda…?
: Not that I have scientific proof. It’s just a theory.
: Um… do you mind me asking how you came up with that theory?
: It was when I was on a school trip! I saw a patrol car and it came to me!
: We had just been at the zoo, see…
: … What about zebras? Or did they not have those at your zoo?

: The banner here is announcing the “Crime Fighting Campaign.”
: Nice slogan…
: I wonder if they’ll be selling fingerptinting sets.
: I don’t think it’s that kind of campaign.
: What family wouldn’t want a set at home?
: It’s good for finding out who snuck into the cookie jar.
: I think most families can figure that out without the extra help.

: The usual wanted posters are hanging up on the bulletin board here. <<Do you know this face!? If you do, dial 911!>>
: You know, Mr. Wright, I’ve always thought it was kind of funny… I’ve never seen anyone who looked like the people in these posters.
: They hardly even look human!
: … (She has a point…)

Now we can pester Gumshoe.

: I’ll give you one word of advice, pal.
: You’d better not agree to defend the suspect in this case.
: Wh… Why not?
: Huh?
: Well… It’s just that the Chief Prosecutor has confessed to the crime.

: But, what if she’s not telling the truth!?
: Yes, well… no! C’mon, pal!
: There’s plenty of evidence against her!
: B-but what if the evidence was faked?
: Hey, pal.
: Can I speak to you for a second?
: Huh? Me?
: Why is this little girl so peeved at me?

: Whoa!!! The Chief Prosecutor’s little sister!?
: Just, please investigate this case carefully, okay?
: Scientifically!
: Yessir!
: Oh, by the way.
: You might want to keep your voices down.
: You don’t want to be overheard using words like “faked”…
: Huh?
: It’s just… it’s a sensitive issue with us these days.

: So… what are you doing here, Detective Gumshoe?
: Me? Oh, well… nothing, really.
: They kicked me out of Criminal Affairs…
: Detective Gumshoe! What did you do this time?
: Whaddya mean, “this time”!?
: Then, what happened? I know things are busy right now… I mean…
: with my sister’s case and all…
: It’s true. We’ve never had a Chief Prosecutor murder anyone before!
: Only the highest-ranked people are being let into Criminal Affairs now… The lowest ranking guy in there is our chief of detectives.
: They’re not letting any of us rank-and-file detectives in at all.
: None of you?
: (I know this is an important trial, but isn’t that a little odd?)

: Um… Isn’t there anything else you could be doing?
: The Chief of Police himself is directing the investigation, pal.

: Officer Marshall…
: (Now that I think about it, Ema did seem to know that Marshall guy.)
: A patrolman in charge of a crime scene…
: It’s unheard of, pal!

Now, presenting the badge.

: You show this to me every time we meet, pal.
: Real men show their police badge. 'Nuff said!
: I wish had a badge… Even an ID card would be nice…

Their typo, there.

: (Wait… Speaking of ID cards, I found that detective’s card, didn’t I…?)

So we present that.

: Huh? Hey, pal! This is a detective’s ID card!
: You can’t just keep that! You have to turn it in to the police!
: It’s people like you that get me into so much trouble all the time!
: (Meaning Detective Gumshoe must drop his card a lot.)
: Hmm… let’s see… “Bruce Goodman”…
: Goodman… Sounds familiar…
: …
: Nah, my mistake.
: But, don’t you work together with him in Criminal Affairs?
: Whoa!!! Now I remember! Bruce Goodman!
: He’s the victim!
: (That’s what I thought…)
: Can you tell us more, Detective Gumshoe?

: He was a detective, like myself.
: Detective Bruce Goodman.
: Hmm… Don’t you think it’s strange?

: There was an evidence transferal for a case he handled two years ago.
: Evidence transferal… Mr. Edgeworth mentioned that too.
: But… Detective Goodman was killed at the Prosecutor’s Office…
: Well, that’s the thing…
: It’s hard to say this, but…

: (And Lana’s confessing as much…)

It was at this point I remembered I hadn’t shown profiles.

Anyway, back to Gumshoe. We present the parking slip.

: What would drive Chief Prosecutor Skye to do such a thing?
: …
: W-wait, I didn’t mean…
: I mean, sure, of course someone else really did it!
: Someone who must have, um…
: Someone who must have a grudge against Mr. Edgeworth!
: (The car and the knife do seem a little too well-organized to be a coincidence.)
: Poor Mr. Edgeworth… What could have happened?
: (We have to find out a little more about what’s going on with Edgeworth…)

Speaking of which, I forgot to examine the trophy more closely. On the bottom…

: Hm. It looks like the names of all the previous recipients are engraved on it.
: Wow. One guy’s listed a bunch of times! “von Karma”… I guess he must be a foreigner?
: Uh, yeah. That’s probably it.
: Well wherever he’s from, he must have been an amazing prosecutor!
: I’d like to meet this Mr. “von Karma” sometime!
: (When she says it, his name does have kind of a ring to it…)

We present the trophy.

: That’s the “King of Prosecutors” award that Mr. Edgeworth got yesterday!
: Were you at the awards ceremony, Detective Gumshoe?
: Of course, pal! I got an award for diligence, myself.
: Ah… congratulations.
: I was wondering, why is the award a shield?
: And… why is it broken?
: Oh, there’s a reason.
: Um…
: I’ll tell you what it is later.
: (Apparently, he’s forgotten.)
: But, I was proud of Mr. Edgeworth for winning that award.
: He’s even got naysayers in the Prosecutor’s Office.
: (Yeah, we’ve heard about the rumors…)

: He’s in a tough spot, again…
: “Again”…?

: But Edgeworth was found innocent!
: Listen, pal, there have always been rumors about Edgeworth. Forging evidence, making deals with witnesses… Nothing outright, but there were always whispered rumors.
: Ever since he was accused of murder, no one’s whispering. They’re practically shouting!
: But… but there’s no evidence against him!
: Well, Mr. Edgeworth has always had unusually strong ties to the department higher-ups.
: It’s only natural that people would be suspicious.
: (I had no idea he was under the gun…)
: Anyway, this latest case has started a new rumor.
: People say the only reason he took this case… is because he’s aiming for the Chief Prosecutor position himself!
: W-what!?
: But I know the truth, pal! Nobody wants to be the one who has to prosecute the chief prosecutor!
: Mr. Edgeworth is biting the bullet on this one! He’s doing this for all of us! …
: And that’s all I know about that.
: I’m not officially on the case, you know.
: Thank you!
: Why aren’t you handling the case, Detective Gumshoe? We met the guy who is… what was his name? The guy in the parking lot…
: That’d be Officer Marshall.
: He was appointed directly by the Chief of Police…
: Officer Marshall… Is he some kind of Wild West sheriff or something?
: No, Jake Marshall’s just a regular officer…
: From West LA.
: For a moment there, I wasn’t sure.
: Look, pal, let me try to make things a little easier for you.

: (I’ll be surprised if this gets us anywhere…)
: Just act like you’re supposed to be there, and nobody will look at you twice, pal!

: Maybe it was a letter or something to Detective Gumshoe.
: Let’s see…
: “Annual bonus: $20.”
: Um… I think a couple zeros are missing.
: No, that sounds about right. (At least in that detective’s case…)
: … Maybe I should rethink my career as an investigator.

Next time: The crime scene, at last.

[morsrattus]

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 1) - Part 5

: (Looks like the investigation is still going…)
: I have to be getting back to the shop…
: Sorry… Looks like I’ll be stuck in this pit 'til the sun sleeps.
: I’ll see you in my dreams tonight, then, baby.

: Ah, h-hello.
: Why the surprised looks? Didn’t I mention…?
: I’ve got a boyfriend in Criminal Affairs, too.
: (What happened to the security guard!?)

She leaves.

: Hey! What’s wrong, bambina?

: (Jake Marshall… Strange guy to put in charge of a crime scene.)

Now we can chat Marshall up.

: There’s something I wanted to ask you!
: The scene of the crime… a cold grave for men who’ve lost their dreams… And me? I watch over them as they sleep… dreaming of the desert’s harsh judgment.
: …
: He’s asleep.
: Well… should we show this hopeless case something to catch his interest?

It doesn’t matter what we ask - that’s all we get until we present the letter.

: What’s this? I warn you, fan letters to me go right in the spittoon!
: It’s a letter of introduction from Detective Gumshoe. May we investigate?
: Gumshoe…? Ah, that old cowdog?

: Huh?
: Look, where it should say letter of “introduction”… It says “invitation.”
: Ah… I think he just miswrote it. (Great, Detective Gumshoe. I owe you one…)
: No worries. This proves it’s from Detective Gumshoe, better than a blood test.
: Guess I’d better let you in, then.
: Th-thank you, Officer Marshall!
: (Officer Marshall isn’t a “detective”… he’s a “patrolman”… That reminds me of something…)
: That is odd!
: Isn’t a crime scene supposed to be handled by a detective or higher?
: Well, folks. The clues are calling! Welcome to our gold strike. Be like the settler! Strike out for lands unknown! Manifest Destiny!
: Let’s have a hootenanny!
: Note to self: police investigations are like settling land.
: Well, Mr. Wright, what do you say!?

So Nick tosses it out. Now we can examine the crime scene.

: “A Block”… This area is reserved for prosecutors.
: Defense attorneys are relegated to “B Block.”
: I dream of the day when I will be able to park my car here!
: I’ll go over to B Block to buy my hamburgers from you, Mr. Wright.
: I’m not planning on giving up my job that soon…

: Look! Something’s written on it!

: There’s a name printed on the paper above that… “Goodman.”
: (Maybe it fell out of his pocket when he was killed.)

: How am I supposed to know?
: Note to self: for deductive reasoning, go to Edgeworth, not Wright.
: (I’m sure Edgeworth wouldn’t know what this means either.)

This only shows the image above. Can’t move it around.

: This appears to be the car where the body was found. (It looks like the lock on the trunk is busted.)

: The body was found in the trunk of my subordinate’s car.

: Yeah. Prosecutors get the big bucks.

: Scientific analysis would suggest this belonged to the victim!
: I can’t think of anyone else it could belong to…

: (Right! Let’s check it out.)

The game automatically jumps us to investigating it.

: Redial…?
: Um,
: Mr. Wright? Most phones keep a record of all the calls you’ve made and received. You just press the blue button to dial the last number you called.
: Convenient, isn’t it? I’m surprised you didn’t know about it.
: Sorry to disappoint you, but even I know about things like “redial.”
: Huh? Oh, I’m sorry! It’s just, you never know with people from your generation.
: (Whatever… let’s check this phone out.)

: What’s wrong with it? Everyone has different tastes, you know.
: Here, check out mine. It’s a Pink Princess strap!
: These are hard to come by, you know.
: (I see he’s as popular as ever with the kids…)

: Note to self: a defense attorney doesn’t think first, he just pushes the button.

: Hey! That song! I know that!

: Ah! Oh, s-sorry.
: I see you, pardner!

: Uh, well, yeah…
: Whose phone is this, anyway? It was on the ground over there…

: What? It’s my sister’s!?
: She apparently dropped it when she was taken into custody, right after the crime. Look… the last call was made right when the murder occurred! Looks like she was fixing to call someone.
: Except she only spoke for a few seconds, according to this.
: Who did she call!?
: No idea.
: Sorry, pardner. Now, I got a question for you, pardner.
: I heard a phone ring just now… one of those new-fangled ring-tunes.

: Your phone!?
: Yeah, uh, it’s kind of strange, but… Someone called me right as we picked up the other phone, a wrong number…
: … I hope you’re not lying…
: They shoot you for that in Texas, pardner!
: (Uh oh, I’ve incited the wrath of the Lone Star patrolman…)

Back to looking around.

: This rope… is it…?
: Yep. They laid it in the outline of the victim’s body.
: …
: So wait…
: The victim must have died when the killer closed the trunk on him!
: … (You have got to be the only person I know that would come to that conclusion.)

Now, let’s talk to Marshall. We present the badge.

: A beam of light, illuminating evildoers who come in the dark of night!
: Note to self: evildoers are weak against starlight.
: (Hey, that’s a sheriff’s badge!)

: Officer Marshall? Could you tell us more about the victim?

: Good men always die young. Remember that, pardner.
: Um… could you be a little more specific?

: Detective Goodman was stabbed here at 5:15…
: The smiling Madonna told me the tale…

: One stab to the chest. A fine piece of work.

: Was my sister involved with the victim in any way?
: Funny you should mention that, bambina. Chief Prosecutor Skye and Detective Goodman…
: had nothing in common at all.
: Nothing in common…?
: They apparently worked together on a case a few years back.
: (So… there’s no motive!)
: Goodman wasn’t a particularly gifted detective.

: But, my sister called the victim here on the day of the murder, right?
: Here… to this parking lot?
: So it seems. Like calling an unarmed man to a shootout at high noon.

: Um, I don’t mean any offense, but… Officer Marshall, you’re a patrolman, right? Not a detective.
: You callin’ me out? They shoot you for that in Texas.
: Huh?
: I was one of them fancy-shoed “Detectives” till two years ago, to tell ya the truth.
: Oh, really? (Now he tells me!)
: But, you’re a patrolman now. So how can you be in charge of a crime scene?
: Nothing gets by you, does it, bambina?
: So, why are you in charge?
: No reason. We’re just short on hands right now. I’m keeping an eye out in the meantime.
: That’s odd, though.

: He’s nothing but a sad ol’ cowdog, that can’t find his tail.
: Maybe it’s because he runs with that Edgeworth, eh?
: Edgeworth…?
: That cowdog’s been kicked out of this cattle run… by order of the Chief of Police.

: (Detective Gumshoe, kicked out of the investigation!?)

: So, there’s no connection between Detective Goodman and my sister!
: That’s correct, but… There’s a goldmine of evidence against her…
: …!
: And the prospector tomorrow is none other than Edgeworth himself… I’m afraid your sister’s fate is decided, bambina. Many condolences.
: Officer Marshall!
: Yeah, bambina?
: H-how can you say that! You and my sister,
: you were…
: (Is there something between this cop and her sister that I don’t know about?)
: …!
: I apologize, bambina. Something must have gotten to me.

: (Dry wind or ill will, someone’s up to something here… but who?)

: Suspicions about Mr. Edgeworth have been flying around for nearly two years now.
: Forged evidence… arranging testimonies, you name it.
: He was unbeatable because he did whatever it took to win.

: But rumors are just… rumors, aren’t they?
: These are prosecutors we’re talking about! Evidence is everything to them!
: If you follow the rumors about Edgeworth to their source, you find one person… But… they’re off limits. Untouchable, you might say.
: One person? Who?

: What!? My sister…?

: Edgeworth couldn’t rustle all those cattle by himself. Some people load their guns with bullets, some people load them with “deals.”
: What, you’re saying Edgeworth was making deals to win trials?
: “Where there’s gunshots, there’s bound to be bullets.” That’s what the old-timers say.
: There’s a big ol’ secret hidden around here somewhere. Everyone knows it.
: (Is that why Detective Gumshoe was taken off the case…? Did they target him because he was closest to Edgeworth?)
: So, well, how are we doing, Mr. Wright?
: I guess we’ve got some clues… We have an autopsy report, a note from the victim, and a cell phone…
: So… you think we’ll be okay?
: Well, the only thing still bothering me is that Lana is confessing to the crime. She says she did it!
: No problem!
: I can guarantee that she’s not the criminal.
: Oh, by the way, Ema?
: Yes?
: I know that song your phone plays when it rings…
: What…?

: It’s the Steel Samurai theme song, isn’t it? That popular TV show… for kids?
: …!

: it was yours. At 5:18, just after the murder took place…

: Your sister called you, didn’t she, Ema?
: I… I’m sorry!
: Can you tell me what you talked about?
: I… She hung up right away.
: I see…

And the cell phone is updated.

: (I’ve got a bad feeling about this… Like… maybe I still don’t know everything that went on here…)

Next time: Trial.

[morsrattus]

(just a little more filler)

[morsrattus]

(almost there)