Turnabout Degradation

June 18th, ???, 12:46 AM

"This world is a cold, cold place, isn't it? You'd know… Heh. Of course you know. All those nights eating nothing but instant noodles, wallowing in your own filth like some deprived animal… Are you particularly proud of your life, Detective?"

Detective Dick Gumshoe swallowed before his quivered lips opened to speak. He was interrupted.

"Silence. I didn't ask for your input. That question was rhetorical; Of course you're not proud of your life. How the hell could you be? She may be alive and well, but you lost your shot at true love with the woman you loved a long time ago... Like me. You have to see her every single day. Not wanting to lose her presence, but knowing she'd never be there for you anyway."

"S-Sir…" Gumshoe whimpered.

"I told you to shut up!" the other man hissed, punching the detective in the face. Gumshoes hands and legs were bound: Retaliation was impossibility.

"Now… Now they don't even need you anymore. They replaced you for that Skye woman a long time ago. She's young, ahead in life. Everything you're not. They just haven't realized that you're useless. And when they do… They will fire you without regret. I promise you that. You have been laid off plenty of times before: That Phoenix Wright guy was just there to save your sorry ass. Care to tell me where he is now, Gummy? Eh?!" The other man asked angrily as he grabbed Gumshoes head and shook it.

Detective Gumshoe had fought a muscle bound Phoenix Wright impersonator. He had fought off four men: All affiliated in the mob. But against the man standing above him glaring down, he didn't stand a chance. Not in a million years.

"Maggey Byrde. That's that Bettys name, isn't it? Aheheh. Silly girl. Always has bad luck. But…" The other man unsheathed two pistols out of sheaths on his belt. "I suppose it can always be worse…"

"You're… You're not…" Gumshoe objected weakly.

"Ooooh, Gummeee… Awe Yoo Cwiying…? STOP IT!!" The other man punched the detective again, in the nose. Blood was beginning to leak out of his nostrils. "It's too pitiful, even for you, for a man to be crying mere moments before his death… Are you going to be a coward to the end, Gumshoe? You shouldn't be. There's nothing in this world that's worth crying about once the cards are all on the table… But it's because you never took your chances that you never learned that. And because of that, your job, your back up plans, your love… They all slipped between your chubby fingers. It's your own damned fault."

"I…I may have been a loser, but… I had friends… that loved and trusted me…" Gumshoe said as firmly as he could. Despite himself, he couldn't prevent a few tears in his eyes from sorrow and fear.

The other man scoffed. "Pfft. As if I've never heard THAT one before. Now you're making me even sicker. I thought we were over this? Sure, you may have had friends, but it was because they felt sorry for you, Gummy. And, they aren't here to witness this spectacle. They never did a thing to prevent it. They aren't worth shit. Do you hear me, Gumshoe?...Good. Because you won't, very soon. Any last words?"

He cocked the two guns and raised one to Gumshoes forehead and the other to his chest.

"…You're wrong…" Gumshoe said, mustering all of his courage. "I had more of a life than you ever had, and ever will have… And, I'm happy…" he sniffed.

"Good. That makes two of us."

Two explosive bangs lit up the midnight air, and Detective Gumshoe lay dead. The killer blew the smoke off of his pistols and sheathed them before walking out the door.

"S'been fun. Aheh."

*******

June 19th, Wright Anything Agency, 1:32 PM

The air inside smelled of dust and coffee. It was cozy inside, and the window was letting in the daylight air: Lunchtime at the Wright Anything Agency. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, the air was warm, the sunlight pleasant: A perfect day.

"Hello, Mister Wright! I apologize for my tardiness…" Apollo said to Phoenix, with a smile on his face. Phoenix was on the phone, and judging by the amount of cord curled around his index finger, the issue he was discussing was a serious one. "I… I see. I'll… I'll see what I can do… Thank you. Good bye."

He hung up. His brow was furrowed, his eyes were serious. He seemed to completely disregard Apollo. "Oh my God…" Phoenix muttered as he slumped down on the couch, raising both of his hands to his hat wearing head in utter disbelief. "…Sir?" Apollo asked, worried.

"Apollo… I… I think I need to have some time alone. Why don't you take a break, have a nice walk… Or something." Apollo smiled weakly. "But I haven't even started working yet…" "Apollo, please." Phoenix said. He looked distraught, and worried out of his mind. "Um… O-Okay. Are you going to be alright, Mister Wright?" "Ugh, I'm not sure, Apollo… I'm not sure…" Phoenix muttered quietly, his voice trailing off into absolute silence. He shook his head.

Apollo was concerned for Phoenix's well being, but dismissed himself nonetheless.

He couldn't stop himself from worrying. It wasn't like his boss to let him have a walk to his own devices. Especially not when he was late for work. He saw a girl in a blue cape as he walked down the street. Paired with the matching blue top hat sitting on her head, her appearance was unmistakable: Trucy. She looked almost as stern as Mister Wright.

"He sent you out too, didn't he?" she asked stoically. Not her normal self at all. What was going on today? "Yes. Do you know what's going on?" Apollo asked, worried. "No…" Trucy said. Her blue eyes were colored with worry.

"Should we ask him?" Trucy asked. "He looked… in terrible shape when he hung up. I'm not sure that's a good idea." "I'm going to go talk to him…" "Trucy, no." Apollo said, grabbing the teenagers hand.

They held their hands embrace for a few subtle seconds that seemed like an eternity to both of them. Trucy was the one to break it. "No. If Daddy is in bad shape, I have to go." "…Alright. I'm coming with you." Apollo said.

They walked to the door of the Wright Anything Agency, and instead of opening the door they found it being opened for them. Phoenix walked out. He looked as serious as ever.

"Mister Wright?" Apollo asked. Phoenix cupped his face in his fingers and rubbed them down. "Daddy, what's wrong?" "I'm going to say this as simply as I can… An old friend of mine got killed last night by a gunman. They already have the suspect apprehended, and the prosecutor is set…" Phoenix said, staring into Apollos eyes. "It looks like you have another case on your hands, Mister Justice." Phoenix said.

"I see… Mister Wright, I'm so sorry." Apollo said. "I'll get over it… But he was a good man. He didn't hurt a soul…" Phoenix said, rubbing his eyes again. "The prosecutor is apparently a newcomer to these parts, but he's good: Really good. I've never heard of him before… Maybe you have, Apollo; You've done your homework. Have you ever heard of The Half Life Prosecutor?"

"No… No I haven't…" Apollo said. He didn't know what the prosecutor did to deserve the title of Half Life, and in a way, didn't want to find out.

"Well… Good luck. Here's the address. And here's the other address." Phoenix said, hanging him two slips of paper. "The other address?" Apollo asked. "Yes. There's one witness to the case… But, he was up close and personal, apparently. According to testimony, he encountered the suspect toe to toe. He requires Witness Protection. As it is right now, he's not safe alone. Which is why, you have to let him tag along with you for the time being." Phoenix said.

"You should go to the Detention Center first… Because not only is the victim an old friend of mine… So is the accused." Phoenix said. "Daddy, this is terrible…" Trucy said. "Yes… There's so many questions in need of answering… Which is why you two should get going. I need to think." Phoenix said. "Alright, Mister Wright. Take care…" Apollo said.

"C'mon, Trucy. We should head down to the Detention Center!" "Right behind you, Polly!"