DISCLAIMER: I claim no ownership over the Professor Layton series or it's plots or characters, whom belong to Level-5. However, Joshua Holmes. is, to an extent, original.
This is a work of fiction. Names, Places and Events are not intended to resemble those of real life, and any similarities are coincidence.

...

Breakdown

Chapter One: Hershel

"For the purposes of the tape, I, Prosecutor Joshua Holmes, have officially started the recording, and therefore the interview, of one Hershel Layton. Please, firstly, state your name, gender, age and occupation." Joshua, carefully observing the top hat donning man in front of him, mentally sighed. Why he started interviews like that, he had no idea, but… well, clarification.

Slowly, the person sat opposite him raised his head. "My name is Hershel Layton - Male, 37. I am a professor of archaeology at Gressenheller University." Layton slowly observed the room – it was a small, dark place, a single, black table, on the other side of which sat the tall, skinny figure of the Prosecutor – hair swept around, but not over, his left eye, and smallish cape left off to the side. His green eyes focused on the Professor ahead.

"Right, now that is all over – away with formality…" Layton looked slightly taken aback by the strange change in attitude. "…Heh. Apologies about that. Anyways, I do have to remain a little strict so – you are aware that this questioning is about the crimes of an individual called Clive Dove?" Hershel nodded – causing Joshua to grunt. "To clarify, the witness has nodded. Now, when I refer to any questions, I would like you not to allude to Incident 392T, due to the suspect's age at the time."

"…I understand." Joshua nodded appreciatively, as he slowly brought his training into play.

"Right. Now, firstly, how would you describe your relationship with the suspect?"

"… Acquaintance. I travelled with him and ultimately got involved with his… plot." Instantly, Joshua's senses came into play.

`A slight pause on `plot`, drop in tone, and a slight dip on the left eyelid… signs of discomfort…`

"Layton. Please develop on your involvement within said plot." Joshua was already dead set.

"I… was asked to visit an elaborate set up of an alternative London, wherein he had… abducted scientists in order to – construct a machine to destroy the city."
Already Joshua was quite clearly bored. "Layton! Cease this dull hesitation and speak properly."

"No need to be so rash. Whilst I agree, Clive should be able to get his release and atonement; I would like to know what you are pursuing."

"Clear and simple, Hershel. Why did Clive and Dimitri construct an entire replica of London?"

He had to admit, it was the first time he had pondered this question. It did seem a tad – extraneous, to build an entire fake city just for the porpoise of…

"Surely – Surely that's impossible…"

"Want to build a super weapon, kidnap a bunch of scientists. Do a small set in the future, perhaps, but… not that elaborate."

Layton was forced to admit – the entirety of London was a tad extreme, not to mention unnecessary. And even then, for Clive, the whole `Future London` thing wasn't even a valid point. "That was more to satisfy Dimitri's needs, though."
"Yes… but what if he was planning on simply destroying the `Future London`?"

"Hmm… It doesn't change the fact that he destroyed a whole city."

"And that is what I'm thinking – what if Dove didn't actually destroy London?"

Now this was getting absurd. But before Layton had chance to speak, Joshua stood up, and gestured towards the door, before brazenly marching through it.

"It's nice, this part of the department. Peaceful… oh, and I can do whatever I like with it. Layton had found himself walked over to the young prosecutor's office, which was more of a cubicle, and completely black. "Oh, don't act so confused. What was it that he said to you? Ah, yes, `Get Elightened!`" Layton flinched, knowing exactly who he was on about. Slowly, the lights in the room flickered on, showing a complex web of thoughts strung together by short bands of blue light, connected at the centre. In which, the solid orb of projected light was split into multiple smaller sections, slowly sliding over one another. "So, Layton – solve this for me. Please?" Slowly, Joshua swung a shard of black light over in his direction, with a rather… interesting problem on it.

You have three men standing in front of you. You know some things about each of them, to say the least. One is your sworn rival, whom you know would be a good leader, but you have the worst blood between you. Another is one who unintentionally wronged you, but would go along with anything.

Finally, the third you would trust with your life. But his presence would not bode well.

Whoever is alive in 180 seconds time is the ruler of a nation.

You have a sword. Use your imagination.

"Hmm? But this is…"

"It's not designed to be solvable, Layton. Think about it – who would you leave alive?" Quickly, he pulled up a small screen in front of him, coloured blood red. He initiated the designated program:

-Resolution-
+Questioning Begin+

"How is this conductive at all? I mean, it's not as if Clive were in this situation."

"The inverse is true, Layton. Clive had the position of Kingmaker. Let me change it slightly. Whom do you think the first person is?"

"Bill Hawks, obviously. I take it the third person is me then?"

"Naturally. However, How many people did he kill?"

Sharp Intake Of Breath. Provoker Found – "1 Of 3"

"Got that. Now, that is not a solution to the problem – so, why do you think he actually invited you?"

"He said that he almost wanted me to prevent his plan from completing."

"Which is true."

"Indeed. But wouldn't anyone say that?"

Stress Spike on 'Anyone`. Provoker: Standard of Criminals

"I suppose so. But, didn't he have a lot of reasons for that?"

Layton's mind flashed back to Hawk's scolding. "I wouldn't be so sure."

"So, in other words, the only reason he did this was really against Bill Hawks? No-one else?"

"In terms of London. He obviously figured the destruction of his time machine would be punishment enough…"

PROVOKE: "So, he made you the theoretical ruler?"
"
I… Suppose so…"

Solution Found

-Questioning End-

Joshua smiled grimly. "Well… I suppose that explains one or two things at least. You're free to go, Hershel." Taken aback at the harshness, and the use of his first name, Layton solemnly walked out, wondering where the stranger's mind was floating.

Chapter One END
(Please, tell me... what do you think I'm doing Right or Wrong?)