Bridge to the Turnabout (part 1)
It was the phone that woke him up and it was not necessary for him to look at the clock by the bed to know that it was the middle of the night.
Unfortunately, the phone was on his side of the bed.
In addition, it was more likely that the call would be for him.
"Miles, pick it up and tell them to get lost." His wife whispered. "Who would be mad enough to call at this time of the night?"
"…Edgeworth speaking." He muttered.
"Edgey!" the moment he heard that name and that voice, he considered hanging up. However, he did manage to control himself by realising that not even Larry would suddenly do this.
He heard a sigh from his wife and he could not blame her for doing so as Larry yelled so loud that his ears actually felt rather sore.
"What is it, Larry? Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"You need better friends, Miles." Gabrielle muttered in irritation.
"It is not Larry! It is Laurice! Laurice Deauxnim!" was the loud reply.
"…"
Upon hearing that, Edgeworth decided that he must have been too tired from all the work that he has been doing, because why else would he be having this nightmare? All he needed to do was to hang up and this nightmare would end.
Larry must have sensed his intention because the next thing that he heard was not something that he could just ignore.
Wright was in severe danger and according to Larry, he was actually fighting for his life. Even though Edgeworth was aware that one had to remember that the chance of Larry exaggerating was very high, he could not deny that these words must still be based on something.
"Tell me all about it." he ordered.
However, all that he got was a few more incoherent sentences, something about someone called Iris who needed help, with Larry being at the detention centre. At this, Edgeworth couldn't help but to wonder whether something had happened to Wright, which Larry was accused and arrested for.
What was clear was simple: it appeared that he was the only one who was able to do something about it.
He was going to immediately make arrangement for the flight back to America, but what has happened in the past did have an effect on him.
"Gabby, wake up." He said as he shook her.
"I am still awake…but I want to go back to sleep." She muttered.
Normally, he would not do this, but this was an urgent situation and he wanted to get the ticket or tickets booked as fast as he could. Therefore, he grabbed her and hoisted her up.
"What are you doing – " she began angrily, but stopped due to seeing his expression. "What is wrong?"
"Wright is in trouble so I am going to help him." he explained as briskly as he could. "Therefore, I am going to take the first flight to America, or even chart a plane if that is necessary."
"Of course you should go and help him! I'll start packing." Gabrielle said.
"Gabby…I would like to have you beside me. but I need you to explain to…" he began, but was stopped due to his wife giving him a quick kiss before she got out of bed in order to pack for him.
However, she first said this to him.
"Thank you for telling me first."
When Gabrielle arrived in America, it was night time and she thought that she should just get a taxi instead of ringing her husband.
It had been a year or so since she and Edgeworth left America and went to Europe. Even though they were always provided with very nice hotel rooms or lodgings, she did not feel that they had a home due to the constant moving about. However, she much prefer being with him instead of waiting for him in their home in America.
"…Gabby."
"Miles?"
It was him. He was sitting there with a pile of papers that he was going through, but upon seeing her, he immediately came up and took her hand.
"I didn't expect you to come." She said as she leant in against him. "Miles, what has happened with Nick?"
Like many woman, Gabrielle choose to change her last name upon her marriage. Therefore, it was no longer possible for Wright to continue calling her Miss Revien. However, there was something really weird about calling her Mrs Edgeworth. Therefore, she told him that he could call her by her first name. At this, Wright then said that she should do the same then.
At this, he was able to give her a description of all that had happened to Wright quite easily. However, he was forced to halt due to reaching the visit at the hospital. Rather, the very end.
"Gabby, what do you think Wright means by giving me this? His badge as a defence attorney?"
"Is it not easy? To me it is, so it must be for you too." Gabrielle said logically. "He wishes for you to defend this girl."
"I am a prosecutor, and I don't care if a paper badge can work. I will not do it!" Edgeworth said fiercely. "Even if the law system in this country has degraded to this state, I will not take part."
"Miles, what are you talking about?" Gabrielle muttered before she continued. "It is true that there are many defence attorneys and I am sure that you would not hesitate to hire the best for your friend, but I think it is because of this: you are the best, and it sees that Nick thinks so too."
"This is illegal and I am a prosecutor…I shouldn't even be talking about this." Edgeworth muttered. "I should just phone the best defence attorney and…"
However, if this was why then he should already have done this. The real reason that he was hesitating about what he should not be was quite simple: it was because he was tempted to do this.
If what happened did not happen…he would have been a defence attorney. It would just be like that ridiculous dream…
"But this is ridiculous!" he muttered out aloud. "It is not as if this single action can reverse time!"
"But I want you to know one thing, Miles." Gabrielle added as she kissed him despite his protest of other people seeing them. "That no matter what choice you decide on, I will support you."
However, he merely shook his head. Even though he did not say it, she knew what he meant.
"I don't need you to tell me that. I already know."
They have reached his car by now, but instead of putting her suitcase into the back of his car, he was actually looking at it a bit thoughtfully.
"Gabby, are you cold?" he asked. "If you are cold now, then you should put on a jacket, as we are going somewhere even colder."
"Are we going to that place where the case happened?" Gabrielle asked.
"I am not sure about whether I would actually defend Wright or not, but I know that I am going to help him. Therefore, I need to go to the case of crime and see what I can find. It is rather cold there."
"But Miles, will you really be alright driving?" she asked in concern. "Did you get enough sleep?"
After all, there were times when he would be sleeping in his office, and there was a time when he ended up sleeping in his study at home. When she lectured him about this, he would protest that she does the same on the sofa in their living room.
"But that is different. I am not in a room that is locked." She pointed out. "When you don't come out from there for a very long time, I would get worried."
"I slept on the airplane." He assured her.
Even though Gabrielle would like to help her husband, there was little that she could do. As a result, she ended up helping Sister Bikini in doing various tasks. An extra hand was appreciated because Iris was absent.
"Gabby…can I talk to you?" her husband had appeared and he seemed to be rather agitated about something.
"Of course." She assured him with a smile. "What is it?"
He seemed to be holding something in his hands, but she could not really tell what it was. However, this was not really important so she did not pay much attention to it.
"I…made a decision." He finally said after a long time. "And I am going to do it."
"You mean defending Iris?" she asked.
"Yes, I am going to get Franziska here and I know that she would play along, and I will arrange for a judge that does not really know me to be there. Therefore, I don't think I will get caught. Even if I do, it won't matter much." He was talking about the minor details of the trial that was not really important, but she did not interrupt him as she knew that this was how he was dealing with his decision.
"Wright helped me when almost everyone abandoned me so it is only fair that I help him." He continued. "And perhaps…and perhaps I do wonder what my life would be like if I am a defense attorney. So…"
Edgeworth felt his hand tightening against the magatama even more. Perhaps what he was doing was merely yet another uncharacteristic things, since there was already many on the list. However, it was rather foolish of him.
It was true that this magatama was able to let him tell whether someone was hiding something or not, it was not as if it was a lying detector.
"So…do you think this is the right choice?"
"I don't think it is the wrong choice, but whether it is right is different, isn't it?" she pointed out. "Because I don't think that you not doing this is wrong, since it is illegal."
She knew that Edgeworth had a habit of glaring at people, but she was not used to being on the receiving end of it.
"Miles, why are you glaring at me?" she asked.
"Am I? I was just…thinking. Thinking about all this." He muttered.
The reason that he was glaring was because he was making sure that he did not miss the locks.
"To be a defense attorney…do you think that my life would be very different if I still became one?" he continued.
"Yes and no, but I think the reason that you changed so much was due to what happened to your father, not because of your career. Besides, didn't you say that you realise it doesn't matter that much because whether you are a defense attorney or a prosecutor, your main task is to find out the truth."
Yes, he did say that.
"But I must admit, I would like to see tomorrow's trial. I do wonder whether you would conduct the trial in a different way. I am also rather curious at what it would be like if it is you that Franziska is facing."
At this, he grimaced slightly. Even though he was fond of Franziska since she was like a sister to him, as well as being confident of being able to handle her, he was not that unaffected by the fact that she would wield her whip. After all, he had been on the receiving end of it before. It was true that she was more lenient toward him, but that still did not mean that he could be immune to it."
"Do you think she is innocent?" Gabrielle asked. "This girl Iris?"
"I…" if it was Wright then he would say that the other was innocent, but this would be because Wright believed in his clients, just as he had once condemned all of them. "I think so."
"You think?"
"I do not have decisive evidence that she is innocent, but because she is my client, then I will believe in her. Besides, the truth would come out no matter what." He told her before he stood up. "Gabby, I need to go back and do some more investigation. The trial will be tomorrow, but I think it might be better if we stay here tonight, just in case there are some evidences that would turn up."
She thought that this was a good idea because despite him assuring her that he had enough sleep, she was still weary about him driving.
When he was gone, she was able to think about what his decision would mean. She was not lying- as the magatama really worked. However, she was a bit nervous at what this would mean. After all, being a defence attorney also represented the life that he would never have, and it would be yet another reminder about what happened to his father. Surely it was impossible for him to be completely immune.
However, Gabrielle needed not to have worry, as Edgeworth has clearly made his peace with that past which could never be. Even though he told her that he was glad at what he did today, it was because this made him realise his decision was right.
There was much to keep Gabrielle occupied as Sister Bikini was a rather talkative person despite all that has happened. Dinner time was actually not that gloomy due to both Larry and Gumshoe. However, judging by her husband's frown, she could tell that he actually preferred the opposite, as the noise was irritating him.
Well, it might have been due to the fact that he scored another admirer in Sister Bikini, who was declaring out to Gabrielle about what a nice young man her husband was, since he was someone that you can just trust.
Which resulted in her offering one of the acolyte's hoods to him and insisting him to wear it, since it was meant to bring protection.
Edgeworth was actually turning a bit pale and it was quite funny at how he could face tough criminals, yet get daunted by this old lady. However, the look he threw her translated to: "Help" and he would be more then a little mad if she would not answer it.
"Miles, I think you need to sleep now." Gabrielle announced as she stood up, creating the excuse that he need for his escape. "After all…tomorrow is a big day."
"Yes, of course." He said, grabbing the chance very eagerly. "I will do so now."
Unfortunately, he couldn't escape fast enough as he could still hear the praise of: "What a lovely and sweet young man."
"Gabby…don't pretend to cough. I know that you are laughing." He said dryly.
"Well, at least she is better then Wendy Oldbag." She said merrily as she began to prepare the bed. "But Miles, I do mean what I said. I think you should get some sleep now, as tomorrow is a big day."
"You actually don't say that very often." He realised.
There has been times when she adjusted his tie and then kissed him with a 'Good luck' but she was usually not worried like this, as she knew of his ability too well.
However, it was different this time as he would be a defense attorney.
"But I will be doing the very same thing." He realised. "I will be helping the truth to come out. It is just that I am in a different place."
Author's Note: it seems that my Ace Attorney story often have the same fate: like before, I had the first half typed but I then stopped as I got stuck. But recently, due to hearing about the new film I was reinspired to play the game again and I guess I got more ideas (although I was playing the second game). But I always love the third game due to how you get to play Edgeworth, and I do want to write it, but I then got stuck. However, recently, I just got idea for this story. As one can see, this is the first part, as the next chapter (Which I have no write, but will) will be dealing with the trial, and I might even mention the 'first trial'.
In regard to the hood, there was a scene where Edgeworth was made to wear it.
