~*~ Cosmos Space Center
Date: December 20, Time: 2:30 pm
Green

I followed Ponco into the Robotics Lab, and to say that I was surprised to see Apollo was an understatement.

"Mr. Terran! Miss Aura! I made a new friend!" Ponco spouted out but… that isn't Clay… that's Clay's jacket but it was Apollo wearing it. And I'm guessing Miss Aura is the one glaring at me.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" She was still glaring at me, and I felt as if I would melt under her stare.

"I was looking for Apollo." I had no reason to lie.

"You were looking for me?" Apollo was still surprised.

I nodded, "Athena, she…"

"Oh that? I know. She is now accused for the murder." It wasn't a surprise for him to know. But he said it with no problem.

"And you think it's her… Don't you?" He was getting surprised by everything I was saying. "That's why you had the eye patch."

"Your noticing is getting quite annoying." I saw the irritation on his face.

I nervously smiled. I observed the room with my eyes and saw something interesting. "Miss Aura, may I ask you a question? It's your choice if you want answer or not."

She thought about it. "What's your question?"

"What's your relationship with Miss Metis?" She was stunned then angry. I gulped.

"How dare you ask me a question like that?" She was clearly furious.

"I'm sorry if I have offended you in any way, but I noticed you have a picture of her on your desk over there." I hope the apology calms her down.

"We were just co-workers." It sounded cold but there were also warmth in her voice. I thought about it. It would be like how I would say that Apollo and I were just friends… then I noticed the implications… I get it.

"I see… Can I ask you another question? It's not going to be about you but someone else and not Miss Metis either." I needed to ask this before I could tell Apollo what I noticed. She was silent just like Prosecutor Blackquill. "Are you aware of Apollo's and Clay's relationship?"

I noticed Apollo had gone stiff and his hand was fisted. "You're crossing the line." I hate to see him like this but I had to endure for the moment.

"How can I cross it when you were the one who broke it?" He clenched his fist even harder all while looking away. I knew I got him. I knew he still values our friendship, but I just have to make it seem like there was none so I could get leverage over him. It was wrong of me to do this but I had a very good reason to. "So, Miss Aura, your answer?"

"Yes, I was aware of their relationship. And why do you need to know?"

"It's so that I could tell Apollo something." Apollo stared back up at me at the mention of his name. I smiled. He was taken aback. "It's nice to know Clay keeps justice in his heart."

At first Apollo was confused at what I said but the next moment he put his hand over Clay's jacket where the heart would be. He was surprised. There was a chest pocket, and in it was a familiar leather bracelet.

"I noticed it when Ponco confused you with Clay." I looked at him, and on his face was a soft smile. "I guess I'll be going now."

As I left the robotics lab and down the elevator, a robot attacked me. It was whirling its arms at me. It wasn't hurting me, but it was pushing me. It took me back up the elevator to the Space Museum, where, apparently, there were other people here too. Amongst the others I saw Trucy there.

"Trucy!"

She saw me and was happy. "Aquila! What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question." I laughed. "I don't actually know why I came here, but I guess I came here to get answers. What are we doing here?"

"I don't know but everyone here is scared about what's happening. It's like the robots are out of control." She seemed a bit scared herself.

The robots can't be, they're programmed a certain way which make revolts impossible. "I think someone's behind this." The one behind this stood out like a sore thumb. Aura came in and inspected us all. I had no idea why she would be doing this and now of all times. She got Trucy up to a screen and from the sound of it, she saw Mr. Wright. I guess he got worked up knowing his daughter was one of the hostage. Aura pulled Trucy away and demanded for Athena. I overheard their conversation, and it seemed like there was going to be a re-trial from a case seven years ago.

An hour passed, and the trial was going to be in the remnants of the courthouse bombing, Courtroom No. 4. I was annoyed that I couldn't be there to witness and take notes on the trial. The trial from seven years ago, UR-1, was about the murder of Metis Cykes, Athena's mother. (So Aura wanted more from Metis…) As the trial went on I went closer and closer to Aura and her monitor. By the time I noticed, I was next to her listening in on the trial. It appeared that she didn't mind, and it was odd that she didn't mind.

The trial ended with a third person, the phantom. Prosecutor Blackquill had his false charge lifted off, and Athena was innocent of murdering her mother. But Apollo shows up questioning Athena's innocence about Clay's murder. I was still angry that he would suspect Athena… that was until he confessed that he really truly wanted to believe Athena's innocent.

How could I be such a fool to even I doubted Apollo...? I even said it myself, he values his friendships… I felt horrible for leading off on him and being cold towards him. Me being an idiot was an understatement, I was a complete asshole.

But the trial was far from over. I continued to listen, and found out that Clay's killer was also the phantom. It wasn't strange that the same person was involved in both of the bombings from seven years ago and just the past couple days. Mr. Wright decided it down to Bobby Fulbright being the Phantom. The trial went into a recess to find the detective.

"Alright that's it you." She turned to me. "I never caught your name."

"Oh my name's Aquila nice to meet you Miss Aura."

"Yeah, yeah, just go to your beloved Apollo. I'm releasing you all."

"Well thanks and…" I looked off to the side, "I wouldn't call him my beloved plus how did you know?"

"Right when you saw him I knew. Hahaha. Just go before I change my mind." I better heed her warning. I guess I should get going to the courthouse.

~*~ Defendant Lobby No. 5
Date: December 20, Time: 5:10
Green

I got to the courthouse in tops time again. I got to the defendant lobby and saw Apollo looking sad. I tried to get closer, but I didn't want to be noticed. Athena had slapped Apollo, probably trying to get some sense in him. He took off his bandages on his and his eye patch. And when he did, he noticed me and grew sad again.

"Now what's wrong Apollo?" Athena asked.

He softly smiled. "You guys aren't the only one I upset..."

It was time to make my presence known. I walked up to them.

"Oh! Aquila… What took you so long to get here?" I guess I owe an explanation to them and especially to Mr. Wright.

"Sorry… after Athena got accused I went to find Apollo… at first I went to go convince him that Athena's innocent but… as I was talking to Ponco, I noticed that it was impossible to convince him without the proper approach."

"Wait… so you were at the Space Center? Is Trucy alright?" Mr. Wright was panicking again.

"She's alright. She said she'll come later." I saw he was filled with relief.

I looked at Apollo again. "We're still going to have to talk about this later." He was still sad. I wanted to cheer him up so I smiled, and then he became confused. "Come one, Apollo! This is no time to be sad!"

He was shocked while Athena and Mr. Wright also smiled. "That's right Apollo! We still have to catch Clay's killer!" Athena's chirpy voice added to my encouragement.

Apollo smiled. (There's that smile.) "You're right! Sorry guys! I'm Apollo Justice and I'm fine!" He was still smiling… I missed his smile, but then I felt guilty again… We were all smiling, we finally cornered the phantom and it was time to apprehend Metis' and Clay's killer.

The phantom was apprehended. Bobby Fulbright apparently died one year ago and the phantom stole his identity. The phantom was shot in court by a sniper since the courtroom ceiling was wide open due to the bombing. The reason he killed Clay was because he was protecting the one evidence that could cost him his life. When I heard of the reason for his death, I felt angry. I was angry because Clay shouldn't have died… I was also angry due to the actions of the phantom, he made Apollo turned his back on his friends. But I was glad that everything was finally over. For now at least.

~*~
A/N: Well, here is Chapter 11. Sorry for the wait. That's the end of Dual Destinies, but not the end of my story, so check back later to find out what happens between the two!