Rei Ryghts: Ace Attorney

The Dead Thief's Turnabout

By Derald Snyder

Post Trial Wrap-Up

August 18, 11:32 AM

Leanbox Army Base

Training Grounds

The defendant lobby had been too crowded with all of Adrian's fellow soldiers congratulating him, so Rei and Vert had stepped outside in order to get some air. A few minutes later, Peach came outside as well, running up to Rei and grabbing her in a bear hug.

"Thank you soooooo much!" The blonde cried out in joy. "I knew you could clear Adrian's name, I just knew it!"

"...hhhhhnnnnngggghhh!" was all Rei could get out as her face started to turn blue...

"Peashy, dear, you're suffocating the poor girl," Vert quickly pointed out.

"Huh? ...OH!" Peach finally took notice of Rei's lack of air, and promptly set her down, the lawyer taking in a deep breath of air. "S-sorry, Rei... guess I don't know my own strength sometimes."

"*gasp* Is OK," Rei grunted out. Once she had caught her breath, she stated, "But you know what the sad irony is? If Steve Hauser had waited just one more day, Klept O. Maniac would've been captured thanks to you and Adrian. He certainly wasn't escaping after that beating you gave him..."

"Yeah..." Peach looked down. "But if I hadn't done what I did, that guy wouldn't have been able to shoot him, either... I kinda feel like I'm partially responsible."

"Absolutely not," Vert disagreed. "Peach, you couldn't have known what Steve Hauser was planning. All he did was take advantage of the situation. You were just helping out your boyfriend, after all..."

"That's right," Rei nodded. "You did nothing wrong, as far as I'm concerned."

"You should listen to those two," said Adrian as he walked up, still in prison uniform but no longer cuffed. "You were just following your military instincts- trapping the enemy in a classic pincer movement. Don't be so hard on yourself."

"Oh, Adrian..." Peach turned to her boyfriend. "I'm so glad you'll be able to return to Army service, at least... But it's all over for me. Maybe I should have testified as myself instead of 'Sergeant DeRommer'..."

"Just be glad you avoided a dishonorable discharge," the petty officer pointed out.

"Yes, about that..." Vert spoke up. "I may not be able to reinstate you, Peach, seeing as you did break the rules... but I think I could give you something almost as good."

"W-what do you mean, Lady Vert?" Peashy turned back to the CPU.

"Well, see... I was thinking I might hire you as my personal bodyguard," Vert explained. "And I'm certain I can compensate you well enough to support both you and your mother..."

"What?! A-are you serious, Lady Vert?!" Adrian gasped in shock.

"No way! Y-you don't need protection, Lady Vert!" Peach protested. "You're more then capable of defending yourself! Y-you don't need me!"

"I never said I couldn't defend myself," the goddess countered, "However, my VIT, that is, my physical defense is rather low, and my HP is average at best. I may be fast enough to dodge attacks, certainly, but one solid hit and I'm reeling. You however, are more than capable of taking a hit with that armor of yours, so you can cover my weaknesses to an extent..."

"A fragile speedster and a mighty glacier," Rei nodded. "Sounds like a good combo to me..."

Peach bit her lip. "I still dunno..."

"Peach," Adrian turned his girlfriend to face him. "I think you've just been made an offer you can't refuse. I know many of my fellow soldiers would be chomping at the bit for a job like this..."

"...and just how many of those fellow soldiers are perverts?" Peashy retorted, looking Adrian in the eye. After a few seconds, however, she turned back to Vert. "...OK. I'll accept your offer, Lady Vert... but I have my conditions."

"Such as?" the goddess prodded.

"If I'm going to be your bodyguard, I'm going to take the job seriously. I don't wanna be your 'cuddle toy' or something, like the other you does with five-year-old me. I'm an adult, after all!"

"O-other her? Five year old...?" Adrian looked completely lost.

"Long story, Adrian. I'll explain later," Peach moaned as she rubbed her temples. "I barely understand it myself..."

"So you wish to be treated like an adult," Vert nodded. "That's fine with me, Peashy... no, Peach. I wasn't going to make you into a cuddle toy anyway. I can always dote on little Peashy when she comes to visit, after all..."

"Okay..." Peach agreed. "The only other thing is... could you maybe come with me when I go to tell Mom about this? I dunno if she'll believe me otherwise..."

"Certainly," the CPU smiled. "It's a deal. As for you, Rei..." She turned to the horned lawyer. "It doesn't seem fair for you to have done this case pro bono, so I'll make sure you're compensated for your work. And I won't take no for an answer."

Rei sighed, "W-well, if you insist, Lady Vert... b-but I'll only charge m-my usual fee. Th-that's fair, r-right?"

"So be it then," Vert assented. "Anyway, Adrian, while I hate to impose on you so soon after you've been cleared, but could you get changed back into your uniform and escort Rei back to the Basilicom for me?"

"Yes, ma'am," Adrian nodded. "But what are you going to do?"

"I have to have a word with someone," the Leanbox CPU stated, as she turned and walked off...

August 18, 12:03 PM

Leanbox Army Base

Commander-in-Chief's Office

"What do you mean you lost the case?!" the four-star general shouted into the phone. "...a sniper? But how could Lt. Ward have... wait, what? Rei Ryghts?! Are you serious, Colonel?" He paused for a moment. "What the hell was Lawson thinking, letting her-?" He was then interrupted by a knock at the door. "Who is it?!"

"Vert, the CPU."

The general's breath caught in his throat at this. "Uh... *ahem* Listen, Colonel, we'll have to continue this discussion later. Just know that I'm very upset with you!" With that, he hung up the phone. "Come in, Lady Vert..." The blonde goddess promptly entered, closing the door behind her. "So what can I do for you, ma'am?"

"I wanted to have a word with you," Vert began, "about your treatment of a certain petty officer..."

The man's eye twitched slightly. "Which petty officer?"

"Adrian-118," the busty CPU responded, "who was just acquitted of trumped-up charges of second-degree murder and use of excessive force."

"T-trumped up?" the general grunted. "What do you mean, 'trumped up'?"

"Do you think me a fool, commander-in-chief?" Vert stated sternly. "Adrian told me everything... about how you disdained his suggestions for improving the army... how you've passed him over for promotion several times... and most recently, assigning him an utterly incompetent lawyer to assure his conviction..."

"How did he know that- that I don't know what you're talking about?" the general tried to cover himself.

"So it *was* you..." Vert smiled radiantly. "Perhaps you and I need to have a talk about how you treat your subordinates..." Her voice seemed to carry a subtle, but threatening undertone, which caused the man's eyes to go wide as his upper lip trembled...

In that moment, he knew, he had mucked up.

And as anyone who knew Lady Vert was aware, you do *not* muck up in her presence...

*The End... or is it?*