Law & Order: Leanbox

ORDER, Part 4

by Derald Snyder

*At the local prison's visiting room...*

"It's game over, Major," Jared McCoy stated, as he and Rizzoli Isles sat across from Tom Peloton and his NPC lawyer, the former having had his military uniform swapped for prison garb. "We know that you conspired with Lowee druglords to ship Metroid into Leanbox under the guise of acquiring military ordnance. That's why Ms. Lisand targeted your unit."

"And as Lady Vert's representative, I feel the need to tell you that she is not happy at all with you right now," said Peashy as she leaned against the wall. "And neither am I, for that matter. Far as I'm concerned, Joe's blood is on your hands, Major..."

"Dammit, Peach," Tom sighed as he ran his hands through his short hair. "Nobody was supposed to get hurt- it was just a one-time deal..."

In response, Jared held up a photo of Joseph Starr's corpse. "I don't think your lieutenant would agree with you..."

"Is there an offer?" Peloton's lawyer cut in.

The prosecutor looked over at Peashy briefly, before returning his cold gaze to the major. "If he tells us who hired him to ship the drugs, and where the drugs are, I might be willing to take the manslaughter charge off the table." When he didn't get a response, he leaned forward. "Your military career is over, Major. But if you cooperate, you might still have a life after prison..."

Peloton heaved a heavy sigh as he clenched his hands and gritted his teeth briefly. Finally, he stared McCoy in the eye, a resigned look on his face. "You ever hear of Adam Scott? The Master Brain?"

"The Master Brain?" Rizzoli gasped. "Wasn't he like, middle-management for ASIC in Lowee a while back?"

"But when the Deity of Sin was defeated, he went underground," McCoy continued. "No-one ever found him... until now."

Major Tom nodded. "I saw him in Spartan Halo Bar a few weeks back. Recognized him from an old picture I'd seen on Gamindustri's Most Wanted TV show. When he left the bar, I followed him for a bit... but then, he suddenly turns around, calls me by name, and holds up 500,000 credits. I dunno how he found out I had money problems... but that's the Master Brain for you."

"You agreed to ship drugs for 500,000 credits?!" Peach spoke up in anger.

"Half a million now, plus a million more when the delivery was safely made," Peloton confessed.

"So Joe's life is worth a million and a half credits," the blonde growled in utter disgust. "I'm sure he'll appreciate that up in Celestia..."

"And what about that bounty hunter?!" Tom shot back. "She's the one who pulled the trigger!"

"And we intend to make her answer for it," Jared cut in. "But you created the circumstances that lead to Lt. Starr's death."

"But now's your chance to start atoning for it," Rizzoli pointed out. "Just tell us where Adam Scott and the drugs are..."

"...I don't know exactly where they went," the major admitted. "But I think I can point you in the right direction."

"How's that?" McCoy asked.

"Well, with as many boxes as we moved, there's only a few places in the immediate area where they could have been stored. And I know the area 'round the base like the back of my hand..."

McCoy then set down a pad of paper and a pen. "Write them down," he instructed, "and you had better hope we get lucky, or no deal." Peloton nodded as he took the pen and began to write...

ABANDONED WAREHOUSE

APRIL 8, 3:59 PM

Bennie, Peach, and several police in riot gear were gathered at the south entrance to the warehouse. The detective himself was outfitted with a protective vest, while Peashy was in full armor. "Hey, Eddie! You ready on your end?" Bennie spoke into the radio.

"Yeah, Mr.- uh, Bennie, We're ready over here," Eddie assented, himself dressed in a similiar vest as he and several police were crowded around the eastern entrance to the warehouse.

"You ready, Sergeant?'" Bennie spoke to Peach.

"I was born ready," the blonde punched a fist into her hand. "Let's do this!"

"Alright," Crisco nodded, before speaking into the radio, "On the count of three, everyone... 1,2,3!" With that, Peashy kicked the door open, while Eddie's team used a battering ram, before quickly swarming into the warehouse.

"Police! FREEZE!"

"Down on the ground! Get down!"

Most of the men inside were caught flat-footed by the ambush and promptly raised their hands in surrender. One tried to reach for a gun, only to get punched out by Peashy. Soon, all the criminals were laying on the ground with their hands spread.

"Well, that was easy..." the soldier muttered, before a flash caught her eye. "LOOK OUT!" she screamed as she tackled Crisco, gunshots ringing out, but thankfully the bullets deflected off her armor. Looking up, Peashy saw a man dressed in a cheap purple suit, with matching purple hair that was styled into a single point, and black eyes set into a wrinkled face with a pointed nose and chin. The blonde recognized him from the photo she'd been shown immediately... "SCOOOOOTTT!" she screamed in rage, charging at him...

The Master Brain's eyes went wide as he promptly did what any rational human would do when confronted with an angry suit of armor- run like hell. As he tried to escape he pointed his gun behind him, hoping the bullets would at least slow her down...

Only to get tackled in the side by Eddie Green, slamming into the wall and dropping his gun. Before Scott could recover his balance, the detective punched him hard in the face, then followed up with a knee to the groin, then another right hook, which sent the criminal sprawling to the ground, semi-conscious.

Peach slowed to a stop as she looked down at Adam Scott's prone form, then looked up at Eddie who was shaking his hand in mild pain. "Not bad, Green," she complimented. "You might have just redeemed yourself."

"Heh... thanks, Peach." Eddie couldn't help but grin, as Peach bent down and dragged Adam back to his feet.

"Hey, look what we found!" exclaimed Bennie as he walked up, holding a clear bag with several round green pills inside, which had three tiny red dots in their centers.

"That must be the Metroid," Eddie observed.

"Yeah, too bad you didn't take any of this before we showed up," the older detective snarked to Scott. "You mighta actually stood a chance..."

"How... did you find me...?" the criminal groaned as he was cuffed by Eddie.

"Word of advice, buster," Peashy stuck a finger in his face. "Next time, don't bribe a Leanbox Army officer into doing your dirty work! Take him away."

"Adam Scott, you're under arrest for illegal drug possession with intent to sell," Bennie stated as he and Green walked him out of the warehouse to the waiting police car. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney..."

*At the DA's office...*

"So you caught the bastard?" Blanc's voice crackled slightly over the holoscreen.

"Red-handed," Jared proclaimed. "Not to mention he tried to shoot Crisco. Good thing Sergeant Macintosh was there... You gonna request extradition?"

The CPU shook her head. "You can *have* that piece of shit for all I care... just make sure he doesn't weasel out on a technicality."

"I highly doubt it," Rizzoli spoke up. "His lawyer's already begging for a plea bargain."

"I might be inclined to take the death penalty off the table," McCoy said.

"As long as he never roams the streets again, fine by me. So what about Samantha?" Blanc inquired.

"Rei Ryghts refuses to deal," Rizzoili shrugged. "She says she's the type of lawyer that prefers to see trials through to the end..."

"Yeah, that sounds like her, all right..." the goddess smiled slightly. "Well, could I at least ask for you to go easy on her during sentencing, if she's convicted?"

The three lawyers exchanged glances. "We'll see what we can do," Allen Curmudgeon eventually responded.

Blanc nodded. "Guess that's the best I can hope for..." Suddenly there was a crash behind her, Mina Nishizawa's scolding voice being heard... "Ah, dammit... Sorry, I gotta go. RAM!" she yelled just before the call ended.

"...makes me glad I never had a younger sibling," McCoy quipped.

"I *was* the younger sibling," Rizzoli said. "But at least I grew up, eventually..."

"In any case, it's time to make Ms. Lisand face the music," stated Allen. "Make sure your closing statement's in order for tomorrow..."

*To be concluded...*