October 26, 9:45 AM
District Court - Defendant Lobby No. 3
"Geez, Athena, you look exhausted." Balthus said.
"Did you get any sleep last night?" Peni asked.
"Huh?! ...Oh, sleep! Sure, I slept!" Athena assured. "(For a grand total of zero hours.)"
Klavier soon appeared.
"Guten Morgen all. You look like you're ready to put on a real show. But before you do, I have a good luck gift for you. The voiceprint analysis came back, and the results couldn't be more clear. The voice in the mock trial video and the tape recording are one and the same." Klavier said.
"So it's fabricated then." 9S said as 153 updated the tape recorder in the Court Record.
"The lab is continuing their study of the tape. So far, they've found signs of overdubbing. But it's going to take a bit longer to recover the audio that was erased." Klaveier explained.
*thump*
"Who's there?!" Apollo asked as he was too late to see.
"Was someone spying on us?" Noel asked.
"Probably Hugh. He's a witness for Blackquill, so he could've been eavesdropping." Hope said.
"Oh, I'm sure he wasn't the only one just now. I bet Robin and Box Girl were listening in, too. I will make sure they don't make a run for it. That is my final gift to you." Klavier said.
"Okay, all that's left now is to reach out to the truth!" Athena said.
"Did she just make a reference?" Mari asked.
"I think she did." David said.
"I'm Athena Cykes…and I'm fine!" Athena said.
10:00 AM
District Court - Courtroom No. 4
The Judge soon banged his gavel. "We will now reconvene for the trial of Juniper Woods." he spoke.
"The Defense Team is ready, Your Honor." 9S said.
"There's no need to ask if the prosecution is ready. Isn't there, Prosecutor Blackquill?" the judge asked, Blackquill looking focused as always. "Well then, moving right along. Yesterday's adjournment was unexpected, yet necessary. But I'll be running a tight ship here today, so no funny business from anybody, understood?"
"Your baldness, Hugh O'Connor and Robin Newman have recanted their confessions. But later I will be grilling them to see if they can be tried for perjury." Blackquill said. "Also, the photo presented yesterday can no longer serve as sufficient evidence. Apparently the clock in there runs fast, a fact that detective failed to bring up. He is being punished for his blunder as we speak."
"I feel bad for Fulbright. Hopefully, he returns with all of his body parts intact." Sachiko said.
"Regardless of the late correction, the accused soley remains the only person who couldve moved the victims body from the art room to the stage. And i shall prove it this day." Blackquill said. "My understanding of this heinous crime is thus. The murder took place near the center of the art room, as evidenced by the bloodstain. Blood was also found on some pottery next to the window over the maintenance area. Which is to say the body was carried over to that very window. From there, it was dropped down to the maintenance area below. And though there was nary a scratch to the body aside from the fatal wound...that, too, was per the script. A high jump mat was employed to cushion the fall. Then, a ball cart was used to haul the body over to the stage."
"(All according to the mock trial's script.)" Peni thought.
"I will now call my first witness to the stand." Blackquill said, as Hugh arrived like he said.
"Well then, will the witness state his name and occupation?" the judge asked.
"Hugh O'Conner. Senior at Themis Legal Academy and studying in the lawyer course." Hugh said. "Yesterday, I told the lawyers over there that I would testify to the truth. So, I intend to cooperate fully in today's trial. Happy now, wannabes?"
"(We're gonna find out if you're really the killer or not, Hugh. You won't be so confident when we're done with you.)" Peni thought.
Witness Testimony: Hugh O'Conner
- What O'Conner Saw –
The Lecture Hall was packed before the mock trial, but the rest of the campus was empty.
That's when I saw Juniper dragging a large mat from behind the stage.
I was watching her from a vantage point between the stage and the maintenance area.
She was heading towards me, so I assume she was on her way to the maintenance area.
But I didn't have time to stand around and see what she did after that.
→ between the stage and the maintenance area ←
Present: Stage Set-Up Photos
OBJECTION!
"So, you saw the back of the stage from the between the stage and the maintenance area? Well, let's take a look at this photo taken by Ms. Scuttlebutt, shall we? This photo shows the students setting up the stage the day before the mock trial. Do you see the big construction screen to the right of the stage in the background here?" 9S asked as 153 uploaded the photos.
"Why, yes. In fact, there were a bunch of those next to my house until a few days ago, too. It was so noisy behind there, but I couldn't take a peek. Oh, how it piqued my interest!" The Judge said." the judge said.
"Exactly, Your Honor. You cannot see past such screens. That is their purpose." Crusadermon said. "Now, let's see... How exactly is that screen positioned again...? Ah hah! Since it was to the right of the stage, it should be right here. And from this vantage point...the witness claims to have seen our client behind the stage backdrop."
"Then, that means the screen would've been completely in the way!" The Judge said.
"Which means Mr. Perfect over there couldn't have seen our client from that point!" Peni said pointing at Hugh.
"Hrrrgh!" Hugh took a hit, resulting in him losing his grip on his bundle as it bonked him in the head.
"Seems like our little boy genius here made a mistake. Don't feel so down about it, man. It happens to the best of us." David said.
The Jury was abuzz before The Judge banged his gavel.
"Order! Order! Mr. O'Conner! Have you been lying to this court?!" The Judge asked.
"The screen... Right... It must have slipped my mind." Hugh said.
"You gonna say there are differences in memory lapses now? Don't make me laugh." David said.
"Grrr..." Hugh growled. "Well then… How about this? What if I told you I was watching Juniper from the stage side of the screen?"
"Nah, that wouldn't fly either. The back of the stage is not visible from the front. To actually see our client behind the stage from the stage side of the screen, you would also have to be in the same area behind the stage. But in that case, our client would have definitely seen you!" David said.
OBJECTION!
"Actually he could see it. See… he was able to rise…on high." Blackquill said.
"What is he…there's a crane in the picture." Peni said. "But how would he…"
"He wasn't in it for fun. He was working part time that day." Blackquill said.
"Oh come on, you promised." Hugh said.
"I remember making no such promises." Blackquill said.
"But…hold on. It would've been legally impossible for a high school student to operate a crane due to the apprenticeship period." David said.
"And last I checked, you have to be at least 20 to operate a crane." Peni said.
"Oh…that's easy to explain. Golden Boy here…he's 25. He took a 7 year school break." Blackquill pointed out.
"A 7 year break? That is definitely not normal. How did he get held back that much?" David asked.
"Well geniuses like me do make mistakes too. I just happened to make them…seven years in a row." Hugh said.
"(I'd like to take a validity check on that.)" David thought.
"Suffice to say, the witness was up in the crane when he saw the accused dragging the mat. The accused readied all she needed to move the body immediately prior to doing so. That much is clear. I see no need to deliberate the matter any further." Blackquill said.
"Unless the defense can dissuade this argument, of course." the Judge said.
"Well, what if Hugh wasn't on the job at the time?" Peni asked. "Crazy thought, but I think he was working the crane to move Professor Courte's body."
"That's impossible. Working a crane requires both hands." Hugh said. "Now, me personally, I can drive a crane with one hand. But operating one requires both, which was impossible for me at the time because of this."
Hugh then removed his right arm from his pocket to reveal a completely bandaged hand with a very sizable stain of red coming through it.
"Please tell me that's a ketchup stain." Athena said.
"Nope. Definitely blood. And a pretty nasty wound at that." David said.
"I got a pretty bad injury to my right hand and required surgery. It's the reason my hand was concealed in my pocket all this time." Hugh said. "I'd planned on moving the crane the night before the mock trial, but then I got injured. Wanting to keep my part-time job a secret, I had to do it just before the mock trial instead."
"Now that the defense's sophistry is laid bare, I would have the court recall my claim." Blackquill said.
"The body was dropped out of a third-floor window to a mat near the maintenance area. Then, a ball cart was used to move it to the stage. See? I've been paying attention!" the Judge said.
"Excellent, your baldness. Ergo, only the accused could have moved the body at the time!" Blackquill said.
"I think you were on the right track though, Peni." David said.
"He's right. Juniper remains the prime suspect if we assume the body was moved as per her script. So, we just have to figure out how else the body could've been moved." Crusadermon said.
"9S, any ideas?" Peni asked.
"Actually yeah, it was where we found that scrap of paper." 9S said as 153 presented the School Banner that had the bloodstain on it. "This is what was used to carry Ms. Courte's body to the stage!"
"A school banner?" The Judge asked.
"Ignorance doesn't suit you that well, Metal Man." Blackquill said.
"Say what you will, but the only ignorance I see is yours." 9S said. "The court will recall the wire on which the school banner was hung. That wire was strung between the art room and the stage...which allowed students to run or reel in the school banner from the art room. The body could've easily been lowered down to the stage via this wire!"
OBJECTION!
"Spare me your armchair theories. This wasn't some kind of high-wire act. The body surely would have fallen, yet there are no signs of blunt force trauma!" Blackquill mentioned.
OBJECTION!
"Oh but we did account for that." 9S said. "When we investigated the stage yesterday...the bottom part of the school banner had been tied into a pouch-like shape. And pouches are useful for carrying things. What do you think this one could have carried?!"
"W-Well, go on. Please explain!" The Judge said.
"The body was bundled into the pouch-like section of the banner and sent down the wire. The body would've been down on that stage in a flash! And there'd be no need for a mat!" 9S said.
"I've heard the phrase carrying the banner, but this is the other way around!" The Judge said.
OBJECTION!
"I've no patience for cheap parlor tricks. The defense's claims are as shaky as a corpse performing that high wire act." Blackquill said. "I trust you recall the bloodstains left on the art room pottery. If the wire had been used to move the body... it would have to be via the window above the quad - the one with the winch. However, the bloodstained pottery was next to the window above the maintenance area. Ergo, the wire and banner had naught at all to do with this case."
"Maybe the blood wasn't the victim's. There should've been a police check on that." Sachiko said.
"We did not, unfortunately. But seeing as how this could be important…" Blackquill signaled for a check, and it was done. After a bit, the results came back. "Ngh… it seems the blood from the bloodstained pottery was not from the victims. Rather, in comparison to the other parties, the blood itself belongs… to Hugh O'Conner."
"Hugh O'Conner? Wait a second… Didn't he say he suffered an injury before?" Sachiko asked.
"Yeah, and I bet it wasn't from construction." Peni said. "It was probably from being on the receiving end of Myriam's nasty surprise."
"Well observed, child." Blackquill said. "Anyone who would foolishly open Myriam Scuttlebutt's script envelope incorrectly would receive a horrible gash from a spring loaded blade. The blood on the blade is the witness's. Our genius here tried to sneak a peek at the wrong script and paid for his foolishness!"
"Yikes. That's nasty. Myriam wasn't kidding when she said it was a nasty surprise." David said.
"But, now that we know the blood isn't the victim's, we can definitely assert more that the body was moved with the wire and banner." Peni said.
"And you call yourselves lawyers. You forgot the glaring contradiction in your thinking." Hugh said. "It seems you've all forgotten the two statues that were onstage directly below the wire. A body sent sliding down that wire would've crashed into them. Care to explain that away?"
"He's right. The body would have collided with the statues… Wait, that's it!" David said. "There was a loud crashing sound we heard during the mock trial."
"In other words, the body was moved during the mock trial. Am I correct, Ishihara-dono?" Blackquill asked.
"No doubt about it. We were in the waiting room during the trial, some of us were even sleeping. But that crash woke us up, and that's when we headed for the stage." David said.
"Now that we know that the body was moved during the mock trial and not before… that really puts a wedge in the case." Peni said. "And Hugh was the one who said he saw the body before the Mock trial."
"Tell this court the truth, Mr. O'Conner." 9S said. "Did you, or did you not see the body?"
"Argh! L-Like I said before, uh... before the mock trial, the body was, you know…" Hugh trailed off.
"Hugh… The jig is up. You'll be saving a lot of face if you just admit the truth now." David said.
"Fine! I never saw the body, okay?" Hugh said.
"Are you sure about that? Lie to this court again and I'll charge you with perjury." The Judge warned.
"There was no body on that stage! I've been lying about that this whole time! I'm... I'm sorry." Hugh said as the Jury was abuzz once again before The Judge banged his gavel.
"Order! The base premise that the body was moved before the mock trial has been overturned. I imagine that this has an impact on both the defense and the prosecution's case." The Judge said.
"Now we know that the body was moved with via the means we proclaimed." Peni said.
"Don't get too excited just yet." Crusadermon said.
"Yes. It is an entirely different story now, since the body was moved in the midst of the mock trial." Blackquill said. "There is but one among our three student suspects who could have moved the body in that time. That being, the one in charge of the audio."
"Yeah… That was Juniper. Right back where we started." Sachiko said.
HOLD IT!
Before anyone else can say anything, Hugh suddenly started laughing. "Heh. Heh heh heh. Ha ha ha ha ha! Stop right there! All ears to me! It's time you heard about the rare genius of Hugh O'Conner! Listen and you will hear the secret behind my perfect crime!"
"Perfect Crime?!" everyone in the court practically said.
"The murder, the moving of the body, the cover up! It all sprung from my brilliant mind! Well, go ahead, arrest me! The real killer is right before you!" Hugh declared, actually biting on his bundle.
"Okay, I think it's official. This guy has completely lost it." David said.
"Alert: Hugh O'Connor is expressing unusually high amounts of happiness. He is deliberately forcing himself into a state of hysteria." 153 said.
"Why is he doing this? Is he that desperate to pin himself as the culprit?" Peni asked. "We'd better take a closer look at this through the Mood Matrix."
"It's against my better judgment, but you're right, Peni." Athena said, as she activated the mood matrix and recorded Hugh's testimony as he spoke.
"We got your back, Athena." 9S said, bringing up a holo screen.
You won't believe this, but I used a body double!
That wasn't the real me at the mock trial!
That means I didn't almost lose! My body double almost did!
I slipped out stealthily while my double took care of the trial.
I had the run of the campus. In short, I'm the killer. Juniper's innocent!
Probe: Juniper
GOT IT!
"He seems really happy about declaring that Juniper is innocent." 9S said. "Very different from what he said to us yesterday when we confronted him."
"So that means he really still does care for Juniper. He's trying to protect her in any way he can." Peni said. "So why is it you still think you don't care?"
"You know exactly what this is about. Athena told you about the class snitch being Juniper, didn't she? She reported a big secret of mine to Professor Courte." Hugh said. "She wanted nothing to do with me because I had disappointed her. That's why I don't care about her anymore. I was never trying to protect her. My confession was always about one thing and one thing only: the truth!"
OBJECTION!
"Mr. O'Conner, you felt great happiness in the fact that you might help set Ms. Woods free. So much that it overshadowed all of your other emotions." Athena said. "I can hear it clearly now, Mr. O'Conner - the discord you've been trying to suppress. People don't normally feel like you do when you confessed. We're all sure of it now, your feelings for Juniper are the real deal."
NOISE LEVEL
90%
HAPPINESS REMOVED
"Still a lot of noise. He's still hiding something." David said.
"But at least now, we can look for contradicting emotions. That way, we can get them out." Peni said. "Let's go back to his testimony now that the overflowing happiness is gone and continue to pick it apart."
"Got it. I'm updating the testimony now." Athena said.
You won't believe this, but I used a body double! - Happiness, Surprise
That wasn't the real me at the mock trial!- Happiness
That means I didn't almost lose! My body double almost did!
I slipped out stealthily while my double took care of the trial.- Happiness
I had the run of the campus. In short, I'm the killer. Juniper's innocent! - Happiness, Sadness
Pinpoint: No Happiness (3rd Statement)
GOT IT!
"You didn't almost lose, huh? When you said that, your trend of happiness stopped for a second there." Peni said.
"Argh, you just don't know when to give up!" Hugh said. "But now that i think about it, when I left the Lecture Hall... it was during Prof. Means's pre-trial speech. That's when I moved the body. I then slipped back in just before the verdict. Naturally, I wasn't happy when I saw my double about to lose. In any case, I was at the far end of the Lecture Hall behind the screen. I figured no one would see me if I came and went through the doors there."
"So that's your new story. Unfortunately, that does not line up with the Lecture Hall setup." Peni said.
"Yeah. The Balcony Seat was empty." Sachiko said.
"Professor Means was supposed to be giving his pre-trial speech before the mock trial. He was sitting right at the very left of the balcony. If you left the lecture hall during that time, he would have seen you!" Peni said.
"Gah! No! This can't be right!" Hugh said.
NOISE LEVEL
80%
"I've told lots of lies, but this part is true. No one was in the left balcony seat!" Hugh said. "I'll repeat this testimony as many times as it takes to show how I'm the real, ingenious killer!"
"Is this really working?" Peni asked. "Hugh's like a broken record right now."
"Testify once again, Hugh. And this time, don't spare any details." Crusadermon said.
The second floor was deserted! - Surprise
Why won't you believe me?! It's true, I tell you! - Surprise, Anger
I went out the back door without anyone noticing. -Happiness
Then, all I had to do... was go through the empty audio control room! - Sadness (High)
It leads into the hallway. So I was perfectly capable of moving the body. - Happiness
Pinpoint: Sadness (High)
GOT IT!
"You show sadness when visiting the audio control room. Meaning…you knew that Juniper was roaming the school." Athena said.
"What's wrong with all of you?! You shouldn't reveal a person's inner feelings like this!" Hugh said, hand at his neck.
"We're doing this so you can tell the truth. If you really believe in Juniper's innocence, you'll tell it." Peni said.
"...Juniper's innocent. That's the truth. But in this dark age of the law, the truth can be easily twisted to serve anyone's needs. When the end justifies the means, your only choice is to fight back with lies!" Hugh said. "Truth is…I'm an absolute zero. I recently found out, all of my perfect grades…my parents went and paid for all of them."
"I get it… that's the bribe Juniper found out about. And you figured that trying to get yourself convicted of the crime would be the best way to make it up to her?" Peni asked.
"That's right. I still wanted to make it up to Juniper for disappointing her like that. That's why I wanted to clear her name by pinning the blame on me! I mean, she probably hates me now, so it'd be a relief for her to see me locked away." Hugh said.
"So you were testifying against her initially to save her. And we were the ones who wanted you to tell the truth. You weren't trying to provoke us after all!" Peni said.
"So that's the truth of Mr. Perfect. We completely misunderstood him from the very start." Perfuma said in the gallery.
"Of course…I had to do it…to protect our friendship at any cost…" Hugh said.
"Hugh, you may think your friendship is failing, but in reality, it's still just as strong as ever. If you ever doubt it, look to the proof on you. The proof of your friendship with Juniper and Robin… it's around your neck isn't it? That's why you always grasp it when you're pressured. It proves you still have feelings of friendship." Peni said.
"But, it doesn't matter if I wear it, if those two…" Hugh said.
"They do wear them." Peni said. "Their arms…they may have them hidden…but they haven't given up on their friendship with you."
"I know Ms. Woods very well. She would never abandon her friendship with you over something like this. And taking the blame for her will only succeed in making her terribly sad!" Athena said.
Hugh couldn't believe his ears. He had thought Juniper and Robin forgot about their friendship, and only he was the one left to preserve it.
"Hugh!" Juniper called to him, smiling as she unfurled her sleeve to reveal a red armband around her left wrist.
"Hey, Hugh!" Robin called from his other side, showing another slightly larger band around her right arm.
"And to think... I should have known better than to doubt my best friends." he said before tears started to fall as he looked at them. "You better…make sure she goes free, got it?"
"Yeah." 9S said.
NOISE LEVEL
0%
BYE BYE
"But now we're back to square one. We have no means of a possible suspect." Sachiko said.
"I wouldn't be so sure. If what Hugh said was really the truth, then there is one person whose alibi calls into question. You know who that is, right 9S?" Crusadermon asked.
"Of course. It all makes sense. If he wasn't there then…" 9S said. "We wish to accuse…Aristotle Means!"
"Preposterous. Need I remind you all he delivered the speech?" Blackquill said.
"He could have pre-recorded the whole thing in advance." David said.
"Wait…it can't be him. He's the one who gave me the tape recorder and told me to take it to the police." Hugh said.
"Wait…he did?" Peni said. "That phony tape?"
"Phony?" Hugh asked.
"The voice shouting, "You're a goner!" as recorded on this tape...was dubbed onto it using a line our client said in the mock trial video!" Peni said.
"If that's true, then Professor Means has nowhere to run now." David said.
"We finally have the real killer in our sights… the defense calls Professor Aristotle Means to the stand!" 9S said.
"That should be easy. He should be somewhere in the gallery today." Apollo said.
"Hmph. Do as you please." Blackquill said.
As the professor was being searched out, the team in the gallery were talking amongst themselves.
"I knew there was a reason Means seemed suspicious. Inadvertently or not, Hugh confirmed his involvement somehow. He's probably been manipulating the whole crime from the very start." Catra said.
"No matter how you look at it, the man is guilty as sin." Dynasmon said.
"Yeah, but the real challenge is in proving it." Scarlet said. "With that philosophy of his…he'll do everything he can to weasel his way out, sink to any low he needs to win. They've gotta shut him down before he can find chinks in their armor."
"The ends justify the means…not always so. Only through truth can justice actually shine its brightest." Iida said.
"And they'll win this trial through the absolute truth. There's no way Means can slip 'em up. They've got this, right 2B?" Hope said.
"Yes, I have no doubt 9S and the others will see this through to the end." 2B said.
It wasn't long before the professor took the stand.
"Will you state your name and occupation for the record?" The Judge asked.
"Certainly. I am Aristotle Means. I teach the lawyer course at Themis Legal Academy. And let me add that while...I welcome any opportunity to assist with the trial, I don't care for this undue suspicion." Aristotle said.
"I wouldn't worry too much about that." David said. "There was something about your pre-trial speech that caught our attention, though."
"You're not suggesting we hear that speech again, are you?" Sachiko asked.
"No. Once is enough." David said. "(Mainly because I don't want to listen to this guy any longer than I have to.)"
"What was it about the Professor's speech that seemed off to you, Mr. Ishihara?" the Judge asked.
Present: Lady Justice
TAKE THAT!
"In his speech, he said that the pure white Lady Justice would be watching over them." David said. "However, the Lady Justice statue in the video isn't white. She is as gold as gold can be."
"Now before you start taking that literally, what he meant was that the statue broke before the mock trial. The one in this video is a replacement." Crusadermon said. "If he was present during the mock trial, he would have surely noticed it."
"Ah, so it was!" Aristotle said, seemingly calm. "I apologize, it seems I caused a bit of confusion. That was merely an oversight on my part."
"How were you not able to tell? That statue was right in the middle of the room." Sachiko asked.
"Well, I was in a balcony seat." Aristotle explained. "Furthermore, the statue had previously been white."
"Hmm… There's gonna be something that can prove that the speech was recorded in advance… Wait a second… Maybe there is." Crusadermon said. "Everyone, take a look at this."
Present: Voiceprint Analysis
TAKE THAT!
"That's the voiceprint analysis, isn't it?" The Judge asked. "Didn't we just establish that the voice on the tape recorder was a fabrication?"
"We did, but I think what Crusadermon is onto is that we should pay attention to the noise in the recording." Peni said.
"We had a feeling that the noise occurred when the tape's previous recording was erased." Crusadermon said.
"Let's break it down. The length of the noise lasts ten minutes and thirty five seconds. And Professor Means begins his speech at the ten minute mark." Peni said. "If we fast forward his speech all the way to the end, that mark would be at 20:35. Now what would happen if you subtracted that by 10 Minutes?"
"You would get 10:35." the Judge said before realizing.
"Exactly, the same as the noise on the tape recording. I assume you all understand what this means. Prof. Means's pre-recorded speech had been where the noise is now!" 9S said.
SILENCE!
"You seem rather confident considering this is a mere happenstance match of numbers." Blackquill said.
OBJECTION!
"But is it really just numbers?" Athena asked. "The Police are analyzing the noise right now. It wont be long before we know what was originally there."
"...Ms. Cykes. I believe you and your team are well aware of my methodology. Even if Juniper were the perpetrator, I would vigorously defend her as per my word. And to that purpose, I offered to be her lawyer. Alas, look what's happened." Aristotle said.
"With all due respect professor, we haven't exactly lost yet." Peni said. "We've kept this trial going based on deductions of evidence and testimony. With that in mind, are you planning to testify right now?"
"I had no intention of doing so from the beginning. But since you all are shifting the blame to me, it seems I must reveal the truth." Aristotle said. "I will now reveal the truth behind why I had to pre-record my speech before the mock trial. I, Prof. Means, always say what I mean and mean what I say by all means!"
Witness Testimony: Aristotle Means
- Prof. Means's Testimony -
The defendant came to me with what she said was very important, and by necessity, secret.
She asked me to pre-record my speech and come to the audio room during the mock trial.
Juniper confessed to the murder and asked that I get her declared innocent in court.
She also said I'd become an accomplice after losing my alibi due to the pre-recording.
But when I said I would protect Juniper, I meant it because it's the humane thing to do.
→ the humane thing to do ←
Present: Tape Recorder
OBJECTION!
"It's pretty ironic how you say it's the human thing to protect Juniper when the actions you took to do so were anything but." Peni said. "Like, when you asked Hugh to take the tape recorder that had the "you're a goner!" message on it to the police and telling them he found it."
"I simply did that out of kindness. Juniper had truly taken my teachings to heart in order to protect the dream of her and her friends. Alas, the days of seeking the truth in court are over. Now, in the defense of justice, order, and all that is good, the end justifies the means." Means said.
"Hmph… They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions." David said. "But that's not the case for you, isn't it?"
"...What are you trying to say?" Aristotle asked, hanging his head low.
"The ends justifies the means, you say? Alright then. Ask yourself this: Whose means do you believe are more just?" David asked.
"The tape contained our client's voice. In short, it is incredibly damaging evidence. Why would it even exist if the someone wasn't trying to pin the murder on our client?!" Athena asked. "
"Aristotle Means… I'm disappointed too, you know." David said. "You never had good intentions, only lies to protect yourself while blaming another. In other words, you are the Dark Age of the Law incarnate. I may not be an official attorney, and my hands sure as hell are anything but clean… And may the court forgive my language for saying this, but even a bastard like me has been through enough to spot true evil when he sees it. Evil cares about nothing but itself. It's the mark of an individual who brings ruin to all those around them, and not show remorse. I will never let people like that go free…and my colleagues and I will do everything in our power…to bring this Dark Age of the Law to an end!"
OBJECTION!
This came from Aristotle himself, who clearly had heard enough.
"Why…you…little…! You dare call my teachings and methods lies?!" Aristotle asked, actually raising his voice.
"Uh oh…" Peni said.
The professor banged his staff to the floor with his head low, before pulling a blackboard forth from seemingly nowhere on his right side. He then took two sides of his hair, straightened them out, and fashioned them into a mohawk reminiscent of a trojan helmet frill, as he brought his head up, his calm look now replaced with a scowl of rage.
"Themis Legal Academy is a proud institution! It's the most powerful in the world! You'll never forget what true education and lawyering means once I'm through with all of you!" Aristotle declared.
"Enough of your games!" 9S said, removing his combat visor, revealing his light blue eyes and the fierce determination and anger behind them. "We're going to cut this lesson short, and bring your dark age to-!"
"Quiet! No talking in class!" Means bellowed, hurling a piece of chalk at 9S, which the android easily caught.
"You first!" 9S said.
"9S, calm down!" Peni said.
Means got another piece of chalk and quickly wrote on the blackboard "Homeroom, October 26".
"Eyes and ears up here, everyone! Homeroom is now in session! We will begin with roll call! ...Athena Cykes!"
"Huh? Oh, uh… here?" Athena said.
"Peni Parker!" Means continued.
"Yikes! Here, sir!" Peni said, completely caught off guard by the professor's sudden change to his harsher disposition.
"David Ishihara!"
"Right here." David said, unfazed.
"9S!"
"Here." 9S said with a calm glare.
"Crusadermon!"
"Here."
"Sachiko Yukimura!"
"Here."
"Apollo Justice!"
"I'm fine! Er, I mean, here!" Apollo said, before getting it by chalk. "Ow!"
"Fool! The proper response is "here" without any extraneous information!" Means yelled. "Next…Your Honor!"
"Here!" The Judge said quickly.
"Lastly, Simon Blackquill! Although, given how you are, you're not liable to answer me. There are always one or two like you in class." Aristotle said.
"That's true no matter what school you go to…" David muttered.
"No wonder I have a sensation to go to the nurse's office with a stomach ache…" Apollo sweated.
"Alright, class is in session!" Aristotle declared, writing a new message on the blackboard. It said, "Main Point: Juniper is the killer. I am innocent!". "Pay attention! I am not the killer! Juniper is! This will be on the next test, so you had better be listening!"
OBJECTION!
"Your point is false. We already established you created the false tape to blame Juniper." 9S said. "Additionally, you were the only one who could've moved the body during the mock trial."
OBJECTION!
"I thought the denizens of the distant future would be smarter than this. You disappoint me, 9S. To think a cold to the touch automaton would accuse me of murder!" Means said.
"At least I have emotions." 9S said.
"Please note: I was not at school!" Means wrote, carrying on. "Now, pay attention! The murder occurred on the 23rd between 6:00 and 8:00 PM! But I was already at home by that time! So, how could I have been involved in this crime?!"
"Not like we have anything that can prove otherwise." David said.
OBJECTION!
"No way, maaaaaaaaaaaan! I totally OBJEEEEEECT!" Robin cried, coming in from out of nowhere.
"Robin?" Peni asked.
"I have a confession to make! You know those two statues that were onstage?! I didn't make 'em all by myseeeeeelf!" Robin declared. "I was able to finish one of them, but the last bell rang before I had time for the other one. So, I asked Prof. Means to make it for me."
"So the professor was there after the last bell?" Sachiko asked.
"Right. And it would have been way past 7:00 PM before he could've finished." Robin said. "The professor told me, "I'll take care of it." I thought my parents would let me be an artist if I said I'd made both statues myself. *sob* I'm sooo sooo sorry for not telling the truth!"
"It's okay, Robin. You just helped us big time." Peni said.
"So, professor, care to explain what Ms. Newman revealed?" 9S asked.
"It seems I have no choice in the matter. The real lessons begin in second period. Prepare to be served, old-school style!" Aristotle declared.
"What does that… Oh, never mind." the judge said.
Witness Testimony: Aristotle Means
- Prof. Means's Work of Art -
Now, pay attention! Robin took over half a day to complete one statue.
I, however, finished most of the other statue between 7:00 and 8:30 PM.
The defendant Juniper saw the two statues with her own eyes at 8:30 PM.
Completing a statue so quickly meant I could not leave the stage for a single second!
How could I have possibly had the time to go to the art room and commit murder?!
"His alibi seems rock-solid. I can't find any inconsistencies." David said.
"So wait… he couldn't leave the stage because he was working on one of the statues?" Peni thought aloud. "Wait a second! I think we've been looking at it from the wrong direction!"
"Yeah, the fact that the professor never left the stage proves that he is the killer." Sachiko said. "We were overthinking the crime scene."
"More than that, the murder wasn't actually in the Art room." Peni said. "I think the professor actually killed Professor Courte right on the stage!"
OBJECTION!
In response to Peni's claim, Means wrote on his blackboard "the murder occured in the art room!". "Silly girl! When the body was found, there wasn't a drop of blood on the stage floor! Surely there would have been some blood if that's where the murder was committed!"
"I think that can be explained as well." David said.
Present: School Banner
"I'll use this!"
"The school banner had a bloodstain on it." David said. "If this was under the victim when she was killed, then the blood wouldn't be able to reach the floor."
SILENCE!
"For someone of your caliber, Ishihara-dono, that was a pathetic attempt." Blackquill said. "The autopsy states the cause of death was loss of blood. Yet only a trace amount was found upon that banner. Where did the rest go? Blood getting on there when the body was moved by wire makes more sense than not."
NOT SO FAST!
"There is a perfect explanation for that as well. Something else was used to blot out the blood." David said.
Present: Gavinner's Banner
"I'll use this!"
"The Gavinners banner made specifically for the concert." David said. "Since it was on top of the school banner, most of the blood would have gone on that banner. Like a rag, it would soak up most of the blood, and only a few drops would have reached the school banner."
"Argh! Hrrrgh!" Means growled. "Simon! Don't just stand there! Do something!"
SILENCE!
"Well done, Ishihara-dono. But how will you respond when I come slashing at you like this?" Blackquill challenged. "The remnant of a large bloodstain was detected in the art room. But why would there be blood there if the murder occurred on the stage as you claim?"
"How about these then?" 9S said as 153 uploaded and presented the Burnt Fragments.
"To think you'd all stoop so low as to present mere garbage to the court." Aristotle smirked, spinning his globe on one finger like a basketball.
"It's only garbage because someone tried to throw it in the incinerator." Crusadermon said. "Someone trying to destroy crucial evidence, I would imagine."
"Gah... Gwaaah!" Aristotle cried out, being thrown back as he accidentally slapped his blackboard as it tipped over and bonked him, causing him to hit his head on the stand as the jury was abuzz once more and The Judge banged his gavel.
"Order! Order! This is quite a development! To think the body was never actually moved!" The Judge said.
OBJECTION!
"Hold it right there! The body must have been moved! How else do you explain that loud crash you heard during the mock trial?! If it wasn't caused by the body crashing into the statues, then what was it?" Aristotle pointed out.
Present: White Lady Justice
"Presenting Evidence."
"Because it was Lady Justice that broke the other statues, not Ms. Courte's body." 9S said as 153 presented Lady Justice's statue. "The unique statue you see on the right, that's the pure white Lady Justice from earlier. Ms. Courte accidently broke it while she was polishing it the day before the mock trial. But she used her own unique artistic sense and technique to repair it as you see here. Nobody would have guessed that it was originally Lady Justice."
SILENCE!
"Hmph. Perhaps you are on to something, 9S-dono. But why, pray tell, would anyone move that scrapheap relic in such a tedious manner?" Blackquill asked.
"Excellent question, Simon! Keep them coming!" Aristotle said.
"You know why. But you're too much of a corrupted bastard to admit it. Lady Justice was moved during the mock trial. During that time, Prof. Means was fabricating an alibi with his pre-recorded speech. If we consider the facts, then Lady Justice was moved in order to…" 9S started.
Point us to the body
"This has all just been one big game of his. Means used his pre-recorded speech to fake an alibi during the mock trial. He wanted to make it look like he couldn't possibly have moved the body. Moving Lady Justice was his way of pointing us to the body and cementing his alibi." 9S said, pointing straight at Aristotle.
"Gaaah!" Aristotle screamed.
"That's quite a persuasive argument. For a while there. I thought you weren't taking the trial seriously. Well done!" the Judge said.
"It's over, Means! Your crime has been completely unveiled!" 9S said.
OBJECTION!
Aristotle chuckled. "You shouldn't underestimate me, android, none of you should. Prof. Means always means what he says and says what he means by all means!"
"Then just say it, stalling will only protect you for so long." 9S said.
"The murder occurred the night before, but the body wasn't found until late the next day. Countless students passed the stage till they met in the Lecture Hall for the mock trial." Aristotle said. "Point: the body would absolutely be found. So, answer me this - why didn't anyone see the body that entire time?"
"Because… because…." 9S tried to answer before he completely lost his momentum, shown by him clutching his head as his eyes glowed red for a moment. "..N-No! I can't come up with anything!"
"No way! He stumped 9S?!" Frosta said.
"Impossible!" 2B said.
"Dammit!" A2 added.
"We…we can't stop now!" Athena said. "Not when we're this close!"
"Consider yourselves schooled!" Aristotle laughed. "I couldn't have possibly killed anyone! The killer is none other than Juniper Woods! It always has been and it always will be!"
"No, it's not…" 9S trailed.
"Arrrgh... J-J-Just wait a minute...!" Athena stammered.
"Poor Juniper. She must seriously regret you all coming to her as her main defense. And to add insult to injury, you nearly had Hugh convicted for murder. Surely, you haven't forgotten that little fiasco?!" Aristotle asked.
"I-I couldn't have almost considered him the killer. I…!" 9S said.
"Witness, perhaps you're going too far-?" The Judge said, clearly worried.
"Athena Cykes's attorney's badge is just for show!" Aristotle wrote on his blackboard. "Not only did you all fail to defend your client, you also raised false charges against her friend." Means said before he pointing at them accusingly. "None of you have any right to call yourselves lawyers!"
This hit 9S hard, as his eyes turned completely red and he clutched his head in pain. Athena wasn't doing much better, as after she cried out in shock, her vision went totally black as her eyes were glazed over, and Widget completely shut down.
"Guys? …Guys?!" Peni said, starting to panic, as the others tried to get them back.
SILENCE!
However, to everyone's shock, it wasn't Blackquill that said that, but instead it was David.
"You again? You just don't know when to give up, do you?" Aristotle asked.
"I think I've heard just about enough of your "ends-justifies-the-means" hogwash." David said.
"You're still upset over that?" Aristotle asked. "You might as well suck it up and accept it, young man! Forsake the truth if it's victory you seek! Steel yourself for this new courtroom reality!"
"Shut…up." David said with barely constrained rage. "I'm not gonna stand here and take this from you. And neither are they." he said as he chopped Athena and 9S in the head.
"David, what was that for?!" Apollo asked, shocked. "I'm pretty sure you don't do that when someone's like that!"
"You two can't lose your cool here." David said. "Stand up. It's still too early to give up."
"DAVID'S RIGHT, MAAANNN!" the voice of Robin said as she appeared in the door to the courtroom. "You guys are the ones that saved me! It was because of you guys that I could stop hiding and start living my life as a girl again. And you saved the friendship between Hugh, Juniper, and I! I think you're all awesome lawyers. Some of the best!"
"But… we raised false charges against Hugh and almost got him convicted of the crime." 9S said.
"Heh. What's the big deal?" Hugh asked, coming in beside Robin. "False charges are nothing to be scared of. And I'm not even mad at you - I should really be thanking you. You all used legitimate means...to expose my wrongdoings and give me a chance to reexamine what's important."
"But... but what does it matter if we can't save Juniper?! I mean, the whole reason I've come so far is-!" Athena started.
OBJECTION!
"It's not over yet, Thena. Even now at this very moment, I still believe in you!" Juniper declared as she stood side by side with Hugh and Robin. "I know you better than most people, Thena. And I know you'd never surrender to the dark age of the law like the professor did!"
"Juniper is right, you two. We've got Professor Means right where we want him. All that's left is one final push." David said.
Aristotle laughed. "You're wasting your time! You have nothing on me! No evidence or anything else to establish my guilt! You are helpless before the might of lawyers for whom the ends justifies the means!"
"Don't listen to him, guys. I'm sure there's something." Peni said. "9S, you've done amazing up to now. Getting stumped now doesn't mean you've failed. We've all had moments like that. Now's the time to put our heads together, revisualize the entire event from the start and figure out how the professor could have hidden Courte's body."
"So, 9S, Athena… Ready to pick yourselves up and finish this?" Crusadermon asked.
"I…" 9S trailed off.
"Stand up and fight, 9S!" 2B called. "You didn't give up when the world was against us. Why start now?"
"Don't let that asshole get the best of you, finish this thing and make sure he's put behind bars!" A2 added.
"2B…A2…" 9S said as the red light disappeared from his eyes. "Right, this ends right now."
Athena also snapped out of it, knowing she'd be fine. "Athena Cykes, 9S… and the defense, are psyched and ready to rock. Prepare for your utter defeat!" she declared as everyone put their heads together.
Revisualizing Hack: Start!
(Cue: Thought Route ~ Resonance of the Synapse- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney- Dual Destinies)
"(The first thing to consider is that Professor Courte wasn't killed in the art room like in the mock trial script. The killer deviated from the script and killed her right on the stage.)" David spoke up.
"(We know because there wasn't any time to move the body there from somewhere else. That means the body had to have been hidden somewhere on stage until it was found. Let's think along these lines and see where it takes us.)" Athena continued. "(Well, let's see. What was he doing right before the body was discovered? He was using the span of time his fake alibi created...to move the body to where it would be more easily spotted. Therefore, the only time Prof. Means could've removed the body from its hiding place is…)"
"(The most opportune moment would have been during the mock trial.)" Sachiko said.
The body was moved during the mock trial
"(It was moved during the mock trial, of course. More specifically…)" 9S said.
The body was moved during the speech
"(It was during his pre-recorded speech. He also moved something to the stage that wasn't there before…)" 9S said.
"(Yes. The White Justice Statue.)" Crusadermon said.
The white Lady Justice was also moved
"(During the mock trial, the killer wrapped the statue with the school banner, and zipped it down to the stage to make it look like the crime occurred in the art room.)" Crusadermon said.
" But was there anywhere to hide a body on that stage? It doesn't seem likely... ...No, there had to be someplace! ...Wait a second!)" Athena thought. "(How about something that should've been finished but was only mostly done? Something was used to cover the body up... ...but it didn't draw undue attention because it looked like it belonged there onstage. In that way, no one would suspect there was a body hidden inside! What was already on the stage and capable of concealing a body?)"
"(Ah! The Wright Statue!)" 9S said.
And that's when it hit everybody at once….
THE BODY WAS HIDDEN BY WRIGHT'S STATUE
"(That's it! Professor Means never finished Mr. Wright's statue!)" Peni said. "(The body was wrapped under some cloth to hide what was really inside...cleverly disguising it as his own statue!)"
Hacking Complete
The group came back to focus in court.
"Robin gave up on the Wright statue, yet the professor finished it in a single night." David said.
"Yes, what an amazing feat that was!" The Judge said.
"However, as impressive a feat as that may seem. It was all just a ploy to cover his true act." Crusadermon said.
"He hid the body by making it look like the statue of Mr. Wright. With the body wrapped under a piece of cloth, it looked just like a statue!" Athena declared.
"WH-WH-WHAAAAAAAAAT?!" The Judge asked.
"I second that!" Apollo added.
"Now this is getting interesting!" Blackquill admitted.
OBJECTION!
"N-No! This is getting preposterous! H-H-How would such a thing even be possible?!" Aristotle asked.
"Perhaps a little visualization would help. Any volunteers as to who poses as the statue?" David asked.
"I'll do it." Athena said. "Time to turn me into a reasonable likeness of Mr. Wright!"
Athena went to center court and assumed her Objection pose.
"I need you guys to shape me up so that I look like how he would." Athena said.
"Well, first we need to imitate his hair somehow…" Peni said.
"Hmm…" Sachiko hummed before a thought struck her. "Hold on, she had her hands tied behind her head!"
Athena got on Peni's milk crate on her knees and put her hands behind her head.
"We're gonna need something long to make the arm though. Something like the back end of Sachiko's scythe." Crusadermon said.
Present: Arrow
"(Take that!)"
"Well, the arrow would be a starting length, but in order for it to really work, Means would have to use something he already has on hand…" Peni said before eyeing his staff.
Present: Means' Staff
"(Take that!)"
"That's it! He used his own staff!" Peni said.
"S-Staff?! This is the spear of a great legal warrior-!" Aristotle started before David walked up to him and snatched the staff out of his hands.
"I'll be taking this off your hands for a moment, thank you." David said.
And so, combining the arrow with Aristotle's staff, and the covering athena like she was posing, it was actually made to look like she was indeed, like Phoenix Wright himself. Even some people in the gallery could believe it.
"Ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Well?! Am I not the spitting image of the legendary Phoenix Wright?! The man who will bring us out of these dark ages and into an era of brilliant golden light!" Athena laughed.
"All I see is the pink specter of a man." Blackquill said.
"Ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! That's just because Mr. Wright likes his statue! He's positively tickled pink! Get it, guys? He's tickled pink!" Athena joked.
"That joke deserves a pink slip." Apollo said.
"I take offense to that." Crusadermon said.
"Hmm... It seems the gallery is quite impressed with the defense's sharp thinking." The Judge remarked before he turned his gaze towards Aristotle. "Well, witness? Anything to say on this?"
"The resemblance is nothing more than a coincidence." Aristotle scoffed.
"Coincidence? I think not!" Peni said. "Your staff will have all the proof we need."
"Yes. All we need to do is test it for blood. That'll put it all together without a shadow of a doubt." 9S said.
At this, Aristotle was actually getting unnerved.
"Ack... Arrrrrgh... Your Honor, a b-brief recess, if you will!" Aristotle said, sweating bullets. "By any means possible. What if I get rid of my spear... Wait, what if I burn it...?!" he asked, quikcly writing "What's wrong with a non-guilty verdict?!" on his blackboard. "If I do that I'll be found innocent... Yes, I'm innocent I tell you!"
"Talking about destroying evidence in court now?" David asked. "It's just as I thought, Professor Means. You are simply pure evil."
Peni smirked. "Looks like you're the one who's getting schooled, Professor."
"As David said, you are a visage of evil incarnate. But we won't be the ones to decide your fate." 9S said. "We will leave that…in the hands of the gallery!" he declared, pointing together with Athena.
For a moment, the courtroom was silent. Then…
"Guilty…" a voice from the gallery said quietly. "Guilty. Guilty. Guilty!"
The chanting moved from person to person, until the voices of the jury resembled the sound of a hammer.
Professor Means looked at the scene unfolding, fear in his eyes until, at least, he could stand it no longer.
"No…No…NO!" Aristotle bellowed as he spun around and began writing frantically whatever lighter sentence he could think of on the blackboard. "Bathroom detail? H-how about bathroom detail? No? Wh-what about retaking my bar exam?!"
"Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!"
"A 30% salary cut?! Wait, I'll turn in my badge and accept dismissal! Anything but…!" he said as his hand slowly started to form the letter G with his other hand trying to stop him.
"Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!"
The battle cry of justice started to die down, as Means could only write out the large capital G as he turned back towards the judge, defense and prosecutors bench with his jaw clenched immensely tight. After a bit, his teeth shattered under the immense pressure. He then collapsed onto the floor along with the blackboard, leaving behind a large chalk cloud.
"Ouch… That's gonna be a bad day at the dentist's office." David said.
A few minutes later after Professor Means was taken away…..
"Prosecutor Blackquill, what has become of Aristotle Means?" The judge asked.
"It is as these warriors have suspected. Blood was detected on the staff. He has admitted to this heinous crime. All of it. He shall join us in the clink very soon. His teaching skills can be put to good use there." Blackquill said.
"I'm feeling a sense of dread there." Sachiko said.
"Yeah. He'll end up teaching his philosophies to convicted felons. So much for rehabilitation." Apollo said.
"Not like anyone is going to listen to him now, anyway." Crusadermon said.
"What was his motive? I take it this wasn't just because he was an active supporter of the Dark Age." 9S said, his combat visor tied back on.
"I could barely make anything out of him on account of his shattered teeth. Eventually, I had to make him put pen to paper." Blackquill said. "It turns out, Prof. Means was the one taking bribes. The victim has suspected him after a report from the class snitch. That led her to question him at length the day of the killing - right there on that stage. The result? The heinous crime that was brought before this court. The fool, like Newman, had come to know of the script's contents via the victim's note. It seems he came up with a plan to stab the victim with her own awl in order to...make the killing look like the one in the script and thus frame the defendant."
"So that scrap that Hugh had…" Sachiko started.
"Those planners are bestowed to all those who are the top of their class. He was once awarded that same notebook. But, like as not, the scrap likely belonged to him. Constance Courte was clean. Aristotle Means was the only one taking the bribes." Blackquill said.
"Oh, how the mighty have fallen…" Crusadermon said.
"So sad to see a teacher frame their students. If this is the dark age of the law, I can only hope a brighter future awaits. Anyway, I find the defendant, Juniper Woods…" the Judge said.
Not Guilty
The jury erupted into celebration, louder than the cases the group had done in their time here. At last, a major blow against the philosophies championed by the Dark Age of Law!
"I wish you all the best on your road to becoming a courtroom judge. We will need young people like you...if we ever hope to restore the law to its former glory." the Judge said to Juniper.
"Y-Yes, Your Honor! I'll work as hard as I can. Maybe, one day, I'll be able to work with all of you to make a difference!" Juniper said.
"I hope that day comes, Juniper." David said.
"Court is adjourned!" the judge said.
District Court - Defendant Lobby No. 3
"I knew you guys would win! Man, did it feel so great to see Means break down the way he did!" Kaibara said.
"Admittedly though, he did have you cornered near the end. I couldn't believe that he got you that badly, 9S." Jin said.
"Neither could A2 and myself." 2B said.
"Thankfully, David pulled you and Athena out of that wreck." Peni said.
"Aw, it was nothing special. I just wasn't content with letting Means have the satisfaction of having everyone's wills crushed." David said.
"Still, thanks David." 9S said.
"Speaking of which, are you going to be okay? You were acting pretty defiantly towards him there. Aren't you worried that the Dark Age's other supporters will come after you?" Ming asked.
"I've earned the ire of many people. A few supporters of these dark times are no big deal. And besides, it was what Prof. Courte would have wanted anyway." David said.
"I apologize for the mood whiplash, but I have some good news." Leopardmon said. "The school festival was supposed to be canceled. But Professor Courte went through all the trouble to set it up, so… In her memory, the festival is instead extended until tomorrow."
"Heck yeah, now you're talking!" Eddy cheered. "C'mon, folks! We've won the fight, so now it's party time!"
*9S's Narration*: So that was the very first trial that I took part in alongside David and the others, which leads us to where we are now, Apollo's leave of absence. Even then I was still determined to continue to help David and the others, along with finding the truth of who Fulbright really was. Little did we know was that the hardest part has only just begun.