Rating: PG
Timeframe: Uh. . . I haven't figured that out yet. Sometime just before the WRC?
Synopsis: Same as in the other three chapters.
AN: I reiterate; I have plans for Rintaro, so fear not; He should make his appearance soon!
I'd also like to apologize for taking so long to upload chapter 4. Work and a decline in the flow of creative juices are the cause.
One more thing: I'll try and write more per chapter, really I will… It's just that long chapters have never been my forté
Last thing, I promise! From here on, the proceedings will mostly follow the Canadian legal system, with which the author is the most familiar. The exception is the age at which a young offender can be charged, 14 in Japan, 12 in Canada.
On with the fic!
The police were trying to break down the door. Hikaru tore his arms out of Ikki and Koji's reach, and thrust his right arm towards the ceiling, in the motion that activated his grappling hook. The police at the door had almost broken through. . .
Other than the fact that the police had now broken through the door, nothing happened. That was when Hikaru remembered that he'd forgotten his grappling hook. And on today, of all days! NO! Damn his luck! The police rushed towards Phantom Renegade, and there was nothing he could do to get away. Soon they were handcuffing him and reading him his rights. He was then drug outside, as more cops entered the room and (finally) arrested the Rubber Robos. Didn't it just figure that the last face he saw as he was being shoved into the squad car was the shocked and slack-jawed figure of Rintaro?
"DUDES!" He shouted at the cops "What are you doing? That's Henry! It's the freaks in rubber suits you want!"
The cop who was shoving Hikaru into the car stopped and looked up.
"No, kid. This is Hikaru Agata, and he's a very dangerous criminal. I'd keep your distance if I were you." He said, shutting the door. Rintaro's eyes grew wider, if possible, and he stared at Hikaru for confirmation. Hikaru looked the kid in the eye and shrugged. Then the car pulled away, headed for the station.
Fingerprinted and photographed, and with Arcbeetle disassembled and stashed in an evidence locker somewhere, Hikaru was now faced with a minor dilemma. His one phone call . . . who on earth would he call? He didn't know any lawyers. His parents? Hah. Right.
"Hey mom? I'm Phantom Renegade and I've just been arrested, so I guess I'll see you in 25 - 30 years." Already it sounded stupid. His parents couldn't afford a lawyer, and no court-appointed defense could get HIM off. Hikaru harbored no delusions of acquittal.
But back to the phone call dilemma. He could only think of one other person. His one-time mentor and now co-conspirator, Dr. Eugene Aki. Running out of options, Hikaru picked up the receiver and dialed.
"It's me." he said in his Phantom voice. The good doctor panicked. Clearly, he had not been expecting a phone call.
"What? Where are you? What about the medal?" he asked.
"Relax. The medal is back where it belongs. . . As for me, you'll never guess where I'm calling from." Hikaru stopped, then continued in his own voice. "The police station." Dr. Aki exploded.
"WHAT?!? How could you let yourself get arrested?" he asked.
"So today isn't my day."
"Obviously. Look, don't answer any questions. I'm getting you a lawyer." Hikaru protested, saying the doctor couldn't get involved. Dr. Aki insisted he was already involved, and besides, Hikaru needed a good lawyer. In the end, Hikaru conceded, hung up the phone, and was dragged off for questioning.
In the interrogation room, the detectives treated Hikaru rather harshly. It was though they were asking an alleged murderer where he had allegedly hidden the body of a victim, instead of asking an alleged thief what he'd done with all the medals he'd allegedly stolen.
"So tell us, 'Phantom', what did you do with all those medals?" said one detective, playing the 'bad cop'.
"I'm not answering any questions until I get a lawyer." Hikaru said simply, arms crossed. The 'good cop' took this as his cue, and played the role of the concerned friend.
"I know you may find it hard to believe this," he said. "But we're just trying to help you. We want to know your side of the story." It was a well-rehearsed act.
"I. Want. My. Lawyer." Hikaru reiterated, and said no more. The police were legally required to stop the interrogation until he had hired legal council. Sometimes it payed to know these little things.
The only other eventful thing that happened that day was that the kids paid him a visit as soon as they were able. In fact, Hikaru strongly suspected that they had followed him to the station and had waited there until they were allowed to see him. He was allowed to meet this 'fan club' as the guards called them, face to face, since he had not been charged with any violent crimes. The room reminded Hikaru of a school cafeteria, only without the food. There were long tables with stools built in scattered around a room with brick walls, sparsely decorated. It also featured the usual barred windows, security glass and cameras, and of course, the ever-present guard.
"I can't believe that you're the Phantom, Henry." Erika said. Her facial expression clearly proved this statement. Hikaru leaned back in his chair, and put his hands behind his head.
"Yeah, well... surprise." He said calmly, surveying the looks on the kids' faces. Erika, as was previously mentioned, could hardly believe her eyes. Karin and Samantha looked like their bubbles had just been burst. After all, when they had woken up that morning, they had thought him no more than your average convenience-store clerk who knew a thing or two about medabots, even if he had none himself.
Ikki, Koji, Spike, and Sloan wore looks that suggested they were impressed… for the same reasons. Honestly, Kids these days…
Now, Rintaro, on the other hand, looked much like a sports nut might if the nut's favourite athlete brushed him off instead of signing an autograph. An interesting mix of shock, guilt, and curiosity. It was understandable enough. He had, after all, gotten his hero arrested.
"But… why?" Karin asked, steering the conversation a direction Hikaru wasn't sure he'd rather be going.
"Look, I really shouldn't be saying anything else until I get a chance to see a lawyer." He said. The guard by the door took this as his cue.
"HEY Phantom! Time's Up!" He bellowed.
"I have a name, you know." Hikaru muttered. He was about to get up when he caught Rintaro's eye… the poor kid looked on the verge of tears.
"Look… it's not your fault." Hikaru placed a hand on his shoulder and attempted a reassuring smile. "It was bound to happen sooner or later."
"C-can… can I.. come and *sniff* visit you again?" He asked. Geez.. how could he say no NOW?
"Sure… I'm not going anywhere." He gave the kid's shoulder a light squeeze, and then followed the guard out to be taken to his cell.
And here I stop. No cliffhangers this time so you don't have to threaten me with bodily harm anymore… ^_^
Regina Vs Phantom Renegade…. What defense strategy would YOU use to try and get Hikaru off?
And one thought about the new season before I go: GAAAAH!!!!! KOJI! KARIN! RINTARO! Dr AKI! Mr. Referee! HIKARU!!!!!!! WHERE IS EVERYBODY?!?!