After the Court settled down from the imaginative fiasco and the witness breakdown, the Judge proceeded by asking Payne for an update of the witness. "His head is still in the clouds, but he's been chained away in handcuffs."
Mercury read the report received from the crime laboratory thirty minutes after Athena issued the tests. "Miniscule to microscopic remains of glass shards along with blood were found on the witness's footwear soles. DNA tests confirmed that the blood belonged to the victim."
("I guess that settles everything. But there's one last thing I don't understand.") "Did Capt. Flynn mention why he killed Mr. Semblar?"
"I can explain that," came a voice from the gallery. Everyone turned to Capt. Hugo, who stood up and walked toward the witness stand.
"Captain Hugo," Anna said softly.
Capt. Hugo stood mightily in the witness stand though he also felt clearly guilty for his actions. When everyone was silent and their full attention was on him, he started his story. "Capt. Birdie Flynn and Capt. Dennis Nuncer manned the flight three years ago… the flight that killed fifty and jailed Capt. Nuncer as a result of the trial. Dennis was an exceptional pilot while Flynn was a rookie at that time. Flynn stepped forward in the investigation of the plane crash and testified to great effect about faulty controls attributed to Capt. Nuncer's negligence."
"But in reality, it was Flynn's fault," Athena said.
Capt. Hugo nodded slowly. "That's right. I launched my own investigation – that's why I have a separate office in the first floor of the control tower." He grunted. "I'm sorry for hiding that fact. I was only able to uncover the truth on that night and I could've saved both lives… but Flynn got there before me."
The captain paused for a moment then turned to the defense. "Well, Ms. Attorney, I'd say that was a splendid job in your flight for the truth."
"Gracias, señor."
The captain then turned to the defendant. "Anna…" The defendant was all ears as if she was ready to hear another secret. "Hans loved you in his own way. The necklace you're wearing right now was a gift handed to me passed on to you. He was a charming and calm gentleman, albeit shy." He massaged his forehead, guilty of what he did. "In my part, I deeply apologize for putting you this way. I should've seen it earlier… but I was so preoccupied in giving justice for Mr. Semblar that I never reconsidered other matters that were just as important as yours."
"Now that's a first," Mercury commented. "The superior requesting an apology from the subordinate."
"Things went personal when Payne presented the news clipping," Athena said, relieved to stand victorious over the shaken and defeated prosecutor.
"Capt. Hugo," Anna said feebly after a length of tense silence. When she mustered the courage, she stood up from her seat and faced her superior. "My father and Hans are gone from this world… but I will still continue to do the job that I love best – because that's what my father would say to me if he were with us now. I accept your apology… and thank you." She beamed, her tears of joy flowing once more and streaming down her cheeks.
The captain gasped for a while to hear such courageous words and reminisce of his good friend. He closed his eyes and tucked his cap close to his face. Even if he didn't want the people to see the tears he shed, Athena and Mercury knew that his apology and his unseen tears would suffice to consider the case solved.
The Judge held his head high. "All's well that ends well and I may as well announce my verdict. Are there any objections?"
Athena shook her head. "No objections."
Payne stammered. "N-None, Your Honor, sir."
("Finally… justice well deserved.")
"This Court finds the defendant, Ms. Anna Nuncer…"
Not Guilty
The Court celebrated in the proclamation of Anna's innocence. Athena and Mercury beamed while Anna grinned ear-to-ear. Payne did not seem to enjoy the celebration and the Court treated as if his presence was not made known.
"That is all, Court is adjourned." The Judge struck down his gavel and the people began filing out from the courtroom.
August 12
District Court; Defendant Lobby No. 3
"You did it!" Anna exclaimed cheerfully once they entered the defendant lobby.
"I'm amazed at the turn of events," Mercury told Athena. "And it was all because the plan worked."
"Oh yes, you mentioned about a plan," Anna said. "Can I privy?"
The two defense attorneys exchanged looks and agreed that it was best for Anna to know the details. Athena explained the plan of uncovering the decisive evidence. ("Basically, I had Mercury return to the crime scene and help him visualize the events as it happened in the crime scene. He reconstructed everything based on the previous witnesses' testimonies then found a crack in the prosecution's case… the glass shards with the victim's blood.")
"That was quite well-thought out," Anna commented, still amazed at the power of her attorneys' collaboration.
("I'm just glad I had my revenge against the snot-faced prosecutor.")
Mercury smiled at his partner. "I knew that I was running out of time since she was dealing with a belligerent witness."
"Mercury here used the wonders of technology to bring wonders for our case."
Anna smiled. "Well… whatever helped in the end…"
The defendant lobby doors opened and the bailiff stepped inside accompanying Capt. Hugo. He seemed pleased, unlike the demeanor he showed when he stepped into the witness stand for the first time. The superior and the subordinate shook hands. "I see you're doing well," he started, his voice rasping.
"Yes, sir," Anna answered then frowned. "Though the circumstances will never bring back Hans and my father…" She looked up at her superior and made a salute. "… I will still continue to live by my creed."
("Your creed, huh…")
"I will never thank you enough," Anna said to Athena as the two old friends shook hands. "Well at least I know who to refer if any of my friends get themselves in trouble."
Athena chuckled. ("Believe me, your situation gave me quite the trouble in a while.")
While the attorney, her client, and the superior chatted animatedly about the trial, Mercury immersed himself deep in his thoughts and pondered on what Anna said. He made a note to talk about it to Athena when he had the chance.
"We'll be taking our leave," Capt. Hugo said to the attorneys. "If there's one thing I learned about this trial, I guess it's that I can't go shorthanded in any situation. And also… my subordinates need some more training to do."
"S-Subordinates in the plural?"
Capt. Hugo nodded. "There are three new air traffic controllers already waiting for you in the office. They had to continue operations while you were in the defendant's seat… otherwise we'd be handling so many plane accidents."
("That reminds me…") "Whatever happened to the plane that evening?"
Capt. Hugo looked away, frowning at the prospect of handling another plane accident. "The plane crashed in the airport, but the damage wasn't very devastating. Most of the plane sustained external damage… and all crew made it out in time." He paused and took a deep breath. "Except one."
"One?"
"I will not disclose the details at this time," Capt. Hugo told the attorneys. "If the Aviation Board releases the results of the investigation and if any of my crew needs legal assistance… you'll be the first to know."
"Alright, then. Take care of yourselves," Athena told the both of them as they left the defendant lobby.
("I guess that's already taken care of.") She turned to Mercury and was about to cheer for a celebration when she saw her co-counsel in deep thought. "Hey… what's up?"
Mercury snapped out from his trance. "Oh! Um… Well, it was endearing to know that Ms. Nuncer has a creed of her own. And it got me thinking…"
Athena stayed silent but willing to listen.
"What if you had to do something that was necessary but would go against your creed?"
("Why the sudden change of disposition?")
When Mercury knew that Athena would not give an answer, he simply shrugged it off. "Oh well, I guess that'll come soon." He turned to Athena. "Well, should we return to the office?"
("If I had to do something necessary that went against my principles… that's a very good question. All this time, I had been following things that I believed were right and fair. But what would happen if that were tested? Little did I know that this predicament would encounter us too soon.")
EPISODE 1: THE TURBULENT TURNABOUT
The End
