VISUALIZATION
"The real killer could only have been Lunix Metsys and the blue book with his fingerprints makes him all the more likely. Yet, I need decisive evidence linking him to the crime. If there's something in the crime scene, there's one more concern we have to address, and that is…"
A. fingerprint on the door sensor
B. the blue book in the victim's room
C. the conference room security camera
Unidentified fingerprints on the victim's door sensor
"Unidentified fingerprints on the victim's door sensor... Naturally, the offices were swapped, which would mean the new door sensor would have the victim's, the defendant's and the other person's prints. Whose fingerprints could it belong to?"
A. Xeus Thinker
B. Lunix Metsys
C. Chastain Thymes
The fingerprint belongs to Chastain
"Right. Xeus's and Lunix's fingerprints were already identified from the other pieces of evidence. Therefore, the unidentified fingerprint could likely belong to Chastain. However, she fainted in the hallway, so she couldn't have opened it. Therefore…"
A. Her memory is wrong
B. Someone else opened it
Someone else opened the door
"Someone else opened the door and then did the murderous intent. If Lunix is the killer, he would know that my dad was in do-not-disturb mode. And since Chastain had fainted and the fingerprints on the victim's door belong to her, then the killer could have easily used something else instead and not leave their mark on the door sensor! That could very well be…"
A. Chastain's finger
B. Chastain's hair
C. Chastain's nose
THE KILLER USED
CHASTAIN'S FINGER
TO OPEN
THE VICTIM'S DOOR
"That's it! Lunix carried the unconscious Chastain and used her finger to alarm the victim's room. When the door opened, that's when Lunix shot him! Who would've thought that the absence of decisive evidence on the killer… could be decisive evidence against him!"
With this new realization, Mercury was surely confident that Lunix Metsys, the tech-crazed scientist, was the killer. He faced the witness again.
"Mr. Metsys, the absence of your fingerprints on the victim's door sensor will also be your undoing," Mercury told him bravely.
Lunix glared at him, the robotic arm ready to swing once more. "And how is that possible, my feeble friend?"
Mercury pounded on the desk. "The unidentified fingerprint on the victim's door sensor could neither be yours nor Xeus's since both of your fingerprints were already identified on the other pieces of evidence. Therefore, there is only one person left, and that is Chastain Thymes."
At this revelation, Lunix laughed maniacally, his robotic arm spewing sparks. "THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE, MY FEEBLE FRIEND?"
Mercury folded his arms. "I'm not finished. It so happened that Chastain met someone in that very hallway as she was examining the damaged security camera."
Lunix raised an eyebrow, the robotic eye swirling left and right. "R-Really now?"
"It couldn't be any more obvious," answered Mercury. "You picked up the unconscious Chastain and used her finger to open the victim's door."
Objection! Lunix's booming objection echoed around the courtroom. "Prattle on, you fool. Why would I use her own fingerprints to open the door, knowing very well I have an ID card to do so?"
Unfortunately for him, Mercury also had an answer. "Mr. Metsys, you, of all people, should know. Your ID card will only respond if the office is vacant, just like it happened when we asked you to open the defendant's office so we can investigate." He pounded on the desk. "Unfortunately, your ID card would also leave a record signifying your presence that evening. Therefore, you had to do the only other way… use another person's fingerprints! In this case, Ms. Thymes's fingerprints!"
Lunix responded with a small outburst, following by a small explosion from the robotic arm.
Athena nodded. "So that explains the rather strange behavior in the security video." The security video showed the man, taken to be Lunix Metsys, approaching the direction of the camera and trying to access the room using his ID card, to which it couldn't respond because the victim was inside.
"And once you shot the victim," continued Mercury. "You brought Chastain to your office!"
Objection! Prosecutor Angelique countered. "Why couldn't the witness just leave her be instead?"
Mercury already had the answer. "It's simple. If I were able to prove my father innocent without pointing the witness as the killer, all the blame would be shifted onto the other witness, Chastain Thymes."
Prosecutor Angelique was now speechless. She had no more objections to counter, now that her last question was fulfilled. However, in the face of defeat, she looked somehow, somewhat… relieved, her facial expression telling Mercury that it was time to finish it.
"If we were to examine your office, we'd find Chastain's fingerprints somewhere… on the desk, on the couch, anywhere," continued Mercury as he set up for the final blow. "I'd say that's conclusive evidence enough, don't you say?"
Lunix now looked uncomfortable. His words of desperation devolved into incomprehensible grumbles, signs of defeat that Mercury took. The robotic arm was emitting sparks. "ERROR. ERROR. MULTIPLE ACTIVE THREATS DETECTED."
Mercury looked down and smiled. "I'm sorry we couldn't catch up on the past like this… Uncle Loonie." He turned to the witness, whose robotic arm was almost about to go out of control. "You may be the embodiment of the future, but the past… is the past. And therefore… it is time for you to face your future…" with one last and intense finger point to finish his first trial, he declared, "in jail!"
Lunix was gritting through his teeth. His plan exposed, he was defeated. But could he live the rest of his days in jail?
"Jail, you say?"
He took a deep breath and used his robotic arm to pound on the table. "You jest, feeble lawyer." He raised his robotic arm and flexed it. "Putting me in jail means you'll be putting away the greatest mind the world of technology has ever seen! And you will live a future where your world remains forever trapped in the past!" At this cue, the robotic arm suddenly exploded violently, causing Lunix to shriek.
"AAAAAAGH! NOOOOO! MY… MY… MY…!"
The robotic arm also gurgled out beeping sounds. "EEEEEERRRRRROOOOOORRR!" Without warning, the arm flailed around, causing the witness stand to shatter and the terrified Lunix, unable to control his arm and his bionic eye, to move along with the swing. As the robotic arm screeched, it erupted with smaller explosions. The catastrophic scene in the courtroom played for a few seconds until the screeching stopped and the robotic arm stopped emitting sparks. The arm finally died.
"I… I… I was… I was supposed to head… spearhead… the robot project. It was… s-s-supposed to be m-me." His tired and still angry voice broke into the admission of his motive for murder. "I… I was the g-g-greatest e-ever. A-And being put in-into floor h-head meant that I… I wouldn't b-b-be able to t-t-touch a thing. And that k-kid… h-he was out f-f-for me!"
Prosecutor Angelique folded her arms. "Just so everyone knows, it was the defendant, Xeus Thinker, who recommended Lunix Metsys to be the floor head."
Lunix turned to Xeus slowly. "Xeus… y-you bastard." He started limping one step. "Xeus…" Another step. "XEEEEEEUUUUSSSSSSS!" Just as he was about to lunge on the defendant, another explosion rattled the courtroom.
His bionic eye exploded, sending Lunix unconscious as he toppled back to the shattered witness stand. The robotic arm, although severely damaged, made out a few more beeping sounds. "SHUTDOWN. SHUT… DOOOWW…"
The Judge shook his head. "It looks like World Programs Inc. will have to send payment to damage in properties."
Xeus laughed. "Don't worry, Your Honor. I'm sure my son will cover for that."
Mercury flinched. "D-D-Dad!"
The gallery erupted in a fit of giggles. Even Prosecutor Angelique couldn't hold back a small smile.
Two bailiffs rushed forward escorted the unconscious Lunix out of the courtroom. His bionic arm, although destroyed, was still emitting soft electrical sparks.
Prosecutor Angelique read a note, seemingly given to her by Detective Gumshoe before the trial resumed. "There is additional information on the victim. It would seem that the victim… was also one of those cyber-terrorists sent to sabotage the robot project. Whoever sent the victim to do so, we do not know. Yet, perhaps I will try to draw out some more information from Mr. Metsys, when the time comes."
Mercury took a deep breath. ("So Lunix knew that the victim was trying to sabotage the robot project. Did the case file in the victim's room confirm his worst suspicions? Could that be the motive? In any case, it's too early yet too convenient to say.")
The Judge asked Xeus to stand up. "Mr. Thinker, I must say that you must be very proud to have a son."
Xeus smiled. "And I was right to have his services."
Mercury was flushing in embarrassment. He could only hide his face with his palm. ("Just get it over with… before I go BSOD.")
"Anyway, that's that," finished the Judge. "And it is time for me to pronounce my verdict."
Prosecutor Angelique had no objections.
"This Court finds the defendant, Xeus Thinker…"
Not Guilty
At this declaration, the confetti dropped from the ceiling and showered over the defendant, who looked pleased and happy. Mercury was relishing in his first courtroom victory, with Athena looking delighted as well to have aided her services. Prosecutor Angelique, on the other hand, resumed her stoic expression she had at the start of the trial.
"That is all, this Court is adjourned."
September 20
District Court; Defendant Lobby No. 2
"Congratulations dad," Mercury said to his father when they saw each other in the defendant lobby. They graced the celebration with a hug.
Xeus chuckled. "I was never wrong to ask for your services, my boy. I am very, very proud of you."
Mercury couldn't help but beam on his father's freedom. A part of him, however, still became morose now that his Uncle Loonie was taken to jail.
"My boy, it is hard to admit what Lunix did," Xeus consoled his son. "Yet, you stood out and… oh!"
"Mr. Mercury Thinker," said a sharp voice.
Mercury and Athena turned around to see Prosecutor Seraph Angelique, a handbag over her shoulder.
"Prosecutor Angelique," Mercury started. His heart started racing.
The prosecutor walked forward until she was in front of Mercury and Xeus. When she arrived, she extended a hand. "Call me Seraph."
("Still with the stoic expression.")
Mercury was unsure at first if he should extend the courtesy to his adversary. However, his sense of professionalism and duty took over. He shook her hand.
"It would be interesting to work with you someday," she said. "That is, with your technological skills, you could help me with something."
Mercury raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Prosecutor Angelique smirked. "I'm impressed you managed to find out the presence of cyber-terrorists in this case."
("Is that praise I hear?")
"I cannot do this alone as an international prosecutor," she told him. "But it is my duty to find out the motives of this group who would want to unleash chaos."
Athena spoke up. "Why do you need Mercury's help?"
The prosecutor looked away. As she did, she took a deep breath as Mercury had been doing for many times in the trial. "There is a new case awaiting me. And I fear it will be something that I will not like. You are very much welcome to do battle again." She looked at Xeus and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Thinker." She congratulated him without even managing at least a smile.
With the vague answer and the rather glum message, Prosecutor Angelique turned around and left the defendant lobby, leaving Mercury and Athena alone.
"Seraph has motives of her own, huh," Mercury remarked. "What compelled her to do this anyway?"
"What do you mean?" Athena asked.
"I'm sure she also has her reasons," Xeus told them. "The fact that we are all together in this case means that… whatever happened a year ago isn't over yet."
("She's the prosecutor from that trial. Why would she want to prosecute this case, knowing that I was in it?")
At this point, Phoenix entered the defendant lobby as he was talking to someone in his phone. He seemed to be tense as he mumbled words to the person on the other end of the line.
("Wonder what's up with Mr. Wright.")
"All right, hang in there," he said and finished his call.
"What's that about, Mr. Wright?" Athena asked curiously.
Phoenix turned around and faced them with a grim look. "Looks like the situation's getting worse."
Mercury gasped. "W-What's happening?"
"It's chaos right now in Khura'in," he said.
"A-Apollo!" Athena said, shocked.
"Don't worry," Phoenix told her reassuringly. "Apollo, Nahyuta, and other brave souls are doing their best to hold the fort. But… they might not be able to do it for long."
"What exactly is happening?" Mercury asked.
Phoenix took a deep breath. "It looks like the chaos has begun."
September 21
Kingdom of Khura'in
The screams just wouldn't stop.
Apollo had the law office quickly boarded up when the chaos dramatically escalated. He could hear laser-like shots as if a war was going on, but he could not fathom the kind of destruction that was happening outside. Through the small window slits of his office, Apollo watched the Khura'inese citizens run through the streets while strange-looking men in blue-and-white clothing pursued them. They were holding strange handguns that shot out red beams of lasers, reminding Apollo of sci-fi space adventure flicks he used to watch with his best friend years ago in the Space Center. However, the horrifying reality was unfolding before him.
"Search the premises," one of the soldiers ordered. "It must be somewhere in this city."
And somewhere not very far off, someone was speaking through a megaphone. "People of Khura'in. We do not want to bring harm to you or your children. However, if you do not give us what we want, then you will leave us no choice."
Apollo was gritting through his teeth. ("Dammit. If only I could do something.")
The terrified voice squeaked under one of the desks in the office. "W-W-What's happening?"
"Just stay down," he told the terrified person. "If they get in, I'll reason with them."
Just as Apollo closed the folds, the door suddenly burst open and one of the warring soldiers entered the room. He pointed his laser gun at Apollo, who had his hands up.
"Where is it?"
Apollo had been in this situation before. However, the circumstances at present had changed, and he knew that this unnamed soldier would shoot him on sight if he didn't give them the answer. "W-What are you looking for?"
The soldier, impatient, loaded his weapon. "You know what landed here last night, don't you?"
"I'm afraid I don't have the slightest clue," he told the soldier, reasoning with him. He did his best to look clueless.
The soldier pointed the gun at Apollo for a few more seconds before he lowered it and left the office. Apollo took a deep breath.
"A-Are they gone?" squeaked the voice under the desk.
"For now," Apollo answered, careful not to be overheard. "Just stay down until I tell you to do so."
He quickly peered outside the office. The chaos was already focused on the other side of the bazaar, giving Apollo the opportunity to board up the office once more. He had never felt this tense and defenseless.
("Last night, something dropped from the sky on the outskirts of the city. Nahyuta and I investigated the incident, but the investigation turned out to be meaningless… until this happened. And right in the middle of a case, no less. Looks like it's going to be a very different day in the Justice Law Offices… while chaos continues to unfold in the streets.")
End
Author's Notes: And that's a wrap for Episode 2: Turnabout Technology. Yes, the motive is somewhat convoluted, but it'll make sense in the future episodes.
The final title for Episode 3 is "Passing of A Turnabout."
