Chapter 9: Finally pt. 1
4 months later
Date: October 16th, 2006
Time: 2:31 p.m.
Location: Wright & Co Law Offices
I learned back on my reclining chair and looked up at the fan that was inactive due to the colder weather. I had spent another 3 days at the Fey Manor with Maya and Pearls, as that incident had shaken me a little and made me worry for Maya's safety. But eventually Maya had insisted that she'll be fine and I should go home and work on Iris's sentence, so I returned to the Wright & Co Law Offices after that small trip without James. He had left earlier than I did. I was still pondering about the fight between James and the elders.
"I know he has many reasons justifiable to be angry but…" I thought. "He may be being a little bit harsh about this, even though he has a point…"
My thoughts were interrupted with the Steel Samurai ringtone blaring on my desk.
"Gah!" I gasped, and quickly sat up on my chair. I grabbed my cell phone and looked at the Caller ID, it was Larry Butz.
"Hello?"
"Yo Nick! What's up?" Larry's slang filled my cell.
"Not much." I replied feverishly. "Just reading myself for Iris's trial tomorrow."
"Oh yeah that's right man!" Larry boomed. "You're gonna free sweet Iris from her sentence tomorrow!"
Something in his voice told me he was gunning for Iris. Unfortunately for him, he was fighting a losing battle.
Well what Larry said was true. After many months of tough paperwork and many reports filed, I was finally going to earn a chance to free Iris from her sentence. It's a pretty simple trial, similar to the murder trials but less drastic. Edgeworth will not be the Prosecutor in that case, making the assumption pretty easy on who it's going to be.
"Yeah…" I replied. "So why'd you call me for?"
"I wanted to just ask how you were doing!" he said. "You haven't called me in weeks!"
I blinked. "He's right…I've been so caught up in the trial with Kristoph Gavin, the incident at Hazakura temple and Iris's sentence, I haven't really made any contact with anyone."
"Sorry Larry." I apologized. "I've been really busy with important stuff."
"Ah man you don't have to apologize, I understand!" Larry said. "But anyway, why don't we head out and get a burger? You've been working for quite a while."
"Well…I don't know Larry, I mean I still have a lot of work to do." I replied. "Plus I—"
My phone beeped; I had another caller waiting.
"Hang on Larry, gotta put you on hold." I said. I hit the talk button and switched to the other line.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Wright, hey there!" James's voice sounded.
"James! How are you?" I asked.
"Been better, I'm on vacation now so that's good."
I looked at the calendar. "Second week of October and he's on vacation?"
"Strange time to have off days huh?" James asked.
"Indeed…" I replied. "Anyway, I'm currently on the other line with Larry, I'll get back to you."
I switched back to Larry's call.
"Larry?"
"Yeah Nick?"
"I'm in." I confirmed.
"Alright!" Larry replied excitedly.
"Say, do you think I could bring a friend along?" I asked.
"Sure dude, as long as he's cool."
I shook my head. "Alright then…I'll meet you there."
"See ya dude!" Larry said, and then hung up.
I switched back to James's call and continued the conversation.
"Hey James, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" I asked.
"Well it's a small thing really." James said.
"Is it serious?" I asked worriedly.
"No not at all!" James assured. "Just—"
"Say, I'm heading out for burgers with Larry soon, you wanna come with me?"
"Sure! I'll head over to your office right now!" James said.
"You're alright with that?" I asked.
"Absolutely! I got nothing to do today anyway. Nothing new has sprouted up in that little incident back at the temple, so I'm free today."
"Alright, I'll see you soon."
I hung up the cell and stuffed by papers away. Even though I had been doing mountains of paperwork the last week, I felt strangely energetic and excited.
"Must be the fact that I can finally free Iris from her sentence." I thought cheerfully. "When I do set her free, things are gonna be so much better."
Date: October 16th, 2006
Time: 3:01 p.m.
Location: Burger Haven
"You excited about tomorrow Mr. Wright?" James asked as he took a bit out of his burger.
"Really excited, I mean everything I've been working for is about to pay off." I replied happily.
"Oh yeah man!" Larry said excited. "Oh sweet little Iris…"
I glared at Larry, knowing full well about that dumb "Laurice Deauxnim" thing and how he tried to lure Iris by stupidly writing a threatening letter to her so she's join him.
James raised an eyebrow. "Hate to be that guy, but you have no chance Larry."
Larry's head snapped towards the college student.
"W-what?" he stuttered. "And why's that?"
"No offense man, but I can tell you scare her. Plus I'm pretty sure she likes Mr. Wright."
I laughed inwardly. "Very perceptive, though maybe it was easy to figure out the 'scaring Iris' part."
"EH? OH not again! Come on are you serious now?" Larry asked
James shrugged. "You creep me out sometimes. I can only imagine what Iris thinks."
"Not funny!" Larry scolded, but I couldn't help but laugh at his sarcasm.
"Anyway." I changed the subject. "Knowing that Edg—"
As I was about to say "Edgeworth" my phone rang.
I looked at the caller ID, and lo and behold it was Edgeworth.
"Hello?"
"Wright." Edgeworth's voice filled the speaker.
"Hey Edgeworth." I answered. "What's up?"
"Pleasant time today Wright." The Prosecutor replied. "I have called you for news about tomorrow's case."
"Oh? What's it about?" I asked.
"First I need to ask you a question." Edgeworth replied. "What is your plan for tomorrow?"
"Just use what I have tomorrow, all the old evidence from that case, and win Iris out of her sentence." I said
"It's not going to be that easy." Edgeworth said solemnly. "Even if the Prosecutor is Payne. Remember this is a different case now and this isn't a murder trial. Iris is being tried on whether she deserves to be freed early from her sentence."
"True…" I thought. "I mean, it's pretty clear that Iris tampered with the crime scene at that case in Hazakura Temple, but there's also plenty of evidence that shows she did not do it by choice, or out of malice."
"I know that." I replied. "But there's plenty of evidence to confirm her as not a malicious criminal, just someone who was forced to follow orders."
"Well you are going to have to prove that tomorrow." Edgeworth said. "Anyway the reason I called you is to fill you in on the remaining details on tomorrow's case."
"Alright, what are they?" I listened.
"First of all, this case is picking off from where the last case with Maya and Godot left off." Edgeworth began. "Of course, Godot has already been sentenced, that's not the issue. The real issue is whether Iris acted out of free will to tamper with the crime scene after Misty Fey was killed. If she is found that she really did acted out of free will, then she will serve her full sentence in jail, but if you can prove her innocence, then that trial should release her."
"What do you mean 'free will?'" I asked, confused.
"Basically Payne is going to try to prove that Iris was an accomplice out of malice on her other than being forced to act on orders."
My grip on the phone tightened. "Malice? Never!"
"Malice? That's crazy!" I said angrily.
"I understand your annoyance, but that's what you'll have to fight against tomorrow. Do you have a partner?"
I nodded even though he couldn't see me nod.
"James is going to be in court with me tomorrow."
"Alright then, good luck tomorrow Wright."
"Thanks Edgeworth."
I hung up and looked at James, whose attention had shifted to me after he heard his name.
"Did you say my name?" James wondered.
"Yeah I did, just telling Edgeworth about you and tomorrow's case."
"Ah, that's right." James said. "You know, I've been reading up on that case today, and it blew my mind on all those terrible trials and tribulations that you and Godot had to go through."
"What about me?" Larry asked innocently.
"What about you?" James asked sarcastically. "Remember what I just said? You wrote a threatening letter to Iris and it ended up almost being phony evidence, plus you drew the bridge upside down while it was being burned! Might I also mention the 'my sweet Iris flew like the guy in the red underwear part'?"
"Hmph!" Larry crossed his arms and looked the other way.
I shook my head and looked at James.
It was tough, and it brought back some really bad memories that I thought I buried years ago."
James nodded in agreement. "Yeah Mia's second case. Well, I think we got everything we needed for tomorrow. You ready to stomp on Payne again?"
I laughed. "Always."
Date: October 17th 2006
Time: 9:51 p.m.
Location: District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 1
"Well, looks like it's that time again." I thought as I stood in the lobby waiting for Iris.
"As arrogant as I don't want to sound, I feel excited!" James piped next to me. "I mean, even though I'm 19 (James's birthday August 2nd), I can't help but feel really invigorated!"
"Hope that confidence carries out into the courtroom." I thought
"Feenie?" a soft voice spoke behind me.
I turned around, and saw Iris standing at the door of the lobby.
"Iris!" I called.
"Oh Phoenix!" she called back as she ran towards me. She pulled me into a deep hug and held on tight. I hugged her back, so glad that she was here.
After we stopped hugging, James walked up to us.
"Iris! So great to see you!" he said
"And you too James." Iris replied with a small smile.
Right then, the bailiff came up to us.
"The trial will start in 5 minutes, please enter the courtroom."
I turned to look at James, who looked at me.
Are you ready Mr. Wright?" James asked.
"Let's do this." I said strongly
And with that, we set off towards the trial.
Hey guys I'm back! Sorry for the wait, a lot happened to me in a few months, with schoolwork piling up much. Also, I'm going to tell you this now: The years are canon incorrect. I know that, but I've gone through 8 chapters now why change them? Besides, the years do not really take away from the story or make it all that important. Yes time does become an important factor in Apollo Justice, but the time skips will take the same amount of time as in the Ace Attorney series. Like it? Hate it? You decide!
