(A:N: Greetings! Let's do this before my brain blocks out the update. XD
Natekleh: It's called Punchout, yes I did. XD Best 10 bucks I spent.
technicolortardis: XD Yeah, he has another one to, which I'll say after this case. I fixed both errors, and I'm happy you're enjoying it!
Me: Alex, DISCLAIMERS! Alex: THE real assistant doesn't own Ace Attorney! Only Real Check and the crazed OC's she makes!)
Profiles
Trucy Wright: Age 16. My adopted daughter, she will be assisting me in this case for now.
Real Check: Age 18. The detective on this case. She seems a little aggressive towards us...
Macintosh Healer: Age 20. An upcoming boxer who is blamed for murder, I somehow never heard of this man until now...
Kev Meat: Age 27. The victim of this case. He was an actor about to show in a new Steel Samurai movie.
Prosecutor Versteckt: Age ?. A strange man with a strange get up. Seems to dislike Trucy for some reason... Can't judge him now though.
Evidence
Attorney's Badge: It feels good now that I have it back after all those years...
Autopsy Report: Cause of death was one bullet to the skull, killed instantly from a close distance due to the fact that he unwittingly shot himself.
Room Map: A map of the room the victim died in.
Key Data: A key is needed to open the room to the crime scene.
Strange Message: A message I found on the ground. Currently, it's in my pocket, I'm going to have to check it later for who's writing it is.
District Courthouse: Defense Lobby #1
January 27- 12:47 PM
Phoenix cracked his knuckles, trying not to show his worry in front of Macintosh, who was chewing on his straw, making deep teeth marks in it.
(Why is it, even after all these years, I still get nervous before each trial starts..?)
"Daddy!" Trucy ran into the room, an excited look on her face, her hat slightly tipped from her running to Phoenix. "Daddy, have you heard the news?" Phoenix put a hand to his chin in thought, "Is this good news..?" He slumped slightly, sweating a tiny bit, "... Or bad news?" Trucy smiled, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Guess!" Mac slapped his face, sighing in annoyance. "Just tell us!" Trucy pouted, looking towards Mac while Phoenix glared at the man. Mac held up his hands, his boxing gloves around his neck, he smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, but please tell us..." Trucy stopped pouting, but Phoenix kept glaring towards Mac. "Well, the people working here have installed some new tech for this case. It's to test it out, and if it works, they'll try installing it into other cases!" Phoenix stopped glaring at Mac to smile at Trucy. "That's wonderful Trucy! I can't wait to see this new tech! And sir..." He held a hand up towards the bailiff, who was about to inform Phoenix to get inside the courtroom doors. "I think we can go inside the court without the yelling." The bailiff nodded, smiling sheepishly before walking off. Phoenix turned towards Trucy, nodded, and then walked into the courtroom.
Trial day 1
All Rise
"Court is now in session for the trial of Macintosh Healer, is the defense ready?" Phoenix nodded his head towards the judge, who was looking down towards his desk. "Yes your honor." The judge nodded, looking towards the Prosecution's desk, where Versteckt stood. "... And you are..?" Versteckt smirked slightly, tapping his desk with his knuckles. "Your honor, it's the red button." The judge looked down surprised, and Phoenix saw him move his right arm slightly before a screen popped up in front of Phoenix, the judge, and prosecution. The judge nodded towards Versteckt. "Thank you sir. Are you ready Prosecutor Ver-Ver..?" Versteckt smirked slightly, leaning back against the wall behind him, crossing his arms. "It's Versteckt your honor." The judge nodded, trying to figure out how to make the screen go down. "Yes, now are you ready?" Versteckt nodded his head, looking towards Phoenix. "Get ready Wright, the play shall begin, titled 'From Boxer to inmate.' Ah yes, how tragic that tale will be..." Phoenix glared slightly at the man while Trucy eyed him in fascination. "Daddy, this man... He's giving off this strange vibe..."
(Was it the acting part or his getup?)
The judge cleared his throat, finally figuring out how to put the screen down. "Can the prosecution please give its opening statement?" Versteckt shrugged his shoulders, "I don't really see the point, but I'm sure Mr. Wright can." Versteckt laughed at his own joke before clearing his throat. Trucy eyed her father's hair, and sneakily leaned in his direction. She put a hand up, and tapped Phoenix's hair. "Wow Daddy, your hair is spiky!" Phoenix slumped over, feeling sweat coming down his face.
(Trucy, I know it's spiky. I also know it's not sharp...)
Versteckt began to fiddle with his right sleeve, rolling it up, then down as he spoke. "On January 25, at exactly 11:35 PM, Mr. Meat was shot in the skull, killed instantly. We can conclude that the three people there, the victim, defendant, and a witness, were playing a game. This game involved a gun. They were going to use powder for the game, but right before the game started, Mr. Healer swapped the ammo, replacing it with real bullets. With the evidence we found and about to be shown today, we will see the dramatic climax, and then the tragic ending." Phoenix rolled his eyes slightly at the little speech his opponent placed into the report. The judge, though, didn't seem to mind. "Alright then, may the Prosecution please call the detective to the stand?" Versteckt didn't move from his leaned back posture, he did thump the wall with his fist. "Check! Come here!"
(10 Minutes later)
Check stood behind the witness stand, quickly looking through her notes with her sunglasses in her pocket. Versteckt watched for a few minutes, slightly amused by Phoenix's confused look. "May the detective state her name for the record?" Real didn't respond, then grabbed her sunglasses out of her pocket. She placed them on as she looked up towards the judge. "My name is Real Check. I'm a detective." The judge nodded his head, looking towards the holographic screen once more. "Can you please testify about your findings?" Real nodded, taking a pen out of her pocket and chewing it slightly.
Witness Testimony
-What we have found-
"It was quiet easy to access the crime scene due to one witness helping us. What happened was this, we opened the door to see the victim, Kev Meat, on the floor, dead. He was holding the gun in his right hand, and it was pointing towards his skull. We arrested Mr. Healer on account of two things. One was a witness testimony claiming that he swapped the powder for real ammo. And another fact was his motive."
Phoenix put a hand to his chin in thought before slamming his desk. "HOLD IT! What exactly was Mac's motive?"
"OBJECTION! For someone of your experience Wright, you don't really look that deep..." Versteckt flicked his right wrist up, causing a holographic screen to appear. "The motive was a little mishap of course. Two weeks ago, the defendant lost in a poker match against the victim, nothing wrong with that. Except later on, the defendant found out a very important fact." Versteckt flicked his right wrist again, making a document appear on the holographic screen. "Let us ask ourselves, how did Mr. Meat get so much money to begin with? He was pretty wealthy before he even started acting, which is strange since he came from a poor family."
(Is he taking this where I think he's taking this?)
Versteckt formed his right hand into a fist, and slammed his right arm against the desk. "Why he cheated of course!" A large group of people began to murmur, disturbed by the thought that an actor would stoop to such a thing. "OBJECTION! You have no proof to back up your theory Mr. Versteckt!"
"OBJECTION!" Versteckt leaned back against the wall again, a small smirk on his face. "We found this inside that hidden safe. I believe you already knew the table was a safe, considering your daughter asked me for info regarding the table." Phoenix looked towards Trucy, who smiled slightly. "You never asked me who I got info from!" Phoenix sighed, placing his head in his hands. Versteckt watched the two interact with curiosity, he then shook his head. "As I was saying, we found this inside the table safe." He flicked his wrist again, and a document appeared on the screen. "This is a brief collection of Mr. Meat's past payments to the casino. Now tell me, what's the thing that strikes you odd about this?" Phoenix looked over the list before seeing the problem. "I see now, he asked for a waiter to show him the guns for Russian Roulette. Except, he already knew the guns wouldn't go off. Why would he do that?" Versteckt smiled slightly, looking towards Mac. "The man saw it. He saw the defendant swap the ammo." The courtroom almost exploded from the gallery's sudden outburst. The judge banged his gavel multiple times to quiet everyone down. "Well, that's quiet interesting. Mr. Wright, would you like to call the next witness, or to cross examine the detective?" Phoenix put a hand to his chin in thought.
(Should we cross examine the detective? There seemed to be some questionable lines she didn't rehearse...)
Phoenix nodded his head, smiling a tiny bit. "Of course I will. Let's begin, shall we." Versteckt smirked slightly, nodding his head. "May act one, scene one, begin!"
Cross Examination
-Wright VS Versteckt-
"It was quiet easy to access the crime scene due to one witness helping us." Phoenix put a hand to his chin in thought, Trucy watching him in a stressed manner. "What's wrong Daddy? Did you find something fishy in her testimony?" Phoenix stood still, then nodded his head slowly. "A little thing, but then again..." Phoenix tapped his desk with his pointer and middle finger, bringing up the holographic screen. "HOLD IT!" Phoenix put a hand to his chin in thought for a moment. "Can you go into deeper depth as to how you got to the crime scene?" Real nodded, checking her trench coat's pockets. "Yeah, the staff member gave us a key. She was a guard..." She then checked her pants pockets frantically. Phoenix began to notice her frantic movement. "Uhm, what are you looking for detective?" Real looked towards Phoenix, then towards Versteckt. "I think I lost... Wait a minute..." She saw Trucy tipping her hat over her face, hiding a slight smile. "Did you take it?" Trucy shook her head, holding up the key. "I borrowed it from you." Real rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "No you didn't." The judge blinked in surprise. "Didn't what?"
"Let her borrow the key."
"You didn't?"
"No." Trucy nodded her head, smiling slightly. "You did." Versteckt held a hand to his mouth, covering a little smile on his face. "OBJECTION! Let's continue, it doesn't matter."
(Well, at least we learned the door was locked...)
*Door info added to the court record*
The judge looked towards Phoenix, a slight frown on his face. "Is that all Mr. Wright? Or do you want to still carry out the Cross Examination?" Phoenix shook his head, then put his hands to his hips, smiling. "No your honor, can the prosecution please call their next witness?" Versteckt leaned back against the wall, slamming the wall again with his fist. "Mr. Chance, come to the witness stand!"
(10 minutes later)
A man wearing a red, sleeveless shirt and black pants appeared. His black hair was slicked back into a small ponytail. His hands were behind his back, looking around the room in an amused fashion. Versteckt smiled, leaning his head back to face the ceiling. "Witness, name, occupation." The man didn't answer, he looked right at Phoenix. "You." Phoenix frowned slightly, looking a bit shocked. "M-me?" The man nodded, reaching into his left pocket, pulling out a small rectangle. "Yes you." He flicked it, revealing it to be a knife. "Care for a gamble?" Phoenix shook his head, his one hair bang swinging. "No sir!" Versteckt, for the first time, frowned, slamming the desk with his arm, fist clenched. "Witness, state your name and occupation!" The man smirked, placing his hand on the witness stand. "My name is Skenz Chance. Call me Skinny. I was the defendant's and victim's friend, I'm also a part time waiter at the casino."
(You're anything but skinny.)
Versteckt stood up straight, smiling slightly, "He witnessed the gun swap, and was one of the first people to see the shooting." The judge's eyes widened, nodding his head. "That's quiet decisive, do you mind testifying?" Skinny nodded his head, outlining his hand with his knife against the wood. "Sure, why the heck not?"
Witness Testimony
-I Did Something Wrong?-
"Ten minutes before we walked into the private room, Big wanted to see the gun. I walked into the gun storage room to see Mac there. He was holding a gun in his hand, and there was a white substance on his hand. I actually thought he was someone else for a second really, so I didn't say anything. Now, after the crime, I ran outside, hoping to call the police as soon as possible."
The judge nodded his head as Skinny finished his testimony. "I see, if this is true, I'll have to choice but to hand down my verdict..."
"OBJECTION!" Your honor, we haven't even Cross Examined the witness! At least let me do that before saying Mac's guilty." The judge looked surprised for a second before nodding. "My apologies, the defense may Cross Examine the witness."
Cross Examination
-Wright VS Versteckt-
"Ten minutes before we walked into the private room, Big wanted to see the gun." Phoenix put a hand to his chin in thought, thinking over what Skinny said. "HOLD IT! Did he tell you why he wanted to see the gun?" Skinny raised his knife, pointing it towards Phoenix. "No, he said nothing. He just came up to me an demanded to see the gun..." He then raised the knife, pointing it towards his chin. "Wait a minute... I think I know... It's because of Mac..." Phoenix sighed, a bit afraid of what he'll say next. "Uhm... What did he say?" Skinny smiled, beginning to outline his hand with the knife again. "He said that he was afraid, afraid of Mac extracting revenge on him because of the poker match."
(Oh god...)
Versteckt smiled slightly, facing the ceiling again. "Can the witness continue? We already established the motive, thank you very much." Skinny scowled, he stopped moving the knife. "Fine then."
"I walked into the gun storage room to see Mac there. He was holding a gun in his hand, and there was a white substance on his hand." Phoenix tapped his desk again with his right hand's pointer and middle finger.
(I shouldn't press further into those details, I don't want to make Mac's situation worse...)
"I actually thought he was someone else for a second really, so I didn't say anything." Phoenix looked over towards the screen, looking through all the evidence. "HOLD IT! How come you didn't recognize him? He was a close friend of yours after all." Nobody answered, Skinny looked towards Versteckt, who was still looking at the ceiling. The judge looked towards Versteckt, "Any objections?" Versteckt stood up straight, looking towards Phoenix. "... Objection."
(This seems oddly familiar.)
"Your honor, the prosecution would like to submit this blue hoodie to the court record, also this photograph." The judge nodded, signaling Versteckt to scan the hoodie and picture with some kind of rectangular device.
*Crime scene photo and blue hoodie added to the court record*
The judge looked at the picture, then the hoodie. "Isn't the man in the photo wearing the hoodie?" Phoenix looked towards the picture. It had a man, laying on the ground with one hole in his forehead. His blue eyes were covered by some lengthy, blond hair. The man though, was indeed wearing the blue hoodie. Phoenix looked at the picture in mild curiosity. Versteckt shrugged, placing his hands in his pockets. "That's the thing, the defendant, when swapping the guns, was wearing the victim's hoodie."
"OBJECTION!" Phoenix slammed his desk, frowning. "Then why would the defendant put the hoodie on the victim?"
"OBJECTION! Hmph, that's funny... You haven't placed any pieces together? It's simple, he attempted to cover his tracks. When the witness left the room, the defendant was alone with the dead body, so he took off the hoodie, and placed it on the victim. We found out he used it from the powder on the sleeves of course..." He smirked, leaning back against the wall. "That good enough for you?" Phoenix shook his head, "I just have one question. It's for the witness." Skinny smiled, pointing his knife towards Phoenix. "Yeah man, what's up?"
"Was Mr. Sprint wearing the hoodie while you three were in that room?" Skinny placed his knife between each finger gap, going around in a circle. "W-well, he wasn't..." Phoenix slammed his desk, glaring towards Versteckt. "There! That destroys the defendant in the hoodie theory!"
"OBJECTION! The table safe. He hid it in the table safe." Phoenix stood still before he slouched forward, a small frown on his face. "Can we continue..?" Trucy stared at her father in shock. "We're just gonna let that go Daddy?" Phoenix shook his head, standing straight.
(For now, yes. But we're gonna rip that theory apart later.)
"Now, after the crime, I ran outside, hoping to call the police as soon as possible." Phoenix looked over the statement a few times before looking towards the holographic screen.
(I think we just found the start of our counter attack!)
Phoenix slammed his desk, a small smile on his face. "OBJECTION! Mr. Chance, it's not nice to lie!"
"OBJECTION! What has he lied about? If anything, you should be held in contempt for not knowing most facts about this case!"
"OBJECTION! I'm talking about one little fact Mr. Chance hasn't mentioned. Mainly, this." Phoenix pressed a button on the holographic screen, projecting the door's data. "TAKE THAT! It's quiet interesting really. Mr. Chance, did you lock the door after you left the room?" Skinny began to sweat slightly, moving the knife faster. "N-no." Phoenix slammed the desk, smiling. "You see, it could have been easy for the defendant to escape, but instead, he didn't take that chance to escape!" Versteckt yelped, placing a hand to his mask as he stepped back. "Preposterous! That's absolute nonsense! Who would lock the door then?" Phoenix smiled, putting his hands to his hips. "The question should be answered with another question. Where was the key found?" Versteckt leaned on his desk, gripping it slightly. He gritted his teeth, "It was found in the game room..." The courtroom exploded in murmurs, it took the judge a few minutes to silence the courtroom. "Order in the court! It seems we may need to investigate a little longer. Is that alright with the prosecution and defense?" Phoenix smiled, nodding his head. "Yes your honor." The judge looked towards Versteckt, who was still gritting his teeth, glaring hatefully towards Phoenix. "Yes... Your honor..." The judge banged his gavel against the desk. "Court will reconvene tomorrow. I'd like two questions answered by then. Why did Mr. Sprint lock the door? And what happened to that hoodie?"
District Courthouse: Defense Lobby #1
January 27-2:35 PM
Phoenix stared aghast at the wall clock.
(We were in that room for almost 2 hours?!)
Trucy tugged on her father's arm. "C'mon Daddy! We need to investigate the crime- Oh, it's you!" Trucy looked surprised towards the doorway, there the stood Prosecutor Versteckt. The man smirked slightly, walking towards the father daughter duo. "Mr. Wright, it's been fun. But I believe tomorrow will be, how should I say this? Different, yes, that's it." He then laughed slightly, his raspy voice not fitting his lighthearted laugh.
(I think now is the time to ask questions about this guy.)
"Mr. Versteckt, do you mind if I ask a question?" Versteckt shrugged his shoulders, "Depends, although, that was one." Phoenix ignored the pun, putting a hand to his chin in thought. "Who exactly are you? I've never heard of you until this very day." Phoenix wasn't expecting what happened next. Versteckt looked down, his mouth held into a tight frown. "To tell you the truth..." Everything around Versteckt became dark, chains blocking him off from Phoenix. Five pitch black locks were on the chains. "I don't even know..."
(Oh god, these locks, bearing a truth that even maybe the liar is unaware of. I've seen these locks twice before, only breaking one set. They were the most difficult thing I've ever seen, and breaking these, to me, will probably affect him in a bad way...)
Trucy looked curiously at Versteckt, ignoring the horrified look on her father's face. "What do you mean you don't know?" Versteckt shrugged, closing his eyes behind his mask. He placed his hands in his suit pants pockets. "That's all I can say. I don't..." He grimaced slightly, frowning as he put a hand to his skull. Trucy gasped, holding her hand to her mouth, Phoenix watched as the locks faded away. "Mr. Versteckt, are you okay?" Versteckt stood up straight, reaching into a pocket inside his jacket. "I'm perfectly fine, excuse me..." Without another word, he ran off towards the outside doors, quickly running off. Phoenix looked after the man, a slight frown on his face.
(I'll have to ask Edgeworth about him later. For now, we need to find out info about this case...)
(A:N: There we go! That's it until the next update! I hope you all enjoy, this is one of my favorite chapters to type. Well, R&R, and remember, your flames warm my family!)