Disclaimer: I don`t own the Sonic series. I don`t own Ventuss, who is sprx`s OC. Thanks to him for spell-checking, proof-reading and detail-adding work.
Chapter 3
An emerald green hedgehog with long quills that went a little passed the middle of her back and blue ocean eyes was standing in the office. She was in a typical set of khaki pants and a plain tee shirt. She didn't appear to be much for fashion. A black jacket was even being worn, meaning this must be some casual attire. Despite that, her plain attire wasn't enough to hide her more distinguishing features, like her eyes, and the air of minor superiority that she seemed to have with her.
"Alexis? Alexis?" Oxen snapped his fingers just in front of the cop`s face. Alexis shook his head.
"Huh? What?" Alexis said, snapping back to reality. He was just surprised that the JAG attorney was a woman. Considering that the JAG is the army`s lawyer association, he was sure it would actually be a guy. But women can do just any job they want to do, right? After all, there were policewomen in Four-Lakes` Police Department.
"Hi, I am Second Lieutenant Ventuss," the green hedgehog said, walking toward the coyote. Alexis gave a salute after hearing the rank, but she moved the hand and went for a hand shake. A tad bit unusual for a military lawyer.
"I'm Alexis. Your name reminds me of something in a video game, but I can't seem to put my finger on it…"
"My parents really liked video games, and they feminized a name that belonged to a male character in a large RPG series. In fact, it suits me well."
"I got to agree on that, miss Ventuss," Alexis added.
"Call me Ven outside of court. I`m not even in my attorney attire yet."
Alexis scratched the left side of his head from behind with his right hand, and asked: "But where are you living at during the time you`re here?"
"The JAG is renting to me a hotel room for the whole time I will be here," she answered.
Oxen, annoyed by this English-spoken dialog, snapped them back to reality. "We got a case to complete, remember? Sonic`s trial begins today at 3:00 PM! It`s already noon, and it takes two hours to get to the court, in Station Square!"
"Why the hell has it to happen in Station Square anyway? Alexis asked. "I mean, we got one here, right?"
"Think about it, Sherlock. Sonic has enough troubles understanding us in French, let alone speaking it to explain his version of the story," Oxen explained. "If he tries explaining it all in French, he will just trip over his own words."
"He's got a point there, mister Alexis," Ventuss said.
"Just Alexis will be fine," Alexis corrected. "By the way, Shadow should be coming in with a few pieces of evidence."
"So That`s where Shadow the hedgehog was! I always wondered why he wasn`t working under Sonic."
"He`s too proud to work under his rival, Ven," Alexis hypothesized. "Besides, I think we need to head to Station Square right now. I don`t think it would be great for Sonic if his attorney was late, huh?"
Shadow arrived right there in Oxen`s office with the crown, the sceptre and the letter. "Alexis, Sonic`s trial begins in three hours, we got to go now! Hey, who`s that girl?"
"…Sonic`s JAG attorney."
"Oh, by the way, I was brought here to meet the detectives in charge of the case, and to pick up the evidence. But I don`t have any way to travel to Station Square. I came here from the docks in a cab. If one of you would like to drive me to the great city, it would be very appreciated," Ven said.
"Well, I can drive you there," Shadow offered. "I know Station Square pretty well; I can send you directly to the court."
"Never mind Shad, I will," Alexis replied. "For the investigation, we used your car. I got to use my Sonix Aero 3250."
"Oh Alexis, Is your car a brand new one?" Ven asked.
"Yeah, the last one got blown up by a witness murderer. Anyway, please follow me; I will escort you to the court."
"I hope you got better driving skills than before," Shadow said, smirking.
"I`ll be careful, man. I will be driving an important person to her workplace. It`s thanks to her that Sonic can be declared not guilty, she has to stay alive!"
"I`ll bring the evidence there in my own car then," Shadow said.
"I`m hearing you two," Ventuss told them. She followed them to Alexis` car. "And I`d prefer to arrive earlier, and in one piece. I have an attorney three-piece suit to put on once there…" She didn't seem too happy about that last statement.
"Okay. One lady attorney on the go!" Alexis said, embarking behind the steering wheel, at the same time unlocking the passenger door. Ventuss entered the Sonix Aero and buckled her seatbelt. Alexis then drove off toward the court located in Station Square. Alexis changed the radio channel to one where rock music could be heard.
Two hours later, both finally arrived at Station Square`s Courthouse. Ventuss hurried to the closest bathrooms to change into her attorney suit, which she really disliked because of its only colors being black and white, it also had her rank which was a gold bar and a few ribbons and medals from her work (on the other hand, any other color would not look too serious for an attorney suit).
Shadow entered the place with the numerous pieces of evidence: Sonic`s crown and sceptre, the letter, both cell phones and Sonic`s wallet.
"Thanks for bringing them here, Shadow," Ventuss told the black hedgehog. "I`ll have them on my side. I hope I can get Sonic out of trouble today. Tomorrow at best. And if I can't, well, shame on me."
"Any idea on who will represent the prosecution?" Shadow asked. He looked around the lobby. Aside from other witnesses, there were not many people. As for whoever looked like an attorney, there was Ven and a green bird. He looked weirdly familiar but was also kinda different at the same time… he had two large tufts of feathers over the head, and those resembled hair in the way they were placed. He also had a tail of feathers protruding from behind, through a small hole in his prosecutor pants. He was also wearing the complete clothing for a prosecutor, but he had added a red bandana to the clothing, although he wore it around the neck, and he also had red shoes.
"I got a feeling that the court is gonna be real green," Shadow said with irony. "Mostly if that guy is doing the prosecution." He pointed toward the bird.
"Him? That's Bean the Dynamite," Ven said. "I heard he was a rather good prosecutor, when he wasn`t gone on a rant about explosives." She chuckled. "People say he was bizarre when he was young, he wanted to be a bomber or anything related to explosives. But when he matured, he really got the likes for justice, although he kept his… booming personality."
"I have read Sonic will be judged by Gavel. He`s a real old hedgehog – I think it`s like, the first time I see a hedgehog with a moustache – and he likes to slam his gavel on the desk."
"Talk about a predestined name to become a judge," Alexis remarked. "Anyway, it`s about time to enter the court."
Judge Gavel knocked his desk with the small hammer. "Now begins the trial of Sonic the Hedgehog for the murder of Quadrina. Is the attorney ready?"
"Yes, Your Honour," Ventuss answered.
"Care to remind me your name, miss…"
"Ventuss, Your Honour."
"I don`t remember seeing you in Station Square," Gavel said.
"I'm not from here, I'm a JAG attorney. This case involves King Sonic, and my job is to help prevent international tensions from rising because of that problem. No one wants a war to happen between Station Square and Robotropolis," she explained.
"Ah, okay. Is the prosecution ready to refute?" the judge asked.
"Yes sir!" the green bird from before said. "Bean the Dynamite's in the place, and he`s gonna blow your minds!"
Gavel coughed. "Yes, yes. But blowing stuff is not the point here. You need to look for the truth and the truth only. You should have left your dynamite at home."
"But I'm a Dynamite! The kind of bird, y`know…"
"Yes, yes, I know. Please get ready for today's case, which seems rather complicated. Let the defendant enter."
Sonic entered. He was wearing handcuffs. Without his crown, his sceptre, and his fur cape, he looked just like the 15 years old Sonic, only almost twice older.
"Decline your name, age and occupation," Gavel asked.
"Sonic the Hedgehog, 29 years old, King of Robotropolis, married to Queen Sally Acorn."
"Lots of important stuff! You're a lucky hog, man!" Bean yelled.
"Um… thanks?" Sonic said.
"Can we start?" Ventuss asked. "I have a job to do, and it requires this trial to begin."
"Do you have the pieces of evidence on your side?" Judge Gavel asked.
"Yes, Your Honour."
"Use them well!" Bean commented. "`Cause today, I`ll be your worst enemy."
"You wouldn`t dare, would you?" Ven yelled.
"You betcha!" Bean answered on the same volume.
"Silence in the court!" Gavel yelled, slamming the gavel on his desk. "Silence in the court! Someone might hear us. Let us hear the facts, prosecutor Bean."
"So, King Sonic is suspected in having killed Quadrina, one of his biggest fans. She has been seen around him during a ball held at the Showtel in Four-Lakes. She was nagging him constantly, and she ran to her room after he insulted her. After giving a short speech in French, he spoke to someone on his cell phone and left to the first floor. Do you have a hypothesis, Miss Ventuss?" Bean asked.
"How about giving your own idea first?" Ventuss replied with another question. Sonic looked very embarrassed as he knew Bean didn`t really like him.
"My idea? Well, detective Shadow the Hedgehog has let me have a look at all the clues before the trial."
"Damn!" Alexis muttered. "We`re dead." He was watching the trial through a big television in the lobby.
"Laws are laws, man," Shadow added. "I had no choice. In Station Square, the prosecution can have a look at any clue if he wants to. Shut up and listen."
"Well…" Bean began. "My idea is that King Sonic had another woman in his life – Quadrina, of course. He was afraid that Sally would find out. He wrote to her a letter explaining they were breaking up. Quadrina, angry, decided to expose their secret. She kept being near him when he was walking through the crowd. He got mad and yelled at her, so she ran away crying. After he finished his speech, he spoke to an unknown someone on the phone. The only thing he said was "Procedure 1-4-3". He was talking to Quadrina, it meant he was going to see her again despite his rough attitude. He went to her room and, Ka-Boom! He killed her. Then, he ran back to his room, since he was fast enough to be there before the people who heard the scream arrive upstairs."
Sonic shook his head. "That`s ridiculous! I didn`t even know that girl`s name until five minutes ago!"
It was totally stupid. Ven didn`t believe such a crazy idea. But it sounds like Bean was convinced it was reality. She had to prove he was wrong by using the clues. "Why don`t we ask Sonic his version then?" she suggested.
"Agreed. Hearing the accused`s version would clear many points. Or darken them more. In any case, Sonic shall be heard. If you please, King Sonic, we will listen to your testimony."
"Okay," Sonic said before taking long breaths. "I swear it to you that I have never seen that girl in my life! It was my second time in Four-Lakes, and I`m guessing she was from there. I have never written any letter to her, nor have I spoken to her! The only time I did was to tell her to get away, because she was getting way annoying. I mean, come on! I`m a married hedgehog, I even have a child! I just had to be part of that ball, speak to the people, and then leave a few days after that ball!"
Bean rubbed the under of his beak (a few feathers from his neck protruded to look like a small beard goat) and chuckled. "Fine, King Sonic. We believe you on that one. But! What about the letter?"
"Which letter?" Sonic asked, not knowing what Bean meant.
"The letter that has been found in Quadrina`s room, duh! It has handwriting perfectly similar to yours! Ka-Boom!" Bean said in a triumphant tone. "Ven, hand it to him."
Ven did so. Sonic read through the letter, and his face changed from surprised to scared. "…That`s… that`s really my handwriting! But… but someone might have copied it!"
"Impossible," Bean said. "Like you said, it was only your second time in Four-Lakes. You haven`t spent enough time there for someone to see you writing anything that long and be able to copy your handwriting." Bean laughed. "You rigged your own bomb!"
Ven smirked. "Nice play with the expression "digging your own tomb", prosecutor Bean. But Sonic is right. Someone might have copied his writing. Who knows, maybe something handwritten by Sonic has been brought here, and someone used it to copy his writing style." Ven took back the letter. "You know what? It proves nothing… for now. But I do have one or two questions to ask King Sonic." She turned to Sonic, who felt pitiful on the chair where the accused person sit. "Please tell me, King Sonic. You say the only time you have spoken to her is when you told her to get away, right?"
"Totally. I mean, she was even more annoying than Amy Rose was when I was 15! And I don`t like girls who keep sticking around me just because I`m a hero or a star… That`s partly why I refused to be with Amy. The second reason is that, if I had begun dating Amy, she would have been targeted by Eggman`s attacks. And although she was annoying, I would never want her to be harmed. But that squirrel girl was far more annoying, and though there was no danger – or so I thought – I still didn`t want such a crazed fan following me everywhere." Sonic had said that with the most sincere tone Ventuss had heard in a long time in a courtroom from a suspected person.
"That explains more than enough. Now, second question. Why was this ball made for, exactly?"
"Well, I had to talk affairs with a rich owner based in Four-Lakes. He needed my help to get money for the construction of a building that reminded of Robotropolis`. You do know Robotropolis isn`t really close to here, and I knew I had to stay away for a few days. I invited some of my friends, and v-mailed to others who had decided to stay and live in Station Square, and told them that, to celebrate my second visit to Four-Lakes, I was preparing a ceremony in the hotel I had rented a room in. Of course, I had paid rooms to all my friends who had followed me."
"Well, that explains enough, right?" Bean said. "Now that we got that straight in the picture, how about checking the other details and correcting them?" Bean rubbed again his green goat as if he was thinking. "Tell us about the night`s events."
"Fine…" Sonic said. He thought about what he was going to say, and began. "At first, I was walking through the crowd, thanking the people of Four-Lakes for their hospitality. Then, the squirrel girl arrived, and was nagging me, so I insulted her – I`m not too proud of it. Anyway, I had to make a speech soon, so I walked to the stage and spoke. When it was over, I called someone on my cell phone and then, I left back toward my room to rest. That`s just minutes after that I heard the scream."
"Ready for cross-examination, miss Ventuss?" Judge Gavel asked.
"I am, Your Honour," the JAG attorney answered. "So, King Sonic, you do mention that, after your speech, you dialled a number and spoke to someone on your cell phone. Can you tell us, once again, what did you say?"
"…well, the only thing I said was "Procedure 1-4-3". No hello, no goodbye, not even any name mentioned."
"Ka-Boom!" Bean yelled. "You say 1-4-3, so, it's something like a hundred and forty-three, right?"
"Why, I guess so…" Sonic said.
"Well, didn't you know that 143 is the number of love?"
"OBJECTION!" Ven yelled, surprising everyone in the courtroom by her decibels. "This affirmation has nothing to do with the case at hand!"
"In fact, it could," Bean answered. "The number 143 represents the number of letters in the words forming the expression "I love you". I, one letter. Love, four letters. You, three letters. However, we have three options. The first option is that Procedure 143 means, indeed, "I Love You", and he was speaking to Quadrina, telling her he was coming to see her at her room; the second option is that he WAS saying "I Love You", but his call was directed to Sally Acorn; Finally, it is possible that 143 represents here something totally different, although we don`t know what yet. What is your pick, lady Ventuss?" Bean asked mischievously. "Watch out not to end up on a bombardment spot!"
Ven thought for a few seconds. "I`ll take a risk. Let`s say it means something totally different. Am I right, King Sonic?"
"You are!" Sonic screamed. "I didn`t know about the fact that 1-4-3 was the number of love. But how did you guess?"
"Well, I deducted that you were not speaking to Quadrina, since you claim of not knowing her. I also deducted that you certainly weren`t speaking to your wife Sally. If you were, then why add "Procedure" before the number? And besides, when speaking to your wife, you would have said much more than just that," Ventuss explained, clearly proud of her deduction skills, which nearly matched a detective`s. Sonic nodded to all that.
"Hey, she`s excellent at deduction!" Alexis said, raising his two thumbs toward the screen thanks to which he and Shadow were watching the trial.
"She`s an attorney, she has to be deductive at points," Shadow added. "Come on, Alexis, it`s impossible for idiots to become lawyers. What did you think anyway?"
"Please tell us, Sonic," Bean began, "what does "Procedure 1-4-3" means anyway? Oh, and who were you talking to?"
Sonic gulped. "I was speaking to Tails. He`s kind of my second-in-command. He`s the one leading the troops when I`m too busy. He is also the one in charge if security. As for procedure 1-4-3, the 1 means "possible witnessing", the 4 means "very possible danger", and 3 refers to "an old threat". We have a whole code like this."
"So you say you might have witnessed a very possible danger from an old threat?" Bean asked, mixing the three affirmations.
"Why, it makes sense!" Ventuss yelled. "He was speaking to the crowd. Thus, he could see everyone in the room! If anyone reminded him too much of an old enemy of his, and it looked really suspicious, he just had to call Tails and he would make sure to stop said threat!"
"You got it, Ventuss," Sonic said. "It`s that simple. Well, I hope it clears up that mysterious phone call."
"It sure does!" Bean said. "That`s vital information! Come to think of it, now the trial is open to suspicion on about every single enemy Sonic has had in the past! Who was it exactly, Sonic?"
"I… I`m sorry… I can't say it," Sonic said. "Like I said, I POSSIBLY witnessed someone dangerous. It might not be him or her. And it would be unfair to arrest someone innocent only because that Mobian looks like an old enemy of mine, and I don`t want anything like that to happen."
"Yeah, that sure wouldn't be too great…" Ventuss commented. "My last question for now: When you left toward your room, did anything happen?"
"No, nothing," Sonic said. "I just climbed the staircase and walked toward the Suite I had reserved, which is Room 101. I slipped in my bed and tried to drift to sleep, but it didn`t work. Just minutes later I heard that scream. But I was way closer to the crime scene than everyone else. Let me tell you, that squirrel got chords of steel. …anyway, I was still in my bed when people rushed to the first floor. Why did I get arrested? I really have no clue. Just what could lead people to think I was in her room?"
"Do I have a piece of evidence or a reasoning to explain it?" Ventuss thought. "I shouldn`t be ruining my own client, mostly because he is Sonic, legendary hedgehog… but I can`t seem to find any way to explain this without evidence…" She looked at the evidence she had on her side, and she found out what she could present. She took the sceptre and the crown and raised them so that everyone could see them. "Those two items were found under Quadrina`s bed, in her room. I guess someone looked there and found those two objects and reported you to the police."
"WHAT?" Sonic yelled. "How could my crown and my sceptre end up in that girl`s room?"
"Ka-BOOM!" Bean yelled in a triumphant tone. "Now, that`s the greatest clue ever! Ventuss, you just rigged your own bomb!" He laughed out loud. "NOW, SONIC! Prove to us that everything you said earlier wasn`t lies. Do you even think you can do it? That`s perfect proof against you, and it jeopardizes everything else you have said until now!"
Sonic was trembling. He was sweating bullets, and he was extremely scared. Ventuss could see he was trying to find an answer to this dare Bean had just thrown to him. After long seconds of an awkward silence, Sonic took deep breaths and answered. "I never did it. I have no clue how this crown and this sceptre could end up under her bed, but I never did it."
"Then, what were your two items doing under Quadrina`s bed?" Bean asked.
"I have no idea! But I have something to admit. When I was walking through the crowd, I wasn't wearing my real crown nor holding my real sceptre," Sonic admitted.
"Why?" Ventuss asked.
"Just imagine that I would be wearing my real crown and my real sceptre, and suddenly somebody steals them from me. What the hell would I do?" Sonic asked. "Chase the robber? Report to the police? Any idea is too risky. Thus, when I have to go in crowded places, instead of wearing my real crown and my real sceptre, I actually wear tin copies. It`s just tin with gold paint on it, and the stones are fake. The illusion is perfect. And whenever I want to know which one is the real, I scratch a little bit of paint, and if I see a grey color under it, then it`s the fake item."
"You`re full of resources," Bean noted. "It`s very smart of you, it`s a very bright idea. How did you get it?"
"Tails did. He`s an excellent strategist. As of now I have never won a game against him at Risk, when we`re playing during peaceful times in Robotropolis. Anyway, that night, during the ball, when I was walking in the crowd, I was wearing those fake items," Sonic explained. "I was wearing them during my speech as well. Then, I left for my room. Nothing special happened during that time…" Sonic felt uneasy all of a sudden.
"You have a suspicious face right now, King Sonic," Bean said. "Are you SURE you`re not hiding anything?"
"OBJECTION!" Ventuss said. "Don`t press further on my client. It`s my job to cross-examine a testimony. Let me do my job!"
"Objection accepted," Gavel said. "You can press on the accused, miss Ventuss."
"Thanks, Your Honor. So, Sonic, you say nothing special happened. Can you explain to us why you don`t look so sure about it?"
"Uh… …well, nothing happened to me. But when I entered my room, I didn`t find my real crown and my real sceptre. At first, I thought that I had just put them somewhere else. When I heard the scream, I had no idea what was going on. I stayed in my bedroom, because I knew people would go see what was going on. It would have been even riskier that someone would enter my suite and steal something, like my wallet or one of my cell phones. I stayed in my bed, under the covers, as if nothing has happened. I had my eyes open, so I looked around the room, and, to my great fear, my crown and my sceptre were gone. Only the fake ones were there."
"So you say they had been stolen before you entered your room?" Bean asked.
"Well, that`s it," Sonic answered. "And they could have been put in the victim`s room to incriminate me."
"Well, we got the crown and the sceptre found in Quadrina`s room by detectives Alexis Depardieu Coolette and Shadow the hedgehog." She handed them to Sonic, who inspected them.
"They're not mine! Mine have a sapphire as main precious stone. Those ones have a different stone!"
"Wait, are you sure about it?"
"As sure as my wife is Sally Acorn!" the King answered again.
"I guess the case is closed for now," Bean said. "We have two hands on the steering wheel… but four wheels deep in the mud. We`re not moving, all we know is that Sonic has POSSIBLY been framed for murder by someone who has set clues targeting him. Now, we need to find more clues and, possibly, witnesses or other suspects."
"This closes today`s trial. It shall continue in two days, following the new discoveries by detectives Alexis Depardieu Coolette and Shadow the hedgehog. Court is adourned for today."
Ventuss came back from the bathrooms. She had packed her JAG suit and was back in the attire she was wearing before the trial.
"You were excellent, Ven," Alexis said.
"Are you crazy?" she yelled. "I have almost sent him to jail twice!"
"Don`t get mad about that," Shadow said. "He`s still a faker anyway."
Ven shook her head. "No, I'm ashamed. I tried to prove he was innocent, and we`re not sure yet. I'm counting on you two to find someone else to bring here. I hope I haven`t been too bad…"
"Quit worrying, Ventuss," Alexis said. "You actually did very well. You guessed some things faster than I would have. Um… say, you have a few days to spend around here…"
"…yes?" Ventuss asked.
"…would you like me to show you around Four-Lakes?" Alexis suggested.
"…I dunno… it`s not well-seen when a detective and an attorney, working on the same case, are seen together… people would think you`re trying to influence me to adopt your vision of the case. …but…"
"…but what?" Alexis asked.
"…it`s true that I have been to Four-Lakes before, and it would be fun to be sort of a tourist for once. Each time I`m traveling, it`s for work. I really need to take a break sometimes. Well, maybe tomorrow, or in two days…"
"Okay then!" Alexis said happily. "You`ll see, we have a really great city. But do you speak fluent French?"
"More than you think, actually. I am rather good in speaking French, thanks to classes in high school."
Alexis was surprised. "Oh cool! We`ll plan this later. I have to go back to Four-Lakes. Tomorrow, Shadow and I got a huge day of work. See you in two days then. Bye!"
Alexis left the court with Shadow. Ven looked at them leave. She had to get to the hotel the Army was paying her a room in for the time she had to stay in during her time in Station Square.
The door to the lobby opened again, revealing an Alexis who had come back on his tracks, and was now asking: "Um, how about I give you a ride to the hotel you'll be in?"
To be continued...