Hickfield clinic 12th February 15:00
Hickfield clinic is much more hygienic compared to the hotti clinic, and there is no sign of that guy, so everything should be fine. The elevators are too full, so Maya and I dash through the many flights of stairs. Worn out of breath I slump at the emergency exit door, try to recollect myself. To think I've become so old I can't even run through normal stair cases.
"Don't worry Nick! I think it has something to do with old age," Maya remarks, I'm unsure whether she is joking or being serious. She grabs my hand and puts me back to my feet, before we speed along to see my friend and rival.
"What's the room number again?" she asks me panting slightly.
"304," I answer scanning the door numbers as I speed walk across the halls. Maya, still sprinting, just about misses the door, but quickly pushes the doors wide open, and sees something that I can't
"This is a hospital, not some sports hall," I hear a familiar voice hiss. I walk in to see a small gathering, familiar and unfamiliar; all surrounded by a conscience, and confused Edgeworth.
"NIIIICK! Have you heard about the bad news!" another, irritating familiar voice barks at me.
"L-Larry! How did you know about this?" I exclaim, am I the last to learn about the incident?
"Gumshoe called him," Edgeworth responds nonchalantly. Beside a sulking Larry, I see Fransizka, and an unfamiliar girl with long black hair, tied in a ponytail with, what looks like, a key.
"Where is he anyway?" Maya asks, placing herself next to Franziska and Larry.
"No idea," the unfamiliar girl responds. Edgeworth remains silent, frowning with his eyes closed. I can tell he does not like all of this company.
"I need to go and see the doctor," Franziska informs him, probably noticing his unease, and leaves.
She trails off, leaving us with Larry and the unfamiliar girl, And we have to, somehow, spend time with the suddenly timid Edgeworth.
"What happened?" the unfamiliar girl asks him, resting her elbows on his bed sheets. He sighs at this movement, but doesn't complain.
"I-I don't remember very well," he stammers, his voice hoarse. I can tell talking is causing him pain.
"Franzy told us," Larry starts " Apparently you two were gonna meet and have a conversation about life and whatnot, then you ordered tea or something, with some other food that I can't remember, and a few minutes after you ate, you started convulsing, then you fell unconscious," Larry reports.
"Sometimes he sounds semi-intelligent," Maya whispers to me
"No, he just remembered some words Franziska said," I answer, because after all these years of knowing Larry, he definitely isn't one to hold an outstanding vocabulary bank.
"That still sounds confusing but, I think I remember a bit," Edgeworth mutters.
"Hey! I've seen you before!" the unfamiliar girl points at Maya, her green eyes beaming. "at a steel samurai convention!" she finishes. Maya takes some time to think before she answers
"Oh yeah! Your name is…Kay right?" she asks
"Yep, Kay Faraday, Edgeworth's assistant!" she takes Maya's hand and shakes it profusely.
"Maya Fey, a spirit medium and Nick's assistant," she introduces herself grabbing my arm to suggest that I am "Nick"
"It's nice to meet you too, !" it's my turn now, and she shakes my kind in a much more gentle manner compared to Maya.
"Phoenix Wright, defense attorney," I introduce myself. I find it funny how we get to meet in such a situation.
"Wright," Edgeworth calls, glaring at me fully. "Have you heard about the news?" he asks me. Well the answer is no, I've been so occupied with being bored and sorting out my court records; I've barely been in touch with the human world. I stare at Maya and she reflects my blank stare, Looks like we're in the same boat.
I didn't want to appear stupid in front of him, but he seems to be a bit serious, and bluffing my way out of things doesn't always work its way out. So I decide to be truthful for once.
"No, why?" I ask him. Instead of responding to me he grabs a remote from the drawer beside him, presses a button and turns on a television in front of him that I failed to notice earlier. He flicks through some channels and stops at the ABC news programme. I hear the same news reporter, droning on about the decline of butterflies, out of all things to report, when they change topic and I see it; that demonic look radiating all kinds of evil. Silver locks rolled black, looking as dapper as ever. The recording of me versing and that man arguing in court plays on as I hear the reporter say "Although his death was long overdue today is the day Manfred von Karma, a corrupt prosecutor with a former forty year win record, which had only been broken two years ago, has finally died," I stand there in silence wondering what exactly Edgeworth wants me to understand.
This man deserved to he want me to rejoice at this? Or was it because he wanted me to behave more solemnly around Franziska especially because she loved her father so much and the fact that people may be celebrating at his death would upset her? What's worse is, the people celebrating should be us, Maya, Mia myself and Edgeworth, after what his indirect actions had done to our lives.
"Why did you show us this?" Maya asks, shocked slightly
"It's not stated how he died. We all know it was bound to happen sooner or later, but the cause of his death has not been mentioned," he answers, his voice sounding much clearer.
"So? He's Ms Von Karma's father right? You want us to stay silent?" Kay asks.
"No it's not that, since I'm bound here, could you do some research for me?" Edgeworth looks up at me, looking fragile in his state, yet full of confidence as he always is.
"o-okay?" I half answer, unsure why he would care so much over the person who has destroyed his life.
"okay, I'll get Franziska to help out too," he plans, much to my reluctance. So that's what all this is for, for his little adopted sister.
Just then she bursts into the door, her face red as a tomato.
"What?" Edgeworth asks.
"He's coming to see you," she responds in a monotone manner. I swear her voice dropped an octave lower. Edgeworth responds with his widening.
"WHAT? How did he find out?" she asks her, as if no one was in the room, or at least needed to know what they were talking about.
"I don't know, maybe from my blo-" she was interrupted by a loud deep voice from the hallway
"MILES YOU SILLY CHILD! THIS IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN, I'M SO BUSY?" that voice shrieked slightly. Fransizka smiles at this unfamiliar man, fist bumps him too. The man walks in, and I take a good look at him. He was wearing a white sleeveless top, which revealed the many tattoos entwined across his arms. He lifts one of his arms and scratches the mess of white hair on his scalp. He wears a smirk across his face, his red eyes piercing Edgeworth.
"Who's he?" Maya whispers. I shrug my shoulders in response. I feel I'm invading everyone's privacy so I decide to start my investigation
"Well I'll be going," I tell the patient, as he struggles to escape from the albino's headlock. I notice Larry hiding behind Kay, extremely frightened by their actions.
"You might as well come with us too," I tell Larry as he now keeps a distance using Maya as a shield.
"If you need anything just call Edgey! I'll be sure to answer!" Kay gestures, which is very friendly considering that we only met a few minutes ago.
"Where should we start first?" I think aloud as I walk down the steps.
"Hmmm, I think we should go find someone who might have some knowledge about this," Maya suggests. That's true, but the main people are currently in a hospital, one recovering, while the other supervises.
"Maybe we should see that scary detective?" Larry offers. Just then I realised Edgeworth had asked me to do him a favour in front of everyone, it was clear he had a long way to recover, as he normally does his investigations in private, and tries to get a minimal amount of people involved.
"I think we should," I answer, well not to see Gumshoe exactly, but rather to visit the precinct, see if they have some files there. The three of us waddle along, me being eager to fulfil my rival's wishes, and to especially learn.