May 16, 11:05 A.M. Los Angeles Police Department
The normal pace of work inside the department jolted to a halt when the phone rang. Detective Gumshoe raced for the nearest receiver, and answered.
"Hello. This is Detective Gumshoe."
"Thank God, you answered!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Detective, it's me, Phoenix Wright."
"Ah! Why are you calling me? Have you won the lottery?"
"*sigh* No. Maya, Pearls, and I were at this exhibition for a new model of bullet train that Amtrak was going to use, and it suddenly started moving out of control. I think that de Killer II is responsible."
"Where do you think you are headed?"
"I don't know. All I know is that we are on a roll... to our deaths!"
"Are the controls in the driver's cab operative?"
"*smash* The door to the driver's cab is shut! I can't get it open!"
"You know what! I'll use the GPS receiver on my phone to find your location! I'll also get the police involved. They'll know what to do."
Gumshoe pulled up the GPS application, and searched "Amtrak frequency". A series of blimp-like dots then appeared, which showed all of the trains on the tracks on the rails. He then clicked on the one closest to him. A line was drawn from its current position to the starting point of the train.
"You're headed almost dead north! That means that you're headed to some location in the northern part of the state... but where?"
"Detective, find out answers now, ask questions later! Go tell the Chief of Police about it, and he'll tell you what to do."
Gumshoe nodded, "OK." and hung up. He ran over to his post and picked up his stapler. He brought it down violently on the desk. Gumshoe screamed, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need all officers in the briefing room immediately! It's an emergency!"
May 16, 11:07 A.M. Remnants of the Briefing Room
Gumshoe stood on the podium while the Chief of Police watched, curious to why he had called the meeting to order. The officers below mumbled occasionally and looked at him, wondering what he had to say.
The detective announced, "I have called this meeting because lives are at stake. I just got a phone call from Phoenix Wright, that famous attorney that you see on TV every couple weeks. He just told me that himself and others were at an exhibition for a new model of bullet train that Amtrak was going to use. Suddenly, the train accelerated out of control and is rocketing towards northern California for some odd reason. He believes that de Killer II is behind it."
The crowd below him mumbled with great intensity. The Chief added, "Detective, I believe that the train is headed for the Governor's Mansion in Sacramento. Someone wants to kill the governor!"
Gumshoe asked, "So... what do we do now, Chief? How do we stop him?"
The Chief scratched the bald spot on top of his head, and spoke. "You know what? I have devised a three-pronged attack against him. First of all, Ema Skye!"
Ema raised her hand and jumped up from her seat, wondering, "What am I needed for, anyway?"
"Go to where the Sage ENDEC machine is and activate the Emergency Alert System, so we can notify the public about this, and may just get the governor out of his mansion. That'll prevent any casualties from occurring in case we can't stop the train.
"Officer Meekins, go and close off U.S. State Highways 12, 17, and 23. That'll prevent any more interference with the government of California."
Meekins saluted the Chief and clicked his heels together. "Yes, sir!"
The Chief's head now turned to Gumshoe. "And now, Detective... you have the most important job. Your job is to get those people off the train. Here are the keys to my 2019 Mercedes Benz. Use it to reach Toppel Field, which is close by. I'll tell them about our situation. Next, you'll get inside of one of their airplanes, and you'll be flown up to 10,000 feet."
Gumshoe wondered, "To what end?"
The Chief continued, "Once the plane is at 10,000 feet, you will skydive out of the plane onto the train's roof. When you land, you will open the emergency escape hatches, and pull the people onto the roof, where they will be airlifted out by helicopters."
Gumshoe wondered, "Chief, isn't that a little of an ambitious task for a detective to do?"
The chief simply smiled and said, "Detective, those people are counting on you! Go out there and save them!"
Gumshoe began walking away with the car keys in his hand.
"Seriously," he grunted. "I shouldn't have taken that 'How to Act Like a Smart Person' class! Edgeworth is makes people act too serious. He needs some good jokes to lessen his tightness."
May 16, 11:10 A.M. Los Angeles Police Department, Sage ENDEC Room
Ema approached the machine, and plugged a microphone into the hole in the front labeled "MIC". She raised the microphone and hit the SELECT button on the ENDEC. She hit the SCROLL button repeatedly until the selection "Civil Danger Warning" came up, and then she selected "All of California" as the broadcast area.
After hitting SELECT, the computer monitor the machine was attached to showed a spilt screen of all of the channels that would receive the broadcast. The screen on the ENDEC read: Stand by for broadcast execution in 12 seconds. She took a deep breath and looked at the timer as it scrolled down to 0.
All of the screens froze on the exact frames they were on. Ema spoke into the microphone, "We have interrupted this program to activate the Emergency Alert System. Important information will follow."
All ow the screens showed a black screen with the usual warning text in white. Three header burst tones played, which as followed by the attention signal. After the tones ended, she spoke into the microphone again.
"The following message is transmitted by request of the Los Angeles Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. A bullet train is accelerating at a high rate of speed down railroad tracks. The train is expected to hit the Governor's Mansion in Sacramento in 25 minutes. The train is expected to reach San Francisco in 5 minutes. If you live by a section of railroad tracks, please move clear, as the train creates an air burst as it travels, which may damage or destroy property and can kill. This message will be re-transmitted in one minute."
May 16, 11:11 A.M. Toppel Field, Runway 11 Center
Detective Gumshoe pulled up to the field in the Benz, and pulled into the nearest parking spot. He raced out of the car and headed towards a runway, where a small plane was sitting. He approached the side of the plane and knocked on the window glass.
Immediately, the door opened and a person came out. He asked, "Are you Richard Gumshoe?"
Gumshoe replied, "Yes."
The man exited the plane and strapped a device around him, with a few ripcords attached. The man said, "The first ripcord deploys your parachute. Pull it when you can start to see buildings and trees."
"The second ripcord," he explained, "Is a reserve parachute in case the first fails. It is highly unlikely your parachute will fail, but its better to be equipped with one. The third ripcord jettisons your current parachute, in case you need to land in a hurry. But don't jettison your parachute too early, or you may suffer injuries upon landing."
Gumshoe climbed into the plane, and shut the door. Shortly thereafter, the plane turned onto the runway, and held its position. The propellor at the front of the plane made a slight humming sound.
That was when air traffic control announced, "Cessna 152 India Bravo Alpha, cleared for takeoff Runway 11 Center."
Gumshoe braced himself. The propellor began roaring very loudly, and the plane picked up speed quickly. The pilot said, "80 knots."
The plane continued down the runway; the force of the plane moving forward pressed Gumshoe backwards into his seat.
"V1."
The plane's nose wheel lifted off of the ground. "Rotate. V2."
They were now airborne. "Positive rate. Gear up."
The plane now began ascending at around 3,500 feet per minute. The plane seemed to shoot into the sky almost like a missile. Somehow, the plane was not stalling despite the significant climb rate.
Two and a half minutes later, the altimeter came to rest on approximately 10,000 feet above sea level. The rocket-like ascent came to an end, and the plane kept moving at a steady 278 knots. The plane turned every so often, and it was almost 15 minutes before Gumshoe was told something.
The pilot noted, "Detective, we are now approaching your drop area. Please get ready for your skydive."
Gumshoe clipped and secured his ripcord extra tight, and sat near the door. The instructor opened the door. Extremely cold air hit Gumshoe straight in the face, causing him to shut his eyes.
The instructor sighed, "That reminds me..."
He took a pair of goggles out of his supply bag and put them over Gumshoe's head. The detective crawled out onto the wing and took a deep breath, then looked downwards towards the city of San Francisco. The train would be there in a few minutes, so he would at least attempt to land on top of hit.
He braced himself and thrusted himself off the front of the wing, and began falling downward speedily. He yelled and screamed loudly due to all of the adrenaline in his system. Never before had he felt the sensation of falling towards the ground. As minutes passed, the buildings slowly became closer and closer.
Now, Gumshoe could make out the Golden Gate Bridge. He reached for the first ripcord, and pulled it. A large, rectangular, yellow parachute flew out of the top, and caught air. The detective was pulled upwards sharply, and then he began to fall much more slowly towards the ground.
He flared a few times and headed right, towards the railroad tracks. A few minutes more passed before he knew he was at 1,000 feet. The train would soon be near, so Gumshoe focused all of his energy on descending. One minute later, he was 50 feet above the tracks.
Suddenly, Gumshoe heard a roaring sound. The train was near. He flared tightly, or he might be rear-ended by the bullet train. Seconds later, the first car raced under his feet. Now at a safe distance above the train's roof, he pulled the third ripcord, allowing him to fall onto the roof.
His landing was rough. Coming down with a loud, metallic thud, the detective checked himself for any injuries. There were none, so he crawled along the roof the the train. It was very difficult to stay on, for the roof was slippery and the wind was intense.
May 16, 11:25 A.M. Bullet Train Car No. 3
Phoenix gasped, "It's going to be OK, everyone. I'm sure the the police department will stop this train somehow. It's just that we simply don't know when. But I can tell that we don't have much time remaining. I have an idea... does anyone have a copy of the Star Spangled Banner?"
A group of around 50 kids appeared. One of them said, "We are 3/4 of our marching band. We were at band camp yesterday, and know how to play the Star Spangled Banner. We can play it for you."
Phoenix thought, "Serious bandies we've got here... they can't leave anywhere without their instruments, can they?"
He ran over to one of the intercoms and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen... please rise for the playing of our national anthem. It would be appreciated if you could sing along. Please take off your hats, and veterans, you can salute."
Phoenix turned towards the American flag on the wall of the train, and put his right hand over his heart.
One band member whispered, "OK, Dallas. You can start."
A long, snare drumroll played, and the rest of the band, which was scattered throughout the train, rose their instruments.
The whole crowd sang, "Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, For so proudly we hailed, at the twilight's last gleaming..."
Tears formed in people's eyes, as if this was the last song they were going to ever sing.
"...And the rockets' red glare, bombs bursting in air, Gave proof, through the night, that our flag was still there."
The band played even louder as the final part of the song played. "Oh, say, does that star spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?"
Tears gushed from the eyes of many, including the band members, Maya's and Pearl's eyes, and Phoenix himself.
At the moment, a metallic clang was heard. All of the people inside looked upwards, and saw that an emergency escape hatch had been opened. A person, wearing a scruffy, torn, forest green trenchcoat climbed down into the train using the escape ladder.
He asked, "I'm sorry to interrupt you pals, but didn't you ask for a rescuer?"
Pearl cried, "Detective Dick! You've come to save us?!"
Gumshoe exclaimed, "Well, yes. Now we need to get you all out of this train before it hits the Governor's Mansion!" In response, the people began to ascend the ladder onto the trains roof.
One by one, the people got onto the roof and into police helicopters, almost in disbelief. This went on until it was down to just Phoenix, Maya, Pearl, and Detective Gumshoe left in the train. Pearl and Gumshoe went up the ladder into the last helicopter first, and then Phoenix and Maya followed.
Phoenix made it onto the roof of the train first, and pulled Maya up onto the roof when she almost made it up. They both dashed into the last helicopter, which flew away quickly.
May 16, 11:30 A.M. Police Helicopter No. 7
Gumshoe felt his phone vibrate from within his pocket, and he answered it.
"Hello? This is Dick Gumshoe."
"Detective, since you've gotten all of those people off of the train, I have one final assignment for you today."
"And what is that?"
"Since de Killer II is behind this, I want him to get a taste of his own medicine. We're going to redirect that train so that it hits Engarde Mansion. The train is coming back towards Los Angeles this very minute because we switched the points."
"Engarde Mansion?! But why would de Killer II be there?"
"*sigh* His father's client lived there. His father was avenged, so why wouldn't he be there?"
"Good point. We'll need to place some special new track, though. But that won't take long."
May 16, 11:45 A.M. Engarde Mansion
"That should do it," Gumshoe said, evaluating the work the the workers had done. All of the connections had been done perfectly, and the train would certainly hit the mansion. The new track was in place. They all then left, waiting for the big show to begin.
Inside, meanwhile, de Killer II was sitting in his main contemplation room, thinking just how much destruction a bullet train could do. "Tee hee hee hee hee... I can't wait until the Governor is homeless and broke! That'll be my chance to rule all of California!"
Suddenly, the doors burst open. A minion rushed in, with panic on his face. "MASTER!"
de Killer II groaned, "What is it, you little flea? Aren't you supposed to be watching to see if that train hits the Governor's Mansion?"
The minion sweated, "Master! Look!"
He pointed at one of the windows. The evil mastermind dashed to the window to see. In his line of sight, he saw a bullet train, which was very familiar is design to him rocketing towards the mansion. He remained silent, the shape of the train in his eyes.
In the driver's cab of the train, the warning panel shot out large amounts of warnings.
"DECREASE SPEED NOW! *WHOOP WHOOP* SLOW DOWN! TERRAIN AHEAD!"
No one could hear those cries, for the train was completely unoccupied.
de Killer II exploded, "SHIT!"
At that very second, there was the blast of a train horn and and tremendous crash. The first car slammed into the mansion's side, driving a hole into it and exploding in a fireball, almost in slow motion.
Subsequent cars kept going, driving their way deep into the mansion and bursting, sending jagged metal parts and gas oil into the foundation. The last car entered the extremely wide hole in the building, and sent a charge-like blast straight into the foundation.
The ground underneath the minion and de Killer now gave way, as did the rest of the building. Millions of tons of debris came crashing down on top of them both, along with the thousands of other minions inside the mansion. The front face also collapsed in a massive white and brown cloud, and the sign on the front also became one with the pieces of the mansion.
Engarde Mansion had been completely demolished.