A/N: Orion Fowl here with the Turnabout Shadow Grand Finale! A grand finale so big, it had to be split into two parts. Enjoy this fruit of over a month's work! Its time for femslash!
Chapter 10, part one: The depths of true desperation.
December 22, 2030
Location: Newman-Woods Residence
Time: 9:15 a.m.
The Shadow incident. All I wanted was to just reach graduation with Juniper and our mutual friends, and suddenly I'm fighting an anonymous enemy that's bent on destroying me.
The vandalism trial was when I finally got a chance to face off against the culprit behind everything. But that trial really didn't start all that well. Heh heh heh. So after Hugh came under suspicion as the Shadow, Judge Courtney ended up having to call for a 15-minute recess after the crowd became too rowdy to manage.
So I met up with everyone else in the defendant lobby so that we could plan out our next move….
February 11, 10:10 a.m.
District Court - Defendant lobby No. 3
The air was tense as Robin and Hugh stared at each other, with everyone else crowding around them.
"Just what is going on here, Hugh?" Robin asked, wanting to hear from her friend how much he knew of the situation personally.
"How should I know? This is the first I've heard of my locker being the one that was vandalized." Hugh said, looking as unhappy as Robin felt.
The two were unhappy at the situation at large rather than with each other. After the events of last October they all learned that their was a time and place for doubt, but it was never a good time whenever it happened.
"The more important question here is why Hugh's locker was the one that got a hammer taken to it?" Athena asked.
"Well, I think we can all agree that there's no chance that Hugh is actually the Shadow," Juniper said, always the first to give the benefit of the doubt. "So in that case, why would the real culprit make it look like it was Hugh?"
It didn't take too long for everyone to reach a conclusion, and Robin found herself breaking out into a cold sweat.
"This is just like before," she said slowly. "We finally get a solid lead on the Shadow's identity and I'm arrested before we can do anything with it. Now we have Logan at the stand, and it turns out the crime scene is arranged so that I go down and it takes Hugh down with me."
"Yet we have evidence that says that only a janitor should have had the kind of access needed to pull off this crime," Juniper said. "And Logan's a janitor. Does that mean….?"
"That Logan set up the whole thing?" was the unspoken part of the question. But it seemed like Juniper wasn't ready to make the accusation.
Hugh turned to Athena, who was deep in thought. "Did our gamble of having Robin lead her own defense pay off? Did you learn anything new about Logan?"
"Actually, I did." Athena answered in a notably hesitant manner. "Whenever Logan talked directly to Robin, I noticed a lot of anger in his tone that he tried to hide."
"So are you and Robin going in go for the kill after the recess ends?" Myriam asked.
Athena shook her head before Robin could say anything. "I need a testimony I can run through the Mood Matrix before I can decide something like that. If at all, I'd like to get these charges off of Robin and Hugh first so we can investigate Logan at our leisure."
Juniper perked up as if remembering something.
"The Prosecution's case is that you committed the crime after class, right?" She said. "Well, you were with me the entire time. That was the day we went to go visit my Grandma, so you should have a perfect alibi….I think."
"As a future defense attorney, I'd suggest making sure the Prosecution can't change their mind on details like this," Hugh said. "and have physical proof of this when possible."
"As the actual defense attorney here I'll say that a lot of what Hugh said is correct," Athena said. "But leave the timing of the evidence to the actual professionals."
"No butting in!" Widget added.
"Feh. I'm glad that my studies from my first year are at least paying off," Hugh countered.
"Sound like a plan to me!" Robin declared before the two could needle each other any further. "Let's get in there and rock the courtroom!"
February 11, 10:25 a.m.
District Court - Courtroom No. 2
"Court is now back in session for the trial of Robin Newman." Judge Courtney announced after making sure everyone was settled in. "Are the defense and prosecution ready?"
"I'm more than ready to put an end to this!" Robin said.
"As am I," Prosecutor Blackquill said, his trademark smirk gracing his face.
"Will the defendant continue to represent herself?" Judge Courtney asked Robin. "You have a licensed attorney by your side."
"Heh heh heh. Athena and I perfectly happy with our current arrangement," Robin said.
"That is your right as given by the Goddess of Law." Judge Courtney turned to Blackquill. "Will you be calling back your witness?"
"I have no more questions for him," Prosecutor Blackquill answered. "The crime is clear cut: the defendant had a falling out with her close friend, and they chose to settle it at school. We've all seen this drama before."
"OBJECTION!"
"The prosecution will refrain from making assumptions about my personal life!" Robin shouted. She was not letting anyone else get dragged into this if she could help it.
"Objection sustained. We have no evidence that directly states the defendant was fighting with one of her friends," Judge Courtney said. "Does the defense have any further questions for the witness then?"
"Well, Mr. Sullivan never got to finish his testimony," Athena said. "We'd like to hear in more detail what he saw when he came upon the crime scene."
"I see no need," Prosecutor Blackquill said. "The police report matches up with what the witness said when he called in the crime."
"You mean the report that's already missed at least one piece of evidence?" Robin cheekily reminded Blackquill. "I think we need to make sure we aren't overlooking something important."
Judge Courtney nodded in approval. "The defense's point is acknowledged. Logan Sullivan will take the stand once more."
Robin observed her fellow student as he once again took the stand. Much like earlier today and during their first conversation over a month ago, Logan seemed determined to look in every direction but hers.
"Was the testimony I gave last time lacking in some way?" he asked Judge Courtney.
"Not at all. But the defendant has some questions she wants you to answer."
"Does she now," Logan said neutrally. "I'm not sure what I can contribute, but I invite Newman to ask away."
"We need to get a good picture of the crime scene," Robin said. "And since you were the first one to find it I thought we should hear what you saw."
"I suppose that makes sense."
Logan absentmindedly played with the pages of the textbook he had once again brought with him.
"Now, where to start?"
Testimony: The crime scene
As I was on my way to class something caught my eye.
I turned to see the lockers covered in a message.
I looked around and saw the hammer and the paintbrush on the floor.
I examined the scene a bit more but didn't actually touch anything.
After that I called the police, then waited for them to arrive.
After they got to the crime scene I left for class.
End Testimony
"That's all that happened when I found the crime scene." Logan concluded.
"So just to confirm, if the crime was committed after school why were you the first one to discover it the next morning?" Robin asked. "Surely someone else would have found it first."
"SILENCE!"
"Do not waste our time chasing hypothetical situations," Prosecutor Blackquill answered quickly. "If someone else had discovered the scene first, they would have been the one to report it. And as the paint was mostly dry when it was discovered it could not have been committed in the morning."
Then let's see what you say when I bring up what I was actually doing the day of the crime. Robin thought as she prepared to launch into an attack.
"Not yet,"Athena whispered to Robin, having read her intentions off her face. "Let's poke a few holes into the Prosecution's case first."
"You may now cross examine the witness."
Robin mentally dissected Logan's statements. It was much the same problem as last time: Logan presented himself as an unrelated third party, and his statements were flawless on first inspection.
I guess that means I gotta wear him d-o-w-n.
With that in mind, Robin pressed each of Logan's individual statements. The first few had Logan repeating what he had already said, much to everyone's irritation.
It was when she pressed the last statement that something happened.
"I told you already, after the police arrived on the crime scene I left." Logan said through gritted teeth, clearly reaching the end of his patience.
"Are you sure? Didn't the police take you in for questioning since you were at the crime scene?" Robin asked.
For the first time Logan flinched as his expression became nervous for a split second.
"I don't see why my talks with the police are relevant to - what are you doing?"
Simon had kept to himself for most of the exchange. But after Logan's last statement Simon had whistled softly, after which Taka had flown from his master's side onto confused student's head.
"Now now, no need to be so humble," Prosecutor Blackquill said. "After all, it is thanks to you that the investigation wrapped up as fast as it did, Fledgling."
"What do you mean by that?" Robin asked, apprehensive of what the answer might be.
"If you must know, when the constabulary arrived at the scene the witness was still there as he said," Blackquill explained. "But when questioned, he mentioned you as a suspect. When the evidence confirmed his theory, I asked whether he would stand in court as a witness, which he accepted."
Robin and Athena looked at Logan, only to find the student steadfastly staring at the ground.
"So you suspected I was the culprit just by looking at the crime scene?" Robin asked her colleague.
"Well, the evidence says that you're the culprit so I'm not sure what the point of the question is," Logan answered.
And that wasn't what I asked.
"I'd like the statement about Logan suspecting me to be added to the testimony," Robin said.
"I hope the defendant is going somewhere with this line of questioning," Judge Courtney said. "The witness will amend his testimony."
"If you wish. Taking in the crime scene as a whole, I suspected my fellow student Newman, and shared these concerns with the police."
So I changed his testimony. What did I accomplish?
Throughout all this Athena was reviewing available evidence. Suddenly she grabbed a photo and shoved it under Robin's nose.
"I think we've finally found our first contradiction. Look at the crime scene!" She said urgently.
Robin obliged. There was nothing at all noteworthy about the crime scene, or anything on it for that matter. Even the hammer and the paintbrush were indistinguishable from any other of their kind.
Hey, wait a second. The hammer and the paintbrush! That's what Athena meant!
"So that's why I was arrested. Well, to that I say, OBJECTION!"
When Robin had everyone's attention she continued, "Logan claims he suspected me the moment he saw the crime scene. Well I'd just like to know: Just what part of the crime scene points to me?!"
"Ah. AHHHHH!" Logan screamed, recoiling in shock and accidentally tearing a page out of his textbook in the process.
"What are you babbling about?" Prosecutor Blackquill asked irritably.
"Logan testified yesterday that he was watching me headed towards the lockers," Robin explained. "But I think its q-u-i-t-e a leap of logic to connect that to this crime, since he should have no way of knowing that the unlabeled items used in the crime belonged to me!"
"Pre-preposterous!" Prosecutor Blackquill exclaimed.
"Okay, so maybe you're right," Logan said, having recovered from his shock. "But that doesn't erase the fact that your items, with your fingerprints on them, were used in the crime. That I guessed correctly is irrelevant."
"The witness has a point." Judge Courtney frowned as she looked at Robin and Athena. "Just what are you hoping to prove with this line of questioning?"
"Well, its simple," Athena said. "We have a crime scene that went undiscovered for almost twelve hours. We have glove markings on the items used in the crime. We have a witness that immediately thought of Robin when he saw the crime scene."
Athena slammed a hand on the bench.
"Someone is clearly trying to frame her!"
A wave of murmurs arose from the gallery as both Logan and Prosecutor Blackquill glared at the defense. Judge Courtney slammed her gavel down several times to settle the crowd.
"Do you honestly think such a feeble practice blade will nick me?" Prosecutor Blackquill growled. "We have already discussed this. Without further proof the glove markings are meaningless."
"Indeed, it is up to the defense to substantiate their claim. Show me evidence that another person might have committed the crime to support the glove markings." Judge Courtney demanded.
"So what are we looking for?" Robin asked Athena, who was using Widget's holographic interface to look at the evidence more closely.
"We have the Judge's attention. All we need to do is widen this hole, then use your alibi to blow Simon's case wide open!" Athena said, her grin confident and relaxed.
The two studied the evidence closely and compared it to the crime scene. But they quickly came upon a problem: the paintbrush and the hammer lined up perfectly with the relevant parts of the vandalized lockers, and they couldn't bring up the glove markings.
If I have to give the Shadow anything, he really set up this crime well, Robin mentally admitted grudgingly. He even went so far as to grab items with perfectly arranged fingerprints.
As Robin kept examining the fingerprints however, she began to get the feeling that something was distinctly off.
I left my fingerprints on my paintbrush when I used it to paint. Likewise, I left my fingerprints on my hammer because I was using it to sculpt before I put in my locker. And that directly contradicts the crime scene!
Before she could have second thoughts Robin raised an objection.
"I presume you are ready to present your evidence?" Judge Courtney asked.
"Heh heh heh. I'm totally ready to present my evidence," Robin answered, even as Athena tried to rein her in. "I'd like for the court to look at the way my fingerprints are arranged on my hammer."
"Hm? So now the defendant thinks she can find something that no one else can?" Blackquill said, deeply amused. "Then I will humour you. How will your fingerprints prove that you are not the culprit?"
"By looking at the fingerprints themselves," Robin said. "The court will notice how they're wrapped near the head of the hammer, with a thumbprint on the head itself. Now, compare that to the dent on the my friend Hugh's locker."
"I don't see what the defense's point-" Judge Courtney stopped herself as the penny dropped. "Wait. Could it be?"
"Exactly. To hit the locker door in a way that would replicate the dent, I would have to twist my arm in a really uncomfortable way. And that makes absolutely no sense!"
"BALDERASH!" Prosecutor Blackquill screamed as he staggered from Robin's strike.
"That does make sense," Judge Courtney said. "But how is this relevant to the glove markings?"
Athena, having realized what Robin was doing, took up the explanation.
"Robin was arrested because of these fingerprints, which is the reason no one noticed the glove markings," She said. "But let's look at the hammer. The court will notice the some of the markings are lower on the handle, where one would grip the hammer naturally if they wanted to hit the locker. I think this is sufficient proof of another culprit!"
"In your face!" Widget said.
"Disregarding that last rude comment, this is indeed a grave oversight on the Prosecution's part." Judge Courtney glared at the still reeling Blackquill. "I hope I don't have to see you before the P.I.C."
"Stay your hand, Your Honor," Prosecutor Blackquill said, trying his hardest to regain him calm. "I have not yet lost the will to fight."
He turned to the defense's bench.
"Cykes-dono, impressive sword work as always. Newman-dono, you are much more skilled with the blade than you appear."
Robin was so surprised to hear Prosecutor Blackquill address her the same way as he did Athena she almost missed the stealth insult.
"But do not think you can claim victory," He continued. "You have yet to explain how this observation of yours fits in with the paintbrush found at the scene. Furthermore, your explanation of your movements the day of the crime remain unsatisfactory."
Is that all I have to do? This almost seems too easy.
"Well, the glove markings on my paintbrush are where they are because the real culprit didn't want to smudge my fingerprints, like with the hammer," Robin said. "As for my movements, I didn't get a chance to fully explain last time."
Robin gave a sidelong glance to Athena, who nodded to signal that it was finally time to bring up the alibi.
"On the day of the crime, I went to the lockers as Logan testified," Robin began. " But as I testified, it was only for a little bit before I went home."
"And you can have this account corroborated, correct?" Judge Courtney asked.
This was where things got tricky. To board the bus that day Juniper and Robin had used their student ID cards, and as a result they had no physical proof that the trip happened. As such, Robin would have to rely on testimony. If her suspicions were correct, then a certain someone would attack the testimony she was about to give.
"I can. Because my girlfriend and And I made a stop at her house first. My girlfriend should be in the gallery if you want to ask her. She can also call her Grandma if you need further supporting statements."
"And you did not mention this earlier?"
"When I was arrested, all I was told is what I was being arrested for," Robin said. "Its why I asked Prosecutor Blackquill when the crime was committed. I didn't want to mention something irrelevant to the case at hand."
"That does fit into the facts as they have been presented," Judge Courtney said. "You presented a theory that someone is trying to frame you. Is this related to the notes left in your locker by your friend Hugh?"
"I refuse to believe that my friend was the one behind the notes," Robin interjected. "But since you brought it up, I'd like to talk about those notes. Since they were all sent by the same person, I believe that-,"
"OBJECTION!"
Everyone in the courtroom searched for the source of the interruption, only to find Logan standing ramrod straight as he pointed at Robin.
"What is the meaning of this, witness?"
Logan didn't answer Judge Courtney's question. Instead, his entire posture and facial expression shifted to become much more severe and serious. For the first time, he looked Robin in the eyes, and his eyes radiated anger and disgust.
"Newman, Newman, Newman," he said, his tone not much friendlier. "Don't make me lose what little respect I have left for you."
"What do you mean by that, Logan?" Robin asked. It seemed like her classmate was finally going to show his true colors.
Logan ignored her, and instead turned to face the courtroom at large. "Ladies and gentlemen of the court," He said. "I have just stopped a miscarriage of justice from happening. Because the defendant is trying to mislead you all with underhanded smoke and mirrors."
"And what gives you the right to say that?!" Athena snapped.
"Its simple. The defense has yet to present anything truly substantive to the court. Everything you've seen so far has been either circumstantial or unreliable testimony."
Logan got a hawk attack in his face for his troubles, as Prosecutor Blackquill was clearly not amused with his witness's attempt to hijack the case.
"Prosecutor Blackquill! What have I said about violence in the courtroom?"
"Fine. I will allow our fledgling prosecutor here to speak his piece." Blackquill said after he recalled Taka.
"I don't understand Prosecutor Blackquill's reaction," Logan said. "After all, we discussed this. The other reason why I suspected Newman as the culprit."
Robin felt her heart began to sink as Blackquill's expression went from angry to relaxed.
"I remember now. Go on, then."
"The main defense's case relies on one thing to support the evidence: testimony," Logan explained. "But the testimony is from the defendant herself, and the person she choose to back her up is her girlfriend. This ignores the possibility that the two are lying to protect Newman."
"OBJECTION! That accusation is out of line!" Athena yelled.
"Dirty, rotten, little weasel!" Widget said.
"The defense has a point. This is quite the serious charge you're raising against the defendant," Judge Courtney said.
"That as it maybe, its happened before. This isn't the first time the defendant has stood in court. With permission from Your Honor, I'd like to testify exactly why Newman's testimony can't be trusted," Logan said.
Immediately Robin knew what he was talking about. N-no way! He's not going to bring that up, is he?
Judge Courtney contemplated on the situation, then came to a decision. "As the defense's case does rely on her own testimony, I will allow it."
"Thank you, Your Honor."
Testimony: Robin Newman can't be trusted
The dates: October 25th and 26th of last year.
The case: the murder of a Themis Professor, Constance Courte.
The defendant: Juniper Woods. The Prosecutor: Simon Blackquill.
Witnesses: Several, including Robin Newman. Keep all these facts in mind.
I bore witness to the following events,
as I had attended both days of the trial.
Every initial testimony Newman gave turned out to be filled with lies,
up to and including the gender she introduced herself with!
The person that was murdered was her mentor,
and the defendant was her best friend and future girlfriend.
Yet if Ms. Cykes hadn't dragged the truth out of her,
Newman's testimonies might have gotten Juniper convicted and let the true culprit escape.
Furthermore, both Newman and Juniper lied to protect each other during that trial,
So it's not such a stretch to think that they would do it again during this trail.
End testimony
White-hot rage coursed through Robin's blood as Logan finished his testimony. To think that he would sink so low as to bring up the death of Professor Courte against her was something she couldn't have imagined.
"HOW DARE YOU?!" She screamed. "HOW DARE YOU BRING THAT UP LIKE YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?"
"Does that mean you deny my testimony," Logan said, unfazed by Robin's outburst. "Despite the fact that its a matter of public record and Prosecutor Blackquill can back it up?"
"And you're going along with this?" Athena asked Prosecutor Blackquill.
"It is as the Fledgling says," Blackquill confirmed. "I was the Prosecutor of the case he is referring to, and I find no problems with his statements."
"Well it's true that I didn't give honest testimony during that trial," Robin admitted. "But you have to understand-"
"You've lied before the Goddess of Law?" An outraged Judge Courtney said. "I have half a mind to pass my verdict right now, if only for such a brazen display of insolence!"
"She admits it!" Logan declared triumphantly. "She admits that she's a liar and a cheat! So let me ask you this, Newman: why should we believe anything you say?"
"I-I-I-I- EEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!" Robin exclaimed as she collapsed to the ground.
The world started going fuzzy as Robin sank into despair.
I was doing so well. I was so close to solving the case. But now Logan's turned everyone against me. Is there nothing I can do?
Logan is telling the truth, after all. Professor Courte always talked to me about the value of honesty in court, but I didn't abide by that at all. Now our case is a flaming wreck because of what I did.
I've-I've let everyone down.
"OBJECTION!"
Athena's voice brought Robin back to her senses as she felt herself get picked up from the ground.
"No te rindas, Robin! What would Junie and everyone else think if you let yourself get defeated by this jerk now?"
As Robin looked to the gallery she saw what Athena meant. She saw her parents in an isolated corner of the gallery, but present like they promised they would be. She saw Hugh, Myriam, and Juniper, all of whom decided to stand up and glare down at Logan at the witness stand.
All of them gave Robin an encouraging smile when they spotted her looking at them. Juniper's smile was the biggest, despite the worry clear in her eyes.
Re-energized, Robin stood up straight and faced everyone in the courtroom.
"Sorry about that, everyone! The witness's testimony caught me off guard. But I'm back in action, maaannn!" She declared. "And I'd like to say this: I may not have been all that honest at first, but I did give testimony that helped bring down the real culprit. And I'm going to that again in this courtroom!"
"It would have been better for you to stay down," Prosecutor Blackquill said mockingly. "For you have no recourse left to save yourself."
"That's what you think!" Athena countered. She turned to Judge Courtney. "I'd like to have a quick therapy session with the witness. If he's going to accuse bias, then we need to make sure he doesn't have any bias himself. After all, he claims to be unrelated but some of his actions say otherwise."
"Ms. Cykes's therapy sessions….I've heard of these before," Judge Courtney said. "From what I remember, a previous Judge explicitly approved their use during a trial. And if the Goddess of Law has no objections, then I don't either."
"...If the defense discovers no new facts, then they shall meet their end regardless. I will allow it," Prosecutor Blackquill said.
Logan began to sweat, his facade cracking slightly in nervousness. "And what if I refuse this therapy? I have a right to emotional privacy!"
"Nuh uh uh," Robin said, wagging her finger at Logan. "You've already given your testimony and I have a right to cross examine it, even on an emotional level. Your words are now part of the official record. Unless you want to recant your testimony?"
And thank you, Hugh and Athena, for telling me these facts about cross-examination. She added mentally.
"Newman! I suppose I shouldn't have expected you to go quietly. If I have no choice, then I will go along with it." Logan said.
"If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to worry about," Athena said with a smug grin on her face. "Logan Sullivan, prepare your heart for the power of analytic psychology!"
Athena tapped Widget's screen and another holographic interface appeared, one that Robin was very familiar with from Juniper's trial. She booted up the Mood Matrix program, which then ran through Logan's testimony as it had picked it up earlier.
All of of sudden, a shrill alarm went off three times in rapid succession before being replaced by a constant, high-pitched drone.
"Ah ha! As I thought, we've got an anger-overload on our hands."
Those words triggered another memory from last October. "Wait, you mean like what I had?"
Athena nodded. "Exactly. In other words, something in Logan's testimony is filling him with rage, rage that even now he's trying to keep bottled up. And since he's the Shadow I think we both know why he's like this."
So its really come to this, huh? Just why are you doing this, Logan?
"Remember, just pinpoint the source of Logan's uncontrollable anger and show it to the court!" Athena said as she showed Robin the relevant actions to take with Widget's interface.
Robin didn't take action right away despite knowing full well what to do. Instead, she cycled through the testimony as she absorbed the images being produced by Widget on the screen. Finally, she stopped on the statement concerning her lying in her initial testimonies last October. On the screen was a image of her at the witness stand. The Robin Newman on the screen had bangs that overshadowed her eyes and a generally sneaky demeanor.
So that's how Logan really sees me. Well, I'm not going to let him hide the truth from the court any longer!
"GOT IT!"
"Logan, you're really angry with me, aren't you?"
The student's eyes narrowed behind his glasses. "Angry about what, exactly? We've only had one conversation before today and it was rather short."
"About the fact that I gave false testimony in a court of law. The more I talk to you, the more I'm starting to notice things. Like the fact that you only ever call me by my last name without any kind of title. Or that even during that one conversation you told me that talking to me was a last resort. Even now, you've been nothing but condescending to me."
Logan shook his head. "If you really must know, then I will tell you."
"Newman, you were supposed to be the top student of the Prosecutor Course. The best and the brightest Themis Legal Academy has to offer. Yet when brought under oath and asked to do your duty as a witness, you choose to make a mockery of everything instead. 'I want to be an artist?' Just what goes on in that head of yours, I wonder? So to answer your question, I suppose I'm upset with you. But that's largely irrelevant to the proceedings at hand."
In the silence that followed Athena continued to work away at Widget.
"The overflow's settling down. Now doesn't it feel better to get all that off your chest?" She said to Logan, only to have him steadfastly ignore her.
Noise level: 100% - 64%
I think that means we've made progress?
"We're doing great," Athena confirmed. "Now that the real battle begins."
Athena updated the testimony then ran Robin through another brief tutorial on the Mood Matrix, ending off with: "When looking for a contradiction in emotions, just keep in mind the person you're questioning. In Logan's case, he claims that he's just an impartial observer to all of this."
So what I'm looking for is contradictions that reveal that claim to be a lie.
Robin flipped through the testimony to see if she could anything that stuck out. The one constant was anger, with the other three emotions popping in at sporadic intervals.
On a third sweep Robin found something that bugged her when compared to another piece of testimony.
"Yet if Ms. Cykes hadn't dragged the truth out of her, Newman's testimonies might have gotten Juniper convicted."
"GOT IT! Logan, when you talk about Juniper being at risk of being convicted because of me last October, I notice that you seem really sad about it. Mind telling me about it?"
"Of course I felt sad about seeing a fellow student in the hands of someone as careless as you, Newman. Why would that be strange?" Logan asked.
"All this chatter is quickly revealing itself to be meaningless," Prosecutor Blackquill growled. "May I ask why we're wasting our time on this?"
"Its just that, when you described Juniper at the start of your testimony you seemed really happy. Its the only bit of happiness in your testimony." Robin looked at Logan straight in the eyes. "You really care about Juniper, don't you?"
Logan flinched in shock and actually began to blush, unaware that he had accidentally torn more pages out of his textbook. "I-I-I-Well, I fail to see once again how this is relevant to the trial at hand."
Noise level: 64% - 45%
We both know how this is relevant. You're just not going to say it.
Yesterday in the detention Robin herself had pointed out that they couldn't accuse Logan without sufficient motive. Now one was bubbling to the surface, one that connected the events of last October to the Shadow's actions.
End your farce of a relationship with Juniper, The first note had demanded. Now Robin knew why that specific request had been made of her.
"Um….may I ask the witness something?"
Robin turned to the source of the sudden voice, only to see Juniper standing across from Logan while facing Judge Courtney.
"If it will help along the witness's therapy, then you may," Judge Courtney answered. "As long as we can ensure a fair testimony as the end of this."
Juniper faced Logan, who was still looking distinctly pink.
"Why?" She asked, looking incredibly hurt. "Why are you doing this? Why would you throw such ugly accusations at Robin? At me?"
"What you have to understand," An embarrassed Logan said. "Is that the last thing I want to do is hurt you more than you already are from all of this. But I can't play nice. I have to give a testimony that brings about justice. Even if it means dredging up painful memories, and yes, even if it means Robin ends up going to jail. I can't obscure the truth. In fact, add that to my official testimony."
Juniper shot Athena and Robin a meaningful look as she headed back to the gallery.
Please put an end to this, it said.
Athena fed the new testimony into the Mood Matrix. Her eyes widened at the image in front her and she gestured at Robin to look at it as well.
The image that had formed on Widget's interface was of Robin being led away by the police as Juniper and their friends looked on mournfully.
I have to give honest testimony, even if it means Robin goes to jail. The text on the screen said.
Yet the words were belied by the joy indicator flashing vividly and brightly across half the screen.
"So Logan," Robin said, feeling strangely numb. "The reason we did this is to see if you're as unbiased as say you are. So then answer me this: why does the thought of your testimony sending me to jail make you happier than I've seen you this entire trial?"
At first, Logan didn't say anything. Then he began to chuckle. "Once again, I wouldn't call it happy so much as I would relieved. Just that after you got away with all your crimes last time, it would be a relief to make sure you don't escape this time."
"And it seems you're being honest with the court at last, Logan," Athena said. "That clears up the last of the noise."
The image on the screen changed, and a distance behind Juniper and her group was an image of Logan waving at Robin as she was being arrested with a big grin on his face.
Noise level: 45% - 0%
Bye bye!
To be continued.
A/N: The Shadow's true feelings revealed before the court! On that note, I shall see you all at part 2 of the Turnabout Shadow grand finale! This has been Orion Fowl, and thank you for visiting my corner of romance!