"You realize the procedure, right?"

"Yes, Boss. 'The defendant has the right to know any special circumstances regarding their defense, including but not limited to: relationship to the Prosecution or Judge, any personal involvement in the case or similar cases that may produce bias…'"

"'Or legal designations passed onto the defense that display functioning not present in the normal population.' You're insane, Athena. The defendant has the right to know, and the court is requiring your declaration. I know you'd rather not talk about it, but insanity is serious."

"Does Apollo have to be there? I… know an attorney went insane last year during a trial he was assigned to. It's selfish but-"

"You think he'll instantly believe you're the same."

"Yes, I'm afraid." Her voice became silent, with trembling lips she muttered "I… can't start over… not again."

Athena and Mr. Wright had been in a slew of private meetings since her arrival. When Apollo arrived at 7am the morning of the trial, they were already in another meeting. It was none of his business, he tried to ignore it.

"Ah, Apollo! Would you mind dropping Trucy off at school? I need to take Athena to the courthouse to finish a few papers. This was the only time the notary could meet."

He saw Athena cringe. His bracelet didn't need to tighten in order for him to figure these were no standard papers. "Yeah, sure, Mr. Wright. You want me to come as soon as she's there, or?"

"Why don't you come thirty minutes before it starts? That should give us enough time, and let you have a last quiet moment to look the evidence over."

"Okay! Apollo Justice is out! Trucy! You ready?!"

"All ready, Polly! See you after school today, Daddy! Good luck with your first trial, Athena!"

"Thank you, Trucy! You do your best in school today."

"Of course! C'mon, Polly! I need to catch you up!"

Phoenix waited until their footsteps were long out the door. "I… really don't know what you're about to go through. So, whenever you're ready. I'll let you lead."

April 18, 2027

8:30am

District Courtroom Number One - Private Judicial Chambers

Two officers stood on both sides of Prosecutor Blackquill, and two stood behind Athena. After Nine Tails Vale's incident, the guards standing on Athena's flanks were instructed not to grab her from the back unless absolutely necessary.

The judge sat front and center, straight across from her, with Phoenix on the right and Blackquill on the left. A Detective Gumshoe sat near her boss and the chief prosecutor by her uncle. Outside of the heavy oak doors, two armed guards stood just in case. A convict and a psycho were dangerous on their own, and unpredictable together.

"Protector Blackquill was intended to join us by closed circuit broadcast." Mr. Miles Edgeworth cleared his throat and tapped his packet against the cold wood. "However, while reviewing this case, a complication appeared requiring his presence. Are you aware of this complication, Doctor Athena Cykes?"

"Yes, sir. I must revoke custody from my guardian before any more matters can be settled."

"Someone still has custody of her? She's an adult."

"Quiet, Wright. Doctor Cykes, you disappeared off the face of the earth a little over six years ago. Whoever you lived with during this time is missing from the records and cannot be confirmed. Due to this, we've gone down your custody list. Mother is dead, yes?"

"Yes, Prosecutor Edgeworth."

"Father?"

"No idea, sir. Mom never spoke of him."

"Are you aware your aunt refused your custody?"

"...yes. I was informed she'd been offered, but might refuse."

"Normally, this would defer your case to the orphanage that was supposed to transfer your custody the day you disappeared. A process like that would suspend your court entrance for several weeks."

Fingers scratched through her hair, fiddling with her ribbon. "Ah… I see."

"However, we found one final relative. There's already a special case granted, so we were willing to append custody to this relative for the sole purpose of revoking it. Formalities and such."

"Hence why I stand before you, the murderer himself."

"...Simon."

"The convict, Simon Blackquill, was found to be related to the interested party, Athena Cykes. Since this case will not require the interested party to live with the convict, we were able to keep the papers out of the foster system's queue. Both parties are required to be physically present; which is why Prosecutor Blackquill is not on broadcast."

"Doctor Cykes, these are from the precinct." Detective Gumshoe passed a few forms in her direction. "The first is that you acknowledge you have been administered a psych exam and are here of your own free will without threat on your safety. The second is a choice: the results of your psych exam are stapled to the back. You and Prosecutor Blackquill will discuss the results. If you feel you are suitable for adult society, you will declare yourself an adult and Prosecutor Blackquill will sign to acknowledge your rights. If you feel claiming adulthood would endanger yourself in any fashion, or would cause negative legal repercussions, you reserve the right to rescind your adult rights. Because Blackquill is on death row, should you rescind, you will be transferred back to your orphanage of origin and they will transfer you to a special facility. You must then be adopted by a legal adult the same way a minor would. The third form is only if you acknowledge your rights. It essentially has the same purpose as declaring an emancipated minor. It's for the loose ends so we can send something to the orphanage. It states that you now take full responsibility for your actions moving forward." He directed her to go ahead and fill out the form declaring her free will.

"Thank you, Detective." She signed the page and handed it to him.

"Alright, then. Mr. Wright, Mr. Edgeworth, Your Honor, let's give them and their cops a minute to discuss."

"You know what you must do, Athena?"

"Yes… it's just, frightening to hear all at once."

"Indeed. I believe they intended to intimidate you into declaring yourself a permanent minor."

"Hush, Blackquill. No conspiracies from you."

"Is it conspiracy if I've seen it occur?"

"The provision… it frightens me, Simon."

"Provision? What provision, Athena?"

"You'll find out soon enough." She flipped through the pages of her results, even Simon was kept from seeing what lay on the pages.

Her damage was advancing. A precaution was being put in place to rectify any worries that her state may worsen substantially between exams.

Her life was in the hands of her own AI.

"Officer, I've made my decision."

"You've prepared your declaration for the court?"

"Yes."

"I will bring them back in."

Everyone was brought back in, but stares drilled into Athena from every which way. They likely knew which she'd chosen.

They'd wanted to keep her mouth shut for years, now they were losing grip. Perhaps they should have truly killed her off when they had the chance.

The chief prosecutor had the deadliest stare. "Doctor Cykes, you were in discussion for… a rather short amount of time."

"It was a clear-cut decision with the results. There was not a ton of discussion to be had." One look straight into Simon's eyes told the complete opposite.

The Judge finally cleared his throat. "Your decision then, Doctor Cykes."

The faster this is over, the faster she could stop being called 'Doctor Cykes.'

"I… Doctor Athena Cykes, hereby accept my rights as a legal adult." She checked the correct boxes, then signed the paper, passing it to Simon.

"I, Mister Simon Blackquill, hereby rescind my custody of Doctor Athena Cykes." He checked his boxes, then signed his name before handing it to the judge.

"Very well, I hereby declare Doctor Athena Cykes as an adult in our society." The Judge signed and stamped the paper before handing it back to Gumshoe.

"We've told you before, but we must make the statement public now: your precaution to protect the public," The chief prosecutor looked down at his notes, fiddling with his glasses. "That AI around your neck… it publicizes your emotions?"

"Widget? Yes, sir."

I talk too, you know!

"Widget… stop, please."

"As the AI has so helpfully demonstrated, it keeps a real-time analysis of Doctor Cykes' inner emotions. It also, which we cannot demonstrate without being unethical, announces, how shall I put it… psychological shutdowns…"

"No…" Simon growled. "How dare you…"

"If the AI displays a shutdown after a violent analysis, or a shutdown while she is behaving erratically, Doctor Cykes, you acknowledge armed forces are allowed to hold this as a significant danger to public safety… and open fire on you."

Simon's officers instantly restrained him.

"Objection!" Widget flickered due to the sudden desk slam, registering in Athena's mind as a gunshot meant for her. "You're endorsing the police shooting a young woman for a panic attack?! Of all the things Edgeworth, I never thought you, the child witness of DL-6, would stoop so low!"

"I was opposed, Wright! I am fully aware of the potential for misinterpretation!" Edgeworth sighed and leaned back, failing to notice the seething Blackquill next to him. "Athena's mother was a high-profile government employee. This case is much higher than our precinct's jurisdiction. The entire case has been handled by the federal government's justice department since it happened. They will manage Doctor Cykes for as long as she lives. The order comes from them."

"The blood of UR-1 is on your hands!" Simon broke from his officers and lunged for Edgeworth, only to cry out and drop to the ground.

"Now, now, Blackquill, mutilating prosecutors is no way to get justice, is it?"

"Curse you…"

"D-Detective… Fulbright?"

"That's right, little missy!" I was called to come down while you chatted privately. "They were worried he'd get out of hand, and they were right! Good thing I brought his taser, huh?"

"Y-you… tased him?"

"Simple, but effective!"

"Simon! Are you alright?"

"Ugnh… curse you, Foolbright…"

"Didn't know you had such a provision, Ms. Cykes! Otherwise I would have fitted a taser when you and that red attorney came by yesterday, ha ha!"

"You'd tase me?"

"Better than gunning you down, isn't it? You're quite the unassuming soul, I'd never have guessed you were a psycho! How'd you end up getting that badge? Didn't know they'd give those to just anyone who fini-"

"Silence!" Simon pulled himself back onto the table. "Don't you dare imply that she is not deserving of her badge. This whole debacle is an almost decade-old misunderstanding, one that does not seem like it will clear up anytime soon. You'd do best to keep that sword sheathed, Foolbright."

"Prosecution, Defense, Detective." The Judge tapped a finger on the table. "The trial starts in less than an hour. Maybe we could save this for then?"

"Yes, Your Honor." Athena pulled her bangs in front of her face.

Simon bit his tongue. "Certainly, Your Honor…"

"Prosecutor Edgeworth, are you alright?"

Phoenix had nearly forgotten about Edgeworth in all the excitement.

He merely adjusted his cravat. "Certainly, Your Honor."

"Am I done here? You just needed me to sign that paper."

"Of course. Officers, please escort Prosecutor Blackquill to a holding chamber until it's time for the trial."

"Goodbye, Cykes-Dono. I shall see you in due time."

"Bye…"

"Has the co-council's disability been disclosed to the defendant, Wright?"

"Yes, he still accepts Athena at the stand. Said it reminded him of his daughter."

"How quaint. I look forward to seeing just what you've gotten yourself into this time."

"What do you mean 'what I've gotten myself into this time?!' Athena is an amazing young lawyer, and I wouldn't change a thing."

"You mean to tell us you felt no fear upon learning about her state? You must've hit your head harder when you fell off that burning bridge than I thought."

He felt Athena's fearful eyes.

Of course his blood ran cold when he found out he'd hired someone who was legally insane! It's why he called her at 3am!

But… he couldn't just say he didn't trust her in the middle of her lowest point. The cops had just dragged her through the mud and humiliated her. He became a lawyer to protect those with no one, and he wasn't going to leave her for dead.

"I knew anything could come up with hiring an international whom I'd only known for a few hours. But I still wouldn't have hired anyone else. Athena is a fit for our agency, I just know it."

"What about your other employee? You said your intention was to create a legal team? Does he know about her disability?"

"..."

"You're intolerable, Wright. He's in his twenties and has already been attacked by a psychopath once in the past year. He's in danger and you aren't even letting him know. Have they at least met?"

"Yes, I met Apollo yesterday at the crime scene. He seems nice."

"She just arrived yesterday. I hadn't had a chance to talk with him yet. The murder delayed those plans. He hasn't approached me with any concerns about her, so I hadn't rushed to it yet."

"His lack of concern is a reason for concern. Thinking a psychopath is normal will get him killed."

"I won't kill Apollo!" Widget was red, aggressive, and she pounded the table. "I don't want to kill Apollo. He's a nice guy, a gentle soul." She pulled her hair over her ear, twirled her moon earring, bit her lip. "I was really nervous about being in this country again, in this city. I was almost immediately arrested as well. I'd heard he struggled with trusting people, but was surprised when he took me rather well. I'd never want to hurt him."

That… Phoenix didn't expect that.

"Your desires are broken, Doctor Cykes. Don't let your psychology degree get ahead of that. However, I can see the logistics being thrown off due to the murder. I will let you get by as long as you expose the truth, as you are so fond of doing, to your employee sooner rather than later. One's privacy is only a priority until the lives of others are in danger. That is why investigations exist."

"Of course, Edgeworth. We'd always planned to tell him."

"I'll be in the gallery for this trial, so I'll take the papers down to the precinct with Gumshoe and get some copies made for my office. I shall see you soon, Wright."

"Are you okay, Athena?"

"Huh? Yeah… I'm just glad it's over…"

"I had no idea they were going to do that to you… otherwise I would have objected earlier."

"They're afraid. I could hear it. The media also doesn't have an accurate depiction of a more well-functioning psycho… just the Jack the Ripper kind. I can't blame them. Especially because they are right, the rules of my case are run by a federal investigation agency, not the district court. It's all out of their hands, they're all pawns. Once I've been in court for a while, they'll get to know me. They won't fear me so much. Although, I must apologize to you, Boss."

"To me? Why?"

"Because lawyers have a very long lived career. Apollo will likely be with you for decades. I on the other hand… my days are rather numbered…"

"Athena… I- you're dying?"

"Slowly. I… have a traumatic brain injury. It led to some death, which is why I was declared insane. It's been advancing suddenly, much faster over the past year." She fished a little paper out of her pocket, opening it up and sighing. "If I make it to my fortieth birthday, it will be a miracle. By thirty, I may be too far gone. They aren't sure. I only have five years guaranteed. By the time I'm Apollo's age, I'll probably be forced into retirement." Her lip trembled, Widget turned the deepest blue, but no tears fell from her eyes.

"I- wow… uh…"

"Heh… it's alright. Plus," She flashed him a peace sign. "It's not over yet! This is no time to be crying! Now come, rápido, rápido! Apollo should be here any minute!" She was already out the door.

He couldn't follow yet, everything was still so much. He definitely didn't expect any of what had happened already when he hired Athena. And now she was dying… wow…

His fortieth birthday was only in a few years. He was likely already older than she'd ever be. His story started with Mia, who died at twenty-seven. That same story currently ended with Athena, who was slated to die in her thirties. He'd seen many premature deaths in his time as a homicide-specialized attorney, but the passings of these two women pained him most; because they were his story.

However, they were both right: the only time a lawyer could cry was when it was all over.

Athena was still alive, eighteen and full of energy, and the trial of Damien Tenma still lay before them. Apollo was on his way, and she'd meet him at the front door like nothing had ever happened.

A great many shadows were cast over her life, but she still bounced around like a ray of sunshine. She was a living embodiment of the motto Mia left behind, one Phoenix needed to model today.

The Wright Anything Agency's newest trial was starting, and Athena was front and center for it all.