Well J and Jaden continue their investigation as they get closer to the truth.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.
DM77's Ace Attorney Chapter 22
Vox Studio's Secret
The group enter Johnny's dressing room, only to be greeted by not Roshi but Hashtag instead.
"Oh! Hello!" Hashtag said smiling at them.
"What are you doing here?" Jaden asked her.
"Oh…I was just cleaning up the dressing room." Hashtag said. "I guess JB won't be using it anymore, so…"
"W-what?! Why?!" Jaden asked shocked. "But JB's innocent!"
"Yes, and I'm really grateful for all you've done." Hashtag said nodding. "But…This week is the last episode of the White Ranger…"
"What?! Nooooooooooo!" Jaden lets out in shock and despair.
J decided to get to asking Hashtag some questions asking "I was wondering if I could ask you about Miss. Melromarc…"
"Yes?" Hashtag asked.
"On the day of the murder, she went to Studio Two." J explained.
"Huh? I thought she went to Studio One?" Hashtag asked confused.
"She stole the White Ranger costume, too!" Jaden said with a nod.
"What?!" Hashtag asked surprised "Why would Miss Melromarc do something like that?" She thinks and said "Oh…I guess the rumour must be true, then."
"The rumour?" Jaden asked.
"Yeah. Miss Stella, that producer, had some kind of hold on Malty." Hashtag explained. "She had some dirt on her…She'd do anything she said, apparently."
"Some 'dirt'?" Jaden asked. "What dirt!"
"Dirt. You know, bad stuff." Hashtag said to him simply.
"Uh, I know what dire means…" Jaden said pouting.
"About five years ago, they were filming a movie staring Miss. Melromarc." Hashtag explained "They were using the new studio…Studio Two. Some sort of accident happened during filming. After that, they never used Studio Two again. They left the film set the way it was, too."
'The film set…? Was that trailer part of the film set then?' J thinks.
While J thinks Jaden decided to ask "W-What do you mean, the 'last White Ranger'?!"
"I know it's a shock, but nothing can be done to save it now." Hashtag explained to him. "Whoever really did kill Miss. Melromarc, also signed the White Ranger's death warrant."
"No… no!" Jaden said in despair.
"Also, I heat that Vox Studios is going to change its programming." Hashtag further explained. "They're not going to make kids' shows anymore."
"W-what?! Why?!" Jaden asked in shocked.
"I don't know." Hashtag said shrugging. "It's sad, but that's what Vox Studios decided."
"Huh…why aren't they going to make kids' shows anymore?" J asked, this was a shocking surprise to her.
"They studio bigwigs don't want the White Ranger around anymore." Hashtag explained. "They want to forget all this ever happened. They want it quiet; you understand?"
"H-how can they just do that!" Jaden asked upset. "What about all the kids who love the White Ranger!"
"It's okay. I'm sure the kids will be fine." Hashtag said in reassurance. "They'll find a new hero to follow."
"No, that can't be true!" Jaden said shaking his head "If the program just ends, they'll be heartbroken for sure! J! Say something!"
"Ummm…yeah." J said awkwardly put in the spot and thinks 'I think evidence, rather than words, is called for here' J thinks and has an idea on what can show it "Here, take a look at this. Take that!" She then hands over to Hashtag, Kota's Path to Glory book.
"And this is…?" Hashtag said taking it and looks through it
"A fan collected all of these photographs." J explained to her. "The kids love the White Ranger! The show shouldn't be cancelled just so some adults can save face! I personally understand this." J said showing her black Bionicle Ranger medallion keyring "And I would think you would understand that better than anyone."
Hashtag smiles looking though the book of photos and said closing her optics "You're right…Okay! But what can I do?"
"Well, for starters…You can tell me something." J said to her "Tell me what it is that Vox Studios is so intent on hiding? Tell me about this accident five years ago."
Hashtag thinks on it and nods "Okay!"
"Alright, then tell us what happened five years ago?" J asked.
"Well, I can tell you what I've heard." Hashtag said nodding "Apparently, five years ago, someone died…and it was Malty's fault."
"S-someone died?!" Jaden asked shocked.
"It was an accident, of couse!" Hashtag clarifies "Anyway…The producer, Miss. Stella managed to hush it up."
"And that's the 'dirt' she had on Miss. Melromarc?" J asked guessing.
"And that's why Miss. Melromarc would do anything Miss Stella asked her to do!" Jaden said sadly. "But it was an accident, right? Why didn't they just make it public?"
"Well, you know Miss. Melromarc was a big star back then. They were afraid about what would happen to her career if word got out." Hashtag explained.
"I see…" Jaden said looking down.
"You know who knows more about this? Mr. Pines." Hashtag points out to them. "He was here at the studios back then, you know."
"Thanks. We'll try asking him." J said nodding, not eager to talk to a man who looks like he wants to rip her head off but he might do so if it will provide justice for Malty if this rumour was true. 'If he'll talk...'
The two then head back to the Main Gate.
They arrive at the main gate and Stan was still there. The security guard sees them and asked "What, you're still slinking around? If you like the place so much, why don't you take over for me?" He grins but it seemed forced to make some sadness.
"The old pine doesn't look so good…" Jaden said sadly.
"E-everybody's doing their darnedest to forget Malty." Stan said getting angry. "Who do they think made Vox Studios what it is today? Malty! It's all due to Malty!"
"He's starting to froth at the mouth, J…" Jaden said nervous. "Maybe we should keep a safe distance?"
J nods and then asked Stan "Umm…I wanted to ask you about five years ago…"
Stan gets an angry look on his face crushing a can of soda he was holding and asked "Who told?! Who did you hear that from?!"
"I, uh…huh?" J said nervous
"Tag!" Stan yelled out.
"T-tag?" J asked confused.
"Hashtag, J. That assistant we talked to." Jaden told her.
"O-oh, right." J said nodding. "Anyway, we heard about the accident. It was during filming with Malty Melromarc…She killed a man. Didn't she?"
"S-Scrappile!" Stan said still angry "Dredging up dirt on someone's past like that… and the recently departed, no less! I suppose you think this is fun?!"
"N-no, I'm just doing my job to protect Mr. Bravo…" J said shaking her head.
"And you claim that Malty stole Johnny's costume!" Stan said still angry "You expect me to believe that junk! Or do you have some kind of proof?"
'Proof that Malty stole Johnny's costume? Hmm…' J thinks and she had some saying "I'm sorry Mr. Pines, but I do have proof. I can prove that Miss. Melromarc stole Mr. Bravo's costume. Take that!" She presents the Sleeping Pill Bottle "Here's my proof."
"What? What's a little empty bottle supposed to prove?" Stan asked confused.
"It's a bottle of sleeping pills." J told him. "With Miss. Melromarc's fingerprints on it…"
"Wh-what does that prove?" Stan asked trying to keep a strong face. "I…I'm sure sweet Malty had some sleepless nights! Where's your proof that he used those pills on Johnny?"
"Take that!" J said showing an image of the Steak Plate and said "Mr. Bravo ate a t-bone steak for lunch, correct?"
"W-well…yes. So?" Stan asked not liking where this was going.
"This is the plate that he used to eat that steak." J said holding up the image. "There are traces of sleeping pill powder on that plate!"
Stan was stunned mix of anger and shock. He then goes calm and sighs and said "I see. Poor, poor Malty. You did wrong, Malty, rest your soul."
"Mr. Pines…?" Jaden asked sadly.
"Okay. You win kid. I'll talk." Stan said sitting down sighing. "I'm tired, see…Tired of holding it all in."
"Mr. Pines…" J said to him, she could see he was hiding all this secret for five long years no doubt.
"You're right. Five years ago there was an accident…. a fatal accident." Stan explained. "What's worse, a paparazzi took a photo of it. That photo, well, it caused quite a stir." He then smirks chuckling "And guess who made it all better? Stella! She has ties to the mafia…She silenced the paparazzi. That was the beginning. After that she became a force to be reckoned with here at the studio."
"I see…!" Jaden said understanding.
"But you have to understand…Poor sweet Malty never meant any harm to anyone!" Stan told them both.
"Mr. Pines…." Jaden said sadly.
"Hold on a minute." Stan said standing and goes into the security station.
"Poor Mr. Pines…" Jade said looking down.
Stan soon returns and hands J a photograph "Here, take this."
J takes it and says "A photograph?" She looks at it, on it showed a younger Stella looking horrified, Malty in a tennis outfit also looking shocked and front and center a body of a blond-haired man in a samurai outfit hunched over a spiked fence also the set they were at looked quite familiar "W-wait a second!" J said shocked.
"This is the picture." Stan explained.
"Is…this the trailer in Studio Two?" J asked recognizing the building.
"Malty was supposed to fight with a bad guy on the top of those stairs, there." Stan explained "She pushed the other actor, and the man fell onto the flowerbox fence."
"B-but how did you get this?" J asked him surprised, she was sure Stella ensured all evidence of this was destroyed.
"It… was a long time ago." Stan said rubbing his head "I don't fell much like talking about it. Let's say I'm a master of five finger discount without being caught."
"I understand…" J said nodding and adds Five-Year-Old Photo to the Court Record.
Knowing they have this, they head to Studio Two to confront Stella with this.
October 19, Studio Two Entrance
When they arrive, they find Stella sitting by herself with some tea in her usual disinterest self.
"Hey, J…. It's Miss. Stella!" Jaden said smiling and said to Stella "Hello?" Stella remains silent "H-E-L-L-O!" Jaden said but Stella remains quiet "H! E! L! L! O!" He yells out.
"J-Jaden! You should at least try to be polite…" J said to him.
Stella sips her tea and then said, "I'm watching the clouds." Before remaining silent again.
'That's all she had to say, apparently…' J thinks. She and Jaden tried talking to Stella but as usual she remained disinterested. So she has to play that card to get her to finally take them seriously and presents the Five Year Old Photo but she didn't react much 'She's not even looking.'
"Where." Stella then said suddenly.
"Wh-what?" J asked surprised.
"Where did you get that?" Stella asked him.
"I, well…" J said nervous.
"Stanly." Stella said simply.
"S-Stanly…?" J said confused.
"She means the security man, Mr. Stanly Pines, J." Jaden told her.
"Right…anyway…" J said nodding. "Miss. Stella. You hid this incident from the press, didn't you? And you used it to control Miss. Melromarc!"
Stella remains quiet sipping her tea and said, "The wind."
"The…huh?" J said confused.
"It's gotten stronger, don't you think? The wind." Stella said to them. Then sipping her tea, she continues "Your conversation interests me. Let's talk about it more, inside the trailer." She walks into the trailer.
"J. She went inside the trailer." Jaden said concerned.
J nods and follows her in with Jaden.
Once they enter Stella looks at them and said smirking "Hmph. You came. Well then, what was that you were talking about?"
'…! Why is she so eager to talk all of a sudden?' J thinks surprised by that, but she composes and said "Miss. Stella. You were using that accident! You were blackmailing Miss. Melromarc so you could control him, weren't you? That's why she was doing kids' shows for petty change!"
"Hmph…" Stella said sipping some tea "So I'm a blackmailer now?"
"Well, that's what it was, wasn't it!" Jaden said glaring. "I mean, sure it was an accident…But you used it to drag Miss. Melromarc down from her rightful place as a star!"
"Oh…?" Stella said amused and said "I haven't pulled anyone down from anywhere. Miss. Melromarc's career went sour on its own accord."
"B-but!" Jaden said to that thinking "You were the cause! You pressured him…And to think it was just an accident…!"
"Excuse me!" Stella said in a sudden burst of anger "What is this all about? You keep saying 'accident' 'accident'…" For the first time she actually looks right at them with a smirk "How are you so sure?"
"What do you mean?" J asked her.
"Must I spell everything out for you?" Stella asked sighing "Think: what would it be it it wasn't an accident?"
J's LED eyes widen at that, if it was more then an accident, it would have been….murder. She said "No…No way! You mean Miss. Melromarc did it…. on purpose?"
Stella smirks and said pouring herself a fresh cup of tea "That is what I mean."
"Wh-where's your proof! Can you prove it?!" J asked her.
"Hmph!" Stella said looking away "Just think! Would she have let me run her life for five years….over a mere accident?" She sips her tea. "And I ran her hard believe you me!"
"B-but, the security man said it was an accident!" Jaden told her.
"Oh. Well, he was a big fan of Malty's, you see." Stella explained "He jumped on the reporter who brought that photo into the studio. He wrenched it out of his hands, he did. Gave him a few bruises, too."
'So that's why he had the photo…so much for the five finger discount story he said' J thinks.
"He's an old fool." Stella simply said sipping her tea. "Of course, all the reporter would need is the negatives. He could have made a copy. But he didn't. The only copy of that photo is the one you hold." He smirks at J and holds out her hand "Give it to me. Now."
"W-what? But this is valuable evidence!" Jaden yelled out.
"Boys!" Stella said snapping her fingers and in walk in surrounding the two were various imp and shark looking mobsters all looking tough and smirking.
"U-ummm…" J said concerned. "Who are they…?"
"Professionals." Stella said sipping her tea. "They're good at erasing…various things." She smirks looking at J and asked "What do you think…? Would you like to be erased?"
"Wh-what?!" J said shocked as she recalls not to long ago being in a similar dreadful situation back when she was dealing with Handsome Jack but this was ten times worse.
"The trial ends tomorrow?" Stella asked then said "How unfortunate. It's a shame you'll have to miss it!"
J was shocked to hear that. Then clenching her fists asked, "Tell me why." She holds up the photo "Why do you want this photograph so badly? This is Miss. Melromarc's 'dirt'…no? Why should Stella care about it at all?"
Stella remains quiet not looking at J, as she's sipping her and just said "I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to think about that where you're going." She grins at the two "So long, friends. Boys, erase away."
"Noooooo!" Jaden cried out as the mobster imps and sharks approach.
"Hold it right there!" The familiar voice of Detective N cried out as he bursts into the trailer blocking the mobsters path to J and Jaden wings and claw hands out. He then said "I heard everything, buddy! Stella! You're coming down to the precinct with me, now!"
Stella surprised by this interruption a bit annoyed remained quiet and said "Hmph." She chuckles and said "Not bad…Very well. It appears this contest will be decided tomorrow then. In court. I'll be looking forward to it."
A while later Stella was taken away by some of the other officers as well as her mobster henchman. N stays with J and Jaden to ensure their safety.
When all settled down N looks at J and asked "H-hey, you okay, buddy? Sorry I was a little late with my entrance." He rubs his head "I don't get many chances to practice that sort of thing."
"Detective N…" Jaden said looking down he got really scared "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was really scared…"
"Huh? Don't mention it, buddy. Just doing my job." N said to him and looks off to the ceiling remaining silent but looking like he would cry.
"Detective N?" Jaden asked confused.
"Sorry, it's just…I've wanted to say that line ever since I became a detective." N admits. J chuckles, after that rescue he earned his chance to say it. N composes himself and said "Okay. I got one more job to do today. I'm sure we'll run into each other again soon!" He then leaves.
"Well, J." Jaden said looking determined. "It looks like we're getting close to the bottom of this."
'And who's at the bottom…? Stella!' J thinks. This game was nearing it's end on the case of the White Ranger. Stella is at the centre of the events of Vox Studios, so she no doubt knows what happened to Malty, she was going to win this, she had to.
Well that was a close call, but the final battle with Stella will be in court, will J expose the truth or will it end in her defeat. Find out soon.
Also yes I used the Helluva Boss mobsters from Greed Ring as they were fitting for Stella I think.
Please Read, Review and Suggest. Thank you.
