Time to prepare of the cases second trial date and investigate the studio some more.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this

DM77's Ace Attorney Chapter 16

Back to the Studio

October 18, J & Co. Law Offices

J and Jaden had made it back to the office after a tough trial. It was only a quick stop but they will be heading back out soon.

"Phew, what a day." J said sighing.

"This is no time for relaxing, J!" Jaden told her. "Say, you think JB's got a chance?"

"I guess that really depends on the people we found out about in today's trial." J said thinking.

"The director and producer…?" Jaden asked.

"Yeah, them." J said nodding.

"Well, what are we doing here then?! Let's get to the studios!" Jaden said determined.

J sighs and nods and the two head out to go back to Vox Studios.

October 18, 2:16 PM, Vox Studios, Main Gate

When they arrive at the main gate, they see no one was around, no one was in the guard station.

"No one's here." Jaden notes looking around.

"Right, now that they have Mr. Pines in custody. I guess they don't have anyone else to replace him…" J said with a thought.

"H-hey! In the guard station! Look! He left his donuts!" Jaden said with a smile. J gives him a deadpan stare and he said sadly "What? I wasn't going to eat them!"

J shakes her head and the two head to the Employee Area.

October 18, Vox Studios, Employee Area

As the two walk in it was the same as the other day, the only difference is they see Hashtag in there working.

"Look, it's that assistant robot girl." Jaden said smiling "Hey!" He waves to her.

"Hello… JB's lawyers, right?" Hashtag asked smiling. "I heard about the trial! Great job, guys!"

"Oh? Hahaha. Don't mention it." J said with a smile.

"Is it true they caught the security man?!" Hashtag asked.

"Oh! Oh… Hahaha!" J giggles smiling.

"Actually, he just called me." Hashtag mentioned "He told me to cover up that drain…"

J looks at the drain that was now covered "You mean that one?" She sees it was just a board tapped to the wall 'Wow, what a mess…'

"I…. I know…" Hashtag said rubbing her head seeing J's face. "I'm not so good with handiwork. Some assistant, right?"

"Yeah, but you do work on the props, and the back drops, right?" Jaden asked her.

"R-right." Hashtag said a bit embarrassed "Just… lots of times they end up looking worse than they did before I fixed them."

"Oh? Oh! Well, I'm sure these things happen. Nothing to worry yourself about!" Jaden said smiling.

"You're right! I won't!" Hashtag said nodding.

'Personally, I think she should worry at least a little bit more…' J thinks on that.

"Umm if you'll excuse me, I have to go to the guard station." Hashtag told them "I'm supposed to fill in for Mr. Pines."

"Right! See you later, then!" Jaden said smiling.

"Good luck with your investigation." Hashtag said as she left

When she was gone, J looks at the badly made drain cover. Jaden looks at it as well and said "So, the fanboy they were talking about in the trial today…He came in through that drain?"

"So, it seems. I guess they covered it up in a hurry." J said with a nod.

"Hey… Hey, J!" Jaden said with a grin. "If that drain's covered, the boy won't be able to get in."

"Um, yeah. I think that was the idea…?" J said to him.

"I feel kind of sorry for him. Don't you?" Jaden asked grinning.

"What, you want to rip the grate off?" J asked him.

"Really, J? We can?!" Jaden said excited.

'Whoa… he's serious? Uh oh…' J thinks and then nods deciding to rip it open "Well, I guess some things are just made to be brocken."

"Yeah!" Jaden cheers "You know, J, you're pretty swell sometimes."

'Sometimes…?' J thinks at that

"Hiii-ya!" Jaden said as he rips the flimsy cover off "There. That should make the kids happy."

"The things we do…" J said smiling and the two head back to the main gate.

Once they got there, they see Hashtag standing guard who spots them "Oh…. Hello."

"Haha! You look a little out of place." Jaden said chuckling.

"It's my appearance, isn't it?" Hashtag asked him. "I though the fact I am a surveillance van might do the trick….Kind of an 'alternative guard appearance' thing."

J decided to ask her some questions and asked "So, how are the studios doing?"

"There's police troopers wondering around everywhere, it's terrible." Hashtag explained "They won't even let me clean up. Don't want me 'disturbing evidence.' I haven't even cleaned up our lunch plates from the day of the murder!"

"You mean those plates with the streak bones left over on them in the employee area?" J asked.

"Yeah. Can you believe it?" Hashtag said nodding.

"Do kids sneak in here a lot?" Jaden asked her.

"Well…" Hashtag said and continued "I don't think there's that many of them, but I do see one in particular a bunch. He's always gawking at the sets, or snapping pictures. You should see Old Stan's eyes flash when he sees him. He has a bit of trouble catching him though…"

J nods and said "I heard something at the trial today. They said that the director and producer were here the day of the murder…"

"Oh sorry…" Hashtag said "I was in the prop storage room, so I didn't see them. I guess they were here, though. The studio head seemed pretty eager to keep us quiet."

"So, they were trying to protect the director?" Jaden asked thinking.

"More the producer, really." Hashtag states "The producer's our real star here. She saved the studios from the brink of disaster after Gleemon Vox's death and kept them running. I don't think we'd stell be in business if it weren't for that producer!"

'The producer, huh?' J thinks on that

Having asked all the questions J and Jaden head to the gate to the studios

October 18, Studio One Entrance

They arrive at the area outside Studio one near the Woodpecker statue and see no one around.

"Hey, J. It looks like Detective N isn't here today." Jaden points out.

"You're right." J said nodding. "He's probably up to his neck in paperwork after the commotion at today's trial."

"So, J…" Jaden said smiling "Remember that 'Studio Two' we heard about at the trial today? It was down the path with the fallen tree, right?"

"Yeah, I think that's what they said." J said thinking.

"Maybe the director and the rest of them are there today?" Jaden suggested "Now's our chance, J! Let's check it out!"

J nods and they two walk the path leading to Studio Two.

October 18, Studio Two Entrance

They arrive to the entrance to Studio Two and see it was quite barron just a van, outdoor furnace and a wooden house trailer. J thinks 'This place is deserted…'

There was a crashing noise surprising them and Jaden said freaked out "Woah! J! W-w-what was that noise?!"

J looks to the trailer and says "It sounded like it came from inside the trailer…Someone must be inside…"

"H-Hello?" Jaden said nervous but there was no response.

"No answer." J said thinking.

"Pretty suspicious, if you ask me, J!" Jaden told her. "Let's go in!"

"I'm not sure we should be barging in…" J points out and sees Jaden try the door but it doesn't open "…Huh. It's locked."

"What? Don't we have a key?" Jaden asked.

"No. But there's probably one in the guard station at the main gate." J suggested.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's borrow it!" Jaden told her.

'If they'll let us…' J thinks and looks around looking at the van "A light van for moving staff and equipment around. They've kept it in pretty good shape. Looks like it'd run fine."

"Well, let's go for a drive!" Jaden said smiling.

"Sure… if I had a license." J said to him.

"J! You don't have a driver's license?!" Jaden said smiling.

"I didn't have a need to drive, but look, I have this!" J said showing her attorney badge.

"Why are you showing me your attorney's badge, J?" Jaden said annoyed.

J sighs and looks at the furnace "An incinerator. Apparently, they just put this one in. It's already covered in soot. They must not clean it much." She then looks at the garden of red flowers by the trailer. "There's some flowers here."

"Wow, so pretty! They're taking good care of these." Jaden said smiling.

"Don't get to close. That fence looks dangerous." J said noting the fence with spike tips, however she noticed one of them was bent, strange. She then looks at a small table with some plates on it "Looks like two people ate here. There's nothing left on the plates."

"Hey, so they ate t-bone steaks too." Jaden said smiling.

"What is it with steaks around here?" J asked confused.

"Hey! There's always room for steak!" Jaden points out then looked confused. "But… something does seem out of place…"

"What?" J asked him.

"I… don't know. It just feels 'odd.'" Jaden admits shrugging.

Seeing nothing else to look at, J and Jaden head back to the Main gate.

Arriving at the Main Gate where Hashtag was still standing guard, J looks to the Guard Sation.

"The Security Guard station, I can see the computer that runs the security cameras." J said.

"Oh, please don't touch anything in there." Hashtag asked them "The security man would knock the stuffing out of me if he knew."

'I really want the key to that trailer...' J thinks 'Maybe next time…'

J and Jaden decide to check out Johnny's dressing room.

As soon as the two enter they are surprised by a voice yell out "WHAT THE…? Who are you two?! HAHAHA!" They see it come from an old man wearing shares, with a white bearead wearing orange senei top, blue pants and black shoes and holding a brown staff.

"H-huh?! W-we…" Jaden said taken aback. "Wait, you first! Who are you?! You look pretty suspicious to me!"

"What how can you not know my great master of television, Master Roshi?!" The old man said to them "I make the best shows! The White Ranger? Mine! Read the credits rather then skipping them!

"R-really?! You're THE Master Roshi?!" Jaden yelled out in shock. He looks ashamed "I'm so sorry! I just, you looked so… Sorry!"

"No, no, it's quite alright. Really. It's fine." Roshi said and laughs. He then looks intrigued at Jaden.

"W-what is it?" Jaden asked concerned.

"You know, when I look at you more closely…" Roshi said and grins "Yes…I feel…something in my brain…creative thoughts. Is that some unique cosplay costume?"

"H-Hey… creative thoughts?! Wh-What are you talking about?" Jaden asked confused.

"Yes! Indeed! You've triggered my creative powers!" Roshi yells out "Yes…yes, it's coming to me! 'Red Samurai Ranger'! The sequel to the White Ranger…'Red Samuari Ranger: Warrior of Ancient Dynasty Kingdom!' But this time the lead will be female! Hehehe!

We then see a vision of promotional poster, where we see a red ranger with black tights wielding a technological samurai sword. Roshi chuckled at the thought.

"R-'Red Samurai Ranger'…?" Jaden said surprised "Hey! Why's it gotta be 'Ancient' Dynasty Kingdom?! Why can't it have a cool name, like 'Network Kingdom'?!"

"Jaden, we really need to talk about 'cool'…" J said sighing

"Oh, Mr. Bravo's bag. I wonder what's inside?" Jaden said looking inside "Hey! Supermarket tabloids? Wow, I'm kind of shocked."

"Jaden! Leave those alone!" J said and sees one 'Rahkshi Found on Saturn'…? I'll have to buy this issue!' She then looks at the table "There's a bunch of snacks on the table. They must give these to the employees."

"H-hey! J!" Jaden said in shock

"W-what now?" J asked.

"Th-the snacks! There were twice this much here before!" Jaden said in shock.

"Oh, I, uh, I ate them." Roshi admits "They were past their expiration date anyway." He chuckles

Jaden upset looks at J and the drone thinks 'He's biting his lip and staring at me with tears welling in his eyes…' J decided to ask Roshi questions asking "Did you notice anything unusual on the day of the murder?"

"Oh, now I know who you two are. That security man told you about us, right?" Roshi asked

"That is correct." J said nodding.

"It was a pretty regular day. We had a run-through for an action scene in the morning." Roshi began to recount. "Then a meeting from lunchtime in the Studio Two trailer. Heh. I was so busy I didn't even get a chance to eat lunch!" He looks down sad.

"A t-bone steak, was it?" J asked.

"Yeah… I hate a chance to miss out on food… Almost as the choice angle for a nice view." Roshi said nodding and chuckles.

"J… why does he mean by nice view?" Jaden asked.

"No clue but I have some ideas." J said sighing

"Anyway, I was in a meeting from noon till after 4:00." Roshi continued "With the producer, and some bigwigs from the network."

'Mr. Bravo's time of death was estimated at 2:30 PM. If he's telling the truth, that meeting gives him an alibi…' J thinks and then asked "About the producer who was at the meeting with you…"

"Oh, you mean Stella Goetia?" Roshi asked "She's a genius. Amazing skills, all the way. Scary though." He sweats a bit. "She brought these studios back from the brink of destruction. She's the one who made it possible for me to make the White Ranger!"

"You had a meeting with her on the day of the murder, right?" J asked him.

"Yeah, we were together from noon to 4:00 PM, the whole time." Roshi said nodding.

"Who exactly are these 'bigwigs' people keep mentioning?" J asked.

"Oh, the boss over at the network, and some sponsors. Also a few production guys." Roshi explained. "They piled into a limousine and got here right around noon. Major tension!" He sweats again.

"Were all of them with you the entire time?" J asked.

"Yeah, unfortunately." Roshi said nodding. "They were all stuffy grey hairs…" He scowls.

'Hmmm… sounds like they'd all be reliable witnesses.' J thinks

Having asked all her questions for now, J and Jaden leave the room and head back to the Main Gate.

Well they learn more about who was there at the meeting and met Roshi the director and learned Stella is the producer. What else with J and Jaden find out?

Please Read, Review and Suggest. Thank you.