Time to begin the final investigation and really dig into SL-9 and it's connections to people

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this

DM77's Ace Attorney Chapter 53

Learning more of SL-9

February 24, 3:12 PM, J & Co. Law Offices

J and Makoto had returned to the office to recuperate after all they learned and the disaster the trial turned to after Sae's words.

"I'm so sorry, Miss. J." Makoto said looking down. "I'm sorry for what my sister said…"

J nods as she thinks back to then

We come back to the trail as Sae was answering Anakin's question.

"Drastic crimes require drastic measures…" Sae told him. "That's just the way it is. We did what we had to…in order for him to get the verdict he deserved" She turns away a bit.

We return to the present, Makoto said sadly "I…didn't know. I never knew that the 'SL-9 Incident' was just another name for…the 'Victor Zsasz Reawakening Killings.'"

'Sounds like everyone's heard about these killings but me…' J thinks on it.

"Sae wanted Zsasz convicted too badly!" Makoto explained "That's why she used me…That's why she used what happened to me."

"What do you mean, 'what happened' to you?" J asked confused.

Makoto motions to the SL-9 case file and said "It's all there in the file…Victor Zsasz's last victim was Prosecutor Clover Skywalker. When he murdered Officer Skywalker's brother, he left behind an incriminating piece of evidence."

"But what did you have to do with those killings, Makoto?" J asked her.

"On the night Prosecutor Clover Skywalker was murdered, Victor Zsasz…tried to kill me." Makoto said holding herself recounting.

"What? He tried to kill you?!" J said shocked.

We briefly see a flashback image by a window as we see Victor Zsasz holding a kneeling Clover in a struggle and the serial killer holding what seems to be a knife ready to stab him.

"Officer Skywalker's brother…Clover…was only trying to save me." Makoto continues and then we hear a stab as return to the present, Makoto looking scared.

"So that means you…" J said looking at her.

"Yes." Makoto said nodding. "I was a witness in the Victor Zsasz trial."

'I didn't see that one coming!' J thinks on it. "What can you tell me about SL-9?"

"It happened two years ago…it was right about this time of year, too." Makoto explained "There was a terrible storm that day…. Unusual for the season. I was alone in my sister's office. We were planning to eat dinner together once she finished her work." She looks down sadly "Then suddenly…This terrifying man cam bursting into the office!"

"Victor Zsasz…." J guessed was the person who came in.

"It seemed like he was running from someone. He pulled out a knife and screamed at me." Makoto continues to recount looking down. "I didn't know what was going on. Just then, Prosecutor Skywalker showed up."

'Anakin Skywalker's brother….' J thinks on it.

"Victor Zsasz tried to take me hostage, but before he could…Mr. Skywalker tackled him." Makoto told her then looks down "Then…"

"What happened?" J asked.

"I-I'll never forget it!" Makoto said trembling "Lightning struck, and the lights went out. Suddenly…a bolt of lightning flashed outside the window, lighting up the office for an instant. What I saw then burned a permanent picture in my mind. I…I can still see it now…"

'A permanent picture…?' J thinks on it. She then asked, "What did you see in the instant that crime occurred?"

Makoto looks down sadly as she recounts the image of Zsasz holding Clover down ready to stab him as she said "Zsasz knocked down Mr. Skywalker and raised his knife."

'Clover Skywalker was stabbed right in front of this poor girl!' J thinks horrified at that.

"I don't remember why happened after that. Apparently I passed out." Makoto explained. We then see another flashback showing a worried and concerned Sae holding an unconscious Makoto as the girl continued "When I came to, Sae was cradling me in her arms."

"Poor Makoto…You've been through so much." J said sadly.

We then come to another flashback showing the courtroom but the only one in there was Makoto standing on the witness stand. Makoto in the present said "I-I couldn't bring myself to testify about that instant." The Past Makoto looks down scared "I tried, but the words just wouldn't come out. I drew a picture, but it wasn't any good."

"Two years ago…. You must have been 14. That's understandable." J said nodding as we returned to the present.

"Once it was all over…I made up my mind." Makoto said, "I decided that when I grew up, I'd become a scientific investigator." She looks up at J "I want to be able to fight crime with my testimonies! And find the evidence to make an airtight case…" She smiles "That way, Sae would never have to forge any."

"I see…" J said with a nod and thinks 'I think I'm finally starting to understand what makes Makoto tick. But there's still something that bothers me about that crime.' She then asked, "What about after the incident?"

"I don't remember the moment when Zsasz stabbed Mr. Skywaker." Makoto said looking down.

"So, you weren't able to testify about that?" J asked her.

"No, I was only asked about when I was attacked." Makoto told her "That must be why Sae….why she 'made up' the crime."

"Made it up? You mean, provided bogus evidence?" J said surprised.

"The Prosecutor's Office wanted that guilty verdict so badly." Makoto explained "Sae forged evidence, and Mr. Deamonne used it…"

"Hunter?!" J said shocked.

"Yes. But I'm sure he didn't know anything about it!" Makoto told her. "He couldn't have known he was being given false evidence. Even so…that's when it all started. The rumours about Mr. Deamonne, I mean. It's all my fault…" She looks down. "If I could have just testified properly, none of this would have happened!"

'So, it's true. Even though he may not have known it…Hunter really was involved in falsifying evidence!' J thinks about it.

"After that case ended, Sae was never the same." Makoto said sadly. "She became cold, like she is today."

'She must not have been able to face up to what she did…Especially not to Makoto.' J thinks but then something else came to mind and said, "There's something that's puzzling me, Makoto."

"What is it?" Makoto asked looking at her.

"You said you were in Sae's office at the time, right?" J asked her.

"That's right." Makoto said smiling.

"Why then would a serial killer come running in there?" J asked. "Not only that, but he was being chased by a prosecutor?"

"Oh, there's no mystery there." Makoto told her. "Victor Zsasz had been taken in for questioning that day."

"Taken in for questioning? You mean by the police troopers?" J asked.

"Of course. This happened at the Police Trooper Department." Makoto said nodding. "He tried to run away halfway though the interview, and fled into my sister's office."

"But why did he run all the way over to your sister's office?" J asked her.

"Because the detective offices and the questioning room are right across from the elevator." Makoto said smiling.

J blinks and said "Across from the elevator? But Sae was the Chief Prosecutor, wasn't she?"

"No, silly! Didn't I tell you?" Makoto said now getting the confusion. "Two years ago…Sae was a detective. She was the best in the entire force!"

"Whaaaaat?!" J said in shock and thinks 'That's news to me!'

"After the Victor Zsasz case, she was transferred to the Prosecutor's Office and made Chief Prosecutor." Makoto said smiling.

'Sae used to be…a detective?' J thinks on it. 'I'd better have another talk with her!'

J nodding ready to leave as was Makoto and they head out to the Detention Centre.

February 24, Detention Centre, Visitor's Room

They arrive and sit at the seats and soon Sae comes out and sits across from them, her usually calm self.

"S-Sae…" Makoto said surprised.

"Miss. J. It seems I keep causing you trouble." Sae said with a sigh.

"Falsifying evidence…I didn't think you were the type." J said to her.

"Criminals don't mind playing foul, why should we?" Sae asked looking firm.

"But Sae! If you're wrong…an innocent person might be found guilty!" Makoto told her.

"Believe me…I understand the risks." Sae said with a nod.

"Sae." J said looking at her. "Makoto told me about you."

"Oh?" Sae said surprised.

"About how you were a detective two years ago, and how the SL-9 Incident was the reason for your transfer to the Prosecutor's Office." J explained to her.

"That's right." Sae said nodding.

"Could you fill me in on the details? Especially about that unusual change of jobs?" J asked her.

Sae thinks and nods saying "I suppose you have a right to know, Miss. J."

J first decides to talk about the days trial saying "A lot of revelations were uncovered at the trial today, not the least of which was the fact that this case is largely connected to another one, two years ago."

"Evidence from that case was stolen as well…though I expected as much." Sae said nodding. "I know how obsessive Officer Skywalker can be.

"That trial…it really wasn't 'fair,' was it?" Makoto asked looking down. Sae remains silent and Makoto adds "I believed in you, Sae! I believed that no matter what happened, you'd always stick to the truth!"

"It couldn't be helped, Makoto." Sae told her. "At that trial two years ago...I sold my soul."

"Well, all drama aside, the fact of the matter is at 5:15, there was no murder at the Police Trooper Department." J points out to them.

"Tell me it's not true, Sae! What the witness…Miss. Mayday said!" Makoto said to her sister. "About you stabbing Mr. Saihara with a knife!" Sae remains silent "Sae! I don't understand! Why won't you tell us?"

"Makoto….This doesn't involve just me." Sae said looking away looking sad.

'I don't think I've ever seen Sae look so fazed before…' J thinks she then asked, "So you being a detective?"

"It's true. I was a member of the police trooper force two years ago." Sae said nodding.

"She was amazing!" Makoto said with a smile. We then flashback as we see an image of Sae and Giovanni as Makoto said "They still talk about all the cases she and Chief Giovanni cracked together!"

"Chief Giovanni?" J asked surprised

"He was the Deputy Chief of Police Troopers back then, but he still worked the crime scenes." Sae explained "Giovanni…he was everything I aspired to be."

Makoto smiling said as we returned to the present "They were the best team ever! They solved crimes before the reports could even be filed!"

'Makoto really idolizes her big sister.' J thinks and then said to Sae "But now you're Chief Prosecutor…What happened?"

"I always planned on becoming a prosecutor. The reason I became a detective was…" Sae began to explain.

"To gain experience investigating crime scenes, so you could use that experience in court, right?" Makoto said smiling.

"Giovanni's help in the SL-9 case was crucial to its resolution." Sae said nodding. "After that, he became Chief of Police Troopers, and arranged my transfer to the Prosecutor's Office."

'Maybe I should ask more about this 'investigation' of theirs two years ago.' J thinks and asks, "Can you tell me more about the Zsasz investigation?"

"Two years ago, I was second-in-command of the detectives investigating Zsasz." Sae began to explain.

"'Second-in-command'? That means the investigation lead was Giovanni, right?" J asked her.

"Yes. Deputy Chief Giovanni and I shared the same office, and the same investigations." Sae said with a nod.

'They even had the same office…!' J thinks surprised.

"We led a team of the best detectives on the force: Detective Saihara who was a graduate of Hope's Peak Academy as the Ultimate Detective and whose case it was, Anakin Skywalker and Verosika Mayday." Sae continued to explain "It was the first time Anakin worked with his brother. He was quite…'gung ho.'"

Sae continues adding "Without a doubt, Victor Zsasz was the serial killer, one known to mark each kill with a tally on his own skin, though he was thought cured after intensive treatment in Arkham Asylum that appeared only be temporary fix on him. We asked him to come in for questioning. We were desperate for evidence. That was when his final murder took place."

'When he tried to murder Makoto…' J thinks.

"Prosecutor Skywalker was trying to save me from Zsasz…" Makoto said looking down.

"You see, the first person who happened upon the scene of the crime…was me." Sae told her.

J was surprised at that and thinks 'Now you tell us…'

"Giovanni and Clover Skywalker were the ones questioning Zsasz that day." Sae explained "The investigation was in its final stages, and Zsasz must have suddenly panicked. So, he waited until Giovani and Clover let their guards down, then fled the room." She holds her arm "From there, he ran straight to…the office shared by Deputy Chief Giovanni and myself."

"That's where he found me." Makoto said trembling.

"So, you were the first person to run to the scene, Sae?" J asked her.

"It appears so." Sae said nodding. "I was filing some papers while Giovanni and Clover were questioning Zsasz." We then flashback to see an smiles of the office with Zsasz unconscious on the floor, Clover laying on top of him a knife in his back. Sae continued "When I returned to my office, I saw three bodies on the floor and smelled blood."

"Three bodies?" J asked surprised.

"Prosecutor Skywalker, the victim, Makoto, who had passed out, and the suspect, Victor Zsasz." Sae explained as we return to the present "During the struggle, it seems Mr. Skywalker struck a final blow before he died. Victor Zsasz had incurred a minor concussion and lay unconscious."

"What did you do?" J asked her.

"To be honest, I panicked." Sae said sighing. "I picked up Makoto, carried her out of the room and just held her."

'Can't blame her, after all her sister must have gone though.' J thinks on it.

"After that, I placed Zsasz under immediate arrest." Sae said nodding.

"Let me get this straight." J said to her. "You were all involved in the SL-9 Incident?"

"That's right. Quite a coincidence, hmm?" Sae said sighing.

"I don't buy it." J said firmly.

"W-what are you saying?" Makoto asked surprised.

"There's no way everyone involved in this trial was also involved in that incident just by 'chance.'" J explained.

"But that case was solved two years ago!" Makoto told her.

"At least one person went to extremes because they didn't believe it was truly solved." J said referring to Anakin.

"Officer Skywaker…Yes, his actions came as a surprise to me as well." Sae said with a nod. "Ever since his brother died, he's changed completely."

"I guess he wasn't convinced with the ruling against Victor Zsasz." Makoto said thinking concerned.

Sae remains quite a bit then said "Life doesn't end with the closing of a case. Everyone has to live the rest of their lives with their memories."

"That 'case' just might not be over yet." J said thinking which surprises Sae. "Makoto was assaulted by Zsasz at the Police Trooper Department, right?"

"Yes, in the office that Giovanni and I shared." Sae said nodding. "The office that Mr. Giovanni now occupies by himself: the Chief's office."

'Maybe we should have a look at the Chief's office the site of the final SL-9 murder!' J thinks.

J and Makot said goodbye to Sae hand head for the Police Trooper Department.

February 24, Police Trooper Department, Entrance

As the two arrive they meet a familiar person standing at the entrance, Anakin Skywalker who looks solemn and sees them.

"Hey, Nexu." Anakin said to Makoto.

"Oh, Mr. Skywalker!" Makoto said surprised.

"I never thought things would turn out this way when I woke up this morning." Anakin said with a smile. "Que sera, sera. You never know where life will lead you, eh Nexu? I should've known my luck had to run out when old Ben dried up this morning."

"Ben…?" Makoto asked confused.

"Must be his pet plant." J guessed shrugging, make sense she was looking after Terra's old plant Petey best she could. She then asked Ankin "Say, where are you heading?"

"Just over to the Prosecutor's Officer for a little interrogation." Anakin explained "It's a 'voluntary' appearance, but we all know I won't be coming back. Sorry, but you can't go in the evidence room, today, pal."

"But Mr. Skywalker…Why did you do it?" Makoto asked saddened.

"Why do smugglers fly their ships west?" Anakin asked. "If ever there was a case I needed to know the truth about, it was that one."

"Before you turn yourself in, Mr. Skywalker…would you mind telling us exactly what happened?" J asked him.

"Hmph…Looks like I won't be getting a steak lunch today." Anakin said sighing. He began with talking about the Zsasz trial saying "Something was fishy about that trial from the beginning. It wasn't just me either. All the detectives thought so."

"What do you mean, 'fishy'?" J asked.

"Some of the facts reported were inconsistent with the evidence we found." Anakin explained. "For example…the murder weapon."

"The murder weapon? You mean…that switchblade knife with the brocken tip?" J asked.

"That was Victor Zsasz's, all right." Anakin said nodding. "But…in the initial autopsy report, a question was raised."

"A question…?" Makoto asked.

"The blade of the knife was not a perfect match with the wound the victim sustained." Anakin explained.

"What does that mean?" J asked thinking.

"It means there is a good chance that knife was not the murder weapon." Anakin told her surprising J. "However, in the report that was finally submitted, that possibility had been erased."

'Could the facts have been concealed with forged evidence…?' J thinks on it.

"That case left behind scars on all of us." Anakin said looking down.

"The 'scars' that the SL-9 Incident left behind…" Makoto said sadly.

"What can you tell us about Clover?" J asked.

"I got the looks, but he got the brains and also overwhelming good luck. He was one of the best prosecutors around." Anakin said with a smile. "I had just made detective when it went down." He then looks down sad "It was our first case together…"

"How old was he…your brother?" Makoto asked him.

"He was 27 at the time." Anakin said sighing. "He was awarded the highest honor that very day."

"The…'highest honor'? You mean the…" J asked in realization.

"King of Prosecutors." Anakin said nodding.

'I knew it…' J thinks nodding deadpanned.

"What are you looking at me like that for? That's an honor for a prosecutor!" Anakin told her smiling.

'Mr. Skywalker must have really been close with his brother.' J thinks

"The day the SL-9 Incident took place, that wasn't the same day as…" Makoto asked Anakin.

"That's right. It was the day of the evidence transferal." Anakin said with a nod.

"Interesting…" J said thinking on that, another connection between this case and SL-9

"It was drizzling that morning, and by nighttime there was thunder." Anakin explained "I can't believe two years have gone by already. I tried to steal the evidence so the case wouldn't die."

'Apparently someone tried to stop you.' J thinks 'Detective Saihara was murdered…and the evidence locker was empty.' She then asked "So what scars were left?"

"There was something going on behind the scenes in that case. We all knew that later." Anakin said smiling "Every detective involved in that investigation, save one, was…taken care of. Miss. Mayday was fired, and I was demoted and boxed away in a tiny room."

"What about Detective Saihara?" J asked him.

"If they did something to him too, the commissioners would get suspicious." Anakin explained "No, they were careful enough not to be too obvious."

"'They'…?" J asked.

"Who are you talking about?!" Makoto asked as well.

"Don't get upset, Nexu." Anakin said to her "I mean Giovanni…and Sae Niijima." He smiles and explained "The investigation lead, Giovanni, and his second-in-command, Sae Niijima…There wasn't a person on the force who hadn't heard of that duo. That case was the biggest step in both of their careers."

"After the case ended, Sae transferred to the Prosecutor's Office, right?" J asked him.

"Yeah. Giovanni, the new Chief of Police Troopers, arranged for that to happen." Anakin said nodding and looks saddened "She's never been the same since she left." Makoto was surprised at that "Everyone who knew her said so. 'Chief Prosecutor Niijima was totally different when she was a detective.'"

'Not what he me mentions it, Makoto said something like that too…' J thinks on that.

"Tell me…what happened to my sister!" Makoto said to Anakin.

"Sorry, Nexu, but her secret is too well-guarded." Anakin said with a shrug. "I never found out."

'Sae's 'secret'…It all started two year ago' J thinks about it what ever it is caused he to change when she became a Prosecutor.

Anakin sips from his water flask and then said smiling "So they you have it. That's my story. Did you enjoy it, pal?"

"It was certainly…enlightening." J said thinking.

"There's one thing for sure I found out in court today." Anakin said smiling "That boy Hunter isn't my enemy. He was the one who used falsified evidence to get a guilty verdict, but someone else was the one who gave him that evidence and planned everything. That someone is Giovanni. Don't believe me? Well, I don't blame you. I won't even be a patrol trooper after today."

He sips his water flask and once done looks at Makoto and said smiling softly "Too bad I won't be around to work with you…when you become a real scientific investigator. So long Nexu!" He then walks off heading for the Prosecutor's Office.

J and Makoto watch him, as J watched she knew she needed to get to the bottom of this, whatever really happened with SL-9 it's at the heart of the case today and has ruined too many lives. She nods to Makoto as they head into the Police Trooper Department.

Well we now know more leads including the place of the final Zsasz killing and how Sae changed the same time of SL-9, time to get to the bottom of it.

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