The chattering gallery was silenced by a few strikes from the Judge's gavel.
"Court is now in session." From his perch in the highest chair, the old, bearded man looked down towards the defense's stand. "I understand this is your first case, young man. Do you feel prepared?"
Apollo was not really feeling any better than he had in the lobby. But that could not be helped. Even though he could not see it, he felt the reassuring grin Kristoph Gavin was so famous for forming beside him. He stood up as straight as he could. Chords of Steel, don't fail me now!
"YOUR HONOR! THE DEFENSE IS PREPPED AND READY FOR ANYTHING!"
The Judge blinked at the disproportionally loud shout from the five-foot-tall attorney, then cleared his throat.
"One of yours, Mr. Gavin?"
Kristoph Gavin took one step forward from his place next to Apollo and let his smile grow wider. "Yes, Your Honor. I am proud to present Mr. Apollo Justice, one of the best and brightest new minds that Gavin Law Offices has to offer."
The Judge shook his head. "I am surprised that the defendant is not seeking your direct counsel, Mr. Gavin. I do not hesitate to say that you are the best defense attorney in town."
Kristoph shook his head. "Not so much praise, Your Honor. The night sky would be so boring with just one star, don't you agree?"
Yeah! Apollo let his head turn towards the prosecutor's bench. Sure, Mr. Gavin's got the brains, experience, and...and lawyerisms, but I've got one thing he can't bring to the table: Chords of Steel!
The young lawyer took a moment to size up his challenger. He swore he had read in the briefings that the prosecutor was about thirty years old, but he looked a decade more. He was a willowy man with a receding hairline, and his face was lined like a brick wall. Even so, he stood up straight and adjusted his asccot, which for reasons Apollo did not understand, had the letters "I" and "V" on it.
"Prosecutor Gray," The Judge spoke. "The court thanks you for taking your time off from international commitments to attend the proceedings."
Gray chuckled and shrugged. "I think I'm owed a breather after three years, Your Honor."
Was he looking at me just now? Apollo began to sweat. I'm a breather?
"At any rate," Gray continued. "The details of the case are simple; and they are as follows: the victim was found at the Borscht Bowl Club, having sustained one blow to the head. The defendant was at the scene of the crime, and did not resist as he was put into custody. The identity of the man is Drew Misham, a painter who lived on the outskirts of the city in his personal studio."
Apollo shook his head. "That's not acceptable! The records will tell you that my client was already accused of murder once and was acquitted! Have you forgotten double jeopardy?"
Gray returned the headshake. "I have not. But the legal system has agreed to make adjustments in certain cases. I assume you've been following the news?"
"Oh..." Apollo shrunk back. So much for silver bullets...
"Drew...Misham..." The Judge ran a hand through his white beard. "I vaguely remember that name."
"Drew Misham was more than a painter," Gray stepped from his stand and looked towards the defendant's chair. Phoenix Wright was sprawled out in it, smirking. For a moment Apollo failed to see the exercise gear and that goofy blue hat, which displayed a yellow smiley face at a shorter distance, and instead saw his idol in one of the famous blue suits he had been so famous for. The image was gone almost as soon as it had popped in Apollo's head.
"Seven years ago..." Phoenix spoke up.
"Yes." Gray interrupted. "Seven years ago, Drew Misham was called to testify in the AL7 trial. He admitted under oath that he was responsible for a piece of forged evidence that had been displayed in court." The prosecutor sighed. "By the hands of the defense attorney who was there at that time."
Phoenix shrugged nonchalantly as the Judge was forced to swing his gavel a few times to quiet down the gallery.
Apollo wanted to steal a glance at Phoenix, and look at him for hope as well as reassurance. But Kristoph, being Kristoph, spoke first.
"It was the Bar Association that decided that Mr. Phoenix Wright knowingly introduced the false piece of evidence." The older defense attorney had a bit of an edge to his voice now. "Not witnesses, not evidence. Drew Misham himself never claimed that it was Mr. Wright himself who commissioned the forgery."
"Hmmm..."
The Judge closed his eyes in consternation. "But if it was really Mr. Wright who paid the forger, and if that forger was Mr. Misham, then we have an established motive."
"OBJECTION!"
Apollo slammed both fists on the stand. "Your Honor, the courtroom is no place for gambling or speculation! It's the witnesses and evidence that count!"
"Indeed!" Mr. Gray tightened his ascot with both hands. "It is for that reason that the prosecution has made motions to summon a witness that was also in the resturant at the time of the murder."
Apollo tightened his fists as he kept them on the table. He always appreciated how, in times so stressful his body temperature rose, his prized bracelet was always smooth and cool against his skin. He dared to switch his eyes toward the doors to the lobby, a few paces behind the defendant's chair. Klaire was still there, standing straight as any bailiff would. But he could not mistake the twinkle when her eyes met his, and she gave him a thumbs-up beneath her crossed arms. The split second of nonphysical contact brought a smile to his face.
"Mr. Justice?"
Apollo snapped back into position, a little flustered. He looked straight at Gray.
"Bring as many witnesses as you like! I'll take a cross-examination any day."
"Very well." Gray folded his arms.
"First, I would like to bring Mrs. Franziska von Karma to the stand."
-A multi-chapter story; Chapter 1; story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.
