Apollo glared at Cammy. The new witness had given her testimony, and he had to admit it was solid, even by the standards of the three who had summoned her. Miles Edgeworth, Kay Faraday, and Dick Gumshoe turned their gaze from her and upon their opponent behind the witness stand.

The Judge blinked. "That seems like...quite the decisive testimony, Mr. Justice. Surely, there's no need to..."

Apollo wanted to exclaim his opposition dramatically, to shout an objection, or even slam his fists down on his stand. But he could not muster the energy to do any of those things. He tensed, feeling cold all over. Even the coolness of his bracelet could not help his mood. He simply raised one hand into the air, his pointer finger extended.

"If it is all the same to the court, Your Honor...the defense would like to give this a...a try." He did his best to straighten himself.

"Are you worried about the witness' reliability?" Edgeworth tsked. "Don't be. Ms. Meele is under a number of restrictions as part of her parole."

'She has to report to her parole officer every day at 6:00 p.m." Kay pointed, and began to extend her other fingers as she went down the list. "No taking illicit substances, no contact of any kind with her former associates, no visits to the penitentiary without a chaperone." Beside her, Gumshoe nodded approvingly.

"If any of these rules are broken," Edgeworth spoke up and folded his arms, "the paroled prisoner can be returned to continue their sentence, with future applications being inadmissible."

Apollo winced. "Witness, please repeat your testimony."

Cammy scoffed.

"Hello, everyone. Yes, I was there at the airport. I was there, hoping to catch some clients who wanted to visit the city venues. I saw the truck and thought I heard a commotion inside. It stopped suddenly. I tried calling through the door, but I got no response. The door was sealed, and I could not open it. I..."

Apolo winced. It had come back, that...sensation. The bracelet tingled and tightened around his wrist. Before his thoughts could form in his brain, his lips were already moving.

"Witness, could you repeat that last sentence?"

Cammy blinked. "The door was sealed, and I could not open it." As she spoke, her right hand went to her left bicep, giving it the barest squeeze.

There!

Was that it?

The tingling of the bracelet seemed to give that impression.

"HOLD IT!"

Apollo flung his arm outward. "Witness, why were you rubbing your arm like that?"

Edgeworth scoffed. "My good man, there's no need to chase..."

Apollo stood his ground. "Witness, please roll up your sleeve!"

Kay and Gumshoe would have joined Edgeworth in putting the rookie defense attorney in his place, but a change came over Cammy. Her face turned a shade paler, and her frame stiffened. "How...dare you...you can't just..."

"OBJECTION!"

"Your Honor! The defense requests that the witness...present her arm!" Apollo put his all into his Chords of Steel.

The Judge hesitated, shrugged at length, and slammed down the gavel once.

Cammy gnashed her teeth, but grabbed the cuff of her sleeve and obeyed.

Yes!

Apollo pointed at the double puncture mark that was displayed openly on Cammy's pale skin.

"Witness, what is that?"

Cammy made an odd face. "A mosquito bite!"

Apollo shook his head. "Trust me, I was in summer camps. I know for sure what is and what isn't a bite."

Cammy huffed. "Who's to judge someone for wanting a hit sometimes!"

Apollo stood still, then blinked.

"Except...that would be a violation of your parole terms!" He pointed again. "You yourself, Detective Kay, said that using substances was not allowed. I'd assume that's also the case for jabs?"

Kay slapped her forehead. "Why, I did!"

"And you, Mr. Edgeworth, said that Ms. Meele would go back to prison if it was found out she went back on any of these conditions! Didn't you?"

Edgeworth's jaw tightened. "Yes...I did."

The gallery was set ablaze, and the Judge had to slam down the gavel four times to quiet everyone down.

"Order! Order! There will be order!" He slammed the gavel down a fifth time for good measure.

"Your Honor!" Apollo shouted. "Under these circumstances, the witness is in question! We must..."

"OBJECTION!"

Edgeworth faltered. "That was...objectionable!"

Gumshoe winced, and Kay barely suppressed a chuckle.

"I will have a long discussion with the witness after this trial is over! In the meantime, we must focus..."

"OBJECTION!"

"Come on!" Apollo slammed his fists on the stand. "You cannot expect the court to believe Ms. Meele would risk a one-way ticket to her cell just for a jab! She knows something none of us do!"

The gavel came down a sixth time.

"Order! The court will hold a recess!"


Not bad, Justice, Apollo told himself in the lobby. He looked down at the bracelet on his left arm, marveling again over how it had come to his aid. You've bought some time, and maybe put your foot in the door...

"Hey there!"

Apollo spun around. It was Trucy, still in her blue magician's uniform, running to him. He chuckled, realizing that she must have been watching him in the gallery.

He chuckled. "How did I do?"

"Great!" Trucy beamed. "But it was your senses that really came through for you!"

"What...do you mean?"

"You know!" Trucy tipped her hat. "You picked up on a clue no one else could have, that mark on Meele's arm! Only the fewest of the few can have that trick, and I'm happy to be in that number!"

Apollo blinked. "You...can do that too?"

"When I play games with my brother and sister? All the time!"

Apollo stared. "So when you play...you're cheating?"

"I seize opportunities!" Trucy wagged her finger. "I'm sure you want to learn more about this ability, but we don't have much time! Recess won't be that long, and you'll have to go against Meele again!"

-A multi-chapter story; Chapter 11; story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.