Reina looked at her phone again, shook her head, and shut the device closed.

This truly was not her most pressing concern. She had so many things to worry about. She had just gotten clear the limelight that resulted from the trial. She had fewer customers at the Ivory Motel now, no thanks to the crimes committed by Manny Coachen and Kristoph Gavin. She would have to relay that in her push for her new business, and find a buyer for her old place.

But even so...

Apollo Justice had seemed like a decent enough sort during their coffee visits. She had to admit that he was taking his current situation remarkably well. No matter what, he would soldier on. So it seemed odd for him to miss two of her calls.

She took a look around the recreation room of her Ivory Motel. There were only a few guests, and the old TV was hawking noise like always. She reopened her phone and began to type again.

In her distracted state, she did not hear the sensational disaster that the TV switched over to talking about.


Clay Terran presented himself with as much composure as anyone Apollo saw behind the screen of the Dentention Center. He sat back in his chair, hands behind his head, and winked with a smile.

"It's been a while, man! How are things?"

Apollo forced a smile himself, but he could not get the words out. Clay noticed his friend's apprehension, but he did what he could to keep his own face static.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten our code!" He freed up one hand and snapped his fingers. "Come on! Say it! Saaay ittt!"

Finally, Apollo conceded. He snapped his fingers back. "I'm fine!" He sighed. "But I don't know if you will be."

"Is it...true what they're saying about Director Cosmos?"

Apollo nodded. "He was found outside the Space Center, dead. He was taken down with a single stab to the chest. The knife had been left in his chest. I know that those work knives they issue for the astronauts are standard, but it had your fingerprints."

Clay shook his head. "Of course they did."

"And the prosecutors have lined up everyone one else they could, and they, well...they're not cursing you out, exactly, but they think the evidence is pretty damning."

Clay rubbed his nose between two fingers. "Of course they do." There was a pause, and Clay smiled. It was weaker than the previous, but he kept his voice steady. "Even with all that stacked against me...you're still going to take my side at the stand?"

Apollo actually chuckled. "I thought you never forgot a thing, Clay. It was you who thought that we should be blood brothers back in middle school."

"True, true. And we promised to have each other's backs, no matter what."


Simon Blackquill sat straight in his chair. All things considered, this was a good situation. Prosecutor Edgeworth had lent him his office. The red and gold decorations were a bit too gauche, but the stacks of legal papers and books more made up for that.

Sadly, peace and quiet were out of the question.

"I've looked all the way up and beyond on the UR-1 case, sir!" Bobby Fulbright stood proudly at the desk, saluting with a wide smile.

"So I've heard from Mr. Edgeworth." Simon Blackquill sat with his cup of tea, which was still too hot to take a sip from. He had not bothered with dragging up the old records. He had not bothered checking thew news again, either, since he already knew all he needed to know.

Yesterday should have been a grand day for the Cosmos Space Center. It was the planned retrieval of the Hope Capsule from space, and the treasured moon rocks within. So, naturally, yesterday was where everything went wrong.

Director Cosmos was found dead, and the Hope Capsule was barely found and kept safe by the other astronauts. But they had witnesses, evidence, and a suspect. And he, Simon, Blackquill would have free reign over the trial. Everything would go according to plan...

"UR-1 date, 2020, seven years ago today!" Bobby Fulbright, despite the look on his partner's face, kept talking. "Location, Cosmos Space Center Robotics Lab! Murder victim, Metis Cykes! Murder weapon, ornamental sword! Suspect...oh, dear, YOU, Prosecutor Blackquill!"

"I'm to assume you haven't overlooked anything for this recent crime...Fool Bright?"

"In the name of justice, no sir!" The detective grinned, seemingly not picking up on the deliberate mispronounciation. "We combed over the center twice over!"

"And I am I to feel secure that you have our star witness ready for the proceedings?"

"You bet I do!" Fulbright gave a thumbs-up. "Miss Athena Cykes will be ready to report for duty at 9 a.m. on the dot!"

-A multi-chapter story; Chapter 39; story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.