Apollo grit his teeth. "The defense requests that the witness repeat her testimony."
Athena Sykes shook her head, but complied.
"I was late to work on the day of the murder. I ran over when I saw Director Cosmos on the doorstep of the space station. He did not say or do anything when I called out. I knew without getting closer that he was dead. I got my phone out and called for help immediately."
Apollo hesitated. He had the obvious question in mind, but he decided to try a different route. He could see Prosecutor Blackquill staring daggers at him from a distance, and he knew he could not afford to look weak.
"Ms. Cykes," he began. "What did you do right after you 'called for help?'"
"I went inside and called the other employees for help."
Apollo walked in front of his stand. "You had to go inside to call? You couldn't have just called from outside?" He paused. "And please, don't tell me it was the policy of the station..."
"Director Cosmos did not quite have his head screwed on right, true." Athena waved a hand. "But that was not to say he overlooked security. Space stations have plenty of things to steal, and not just things you can hold in your hand. Employees are discouraged from using their own phones inside the building. We lock them up near the door. Our station has its own system, with a rotary phone in each room."
"Rotary?" Apollo could not help but wince. Athena shrugged. "Director Cosmos had a thing for the classics, too."
"And you went right inside, without checking Director Cosmos first?"
Athena brought her hands to her mouth. From the corner of his eye, Apollo thought he saw Clay Terran get up from his chair. But he could not focus on his client right now; just his target.
"You did not try to turn him over? You did not try to check his pulse, or give him first aid? How about..."
"Apollo!"
The young defense attorney froze, and turned his head. Clay was being led back into his chair by a bailiff, but he kept his voice clear.
"This was not her first time dealing with a murder at the station."
Apollo was stunned. He looked back at Athena. She was clasping her hands together, taking several deep breaths. At length, she straightened up and tried her best to look calm. The residual fear was still clear as day for everyone in court.
Apollo unsteadily shook his head.
"I understand."
Just how crazy could this trial get...
"I have to say, Edgeworth..."
Phoenix straightened his back a little and began to speak again, but took a quick glance to the side. He conceded, and decided to let his wife air their shared grievance.
Franziska slapped the ground with her whip. "Letting the likes of Blackquill on the case, let alone out of prison, is the very height of foolishness."
Edgeworth folded his arms, unperturbed at the sight of his foster sister's weapon. He even chuckled. "I was under the impression that you no longer needed such a horrifying accessory as a mother. I'd thought for sure no one would have to face that terror again, and that I was in the clear."
He got a scoff in response. "Everyone needs to show some teeth from time to time."
Edgeworth sighed. "Do not think I do not appreciate your concern. But this is not a normal circumstance."
The three of them were outside of the Cosmos Space Center. There were still some police officers milling around, but none of them were going to interfere.
Phoenix shook his head. "I'll take a guess and say you've been chasing something lurking in this center for a long time...a really long time."
Edgeworth nodded. "This was not the first murder conducted here. That was a year ago."
Phoenix turned pale. "You're kidding..."
"I'm afraid not." Franziska looked at Edgeworth cheekily. "So then, please explain why you've taken the man convicted for that crime under your wing."
Phoenix was slack jawed. "Huh...?"
Edgeworth stood authoritatively, delving into the tones he reserved for the courtroom.
"The murder victim was Metis Sykes, chief psychologist for the center. Simon Blackquill, an up-and-coming prosecutor at the time, was having close contact with her. He claimed that he was in the process of trying to catch a dangerous criminal...the phantom behind it all, so he called him."
Franziska curled her whip into her hands. "And he claimed that he was hoping to stay close by the Center in the event that this 'phantom' came along."
Edgeworth nodded. "Blackquill has insisted on his innocence, and that he had nothing to do with the death of Metis Cykes."
Phoenix's brow furrowed. "Even so, given how you've described him, I find it surprising he'd trust you."
Edgeworth's gaze turned downcast. "He thinks that if he partakes in this trial, he can find the clues he needs to find the phantom, or at least, his true identity. Mr. Blackquill, you must understand, is on death row. He has the rest of the month, at best."
Phoenix's face turned paler still. "And he thinks that this is his last chance?"
"He's exhausted everything else. And that's why he'll be nothing like your protege has ever faced."
-A multi-chapter story; Chapter 41; story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.
