It is time for the trip to the TV station and the destined meeting of two people
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.
Persona 5 Royal Fanmake Crimson Arc Chapter 5
The Justice Rival
It was the next day and Aqua along with Alexis and Uzi and other students from Citadel Academy were on the first day of there trip to the TV station with Yor Forger as the teacher escorting the students. So far it wasn't as exciting as they thought it would be.
"…And that's why we recruit sponsors to help make TV Shows." Penny Nichols the stations PR woman told them. "I'm sure you know about commercial breaks? Well, those are actually sponsor-related product placements. To sum things up, ratings are vitally important for a station's production funding, and..."
"Huh..." Uzi said thinking on this.
"This is interesting." Aqua said thinking on it.
"Huh? Oh...then you'd better keep listening then." Uzi said shrugging to that.
We then skip to a bit later as Penny Nichol said "For example, soap opera reruns are shown in the day, whereas alluring newswoman are broadcast at night. Thus, the scheduling department is where we decide what time we broadcast which program. I suppose you could say it's the place where the scheduling is determined."
"Could this get any more obvious?" Alexis asked bored.
"Least it's easy to understand." Aqua points out.
"W-Well, I guess you could say that…" Alexis said thinking.
"So, the best parts are taken from the footage in order to cut down the program to the desired length." Penny Nichol continues "The place where this filmed footage is edited would be the editing room."
"Hey, how much longer does this go?" Gatomon asked in Aqua's bag.
"I swear, I'm not going to last…" Uzi said sounding tired.
Just then an alien newscaster Morbo shoves past Aqua and approaches Penny Nichol and asked her "What's going on? I can't stand all this noise."
"Hey, jerkfa…" Uzi said annoyed.
"My apologies! I'll have them leave right away!" Penny Nicols said to him and looks to the students "Now then, it's time for a bit of hands-on experience!"
Everyone begins to move to take or get assignments, Uzi watches Morbo walks away and said "Dammit…Who does that jerk think he is?"
A Bossy Assistant Director had come and sees Alexis and he grins and said "Hey there. You want to be on TV?"
"Huh?" Alexis said looking at him.
"You've got a slamming body, after all. Hehehe…" The Bossy AD said chuckling.
"Uh…I'm on a school trip…" Alexis said awkwardly.
"Just give me a call if you're interested." The Bossy AD said giving her his card "I'd greatly welcome a message from you, day or night."
"Uhhh, yeah…" Alexis said to that.
"Greatly welcome, my aft. It's obvious what he's after." Uzi said annoyed. "Do these rotten adults care about anything other than looks?! I'll yank their stupid hearts out, bite me!"
"Will you quiet down?!" Gatomon said to her from the bag "You're supposed to be acting like good students today!"
Yor then approaches Aqua and Uzi and said "I understand you're bored, but please don't cause any trouble. Okay?"
"Well then, uhhhh…" The Bossy AD said thinking "Let's have you see what it's like to be an AC. Oh, that stands for 'assistant camera.' When we're moving cameras, we need people who can keep the cables from getting tangled up…The drone girl will do. She seems like she's got energy to spare anyway. Blue haired girl next to her, you can come too if you're feeling lonely. Come on, hurry up and grab the cables!"
"Darn it…This sucks!" Uzi groans annoyed as she and Aqua go to get to work "Urghhhh, bite me this is such a pain! This is totally killing my vibe…"
"Less complaining more helping…" Aqua groans as she helps as they fought valliently against the long cables.
We come to the Afternoon where Aqua and Uzi were walking down a corridor.
"I'm so annoyed!" Uzi yells out annoyed as they top at a T-junction in the hall. "Aren't we supposed to be guests? Why the robot hell do we have to be doing manual labor?! This is BS! Going to bathroom to wash up didn't even make me feel better!"
"Quiet down, will you?" Alexis said walking up to them from from the left in the junction. "I get how you feel though…That sucked for the both of us."
"We got to do more of this tomorrow too?" Uzi groaned.
"No flaking out, Uzi." Gatomon said coming from the bag.
"I know, I know. I got to be a 'good drone,' right?" Uzi said sighing. "Being Phantom Thieves ain't easy…"
"No one said it would be" Aqua said shrugging.
"That reminds me, we get to go home straight from here today." Alexis points out smiling. "We don't spend much time in this area, so why don't we relax and check-out some shops beforehand?"
"Ooh, I know a place!" Gatomon said excited "I want to go to that huge pancake-looking place we passed on the way here! It looked delicious! What was that?"
"Ohhh…You mean Dome Town?" Uzi asked him "The round part is a baseball stadium, then along the outsaid they've got an amusement park."
"It's right in the middle of a business area, but they have some pretty hardcore rides there too." Alexis said thinking.
"All right…Let's go! I'll show you just how courageous I am!" Gatomon said firmly
"Going on a scary ride doesn't really prove any kind of courage." Alexis points out.
"Not like cats can get on anyways." Uzi added.
"Really?" Gatomon asked.
"Really." Uzi said grinning "You might be able to sneak in if you stay in the bag, but you'd totally puke if you did that." Gatomon looked worried "But, uh…Let's just go to Dome Town! I'm really feeling it now!"
"Me too! My stomach's ready for roller coasters!" Alexis said excited.
"Uhhh…I think I'll pass on the puke rides…" Gatomon said worried.
Just then from the right path of the T junction came Vrak and Metal Alice. The two see the group.
"Excuse us, I couldn't help but notice your uniforms. Are you students from Citadel Academy?" Vrak said to them.
"Yeah, what do you want?" Uzi asked them.
"I happened to be passing by, so it seemed polite to greet you." Vrak said approaching them "We'll be filing together after all."
"You should remember your manners sir" Alice said to Vrak.
"Oh of course, standered Earth custom after all" Vrak said nodding "I am Vrak and this is my loyal assistant Metal Alice."
"Vrak?" Alexis said recognizing the name she feels.
"Filming? What, you a celebrity?" Uzi asked confused.
"Well master Vrak is a celebrity only to the extent of appearing on TV a couple of times since coming to staying on the planet." Alice explained.
"Oh!" Alexis said getting it.
"Sir, we really should be going" Alice said looking at her pad and shows him.
"Ah, my apologies, I truly was just passing by. I must be going" Vrak said nodding. "There's a briefing for tomorrow's recording that I have to attend. So, you're going to go have cake now? I missed lunch today so I'm quite hungry myself…"
"I told you to get something to eat at the time sir." Alice said sighing.
The three Phantom Thieves looked at each other and Uzi said confused "Huh? Cake? What're you talking about?"
"Oh, am I mistaken? I thought I heard something about delicious pancakes…" Vrak said surprised. "No matter. Well, see you tomorrow." He then leaves with Metal Alice.
"That guy's got to be some kind of start-up entertainer or something with a prince like vibe." Uzi notes thinking "He's never going to get popular looking like some kind of villain though."
"You don't get it…" Alexis said sighing.
"Eh, it's fine. We'll see them again tomorrow anyways." Uzi said shrugging. "Come on, let's go to Dome Town."
Aqua nods and sees on her phone map app the area known as Dome Town was added to it. She along with Alexis and Uzi begin to head their.
"H-Hey, can we skip the vomit machines and get cake instead?" Gatomon asked worried.
We come to them now at Dome Town at After School time. We see Uzi looking woozy.
"I feel like I might actually puke somehow….For real, my stomach feels like it's churning…" Uzi groans
"This is why I spoke against it." Gatomon said smiling
"Geez…It's not fair…Using your cathood as an excuse…only at times like this…" Uzi said to annoyed.
"Anyway, are you guys feeling hungry? How about some pancakes?" Alexis suggested smiling.
"Let's go home." Gatomon suggested "We have another full day ahead of us tomorrow."
The group nod and head for homeward bound.
Aqua and Gatomon arrived back at Leblanc safe and sound at the Evening.
"They're going to film us at the TV station tomorrow, right?" Gatomon said to Aqua. "Well, try not to stand out too much that's Uzi's thing."
"Right." Aqua said nodding. She gets dressed and left Leblanc and headed for Beacon first.
She approaches the Lottery Stand. The Attendant seeing her said "Welcome to our lottery ticket booth! What would you like to do?"
"One Lotto R ticket please" Aqua said to them.
"Thank you for your purchase," The attendant said giving Aqua her ticket. "The result will be announced in a week on 6/16. Please look forward to it."
Aqua nods and goes to the batting cages back in Metru-Nui to improve is proficiency before heading to bed.
It was the next day and the second day of the trip to the TV station. As was told to them the class got to be audience members of a taping of a show, They looked to see Tom Tucker and Joyce Kinny were on set.
"Mr. Vrak's coming on!" A Veteran Assistant Director said. Most of the female members of the student all cheer as Vrak comes on set with Metal Alice. Vrak, Alice, Tom and Joyce sit down on the couch.
"Ain't that the guy and his robot assistant from yesterday?" Uzi said surprised.
"Coming back from commercial!" The Veteran AD said. "Seven, six, five seconds till start, four, three…"
The show continues ans Joyce said "And now, onto the 'Hottest Meet-and-Greet' of our show…After his last appearance was so well received, we decided to bring back this fine gentleman today. It's the high school alien prince detective, Vrak along with his assisntant Metal Alice!"
"Hello there" Vrak said smiling as the girl cheer.
"Greeting" Alice said nodding.
"Thank you for taking the time to join us today, Vrak. Your popularity is stunning." Tom said smiling.
"Even I've found it quite a surprise, being the son of the once great Armada that terrorized the galaxy before. It is a bit embarrassing though…" Vrak admits.
"He is still getting used to being the one in the spotlight mostly" Alice said.
"Moving along, we've been told there's a case on your mind right now. Care to share, detective?" Joyce asked Vrak.
"Ah, yes. That would be the scandal involving the master artist Lysandre." Vrak said nodding.
"There it is!" Tom said smiling "All of this Phantom Thief excitement has caught your attention too, Vrak! Allow me to be blunt for just a second. What do you think of these justice-oriented Phantom Thieves?"
"If they true are heroes of justice, I sincerely hope they exist." Vrak said with a smile.
"Ohhh, so you don't deny the possibility that they're real?" Tom asked.
"Master Vrak doesn't seem like it, but he sometimes wish that the Earth figure Santa Claus actually existed." Alice said nodding.
"That is true, but if he did, I'd have to arrest him for breaking and entering." Vrak said chuckling. Most of the people laugh at the joke and Uzi just groans. "But hypothetically speaking, if these Phantom Thieves are real…" He looks serious "I believe they should be tried in a court of law." Aqua, Uzi and Alexis look on in surprise.
"That's quite the statement. Are they committing crimes?" Tom asked curious. "Some people even say that the Thieves are actually helping their victims abandon their evil ways."
"What the artist Lysandre did true was an unforgivable crime." Vrak said nodding "However they are taking the law into their own hands by judging him. It is far from justice. More importantly, you should never forcefully change a person's heart."
"You have a point." Tom said nodding "These people are calling themselves the Phantom Thieves, after all. Amazing as always, Vrak! I could listen to you for days! You have the most radiant charisma!"
"I will admit, I would be embarrassed if it turns out these Phantom Thieves don't exist." Vrak said. "If that were the case I would summarize it into a report as a school project."
"Knowing you master, it would be an A+ report." Alice said nodding.
"Now then, let's try asking some students the same apparent age as Vrak about the Phantom Thieves!" Joyce said smiling "First, please press your button now if you think the Phantom Thieves exist!"
"Of course they do!" Uzi said under her breath annoyed.
The score board generates numbers and lands on 17. Tom seeing this said "About 30% or so? What are your thoughts, Vrak?"
"I'm a bit surprised. That's higher then I calculated." Alice said as Vrak nods in agreement.
"Indeed, I'd love to hear some more detailed opionons on the Phantom Thieves' actions." Vrak said looking to the audience.
Joyce goes to the audience and looks around and her eyes land on Aqua who was surprised as she approaches. "All right let's try asking this student here. Hypothetically speaking, what are your thoughts on these Phantom Thieves, if they were real?"
"They're justice itself." Aqua said after thinking.
"Hmmm, you say that with such firmness." Vrak said to that.
"This completely goes against the opinion you had about them being tried by law, Vrak." Tom told him.
"Indeed." Vrak said nodding "It's rather intriguing to hear such a strong acknowledgement."
"Oh my, it seems Master Vrak is quite impressed with this ones opinions."
"Yes but in that case, there's one more question I'd like to ask…" Vrak said and looks over at Aqua. "If someone close to you, for example your drone friend next to you…if her heard suddenly changed…wouldn't you think it was the work of the Phantom Thieves?"
"No, because they only target criminals." Aqua said shaking her head.
"I see. But how can you be so sure?" Vrak asked her. "Whether the Thieves' actions are good or not, I feel there is a more important issue at hand."
"Hm? What do you mean?" Tom asked as Joyce returns to sit on the sofa.
"It's the matter of how they change people's hearts." Alice explained. "If they honestly possese that ability…it could be used for more then extracting confessions based on my calculations."
"Yes, if could be that what seem to be ordinary crimes are actually being perpetrated by these methods…" Vrak added nodding.
"You know, you're absolutely right." Tom said nodding
"Oh, please don't misunderstand. This is all purely hypothetical…" Vrak explained. "It is only if people who can use such power truly exist. Either way though, this cannot be ignored."
"Yes, the existence of the Phantom Thieves would be nothing but a threat to our everyday lives." Alice said nodding. "To be honest, master Vrak is already working alongside the Police Troopers to help sort out this matter."
A while later the taping of the show was done and everyone was leaving, the Dragon Gem members stop as Alexis was thinking.
"It kind of seemed like what he was saying might be right…" Alexis said concerned.
"He made it sound like we're the baddies. I don't like it." Uzi said thinking.
"But that stuff about the police troopers…Do you think it's for real?" Alexis asked.
"He can say what he wants." Gatomon said emerging from the back "The justice of it all is something we can decide for ourselves."
"Ah, dammit I got an oil stain on my jacket. Can you guys wait here? I'll be right back." Uzi said to them and runs off.
"Oh geez…I'm going to keep going, okay?" Alexis said to Aqua and leaves.
"Oh, it's you!" Vrak said as he and Metal Alice approach Aqua. "I'm glad I found you. I wanted to thank you in person."
"To paraphrase Hegal, advancement cannot occur without both thesis and antithesis…" Alice explained nodding.
"Huh…what do you mean?" Aqua asked
Vrak chuckles "My apologies for Alice using technical terms. What she means is that our discussion was quite meaningful. Few people around me are so willing to speak their minds as freely as you did earlier. Adults are only interested in using the young, while they simply do as the adults say."
"Agreed, on this planet there are too many irresponsible people in these modern times." Alice said nodding "Myself and master Vrak can understand why you'd support the Phantom Thieves."
"It's possible that this group is just as you believe, and they are truly acting with good intentions." Vrak said thinking "Since they have special talents, I assume their hearts must be burning with a sense of justice and duty…But that justice is merely a façade concealing their lack of true strength."
"Correct that is why the master if that a truly powerful opponent were to corner them, they would flee without a second thought." Alice said nodding.
"No, they would fight until the end." Aqua told them both firmly.
"Oh…?" Vrak said intrigued and chuckles "Your really are an intriguing earthling. I bet you'd make a worthwhile debate partner on the subject. If it's all right with you, would you continue sharing your thoughts with me?"
"Sure, I'd love to." Aqua said smiling.
"Thank you, that's great news. I sense something in you that's quite different from other people." Vrak said thinking. "I guess you can call it my detective's intuition? Haha, kidding, of course."
Aqua can sense that the detective Vrak has taken a liking to her…
We return to the present with Aqua holding her head as Windblade, Jacob and Jess.
"I can't believe you evaded the police trooper's network until today…" Jacob said.
"Yes, the only logical explanation is that someone in the police troopers has ties to the Phantom Thieves…" Jess said thinking.
"Explain yourself!" Windbalde said to Aqua.
We return to the past as the female voice begins to speak again saying "I am thou, thou art I…Thou hast acquired a new vow."
"I shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity" The voice continued "With the birth of the Justice Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall to freedom and new power."
Aqua gets a new card and looks at it, it depicted a judge holding a sword and some scared with one of it's 10 stars let up.
"Justice, that is my Arcana home, about time I feel." Archangel said with a nod.
"Yes, I feel we should exchange contact info so you and master Vrak can keep in touch." Alice said to Aqua. They do so and she said "…And, registered."
"Well, I hope to see you again sometime soon." Vrak said nodding. He leaves with Metal Alice.
"A detective's intuition, huh? We shouldn't underestimate that." Gatomon said thinking. "On the other hand, there's an awful lot we could learn from him. If he or his assistant contacts you, try hanging out with him."
"Agreed." Aqua said nodding.
Soon Uzi runs back and said "Sorry for taking so long! …Wait, was that Vrak? I can't stant that high and mighty attitude! Just being in the same presence as him makes me sick. Come on Aqua. Let's go."
The two leave and Aqua looks back to where Vrak was thinking before leaving.
Aqua soon arrives back at Leblanc in the evening.
"What a boring field trip." Gatomon said sighing "We didn't even find any worthwhile targets."
Just then there was a notification on the Dragon Gem's group chat from Uzi saying "That Vrak alien…Thinking about what he said is just annoying me again."
"He clearly tried to discredit everything we're doing." Aleix messages
"And he just had to say it on live TV too!" Uzi added.
"Don't be so sour." Zane said. "There are, without a doubt, people we have saved. These people could not have been save if not for the heroics of the Phantom Thieves. I am living proof of that."
"Awww, what a nice thing to say!" Uzi messages.
"Still….was what Vrak said actually wrong?" Alexis asked. "I feel like he and his assistant had a point."
"Why you got to bring that up now?" Uzi asked.
"I mean, is it really OK to be doing this to people just because they're criminals?" Alexis said. "Doesn't it seem a little selfish?"
"We are phantom thieves, Alexis." Zane said. "I doubt everyone would forgive us for what we did to Lysandre. Yet I still decided that it was a necessary act."
"Gaston too. We weren't going anything to him through any kind of normal methods." Uzi added in.
"That's true, but…" Alexis messages. "What do you think Aqua? Are we being selfish?"
"Honestly I feel we are helping people." Aqua messages.
"I guess I can't really think of any other way…" Alexis comments.
"Hm, I believe our best path forward is sticking to our justice, not that of the law." Zane points out. "Shouldn't that be enough? And with the unanimous decision rule in place. I doubt we'll lose our way."
"…Yeah, you're right." Alexis points out. "Sorry for bring that up. And don't worry, I'm not thinking about quitting the Phantom Thieves or anything."
"Just you watch Vrak. Someday you're totally going to see who was right!" Uzi messages.
"Okay, let's stop talking about this for now." Alexis said ending the message chain.
"That detective and former prince Vrak seems to have a lot of influence on the media." Gatomon points out thinking "It'd be dangerous to get too close to him, but he may actually prove useful in some situations."
"Agreed" Aqua said and gets another notification.
It was from her classmate and head of the Phan-site Penny who said "Arceus, I'm furious! You heard what Vrak said, right, Aqua? How dare he declare the Phantom Thieves are criminals! As the administrator of the Phantom Aficionado Website, I can't stay quiet about this. I'm going to show Vrak how people online really feel! I'll change up the survey question tomorrow morning. Justice is with the Phantom Thieves! Keep on doing what you do!"
"…Why is she of all people getting angry about this?" Gatomon asked confused. "Anyway, she means the survey on the Phan-site, right? I guess we should look forward to it."
Aqua nods and after getting changed, she calls up Yor to come and do some cleaning in her room to deepen their bond with each other. Of course before going to bed she checked messages on line people talking about Vrak's interview and views about the Phantom Thieves.
Aqua sighs and falls asleep tomorrow will be a long day.
Well a meeting between friends or rivals we will have to wait and see.
Please Read, Review and Suggest. Thank you.
