{Icy Ravine}
*Badd, Jidan, Uther, and Ruby run on to the scene, where Chia Cops are surrounding a Shadow Eyrie.*
: Officer! Report!
: Sir! The suspect is acting strangely sir! It's almost as if the suspect has two personalities!
: Are you planning to keep me here much longer? You don't have any evidence to keep me.
: That's where you're wrong.
: Payne. A suggestion, if I may...? Use your War Cry and Fiery Gaze to draw out the other personality if you can't prove anything with the current one.
: Or, a Lava Spit to the face works great!
: I... think I'll take Detective Badd's advice.
*The circle of Chia Cops opens to let Uther through.*
: And who are you?
: My name is Prosecutor Uther Payne. You kidnapped Ruby. Prepare for justice!
~TESTIMONY~
Who Am I?
: Justice? Ha! It seems you're a bit confused.
: You've kept me here with no evidence!
: You don't even know my name, yet you're accusing me!
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: Justice? Ha! It seems you're a bit confused.
: What do you mean by that?
: Let me spell it out for you, prosecutor.
: You've kept me here with no evidence!
: I have your evidence right here!
: Let me see it then, lawyer.
: You don't even know my name, yet you're accusing me!
: You don't know that I don't know!
: Yes I do! I know you don't know, y'know?
: ...Your argument skills remind me of an ambassador I once knew... except he somehow got away with them for a while.
: Here is your proof!
: Proof that you're a moron? I already knew that!
: Focus, Uther!
PRESENT PROFILE: Raban Shikoba: I'm not sure how it's possible, but I'm certain I know who you are!
: Oh yeah? Let's hear it.
: Your name... is Raban Shikoba!
: Ha!
~TESTIMONY~
Raban Shikoba
: Raban Shikoba? What kind of name is that?
: Look, I don't even know who this Shikoba guy is.
: Show me some evidence or I'm leaving.
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: Raban Shikoba? What kind of name is that?
: It's your kind of name!
: Sorry, doesn't ring a bell! But it's a better name than Uther Payne, at least.
: Look, I don't even know who this Shikoba guy is.
: Do you have amnesia?
: Give me a break! Or better yet, let me give you one!
: Show me some evidence or I'm leaving.
: I have your evidence!
: Well, stop talking about it and start showing it!
: Show me some evidence or I'm leaving.
PRESENT: Shikoba's Letters: I have proof right here.
: Oh really now.
: These two cards were found in the kidnapper's hideout.
: The writing on one of these cards matches the writing of Raban Shikoba!
: So now it's assumed I'm the kidnapper?
: You were followed directly from the building. If you are not the kidnapper, you were at least in the building where the kidnapping took place, making the card a possible possession of yours either way!
: Argh!
~TESTIMONY~
Humoring You
: Let me humor you. Let's say I am Raban Shikoba.
: I remember now, I heard about the case in the news.
: Who was Shikoba working with last time, then? You need a motive for murder, right?
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: Let me humor you. Let's say I am Raban Shikoba.
: We know you're Shikoba!
: Circumstantial evidence. Look, you can wait for me to slip up, if you're so sure. Catch me on it.
: I remember now, I heard about the case in the news.
: The news!?
: Yeah. A guy doesn't use Faerieland as a diving board without reporters catching wind of it.
: Who was Shikoba working with last time, then? You need a motive for murder, right?
: What would this prove!?
: It would prove this murder doesn't even have anything to do with Shikoba!
: Who was Shikoba working with last time, then? You need a motive for murder, right?
PRESENT PROFILE: Shadow Spectre Conqueror: I know exactly who you were working with!
: What!?
: Recognize this face?
: Yeah, a face that ugly reminds me of you.
: Make fun of me all you want, but you and the Shadow Spectre Conqueror had something in common. You were both working for Xandra! That's why you were spying in Faerieland!
: Argh!
~TESTIMONY~
The Faerie's Ruin
: So Shikoba was working for that psychotic witch.
: He has absolutely no motivation here.
: You're just afraid to let go of the past!
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: So Shikoba was working for that psychotic witch.
: So you admit it!
: I'm just going with your logic, prosecutor.
: He has absolutely no motivation here.
: Do you have any proof of that?
: I think you'd need to prove a motive, not a lack thereof.
: You're just afraid to let go of the past!
: I am not! That's what Brain Bleach is for!
: ...What.
: Nothing. Nevermind.
: He has absolutely no motivation here.
PRESENT: Old Autopsy Reports: I'm not so sure of that!
: Excuse me?
: The three murder cases have some striking similarities. The victim in all of them was involved with the law. A criminal would have valid reason to take down a member of law enforcement if recognized.
: Let me humor you... No, I'm dropping the act, it isn't working anyway.
~TESTIMONY~
Dropping the Act
: You've got me. I am Raban Shikoba.
: I escaped when Faerieland fell. It happens with a lot of prisoners, but they tried to cover it up.
: You have no proof I killed either Vick Timm or Ian Law.
: Besides, in Neopia... There is no way I could have gotten the gun that killed Ian Law!
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: You've got me. I am Raban Shikoba.
: I knew it!
: Don't celebrate yet. I'm not done.
: I escaped when Faerieland fell. It happens with a lot of prisoners, but they tried to cover it up.
: Is this true, Jidan!?
: I don't know! Somebody dash off a neomail to Aethia asking why the Chi Ops weren't informed of this!
: Ha! I've got your little egg scrambled there, prosecutor.
: You have no proof I killed either Vick Timm or Ian Law.
: But the similarity in the crimes!
: So? No proof.
: Besides, in Neopia... There is no way I could have gotten the gun that killed Ian Law!
: What do you mean!?
: Guns are illegal to trade in Neopia, and it is near impossible to get a permit to own one if you're a native Neopian.
FIRE OBJECTION! (Any statement):
OBJECTION!: ...
:
(Glowing eyes...) I have some questions for you, whoever you are!
: Whoever I am? Don't you know?
: I know you're a second personality of our suspect.
: A second personality? That's great.
~TESTIMONY~
Second Personality
: You think I'm just a second personality?
: Tell me, who's the first?
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: You think I'm just a second personality?
: I know it!
: Pwwwh... It really is hilarious how confident you are.
: Tell me, who's the first?
: Why does that matter?
: You don't even know, do you?
: This is your proof!
: Pwwwh... Funny.
: ...Focus, Payne.
PRESENT PROFILE: Raban Shikoba: The first personality is that of Raban Shikoba!
: Where's your proof?
: Your main personality already admitted to it.
: Well then.
~TESTIMONY~
Second Personality, Part 2
: So I'm a second personality of Shikoba.
: What's something Shikoba would know about that I wouldn't?
: Even if I was a second personality, he would have told me all the details.
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: So I'm a second personality of Shikoba.
: Yes!
: ...There really wasn't a need to stop him there.
: What's something Shikoba would know about that I wouldn't?
: I... I don't know!
: Think fast, then!
: Even if I was a second personality, he would have told me all the details.
: I, er...
: Pwwwwh... Can't think of anything to say?
: What's something Shikoba would know about that I wouldn't?
PRESENT PROFILE: Pa Taito: I think I know what you don't know!
: You don't say.
: Do you remember anything special about this potato farmer?
: That's the best you can do? Bluffing about some farmer?
: That farmer is Pa Taito. He's the reason Raban Shikoba was caught! I knew he'd leave
that detail out!
: What!?
~TESTIMONY~
Second Personality, Part 3
: So I forgot the farmer.
: Why would Shikoba randomly get a second personality?
: I'm sorry, it just doesn't make any sense.
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: So I forgot the farmer.
: Haven't I proven that unlikely?
: Unlikely isn't proof!
: Why would Shikoba randomly get a second personality?
: That... doesn't matter!
: Only because you don't know!
: I'm sorry, it just doesn't make any sense.
: Er... there... GIANT ELEPHANTS!
: ...What.
: Giant elephants... stepped on his head!
: ...
: Why would Shikoba randomly get a second personality?
PRESENT: Shadowy Fabric: I have an idea.
: Oh really.
: A shadowy fabric, left by a spirit at the murder of Vick Timm. Moe Kaluza stated in his testimony that the murderer vanished like a shadow. I believe that you are that spirit!
: I was wondering if you'd ever figure it out.
~TESTIMONY~
A Spirit
: You're right, I am a spirit. But is that all you know?
: You've only seen me possessing Shikoba, you know nothing about what I really look like.
: You're not any closer to the truth than before!
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: You're right, I am a spirit. But is that all you know?
: Uh...
: You have nothing to say, do you.
: You've only seen me possessing Shikoba, you know nothing about what I really look like.
: I... possibly?
: Pwwwwh... You're hilarious, you know that?
: You're not any closer to the truth than before!
: I think I am!
: You still know nothing!
: You've only seen me possessing Shikoba, you know nothing about what I really look like.
PRESENT: Footprints B: I know a little bit of what you look like.
: That's impossible!
: These are your footprints. Therefore... You're human.
: Oh, I thought you knew a bit more than that.
~TESTIMONY~
Who Am I, Part 2
: Let me make this really simple. Show me something that proves who I am.
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: Let me make this really simple. Show me something that proves who I am.
: How am I supposed to do that?
: ...You're almost there, Payne.
:
(I don't know what these are! How is this supposed to prove anything!) FIRE OBJECTION~TESTIMONY~
Dropping the Act
: You've got me. I am Raban Shikoba.
: I escaped when Faerieland fell. It happens with a lot of prisoners, but they tried to cover it up.
: You have no proof I killed either Vick Timm or Ian Law.
: Besides, in Neopia... There is no way I could have gotten the gun that killed Ian Law!
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
You already pressed everything. If you don't believe me, look up a bit. You saw this already.: Besides, in Neopia... There is no way I could have gotten the gun that killed Ian Law!
PRESENT PROFILE: Unknown Spirit: I know how you got the gun!
: What!?
: You're being possessed by a human spirit. There are few humans native to Neopia, are there?
: Aaaaaaaaargh!
~TESTIMONY~
Final Words
: All I'm going to say is... You have the evidence to prove who she is... But you'll never know you have it.
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: All I'm going to say is... You have the evidence to prove who she is... But you'll never know you have it.
: What do you mean?
: That's all I have to say, Prosecutor Payne.
FIRE OBJECTION!~TESTIMONY~
Who Am I, Part 2
: Let me make this really simple. Show me something that proves who I am.
~CROSS-EXAMINATION~
: Let me make this really simple. Show me something that proves who I am.
PRESENT: Twin Cards:
(Shikoba said I had the evidence and didn't know it... could this be it...?): I have the evidence!
: Let's see it!
: Do these two cards mean anything to you?
: ...
: There's nowhere to run now...
:
I grow weary of this game of cat and mouse.*Calisto Yew appears behind Raban Shikoba.*
: Traitor...
: It's nice to see you again too, Detective. *snaps fingers and a wall of darkness blocks off the Chia Cops* Now, I suppose you're wondering what I've been doing here.
: Who
are you!?
: Calisto Yew... A defense attorney who was part of the group known as the Yatagarasu, with myself and my partner. We sought to bring to justice those who could not be brought to court.
:
That's where I heard of you!
: Yew was a double agent, working for the very smuggling ring we were trying to take down.
: Pwwwwwwwwh...
XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
: Agh!
: Sorry, it's just so funny remembering how I tricked you all. Anyway, I got called up by The Three to join The Ring of Darkness back in October. I can only imagine von Karma's face when he heard about it! After that, I needed a host, some sort of disguise. I turned to Vick Timm first. He decided he didn't want any part of it, he needed to investigate The Faerie's Ruin. Then I found Shikoba in the ruins of Faerieland. When I told him we had a mutual enemy...
: I couldn't let Mr. Timm ruin Xandra's ruin, could I?
: I decided my final attack should be today, distracting you from what's going on in the suburb!
: December 28...
: DL-6! A cursed day for some...
: Once we finish you all off, Yew and I will finish what Xandra started and take over Faerieland!
: Pwwwwwwh...
*Shikoba turns around, Yew has drawn her gun, aiming it at him.*
: Huh!?
: Sorry, Shikoba. You're not useful anymore.
*BANG*: ...You didn't need to do that, Yew.
*Yew aims her gun at Badd.*
: But I do have something I need to do.
? ? ?: The Yatagarasu has three members, Yew.
: What!?
*Byrne Faraday appears between Yew and the group, holding the Yatagarasu's Key, in knife form.*
: This stops now.
: I still have the gun! You're just going to go down with-
? ? ?: INCOMING!
: *leaps off the cliff into the ravine, crashing in a pile against the barrier*
: What the-!?
*The Yatagasu's Key glows with light and turns into a sword.*
: *takes advantage of the distraction and dashes forward, slashing at the hand holding the gun, making Yew drop it*
: You'll regret that!
*Faraday thrusts his arm backward, and a hole appears in the barrier.*
: Get out of here, I've got her!
: But Byrne...
: This is a spirit's game. The rules apply differently to those of us who cannot die. Now go!
*Badd, Uther, Winston, Ruby, and Jidan exit.*
{Snowy Field
Later}
*The team is in the field.*
: ... Faraday...
? ? ?: Yes?
: ...!
*Faraday fades in.*
: The traitor escaped... The Chia Cops are taking care of Shikoba's body.
: We all need a rest after this case... Preferably somewhere warm...
: Maybe Tyrannia?
: Ooh! M*YNCI is playing there a week from now! How about we go see them, Uther?
: I'm tired, but I'm not too tired for one last word.