Ace Attorney Investigations: Ema Skye: Turnabout of the Stars (Kirby/Ace Attorney Quest)

[DrPikachu]

Continued from the previous post.

---

[I stop moving!]

[Dedede stops moving!]

[The spear-wielding Waddle Dees stop moving!]

[As if out of nowhere, Escargoon appears, pointing an accusing finger at me! (I think it's one at least; hard to tell when everyone either has mitten-hands or stubs.]

Escargoon
Just what do you think you're doing, Detective?! How dare you antagonize His Speechlessness instead of being out there cuffing that Kirby!

King Dedede
Es... Escargoon!


Ema
I'm getting to the bottom of this case, THAT'S what I'm doing! And I have evidence that disproves the king's criminal story!

Escargoon
Oh you do, do ya? Care to share with the rest of the class?


Ema
Sure, but you won't like the grade I'm about to throw do—

[Suddenly, the main gates burst open, revealing an out-of-breath Waddle Doo. Somehow, between his wheezes (how can he do that with no mouth?), he manages to salute his king with no trouble at all.]

Waddle Doo
Your Majesty! There's been an incident!

King Dedede
B-bwuh? An incident?


Ema
(Oh, what's next? Is Chief Bookem gonna suddenly show up five minutes from now?! This is ridiculous!)

Escargoon
Well, what are you waiting for, a written invitation?! Spit it out, Captain!

Waddle Doo
Your Majesty... There's been an explosion at the gas station in Cappy Town!


Ema
(Wh...... Whaaat?! Exploded?! Wait, that tremor...)

—[Flashback]—​

​

Ema
You can't legally charge me for disrespecting you!

[King Dedede's jaw practically drops to the ground in shock! For a second, I can swear I feel the ground shaking as it happens.]

King Dedede
Im... Impossible!!

—[/Flashback]—​

[King Dedede's face has gone pale.]


Ema
(So that tremor was real...?! It must've been from the explosion! Just how much gas did they have?!)

Waddle Doo
I have a platoon of Waddle Dees over there putting out the fire, but it appears that several of the townspeople have suffered critical injuries from the explosion, with possible fatalities. And when I had left, Kirby had just arrived and was assisting in keeping the fire under control.

King Dedede
In...injuries...? F-fatalities...? I...I...

[His expression goes blank as he stares into space.]

Escargoon
And since we can't understand those Waddle Dees, you ran up here instead of sending one of them out. Well, run back down there! We can't let Kirby run around like he owns the place! Isn't that right, Your Majesty?

King Dedede
......I...I...

Escargoon
...Your...Majesty?

[Escargoon waves his hand in front of Dedede's face, but the king's eyes don't even track its movement. Snapping his fingers produces similar results. The snail then angrily turns to me.]

Escargoon
Now look what you've done, you detective! You broke His Majesty! And unfortunately for you, the warranty expired a long time ago!


Ema
("Warranty"? Did they seriously buy Dedede at a store or something?)

I'm pretty sure I had nothing to do with this, Dr. Escargoon. Now in case you didn't hear your captain, you have an emergency on your hands. People could be—ARE hurt. Whether your king allows it or not, I'm going to Cappy Town to investigate.

Waddle Doo
Please, allow me to drive you there, Miss Skye! We can take His Majesty's tank! Follow me!


Ema
Oh, really? Th-thank yo... Wait, did you say "tank"?!

(I think I was wrong to call Dedede a tyrant! He's a bona fide dictator!)

Escargoon
Hey, His Catatonicness didn't give you permission to take the keys, you miniature cyclops! Get back here!

[Escargoon attempted to give chase, but Waddle Doo and I were long gone.]


Ema
(Looks like King Dedede's lies and Kirby's true nature are gonna be the least of my problems now...)

(An exploding gas station... Just what is going on in this kingdom? And how in the world did I get so involved that I'm actually doing my job?)

(Guess there's only one way I'm gonna solve all these mysteries...and that's by grasping the truth with my own two hands! Science, don't fail me now...!)​

To be continued.​

---

And that, my friends, ends act one of case one. Bet you thought I forgot all about that gas station in the opening "cinematic"? What should we expect in act two...?
Actual investigating sequences? You bet!
Arguing with more people? Of course!
Breaking through mistakes and contradictions? How can I say no?!
Finally meeting Kirby face-to-face? Uhhh...as long as the Snackoos are safe and secure at the bottom of Ema's bag... We'll see.

Now I'd like to address a few possible concerns. For all intents and purposes, this was the tutorial section of the quest. Our future opponents won't be as easy to crack as ol' King Dedede was. With that in mind, I have renamed the "No-Longer-Relevant Material" section to "Discarded Material". Everything that ends up in this section still won't have that much bearing on the case anymore, but it's still nice to have references on what we've learned so far. Logic nuggets in this section will also have their "parentage" shown, if they had any "parents."

I know I kinda just came back from one, but there will be a short break before I start act two. I need to finish fleshing out the system mechanics for the Investigation phases, because it's gonna be pretty hard to describe all these scenes with text alone, unless I've been looking at this all wrong (which is entirely possible and quite ironic, given the source material's insistence on "thinking outside the box when you're backed into a corner").
Making these Profile, Evidence and Logic icons? That doesn't take me very long at all.
Whole backgrounds from scratch? That's another story entirely as far as my spriting skills are concerned.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, suggestions, critiques, omakes, fanart... Lay it on me, and I'll answer what I can. (as he mentioned the latter two, Pandora's box doth open, the QM blissfully unaware of what he has unleashed) No "can this character be in plz" questions will be answered whatsoever; just figured I'd rip that bandage right off. I'm not gonna make promises like that and risk writing myself into a dead-end.

 

[DrPikachu]

Last time on Ace Attorney Investigations: Ema Skye...this happened. And King Dedede kinda broke.

Let's help Ema look into at least one of those things, shall we?

---

February 2, 2:04 PM
Cappy Town
The Gus Station

Well-Dressed Cappy
How did this happen, Bookem?! We haven't had a single incident since those monster attacks stopped happening. His Majesty even started behaving himself! And now...well, this!

Spoiler: What the "Well-Dressed Cappy" looks like

Chief Bookem
No need to worry, Len. I'll look into this thing once everything finishes cooling down.

Well-Dressed Cappy
Mm, true... I suppose we can't really do much more than wait...

Stocky Cappy
Look, here comes His Majesty! Huh, that's strange, he's not driving the limo...

Spoiler: What the "Stocky Cappy" looks like

Well-Dressed Cappy
No, what's strange is I don't see His Majesty at all! His captain's the one behind the wheel, along with... Who is that? I've never seen some...one like that before...

Chief Bookem
Hmm... Oh, it's that detective I talked with earlier!

Well-Dressed Cappy
A detective? What's going on here, Chief?

Chief Bookem
I'll...uh...explain later, Mayor.

[Waddle Doo parks the tank-like jeep across the street from what are apparently the smoldering ruins of Cappy Town's gas station. I can feel every Cappy staring at me and hear their hushed whispering.]

Spoiler: What the "tank-like jeep" looks like

(but has the toolbox from this: )

Waddle Doo
We're here, Miss Skye. This is—um, was—"The Gus Station."


Ema
Gus Station, eh...

(Named after its proprietor, a mechanic named Gus. From what Waddle Doo told me on the way, he's no stranger to losing his gas station like this...)

(But that was back when monsters were attacking, so what could have set things off this time, and why...?)

(There are three things I need right now more than anything: details, details, and more details!)

[] Begin the investigation immediately, barge past everyone, and examine the scene
[] Find somebody first and ask questions
-[] Talk to Chief Bookem (Write-in questions)
-[] Talk to the Well-Dressed Cappy (Write-in questions)
-[] Talk to the Stocky Cappy (Write-in questions)
-[] Talk to Waddle Doo (Write-in questions)
-[] Talk to someone else (Write-in)

---

For this action, please choose only one person to question.

Flooding issues delayed this post. There wasn't really any damage, but it was still quite debilitating and time-consuming.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll nap again. Been awake for too long the past few days as it is...

 

[DrPikachu]

[x] Find somebody first and ask questions
-[x] Talk to Chief Bookem (Write-in questions)

---

[I walk over towards where Chief Bookem is talking with the other two Cappies. He notices my approach.]

Chief Bookem
Ah, Detective Skye! Welcome back. I didn't expect you to return from the castle so soon.


Ema
I think I was just about done there, actually.

Well-Dressed Cappy
Pardon me, but what was your business at the castle, um, Detective?


Ema
I was investigating a case. Turned out to be a bit of a dead end, though.

Well-Dressed Cappy
I see... Oh! Where are my manners! Allow me to introduce myself.

[He reaches his hand out for me to shake.]

Well-Dressed Cappy
I am Len Blustergas, the mayor of Cappy Town.

[I accept and shake his hand.]


Ema
Detective Ema Skye, Los Angeles Police Department.

Mayor Len
Los...Angelis...? Don't believe I've heard of such a place before. Is it beyond the borders of Dream Land?


Ema
...You could say that. His Majesty hired me.

(Though I doubt I'll get paid now, since I kinda turned on him and everything...)

Mayor Len
How strange... Whatever for?

Chief Bookem
She came by the station earlier today, asking about Kirby. Said he was suspected of theft, vandalism, and public endangerment.

Mayor Len
...Oh. So he hired you to arrest Kirby?


Ema
Took a while for me to get that much out of him, but yeah. The info he gave me didn't end up holding any water in the end, though.

But then we felt the tremor coming from here, so I came down to investigate.

Mayor Len
.........


Ema
(Why do I feel like I'm being examined?)

Mayor Len
...I see. We should focus on what happened here first. If you say you're here to help, I suppose we can use all we can get, right Chief?

Chief Bookem
Yeah, guess so. Always nice to have some new blood on the force!


Ema
(Yes! I'm in! Now let's get the gist of things!)

---

• Ask about what he knows so far about the incident, or any theories.

---

Ema
So...can you tell me what happened here, Chief?

Chief Bookem
I just arrived on the scene not too long ago, but I'll tell you what I know so far.
At around 1:55 PM, I heard what sounded like an explosion while I was finishing up on my signaling. I felt it, too. Nearly knocked me off my stand!
The townspeople were coming out of their houses, wondering what just happened. After calming everyone down, I ran towards the source of the sound.
I found the gas station...or what was left of it, all up in smoke and flames. I immediately rallied a bucket brigade to put out the fires.


Ema
A bucket brigade? You don't have a fire department?

Chief Bookem
'Fraid not, Detective. Bucket lines usually get the job done for most fires, and if things get too out of hand, His Majesty has a water pump that his Waddle Dees use.

[I look over to where he is pointing and I see the..."water pump."] {Image reference}


Ema
(That's...better than a bucket brigade, I suppose.)

(How does Dedede have a tank and a limousine, and...that thing? It belongs in a museum!)

Chief Bookem
But we were having trouble getting the fire under control even with that, so Kirby helped us out by becoming Water Kirby and—


Ema
Wait...what? "Becoming Water Kirby"? What do you mean by that?

Mayor Len
You don't know about Kirby's powers? You really must not be from around here!

Chief Bookem
Sometimes, when Kirby eats something, he kinda...copies whatever special trait it may have. If he eats something that's on fire, he'll become Fire Kirby and be able to breathe and control fire. If he eats a sword, he'll become Sword Kirby and wield a sword better than most knights can. If he drinks a lot of water—


Ema
He'll...become "Water Kirby" and spew water everywhere?

Chief Bookem
Hey, you're catching on! We usually call his different, um, forms "Copy Abilities."


"Kirby's Copy Abilities" added to Logic.


Ema
(...It finally happened. I've gone crazy. Or I must be dreaming! This place IS called Dream Land; it's the only way any of this makes sense!)

(Ugh, maybe I really should cut back on those midnight snacks...)

Chief Bookem
Well, with Water Kirby pitching in, we and the Waddle Dees finally got the fire under control and put out. We're waiting for things to finish cooling down before we start examining everything to find out what happened. Looks like things are finally okay now, though if you do intend to investigate, you should put on heat-protective gear. Just to be safe, you know.


Ema
I understand. Who should I talk to get that stuff?

Chief Bookem
Yours truly, Detective. I went back to the office and grabbed it all. My older brother used to be a Rough Ranger, so when he retired, he gave me some of the gear and equipment he used while in the service.

[He puffs his chest out proudly and takes a deep breath.]

Chief Bookem
"A Rough Ranger is always prepared for anything!"
*Ahem* Anyway, it should still work just fine, even if it's a little old.


Ema
(I just hope it fits me...)

---

Continued in next post.

 

[DrPikachu]

• Ask for anyone of interest to ask later about what happened to the station and any points of interest that he was able to discover on the scene.

---

Ema
Was there anyone nearby when the explosion occurred? Any witnesses?

Chief Bookem
Well, Gus was there when it must've happened. Poor guy... Dr. Yabui's looking him over.

[He points to where another elderly Cappy is tending to a tall, well-built, well-cooked Cappy. Another Cappy is lying on a stretcher close by.]

Chief Bookem
Gus is a pretty hardy guy though, so he might still be conscious. The other one is out cold.

Ema
Does he work for Gus?

Chief Bookem
Nah, Gus works alone most of the time. Looks like he's just a passersby who had a real mean streak of bad luck. Got burned worse than Gus did.


Ema
Well, at least they're still alive...

Mayor Len
Yes... Thank goodness, indeed...


Ema
(Nngh...this doesn't give me a whole lot to work with. Only two witnesses, and one's unconscious. But I guess I gotta start somewhere...)

Cappy Town
"The Gus Station" Ruins​

[] Talk to Gus (Write-in questions)
[] Talk to Mayor Len (Write-in questions)
[] Talk to someone else (Write-in target and questions)
[] Inspect the gas station ruins [requires Heat-Protective Gear]
[] Inspect the hose wagon

---

All right, our first Investigation phase! Ema and I will cover each new bit of "gameplay" as we encounter it, so vote away.

 

[DrPikachu]

Got another unanimous vote, so let's move things onward!

[x] Inspect the gas station ruins [requires Heat-Protective Gear]

---

Ema
If you have that gear ready Chief, I'd like to investigate what I can of the gas station.

Chief Bookem
Of course! Here you go!

[Chief Bookem unceremoniously dumps a pile of clothes into my arms.]


Ema
(...He cannot seriously be expecting me to change out here. There is no way.)

Chief Bookem
...


Ema
......

Chief Bookem
.........


Ema
............

Chief Bookem
...............Oh! Uh...oh, right... Umm...

[Chief Bookem starts sweating nervously.]


Ema
(I'll take back a few of those respect points, thank you...)

[Suddenly, Waddle Doo barges into our cloud of awkwardness.]

Waddle Doo
Leave it to me, Miss Skye! It will only take a minute!

[He turns and runs up to a group of Waddle Dees gathered by the "water pump".]

Waddle Doo
Waddle Dees, atten-tion! I need a tent assembled!

[The Waddle Dees salute and pull out a cloth from the box in the back of King Dedede's tank...]

—AAI:ES—​

Ema
(Wow, it DID only take a minute...)

Waddle Doo
One changing tent, all set up, Miss Skye! If you don't mind, may Dr. Yabui use it as a medical tent as well? There was only enough material for one tent in the royal toolbox.


Ema
Of course. Thank you, umm...Captain?

Waddle Doo
You may call me whatever you wish, Miss Skye!


Ema
(I'll figure out what to call him later. Let's see if this fits...)

[I head inside the tent...]

—AAI:ES—​

[...and come out dressed like a fireman straight out of the movies. Helmet, undercoat, overcoat, overalls, boots, the works.]


Ema
(Kinda bulky, but it'll do.)

(Thank goodness the pants were long enough.)

[I walk back over to Chief Bookem, Mayor Len, and the stocky Cappy.]


Ema
All right, I'm ready.

[Chief Bookem proceeds to inspect the gear, presumably to make sure I put everything on correctly.]

Chief Bookem
Yup, you're good to go. Be careful in there, Detective.

[I nod in response, and head inside.]

—AAI:ES—​

[The interior looks even worse than the few bits I could see of it from outside. The building still seems to be structurally sound, at least.]


Ema
(Ugh... This place is a mess. How am I supposed to find anything that won't crumble into ashes if I touch it?)

(I just hope some traces of whatever might have caused the fire managed to survive...)

What will you inspect first?
[] Area around the storefront counter
[] The restrooms
[] A corner containing what's left of what must've once been a table
[] A body shop area

---

Whatever area gets the most votes will be the first to be inspected. Votes for "ALL AREAS" do not and will not count; we're establishing the order of events here. Ema will look over each area, and if nothing stands out, we will move on to the next area. I will be endeavor to be descriptive.

If something does stand out, well...figuring out what to do with things like that is part of what Quests are all about, no?

Now let's t̩̹̪a̰͉͖l̼̤̰̮k̗̦͔̫ ̖͇̯̯̖̠̳ab͕o̘̖͈͉u͕t͍̺̞ ͎͚̰̜̘w͈̭̙̼͚ḥ̫̤͖̟̤͠a͉͕̘͙t ͖y͉̪͔̝͎̪͢ͅo̙̺͙͓̣͉͘u̻̙͈̘̥̠̻'̙̝͠r̩ͅe ̷̹g͔̻͠o̢̱͎̘̪͍n̝̳̙͎͠n̮̼̮̪a̼͚̱͎̗͟ ͎̕d̹̹̝̰͍͉̝͜ò̬̰͉̱̺͉ ̨n̢̳̲̮͔̫͙ͅé̲̥x͏̲͇͕̤̲̺t̩̗̠̹́!̼̤̻̥̙̻ W̝a̸̬̳̠i̳̟͠t̶̲̭̖̝.͈̱͡.͔̺.̳̠̮͎͔̮w̘͔͍̰̟ͅh̪͢a͓̤͖͖̳̟t͕̺̰'̩͎̳̻̝s̥̤̭̤̮̜̙ ̢̝͖̦̙̲h̸̜͚ap̜̩̘̙͖p̲̻̜̠͢e̘̟̫͕͓̗n̸̥͙̩̦̝ͅi̷n͖͓͎͍͘g̼̬͓̰̦͎͓?̹̰̱̱̰̀ W̡̊ͥͧ͌ĥ̟̼̫̱̭͇̺ͯ̎͠y̨͉̭͓̝̦̮̭ͦ̉'̦̅͞s͈̘ͬ̊̿̚ ͉͔̥͍t͓̥ḥ̝̹̳ͥe͕͙͖̺̝̱̘͑̈́͋ͨ͒ͨ̈́͢ ̵͈̜͓̄̋ͯͅt̨̝͕̤̓̑e͚̰͕͕̤̼̊̽ͭx͖͖̠̗͍͎̜̐́t͚̼̦͈ͅ ̴͎̤̙̻͓̽̒ͯạ̵̹̄̂ͪ͆̂̚ḻ͉̉̈ḽ͔̥̿͐̔̑̍̑̚.̰ͨͩ̓̈.ͯ̂̍͋͏͔͉̻̼̝̟.ͥ͑҉͓̙̰
͚̻̹̟̗̝̆͋̏̉̽͌ͅÜ̳̱̯͍̩̬͠g̽̽̐ͧ̂͜h̉͋̂ͧ̄͐̄͏̰̪͙̝̬͇ͅ,̴̖̬̥̱͈̍̎̑͊ ̺͍̪̝͎ͫ̽ͧc̲̹̬͙̼̠̙͗͑͛̏ͤ̚ö́̊̓m̙̯̰͍͖͓͐e̤̖ ͙̺̜̤͐͐̒o͍̲̖̜̞̳͙ͦn͎̳̬̲͚͛̈̏̈́͛ͥ͗!̸̻̰̳̤͔̦̂̑̎̒ͬ͊͂ ̓͑͛͏͎͓̹W̞͈̽ͧ͆͆͊̂ͥ͘ͅö̰́̽̓̚r̺͕̹̮̪̈̾ͧ̋ḵ̹͕̘̟̃͗̆͑́!̷̬̪ ͓͔̖̠̩̟̥̓W̼̟̞̬̭̊̇͗O͕̭̬͇͖ͯR̜̦̝͐̐̆̑͆̀K͕͓̪̽ͅ!̫ ͖̮̺̝̈ͭ̾̆̆ͬ!̧̰̲͙̔̂%̯̙͉̬͉̄̀̾̇͛̿)̣͚̹̜̜͉̼̋ͬ̍̈́̈͡$͓̹̳̱̲̭̹&̩̫̠̬͔̗͑͊ͩ͗̊͋̂͟(͚́̆%̗̹̻̣ͥ&ͣ̓͋̎͏̗̬͍̞̜̱*̪̮̑ͦͩͫ̅̂!̰͚̲͍̤̫̅ͧ̓̂́

...Oh, right. The kill screen. Happy 256th post!

don't worry the "game" isn't actually crashing
god, I am the biggest dork

 

[DrPikachu]

[X] Area around the storefront counter

---

Ema
(First things first, let's look at this counter.)

[I turn to face the storefront counter and the area around it.]


Ema
(...Or, what's left of it. Geez, what a mess...)

(Let's inspect this area scientifically. No stone unturned, nothing suspicious left alone!)

[The counter itself lies in burned pieces; the countertop itself, the cash register, and what looks like part of the supporting frame seem to be the most intact things.
There is a spot for a window on the wall behind the counter, the glass and frame blown apart.
Everything is covered in a layer of soot and ash.]

[] Examine a part of the area (Write-in one thing/spot to examine, please be specific)
[] Move on to the next area: the restrooms

---

The amount of votes each part of the area gets will determine the order in which it will all be examined.

You might get just a short but more detailed description, have Ema notice something about it that piques her curiosity and generates a piece of Logic, or find out that it could be evidence...or even all three possibilities at once.

There's a story to tell here... It's up to you to determine how long it is and/or if it has any meaning.

 

[DrPikachu]

Okay, 1 (heads) for cash register being the first thing; 2 (tails) for the window being first.

Spoiler: Coinflip

*flips* 1=heads it is

[X] Examine a part of the area the cash register

---

Ema
(Huh... For something that lived through both an explosion and a fire, this cash register seems to have avoided the "totally melted" status. It must be made of pretty sturdy stuff.)

(I'd better make note of this.)


Cash Register
Type: Evidence
Discovered at the Gus Station Ruins.

Cash Register notes jotted down in my Notepad.


Ema
(Can't say the same for whatever was inside, though... There's nothing but ashes in the drawer.)

(Hang on... Why is the drawer open? Perhaps trauma from the explosion forced it open?)


"The open drawer" added to Logic.


Ema
(No, hang on again... Why are ashes the only thing in the drawer? Where are the coins? I doubt they melted...and I don't see any coins lying around here either. Strange...)

(I'll collect some of the ashes in the drawer, and around the register. If I can have an analysis run on both bags, maybe I can find out just when the drawer was opened.)


Bags of Ashes
Type: Evidence
Gathered at the Gus Station Ruins.

Collected ashes to store in evidence bags.


Ema
(Good thing I always have spare evidence bags handy!)

---

[X] Examine the window.

---

Ema
(Yep, this window is busted. Shards of glass and wood framing are all over the floor. They must have been blown in here from the force of the explosion.)

(...Hmm. There are some shards clumped closer to the wall. A bit TOO close to the wall, actually... I wonder how they got there...?)


"Shards out of place" added to Logic.

---

[x] Examine a part of the area: what look like part of the Supporting Frame

---

Ema
(Looks like this counter was supported by a metal frame. If it wasn't so close to the explosion, this counter might have survived. Maybe even through the fire.)
(Well, no use focusing on that "what-if"... Let's look at what's left.)

[I bend down to check out the part of the supporting frame sticking out of the pile.]


Ema
(Whoa, this is some thick framing! Kind of overkill, don't you think, Gus?)

(...Wait a minute.)

[Carefully, I pull more of the piece out into view while trying not to disturb the integrity of the counter remains.]


Ema
(Weird... This piece looks like it's shaped like a crowbar...)
......

(...Because it IS a crowbar! What the heck is THIS doing here?!)


Crowbar
Type: Evidence
Discovered at the Gus Station Ruins.

Crowbar notes jotted down in my Notepad.


Ema
(Maybe it was displayed on or in the counter, and put on sale? If only I knew what this counter looked like back when it was intact...)

[] Gather my thoughts (Use Logic to construct hypotheses)
[] Examine something else (Write-in one thing/spot to examine, please be specific)
[X] Move on to the next area: the restrooms {Tally Count: 3}

---

That is not a typo up there; "Move on to the next scene" already has a vote. Three "dummy" votes, to be exact, that are meant to keep the original sequence of events moving along.

If you feel we're not done here, speak up, pup!

If a prompt gets more than three votes, I'll interrupt the sequence to perform that prompt, but I will interrupt it only once. We've got a schedule to keep here, and no time to waste on multiple interruptions in a row. If you'd rather we move on, you can state it if you wish, but your silence will also suffice for assent here, and your vote wouldn't get lumped in with the "dummy" votes anyway.
This is all set up in case some of you guys think we should HOLD IT! ...And not move on quite yet.

You have until Thursday, 10 AM CST.

As always, the Status / Inventory post has been updated with the new Logic nuggets and Evidence.

 

[DrPikachu]

[X] The restrooms

---

[Satisfied for now, I divert my attention to a nearby door with a broken label displaying two differently-shaped Cappy silhouettes side-by-side.]


Ema
(This must be the restroom. For a small-town gas station like this, I'd be surprised if it wasn't a single-stall, especially since it's apparently unisex.)

[Carefully pushing the door aside, I take a peek inside the restroom.]


Ema
(...And wouldn't you know it, the restroom survived. Though I suppose you can't really burn toilets or sinks, so...makes sense. Not like I'd give the plumbing a test-run, though.)


(Let's inspect this area scientifically. No stone unturned, nothing suspicious left alone!)

[The toilet and sink are practically undamaged, but the structure around the sink's plumbing has collapsed, and the mirror above the sink is cracked.
A spot for a small window is high up on the wall, the glass and frame blown apart.
Electrical wiring and pipes are exposed through parts of the wall where the wood has burned away.
The layer of soot and ash is not as thick compared to the rest of the gas station.]

[] Examine a part of the area (Write-in one thing/spot to examine, please be specific)
[] Gather my thoughts (Use Logic to construct hypotheses)
[] Move on to the next area: a corner containing what's left of what must've once been a table

---

Unnecessary filler, or potentially vital evidence waiting to be discovered?

Whatever the case, you can rest assured that these inspections are not one-time only events. We can go back and inspect them as many times as we need to in order to get the answers we need.

 

[DrPikachu]

[X] Examine a part of the area: Electrical wiring and pipes are exposed through parts of the wall where the wood has burned away

---

Ema
(Part of the wiring and plumbing in the wall has been exposed.)
(The heat from the fire has melted the insulating sheaths, and so I'm better off not touching those naked wires. I don't know if the power's been cut yet.)

---

[X] Examine a part of the area: the structure around the sink's plumbing

---

Ema
(It's not in as bad of a condition as the counter outside, but the vanity's fallen apart nonetheless.)

(All that's inside here is what must've been a bucket. It's mostly melted now, but it might've been there to catch leaks. At least there aren't any crowbars here.)

(The mirror's all cracked, too. There's no cabinet or secret alcove behind it...just bare wall beneath the glass. Phooey.)

---

[X] Examine the window.

---

Ema
(This window got busted too. Shards of wood and glass inside the room...just like the other one.)

(All that's missing...are the shards next to the wall. There aren't any here at this window...)


Glass Shards
Type: Evidence
Discovered at the Gus Station Ruins.

Glass Shards data jotted down in my Notepad.


Ema
(It's a lot smaller, too... I think only small animals would be able to squeeze through if it was open. Looks like it was just here for ventilation, not for looking outside.)

(All in all, this window passes my Appropriate Bathroom Window Seal of Approval!)

(...If only it wasn't broken.)

---

[x] Examine a part of the area: The layer of soot and ash is not as thick compared to the rest of the gas station.

---

Ema
(Interesting... The soot and ash are so thin here, I can actually see parts of the floor. Maybe this room didn't burn so much as it got cooked from the fire's heat.)

(I guess that makes sense. Other than the walls and floor, there's not much to burn in here as there is outside.)

[] Gather my thoughts (Use Logic to construct hypotheses)
[] Examine something else (Write-in one thing/spot to examine, please be specific)
[X] Move on to the next area: a corner containing what's left of what must've once been a table {Tally Count: 3}

---

You've got until Wednesday at 3 PM CST to interrupt that dummy vote.

As usual, the Status / Inventory post has been updated with the new Evidence.

 

[DrPikachu]

[X] A corner containing what's left of what must've once been a table

---

[With nothing more of note to examine, I leave the restroom and check out a different corner of the gas station.]


Ema
(Eeesh...this looks even worse than the counter. I think this USED to be a table...and that's all I can tell, really.)

(There's so much rubble here that it's hard to really identify anything else. But...I suppose I'd better try...)

(Let's inspect this area scientifically. No stone unturned, nothing suspicious left alone!)

[The "table" is little more than a big pile of nails and charred wood.
Tiny bits of melted plastic are scattered about.
Another window is nearby as well, broken like all the others.
There's soot and ash everywhere, making Ema leave easily distinct footprints everywhere she steps here.]

[] Examine a part of the area (Write-in one thing/spot to examine, please be specific)
[] Gather my thoughts (Use Logic to construct hypotheses)
[] Move on to the next area: a body shop area