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

[DrPikachu]

[X] The sootprints, are there any other than ours?

---

[I look down around me to look for any other footprints in the ash.]


Ema
(The ash sure is thick here... The only footprints I can see are the ones I've made walking around just now. Not even signs that a bird or something has been through here yet...)


"One set of tracks" added to Logic.

Ema
(I suppose that more or less confirms that I was the first one to come in here since the fire started. Any other footprints made beforehand would be buried right now.)

---

[X] Tiny bits of melted plastic are scattered about.

---

Ema
(These pieces of plastic are in multiple colors, but they're so badly melted I can't notice any other difference.)
(Maybe they were part of a board game? If I could find the board or box they belonged to, I'd be more comfortable making that assumption. Let's just leave these alone for now.)

---

[X] Examine a part of the area The window

---

Ema
(Another broken window. It's facing the same side of the building as the one by the counter and the one in the restroom, so the continued pattern tells me the force of the explosion must have been the primary culprit.)

(The arrangement of glass shards also matches what I saw at the restroom window...which makes the situation at the storefront counter window all the stranger...)


Glass Shards
Update: Found in the restroom, and by the windows next to the storefront counter and another corner of the building. A few of the shards from the window next to the counter are grouped closer to the wall.

Glass Shards data updated in my Notepad.

---

[X] Examine The "table" is little more than a big pile of nails and charred wood.

---

Ema
(This table is in worse condition than the counter... I'd rather not disturb the scene any more than I already have, but if I want to know more about what happened, I don't really have a choice.)

(But before I do, I'll take a couple pictures of the way things are right now.)

[I pull out a digital camera from my bag and walk around the table, snapping pictures of it from multiple angles.]

*ka-chk* *ka-chk* *ka-chk*...


Ema
(There we go! Scene preservation complete!)


Table Scene Photos
Type: Photographs
Taken at the Gus Station Ruins.

Table Scene Photos stored in my camera's memory.


Ema
(I really should spring for a phone with a decent camera at some point...but it just doesn't feel as "authentic" to take pictures of a crime scene without a true-blue camera!)

(Now, let's see what's in this pile...)

[I carefully sift through the nails, screws, and pieces of wood, looking for anything out of the ordinary.]


Ema
(.........Wh... Whaa...)

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?

[There, buried under the table rubble...is a blackened mass reminiscent of a clay figure, right down to the cactus-like pose.]

Spoiler: Music

Ema
(It's practically charred to a crisp, but this... This is definitely the body of a Cappy!)

(Oh no... Did he or she get trapped in here and burned to death!? Or did the explosion do them in?)

(No, stay calm, Ema...! This isn't the first time you've seen a dead body...)

(But usually you're on the scene after someone else has found the body...)

(No, it's fine... You can do this!)

(Do...do what? Should I examine it right now? I mean...I'm just a guest here. I really should let Chief Bookem know about this first...shouldn't I?)

[] Examine the body (continue current Investigation phase)
[] Report back to Chief Bookem (end current Investigation phase)

---

About the music addition... I don't think I'll have very many in the future, much less going back to previous posts to retrofit links or embedded videos. This is mostly because there really isn't an "Objection!" mix of Ema's theme. I simply felt this time was a special exception.

But would you look at that, we now have more than eight pieces of Evidence! Time to add a second "page" to the Status / Inventory post...

 

[DrPikachu]

[X] Report back to Chief Bookem (end current Investigation phase)

---

Ema
(I may be on the scene, but this isn't really MY investigation.)

(Guess I'd better be a good detective and report this to my "superior"...)

(But before I do...)

[I take out my digital camera and preserve the scene as-is through photos.]

*ka-chk* *ka-chk* *ka-chk*...


Ema
(Scene preservation complete! NOW I can go.)


Table Scene Photos
Update: Two sets of photographs depicting the ruined table scene taken from multiple angles for preservation purposes. The first set was taken before the rubble was moved. The second was done after the body under the rubble was discovered. Both sets taken with my camera.

Second set of Table Scene Photos stored in my camera's memory.

[With that done, I leave the ruins.]

—AAI:ES—​

[When I get back out into the open, the stocky Cappy from earlier notices and points at me.]

Stocky Cappy
Hey, she's coming back out! Look!


Ema
(I know this is a different culture, but come on, isn't "pointing at others is rude" pretty universal?)

(U-unless you're objecting, of course.)

Chief Bookem
Whuzzat? Oh, back so soon, Detective?

[Chief Bookem breaks away from whatever he must've been talking about with Mayor Len to meet me instead.]

Chief Bookem
How did things go in there? Did you find any evidence?


Ema
I didn't find much that gave any answers, but I found plenty that raised more questions.

Chief Bookem
Hmm... Well, let's see what you mean by that, Detective. Show me the unusual evidence!

[] Write-in list of evidence to show, and the order in which to show them.

---

Hey, look who's back! Aaaand with a pretty short post. Yeah, I couldn't figure how to work things out well past this point without cheating via fade-out/fade-in, so I figured I'd do this instead!

Ema's a detective, so she's gotta get her point across by strategically presenting the right evidence at the right time and prove to the Chief that this is a case worth taking.

Be sure to check up on that Status / Inventory post, complete with the latest update for Table Scene Photos. I've wiped the dust off it for ya.

Hope your holidays have been happy!

 

[DrPikachu]

[X] Glass Shards first, followed by Crowbar, Cash Register and Bag of Ashes at the same time, followed by Table Scene Photographs.

---

Ema
First off, I'd like to direct your attention to these.

[Having already flipped to the right page in my Notepad, I prepare to make my first point.]


Chief Bookem
Hmm? What are these? Shards of glass?


Ema
That's right. There's a pile of glass shards under each window inside the gas station.

Chief Bookem
From the force of the explosion, right. But I don't see what's really so unusual about this...


Ema
Notice that I said "under each window". Think about it!
How could any explosion be able to break all the windows in such a way that all the shards fall inside the building?

Chief Bookem
Well, that's... Wait! It's impossible! No explosion could do that!
Even if you had it happen inside the building, the explosion would just blow the glass outside!


Ema
You're exactly right, Chief! What I'm describing here is physically impossible!

(Okay, now for step two!)

But despite that...we somehow still have glass shards that somehow all landed inside the station.
Each set of shards has fallen in a particular arrangement that shows us the explosion's possible point of origin.


"Arrangement of shards" added to Logic.


Ema
There is, however, one exception.

[I turn around and point at the window closest to the storefront counter.]


Ema
That window is the odd one out! The shards inside are too close to the wall.

...And what's more, their arrangement doesn't match the pattern established by every other window's shards!

Chief Bookem
But how can that be? The only way for that for happen is if...


Ema
You must've come to the same conclusion that I have. And that conclusion is...

The storefront window was broken at a different point in time!

Chief Bookem
Yes, of course...! If we think about it like that, it makes more sense.


Ema
I'll do you one even better, because it's also impossible that the window was broken sometime after the explosion.

Chief Bookem
Ah, yes, because if the window was still intact when the explosion occurred, it would have been broken like the others.


Ema
And, we would have found the shards outside the building, as determined by the pattern set by the other windows' shards.

But as you know, that didn't happen. That means...

+
>Connect

THE STOREFRONT WINDOW
WAS BROKEN BEFORE THE EXPLOSION​

Chief Bookem
That really is strange, now that I think about it...


Ema
Don't start brainstorming yet, Chief, because I'm just getting started! Take a look at this!

---

Continued in next post.

 

[DrPikachu]

Chief Bookem
A...crowbar? Where did you find this?


Ema
I found it among the framing and bits of wood that were once part of the storefront counter. I also found this cash register.


Chief Bookem
Hmmm...


Ema
So it strikes you as unusual that they were so close to each other? I thought so too.


"Close proximity" added to Logic.


Ema
But before we get to that, I should also bring up that I collected samples of ashes found both within and outside the cash register.


Chief Bookem
Not just inside the register?


Ema
I like to be scientific about things, and that means examining as many variables as possible!
Do you have someone who could analyze the ashes?

Chief Bookem
I do, actually. He's not on the force, but stuff similar to this is right up his alley.


Ema
(Darn. So much for doing it myself...)

I see. Well, back to the matter with the crowbar, considering that the cash register shows signs of being forced open, I think it's fairly safe to assume that...

+
>Connect

THE CROWBAR WAS USED
TO OPEN THE CASH REGISTER​

Ema
It's my hope that the ash analysis will give us a more accurate picture of exactly when the cash register was opened.

Chief Bookem
All right. I'll get that taken care of ASAP.


Handed over the Bags of Ashes for analysis.


Ema
(Okay, it's time for the closer!)

Before you do that, Chief... There's one last set of things I need you to look at.

[I show the Chief the Table Scene Photographs.]



Ema
I took this first batch of photos before I started inspecting what was left of a table I found inside the station.


...And this is what I happened to find underneath.


Chief Bookem
.........Whaaat in the world!? Is this...a body?!

Spoiler: Music

---

Continued in next post.

 

[DrPikachu]

Ema
Yes. It's very badly burned, but this Cappy is definitely dead. What we don't know is...

JUST HOW DID THE CAPPY DIE?​

Ema
Do you have a medical examiner, Chief?

Chief Bookem
...Not exactly. Dr. Yabui is the closest thing we have to something like that.

???
Not a problem. I can take a crack at it.

[Both the Chief and I turn around to see another rather elderly-looking Cappy dressed like a stereotypical doctor, right down to the stethoscope still plugged into his ears.]

Chief Bookem
Gah! Oh, Dr. Yabui! Good gravy, you nearly gave me a heart attack there!

Dr. Yabui
Ah, even if you did have one, I'd have you back up on your feet in a jiffy, Chief.

Chief Bookem
Somehow that makes me more worried than relieved...

[While Chief Bookem sighs nervously, Dr. Yabui looks over at me next.]

Dr. Yabui
So then, Miss...Detective Skye, was it... I hear you have a body on your hands?


Ema
Um... Yes, we do. The Chief was just telling me that you don't have a dedicated medical examiner here in town.

Dr. Yabui
Oh, that's no trouble. I handle everything from colds to toothaches to sleeping sickness.
Figuring out how someone died should be child's play, so just leave it to me!


Ema
(Great, now I feel just as worried...)

Dr. Yabui
Well, what are we waiting for? That body won't examine itself!

Chief Bookem
Right. I'll need that suit back, Detective.


Ema
Huh? Oh, sure! I'll be right back!

(For a while there, I forgot I was even wearing this thing...)

[I head over to the changing tent, quickly change out of the Heat-Protective Gear, and hand it all over to the Chief, who quickly puts it on much faster than I ever could.]

Chief Bookem
You'll need to put one of these on as well, Doctor. Looks like it's still pretty hot in there.

Dr. Yabui
Oh, so that's what that pile in the tent was for...

[When Dr. Yabui goes inside the tent, Waddle Doo comes in and takes his place.]

Waddle Doo
Chief Bookem! Will you be needing our assistance?

Chief Bookem
If you're offering, I'll take it!

[Waddle Doo draws out his sword and as if on command, a small group of Waddle Dees decked out in the same protective gear and holding a stretcher fall into formation.]


Ema
Wow! That was fast! You have heat-protective gear as well, Captain?

Waddle Doo
We've seen our fair share of fires at the castle, Miss Skye. It never hurts to be prepared for anything!

Chief Bookem
All right, come on, Doctor!

[With a wave of his hand, the Chief leads Dr. Yabui and the team of Waddle Dees inside the gas station...]

-AAI:ES-​

[Shortly after they go inside, Chief Bookem's entourage comes outside with a covered body on the stretcher.]

Soft-Sounding Clay Figure
Oh dear! What are they bringing out on that stretcher...?

Coiffed Clay Figure
I...think it's a body...

Shawl-Wearing Clay Figure
A body?! Was someone killed?

Exotic-Sounding Clay Figure
How could this have happened...!?

Chief Bookem
Hey, step away from the police line! This is an official investigation!

[The Chief walks up to the crowd, hands the bags of ashes to another elderly, bearded Cappy, and shoos the others away while Dr. Yabui follows the Waddle Dees carrying the body inside the changing tent.]

Chief Bookem
No need getting everybody riled up now! Samo, you know better than that!

Coiffed Clay Figure
I-I'm sorry Chief, it just slipped out!

Shawl-Wearing Clay Figure
Just focus on your work, dear!

Chief Bookem
Aw come on, Buttercup...

[The other Cappies nearby start chuckling to themselves despite the tense situation. Chief Bookem looks like he's going to reprimand them again, but he lets his shoulders sag before turning to face me.]

Chief Bookem
Anyway, I'd like to express my gratitude for lending us a hand here, Detective.


Ema
It's no trouble at all, Chief. I'm happy to help.

So..."Buttercup", huh?

Chief Bookem
Ha, yeah, that's just the missus. She may run the rumor mill here, but she'll keep things under control. She's like my unofficial PR rep.


Ema
(Oh geez, that's so cute...!)

Chief Bookem
It'll be a while until Dr. Yabui is done with the autopsy and the ashes are analyzed, so if there's something else you want to investigate, now's a good time.

[] Talk to Gus (Write-in questions)
[] Talk to Chief Bookem (Write-in questions)
[] Talk to Mayor Len (Write-in questions)
[] Talk to Waddle Doo (Write-in questions)
[] Talk to the elderly, bearded Cappy (Write-in questions)
[] Talk to Dr. Yabui (Write-in questions)
[] Talk to someone else (Write-in target and questions)
[] Inspect the hose wagon
[] Inspect the gas station ruins [requires Heat-Protective Gear]
-[] 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

---

This turn of events would not have been made possible or even coherent without the evidence and bits of Logic you've all uncovered, so I hope you can forgive the "automatic" connections up there. I'll continue to refine this and other parts of the Quest in the future.

In the meantime, our Investigation is still ongoing, so what's our next course of action?