Part 65: Episode 3, Day 3, Investigation: Suspicions Rising
Part 65: Episode 3, Day 3, Investigation: Suspicions RisingMusic: Silence
That was a close one, huh, Mia?
Sound: Realization
Maya's back! She's really a better foil for investigations anyway.
?
Sound: Light Bulb
So, what happened?
You do?
Now all I need is a motive... and proof. Wow! Good going, Nick!
Oh, we're going to formalize this three-day-limit thing.
"Initial trial"...? What's that? That's the new court system they introduced two or three years ago.
Forget serving justice by getting more courtrooms/judges/prosecutors, let's just rush everything!
So, under that system, trials have to end in three days? Yeah, pretty much. Well, we've no time to waste!Music: Maya Fey ~ Turnabout Sisters Theme
So who's the killer then? We still looking at the producer, Dee Vasquez? I suppose it could still be the director, Sal Manella? Or one of the studio bigwigs we haven't met?
Still nothing new to see by examining our own office, so let's chat with Maya instead.
I don't get it, Maya.
Sound: Realization
Sound: Light Bulb
Well, I guess that answers the question of if Maya knows what happens while Mia's driving. Or maybe she just wasn't paying attention.
Yeah! B-but Mr. Hammer was the victim, Nick!
Maya handles the revelation a lot better than I did.
That's what we have to find out.
Guess we should fill her in on the rest of what happened today.
What happened with the director's testimony?
Huh... Which means that the killer has to be one of them!
Sound: Light Bulb
Phoenix you suck at explaining things.
Because the real scene of the crime was Studio Two... where that trailer is!
Sound: Damage 2
Or maybe Phoenix was just trying to set up that reaction from Maya.
(Hmm... was Maya always this excitable?)
Well, have you noticed anything that might help us?
Mia clearly knows what's going on already whenever she shows up. I guess being a free-floating spirit has its advantages? Or Maya's just so busy channeling Mia that she can't pay attention to anything else?
So, no. I haven't noticed anything. Right...
I'm not sure how he can help at this point, but sure, why not?
(WP... Powers... right.)
We've collected some new evidence since Maya was last around. Plus she likes teasing us about our badge.
Nothing to say about it this time, though!
This photo has a bit more context to it now, but the description is still the same.
(Who would have thought that it was Jack Hammer inside!)
...?I like how Maya is just watching Phoenix stare intently at the photo here.
We didn't learn anything new about the murder weapon today, but Maya is still into it...
I wish I had my own Samurai Spear!
Me!? Why me!?It's probably not personal, you just happen to be the one nearby most of the time!
We didn't get the journal until after Mia had shown up, so Maya hasn't seen it before.
Wow! Impressive!Sound: Light Bulb
...
Sound: Realization
These are mostly taken at those PR shows they do at stores and fairs... I'm pretty sure it's not even Will Powers inside that suit.
Maya's the real #1 fan, confirmed. Or maybe just a snob.
He's still a child, I suppose...
Um, yeah, whatever you say.
We got the camera itself at the start of the trial this morning.
This is Cody's--
Sound: Objection
I'm impressed a kid like him would have something this expensive.
Kids these days!Sound: Whack
Now who's acting like the old fogey Maya? Hmph.
Without any better ideas, I suppose we'll follow Maya's suggestion and check in with our client.
Music: Silence
Oh... thanks.
I still think WP had a couple sprites cut for space. There's no tissue-holding idle sprite so this line looks a bit odd.
And could you wipe that grin off your face?
Let's make it count!
Yes... Though there's not really anything I can do to help.
Please... this is no laughing matter.Music: Detention Center - Jailer's Elegy
I do like having Maya back for this chapter.
Now that we've met the producer and the director, maybe Will will finally have some more to say about them.
Could you tell me more about Ms. Vasquez?
Oh... the producer?
A genius...?Sound: Realization
She's been at Global Studios for five years now.
Why is that? Ever since she came on board, we've had nothing but hits.
Oh, and... And... what? N-nothing. Forget it.
Starting to get very suspicious about Ms. Vasquez...
Can you tell me anything about Mr. Manella?
But something in his work caught Vasquez's eye. She brought the Steel Samurai idea to him. Now everyone knows the name Sal Manella.
Whenever she says "jump!" he asks "how high?" and all that.
Fat-shaming aside, it's interesting that Mr. Manella was a nobody until Ms. Vasquez came along shitting out hits left and right.
He was a big star back in the day, right? But then he just dropped off the face of the Earth. Oh...
But he just stopped taking on big roles. That's when he began appearing in little productions at Global...
Sound: Whack
I was really looking forward to a sequel to "Samurai Summer." He just gave up being a star five years ago. Actually, now that I think about it...Music: Silence
Sound: Realization
(Five years ago...?)The game has been hinting at these topics the last couple of days, but these conversations are really heavily pointing to something happening five years ago that is extremely relevant to the murder. Five years ago, Ms. Vasquez shows up out of nowhere, rescues a failing studio, uplifts a nobody director who won't question her on anything, and somehow forces a star into minor villain roles. And then that star ends up dead....
Music: Detention Center - Jailer's Elegy
Will doesn't have a lot to say about our evidence, but he is interested in our new theory on this photo.
Here's that picture again.
He's the only one it could have been. But why would he...? Yeah! Why?Sound: Objection
*sigh* Gimme about three more years. (Look at us, the two novices.)
While Mr. Powers will react to the spear again, it's just the same conversation as last time. However, he hasn't seen this photo album yet!
Have you seen this, Mr. Powers? W-what's that!?Sound: Light Bulb
These are the Steel Samurais that appear at live shows. A fanboy collected all these pictures himself. ... Seeing things like this really makes me think...
We're not going to solve this case until we get to the studio, so let's head over there now.
Music: Silence
You know, Ms. Oldbag has probably been around forever, maybe she can let us in on some of the gossip from five years ago.
... ... ...
... You know, this place is really... peaceful, like this. ...
Nick?
Sound: Realization
Y-yeah?
...
Whew! She's alive!Sound: Light Bulb
Music: Investigation - Opening
The old bag seems kind of tightly wound, but I guess we have to risk talking to her anyway.
Um, I was wondering about Dee Vasquez, the producer.
So she always gets her way. (She seems bitter...)Sound: Realization
Do you... not like the producer?
Not as blatant with the hints as WP's conversations, but still clearly something off with the producer.
Can I ask you about Sal Manella, the director?
Sound: Realization
Sound: Light Bulb
That doesn't make any sense, does it, Nick? Er... No, no it doesn't, Maya....Not touching that one.
About Mr. Hammer...
Arrgh!Sound: Whack
Whoa! We found a sore spot!
Sound: Whack
Poor old Hammer! You'd drag his star down from the sky and stomp on it! Calling him a criminal! A thief!
Sound: Super Shock
(Uh oh, she's really pissed this time!)Interesting word choice by the translators there; I don't remember seeing a mild vulgarity like that before.
Right, the old lady isn't done yelling at us yet.
Why would he steal Powers's costume so he could sneak by me?
Sound: Objection
Now that we've thoroughly upset her again, let's see what she has to say about our precious evidence.
Um, Ms. Oldbag? What do you think of this?
Hmm, nothing there.
I know, let's bring up her favorite topic again!
Um, Ms. Oldbag?
Sound: Whack
And you're claiming that's poor old Hammer in there!?
Sound: Damage 2
No, you really didn't.
Hmm, two choices here. We could head for studio two, or poke around the employee area and Will's dressing room again. Any preferences?