Part 118: Episode 5, Day 1, Investigation: Skye

Part 118: Episode 5, Day 1, Investigation: Skye

All right, let's talk to Ms. Ema Skye!



Well, come on, where did you think we were gonna start?

See this? It's my Attorney's Badge.



Nope not making that joke.



Come on game stop tempting me with straight lines.



(She analyzed it. Scientifically...)



Sorry, but it's not for sale. Yet...



Right, let's just talk.

Ema, was it? So you're a "scientific investigator"?



No, it's just, you seem kind of, er, jumpy. Or maybe just... young?

Young?



Oh, I see... wait! Only sixteen!?
<sup>Sound: Whack
Sound: Realization


Sound: Light Bulb</sup>



It's hard to show off in an animation, but the screen-shaking effect for emphasis is much more subtle in this episode. I think I prefer it this way.

Um, so what exactly is your current position, then?

Well, legally speaking...



But I'm ready to do my job! At my age, no less!
^{Sound: Whack}

(Great, another future professional in training...)

The game is trying real hard to make me care about Ema but I'm not really feeling it yet.



So what's this about a case? You said the trial's tomorrow?


<sup>Sound: Whack


Sound: Realization</sup>

I don't care if there's a witness who saw her do it! She didn't do it!




^{Sound: Realization}

I don't usually screenshot Phoenix's investigation lines like this one, but I like capturing Ema's reactions here.


^{Sound: Whack}

Right... I suppose I will.



(That's interesting...)

(How would she know Mia?)



More topics!

So, you want to be a scientific investigator when you grow up, then?

E-excuse me?
^{Sound: Whack}



Still, it's good to have a goal. Albeit a very unusual one.



Her science-glasses are tinted. I don't know what to make of that yet.

Don't you?

Uh, yeah. (Sure can't fault her for a lack of enthusiasm.)



I've got some bad news for you. Our last few cases have depended more on ghostly intervention than science.

Your sister...?
^{Sound: Realization}

I've been doing research, you know!



For some reason, when I was playing it was this line that really cemented the idea of Ema as a Maya-Mirror, though it was even more obvious when I went to write up the last update. Like it really became clear that Ema was here to be our investigation sidekick for the episode.

I'll show you when I'm done!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

I'm looking forward to it.

(Guess I should get down to the Detention Center and talk to her sister.)



My sister asked for Mia specifically.



(So they went to the same school, huh.)



And, well...

I need one.

Um, incidentally, Mia is a woman.



Well, it's nice of you to help your sister out like this. You must be close.

...

?

Music: Silence

Well...



(Huh?)
^{Sound: Realization}

But... But she's my only family.

Your only family? What about your parents?



Oh... I'm sorry.

Music: Ema Skye ~ Turnabout Sisters Theme



Let's have a quick look around and see if anything changed for the new episode.

Looks like it's cleaning day again at the hotel across the way.



Egads! The bellboy was staring right at me.



Mia's plant, "Charley."

I've been taking care of him in Maya's absence.



There's a poster of the Steel Samurai on the wall.



I didn't have the heart to take it down.

...
^{Sound: Realization}

I do sometimes get strange looks from clients, though.

I squinted real hard but couldn't see any actual difference in the picture.



Difficult-looking legal books stand in a formidable row. They mock me.

I tried reading one, and it made my head hurt.



I think those lines are actually the same as before.



Mia's desk.



I ought to at least dust it off once in a while.

Phoenix is totally depressed.



We only have one destination. We didn't actually need to talk to Ema at all to unlock it, either. Let's go meet the sister.

Music: Silence



...

(Hmm, I wonder what's wrong with Ema?)

(She got quiet all of a sudden as soon as we arrived.)

Phoenix has the emotional awareness of an 80's sitcom husband.


^{Sound: Realization}

S-s-s-sorry, ma'am! It's j-j-just, your sister...
^{Sound: Stab}

No excuses!



Ema's sister sounds like a real peach. Reminds me of Edgeworth threatening Gumshoe on the stand.

U-u-u-understood, ma'am!
^{Sound: Stab}

Wh-wh-wh-what was that all about?)
<sup>Sound: Stab


Sound: Realization</sup>

I do love the effect of having our client refuse to even look at us.

Music: Detention Center - Jailer's Elegy

H-hi, Lana.

Funny.



She sounds a lot like Edgeworth on the first day of the last episode.

Perhaps my memory is failing?

L-look...

I didn't want to come here either, okay?



I'll be the one in court tomorrow. This has nothing to do with you, Ema.




^{Sound: Realization}

Hey! How do you know me?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Mia mentioned you.

I've heard... quite a bit.

Er, I'm sorry. What exactly is it that you do...?

My name is Lana, Lana Skye.



Here we seem to have a Mia-Mirror. She has a more military-style outfit, complete with medals (and a fully-buttoned jacket). She's a prosecutor rather than a defense attorney. She is, at least so far, serious and minimally expressive as opposed to Mia's warmer and looser style, though that could be partly from her current situation. Lana's relationship to her sister seems to be somewhat strained. We'll probably see more as we go. But let's pause on that "Chief Prosecutor" bit. Episode 2 was a long time ago, but wasn't it the Chief Prosecutor that Redd White called to have us arrested? In fact, let's flash back:

White? That you? What are you doing calling me at a time like this?

Hello. Chief Prosecutor?

I've changed my mind. I want to testify tomorrow.

What's this about?

The Mia Fey case. I witnessed the murder, you see.

And, thus, as a very important witness, I would like to testify.

What? Why now? I thought you said you didn't want to go to court?

Quietude...! I told you I changed my mind, didn't I?

Oh, and one other thing.

Sent the police over here right away.

The man is standing right in front of me. He looks dazed but could be violent!

What? What man?

The executioner! The hatchet-man! The liquidator... The killer, man!

What!?

Mr. White... this isn't another one of those...

Chief Prosecutor.

I do not believe you are in a position to freely offer your opinions to me, correct?

I'm telling you to send the police, now!

So is Lana the same Chief Prosecutor from back then, five months ago? I'm thinking probably not, given the little context I have now. Let's say that maybe the Chief Prosecutor back then was driven out after their connections to Redd White were revealed. Maybe we'll find out more if I just let the current episode play out...

Y-you're a prosecutor!?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Music: Silence





Yes, yes, really have to make sure to drill the obvious comparison into the player I guess.



Music: Detention Center - Jailer's Elegy



All right, where to start...



Lana's profile seems like a good spot. A couple years older than Mia, as we already knew. Awfully young for a Chief Prosecutor?



The camera is always the same, but the guard here produces a slightly different line, as usual.

This guard monitors the visitor's room.



I'm feeling a bit chilly myself.



Let's show off the ol' badge.

Your badge looks new.

I polish it daily.

In a few years, the gold plating will flake off.



(Gah! What ever happened to innocent small talk!?)



A lot of cynicism packed into a few lines there.



A few straightforward conversation topics here.

There's something you should know from the start.

W-which is?



Gotta love these super helpful clients of ours.

Huh?
<sup>Sound: Realization


Sound: Whack</sup>

Me. I did it.

Well, Mr. Wright?

Well... why don't you begin by telling me exactly what happened.



That's quite specific.

It was in the witness's deposition.


^{Sound: Realization}

Uh... My, that was a bit of bad luck, wasn't it?





The Prosecutor's Office, huh? (In your subordinate's car trunk? Classy...)



(Well, that's just great...)

What is it about the prosecutors in this game that makes them in such a hurry to confess to things?



So, who was the victim?



Well, that's not going to be good for us.

I suppose the correct term is "Detective."

A detective...?
^{Sound: Realization}



By... you?



The prologue hinted at a duality in the murder - two stabbings, as it were. Maybe the wound Lana inflicted wasn't actually the killing blow, and the victim got stabbed in the same place by someone else before or afterwards?

I see...



I'm guessing the police won't be real helpful to us in this episode.

You know what that means,

don't you?

Uh oh!
<sup>Sound: Light Bulb


Sound: Whack</sup>

Well, it means...


^{Sound: Realization}

They will use any means at their disposal to do so.

(This case gets worse and worse with everything I learn.)



We're off to a great start.

So, you're the Chief Prosecutor?

That is correct.



I make sure the prosecutors have what they need to do the job, and manage every aspect.

Those are my responsibilities, in a nutshell.

(That's an awfully large nutshell.)

Still, I'm a little surprised.



Huh?


^{Sound: Realization}

Don't underestimate Phoenix's ignorance and unwillingness to correct it. He still has a lot of legal textbooks in his office he hasn't read.


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Oh, this?



Huh?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}



This side-eye sprite is making she think she's lying whenever she does it, though she also seems to use it for remembering something in general. If she's the same Chief Prosecutor as from Episode 2, maybe she's still being blackmailed into confessing to this crime?

(How am I supposed to defend this!?)

(Time to change the subject...)

(Wait, she was in the class ahead of Mia, wasn't she...?)



We unlock this next topic upon completing the prior one, even if we hadn't talked to Ema at all back at our office.

Um, you were in school with Mia, correct?

A few years above her?

... Ema told you that, too, did she?


^{Sound: Whack}

Although it seems he has very little in common with Mia...

(Hey!)
^{Sound: Whack}



She was different than the other students.

Different?



That... was probably why she was attracted to me.

E-excuse me!?



I was the best there was.
^{Sound: Realization}

Oh...

She's speaking about herself in the past tense. Probably not a good sign.


^{Sound: Light Bulb}



Once we've exhausted all four topics, we're treated to a new scene.

Well, Mr. Wright?

Music: Silence

E-excuse me?



I think it's safe to say...

there's no way you can take this case. None.

B-but, Lana!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

...



Music: Recollection ~ The SL-9 Incident

You never think of anyone but yourself.
^{Sound: Realization}

...!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}



So...

So how can you say you did!?
^{Sound: Whack}

...

If I lose you...



I...

I hate you, Lana!

...



Mr. Wright?

Music: Silence

Y-yes?



The rest... I leave to you.

...!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Um... you mean, you're requesting my services as your defense?



Right... I'll do what I can to get to the bottom of this.

...



(But something doesn't fit.)









We're automatically taken back to the office.

Huh? About what?



...

I just never expected to be defending another prosecutor again.

She's changed a lot.



I see... (Sorry, but I'm having trouble imagining that.)

What happened to her?



I think maybe she... Well, maybe not.

(Sounds like there's something there that defies a simple scientific explanation.)

Let's go check out this underground parking at the Prosecutor's Office, shall we?



Music: Ema Skye ~ Turnabout Sisters Theme



Sure enough, the parking garage is our next (and only) destination. (The detention center is just empty if we go back there.) Next time we'll get to see the (alleged) scene of the crime!