tvk | 07: [Action]

...There have been times, more often than I wish to admit, that I have fallen into despair and hopelessness. And while I can not say such situations have always ended well...

[He paused, grip tightening imperceptibly on the crimson spear as if he was recalling something.]

...my father once told me something to effect of 'if one stays optimistic, then things have a good chance of working out for the best'. Not his precise words, but it's been so long that I can't remember them exactly.

What I am attempting to convey here is that...there's always a chance. No matter how impossible it may seem, I still believe there is always a chance to improve things. It's just a matter of trying not to remain so focused on one's own despair that they miss it.

I have faith in you, and in the idea that you'll find a way.

[Those words help to calm the prosecutor enough for him to respond almost immediately.]

...I was already s-struggling, Diarmuid. Punishment... is a q-question I've yet to... to find a s-satisf-factory answer for. The existence of m-my very profession, of the c-courts in which I flourish... are th-things a great m-many kidnappees d-doubt the value of. I... I must n-not only pursue the t-truth, but defend my purs-suit of it, dissuade th-those who w-would act in ill w-will or ill cons-sideration, exp-plain what j-justice even is, attempt to b-build the place in wh-which I belong anew because wh-what's here is ins-sufficient to our needs desp-pite others' disdain...

[He smack the floor with his hand, causing the dog to jump and backpedal.]

I cannot do everything alone, Diarmuid! Egbert's death is a testament to that!

...Pess, I'm s-sorry. That wasn't int-tended for you. You're a good girl, Pess... it's all r-right.

[Edgeworth closes the short distance and tries to reassure Pess physically as well.]

You're not alone! I can not claim to know much about your kind of justice or how it functions, but understand me when I say that you are not alone.

If there is a single thing within my power that would help, name it and I will do it without hesitation.

...

(But what can you do that you either haven't already agreed to or wouldn't do anyway, Diarmuid?)

[Give him a minute, Diarmuid. His thought processes are flooded with tears right now.]

[Diarmuid waited patiently for Edgeworth to speak again, gold eyes calm and steady despite the utter chaos things seemed to be falling to.]

I... I fear the worst, Diarmuid -- that some among us will forcibly res-sist any laws upon us, th-that others will strive to c-conquer us and impose their own twisted ideals, that still others w-will be caught in the crossfire... th-that war is coming, Diarmuid.

If I may speak bluntly, I think you're getting ahead of yourself.

[He sighed, finally letting go of the lance only to lean it against a wall within reach and cross his arms. The knight's already formal speech patterns carried a particular weight to them now, as he chose each word as carefully as possible.]

There will forever be those who resist what is good and right in the world. Where and what era changes nothing, that remains a constant throughout. As an optimist it pains me to say this, but peace on a large scale is an impossibility. No matter how hard one tries, evil and cruelty will never be eradicated.

I have seen and participated in countless wars and conflicts, and in nearly every single one I have killed in the name of my lord and the pursuit of peace as well as the safety of others. And I will do it a thousand times more. I am willing to sacrifice all I have including my life in order to uphold such things.

This is the bottom line of it. Even among us trapped here, there is inevitably going to be conflict. Evil is regrettably too common a trait for those to be pulled here to all be lacking in it. But this is not yet anything I would call a war. For though there is evil among our ranks, there are far more I have seen willing to uphold what is right.

[He paused at last, taking a breath and sighing. The serious look hadn't faded for even a second, but he paused in order to contemplate how best to phrase his current thoughts.]

Glaine ár gcroí, neart ár ngéag, beart de réir ár mbriathar. [It was spoken mostly under his breath, as if it was some kind of sacred oath he took a measure of comfort in.] 'Purity of our hearts, strength of our limbs, action to match our speech.' Even in the face of unspeakable evils, it is those three things we must without question hold to.

[Even merely sitting across from Edgeworth, every word he spoke radiated an aura of strength and pride that matched the way he carried himself.]

You and I fight differently, there is no question of that. But if there are to be those who would try to bring forth evil, then all the same we will uphold justice and honor. No matter how many may try or what they might do...as long as there is evil, there will always be good to combat it with all that they have.

Your understanding of the situation is incomplete, Diarmuid. Were it only those like our serial killer who we had to concern ourselves with, there would be no conflict sufficient to splinter our community and cause blood to spill. However, the fact remains that while most of us agree about what is evil, far fewer of us agree concerning what is good.

This murderer... when he is caught, we'll have no justice to bring him to. Can we really all come to an agreement concerning what justice is in mere days -- perhaps even mere hours? And even were we to do so, would that agreement reflect the truth?

There would be no point in exacting revenge when no one even remains dead around here. A clear and concise argument needs to be made to convince others what needs to be done with him.

[The smallest of smiles twitched across his face for a fleeting second.]

When last I looked, you were the one whose chosen weapon happened to be his words. I think if anyone could unite the majority under one agreement, it would be you.

[Edgeworth pulls out a handkerchief with one hand while scratching Pess's head with another. He's finally attaining some measure of his usual calm, though a weight continues to bear down on him.]

If I knew what must be done with him aside from giving him a fair trial -- something we were only just barely in a position to attempt even with Wright -- then perhaps I would be more confident in my ability to obscure the existence of the power vacuum amongst us. As it stands, every form of punishment I can think of is either impossible in this situation or cruel and unusual except one, and that one contains a loophole -- this very hour.

I'm not sure I'm following you, Edgeworth. Do you mean...we should just lock him in the Shadows' nest and let them dispatch him?

What?! No, nothing like that! ...I too easily forget that you predate the concept of avoiding excessive cruelty in punishment.

Forgive me, I am trying. If you forget so easily, then perhaps I'm doing something properly to that effect.

What did you have in mind, then?

We can take neither the killer's life nor his liberty under the circumstances. As far as we know, we cannot simply seal his Persona either. Taking mere property would be too lenient a punishment for his crimes. However, if we could just overcome the obstacle of not knowing how to make electronic devices work during the Dark Hour, there is one thing we may be able to take from him: his privacy.

[Edgeworth turns to Pess and begins massaging her shoulders at that, which she seems to enjoy.]

It's common practice in this era to surgically implant pets with microchips -- tiny devices -- that when scanned with the proper device reveal information about the dog in case they're lost. There are also various tracking devices that can be planted on an object or person -- Franziska once hid such a thing in a certain detective's coat in order to keep him on a leash. Furthermore, our phones are particularly advanced, and should be programmable.

My idea, therefore, is simply this: implant a miniature tracking device inside our killer's body, and distribute to everyone the program necessary to detect it. In such a way, it would be substantially more difficult for the killer to take new victims unawares or to escape further justice. The problem lies in the fact that unless we unravel the mystery of how our phones work during the Dark Hour, the device would be inactive during that time.

[Diarmuid didn't answer at first, instead taking the crimson lance in hand again and idly tapping his fingers against it in thought.]

I don't...really know much about technology. A less delicate way to say it is that I'm almost completely clueless about the finer details of it. So please stop me if I begin speaking utter absurdity.

[He spoke carefully, aware that he had only the faintest amount of knowledge on the subject and trying to keep his thoughts in order regardless.]

Our phones work during the Dark Hour, as you said. If one was to implant such a device into his phone so that it drew from the power source--hm, no, he could just get another phone. Perhaps that isn't the best idea, disregard that. But if there could be a device made with a similar method of powering itself, or crafted in such a way as to use the same energy source as the phones, could it then be possible?

We don't yet know whether they draw from a power source other than the obvious as you suggest or if their ability to function during this time is enabled in some other way. However, were the more technically-minded among us able to uncover the truth behind their exceptional status, then it would become possible.

I'm sure there's a few who know what they're doing when it comes to that particular subject. Perhaps asking on the network and having someone more technology-oriented do a bit of experimenting would be a wise course of action.

For that, I would prefer more subtlety. I am, after all, in the process of weaving the proverbial emperor a new set of clothes before anyone realizes that he has none. Fortunately, I can think of some people to call directly concerning this.

That's fortunate, then. I'm sorry I can't help more with that, technology is one of the things that I persistently have a measure of difficulty with.

Pay it no mind. It's my hope that things won't escalate to the point where I need to ask for your help in particular.

Yes, with any luck, you won't need my particular skills.

On that note...what do you make of everyone being returned things that once belonged to them? I'm certain it's never happened before.

[Edgeworth looks to Pess with a sad smile.]

I haven't had time to consider it under the circumstances. All that I do know is that from my own perspective, the timing could have been no better.

Edited 2012-03-30 17:28 (UTC)

I can agree with that. [He smiled faintly, still holding the lance at his side.] It's not quite what it once was, but it's unspeakably good to have one of my own weapons back.

It appears to be a fine weapon indeed. In particular, the detailing on the haft looks as though it would make it easier to maintain a firm hold.

[Edgeworth nudges at Pess to look over to and approach Diarmuid. She seems a bit confused, but does sniff in the Servant's direction.]

Pess, this is Diarmuid. Diarmuid, this is Pess. I've owned her for only a year and a half, but she's been a remarkable comfort in that time.

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