Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies/Episode 5: Turnabout for Tomorrow/Trial, Day 1 - Part 1

Pearl tells you what she found while researching the black psyche-locks: They guard a secret hidden so deep within a person's heart that they don't know it themselves. On top of that, there's no way to remove them by force without causing the person severe trauma.

As a reference, you can check Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney on both DS and now re-released on the 3DS (in a digital-only format). Newcomers might not know this but in the MASON program, during your first visit to Kristoph Gavin's jail cell as Phoenix Wright, you ask for the "reasons for murder" when the same thing happens. Unfortunately, you won't see the black locks unlocking as his deep secret is yet to be revealed. This is the only other time you get to see this very rare and unique feature in the series. The difference is in this game, you can see it in action as it guards Athena's deep secret.

Trial begins
Neither the Judge nor Edgeworth seem very pleased with this unofficial trial, much to Aura's chagrin. After a scene of the defense and prosecution getting ready, Edgeworth will give an overview of the UR-1 Incident, and will call a witness to shed new light on this seven-year-old case.

...And that witness is Fulbright. He'll give testimony based on Aura's independent investigation of the murder.

Fulbright's Testimony: Aura Blackquill's Theory
In the trial seven years ago, Blackquill was the only one that passed the corridor to the crime scene. The Seven-Year-Old Video will be updated in the Court Record. Edgeworth will explain Athena's motive: because of her mother's research, she believed that her only way out of that "suffering" was to kill her! Can it be true?

Cross-Examination: Aura Blackquill's Theory
Press statement five. Phoenix says that's just conjecture. Fulbright will ask for your theory on what was in the case, and Edgeworth adds that Blackquill took the largest case, so it couldn't be the moon rock. Choose to bluff. You will examine the photo of the crime. Present the robot part on the table. Phoenix will point out that the robot piece looks just like an arm from Aura's robot. He'll claim that another robot was at the scene. Present the HAT-1 Exhibit. Ponco's bandages match the ones in the photo. Edgeworth will say that a robot is inflexible, and wouldn't fit inside the case. So, how did Blackquill fit Ponco inside the case? Say he made Ponco fit by dismantling her. Aura will concede that a blade could tear apart a robot, and that Ponco was found in pieces later. The Photo of the Crime will be updated in the Court Record.

You disproved Aura's theory, but Edgeworth has one of his own: he says that Blackquill was carrying Athena in his left arm, which can't be seen in the video. A bloodstain matching the shape of her headphones decisively proves she was at the scene of the murder. He destroyed most of your claims in one blow!

But Ponco was also at the scene, and apparently she was never questioned. Phoenix calls Ponco to the stand. After a few brief moments of comedy, she'll give her testimony of that day.

Ponco's Testimony: What I Saw
Edgeworth will say that this testimony needs to be interpreted: the part when Athena hugged her mother, making her fall down is actually the moment of the murder! He asks Ponco for details, and she says that right before that, there were loud voices, or an argument. Edgeworth calls for Phoenix to surrender, claiming robots don't lie. You'll cross-examine her anyways.

Cross-Examination: What I Saw
Press the third statement. Ponco will say that after the hug, Metis's heart rate increased, and she fell by the workbench window. Say that there is something strange with what she said to add a new statement.


 * Mommy Metis fell down near the round window on the workbench side of the room!

Present the Seven-Year-Old Photos on this new statement. The body was found on the operating table, yet the victim fell near the window. This means that the victim moved! Before you can continue, Edgeworth will object, and ask Ponco if she moved something large that day. Ponco says she did on Athena's command, and he'll claim that this "something" was the body. Without a beating heart and with her face covered, Dr. Cykes looked like just another regular object to Ponco, and Athena had her mother's body moved to dismantle her in the operating table, as if she was a robot!

You're out of ideas, and the judge is about to deliver his verdict, when Blackquill objects and takes the stand to give testimony.

Blackquill's Testimony: Seven Years Ago
Blackquill dismisses the previous arguments about Ponco's testimony and the operating table as common stuff in the space center. Of course, no one is happy with this. Aura and Edgeworth both scold Blackquill. Phoenix remembers that if the truth doesn't come out, it's all over. Before the judge reluctantly gives his verdict, Athena interjects and says that she studied in order to save Blackquill. She says there's noise in his testimony, and analytical psychology will bring the truth, no matter how horrible it is.

Mood Matrix: Simon Blackquill
On the second statement, pinpoint Blackquill's happiness. He says that he felt relief when he found Athena alright in the lab. The noise level will reduce, so you'll need to chip away bit by bit until he can't cover up his emotions.

On the fourth statement, pinpoint Blackquill's sadness. He says that he felt sad for Athena, due to her mother's experiments causing her pain. The noise level will increase! He's trying to pile lies on top of lies to make himself sound credible. This time, you're given a choice of what you should tackle first. Choose to tackle his emotions.

On the second statement, pinpoint his surprise. He says that Ponco attacked him, and he dismantled her with the katana as soon as he entered. The noise level is now at 100%! He's slowly running out of lies. This time, choose to tackle his testimony.

Present the Photo of the Crime on the second statement. If Ponco's arm had blood on it, it must've gotten there from the katana after Dr. Cykes was killed. Blackquill now freaks out, and what he really saw that day is causing a massive emotional overload!

On the second statement, probe Athena. He was overcome with his emotions as soon as he saw her. This time, he finally agrees to tell the entire truth.

The horrible truth?
When Blackquill entered the robotics lab, he saw Athena standing between her mother's corpse and the bloody katana, and then she said she was going to "fix" her mother. It seems Athena was the killer after all. Phoenix tries to object, but Athena takes the stand anyways and confesses to the murder, mentioning how the blood ran from the weapon's handle to her fingers after she stabbed her. Before the verdict can be announced, Phoenix will object again, knowing there's still a fraction of the truth sealed off deep inside Athena's heart.

The judge will ask you what's wrong with Athena's confession. Present the Katana. There's no way blood could've gotten onto her fingers if there's no blood on the handle itself. This creates a contradiction between memories and evidence, and you need to solve it. Say that "The defendant used a different weapon". There's a clue in the crime scene photos about what other blade could've been there. Present the Utility Knife. There was a toolkit at the scene, but no knife was ever found. You have to prove the knife was there. You will suggest that a certain pattern can prove a utility knife was at the scene. Present Robots with a Heart or the Space Center Pamphlet. The GYAXA logo on the toolkit is completed if you add the knife!

Edgeworth will brush off all your allegations, claiming that as long as only Athena and her mother were at the scene, no one else could've been the killer. This time, Phoenix starts to despair, but a defense lawyer never gives up, even when things are at their worst!

Revisualizing the case
Ponco saw Athena stabbing someone with the utility knife, but when Blackquill entered the robotics lab, he never saw it. So, the knife must've been taken by someone else. A third person is the only way Athena could be innocent; but why didn't Ponco detect anyone? The person must've hidden their own face, and then posed as Metis Cykes to make Ponco believe there were only two people in the lab, and used her jacket to do so. But the heart detection system still remains. If Dr. Cykes was already dead by the time Ponco arrived, then Athena must've stabbed the real culprit!

Phoenix will now explain this theory to the court, and the mention of a mask will trigger the breaking of the five black Psyche-Locks. Athena will now remember everything - stabbing the intruder in the hand, trying to fix her mother in the operating table. The Utility Knife will be updated in the Court Record.

Before the judge can declare Athena innocent, Aura intervenes, claiming there's no proof this "culprit" ever existed. When prompted, present the Seven-Year-Old Video. A mysterious man appears at 2 PM, matching up perfectly with Athena's memories.

Edgeworth will point out that Dr. Cykes's jacket was found at the scene. That means the killer brought it back, specifically in the split-second moment when the body was found.

Nearing the end...?
Edgeworth and Aura both concede your argument. Now, Blackquill will return to the stand and describe the culprit. A spy known as "the phantom" with a totally unknown identity. At some point, a voice recording was obtained and sent to Dr. Cykes for analysis. The spy probably was after it during that day, but never actually found it, because Blackquill kept it with him for the last seven years. The Phantom's Psych Profile will be added to the Court Record.

The judge will now overturn the verdict of Blackquill's trial seven years ago, but before he can hand down a verdict for Athena, Apollo suddenly shows up, demanding the trial to continue. What is going on!?