The Justest of Justices

This is the thief named in my report. I'll leave him in your charge now.

COA? That little thing? Always knew I had the darnedest luck! Barely had my hands in the cookie jar and I get the COA on my case. Ain't fair!

Little thing, indeed!

Well done, Renri! That was quite a show!

It was nothing. If I hadn't been there, the EGPD would've picked him up.

But it's clearer than ever that my boss is keeping me away from real COA work.

Hmm...

I'm not a COA agent, so I don't know how much help I can really be... But I'm always here to talk to if you ever need to unload. I'll do what I can to help.

Tee hee. Thank you, Aldo.

Look at that drone! What's it doing?

What's that commotion over there?

Sounds like something's happened.

New from KMS Inc... You will love its...

N-N-New... N-N, *krrk* *whirr*

That drone, it...exploded all of a sudden!

This could be serious! Let's take a closer look!

Is that the drone there?

There doesn't seem to be any casualties. Thank the heavens for small mercies.

But we need to secure the area and investigate. We still don't know whether this is an accident or an incident, yet!

Incident? Do you mean...? You think someone might have brought the drone down on purpose?

It can't be ruled out yet. We don't have enough information to exclude any theories yet. We can leave the crash site to the EGPD and forensics. I'm going to question the witnesses.

Excuse me, citizen, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

Me? You wanna to talk to me?!

Regarding the recent drone crash...

Oh, about that? Okay, okay. Yeah, I saw it. Whaddya wanna know?

Thank you for your cooperation, citizen. Did you notice anything unusual immediately prior to the drone crash?

Lemme see now... The drone was actin' kinda strange, now ya ask. But it ain't like no one thought it was gonna come crashin' down like that.

And did you notice anybody who looked to be behaving suspiciously at the time?

No, don't remember nothin' like that.

I see. Thank you for your cooperation, citizen. If you do remember anything, contact me on this number. Good day.

Still...

You're takin' this kind of casually, ain'tcha?

...Huh?

That drone might have crashed where there weren't no one walkin', and it's good there ain't no one hurt. Guess it woulda been different if someone'd got hurt, huh?

But since ain't no one hurt, you gonna leave it that, huh? You ain't bothered by this unless someone dies, right?

Hey, what're you getting at?

It's okay, Aldo. Leave it.

I understand your concern, citizen. You have just experienced a fright.

But, for your information, no, we won't be leaving matters as they are. I will be following this up. And I will be leaving no stone unturned in my search for the cause of the crash.

Nah, don't go frettin' it, lady. It's just things like this don't get treated serious 'nough round these parts..

An' I was just thinkin'... It's lucky it was just the one drone that crashed. You imagine what it'd be like if a lot of 'em crashed all at once?

......

Well, we didn't learn anything from this guy. Shall we ask around?

Yes, but before we do, I need to double check something. I've been remiss.

Renri here. I need you to run a check for me. Yes, that's right. Is there anywhere in the vicinity with a high concentration of drones?

I see. Thank you, you've been a big help.

There's a large number of drones being used in the work going on over at the airport.

Hey, Renri. Don't tell me what that guy just said...

Yes, I'm suspicious. Being an agent makes you like this. Let's take a look at the airport. If it's nothing, we can leave it at that.

So those are the drones they're using here? That's a lot of them!

Yes, it is. There's nothing untoward happening here now, but let's be ready, just in case.

This is goin' right nicely. At this rate, we'll be done for the day right on time. And don't I just like it like that?!

Whoa! Hey!

What th'Elzion's goin' on here?!

This doesn't look good! We need to help, and quickly!

Wait! Look, there!

Isn't that the young guy from earlier?

It's too much for this to be a coincidence! He's a material witness in this case, I've got to get to him. Aldo, you protect the citizens here!

I'll join you as soon as everyone's safe!

We meet again sooner than I expected.

Wait, ain't you the lady from before?

I'd like to get to know ya better, but somethin's happenin' over there.

Don't worry, my partner has that covered.

Is that right, now?

I have some more questions for you, citizen. You are going to cooperate, aren't you?

You tryin' to make me out to be some kinda perp', lady?

No, not at all. Not for the time being. I just want to know how it is that you were present at the drone incident earlier, and how you happen to be here now.

Yeah, lady, sorry to inform ya that I'm kinda busy right now. Got somewhere else I gotta be...

You're not going anywhere.

Good timing, Aldo. How was everything back there?

The drone foreman is fine. I got him to safety, but he's crying about his drones.

Front and back! They've got me surrounded. Unless...

Stay where you are! One false move and I'll be doing more than just asking you questions, understand?

False move?! Whaddya mean? Somethin' like this?

No, please! Not again!

An old move, but an effective one! Still, he can't have gotten far! Come on, Aldo, let's get after him!

There he is, we've caught him! You there, stop where you are! Hands on your head and face down on the ground. Now!

That right, lady? Well, that's a shame. That's a real shame...

'Cause I ain't about to start followin' orders.

The more you resist the clearer it is that you were behind the drone crash!

Ain't you the sharpest knife in the drawer?

Why would you do such a thing? Someone could've been seriously hurt!

I ain't about to tell you that, lady.

......

Don't make things any harder on yourself, citizen. I'm taking you in. Don't try to resist.

Ya reckon so, do ya, lady?

This is your final warning. Deactivate your device and give yourself up!

Ain't no one comin' beween me and my vengeance, lady. Least of all you an' curly overthere!

So much for my sweet revenge...

What revenge are you after?

You ain't satisfied with arresting me? You gotta rub it in too?

......

You said it earlier, lady. It might actually kill someone...

Yeah, well, right back at ya!

You're the one goin' round takin' the lives of the innocent!

What are you talking about?

A few years ago... That dome on the border, you know the one. Completely wiped off the map, it was!

The dome mighta been on the border, but it was home to a lotta good people. Hard workin' an' law-abidin' folk. An' then, one day, wiped out in an instant... All 'cause o' some glitch in the Xeno Prisma!

I grew up in that dome. It was my home. But I was away that day. When I was comin' home in the airship, I saw the island crash... Saw the dome and all those people...

I know about the Frontier Dome Disaster. I know about all the people who died. It was a terrible accident, and...

Accident? Accident? Lady, that weren't no accident!

What do you mean?

That "accident" was down to them usin' depleted Xeno Prisma, when they knew it weren't safe no more!

My parents told them it weren't fit for purpose no more, again an' again. But would they listen? No! All they did was a nice little cover up!

And that's why I gotta have my revenge, lady.

All those suits who were happy to make money off our backs, but wouldn't do nothin' for us. They all gotta suffer.

......

Regardless of the circumstances or your motivations, you are guilty of a heinous crime.

You ain't got no sense o' justice. You're just the attack dogs the suits send to do their dirty business. You disgust me.

Hey, you, you watch who you're accusi...

I am unmoved by your plight. You will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Darn you...

But you're right. There are others who must not escape justice. On the basis of your testimony, I'm going to reopen the investigation into the Frontier Dome Disaster.

No you ain't, lady. You're just sayin' that to shut me up...

I don't care whether you believe me or not I will do what is right because I believe it is right. Not for you.

......

Well, ya got me now, ya might as well take me in. But I ain't given up. I'll fight until all those suited criminals are behind bars...or worse.

Save the rest for the interrogation room. After that, we'll be escorting you to the COA's head office on the Administrator Office floor.

Aldo. Let's go back to Elzion.

Let's see... We arranged for the extradition to happen right around here...

Good work, Officer Renri.

Chief! What are you doing here?

It's easier if I handle this myself. Guards, take him away.

Chief, we need to talk. The motive for this boy's crime is linked to a previous case, and...

I've seen the report.

That is why I request that you allow me to personally conduct the investigation.

No can do. In fact, I'm taking you off the case.

What? Has my work not been up to standard?

That's not it, Renri. It's because you compromise your integrity with needless sympathy for these criminals. You just aren't fit for the job.

You really think I'd let my feelings cloud my judgement?

Am I wrong?

I'm not naive. I've been entirely devoted to our mission of ensuring that Elzion is a fair and just society.

Hah, that's ironic. I'd say that proves your naivety.

What do you mean?

I'll admit, it's true that you're an excellent officer. But our organization has no need for those lofty ideals of yours.

What?!

Think back to your last case. When that father was in custody, you suggested that he take a plea bargain, did you not?

He... He thought it right that due process should be carried out.

And there's the problem.

A world where those who commit crimes are inevitably brought to justice... That's certainly a nice fantasy world you live in, but might I suggest waking up?

We all know that Elzion's greatest citizens have skeletons in their closets. We have to deal with matters like that as quickly and efficiently as possible.

There's no room for distractions. Moreover, it's the COA's duty to apprehend as many criminals as we can and as quickly as we can.

Is COA, are YOU fine with this, Chief?!

I know it's our duty to think of the greater good. But it means nothing if we forsake the victims of the wicked!

It means nothing, eh? I'd say it's hardly the end of the world.

......

You remind me of a certain person, hopelessly torn between expectations and reality. Kept at it, though, like an idiot.

What happened, Chief? What happened to that person?

He no longer exists. He tried his best to survive, but eventually he had to accept this unpleasant reality we all live in.

Watch your back and don't let the same thing happen to you. Report to me when you're feeling like being cooperative and I'll assign you your next case.

Chief...!

Renri...

......

...Well, it won't stop me...