168 Inevitable

A/N: I’m really happy you guys enjoyed my naming Judge Jughead “Jug” Chambers, his parents Reginald and Veronica, and his wife (not) Betty from the Archie comics! I opted to refer to Juggy’s father not as Reggie because I didn’t want to be too obvious, but apparently, a few readers didn’t get the reference. I haven’t read the comics in ages, so he might be more of a minor or forgotten character by now, but at the time I read them, the character of black-haired Reggie Mantle, a roguish troublemaker, while more a secondary character compared to the main four but he was Archie’s major rival for Veronica’s affections. Reggie only plays a bit part in the trashy night-time soap Riverdale as well. It’s my guilty pleasure, does anyone else watch it?

Anyway, just thought I’d elaborate! 😊

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Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.~

Miles Edgeworth and Jughead Chambers
High Prosecutor’s Office
July 12, 2026, 2:00 PM

“Sorry to have kept you waiting, since you indicated you have pressing engagements,” Chambers apologized when he finally called the impatient legal eagle back half an hour later. “But since you insisted on driving such a hard bargain, I needed to ensure I could meet your demands before committing to anything. I hope you understand.”

“It’s fine, Your Honor,” Miles replied politely. “While my list of provisions in accepting the Chief Prosecutor position was short, albeit hopefully not inconceivable, I can appreciate that determining whether or not they were even feasible could take time. I am quite surprised you insisted on getting back to me today, actually.”

To be honest, I wish that hadn’t been the case! There’s nothing worse than sitting around idling while awaiting your callback when I’m expected by Maya and Wright at the precinct!

“I just wanted to seal the deal as soon as possible no matter what it took! In the end, I did have to make a few unsavory deals  to accommodate your stipulations.”

He could almost hear the old man shuddering at the other end of the line.

“Ultimately, though, here’s what I have to offer you: given that you are literally required in two places at once, and it would be very unsuitable for you to leave Interpol in the lurch, I’m giving you until December 2026 to sort matters out. In light of the exigency to fill this position permanently, however, there’s one thing you need to bear in mind, which is not subject to further wriggling room.”

“Go on…” Miles said cautiously.

“My condition is this, Prosecutor Edgeworth. If by that time, regardless of whether or not Interpol investigations are complete, you must assume the Chief Prosecutor position no later than year-end, zero exceptions or extensions.”

The chess enthusiast slowly expelled a breath. It was now nearly mid-July. That gave him just under five months to try to help wrap up the undercover sting operation. The caveat wasn’t entirely unreasonable given the dire straits they were in and was still better than nothing. He had no choice but to agree to this concession, and fervently hope that either Machi Tobaye or Detective Crescend, when interrogated, would have some additional information that would help steer things in the right direction at last.

“That’s quite fair, Your Honor. Thank you.” Then, almost afraid to hear the answer, he carefully asked the next question. “Do you care to elaborate on this unsavory deal you needed to make to make this allowance for me?”

“I would call it making a mercenary deal with the devil if said charlatan devil wasn’t more of a court jester!” Chambers snorted. “From now until the end of the year I shall be praying, with bated breath, that nothing out of the norm transpires until you take over! The reason for my pleading to God is that fool Winston Payne shall be the one acting as Chief Prosecutor in your absence!”

“I’m confused. Weren’t you pleading with me to take the role because you specifically didn’t want Payne to be Chief Prosecutor?”

“Not for the long-term, but the half-witted dissenter to all the corruption was close to superannuation anyway, so in that sense, he’s perfect for the interim. The former Rookie Killer agreed to take the temporary role, along with the salary increase accompanying it. This is under the condition that when he finally surrenders the position over to you and leaves office, it will be with the same retirement and benefits package of a Chief Prosecutor, not just a Prosecutor.”

“I’m surprised, though impressed that the man was astute enough to have the foresight to make the additional concession for himself post-retirement,” Miles commented. “While a shrewd bargain indeed, it hardly constitutes being referred to as mercenary surely?”

“Not at all. I commend Payne for such enterprising conduct regarding arbitrations to ensure his future long-term comfort – not that I’d actually stroke that meathead’s ego! We all know that man is dead from the neck up!”

The older man’s normally jovial cadence was laced with disgust.

“The true reason I’m feeling contemptuous about Payne’s very applicable avariciousness is due to the extra prerequisite he made in agreeing to all of this!”

“I am almost afraid to ask…”

“Winston Payne has a younger brother who is also a prosecutor,” Chambers groaned defeatedly. “The other Payne – in the neck, no doubt! – up until now, has been working out east in New York. He has recently left the Manhattan courts most swiftly and unexpectedly and now needs a job. His crafty elder sibling pointed out that since he is filling in your role even short-term, it still leaves us, short one prosecutor.”

The magistrate paused for a breath.

“In a shameless display of ‘I’m scratching his back, so why not scratch it some more,’ Payne has wrangled a deal to have his brother, “The Rookie Humiliator” to take his place, and against my better judgment, I agreed to it. I truly hope I won’t regret my decision. Perhaps I’m being unfairly prejudiced in thinking this already, as they say, what’s in a name…”

Miles moaned inwardly at the out-of-place literary reference.

Ngh! I refuse to feed this man’s neurotic idiosyncrasies! I mustn’t allow him to hesitate nor worry about banalities, and need to thwart his ambiguous worries about trivialities like a man’s name! I absolutely need to ensure we have all our ducks in a row before I head back to Europe!

“Indeed that would be most unfair, Your Honor! Don’t let a trifling thing like a name sully your mind against a man you don’t even know! It’s inadvisable to be hasty in resisting life’s changes in general!” Miles improvised quickly. “After all, without change, there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the inevitable change.”

There was a brief pause, and for a split second, he wondered if he’d been successful in oscillating the mind of the normally all too easily swayed judiciary. Finally, Chambers spoke.

“You’re right, good man. I can’t help it though if my haunches went up upon hearing not only about the man’s unfortunate moniker but by his sudden departure from such a long-standing position on the other side of the country! I hope it wasn’t due to any sort of scandal attached to his name… This District Court couldn’t handle any more of those!”

The barrister chose to keep mum about the normally clueless judge’s possibly validated trepidation regarding the mysterious new prosecutor’s swift departure from New York. He didn’t want to give the old man a further reason to be wary, as he desperately needed to ensure everything was at least somewhat accounted for during his time off!

Soothing his conscience by swearing to himself that he would personally inspect matters about Winston’s brother as soon as he returned, the prosecutor then attempted to veer the subject away from the younger Payne’s dubious background.

“Whatever is the brother’s name?”

“Gaspen!” Was the grumbled answer. “I am torn between wondering if their mother lost some sort of bet when naming her sons, or just simply loathed them!”

Miles swallowed back a chuckle.

“Ahem, regarding my second provision, which I realize I left relatively open-ended, ergo is the equivalent of saying you’ll owe me one…”

“That was exactly how I took it,” Chambers stated bluntly. “Seeing as how the exact words you used were, I wish to leave my second request to put under the admittedly semi-obscure umbrella of I’ll owe you one!”

“Having no desire to have you regard me as the same type of covetous counselor as Winston Payne, there’s a reason I didn’t make any specifications, Your Honor.” Miles’s tone was one of utmost sincerity. “It’s because, at this point, I’m not only uncertain of exactly what I would require of you, but also because it’s not even for myself that I ask this future unknown favor.”

“I feel better now that you’ve expanded on this.” The judge sounded less leery and somewhat pacified now. “But could you at least tell me for whom this to-be-determined boon would be?”

“Phoenix Wright.” The prosecutor replied matter-of-factly. “I know you’re one of the few in the legal system who believes his unfortunate disbarring was not only unwarranted but unjustified. I plan to do everything in my legal power to clear his name and get him reinstated. However, doing so may require the cooperation of a court official who ranks even higher than me. Therefore…”

“Say no more.” The hesitation was gone from Chambers’ voice. “Not only was Mr. Wright a very revered defense attorney, but he was also one of my favorites. Whatever it is I can do within my own legal power to help Wright the wrong that was done to him, consider it done.”

The judge let out a long sigh.

“Your third clause can certainly be taken care of… But will require other chains of command to cooperate, not just myself. Ergo, the matter will be resolved soon, though not as swiftly as you would think. Would it be too prying to inquire what made you ask for such a thing, Mr. Edgeworth?”

Miles had dreaded such a question, as he still hadn’t come up with a sufficient answer – at least, not without opening up a can of worms that he had no desire to release.

“I hate to be nosy, it’s just that I can easily understand the nature of your other two requests,” Chambers continued awkwardly when his dialogue partner remained silent. “However, I am entirely unaware of any six degrees of separation whatsoever between you and –”

“I have my reasons, Your Honor,” Miles interrupted, his tone polite but firm. “Normally, I would never intentionally wish to be prevaricating while citing preconditions. Nonetheless, regarding this particular subject, I can only humbly request you trust my judgment, along with the belief that it’s a matter of nothing more than a desire for justice.”

“That’s the nicest, most eloquent way of being told to mind my own beeswax I think I’ve ever heard!” Chambers let out a booming laugh. “Hint taken, Mr. Prosecutor. I’ll let it go and move on. I think we’ve wrapped up everything right about now, anyway.”

“Yes, I believe we have, Your Honor.” The prosecutor cradled the receiver against his shoulder as he finally rose from his desk and powered off his computer. “Thank you again.”

“Ah, just one more thing, before you head out …” Chambers sounded somewhat sheepish. “If memory serves me correctly, you have a pooch, don’t you?”

Pess.

The poignant memory of his beloved four-legged daughter, the beautiful golden retriever he’d gotten as a puppy, as lost to him as Franziska now was, flashed through his mind. He clenched his jaw.

“I did.” His voice was clipped.

“Right…” The old man sounded uncomfortable, as though sensing he’d unwittingly hit a nerve. “Well, I wasn’t sure who else to ask, but I thought mayhap you’d know what time the pet store was open till this evening?”

“Oh.” Miles felt some of the tension leave his body. “I think Indiana Bones Temple of Groom closes at 6:00 tonight.”

“That’s on the other side of town though. Don’t you know anything closer to the court?”

The attorney was officially drumming his fingers on the desk by now. It was 2:15. Miles deplored tardiness for any reason and was fastidiously punctual to a near-fault. He hated that Phoenix and Maya had been waiting for him at the police station for nearly an hour now.

“Howl To The Chief is open until 8:00, I believe.” Despite his rush to get to the precinct, which was luckily next door, his curiosity was piqued. “Ah, I didn’t know you had a dog, Your Honor.”

“I don’t! But I was just complaining to my grandchild that the doggone clicker thingamajigger keeps sticking whenever I try to point at stuff on my picture screen – er, monitor!”

After the screen-cap incident, absolutely nothing fazed Miles regarding the judge being a techno-dinosaur. Be that as it may, for the life of him, he had zero inklings what said computer accessory had to do with needing a pet store!

“Are you referring to your mouse giving you issues, Your Honor?”

“Yes, that’s it! I knew you’d understand what I meant and know what this blasted doodad was called!” Chambers sounded relieved. “What with you being a logical genius and all!”

I’m hardly a genius – at least, not because of knowing the name of a simple PC accessory! Miles clapped a hand to his forehead, grateful the judge couldn’t see him. Of course, I knew that! That’s bloody common sense!

“Anyhow,” the daft judiciary went on mindlessly. “It was suggested that my rodent – er, mouse! – the problem could be solved if I were to just get a mouse mat for it…”

Phaya and Dick Gumshoe
Los Angeles Police Department
July 12, 2026, 2:30 PM

“Watch it, pal!” Gumshoe admonished laughingly as he managed to finally pry away a cruller from the pastry box on his bureau, which had yet to be relinquished from Maya’s greedy paws. “You’re getting donut crumbs all over my paperwork!”

“Sowwy!” The spirit medium garbled somewhat incoherently, through a mouthful of Boston cream – her sixth filched donut from the multi-variety assortment on the big man’s desk in the last five minutes. “Bug der toe goooood!”

“I think there may be one left for me!” Phoenix joked, reaching around the fastidiously chomping human garburator and grabbing a sweet treat from the carton. “No thanks to this gluttonous girlfriend of mine!”

The psychic was managing the neat trick of chewing the partially consumed sugary concoction in her mouth, hands-free, while having two donuts wrapped like oversized rings around her two index fingers, and still somehow maintaining a steady stream of chatter.

“I can’t believe I wasted a year of my life going to these fancy-schmancy, high-end bakeries with Longines! He always took me to ridiculously overpriced places that dared to snub wheat, such as Gluteus Minimus, or worse, sounded like a workout video, like Buns of Steel!” She smirked at the Chief. “It looks like the cop pigeonhole about pastries with holes is true after all, huh? The best-tasting donuts are an unknown secret that’s closely harbored by the boys in blue, but are unheard of by the general public!”

“Today’s delicious desserts were brought to you courtesy of The Rolling Scones around the corner,” Gumshoe smilingly confided, taking no offense to the shameless universal stereotype about the police force’s treat of choice. “I thought nothing would replace Cake Me Up, Before You Go-Go when they shut down, but this new unknown hole in the wall is the Stairway to Leaven! Another hidden gem that Meekins found when I sent him on a coffee and donut run last month – at least he’s good for something! – which I’d recommend is Led Zeppoli!”

“It’s good to know that when he’s not tripping over his own feet, that klutzy clod takes the time to Stop and Smell the Flours!” Phoenix chuckled while, unlike his messier other half, taking care to brush the crumbs from his fingers into the wastebasket. “That was probably the best grape-jelly donut I’ve ever had.”

“I could get used to working in a place like this!” Maya grinned impishly as she licked the sticky traces of her final consumed confection off her lips. “What a great way to say Top of the Muffin To Ya!”

She gave a squawk of protest as she reached for the last donut, only to have Gumshoe shake his head and snap the lid shut on her questing fingers as he moved the box out of reach.

“Sorry pal, but I at least need to save at least one of these for Ema. She’s been working her tail off on the Interpol Agent homicide case, and even though I gave her a package of Snackoos to make up for chewing her out early in the investigation, I still feel like adding some more sugary goodness to atone couldn’t hurt.”

“She deserves it,” Phoenix stated loyally. “After all, Ema was the one who gifted me those firecracker remains to give to Apollo, which was the final decisive evidence to pin Daryan Cresend to the crime.”

“Where is Ema?” Maya asked, glancing around for the sight of her former look-alike. “We were hoping to bump into her today while we wait for Miles to come to join us. I haven’t seen her in a dog’s age!”

“She started at noon,” Gumshoe replied, glimpsing down at his watch. “Which means she either slunk in here without me noticing or she’s running late, which is not like her at all…”

“Here I am, Chief.”

A familiar voice suddenly came from behind the couple, sounding slightly strained.

“I got in on time. I’ve just been holed up in my office until now, but I heard Mr. Wright out here, so thought I’d come to say hi.”

Phoenix and Maya spun around, and there stood a slightly edgy-looking Ema Skye, who smiled faintly at the pianist in friendly greeting, then turned to his inamorata, only to be nearly winded by the effusive hug the Kurain Master gave her the next instant.

“Ema!” The village leader squealed, throwing her arms around the petite brunette and embracing her tightly. “It’s so great to see you again! It’s been forever and a day!”

The spirit medium’s vivacious and friendly nature was nearly impossible to resist for most people, and the normally grumpy policewoman was no exception. The brunette’s edgy countenance was replaced with a little laugh of surprise as she returned the hug.

“Glad to see you too, Maya,” she grinned. “You haven’t aged a bit!”

“And you have gotten even prettier since I saw you last! Though you’ve still got the trusty lab coat I see?”

“You know it! This is my regular uniform, just as I’m guessing that robe is yours?”

“Yup! When I’m not wearing a killer mini-dress and freezing my heinie off in a Russian bar, this is my customary Kurain Master ensemble.”

Maya was practically giddy at seeing her friend again as she giggled at the obvious reference to their meeting in the ladies’ restroom at The Borscht Bowl Club all those years ago.

“I have been so jealous of Nick since he’s gotten to hang out with you a few times already, yet I can never seem to correlate my schedule with his for whenever you two have gotten together. We really need to organize some hang time, girl!”

“Absolutely. I promise to move heaven and earth so next time, you’ll definitely get to join us, and I swear it’ll be sooner rather than later,” the Detective agreed, smiling back at the beaming Maya. “It’s been way too long!”

She gestured at her signature pristine white lab coat.

“Wherever we do end up going, though, just like you’ll probably be in your occupational gear, there’s a pretty high chance I’ll still be wearing this!”

“I seem to recall being part of the reason that thing didn’t end up being permanently stained!” Maya teased. “If memory serves me correctly, wasn’t it a certain glimmerous fop who was responsible for your lab coat being splattered with drinks in the first place?”

Phoenix had made his lover wholly aware of the detective’s antipathy towards the prosecutor, and Gumshoe had regaled the couple about the boot to the groin Klavier had thus received the month prior. Therefore, the ever-playful Maya was fully anticipating some sort of jesting banter in response to the wisecrack.

What none of the three had anticipated was for Ema’s smiling visage to abruptly become shuttered and unreadable, as all her traces of good humor suddenly vanished.

“Yeah, something like that,” the science enthusiast replied dully, her former guarded disposition resurfacing once more.

She then evaded her eyes from the astonished duo’s gazes due to her out-of-the-blue mood change, while purposefully ensuring her back was facing the prying stare of Gumshoe.

“Anyway, it was great seeing you again Maya – do make sure Mr. Wright brings you with him next time he and I get together for dinner, OK?”

“Um sure?” The diviner was too taken aback by her friend’s unanticipated attitude shift to even know how else to answer. “Will do, Ema.”

The wannabe forensics investigator turned to head back to her office, still refusing to make eye contact with her concerned supervisor.

“Chief, thanks for the donut, but you can let someone else have it. I’m trying to watch my sugar intake. I need to get back to work now. See you all later.”

The three stared silently after the brunette’s retreating form, all wearing identical expressions of disquietude.

“Trying to watch her sugar intake?” Phoenix echoed in disbelief. “Since when?! The woman eats her weight in those crunchy chocolate snacks of hers! The fact that she miraculously remains thin in spite of that is almost as enigmatic as Maya not being the size of a house, despite having a bottomless pit for a stomach!”

The Kurain head ignored her partner’s jab about her eating habits and peered anxiously at Gumshoe.

“Oh dear, I didn’t mean to upset her!” She cried in dismay, her dark eyes distressed. “Was it something I said?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Gumshoe shook his head, appearing slightly troubled. “Now that I think of it, Ema hasn’t been herself since the State vs. Tobaye trial ended two days ago. I never thought I’d say this, but I think I prefer her when she’s surly and Snackoo pelting, rather than withdrawn and subdued! Obviously, the aftermath of everything pertaining to the incident has gotten to her.”

“What a remarkable coincidence,” a fourth voice inserted dryly. “It appears that nightmare of a trial not only shook up the Prosecutor’s Office but the precinct as well. Apparently, Klavier Gavin has suddenly decided to take advantage of his normally seldom-used sick days, and hasn’t been back at work ever since.”

Phoenix, Maya, and Gumshoe all looked up in surprise as Miles strolled into the room.

“Are you kidding? Prosecutor Gavin is almost as much of a workaholic as you are, Mr. Edgeworth!” The Chief exclaimed, too startled to remember the magenta-clad man was no longer his boss. “He managed to drag himself into work even after that wretched brother of his got sent to the hoosegow back in the springtime. I’d figured if he was going to take any time off work, it would’ve been then.”

“I guess his best friend being declared a murderer while simultaneously having The Gavinners get disbanded a mere three months later was a bit too much for any one man to handle?” Phoenix speculated. “I genuinely do feel bad for the guy. Even though he played a hand in costing me my badge, it seems karma is a bigger bitch than I could ever be!”

“That’s pretty noble of you, pal,” Gumshoe acknowledged ruefully. “I don’t know if I’d be anywhere near as sympathetic to him if I were in your shoes.”

“Nick’s just a good, old-fashioned mensch!” Maya bragged, winking at her beau. “He can’t hate anyone. He probably thinks even my evil homicidal maniac Aunt Morgan was merely misunderstood!”

“Come on, guys!” Phoenix blushed slightly. “I wouldn’t go that far!”

“Cease the modesty, Wright. We all know your famous valor is still intact, even if your badge isn’t,” Miles said dryly, reaching for the last donut. “How nice, was this for me? I’d prefer a scone, of course, but as I missed out on my afternoon tea time, this shall have to suffice.”

He bit into the pastry.

“Apologies to have kept you all waiting, as I know you said there’s some unfinished business that needs tending to. However, I had no choice but to sit in anticipation awaiting the honorary Judge Chambers to ring me back after I named him my list of demands…”

The lawyer’s lips twitched, as though fighting back a smile.

“And then I had to let His Honor know that there was no pet shop required for his much-needed mousepad … referred to by his presumably British grandchild as a mouse mat!”

“Bwahaha!” A loud burst of laughter followed this announcement, as Gumshoe, Maya and Phoenix all simultaneously cracked up.

Down the hall in her office, Ema listened to the gales of mirth from her friends at whatever punchline the unmistakable voice of Miles Edgeworth had just relayed to them.

How she envied them at that moment. They sounded so happy and carefree. She really should be out there with her comrades, jesting, eating donuts, and rejoicing how the worst of it all seemed to be over.

Instead, just as she’d been the last couple of days, she opted to seclude herself within the confines of her office, under the guise of boondoggle with her case files.

Meanwhile, while she did work of little importance intending to seem busy, internally, the detective was a jumbled mess of ensnared thoughts that she couldn’t seem to untangle … Not to mention being in a turmoil of inexplicable and conflicting emotions to boot!

Apollo told me he won that trial by remembering Mr. Wright’s words when he gave him the evidence he and I found when we went back to get my Snackoos. Every man has an igniter inside him. He told the rookie to find Daryan Crescend’s igniter… and set it off.

At the time, Ema hadn’t comprehended what the cryptic message the ex-attorney had been trying to relay had meant. Scientifically it made no sense at all.

But now, she completely understood.

One day, whether you are 14, 28, or 65, you will stumble upon a man – or a woman – who will ignite a fire within you that cannot die. However, the saddest, most awful truth you will ever come to find – is they are not always with whom we spend our lives.

She dropped her head in her hands. Nothing had been the same since this trial from hell. Not Mr. Wright, with his curiously extra guarded persona since spotting Lamiroir in the hospital, not their entire court hierarchy … and most definitely, not even Ema herself.

Sometimes, that very flame is set off by someone whose very purpose of existence in our lives is questioned more and more with each passing day.

Tears of frustrated confusion stung her eyes.

Damn you, Klavier Gavin. You stupid, glimmerous fop! You’re the sole reason I’m such a tumultuous mess right now!