RECAP

Neighbor: "Is this really all you've got? I only have one hand."

Alex: "I'm just getting started."

Alex throws a hook, and the neighbor sways back.

Alex steps in and throws another punch; the neighbor sways down and also moves forward.

The neighbor then punches Alex in his stomach, but Alex stays on his feet.

The neighbor: "Alright, I'm done playing with you. You're too weak. I commend you for not falling though."

The neighbor takes his baton out and activates it.

Gale: "A-a-alex, are y-y-you okay?"

Alex: "I'm fine."

Alex takes his katana back out.

Alex: "This is where the real fight starts."

Chapter 12

The neighbor swings his baton at Alex.

Alex blocks the strike and hears a static sound coming from the baton.

Alex swings back, and the neighbor blocks it.

Alex tries to stomp on the neighbor's foot, but the neighbor moves his foot back and thrusts his baton.

Alex moves out of the way and aims his sword hilt at the neighbor's arm.

The neighbor does a spinning maneuver to avoid the attack.

Alex follows up with another slash with the back of his blade.

The neighbor can't escape the strike and puts his other arm up to block it (the arm that was in a cast).

Alex: "You're done!"

The sword clashes against the neighbor's arm, making a clanging sound as if two swords clashed together.

Gale and Alex both look surprised.

Alex: "What?!?! That's what was in that cast?"

The neighbor's hand and part of his forearm were prosthetic with a material Alex and Gale aren't exactly familiar with; the prosthetic was labeled with the letters "CRK."

The Neighbor: "I didn't think I'd have to use this hand against you. It was still in testing, but I can't get arrested now. Bring it on."

Alex: "Just more bragging rights for when I beat you then."

The neighbor swings his baton again.

Alex dodges and swings his sword for a counter.

The neighbor blocks the sword with his prosthetic arm.

Alex swipes his sword, and the neighbor ducks the attack and tries punching Alex with his prosthetic arm.

Alex doesn't react in time.

Gale: "A-ALEX!"

Gale pulls Alex out of the way.

The neighbor's punch puts a hole in the metal door frame by Alex before Gale moved him.

Gale: "I-I-it makes s-s-sense now."

Alex: "What?"

Gale: "H-h-he is t-t-the one that s-s-shot the victim, h-h-his arm t-t-tells it all."

Alex: "Hmmm?"

Gale: "F-f-first, remember in L-l-luke and E-e-ethans simulation, that h-h-hole in the d-d-door?"

Alex: "Ohhhh, that makes sense. It was also a fist-shaped hole in what seemed to be a reinforced door."

Gale: "E-e-exactly, also r-r-remember how we weren't a-a-able to find a-a-any fingerprints on t-t-the gun?"

Alex: "Yeah."

Gale: "I-t-it's because h-h-he used his p-p-prosthetic arm t-t-to shoot the victim."

Alex: "That makes sense."

The Neighbor: "You two are pretty sharp, but it won't matter if you can't catch me or even beat me."

Gale: "Let me help you, Alex."

Alex: She stopped stuttering?

Alex: "Let's do it then."

Alex runs in and swings his katana.

The neighbor blocks with his baton and goes for the gut punch on Alex with the prosthetic arm.

Gale steps in and blocks the strike with both her daggers. Gale then goes to sweep the neighbor's legs.

The neighbor jumps, and Alex is there to meet him with the back of his blade once again.

The neighbor: "You just don't learn."

The neighbor grabs Alex's sword, and Gale attacks with her dagger in an uppercut motion.

The neighbor snaps Alex's sword in half and blocks Gale's dagger strike with the broken half of the katana he took from Alex.

Alex: He's too strong, how can we catch him?

Gale: "Take this, Alex."

Gale hands Alex one of her daggers.

Alex: "Thanks."

The neighbor: "Just give up already."

Gale slashes her dagger at the neighbor, who dodges, and Alex swings.

Gale goes behind the neighbor, and the neighbor turns to his side to guard both his right and left.

Gale relentlessly starts slashing her dagger.

The neighbor puts his attention on her fully.

Gale forces him back, and he falls. Alex trips him.

Alex and Gale both crouch, holding their daggers at the Neighbor's neck.

Alex and Gale both smiling: "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

Alex: "Now turn around and put your hands behind your back."

The neighbor complies and does what he's told.

Alex cuffs him and walks with Gale and the Neighbor to the car.

Right before they leave the apartment building, the neighbor breaks out of his cuffs using that extremely strong prosthetic and runs inside the building, cutting a corner.

Alex and Gale chase him but lose him at the first corner.

Alex and Gale get taken out of the simulation.

Alex: "What? We could've caught them."

Alex and Gale walk outside.

Alex: "Why did you take us out?"

Andy: "That was all the simulation could offer. That crime actually happened similarly in real life. We also weren't able to catch him."

Alex: "Oh, that's why you couldn't simulate what would happen next, because you lost him."

Andy: "Exactly, but you two did solve the crime. You found out what happened. BUT, the one thing I disapprove of was you fighting the next-door neighbor for personal reasons. The point is to apprehend the suspect, not fight for your own selfish reasons. Other than that, you two did a great job."

Alex: "Thank you."

Gale: "T-t-thank you."

Alex: She's stuttering again?

Alex: "Not to be rude or anything, Gale, but why do you stutter so much?"

Gale blushes.

Gale: "O-o-oh, I-I-I-I just g-g-get really n-n-nervous when I-I-I-I'm uncomfortable."

Alex: "I was just asking; I wasn't trying to be rude or anything. You're not offended, right?"

Gale: "No, not at all."

Alex: "Well, it was great working with you."

Gale: "You too."

Gale walks over to Charlotte and Nisha.

Charlotte: "You didn't stutter while talking to somebody? Do you..."

Charlotte smirks: "Like him?"

Gale: "N-N-N-N-N-NO."

Nisha smirks too.

Nisha: "Don't be shy, you can tell us."

Gale: "S-S-S-SHUT U-U-U-UP."

Alex walks over to Luke and Ethan.

Alex: So if she only stutters when she's nervous, does that mean she's never nervous in the heat of battle? That's so backward. Alex thinks to himself.

Ethan: "You did wonderfully; it sucks you weren't able to catch him, though."

Alex: "Apparently that happened in the real case too. I wish I could've caught him too, though."

Luke: "That guy you fought was so strong too."

Alex: "Very, and if they weren't able to catch him either, that means he's still out there and maybe even stronger."

The rest of the simulations pass.

Andy: "That's everyone. Thank you all for participating. In a week, we will review all of your performances and determine who will be joining Tek City Police Department. We will post them on the wall screens like we did with your written tests. Come back next weekend to see if your name is on the screen. You may now leave."

Luke: "It's really all over..."

Ethan: "That was fun; I even made new friends."

Alex: "Hopefully, I make it. This is how I find out who killed my father."

Luke: "Let me get your guys' numbers."

Ethan gives Luke his phone number.

Alex: "What do you need that for?"

Luke: "We're friends now; it's only right. Come on."

Alex: "Fine."

Alex gives his number to Luke.

Charlotte: "You know you're actually cooler than I thought. Give me your number."

Nisha: "Likewise, but that's not how you ask. Here, though."

Nisha gives Charlotte her number.

Nisha: "We should go shopping. All three of us."

Gale: "S-s-sounds f-f-fun."

Charlotte: "You guys can hold my bags."

Nisha: "Do I have to kick your ass again?"

Charlotte: "You wish."

Charlotte and Nisha start arguing.

After everything unfolds after a long day of trying to become an officer, everyone finally goes home.

Gale: "I-I-I'm h-h-home."

Gale's Mom: "Hey Gale, how was it?"

Gale: "It w-w-went great, I-I-I don't know i-if I made it t-t-though."

Gale's mom: "I'm sure you did."

Gale's Dad: "Of course you did; soon you'll be in there with your brother."

Gale: "Finally."

Charlotte: "I'm home."

Charlie (Charlotte's Mom): "Welcome home, honey. Did it go well?"

Charlie: "Silly question."

Charlie and Charlotte say it at the same time: "Of course, it did. We're the Gonte family."

They both laugh with a narcissistic tone.

Ethan: "I've arrived."

Emilia (Ethan's mom): "Hey, son, how'd it go?"

Ethan: "I believe I performed well."

Emilia: "You got this, son."

Ethan: "Hopefully. Also, father isn't home?"

Emilia: "He's out on the road again."

Ethan: "Curses, maybe I'll see him when they select the recruits."

Alex calls the rehabilitation center.

Alex: "Can I visit Nina Reto?"

Receptionist: "No visitors are allowed at this time."

Alex: "Alright then."

Alex takes his hoverboard and rides it back home.

Alex: "Maybe I can use my memory from all those simulations to improve my detective skills since it seems some of our simulation's crimes were connected."

Luke: "I'm back, Mom. I think I did a great job. I'm going to make it just for you, grandma, and grandpa."

Luke was at the cemetery where they buried all his dead relatives.

Luke: "I'll make it up to you one day, Mom. I should've never run away. I will atone for my mistake."

Act I: The End