Final Trial

[cartesio]

Final Trial

It takes a few minutes after everyone talks with the generic mannequin. The easygoing conversation, the bragging from Gant, Keith's exasperation, it all stops when a very heavy and ominous presence fills the room.

"I think it's about time this circus stopped"

It's the Sergeant. He's standing on the doorway, arms crossed. The shadows on his face wriggle, he seems to be rather furious, but is restraining himself from lashing out

"I should have guessed you bunch would take advantage of all that noise and ruckus to sneak in here. I was careless, I admit. 'Oh, this is over in like four hours, it will be okay if I step away to deal with that'. Careless."

Slowly the Sergeant enters the workshop. Behind him, the door slowly disappears, fading away, until where the door was now there's only a smooth wall. The Sergeant raises an arm, the entire room shakes.

All the mannequins fly up to the ceiling, the one that was now Damon Gant turned back into the empty husk the mannequin was before. The one with a t-pose has the same fate. Once all the mannequins are up on the ceiling, the operation tables are uprooted, bolts and screws flying around. The tables are twisted in the air, formed into knots, disassembled and assembled all over again, until several rustic podiums are formed and deposited on the ground.

Seven podiums, with him at the center. The Sergeant crosses his arms and speaks:

"Get on those spots. Tell me... ...how much do you know?"

Is it a rhetorical question? Who knows. You still have to answer, though

Comments

[cartesio]

Because it'd go against my orders, of course. Orders are orders. Can you even do anything about that?

[marmoron]

Yeah. Give me admin rights.

[cartesio]

Even if I wanted that's nothing I have control of. Besides, even if you had them, what'd you even be able to do? Do you think it's as simple as that?

[It doesn't seem like Sarge knows about what the t-pose generic person talked about]

[marmoron]

[There's a pause.]

You remember what we talked about before. About brainwashing.

[Well, this isn't "brainwashing" exactly, but....]

You've been encoded to execute several directives. If you give me admin status, I can alter those directives. You said you valued free will. Giving us admin rights would prove that you yourself have it.

[cartesio]

You know about--

[He growls for a moment]

Of course you do. I shouldn't be surprised.

[...]

I have reasons to believe you wouldn't do such a thing even if you could. I'm privy to a conversation you had a few days ago, you know.

[marmoron]

I'll keep my word if you keep yours.

[cartesio]

What makes you think I'd keep my word?

[Do you have any proof to believe he would? Well that's an easy question to answer, really. You're lucky, Keith]

[marmoron]

Because I know you keep your end of the bargain as long as the other person keeps theirs.

[cartesio]

[Bingo]

...this is exactly why I shouldn't have allowed any of you to talk to me. I knew this would happen.

[Goddamnit]

Fine. If only. But the bad news, Keith, is that you're not allowed to be an administrator.

[One of the screens show a list of names]

Apparently something modified the code and gave admins right to Natalie Goodman, Ryoka Niwa, Damon Gant, and Osomatsu Matsuno.

It's up to them to do the job.

[Something in Niwa's device clicks. If she checks, she'll find the options are now open. Three of the four are unavailable -- no surprise there, given how the simulation is being held by a miracle.

The only option is 'stabilize', and it needs the majority of administrators to want to do such a thing]

[protectandselfserve]

Hey, well, why not? It doesn't benefit me that much, but eh. It seems fun. I'm fine going with it.

[relieable]

.......Someone made me an admin? [WHO. WHO WOULD GIVE HIM THIS POWER]

[pecker]

Ah! Thank you very much.

[She is checking them now. FIRST SHE'S GONNA SEE IF HER IDEA OF GLITCHING THE DEAD INTO THE MANNEQUINS WOULD WORK but presumably there is no straightforward path to that.]

Hmm... I guess stabilizing it first really is the only option.... Everyone, I suppose we should cooperate on this.

[But she's not giving up the PDA itself. Do you trust her.]

[cartesio]

[Something in the coding seems to hint something along those lines could be a possibility, but it's currently too damaged to determine successfully]

[pecker]

[good 2 know!!!]

[relieable]

[he comes over to look at the PDA... if she'll show it to him]

"Stabilize?" What's that even mean?

[pecker]

Yeah, um, the simulation is only running at 3% right now. It's basically garbage.

[protectandselfserve]

We should, though... admittedly, I'm not the most technologically savvy person, so I might need a little help.

[cartesio]

[If Gant approaches, he'll find the screen asks him to input approval. It's like a vote, it seems]

[pecker]

I can assist you if anything more complicated than that button shows up.

[robitussin]

Yeah... Stabilizing it seems like a good choice.

[She walks towards the PDA.]

[cartesio]

[Input your vote, Natalie!]

[robitussin]

[After a few moments, she nods.]

Well, it’s not like we have another option there. Let’s go for it.

[marmoron]

[Oh what the FUCK, Sarge.]

Something, huh.

[quickpersuader]

As long as they make the right vote...

[robitussin]

[She glances his way, giving him a look that she hopes is reassuring.]

Don't worry about it. We got this.