WEEK 0 TRIAL

[cartesio]

Week 0: Trial

By the time you get to the courtroom, the large clock on the top shows it’s 10:00 AM. The Sergeant is waiting in front of the open doors, when someone arrives he ushers them inside, into the trial room. He ignores any questions about why a trial will happen, all he does is glare at those who ask.

The trial room seems to have been modified for the purposes of having this sort of trials. There are thirty-three podiums arranged on a circle, none of them have any name or indication of where you must go. Looks like you’re free to stand wherever you want. The only exception is the podium draped in black velvet, with a cheap-looking polaroid of Lovepon placed right on top of it. The sides of the room have what seems to be tribunes, rising high and out of your reach, with enough chairs for a sizable crowd. It feels more like a stadium, and you and the rest of the participants would be the main show, but the seats are empty.

Once everyone is gathered at the trial room, the Sergeant glances up at digital clock on the wall, locks the entrance from the outside, and appears a short time later at the judge’s bench, positioned just as high as the public’s seats.

"I mentioned this already: we’re on a tight schedule right now. A life was claimed, and now your duty is to find who among you was responsible for this bloodshed. Lovepon deserves that much, doesn’t she? I trust you all investigated as much as possible. You should have enough to pinpoint who is the killer, now you must debate and decide who among you will be punished to the full extent of the law."

He raises his hand with authority. The shadows over his face seem to twist for a moment, as if they’re going to extend further over his face.

"No, you don’t have a choice. Submit your vote through the slot on your podium, all you have to do is write the name on paper and slide it there. Majority rules, refusing to vote is not an option. Now that I made myself clear..."

Let the trial begin.

Links

Evidence
Voting

Comments

[alfin]

Huh? But that doesn't make any sense. Didn't you call her April?

Sharkado spoilers: cw: decapitation

[semperperatus]

...Yes. I did.

[He looks down, his voice quiet after a long pause.]

My wife....April was my wife. I held her head as she shut down and died.

[alfin]

Y-your wife?!

...

B-but she looked around my age!

[ ALFIN IS BACKING THE FUCK UP ]

cw decapitation

[londonstar]

[ tHIS GOT UNSETTLING REAL FAST. UNSETTLING AND A LITTLE UNCANNY. ]

Not only that, but...what do you mean her head? Who decapitated her?

More Sharknado spoilers, cw decapitation

[semperperatus]

No..I mean...seeing someone's head like that...it reminded me of my wife's death.

[Deep breath. Don't...don't break down, don't--]

She overloaded her body and exploded. Her head was all that was left of her. I didn't...she didn't have to...!

[He starts shaking.]

It was only a few weeks ago, I...!

[No no no no--]

[alfin]

...Oh!

[ Whoops. She briskly moved to start massaging Shepard's back. ]

I'm so sorry. I didn't know. Do you want to go sit down? I can ask for something to drink, if you need...

[semperperatus]

I...I'm ok.

[thanks Nagisa.]

...I'll be fine. Just...let's keep going.

YIKES

[londonstar]

[ oh. oh that's kind of a mood for waver. he understands what it's like see something as traumatizing as that.

which is why he speaks with utmost seriousness. ]

Take deep breaths, sir. I apologize for...bringing back unpleasant memories. But for now, steel yourself. We must find this murderer before they get away with their actions.

Sharknado aka Shark God Hates Random Ex-Surfer and Wrecks His Shit

[semperperatus]

[Yeah he's getting there]

No, it's--'s not your fault.

[monstrology]

[...honestly, while Shepard's story is sad and unfortunate, Will's over here being confused about the wording. She...overloaded? And shut down? What.

There's something else that he wants to address though. He can't be the only one who's had this question in mind. So he looks at Waver.]

You know...you bring up a good point. I've been wondering: Is there a point to finding out who did this? And I don't mean to say that trials are useless and murderers should get away scot-free. The Sergeant asked for a death and received one, though I don't recall him ever mentioning a trial to find the one who gave him what he wanted would be involved. And yet here we are.

[alfin]

...Excuse me?

[ Alfin bristles. ]

Someone has been killed, and you wish for us to just turn the other cheek? You say that is not what you mean to say, but that is exactly what you have said!

[beanstarscream]

I sympathize with your position, but Will does have a point. I really am wondering what the Sergeant is getting out of this trial. It’d be one thing if we collectively made a decision to look for the culprit, but that isn’t what happened... which is curious, given that he gave us this pointless ultimatum of “kill or be killed” in the first place. He’s definitely sending some mixed messages here.

[londonstar]

[ he frowns, mulling over both sides of the coin. they're both valid. ]

Nevertheless, we must remember that he holds the upper hand in this situation. He's not exactly giving us an option in terms of whether or not we should do a trial and I refuse to vote arbitrarily for someone that may possibly be innocent.

[monstrology]

[Lord.

At least he was prepared for this.]

Take it how you will, Princess. It's more that I am concerned with the outcome. As Faba said, the Sergeant hasn't exactly been forthcoming about the nature of this trial.

[beanstarscream]

Branch Chief Faba.

[alfin]

Why would someone innocent be concerned about the outcome of the trial?

[theserpentsmiles]

[You know that neck pressure point that sometimes gets used to knock people out? He can do that, but a lesser version for calming people down.]

Stay with us. Alright?

[semperperatus]

[fuwfiheuw what

He does sag after a few seconds, but he doesn't go unconscious. He just shuts his eyes and buries his head into his hands once he's calmed down.

Another deep breath.]

I'm sorry, I...I need a minute.

Thank you.

[theserpentsmiles]

[this is why i link to the manga it explains better]

Take your time. [After everything that happened the night before he woke up here, he's not going to begrudge anyone their traumas or deny them time to work around them.]

[beanstarscream]

...

How does that even happen? Humans don’t just explode!

[monstrology]

I didn't want to be the one to say it, but...

[He's glad he wasn't the only one who was wondering.]

[semperperatus]

...

She...hadn't been fully human for a few years.

[beanstarscream]

Oh. Hm. Yes, I understand.

[he doesn’t get it at all.]

[snailedit]

So she was a robot? Or a cyborg...

You know, you seem pretty traumatized by her death. Were you having problems... before all this happened?

[Grasping at straws here, but they're really not zeroing in on a culprit yet so. She'll bite at this emotional line.]

more Sharknado spoilers

[semperperatus]

She...was a cyborg. Changed against her will when she was dying...a few years back. She'd had upgrades recently...

[He looks up at her.]

Before coming here, you mean?