Hostile Action Trial

[mockmods]

[As you all finish investigating, an electric chime rings out across the PA system.]

I believe that should be sufficient time for you all to prepare. Assistant, please escort everyone to the trial room.

[Penny emerges from the Security office again, head down, and slowly collects everyone; she leads you all to the east side of the common room, to the short hallway between dorms B1 and A2, that’s dead ended through your entire time here. As your group approaches, the wall seamlessly slides up to reveal a hidden doorway. Passing through leads to another short hallway and a small, round room, just big enough to hold all of you. Penny passes her ID over a small pad near the doorway, and it blinks green before the room lurches slightly beneath you; an elevator going down.]

[A short trip down leads you to a larger chamber, with a series of twenty-two podiums set up in a ring; in the center is a column of computer stations with large monitors, behind a set of thick metal beams with occasional faint flashes of energy arcing between them and a constant, low hum.]

Welcome to your first trial, Participants. You will use this time to determine which among your number killed the Legendary Bassist, and send them to justice. Failure to choose the correct culprit will have dire consequences for you all.

[Trial: commence.]

Comments

[in4apounding]

Multiple- what? No, this is- this has to be the first experiment like this.

[scratchitti]

It's not. SOMEONE else was here before us. Midoryia and I both found handwritten notes here that don't belong.

[mockmods]

The previous occupants of this facility are not relevant.

[scratchitti]

Maybe not to the trial, but they sure as hell are to us.

Ask him Penny. Ask him where they went. Bet they're all dead and we're just the next batch.

[in4apounding]

That's- it can't-

[She kind of looks like she's having a hard time focusing on the question again.]

There can't have been- Researcher, what-?

[mockmods]

[It takes a minute or two before the Researcher answers.]

The one who created this facility left it to fall into rot long ago.

I eliminated the one that sought to replace him.




But this is the first study of this kind to take place here.

[scratchitti]

The one who was here before was trying to get people to kill each other too though, right?

[mockmods]

[Another pause.]

Would that be relevant.

[scratchitti]

Yes. Yes it is.

[He keeps pausing... it reminds him of when Neku mentioned 'fleshbags' to him before...]

[windowsexplorer]

[considering]

[windowsexplorer]

I don't know if there being other people here before means they were necessarily in another experiment like this.

[scratchitti]

One of the notes talked about trying to get the 'fleshbags' to kill each other. It might not be exactly the same, but they were sure doing SOMETHING.

[windowsexplorer]

...hm.

[in4apounding]

I'd- I'd know, right? This study- it's what I was made to- I'd know, right?

[scratchitti]

Penny... sometimes when you talk... you suddenly stop and repeat things. Like you forgot it in the middle of talking.

[in4apounding]

That's not funny, Mister Neku. When has that ever happened?

[Penny please.]

[scratchitti]

I'm not joking. It's happened a few times now.

[in4apounding]

No, no, I'm- I'm sure I remember-

[But. She's really quiet now. Not 'suddenly blank to the world' quiet, but quiet.]

[scratchitti]

I'm sorry, Penny. Just... think on it, okay?

[windowsexplorer]

It happened when we were talking in the garden. I was asking you about the Researcher's origins, and you suddenly forgot almost the entire conversation.

[windowsexplorer]

No.

[in4apounding]

...Yes?

[She is very confused right now.]

[windowsexplorer]

Penny, there are a lot of very important things you don't know about yourself. Like how old you are.

[in4apounding]

No, that I definitely remember, it was just two days before you all arrived when I was activated.

[windowsexplorer]

When you were reactivated.