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]

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?

[in4apounding]

....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.

[in4apounding]

No, this was the first time, I'd-

[...um.]

remember.

[windowsexplorer]

We can talk more about the details later, but what's important is that you have a history. I don't know whether it was the Researcher who wiped your memories, or the person before, or if you'd just lost them because of something that had already happened, but you were brought here like the rest of us.

[in4apounding]

What? How do you-

[She's. Um. She's going on a bit of a face journey right now.]

I thought he was my friend.

[windowsexplorer]

[Does... does she want Meredith to come stand with her? Too bad she's doing it anyway.]

[in4apounding]

[Yeah, you know what, that seems fine. She'll just. Quietly take Meredith's hand again. This has been a rough day and it's not even noon yet.]

[windowsexplorer]

[That's what hands are for. They can be recently-had-the-nature-of-their-existence-questioned buddies!]