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

[deathroadtocanada]

Is it so valuable that you can't show us? [In a way, she pleads.] I just want to make absolutely sure that you're safe.

[canbebeautiful]

Safe? You know what's not safe? Setting up a ridiculously complicated spinning death trap and not loading the knives in last.

[She reaches into her bra and pulls out an electronic id.]

All I did was try to get into the kitchen.

[in4apounding]

...She's right, it was an accident.

[Extremely nervous glance at the column.]

[scratchitti]

...she set it off while he was setting it up.

[in4apounding]

[Since there's no firebally death from above, Penny takes it as a sign that things have progressed far enough for this to not be helping.]

[She nods mutely.]

[scratchitti]

Damn... Damn it!

[eudaimonikos]

Surely the responsibility is ultimately his, then.

[He says, already sounding doubtful that this will be acceptable.]

[scratchitti]

M... maybe?

[He sounds doubtful too]

[deathroadtocanada]

That's right. She... she couldn't have had any part in the death. It was a horrible accident!

[...Right?]

[eudaimonikos]

Don't say that, she clearly had part.

[So like, it's a losing argument.]

But it was accidental, and only made possible because he'd built the thing in the first place. She was an unwilling participant.

[mockmods]

Intent does not change the fact that the Legendary Bassist is dead.

[eudaimonikos]

Neither does picking a tangentially related person to also die.

[mockmods]

The individual who directly caused the death is far more than a tangent.

[eudaimonikos]

The individual who built the death machine seems just a little more relevant!

[mockmods]

Responsibility falls to the one who uses the weapon, not the one who makes it.

[deathroadtocanada]

It doesn't sound to me like Veronica wanted to use the weapon in the first place.

[canbebeautiful]

It's fine I -

[I wish you'd come with me -
I wish I had more TNT.]

Karma's a bitch.

[deathroadtocanada]

No. No, it isn't fine.

[aragona]

[Sonia feels nothing. Kindred lose their humanity, which includes their emotions over time, but curiosity remains.]

Did you forge that note?

[windowsexplorer]

[Hand squeeze.]

[deathroadtocanada]

...Not loading the knives in...

[Visible confusion flashes across Kara's face.]

You... saw it happen.

[canbebeautiful]

I was in the kitchen last night but I didn't build that. I just . . .

[And you know, you know, you know: life can be beautiful. Just not today.]

I tried to help.

[mightdoriya]

...you were the one who got the first aid kit. With the gauze and everything...you tried to...

[canbebeautiful]

I didn't want anyone else to die because of me.

[deathroadtocanada]

[Androids can't feel emotions, or pain.

But damn if Kara doesn't feel sick to her stomach at the moment.]