FINAL TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

FINAL TRIAL


[Once everyone has managed to gather every piece of evidence they can get their hands on, there is, at last, a sense that they can go up to the top on the elevator that works. Granted, with access now granted, they probably could have gone up at any time, but it they would have been ill-prepared for what might be up there.

In any case, they might not have needed to worry.]



[Barbara will no doubt recognize this place as where Marie brought her just the previous week. It is a master control room, filled with buttons and levers that line the walls. However, the dome also allows for a view of what's outside - of the skies, the stars, the planets. The alpine valley the Base is situated, with its bubbling waterfall, and the crystal-clear blue lake it empties into, surrounded by flowers below the Base's base. The lake itself empties into a crystal clear river that looks to be narrow, but deep and rapid.

In the center of the room, near where the elevator rises out of the floor, is a chair, with a giant plush of that cheeky raccoon snuggled into it. Once everyone has come into the room, the elevator melts into the floor with a slurping sound. Now, everyone is here - and there's only one seat, meaning almost everyone will be standing for the duration of this discussion. There's no food or drink here, either - the Titled will have to make do with whatever they brought with them.

There's is a rumble below, as the Titled, together with Bottson and their menagerie of animals - gather together for one last trial. Everyone and everything in this universe may be at stake, and ultimately, either they all go home - or no one will.]


[It's time! The objectives are simple in this trial. It's time to finally answer the questions the Titled have about why they are here - and face the Mastermind of the Base.

Most importantly, though - who's got dibs on that chair? It's the only one in the room!

In any case, good luck, Titled!]

Comments

[vividsins]

.......Can you let us go at least? It's not like we're going anywhere, and as far as I'm concerned, unless you start actively trying to kill us, you're not an enemy, just someone stuck in a bad situation like us. ...And also I'm worried this might ruin my suit.

[ichbindereinzelganger]

...................

I should just kill you right now. But it's probably pointless at this point.

[The floor does slowly start to let them loose.]

If you try anything, I won't hesitate.

[vividsins]

Honestly, everything I've seen from you tells me you don't want to actually murder anyone. If anything you seem to want to be a normal girl. And you're, like, nine.

[ Dusting himself off, trying to get any gloop off his suit, he's just all casual. ]

[ichbindereinzelganger]

...

I can never be a normal girl, though.

[vividsins]

You're talking to a demon, there's a god present, one of us has an octopus thing in his world... I really don't think you can say that with this lot.

[ichbindereinzelganger]

I literally can't. It's coded into me. I'm only half-human.

...

You really don't remember our battle before?

[vividsins]

And I was human. Listen... Even being half human you have this interesting little ability, and I know you even talked about it in your diary because let's be real. That's what it was.

Humans get to choose their own fates, Miss Halley. And half human is enough to qualify for that. Really you're just some kid who has the genetic equivalent of parental expectations that you don't like foisted on you.

[losergod]

[ C will remember this, Baku. ]

[ichbindereinzelganger]

No, I mean...it's coded into me. Just like it was coded into my Dad.

[vividsins]

Let me ask you something. Do you want to kill Ivy? No? ...Then you're the one who can stop you, just like Bottson was ultimately the one who stopped Marie. Even after she attempted to reprogram him so she'd be untouchable if she murdered someone.

[ichbindereinzelganger]

Wh--what? Bottson?

[theserpentsmiles]

You can become more than your coding. I've seen it done - Ritsu-chan has to hide her real self from her creators or they'll turn her back into just a weapon, but she's virtually indistinguishable from a human girl now, aside from only existing as computer data.

[fashionfever]

Did your genes tell you to like that freaking racoon?

[ichbindereinzelganger]

Wabuu is cool!! It doesn't matter what you are to him!!

[Most of you would be considered stupid anyways.]

[theserpentsmiles]

One of my classmates is a full AI. She's just as much a person as the rest of us, including the two who were implanted with antimatter tentacles.

My point is, normal is overrated. What you are matters less than who you are. So, who are you?

[ichbindereinzelganger]

...I'm...I'm half-virus.

[theserpentsmiles]

I don't see anything wrong with that.

...it's hard, not being like others. But that doesn't make it bad, and it doesn't make you any less valid or less deserving of choosing your own future.

[backuphero]

[Nagisa your brother is really really proud of you and would say so if not for. Having a crisis over having maybe been dead at some point. You know how it is... or not....]

[ichbindereinzelganger]

................................

[earietale]

A battle...are you saying we really did know Marie before all this happened?

[And here she thought that was just stupid lies she made to confuse them all.]

[ichbindereinzelganger]

Yes. I defeated you and your mecha.

[fashionfever]

Did... did you remove our memories "when you defeated us"???

[ichbindereinzelganger]

No! Why would I need to do that? You were all supposed to be dead!

[earietale]

...okay, which of us actually managed to pilot one of those things?! Aren’t we all, like...from way before things like that existed?!

[She’s not angry, more confused as Hell.]

[losergod]

Actually it would be pretty easy for me to get you a new vessel if you'd just give me my power back and find a body you liked. He's not wrong. I would have to transfer your soul data, which would mean you being unconscious for a bit, but otherwise, it wouldn't be too difficult. I've done it before to one girl, even.