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

[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!

[backuphero]

We were WHAT?!

[That wasn't a yell. That was a shriek of existential terror.]

[ichbindereinzelganger]

You know, when I captured you. I ordered my aunt to kill you.

Generally that means shoot them in the head and dump them into the furnace, or giving them over to my enforcer. Not this...whatever this was where more than half of you are clearly still here!

[fashionfever]

She just tortured us for days with her robots and weapons and rules and STUPID INCENTIVES FOR STUPID DELUSIONAL PEOPLE!

[ichbindereinzelganger]

Which is--completely--inefficient!! You are the enemy, I'm destroying the universe, what is the point of toying with you!?

Just because you're not...him doesn't mean you take the threat any less seriously!!

[fashionfever]

Who? ...Cheol?

[backuphero]

So we weren't - you didn't have to revive any of us?

[ichbindereinzelganger]

No, you were all alive.

[earietale]

You trusted her to actually be a grown up and do something smart like that?

[Dead. Ass.]

[ichbindereinzelganger]

She has her competencies...she's a decent commander with the Parox, and a good shot with a gun.

[earietale]

That doesn’t answer my question. You actually thought she would do the grown-up thing?

[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.]

[ichbindereinzelganger]

Yes, but all of you received basic training when you signed up for the program.

[earietale]

...do you know if we willingly signed up for it? Or if we were brainwashed?

[ichbindereinzelganger]

Given who's in charge, I'm not entirely convinced that this Earth isn't a planet of morons.

[losergod]

It is. It always has been. There's some smart and good people, but a large majority are idiots.

[earietale]

Who, though? Who is the moron that put us in here?

[losergod]

Yes, I'd like more than a stern word with them.

[ichbindereinzelganger]

Professor Lu Kuo Tang, I believe...

[backuphero]

"Who's in charge?"

Kid, there's a war on that's got nothing to do with this, why in the Sam Hill would I sign up for somebody else's problems?!

[ichbindereinzelganger]

Everyone has a price. Chances are you were all given very strong incentives to join.

Despite a lot of people being incompetent, they're surprisingly good at inventing things that are otherwise impossible to make in other universes. Even if it's born from a stupid accident.

[losergod]

I don't mean to throw any shade but I get sick at the mere idea of touching people half the time. I'm not cut out for war. They're insane if they think putting me in a mech was a good idea.