THE FIRST TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE FIRST TRIAL
(~SK. 3-4)


[When the investigation wraps up, there is a low, rumbling <D O N G, which vibrates throughout the ship. This is followed by the sound of creaking doors opening on the D Deck-the locked doors at the end of the hall.

Zero's voice speaks through the ship once this happens.]

The Investigation has ended. It is time for the Trial. Please proceed into the theater.

I suggest you be quick about it.

[And when you do...you will find a completely empty theater. There is a higher level, but this is currently blocked off by ropes, as is the stage itself. Anyone who attempts to jump the ropes will find themselves knocked on their butts; it seems there's no choice but to go to the podiums, located in the orchestra area of the theater. Notably, the podiums for bunks 6 and 7 are empty, draped with black crinoline and adorned with a photo of the deceased. And in the center of the podiums is...a birthday cake with some confetti surrounding it, along with some drinks. No indication whose birthday it is, but that's pretty much all you'll see in this otherwise very bare, quiet place.



CW: animal death

Unless, of course, you're the Eye. If you're the Eye, you will see every seat filled, if not by a root or vine, then by a...thing with glowing red eyes. One of these...things tries to move towards Anya-and immediately, after suddenly glowing red, thunks over sideways, it's head popping off with an almost comical P O P. The majority of the other...things stare at it before resuming their...whatever they're doing, while one of the things sitting next to it looks over, then towards the stage, then slowly hops off the seat and out the door.

Oh, and he doesn't even get his own podium. Aoi and Makima, good luck to you-Roland's been squeezed in between you, forced to take podium 3. You get to also see what he sees.

Once everyone's in place, A large wide screen....screen schlllorps from the stage, and Zero's face pops in once it turns on.]


Welcome to the Trial. Please, enjoy the refreshments. You will be here until you have either convicted the correct culprit-or, the culprit successfully gets away with it. If you have not familiarized yourself with the guidelines, I suggest you do so now.

All evidence is also available for review on your watches, if need be. Take your time, but...do not delay. Justice must be served.

[Well? No reason to delay. Power is dead. Very dead. And now it is time to figure out who would kill her with explogurt for a cheeseburger-if that's even what happened.


The trial of Power, The Drop, has begun.]

Comments

[pegasinister]

We should have. Considering there was a sword we could have compared it to the wound.

[lovedthemost]

Ah. If I had known, I would've taken it along.

[pegasinister]

Well, it shouldn't be much of an issue. With the damage I suspect they were more likely blown off than anything else.

[voidseeing]

I can tell you that the leg at least was, which means the same would probably go for the rest.

[pegasinister]

So the question is what the sword WAS used for.

[voidseeing]

Exactly.

Perhaps we should start considering the abilities we were all given when we arrived here.

[pegasinister]

Good point. If someone had the ability to cause an explosion or something similar this may be as simple as that.

[voidseeing]

I would say the explosion could potentially have been caused by Power's own ability, but the fact that the leg was burned indicates that it came from something that would cause fire.

[pegasinister]

[He nods]

My own power is... dance... based. And does no damage of any sort.

[voidseeing]

I admit mine would prevent me from being injured in a confrontation, but I would still have had to either obtain or make an explosive powerful enough to cause that much damage.

Unfortunately, the only thing I know how to make off the top of my head is a Molotov cocktail, and that doesn't exactly have much in the way of percussive force. It would set a fire, but not dismember a body.

[lovedthemost]

Indeed. Or some sort of chemical reaction.

[voidseeing]

Or that, yes.

[onychomance]

I at least brought the sword. [Well, if they drew the conclusion that Hubert should bring the head, it was only natural that he would bring the sword along. And if fate is going to keep putting them in his path, he may as well take the hint and hang on to it.]

A photograph can only show so much, Anya.

[What did you want him to do? Touch the possibly vomit filled mouth himself? Absolutely not.]

[threwabone]

...can...can anyone here be normal for like...three minutes...

[Bury her. She would like to be done with all of this. She won't even be mad.]

[pegasinister]

When you've seen and dealt with a certain number of bodies, eventually it is all meat. Considering how this is likely to continue it would be in your best interest to get used to it.

[threwabone]

[No verbal response. Just groaning out of frustration.]

[lovedthemost]

It is grisly, but the other option is to then be in a situation where we lose out on important evidence. If you'll recall, the result of not identifying the killer is being trapped here forever.

[threwabone]

I know, I just...

[Rubbing at an arm self-consciously.]

It's hard to look at.

[lovedthemost]

Then look away. There's enough others willing to do such investigating.