WEEK 11 - TRIAL

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (11)

saturday TRIAL DAY ONE (13) survivors At 9 AM, a klaxon alarm begins blaring in every area of the ship. The alarm will continue to go off until everyone has gathered in the conference room. Should anyone be running late or avoiding the trial for whatever reason, a robot guide will appear wherever they are and gently but firmly escort them into the room. Once all the living players are present, the conference room doors will lock shut; anyone who wishes to leave for whatever reason will need to ask AL-2955 or one of the robots. Anyone leaving for non-investigative purposes, such as bathroom breaks, will be accompanied by a robot escort. The large round table in the center of the conference room has been set up to help the trial run as smoothly as possible. Three holographic screens hover above the center hollow of the table, visible from every angle. The first screen displays the pictures and profiles of the suspects and victim; the second displays the autopsy report; the third displays a blank word processor. Each of the chairs comes equipped with a virtual keyboard which can be used to type information directly into the third screen, such as theories and updated information; they can also be set into privacy mode, which will transfer whatever notes someone writes directly into their datapad instead of on screen. There's also a tablet function for those who wish to draw charts or pictures on screen. The keyboards will detect the DNA of whoever's using them and record who's typed what - simply press an area of text and the name of whoever wrote it will pop up. The area to the right of the table has been temporarily sectioned off with a glass partition and sliding door for hygienic issues. Inside, the victim's body has been laid out on a metal autopsy table, covered by a plastic sheet. Above it is a holographic screen that displays a close-up color photograph of the body when it was found. A hand sanitizer dispenser has been considerately attached to the wall nearby for anyone getting up close and personal to the body. To the left of the conference table is a display case. Any evidence found during the investigation will be carefully collected by the robots at some point the previous day and placed here before the trial starts. Beneath each piece of evidence is a small tablet where players can type up information, such as a short description or where it was found. There are also empty areas left over for any evidence that may be found during the trial. The shelf at the very bottom of the case has been reserved for an extra rulebook in case anyone needs it. Food will be served throughout the day by the robots, who will take individual orders whenever you're feeling hungry. The trial will end at 9:00 PM, at which point all players will have been expected to cast their vote.

victim



suspects



Character Statuses
Setting
Rulebook
Voting

Comments

5:45 PM

[al2955]

[In the middle of the investigation, the center of the room abruptly lights up again. There's no blue glow of water though; instead, the image of what appears to be a galaxy begins to pulsate gently, the arms slowly spinning and rotating amidst the stars.

And then it blinks. And that's when you realize - what you're looking at isn't a galaxy at all. It's the iris of a vast, enormous eye - and it's staring directly at you.

A presence unfolds and envelops the room. No audible voice can be heard, but in everyone's minds, there's suddenly the cacophony of millions of voices all screaming and singing at once, a relentless surge of grief and rage and triumph--

and then above the din, two words embed themselves into your brain.]

AT LAST.

[And then there's perhaps the most ominous sensation of all - a sudden halt in momentum, and then a shift in direction.

The ship is turning around.]

[tevinteriscoming]

[Nope. He's not going to talk to it, or to wait for anyone else to talk to it. He slams his staff to the ground to hit that thing with chain lightning.]

[al2955]

[The lightning goes straight through the eye without affecting it at all. The iris turns to focus on him and a voice, singular this time but old as stars, sings into his head.]

The magister is quick to attack his Queen, We see. [There's a sensation in his head of something enormous inhaling close to him.] Yes, 'tis true thou hast power. Power that has been wasted, but no longer. We shall see thee rise to thy full potential.

[And then a vision unfolds in Dorian's head, so real it's as if he's living it: himself with all the magic in the world right at his fingertips, controlling time and all the elements with ease, using it to destroy planets and conquer civilizations and deliver them unto the queen with nothing but a sadistic smirk on his face. And then, intermingled with that, visions of his past: all the indulgences he's given into, all the wasted years of debauchery, all the temptations he could never say no to...

And below all that, a constant image: an all-too familiar Qunari, chained and shackled at the end of his leash.]

Ah...you are fond of your companion, We see. We are kind to Our children. Perhaps We shall grant him unto thee as a pet.

[tevinteriscoming]

[He's not expecting to make this out in one piece - he wouldn't have attached that thing if he weren't fully prepared to die doing so. Nonetheless, he's not expecting to be hit with that. He's been shown visions by demons before, but nothing so all consuming and vivid. Once it's done, he stands still for a moment, bracing himself against the ruined wall of the core, breathing heavily as he collects himself for one moment, remembering where he is and what's happening, fixating on which was real and which wasn't.

And then he looks back up with her with a disdainful sneer.]

Goodness, is that the best you can do? I've gotten nastier comments for wearing blue after summer solstice.

[Some might consider it enough to take their licks and end on some well executed false bravado but he is a mage on the edge with nothing to lose. And no mana, currently, but he's not letting that stop him step forward and try to slam the end of his staff blade directly through the eye.]

[monsieurchatastrophe]

[dorian might reflexively attack, but adrien is much more concerned with something else]

--Where are we going?!

[IT TURNED THE SHIP AROUND? THERE IS NO SPACE DISNEY AND THIS IS WORRYING]

[al2955]

[A voice unfolds in Adrien's head, crooning gently.]

You are going home, child. To the home thou hast been denied for too long. At last, We may welcome thee and thine into Our embrace.

[monsieurchatastrophe]

[okay, that's freaky. that's definitely freaky. he grabs his staff and holds it out in front of him even though he knows there's no point to it and also that he has no idea how to use it with only his left hand.]

I'll pass, I'm not big on hugs from strangers.

[missmaladroite]

[Yo-Yo ever at the ready, Ladybug strikes up a defensive pose in front of Adrien and company.]

Who are you? And what do you want?

[She's not attacking yet, but hey]

[al2955]

[The sensation of an affectionate brush against Marinette's hair, as a loving mother would to her child.]

You may call me Queen or Mother. It matters not, as both shall be the same to thee in short time. And We want what is been rightfully Ours. The strongest, the luckiest, the most intelligent...yes, this little game may have been a thorn in Our side, but it has selected for us the most interesting collection of hosts.

[missmaladroite]

[You're not her real mom!!! Marinette tenses up at the sensation, obviously rattled.]

[Queen, mother, hosts--]

The aliens! They're yours, aren't they? You're the one behind this!

[It's less of a question and more an angry statement. But everything she's saying... Is she implying the game chose the hosts? Or?]

They don't belong to you. They're their own people! You need to stop!

[refactor]

[ Jack looks up from dicking around with the supercomputer when the eye appears, but as it speaks and the ship lurches, his reaction is probably predictable by now. He grabs onto something as it halts, but he's quick to laugh, though there's a hint of disbelief in his tone. It's probably not until after Dorian tries his chain lightning that he speaks (thanks for taking one for the team buddy), but Jack will absolutely still speak to the eye. His expression is twisted up, but there's a sharp grin on his face all the same. ]

Ohhh, and what are you supposed to be, princess? What, you our new host for the evening, or do we just continue to have the best of friggin' luck?

[al2955]

[Jack suddenly gets slammed with a screaming cacophony in his head, an entire galaxy howling with rage.]

You! Murderer, child-killer, monster! We should inflict upon thee the torture of a thousand hells for what you have wrought! You believe you are a hero? Let Us show thee what true heroism is!

[And then the Queen shreds all of Jack's delusions about himself like a wet paper bag. For a moment that lasts only half a minute but feels an eternity, he'll see himself and his actions as they truly are with none of his biases or ego to get in the way. He'll watch helpless as he witnesses firsthand every detail of the torment and abuse he ever inflicted on Angel and how much she suffered at his hands without any of the justifications he's ever made about her treatment.

The voice calms down, simmers back once again to a song.]

But We are nothing if not merciful. After all, we treat Our children far better than you do yours.

[refactor]

[ For anyone watching, it's easy to see Jack flinch and even step back as the screaming of that galaxy starts, because it's absolutely near overwhelming in itself. Yet as with many things with Jack, his response to the suddenness of that pain is simple and vicious as that smile just grows as "Mother" speaks. It's not long before he laughs, long and sharp, because it's the sort of challenge that he's viciously prepared to take, but the fight itself isn't one that he expects. He can fight tooth and nail against someone else, but Jack's largest weakness had always been himself and his madness.

The eternity is vast, because in truth, and as Jack quickly realizes with a dull horror, there's almost no end of material to draw on here. The first choice hadn't be tinged with the cruelty that came later, but even as a younger man, before saving Elpis changed him so deeply, he can see the quieter cruelty for the first time. It's just as Elizabeth had described to him, and now, as he looks at a vision or a memory of a little girl locked away where no one else could know of her, he can see it. There's pain and loneliness, and when she cries and begs to be free, Jack can see the horror as he responds with a father's kindness, but still says no. He can see the fear as he hugs her, the acceptance when he comes to visit, because even when she laughs, it's duller. The smile in that precious photograph fades with each flash, and for the first time, Jack understands why. It wasn't her growing up, it was—

There are already tears in his eyes at that realization alone, but this was the softer beginning. The difference had never been so stark to him, but now he sees it, because the brand of the Vault on his face changes the man he watches. There's insanity, anger, and worst of all, ambition, and Angel bears the brunt of it. He treats her with love, but it's toxic as she grows up, and he can see how her expression turns cold now whenever he comes to see her. He can see the true fear, the hate in a way he'd never wanted or been able to before. They argue over her surgery, but Jack wins, because he always wins. The dataports in her head open, and she screams in agony as the Eridium is pumped in for the first time, and that's enough to get Jack's hand to come to his mouth like he'll be sick. He sees her desperate and dying right before his eyes. He'd always been killing her, piece by piece, not in body, but in spirit.

And finally, though he has no memory of how her life had come to an end, he just feels the truth. Angel's death had been something he wanted to deny or at least soften the possibility of its circumstances. Rhys was the only one that knew anything about it, so he'd thought perhaps it was an exaggeration meant like a knife between his ribs. Angel hadn't killed herself to escape her father, surely.

But, as those seconds fade away with a " we treat Our children far better than you do yours," he recognizes the denial and delusions properly for the first time. It may not have been from something like his hands around her neck, but Angel was dead because of him.

He had killed his baby girl.

Distantly, he hears the dead talking on the datapads, but predictably, it's not until one voice in particular that Jack seems to pay attention. He looks up, though there's still something off— But he follows. There's no comment, no complaint, not a single word said.

For once, he has nothing to retaliate with. ]

[antagonize]

[Well. This sure is happening. Dorian's little light show is evidence enough that attacking whatever this is won't do shit, so Jason's going to do what he does best. That is, talk and talk and talk until he either gets taken out or he manages to get somewhere. He'll even try to sound more relaxed than he actually is. Go through all the motions.]

So... I'm guessing you're the one who orchestrated taking Alice out? Since, y'know, you don't strike me as the "do it yourself" type of eye. Maybe more of the type to sit back and command others.

[Also. IT'S A FUCKING HUGE ASS EYE????? IT HAS NO ARMS TO MAKE BOMBS????? Yikes.]

[al2955]

[There's the sensation of amusement and pride in Jason's head.]

Orchestrate? You vastly underestimate the intelligence and skill of Our child among thee, Jason. Dost thou truly believe killing Our children has been some sort of victory?

Our General is far more powerful than the ones you have removed from the board. And they are still here.

[socloverit]

[AW

FUCK

but Clover has endured silence for so long that the noise in her head scares the everloving shit out of her. The scythe fumbles out of her grip and clatters to the ground and, forgetting it for the moment, she staggers back, clutching her head and struggling to keep her balance. Even on its own the din is utterly, completely wrong but she is too used to the morphogenetic field and the way the backdrop of emotions under voices should feel. This is not it, the ship is turning and there's a massive fucking eye right in front of her and she'd been foolish enough to think this meant hope and there's something speaking in her head.

She's turning wildly to look at the others, fingers still clawing in her hair, eyes wide and manic and horrified.] Tell me you heard that, tell me you guys heard that, tell me it wasn't just me!

[al2955]

'Tis not only you, Clover.

[The sensation of something rifling through her head - and then amusement.]

But thou hast little to fear from Us. We see that there is nothing We can do to you worse than what you have already done to yourself.

[chiseler]

[...oh hell no. He's done hearing voices in his head and he flinches hard as they hit him all at once. As everything clears and he tunes in he sees everyone reacting all at once, Dorian attacking, the kids asking questions, and everyone else approaching...but there's one question he wants an answer to.

He approaches, staring directly into the eye, but also keeping Adam shielded behind him just in case.]

I think we're all also kinda curious how you got here, too.

[al2955]

Ah, Luke Castellan.

[The sensation of something slithering underneath his chin, cupping his face with affection and pride.]

We wish to thank thee in particular for this gift. 'Twas not for thine power, Our general would have never realized where the heart of the blighted guardian of this ship lay, after all.

[douchemag]

What the fuck?! Ramz Al-salos!

[Judar, proving he has learned exactly nothing from killing Fiona, immediately directs the most powerful lightning spell he can summon at the eye when he hears that voice in his head . He really does not need any more voices in there, thanks all the same.]

[al2955]

[As with Dorian, Judar's spell has no effect whatsoever save to gather the Queen's attention to himself.]

Ah, yes. What is it they call thee again? 'The power to grant miracles.' Something so minor as the destruction of a country - dost thou truly believe that is a miracle?

[And then Judar's slammed with the illusion of all his magic fully returning - and a feeling of complete helplessness that comes with it. He'll see himself with a at the heights of power he's never reached before, entire planets and galaxies crumbling at a gesture - and a weapon, always a weapon, nothing more than a weapon. A sick parody of a loving mother, crooning gently in his ear and pointing him at what she wants destroyed, as he obeys mindlessly and without question, with no goals save hers because wasn't this always what he was meant to be? Nothing but a tool, a vessel for the limitless amount of magic within him?

Whether here or home, there has never been any escape from the destiny he's been saddled with since birth.]

Under Our guidance, thou shall achieve more miracles than even any in your world could possibly imagine.

[erythristic]

All in all, I'd rather not go with you, thanks.

[she's been listening to the replies some of them are getting, and while she can't know exactly what's being said, if the Queen wishes to strike at her, then she'll take the blow.]

Though, if you're trying to tell us something, tell whichever one of your vermin offspring that remains that they'll be destroyed the moment they slip up. That it's a vow, that death seeks them.

[it's useless, probably. it's words being flung out at a being she can't even touch. but she had promised - promised the dead space where Alice should be and promised herself that she'd destroy. she wants their fucking head, with all of the everything she's been holding back these weeks to be stable for everyone else concentrated into one point - the last remaining infection on this ship.]

[al2955]

[The sensation of fond exasperation, as a mother would gently scold a misbehaving child.]

We are not your enemy, Grell Sutcliffe. Indeed, we can provide thee with far more than anyone else thou may seek.

[The Queen does not attack Grell with any sort of pychological pain or emotional grief. Instead, she does something perhaps far worse. She surrounds Grell with unconditional love, with pure acceptance, with a joyful pride in everything she chooses to be and no hint of judgment at all. She smothers Grell with quiet comfort and fills all those hollow spaces, silences all those doubts about herself. As a mother, as a beloved friend, as a lover, she wraps Grell into an embrace from which all thoughts of loneliness will flee.

And then she immediately rips it all away, leaving Grell once again cold and alone.]

A taste of what We shall offer thee, once you are Ours.

[toprotecttheworld]

Arbok! Acid attack, now!

[Jessie thinks she's clever. She really does. If the eye isn't physically there, maybe a giant snack projectile vomiting acid will cover whatever's displaying it for everyone to see. If it is there, well, hopefully they make big eye wash stations in alien land.

And because she thinks she's clever, she returns Arbok to his Pokeball as soon as the attack is finished, thinking that'll protect him.]

[al2955]

[The acid attack does nothing - it goes straight through the eye to hit the wall behind it. The iris focuses on her.]

Dost thou truly believe that little toy can shelter thine companion from Us? How quaint.

[And then Jessie gets hit with a feeling of total abandonment. Her mother walking away from her, leaving her on her own -- then James, Meowth, even her own precious Pokemon. Gone, whether through a vicious fight or a bitter entanglement or simple death, leaving her behind, leaving her completely isolated, no one reaching a hand out, no partners she can rely on.

From the way the Pokeball is rocking, Arbok is equally affected by his own visions.]

Do not worry, Our child. We are kind. When you are Ours, we shall not seperate thee from thine faithful companion.