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

[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. ]