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

[tevinteriscoming]

Oh, near enough. Demons are always the same. [He's a little too drunk to realize Adam isn't actually buying it.] You can't give them the satisfaction of letting it affect you, it only gives them more power.

[As for bravery, he doesn't have much to say to that.] You don't listen to them. You don't let them talk. You just. Kill them.

[antietam]

[ He isn't buying it, but he listens. He's sure it wasn't just a demon and he's sure that it did affect Dorian, but there's no need for his opinions right now. ]

I can't say I know how we'd kill something like that. When we thought the queen had a human host, it seemed a lot easier, but now...

Are we just supposed to ignore it?

[tevinteriscoming]

We can't ignore it. We'll either have to find a way to destroy it, or she'll find a way to get the ship moving again and we'll have to destroy ourselves. [Bleak, Dorian.] Either way, we cannot allow ourselves to be used as its hosts.

[antietam]

[ He smiles softly at that. Dorian is strong and truly Adam can't help but admire that still. Now that the person he loves is being threatened with death, it's been hard for Adam to not imagine how Dorian must be feeling every day. And still, he's moving forward. ]

No. We said before, she's getting desperate. Why would she show herself like this now? It's almost the end. [ Of the aliens, at least. ]

But I... didn't talk to her. I don't know what happened to people. [ It's a tentative question, if Dorian wants to explain. If not, he won't push. ]

[tevinteriscoming]

Ah. Your typical visions, meant to tempt and to frighten. For example, she might offer me absolute power and then show me what shall become of me if I don't take it. The latter to tempt, the former to frighten, so craftier than your typical desire demon, at least. They can never manage to keep straight what it is you actually want and what you're afraid of. [He's rambling, a little, partially due to the drink and partially because it's easier to be academic in his explanation.] Higher demons are another species entirely, they can be quite clever. I met a very old Nightmare once, in the Fade. It had her talents for getting under one's skin, but perhaps less vividly.

Not that I think she's a Higher Demon, exactly. More like a God, I'd suspect. But when you get down to it, is there much difference? [Taking another swig from the bottle.] Either way, we must kill it.

[antietam]

[ That makes sense. He's dealt with things like that, or at least something to show you your worst nightmare. It's nothing to scoff at. ]

That they're omnipotent and omniscient? [ He sighs deeply and he'll finally let himself relax into a seat like he's ready for a real conversation. ]

I've been thinking that I kind of wish we'd gone with your plan. Watching over everyone, no killing, being purged. We're dangerous like this, anyone able to become possessed, using their powers...

[tevinteriscoming]

Not necessarily. When I say God, I mean something like the Old Gods, or something similar. Something old and very, very powerful. To an ordinary human, difficult to distinguish that much power from omnipotence and omniscience, but that doesn't mean that's what they are. Doesn't mean they can't be killed.

[He listens to what Adam is saying, but he laughs, a little caught off guard and a little bitter.] I can't say that's much of a plan. I don't know what to think. I thought the message from the dead was their way of telling us that we're lost, that we may as well end this. But they're still there, helping. Now I'm not sure what they want.

[antietam]

I think they just keep trying to clean up our messes. [ It's sad, honestly. ] They seem to have a lot of faith in us when... we're the ones who killed them. You'd think they'd give up.

How are the Old Gods killed, then? [ Maybe he just needs a little bit of hope to cling to. ]

[tevinteriscoming]

If we haven't given up, I can't see why they would have. I'm sure our dead friends want to atone for mistakes and regrets as much as the living do. [Obviously that only applies to some of the dead, but. Honestly, he only really gives a shit about one of them.]

Not so easily answered. The ones that became darkspawn have been killed, but it isn't easy, and beyond our grasp here. No matter; I doubt it's the same method. The point is, near anything can be killed, if you know its weakness.

[antietam]

[ He believes that it can be killed, but the question remains if they can kill it. Their powers do nothing to it. What is it? In fact, Dorian has given him something to think about other than giving up. ]

She's a lot stronger than the others. Do you really think we can survive that? We don't even have River to execute them anymore.

[tevinteriscoming]

Maybe not. As I said, we either kill her, or we're killed. I'd prefer the former, personally. For what little it counts.

[antietam]

And then do what? Once she's dead? [ Sorry Dorian, he's not the happiest. ]

[tevinteriscoming]

[A little more gently; he doesn't want his gloom to be catching.] Everyone who died is still there, working to help us. Still in contact with Captain Perkins, perhaps still able to reach the Nuwa. They won't abandon us.

Ridding ourselves of the Queen is our task. After that, our fate is in the hands of our dear friends, and I for one feel better for it.

[antietam]

[ That does help a bit. The dead are trying to do something for them. Or maybe it's for themselves, which he's fine with. He wants them to come back if at all possible. ]

That's right. Bull's done a lot to keep you safe, I don't think he'd stop now. [ A sigh. ] Did it help, to hear him again?

[tevinteriscoming]

[Smiling softly to himself; he's too drunk to be subtle about it.]

It helped very much. I wasn't sure whether -- [whether when Alice vanished, their connection to the dead had vanished as well]

Well. It was good to hear from them. From him.

[antietam]

[ He thinks about asking him if this all means maybe they can come back, but he knows Dorian's feelings on the matter and it's not fair to ask him something like that. ]

It might mean we're not getting messages again. If you do, though, could you tell him that I appreciated his letter? It stopped me from making a mistake last week.

[tevinteriscoming]

[Smiling even more, into his drink, but a little wistfully.]

I'm not sure we will, either. Nothing last week but the messages they left in advance, and now the power. But I will tell him, should I have the opportunity. I'm sure he'd be glad to hear of it.