WEEK 8 - Trial

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (8)

saturday TRIAL DAY ONE (22) 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

[chiseler]

Your room's probably less messy than mine at least. [Shrug! But he takes a deep breath through his nose and nods slowly. Right. If Adam thinks Luke's not going to be hovering in return he's sorely mistaken.] Cool. Now it's just...figuring out who's actually to blame. Think it's too easy to say it's another alien?

[antietam]

I guess we'd need to figure out first how they got into Arumat's room. I wonder if the melted plastic that was found could be the room card?

If not, it's either someone he trusts or an alien. Maybe using the vents.

[chiseler]

Anybody ask Alice to provide us with another card yet to compare? That's how we found out about the cloaking device last week. It's also possible that it's one of the other two options but...would an alien really use a clay-cutting tool?

[It's a real question okay.]

[antietam]

I'm probably not allowed to do it, am I? [ His useful days are over. ]

An alien used poison before, so it's likely. I mean, it would be really obvious if it just... ate him. [ He actually looks a little sad. He liked Arumat. ] So to hide their tracks, yeah.

... He was pretty strong, so it would have to be someone or something stronger.

[chiseler]

You and I are both gonna have to sit this trial out more than usual, kid. [Much to their displeasure...]

Here's what I'm wondering. How'd they get into Arumat's room and catch him off-guard while also carrying one of the fire suits and a syringe? We need to know if Arumat was aware or totally caught off-guard.

[antietam]

It seems like they were weirdly prepared. I mean, assuming their pockets were full of the wire and a syringe and whatever else they might have needed.

The signs of struggle begin in his room, on the walls and near his desk. My guess would be that he started at his desk and was strangled from behind, and he used his fire powers to try to fight. Somehow they led him into the bathroom.

It requires a handprint, right? Or the keycard.

[chiseler]

They had a lot of back-up plans for just one person. [That's what's weird about it. He's thinking, but he's not saying anything out loud yet.] That explains what the wire's for and how everything lit on fire but what about the syringe? Did they try to also poison him to make sure he'd stay down? If he's strangled by a wire they could've dragged him if somebody was strong enough to do that.

[He nods though.] Exactly. Alice kinda made it a huge point that those rooms are pretty strictly locked without being invited in or having the keycard. It just seems strange that he wouldn't notice somebody coming into his room and we know only one item would be used. [So...no cloaking device.]

[antietam]

That's what's weird. At some point it seems like his scythe or another weapon was used, too, so... It looks like there's a lot of different events going on. Which is probably the intent. Blur the actual event with lots of evidence.

[ He wishes he could do more with this case or have people not doubt him but. ] The bathroom is the same way. So at some point he would have had to open the bathroom door or the killer would have had to bring out the keycard while, presumably, strangling him.

[chiseler]

...okay but what if the plastic isn't actually the keycard and the weapon used was the vent map to sneak in and make us think the keycard was used? Pull a Shelley and trick all of us again. It'd explain how they'd manage to get into the room but...can Bull even fit in the vents?

[antietam]

Completely unoriginal, but possible. Especially since the printer can make plastic objects, it'd be pretty easy.

[ He laughs a little at the question. ] I doubt it. But he also can't fit in the fire suit, can he? So I wonder why he's a suspect, other than having a partner.

[chiseler]

The thing is that nobody would think to use the same trick twice in a row since it was already done. That's why we should look into it.

[He thinks for a moment, frowning lightly. He's not sure Adam's going to like what he says next.] ...if we're looking at the idea of an accomplice murder, who's to say that Bull wasn't a distraction while Dorian snuck in through the vents or something?

[antietam]

[ He doesn't look happy about it, and he gives Luke a sad look. But he's not going to say anything since it would be pretty hypocritical of him. ]

It's possible. I think we're definitely meant to assume it's an accomplice murder. But we haven't seen how two people would fit in yet, so it's hard to say.

[chiseler]

[Dont give him that look, he has to think objectively. He doesn't like it either.]

It's either that, or we're thinking of the wrong two people. That makes even less sense. The only thing is this is a lot for one person, too.

[antietam]

[ He gives a faint smile. ]

Maybe we're both aliens and we teamed up? Anyway, whoever did it had a lot of time to work with. No one would have found the body in his own room, so they had plenty of time to prepare and dispose of evidence.

It's just the fighting, which... Well, I wouldn't underestimate some people on there. [ Grell. He means Grell. ]

[chiseler]

Now see I could buy that. It's the only way an alien could get past one of us. [A half-heareted grin.]

The fighting's what bothers me, too. It kinda rules out you and Dorian a little unless it was an accomplice, but I don't know Bull or Grell's style. So what do we do about that?

[antietam]

Does it matter what their style is? They'd hide it as much as possible during a murder. I think declaring people unable to commit the murder is a mistake. Remember the first time you were a suspect?

[chiseler]

So you want people to think you could have actually overpowered Arumat somehow? [Adam can you not.] I remember that real clearly and I remember you thought I actually would have cared enough to murder right off the bat.

[antietam]

Even under the assumption that I could, it won't be hard to prove that I didn't. Since I didn't. [ But let him be macho. He shrugs. ]

I remember not knowing you at all and hearing about how suspicious you were. Can you blame me?

[chiseler]

[Adam you're about as macho as your satyr daughter...]

I can blame you a little bit just because I think it's funny. [It's...not but it's nice to think back to week one when none of this shit really mattered.] Still believe I'm suspicious?

[antietam]

No. I trust you. [ He's going to put a hand on Luke's shoulder because he doesn't seem to be dealing well with this. ]

What's wrong?

[chiseler]

[The smile he gives him is sort of tight and not exactly relaxed at all, but he's trying. He's still twitching a little under Adam's hand, but for the most part he's ignoring it.]

Let's just focus on getting as much information figured out today as possible, okay? The more we learn today the more time we have to figure it out before everybody's gotta vote.

[antietam]

We can't do anything. We've been discussing theories—we're doing our part. You're not exactly the best at solving murders when you're stressed, anyway. Come on.

[chiseler]

Come on what, Parrish? [It's something like a soft growl but only to have some semblance of control. He's not upset with Adam but he really, really doesn't want to talk right now when he's doing his best to focus and not completely freak out yet.] I'm always stressed during these things, you know that. [Not like this though.]

Let's just blame aliens and get this over with.

[antietam]

[ Adam's instinct is to continue arguing, but is this really the best time for it? He stops himself and huffs. ] Whatever.

[ He crosses his arm but then leans against Luke. You didn't think you were getting away did you. ]

[chiseler]

[...nah, but did you think he wouldn't reciprocate and lean right back? Because that's what he's doing. They're friends, leaning against each other while being up as suspects in the murder of another friend is totally accepted. If Adam lets him, he'll probably stay like that for a bit until he has to be an Adult and answer questions.]