the final investigation

[airlockedmods]

[It's been a few days since more than one of the Champions have heard from PAL and by Wednesday afternoon this is still the case. The day starts off like the rest but around midday Cece is calling a meeting in the foyer.

Whatever it's about it seems important.]

Comments

[theundertaker]

[When everyone is gathered in the foyer, Cece is already waiting for them. Her hair is back to the default purple it was the day they first met her and some of them might even recognize the nebula-patterned skirt she's wearing from the second week.]

Everybody here? Okay good, good. [She looks antsy to say the least, holding her tablet under her arm and shifting from foot to foot in her heels.] So I...have been mulling over something for a little while and it's a long shot. Like a long, long shot but...I think I know a way I can help our friends if we can just get out of here.

[misanthropicprinciple]

Our friends--our dead friends?

[scourgingstars]

Wh--really? What do we have to do?

[serrata]

Help? How-- how can we help them, unless...?

[ ... Cece can't be suggesting what it sounds like she's suggesting, can she...? ]

[everylittlesecret]

.... unless you're a necromancer, I doubt you can bring back the dead. That's not... that's not theoretically possible.

[daughterofthemark]

You mean they can still be revived?!

[She is immediately getting all of her hopes up.]

[shikosuki]

What...?!

How?

[desperateprayer]

What!? R-Really!?

[ WELL SHIT, THIS IS GONNA GET AWKWARD IF MIKAELA COMES BACK TO LIFE. ]

[goteachother]

[There have been so many many things in the last week that have reminded her of Grindelwald but this?

This goes too far.]

no... [Barely a whisper first and then she pulls away from well, whichever of her boys happens to be hovering nearby.]

No.

[airlockedmods]

Champions report to the patio doors.

[misanthropicprinciple]

God dammit.

[But Junpei complies. He knows what endgame feels like.]

The hell is going on?

[serrata]

Wh--

[ OH GOOD

HE'S BACK!!! ]

But-- why?!

[scourgingstars]

What the hell is going on, PAL?! For that matter, where have you been this whole time?

[desperateprayer]

PAL, what's going on!? Is Cece all right!?

[ She's at least listening and doing as he say but. But... What is happening? ]

[everylittlesecret]

[Nope. Nope nope nope nope nope just going to mentally nope the fuck out see ya guys.

Ah who's kidding, she's too mad to do that.]

Better fucking explain this shit fast or I am going to set this place on fire, PAL.

[daughterofthemark]

Everyone, be on your guard!

[Guard Order... probably doesn't do shit right now, actually, but it's an order skill kind of moment.]

Sir PAL, what is happening?

[goteachother]

PAL!!

[If you had ears young man she would have you on your knees.]

What in Morgana's name do you think you're doing?! Tell us what is going on.

[shikosuki]

[ he'll comply too but what the fuck ]

What's happening to Cece?! What's happening to our friends?!

[myocordial]

[Okay. Okay this is bad and he's upset, but panicking won't fix anything. Deep breaths.]

...If any harm befalls her, I don't think I have to tell you what we'll do to you.

Investigation Start

[airlockedmods]

[The floor in the middle of the podium circle sinks down and down and down, revealing a room that's dark, for the moment. When the elevator settles into place in the middle of the room, however, lights flick on all around the room to reveal a large, round room that's... sparsely decorated, for its size. There are two rooms on opposite sides of the circle. One is bright red and glowing through the empty doorway, while the other is... Well, the door is closed, mostly, and the inside is dark.]

Welcome to your final test, Champions. Now starts the final period of investigation. When you're finished, get back on the elevator to return to the courtroom for a trial.

CLUE COUNT

[airlockedmods]

Total- 14/14

Team A- 7/7
- Please do not yell at the 8-week-old
- NSFY (not safe for Yuuri)
- Conspiracy theory time
- GET TO TRANSLATING FOOLS
- I'm kinkshaming
- Congrats on the sex cake!
- It's Time

Team B- 7/7
- Queenie's room!
- Crisis on Infinite Earths
- Junpei's arm comes in handy once more
- And you ruined it. You monsters.
- Love, A.P.
- Waste of a perfectly good tablet
- Lasted longer than five nights!

[misanthropicprinciple]

PAL. We got a time limit?

TEAM A - Main area

[airlockedmods]

Ardyn, Junpei, Heart, Nari, Queenie

[misanthropicprinciple]

[All right, well, as Arianna leads the charge into the glowing room, is there anything in THIS central room that looks like a trap that might kill her interesting?]

TEAM B - Glowing room

[airlockedmods]

Church, Clarith, Arianna, Yuuri, Choromatsu

[daughterofthemark]

[Well Arianna's just gonna charge on into that glowy room with no regard whatsoever for whether it's safe or anything like that.]

INVESTIGATION END

[airlockedmods]

[PAL's voice echos from overhead, the PAL they've heard from for weeks now and not the PAL living in the computer room.]

Attention, Champions. The time for investigation has ended and the time for a trial has begun. Report to the elevator to return to the court room. This will be your final chance to solve the mysteries of the Fantasy Sweet and earn your freedom.

[As they leave the computer room, every screen showing the inside of the mansion switches to a black background with an insignia. All except the one screen that the PAL inside the computer had been speaking through. That one shifts from PAL's signature eye to a cartoon hand waving good-bye.]