first trial

[airlockedmods]

[When the announcement sounds and the evidence gathered it’s time for a trial. When the remaining champions are all gathered by the repaired docking bay doors they slide slowly slide open.

There are two lines of robots, silent as sentries, creating a border path from the docking bay doors to the circle of metal podiums. The podiums themselves were made of strange metals in red and gold and orange and black, each one etched with the name of one of the Champions. There are flood lights - like spot lights - in front of each podium, but the lights in front of Shirou, Hamilton, and Albel are dark, and hung on the front of their podiums are greyscale portraits, printed from their profiles.

Blaze Dudely stands on a repair deck on top of his ship, which looms over the proceedings ominously. Rather than the glee the Champions may think he would take in this kind of display, he merely stands there with his arms crossed, expression unreadable and his cyborg eye scanning the Champions with a piercing scrutiny, like he's searching for one of them to act out of line.]

Mornin’, Champions. Here’s how this is goin’ to go: take the evidence ya found, piece together what happened and find who took out the Champion Swordsman. If ya find them, they’ll be dealt with. If ya don’t, they’ll be free to go and the rest of ya will face punishment. Take the time ya need but don’t bore me.

Comments

[empathiser]

People have killed for less.

I wouldn't say it was ridiculous.

[heartswapped]

I'm not sure how it works in his world, [hello what's a horse] but where I'm from people bet a crapton of money on Pokemon fights all the time.

[SHE'S JUST SAYING...]

[empathiser]

So there's a very high chance that there would be monetary gain from this race, similar to those fights of yours.

[heartswapped]

[She nods.]

I mean, killing someone for a bunch of money at least sounds a lot less stupid than some silly race would on its own...

[acerolaorion]

But we've been here for two weeks. Even if we were all able to get back to our respective homes, his opportunity to win that race is probably long past.

[heartswapped]

It doesn't have to be something we remember.

I know a lot of people here apparently saw places they weren't even familiar with? I did. So if he was just planning to enter it early enough, and hadn't yet...

[Another thought crosses her mind.]

You think whoever brought us here can just put us back at any time?

[acerolaorion]

It's certainly possible, for certain beings. I myself am capable of the ability, at full strength, after all. So the idea isn't completely out of the question.

[tenimuho]

It's a cross-country race supposed to last between two months and two and a half months. Even if he'd be severely handicapped, it's not completely impossible, and he might well think he could still win.

He's 'Diego Brando'. Which apparently means that he's better than most people. I would have told you it was just a name.

[acerolaorion]

A two-month long race, for a human?

[ That's...quite the marathon. ]

That must take an impressive amount of stamina...

[empathiser]

We're also thousands of years in the future. But what if when we escape we can return to the time we came from...?

[acerolaorion]

It seems like quite the gamble, but I cannot deny the possibility.

[empathiser]

Until a couple of weeks ago, I didn't think I'd get kidnapped to a space prison so my mind has been somewhat broadened.

[acerolaorion]

Yes, I imagine that came as quite the shock to most of us! Ka ka!

In any event, to keep an open mind is helpful. But one must wonder if our perpetrator was quite as open-minded, to kill over a gambit. It's dependent on quite a few assumptions, after all.

[empathiser]

If there is anyone who knows time travel, then they're probably at an unfair advantage.

Firstly and most importantly, that Blaze Dudely is telling the truth about setting the killer free if they pull it off. That's the biggest assumption made here.

[acerolaorion]

It requires a certain amount of energy, on my part, but it's far from impossible. But in any event, we've, at the very least, seen that the rotund human in charge here adheres to his rules. Or, at least, to his punishments.

Perhaps our murderer took that as proof enough that he's a man of his word.

[empathiser]

[Well. He didn't expect to be talking to someone who could do just that.]

Punishments, sure. And hasn't he been playing fairly loosely with the rules in the first place?

Willingness to murder someone doesn't mean someone's a man of their word.

[jerkassic]

Of course there's money involved. No one's going to race across the country for nothing.

[He's just saying.]

[empathiser]

Money is a big motivator for killing someone. You understand why we can't just take your word on that?

[jerkassic]

Of course. But to kill someone for the chance at money. If we can even call it a chance because it assumes our captor isn't lying, it's a little ridiculous, isn't it? It's not the same as a robbery or something. It's high risk with no guarantee of reward.

[pr159]

That depends on how desperate you are.

[jerkassic]

Not as desperate as everyone trying to pin this on me.