fourth 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 docking bay doors they slide slowly slide open.

The two lines of sentry robots are there again, 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. The lights on Oda, Akande and Leon's podiums have been turned off and their floating grey scale portraits have joined the six from last week.

Blaze Dudely stands on a repair deck on top of his ship, which looms over the proceedings ominously. His expression is still hard to read but his arms are folded across his chest and if you squint close enough there's a somberness about him that hasn't been at other trials.]

Ya'll know how this goes by now. [He's in no mood for pageantry this time.] Take the time ya need but don’t bore me.

Comments

Mods!

[power_of_dominance]

[Yeah, he's going to compare those notes, just to see if there's any similarities.]

[airlockedmods]

[The chemistry notes and the burnt pieces of paper? The writing is certainly similar.]

[power_of_dominance]

This handwriting is pretty similar.

[He points at the two samples.]

[nightcure]

Yeah.

I know.

[ He doesn't sound happy at all. ]

[power_of_dominance]

.....

[Soma whirls and grabs Noct by the front of his shirt, his eyes glowing and his hands shaking. His expression is somewhere between horror, disbelief, and nausea.]

Tell me you didn't do this. Tell me you didn't say you wanted to protect all of us just to do this!

[nightcure]

[ He doesn't resist. But he touches Soma's hand, jaw clenched tight. ]

I didn't do this. I swear.

[power_of_dominance]

[Soma gives him a firm shake, not enough to give whiplash but he's freaking out right now.]

Then why does the writing match?! Then why... you....

[Pinkish tears well up in his eyes and roll down his face.]

Please tell me you have an explanation... please....

[nightcure]

[ He just takes it, because he knows how this looks. He knows. ]

I don't have one. I don't know why that note's there in my handwriting when I didn't write it.

But I would never-- hurt any of you. I swear.

[power_of_dominance]

[Soma finally lets go, only to cover his face with both hands. His head hurts so badly, he feels his control slipping.

Noctis is his friend, someone he admires for his strength and compassion. Soma wants to believe in his innocence, but....]

[empathiser]

Because nobody's ever planted evidence to get someone else convicted for their murders.

[And hey, guess what? Will's voice is steely as hell. Something about this sure is hitting a nerve.]

[power_of_dominance]

But who else here could forge handwriting?! Oda's dead!

[empathiser]

Leaping to conclusions is just going to get us all killed.

Even if he did do these killings, we have to uncover everything we can. [HE SAYS THIS ALMOST EVERY WEEK, GUYS....] This isn't a case of sending the wrong person down for murder, this involves all of our lives.

[power_of_dominance]

I know that!

[He's got his fangs bared at Will as his control slips just for a moment. Then the look of feral rage crumples and he hides his face again, shaking.]

I... I'm sorry... I... s-- sorry....

[He's just going to go back to his podium and lean on it as he tries to center himself again.]

[empathiser]

[Will exhales slowly, and leans back a little in his podium.]

We have all the time we need. Let's work through this.