sixth trial

[airlockedmods]

[Six weeks, thirteen Champion dead out of their original twenty as well one half of the former Overseer pair. With Jamie now counted as a fellow Champion in the Benefactors' eyes, their numbers have dwindled down to eight.

C.E.C.E.'s announcement sounds and for what may be the last time the Champions must file to the teleporter with their evidence and the Champion Landscape Artist now officially among them. The courtroom is empty this time around, the floating platform as empty as the updated circle of surviving Champion's podiums. Jamie makes a small, humorless sound when he sees the lack of a portrait at Lightning's podium and his own name in glaring green where she once stood.

There's no Bolton to speak to them this time around so it's C.E.C.E. whose voice rings from on high.]

Welcome, Champions, to the courtroom. Eight of you have entered, but if you vote correctly only seven of you will leave. Compile your evidence and select the correct culprit is. If you vote correctly, the culprit will be executed and the rest of you will be allowed to go back upstairs.

Thank you!

Comments

[cyan_maid]

Even with height coming into play, I don't believe you did it, Togami.

[Saying that right off the bat. Is it backhanded or in earnest? It's both, probably both.]

[imnotfat]

Thank you.

[That should narrow things to only three people, then]

The three remaining names each have vague circumstantial reasons to be suspected, but it's too flimsy to even consider seriously. Was there anything found that could link to anyone specific?

[cyan_maid]

Not that I saw. But even if I had, I'm not so sure it was one of us either. Who in the hell is strong enough to snap an ice skate blade off the shoe like that?

[kingshaming]

CECE already confirmed that it was a Champion that killed Bolton. And unless there is a hidden Champion that leaves only us.

[ratherdoweddings]

A hidden Champion? Like how they made those two into Champions?

[kingshaming]

Exactly. May be wise to have CECE confirm that we are the only remaining Champions.

Mods

[stitch_in_time]

Hidden- oh, that'd be a TRICK.

[Question everything you see, right?]

CECE? One more question, like Xander said. Does every Champion on board have their profile listed on every PIP?

[airlockedmods]

That is correct, Doctor.

[stitch_in_time]

Huhm-

[And that assumes CECE's not programmed to lie at all, anyway...]

Okay. Are there any living- active Champions currently not on board?

[imnotfat]

[This is going to take long. Togami shakes his head, somewhat annoyed]

It'd be easier to get CECE to guarantee the culprit is standing on a podium in this room right now.

[When looking for loopholes you need to be very specific

[airlockedmods]

No. Every surviving Champion of the Champion Excellence Program is currently in this room.

[ratherdoweddings]

I found the skate, too. They broke it in the rink on the concrete floor. We would need someone strong and probably someone well-rested, but that eliminates everyone in this room.

[kingshaming]

The well rested part certainly. But panic can do a lot for someone's strength if they were already physically capable to some degree.

[ratherdoweddings]

Oh, that's right! So we're still looking for someone who would listen to the computer, use the teleporter, and had more sleep than we did, but the strength could still be anyone.

[kingshaming]

Well, to a degree. The wound was right in the back of the neck, enough to cut his spine. That take a certain degree of arm strength.

[ratherdoweddings]

that'sdisgusting

[kingshaming]

Maybe. But effective.

[refusedtoleave]

Wouldn't you need a tool to break one of those as well? They're made to hold a person's body weight.

[ratherdoweddings]

It's possible, but with the right angle and that concrete floor?

[refusedtoleave]

if they tried to the break it from the side then maybe...Or they dropped something heavy on it. Then physical strength wouldn't matter as much.

[ratherdoweddings]

The only scuffing I found on the floor was from the blade, I think.

[refusedtoleave]

They just pressed it against the floor then.

[stitch_in_time]

That could do it, with the right angle.

[Leverage.]

It'd still take a lot of force to leave that wound on Bolton, though.

[kingshaming]

Agreed- for one, I don't see Togami going for a kill when the logical suspect pool would be only himself and you.

[cyan_maid]

And he wouldn't. He's been in a game like this before, and his work entails helping the people who have gone through them as well. You have to be strong to do that. You have to be resolute. And, just by how he is...I don't believe Togami would sink so low as to submit to any game that he works so hard to fight at home.

[A sheepish glance at that fucking ponce.] I wasn't well when he gave me some very good advice on the subject, but I do hope it can be known that I can appreciate it now.