The Mock Trial

[airlockedmods]

[Jesse McCree is dead, the first victim of, what the Overseers seem to hope, is a long game of motives and murder for whatever their reasons. With the investigation completed, C.E.C.E.'s voice comes over the system and directs the Champions to proceed to the locked elevator door at the end of the hallway. Once all Champions are on board, the elevator begins a slow descent down beyond any area that they've been able to explore so far. At least the elevator music is charming.

When the elevator door opens, the Champions enter a courtroom with 21 podiums arranged in a circle and each one marked with a name. McCree's face grins casually at the 20 surviving members from one of the podiums, a greyscale portrait in honor of the dead.]

Congratulations. We have now entered the trial portion of the test. I trust that you will do your best to determine who disturbed the peace by committing murder. Once the culprit has been found, they will face an appropriate punishment for their crime. If you fail to determine the culprit, however, they will be allowed to leave the space station and the rest of you will face punishment instead.

Comments

[misplacedxsheath]

So? I've seen younger children kill before.

[have_a_heart]

He has a point.

[refusedtoleave]

What kind of place are you from to see that...

[misplacedxsheath]

One where humanoid bioweapons were commonplace up until a decade and a half ago, often sent into war at a young age. The URTV force was twelve at the time of their final mission.

[have_a_heart]

Many of those where I was were child soldiers as well, or involved with things like the mob.

[Because, y'know, Troubled Teen Purgatory.]

[returnofme]

My sister's [wow it's weird but good to call Leia that] worked for the rebellion against the Empire since she was about Naho's age. And I know there have been kids even younger involved.

[almightyconflagration]

Me too. I've seen a girl who was six kill and gleefully at that.

[misplacedxsheath]

I've no doubt many Life Recycling Variant soldiers were sent into combat at a similar age.

[almightyconflagration]

It happens in Zemuria, usually the kids are taken in by less desirable groups. I can't deny that the society I belong to is no place for a child, but better with us than left to die.