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

Voting Time

[airlockedmods]

Congratulations, Champions. It appears that you are prepared to vote. Please use the provided cable to connect your PIP to the podium in front of you, and select the title of the Champion who has violated the peace. As I told you earlier, if you vote correctly, they will be executed for their misdeed. If you vote incorrectly, then the true culprit will leave and the rest of you will be executed in their place.

Best of luck, Champions.

[curdle]

[ she connects it, and that's all well and good, but uh
help ]

[semperperatus]

[speaking of]

You need some help?

[semperperatus]

[Goddamnit. His hand is shaking as he plugs his in. First, though.]

Anyone here need help voting?

[Its mostly for Thomasin, but, really, anything to delay the inevitable. Doesn't seem to be an alternative to voting for Naho.]

[damnfourthemerald]

Shepard.

[Shadow hides his own disappointment. She hadn't even been on The List. He'd misjudged the situation so poorly, and he'll have to work even harder in the future.

To Fin, his voice is even and steady, looking over at him from his podium. (With a little stool for him, too, that was nice that someone thought ahead to the short members of the group.)]

Delaying the inevitable is foolish. We know what the outcome is.

[misinforms]

That's all fine and well but you should save it for once you've voted yourself.

[She understands but-- well this is also just how she is.]

[stitch_in_time]

Yeah? Where's the option to vote for the Overseers, then. Way I see it they're as guilty as anyone here.

[airlockedmods]

I'm afraid that is not an option at this time, Doctor.

[overears]

That girl straight up killed a guy. Just vote for her and get it over with.

[almightyconflagration]

[For once McBurn isn't being a totally lazy bum. He'll vote for Naho, the Champion Blogger. This has been enough of a waste of time already, no need to delay the inevitable.]

[have_a_heart]

>Champion Blogger

I am sorry.

[misinforms]

[Time to end things.]

> Champion Blogger

[overears]

>Champion Blogger

[mikooon]

>Champion Blogger

[Now PLEASE let her go, she would normally feel at least marginally bad for Naho if not for the fact she's been gagged, sat on, and Naho nearly killed them all.]

[waitforit]

[ Barney plugs his PIP into the podium. It's bizarre to think some kid killed a guy in cold blood. But she'd admitted it, hadn't she? This whole thing is fucked up, but the alternative is everyone dies, isn't it? ]

>Champion Blogger

[damnfourthemerald]

>Champion Blogger

[strikemonster]

[Ah, well.]

> Champion Blogger

[lycoctonum]

> Champion Blogger

[Sorry...]

[thetimebomb]

[She still didn't feel very sympathetic towards Naho, so it wasn't really hard for her to vote.]

> Champion Blogger

[However, the distant thought of Wander wouldn't like this popped into her head, but she shoved that to the back of her brain. She didn't want to think about Wander, if he was okay or not and if he's looking for her. He shouldn't either way, anyone as cruel as these monsters would absolutely destroy the poor guy.

And if Naho was going to be killed, she didn't want Wander to learn that she assisted in killing a child.]

[misplacedxsheath]

[Margulis doesn't have any problem voting, but he does give Naho a brief glance before he selects her title.]

> Champion Blogger

Re: Voting Time

[returnofme]

I'm not voting.

[Luke's voice is quiet, but his tone is serious.]

You forced her into this.

[voltrounds]

>Champion Blogger

[Is this true justice? Maybe. Probably not. But it's the only kind of justice they're equipped for right now.]

[rosetagonist]

[ She'd been quiet during the trial. What else could she have said anyway? There's a bit of a hurt look on her face but she moves to put in her vote for the Champion Blogger, Naho. ]

Re: Voting Time

[humanitarianherbalist]

[His face is blank as he makes his choice. Her sacrifice is commendable, and should not be wasted.]

>Champion Blogger

[refusedtoleave]

>Champion Blogger

[She can't vote for anyone else when there's been a confession...]