TRIAL 04

[thecomputer]

Attention, Citizens! You have ten minutes to proceed to the Loyalty Chamber. Anyone who is late to the Loyalty Chamber, or who brings any weapons into the Loyalty Chamber, will be immediately executed.

[Once you arrive, you will find a large chamber, with twenty podiums spaced around the room in a circle. On the ceiling, a massive screen showing the digital eye of The Computer, turning to look at whoever is talking.]

You have one hour to come to a consensus about who to eliminate. Ties will be broken randomly.

[The floor of the chamber begins to split apart, eventually only leaving the twenty podiums as safe places to stand, above a seemingly bottomless abyss. Each podium lights up with a touch screen showing twenty user IDs (the dead are grayed out), plus the word “ABSTAIN”. However, ABSTAIN has now been grayed out as well. The trial begins now!]

[[Vote here]]

Comments

[schrodingers_man]

Why did Seryu Ubiquitous die that first night, while you didn't even get scanned? Why did you accuse Kimbley in the second trial when nobody else was gunning for him at all? Why did you try to distract us from voting for Sakura last night?

It doesn't look very good for you, Detective.

Why don't you do the chivalrous thing and confess so young Robin over there can live another day? It'd save us all a lot of trouble.

[thefaceofjustice]

First thing, I have no idea!

Second, Mr. Kimbley was my top suspect because the evidence against him seemed stronger than anything else we had to go on at the time!

Thirdly, I wasn't trying to stop the vote on Ms. Sakura, I just said we could vote her out the next trial instead. My alternate suspect was Ms. Newman, and you confirmed that she is one of them, so how was that helping the communists at all?? I came to the wrong conclusion in my investigation of Mr. Kimbley, but you've confirmed that I was right about Ms. Newman!

[schrodingers_man]

Really, Detective? A message accusing Phi was the strongest evidence we had at the time? After I'd just successfully pinned down two Communists going by the Indoctrinator's actions and Mukuro was gunning for me earlier? She was wrong, but honestly, her argument was a lot stronger than anything Robin's got now. Kimbley was a real straight-forward guy, and he wasn't shy about making his opinions known. If he had a problem with Phi, he would've brought it to her. Some algae message trying to frame her up as a Communist wasn't his style. But it just might be yours.

You didn't mention any names at the trial yesterday, you know. You just asked if anyone else had any. But I think you did have a name in mind, and I don't think it was Robin Newman's. No, I think if we listened to you, you would've accused Simon Keyes, for the same reason you tried to accuse Zolf Kimbley.

He was targeted last night, probably because he was scanned the night before that. I honestly wasn't expecting that, you know. I figured Simon would never catch the Communists' eyes. After all, he was a quiet guy, always sticking to Knightley's shadow. He didn't draw a lot of attention to himself, not like me or Kimbley or Clay. Looks like he was the one person to land a role on our side with any sense of self preservation, for all the good that did him. So why did he get scanned?

I actually met with him one last time last night, after the trial, you know. I needed to give him a little proof of being the Troubleshooter, in case my little gambit didn't pay off. And he told me something very interesting, Detective. The only person he'd given any reason at all to suspect him of anything... was you. He didn't say why, said it was personal. But he's dead now, so I don't suppose you'd be willing to tell us why that was?

[thefaceofjustice]

Like I said, it seemed like the closest thing to evidence we had! Nobody had any actual proof, just speculation, so I went with what I thought was more likely to be the case.

I mentioned my suspicion of Ms. Newman to Mr. Paul. We were all in the same room during the trial, so I'm sure you overheard it.

I know about Mr. Keyes' criminal history, and I approached him about it in private; that must be what he was talking about. Ms. Newman is from the same city as I am and is studying law, so she probably knows about it too. I don't know why they targeted him, but if you really think it's because someone knew about him, then it was probably Ms. Newman's idea.

[schrodingers_man]

You're a better debater than the kid, Detective, I'll give you that, but I don't buy a word of it.

[thefaceofjustice]

So you're still going to try to get me killed even though you don't have a good reason??

[schrodingers_man]

What can I say, Detective? Every time I see that white coat of yours, it makes me see red.

[ It's like 65% being sure of his logic and 35% insane grudge, OK. ]

[fullonbraced]

So, wait, is this because of Detective Fullbright? Or is it because of someone else you know?

[schrodingers_man]

You stay out of this, runt! I've got bigger fish to fry than you!

[fullonbraced]

It must be someone you really hate if you're going after the Detective because of his coat.

[schrodingers_man]

I told you to stay out of it! It's none of your business!

[fullonbraced]

Come on, man! Everyone here has a secret! what does it matter?

[schrodingers_man]

You want a secret? I'm already dead! And it was a detective with a white coat that did me in!

[fullonbraced]

Wait! You're a ghost?!

[thefaceofjustice]

What? Seriously?? It's just a coat, it's removable!

[schrodingers_man]

That doesn't matter! Just that you'd choose that color is enough!

[thefaceofjustice]

You're wearing a white tie!!!

[schrodingers_man]

That's completely different!

[staunton]

Can both of you shut up!?

[schrodingers_man]

[ Yes, Dad.... ]

[staunton]

What he's wearing is irrelevant and won't get more people voting for him, Yomiel.

[schrodingers_man]

...Right.

I don't need any stronger evidence than what I've already given. My role isn't for finding Communists, it's for confirming my suspicions, and I haven't been wrong since Moge-ko.

[thefaceofjustice]

No it's not, it's the same color!

[standbyrival]

Okay, but what if you both just battled this out? Winner gets to not fall into the seemingly endless pit of fiery death below.

[thefaceofjustice]

What, like a courtroom battle?

[WE'RE FROM DIFFERENT VIDEO GAME FRANCHISES, PAUL.]