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

[standbyrival]

But that's exactly your argument. Instead of logic, you're assuming the communists are operating on more basic, primal instincts, like emotions and blood lust. Maybe you ought to go break your own legs, the sharp pain might give what little of a brain you have a nice kickstart.

[angry_jerk]

First off, breaking my own legs would be ridiculous unhelpful and force me to concentrate on the pain rather than anything else. Read a book, you asinine millennial.

Second off, you're exactly right. The bastards are more emotional, but also crafty assholes. So, if they want to divert suspicion, they're much more likely to try and hide it. The fact that I'm open with my desire to smash you into drill means I'm the least likely to be a communist.

[standbyrival]

. . .

[TO THE COMPUTER]

Computer, if I'm driven to jump off this podium to my death due to the pure idiocy coming from this guy's mouth, will that count as murder? Can he be put to death or get a penalty for it? Because I'm seriously considering it.

[thecomputer]

Thank you for your question, Citizen! Unfortunately, psychological warfare does not qualify as homicide, regardless of the results.

[standbyrival]

Unfortunate.

Still considering it, though.