FIFTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ It's not terribly long, once everything has been found, before Davy Jones heads out to round you all up once more and take you into the theatre. At least plenty of you are around the same area, so it probably doesn't take terribly long.

The ride down to the trial room is the same as ever - a blast of the organ, a slow descent. It's really starting to become clear, though, just how your numbers are decreasing. You're already down three, counting the absence of Chloe, potentially more when you come back up.

The crew of the Dutchman is singing as Jones lets you out into the trial room. ]

To business, passengers. I am about if you need guidance.

[ The circle of podiums is less populated than ever. So many of you are islands now, so to speak.

The song dies down, the waters quiet.

Welcome to your fifth trial.. ]

Comments

[ltcommandroid]

Not Plumeria and Triandra as well?

[He finds that rather unusual.]

Why would that be? We all know how much you value them as well.

[dokkalfheimr]

Perhaps it's as you said. The Captain thought it was effective, and wanted to try again. I don't claim to know how he thinks.

[ltcommandroid]

But that motive, by its nature, only involved one other individual. As you say, you were willing to give your life for Plumeria and Triandra. They are important to you. I do not believe it could be an ideal future for you if they were not also alive and well.

[dokkalfheimr]

Well, perhaps he was just wrong, then? I don't...

[Mnnngh.]

What would you have me do, Data?

[ltcommandroid]

I cannot say.

[......]

Had this happened several weeks ago - had you kept silent at that meeting and simply carried out your plan - I believe I may have taken your word at the ensuing trial. That is why I cannot do so now. I cannot, in good conscience, risk the loss of twelve innocent lives due to...personal bias.

[not including himself in that count either because, well, there's a fair few things here that we don't have time to unpack right now]

I would like to believe that you are innocent, and you are correct in that I cannot currently speak to the method. But I know that you would be willing to dispose of all of us, save Plumeria, in return for your brother's life. Now she is no longer at risk - indeed, you may be able to save her as well as him. It goes to motive.

[dokkalfheimr]

...I meant it when I said I want to ensure that as many of us leave here as possible.

[scouserer]

[Hmm....]

You wanted to turn the motive on its head.

[Listen, he's just...spitballing here.]

[dokkalfheimr]

...Something like that.

[Here, just. Pass it around the fucking circle, if you want. She no longer cares.]

[jibunwo]

You--you really-...that was how you wanted to get us all out of here. You were gambling on twisting the rules and finding a loophole; claim victory and kill us all, and bring us back if Jack really meant what he offered.

[sivard]

That's--!

[jibunwo]

['KINDA FUCKED UP']

[dokkalfheimr]

I had to do what I could to win.

[jibunwo]

...I won't say that you're wrong. Reckless to trust his word, but not...wrong.

[queceracera]

I mean, we - Most of us would have done the same.

[Not you Magica, sit down.]

[dokkalfheimr]

...It wasn't completely reckless. I...

[Okay, just... Let her breathe.]

I didn't lie to you about everything. From what...seems to have happened, Plumeria poisoned Decus. I didn't encourage her, but I didn't discourage her as I should have. So she poisoned him, and they fought, and I...became worried while I was still upstairs and came down after her. To see if anything had happened, and if I could stop her if it hadn't.

But Decus was already dead. He was... He was as you found him, I didn't stab his corpse. And Plumeria was dying in the crafts room.

So when I came across her I...stayed with her for a while, and I eventually gave her some of the nectar from our realm that I had laced with cyanide. Not to use specifically on her, I just had it on me in case I needed it, but... I gave it to her, and she died.

If they had just been left like that, the incentive would have been wasted, since there is no way for the dead to collect. Maybe this way, I wouldn't...

[...]

Maybe I wouldn't be failing all of you. Again.

[jibunwo]

...No. You didn't fail us, that I will maintain even should everyone else curse you for it. Allow at least one mortal to refuse to hate you for your actions, and accept that you did the best for all of us, especially Plumeria.

[...What a strangely familiar sensation that was.]

I'm sorry for my part in accusing you. I assure you, And I'm sorry for what's going to happen next. Because no matter what, we can't trust that Jack will keep to his word.

But I promise-...no, I, Lelouch, swear to you, I won't give up. No matter how impossible, no matter how it defies logic and reason and even the natural order, I will fight to my last breath to ensure every single person--those in this room and beyond our reach--gets out of here and back home.

I won't let any of this be for nothing.

[leaveittomother]

[She doesn't say anything. She can't. She doesn't accuse but... well.

Sentimentality only gets you so far.]

[guffawsungraciously]

...

Well. It seems as though I truly was wrong about you.

[scythegun]

...You found Plumeria after she was already dying, then. What... happened after that, if I may ask?

[silentscout]

[Oh no.

Lalli can't really agree with the methods here, but he can at least understand what Freyja is thinking. And he's genuinely Upset now.]

You did it for us, and we just attacked you for it.

[GUILT GUILT GUILT]

[magycks]

... Seriously? You took this precious moments garbage and you killed for it? Please tell me she was at least set on this course of action before you got in on it — I mean, you've implied that heavily, but still.

[cethflayn]

Freyja...!

[She-

no, fuck, who among them is going to hold the brain cell]

[ltcommandroid]

[He...thinks about that for a moment.]

Has so much changed in only a few weeks?

[dokkalfheimr]

[play musical phone with constantine.]

[ltcommandroid]

[Well, of course the logic of this idea seems pretty inherently flawed to him.

But Data, after looking at it for a moment, just passes the phone along without a word.]