SIXTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ It's the same as the other weeks. Two bodies, some time to look, and then Davy Jones comes around to take those of you who are left into the theatre and into the elevator. His expression is dark, difficult to read.

The trip down feels slower than ever. The elevator has gotten so empty, don't you think?

As it reaches its usual destination, the crew of the Dutchman is performing once again. The clouds above have started to darken the once clear tropical waters.

The podiums await you. ]

At yer places! Find who is responsible for all of this!

[ Your numbers can't support many more weeks of this, can they?

Welcome to your sixth trial. ]

Comments

1/3 - ye best start believing in ghost stories

[bathymetric]

[Strange. How, as Jack lay dead on the deck of the Flying Dutchman, the camera remained trained on his still form. The undead crew surrounding him are alight with chatter; some pondering what exactly this means for this whole ‘game’. Others are already celebrating their more-or-less freedom now that their captain wasn’t the servant of a madman.

Nobody seems to notice the body twitch. No one but the camera.

Just a finger. Then a hand. Then the arms move, slowly, with the poise of something held up by strings.

The Captain rises to his feet without a word. The mere sight sent a wave of surprise over even the fishmen, leaving a dead silence that centered once more on the captain, his back still to the camera. Until he turns…]

2/3

[heroantagonist]

Aah. That was so nice of ya, lass.

[The long gash along Jack’s neck is seemingly no longer an issue, but there’s a greater one at hand: That is not Jack’s voice.]

Tis a shame that ye’ll still have to pay for running me through. Don’t be too sad now, that’s just how these things go. Graah!

[”Jack’s” eyes glow bright, flames of green replacing normal human colors, right before he rears back and punches Reika as hard as he can. Which seems to be enough to send the culprit flying up into the air. The monitor only catches her as she comes crashing down over the side of the Dutchman, into the Kraken’s maw.

Reika is dead.]

3/3

[heroantagonist]

Gahahaha! ...Ehh?

[”Jack” seemed so caught up in himself that he almost didn’t notice the fact he was being recorded. In fact, as his eyes snap to attention, looking at the camera - at all of you. He seems to be even more amused.

The monitors in the trial room shut off, the group is alone, just for a moment. Until the center of the trial room, between the many podiums, erupts in a burst of shimmering light and green fire.

Through those dying flames, “Jack” appears.]

Greetings, ah… ‘kiddos’ wasn’t it?

[cethflayn]

[s

sCREAMS

She's at Lalli's podium still so Constantine there is now a small young lady clinging to you because you're the closest person here]

[scouserer]

[JESUS--okay, he can accept this, this is fine.]

[cethflayn]

[THE DEAD DON'T JUST ERUPT INTO GREEN FLAME AND COME BACK TO LIFE SHE'S SCARED]

[jibunwo]

[what]

[the fuck]

Who in the hell are you now?!

[just gonna reach for that taser for all the good it won't do]

[heroantagonist]

I am most definitely NOT Handsome Jack!

[The voice is deeper, more jolly, if that's possible.]

A pleasure to finally make yer acquaintance in the flesh... so to speak! Gahaha!

[jibunwo]

I don't give a damn about Jack, I'm talking to you.

Who are you?

[ahelpingpaw]

[Welp things seriously are never as easy and neat as they should be, are they?]

...y-yes?

[That's all he can reply]

[heroantagonist]

Eh? Ahh, there he is. Erm, Filbo, right?

You're quite the fellow, aren't you?

[ahelpingpaw]

...I guess I am? Uh...

[Filbo grips his podium. He can't make a brave face at that, but at least he's not looking away]

...so, now what? What's gonna happen now that...well, things went off the rails like this?

[scythegun]

[................]

So I guess killing him is out of the question now.

[WHY!! IS THERE SO MUCH!!! FOCUSED ON BRINGING THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE!!!!!]

[heroantagonist]

On no, he's quite dead.

Bit of a relief, eh? Couldn't take another second of that man's prattle meself.

[scythegun]

Good to know! He really was quite annoying.

[But this isn't exactly looking any better, tbh???]

So, since you do seem to know a few things about him... did he accomplish what he set out to do... or were you just stringing him along the whole time?

[guffawsungraciously]

[you can see his smirk just kind of fade slowly off his face as he watches the whole thing until he's just kind of staring in some kind of shocked pikachu kind of expression

...he instinctively

puts his hand to one of his swords...]

[magycks]

[ well, she had enough hate in her heart for two scottish billionaires, this should be a cinch...! ]

This doesn't take away from how hilarious that death was in the slightest, just so you know.

[heroantagonist]

Course not! Did ye see how he fell over? Hilarious!

[sivard]

[Look, Zaveid has faced down an actual god before. And that went extremely not well. Which is why this time he is doing the smart thing now, which is backing away slowly.]

[heroantagonist]

[Leans forward slightly.]

Boo! Hahaha!

[ltcommandroid]

[Data instinctively moves to put himself between "Jack" and whoever else is standing closest to him.]

That form of address is not necessary. [...] After all, it was only Jack's habit, was it not?

[heroantagonist]

Aye, the metal man makes a strong point. I figure it's safe to just drop the entire thing, don't you?

[scouserer]

[With Flayn currently clinging to him, Constantine regards "Jack" with a intense, cold stare.

He's dealt with things like this before. He's gone from hell and back again. But it was always with a plan, always with something he was familiar with.]

Say your name. I command you to speak your name--and before you start, I know it's not bloody Handsome Jack.

[His hands are shaking, ever so slightly, betraying his otherwise unflinching attitude.

He is afraid.]

You're the one who's actually behind this, aren't you?

[cethflayn]

[bless you constantine]

[heroantagonist]

Aww, where be the fun in that? Can't ye just make a guess?

Ooh! Or follow those, er... puzzle things! Find the clues like you're all so good at!

[But "Jack" does offer a bow.]

I've pulled a good few strings in my time, aye.