Fourth Trial

[bathymetric]

[ After the evidence (and what a large batch of evidence it is, this time) has been gathered up, after actually patiently waiting a longer time than usual to make sure everything's been grabbed, the speakers over New Rapture crackle to life. ]

Time's up, everyone. You know where to go.

[ The lower number of bathyspheres, as you descend, is starting to become really notable, isn't it? The descent is the same as ever, lower and lower into the sea. The bioluminescence of those slugs on the ocean floor is almost brighter today, somehow, and some of them have even crawled up the cliff face around you as you pass them.

The dome approaches, slowly as ever, gleaming red in the darkness. The bathyspheres land in a row, doors opening one by one to reveal the familiar sight of the trial room, three more podiums now darkened. ]

Take your places, ladies and gentlemen. You've got a doozy of a situation to discuss. Ass Man and Silver Fox are dead. You know what happens if you can't figure out whodunnit.

[ Welcome to your fourth trial. ]

Comments

[onemillion]

...Care to elaborate?

[look we have robotics but we don't have the Laws of Robotics yet, give us a little while and we'll develop them, probably.]

[pairtner]

Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence.

[onemillion]

So you have to fight until the end, because giving up simply isn't an option.

[The others are definitely engaging and taking down those mental locks, but...]

I understand. And... for what it's worth, I'm sorry that it came to this, Aiba.

[He can guess that it's the motive that's pushed her over the edge, but if there is anything more to it, she likely can't tell him.

But it's her life against his, and he's heard all he needs to vote for her.]

[pairtner]

.....

[Aiba shakes her head, and adds:]

I believe...it's about time. Please, state it loud, short and concise:

What did I do on Thursday night?

[Who did she kill, pretty much]

[onemillion]

[...So there's no room to argue with it any further.]

On Thursday night, you set a trap. That trap killed the Undertaker.

[pairtner]

...yes.

[visiblepattern]

You can choose, can't you?!

[It's sudden and sharp, and he's just...done.]

You told me that you wanted to protect us, that you were choosing to protect us - did I not do enough for you?! I tried, did I just not understand, I don't...

[He just kind of...stops yelling really abruptly and lets himself sink to the floor.]

You told me not to let my heart break, Aiba, so why are you doing it?

[pairtner]

Here