SIXTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

Alright, same as every week before this - gather at the Vault Door so my Assistant can let you in. And I can start hoping to salvage at least the aquarium.

[ The Assistant, nee Failsafe, stands in her armor at the ready when you arrive, not saying a word and simply unlocking the door and elevator for you to head on down to the trial room. Second verse, same as the first five verses, but a whole lot quieter and a whole lot meaner.

The elevator is a lot emptier now, isn't it? Your number has fallen yet again since the last time you were here. Feels like yesterday, or maybe forever ago? Time's feeling pretty weird right about now, but trial days are for getting locked into the moment. You're here, you're present.

You're running out of allies.

The screens are the same as ever, though, and lower as you enter. ]

I see you haven't decided to continue to increase the number of bodies this week. Perhaps something to be thankful for, in all of this. Hotshot is dead, and the responsibility of finding his killer falls to you. Hopefully this is all old hat to you by now, no?

[The screens rise.

Welcome to your sixth trial. ]

Comments

[bolderfell]

[First thing, Therion lays a rifle across his podium. He'll come around to it eventually.]

I looked around where we found him while Zerinda checked the body. Think everyone saw how badly the place was damaged. The walls, the ceiling--and it was particularly bad over by the entrance to the weapons display. Like something exploded, or something hit the floor hard enough to make shockwaves. And that's not the only thing that did damage.

[He takes out a Ziploc bag with some weirdly corroded rock samples inside.]

Anyone familiar with different acids? Because I can't figure out what melted these rocks. Smells sharper than the acids I know. Metallic.

[Finally, he gestures at the gun.]

Also, someone who knows more about this should take a look at it. I already dusted it. No prints on it at all.