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

[bogwife]

When he looked at me before he died his eyes were gold.

[bolderfell]

...Like Alice's?

[bogwife]

[She nods.] I thought the same thing.

[mouflon]

...Hey, if it was a case like Alice's, do you think... He lost control? If he was the one with the gun, that would explain why the spread of fire was the way it was.

[ladygeryon]

It also seems like he was the one scratching up the walls. Maybe he started out using the gun, but lost enough control that he couldn't even handle it anymore?

[bolderfell]

It wouldn't explain the lack of prints... though I guess it would if he was wearing a glove.

[bogwife]

[The color in Zerinda's face fades a little.]

Our powers were unstable. If he lost control and attacked someone and they fought back that would explain what he said.

[blackmass]

How strange. Do you presume that had something to do with everyone's power fluctuations, perhaps? In my own world, magic and the like are often tied to one's eyes.

[bogwife]

It's a possibility. Did anyone talk to him earlier this week?

[blackmass]

I don't know. I haven't spoken with many people this week myself.

[nothingcanstop]

He seemed...pretty alright during air hockey.

[bogwife]

Do you remember if his eyes were red or gold?

[hardnosed]

Don't tell me we've had another vampire the whole time.

[nothingcanstop]

His body was cold...

[bolderfell]

That's also not what a fifty-nine-year-old human looks like.

[nothingcanstop]

Look, I don't know with humans, you could just be ridiculously youthful.

[hardnosed]

How long does it take for that to happen, anyway?

[nothingcanstop]

Not...exactly sure, but it's definitely not that fast.

[bolderfell]

Can take a whole day to get all the way cold.

[mouflon]

Well, obviously he wasn't human. He was way too hot to be almost 60 years old.

[bolderfell]

...That's your type, huh.

[mouflon]

Wh- What do you mean? Do you have eyes?

[hardnosed]

Ugh, I don't know when you start to age!

[mouflon]

I mean, technically, we're always aging. It's just not as obvious at some points.

[bogwife]

...Honestly? Yeah. [He was very pretty.]