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

[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.

[bolderfell]

By looks alone, I would've placed him around Zerinda's age.

[hardnosed]

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

[nothingcanstop]

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

[hardnosed]

So maybe he was always like that. Or maybe whatever changed his eyes was responsible.

Zerinda. What did it sound like he was trying to say?

[bogwife]

I think he was trying to say..."I'm a monster".

[hardnosed]

[ Yeah, that's about what she thought! ]

Could be like the third week. Maybe he turned on our powers with a specific target in mind.

[blackmass]

I suggested as much to Therion earlier in the week. Though...this isn't quite what I had in mind.

[hardnosed]

What were you thinking?

[blackmass]

My expectation was that the motive would target someone who can't survive when fully removed of their abilities. But it seems I miscalculated; now I would guess the Professor's intent was someone who can't control them.

[hardnosed]

Right. Or someone whose powers come with something else. Something they were probably glad was being suppressed.

[blackmass]

Precisely so. I would not be stunned to learn this situation was the intent all along; not from Vincent Valentine, but the Professor.

[nothingcanstop]

...Certainly sounds like his MO.

[bolderfell]

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

[hardnosed]

Which he didn't have.