FINAL TRIAL

[bathymetric]

Alright, that's enough snooping around for one day. There's a door in the underground tunnels that lets out beyond the vault door, just use that to get to the elevator. One of you has a damn staff keycard now, might as well just have you use it, since apparently I'm down both of my Assistants. The code is 020594.

[ As you head in and punch in the code, the elevator rises up to meet you one last time. And one last time, you take the ride down into the depths, evidence in hand. Something stirs in you - hope? Dread? It's hard to feel nothing at a time like this, don't you think? Even if it's just being really angry at The Professor.

When you reach the bottom, the dome is the same but you find the setup itself changed wildly. There's no sign at all of the original podiums or where they were, just a number of sleek new ones and a box of frosted glass. It stands out in stark contrast to the inky blackness of the sea outside. The lights don't reach out of the dome at all, and within the dome they illuminate the silhouette of a man, sitting at a desk, hands folded in front of him.

The Professor is here. You hope. Do you have any choice but to believe he's here? ]

Take your places, boys and girls. It's not what I think any of us anticipated, but it's time for your final trial. There are several questions I expect you to be able to answer, the largest being, well... tell me where you are and what you're doing here. Though I suspect first you'll want to talk over your... evidence.

[ Welcome to your final trial. ]

Comments

[bathymetric]

My profile is accurate, yes.

[bolderfell]

That considered old for your profession in this world?

[bathymetric]

Not really, no.

[bolderfell]

Just wondering. See, I remember you mentioning something about a successor that very first day. Someone to pick up where you left off if you died before this was done.

[bathymetric]

Ah, I see. Well... I do have one selected, but I doubt you'll meet her. But if one of you showed exceptional promise... who could say?

[bolderfell]

That "favored agent" of yours?

[bathymetric]

Precisely. Naming choices aside, she has a great deal of potential. Though ultimately the decision would fall on the rest of the Faculty.

[bolderfell]

...You know, I wasn't going to say anything, but are all your favorites pretty young women?

[bathymetric]

[ ... ]

A coincidence, I assure you.

[bolderfell]

Hmm.

[Hmm.]

[mouflon]

Hey, Professor.

How do you feel about nature versus nurture?

[bathymetric]

As a general argument towards what shapes a person? Both are important, and with the right tools, both are mutable.

[mouflon]

I'm just curious. Birkin says there's talk of killing the mind, to make us blank slates for you or whatever it is you want to do. But you know what I said to Jasper the other week, right? I don't know who I would be, if my life were different than the one I lead.

What do you think? Is there some intrinsic quality in me that'd make me a valuable agent for someone like you, even if you took that whole life away from me? Or do you plan to somehow make us compliant, even with that stuff left behind?

[bathymetric]

An interesting thought. But I fear answering it would give a little too much of what you need to figure out for yourself away.

[fivestagegod]

[...Mm. Well, that's duly noted.]

[mouflon]

Suit yourself. We'll figure it out either way.