MOCK TRIAL

[hijackers]

"Alright, mooks, everybody make youse way down to the trial room, pronto!"

[There's certainly no trial room on the map. No trial soundstage, no trial room, where oh where could they be talking about. You might spend a long time looking for it, or only be thinking about it for a single second before it comes over you.

Whenever you close your ears, or even blink, you find yourself there.

The room is a cartoony laboratory, filled to the brims with scientific equipment and beakers beyond wondrous, almost impossible to imagine being utilized in any sort of actual scientific context. A large monitor is mounted on the ceiling, playing a single clip on repeat along with the words "IMAGINEER THINK TANK". There is a large stage underneath that television, which your two hosts take their places at quite readily.

A circle of metal podiums is set up on the ground floor, 26 in total. Each is marked with a name and a photograph of the individual who's supposed to take their place there, as well as a keyboard for inputting...something. The 26th podium is marked with a grayscale photograph of Gwenpool.

Your fellow participants appear in the room one-by-one, seeming to "digitize" out of nowhere. Once everyone has appeared in the room and taken their place, the air around them seems to go deathly still.

Mugsi holds a cigar between her lips, lighting it from a stick of dynamite lit by Kate. With Mugsi taking a deep inhale, Kate speaks, the dynamite somehow fizzling out.]

Each of you has a place you oughta be sitting, and your job is to solve the mystery that's been put before ya. Once you think you know who did it, input their name on the keyboard in front of you. Majority rules, participation is mandatory, and if ya vote wrong you're not gonna see the light of day ever again!

So, get on with it!

Comments

[billbillbill]

[Bill, on the other hand, looks unimpressed.]

Never get tired of being Captain Buzzkill, I see.

[keyofimagination]

If being a "buzzkill" means "saving innocent people from a lifetime of trauma", I would happily do it. What on earth possessed you to think any of this was a good idea?

[greekrevival]

[ Who is this...? Does she know him? Is this something from the memories they're missing? Annabeth's lips tighten to a thin line and her eyes turn stormy. However, she watches. ]

At least someone at EPCOT has some sense. [ aka, acknowledging that she had a damn point ]

[keyofimagination]

[Rod frowns.]

How much of your memory did he knock out of you, exactly?

[That... may be a dumb question, but hush.]

[greekrevival]

...Uh, I don't think I really know. He says we arrived here at EPCOT, but I don't remember doing that. He said we bought tickets, and we volunteered for this ride, that...was not what we were told. Last I remember, I was in Boston.

[ It's a worrying question. ]

[not_over_yet]

Last I recall, it was 1897.

[greekrevival]

I explained that to you, it's different times, keep up.

[not_over_yet]

[ He was accounting for that, thank you. ]

[keyofimagination]

... I'm afraid a year won't help. EPCOT is a portal between times and dimensions so there could theoretically be a person from every year in this park.

[worldsaway]

A portal. [Thor repeats, incredulous.] On Earth? And do people- ships and whatnot just get sucked into it?

[keyofimagination]

[Rod actually looks a little horrified at that.]

This is worst than I imagined...

You really have no memory of even coming to the park?

[greekrevival]

[ She shakes her head, dismally. ]

For us, this has felt like a whole week, too. Everything's been kind of...weird.

[stepfordsynthezoid]

Last I recall, I was under house arrest and would likely continue to be for very weeks.

[yayashton]

I'd say roughly 12 hours to a full day, barring any time spent in stasis. I don't know how long negotiations took.

[stepfordsynthezoid]

He mentioned the erasure of several memories. Not to give him credit, of course, but it seems he has justifications prepared for his general...

dickishness.

[greekrevival]

[ HECK YEAH VIRGINIA glowing pride here ]

[stepfordsynthezoid]

[She did a Big Swear but at least Annabeth likes her!!!]

[greekrevival]

[ shhhhh it's okay, if you wanted to do it it's fine, annabeth swears all the time she just gets around it by doing it in ancient greek ]

[keyofimagination]

Can't say I'm exactly surprised, knowing Bill.

[stepfordsynthezoid]

He does seem to have a memorable personality.

[.......]

I am aware you are not the original Rod Serling, but I did enjoy the Twilight Zone program when I downloaded it. Very fascinating work.

[keyofimagination]

[He smiles fondly at that.]

I fear this may be narcissistic of me to say, but I have always been fond of the show myself.

If your experience hasn't been completely tarnished, I would recommend you go to the Tower of Terror after this if you enjoy thrill rides and... The Twilight Zone.

[stepfordsynthezoid]

Oh my. [Chuckling a little. He said the thing!] If my family is here, I shall be sure to bring them

[billbillbill]

As if you're one to judge. I was just trying make a ride that's better than your precious "tower".

[keyofimagination]

If you're trying to compare my ride to this massacre, I'll have you know that my ride doesn't convince the guests that they have to kill each other to get out.

[bayoublues]

[What the hey. There's been too much weird shit going on this week.]

Uh. Mind stopping this ride for us, please? I-I'd like to get home as soon as possible.