Take Responsibility.

[antitrust]

After a while, the door at the bottom of those stairs unlocks and it swings open gently of its own accord, allowing everyone back down into the courtroom; it's not as bad as it was last week, but again, there are decidedly fewer of them than there were last time. The podium circle has changed once again, with Rick, Tabby and Sukuyo joining the ranks of the deceased, their podiums draped with black cloth and adorned with greyscale photographs. The shadows are quiet down in the darkness of the pit; for the time being, it's hard to say what the pit itself looks like after the explosion last week. One way or another, we'll find out by the end of the day. As usual, the proceedings are being watched from behind that panel of glass behind podium 30; he'll speak as soon as everyone has found their place in the circle. "Familial has been taken from you. Regardless of what her affiliation was – whether she was with me or the lot of you – you know what you have to do by now. There can be no hesitation; you should offer no mercy. It's you against the guilty. Take control of your fate, and hold them responsible." Ten Participants remain. However many more we lose today is up to you.

Comments

[perpend]

I know you can save everyone.

[sunsong]

Don't give me that shit! Obviously we can!

[ She...

Takes off her shoe and throws it at his head. SHE'S BEEN THREATENING THIS FOR WEEKS, AND NOW...Sol hops on one foot, working the other one off. ]

But why did you two jackasses decide we'd have to do it without you?! This isn't teamwork! I mean, sure, you two worked together, but holy shit! I'm going to fucking knock your heads together after we get you back!

[perpend]

[Well that's just going to bop him in the shoulder.

That gets more reaction out of Cabanela than he's had all trial.]

...You'll be fine. I know you will.

[sunsong]

[ WELL HAVE THE OTHER SHOE sol you need those THROWN HIS WAY ]

Of course we're going to win this shit! I'm not standing for anything else! But how fucking dare the two of you go off and do this...you're making us kill you, idiot!

[ Ugh she's all out of shoes to throw... ]

You better tell the assholes on the other side to look forward to getting their asses fucking handed to them after we save you all,0 got that?!

[blazeit]

We haven't saved a single goddamn person.

And now we have to add you to that list.

[openterrain]

[ Jean won't be throwing any shoes at Cabanela, but... ]

We were counting on you, you know. Maybe we didn't have much of a choice. Not when there's only a third of us left. But it doesn't change the fact that you were always helping us out during the trials and the investigations, or Sukuyo was always making food for us.

[ ..... ]

And it's not just us. Ashley and Hibiki and Mordecai... They all would have trusted you to keep us on track, not get yourself in some stupid faked suicide attempt.

[perpend]

....It was selfish of me, I know. I don't blame any of you for being angry with me. That's fine; I can live with that.

I can promise you this: I won't be sitting idle. I won't let death stop me.

[ninehundredlives]

What are you going to do? You'll be dead! You're not going to come back this time!

[perpend]

I still believe it's possible.

You will save everyone.

Those who have died are still here, we've seen enough evidence of it ourselves.

[ninehundredlives]

That doesn't mean they can come back! Mordecai is dead! And even if I could find her again, I would never let her do to you what she did to me.

[perpend]

There must be another way.

There's always another way. Don't lose hope. It's the most important thing to have right now.

[ninehundredlives]

[Susan lets out something that is not a laugh and covers her mouth with one hand for a moment.]

Right.