Part 98: The Zodiac Trial Begins

[BGM: Silence]


Ugh... Jesus Christ, my head aches. It's like I can hear a blaring noise, just ringing and ringing and ringing. Shut up, shut up! What's with that noise, sounding so real. ...Wait, it is real! As I came to my senses, I realized that I was no longer blindfolded, no longer bound and gagged. Whatever alarm that was waking me up stops. I guess it finished doing its job. ...It was at this point I realized there was something covering my face. What's that feeling on my face?

I tried to pull it off, and to my surprise, realized a mouse mask had been put over my head. Why on earth would that be there? And more importantly, what was it stuck to? Some more investigation revealed that my throat was surrounded by a metallic, heavy necklace. The fuck? Immediately, I tried to get it off, but unlike the mask, this thing was here to stay. That didn't seem good. But I couldn't dwell on that. I needed to assess the situation.

[BGM: Rat's Awakening]


So, what did I know? It looked like I was in some sort of science classroom. Now then, why would that be the case? As I pondered that, I noticed another person, a man, getting to his feet.



Whoa, what the fuck?!

Ah!

Hey, what the hell's going on? Who are you?

Easy, easy, I don't know what's happening!

After calming down, I realized that the man and I were on the same page. We were kidnapped, put into some sort of ludicrous situation. For now, we decided to go by the animal names of the masks that we woke up in. Looking around, our situation seemed pretty grim. Locked in what appeared to be a school, without any idea of why we were taken. And, before long, a voice went on over the speakers.



???: Good morning, Rat. Good morning, Ox. How was your sleep?

What's this?

Some message from the kidnappers, I'd imagine.

???: I hope you got some rest. You'll need it for the upcoming race. Be prepared for the jury to face judgment.

???: I suggest you listen to what I have to say very carefully. Failure to comply with what I tell you will result in an immediate disqualification, and trust me, that outcome would leave no one satisfied.

???: Now then, you should both promptly proceed to the starting line. In this case, that would be the cafeteria on the first floor. Right outside this room should be a staircase which will take you to the first floor, and from there it's a simple right turn to get there.

???: Before you leave, make sure each of you grabs the tablet with your respective animal printed on it. Take good care of these. They will be critically important.

???: That is all for now. Once again, do come quickly. The Jade Emperor eagerly awaits your arrival.

And with that, the speakers cut off, leaving us just standing there, processing what we had just heard. After a back and forth, we decided to comply with the Voice's orders, making our way down to the cafeteria.



There, we met with a whole bunch of interesting characters.

An Olympian, a friendly looking guy, a gang leader.

A creepy artist, an incredibly jacked dude, a meek looking woman.

An apparent movie star, my therapist (to my great surprise), a journalist.

And a scruffy looking man who was eyeing me with plenty of suspicion.

We all agreed to my suggestion of adopting our animal masks as monikers. The wait for some sort of explanation as to what was going on was certainly unpleasant. However, eventually, a television turned on, showing a hooded person I could only assume to be the Jade Emperor. They demanded that we all put on our animal masks while they spoke. After we complied, they began to explain the situation we had found ourselves in.

[BGM: A Bite That Persists]


You all, if you have not yet realized, will be the 12 zodiac animals who will compete in my race.

I thought it might be like that...

You might ask why you are 'animals'. There are a number of good answers to this question, but to put it simply, you all live your lives with the awareness of animals. You go about, day to day, without a goddamn care in the world.

Peacefully moving onwards, never stopping back to reflect or apologize for your sins.

Your murder.

Our murder? What are you talking about?

Oh, don't even pretend you don't know, you filthy glory-hungry liar!



You see, perhaps not all of you know it, but the twelve of you were the 'jury' of a particular trial. Of course, you weren't the actual jury- I don't blame them. What I mean is that each of you made selfish or stupid choices.

Each of you were complicit, each of you decided to help hang an innocent man for a murder he did not commit. And this idea you all have, that you just get to walk away from that and not look at what you've done, it's sickening!

It's not fair. You all deserve a chance to be punished. You must all be tried. So this is what we're doing today. A Zodiac Trial.

A trial? As in, we're being prosecuted?

Perhaps my word choice has given off the wrong impression. Initially, I had an idea more similar to that; however, I think instead we shall settle this with a race. A race fitting for the beasts you are.

So, uh, are there rules to this trial?

Finally, someone is asking the proper questions. Please, take a look at this display.

[BGM: Lamb to the Slaughter]


As you can see, your 12 animals are lined up on the left, going from top to bottom in the order they come on the calender. You may also notice there are 24 spaces between the starting line for the animals and the end of it.

The aim of this race is to use the tablets provided to move your animal to the finish line as quickly as possible.

That makes sense.

Before continuing, I think it would be pertinent to address a certain rule you all will likely find important. Each tablet may only be operated by its owner. Additionally, the owner must be alone in a room when using it.

If you operate your tablet with another person in the room, or if someone else operates your tablet, you will be instantly executed.

EXECUTED?!

I expected something like this, but still, it's a shock to hear it laid out like that.

What the fuck?!

Hey dipshit! You think you can kill me that easily?



Oh, but I can. For you see, each of your necklaces are outfitted with a devious device. At the mere push of a button, knives on the inside of the collar will come out, cleanly slicing your necks open, leaving you to die.

How does it feel? Knowing that just like that, you could be executed. Dead. Feel fun? Is it enjoyable for you scum?

B-But I don't want to die!

Calm down. We'll only be executed if we break your rules, right?

There's a bit more to it then that, but you're right in that I won't kill you for no reason. There'd be no point to any of this if I was just a senseless murderer. No, I guarantee that if all of you behave appropriately, every single one of you can leave here alive.

And what does that entail?

The race will consist of 12 rounds. If no animals are able to get to the finish line at the end of the 12th round, all of you will be executed. Every round will last 45 minutes. All participants must take an action within those 45 minutes. If a participant does not take an action during a round, they will be executed.



At the end of the round, the animals take their actions in order from the top of the screen to the bottom. Using the tablet, there are a few available actions to choose from.

All animals are able to simply RUN. Choosing to RUN will move your animal 1 space forwards.

You may also choose to use your animal ability. Each animal has their own ability which can help them in the race. Be sure to click the Information button to learn what your ability does.

Participants are also allowed to CONFESS once per game. If you choose CONFESS, then at the end of the round when it is your animal's turn, you will be given an opportunity.

You may use this one minute opportunity to give a meaningful confession to me. Afterwards, I will rate the effectiveness of the confession, and your animal may move anywhere from 0 to 5 spaces.

What's the basis for your ranking?

I'm under no obligation to tell you that. Try it out for yourself if you're so curious.



Finally, you can also choose to use an item. Throughout the school, I have hidden some things of practical use as well as items to be used in the race. The physical item will have a passcode on it. Input the passcode into your tablet to use it.

Only one participant may use any given item per round. There are a total of 24 items in the school, a Minor and Major Trinket for each animal.

All animal Minor trinkets are the same. Using it will move you a number of spaces equal to the number of other animals who used a Minor trinket that turn. For example, if you use the Mouse Minor Trinket by yourself, you'll move one space forward. However, if you use the Mouse Minor Trinket, a friend uses the Ox Minor Trinket, and two enemies use the Tiger and Bunny Minor Trinkets, you'll all move 4 spaces.

On the other hand, the Major Trinkets each have their own effect. You'll have to figure out what they do by finding them yourselves. Even though each animal has a Minor and Major trinket based on them, they're not exclusive to said animal. So if Dog wanted to use Pig's Minor Trinket, that's totally allowed.

Tch. What a childish game for us to stake our lives on.

It really makes you all seem small in comparison, doesn't it? Anyways, that is the essence of this race.



At the end of each round, after all the animals have taken their actions, if any animals have made it to the finish line the race will end. Those at the finish line will have their collars automatically unlock, and everyone else will be executed.

Aah!

Seriously?

[BGM: Silence]


Heh heh heh... How you choose to run the race is up to you.

Hey, Brian, I gotta ask you something.

Brian?!

Wh-what are you talking about?

Bri, buddy, where is he?

Where's who?

You told me I'd be seeing my ol' pal Olly here. But I'm not seeing him right now. What's up with that?

...

[BGM: That Pesky Rodent]


Unceremoniously, the television cut off. It appeared Dog's comment had caught the Jade Emperor off guard.

The hell was that about? You chatted with this asshole?

Nah, not really. I was just trying to get a reaction out of the guy. And I think I did my job preeeeetty well, if you ask me.

B-but, um, why'd you call him Brian?

It appears our compatriot Dog has caught on to what I noticed.

You noticed it too?!

Snake went on to explain who our mysterious captor was. The son of one Aaron Bowen. Things suddenly clicked into place for me. I realized how I fit into all of this. That's what this was?



Fuck this!

Mouse? Are you okay?

Seriously? Is this supposed to be revenge for your dad's execution? Okay, be in denial about your dad's guilt. But why take it out on me? You're going to ruin your life to take revenge on someone who wasn't even involved?!

Or what, are you angry that my father wasn't able to save your dad up against all that evidence? My father believed in your dad's innocence, Brian, and he tried his best to save him.

And because of that, you put me through this shit? That's fucked up and you know it, Brian!

Whoa, Mouse! You're right to be angry, but let's take a moment to calm down.

Where do you get off trying to tell her to calm down? If anything, she should be more mad! God knows I am! After all, there's no goddamn reason I should be here. I ain't got the faintest idea what connects me to all this.

[BGM: Silence]


Really? Are you sure about that?

Wh-what are you saying? You callin' me a liar?!

No, no, not at all. I'm just saying, I would think you'd have some connection to the case. After all, I'm looking around, and most of these people do.

So think hard – are you sure you're not involved in this at all?

Of course I'm not!

Bizarre.

Hey, hey, it's also weird that I'm here! I mean, what did I do to deserve this? The articles I put out weren't unfair or anything! And a bunch of people reported on it all!

[BGM: Ox's Logic]


From there, people began discussing their connections to the case. It did seem like almost everyone had some reason for being here. Even if many of those reasons seemed... incredibly tenuous. So then... why was Dragon here? Regardless, the group couldn't focus on that. There were more important matters. We needed to deal with this stupid game that Brian had set up. There had to be some way of getting through it as a group. A couple of ideas were thrown around, until an idea was formed.

Look, let's just try the simplest solution.

The simplest solution? What's that?

I'm talking about the Minor Trinkets.

I get it.

You do?

There are twelve Minor Trinkets, and their movement is equal to the number of people using them. If we are able to find all twelve, we'd be able to cross the finish line as a group in two rounds.

Oh, that's a good idea, Horse! If we just do that, we'll all be fine!

So, uh, we can all get out of this alive then?

[BGM: Dog Days]


Hey, have any of y'all seen a knife like this before?

Out of the blue, Dog pulled out a knife in front of everybody. What the hell?! Why did he have something like this? As he held it out, it looked like he was scanning everybody's expressions.

What the hell? Wh-why do you have that??

I keep it on my person at all times. I checked my boot, and I found that I still had it on me.

Smart.

I have to say it's a real swanky knife.

Ooh, can I play with it?

No.

Pleeeeease?

I already said no.

Pretty please?

Well, when you put it like that... Fine.

Really?

Of course not.



Rooster pouted, and turned to Monkey.

Dog's mean.

I'm aware.

Dumb as it seemed, Rooster did have a point. The knife was gold, and had many intricate engravings on it. Seemed pricey.

Is there... a point in this line of questioning?

Not particularly. Just thought it'd be weird if anyone did have a knife like this.

Especially since there are only two of these out there.

If that's the case, why did you think one of us would have one?!

I dunno.



Although, I do want one now.

You think it's cool already? Check out this!

Dog pressed a little button on the knife, and the base of the knife fell down, revealing a little compartment. In said compartment, there appeared to be a small metal capsule.

A little hidey hole!

He said this with enthusiasm, but again, it looked like Dog was more concerned with everybody's expressions than anything else.

That's sick!

Right? So, how much would you be willing to pay for it?

Paying's boring. I'll bet you something for it!

That doesn't seem very fair.

Hmm. What would you be betting?



I dunno. An olympic medal maybe?

You'd be willing to part with that?!

Um, I thought you said you didn't actually place in the Olympics...

Oh, you don't have to place to get an Olympic medal.

Huh?

Yeah, they hand out commemorative medals to everybody who participates now.

*sigh* What is happening to the world?

[BGM: Silence]


Could everyone settle down? We have gotten wildly off topic. Did you all just forget we're in a life and death situation?

Anyways, like Horse pointed out, with the Trinkets, it would only take 2 rounds to finish the race. We have plenty of time to search, and the school isn't all that large. Let's first try to find all the Minor Trinkets.

Sounds good! So then, should we start our search?

Actually, we should input a move. After all this talking, Round 1's almost over.

I looked over to a nearby clock and found that Bunny was absolutely right.

Ah, Bunny's right. So, let's all split up and input our RUN actions. After that, we can reconvene and start our search.