"That is part of my decision making process, yes, as it is information that I have. But mostly, it is what Professor Devries says. I am just saying it is not inconsistent..." says Meowselsworth. "I vote mostly based on her direction. It is also curious how Duke Leto decided to cast his vote against me, claiming I am the devil. If I must die so that people may be able to trust that I mean the best, then so be it, but I do not think it is worthwhile when Professor Devries has already given us a lead. Vote for me if you think I am an assassin, that is fine, but voting for me because of a popularity contest or to defend yourselves or whatever other reason you have... I advise against it."
Taraz was stunned when Rashida bluntly offered to let him kiss her on the dance floor, so much so that he missed his chance as the host made his announcement. Taraz watched with cold eyes as the Duke was shot dead. And then the posturing began. Enemies acting sympathetic and comrades blowing smoke, but...the promise had been kept. Taraz let out a long breath, as release of tension that had built up when the deal had been struck.
Then...
Then the Dame made her accusation against the Baron von Zombi. Paranoia and fear sprouted amongst the nobles. Alessandra's integrity was questioned, suddenly the cat was accused as well. Party goers who had stayed out of the intrigue for most of the hours miraculously materialized out of yachts, cloak rooms, and probably from under tables. And all suddenly had a story.
It was too much. The woman should have stayed silent. Now she had opened a pandora's box of distrust.
"Everyone !" Taraz bellows to the agitated group. "I have the answers that you seek. The how and the why and the who. I ask you all to consider what I say very carefully, so that this nonsense bickering will end and we can move forward together. And live!"
"...Was it that I sniffed your delicate game with Taraz, the public hatred to mask the private support?"
Taraz begins to slowly wend his way amongst the nobles assembled.
"That is incorrect. She and I have been at odds, but..." Taraz looks significantly at the proclaimed Mason. "We found common ground. An exchange of information. She possessed the name of the Devil which I had made it clear I desired, and I know the names of the other assassins. Or rather at the time of the exchange, I had two. As of the last hour, I have three. She can tell you herself, I didn't trust her. Until I heard the confirmation from the mouth of our host, I feared that Alessandra played a different game altogether."
Taraz stops and removes his hooded cloak, tossing it aside. For some reason, the Serv-Bots which normally seem so unnoticeable are suddenly underfoot. There are Serv-bots at the nobles' feet, flying through the air, in the food, posing as bottles...they're everywhere. There is even one sneaking out of the cloak room very crudely disguised as a short woman.
"In order to put this all to rest, let me admit my place in this." Taraz raises his arms, snaps his fingers, and immediately the Serv-Bots converge on him. In the blink of an eye, Taraz is covered from head to toe in a near seamless suit of...well, Serv-Bot armor with some rather dangerous looking weapons attached to various points. The now somehwhat mechanized sounding voice of Taraz emits from the Serv-Suit.
"I, Taraz Rorenson, Lord of Serv-Bots, am one of the Protectors."
Taraz lowers his arms, and the Serv-Bots scatter seemingly disappearing from view once more.
"To make things simple to understand allow me to quickly summarize the reason of my confidence. I have found the other Protector and the Investigator, completely without the aid of the Masonic League. Our combined abilities to scan and protect was able to prevent the death of one of our own leading us to the assassin who is the Lover, and it was leverage on the Lover which allowed us to determine that one with the group Alessandra formed had indeed compromised them. The assassin's Lover.
"With this knowledge, and a little bit of luck, the other assassins have been discovered as well. I, as you all know for we made no secret of it, parlayed with the self-proclaimed Mason advising her that she was compromised by the Lover. In exchange she offered to name the Devil to which I advised if she was right, I would trust her with the names of the other assassins and she would offer the support of the League."
Taraz turns to the Dame with an angry expression. "It would have been better to let me name them, for as the Baron von Zombi questioned you, and Ingilstadt withheld his vote, you should have been able to see the doubt had been spread already. After all, you made the first move." Here Taraz gestures to a white pawn on the chessboard sitting at King's 4. Taraz moves a black knight to King's 3. "It's only polite to let your opponent take his turn."
"As for this controversy with the Duchess Kittington." Taraz brazenly approaches Meowselsworth and picks her up into his arms.
"I investigated her with spy bots myself at the beginning of this party. Unless my methods were faulty, she is no assassin." Taraz strokes the kitty's fur.
"Despite her haste, the Professor Alessandra is not incorrect. The Baron von Zombi has been twice proven to be an assassin. And as Alessandra had some time to verify that information, her vote only seems to prove what my 'cabal' of Investigator and Protectors was able to determine."
Taraz walks before the Baron Gigus. "I am sorry to see you go. Until the results returned, I had expected you to become a worthy ally. Perhaps when you reform in your phylactory next, you will be reformed and no longer seek to take life."
Meowselsworth does not resist being picked up and the feline says, "I am thankful that someone is standing up for me now... If I die here, I hope it is at the hands of assassins, and not friends... Thank you, Lord Taraz."
"Oh, Lord Taraz, you great fool, you have made yourself a target to prove a claim that isn't true," the zombie says sadly. "But, for what it is worth, you have certainly proven yourself to be a fine man, despite your predicaments of the feminine persuasion."
The zombie looks around at the accusing nobles, his ravaged face under the half-mask wet with tears.
"I wish I could say there is a phylactery, my Lord, but I simply do not know. Believe me when I say that other than hints and flashes, this party is all I have known. Why, why, would I want to harm any of you? I know what death does first-hand, and it cripples me to think of any of you going the route I have already walked!"
Von Zombi huddles in his chair, the blue eyes in the half-mask barely alight.
"But it don't signify, I suppose. Which if I am to be hauled before the mast, a shot to the brain, if you please."
He manages to muster up a wan smile.
"That IS how one kills a zombie, after all."
"I am sorry Baron von Zombi... I vote because I trust those who are accusing you, and that they are wiser than I. The messages, they are a minor part, and as I said... most among us claimed to be an assassin for a chance to trip the devil they perceived up. I think there will be no accusations based off of that..." says Meowselsworth, softly, "If you truly are innocent, I am so sorry, I already feel terribly at the mere thought. But if you are an assassin... then I think I may still feel terribly. You have been pleasant company."
Cassie looks on astonished by the flurry of words, accusations and counter-'proofs'. Her head in a spin, she leans in Rashida, before spinning away. Once more on the dance floor. "Tonigh, we have had been playing games and dancing, not just literally. So Taraz, you are a protector? No of virtue, I would guess..." she smiles calmly.
Rashida glares at Cassie. "Taraz deserves credit for what he has done, not more ridicule and castigation, Cassie. Without Protectors, I'm certain many of us would be dead by now. We should be grateful."
Her mask turns to Baron Von Zombi and she paces slowly towards the big man while she speaks.
"And you, Baron," she chokes, "I wanted to trust you. I wanted to be your friend. When I was tested and asked who to test further and bring into an alliance, I named you so you could be cleared quickly. Imagine my hurt when you were not! And then again, you proved false. Either you are a vile assassin, which is painful beyond belief, or I have been horribly deceived. This next hour will bring the answer. If I have been deceived, you will be avenged. And if not... how can you stand there and speak to me of honesty when you lie to my face?"
With the last words, she stands directly before the Baron, arms folded, then suddenly cocks her head quizzically, speaking quite softly to the great undead.
"Perhaps you do not lie. Could it be you do not know what you are? That the flashes of deadly rage come to you like the memories of your old life that we have all seen here, then vanish before you realize the truth?"
Cassie looks upset by the rebuke; turning to Taraz in his armoured Servos form she walks towards him. "You know I don't mean it don't you?" she says apologetically as she strokes his face.
Rashida's words resonate with her, the daughter of the Gods was in so much pain. 'Who to trust, who lies and who has murder in their heart.' Cassie gently rubs a cut on her hand and looks to the other people.
"Does anyone wish to join me in a dance, perhaps words alone will not influence my" lack of "mind." the Frenchwoman retrieves her fan.
"Hmm, an interesting point. The Baron could be a sleeper agent as well, not even aware of what he does. That is the final bit I need to throw in my support as well."
Wowbagger consoles the Baron with a genuine show of affection:
"First you were contacted by someone under a false identity claiming to have socially stigmatizing information on you using social media."
"Second, you responded in confidence assuming your information would be confidential and said some things you wouldn't want repeated."
"Third, your information was forwarded to a clique which has passed judgement on you."
"Fourth, you are being outed in a public forum now and it will lead to your death."
"Baron, I hate to say it--you have been cyberbullied."
"If these means are used to 'win', I am saying it will be a pyrrhic victory. I stand against those being cyberbullied on principle. I am disappointed others do not."
Wowbagger dramatically wrings his hands.
"If alien and zombie love is our crime, than so be it."
"If it will serve to allay any fears and suspicious about her, I will say a few things about the duchess's private communications to me. Unlike some she has been the soul of courtesy, perfectly solicitous of our needs without prying for information. Her role in the 'alliance', if you wish to call it that, was purely to advocate on our behalf... she has made no accusations of her own and has not claimed to speak to me on behalf of the skilled investigators amongst us- again, unlike some..."
Cassie listens at the accusations of inproprietary and bullying; "So Wowbagger, you are in love with the Baron. How wondeful, may I have a dance to celebrate." Cassie moves to take the aliens hand and whisk him onto the dance-floor. Her heels click against the polished wooden floor. "Music please." she asks the orchestra.
"So what do you fancy, 'The Monster Mash', 'Thriller' or are you Tongue-tied?" She asks.
"...unlike some..."
Taraz looks at Alessandra with amusement.
"Feeling petty, my dear Alessandra? Surely, we are beyond such childish jibes at this stage."
"Goodness, did you think I was talking about you?" Alessandra asks, as she advances her queen's pawn forward one square.
"Alessandra Devries, You Are No Mason. You Are an Assassin. You Fooled Us Into Believing That You Were True By Sacrificing Duke Leto, Who You Believed To Be The Lover And Thus Capable Of Betraying You. You Have Targeted Me Because You Knew I Feared You Would And You Needed To Keep Attention Off Of You While You Seek Out The Lover, Since Leto Was Not Your Turncoat!"
Alessandra takes the accusation in stride, languidly moving a piece in her game with the General and asking "So, you are stating that the masons are working with the assassins? If I am not a mason then that would mean that there were three people in this room who knew of my supposed deception and were complicit in it. Why would you imagine they would let this go on?"
"It would have been better to let me name them, for as the Baron von Zombi questioned you, and Ingilstadt withheld his vote, you should have been able to see the doubt had been spread already. After all, you made the first move."
"Ah, but sounding out the doubt was part of the point. Those who pressed me to give up information that could make our investigators more vulnerable and those who chose to side with the assassin on this vote... well, I imagine they have given the detective a good starting point for revealing the identities of the remaining assassins." With an impish grin and a twinkle in her eye she declares in a stage whisper, "If it will make you feel any better, you can announce the next assassin we uncover."
"I am sorry, Baron…"
The zombie nods to the feline Duchess, wiping his cheeks, the blue eyes brightening a little.
"I understand, Your Grace, and for what little it means, I regret casting a vote for you in a futile attempt to save my hide. You have been quite the marvel, in every sense, at this party."
"And you, Baron…"
As Rashida glides towards him, the zombie wrings his hands, and sits in silence throughout her speech.
"I do not have to imagine your pain, Most Holy," and he holds up his bare wrist, "For even though I knew it was coming, I never knew anything could cut so deep as feeling that snake slither from my arm. My dear Massri, I… I cannot do anything but trust you…"
He looks down at his hands.
"Gods, could that be the truth of it, what you suggest? I know not who I am; I know not if I am even sane! Who? If this is true, who would gain by sending one who deceives even himself to this gala…"
The blue eyes turn towards the balcony where Baron Von Ryuko stands watching.
"Lady Alessandra, ignore my ramblings as you should…I think I may know who deserves my ire."
Cassie looks to the forlorn Baron, "Join me on the floor." she follows his gaze to the balcony. A dark look crosses her face; "Yes...him. I had promised another not to throw my life away, but he begs for my wrath." she whispers lightly.
Her eyes begs for the undead man to join the pair.
Taraz bows to the mocking educator.
"As usual, I do not find wisdom in the words you choose to speak. As has often been the case, it is what you do not say which I hear more loudly. For those who doubt, I can only say trust your instincts. I have gotten far with mine and only trusted when I was forced to make a choice."
Taraz walks to Kimefe and places a hand on her side sweeping her own in his other. As the monster music begins he leads the startled girl in some groovy dancing.
Taraz calls from the dance floor. "As far as who the assassins are, one is assured of certainty, and the last will be twice checked after this hour. So let us dance!"
"Nay, Lady DuSollier. I appreciate the kindness, but for me the time for dancing has passed,"Gigus says, never removing his eyes from the balcony.
"Baron Gigus von Zombi... it is indeed that you act without the knowledge, being a sleeper agent. My biological mother, in the last days of her life, went completely mad and fragmented her personality, to keep herself unaware that she was in fact a serial killer," says Duchess Kittington von Meowselsworth II. "She acted as though she had no knowledge of the madness in her head, except when no eyes were upon her, and it served to make her a more deadly killer. Such a thing should not afflict anyone, it is tragic... I am indeed sorry, Baron Gigus von Zombi."
At the Duchess' words of sympathy for the undead zombie lord, Taraz misses a step, but manages to catch himself and continue his dance with Kimefe. His eyes turn towards the Baron with a sadness and regret.
Cassie stops mid-dance; 'Oh, the party is over. I knew it but.... just hoped we could get a little pleasure before.'
"I'll be back..." she says to the Alien. As she moves off the floor to the Baron's side. Gently, she touches his wrist, though his eyes are unmoving from the balcony. Stretching up to him she whispers quietly to him... "He has done this to you? Forcing our hand." she strokes his arm softly; "If they do... do... well I have the technology, or I will find it. Hunting to the corners of the globe, I will revive you." She holds tightly to him. "Vengeance...."
Rashida stands fixed for long minutes, observing all in rigid silence. Finally she sighs, drooping with disappointment. "I cannot countenance the monster within, Baron. You must understand that. But the man I have come to know -- him I will always call friend."
She teases off one of her wrist snakes and stretches her hand out, offering the serpent to Von Zombi. "I will stand by my friend Gigus to the very end, if it gives him comfort and he allows it."
Gigus' gaze breaks from the balcony, looking between Cassie and Rashida in astonishment and gratitude. He then bows his head, one hand clinging to Lady DuSollier as the stitched one takes the golden snake.
"If what we learn at the stroke of the hour is what we expect it to be…then I do not deserve friends like you, Madame DuSollier, Most Holy…but thank you. I am greatly touched and honored by both of your actions."
He presses the snake to his cheek and leans against Cassie's support as the clock advances slowly, inexorably.
Wowbagger bows to Taraz as he moves the king pawn forward another square, "You are a master of this game and the dance. I congratulate you on your consummate use of the lovers. Manipulating them the way you did was well done. Your tactics did not include anything I would consider out of line. It is somewhat sad that the <Edited for Taste>early deception was used. You would probably have been successful without it."
Taraz simply sighs at Wowbagger's continued misuse of the expression of 'cyberbullying' and continues dancing.
"Thank you Taraz, for pointing out fauz paus." Wowbagger coughs and mumbles.
"My time with Charlie Sheen in rehab drinking scotch and working on my Tiger Blood did me no favors."
"Can anyone explain how the Devil was scanned twice, the Baron scanned twice, Meows was scanned, and the militants still protected the Masons during three rounds, all with only a single investigator?"
Ingilstadt counts the fingers on one hand repeatedly, the tally never seeming to add up correctly.
"I think I understand why all of us have ended up in a situation where we're short of money and desperate for land to restore our family fortunes, for not one among us can apparently count past 5."
Cassie looks at Baron Von Zombi holding his arm; "I thought I could cry no more, but you are too brave and noble a man." a wet streak slides down beneath her mask, a dark stain against her pale skin.
Her voice quivering; "What fiend that has done this to you - we will not countenance it, if we break into the gates of Hell to find out. We will." She holds onto the tall man tightly; "Together, friend, together."
"Okay, well, I am fairly certain that Lord Taraz did all of his work without my direction, Mr. Wowbagger. I imagine he can confirm that I have not relayed my information to him. I am just an aristocrat, and I had two choices: Sit idly and allow others to do all the work, or attempt to be clever as I can possibly be to aid survival. I apologize if my attempts at this have offended your sensibilities, but the past is past. I likely would not attempt such a tactic in the future, as it makes people cry for my blood, and more dreadfully, breaks order and brings mistrust. I was only hoping to perhaps gain some information, and to weaken the Devil's abilities to coordinate," says Duchess Meowselsworth. "For what it is worth, I am sorry for my deception."
The feline speaks to the Baron von Zombi, walking towards him, "I came to this party mostly in order to meet new people, rather than gain benefit, and I shall remember you as a friend, if you would have my friendship."
To Ingilstadt, Meowselsworth remarks, "Perhaps the assassins targeted one another. Also, I am uncertain how protectors operate. Can they investigate and protect simultaneously?"
"I somehow doubt that Lord Rorenson is the only one investigating us," Vorian responds to Ingilstadt, as he pours himself another drink, "But to think that all the detectives among us would place their trust in Dame Devries at once is quite daunting, though that is apparently the case."
"Just how did the Masons 'use' the Lovers, anyway? What could they possibly gain from betraying one another? It is not as though we could leave either of them alive."
"We can leave them alive, rather easily. We spare the assassin who is in love with one of our aristocrats, and once eliminating his or her peers, we allow them to defect from the ranks of assassins. With none of their comrades present to knife them should they betray their ranks, they would have safety, their life and love," says Meowselsworth. "A relatively happy ending, do you not agree?"
"Can anyone explain how the Devil was scanned twice, the Baron scanned twice, Meows was scanned, and the militants still protected the Masons during three rounds, all with only a single investigator?"
"Some investigations are more direct than others. For example, when an assassin goes after a victim who is protected the person protecting that target and the assassin both learn each other's identity when the attack is foiled. There's no need for a protracted investigation when we've caught them red-handed..."
"But still, promising clemency to an assassin? And here I thought your ruse from before was playing with fire!"
"It may be playing with fire, but I've said before... I want to leave here with the smallest possible amount of bloodshed or death. If an assassin knows love, perhaps that assassin can learn redemption..." says Meowselsworth, softly.
Cassie leaves the Barons side with a kiss on his cheek and moves towards Dame Devries; "I am calling in the rain-check, so a dance." Cassie looks at the woman with a bow; "You are looking beautiful, that splash of colour. Exquisite, whilst I... am afraid the party has ravaged my appearance."
The French-woman tries to escort the other lady to the dance-floor.
"Ah... General, Taraz, if you will excuse me? It seems I have a prior obligation but I am very much looking forward to completing our games!" Alessandra accepts Cassie's invitation and offers her some words of solace as she joins her in a dance. "Thank you, one must maintain appearances... but you mustn't be ashaimed of letting the night's events take their toll- they've been a trial for us all. The tears staining your collar? You should wear them as little badges of honor for they declare you are a woman of compassion and empathy and that is nothing to be ashamed of."
Gigus smiles wistfully when Cassie kisses his cheek, and actually manages a small chuckle when she begins pestering Alessandra for a dance; and he nods at the Mason's words. He then turns back to his introspection, occassionally glancing at or whispering to Rashida. He seems lense tense or worried now and more poised and ready.
Rashida remains placidly at Baron Von Zombi's side, chatting quietly with him as his time approaches.
Cassie dancing is crisp and beautiful, with her and the Professor having both attended the French court they are synchronised. The movements in unison, are designed to show of the skill of the performers. "I thank you for your kind words. I thought myself more stoic than this, but I guess I am just a passionate Parisian!" she says with a little shrug; "I am sorry for any unkind words I may have ever said to you, you have a softness and passion of your own, let us show them how the French dance..." The dance whilst maintaining proprietary, has a concious effort to inflame the ardour, with occasional flicks and kicks.
Voting is now closed.
Cassie sensing that the hour approaches knows thatthis is no time for dancing she goes over to where Rashida & the Baron Von Zombi are stood. She holds the pair knowing maybe everything could end for someone at the party.
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As the hour is about to close, Gigus nods one final time to Rashida Massri and Cassandra DuSollier.
"My friends, I think it is time we found out what I am. I do not wish to be at my fellow Baron's mercy. If I am to die, it will be by my hand, not his."
He stands and looks around at the assembled aristocrats.
"My lords, my ladies, I do not know if you are correct in accusing me of being an assassin, but I believe I am done playing Von Ryuko's games, and it is high time we all knew the truth."
The zombie lord's hands slowly move up to his mask as he turns to stare at the balcony.
"Von Ryuko, I forsake any claims to your 'prizes'. This mask comes off NOW."
Steeling himself, his fingers grip the mask, and it clicks mechanically as he pulls the mask away.
He turns slowly, the mask barely held by limp fingers, to show everyone the blue ocular lenses, the cables leading from them into empty eye sockets, the mark of the Assassins carved deep into his forehead.
His fingers tremblingly feel around the inside of the metallic mask, touching the cords, the eye sockets, and rising to his wasted forehead. When he encounters the mark, he flinches.
"Gods, I am no zombie... I'm not alive, I was never alive... I'm a construct..."
He slaps the mask back on and whirls, optics blazing, towards Von Ryuko.
?"
He turns back to Rashida and Cassie.
"All the clues were there... the name, the stitching, the tattered clothing... the oddbod look. I am the new 'modern Prometheus' to Von Ryuko's Dr. Frankenstein!"
He hangs his head, his voice growing softer.
"You had to give me emotions, didn't you, Baron? The foolery wouldn't be complete if I didn't have them; what you didn't count on, though, was me actually coming to like these people: Cassandra DuSollier's carefree spirit, Rashida Massri's beautiful grace, Taraz' wit and hidden honor, Professor Devries' sacrifice and nobility."
"That was what became the problem, wasn't it? I didn't go insane; I glitched, fighting against the kill commands programmed into me!"
He steps further away from Massri and DuSollier, his hand going once again to his mask.
"I am done playing your games, Von Ryuko. I am no Assassin! You will not control my actions any longer."
He looks one last time, longingly, at his friends, before the great fist tightens around the mask.
Suddenly, he gives a mighty yank, and the mask rips free, ocular cables trailing, pops and snaps from within his skull, pieces of circuit boards breaking free from the empty eye sockets. Smoke begins to pour from the sockets, his whole body convulses, and his hand clenches and shatters the mask, blue lenses flying.
He falls, 'lifelessly', to the floor.
The clock chimes signaling the top of the hour as Baron Gigus commits suicide in front of the crowd of nobles. A small electrical fire starts filling the room with a thick toxic smoke. Everybody begins to choke and flee to the balcony for fresh air as the deep tone of the clock sounds behind them. All except for 1 person are accounted for. Looking back through the smoke filled room you can make out a silhouette lying face down with a knife protruding from its back. Taraz is not on the balcony...
Cassie holds the Baron as he starts his announcement, then takes a step back her eyes widening at the assassins brand carved into his head. "Oh no..."
Shocked as he reveals his true face, Cassie's eyes widen and stare solely at him.
As he falls to the floor Cassie dives forward but she cannot hold up his weight. His body slips through her arms; Leaning down over his fallen body she clasps his destroyed face; She violently shakes as her body is racked with sorrow. Her finger futilely trying to replace the cables, but they tremble so much....
"You stupid piece of junk!" Von Ryuko shouts from the balcony.
"I had bigger plans for you than this."