I can't believe this, what the hell did I do! Everyone around us was looking in confusion and shock. Who is this guy and what's with the outfit, my squad leader walked between us and signed. 'And why do you think he's working with the Toilets?'
The cameraman in the fedora eyed him for a moment, 'that's official business and none of your concern.'
'No, I think it is my concern,' my squad leader got closer to him, 'your accusing a member of my squad for treason.'
The cameraman in the fedora didn't sign anything, instead one of the guards he brought with him pointed his gun at our squad leader so he had to reluctantly back off. But his stance didn't change.
'If you're interested,' the cameraman in the fedora started, 'you can go to the trial later today.'
He grabbed me by the cuffs and started walking me through the base like I was some dog, how familiar. I looked back at my squad, our squad leader, Squeakerman, and camerawoman #211 all had some tight stance while #211 had a shocked and worried posture.
Cameraman #212 and #789 didn't seem the least bit worried, I'd say they looked happy. And large cameraman #403 hadn't changed his posture an inch. The guards looking at them paused for a moment before following me and the fedora wearing cameraman.
I trudged through the base, catching the stares of everyone. We stopped upon a door before walking inside. There was nothing in there, only a table, a chair, and a single lightbulb. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, I was panicking!
They sat me on a chair, and walked out of the room closing the door behind them. On the wall to my left was a one-way window to give the illusion of privacy. Thoughts started running through my head, 'what did I do!?' And, 'why am I being accused of treason!?'
Was it the spy? Did they act without me knowing, but why against me? Did they know that I knew or maybe... I looked down at my legs. It has to be, it's the only reason. I started shifting in my chair uncomfortably.
In the prison, before it blew up, the Scientist Toilet operating the place said that the only reason the legs exist was so he could make an artificial cameraman but how much of that was true? The machinery is to sophisticated, to developed. Could it be that these are for the spy?
It would make sense, the spy just wants his property back after I stole it. I started tapping my foot uncontrollably, theirs just so much that I don't know yet. A few moments passed, then a few hours, and maybe a day or two. I don't know, I lost all sense of time since I walked into this room.
I could feel the gaze of the people behind the glass wall, taking an interest in everything I was doing. Are they expecting me to do something, is this room my new life? Eventually the door opened back up again, the fedora cameraman was gone and in his place were the two guards from before.
They approached me, and forced me to follow them with one behind and one in front. No point in running. The Alliance building was strangely empty, there was no life from when I walked to the room before.
We approached a new set of doors, we paused outside of them as one of the guards started opening the doors. Once they were open I had to momentarily look away as the brightness of the room overtook me.
Once my lens adjusted I could see inside, the room was filled with cameramen and speakermen all watching me from above as I walked inside, even the TV men were here. The room looked like a gladiator pit the only difference was that this is where I would be trialed and judged.
The speakermen and TV men that were talking, ceased the moment I walked in. Everyone in the Alliance was here, it's not everyday that someone is tried for treason. I could see certain pedestals for the important people of the Alliance.
In the center, high above, were the leaders of each faction, to the right next to them is where the most prominent of Elites would sit, Plunger was out of attendance due to his injuries. The dark speakerman from the raid was there and some highly modified TV man was there too, I had never seen him before.
To the left next to them was were the girls were sitting, I looked at TV woman in particular. Her posture and stance was perfect, she displayed no emotion on her screen. I had no idea what she was thinking and despite my innocence I felt ashamed.
Below them was a speakerman judge and next to them was my squad and the fedora wearing cameraman with a booth to the right for speaking. I walked into the center of the room, once in the middle they shoved me to my knees and locked me to the floor.
I stared at the floor, this bizarre wave of emotions filling my chest. I was angry, nervous, and anxious. But above them all was my fear, I was scared. I have no idea what's going to happen or what will happen next.
"Raise your head." I did as told, looking at the Judge speakerman.
"Simp cameraman," he began, "you stand accused of treason to the Alliance."
He paused for a moment, "because of your cameraman status you will answer by nodding and shaking your head, do you understand." I nodded.
"Simp cameraman, do you believe that you have betrayed the Alliance?" He clasped his fingers together,
I shook my head, the judge nodded, "to start this trial I would like Detective cameraman to come up here and tell us why he has accused you of this heinous crime."
The cameraman in the fedora, now known as Detective cameraman, got up and approached the stand to sign. I heard something go off behind me, it was a TV so everyone could see what he was signing.
The Detective cameraman had to pledge to speak or sign with only the truth in mind before going up to sign. Once he got up there he began.
'Thank you, your honor, I have found Simp cameraman guilty of working with the Toilets due to an astronomical amount of evidence and as this hearing goes on I believe you all will have reached this same conclusion I have.' He stopped and walked down from the podium.
It was professional and it was quick, but what kind of evidence did he have on me? "Next let's have your squad members speak their mind about this, can I have your squad leader, Crook cameraman, approach the podium."
My squad leader got up and approached the podium, giving the same pledge to only sign the truth before beginning. 'In my whole heart I believe that Simp cameraman is not guilty due to his trustworthy and loyal nature.'
The judge looked at him, "is that all?"
'Yes, that is all.' My squad leader left the podium and walked back to his seat.
He then called up #789 and he also gave the same pledge before signing, 'I don't believe that Simp cameraman has betrayed the Alliance.'
This took me off guard for a moment, this guy doesn't like me so for him to claim that I'm innocent is odd but appreciated. Unless he's doing this because he longer sees me as threat since I'm being convicted.
"And why do you believe that?" The judge asked.
#789 looked away before signing. 'I don't like the guy, but I know that he would never do something like betraying us.'
The judge accepted this answer and told him to go sit back down before calling up #211. 'I know that Simp cameraman would never betray us.'
She's calling me Simp cameraman again, I know it's my official title but it still hurts. "And why do you believe that?" The judge asked.
'Because he is one of the greatest cameramen I've ever met.' The judge eyed her for a moment before telling her to sit down.
He then called up #403, I doubt that we'll get anything out of him. He might just stare awkwardly. 'I believe that Simp cameraman is guilty.'
What.
"And why do you think this?" The judge asked.
'Because he is.' #403 then left the podium.
The first time that he ever signs anything and it's something negative about me, are you kidding! I've never done anything malicious to him so why does he think that I'm guilty! The judge then called up #212.
He was weirdly shaking as he approached the podium, at first he didn't do anything so the judge began. "Do you believe that Simp cameraman is guilty?"
'Yes,' he began, 'I believe that bastard is guilty!' He slammed his hands on the table.
He caught everyone's attention from his sudden outburst even the judge looked surprised. "I see, then you can sit back down."
#212 hesitated before leaving, almost like he wanted to say more. The final person he called up was Squeakerman. "Do you believe that Simp cameraman is guilty?"
"No, no I do not." His tone was cold and slightly menacing.
The judge looked at him curiously before telling him to sit back down. "With that out of the way, we can begin the trial. Can I have Detective cameraman come up here."
He got up from his seat, this time with a folder in his hand. As he sat down he signed, 'may I have speakerman #1028 approach the booth.'
Squeakerman got up, and approached the question booth. Detective cameraman opened his folder and laid down a picture. On the photo was the blown up laboratory after our escape, 'speakerman #1028, do you recognize this place?'
He nodded, 'I was hoping so, this is where you and Simp cameraman met right?' The detective continued.
He nodded again
'Speakerman #1028 reports of the explosion are scarce and patchy, but one thing that they all have in common is that Simp cameraman ran back into the building before it blew up. Why?' He stopped and eyed Squeakerman.
"I, I don't know." He lowered his head.
The detective seemed happy with that answer so he continued, 'after the explosion we sent down an excavation team there once the smoke cleared to find anything that still remained and do you know what they found?'
Squeakerman shook his head, 'we found dozens of reports about that cameraman, and they all talked about his unseen power.'
He pulled out a new piece of paper, on it was a dozen or so reports about me. 'Log #78, the cameraman has been doing exceptionally well, his negotiations with us have been more than splendid.'
Negotiations, what negotiations! He would constantly berate me all the time so why is he praising me in these reports! 'Log #289, the cameraman has proposed the extermination of those in the bunker but I have a different plan for them.'
I would never! Those reports have to be tinkered with, it's the only explanation! The murmurs from above were getting louder and there was a certain glare coming from me at all sides, I didn't dare look at my squad nor TV woman.
'Hearing these reports, what do you think of them?' The detective asked.
At first Squeakerman said nothing, but then he mumbled a few words, "it's not true."
The Detective cameraman perked at that, "Brown, would never do something like that!" Squeakerman yelled.
He then pointed his finger at the detective, "those reports are fake!"
Detective cameraman seemed unimpressed, he pulled out another piece of paper, 'then what's this.'
On the paper was something horrific, it read. 'Log #886, they're coming soon and my legs aren't ready. However I plan on using my new virus installed in each of my dogs for a hypnotic apparel and false sense of freedom.'
I had no words. The room came to a standstill as everyone took in the words of the report. "But the escape..." Squeakerman started.
'Was a lie.' Detective cameraman finished.
Squeakerman was completely defeated, for the first time in a long time he- no, we both felt hopeless. This was staged, I lost from the beginning and I didn't even know it. "You may remove yourself speakerman #1028." The judge said.
He sluggishly removed himself from the booth, that was just one part of my file and you mean to tell me that he was more! What can I do, what should I do. "Can cameraman #212 please approach the booth."
He got up happily, and walked in a little stride as he cashed in on my misery. 'Cameraman #212, you got rather heated when asked about Simp cameraman's innocence, why?'
#212 wasn't sitting down in his booth, instead he was standing as if anticipating this. 'Because,' he began, 'that man killed my brother!' He pointed his finger at me.
#211 shot up from her chair as the room looked on intrigued. 'Could you elaborate?'
'That bastard in the brown coat killed my brother in an explosion and treated it as if it was a game!' Everyone shot a looked at #211 confused.
The detective seemed confused, 'but your brother is still alive.' He glanced at #211.
'You don't know the half of it.' He tightened his fist.
'Are you implying that Simp cameraman has been committing psychological harm?' The detective asked.
#212 movements were stiff, but fierce. 'Yes.' He signed.
I could see #211 getting ready to fight her brother so our squad leader had to hold her back. 'I see, could #211 and #212 trade places.'
Her brother walked away from the booth calm and collected, unlike his jittery and frantic movements on the way there. When they crossed path's she glared at him, while he seemed proud of his actions.
'#211, you got rather upset when your brother accused Simp cameraman of psychological harm.' He relaxed in his chair.
She looked at him angrily, 'because he hasn't.'
'And why do you believe that?' He asked.
'Because he's one of the greatest men I've ever known.' She was getting heated.
The detective nodded, 'and what about him is so great?'
She froze for a moment before answering, 'even when he was harassed by other members of the Alliance he always gave it his all.'
The detective seemed to be happy with her answer which worried me. 'You saying that he was being harassed?'
She nodded, 'so is that not reason enough to betray the Alliance?' The detective continued.
She shook her head, 'Brown, has not and will not betray the Alliance.'
She put her hands on the table, trying to seem bigger than she was. 'Maybe he really has manipulated you.' The detective said.
He pulled out several photos and on each photo was a man, a man with green glasses, a yellow and black swirling tie, and a brown suit with a shaven beard. Next to him were countless bodies of cameramen, speakermen, and TV men.
What is this, what's happening? And why do I feel like I've seen him before? 'Surely I don't need to point it out.' The detective signed.
#211 stared at the photos frozen, particularly at one photo of a cameraman with a blue suit. 'This man and that cameraman both have an eerily similar suit, do they not?'
#211 didn't answer him, so he continued, 'now I'm sure that's not enough evidence for you but it's worth mentioning that he is one of the few members of the Alliance with amnesia which is odd since as far as we know his transition process from a human to cameraman went flawlessly.'
'But,' #211 signed, 'he's cameraman #3...' there was no confidence in her signing.
'We don't know what number he is.' And just like that he finished her off.
This has to a lie... I'm cameraman #3, I know I'm cameraman #3! How do you not know that I'm cameraman #3! That was my original name before everything, and now you're saying that you don't know!? Why, why is this happening to me!
#211 collapsed in her chair before being told to remove herself from the booth. "Does anyone from the rest of Simp cameraman's squad wish to defend him?" The judge asked.
#789 thought I was innocent but now he refused to raise his hand as he was seemingly dismayed, #403 didn't bother since he already thought that I was guilty. The only person who did bother to try something was our squad leader.
Everything was in his hands, my life and future were in his hands. He was called up and walked confidently, undeterred despite everything he saw and heard. 'Despite everything presented you still believe that he's innocent, why?' The detective asked.
Crook cameraman looked at him, 'if he wasn't innocent then why would he risk his own life for someone else.'
Detective cameraman seemingly lost his confident stance before regaining his composure, 'and who exactly did he save?'
'Plungerman,' Crook cameraman signed confidently.
The detective's stance shifted into an offense one as our squad leader continued, 'if he was trying to sabotage us then why would he go out if his way and save someone as important as Plungerman.'
The detective started going through his folder about me before finding something, and his offensive stance quickly shifted to a relaxed state again. Our squad leader suddenly got worried by his relaxed state, I was already overheating from anxiety.
'Simp cameraman and Plungerman have an interesting history you know,' the detective began.
'In the beginning, it was those two and Lucky, now all three of them have separated.' He slouched into his chair.
Our squad leader eyed him, 'what are you getting at.'
'The reason Simp cameraman saved Plungerman was because of their past friendship and because of this it doesn't excuse the previous amount of evidence against him.' He raised his posture to signify his win and cold tone.
Crook cameraman slammed his hands on the table and stood up, seemingly wanting to cuss him out but couldn't given the setting and the fact that his hands were on the table. "Given the evidence presented here today I'm ready to give a verdict but before I pass my judgement I will ask once again, Simp cameraman have you betrayed the Alliance?"
I didn't care at this point, I would be sentenced to who knows what no matter what. But I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of winning, I shook my head. Murmurs and shouts went throughout the room, the judge didn't mind them and didn't care about what I said as he started to declare my sentence.
"Simp cameraman I find you guilty of treason, and sentence you to death." His tone was cold and unapologetic.
Death. Death! They're going to kill me for some bogus trial, I need to escape! I didn't want to do this but I no longer had a choice. I used my legs to break off the shackles they used to pin me to the floor, immediately I dashed to the door as a wave of panic and anger rushed through those in attendance throughout the room
I was almost there until I stopped moving and started flying for a few moments before colliding into the ground. How, why did my legs lock up now! They shouldn't be able to do that, not unless...
I looked at where the Detective cameraman sat, in his hand was a remote. The remote, that was the remote used to control me during my days at the prison. I thought it was destroyed when the laboratory blew up, they must've found it and put it back together.
I felt a new sense of dread wash over me, and it was scary as I felt nothing. No fear, no anger, no anxiety. Just complete hopelessness at my situation, I couldn't do anything. I tried and I had failed, whatever happens now happens.
'There's one more piece of evidence I hadn't brought up yet.' All eyes turned towards the detective.
'Those legs of yours are more than just a fine piece of machinery.' He paused.
He put the remote away. 'That type of technology belongs to the Astros, not even the Toilets had that type of power.'
'Which means that you're more than just some traitor, you're a spy.' The room froze, but it was different type of freeze because now it wasn't filled with shock but rather anger.
Everyone turned to look at me, this seething hatred oozing from them all. The next few moments felt foggy to me as I completely lost the will to fight. All I remember was that highly modified TV man teleporting in front of me before sucker punching me in the face.
I was tired, I was hungry, and I was broken. I could feel myself losing consciousness as I was being teleported away by the TV man to who knows where. The Alliance had finally found the spy and it turned out to be me.