"Smokescreen… planted the bomb?" Hoist could barely say and everyone was in shock at his claims.
"Yes, of course. He's the only one that makes sense," Mixmaster told him aand Smokescreen spoke up.
"Is this a joke?" Smokescreen asked him, seemingly insulted. "What makes you think I made the bomb?"
"Made the bomb? No, no, now you're just making baseless assumptions," Mixmaster told him. "You don't have the scientific knowledge to pull it off. The only ones here I believe could do so are me and Perceptor."
"So are you offering yourself up as a suspect?" Smokescreen questioned him.
"No, I'm just saying you obtained a bomb from a different source," he told him.
"A different source?" Ratchet questioned, wondering what he meant.
"Exactly. Naturally, when we think of bombs, we think of homemade ones made in people's homes, but that simply isn't true in this case," Mixmaster told him.
"But then, where could the bomb have come from?" Perceptor questioned.
"Come on. We've all been there."
"All been there?" Ratchet questioned. A place they had all been too… is he implying the place that he actually meant?
Epiphany Anagram!
_/ _/ _/ _/
M/ A/ _/ _/
M/ A/ L/ L/
RATCHET: That's the place!
"Are you talking about the mall?" Ratchet questioned.
"Exactly," Mixmaster accepted the answer. "There's a store that sells many types of scientific equipment, including explosives."
"Oh, you mean that place," Perceptor muttered. "Yes, you are right. Explosives were stored there."
"And if I remember, Smokescreen went there with us," Beachcomber mentioned.
"You realize everyone has had several days to check the place out?" Smokescreen questioned him.
"True, but you are one of four that we can confirm was definitely there," Mixmaster told him.
"But do you have any proof that the bomber even bought the bomb?" he continued to questioned him.
"I wouldn't if I didn't have any," he announced as he brought out a glass container of a familiar blue color. "Does this glass seem familiar?"
"That looks like the glass I saw in the crate," Blurr murmured.
"I asked Monobear if I could take one of these to show as evidence and he allowed it," Mixmaster announced to everyone.
"You're beary welcome for that!" he shouted.
"Ugh," he groaned at the pun.
"Yeah, that was kind of bad," Smokescreen agreed with the chemist.
"Back to the point, what's in the glass?" Bumblebee questioned.
"Oh, this? Nothing much. Just several thousand grams of nitroglycerine," Mixmaster answered his question.
"Nitroglycerine?" Knock Out questioned, intrigued. "Not bad, not bad. Especially with such a large amount of it, they could create something similar to dynamite."
"There's still something wrong with what you said," Smokescreen reminded him.
"Oh?" Mixmaster asked, amused. "And what exactly is that?"
"Explosives are a thousand monocoins a pop. Even if one hasn't spent a single monocoin, they wouldn't have enough to buy some," he told him with a smirk.
"True, that is a problem… wanna talk about it?" Mixmaster questioned him.
"What's going on in that drugged-up mind of yours?" Smokescreen wondered.
"Oh, nothing. Let's just talk for a bit."
Nonstop Debate!
Ammo Available: No Refunds, Betting Pool, Crate, Blurr's Testimony, Grate, 'Rusted Paint'
SMOKESCREEN: Right, like I said, explosives costs a thousand monocoins apiece.
SMOKESCREEN: Just where do you think I got the money for that?
HOIST: He couldn't have, right?
MIXMASTER: Leave your optimism behind, Hoist.
MIXMASTER: I know it's a shame…
MIXMASTER: …that two friends have betrayed your trust now.
HOIST: You haven't proved anything!
WILDRIDER: So, he stole it right?
WILDRIDER: Only way I could think of.
MONOBEAR: I don't tolerate thievery!
SKYWARP: It's not like he got…
SKYWARP: …a sudden influx of monocoins, right?
DEAD END: Anything could happen here.
RATCHET: I agree!
Ammo used: Betting Pool
"Hold on. Skywarp, I think you may've stumbled upon the answer," Ratchet told him.
"Huh? I did?" he asked, confused. "But, where could he have gotten all the monocoin from."
"Well, he did get them yesterday," Ratchet told him.
"Yesterday… wait, you're talking about the betting pool?" Skywarp realized.
"Exactly. He organized the betting pool in the first place just so he have enough money to get the explosive. He probably has a working knowledge of explosives, so he could build one as long as he as the explosive component."
"That's your argument?" Smokescreen questioned, amused, with a smile on his.
"Of course. That's the only explanation," Ratchet responded.
"Ratchet, Ratchet, you're attempt at usurping the title of lead detective from me and is not going well when you left a clear contradiction in your statement," he continued his mocking.
"Contradiction?!" Ratchet yelled. "What do you mean?"
"Indeed. What on Cybertron are you talking about?" Mixmaster questioned him.
"Well then… let's talk about this some more, if you don't quite understand."
Nonstop Debate!
Ammo Available: Betting Pool, 'Rust' Paint Can
SMOKESCREEN: So, have you two realized your flaws yet?
RATCHET: Flaws? What flaws?
SMOKESCREEN: Do you certainly not know?
SMOKESCREEN: Want me to parrot someone else's testimony for you?
MIXMASTER: There's no need to.
MIXMASTER: You bought the explosives yesterday!
SMOKESCREEN: So that's a yes?
SMOKESCREEN: Let me repeat something from my bud's, Swindle' testimony.
SMOKESCREEN: 'I think there were voices…
SMOKESCREEN: …:the sound of shattered glass:…
SMOKESCREEN: …and two thuds.'
SMOKESCREEN: Does that help?
RATCHET: That's wrong!
Ammo Used: The Sound of Shattered Glass
"The sound of shatter glass… that was the container for the explosives!" Ratchet yelled.
"Which means… what?" Smokescreen wanted confirmation.
"It means the bomber already had the explosives before the betting pool," he replied.
"What?!" It was Mixmaster's turn to be shocked now. "Can that be true?"
"Pair that up with something else and it becomes evident that is the truth here," Smokescreen told them.
Monobear File #5
Betting Pool
Storage of Betting Pool
No Refunds
Wildrider's Theory
Alibis
Bludgeon's Testimony
Energon-Stained Kitchen Knife
Dead End's Severed Arm
Tourniquet
Glass Container
Anesthesia Dispenser
Ratchet's Surgery Notes
White Line
Location of Crate
Dead End and Nautilator's Head Injuries
Onslaught's Nighttime Search Crew
Archives
Blurr's Testimony
Shard of Glass
Bumblebee's Testimony
'Rusted' Stands
Checkered Line
VOF Time of Day
Gutter Entrance at the Crater
Grate
'Rust' Paint Can
Cloak and Mask
Crate
"You're talking about Blurr's testimony?" Ratchet wanted confirmation.
"Oh, yeah. I did see the broken blue glass," Blurr agreed.
"Bingo," Smokescreen nodded, keeping his cheery smile. "I'm not offended that you thought I was the killer, but this was a pointless exercise."
"But it has to be you! Who else could've had the necessary funds?" Mixmaster badgered him.
"I don't know," he shrugged, "but you have to look somewhere else."
"Why, you," the chemist growled. "There has to be another way for you to get money. Someone think of something!"
"Mixmaster, maybe it's time to back off," Scavenger recommended timidly.
"Back off, Scavenger! I know I'm right," he yelled at him.
"I'm sorry!" he immediately apologized.
"Someone, think of a place where Smokescreen could amass money," Mixmaster ordered everyone.
"Dude, you're losing it," Skywarp muttered.
"There has to be a way. Think of something," he continued his tirade and Ratchet couldn't help, but think that he was right. If Smokescreen didn't have the money, then no one did. So there had to be a place for him to use, but where? Where could he get the money to buy the explosives? Where…
Epiphany Anagram!
_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/
C/ A/ _/ _/ _/ _/
C/ A/ S/ I/ _/ _/
C/ A/ S/ I N/ O/
RATCHET: There's the place!
"Wait, hold on. What about the casino?" Ratchet questioned everyone.
"Huh?" Smokescreen grunted, his smile fading away.
"Does the casino offer monocoins?" he questioned the group.
"I'll go ahead and confirm that it does!" Monobear answered.
"Then does it make sense that the Ultimate Gambler could make a lot of money from there, maybe even enough to buy some nitroglycerine?" Ratchet asked everyone, a grin now forming on his face.
"You know… I guess it does," Skywarp agreed with him.
"Yeah, it does," Smokescreen shrugged. "Doesn't prove anything, but congratulations, you found circumstantial evidence that indicts everyone. Now, can you prove I actually made enough money from it to buy some nitroglycerine?"
"Uh… well-"
"That's what we call a no, Ratchet," Smokescreen interrupted. "Will you quit-"
"May I interrupt the proceedings?" Perceptor interrupted.
"Huh?"
"What?" Ratchet questioned as well.
"Smokescreen, can you do me a favor and talk about the VOF's console for me?" Perceptor questioned.
"What? Why?" Smokescreen questioned him.
"Just humor me. Your answer can end this discussion of whether you're the killer or not right here," he told him. Smokescreen glared at him, unsure of what he wanted, before he spoke.
"Alright, fine. Let's talk."
Nonstop Debate!
Ammo Available: VOF Time of Day
SMOKESCREEN: So, what do you want to know?
PERCEPTOR: You know, you seem to know what you're talking about.
PERCEPTOR: Could you explain how it functions to me?
PERCEPTOR: No :mistakes:, please.
SMOKESCREEN: If you insist.
SMOKESCREEN: You used the dial…
SMOKESCREEN: …to change the time of day.
SMOKESCREEN: The black button…
SMOKESCREEN: …turns the VOF off.
SMOKESCREEN: Satisfied?
PERCEPTOR: Oh, very much so.
SKYWARP: You are? Cause I'm not.
WILDRIDER: Neither am I. I feel like he's wrong.
PERCEPTOR: That's exactly why I'm satisfied.
SMOKESCREEN: …
RATCHET: That's wrong!
Ammo Used: Mistakes
"Hold on, Smokescreen. Did you say that the black button turns the VOF off?" Ratchet questioned him.
"Yeah, I did," he admitted. "Why?"
"Because, that's not true," Ratchet replied. "Perceptor told me himself."
"Which begs the questions as to why the timer here says 1:45," Perceptor told them.
"Huh?" they both said as they checked the timer to see that he was correct, the timer did say 1:45. Ratchet looked the device over to see the dial did look to have seen a bit of use while the black button appears to be unused, having small, soft metal pieces on it from the plants.
"Why the frag would anyone do that?" Skywarp wondered. "Seriously, how does that benefit anyone in anyway?"
"I'm not sure, but it is an anomaly, since the last time me and Wildrider touched it, we pressed the black button to return it to normal," he answered.
"He said that you pressed the black button to return it to normal, yet you talk like the dial is the only thing to change the time," Ratchet told him.
"Grr," Smokescreen grunted. "It was a one-time mistake."
"No, because even earlier, you supported the same thing you just said now," Perceptor interrupted.
"Swindle, you've been out of the loop for a long time now. Want me to inform you about something?" Ratchet questioned him.
"Out of the loop? About what?" Swindle questioned him.
"The place where your testimony takes place? It's called a Virtual Outdoor Facility, otherwise known as a VOF. Among the things it can is change the time of the area is in," he told him.
"Yeah, Swindle. Just move the knob around and you're set. That's the only thing about it," Smokescreen told him.
"You implied back then that the dial was the only way to change the time," Perceptor old him.
"…Okay. I admit, my logic has been flawed," he admitted. "Sorry."
"Logic? You were doing nothing, but giving yourself more rope," the scientist chided him.
"Plus, of all the people who could've moved Swindle backed to the racetrack, you were the one who had the best opportunity," Onslaught growled angrily. "You feigned sympathy in order to further your own goals."
"What?! How dare you!" Smokescreen yelled at him. "Swindle is my friend. Of course I looked for him, you colossal failure."
"You were the one who recommended that me and Blast Off searched the first building while you check the other buildings by yourself," the tactician accused. "You did that to make sure no one could witness you taking Swindle back to the racetrack."
"You… would do that to me?" Swindle questioned him.
"No, of course not," Smokescreen argued.
Ratchet couldn't help, but think about this as a perfect opportunity. Smokescreen was getting angry and was bound to slip up during this heated argument. This was probably the perfect opportunity to find more flaws in his testimony.
Nonstop Debate!
Ammo Available: Onslaught's Nighttime Search Crew
SMOKESCREEN: I was searching all night for Swindle!
SMOKESCREEN: How dare you imply otherwise!
ONSLAUGHT: I won't trust the words of a scoundrel like you.
ONSLAUGHT: You were always a bad influence.
SMOKESCREEN: I'm not the Decepticon, here.
SMOKESCREEN: I'm not like :Bludgeon:, who can kill anyone.
SMOKESCREEN: I'm not like you, who'll pull out all the stops to win.
SMOKESCREEN: I'm not like Shockwave, who torture anything.
SMOKESCREEN: I am honest and loyal.
SMOKECREEN: So let me tell you again about my findings.
SMOKESCREEN: I didn't find anyone in the Library.
SMOKESCREEN: I didn't find anyone in the mall.
SMOKESCREEN: I didn't find anyone at the tri-building.
SMOKESCREEN: And I didn't find anyone at the VOF.
SMOKESCREEN: That's the honest truth.
RATCHET: That's a lie!
Ammo Used: Bludgeon
"Hold on, what was that, Smokescreen?" Ratchet questioned him.
"What did I say this time?" the gambler asked, exasperated.
"You said you didn't find anyone in the tri-building, correct?"
"Of course. What else?" he questioned him.
"Because I was there," Bludgeon realized.
"You were?!" Smokescreen asked, shocked.
"Yes. I was there all night until five in the morning, but I never recall seeing you," the metallikato expert said.
"Strange. For someone to have claim to have searched everywhere, you sure seemed to have never bother searching the Med-Bay," Ratchet pointed out.
"Guah," Smokescreen groaned, caught off guard.
"You fragger!" Onslaught yelled. "Just admit that you planted the bomb!"
"Yeah, right," Smokescreen scoffed, crossing his arms and slanting to his right. "Even if I was the bomber, you think I admit it without direct evidence?"
"I know that look," Swindle spoked up, surprising the gambler. "You're always like that when the cops had a bunch of circumstantial evidence, but nothing to tie you directly to the crime."
"No I'm not," he replied, uncrossing his arms and straightening his pose.
"Smokescreen, that might work in the real world, but in here? We vote and that's it. Justice is served. Whether we have all the evidence or not, that is the fact of this game. We don't need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, just enough to make sure you killed him," Swindle told him. "Just give up."
"No, because I didn't do it," he continued to resist.
"Smokescreen, is everyone telling the truth?" Hoist asked. "I don't wanna believe them, after all you've done me. After you saved us the last case."
"They're bullshitting, Hoist. Trust me," Smokescreen assured him, trying to sound sympathetic. "I care for you. Believe me."
Ratchet had enough of Smokescreen's lies. There was no way Smokescreen cared about him. He even had proof of it.
Nonstop Debate!
Ammo Available: 'Rusted' Paint Can, Monobear File #5, 'Rusted' Stands, White Line, Checkered Line, Bumblebee's Testimony
SMOKESCREEN: Hoist, listen, I didn't plant the bomb, okay.
HOIST: You promise?
SMOKESCREEN: I promise.
SKYWARP: I can see your aft on fire from here.
SMOKESCREEN: I'm not lying.
SMOKESCREEN: I care about him and all of you.
MIXMASTER: All you've done is lie since we've confronted you.
MIXMASTER: What makes you think we'll believe you now?
SMOKESCREEN: I don't and I understand.
SMOKESCREEN: But you still have no evidence that I did it.
SMOKESCREEN: So stop this charade, dammit!
RATCHET: That's a lie!
Ammo Used: 'Rusted' Stands
"You 'care' about us?" Ratchet asked, actually sounding amused.
"Yes, of course," Smokescreen told him. "We're all in this hell together. We have to work together."
"Then why did you paint rust on the stands?" Ratchet questioned him.
"Huh?" he asked.
"When you painted the stands that fake rust paint, you got all of us to group up near where the bomb was. Logic dictates the bomber did this to ensure lots of people getting injured from the bomb."
"It makes sense," Knock Out agreed. "If you can injure more people, the better. Besides, you never had to worry about the shrapnel, didn't you?"
"Now what does that mean?" Smokescreen questioned him.
"Well, we all know where Smokescreen was when the bomb went off, right?" he asked everyone.
Where was Smokescreen during the bombing?
At the stands
In the center.
At the annoucer's booth.
"He was in the annoucer's booth, far away from ground zero," Ratchet murmured. "If I was the bomber, I wouldn't risk any stray shrapnel taking me out, so I would be somewhere safe."
"Exactly," Knock Out nodded. "Who gave Smokescreen the role of announcer?"
"Himself," Hoist could barely muttered. "Said he had a knack for announcing less legal games."
"Oh, how altruistic of him," Knock Out gave a wicked grin. "He manipulated everyone around him to be at the bomb when it went off while he stayed nice and comfy in his booth."
"You… you u-used me?" Hoist questioned Smokescreen, his voice breaking. "Y-you knew I c-checked the stands."
"Hoist, I didn't do it. They proved nothing! Anyone can have 250 monocoins," he scoffed.
"Wooooah, wait a minute. What was that, you slagger?" Skywarp halted him. "How do you know the price of the paint can? The only ones who know are me, Ratchet, and Hoist."
"Huh?" Smokescreen gasped. "Uh, well, I saw it once while checking out paint cans. I was thinking of applying a fresh coat of my colors."
"Oh, that has to be bullshit," Rewind muttered. "The amount of coincidences that have to occur during your entire testimony is ridiculous."
"That's not all," Ratchet murmured. "I highly doubt you find that can paint around where your colors are at because…
What was the 'rust' paint can?
Specialty Paint
Normal Paint
Irregular Paint
"…it's a specialty paint. No way would that be anywhere near your colors."
"Guah!" Smokescreen gasped.
"As far as I can tell, the only reason you would even bother knowing the price is because you bought the damn thing," Ratchet told him.
"There's nowhere to hide, Smokescreen!" Onslaught yelled, regaining some of his confidence. "We've proven your testimonies are composed of lies, we've proved you've had the means, and we've proof that your intentions was to cause as much harm to everyone as possible. So just go ahead and-"
"Fine, I admit it," Smokescreen cut in calmly, crossing his arms. "I planted the bomb." Everyone was quiet at his confession. The person who has caused so much harm to the group had been identified. They won and Smokescreen just stood there with a relaxed smile.
"Wow… you're so calm," Scavenger muttered nervously. "Why are you so calm?! Are you the mole?! Will Monobear just let you leave?!"
"No, of course not. The person working for him is certifiably nuts," he shrugged. "Honestly Scavenger, you thinking I'm the mole hurts me."
"What? Oh, I'm sorry," he apologized.
"Don't. There's nothing to apologize over. Besides, I'm pretty sure I offer you a bigger apology for bashing you upside the head. You were out for quite a while," he told him in a joking matter and Scavenger gasped at that.
"Y-you're the one who assaulted me?" Scavenger asked, scared.
"Yes. Now what does that make me?" he questioned everyone.
"What does that make you?" Ratchet questioned, shocked. "That… that makes you."
Epiphany Anagram
_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/
S/ E/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/
S/ E/ R/ I/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/
S/ E/ R/ I/ A/ L/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/
S/ E/ R/ I/ A/ L/ K/ I/ _/ _/ _/ _/
S/ E/ R/ I/ A/ L/ K/ I/ L/ L/ _/ _/
S/ E/ R/ I/ A/ L/ K/ I/ L/ L/ E/ R/
RATCHET: This is what you are!
"You're the serial killer."
"Yep, I sure am," he admitted with a small nod. "Sorry for all the havoc I caused."
"But that makes no sense!" Jazz yelled. "We proved that you couldn't have listen in to our conversation."
"You're right, I didn't, which is why I relied on someone else," he told them.
"Someone else? What do you mean?"
"Relax. It's not like they know they told me it. They were drunk and using a lot of anti-depressants. They could recall it in their intoxicated state, but not after they sober up."
"Drunk? Anti-depressants?" Ratchet murmured to himself. "That could only fit one person here."
Make an Accusation!
Jazz
Brawl
Mirage
Dead End
Bumblebee
Mixmaster
Blurr
Skywarp
Counterpunch
Bludgeon
Drift
Nautilator
Hoist
Blast Off
Rewind
Wildrider
Chromedome
Onslaught
Beachcomber
Swindle
Smokescreen
Knock Out
Ratchet
Scavenger
Perceptor
Shockwave
Hound
Vortex
Nightbeat
Soundwave
"You're talking about Beachcomber, right?" he asked him.
"Me?!" Beachcomber asked, startled.
"Of course," Smokescreen shrugged. "He told me that in his drunken state. How fortunate for me. That actually was a wonderful coincidence."
"What the… you asshole!" Beachcomber yelled, offended.
"That's the spirit. Have a spinal column." Smokescreen approved. "I really am an asshole."
"Why did the motive influence you?" Onslaught questioned him.
"It didn't," he shrugged, much to everyone's bewilderment. "I just thought it was time to take a chance, especially with Nightbeat dead. Didn't think anybody would step up to the plate."
"You were just waiting for Nightbeat to die before you engaged in the act," Onslaught growled.
"Exactly. It's nothing personal, just had to make sure I get out," he told them.
"But… how are you the serial killer?" Swindle questioned, confused as well. "I never pegged you as one."
"Oh, Swindle, who do you think get rid of those pesky informants back in the good-old days?" he questioned him and the merchant gasped.
"But, I gave you money to bribe them off. So they would just runaway!" he yelled at him.
"Scum-sucking leeches like them would only ask for more. I took care of them myself and, well, pocketed the money for myself," he told him.
"Guah… you selfish bastard!" Swindle yelled.
"Eh," he shrugged.
"Why do someone like you even support the Autobots?" Jazz questioned, sounding betrayed.
"Freedom, of course," he answered, much to everyone's confusement. "Oh, don't tell me you don't understand? I knew from the start Megatron was just another tyrant with a sympathetic backstory. His victory would pretty much destroy my revenue source. Optimus' version of government would be a lot more democratic and so much easier to take advantage of," the gambler told them.
"You were afraid Megatron would shut-down any gambling rings in a much more ruthless manner than Optimus," Onslaught realized.
"That's the gist of it, yes," Smokescreen shrugged.
"Should we even bother summarizing your crime?" Beachcomber asked.
"Honestly, no, but that's because you were right for the wrong reasons," Smokescreen told them.
"Huh?" Ratchet questioned.
"That sound of shattered glass? That was when I spilled nitroglycerine all over the racetrack due to Nautilator knocking it out of my hand in his drunken stupor," he told them.
"It was?" Bludgeon questioned.
"Yeah. It was cleaned up that night by the night crew. If everything went as planned, Knock Out or Blurr would've die the day of the search," he told them.
"You were targeting us? Why?!" Blurr asked.
"Because you two are the least popular here," Smokescreen told them. "Figure if I was found out for the crime, might as well take out someone who was annoying or in the latter's case, insufferable during trials."
"You thought you were picking the right targets?" Ratchet questioned him.
"Yeah. Figure it help you out later if I lost this battle, which I've apparently have," he admitted.
"So, you used two bottles of nitroglycerine," Knock Out questioned. "How is that possible?"
"Well, I got the first one from my funds at the casino. That you got right. I couldn't lose while I was there. As for the second bottle, you also got that right with the betting ring. I spent all your guys' money on another vial of nitroglycerine," he told them.
"You… colossal jackass," Perceptor cursed at him.
"I still love it when you curse, Percy," Wildrider told him.
"Hey, Swindle," Smokescreen wanted his attention.
"What do you want, you monster?" Swindle asked him.
"Monster? Well, after all the chaos I cause, I guess I deserve that title, but let me be honest with you. Blast Off was not the intended target of the bomb. It was always meant for whomever was in second place during the fiftieth lap," he told him.
"Second place of the fiftieth lap? How could you plan that?" Blurr questioned him.
Ratchet had a funny feeling it had to do with another piece of evidence.
Monobear File #5
Betting Pool
Storage of Betting Pool
No Refunds
Wildrider's Theory
Alibis
Bludgeon's Testimony
Energon-Stained Kitchen Knife
Dead End's Severed Arm
Tourniquet
Glass Container
Anesthesia Dispenser
Ratchet's Surgery Notes
White Line
Location of Crate
Dead End and Nautilator's Head Injuries
Onslaught's Nighttime Search Crew
Archives
Blurr's Testimony
Shard of Glass
Bumblebee's Testimony
'Rusted' Stands
Checkered Line
VOF Time of Day
Gutter Entrance at the Crater
Grate
'Rust' Paint Can
Cloak and Mask
Crate
"The beeps Bumblebee heard… could they be from the bomb?" Ratchet questioned.
"You got it," Smokescreen approved.
"The beeps? They activated whenever someone crossed the line? Was there a sensor involve?" Bumblebee questioned.
"Yep. I attached a sensor to the grate and whenever the line was crossed, it count down from 100 down to zero. When it got down to zero, bye-bye last place," he told him.
"So, wait, you rigged our competition into a life-or-death race?" Knock Out questioned.
"Yeah."
"You sadistic fuck," Blurr gaped.
"I thought it make things more interesting. I was pretty confident Knock Out was going to be killed by it, considering I bet on Blurr to win, and I was right, until Swindle went through the drugs too quickly and broke out of the crate," Smokescreen muttered gravely. "I'm honestly sorry about killing Blast Off, Swindle."
"Shut it! You really expect me to believe that, after all the things you've done? Killing all those people, stealing my money, assaulting Scavenger, Dead End and Nautilator, manipulating everyone to be near the bomb site, killing Blast Off and maiming all those people. You're not sorry. You don't give a damn about me. You don't give a damn about any of us. All you care about is yourself. No one else matters. We were nothing, but pawns in this game of yours. So screw you!" Swindle shouted at him. His whole frame was shaking in anger at the betrayal of his suppose friend.
"Really, Swindle? You lied and fooled so many people, but you can't handle my betrayal?" he questioned him, disappointed. "We're two sides of the same coin. I know that if you betrayed me, I wouldn't take it personal. It something I would do," Smokescreen told him.
"No. That's the key difference between us. I'll lie and screw over a bunch of people, but I would never betray my friends. You know how many times, when I was interrogated by the police, to give you up, so that if they find any evidence, they would grant a lesser sentence? I said no every single time, because I had your back and I was confident that we would never be caught. You don't screw over your closest friends," Swindle told him harshly.
"Strange you would say that after what happened to Vortex and Brawl," Smokescreen responded, making him gasp before looking away. Smokescreen continued, standing confidently. "Honestly, you getting on me for killing Blast Off on accident after your actions led to both of their demises is nothing but hypocrisy. That was all your fault."
"No, it wasn't, you slagger!" Onslaught yelled at him, catching him off-guard. "There's a distinct difference between when he did it and when you did it. Swindle's mind was screwed up by whatever the device was and after the whole incidence and he has felt nothing but guilt and sorrow over the whole deal. You, on the other hand, are just standing there, without a shred of guilt! Both of you have done wrong things while here. The difference is one of you feels remorse, while the other is unrepentant," he explained exactly why there was a difference between the two. Smokescreen looked genuinely caught surprised before crossing his arms and shrugged.
"If you insist on using that as a way to differ me and Swindle, alright. I don't understand why you think there's such a difference when we've both done the same thing, but whatever," Smokescreen brushed him off. "Anyway, I guess now is time to vote."
"If you insist," Monobear agreed. "Get out your electroID and let us see if you're-"
HOLD ON!
"Guah!" Monobear grunted. "I jmph bpm my tmgpm!"
"Hey, Ratchet, we made a promise, didn't we?" Wildrdider told him as Monobear was busy trying to heal its tongue.
"A promise?" Ratchet asked him.
"Yeah. You said you would investigate what happened to Dead End," he told him and the one-armed cynic groaned at that.
"Wildrider, it's nothing," Dead End told him. "We're investigating Blast Off death, not my assault. Let us just vote and we'll talk about it upstairs."
"Nuh-huh. I know you Deady and the minute we're upstairs, you're heading back to your room," Wildrider told him. "You're not getting out of this court-room until we figure out what happened to you."
"I don't mind," Smokescreen shrugged.
"Hey, you were ready to vote just a second ago," Beachcomber told him.
"I thought Blast Off's death was the only thing worth talking about, but Dead End's assault does confuse me," the gambler told them. "I'd rather die with that mystery cleared up."
"Frag yeah! Serial killer alliance!" Wildrider cheered.
"It'll be a short-lived one, but sure," Smokescreen agreed.
"Ugh… alright, I investigated what happened to Dead End and we can talk about it," Ratchet agreed. "Immediately after that, we're killing Smokescreen."
"Fine by me," Smokescreen shrugged. "I'm not a sore loser."
"I'd rather not have you linger around much longer," Perceptor muttered, "but Dead End's assault does intrigue me. I guess we can spend some time on that."
"Are you serious? Just vote Smokescreen up and we can be out of here," Dead End told them.
"Yeah. I want to see what Monobear has in stored for Smokescreen," Swindle muttered, clearly vindictive.
"I wouldn't mind either," Hoist agreed.
"You too, Hoist?" Smokescreen questioned him. "I tried to help you out after Mirage's death."
"How am I supposed to believe anything you say? I feel like everything you said was a lie," he mustered the strength to say, his fist shaking.
"That's true, it's hard to determine what I said as true or false, but there's another mystery here. You want to solve this one together, one last time," he asked him and Hoist turned away from, still angry with him, before he spoke.
"Fine. I don't feel safe leaving any loose ends, even if it's irrelevant to the trial," Hoist agreed, turning to the group.
"Oh, come on! This trial is about who killed Blast Off and that's it!" Dead End yelled. "Since we've figured it out, we have to vote-"
"I'll allow it," Monobear told the crowd.
"What?" he gasped. "You're not serious, are you?"
"Of course I'm serious. You should understand. You just had your arm brutally hacked off," Monobear reminded him. "Of everyone here, you have the biggest reason to find a resolution to such a brutal encounter. Is there possibly another reason you don't want to talk about it?" Dead End gritted his denta in annoyance at the creature and Ratchet had a good idea why. Having your suicide attempt out in the open is something that most people wouldn't want to happen to them. Still, it was best to deal with Dead End now rather than later.
"Fine… let's talk," Dead End invited them.