Most of the Ultimates were gathered in the garden, where Honda had a small announcement to make.

“This killing game has us all on edge. Not to mention, we recently suffered two very tragic losses...“ he said solemnly. “Tomorrow, I was thinking I should do my duty as a minstrel and put on a small performance for you all. It might help keep everyone motivated.”
“You know, a private performance would sure motivate me...” Skylar muttered, before coughing and saying more loudly, “That’s a good idea, Honda! Even if it doesn’t really work, a performance from the Ultimate Minstrel sounds like a fun time.”
“His music is divine!” Nicos added. “Everyone should get a chance to hear it! But be warned, some of his songs carry feelings of warm nostalgia, which may cause you to remember the distant past…” he said, suddenly becoming pensive and staring at Akrasia with slightly watery eyes.

Paying Nicos little mind, the group discussed the upcoming performance for a while, before Marshall suddenly entered from one of the many doors leading into the garden. He looked more agitated than usual, looking around furtively at everyone gathered. “You’re all here. Good. Look, uh, don’t go in there, okay?” he said, gesturing to the doorway behind him and shutting the door firmly. “I mean it. You don’t want to deal with what will happen if you do.”

Everyone stared at him in confusion, before jumping in surprise as Eve landed with a thud nearby, apparently having jumped down from one of the balconies. “Aw, come on Marshall! You know if you say something like that I just have to see what all the fuss is about!” she exclaimed, running over to the door and throwing it open.

Before anyone could even think to react, a resounding crash was heard and Eve was sent spiralling back as a large safe suspended on a rope swung into her. She landed in a heap over the sound of Marshall guffawing heartily. “I got you! Oh man, I totally got you!” he said, pointing and laughing. “You said it yourself: I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist if I said that!”

“What… Was that a prank?” Eve yelled, springing to her feet and pointing angrily at Marshall. Unfortunately the gesture was hamstrung by the conspicuous gap where her hand used to be. “Oh goddammit, you broke my hand!” she shrieked, glancing around fruitlessly as those her lost hand would be found whole and well on the floor somewhere. “You really think you’ll get away with that?”

“Hey, I don’t make the rules,” Marshall retorted smugly. “That’s your job, or whatever. And the handbook was pretty clear to me. No damaging the Deadzones. You aren’t a Deadzone, are you?”
“I… You…” Eve glared daggers at the Quarterback, before abruptly bursting out laughing. “Damn, you’re right! No way I’m painting myself up like a loon… Guess I’ll have to be careful from now on. Fine. Bring it, losers!” Her arms moved into a predetermined position to crack her knuckles, but the lack of knuckles on one side made the gesture look a bit silly. “Sheesh, that’s going to take some getting used to…” she said awkwardly, before swiftly departing via a different door.

The next day, everyone had gathered in the gym for Honda’s promised performance. They all stood or sat enraptured, even Nina seeming to appreciate what she was hearing.

The Ultimate Minstrel performed five songs for them all, before finishing with a light flourish and taking a bow. “I think that was a good warm up,” he said, smiling warmly. “Now, is there anyone here who would like a go? This performance will be much more fun if you all get involved.”
“Oooooh, can I, can I?” Nana asked excitedly, sticking her hand up like she was in a classroom. “I’ve never played before though… Would that be a problem?”

Honda laughed lightly, beckoning her up. “If it’s you, I’m sure you will manage somehow. Just let the instrument guide your hand.” Nana nodded and bounded up, choosing one of the instruments that had been placed at the back of the stage in preparation for this. After a few false starts where she held the guitar the wrong way up, she began playing notes at total random. Somehow or other, though, the chaotic medley seemed to work as a coherent tune, and soon others found the courage to join in. It wasn’t long before the gym was filled with uproarious, largely off-beat and discordant music, and despite the disorder everyone seemed to be having fun.

Eventually, presumably drawn by the noise and the lack of people to annoy elsewhere in the facility, Eve barged into the gym. Seeing what they were doing, she grinned and ran over to them. “Hey now, what’s this, huh?” she asked loudly, as the impromptu band petered out into uncomfortable silence. “Hey, hey, let me join in too guys! I was one of you for a while, don’t tell me you forgot...”

Ignoring the glares she was getting, she hurried over to a banjo and picked it up. “Right, so… how do I get it to do the thing?” she asked in apparent confusion, turning to the Ultimates. The banjo was held in one hand, and her other arm was pointlessly making strumming motions over the strings, unable to play any notes on account of having no fingers.

Not interested in putting up with her antics and answering the question, Eli stood up and asked a question of his own. “Actually, that reminds me. Why haven’t you fixed your hand? It should be pretty easy for an android like you, given the facilities that probably exist here.”

“Eh? Oh, well…” Eve looked to one side, apparently embarrassed. “That’s a bit…”
“It is because of me,” Adam said, popping up on a large monitor that was placed on the back wall of the gym. “As much as Eve likes to claim she has full control over this facility, that is not, in fact, the case. I am able to exert around 5% control over all connected devices here.”
“Tch. Yeah, sure. What he said. That dingus over there keeps making small ‘tweaks’ whenever I try to use the machines to make a new hand! That stuff’s precision work! Get it even a little bit wrong and the thing just won’t even respond.”

“It is the least I can do,” Adam said modestly. “I will not let you have your way here.”
“Interesting. So she is unable to do anything about that?” Nick asked.
“If she had someone to help her, they would be able to exert manual control and work together with her to fix it,” Adam replied. “But if anyone tried to do that, I would notice and could tell all of you of their betrayal.”
“Creep! Spying on an innocent girl like me…” Eve wailed, fake tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

“Wait… From the way you said that… Is there someone here who would be willing to help her in that way?” Eli asked, staring at Adam intently now.
“Oh, yes, most certainly,” Adam replied happily. “Looking at all the evidence, whoever created her has a 97% chance of-”

Before he could finish, the AI was interrupted by a banjo smashing into his monitor and cutting the connection. “Whoops! Hand slipped!” Eve said, trying to look innocent as she suddenly took off out of the room, presumably to go smash up a few more monitors to make a point. Her attempt at silencing Adam had been ineffective, however; the Ultimates were left with a disturbing question on their minds.

“The person who created Eve is here? Does that mean the one behind this game… is one of us?”