Chapter 17 - Puzzle

The four members of Group two consisted of Siege, Max, Laila and Dom. Siege realized they were split into two sets of roommates in one group. Laila and Dom (short for Dominic) were siblings. Siege could see the similarities. The back walls made a whirling sound as three parts of it opened up.

Three humanoid robots were on the other side, each one having a blue button on top of it just like Violet had said. There was also a large red button on the far wall which is what they had to press when they had the answer to the puzzle. They also had letters: A, B and C as well.

Siege walked up to each of the bots and pressed the blue button while the others watched him with agitated glances:

The bot with the letter A spoke: "C is a liar!"

Followed by the bot with the letter B: "A is telling the truth!"

Bot C finally said: "I am a spy!"

Nobody spoke for a couple of minutes until finally: "Any ideas how to solve this?" asked the only girl in the group, Laila. She had a bewildered expression on her face. Everyone else seemed just as confused.

"This is stupid, how is this supposed to help us pass 'The Process' and make me a soldier?" moaned Dom, planting himself on the floor. His dark brown hair, like Laila, covered one of his hazel eyes. He was all skin and bones and his skin contradicting Laila's body shape.

"Shut up and help us solve this damn thing unless you want to die!" Max exclaimed, gaining everyone's attention.

"Yeah, he's got a point bro! I'm not dying in this stupid thing!" Laila said.

"I think their right" Siege said, staring at the three bots. "We only have one shot at this so if we mess up, we're screwed!" he continued, thinking about the possible solution to the problem. His road to power can't end here...

"How long did Violet say we have?" Dom asked, frustrated. He had finally given in once his three teammates convinced him to take part. But the thought of death is what finally won him over.

"20 minutes..." Max replied.

"More like 15 now after your argument!" Laila said, glaring at her brother.

Siege knew he had seen the puzzle before. Victoria had shown him something similar when he was younger. "Guys, I think I know how to do this" he said, looking at the other three, who looked stumped.

They sat in silence for a while, thinking about possible solutions. Meanwhile, Siege was trying to remember what Victoria had told him years ago. The puzzle was a simpler version of what Victoria called: 'The hardest logic puzzle ever!'

*******

(10 minutes later)

"Guys, is it me or is it becoming harder to breathe?" Laila spoke, breaking the silence.

"Ahh, this is so frustrating. I don't know the answer, I'm sorry" Dom said, covering his face in his hands.

"You can't give up that easily!" Max said, going over to Dom.

"I never said I did!" Dom said, raising his voice.

"Well, it sure seems like you-" He faltered mid sentence, turning around to look at Dom. "Wh-" he whispered, clutching his throat. Siege turned to look at Dom, whose hands were glowing.

'He's a Conjuror'

"What are you doing?" Laila shouted, running up to Dom and slapping his face.

"Help..." Max whispered within a couple of short gasps.

"Stop, your suffocating him!" she shouted, glaring at Dom, who still glared at Max and refused to stop strangling him.

"Not until he pays for what he did!" Dom whispered, clenching his teeth. He clenched his hands, suffocating Max even more, blocking his airway. Max screamed.

"Stop, please. I'm-" he whispered with utter desperation, his eyes starting to close.

"I can't hear you!" Dom said angrily. Laila grabbed Dom by the shirt. She let out her wrath, her eyes showing signs of disappointment.

"I never knew you were like this, Dominic..." she murmured, showing off her ludicrous upper body strength. She was four years older than her brother. Dom had always looked up to her sister, but he let go of Max when he realized he had disappointed Laila.

*******

Meanwhile...

'I've got the answer...' Siege thought, clicking his fingers. He ran up to the red button. He smashed it, Violet's muffled voice could be heard on the other side. Dom, Max and Laila all looked up, watching Siege press the button.

"What are you doing, you haven't even discussed it with us!" Laila shouted, but it was too late... Violet's voice could be clearly heard:

"Ahh you're quick!" she said, typing away at her tablet. She intentionally tried to waste time, seeing how it would affect the trainee's... Siege ignored her, and told her the answers. He didn't have time for Violet's stupid acts. He heard Max coughing behind him and Laila screaming at Dom, who held his face down, ashamed.

"If B IS telling the truth, then there would be two bots telling the truth. That would mean C cannot be the one telling the truth because his statement would be a lie. Therefore, A is the Knight, C is the Knave and B would be the Spy!" Siege said all of it at once...

"..."

"..."

"That is the right answer!" Violet said...

"..."