Riddle 023: When in Drone

[puzzlerprince]

[A: Action - Mayfield High School

Well, class, have you been enjoying your sessions with your droned Ethics teacher, Mr. Nigma? Because it looks as though he's in the middle of yet another of his cheerful drone-y lectures.]

You see, kids? Life sure is grand here in Mayfield. Even if you're down or discouraged about schoolwork, or girls, or

Comments

D

[strike_you_out]

[While Edward is busily pacing the room, the desk chair swivels to face him and in it is Slugger who has appeared quite literally out of nowhere. This may come as a bit of a surprise but he doesn't look nearly as amused as he should.

Also, he may have gotten a hold of your cane, Edward, and is liable to start examining it quite closely.]

[puzzlerprince]

[Slugger, you don't even phase him anymore. Edward outstretches his hand.]

Hand that over, Slugger.

[strike_you_out]

Why do you need two?

[You don't even limp.]

[puzzlerprince]

Two? What---

[Wait. This isn't the cane that's---]

Hand it over. Now.

[strike_you_out]

[The timing is amazing---the moment Edward demands the cane is the moment Slugger manages to pop it open by accident and reveal part of the blade inside. Having made that little discovery, he offers the cane up across his palms with a scrawling grin.]

Your sword?

[It awaits you, o enigmatic warrior.]

[puzzlerprince]

[He takes the sword cane gingerly from Slugger, pulling the question-mark hilt up a bit higher. Gazes at the gleaming blade admiringly.]

It's been a while since I've held this one.

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger, for one, knows how it is to be reunited with a favorite weapon (he still sleeps with his bat to this day.) However, the cane isn't among any of the real reasons he dropped in for a visit.]

...

Do you remember anything from when you were brainwashed?

[puzzlerprince]

[He frowns, sliding the blade back into its base.]

Nothing significant.

[strike_you_out]

[Really. Slugger turns to the desk then back to Edward with an envelope. From it he pulls a small stack of photos.]

What about this?

[Photo A: Subject, Edward Nigma, is pictured smiling as he trims the hedges. The photo appears to be taken from a second story window.]

[puzzlerprince]

[He stares. Linefacing.]

...did you take that?

[strike_you_out]

[What do you think, Edward? The photo is black and white but it's easy to tell that Eddie isn't wearing one of his usual suits. The next photo in the series is similar to the first, but in this one Edward is shown gleefully mowing the backyard lawn.]

Do you remember doing these things?

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward hardly looks comfortable looking at himself while brainwashed.]

Barely. Put those away.

[strike_you_out]

[Just one more. In the third photo, Edward's drone is in the kitchen wearing an apron and oven mitts and is stooped over a glazed ham, smiling.]

This?

[puzzlerprince]

[He just stares, a furious red tinge creeping onto his cheeks. He's disgusted. Utterly humiliated.]

[strike_you_out]

[...That's a 'yes', isn't it.

Normally, this would get a demonic grin out of him, but instead he turns away from Edward in the seat and muses aloud.]

So then, the generator still exists...

[puzzlerprince]

Assuming the generator was even real to begin with. For all we know, it could have just been a fake.