Part 1
What's my first impression of everyone on my tribe? Hmm, well, the ladies are gorgeous. I don't know who I think is hotter, the beautiful Vienna or the luscious Katie⦠Oh, everyone else? Well, Reid is an a**. I hope we vote him off first. Besides, we already have one doctor. Why do we need another?
~ Henry, Television Executive
It's hot. That's the first thing Luke thinks when the large sailboat eases to a stop about a half a mile from the coastline. Golden rays of sunshine stream down, unhindered in a cloudless sky. The water is a clear blue, and as Luke bends over the railing,he can see a school of fish scattering away. Under the thick smell of moisture and ocean salt lies the sweet tang of flowers and trees drifting from the island in the distance. It's like the time we went to the DominicanRepublic. Luke recalls the family vacation with a smile. Beautiful, tropical flora, endless coffee, and gorgeous caramel, skinned men.
A fellow contestant coughs beside him and Luke glances at the man out of the corner of his eye. He's an older gentleman, perhaps in his mid sixties. While once neat, now the man's clean, silver hair has been twirled by the wind and glued to his face by sweat. He coughs again and Luke casually moves away. He better not makeme sick. Luke immediately feels contrite at the thought. He turns around, catches the older man's eye, and then flashes him a smile. They're not allowed to talk to each other. Survivor rule number 5001- no talking to the other contestants before Jeff Probst gives the all clear.
Crew members- three men and one woman- all dressed in tan khakis and blue polos dash around deck. They drop the anchor and tow in the sails. There are already five camera men silently puttering around capturing the openingmoments of this season's Survivor hopefuls. Over the last two hours- the time it takes to get from mainland to the island- Luke counts sixteen contestants. There are an equal amount of men to women. Almost everyone is below deck. Sitting in the air-conditioning while they can, Luke thinks.
It's not a bad idea, but since he landed in Jakarta yesterday afternoon, he can't tear his eyes away from the scenery. Indonesia is beautiful, and as the sailboat putters by island after island, Luke finds himself leaning against the railing staring at each sandy shore. Some islands are clearly populated. Small fishing boats with smiling fisherman often stop their daily work to stare at Luke as he waves at them as a greeting. Some islands boast clusters of thatched roof houses and rusty looking cars. Others just have endless rows of big leafed trees, no people in sight.
The islands vary in size as well. All of the main islands host cities large enough to claim office buildings and skyscrapers. Fish and fruit markets are common on all the populated ones, though they vary from a street of vendors to whole blocks of stalls full spicy smelling foods, handcrafted jewellery, and other touristy goods. When Luke steps off the plane, he immediately wishes he arrived earlier. Oh well, I'll just have to make another trip back here with my million dollars. He smiles at the thought and chuckles quietly to himself.
A touch on his shoulder startles Luke from his thoughts. "We're calling everyone on deck." It's one of the Survivor crewmen. The bearded fellow has a microphone pack clipped to his belt and some type of earpiece over his left lobe. A baseball cap shields his face from the blazing sun. When the man realizes he has Luke's attention, he points to the other side of the deck where Luke can see the other cast members gathering. The coughing, silver haired man is already over there.
Luke nods and makes his way over. He gently eases into the middle of the group. There's a beautiful, middle aged woman to his left. She's tall, with perfectly straight teeth, a thin, slightly tanned face, and shiny dark hair that brushes against her chin. She smells like Chanel perfume, which completely reminds Luke of home. Her arms are toned and she holds herself straight and proud. I hope she's on my team.
On the other side is another beautiful woman, perhaps in her early thirties. She's got long, flowing blonde hair, pouty lips, and pale blue eyes. Her demeanour seems sweet, but by the set of her jaw and the way she's scanning the other contestants, Lukedecides not to take her pretty exterior as a sign of weakness. They're all looking at each other. Staring, judging who's a challenge, who's weak.
"Welcome everyone." Jeff Probst's familiar voice cuts across the deck. Luke snaps to attention. The host is wearing a sea blue button-up shirt. The long sleeves are rolled to his elbows and the hem of the shirt falls lightly along the top of khaki colored pants. The outfit blends right in with the other crew members, but Luke doubts Jeff Probst can blend in anywhere. The man has a handsome face and set of dimples on either side of his mischievous smile that makes Luke a bit weak in the knees. They curve around his mouth like arrows, pointing the way and saying, this is where you should look. And look, Luke does.
Even if all the other men turn out to be assholes, at least I'll still have our wonderful host to fantasize about while I'm here, Luke thinks with a grin.
The man continues talking. "As we begin our twenty-first season of Survivor I want everyone to look around, take in your competition." Not a single person disobeys. "Then I want you to turn around and look at the island behind us." Luke twists around and looks back at the palm trees and other greenery. "For some of you this island will be your home for the next forty days." Waves tumble upon on the shore, running white, foamy water and dark seaweed along the sand. Luke takes in a big breath. Salty air stings his nose and excitement bubbles in his chest.
"Who's ready to play Survivor?" Loud, whooping cheers bray across the deck startling the two pelicans using the far rail as a resting place. Jeff Probst smiles, then motions for everyone to calm down. "Glad to see you're excited, because the game starts now." Luke's stomach clenches and exhilaration jumps inside his chest. "As you all have probably noticed we are back to our original sixteen contestants." The host holds up a coarse, brown bag. "Inside here I have sixteen buffs. Eight red buffs for the Riau tribe and eight yellow buffs for the Bangka tribe. Both named after Indonesian islands." He shakes the bag. "You will take turns pulling a buff from the bag. Once everyone has a buff, find your teammates and make your way over to the wooden crate with your color on it." Luke looks to where Probst is pointing. Near the stern of the boat are two large crates. One is painted red, the other yellow. "Inside the crates are directions for your first challenge." The brunette woman at Luke's side shifts from foot to foot. Luke can literally feel her anticipation. "Okay, let's begin."
Jeff Probst walks to the edge of the semicircle of contestants. Luke watches as each person reaches inside and pulls out a buff. Red, yellow, red, yellow, yellow, red. As he watches, Luke takes in each face. They sure picked a good looking bunch this season. Ages range from young to old (and Luke just might be the youngest, though there is a handsome, all-American looking guy standing at the very end that might contest him onthat, and everyone is pretty enough to be on a daytime soap.
There's one good-looking man in particular that catches Luke's eye. He's not smiling, which doesn't bode well for personality, but the slight curl of his sandy brown hair makes Luke want to go over there, dig his hands in the thick locks and bring the man's pouty scowl against his own lips and kiss him until he smiles. Okay, so Luke is a bit of a romantic. Sue him. Mr. Pouty pulls a yellow buff and Luke has the sudden image of reaching inside that small bag, pulling a matching buff, and spending the rest of his forty days cuddled along Mr. Pouty's thin frame. He can't help the quiet chuckle that escapes his mouth. The blonde supermodel to his right gives him a sideways look and Luke chuckles again. Dad always told me not to let Mom's crazy, dramatic nature take a hold of me. Too late.
Finally, it's his turn to pull a buff. The bag is coarse and scratches Luke's skin as he reaches inside. Please be yellow. Please be yellow. Please be yellow, he chants silently. His fingers touch cloth and drags out his buff. It's red. Damn-it. Disappointment fills him and he looks forlornly at Mr. Pouty. Before he can blink the host has moved on. Luke takes the opportunity to tie his buff around his head. The cloth immediately begins to soak up his sweat.
While the host finishes handing out the buffs, Luke looks too see who's on his team. His Chanel wearing brunette has a red buff tied around the strap of her tank top. Alright, he thinks. There are also two older people, one man with a slimy smile and serious looking woman with dyed red hair. A pretty twenty-something brunette with a sizable chest has her buff spun into a tight line and tied neatly around her forehead like band.
"Alright Survivors, everyone has their buffs. Find your teammates and get started." Jeff Probst claps his hands together once, and it's as if a gun goes off.
The world turns into chaos. Everyone scrambles towards the crates. The deck is slick with water, the boat is rocking, and everyone makes it there without falling. Luke hears cursing and turns back to sees if it's anyone with a red buff. There's a skinny brunette with a yellow buff and the cute, all American boy. He's got red tied around his arm.
"Thanks," the guy says as Luke backtracks and holds out his hand.
"Not a problem. What are team members for?" Luke replies with grin. The guy's hand is just a bit larger than Luke's and his palms are wet.
Luke helps him to his feet and the guy says, "I'm Noah."
"Nice to meet you, Noah. I'm Luke." Since he's already holding Noah's hand, Luke gives it a quick shake, then nods towards the crates. "Come on, let's get over there before they realize we're not helping."
It only takes a few seconds for him and Noah to squeeze their way into the circle of the newly minted Riau tribe. Noah's shoulder is pressing into his as they close the circle around an older man. It's slimy smile guy, not coughing guy. Luke doesn't know which one's worse. I guess I'll find out.
"Hurry up Brian. Read it aloud," demands the pasty white, sporty looking guy standing across from Luke.
Brian- Mr. Slimy Smile- has a weathered looking scroll in his hands and the open, empty crate at his feet. He reads, "Welcome to the island, you better get there quick; for the first team to shore gets the choicest bit." Brian looks up from the paper and glances around the group.
A tiny, friendly looking brunette shouts out, "The first team to shore gets a better camp!"
"Shut up!" cries Mr. Sporty. He turns towards the other tribe. "Damn-it, they heard you!"
Luke doesn't know whether the other team heard her or not, but they were running around the edges of the deck looking for something. Boats. They're looking for boats. His eyes dart to the side of the sailboat where he had seen two large rubber rafts hanging earlier. He remembers that one raft had a red stripe down the side. "Come on!" Luke says and runs towards the raft. He doesn't wait to see who's following.
The raft is anchored with thick ropes. Luke immediately begins undoing the knots. Soon Noah is beside him doing his best to untangle the large loop in the middle. Ms. Chanel takes the other side of Noah and uses her narrow fingers to work. Mr. Sporty throws himself over the side of the boat and scuttles down the laddered foot-holds like a monkey. Brian helps the older, red-headed woman over the side then the friendly brunette. Luke gets his side untied and slides over to help Noah. The yellow-buff Bangka tribe is just a few yards away yanking on their own ropes.
One breath more and the remaining knots are gone and the rope is slipping through Luke's fingers. The raft hits the water with a giant splash. Mr. Sporty jumps in. The rubber bottom dips beneath his weight, and for one long second Luke thinks it's going to flip. It doesn't. Mr. Sporty reaches out and grabs the last foot hold in the sailboat to steady the raft. Those already on the ladder ease inside, but by the time Brian's fumbling in, Luke can hear the other tribe's raft hitting the water.
Beyond the jostling of the cast members, the heavy breath of everyone around him, and the waves slapping against the sailboat, Luke can hear Jeff Probst excitedly narrating a play-by-play of the challenge. If Luke wasn't jumping over the railing and climbing down the ladder he'd be in awe of the fact Jeff Probst- the man he's watched on television since he was a boy- is talking about him.
The busty brunette is the last on board, and the moment she's in, Noah, Ms. Channel and Mr. Sporty are bent over the side of the raft paddling with their hands. Luke slides next to Noah and helps. Focused on the task at hand, it takes Luke a second to realize Mr. Sporty is talking to him.
"I'm Casey," he shouts. From the look on his face Luke thinks the man has already said it more than once.
Luke smiles an apology and says back, "I'm Luke."
"Well, if we're all sharing names," the older red-headed woman drawls, "You can call me Lucinda." She looks like she wants to hold out her hand and greet everyone properly, but with everyone engaged in paddling (including Lucinda, who has her feet off the back of the raft and is kicking furiously) it's difficult. After that they do a quick shout out of names. Ms. Chanel is Molly, which Luke doesn't think is elegant enough for her. The busty brunette is Maddie and the petite brunette is Ali.
Noah, Brian, Lucinda, Casey, Ali, Maddie, Molly, Luke repeats to himself. Knowing the names of his teammate is important. How can they trust you if you don't know their names, he thinks.
"We need to paddle faster," Ali says. Luke follows her gaze to the other tribe. Despite how everyone on the other raft appears to be screaming at each other- with Mr. Pouty as one of the pissed off front runners, Luke notes- the Bangka tribe are making speedy progress. The nose of their raft is even with the back of theirs, and with every passing second the other tribe is gaining ground.
"Get in the water and kick with your feet," Lucinda commands. Luke doesn't know who's she talking too, but Noah and Casey are already diving into the water. They swim up to the back of the raft and latch on with their arms. Water splashes everywhere, hitting the raft and the people inside. "Go on!" Lucinda says, and this time Luke knows she's talking to him.
He's about to jump in and help the other guys when the rope that tied the raft to the sailboat catches his eye. It's floating uselessly from the side of the raft, squeezed between the tube and the thin cord that lines the raft. Luke dives off the front. Once he's in the water he immediately swims for the rope and ties it around his waist and chest. He makes sure the other end is looped tight around the cord of the raft. He puts a body length between himself and the raft and twists into a high powered front crawl.
Even if the situation is unusual, the motion is familiar. Who knew all those years of competitive swimming would come in handy like this. He ignores everything around him. The sounds of the other contestants- their splashing and yelling. He ignores the salty sting of ocean water in his eyes and the fine ache of his shoulders. He ignores the occasional bump of the raft into his feet and pulling of the rope around his body. Luke just concentrates on swimming. Stroke, stroke, stroke, breath. Stroke, stroke, stroke, breath.
After what feels like hours, but in reality is only a few minutes, Luke senses someone beside him. A hand slides under his belly and grabs the remaining length of free rope. On his next breath up he peeks and sees it's Maddie. She's tying the rope around her own waist then begins swimming like a mad woman. The girl isn't as smooth as Luke, but she's strong, and the weight of the raft is suddenly lighter.
Together, the two of them pull while the boys at the back push and the others paddle off the side. It only takes a few more minutes before Luke's touching sand with each forward stroke. The moment his feet touch, he's standing and wiggling out of the rope. Brian and Molly are jumping off the raft. Brian turns to help Lucinda. Molly runs ashore. Maddie is tangled in the rope and Luke hurries to help her get free.
"Come on!" shouts Molly. She's already half a dozen yards from the water and is waiting anxiously atop a large red mat. Casey runs noisily through the water, urging Ali along. Brian and Lucinda run toward Molly. Noah stops on the other side of Maddie and literally lifts her up while Luke yanksthe rope down. Once she's free they all dash toward the land. They're the last of the Riau tribe to arrive, and Luke's foot catches on the edge of the mat. He tumbles forward but Noah reaches out and catches him before he falls.
"Thanks," Luke mutters.
"No problem," Noah says and gives him a happy look.
This is going to be a good alliance, Luke thinks, and then the people around him are cheering and he realizes that Jeff Probst is standing next to their mat declaring them the winners of the first challenge.
Luke head is spinning; he's still recovering from the earlier physical exertion. The other tribe is just now coming ashore, and Luke thinks, holy shit, we just won. He laughs. Casey thumps him on the back and lets loose a whooping hoot.
Brian's hand clamps down on his shoulder gives him a hearty squeeze. "You did great," he says to Luke with a smile.
"Thanks," Luke replies. "But it wasn't just me. We all did great," he says honestly.
Casey lets out another congratulatory shout and says, "Yes we did. The Riau tribe rocks!"
Everyone laughs, and even Jeff Probst smiles. "Well, I'm glad you're happy Casey. Your team worked well together and it shows with your victory." By this time all the members of the Bangka tribe have made it to their own yellow mat. None of them are smiling. The host holds out a scroll towards Casey and says, "Here's a map to your premade camp. There you will find some goodies that will help you on your Survivor adventure." Probst walks over to the other tribe and hands them another scroll. "Bangka tribe here's the map to your own camp. I'm sorry to say there's nothing there but island."
"That's okay. We don't need any amenities," shouts a pinched faced man.
"Well, that's good Henry," Probst says, "because you won't have any."
A few members of Luke's team laugh, but Luke thinks, Henry. The lighthaired brunette with the plucked eyebrows is Henry. It's good to know your enemies as well as your friends.
Jeff Probst wishes everyone good luck then waves them away. Both teams are given a machete, a cast iron cooking pot, and two water canteens. Molly takes the machete. Maddie and Ali both shoulder a canteen and Casey takes the pot. Brian unrolls their map, and then they're on their way to their new home. Luke takes the rear end of the line and gets a nice view of Noah's ass. He can hear the other tribe arguing among themselves and he glances over his shoulder.
Mr. Pouty, damn, I wish I knew his name, has his head bent and is picking up the Bangka tribe's canteens. He glances up and their eyes meet. Luke's lips go dry and he licks his lips. Mr. Pouty's eyes go dark and for one long second Luke feels a connection. Then Mr. Pouty scowls, shoots Luke a nasty look and turns away.
Fine, be like that, asshole, Luke thinks. Noah is a few feet ahead and Luke jogs to catch up. Noah twists around and gives Luke a big smile. Luke can't help but shake his head at the other boy's friendliness and smile back. This game is going to be interesting.
