A Mirrored Spectacle of Lightning Not so Welcome Change Part 1:
All men can handle adversary. If you want to test a man give him power. – Abraham Lincoln"So far so good", thought Chris as he mentally checked off the list of things he needed to say to the camera before the campers arrived. He couldn't mess this up. Not only was this his big break but he was getting a raise every time he followed through with Desmond's goals.
Desmond; now that was a name he hadn't heard off until two months ago. But apparently the man had connections to all sorts of nasty people. He also had lots of money. Those two points were probably why he was able to get Chris what he wanted so easily. Not that he cared. How this would play out was none of Chris's business as long as he got paid.
"Oh my little millions," Chris laughed internally, "Papa's going to give you a lot more siblings very soon."
He was also willing to foot all of Chris's bills and remove all of Chef's gambling debts with a snap of his fingers. Personally Chris was hoping to have the debt be something which bound Chef to him but Desmond beat him to it. Whatever the reasons Desmond had for meddling with his show though was minor worries for Chris. If nothing else he didn't want to turn down Desmond's offer.
Bad things happened to people that did; very bad things.
Of course Desmond's funding didn't come with a few strings attached but in hindsight they were actually going to the game much, much more interesting.
At the corner of his eye Chris noticed the signal an intern was giving him, "Welcome back to Total Drama Island." He beamed, "All right, it's time to meet our vic…cough, eh, I mean campers. We told them they'd all be staying at a five star resort," Chris chuckled, "So if they seem to be pissed off, that's probably why."
As if it was on a cue, the ship just pulled up as Chris turn to face the first camper with his infamous grin, "What's up, Beth!"
The farmer girl suddenly tackles Chris with a squeal, causing him to give her a weird look, "It's so incredulous to meet you!" Beth blinked, "Wow, you're much shorter than in real life!"
Deep breaths Chris. Deep breaths. The boss will let things play out nice and easy. Nice and easy.
"Uh…Thanks?" Chris muttered with raised eyebrow before glancing to see a giant African Canadian teen walking up to him with duffle bags and greeted him, "DJ."
"Yo, Chris McLean. How's it going?" DJ gave Chris a high five before glancing at the scene.
"Hey, you sure you got the right place here? Where's the hot tub at?" DJ asked the host, only to hear him confirming that it was the right place.
"Hmm…Look a lot different on brochure…" He muttered, carrying his bags to other side of dock while glancing around.
"Yeah I lied," snickered Chris.
"More like I don't want to deal with the Hand of Death," mentally recalled Chris.
The Five Fingers silhouettes popped into Chris's mind. If Desmond was just a member that meant that there were at least four people who were his equal; one of which was responsible for the massacre in Riyadh.
So many stringed up headless corpses.
"Hey, Gwen." Greeted Chris causing the goth girl to sigh.
"You mean we're staying here?" Gwen jerked her head at the rundown cabins.
"Oh, yeah! By the way, my crib is this trailer with A.C. A.C," Chris chuckled delightfully rubbing in the last few letter in her face, "Although if you make it far enough I'm almost certain you might possibly get something similar.
"I didn't sign up for that!" She growled.
"Actually, you did." Chris smirked, proudly presenting the contact before Gwen grabbed it and tore it in half. Oh stomping on the dreams of these teens was going to be awesome.
"Good thing about having lawyers is, "grinned Chris before pulling out yet another contract "that they make a lot of copies."
Gwen growled again before picking up her bags and stomping away.
"I'm not staying here!" she yelled
"You sure? That mean you have to swim back since your boat just left." There was sound of boat honking as it left the island.
"Jerk!" she screeched watching horizon before muttering, "Great…"
Just then a cowboy in pink shirt flipped off the boat.
"Wassup, Chris. It's an honor to meet you, man!" The cowboy greeted with fistbump. If he had any reservations to the conditions of the camp he didn't show it.
"Geoff-ster! Welcome to the island, man!" greeted Chris in turn. IT was nice to get some respect around here.
Geoff grinned, "Thanks, man!"
"If they say 'man' one more time, I'm gonna puke." Gwen whispered to DJ and Beth, earning some concern looks from them, especially the later.
"Be nice," hissed Beth.
"By the way about that letter?" questioned Chris whispering as the party guy walked past him.
"Yeah. Man I accept," smirked Geoff with a wink.
It seems one of Desmond's additions might really play a part on this show.
Chris looks at the dock again before introducing the new camper to other campers, "Everyone, that is Lindsay."
The blonde bombshell waved to everyone with a smile.
"Not too shabby, eh?" Chris whispered to the camera as Lindsay walk up to Chris.
"You look so familiar!" Lindsay pointed at Chris as he grins at her.
"I'm Chris McLean." She blinked and stares at him with quizzical expression on her face, "…The host of this show?"
"Oh, that's where I know you from."
"Um…Yeah…" Chris blinked with dumbfounded expression on his face as he stares at Lindsay walk to the group before muttering something about not bright. He turns around to see two teenagers stepped on the dock, "Heather. The queen bee!"
"Um…Yeah…" Chris blinked with dumbfounded expression on his face as he stares at Lindsay walk to the group before muttering something about not bright. He turns around to see two teenagers stepped on the dock, "Heather. The queen bee!"
Taking a good around Heather immediately screeched, "That's it. I'm not staying in this dump or with these losers. I'm calling my parents."
"I wouldn't say that so soon Heather," smirked Chris, "I have info that if nothing else your interactions with a certain someone might mean that you'll want to stay."
"Oh please," tutted Heather, "I doubt that anyone on can make me stay for another hour, let alone for an entire summer. The only one who can talk me into it are Amy and her boyfriend and I know neither of them are coming to this show"
"Really?" smirked Chris, "Then just wait. Once he shows up sparks are going to fly."
And I mean literally and figuratively. I don't know what Desmond wants with the geek but if he knows what happened in that park he almost certainly knows what he's doing.
That thought made Chris frown internally. It was going to be really hard to show the phobia of a guy who had killed at least two people before his eleventh birthday.
"Duncan, dude." Chris greeted the punk who had just hopped off the boat
"I. Don't. Like. Surprises…" Duncan threatened with a scowl as he grabbed Chris's collar preparing to knock the host out.
Okay why doesn't Desmond want this guy?
At least that was Chris was thinking.
"Yeah, your parole officer warned me about that, man." Chris chuckled raising the contract again, "He also told me to give him a holler anytime and have you send back to juvie."
Duncan shrugged, rolling his eyes, "Okay then." He picks up his bag and wink at Heather, "Meet you by the campfire, gorgeous."
"Get bent," retorted Heather, "Chris I'm still waiting for your last loser to arrive so that I can ditch this show."
Chris grinned as he pull out the contact and wave it around, meaning that she can't leave any time until it's about elimination. Nevertheless he reassured Heather, "Don't worry. You'll see. You'll see."
The ship shows up, pulling a skiing jock in red jumpsuit, "Ladies and gentlemen, Tyler!" The said jock waved to everyone with one hand but it caused him to have a wipeout and flew over the group's heads before landed into the suitcases. Everyone winced as they watch a suitcase flew into the air before splashing into the water, soaking Heather in process.
"Wicked wipeout!" Chris shouted to the jock before Tyler gives a thumb up from under the piles.
"My shoes!" screamed Heather.
Gwen sighed, "Your worrying about your shoes? They're only a little wet."
"Well they certainly are worth more than your entire wardrobe," shot back Heather, "So of course I'd be worried."
"Now for our next contestant," introduced Chris moving from the scene in front of him. A redheaded nerd with glasses appeared in front of him, "Harold!"
"Wait," noticed Harold looking at the run down cabin, "So this isn't some sort of summer camp and not a resort?"
"Unfortunately," admitted Heather as Chris nod.
Harold however was ecstatic, "Yes. All the more to show my mad skills."
"Oh we're doomed," sighed Gwen before noticing the next contestant's arrival.
"Trent," greeted Chris to the teen, "How's my contestant number nine coming along?"
"Great," smilled Trent, "Glad to be here and I love the fact that you made me my favourite number."
"Well I hope you rock this show," smirked Chris while frowning internally.
Trent was one of the future Fingers; the five members of the hand of death. Odd considering he seemed like a regular, if charming teen but if Desmond was anything to go by many of these teens could grow into monsters.
Some of the things Desmond showed Chris seemed hard to believe at first, such the fact that the man was a Class 5 Superweight or the fact that several, presumably fantastic, monsters actually existed. He really felt sorry for the guy when he would have to do the phobia factor challenge. Alone it would be nightmare but Desmond's target was going to suffer horribly.
But then again the Hand of Death was the Hand of Death and they were tough.
XXX
"This is not a cure," elaborated Desmond as he had passed Chris a large tank of blue liquid, "What I am giving you now is something that will extend your lifespan so long as you take it. One tea-spoon, every day in the morning will ensure that you do not age a day. After the tank of liquid has finished you will receive a new tank." "How will you give me a new tank?" grunted Chris hefty the large container. It must have weighed at least twenty kilograms. "You'll get a new tank," shrugged Desmond before walking away, "Enjoying eternal youthuntil the age of fifty Chris.'
XXX
"And now for our surfer chick Bridgette!" greeted Chris to the blonde girl in the hoodie.
"Nice board," teased Duncan, "But this ain't Malibu honey."
"I thought we were going to be at a beach," replied Bridgette turning to the polluted shore.
"Yeah we are," pointed out Chris just as a seagull suffocated on a piece of garbage, its corpse being pulled away by the waves.
"Great," groaned Bridgette turning her board and unwittingly hitting Chris on the head, "Well at least it's better than nothing."
"Hi I'm Geoff," greeted Geoff as Bridgette walked towards him. The girl in question just smiled at the eagerness in his tone before turning towards the other contestants.
"Watch the board!" complained Harold ducking under it. While it had been funny for Chris to have gotten his just desserts none of the campers wanted to experience it themselves.
"Hi I'm Beth," waved Beth ducking just like everyone else.
"Nice to meet you Beth," returned Bridgette, "In fact it's nice to meet all of you."
"And now for our next contestant Noah!" continued Chris as the bookworm appeared on the docks.
Externally Chris seemed reasonably calm but internally he was quite worried. He knew why he was scared but he didn't know what he was creating the feeling in the first place. The Fingers; the Fingers and the massacre in Riyadh were always on his mind but that didn't make sense. Why now?
"Did you get the memo on my life-threatening allergies," deadpanned Noah.
Chris just shrugged, "I'm sure someone did."
Of course it was probably somewhere in the trash that didn't really matter. Drama baby drama.
"So this is where we'll be staying," huffed Noah as he moved along.
Duncan sneered, "No it's your mother's house and she's just invited me."
"Nice piercings did you do them yourself?" Noah shot back.
Duncan pulled Noah's lip threatening the Indian boy, "Yep. You want one?"
"No. Can I have my lip back now?" Noah asked before thanking Duncan for releasing him
"Now for our next contestant Leshawna," introduced Chris as a large African Canadian girl jumped onto the dock, "Our sister with attitude."
"I wonder how many ways he can introduce every contestant?" questioned Noah in a deadpan tone.
"Probably a lot," replied Trent, "You'd be surprised by how many ways the English language can be re-arranged or how many words can be borrowed from other languages and still make sense."
Looking at the guitar hanging from Trent's side Noah nodded, "I guess you do know that from experience."
"What's up y' 's in the house and she's here to win this!" waved the girl.
Harold gasped at the way she spoke, "Wow."
"Heya Chris how you do!" she gave Chris a high five before turning to the rest of the contestants, "Feel free to give up and save yourselves the trouble because Leshawna's in the house and she's here to win it!"
"She's not going to win," whispered Noah earning a smack on the head courtesy of Trent, "Only a moron says that and expect to win."
Trent just shrugged as Leshawna high fived DJ.
"I've never met a girl like you before," interrupted Harold, "So loud and open."
"Excuse me?" growled Leshawna fist raised at Harold.
Harold affirmed once again, "Your loud and big."
"Say it again boy!" grabbed Leshawna ready to fight him.
Noah, Trent and Duncan just facepalmed.
"Not that I don't like the drama going on here," chuckled Chris, "but we got to move on. Save the fights for later."
Turning to two girls with matching outfits Chris beamed, "Now to meet out two new contestants Katie and Sadie!"
"Oh my gosh! Look! It's a summer camp!" Katie gushed to Sadie jumping up with similarly dressed friend.
"I've always wanted to go to summer camp!" agreed her friend.
Rubbing his ears Noah turned to Trent, "I'm not sure if I can live with that voice if I was with a team with either of them."
"Hey who knows they might not be so bad," grinned Trent patting Noah on the back.
The two then turned to Ezekriel, who had just been introduced by Chris.
"So a bird huh?" Chris sarcastically said, words going over the head of the boy in question. Taking pity on him Chris advised, "Okay I know you were home-schooled and all that but don't say too much okay."
Nodding forward Chris then turned to the docks to introduce the next contestant before realizing who he was speaking about.
Oh I feel really sorry for you. You have no idea what's about to come.
"Cody! The nerd fighter and Mr. Passion master himself," introduced Chris turning to the teen.
"How's it going Chris?" returned Cody pulling his many bags with him, "I'm surprised you're not dead. Also please don't call me that"
"And I'm surprised you haven't been eaten alive," shot back Chris good naturedly, "But I'll call you what I like."
"Well not all of us can have fangirls like yours," Cody returned before turning to the campers, "Although this place does seem a bit PG for me. Anything you'd like to say?"
"Yeah this is where we'll be staying," admitted Chris.
Cody smiled dropped a little before he trudged along, "Still a vacation is a vacation."
"Wait a minute," Cody noticed looking over his fellow contestants, "Heather what are you doing here?"
Heather perked up realizing who was talking to her, "Cody?"
"The one and only," smiled Cody, "What are the odds of us coming and signing up for the same show."
"Don't tell me the odds," groaned Heather, "Knowing you, you'd probably go through at least five different calculations. How's Amy by the way."
"She's doing great," answered Cody before his face darkened a little, "Although she's part of the reason why I came to this show."
Heather just respectfully nodded. Cody would tell her in his own time.
"Okay now let me get this straight short stuff," entered Duncan pointing between the two of them, "How exactly do you two know each other?"
"I'm friends with Amy," admitted Heather unsure how else to proceed without actually saying anything more. She wasn't sure how comfortable Cody was with, well a lot, in front of random strangers. Especially on live television.
"They tend to double-date a lot," finished Cody ending the conversation.
"Okay moving along. Now for Eva," greeted Chris to the female body builder who had just walked onto the stage.
The girl in question just scowled ignoring the host. Cody gave the woman a good natured wave only to nearly receive a bag where his foot had been.
"Really?" groaned looking at where his foot had been, "All I did was wave. I didn't grope you or anything."
"Didn't 't care," grunted Eva.
Noah chuckled in the background. Cody scoffed founding himself riled up, "Well I guess that's your problem. Must have been from all the steroids hitting you?"
"Why don't I show you how hard I hit!" roared Eva grabbing Cody's collar readying a punch.
Cody however was prepared for it and shifted his head to the right side. Then in a single fluid motion he shifted his weight on his left foot and gave Eva roundhouse kick across the face. Eva however briefly surprised by the force put into the kick but was otherwise undeterred.
Jumping back a little she patted the bruise forming on her jawline.
"Not bad dork," praised Eva before she prepared to lunge at the boy only for Chris to shout overhead.
"Hey! Hey! No drama for now," He shouted, "Let me do the intros then you can get back to your fight."
Both combatants were frustrated at the abrupt conclusion but simply nodded with a mutual look of understanding. This wasn't over.
"Well I guess she's all yours then," deadpanned Noah, "You didn't seem the like the time to hit girls though."
Cody replied to Noah, "An opponent is an opponent I don't care which gender they are or who they are. I don't start fights but I'll certainly end them."
"Tough words," admitted Duncan giving the geek a once over again, "But can you back them up."
Narrowing her eyes Heather spoke up, "You have no idea what the geek can do if you give him a real reason to."
"Owen what's happening!" Beamed Chris as he was hugged by a large chubby teen entering the store.
"Awesome. Just awesome!" shouted Owen hugging the host, "It's just so awesome to be here. It's like …"
"Awesome?" Gwen smiled earning a nudge from Cody.
"Yes!" agreed Owen, "I hope you're on my team."
"I hope so," muttered Gwen sarcastically.
"I hope not," Cody whispered stepping back from the fat kid.
"WOHO!WOHO!" Owen cheered before putting Chris to the ground and running forward.
"Let's continue onwards Courtney!" Chris restarted, "Our resident Type A perfectionist."
"Hi!" greeted Courtney, "You must all be the other contestants. It's really nice to meet you all.
The black Hispanic girl wore a blazer and somewhat formfitting pants which accentuated her curves much to Cody's delight.
"Nice to meet you?" greeted Owen shaking Courtney's hand getting Cody to inwardly smirk.
"Nice to meet you too Ow – Oh wow!" paused Courtney as her attention shifted to the model coming down on the docks.
At first Cody didn't really see what was so particularly special about him. He'd seen way more pretty boys at Triple R Training. Granted said guys were children of Succubi and their Soul-mates but the point still stood.
"So I guess this camp now has its local pretty boy right guys?" he smirked to his fellow competitors.
He turned to everyone when they didn't answer only to see everyone sighing at the model's, "Guys?"
"Guys?" he waved over everyone's faces including Eva's but to no reply. In fact the girls next to her fainted making Cody want to mentally face-palm
"This is Justin?" introduced Chris as the model walked down the docks, "Just so you know we choose you entirely for your looks."
"I can deal with that," shrugged Justin apparently getting that quite a bit.
"I like your pants," commented Owen complimenting the model.
"Thanks?" queried Justin as he moved along.
"I love how faded they are. Did you buy them like that?" Questioned Owen trying to maintain a conversation.
"Nope. Just had them for a while."
"Oh cool," responded Owen before smacking his head, "Stupid."
"And now for Izzy," introduced Chris.
"Hi!" screamed a red-headed girl before her face on the dock.
Courtney and Cody ran up to the dock trying to pull her up.
"Guys she could seriously be hurt," warned Courtney when she heard Tyler laugh.
"Ignore them," whispered Cody pulling the red head up ", Wannabes will be wannabes."
"That was so cool! Is this like a summer camp. Do we have paper-mache here? Are we having lunch soon?" she randomly listed off.
"That's a great question!" agreed Owen
"Now that she does mention it do we have a working lab or factory here?" questioned Cody turning to Chris.
Glaring at the teen Chris answered, "This is a REALITY SHOW! Unless someone randomly invents some sort of gizmo that will basically make energy virtually unlimited for everyone the most you're getting is a small lab."
Cody just shrugged, "Well at least it's something."
"Why do you even need a lab anyways?" questioned Gwen when he walked back to her side.
"I've been working on something for the past four years. It's kind of sucked a lot of my time," answered Cody vaguely.
"Sounds a bit obsessive," noted Noah.
"Yeah but it's something I'm about to finish. Or on the cusp of. I think."
Everyone took a half-step back from Cody.
"What?" he asked.
"Okay," commented Chris, "Anyways first things first. We need a group photo for the promos. Everyone at the end of the dock."
Everyone shuffled up one by one, shortest campers at the front row and taller ones at the back. Much to Cody's chagrin he was in the front row.
"Okay. One two three ... Ops forgot the lense cap. Hold that pose," Chris ordered,"One, two … wait the card's full."
Leshawna growled, "Come on man. My face is freezing up."
"Got it. Everyone say Camp Wawanakwa," grinned the host.
Unfortunately the dock then fell before any of them could say the second syllable of the words.
"Okay guys. Dry up and meet up at the main campfire in ten."
XXX
"Okay. This will be your home for the next several weeks. The campers around you will be your competition. Your team-mates and maybe even your friends," explained Chris for the cameras, "The Camper who manages to stay on camp Wawanakwa the longest will win the grand prize of one million dollars."
"Excuse me but what will be the sleeping arrangements be? Because I'd like to bunk under her," leered Duncan getting a worried look from Heather.
She asked, "They're not Co-ed are they?"
"No. Girls get one side of the cabin. The guys will get the other," reassured Chris.
"I'm surprised you're not encouraging us to actually have sex or something as such," noted Cody as he listened to Chris's statement.
"What did you say?" huffed Izzy uncharacteristically as she grabbed Cody's shirt. Cody got a lot of side glances from the other girls causing them to step away from him … again.
"Look I'm just stating a fact. Nothing more," he reiterated as he watched everyone shift away.
"No no no. Nothing like that so you can stop shifting away from him," elaborated Chris, "Cody actually brings up a good point. As much as I'd like to have all the drama that comes with putting a group of teenagers on the island there's some stuff we don't want happening due to possible lawsuits we may face. Unwanted pregnancy being one of them."
"Now that you mention it," agreed Courtney ",That is something that happens every now and then. As a Councillor in training, a CIT, I've seen some kids as young as fourteen get pregnant."
"Not really good family planning," commented Bridgette giving Cody an apologizing nod. Quite a lot of people did the same.
"Yep," awkwardly rubbed Chris, "To avoid that we are placing a vending machine booth where you can apply to get whatever drugs or materials you may need. Since we're stuck in one place, for the most part, the producers thought it would be a good idea to avoid complications in the future. It will be fully stocked at all time. However because of this, if something does happen at this camp it will no longer be our responsibility."
"So kids," smirked Duncan in a mocking tone, "Use protection."
The contestants giggled at his words.
Cody just shrugged, "Weird and awkward. But certainly necessary. Avoiding a problem won't make it go away."
Sex wasn't really something he had any taboo against discussing.
"So anyways back on topic," elaborated Chris gesturing to the camp site, "As you know you will be having a bonfire ceremony at this location for all elimination purposes however there are several points of interest that you must always keep in mind when living at the camp."
"Follow me," he gestured before walking down a trail towards a pair of cabins.
"As you can see here these are your cabins for which you'll be staying for the time at camp."
"Will we be supervised here?" queried Geoff as everyone got a good look at the cabins and the interiors.
Sure everything had a summer camp feel but apparently things were pretty top-notch. The sheets were quite clean and it was clear the wood had been freshly furbished.
Apparently expecting this Chris stated walking down the trail, "You're all 16 which are as old as a typical CIT at a regular summer camp. So expect for me and my aid you'll be supervised."
"I see," noted Harold.
After two minutes everyone found
"This is the main facility where you'll eat up, meet your fellow contestants and in general have important meetings or notifications. A bulletin board will be set up for important reminders but it is recommended that you otherwise listen to the various radio messages which we will deliver on a regular basis."
"Breakfast is served at 8, lunch at noon and supper at 6. If you fail to meet or be at the facility during half an hour after that time-frame you don't get to eat. Them's the rules."
"We also have an off-site tuck shop which you will be able to buy certain goods for convenient prices, many discounted thanks to our sponsors and producers but you'll only get to visit that shop should your team win certain challenges."
"That's nice of you and the producers," commented Leshawna suspiciously, "I'm honestly surprised by that. What's the catch."
"No catch," answered Chris, "You're all being embarrassed on international television. That should be enough get us to play nice with some of you. Especially considering the various stunts many of you be facing."
"This is the first aid center. Here we will be able to treat your various maladies and diseases expected form living on the camp site," gestured Chris.
"It looks like a private clinic," observed Trent, "Just what will be dealing with on this island to warrant this."
"Well that's the thing," shuffled Chris, "While you will be going through all sorts of challenges the woods out there are … abnormal. I do not recommend you go make out with whoever you hook up with there."
"How bad?" questioned Gwen.
"You won't be dealing with bears and wolves out there. If you're lucky that'll be the least of your problems. At the first aid center we have an onsite doctor and three nurses to pack you back up," elaborated Chris.
Cody narrowed his eyes at that statement.
Leshawna, "And there's the catch."
"Yep," shrugged Chris, "Not my problem. Our contracted exterminator will occasional clear out the more dangerous wildlife but do keep in mind when we announce you to get out of the woods and back to camp we mean it."
"And this is the out-house," showed Chris, "Fit for your various waterborne needs."
Gwen opened the door to the outhouse and shrieked at all the metal tools which protruded at odd shapes and angles. Dried carcasses of unknown beasts hung in the air, explaining the stench of blood in the air. Splashes of green, blue, yellow and red blood peppered the floor showing that the kills had been recent.
"You okay?" questioned Trent seeing Gwen's frightened state.
"Fine. Just fine. Got startled by the stuff in there," she explained getting a hold of herself ",Really creepy place."
Cody walked into the outhouse in question, "Is that a giant slug?"
"I thought slugs didn't get this big," squelched Lindsay when she walked in.
Cody could faintly hear some of the more delicate campers throwing up from the gruesome sight. The slug wasn't the only thing that seemed odd about the warehouse. There was what he could only believe to be a Cerberus head at the far side of the outhouse and a corpse of a partially transformed giant spider. In fact the whole outhouse was filled with pinned up giant invertebrates that continued to leak out green or yellow blood.. He frowned though, because the whole scene seemed a bit set-up.
"Is there something that we should know?" questioned Trent as he looked at the rows of animal corpses, sharp objects and weaponry. The claws and harpoon in particular seemed like they had been used quite a bit although the Zweihander piercing the top of a human skull seemed to be dead give a way.
Especially because the decaying skull still had flies crawling over it.
"Well that's the thing," explained Chris uncaringly, "One of our producers is a member of certain ... organizations and occasional shows up here on Camp Wawanakwa to just go hunting so to speak. Guy's pretty chill but he's also our local exterminator who shows on and off. Uses this outhouse to store the stuff he hunts and stuffs."
"I did not sign up for this show," screeched Courtney getting a hold of herself, "I swear I'm calling my lawyers and making sure he doesn't get within a kilometre of me."
"Good luck with that," pointed out Chris, "Our local exterminator is a billionaire. He'll just face you in court and take his pound of flesh from you."
Realizing her folly Courtney backed off.
"Besides," noted Gwen, "It's probably in the contract. So far Chris hasn't actually done anything to us. This is just gruesome but well ..."
Returning the campers attention back to him Chris continued."Anyways the outhouse is primarily served as a binary purpose although there are other tertiary reasons to use it such as the radio-shack. For the most part you'll be getting your water borne gear from this outhouse and I'll tell Scott to make sure that it's cleaner next time. Wouldn't want to have you shivering constantly like the wonder twins are."
The cast looked at Katie and Sadie who were both hiding behind Owen.
"Okay and the second?" Izzy asked.
"A detention centre," stated Chris, "At Camp Wawanakwa we generally do expect and encourage drama based conflict. However if things get out of hand such as say one of you holds a knife to another's throat me, my aide, the interns and Jermayne will throw you into the outhouse until the proper authorities arrive."
"It is not recommended that you resist in anyway against me or Jermayne," warned Chris, "I mean it. Jermayne gets pretty nasty when he has too."
Then he rubbed his hands together before walking in another direction, "And now finally the confessional. No competition reality show would be quite one without one."
Confessional: Chris
"Here you can discuss and promote your thoughts and comments for the world to see," Chris said to the camera.
Confessional: Gwen
"Well so far this is ... weird," noted Gwen, "It's both a pretty cruddy summer camp but there's something else in the air."
Confessional: Lindsay
"I just want to say I'm never going into the outhouse like ever again," she whispered, "That place gives me the creeps."
Confessional: Duncan
"This camp isn't what I thought it was going to be but well I'll bite and say this might be fun," he shrugged before grinning, "I mean half the chicks here are hot and the outhouse isn't so bad."
Confessional End:
"Now that we've made everything quite clear," Chris finished, "Let's get to our teams."
"Beth, Bridgette, Cody, Courtney, DJ, Ezekiel, Heather, Izzy, Leshawna, Linsday and Noah," He gestured frowning at the gender ratio.
Confessional: Ezekriel
"I want say that is sucks, eh," complained Ezekriel, "I'm stuck on this team with a bunch of girls and one of them is going to do something really stupid to take us down."
Confessional Ends
"Truthfully I wanted to build up a team to maximize drama and ratings," huffed Chris, "But Scott was quite insistent that I do a random draw and let the kids be kids. Apparently the life-threatening stunts were more than enough in his mind."
Confessional Ends
"You're the Killer Bass," he exclaimed throwing them a red banner.
"Duncan, Eva, Geoff, Gwen, Harold, Justin, Katie, Sadie, Owen, Trent and Tyler you're the Screaming Gophers," he explained throwing them a green banner.
"Okay everyone," he ended, "Unpack your things and meet at the mess hall or general facility in ten. You'll have lunch and then get your first and subsequent challenges from their usually."
In the Killer Bass cabin the girls continued to unpack their stuff.
"Well this is quite strange," noted Courtney as she started placing all her stuff in her cabin, "But I guess it can't be helped."
"At least things aren't completely run down," nodded Bridgette before pulling out one of the books she had.
"Is that 'How Big Oil Killed Environmentalism'?" questioned Courtney when she realized the book that Bridgette was placing on her bed next to her diary.
Bridgette just nodded, "Yep. I'm just on the chapter on how they deliberately sabotaged the process of nuclear fission implantation and why we'll never likely get nuclear fusion."
Courtney frowned, "That's an odd book to have for an environmentalist?"
"Yes I'm an environmentalist," shrugged Bridgette, "But I'm not stupid. Bertha Jones books are some of the best written ones when it comes to environmental policies and unlike David Suzuki she's not really a hypocrite."
"Interesting," intoned Courtney, "I might have to borrow that book later and see how it goes."
"Well after I finish anyways," answered Bridgette as she started putting her clothes underneath her bed drawer.
The two girls perked up when Cody and Heather entered the girl's cabin apparently arguing over some matter.
"No I won't do it," huffed Cody shooting back at her.
Heather growled, "All I'm asking is that you help me with my stuff."
"And if I remember clearly you owe me even more for that time I with Marcus and Shane," retorted Cody, "Honestly why did you pack so much stuff anyways? Not every girl travels as heavy as you do."
"You're not going to be my pack mule you know," reminded Heather, "Just – "
"Zip it. I know where this goes," grouched Cody before mimicking Heather's voice," Oh! Cody would mind coming on a shopping trip with me and girls? I swear it'll be fun. Then the next thing I know I'm carrying eight shopping bags."
"If I remember correctly," tabbed Heather, "You always got a show."
"Get bent," retorted Cody before walking out.
"Also Campers," elaborated Chris from the middle of the two cabins, a crowd slowly growing around him, "Our lunch is running a bit behind schedule so we'll give you and extra twenty minutes to pack. If you want to use our communal bathrooms"
He pointed a thumb to the building behind him, "There it is."
"But I'm not Catholic," spoked up Lindsay.
DJ just patted the girl on the back, "It means everyone goes to the same bathroom."
"Meh," shrugged Cody, "Like Starship Troopers?"
"As if a reality show would be that progressive," snarked Noah, "Besides I doubt half the girls would hate to show their goods off to the guys here."
That is kind of stupid.
However Cody was smart enough to not say it out loud. Everyone always found it weird when he walked into the female washroom back at high-school because it was more convenient than just waiting outside. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of steel hitting wood.
Glancing back he saw Duncan holding a bloodied axe on one hand.
Seeing the questioning looks at him Duncan just repeated, "Some mouse tried to eat my shoelace so I sliced it in half. The blood is going to stink up the cabin a bit but at least I won't be getting my ears eaten off."
DJ squeaked at the brutality of Duncan's action before fainting.
"Uh dude isn't Duncan the one who's sleeping under my bunk?" questioned Tyler to Geoff who just nervously nodded.
"Okay I'll get an intern to clean up the blood stains sometime during the challenge," reassured Chris, "But I will ask you to return the axe."
"I didn't steal it," lied Duncan.
"Right?" sarcastically replied Trent.
"You wanna deal with me Elvis," growled Duncan glaring at Trent who just glared back refusing to show any fear.
"Maybe later," deflected Cody trying to break up the possible fight that might occur, "Let's just ... relax."
Both boys turned their looks to Cody before nodding.
"You seemed to have a handle for the situation," grunted Owen to which just got a shrug from the short nerdfighter.
XXX
"Alright you maggots!" shouted Chef, "Now you listen hear to me. Right now I'm gonna feed you three times a day and you'll eat it three times a day. This ain't no five star-resort so you'll eat what's given to you. No questiones"
"Will there be any meat?" questioned Bridgette before elaborating, "I'm a vegetarian."
"So am I," added DJ.
"DID YOU MAGGOTS HEAR WHAT I JUST SAID!" roared Chef right into the teens faces, "I'm already bringing my A-Game because the producers seemed to be willing to foot the bill and all I'm getting a raise. So quit it and zip it."
"I take it that this show does have decent food then?" remarked Geoff hopefully.
"Just standard old IMPs from the military," stated Chef, "Everything's on a rotation basis so you eat what you can. Allergies are taken into account but only that so if you decide not to eat for other reason well tough luck. You go hungry. Now line up."
With that said the campers lined up and took their daily rations. For their first lunch the meal consisted of Sheppard's Pie, fruit salad with syrup, some slices of bread with peanut butter and strawberry Jam, lemon pudding, a few pieces of caramel candy and orange juice.
"Meh," tasted Eva drinking the juice, "It's not too bad."
"I'll say," agreed Bridgette reluctantly. Sure it could have been better but it could have also been much worse.
She especially enjoyed the fruit salad which had vibrant kiwifruit, succulent strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, bananas and oranges.
DJ reassured Katie who seemed a bit worried about their predicament, "Don't worry. The first challenge is always the easiest. They want us to get used to the gain."
"You sure?" questioned Katie.
"Of course," confidently stated DJ immediately, "It can't be too bad."
XXX
Everyone soon found themselves looking down on a massive cliff.
"OH SHIT!"