"Roomies Goes Global," written by Freedom Fighter
Back to business, and only three weeks until the finale!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters that appear in this fanfic. I also do not own any reality show elements that may have been adapted for this series. Any other copyrighted people and places also do not belong to me. Basically, I own none of it.
"Roomies" 10th Anniversary Event
(2001-2011)
Night Sixteen
Kari and Rachel were celebrating their win in the competition's eight challenge, on stage with most of their competitors, plus Kari's older brother, Tai, and Rachel's best friend, Serena. But...
"Hold up, HOLD UP!" Kiyone interrupted, running into the midst of the celebration.
Everyone stopped, and the winning duo turned to face the hostess.
"What's wrong?" Rachel asked.
"The challenge is NOT over! There's one more thing you must do!"
Kari and Rachel looked at each other, then back at Kiyone.
"What's that?" queried Kari, being gulping in fear.
"Well, you see... it's..."
She clapped her hands, and then the back curtain of the stage fell to the floor, revealing behind it the tote board. Everyone, particularly Kari and Rachel, breathed a sigh of relief.
-
Roomies Goes Global
Episode Ten - Rallying for Support (07.11.11)
-
Once Kiyone had explained what it was for everyone who did not know...
"Okay, now that everyone's up to speed..."
She pulled out two Damage Counters, and handed one each to Rachel and Kari. The latter went first, stepping up to the board and placing hers next to Francine's photo, the housewife's first of the game.
"Sorry, Francine... but fair's fair."
Francine was none too pleased, and neither was Stan, her husband. He reached into his inner blazer pocket for his cell phone, but Francine saw him and shook her head, stopping him from making a call. While that was happening, Rachel went up and placed hers next to Candace's picture.
"WHAT?" screamed Candace.
"Don't get me wrong," Rachel clarified. "I like you, Candace. But I just couldn't think of anyone to give it to."
Candace grumbled something inaudible under her breath.
"Green Team," Kiyone addressed the two women, "you now have the chance to remove a Damage Counter applied to anyone after any previous challenge, if you so wish."
Kari and Rachel discussed it for a minute, then they nodded, indicating they were going to exercise the option. Kiyone stepped aside, and Rachel headed for the board. Before getting there, though, she stopped to explain their choice.
"This is a long time coming... but I believe he doesn't deserve to be in the position he is now."
With that, she headed over and removed one of the Damage Counters from the section corresponding to her ex-partner, Fred. He reacted ecstatically, throwing up his arms and dancing like a kid on Christmas morning. He then ran over and gave Rachel a hug as she was returning to her current partner's side.
"Thank you, thank you!" he exclaimed jubilantly.
"You're welcome, Fred. Now... can you let me go? People are watching."
Fred complied, blushing a little bit over being a little overzealous.
"Well, Fred," Kiyone stepped in, "you're now once again eligible to be voted into the Final Four by your peers. But with two challenges still to go, I'd suggest not falling into a position where someone can restore that third strike."
"You can bet on that NOT happening!" Fred assured her.
"Good. I should also give congratulations to Lee, Noah, Terry, and Kari. You are the first four to max out your money polls. If any of you win the game, you will be walking out of here with half a million dollars!"
Applause can be heard from their fellow competitors and the crowd.
"The rest of you have two challenges left to get there. I hope you all have saved your best game for last! Oh, and one MORE thing..."
"Ugh," groaned Noah. "It's like your a broken record!"
"It's for all of you to say farewell to your loved ones. You've all got five minutes, then it's back to the beach house. Get to it!"
The group began to funnel off-stage to either side, as Kiyone closed up the show for the rest of the audience.
"I guess this is it, sis," Sokka said, getting up to hug Katara. "Good luck."
"Thanks, Sokka! Tell Aang and the others I miss them!"
"Sure! And if you don't win, don't bother coming back!"
Katara glared at him.
"What?" Sokka chuckled. "I'm just kidding!"
"Take care of yourself, son!" Shuji bid adieu to Yoshimori.
"Win it for us, Yoshi!" Toshimori said.
"I will, and thanks!" he said in reply to both of them.
Dana kissed Terry on the lips, and Mary followed by giving her oldest son a big hug.
"We'll be waiting for you," Mary told him.
"Come home safe!" Dana wished aloud.
"You two be safe going home, okay?"
Rachel and Serena shared one last hug before they were split apart.
"Make sure you win," Serena chuckled, "so that you can be rich just like me!"
"Oh, Serena," laughed Rachel, "it wouldn't make us better friends if I had as much money as you."
"Of course I know that! What do you think I am? Stupid?"
"I can't believe I'm leaving already!" cried Daphne. "We didn't even get to spend that much time together!"
"There's always next time," Fred assured her, even though the next time he'd see her would be back in Crystal Cove.
"It's not fair," stomped Beezy. "We didn't even get to do anything fun!"
"You rode one of the roasted pigs off the side of the bluff..." grumbled Heloise, "AND THEN YOU AND JIMMY ATE IT ALL YOURSELVES!"
"What can I say? Food's better when you have to chase it down."
"Besides," Jimmy said to Heloise, "we would've let you in if you had just asked."
"But I did!"
"No... I'm pretty sure that was the talking dog."
Speaking of the talking dog...
"I'm gonna miss you, buddy!" Jake said, as he wrapped his elongating arms around Finn.
"You too."
"And good luck... wink... getting that Megan girl... wink... if you catch my drift. Wink!"
"It's not like that!" Finn and Megan both exclaimed in unison, though the latter was saying that to her parents.
"We believe you," Caren said to her daughter. "But in case you two get serious..."
"He has to eat dinner with us!" demanded Cal. "Got it?"
"Mom! Dad! You're embarrassing me!"
Over with Candice...
"Go for the gold, senior!" Zoey said, bowing before Candice.
"You bet! I'm settlin' for nothing less than total victory! Kiai!"
"You take care of yourself," Kenzo told Nina.
"I will. And you do the same. You look pale."
The doctor chuckled. "Well, I have been trouble sleeping the past few days."
Stan and Francine walked past them.
"Remember, honey," Stan prodded her, "I'm only one phone call away. I can deport anyone at your request!"
"That's nice, dear. Just say hi to the kids to me. Oh, and if Roger's digging into my old wardrobe again..."
"GOT IT!" Stan yelled, pulling out a turkey baster.
"Wha?"
"That's the TSA for you! Poking and prodding everyone to keep our skies safe!"
"Now remember your training," Guy told Lee, "you're the most athletic person here, pound-for-pound! Don't let anyone push you around!"
"I will not, Guy-sensei!" Lee responded. "I promise to do you proud!"
Dante was seen giving Zhalia a kiss on the cheek.
"See you back in Venice?"
"Can't wait," Zhalia replied with a smile.
Kari had watched the whole scene, as Tai put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay, sis. There are other guys out there like him who'd be glad to requite your feelings... and father your children."
Kari sighed. "Again... why Mom thinks I'll marry before you."
"Keep a stiff upper lip!" Lawrence told Candace.
"And we'll see you at home in a week, okay?" Linda told her.
"Thanks for coming!" Candace said, as she gave them one last hug. "Oh, and one last thing..."
"I'm pretty sure when we get back, the boys won't be do anything..."
"Argh! Well... didn't hurt to try, right?"
And, finally...
"This was fun!" exclaimed Izzy. "We should do this again!"
"No," Noah deadpanned. "We shouldn't."
"Okay! Call me! No, wait... I'll call you! Right after I get on the plane! See ya, Noah!"
As Izzy ran off, Noah shook his head in disbelief.
"They HAD to pick Izzy as my 'loved one'..."
Soon afterward, the competitors had gotten into their limousines, and were waving farewell to their loved ones as they were whisked away, back to the beach house.
Later that night, after having changed out of their dress clothes, the cast set out to relax for what little time there was before it was time to head off to sleep. But some people had other ideas...
Confessional Cam - Candice
"Now the game's on! It's a perfect time to shore up allies! And I know just who's on my side!"
Candice was lounging in the outdoor hot tub with Megan, Katara, and Candace, and was using the time to propose her alliance idea...
"You know we've gotten along swell," Candice said to them. "So... there's no reason the four of us shouldn't team up!"
"Combining our votes to help each other out?" Katara thought aloud. "I love it!"
"If it betters our chances of getting into that Final Four," Candace shouted, "then I'm in!"
"Me too!" agreed Megan.
"Me three!" exclaimed Katara.
"Then we're all in agreement," Candice confirmed.
They sealed the verbal deal with a handshake.
But at the same time, another voting alliance was being established up on the third floor of the house...
"Last chance," Terry told his new partners. "The moment this meeting ends, we're bound to vote for each other. Understand?"
"Got it," Finn, to his left, replied.
"I trust you all," answered Lee.
"And later on, it's every guy for himself!" exclaimed Yoshimori.
"Agreed!" the four said in unison.
"Gentlemen," Terry smirked, "I formally announce the formation... of the Four Horsemen Alliance."
"HUR-RAH!"
[End Act One]
Day Seventeen
Heloise was wandering around the house, uncharacteristically worried as she saw a lot of people chatting with each other silently.
Confessional Cam - Heloise
"And so it begins! The part of the game where everyone's making alliances and counter-alliances and side alliances. Some schmoe puts their faith in you, and you betray them by voting for someone else! Aaahhh... I've been waiting for this day since we got here."
She was later seen trying to get into the latest four-person voting alliance, which consisted of Kari, Francine, Kenzo, and Dante. But...
"I'm already iffy about YOU being in this alliance!" vocalized Francine, as she looked over at Kari. "Why should we let Heloise in?"
"Heloise is not that bad once you get to know her," Kenzo assured her.
"You're only saying that 'cause your her partner right now!"
"Of course not!"
Kenzo did believe in Heloise of his own free will, but the little girl was not taking any chances, as she was hiding a mallet behind her back.
"Trust me," Kari spoke up. "You can't vote for yourself. If we can vote for four, then we need five in the group. It's not like we have any other options."
"What about your partner, Rachel?" Dante queried.
"Oh, I'm sure she's already in with the other girls..."
"What do you mean NO?" screeched Rachel.
"I don't trust you!" Candace exclaimed, pointing a finger at her.
"What? Just because I gave you a Damage Counter?"
"Exactly!"
"I told you... that was just a throwaway! Megan, Katara! Back me up on this!"
"Uh..." hesitated Megan.
"That's on you," Katara said. "No offense, Rachel, but unless you and Candace work things out, we... can't let you in the alliance."
Confessional Cam - Rachel
"Unbelievable! I'm closer to them than Candace is! And suddenly, I am the one on the outside looking in? That's preposterous!"
"Some friends you are!" Rachel growled at Megan and Katara before stomping off. "Thanks for NOT having my back!"
Megan and Katara both felt genuinely sorry for excluding Rachel... but what could they do?
Later that afternoon, Noah was alone in the gaming room, playing a game while picking from a bowl of popcorn. Seeing this, Heloise walked into the room.
"You know the chances of someone voting you into the Final Four right now are zero point three seven percent, right?" began Heloise.
Noah glanced at Heloise, then back at the TV. He shrugged his shoulders.
"Meh. Still better odds than you, half-pint."
Heloise gritted her teeth, angry at that insult but well aware she needed to be nice to pull off what she came here to do.
"But don't you want to win? Or, at least, get into the Final Four?"
"Ha! And you've come here to assure me you've found a remedy for that?"
Heloise smirked. "Would you listen to me if I said 'yes?'"
Noah thought for a minute, then pressed the start button on his controller. He turned to Heloise and told her...
"You've got three minutes."
Confessional Cam - Noah
"All according to plan. She thinks she's proposing to me, but in fact, I'm proposing to her! Ah... I love being in control."
Day Eighteen
The next morning, in the dining room, Megan had just finished her breakfast and was about to head upstairs when she met Finn, who was coming in to eat.
"Megan! Just the girl I'm looking for!"
"What?" Megan nearly jumped out of her socks. "Really?"
Finn pulled Megan down the hallway and towards the front door, to a private area. They left behind Candace and Candice, who had been at the table and had witnessed the whole thing.
"Oooh!" cooed Candace. "Looks like someone's in lo-ove!"
She was about to get out of her seat to go offer some advice, but Candice stopped her.
"Nuh-uh! You know how delusional you get before you finish breakfast!"
Finn pulled Megan into the gym, which was uncharacteristically empty since Lee had gone out on a run on this particular day.
"So..." Megan spoke first, her eyes darting nervously around the room, "you wanted to say something to me?"
"Yep!" Finn said, pounding his closed left fist into his open-palmed right hand.
"Look... if it's about the whole issue with the song, let me first say that I appreciate you consoling me afterwards, and..."
"Megan! My favorite girl that's not a princess! Can I trust you... to vote for me?"
"Huh?" Megan looked dumbfounded.
"You vote for me, and I vote for you. I think that's how it works, right?"
Megan lowered her head, trying to hide her face. Finn panicked, thinking he had done something wrong.
"Oh no! I thought we were cool! I'm sorry... if you didn't want to vote for me..."
"Of course I'll vote for you!"
"Really?" Finn's smile brightened up. "Then why..."
"It's nothing to worry about. My mind's wandering today."
"Well, wander no further... because we're voting for each other now!"
With that, Finn marched off happily, leaving a flabbergasted Megan to wonder what just happened... and how she felt about how it played out.
A couple hours later, the cast arrived at the location of their next challenge, dressed in their team shirts and with beachwear attire underneath. When they spotted Kiyone waiting for them with two volleyball courts behind them, it was easy to figure out what they were doing today.
"Good morning, everyone!" Kiyone greeted them.
The cast returned the greeting, each in their own way.
"Three days left before you guys vote two people into the Final Four. The viewers get to pick the other two. I hear there's been a lot of wheeling and dealing going on in the house. Yoshimori, is that true?"
"Yep," he answered quickly. "Everyone's scrambling like crazy to find voting partners."
"Kari, you've been through this before. So far, easier or harder to find people to vote with?"
"I'd have to say harder," replied Kari. "Back then, it was easy because I had friends who I had known before the show. Here, I only have to choose between people I've known for only a couple of weeks."
"Okay, guys... let's move on to today's challenge. Which, as you all may have guessed, involves the sport of beach volleyball. Today's challenge is called Ready, Set, Spike!"
She pointed to the two courts behind her.
"We'll be following the standard rules of two-on-two beach volleyball, with two exceptions. In order to get the tournament in in one day, each match consists of one and ONLY one winner-take-all set, with the first team to reach 15 points winning the match. You must win by at least 2 points as well, take note. The other rule change... we will be using rally scoring. In the traditional game, you only score a point if you're the team currently serving. But in rally scoring, a point is scored on every play, regardless of the serving team. Got it? To win the tournament, and thus, the challenge, all you have to do is be the first team to win three matches. Easy enough?"
Everyone nodded.
"We'll give you all a quick primer on how to play, especially for those who don't know the rules, and then we'll get started. First round pairings will be picked at random. Good luck!"
The challenge began soon after, with games occurring simultaneously on both courts. Fred and Candace were up against Finn and Megan on the north court, while Kenzo and Heloise were taking on Terry and Noah on the south court.
"Let's show 'em what we're made of!" Fred said to Candace as he prepared to serve the ball.
"Go for it, Fred!"
Fred lobbed the ball into the air, jumped up, and sent the ball sailing over the net. Megan took three steps to her left, and bumped the ball back up with the top of her fists. Finn screamed loudly as he jumped up and proceeded to spike the ball... into the sand and under the net.
"Finn!" Megan cried. "You were supposed to set, not spike!"
"Sorry," he apologized. "I guess I just got a little too excited."
The official gave the Red Team a point, and Fred went back to serve again.
"C'mon, Fred!" Candace encouraged him. "Ace, ace, ace!"
Fred served the ball into play, but this one was much shorter. Finn had to play it in the forecourt, which he did by setting the ball. Unfortunately, that sent the ball right into the net and then back at him. He dived and managed to make enough contact to keep the ball off of the sand, but then the official blew his whistle.
"Illegal double hit," he called out. "Point for Red!"
Megan ran over and helped pick Finn off of the ground.
"No offense, Finn," she said as he shook the sand off of his shorts, "but were you even paying attention when the rules were explained?"
"Of course I was!"
Megan glared at him. He lowered his head despondently.
"Okay... only some of the time."
Megan sighed, then signaled the official to call a timeout. She pulled Finn away from the net to chat with him privately, as their opponents Fred and Candace were celebrating as if they had already won. Meanwhile, over on the other court...
"Take THAT!" Heloise yelled, spiking the ball over the net... and right into Noah's face. "IN YOUR FACE... LITERALLY!"
"Oh, you'll pay for that!" Noah said as he got to his feet, rubbing his face where the ball had hit him.
Heloise stepped back to serve, and did so underhanded. But it was not high enough, and it failed to get completely over the net.
"Point, Brown!" the official announced. "2-2."
Noah snickered as he got the ball and stepped back to serve.
"Stay focused," Kenzo told Heloise.
"It's all you," Terry said to Noah as they traded places.
Noah went for an overhand serve, but he ended up hitting it late... and right into Terry's back.
"Ow!" he winced as he turned around to stare at Noah. "C'mon, man!"
Heloise had a huge smirk on her face as service returned to her team...
[End Act Two]
Moving much later in the game, Finn had managed to get a grasp of the game, and he and Megan made things competitive. But after a spike of his that just landed out of bounds, the Red Team was now on match point, and Candace was serving.
"14-11," the referee shouted. "Service and match point for Red!"
"Let's finish this!" Fred clenched his fist in determination.
Candace served the ball, but hit it directly to Finn. He bumped the ball easily over to Megan to set it. She did so, setting up Finn for a spike... but Fred had run up to the net and was jumping up for a block. Regardless, Finn went up for it anyway.
"I'm gonna SCOREEEEEEEEEE!"
He spiked the ball, but Fred had time it just right that the ball deflected off his left forearm and back to the Purple Team's side. Megan attempted a saving dive bump, but she could not the deflect the ball back upwards, instead deflecting to the right and behind her, resulting in it landing in the sand. Fred and Candace ran towards each other to give themselves a high-five.
"Yes!" Candace squealed. "One down, two to go!"
Over on the other court, a tightly contested battle had pushed that match into overtime. The ball was already in play, with the Gray Team up 16-15 and having already served for the match.
"Go!" Heloise shouted, having set the ball for Kenzo.
He obliged, hitting the ball over to the other side, around Noah's attempted block. Terry bumped the ball up, and then Noah set it for him. Terry went for the kill shot, hitting the ball as hard as he could. Heloise broke for the ball, trying to save it...
"STOP!" Kenzo yelled.
Surprisingly, she did, and she watched as the ball landed on the sand... less than three inches on the outside of the line.
"OUT!" shouted the referee. "Point and match to Gray!"
"Good eye," Kenzo said as he came over to congratulate Heloise.
"Good call," Heloise responded. "I thought that was going to be in."
That set up them to play the Red Team in the first semifinal match. As for the other...
Match three featured the Green Team against the Yellow Team. And although Kari and Rachel were faring well, they quickly discovered that returning anything hit by Lee was next to impossible. Even Rachel was getting burn marks after several failed save tries bounced or grazed off of her arms.
"I hate to say it," Rachel winced, "but we may be over-matched."
"I know," agreed Kari.
Candice was serving, but she had not managed to get a ball over the net yet. And that was the only way the Green Team was scoring. She would not succeed this time, either, as another ball went into the net.
"Sorry," apologized Candice. "I'm going to get it eventually!"
"Do not fret, Miss Candice!" Lee assured her. "It is nothing we cannot overcome!"
"Tell me about it," mumbled Kari under her breath as she stepped back to serve.
"3-9," the official announced the score, "Green Team to serve."
Over on the other court...
"Dang it, Yoshimori! You were supposed to hit that one!"
"Me? That was on your half of the court, Francine!"
The two mismatched teammates seemed to be at wit's end, already headed for certain defeat, down 8-0 early to Dante and Katara, as they argued over who was responsible for a ball Katara had pegged right into the center of their side of the field.
"They're so hopeless," commented Katara.
"Perhaps," noted Dante, "but it's not over 'til it's over."
As true as that saying was, the Orange Team cruised to a 15-5 win, and would end up playing the Yellow Team next, who won their game 15-7.
After a short break, the losers' bracket matches were played, with the winners gaining entry into the fifth-place match. Terry could not make up for Noah's lack of athletic ability, as the duo lost to a more-focused Finn and Megan, while Francine and Yoshimori recovered from an early 8-2 hole to take the lead 13-12 over Kari and Rachel, before losing thanks to three straight unforced errors on their part.
Next came the semifinal games. Fred and Candace picked up right where they left off, getting hot quickly and not looking back as they smoked the team of Kenzo and Heloise easily, 15-4.
"Alright!" Fred exclaimed. "One more victory, and we win!"
"Yahoo!" Candace cheered. "We're finally gonna be the champs!"
Over on the other court, though, there was a barnburner of a match going on. The Yellow and Orange Teams were going back and forth, neither gaining an advantage of more than 2 points. Eventually, all the other teams were watching the game, as its length approached the one-hour mark.
"27-27," the official stated the score. "Orange to serve!"
Katara served successfully, and Lee dug deep to keep the ball from hitting the sand. Candice set the ball for Lee's monstrous spike, and Dante went to block once again, despite getting scorched on numerous attempts before this.
"LEAF HURRICANE... CHOP!" Lee cried out.
He managed to smash the ball in-between Dante's head and his right arm, but in doing so, accidentally directed the ball out of bounds.
"OUT! Point to Orange, 28-27! Match point!"
Katara prepared to serve, and for what seemed liked the sixth or seventh time for her, for the match.
"Unnnnhhh!" Katara grunted as she put the ball in play.
The ball sailed over the net, heading for the far corner of the court. Candice stopped with the back of her feet right on the line, and tried to bump the ball forward. But her angle was off enough that it bounced off her arms somewhat sideways instead of towards the net. Lee ran over and tried to hit the ball hard enough to get it up and over the net. But instead, he smacked it right into the net. The ball hit the ground, and Dante and Katara could finally celebrate their second win, albeit an exhausting one.
Lee and Candice were gracious losers, heading over to shake hands with the winners.
Following a few consolation matches in which the Green Team edged out the Purple Team in the fifth-place game, 16-14, and then the Yellow Team rebounded to hastily dispose of the Gray Team, 15-3, it was time for the title match. Fred and Candace against Dante and Katara.
Like the Red Team's first two matches, Fred and Candace used their power and strength to jump out to an early lead. They also took advantage of how tired the Orange Team was, having only a short amount of rest time after their marathon of a semifinal. As a result, the Red Team jumped out to a 9-4 lead.
Dante called a timeout to allow himself and Katara to catch their breath. Following that, off the strength of Katara's strong serves, they reeled off seven straight points to jump ahead 11-9.
The teams then alternated points on the next six serves, which led to...
"14-12!" the official shouted. "Orange to serve! Championship point!"
Dante was getting ready to serve, while Candace, in the forecourt, and Fred, in the backcourt, waited to return. Dante threw the ball up, jumped up, and hit it in mid-air, sending it blazing to the other side. Fred barely got his hands down in time to bump the ball up and keep it alive. Candace had no choice but to bump as well, but she accidentally turned her arms slightly away from the net, resulting in the ball repelling backwards. Fred had no chance of getting to the errant ball, as it hit the sand.
"MATCH!" the official declared. "Championship goes to Orange!"
"Noooo!" cried Candace. "We were so close!"
"Dang," Fred snapped his fingers. "Better luck next time, I guess."
Candace was not happy with the result, but she still joined Fred in congratulating Katara and Dante on the win.
"Great game, guys," Dante said to his opponents.
"I didn't think we were gonna come back," Katara sheepishly admitted.
"You guys are good," Candace told them, "but we'll definitely get you next time!"
"That's a promise," Fred assured them. "We'll break through, for sure!"
"Congratulations, Dante and Katara!" Kiyone said to them. "You guys win for the second time in three challenges."
They got a round of applause from the others as a result.
"Also, the two of you have become the fifth and sixth people to max out your money pools! If either of you end up in the Final Four, you could leave Hawai'i with half a million dollars."
"Alright!" Katara raised her arms triumphantly.
"As for the rest of you, there's only one challenge left. Candice, Fred, Rachel, Kenzo, Candace, and Megan... you all still have a chance to get to half a million dollars. So, for you guys, I'd focus on doing well in that final challenge."
They all nodded in understanding.
"Off to more grave business..."
Kiyone pulled out two more Damage Counters.
"Dante and Katara... you know what to do."
Katara went first, staying true to her alliance's plan... and placing the one she had next to Francine, giving her two.
"Oh, come on!" audibly grumbled Francine.
Katara declined to give a public reason, instead deferring to Dante, who decided to give his to Terry - which gave him two as well.
"Sorry, bud," Dante directed at Terry, "just doing what needs to be done."
Terry frowned, but did not issue a response.
"Alright," Kiyone said. "You guys have the option of removing a Damage Counter. Would you like to?"
They did not need to think about. Both Dante and Katara shook their heads, inferring an emphatic 'no.'
"I believe it's counterproductive at this point to take a Damage Counter off the board," Dante explained.
"Yeah," Katara added, "especially when some people deserve it."
Francine immediately took that as a snipe at her, but some of the others seemed concerned about the statement as well.
"Let's see where we stand," Kiyone said, glancing at the tote board. "With only one challenge to go, Heloise is the only person with three Damage counters. Francine, Terry, Fred, and Noah - each of you have two. Kari and Candace, with an 'A' - the two of you have one apiece. All of you are in danger of being left off of the Final Four ballot for your peers if you have three Damage Counters by your photo at the end of the next challenge. The rest of you are safe and are now guaranteed to be on the ballot."
Those deemed safe clapped their approval, breathed a sigh of relief, or cracked a smile.
"The team that wins the final challenge may play a definitive hand in someone's chances of winning this game. Only that team will assuredly control their own destiny. I suggest getting a lot of rest, guys and gals... the final challenge will be your biggest one yet."
With that, the cast headed off the beach, already thinking about what the results of this challenge meant to each of them - and what they had to do and who they had to impress... if they were to survive the final challenge still eligible to be voted into the Final Four.
End Episode Ten
Author's Notes:
Voting's back this week - only two more votes until you vote for the winner! Make sure the characters you want in the Final Four get in first, though! Also, the time has arrived to start submitting questions to be asked to the cast at the season-ending reunion/finale! Questions can be submitted via PM, in your review, or through my Twitter! The submission deadline is Friday, July 29, by 5 pm EST! So start thinking what the cast should be asked!
Next up: Episode 11 - Next Monday, July 18th, 7 pm EST!