THE BLITZ: UPDATE CHAPTERS 8 - 14
RULES OF 'THE BLITZ':
A) All members of the schools involved MUST kill each other until one survivor remains. B) All participants in 'the Blitz' are supplied with a ration of food (two MREs), a one quart canteen for gathering water and a GPS to aid them in navigating the 'combat zone'. Weapon distribution is left up to the whims of the current 'Blitz' supervisor. C) All students will wear the PISCES PRC-001XD (Personal Injection Selector Collared Execution System Prison Riot Control Series 001 Experimental Device), an Americanized version of the Nationalist Commonwealth's Model Guadalcanal No. 22. D) Each student will be implanted with a RFID chip to track their positions within the 'combat zone'. E) Students are free to move about the 'combat zone' but must listen for announcements (once every four hours) informing them of the participants who have been killed. F) While there is no overarching time limit (i.e. three days, two weeks, etc.), there is a 'twelve-hour kill clock' where at least one student must die within said timeframe. G) If there are no kill(s) made within that twelve-hour period of time, one of the PISCES PRC-001XDs will be chosen at random and activated.
LOCATION OF 'THE BLITZ':
The Kasanagi-Eto. It is a DrillSea East Aquarius-designed, semi-submersible offshore drilling platform in the East China Sea about 250 miles from the coast of the Nationalist Commonwealth of Japan. It has a length of 382 feet and a width of 317 feet. The Kasanagi-Eto has five main modules; the Process Module, the Power Module, the Quarters Module, Well-bay Module and the Drilling Module. All areas are accessible except the bridge/command deck, the floor directly beneath it and certain key areas of the platform that could cause problems if allowed to be accessed by the participants. These are locations are off-limits to the students participating in 'the Blitz'. All such areas are permanent 'Danger Zones' and any student who tries to enter them will be killed via PISCES PRC-001XD collar activation.
SUPERVISOR OF 'THE BLITZ':
Omatsu Reiko. She has been a Supervisor of 'the Program' for seven years; currently beginning her eighth. She has received high recommendations and numerous accolades during those years. Her current reported success rate is 96.9%. Her selection for running the initial 'American Blitz' was unanimously approved by the Imperial Diet and the MERA Committee. High and successful results are expected.
HIGHLIGHTS AND ENCOUNTERS:
Chapter 8 "The True Cost of Friendship", Hallway/Office, 3rd Floor: Nicholas Lang (Boys, No. 09) risks his own safety to wait for best friend Victoria Shaw (Girls, No. 14) on the 3rd Floor of the Quarters Module. While attempting to find a place to lay low, he realizes that the next person set to be released from the briefing room has been and is coming in his direction. Resolving to face down whomever it is, Nick readies himself for a fight only to have Brenda Hughes (Girls, No. 08) suddenly appear from one of the offices. Begging him to hurry, he ducks into the office with her just in time to avoid a confrontation. While sharing the office with Brenda, he listens to her lament over Alisia Benetti (Girls, No. 01); her best friend and a girl that he knows all too well. Attempting to convince her that she'll be okay, they end up in an argument over it that leads to Nick putting his hand over Brenda's mouth to keep her quiet so no one passing by from the briefing room will hear them. Brenda mistakes the action for Nick trying to smother her and reacts violently until he takes his hand away. Distrustful and paranoid, she yells at him about him wanting to wait for Vikki and then says that she's going to find Alisia herself. Brenda then storms out of the office, leaving Nick alone.
Chapter 9 "Violence is Never the Answer", Hallway/Mess Hall, 3rd Floor: Rahdi Patel (Girls, No. 11) finally has her name called and is next to leave the briefing room. Before she is pushed out of the room, Rahdi finds herself accosted by one of the soldiers; being told that because she's a Buddhist her death will hard and fast. After that, she is shoved out into the hallway and left on her own. Shaken, she quickly moves down the hallway and away from the room. Remembering what Charlene Rae Dolan (Girls, No. 04) told her, she takes out her GPS and begins a search for the floor's mess hall. She soon realizes that someone is following her and begins to run, prompting Robert McKean (Boys, No. 11) to give chase. Rahdi flees to the mess hall and hides in the kitchen while Rob taunts her during his search. Thinking she can escape, Rahdi is quickly captured by Rob who reveals his plan of using her as a pawn to control Charlie Rae. But before he can set his plan in motion; the girl in question shows up and a fight ensues which ends with Rob being knocked out cold. After a few words to each other, they leave the mess hall and the unconscious boy behind.
Chapter 10 "A Strange Kind of Irony", South Side Stairwell, 3rd Floor: James Turner (Boys, No. 14) and his girlfriend Leslie Thurston (Girls, No. 15) have fled from the briefing room, stopping to rest in a stairwell in order to gain their bearings. While there, Jimmy asks Leslie what's wrong only for her to retort with a sarcastic comment about their situation. They break out into a short argument that leads to Leslie crying. Calming down when he realizes that she must be scared, Jimmy tries to comfort her. Still in tears, Leslie reveals the real reason why she's crying; telling him that she's pregnant. Stunned, Jimmy has no idea of how to react. They break into another short argument when she tells him how long she's known but end it quickly. As Jimmy resolves to do anything he can to protect Leslie and their unborn child, he hears a noise just outside the door. Fearful that someone was listening to their conversation and will now be targeting his pregnant girlfriend, he grabs up Leslie and they flee down the stairs. Making it to the platform level, he and Leslie escape from the Quarters Module in search of another place to hide.
Chapter 11 "The Best Laid Plan", Utility Room (East Side), Platform Level: Devoted to coming up with a plan of escape and rescuing as many as she can, Wendy Prince (Girls, No. 12) decides to approach any students she comes across while looking for her weapon, which she means to use only for defense and protection. The first student she comes across is Alisia Benetti who is so afraid and panicked that she is borderline hysterical; attempting to flee instead of listening. Trying to calm the girl after grabbing hold of her, Alisia reacts with desperation and violence until Wendy is forced to let her go. Upset by the encounter, she is still determined to continue on with her plan. By accident, she runs into Charlie Rae; who immediately raises her weapon against her. Pleading with the girl to listen to her, Charlie Rae does and then bluntly tells her the plan won't work. Losing her composure, Wendy calls her a coward which leads to a brief altercation. It ends when Wendy manages to stun Charlie Rae long enough to run away. Hidden and alone in a utility room, Wendy cries over her perceived failures as a leader; remembering the two encounters that left her in that state while the RFID Tracking Device goes off as someone else approaches her hideout.
Chapter 12 "Who Mourns the Adonis?", Industrial Crane (West Side), Platform Level: While hiding in the control room of one of the massive platform cranes, Trevor Gates (Boys, No. 06) recounts his life back home. Bound by the rules and laws there, he was unable to live his life like he wished. Young and misogynistic, Trevor fancied himself as a playboy who loved to hunt after women. With his objectified view of all girls being nothing more than 'sluts' and 'whores', he sees nothing wrong with treating them in exactly that manner. He flashes back to a time when he was forced to go to a hearing for an accusation of rape because of that mindset. He also remembers, in disgusting detail, how he beat the charge by blackmailing the accuser's younger sister into getting her to drop the charges; forcing her into giving up her virginity in exchange for him not having his attorneys revealing something that could land the girl jail-time. Recalling all of that brings Trevor to the realization that he's no longer bound by any sensible rules and that he can do whatever he wants, including treating all the girls on the platform in whatever way that he saw fit. Such as using them as shields and raping them to his heart's content when they no longer served any useful purpose. After reaching that conclusion, he spots Brenda Hughes looking for a place to hide from his high vantage point. Content to wait and see where she settles in, Trevor decides to make her his first target.
Chapter 13 "The Indian, the Princess and the Death that Came for Them", Unofficial 'Nap Room' (West Side), Platform Level: Brenda Hughes tries to settle into the small, shed-like room in order to keep herself hidden from those who have decided to take 'the Blitz' seriously. She attempts sleep only to be plagued relentlessly by nightmares of not only her death, but that of her best friend Alisia Benetti. Awaking with a scream, Brenda immediately realizes her mistake and tries to keep as quiet as possible afterward. Hoping that no one heard her, she becomes more and more distraught as the minutes pass by. Brenda begins to think about a time when everything in her life was in shambles. However, her thoughts are interrupted when a hard knock at the door and an unfamiliar voice confirms her worst fears. Screaming that she just wants to be left alone, she eventually flees the room out of panic; believing that whoever was banging on the door is still lurking outside waiting for her to lower her guard. While running away, she is tripped up by Trevor Gates who immediately attempts to rape her. Brenda tries to struggle back but is backhanded hard and, fearing that she'll be hit again, stops. Trevor doesn't get very far with his assault as he's attacked by Robert Cheveyo (Boys, No. 01) and pulled away from Brenda. She watches the fight between them, shaken by her near rape. Just when it looks like Bobby has the upper-hand; he gets up and runs off. Trevor recovers and limps toward her to finish what he started, not realizing that Brenda has become a MDZ. She watches in horror as Trevor's PISCES collar triggers and violently kills him. Overcome by the sight, she passes out.
Chapter 14 "A Reason to Fight", Interior Access Throughway, Storage Bay (North Side), Platform Level: During her hunt to find her close friend Holly Mathis (Girls, No. 09), Rochelle Meyers (Girls, No. 10) comes across Misty Greer (Girls, No. 05). Injured earlier in her fight with Brian Addison (Boys, No. 01), she is found passed out and slowly bleeding to death. Feeling pity for the girl, Rochelle drags her back to the place she'd chosen to lay low while searching for Holly. During her bandaging Misty's shotgun wound, the girl wakes up with a fearful start which doesn't surprise Rochelle. After a few minutes of silence, the two strike up a conversation which immediately descends into an argument about why she helped Misty and the still-present grievances about a friendship they shared three years ago. At the end of it, they decide to go their separate ways; with Misty hobbling off in the opposite direction while Rochelle continues her search for Holly. Still feeling remorse for being unable to get through to her former friend, she nonetheless pushes the girl from her mind; considering her 'dead' as far as their past together is concerned. Just before she exits the storage bay, Rochelle hears someone whispering. She thinks better of investigating further, believing it to be a possible trap. Making a decision to leave, Rochelle finds herself suddenly attacked from behind. During the brief melee, the girl who attacked her – Madelyn Higgins (Girls, No. 07) – reveals that the boy is her brother and accuses Rochelle of trying to hurt him. She tells the girl that she didn't do anything to her brother. The girl calls her a liar and tries to attack her again which leads to Rochelle countering it and disarming her. Before she can do anything else, the girl's brother – Andrew Higgins (Boys, No 07) – threatens her with a gun. After a brief and bitter war of words, Rochelle makes hasty decision to run for it; barely dodging the gunshots coming from behind as she escapes the storage bay to resume her search for Holly.
THE LIVING AND THE DEAD:
Average Ages of Participants – Between 14 and 16 years old.
Boys: 14 – Girls: 15 – Total: 29
'The Blitz' Cover Story: Depending on school size, the top finalist (limited to four) for schools selected to participate in the 'National French Essay Contest' will get an all-expense paid trip to Paris, France.
NOTE: The 'Injured' Status only applies to open wounds, broken bones and severe lacerations that could possible impair them during the course of 'the Blitz'.
Arizona – Red Rock High School
Boys
#1 – Brian Addison (STATUS: LOSS OF MENTAL STABILITY – MISSED REQUIRED DOASGE OF BIPOLAR MEDICATION – BUT STILL ACTIVE.)
#7 – Andrew "Andy" Higgins (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Girls
#6 – Karen Heiser (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
California – Santa Domingo High School
Boys
#3 – Jonathan "Jonny" Chiang (STATUS: INJURED – GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE THIGH; SUFFERING FROM POSSIBLE BLOOD LOSS – BUT STILL ACTIVE.)
#12 – Emilio Salazar (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Girls
None Selected
Colorado – Cold Rivers High School
Boys
#6 – Trevor Gates (STATUS: COLLAR ACTIVATION OCCURRED TWO HOURS INTO 'THE BLITZ' – TOXINS INJECTED INTO BLOODSTREAM CAUSED SEVERE INTERNAL TRAUMA TO THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM AND THE HEART ITSELF, BURSTING MAJOR ARTERIES, CAPILLARIES AND RUPTURING LUNG TISSUE; LEAVING THE VICTIM TO DROWN IN HIS OWN BLOOD – DECEASED.)
Girls
#7 – Madelyn "Maddie" Higgins (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
#12 – Wendy Prince (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Florida – Bayside High School
Boys
None Selected
Girls
#5 – Misty Greer (STATUS: INJURED – GRAZING SHOTGUN WOUND TO THE UPPER ARM, SUFFERING FROM MINOR BLOOD LOSS – BUT STILL ACTIVE.)
#9 – Holly Mathis (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
#10 – Rochelle Meyers (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
New Mexico – Bear Ridge High School
Boys
#2 – Robert "Bobby" Cheveyo (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Girls
None Selected
New York – George R. Diomatti High School
Boys
#9 – Nicholas "Nick" Lang (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Girls
#1 – Alisia "Lisi" Benetti (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
#8 – Brenda Hughes (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
#14 – Victoria "Vikki" Shaw (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Ohio – Erin Baker High School
Boys
#10 – Dillon Maxwell III (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Girls
#2 – JoAnne Dechon (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
#3 – Sadie Dechon (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
#13 – Peggy Ryman (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Oregon – Grand Terrace High School
Boys
#5 – Casey Fuller (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
#14 – James "Jimmy" Turner (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Girls
#15 – Leslie Thurston (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Pennsylvania – William McHaven High School
Boys
#11 – Robert "Rob" McKean (STATUS: INJURED – ARROW TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, LATER REMOVED LEAVING A SEVERE PUNCTURE WOUND THAT COULD LEAD TO POSSIBLE BLOOD LOSS; BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE CRANIUM, POSSIBLE CONCUSSION – SUBJECT IS CURRENTLY INCAPACITATED BUT STILL ACTIVE.)
#13 – Derrick Thomas (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Girls
None Selected
Texas – Walker Clemens High School
Boys
#4 – Eduardo "Eddy" Escobar (STATUS: INJURED – NOSE BROKEN; SEVERE LACERATION ACROSS BRIDGE – BUT STILL ACTIVE.)
#8 – LaTrey Johnson (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
Girls
#4 – Charlene "Charlie" Rae Dolan (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
#11 – Rahdi Patel (STATUS: STILL ACTIVE.)
CURRENT ELAPSED TIME: 2 hours, 24 minutes, 18 seconds
TOTAL ACTIVE: 28
TOTAL INCAPACITATED: 1
TOTAL INJURED: 4
TOTAL DECEASED: 1
STUDENTS REMAINING: 28