A/N: We're at the halfway point people! I never thought I'd get this far but with your encouragement I've persevered!
With respect to the reviewers:
Guy Buddy: You got it. Thanks for answering
Guest: I'm glad you liked the friendship in the last chapter. Yeah poor Ezekiel just wasn't gonna merge so I had Alejandro pull the rug out from under him. As for which villain will leave first? That's a ways off so I guess you'll have to see.
Team Gophers: Yeah I was trying to make it like a car crash, you can see it coming but there's no stopping it. I thought it'd be more dramatic that way. Glad you liked the friendships as well. Thanks for answering my question.
That morning their sadistic host woke them in an unusual manner. By flying a stunt plane through the sky. Taking the hint, albeit reluctantly, the group gathered around outside as he landed the plane.
Chris begins to talk to the campers. "Just flexing your muscles for today's " he pulls out the now recognizable red megaphone and speaks through it. "Extreme sports challenge!"
"It's too early for this." Gwen groaned.
" This week, you'll participate in three challenges. First up," the host lifted the megaphone to his mouth. " Extreme sofa bed skydiving! Contestants will plummet, uh...skydive to a waiting sofa bed target below." Chef gave a demonstration by jumping out of the plane onto a sofabed. It collapsed on him.
"Of course," Chris continued. "you'll be skydiving from five thousand feet. And using these." With that he threw out a couple of extremely worn parachutes."Our lucky contestants are," Chris pulled out his notes. "Trent and DJ."
"Sure. Why not?" Trent shrugged. "You know what they say on Blackcomb Mountain, bro. "Best glimpse of heaven's on the way into hell." Let's do this."
"Uh, yeah sure." Said a much more nervous DJ.
` "Not so fast." Chris intervened from his spot in the plane." Because the second challenge of the day is…" He spoke through the megaphone again. "Extreme rodeo moose riding! " An angry moose snorts. "Contestants will rodeo ride the great Canadian bucking moose" He put a finger to his watch. "for eight seconds or get hooved into a giant pile of socks from the lost-and-found." The stinky pile of socks is shown.
"Who afriad of some socks?" Courtney scoffed
Chris put a hand on her shoulder. " It's your lucky day, Courtney. You're riding for Gophers. And Katie you'll ride for Bass."
"Eww!" The ravenette cried.
"And the final challenge… " Chris continued through the megaphone. "Extreme sea doo water skiing!
/
Chris speaks over a ski course, beginning from the finish flag, over a large mud pit with two ramps and flags in the two teams colors scattered about. "Contestants will waterski a race course, grabbing as many flags as they can before crossing the finish line. While a member from the opposing team tries to deceive you."
/
"And how exactly do we water ski without water?" Noah deadpanned.
"It's really hard. Check it out." Chris gestured right. We see Chef on an orange sea doo. He rode it off a cliff where he crashed into the ground, taking several tumbles."Awesome! Eva, you'll ski for Killer Bass."
"Easy." The iron woman deadpanned.
"And Lindsay for the Screaming Gophers." Chris continued.
"Cool. I can model my new bikini." The blonde said, she was still upset about Ezekiel's elimination but she smiled at the thought of showing off her bikini.
"Now for the cool swag! " the host said. "Whoever scores the most challenges gets bragging rights for the night, saves their butts from elimination and wins a tricked out Multi Massage Mobile Shower."
We see a shower which appears to be on a truck bed. Chef sat in front playing the harp. We then see the interior which is a sparkly clean new shower. Justin stepped forward. "It can't be."
"Oh it be." Chris replied with a smirk.
"A shower? Really that's what we're trying to win?" Eva scoffed.
Justin turned to Eva. "You don't understand. A shower like that is just what I need to keep myself gorgeous. You wouldn't want my beauty to fade would you?" He told her with a gleaming smile.
Eva looked captivated. "Of course not." Gwen narrowed her eyes as Justin.
/
"Okay, gang. Chow for breaky, then report back in twenty minutes for… " He lifts the megaphone once more. "The extreme sports challenge!"
With that the plane flew off creating a huge dust cloud. We hear coughing and the cloud clears to reveal it is Gwen and Cody.
/
In the mess hall the contestants are finishing breakfast with the exception of Bridgette. Her plate is still full of the sludge Chef calls food. "Bridgette, you should really eat something." A concerned Courtney tells her.
The blonde sighed. "I know, it's just. I don't understand how Zeke got voted out."
Courtney looked nervous. "I'm sure it's nothing."
"I didn't vote for him. I know Lindsay didn't vote for him. I believe Trent when he says he didn't, and Zeke wouldn't vote for himself." Bridgette told her. " I also know I voted for Lindsay, and if she was second most voted for, that means at least two people voted for her."
"Yeah?" Courtney said, looking guilty.
"Which means at least three people voted for Zeke. Of those left two of them are people I'm close to." Bridgette looked Courtney in the eyes. "Someone I trust voted him out Courtney. It's kind of hard to trust anyone right now." She pushed the plate away. "I'm not hungry."
As Bridgette walked away Courtney looked like she felt two inches tall.
/
We see Chris in the plane, two sofa beds just outside it. Justin lounged on one whilst the rest stood around the plane, Trent was wearing a red hat in preparation for the fall. Both he and DJ were wearing the parachutes from earlier. "Now, remember! Ground teams can wheelie the sofa beds wherever they want in order to help their comrade with the landing."
"I have faith you can do this amigo." Alejandro told Trent.
"Try not to die." Noah deadpanned but there was a hint of worry in his eyes.
/
The plane flies on screen. We move to the side as the door slides open. Revealing DJ and Trent now wearing helmets. They both looked like they're trying to hide their nervousness.
Chris popped his body around the front of the plane, holding several forms. "If you could just fill these out…!" He trailed.
"But...we already signed insurance forms at the beginning of the show." DJ replied.
"Yeah! But these are for organ donation!" Chris said, pointing at the documents. " I have this cool cannibal challenge I wanna pitch to the producers, and this'll go a long way toward budgeting free props! Here comes the drop, boys!"
The two campers looked over the edge. "I don't see the drop zone! Trent yelled,
Meanwhile on the ground the Gophers were struggling to move their sofa chair into position. "Move it everyone! if we all push at the same time it'll increase our force." Courtney told them.
Bridgette sighed as she continued to push. "Are you feeling okay Bridgette?" Alejandro asked.
"Not really. Zeke got voted out, and I know someone I trust voted for him." The surfer said. Alejandro narrowed his eyes but quickly hid it.
"What makes you think that?" He asked.
"I voted for Lindsay, and she was second most voted so someone else had to vote for her. So three people voted for Zeke. I know I didn't, Lindsay didn't, Zeke didn't, I believe Trent when he says he didn't do it so…"
"If everyone voted for someone different and two people voted for Ezekiel Chtis could still put Lindsay in the bottom two." The charmer pointed out.
"What are the odds of that?" She sighed. "Thanks anyway Alejandro.
/
Meanwhile the boys are preparing to jump."Uh, I don't think I can do this, man!" Trent told DJ as we see an overview of the landscape.
"Don't worry dude. I'm sure you'll hit the mattress." DJ reassured him, he gave him a pat on the back accidentally knocking the guitarist out of the plane. We follow his descent from below as he screamed. Eventually he fell into the bed but bounced up and hit the ground. Luckily the shorter fall meant he wasn't as injured as he could be.
"Well at least he didn't die." Noah said with a nervous chuckle.
/
"Okay, pull the blue cord first then the red." DJ told himself then he jumped out of the plane. We follow his descent as he pulled the red wire which snapped off. Then he pulled the blue wire which also snapped off. Realizing his parachute had yet to deploy, he began screaming and flailing his arms.
On the ground we see the remaining Bass carrying the couch into position. Justin takes the opportunity he's given. "Eva with your strength we should catch DJ easily. You could probably lift this entire couch by yourself."
"Well, I guess." The iron woman said, seeming distracted.
"Justin stop flirting and pay attention! DJ's coming in for landing!" Gwen told the model. Eva heard her friend and snapped out of her reilvere. They glanced up. We return to Duncan falling. His parachute has now deployed so but he is no less panicked. The parachute moved left, and the ground team followed, then it moved right and they followed suit. Eventually DJ landed on the sofa bed. He looked relieved but was swiftly folded into the sofa. Everyone winced.
/
Chris flies his plane over the treetops, then circles past the campers. "Gophers lose, Bass wins! One-zero!" He announced through the megaphone.
Chef walked past the Gophers in his Nurse outfit once more. Trent followed his arm now wrapped like a mummy.
"We take full credit for your injury. You did your best." Alejandro told him.
"Speak for yourself." Noah deadpanned.
"What? You 'don't care' that I'm injured?" Trent teased.
"I never said I didn't care, I just don't take credit." Noah huffed. Trent smiled.
/
"Okay, cowpokes!" Chris began the megaphone to his mouth. "Let's start… the rodeo moose challenge!"
"I'm so nervous." Katie admitted as she and Beth approached the penned in moose. "I mean i've never ridden a horse before, let alone a moose!"
"And barebacked at that!" Beth added. Katie gave her a look. She grinned back sheepishly. "Just hold on tight. I've ridden horses before and as long as you remain confident you'll be fine."
"If you say so." Katie said as she walked up the ladder leading into the pen.
"Absolutely!" Beth said as Katie lowered herself onto the moose. "Of course the horses weren't trying to throw me off."
"What?!" Katie cried. We the moose's eyes as it narrowed them in anger. A shaking Chef opened the pen.
The moose instantly charged forward and began to buck. Katie cried out in shock. It flung her from it's back. Chris is shown looking at a stopwatch. "And Katie's" The ravenette flew past him. " Out?" We see Katie in the pile of dirty socks. One is in her mouth and she spits it out immediately. Chris stands next to it with a clothespin on his nose. " Ooh, that stinks big time for Bass! No, seriously? That is some rank stuff. Courtney, let's get!"
/
We see Courtney sitting on the moose "Alright, moose I'm a natural leader so listen up!" The moose looked furious. "I know I can do this. After all I was a C.I.T-" it took the opportunity crashing through the gate and running off Chef in the process.
We see Gwen and Eva talking as the moose ran by in the background. Courtney is yelling threats at it. "Eva you know Justin is bad news." Gwen told her
"I do. It's just I have a weakness for pretty guys. It's not something I'm proud of." Eva replied. the moose passed by again it's rider unmoved.
"It doesn't help that he won't stop flirting with you." Gwen said.
"Every time he does that I get tongue tied and can't stop myself from falling into his gorgeous blue eyes. " Eva admitted as the moose passed once more. Courtney is barely holding onto the antlers at this point.
"You're stronger than you think you are. Besides I'm more than willing to help you." Gwen promised.
"That means a lot." Eva said with a slight smile.
"No problem." Gwen told her. The moose passed one final time. It crashed through the nearby bushes, it's rider holding on by a single antler, shaking a fist at it with her free hand.
/
"So, we have a tie!" Chris announced through the megaphone. "Whoever wins the extreme sea doo water ski challenge, wins invincibility!"
"I'm ready." Lindsay told everyone. The campers stared at her in her green bikini, a small smile on her face. "I wish Zeke was here to see this." She sighed.
"I'm sure he's watching the show." Alejandro comforted placing a hand on her shoulder. "I would like to drive the wave jumper. Any objections?" He asked. Cody raised a hand, Courtney put it down for him. "Very well then."
(Confessional)
Justin: Please, I'm driving the wave jumper for our team. Distracting Lindsay will be a cinch. I hope you're ready to taste defeat Al. I can out charm you any day.
Static
Outside the confessional Gwen and Eva are talking. "Okay Eva, you need to win this. We're the outliers on our team so if we lose one of us is going home." The goth told her.
"I know, but Alejandro is so-" Eva began.
"Pretty?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah. It'll be hard to ignore him." The iron woman admitted, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly.
"I know you can do it. You have to." Gwen smiled. Unbeknownst to either of them Justin was still in the confessional listening to everything.
/
We see Eva on skis holding the tow rope while Alejandro sits on a well worn sea doo. "Good luck Eva, then again you're so stunning and fierce you hardly need luck." The charmer told her. The Iron woman blushed.
Chris drove by on his ATV. " Here's the road rules. Oh wait, there are no rules! Which means this is gonna be awesome!"
/
Bridgette sighed, Lindsay approached her. "I know how you feel. I really miss Zeke too."
"It's just, who voted for him?" Bridgette asked.
"I voted for Lindsay if you want to know." Trent interjected, joining them.
"Which means I was right. At this point I don't know who to trust." Bridgette admitted.
"Well you can trust Lindsay and I. I'm sure whoever voted Zeke out didn't mean it. Right Noah?" Trent asked the now approaching nerd.
"Yeah, maybe they didn't have a choice." Noah added.
Bridgette smiled slightly. "Thanks guys."
/
"And go!" Chris cried waving a starting flag. Alejandro smirked and revved the ski doo, taking off as quickly as possible. Despite this Eva remained firm. Alejandro glanced back as he approached the first ramp. He went up at an angle in an attempt to shake her off but the iron woman managed to grab the flag anyway.
"Flag one for Bass!" Chris announced over a set of loudspeakers attached to a totem pole.
Alejandro's eyes narrowed and he began calling back. "Eva you are so athletic. I fear I shall not shake you." Eva looked a bit dazed but she held strong, easily getting all the flags.
"Five flags and headed home!" Chris said over the loudspeakers once more. "Alejandro has to cross the finish line or be disqualified! but when she does, Geoff will take five flags to victory for the Killer Bass!
\
(Confessional)
Alejandro: Eva was harder to move than I'd expected. However no one can resist the charms of Alejandro Burromurto!
Static
Alejandro turned around. "I really admire your tenacity Eva. It seems nothing will shake you." Alejandro had noticed a branch up the track. He knew distracting Eva would take desprate measures but he was a master of subtlety. He could make it look like an accident. Just as he had planned the branch tore off his shirt, revealing his perfect tanned abs. Eva was startled, but she didn't let go of the rope. What she did let go of was the flags.
Alejandro crashed into a rock owing to the fact he wasn't looking where he was going. He and Eva both flew through the air across the finish line. Only Eva crashed though, Alejandro managed to tuck and roll.
Chris rode his ATV past the now crashed sea doo. "I don't know what Alejandro did to make Eva lose her concentration, but its a total wipeout for the Bass team!"
/
Later Justin and Lindsay are in positions for the challenge. With that the engine revved and Justin began driving at full speed. Lindsay easily went over the first ramp, even doing a flip over it. As they passed the other four flags she grabbed those too. A determined look on her face.
"Lindsay has snagged five flags and is racing home for the win! Justin is eukered! He has to cross!" Chris announced.
Desperate Justin turned to the blonde. "Have told you how great that bikini looks?" This had the opposite effect however as he only distracted himself. The seadoo smashed into a rock. Justin flew through the air to land in a trre. Lindsay continued across the finish line.
Chris approached on his ATV. A shocked look on his face. ""She won?" Chris wondered. He smiled. "Gophers win!" The team cheered,
As Lindsay passed Justin's tree she called up. "Thanks for the compliment Justin but I really wanted that shower!"
Bridgette ran to her and hugged her. "Zeke would be so proud."
Meanwhile Katie was standing next to Beth and DJ a visable scent on her. "I really needed that shower."
DJ sniffed. "Oh right you are Katie, but I'm sure you can get the stink out in the communal bathrooms."
(Confessional)
Katie: I smell so bad! I hope DJ's right.
Static
/
Chris stands next to the mobile shower. "The Bass team went belly-up and will now decide which fishy to flush, while the Gophers totally scored some much-needed showers." We see Noah and Lindsay walk from the showers in towels.
At a nearby Picnic bench Gwen and Eva sit across from each other. Izzy stands between them at one end of the table. The goth sighs. "That's it then. We lost and there's no way Justin's keeping me over you."
"Why?" Izzy asked.
"Because he knows Eva is more open to his manipulation than I am. Let's face it, I'm gone." Gwen told her.
Izzy frowned. "Aww but we could have been like the three museteers! I was going to make us costumes and everything!" Gwen and Eva stared at her.
The iron woman turned to her friend. "If this is gonna be your last day here, we should enjoy it while we can. You wanna raid Chef's fridge?" She smirked.
Gwen smirked back. "You know it."
"I'll distract Cheffy!" Izzy cackled. The three girls smiled at each other.
/
(The dock)
Lindsay and Bridgette are sitting on the dock staring at the horizon. "You know I'm glad you're here Lindsay." The surfer said.
"I'm glad I'm here too! But why are you glad?" The blonde asked.
"If you weren't here I wouldn't have anyone to miss Zeke with. I know that sounds strange but there's a surprising amount of comfort in knowing you miss him as much as I do." Bridgette explained.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Lindsay agreed, the two sat in silence a moment when Lindsay got a bright look in her eye. "Hey what if we did what Henna did!"
Bridgette blinked. "You mean form an allience?"
Lindsay nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Except we promise not to vote each other out, and we only vote together if we both agree. I don't wanna be like Henna."
Bridgette smiled. "You've got a deal."
/
(Communal bathroom girls side.)
Beth is sitting just outside the curtain of a running shower. "Katie I'm sure you don't smell anymore."
"I know, but I just don't feel clean! Did you bring the spare clothes?" Katie asked from behind the curtain.
"Yeah and I put your other clothes in the hamper so they don't stink up the rest of the room."Beth replied.
"Okay, well the water's getting cold, so I guess I have to come out." Katie admitted. She turned off the shower. Beth averted her eyes as Katie exited and began to towel off. "I can't believe Chris had socks that smelly. Hasn't he heard of personal hygine?"
Beth chuckled. "He cares about personal hygine. It's everyone else's Hygine he dosen;t care about!"
Katie gave a good natured chuckled back. "Yeah. Okay I'm dress you can look now."
Beth turned to see that Katie had her clothes on but had yet to put her hair up. She stared the slightest blush on her face. "What?" the ravenette asked.
"Nothing. You just look really good with your hair down." Beth told her.
Katie smiled. "Thanks."
/
(Gopher cabin: Boys side)
Trent and Noah were sitting on the former's bunk again. The guitarist looked serious. "Noah, I just have to know. Did you vote for Ezekiel last challenge?"
Noah gave him a slightly guilty look. "Yes."
"Why?" Trent asked.
"I just wanted him gone." Noah lied. Trent leveled a look at him. It wasn't long before he broke. "I didn't want to but someone blackmailed me."
Trent gripped the smaller boy's shoulders. "Who blackmailed you?!"
"I can't say. I have no doubt he'll keep his word." The cynic told him.
"Noah what could be bad enough that you'd rather be blackmailed than have it come out?" The guitarsist asked.
"I can't tell you." Noah sighed.
Trent looked shocked. "Noah am I the one you don't want to know?" The Cynic said nothing but nodded. "I thought we were friends?"
"We are...I just..." Noah trailed.
Trent gaver him an understanding look. "If it means that much to you I won't pry, but I want you to promise you'll tell me if they hurt you." Noah remained silent. "Please Noah I worry about you." The guitarist told him.
Noah sighed. "Alright I promise."
/
(Bass Cabin: porch)
We see Gwen and Eva eating snacks they have clearly stolen from Chef's fridge. Gwen swallows a bit of chocolate in her mouth. "You think Izzy's okay?" As though on cue we hear Izzy cackling.
"You'll never catch me Cheffy!"
Eva gave a wry smile. "I think she's fine."
"Excuse me?" We hear a familar voice intrude. Gwen glares at the speaker. "I was wondering if I could talk to Eva for a moment?" Justin asked.
"I guess?" Eva told him. The model led her away.
"Eva would you vote for Gwen tonight?" He asked giving her his best smoulder.
Eva tried to tell him no, but her brain had gone all fuzzy. "Uh, I'll think about it?"
"That's all I ask." He told her kissing her hand lightly. "I know you'll make the right choice." With that Justin left, and Eva shook herself out of the state he'd put her in. She glared and walked back to the porch.
"What did he want?" Gwen asked nervously.
"He wants me to vote for you. " Eva told her truthfully. She clenched her teeth and gave Gwen a detrimined look. "But he's nuts if he thinks I'm voting for my friend. In fact I'm gonna vote for him out of spite!" She promised shaking with rage. "It won't do anything, but it'll make me feel better!"
Gwen smirked. "That's right!"
/
At elimination all but two people had a marshmallow. "Okay, that leaves Justin who bailed because Lindsay left him circling the drain." Justin nodded a cocky grin on his face. "And Gwen who's here by virtue of not being part of Justin's inner circle." Chris smirked. Gwen glared at him. "Unsurprisingly Justin is safe." he annouced tossing the model a marshmallow. "Gwen sorry girl. You're done like dinner."
Gwen got in Justin's face. "I just want you to know Karma's gonna bite that pretty ass of yours eventually!"
Gwen started to head down the dock of shame. Eva followed her. "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything." She told the goth.
"There is something you can do." Gwen told her placing a hand on each shoulder. "Take him down. For me, for Duncan, for everyone Justin's screwed over. If anyone can do it it's you."
"You weren't gonna leave without saying goodbye to me, were you?" Izzy teased showing up as though from nowhere.
"Of course not. Take good care of Eva okay?" Gwen smiled.
Izzy draped an arm over the iron woman's shoulder. "I will!"
"Gwen!" A voice cried. The three girls turned to see Trent running to the dock, Noah trailing behind him. He stopped before her out of breath. "I just wanted to say that I like you. As more than a friend. I've liked you from the moment I lay eyes on you, and even if you don't return my feelings I want you to know you mean a lot to me."
Gwen smiled. "Thanks Trent. You know just because I'm dating doesn't mean we can't be friends. If you want to."
Trent smiled back. "Yeah I'd like that." The two hugged. Gwen headed towards the boat.
"And Izzy?" The goth said as she stepped onto the boat. "Give Justin hell for me."
Izzy gave her a devious grin. "He won't know what hit him." As the boat went away Izzy and Eva left. Trent stayed staring at the boat until it was out of sight.
"You doing okay?" Noah asked having finally caught up.
Trent gave him a bitter smile. "Yeah, I'm sad but as long as you're here I think I'll be fine."
Noah smiled back. "I'm not going anywhere."
A/N: And so the pre merge ends. In the future some episodes will have little or no post challenge interactions. Mostly those episodes that already have a ton of character interaction, like search and do not destroy, hook, line, sinker, and Wawanakwa gone wild. Those that are mostly challenge based though will still have them.
I knew it was Eva or Gwen leaving and since the two reviewers who answered my question said they wanted a character with less screen time I had Gwen leave.
As far as the DJ poll goes it's too close to make everyone happy. I got 6 votes for DJatie, 4 votes of DJeth, and 4 votes for DJethie. So I'm gonna make it poly but put more focus on DJatie. Kinda like fangren did with DJawnmy in total shuffled if you've ever read that. (And if you haven't I highly recommend.)