Chapter 10: Day 6 — Clowns and Jokers

Leticia and company rode into camp, and discovered Vegeta sleeping.

They waited for him, and eventually he woke up about an hour later.

"Bit of a late riser this morning," Leticia said as he lowered the ladder.

"Whatever…" Vegeta mumbled with jerky strips in his mouth. He wandered into the grove and ripped several leaf stems off the bushes.

Back at camp he put the leaves in a bamboo pot, added left over boiled water from the day before and began his tea.

After it was finished, Vegeta relaxed lazily in the hammock looking like he would nod back off at any moment.

"Long night?" Leticia asked.

"No," he said. "Just really missing your caffeine this morning. If I had been told it was addictive, I wouldn't have ever tried your 'coffee'."

"You're addicted to caffeine?" Ted asked, confused.

Vegeta face soured. "Yes… I am. Detox before this started was fucking hell…"

Ted chuckled in disbelief, "Detox from caffeine?"

Vegeta swung around and glared at Ted, who instinctively stepped back.

"Look you," Vegeta snarled, "You know how everyone on this planet is lactose intolerant except your European tribes? Same for caffeine! Caffeine doesn't exist anywhere else in the galaxy, and it hits me HARD." Vegeta spun back around, "Now fuck off, I have a headache today…"

"Ted, chill," Leticia said. "If he's feeling sick, let him rest."


Meanwhile, on Berapi…

Everyone but Becky stirred to the sound on the ATVs. The team found the fire crawling across the new sticks and pieces of dried fronds haphazardly thrown over the fire. Sugar Petal was also haphazardly sprawled next to the fire…

Except for her hair…

The hair so full of hairspray one could practically hear it crunch when you grabbed it…

Hassim and Sam shouted as they and Michael scrambled over, pulling her away from the fire. Michael stamped her smoldering pigtail into the sand.

Sam dropped to his knees, "Oh, God… that was close…"

Hassim placed the back of his hand on her face. "She's hot."

Sam crawled over and did the same. "Shit." Sam got up and ran to the water taking his shirt off.

Michael swooped in and picked her up bridal style. "Let's get her in the shade."

Michael and Hassim took her closer to the trees where they shaded the beach most of the day. Sam quickly came and put his wet shirt over her forehead.

Sugar Petal finally moaned and flinched after several breath held moments.

"Cold," she muttered.

"That's just the wet shirt, Sugar Petal," Sam said. "You feel like you have a fever this morning. But everything is going to be alright. Just rest."

"Ok…" Michael sighed. "She does nothing until the challenge. We need to make her look well enough that the blue team chooses her since she won the last one for us. You guys go do what you need to do then get a few more hours. I'll take first watch."

"You sure, Michael?" Sam asked surprised.

Hassim looked at him suspiciously.

"Yes," Michael said. "I'll nap later." He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "Hurry up and get back to sleep."

Michael waited until Hassim had finished praying and returned to the shelter. He then took Sam's shirt off her head and tossed it back in the trees.

He leaned in close. "Unless you want another lesson in obedience," he whispered. "Not a word. Got it?"

Sugar Petal nodded and rolled on her side, turning her back to him.

"So, what was that excitement earlier?" his field producer asked as the two crews arrived.

"We found her fainted over the fire. Luckily it was almost out. Only thing singed is her hair."

"Sugar Petal, is that true?" her producer asked, kneeling.

"Everything is perfect," she said, shivering.


Meanwhile, with Vegeta…

Vegeta opened his eyes.

He was briefly surprised to find himself in the hammock. He saw the cup still balanced on his torso so he picked it up and looked inside. It was empty.

"You awake for good this time?" he heard Leticia ask.

Vegeta winced as he sat up in the hammock. "Maybe…" He stood and stretched his arms over his head. He then put the cup down, and went to fetch his cutting stones.

"Have a project in mind?" she asked.

Vegeta nodded. He began to walk out of camp and up the hill.

Vegeta eventually came to one of the clusters of dragon bamboo and began cutting down a stalk.

"You usually don't cut one of these down unless you have a big project in mind. Care to share?" Leticia asked.

"I had a dream last night about my son tying one of the poor dogs to his wagon and careening around the house again. But instead of his wagon, it was made from bamboo."

"So you're going to copy what you saw in your dream?"

"Not much else to do today before the challenge starts."

"Do you know how you are going to make it?"

"Telescoping different size rings to start. I'll figure out the rest later…" he looked back. "How much longer do I have?"

"A few more hours," Leticia said.

Vegeta turned back to the bamboo, "Good."


Meanwhile, on Samundra…

Samundra was getting up and around for good. They ate well, then relaxed in the shade.

"So…" Bob began. "Normally the losing team gets to pick a player on the other team to sit out the next two challenges, but they can't be the same person each time. Who do you want to get rid of today?"

"Vegeta is required to finish side by side with us, so removing him is pointless," Jerry said.

"I think we should get rid of Sugar Petal," Casey said, "She's clearly not well."

"We've all fainted at least once," Jamal said. "As long as she's not in danger and looks wobbly, we should keep her in." Jamal sat up from laying on his back. "But if she looks fine, my vote is to take her out. She's capable of a lot more than she appears to be. Denying Berapi another week of rice will set them up to lose the team section."

"I can't let her drown like Vickie," Nick said. "But if the challenge looks safe, I have no problem keeping her in if she's unwell. One of us fainting in a challenge is just as valid a strategy for them as it is for us."

"Speaking of challenge," Bob said, "Someone want to check the tree mail again?" He looked up at the sky, "It's got to be what, 10? 11 by now? Can't believe they left it so late.."

"I got it," Jessica got up. She headed towards the well.

"So, who else is on the chopping block besides Sugar Petal?" Daisuke said. "If it's some kind of course again, I say Ichiro. But if its brains related, I say Michael. He's the default leader."

"They finally gave it to us!" Jessica came running back holding the unfurled scroll above her head.

She stopped and read it. "Going around in circles. Walls always changing but always the same. Look to the wisdom of those who have gone before you and climb the stairs to heaven to join them."

"A maze," everyone else sighed at once.

"And one with an observatory to guide the next person," Daisuke said. "So it really doesn't matter who we chose."

"I'm up for Michael," Nick raised his hand.

"Oh?" Jessica looked around.

Jerry nodded towards Daisuke, "Daisuke mentioned him right before you got back."

"I want to see the dynamic first," Jessica said.

"I want to hear Jessica's opinion first to be honest," Jerry said, shrugging, "I mean, she hit the nail on the head last time."

Bob eyebrows flattened looking at him.

Jerry responded by crossing his eyes, tilting his head, and sticking his tongue out the corner of his mouth.

Casey snickered, everyone else smiled.

Bob rolled his eyes and looked away.


Meanwhile, at Berapi…

"Hey! We finally got the tree mail!" Hassim said coming out of the trees. He made a beeline to the fire.

Sam took his shirt off Sugar Petal's forehead. "I'll be right back."

"Michael," Lisa shook him.

"Yeah… I heard," Michael leaned up from his nap. "Ok, what does it say?"

Hassim read, "Going around in circles. Walls always changing but always the same. Look to the wisdom of those who have gone before you and climb the stairs to heaven to join them."

"Great, a maze," Michael lay back down. "Sounds one at a time too."

"We'll be guiding each other though," Ichiro said. "Sounds like it will be a quick game."

"Becky still being a burnt orange?" Michael asked.

"She said she was going to lie in the shade. Walked into the trees in her underwear."

"But nothing else?" Hassim asked hopelessly, already knowing the answer.

Michael suddenly sat up. "Lisa, Ichiro, with me," he got to his feet. "This ends today Hassim. I promise."


Hassim led them and their crews through the trees. They spotted the backs of three red crew shirts and Hassim's shoulders immediately dropped.

Michael charged forward. He grabbed the producer's and technician's shoulders and burst between them like a western saloon's double doors.

"Becky!" he screamed as he saw exactly what he knew he would see.

Becky naked on Hassim's latest attempt at a rug.

Becky barely had time to react as Michael grabbed her and flipped her on her back. He pinned her.

"What do you think you are doing?!" he screamed.

Becky blinked. Then smiled. "Well, Michael… who told you what I liked?"

Michael's eyes widened in disgust and he stood up. "As if, you fat whore!"

"Michael," Ichigo said, stepping behind Becky.

"Mike," Lisa said softly, lightly touching his shoulder.

Michael looked over his shoulder, then down at her other hand touching just above his wrist. Then he glanced farther down at his balled fist next to the handle of the machete.

Michael took a deep breath. "Becky. We talked about this… FUCKING STAY AWAY FROM HASSIM! It hasn't even been a week, and you've fucked up his food twice, and every chance he tried to pray."

"Aren't you the one who took his rug?"

Michael pointed at her. "THAT was a compromise to placate you! It wasn't meant to be permanent."

Suddenly they heard laughter.

They looked and saw Hassim with his hands on his knees bent over laughing.

"Well, someone finally broke," Becky said proudly.

"Hassim?" Lisa asked, visibly concerned.

Hassim pointed not lifting his head. They looked in that direction and saw Becky's underwear in the crotch of a low tree branch.

"What's so funny about my underwear?!" Becky shouted as she grabbed them. She fumbled putting them on walking over to Hassim.

Becky slapped him, but Hassim only laughed harder.

She sneered, then walked back towards the beach pulling her bra over her head.

"Hassim?" Michael asked as Lisa went over to him.

"Oooo, dang her acrylics…" She stood and looked at the crews. "Get the medics! If we don't treat this immediately, he'll have permanent cat claws on his face."

"Crew 1 to medics, Hassim is bleeding from the face. Come to his prayer location. Over."

*fuzz* copy. On our way. *fuzz*

"Hassim…" Michael crossed his arms, "Can you fill us in on what's so f—"

Suddenly they heard Becky scream.

And not stop.


Everyone ran to the beach. And saw Becky flailing in the shallows, bra and underwear in either hand. Sam was at the edge of the water, clearly soaked.

"Becky? What's wrong?" Lisa ran towards the water, but Sam grabbed her.

"Don't! She's not thinking straight."

"Ants!"

Everyone turned back and saw Hassim gripping his sides hyperventilating.

"Ants in that tree! … Millions of them! … They bite!"

Michael snickered, then shouted. "That's what you get for messing with Hassim's rug! Bug bites up your cooch!"

Becky roared enraged.

Sam walked back up next to the sleeping Sugar Petal. She was smiling with the corners of her mouth twitching.


Meanwhile, with Vegeta…

Leticia was standing aside holding her radio and looking at her watch.

Vegeta knew it was almost time to leave. He was sitting on the ground, fiddling with one of the wheels. As they were, they were eight inches in diameter. He had taken off the final three rings and was marking the sides.

"I'm going to cut holes," he said unprompted. "See if sticks will work."

"And the outer ring?" Freddy asked.

"I saw a worker at the Palaces set bamboo on fire to make it bend. If it doesn't work, it should be a fun arson for the audience."

*fuzz* Crew 9. Red team has been transported. Bring Vegeta to the beach *fuzz*


Vegeta arrived on the game beach. He noticed immediately the blue team looked well. The red team looked more ragged and Sugar Petal looked awful.

Her bruised wrists and the mark on her face, however, were not his main concern.

"What the hell is wrong with her skin color? Can I only see it? What the hell?"

Sugar Petal glanced at him.

"Her eyes too? Shit."

Vegeta caught everyone's attention by turning around and jogging back to the staff at the treeline. He put his hands up like before but continued walking up.

"Hey, something is wrong with Sugar Petal," he said, arriving and dropping his hands. "I don't know if it's my better eyesight or if people are ignoring it, but her skin and eyes are turning an odd color."

"You think her eyes and skin are changing color?" one of them said surprised.

Yamcha came over, "What's wrong, Vegeta?"

"Sugar Petal is turning a weird color. I've never seen a human do this before."

Yamcha looked over, "What color?"

"Humans can't see it."

"Ah… that's not going to help the medics," Yamcha said. "How about where?"

"Her entire skin and eyes."

"Wait her eyes?" one of the surrounding staff asked. "As in the white part?"

Vegeta turned to him, "Yes. Do you know?"

"Might be something," he said. "Go back to the game. We'll talk to the medics."

Vegeta nodded and walked back to join the others.

"What do you think it is?" Yamcha asked.

"Nothing too serious," he said walking behind him, "But I'll talk to the medics to keep an eye out."

Yamcha watched him walk over to the red medics as the game began.

"What do you want?" the lead medic asked.

"Just placating Vegeta and Yamcha so we could get the game started. We all know the orders on Sugar Petal."


Vegeta walked back to his spot. Before him was the same stage with the bags to draw numbers. Flanking either side was a ramp going into a large padded room, one red, one blue. Below the floor was a curtain blocking the view underneath. Behind everything were two wooden towers with steps to the lookout. The lookouts had cameras. One pointed down at the room, so there clearly was no roof to the structure, then others pointed inward.

He heard a buzzing noise and looked up. There were film drones hovering over the rooms.

"One team member will be up there while all the cameras are focused on the inside below. If the inside needs to be so secret on the ground but not above, it must be a maze."

Vegeta glanced at the blue team, who had gone into a huddle.


"Those bruises on her wrists line up too nicely," Jessica said. "And that looks like bruising under her shirt."

"That's too dark to be bruising," Bob said. "She'd have to be in a car wreck to get that bad. She just needs a bath."

"Or getting robbed," Jerry said. "You guys are too sheltered."

"Or you've only seen the worst of humanity as a bouncer at a seedy bar," Casey said.

"My cousin's in-law's bar," Jerry glared.

"She is not well," Jessica said sternly. "Casey, you're a nurse of all things."

"All the more reason to keep her in," Jamal said. "When she faints, we're golden."

"The course looks safe enough," Nick said. "Look at all the medics waiting in boats next to the lookouts."

"Hands up for Michael," Bob said.

Everyone but Jessica and Jerry raised their hands.

"It's done then," Bob said standing straight.

"Everyone get into positions!" a crew member shouted. "We are about to begin!"


Conner came out and took his position.

The man next to the camera counted down from five on his hand then pointed at Conner.

"Hello everyone!" Conner shouted out. "Welcome to today's challenge. Samundra, you're looking quite well. How has your taste of real survival been the past few days?"

"It's been going quite well," Bob said.

"I'm sure the food Vegeta gave you has helped quite a bit."

"What?!" Becky screamed.

The other team members glared at Vegeta.

"Is that even allowed?!" Michael pointed at Vegeta.

"At the time, the interaction was deemed legal," Conner said. "So Berapi, I take it your past few days have been difficult?"

"Becky has ant bites up her cooch," Sugar Petal blurted out.

Michael and Ichiro immediately moved in between her and Becky.

"So, um…" Conner coughed awkwardly, "how do you know that word?"

"Michael said it," she said proudly.

"And do you know what it means?" he asked slowly.

"Lady-isms," Sugar Petal said beaming. "I'm learning lots of new words from my teammates. I'm sure my English teachers will be happy at how much I've improved."

"I'm sure they will be," Conner said, desperate to change the subject. "Hassim, how have you been doing? The conflict with Becky has only escalated since we last spoke."

"I'm not a stranger to bullies," Hassim said confidently. "Nothing has happened so far that I didn't face in boarding school."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Conner nodded. He looked up at Vegeta standing by himself at the rope divide.

"Vegeta, you have been busy these past few days. I've been told you even stayed up 48 hours then went back to work with only a few hours of sleep. How's your camp coming along?"

"Basically done and ready to go."

Conner nodded. "I'm told your camp is quite impressive."

Vegeta looked at Samundra, "Don't insult the blue team, they have a full-blown palace with several other impressive shelters for cooking and crafts. Mine is spartan in comparison. Roof, walls, and floor." He looked at Michael, "But even a cardboard box in an alley is better than the crap Michael has them putting up with."

"So," Conner looked at Berapi, "Michael, wish to respond to that?"

"We have the tarp over a fallen tree on the beach with a palm bed on the sand. It was a little tight when it sprinkled, but I think everyone will agree the stars have been absolutely brilliant at night."

"I like the stars," Sugar Petal added. "And someone snores in the shelter. It's nice to be farther away."

Her teammates instantly turn their glare to Becky.

"What?! I don't snore!" She pointed at Hassim, "It's the —"

"Ok everyone!" Conner shouted over Becky, clapping his hands loudly. "It's time for the challenge!"

Everyone turned to him, but not before Becky flicked Hassim off.

Conner turned, "Behind me you see a large maze and a tower. The first person will go through the maze without help then climb the tower. Then the walls of the maze will be reset to create a new path." He walked over to one of the two circular platforms at the start of the ramps to the maze out over the water.

"The next person will run to this machine and be blindfolded. Put your head on the pressure switch and turn the handle bars horizontal to start it spinning for 45 seconds" He demonstrated and did a few spins. "If the bars are released or your head comes off the pressure pad prematurely," The spinner stopped and he stepped away. "you will be forced to endure another full 45 seconds."

Conner walked back to the center. "After your 45 seconds are up the spinner will stop and you will hear a ding." Connor raised his left hand and a buzzer went off along with a red light on their entrance arch. He then lowered his hand and raised his right one. A completely different sounding buzzer went off along with a blue light on their entrance arch.

"You will remain blindfolded in the maze, if anyone's blindfold comes off prematurely, your team forfeits. You will be at the complete mercy of your teammate guiding you. BUT," he said loudly. "You cannot use the words up, down, left, right, forward, back, reverse, above, below, north, south, east, west or any combination of the cardinal directions like northeast or southwest. You are also not allowed to use the same method twice, and that goes for both teams. You cannot use any words or methods you overhear being used by the other team. Say if you know your next teammate races dogs in Alaska. You can use mushing commands to guide them, but that means no one else on either team can use mushing commands for the rest of the game. This is a test of how well you have gotten to know your teammates over the past week. A fisherman from the Gulf of Mexico will not know mushing commands, but will know boat related words."

Conner takes out two familiar bags. "We will be drawing numbers again. Samundra, who on Berapi will be sitting this out?"

"Michael," Bob called out.

"Alright, Michael. Go stand in the back."

A staff member waved over and Michael walked towards him. Michael sat down on a folding chair.

"Ok, since Berapi won the last game, Samundra goes first. Once you draw, stand 6 feet apart from each other. No talking or coordinating with each other. Line up!"

Bob drew first. "4."

Casey was next. "2."

Nick followed, "7"

Jerry came and held his ball up. "I'm number 1, baby yeah." He waved his goat horns at the camera before finding a spot by himself.

Daisuke pulled his, "6"

Jessica walked up next, "3."

Jamal finished out the team. "5."

Conner dropped the now empty bag and held up the next, "And now Berapi"

Lisa began walking forward first but Becky pushed past her.

"4," Becky said, taking out her ball.

Lisa drew next. "6."

Sam walked up and put his hand on Sugar Petal's shoulder. The two walked up together.

"3!" Sugar Petal holds her ball over her head.

"5," Sam said.

Hassim walked up next, "1."

Ichiro came up, "7."

"Fuck," Vegeta thought walking up last. "2…" Vegeta glared at the ping-pong ball. "I'm guiding Sugar Petal. I can't throw this without putting a bigger target on her back."

Vegeta crushed it in his hand and dropped it in the sand. He walked back to his spot by the rope. Then his eyes widened. "Shit! I got to sing. Crap! Crap! Crap! Need a song, crap! Doesn't Doc's ringtone have the words left and right in it? Shit! Crap! Double crap! What are the words? Fuuuuuuck!"

Conner nodded and put his right hand next to his mouth. "Ok, Hassim! Jerry! Take your positions!"

The two lined up on a deep line carved in the sand.

"Go!"

The two ran up the ramp and disappeared into the maze. Conner was given a tablet to watch the live feed from the drones.

"Looks like Hassim and Jerry are already getting turned around," Conner said. He waved his hand and staff directed Casey and Vegeta to the line as two other members took positions with a box on blindfolds at the wheel.

Vegeta relaxed and a small burst of sand came from his feet. Jessica's head jerked immediately and stared at him.

"And Hassim is out first! Vegeta go!"

Vegeta ran to his post, was blind folded and began his spin.

"And here comes Jerry! Casey go!" Conner called out. "Hassim has made it up the steps."

Vegeta came off the spinner, and ran into the maze without touching the guide rope.

"And Vegeta is off! Looks like he is not dizzy at all!"

"Clock Vegeta!" Hassim shouted. "3!"

Vegeta turned right, but turned left at the next intersection unprompted.

"And Cassey is in the maze! No using clock time from now on!"

"9!" Hassim shouted.

Vegeta turned left.

"Horses!" Jerry shouted. "Gee!"

Casey stopped briefly.

"Gee! Casey! Gee!"

Casey began running again and turned right.

"Seems our rodeo girl is surprised a heavy metal artist knows anything about horses," Conner shouted. "No more horse related words."

"Haw!"

"Three!"

"Gee!"

"Nine then another Nine!"

"Haw!"

"Three!"

"And Vegeta is out and climbing the steps!" Conner shouted. "Sugar Petal go!"

Sugar Petal made her way to the spinner, already wobbling on her feet.

"Looks like Sugar Petal is already going into this not feeling well," Connor said. "And Jessica Go!"

Sugar Petal lost her balance and her head lifted, stopping the spin.

"And Sugar Petal triggered the stop! She now needs to start the 45 seconds all over again!"

"You lose this Sugar Piss we'll be eating YOU!" Becky shouted.

Sugar Petal flinched and stopped it again.

"Becky shut up!" the men shouted with Michael adding "You Cow!"

Lisa had shouted "Becky stop it!" at the same time.

"And there goes Jessica!" Conner said as she joined the maze.

"Jessica! Your mat vs. the stream out to sea!" Casey shouted. "Mat!"

Jessica turned right.

"No more using camp layout as directions!" Conner shouted.

"And here comes Sugar Petal!" Conner said as the spinner stopped. She immediately fell down. "And Sugar Petal is in the sand! Looks like she's having trouble getting up."

"Just crawl until you reach the walls of the maze!" Vegeta shouted. "You're facing the r— correct direction!"

She obeyed and scrambled to the maze entrance.

"And Jessica is out! Bob go!"

Sugar Petal got to the entrance and forced herself to her feet.

Suddenly, Vegeta began to sing.

"Well I don't know why I came here tonight. I've got the feeling that something ain't right. I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair, and I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs. Clowns to the" he gave a long pause before continuing. "of me! Jokers to the —!"

Vegeta stopped tapping his fingers loudly.

"Here I am stuck in the middle with you!" he heard Sugar Petal call out.

"Good! Clowns! Clowns!"

Sugar Petal made her way to the left leaning heavily against the walls.

"Ok! No more music!" Conner shouted.

"Bob! Mathew 25:31! The Goats and the Sheep!"

Bob lifted his head in the direction he thought Jessica was, shocked.

"Bob just go!" Jamal shouted.

Bob stumbled into the maze.

"Goats!"

Bob ran left.

Sugar Petal finally exited the maze and collapsed onto the platform without the walls' support.

"And Sugar Petal is out! Becky go!"

Hassim bolted down the steps and Vegeta watched him support Sugar Petal into the lookout and over to the railing.

"Becky has stopped the spinner! Start again at 45— and she stopped again! And again! Looks like she is having trouble with the mechanism."

"Becky!" Lisa shouted. "Just pull up and twist the handles!"

While she struggled below, Hassim was supporting Sugar Petal.

"I can't see," Sugar Petal was panicking. "I can't see."

"Just calm down," Hassim said. "It's just the dizziness."

"No, it's all black and gray."

She felt a rough hand press itself over her right hand. She tried to pull away knowing it was Vegeta, but he had her hand trapped, curled over the edge of the wood.

Vegeta began speaking slowly, enunciating each syllable. "Ev-er-y-thing-is-go-ing-to-be-fine. Just-con-cen-trate-on-what-is-happ-en-ing-a-round-you. Do-you-un-der-stand-me?"

Sugar Petal realized Vegeta was pressing her hand in a rhythm with every syllable. Front, back, right, left.

"Is he going to be my eyes?" she thought.

"Yes. I'm ready to go," Sugar Petal nodded.

"And Becky has stopped again!" Conner shouted.

She heard Becky scream. Then everyone screamed at her.

"Ok! Everyone stop! Game is over! Samundra wins!"

"What happened?" she asked.

"Becky kicked the spinner, breaking it…" Hassim sighed.

"That angle is rather impressive," Vegeta said, releasing her hand. "She is stronger than she looks."


Vegeta walked down and headed for the boats. He refused to be taken separately and sat across from Sugar Petal.

"How's your vision now?"

"I can see colors," she answered.

"Good," Vegeta said. "This is probably tunnel vision from low blood pressure. Give it a few minutes." He looked at Hassim. "Watch her standing up. Got it?" he glared.

Hassim nodded.

Vegeta looked back at Sugar Petal. "Nearly all Humans lose consciousness at that point. You're stronger than people think you are. Use that to your advantage."

The boat pulled into the beach, and Vegeta hopped off ignoring the mess that was the tangle of red team members and security. He stood over by the rope smirking at the faces of the blue team watching the show.

"I didn't realize we had front row seats to Jerry Springer," Jerry said.

Vegeta knew from the tone he was trying to make an awkward joke like Yamcha often did.

"Yeah… really…" Casey said.

Suddenly Conner blew an airhorn. "Ok! Everyone STOP so we can continue!" He blew the horn again for good measure.

Everyone stopped and immediately was respectful. Becky pulled free of the guard and glared at Conner while crossing her arms.

"Samundra. By the rules of this game, you have won this challenge by Berapi's inability to continue."

They began to clap and cheer, but Connor blew the horn again.

"That's enough!" he lowered the horn. "At the beginning of this challenge, I mentioned that at the time of it happening, it was ruled that Vegeta would be able to give you food…"

"Oh fucking hell," Nick said running his hands through his hair and turning his back.

"But that decision was made based on what was thought to be the limit of what a person can carry, even with the help of the wheelless cart Casey built. But Vegeta realized a loophole in those assumptions and because of that Samundra got much more food than we realized at the time. Because of that, this week's prize was to go to Berapi no matter the outcome of today's challenge."

"Suck on that you losers!" Becky shouted.

Conner blew the horn again. "Becky, if you think your behavior will go unpunished, you are sorely mistaken. Red team! You will be receiving no rice from this challenge!"

"What?!" Becky shouted while the rest of the team showed exhaustion and resignation.

Connor blew the horn again. "But! You will be receiving the surprise we had in store for the winners." A staff member came out with a box. He opened it, revealing a fishing tackle box and a swimming mask with snorkel.

"You will be receiving fishing line and hooks and a snorkel set for fishing. If anything is lost or broken, they will not be replaced. Head back to your camps."

Conner walked off clearly frustrated.


The red team's boats waited until Vegeta and his camera crew disappeared into the trees and his boat sped away before they pulled in.

They walked into camp and silently watched the boats leave. The camera crews took positions.

"And you are free to talk," the red leader raised his hand.

"Becky! You piece of shit!" Michael screamed. "You cost us a week's worth of food!" He marched up to her.

Ichiro grabbed her without any prompting.

"Let go of me!" Becky kept stomping on Ichiro's feet but he only forced her to her knees.

"No excuses! No trying to blame Sugar Petal! Even if we had lost because of the time gap, we were guaranteed food because Vegeta sided with the blue team." He pointed in her face. "This is all on you and you alone!" He then pointed at the woods. "YOU! Are getting tonight's firewood! Sugar Petal can stay in camp and do busy work or even sleep for all I care. YOU! Are leaving! NOW! Get going!"

Michael glanced at Ichiro and he let her go.

"You can't force me to do ANYTHING," Becky snarled, literally baring her teeth. She went into the shelter.

Michael turned to Sugar Petal, still being supported by Hassim. "You made it through in almost the same time as the others while on your knees. You've earned your day of rest. What do you want to do?"

"More string from the coconuts," she wobbled. "Will need it for fish bags."

"Yes, good point," Hassim said. "Sam, you want to help her?" he glanced at him before looking back at Michael.

He went to speak but then he tilted his head to look behind him.

Everyone looked and saw Becky stomp into the trees.

"Hopefully she doesn't get into any ants again…" Lisa sighed. She looked up to any sky deity who would hear her.

"Let me take the snorkel for a spin," Hassim said, breaking the communally held breath. "My family owns a villa on the Red Sea."

Michael nodded, "I've scuba'd there myself a few times actually. Let's take turns exploring the reef today then tomorrow we'll put everything into getting some damn protein."

"Might as well take the spear and net, might get lucky," Ichiro said.

"Sounds good," Sam said, taking Sugar Petal from Hassim. "Good luck out there."

Hassim nodded and went to grab the spear and net bag while Michael fetched the machete then passed it off to Ichiro.


Meanwhile, with Samundra…

Jessica was walking along the stream. With Berapi automatically winning this food challenge, they were out of rice for the foreseeable future. Casey had gotten lost on the small hill to the south, but there was a no-man's-land on the other side of the stream both teams could use but they couldn't go past the crest of the hill. The crew was loud and slow, Jessica had no idea how Vegeta was able to hunt with this noise.

"Though, Casey said they cleared out some villages when they bought the land. Maybe all these animals are the livestock that got left behind."

Jessica looks up the hill again. "That village must be above the crest."

"So then, bananas like organic-filled fluffy soil. Someone had to have planted the banana trees Vegeta found. So, the best place to look would be opposite his camp since Casey didn't find any in our territory."

Jessica followed the ATV trail a good distance before she found a nice gentle slope. She crossed the stream and began to climb.

Then, she found it.

The bamboo and trees started to thin, then the canopy opened up.

Banana trees everywhere. The slope was covered as it led up to a crest.

Jessica dashed up the hill, pushing through the ferns and another tall plant with green and red leaves, slipping a few times along the way. The crew shouted for her to wait on the GPS because of how suspicious it looked.

Jessica reached the first of the trees. She walked through them. Many were in various stages of bloom. There was a large brown bunch that was so heavy it had snapped the tree. It had been chewed through by lots of animals. There were also smaller fruits just a few inches long with the flower petals still on them. Then she saw a tree with a huge bunch with fruit over a foot long. Perfect and green.

She took the razor rock she had brought with her and walked over. She picked one, and started trying to cut the peel off with the rock. It was hard as a brick but she was able to get enough off to snap it in two to see inside. It was full of seeds, but they were small and not as solidly packed as a wild one they were shown in the briefing of what was safe to eat. It was also three times as long. "This has to be a hybrid of some kind," was her first thought. "No, domestic plantains are sterile." She looked around her. "But this is clearly man made. Maybe it's a local mutant like I saw in India and Costa Rica?" She licked the inside. "Not exactly bitter either…"

The crew finally reached her, interrupting her thoughts. "We told you to wait. Don't go turning into Vegeta if you want to stay long."

Jessica showed them the inside of the fruit. "Look, wild bananas. You can tell by the seeds. I assume these are safe to bring back?"

The field producer took out his cell phone and snapped a picture of the insides to send back to base. After a few minutes, he got a response over the radio.

*fuzz* Confirmed, those are wild. *fuzz* Reynolds said. *fuzz* If they are in the GPS zone, they can take them. *fuzz* Who missed those on the survey? The only bananas on the field are supposed to be Vegeta's. How can we starve these people if there's so much damn food this season *fuzz* came softer on the radio. He must have not taken his hand off the button yet.

Jessica picked seven off of the large bunch and put them in her basket. She then took the larger cutting rock to begin marking a path to the stream when she got a good look at the plants she had pushed through. It was a tall herb about waist high and had overtaken the hillside once the canopy ended. Some leaves were green, some were red, and some were a mix of both. But all had the same flowers, a giant corn cob of tiny blossoms longer than her hand. She put her basket down and picked one of the younger plants. She examined it, then put a leaf in her mouth. She smiled.

"Cheera," she said, holding it up to the camera. She began filling her basket with it when she noticed another plant, and then another, and then another.

Jessica went back up the hill. She explored the area a little more and found a cleared field next to the plantains. To the naked eye, it was a weed and brush field one would find at the side of any rural dirt road. But to her, there was so much more.

"There's even lemon grass and sundakkai bushes, oh my goodness." She turned and went back the way she came. "This isn't a jungle, this is a gathering forest at the edge of a rural village. The staff may have gotten rid of the most obvious things, but there is always something else. If this is here, I need to start paying more attention. Anything could be edible."


When she reached the stream, she saw Vegeta with his film crew. His legs and hands had traces of mud on them and he was carrying a backpack made of a red plastic tub and blue rope.

"Hello Vegeta!" Jessica waved as she waded across the stream temporarily putting the basket on her head.

Vegeta stopped and waited for her to come up. "Hello," he said when they came face to face.

"I'm Jessica. We never got the chance to talk at the boat party."

"Never been much of a talker."

"So… What are you doing all the way over here?"

"I was over in the tidal marsh by the river scavenging. You'd be surprised what gets tangled in the roots after the tide goes out." He looked over his shoulder, "They didn't want to crawl over the rocks after being in the mud. So, they got permission to walk back along the track." He looked back at her and smiled, "It's a short walk from your beach. Your team should see what you can… Why do you have Panchy's amaranth with your bananas?"

"Don't answer that!" Her crew said in unison.

Vegeta smiled, "Thanks for the tip." He then rudely pushed past her and her crew and continued on his way.

"What the hell? First he smiles then pushes me out of the way," she thought. She closed her eyes and took a relaxing breath. She opened them slowly then focused on Vegeta.

Vegeta stopped suddenly. Then turned and looked at her over his shoulder with a confused look on his face.

Jessica quickly turned around and scurried away.

Vegeta looked down, then back at her before turning around and continuing to walk.

"What was that about?" Leticia asked.

"It was nothing," he said firmly.

"You need to start doing the personal interviews required in your contract, Vegeta. You were clearly thinking there."

Vegeta rolled his eyes, "I got that tingle up your spine that you're being watched. Nothing more."


Back with Jessica, she was pale.

"What's wrong?" the field producer asked, trying to get an interview.

"A void. A complete void. Completely disconnected from the energy of the universe," she says visibly shaken.

"What are you talking about?"

"I focused my third eye on him. Even the air has energy flowing through it. But he was empty. Completely empty."

"You're really into this New Age psychic stuff, aren't you?"

"I am Hindu!" she shouted.

Jessica just ran.


Jessica came to the beach and wiped the tears from her eyes. She composed herself and walked up to the camp. It looked like the group had finally finished the outside of the house. Smoke was rising up through the leaves in the center. She saw Casey watching over the last of the drying bananas, but no one else.

"They must be inside."

"I found Plantains and Cheera!" Jessica shouted, taking a plantain from her basket and holding it up. Sure enough, a flap opens and the men come out of the house.

"Whoo!" Jerry screamed, raising his arms in the air triumphantly.

She finished walking up to the camp as they all exited.

"How many did you get?" Bob asked.

"Just a few. Plantains need to be cooked before they can be eaten, so I won't know if these are the bitter kind we were warned about until I do."

"Bitter or not, food is food out here," Daisuke said.

"But still, good would be nice," Nick said.

"So what hippy vegan is this?" Bob asked, picking up the leaves. "Looks like pigweed."

"Cheera. It's cooked in coconut milk."

"I ship it!" Jerry shouted.

Everyone failed trying not to laugh awkwardly.

Jessica took deep breaths. "Ok. Ok." She looks over at the lean-to. "Where's the cooking pot?"

"Inside, come take a look," Bob said, lifting the flap.

"That's a lot of shelves," Jessica thought.

The walls were lined with them. Just poles with lattice for the bottoms, but it held everything nicely. There were also shelves dangling from the rafters over a small fire that was lined with a wall of rocks and what looked like mud from the stream. They had put the meat there, but there wasn't that much smoke rising through it. There was some smoke gathered higher in the roofline, but most was escaping through the opening between the wall mats and the roof. Seems they were also busy reinforcing the sides with lattice as well. The sleeping mats were laid out on the floor, the only sand visible was in the middle section around the fire.

Jessica walked over and grabbed the pot, "We should know if they are edible in half an hour."

"Good," Nick said, "Since they took our rice away for a week."

"Complaining isn't healthy, Nick." Bob crossed his arms. "It's not anyone's fault the producers changed their minds over letting him give us food."

"Some food?! Hundreds of bananas is not 'some food'."

"If you are going to argue again, don't do it in front of Casey," Jessica said walking between them and out the door.

She headed over to the original shelter and filled the pot with a small skim of water covering the bottom. Jessica skinned the plantains and cut them into chunks with her rock. She placed them in the pot and put more water in until they are covered by about an inch. Then she poked up the coals, placed some twigs on it then blew them up with the bamboo straw she made earlier. Once it was glowing red with small flames, she put the pot on and blew on it again. The water came to boil.

While it boiled, she went back to the first shelter. The men had taken most of her bamboo strips, but she had several left. She made a quick lattice about the size of her palm then bent the long strips up and wrapped them with a palm leaf strip, creating something that looked like an egg beater.

Jessica went back to the pot and waited for it to boil down more. Once it was down below the tops of the chunks, she took it off the fire and drained most of the water out. She then carefully began mashing it. It looked like it was full of pepper corns, maybe taking up a quarter to a third of the mash.

Jessica lifted up her masher and peeled a piece of mash off and tasted it. It surprised her that it tasted like an unripe cavendish, and reminded her of the seeded ones from India.

"Definitely a local mutant. Not that the producers needed to know that," she thought.

"These taste ok!" Jessica shouted, "Just don't eat the seeds!"

The group gathered around the fire as Jessica took the cooking spoon and scooped them into a single blue bowl. Then she put one of the eating scoops in the bowl and handed it to Daisuke.

"Pass it around," she said. "So, what do you guys think? Remember no seeds."

Daisuke took a taste, and judging from the face he was making as he rolled it around in his mouth, he wasn't a fan.

He swallowed, "Definitely tastes like an unripe banana." He passed it to his left. "What do you think, Jamal?"

Jamal picked the seed out of his scoop then put it in his mouth. "Well, it's not terrible." He passed it to Bob. "I vote we eat this."

Bob picked out four seeds before putting it in his mouth. He nodded slightly as he rolled it around in his mouth. "What if we mix some of the dried banana chunks into this to sweeten it up?"

"Mangú is usually plantains with salt, butter and onions in it," Jessica said, "and not whatever that seeded banana/plantain thingy is."

Bob turned to give the bowl to the person next to him, then he looked around. "Where did Jerry go?"

Jerry suddenly bursts out from under the shelter flap wearing one of the sun hats with one of the backpack-like carrying baskets strapped to his back. He starts to dance and sing. "Come mister tally man, tally me bananas. Daylight come and me wanna go home," he clapped his hands, "Hey!"

Bob pinched the bridge of his nose, "Did you seriously just do the Fortnite banana conga meme?"

"How do you know about Fortnite?" he asked surprised.

"I'm a sports coach to a bunch of kids, what's your excuse?"

Jerry crossed his arms, "Actually being cool?"

Casey sputtered briefly before laughing out loud.

Jamal also chuckled, then looked out at the waves. "Doesn't sea salt come from the ocean?"

"Yeah, but do you really want sand in the food?" Bob said.

"So how do they clean the water first, wouldn't a filter remove the salt?"

"No that takes an osmosis filter," Daisuke said. "We have hard water at the dojo but some of the parents started demanding extra filters or they would remove students. Wish we knew they were also members of the local anti-vaxxers group. We spent all that money and had to throw them out anyway."

"Do you really want to contaminate our one cooking pot with mud and gasoline for a half ass idea over some extra salt?" Nick said in disbelief.

Jamal put his hands up. "Nick, just relax. Ok? It was just a thought."

While the men were going back and forth, Casey saw Jessica staring blankly ahead.

She leaned in and bumped her shoulder with her own. "You look like you're doing math in your head. What's up?"

"If we had access to clay… It would take a few days and lots of work… but…"

"But we don't," Casey said. She laid back on her back on the palm leaves. "You might as well be dreaming of cheeseburgers by finding a random cow in the jungle."


Meanwhile, at Vegeta's camp…

Vegeta was neck deep in a giant hole.

"Blah! This is fucking ridiculous," he said dumping a small basket of soil into a growing pile at the side.

"What's ridiculous?" Freddy asked.

"This playdoh-like shit. It's sticking to everything and the deeper I go there's only more of it!"

"You mean the clay?"

"Clay? Wait… you mean this is the stuff Panchy's china tea cup set is made from?"

Leticia punched Freddy's shoulder, "Nice going."

Vegeta climbed out of the hole and walked away down the hill.

"Where are you going?" Leticia demanded.

"Wash."


Meanwhile, in the woods…

The field producer stepped away and got on his radio. "Red 5 to Reynolds. Reynolds, you there?"

*fuzz* This is Reynolds. What is it? *fuzz*

"Becky has stolen the batteries out of the emergency radio and is trying to light Sugar Petal's possessions on fire in the woods." He heard Becky loudly growl in frustration. "And is failing horribly. Over."

*fuzz* But she is not using it to light the main fire in the camp? Or plans to bring this fire to camp to restart the main fire? *fuzz*

"Correct. That's why I called for clarification. Over."

There was a long pause.

*fuzz* Arson… is not against the rules. Only stipulation is to not use it to light camp fires. Good Lord, this team…" *fuzz* he mumbled at the end.

"So, no intervention?"

*fuzz* It's technically in the rules. Keep abreast on the fire and make sure the batteries are accounted for when she's done. *fuzz*

"Understood…" he said, putting his radio back in his clip.

As he continued to hear Becky cursing in the background, he sighed and rubbed his temples.


Meanwhile, with Vegeta…

Vegeta lined his pack and two baskets with banana leaves. Then he began to fill them with the piles of clay.

"What are you doing?" Leticia asked.

"Trade. I want to see if basket woman knows how to use this."

"Trade for what?" she demanded.

"Armor." He looked up at her, "Unless you want to keep seeing my naked ass covered in blood?"

She remembered the palm leaf suits the blue team had been wearing and him drenched in blood.

"I'll allow it."


Red was creeping over the trees when Vegeta pulled his wagon onto the beach. He saw the camp was busy. The group seemed to be eating heartily and in a good mood.

"Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!"

The group instantly went silent and turned to look.

"What's he doing here?" Nick asked.

"Probably another trade," Bob said, putting his dish down. "I'll meet him."

"Is that the light, or is he covered in something red?" Jamal asked.

"Blue 2 to Red 9…" the field producer hesitated, "Is that blood?"

*fuzz* No it's not blood. It's clay from digging. *fuzz*

Jessica gasped. "Did she just say clay?!"

"Yeah?" the producer said, confused.

"I'm coming too," she scrambled to her feet.

The two and their crews walked and met Vegeta half way again.

"Is that a wagon?" Bob said. He leaned down to look. "Jesus, these are real spoked wheels."

"What? Did you expect them to be squares?" Vegeta said annoyed.

"Is that the clay?" Jessica reached in pulling lumps from the baskets. She mushed it through her fingers. Then she rolled it into a thin rope and wrapped it around her finger. "This is decent clay," she looked up. "Where did you get this?"

"Digging a hole for an outhouse. Found some sticky soil while also making my fire pit, but used it as glue for the rocks. This new shit is worse than superglue. It's sticky as hell and won't come off."

"So there's clay in the jungle? How far down?"

"About my arm and an extra elbow." He smiled. "I take it you can use this?"

"I hope so. It looks good but I can't tell until we bake it."

"I want a suit of your armor as a trade. Especially a skirt with a front panel if possible."

"Why?" Bob asked, pressing on his knee to stand up.

"I've been butchering my animals naked to save my clothes, and even I'm not favorably inclined towards the view." He looked over his shoulder, "Especially since some people don't have the decency not to film it."

The blue crews shivered. "Oh my God, Leticia…" a technician said.

"Do you think we WANT to film it?" she answered putting her hands on her hips. "We have to film everything and you know it."

Ted leaned over and dry heaved. He wandered away several yards to do it more privately.

"I could try out the skirts we have now," Jessica said thinking as she spoke, "But I doubt the shirts will fit correctly since you're so short."

"A skirt will do for the moment," Vegeta nodded. "So how long will it take to bake this so we know it will be an even trade?"

"This is going to take a day, so tomorrow evening at the earliest."

Vegeta looked down at his wagon. "Want the wagon as collateral then?"

Jessica looked at the wagon for the first time. She ran her hand over the wheels.

Vegeta knew that facial expression from his wife. She was about to go on a crazy week-long lab adventure.

"Is it possible to make a spinning table using this type of hub?" she asked suddenly looking up.

"Spinning table?" he asked, confused.

"It's used to help make pottery so you can work it from all sides."

Vegeta had had a blank face for a few moments. "Oh… Like that thing Panchy uses to decorate cakes. Yeah… I can give that a shot."

"I think directly coordinating like this is going too far," Bob's field producer said. "Let me call this in."

"Oh, so randomly walking two miles only to go back empty handed is ok to you?" Vegeta glared annoyed.

"Two miles?" Jessica asked.

"A mile here and back, yes," Vegeta snipped. He turned back to him, "I know it's surprising that I give a damn about anyone, but since they are not allowed to use the ATV because of the noise and lack of gas, I would like these trips to have a guaranteed use."

The field producer held his finger up to stop talking as he pushed the talk.

"Blue 2, I need Reynolds or Conner."

*fuzz* This is Conner. *fuzz* *fuzz* This is Reynolds *fuzz* came almost simultaneously over the radio.

"Vegeta has just completed another trade, but Jessica has requested the manufacture of another item for a future visit. Is this allowed?"

*fuzz* Yes. *fuzz* *fuzz* No! *fuzz* again came simultaneously.

Reynolds began yelling at Conner. Conner then said he would get back to us.

Vegeta looked back at Samundra's camp. Normally he'd never miss a chance to piss someone off, but after the last visit self-destructed, Casey was a more dangerous foe than ever. They locked eyes briefly as he scans the group, now watching the interaction.

"If one of you could just grab one of the existing belts and bring it over, you can just have the wagon and I can get going. No need to drag this out."

Bob followed his line of sight and saw the team was now watching. He turned to Vegeta and put his hand on his shoulder. "Oh I get it," he chuckled. "You feel bad about last time. Well there's always time for a second impression. Come in, we'll give you a do-over."

"You'd have to come up with a pretty big bribe to get me to spend time with your crazy lady."

"Casey? Yeah, she's umm… definitely something else," Bob said awkwardly.

Vegeta took a breath, his social panic giving way to a convenient truth. He hardened his face and glared sternly at Bob. "After everything that's happened the past few years, tabloid gossip about alien contact are not jokes anymore, but a physical threat to my family. We get enough death threats as it is without someone spouting crazy shit all over primetime television. Go shut her down, and I might, MIGHT, consider your invitation."

"Oh my goodness," Jessica said, "Is it really that bad for your family?

Vegeta crossed his arms, "You have no idea. Before I left there was a small protest after a tabloid claimed the Doc killed his wife and replaced her with a robot." Vegeta shook his head, "It wasn't even a crime protest. It was a protest for sex robot civil rights. We have bulletproof glass but one of our house staff got her car windshield broken by a rock."

"It… only really takes one nut with a gun, doesn't it?" Bob said in mild shock. "I-I'll go talk with Casey."

"Thank you," Vegeta said as Bob turned and walked back.


"So, what's up with Vegeta?" Jamal asked.

Bob sighed. "Casey. We need to talk…"

"What's wrong?" she asked, surprised at his serious expression.

"Vegeta doesn't want to come into camp because he has a serious problem with you. And honestly I agree with him."

"Problem with me?" Casey said, offended. "Why?"

"Vegeta said rumors about alien contact have led to death threats against his family and he doesn't want you spreading them into everyone's living rooms on global television. He said there was a protest right before he left that—"

"Oh! The sex robot rally! I was going to go to that with my friends but the date got pushed back."

"Sex robot rally?" Nick asked reluctantly.

"Oh? You don't know? I thought everyone knew the real Panchy Brief has been dead for over a decade. The one Dr. Brief takes to events is an android sex slave."

"How can a robot be a slave?" Jerry asked, clearly confused.

"If a machine can pass the Turing Test then clearly they—"

"Casey stop!" Bob shouted unexpectedly. "Vegeta said these 'friends' of yours broke car windows of their employees right before he left."

Casey gasped. "My Facebook group would never break anything! The government must have snuck in professional agitators to hide—"

"Casey!" Bob shouted. "That's enough! This isn't a harmless quirk anymore."

"Vegeta is on Berapi," Nick interrupted. "Who cares?"

"Nick, shut up," Daisuke said. "This is serious."

Casey stood up. "If 'I'" she extended the word, "Am such a threat to him, why has he been so nice to me? Why did he give us all the damn food?"

"Maybe being a decent human being?" Bob said. "He didn't have to save you from being lost in the woods. But he found you, invited you into his home and gave you food and rest. Very Good Samaritan of him considering he's on the other team as Nick won't stop reminding everyone."

"Casey," Daisuke interrupted, "You're obviously a nice girl. But the Briefs and their employees have experienced violence over this, so Vegeta feels completely justified about being worried about you and what is going to end up on TV. Just tone it down. Not like any of your ideas have any bearing on playing this game. We need to focus on the now."

Casey wanted to continue arguing, but she could read the room. "Fine…" she said angrily. She took her bowl and walked out of camp.

Bob let out an angry sigh, then turned and waved for Vegeta and Jessica to come over.


Vegeta saw Casey walk off in a huff and Bob waved him over.

"Well, that looked explosive." He looked at Jessica, "Let's go."

The two walked into camp. Jessica sat back down in her spot.

"Hi," Vegeta said awkwardly.

"Well, come on. Sit down," Bob said.

Vegeta dropped down in the sand.

"So what brings you back here so soon?" Jerry asked, trying to start a friendly conversation.

"Clothes for materials," Vegeta said tersely.

"No need to be tense," Jerry said, leaning back and raising his knee. "You got blindsided last time. We all have bad days."

Vegeta looked around. He noticed what they were eating. "I assume you found the banana grove north of your camp?"

"Wait, you knew about that but you still gave us yours?!"

"Nick, quiet," Bob ordered.

"I understand the temptation to pig out, as you call it," Vegeta said, "But I would counsel restraint. There is a long game to this farce and whatever bananas that grove is providing will not last as long as you hope."

"So you knew about the bananas but never entered it?" Jamal asked.

"I saw it when I climbed up a dragon bamboo clump to scout the area on the first day."

"Dragon bamboo?" he asked.

Vegeta held his hands in a circle, "The species that's larger than your head. It grows about 100 feet."

"You climbed 100 feet in the air?" Jerry asked, suddenly leaning forward.

"Yes," Vegeta nodded, "Nathan Bentley was gushing about the drone shots he got for a good while after I got down."

"You're insane," Jerry chuckled.

"I've been called worse," Vegeta answered.

Bob smiled seeing him start to relax his muscles.

"So, what else did you see?" Nick asked.

"I can't say that, remember?" he answered as the field producers began to speak.

"So what are you actually here for?" Daisuke asked.

"A set of your armor," Vegeta said. "A second set of clothes for dirty work would be beneficial." He looked at Jessica, "And what are you planning? I only know it's used to make tea cups."

"Extra cooking pots would be the best," Jessica said excitedly, "But if it's not good enough, we could make a proper cooking stove which will save SO much wood."

Bob looked at her disapprovingly. "Don't waste your efforts reinventing the wheel here," he scolded. "What we have is perfectly fine."

Jessica took a deep breath. "Bob, the temples I studied at were in RURAL India. No electricity. No plumbing. I lived for years in a situation not too dissimilar to this. The house you designed is nice, but if you want to live in any comfort these next few weeks, I could set us up comfortably for years."

"Why the hell would they let a person like you on when they scream at me for cheating when I know how to tie two sticks of bamboo together with vines?!" Vegeta suddenly shouted. He stood and started yelling at the crews, "What the actual fuck?! You people are the most hypocritical pieces of fucking shaktali fun aba I've ever met on this yam dali—" Vegeta completely drifted off into another language no one recognized, but his reddening face and animated pointing and arm swings left nothing to the imagination.

Jessica's eyes widened in fear.

Bob saw this. "Vegeta!"

Vegeta formed his fists at his side and tipped his head back. "Tanglo!" He turned towards whoever just shouted his name.

Bob never saw someone blanch so instantaneously and still remain conscious.

Vegeta slowly turned his head looking at everyone staring at him with various expressions. His gaze stopped when it hit Jessica. They locked eyes for a moment. Jessica began to breathe again. She thought Vegeta's eyes were frozen, like a stray dog getting caught in the trash.

Jessica smiled, "I understand your frustration, Vegeta. But screaming at the staff is not going to do any good. The man responsible has been fired and they have to put up with the results of his stupidity as much as we do."

"Vegeta," Samundra's lead field producer said, "Conner and Reynolds just stopped fighting. Jessica, take the measurements needed to make his clothes. Vegeta needs to leave. Dump the clay out and take your baskets and wagon back. No contact starting tomorrow until they come to a final conclusion."

Vegeta tensed his muscles and clenched his fists. "Then how am I supposed to pick it up?" he said, slightly trembling.

"We will deliver it," he answered.

"Then let's find a clean place to dump it," Jessica smiled as she stood. She walked towards the trees.

Vegeta put the backpack back on, grabbed the handle to his cart and followed.

"Well, that was an exciting 15 seconds," Jerry said.

Everyone shushed him.

Then Bob followed them into the trees.


In the trees, Jessica began picking up fallen palm leaves and laying them down.

"We can also use the banana leaves to hurry this up," Vegeta said.

"I know, we still need a base layer. Sand getting in it would be bad."

"I guess you would know that better than me…"

"So what language was that? If you don't mind," she asked. "I learned four while in India. And I already knew three."

"Uni," Vegeta answered. It was actually the universal trade dialect. He hoped there wasn't an actual language called Uni on Earth.

"So how many languages do you speak?"

"Seven fluently," Vegeta said, "To be honest, English is unfortunately my eight…"

"You can't speak English very well?" she turned around surprised. "You don't even have an accent."

"I'm told my speaking is fine, reading not so much."

"Don't worry about it," Jessica giggled, "Even native English speakers can barely read it. It's one of the most difficult languages on Earth."

Vegeta rolled his eyes, "Tell me about it… My wife actually had to hire someone to translate the contract for her and she's the smartest person on this planet."

"You mean a lawyer?"

Vegeta nodded. "That was the word the translator called himself."

"It must be frustrating not fully knowing what's going on," she said, beating the dried leaves to get the sand off.

"I think I understand what's going on better than most," Vegeta said, slightly offended. "Everyone here has had their heads up their asses so long they don't know what shit looks like anymore." He looked away, "Tsk. The hypocrisy, nonsensical rules and flip-flopping decisions are infuriating."

"We all can tell," Jessica said, laying out the leaves.

"Yeah…" Vegeta said awkwardly. "Words lacking purpose are not my strongest application of English."

"Lacking purpose?" Jessica asked, standing up. She was visibly confused.

"You know… this," Vegeta said, waving his hand in a circle before tucking it back into his crossed arms.

"You mean basic conversation?"

"Exactly, words lacking purpose." Vegeta turned his head to look at her, "You ready for the leaves and clay now or what?"

"Yes." She looked down at the palm leaves, "Yes, you can put the clay down."

Vegeta took the backpack off and gathered the tops of the banana leaves. He yanked the entire thing out at once and laid it down on the palms. He then picked up the baskets one at a time and placed them next to the palms before emptying them.

Vegeta tossed them upside down back on the cart and went to put the pack back on. He suddenly looked up. "If you wish to hide, I suggest you find a more rotund tree."

"You did not have to come, Bob," Jessica said.

"Your expression when he exploded said otherwise," Bob said walking over.

Vegeta recognized protective body language, but Bob was too focused on Jessica and left himself completely open. He finished putting on the backpack. "I may be prone to screaming. But there is no strategic benefit for the application of violence in this instance or in any long-term aftereffects once this engagement has ended." He grabbed the handle to the wagon, "Skill does not equal motivation, and looking at you, you've lacked the motivation to keep your skills intact for some time."

Bob side stepped Vegeta assuming he was about to deliberately bump shoulders with him. Vegeta side eyed him as they passed.

Vegeta was about to walk back onto the sand when he stopped. He stood still for a while before he grabbed the baskets by pinching their sides together in one hand while he picked up the wagon and tucked it under his other arm. He turned and walked into the woods.

Leticia sighed. "Tell Ted we'll pick him up here. The sun is almost gone as it is."

She and Freddy went after him.

"Are you alright, Jessica?" Bob said, walking over.

"I'm fine," Jessica said forcefully. "I was actually getting through to him and you ruined it. He obviously can't stand groups but he was starting to talk one-on-one."

"You were in the woods, alone, with a man you're scared of. What did you expect us to do?"

"I am not scared of him," she said exasperated.

"The face you made when he started shouting said otherwise."

Jessica rubbed her temples. "That's because of how suddenly the energy in the air spun—"

"Energy?!" Bob's posture stiffened. "Are you saying I just made another service member uncomfortable because of your voodoo pagan nonsense?"

"It is not nonsense," Jessica shot back.

Bob pointed at himself with his thumb. "We had a deal. You talk religion. I get to talk religion. You've clearly been baptized. That's an unbreakable vow and these delusions of yours are borderline psychotic. You need God and major medications."

"Jessica McConnell."

"What?"

"My full English name."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I'm going to go meditate on the rocks," Jessica forced a smile. "Don't interrupt me." She turned and walked away.


Bob walked back into camp.

"I told you he was a special agent!" Casey gleefully clapped her hands.

Jerry spotted Bob coming out of the trees. "Hey Bob!" he called out. "Did Vegeta really say 'strategic benefit for the application of violence'?"

"Casey! Were you eavesdropping?" he stomped into camp.

"Then he did say that?!" Nick shouted disturbed.

Bob sighed. "He said 'I may be prone to screaming. But there is no strategic benefit for the application of violence in this instance or in any long-term aftereffects once this engagement has ended.'" He sat down, "He also said 'Skill does not equal motivation, and looking at you, you've lacked the motivation to keep your skills intact for some time.'"

"So, what's all that military jargon in English?" Jamal asked.

"It means he has a bad temper but does not go beyond screaming."

"But he said 'no strategic benefit'," Nick pressed. "Doesn't that mean if there was, he would?"

"Nick, stop being paranoid," Bob said. "Daisuke and I are technically both trained killers but you don't go after us."

Jerry tilted his head looking back at the trees. "Where's Jessica?"

"She went to go meditate," he said, annoyed.

"What did you two fight about now?"

"I thought she was actually afraid of Vegeta. But that face she made was about his," he used air quotes, "'Energy' didn't feel right." Bob shook his head, "I need to apologize to him the next time I see him."

"So you chewed her out again?" Daisuke said. "Bob, my religion believes in energy too."

"I'm not being religious. I'm being rational. You don't actually believe all this smoke and mirrors shit Jessica is pulling do you?"

"Bob, I can't feel anything, but I'm also not a monk like Jessica. But I do believe if I put myself to it, I could probably learn to sense it too. So, if she says something is off in his ki that makes her feel uncomfortable about him, I'm inclined to believe her."

Bob turned his head away from Daisuke to hide his disgust. "Well then she went Prima Donna on me. She thought I would go easier on her by telling me her full name." He chuckled dismissively, "Not like that matters. We all applied and went through that ridiculous interview process to be here."

"You applied?" everyone said at once in various stages of shock and surprise.

"And you guys didn't?" Bob asked, thoroughly confused.

"I did send a tape… But two weeks later Mr. Provost showed up personally at my house saying I was in," Daisuke said. "Other than that, it was just medical questions."

"Agent set me up," Jerry said raising his hand, "But I was the only member of the band to pass the drug test. His original target was our lead singer Patrick."

"Bobby showed up in person at my youth club to recruit me," Jamal chuckled, "said no five times over the next three months, but he wouldn't let me go. Probably needed my famous butt on air for ratings."

"And how are you famous Casey?" Bob said disbelievingly, "You're just a nurse."

"My husband's godparents are major alien researchers and have been on dozens of TV shows. They declined but recommended us and I was chosen over my husband."

"Well I'm a drummer for a band that just got lucky," Jerry said humbly. "What got the rest of you here?"

"Football and charity work," Jamal smiled.

"Quickest out on Ninja Trials," Daisuke said blushing. "Not my best example of coordination… but at least the charity got a lot of donations."

"My grandfather founded one of the online tax programs that had that big data breach a decade ago," Nick said. "Father disowned me after I bungled a statement to the press." He chuckled, "I couldn't even get a job flipping burgers. But then I got hired to help rebuild East City. Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess. Grandfather's influence couldn't match up in the face of alien invasion."

Jamal smiled but didn't say anything.

"So, who the hell is Jessica McConnell?" Bob asked.

The group looked at each other expecting someone else to speak, but all that met them was silence.

After a few moments of looking at each other, Daisuke stood up. "Well, I'm going to go check on her."

He walked off towards the rocks at the end of the beach.

"Ok," the lead field producer said after no one spoke again. "Anyone else who still needs their daily confessional. Do it now before the sun goes down any further."


Daisuke climbed over the rocks. They were jagged around the tidal pools, but eventually he found a level portion above the high tide line marked by sharp mussels.

He spotted her on a bamboo mat held down by heavy rocks on the corners. Jessica was sitting with her feet over her legs and her wrists on her knees. But her face is anything but peaceful.

"What do you want Daisuke," she said, never opening her eyes.

"Besides everyone dressing down Bob," he said, climbing up. He sat down next to her, "I know it's not the same, but being the only other Easterner here, I thought I should be the one to come over. But I'll be the first to say I'm not the most devout Buddhist in the world."

He looked at Jessica, her face wet from crying. He turned his head back to the sea. "It turns out Bob is the only nobody to actually apply and get chosen. Bobby grabbed the rest of us because we have a story or two to tell." He glanced back at her briefly. "So, what's your story? You obviously have one if you thought Bob would recognize your name."

"Let's just say my parents are 10 years into a 25-year sentence because of what they did to me."

Daisuke's jaw dropped. "Jessica… I'm so sorry… So do you do victim advocacy work or something?"

"No. After the trial I left the country. I only came back to help set up a new authentic level yoga program I talked about."

"Then why…" he paused with a thought. He looked back out at sea. "Nevermind…"

The two sat next to each other silently, Jessica in her meditative pose and Daisuke leaning back on his hands and his legs straight, absentmindedly watching the water.

"Ok, that's enough. Stop filming," Jessica's field producer said. "Everyone's packing up now. The hovercraft will be here soon."

Daisuke tilted his head to look behind him. "See you guys tomorrow then," he waved.

They walked off. Daisuke waited with Jessica and watched them until the hovercraft was out into deep water.

Jessica…" he said softly. "Are you being blackmailed like Vegeta?"

Jessica lurched forward in a giant sob. "He had pictures of me," she cried. "He even had pictures of me getting onto the plane at New Deli Airport three years ago."

Daisuke awkwardly put his hand on her back.

"He said he would publish all my new information… I don't want anyone else to die."

"Anyone else?"

She nodded. "After the trial, someone posted my address. Right apartment number, wrong street…"

"New name, new hair, new security number." She gripped Jerry's old shirt he gave her to cover up, "Tattoos to cover all my ugly scars and they still find me. Why can't people leave me alone."

After several more sobs, she straightened up and looked at the sky. She was failing at calming breaths. "I need to find detachment… I need to find detachment…"

"Jessica, anyone would be stressed out in your situation. Heck, look at Vegeta. He's all over the place…"

"My guru sent me back to the western sector to complete my training. He said I would meet someone who would place me on my spiritual path…"

"And you think he meant Bobby? That being tortured with death threats will put you on your road?"

He leaned in closer. "This is not a test. This is not burning off bad Karma from this or any other life. Everyone here supports you, even if Bob is being a bit of a dick."

Jessica thought about what Bob had said to her. "Don't retaliate," she asked, "I don't want the karma and it defeats the purpose of detachment."

"Jessica, you're the heart of this team. Clothes, food, shelter. I get the nun thing and distancing yourself from entanglements. But this isn't some one off then we never talk to each other again. We got a few months before this airs, we're in this tog—"

Jessica suddenly turned completely around, getting on her hands and knees.

"What's wrong?"

"I… I'm not sure…" she said.

"You sense something?"

"Lack of something. A detached void. A hole in the universe." She looked at Daisuke.

Daisuke was silent.

"Is that what bugs you about Vegeta?" he asked.

"Yes… I can't explain it. Something like that shouldn't exist."

"Moon's come up. Want to see what we can find? Or wait until the morning?"

"It's not too far from the beach. I think there should be light."

The two stood up and made their way into the trees.


The two made their way into the trees, the almost full moon shining through the trunks. The rocks led directly into the hillside.

"That's one of Vegeta's baskets." Jessica said pointing.

They walked over and found a hole half dug in the hill. A tree must have grown over a rock at one time that was no longer there, leaving a gap in the dirt bringing clay close to the surface.

Jessica took a piece of clay and spun it into a rope then wrapped it around her finger. It broke.

"Too much sand. This can't be used raw."

"Is that a fire?" Daisuke asked. He pointed deeper into the trees.

Jessica felt uneasy about that direction. "Let's go see," she said.

The two walked closer and discovered a bamboo lantern hanging from a tripod of bamboo. And a man digging next to it.

"Evening," Vegeta said.

"What are you doing all the way near our camp?" Daisuke asked.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" he snapped.

"Trying to secretly dig clay for us out of guilt for shouting?" Jessica asked.

Vegeta growled and stopped digging with his stick. "Great. Another female like my wife. How did you know I was out here anyway?"

While they talked, Daisuke went to look at the lantern.

"I felt something wrong, so we came to look," she said.

"Tsk," Vegeta turned his head, "With humanity's propensity to walk towards something when they sense danger, it's a wonder that you're not extinct."

"Are you saying you're dang—"

"Is this glass?" Daisuke said, amazed.

"Yep," Vegeta said. "The plastic kept melting."

"How?" Daisuke asked with his jaw on the ground.

"My mother-in-law dragged my ass to a flea market, which apparently doesn't sell insects. One stall was selling flattened wine bottles for some reason. She was all goo-goo gaga over it and I got an earful while I slowly died inside. Like I'm doing right now," Vegeta grabbed his stick again and began digging, "So if you would excuse me, I only have till dawn."

"Vegeta, when you dug your outhouse, was it close to the stream?"

"In earshot, why?"

"Clay that can be used straight from the ground is found close to water. Not that what you found isn't usable, but for pottery it needs processed a little and I don't have a bucket."

"But it IS usable for other applications?"

"Yes." Jessica nodded.

"Ok," Vegeta sighed relieved. "I can't dig near the stream."

"Why?" Daisuke asked.

"You didn't hear this from me, but there are hidden cameras in the trees."

"How do you know?" he asked surprised.

"I can see into ultraviolet light a little bit. What I assume is the brown paint they used might as well be bright neon to me." He looked up, "Especially the internet boxes in the trees. There's one per camera tree from the ones I've looked at." He looked back down, "This is a dead zone."

Jessica's eyes widened. "Are there also hidden cameras in the camps?"

"I never said that," he answered.

"Thank you, Vegeta. For everything," Jessica smiled.

Vegeta looked at her, repositioned his hand at head level and leaned against his stick, "Don't misunderstand my motives. My wife asked me to at least pretend to be a decent human being, so I am. I wouldn't be wasting my time otherwise."

"But there are no cameras right now?" Daisuke said.

He turned to look at him. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"So…" Daisuke tried to change the subject, "where did you find the glass?"

"In the tidal mud at the far end. I don't think they expected us to walk that far because the mud goes from clean to full of trash instantly. I wouldn't be surprised if they dumped it all over there instead of cleaning it up. Floating stuff also gets caught in the roots of those trees that look like a thousand spider legs in the clear water."

"Where I saw you coming back from today?" Jessica asked.

"Yep."

"Was that your first time over there?" she asked.

"Yes."

"I see," Jessica said smiling, "Thank you for prospecting for clay for us. But you can really go back and do whatever you can do for yourself."

Vegeta noticed a change in her voice, but did not know what he did to cause it. He took the tip of his digging stick out of the dirt and held it horizontally.

"Wait, is that metal?" Daisuke asked.

"Yes, I smashed a can over it." He grabbed the lantern and folded the tripod. "I'll get my basket," he said, carrying everything past Jessica.

Once his light faded in the distance, Jessica turned to Daisuke. She motioned for him to lean over so she could whisper. He bent over.

"Vegeta is lying," she said.

"Why?" he whispered back.

"It takes almost 24 hours to flatten a bottle like that in a professional kiln, but he said he only found them this morning."

"What about a campfire?"

"It's not the temperature, it's the heating and cooling to stop it from shattering and it's not like he's been babysitting a fire today."

"Is this just adding to your bad feeling?"

She nodded.

"He's not exactly a person I would be friends with, but we don't have to be. This is about survival, and he can do this for real. But if you would feel more comfortable, I can come with you when we deal with him."

She looked down and raised her hands to her chest. "You would be better than Bob," she nodded.

"Are you ready to head back to camp?" he asked.

Jessica nodded.

"We had a round table about how we got on the show. They'll probably ask, but you don't feel pressured to answer."

"I know."


The two walked out of the trees not far from the rocks. The fire was being stacked for the night and everyone was preparing for sleep.

Casey spots them first. "Jessica!" she waved.

Jamal turned, then put down the fire wood and began walking towards them.

Bob flipped up the flap to the shelter to look. Jerry flipped it up completely and walked around him. Bob came out next, then Nick.

"Are you ok?" Jamal said.

"I'll be fine," Jessica smiled.

Jamal escorted the two back to camp where everyone was waiting.

"I was told everyone shared how they got on the show," Jessica said walking up. "After a lot of thought, I think I'm ready to tell you mine."

She saw Bob cross his arms. She moved her gaze to a blank spot on the beach.

"Almost 13 years ago, I was a victim of a violent crime that made sector news, maybe larger, I don't know." She closed her eyes. "I went into protection and later hiding on my own with a new identity. Then Mr. Provost tracked me down." She gave a very fake smile with tears coming from the corners of her eyes. "I still can't figure out how he found me, but he was VERY persuasive. I guess he has a special touch with certain types of people, you know?"

Bob's jaw dropped and his crossed arms loosened as she spoke.

Before anyone could do anything, he walked over and grabbed her in a vise-like hug. She shivered but could not get out as everyone but Daisuke swamped her in a group hug.

She knew they meant well, but all she could think about as the hug lingered was if she should make her own camp like Vegeta.


That night, at Berapi…

Sugar Petal woke up to light in her eyes, but it wasn't white. It was orange and red. She opened her eyes and saw a fire bellowing above the cliff and into the nearby trees.

She scrambled to her feet and stumbled to the camp.

"Fire! Fire!" she screamed violently shaking anyone in reach.

"Shut the fuck up you bitch," Becky shouted and kicked her in the face sending her backwards out of the shelter.

Becky turned around like nothing happened. But the others were awake.

"What's that smell," Michael instantly shot up and joined the scramble out of the shelter.

"Holy fuck," Sam said before diving back into the shelter. "Where's the radio?!"

Sam pushed past Becky and grabbed the radio. He came out and lifted the cover and pushed the button.

Nothing happened.

"Not working. Not working. Not working," he said frantically pushing the button.

"Give me that!" Michael ripped it from his hands.

He pushed the button and held it down.

Nothing happened. No lights came on. No crackle of the radio.

"What the fuck?!" Michael turned the radio back and forth looking for something wrong. Then he saw a foil sticker broken on the back. He found a lid and slid it off.

"The batteries are gone?!" Michael wound up and threw the radio hard into the sand. "Who took the damn batteries out!"

"What?!" Hassim grabbed the radio from the sand.

Michael leaned into the shelter. "Becky! Get your ass up! We're leaving!"

"It's all the way over there, we're fine."

"All the way over there? All the way over there?!"

He dove in.

Becky screamed.

"How do you know where it is?! There's no way to see out the back of the shelter!"

Suddenly a massive burst of wind shook the shelter and they heard screaming from outside.

The light disappeared as suddenly as the wind.

Michael came out of the shelter and found the rest of the team down on their knees with their backs to him covered in a layer of sand. As everyone stirred, Michael turned around and saw the entire fire was out with water pouring down the cliff.


Above the mess, Yamcha and Vegeta were in the air.

"Good Job, Vegeta."

"Tsk. It was just levitation," he sneered. "Dende said it was Becky," Vegeta glared. "Let me guess, nothing is going to happen to her?"

Yamcha chuckled nervously. "Well… I don't think a psychic alien god watching Earth from practically a space station would hold up with police."

Vegeta sighed, "Of course… Fuck this I'm going back to bed." Vegeta flew off.

Yamcha flew back to the resort.


Yamcha banged on Connor's door. After about a minute, he banged again. "Conner! It's Yamcha! Vegeta just put out a huge forest fire!" After some more banging and shouting, Conner opened the door with a bed sheet wrapped around him. "Fire? Did you say fire?"

"Vegeta put it out, but it still took out a section of the forest."

"How?"

"He levitated a bunch of water and dumped it on top like a helicopter."

He panted as he hung his head, "Are you sure it's out?"

Yamcha hesitated. "It… looked like it to me…"

"God…" he said pushing past him, "Reynolds has the local contacts."

They went up one floor and Conner began bagging on the door. "Reynolds! There's been a huge fire! Took out part of the forest! Reynolds!"

Reynolds opened the door. "Fire?! What fire?"

"Yamcha said there was a forest fire—"

Reynolds jerked to face Yamcha, "And how the fuck do you know about a fire."

"Dende contacted both me and Vegeta, but Vegeta got to it first and dumped a giant ball of levitated water on it."

"Who the fuck is Dende?"

"The divine guardian of Earth. He —"

"I don't care about some so-called god! Who is this bastard, how did he contact the both of you and how did he know about the fire?"

Yamcha sighed. "The guardians rule Earth from a floating city hidden in the nexus between this realm and the afterlife and serve as mediators between here and the gods and angels on the other side. Every inhabited planet has one."

Reynolds sputtered. He wanted to call bullshit, but this was Yamcha.

"And how do you know about this person?"

"Most of the Earth Special Forces have been invited to be taught and trained there, even Vegeta."

"And why do you even believe this nonsense that they are gods?"

"I've died and been resurrected," he said firmly. "The guardians stood at my side at my judgment and got me detoured to be trained by the masters in the afterlife while waiting for my resurrection to be arranged."

Reynolds clenched his jaw tight to avoid it rolling on the ground.

Yamcha continued unprompted. "They watch Earth 24/7 and when the fire went out of control Vegeta and I were woken up psychically."

"What were you told about the fire?" Conner asked.

"Becky set it. I don't have any other details. Do you want me to ask?"

Reynolds glared. "If it was as bad as you say, there would have been an emergency call from Berapi. And I would have been woken up by security. Not you. We'll have security poke around with extinguishers in the morning."

He violently slammed the door in their faces.

Conner sighed. "… Thank you, Yamcha… and thank these guardians as well."

Yamcha nodded. "They've already heard you."

Conner turned around. "Let's head back to bed."


Back with Berapi…

"Did you start that fire Becky?!" Michael was screaming. "You're the only one here dumb enough to do that!"

"It wasn't me!" Becky shouted back. "I tried to set one off earlier but it wouldn't start so I gave up! I don't know what happened!"

"Well you obviously did something right, if it went off like that!"

"How do we know it wasn't Vegeta?!" Becky shouted. "I couldn't get it to go off because it was too wet! What's stopping him from finding it and doing it himself?! There's nothing in the rules against burning everything outside of camp to the ground! That lawyer guy said so over the radio when my crew asked if it was ok!"

"What did you try to burn in the first place?!" Sam shouted.

"Sugar Piss's damn log!" she swung her fist in her general direction. "The one she was eating!"

Michael stood straight. "The rotten one in the swamp?" he said, slightly calmer.

"Yes! I couldn't get the damn thing to light so I gave up!"

Ichiro put his hand on Michael's shoulder. "We can't do anything in the dark. Let's go back to sleep and wait till dawn."