Tenchi Survivor

Day 18

The sun rose that morning (like it did since its creation), but something was different.

Oh sure, it was still a hot ball of burning gasses that bled light and heat, but along with that heat came a smell that was not derived directly from the sun.

Well, it MIGHT have come from the sun, but who knows what the sun smells like? I'm not about to take a trip to the sun, put my nose to it and inhale.

Anyway,

The sun was beaming down on a bag that Jose was pulling behind him. Though he was wearing a gas mask, Jose could not escape the smell.

The survivors were already awake and holding their noses when Jose arrived with the bag.

'What the hell is that?' Ryoko demanded.

'Get that out of here!' Katsuhito demanded 'It reeks!'

'I'm going to be I'll.' Mihoshi gagged.

Jose held up his hand for silence, and the survivors complied.

'Ok survivors,' Jose said 'we're going to play a quick game. It's called 'Bury the bag in a 6 foot deep hole."

'What's the object of the game?' Mihoshi asked.

'First one to dig a hole 6 feet deep and-' Jose looked at the bag. Blood spots were starting to seep through it. '6 feet deep and Ayeka high gets some food.'

'What's in the bag?' Ryoko asked.

Jose glared at her.

'No questions.' Jose said 'Just dig.'

The survivors picked up the shovels that Jose had tossed at them and got ready to begin.

'What kind of food do we get?' Katsuhito asked.

'Jose dug into his pocket and pulled out a bag of un-popped microwave popcorn.

'Woo-hoo!' Katsuhito cheered.

'Is this the banishment challenge?' Mihoshi asked.

'No.' Jose replied 'this is just a job I need done. 'Less talk, more dig. Get going.'

The survivors spaced away from one another and began digging. Jose took a few steps away from the smelly body bag.

God, did that stink up the place. Who knew it would take such a short time for a body to begin to decay? Good thing there was a corpse hatch in the house, or the body would have really left a lingering scent.

Jose's attention returned to the survivors.

It had been a few hours, and the deepest hole was close to 4 feet. Because of the sun and the smell, Jose had to move the bag into the shade a few times.

'Store in a cool dry place.' Jose said to no one as he drug the body bag into the shade again.

'The banishment challenge IS easier, correct?' Mihoshi asked when Jose returned.

'Heavens no.' Jose replied 'the challenge is a LOT worse.'

'How can this get any worse?' Katsuhito demanded from the bottom of his 4-½ foot deep hole 'I'm out here in the hot sun, digging a HOLE, I have the lingering smell of a decomposing body floating around me and the worst part of it is, it's probably someone I know!'

'How about some music to work to?' Jose asked, completely ignoring Katsuhito and his whining.

'How about, 'No, Scott." Ryoko replied as she scraped down the sides of the hole she was digging. A fist-sized rock came from Jose's direction and bounced off of her head.

'I'll have to take that as a 'Sure Jose." Jose said.

Pulling a stereo out of the shrubbery, Jose put in a CD and hit the play button.

'Swing low, sweet chariot. Coming forth to carry me home.' The CD player rang out.

Jose booted it back into the brush, silencing it.

'Oh, I hate that kind of music.' Jose grumbled as he reached into one of his cargo pockets. He pulled out another CD. 'Who likes Primus?' Jose asked.

The survivors continued to dig.

An exact 59 minutes later, Katsuhito called Jose over. He climbed out of the hole and pointed to it.

'6 feet deep, 3 feet wide and Ayeka and one inch high.'

'Looks good to me.' Jose said as he kicked the bag into the hole. 'Excellent fit. Cover it and you get food.'

Katsuhito immediately went back to work.

'A fine hole indeed.' Jose said to Katsuhito again.

'We were supposed to dig a hole?' Mihoshi said from behind Jose.

Jose unfortunately turned around.

In a matter of hours, Mihoshi had managed to make a 1/16-scale model of the British Parliament, Big Ben Included.

Jose put his face in his hands and shook his head.

'Yeah,' Mihoshi said 'I get that a lot.'

'What do I do about the one I dug?' Ryoko asked.

'We don't need it.' Jose said 'Fill it in.'

Ryoko climbed out of the hole she had dug and dragged her shovel with her. She held it up, ready to strike, but a few stagehands held her back while Jose was not facing her.

'Ok kids,' Jose said 'As soon as Katsuhito is done, we'll get moving to our next challenge.'

Mihoshi and Ryoko, not wanting to be around for any longer than necessary, aided Katsuhito in filling the hole that was now occupied. Jose kicked back in the shade and cracked open a Red Bull.

'So what do you think is in the bag?' Mihoshi asked, being the typical blond she is.

'Cupcakes.' Ryoko replied cynically.

'Cupcakes?' Mihoshi echoed 'why would we be burying food?'

'I swear to god, I'm going to kill her and put her in the same hole.' Ryoko grumbled.

'Don't get too caught up in wanting to destroy her.' Katsuhito said 'After today, it's you and me competing.'

Jose finished his can of Bull and tossed it in the near filled hole. HE watched it get covered by sand and dirt. Man it was good to get rid of evidence.

'Why would Jose get rid of her?' Ryoko asked 'She's the only reason he's still here I think.'

'You might have a point.' Katsuhito sighed.

'Ok,' Jose said 'Close enough. Grab your tools and let's get going.'

The survivors gathered up their clothes and shovels and rakes and implements of destruction and followed Jose to the beach.

'Take a seat.' Jose said once the survivors had arrived, pointing at the sand in font of him. 'To be completely honest, the original plan was to banish all of the virgins, but no one would have left.'

Katsuhito and Ryoko looked at Mihoshi.

'I AM 23.' Mihoshi said in defense.

Jose shook his head in despair.

'Anyway,' he continued 'that was the original plan, but since my goal in life is ruined, not to mention some complications, I had to change the game plan.'

'So what will we be doing again?' Katsuhito asked.

Jose only scratched at his sunburnt neck as he looked at the ground.

'You have no idea how you're going to banish them, do you?' Ryoko asked.

'Not a clue.' Jose admitted.

'Some host you are.' She mumbled. Jose ignored her.

'Hey, what's that?' Mihoshi asked.

Probably another guy.' Jose sighed.

'What's what?' Katsuhito asked.

The survivors and Jose turned and saw Mihoshi looking up to the sky.

'It's either clouds or the sky. Now get over here and help me think of ways to torture you.'

Mihoshi walked back to the group and shrugged.

'OK, but that's the first time I ever saw the sky light on fire and fall in a blazing comet.' She said.

'Idiot girl.' Jose said to himself. 'OK,' Jose said, talking out loud 'now who hates the taste of bleach?'

'She's right.' Ryoko said 'Something IS falling to earth in a burning chunk of matter.'

Katsuhito turned to look up, as did Jose.

It looked more like a growing star from this point, but this was mid day, and no stars were out.

'What the hell is that?' Katsuhito asked 'Is it me or does it look like it's heading right for the island?'

The falling star grew bigger as it neared the island.

'I really hope that does NOT land on this island.' Jose said,'

The UFFO (Unidentified Falling Flaming Object) whistled as it sailed over the treetops and over the survivor's heads. It was not horribly close, but closes enough that Jose felt the heat radiate off of it.

'Maybe it wont hit the ground.' Mihoshi offered.

There was a large explosion that made the ground jump under the survivors and Jose's feet.

'And maybe I wont sacrifice you to the dark lord.' Jose grumbled 'you guys stay here. I'm going to go see what hit.'

Jose pulled a P2K out of his pocket and headed off down a path.

The survivors stood there and watched him go.

'You're not going to follow him?' The cameraman asked.

'Oh, we were planning on it, but we want to give him a head start/' Katsuhito said.

'So we can show up at JUST the right time to witness something novel that might not have happened if we did not show up.' Ryoko added.

'It's a kind of science I suppose.' Mihoshi said.

'I see.' The cameraman said 'so how long do you intend to wait?'

'About now.' Katsuhito said as they began to run off in the direction of the crash site.

If it were anything else, whatever hit the ground might have been hard to locate. But this UFO had created a good amount of smoke that came along with it. The smoke was so thick at one point that the ground the survivors were walking on was not visible.

'Ow!' Mihoshi yelled.

Katsuhito halted amid the smoke, causing Ryoko to run into the back of him. She swung at his head but hit him in the shoulder.

'Use your brake lights.' She mumbled.

'What the hell did I trip over?' Mihoshi asked as she stood up. 'It feels like a bottle.'

Mihoshi held onto the bottle and walked left, out of the thick haze. Indeed it was a bottle, but not an ordinary one. It was an empty bottle of Jack Daniels.

'What in the world is this?' Katsuhito asked as a steady wind rolled in and took the smoke with it.

In the path, imbedded in a few trees and generally scattered were other such empty bottles of alcohol.

'Where did these come from?' Ryoko asked.

'I have no idea.' Katsuhito responded 'but the trail of them keeps going.'

The three survivors continued up the path, occasional having to deal with smoke. The survivors walked for a few more minutes, then they began to hear Jose yelling.

'No gunshots yet.' The cameraman said 'That's a good sign.'

'What did he just yell?' Mihoshi asked.

'I have no idea.' Ryoko said 'Keep quiet so we can hear him.'

The survivors walked in silence and were now able to hear Jose and his rants.

'I said give me that bottle!' Jose was shouting 'What am I going to do with you? I don't have any more room to house more- Hey! How many more of those do you have in there? Give-me-that-'

There were sounds of a short struggle, then the shattering of a glass bottle. Jose must have been ahead somewhere.

'Oops.' Jose said, still out of visual range 'Hey, what are you doing? No, put that down. Ah! You almost killed me, you lush! Eek! Watch it! Ow!'

Sounds of Jose running. Something novel indeed. Along with the sounds of running, someone was audibly making an effort to swing something. Something along the lines of a flaming Magna sword.

The survivors pushed their way through the brush. At first glance, all they saw was Jose's back. He was standing behind a tree, dodging something that was on the other side.

'Breath!' Jose yelled 'Take it easy! I'm sorry about the alcohol!' Jose reached into his back pocket and pulled out a silver hip flask 'Look, it's all I got. Take it.' Jose tossed the flask.

The survivors stepped out and behind Jose.

Jose sighed and turned to face the survivors.

'Now that was a close one.' Jose said.

'What was that all about?' Ryoko asked.

'See for yourself.' Jose said as he pointed to the general area of 'behind the tree'.

The survivors moved up next to the tree, but did not comprehend what they saw.

In the center of a smoldering crater stood a beautiful woman. She was a little shorter than Jose. That was for sure. She wore woven sandals, more than likely hemp rope. A long white dress adorned her, complete with a very low cut neck line. She had long blond hair and very big (anime style) blue eyes. Strange enough were the wings on her back.

'She's gorgeous.' Ryoko said.

'Now that's a woman.' Katsuhito panted.

'She's an angel.' Mihoshi said.'

'She's also drunk.' Jose added.

The survivors turned to look at Jose. He only nodded. Turning back to see the angel, they witnessed her take another drag from the flask, stumble and finally right herself with the sword.

'Who is she?' Mihoshi asked.

Jose walked past the survivors and down the bank of the crater. He stopped just behind the tipsy warrior and held her upright by the shoulders.

'Survivors,' Jose said 'I'd like to introduce you to my guardian angel, Serra Angel. Serra, the survivors.'

The survivors waved.

Serra shifted and put one arm around Jose's shoulder. Slurring, she said:

'This guy. This guy here. This is the guy.'

'Indeed.' Jose said.

'What is she doing here?' Ryoko asked quietly.

Katsuhito shrugged.

'So tell us Serra,' Jose said as he took a step back 'What ARE you doing here?'

Serra turned to face Jose and shook her head violently back and forth. Blinking, she was stone sober in a second.

'I was just out and about.' She said 'Just another great day in the realm, so I figured 'why not go out for a drink?' So I headed out and ended up here.'

'A few my ass.' Katsuhito whispered.

'Well, did you plan on staying long?' Jose asked 'I kind of have a game going on here.'

'I know that.' She scoffed. She leaned in closer to Jose. 'Why do you think your XJY suit charged so fast? You would have been dead if I was not sober at that second.' She said quietly. She moved back again and resumed her smile. 'So what's the plan you're hatching?'

Jose recalled his fun with the Special Ops agent Hunk. That would have turned out bad, Jose dead bad anyway, but the battery DID charge just in time.

And it DID charge fast.

Something strange was happening to Jose. Something in his mind started moving. A picture if you will. Gears were moving correctly, boilers were working, all cylinders were firing. It was an idea.

'Serra,' Jose said 'Could I talk to you?'

Katsuhito and Mihoshi sat on each side of Serra. They sat at a long table on stools. Jose stood on the other side of the table, cleaning some glasses with a white cloth.

'We're doing WHAT?' Katsuhito bellowed.

'I don't believe this.' Mihoshi said 'My mom would kill me.'

'And I think it's a great idea.' Serra said as she munched on some pretzels. 'I feel honored that I am a part of this.'

'Oh, you'll both enjoy this.' Jose said 'Besides, it will give me a chance to get a good laugh.'

'Jose,' the cameraman said 'we're back on.'

'Welcome back to Tenchi Survivor.' Jose said happily 'If you are just joining us, this is my guardian angel Serra.' The camera moved over to Serra. She waved. 'Today's challenge will be a fun one. The survivors were already filled in, but let's get you tuned in. The game is called Match Drink. It's simple really, Serra will take a measured amount of an alcohol of her choice, and the survivors must match that amount drunk.'

'This is devious.' Ryoko said from off-screen.

'Whoever can not finish the booze gets booted off the island.'

'I almost fear for my own safety.' Katsuhito said 'Serra here looks like a pretty hard drinker.'

Serra answered by putting on a hat that read:

'Beer, it's what for breakfast, lunch and dinner.'

'I think I'm in over my head.' Mihoshi said.

'I think we both are.' Katsuhito agreed.

'Survivors,' Jose said 'Serra, let the game begin.'

Serra picked up a drink list and looked it over. It was a fairly good sized list. Over 112 beers, 64 mixed drinks and a ton of other various things. Serra could finish this off in her sleep. She adjusted her dress that got tangled in her sandals. Shifting around, she hitched them up a little, exposing her lower leg. On it was a tattoo.

"I 'heart' Jack Daniels." Katsuhito read. 'I'm partial to Mr. Johnny Walker myself.'

'I have a thing for Southern Accents.' Serra admitted 'Hey!' she yelled to Jose 'Let's get some service down here!'

Jose hopped down to her side of the bar and wiped up nothing with a clean rag.

'What can I get for you?' Jose asked.

'Don't be cute.' Serra mumbled 'Flaming Jesus, and make it quick. My alcohol levels are low.'

Jose pulled three shot glasses out from under the bar. With them, two bottles of alcohol.

'One part Vermouth,' Jose said as he added the alcohol to the glasses 'and three parts whiskey' Adding the 134 proof alcohol, Jose set the shots in front of the Survivors.

'I see the Jesus,' Serra said 'but I don't see the flaming.'

Jose dug into his pocket and pulled a cigar tube.

'Cuban.' He chuckled.

Setting it on the table, Jose reached into his other pocket. After sorting through who knows what, Jose held up a pocket torch. Jose lit it and went glass by glass lighting them on fire.

'Pretty.' Mihoshi marveled.

Serra picked hers up and held a hand over the top. White mana flowed out of her palm, extinguishing the flame.

'Cheers.' She said as she tossed the drink back. She replaced the glass mouth down. Jose picked it up and tossed it in the sink.

Mihoshi made a move to put her hand over the fire, but Katsuhito reached behind Serra and tapped Mihoshi on the shoulder.

'Don't.' He said.

Mihoshi blew it out instead, Katsuhito doing the same. They both leaned back and took the shot. Placing the glasses on the table, Jose ran by and scooped them up. Tossing them in the sink, Jose prepared for the next order.

'OK,' Serra said 'Let's try a glass of the 38' Latour.'

Jose nodded and brought up three wine glasses. Out of a wine rack, Jose pulled out a bottle that looked quite dusty. The label on it was faded, but sported some German writing on it, including an old Swastika seal.

'Stored in Germany during WWII, this bottle was stolen from France and moved to Germany during the war. It sat in Hitler's wine cabinet for 4 years, and then was stolen BACK to France as contraband. It was, many years later, sold to me for a very high price.'

'Spare me the history lessons and give me some of that damned wine.' Serra said.

Jose filled the small glasses and placed them in front of the players.

Serra sat there for a few minutes and enjoyed the aged wine. Mihoshi and Katsuhito did the same.

Nothing beats Nazi alcohol.

'That was great.' Katsuhito said after he had finished his glass. 'I came far from hating that.'

'It WAS good.' Mihoshi agreed.

Serra picked up the list again and looked it over.

'What's next?' Jose asked.

'You know what I could really go for?' Serra asked.

'No.' Jose said 'tell me.'

'A Holy Bartender.' Serra said.

'A what?' Jose asked.

'You don't know what a Holy Bartender is?' Serra asked, sounding amazed.

'I can't say I do.' Jose admitted.

Serra turned around on her bar stool and rested her chin in her hand.

'He doesn't know what a Holy Bartender is.' Serra said in shock 'I'll show you what one is.'

Serra whipped around and held a Mac-10 under Jose's chin.

Jose closed his eyes and tried not to laugh at the play on words, despite the fact his life was on the line.

Serra cocked the auto pistol and Jose swallowed hard.

'Yeah, right.' Serra said laughing. 'Killed by your own guardian angel. That's a good one.' She put the pistol back to wherever it came from.

'Yeah,' Jose said 'Good one. All weapons aside, what do you want?'

Serra slapped the list on the table.

'Scorpion Bowl.'

Katsuhito and Mihoshi dropped their heads on the table.

A Scorpion Bowl, Mai Tai, Blue Gender, Alien Secretion and a quart of Russian Vodka later, Serra was her usual drunken self.

The survivors were faring much worse. Katsuhito looked like he had been hit by a train, and Mihoshi, feeling much too hot, had just been stopped by Ryoko in an effort to remove her shirt.

'Think she's pretty cute, huh?' Serra asked Jose quietly when he came by to clean up some spilled alcohol.

'What?' Jose asked in a startled tone.

'Oh, you don't have to admit to it. I know how you think and see her.'

Jose glared at Serra.

'Don't worry. I'm not about to tell her, but I will tell you one thing.'

'What's that?' Jose asked.

Serra leaned closer to Jose. Jose did the same.

'She DOES think you are a nice kid, but she is not the one for you.'

'Well I know THAT.' Jose said with volume, attracting the attention of the Survivors. He lowered his voice again 'I know that.'

'Yeah,' Serra continued, draining her Triple Black 'but I DO know who the right one for you is. Your perfect match so to speak.'

'Who?' Jose asked, eyebrows rising slightly.

'Well, I can not give you a name, but I CAN tell you that she was on the island for a short time before she left.'

'She got BANSHED!' Jose yelled.

'Oh please. Ayeka was meant for Tenchi and Washu was a genius.'

Jose shifted his eyes left and right. In confusion and lack of positive tone, Jose asked very quietly:

'The little girl?'

'No!' Serra yelled as she shoved Jose into a rack of booze. The Survivors looked at him only briefly before returning to their Smirnoff. 'Don't be disgusting.' Serra added.'

Jose righted himself and leaned back toward Serra.

'Was it Tenchi?' Jose asked repulsed by the thought.

'Forget it.' Serra said 'You are so dumb. Now let's see, what do you recommend?'

Jose collected the bottles of Black that the survivors had finished. Returning to Serra, Jose looked around to make sure no one would hear him.

'Vat 69.' He said.

Katsuhito perked up at the mention of that alcohol.

'Vat 69?' Serra asked 'Never heard of it.'

'Surprising.' Jose said 'It was a type of alcohol made in the 30's. It's almost impossible to find now.'

'I remember that stuff.' Katsuhito said as he stared into the sun. 'It's been 62 years since I have last had that. I met a woman the first night I had that. It was quite the night, I tell you. I think I got a son out of that deal-'

'Wonderful.' Jose said, ending that one. He uncorked the bottle and poured it into three glasses. Before it hit the table, Mihoshi grabbed the glass and downed its contents. Once the glass was back on the table, Jose collected it. Mihoshi reluctantly drank it, already feeling the affects of too much booze.

Katsuhito drained the glass and happily set it down.

'Boy, it's been a while since I tasted that.' He slurred. He turned his head to look at Serra, who looked at him. 'Know what ELSE I haven't tasted in a while?'

Jose 'accidentally' dropped a glass behind the bar, halting the indecent conversation.

'I got an idea.' Jose said 'How about I give you something out of my own stash?'

'You make your own booze?' Serra happily inquired.

'Not me, a friend of mine.' Jose sunk below the bar and began banging around looking for something. The survivors leaned forward to watch, but they did not make it far due to the amount of alcohol in their bloodstreams. Serra found a bowl of peanuts and began working on those.

Jose stood back up and was now wearing a gas mask. He lifted up a small barrel and set it n the counter.

'This stuff,' Jose said thought the mask 'Would strip paint off a wall.'

Jose placed out three mugs. Pounding a stopper into the side of the barrel, he hauled up and placed a mug under the spigot. Twisting the top, a steady flow of tan liquid came out. Once the mug was full, Jose slid it to one side. It bubbled and churned like a sulfuric swamp.

'What is-hic-that?' Mihoshi mumbled.

'Phil Cassidy's Boom Shine.' Jose reported 'Made it in a back shed in Vice City. It's shipped here to me so I can do whatever I want with it. From drinks to fire bombs, this stuff is powerful.'

'I don't feel too good.' Katsuhito mumbled.

Jose zipped over to where Katsuhito was sitting and took off the gas mask.

'You can't give up yet.' Jose said 'Mihoshi over there says that she's going to win this round, then the game.'

'She did, did she?' Katsuhito demanded angrily. 'Serra!' He yelled to her. 'Drink that Boom Shine!'

Serra shrugged and raised the glass. Taking a smell of it, she immediately, held it at arms length. She rubbed at her watering eyes.

'Jeeze,' she said 'That is some powerful stuff. Even for me.'

'That is defiantly not good.' Katsuhito observed.

'I'm not feeling too hot.' Mihoshi informed everyone.

'Bottoms up.' Jose said to Serra.

Serra hesitated and looked at the glass again. It was a sick looking brew. It had chunks of SOMEHITNG floating in it. More than likely barrel bits that came off of its container. Even the head was a tint of yellow. Oh well. She was never one to complain about free alcohol of ANY sorts.

Serra threw her head back and downed the probably blinding concoction.

She began to cough pretty badly. She replaced the mug, almost dropping it due to intoxication. She was coughing so bad that she had to spin her back to the bar and put her hands on her knees.

'That is not too reassuring.' Mihoshi offered as she gripper her head in pain.

Serra made a fist and pounded on her chest, possibly trying to restart he heart. After 4 or 5 good hits, she fell off of the seat and onto the ground.

'Now you have done it.' Katsuhito warned.

'Can you kill and angel?' Mihoshi muttered.

'I guess so.' Jose said quietly.

Serra sat up and turned to look at Jose.

'Thanks.' She said sloppily 'I think I needed that.'

Jose faked a smile and looked at his survivors.

'I guess it's your turn.' He said.

'I don't believe this.' Ryoko said from off screen. The camera swung to picture Ryoko who was keeping herself busy with her beam sword. 'They are clearly one step away from alcohol poisoning, and you are still going to make them that crap. Boy am I glad I'm over here.'

'Let's go survivors. This could very well decide who goes and who stays.'

'O-h-h-h, my head.' Mihoshi repeated.

'Over the lips and past the gums,' Katsuhito said 'Look out liver, because here it comes.' That said, Katsuhito finished it in one go.

Mihoshi spun right on the bar stool.

'Are you alright?' Jose asked her.

She vomited her response.

'Yeah,' Jose said sadly 'That's what my last girlfriend said too.'

Katsuhito's eyes crossed and he began to rock back and forth.

'Timber!' Serra shouted.

Katsuhito fell back first onto the bar, landing in a bowl of salted peanuts. He began to snore.

'That must have been good.' Serra slurred.

Mihoshi retched a few more times, but nothing came out with the noise. Evidently, all that alcohol had beat her up pretty bad. She groaned and put an arm over her eyes. She was sweating horribly.

'You can't quit now.' Jose said 'Katsuhito has a full glass over you.'

Katsuhito continued to snore.

'He's going to hurt in the morning.' Serra advised.

Mihoshi made a feeble effort to pick up her mug. She missed it a few times, trying to find her way through the blue fog she was seeing. It did not work. The ground was wavering again, and the fluorescent lights hanging from the Christmas tree were laughing at her. A little pink can rolled its way down the bar to her. It was a can of something. It stood on end and opened a hinge in the middle of it to reveal two robotic eyes.

'Gene!' It yelled 'Get up Gene!'

Mihoshi batted it away, really hitting nothing.

'Damn Long Ears.' She said 'Trying to take Easter away from Jesus.'

'I don't think she's feeling too well.' Serra sad in a concerned tone, sober in a second.

'Hey,' Mihoshi said to Serra 'I feel fine. Don't take me drunk. I'm not home.'

Jose looked annoyed with having to put up with her drunken ramblings. Could have been worse though. She could have been yelling at a wall and then wanted to so swimming at 1 AM.

'Are you going to finish that drink or not?' Jose demanded.

'Who's my guardian angel?' Mihoshi asked as she fell onto Serra 'Is he cute?'

Serra pushed her back upright.

'I don't think she's going to drink that.' Serra said 'She's done here.'

'Are you done Mihoshi?' Jose asked 'Are you going to drink that?'

'Ja,ja,ja-a, Ja-a-a-a.'Mihoshi sang in sloppy German.

'I'll take that as an 'I'm done'.' Jose said 'It looks like Katsuhito advances.'

'Hey!' Mihoshi yelled at the invisible barmaid 'Frauline! Comen ze here!'

'What's she saying?' Serra asked as she grabbed Mihoshi.

'She said 'Look, I washed for supper'.' Jose joked. He began to laugh.

'I'm going to bring Mihoshi to an extraction point.' Serra said 'I saw one when I flew over.'

'You mean fell over.' Jose said 'And don't bother. I'LL take her to the docks.' Jose made a move in Mihoshi's direction, but halted when Ryoko stepped in his path.

'Serra will take her.' Ryoko said 'You I don't trust.'

'And I don't blame you.' Serra said as she picked Mihoshi off the ground. She mumbled something again.

'Oh well.' Jose said 'can't say I won't miss her.' Jose watched as Serra carried Mihoshi off. Jose looked over to Katsuhito who was still sleeping in the peanuts. Jose moved down to the end of the bar. 'Hey, wake up man.'

Katsuhito continued to snore. Jose poked him.

Wake up, damn it. You won.' Still more snoring. 'Ok, we'll play that way.' Jose picked up a bucket from the floor. Seeing it was full of melted ice, now very cold water, Jose tossed it at Katsuhito who woke up quickly, a peanut stuck to his face.

'Stay away from my wine! I'll kill you!' He yelled suddenly. Looking around, he saw that it was only Jose in front of him. 'What was that for?' He demanded drunkenly.

'That was a wakeup call.' Jose said 'Wake up. You won.'

Katsuhito looked around, shielding his eyes from the sun.

'I'll be damned.' HE said 'I DID win.'

'Now get out of here.' Jose said 'I'm closed.'

Katsuhito nodded. Ryoko slid into view and tossed another bucket of cold water at Katsuhito. He spluttered and spat again.

'What the hell was THAT for?' he shouted.

Ryoko shrugged.

'The smell.' She said.

Katsuhito stood up and he and Ryoko headed back toward their camp, leaving Jose behind to clean up.

Jose began wiping down the bar. Picking up the rogue peanuts, Jose poured himself a shot. Drying off the bar, Jose mumbled something about the survivors throwing up all over the place.

The camera pulled back and showed Serra walking up to the bar, thought no one was around. Jose pointed to a 'closed' sign. The picture of them now was the both of them shouting, no audio heard. Serra took out her sword again and started waving it around. The last shot was of Jose pulling out a bottle of Guinness.

End of Day 18