After a campaign heavy episode 8, episode 9A has arrived! Slade still has his idol, and there's still an immunity challenge so this episode may not be as straightforward as it seems! What will happen! Who will become the second member of the jury? Find out right now on Survivor: Maldives Madness!
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Vara: Price, Snake, Ripley, Wade, Slade, Dante, T'Challa, Dylan, Peach, and Zelda.
Jury: Skarlet
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Vara: Night 16
The now ten Vara arrive back to camp, one by one leaning their torches, out, on a tree. Slade is the last to lean his, before looking onward at the people around him.
Slade: Twice in a row, my idol stays! The conditions must be getting them because this shouldn't be happening. With Skarlet gone, I can use this as leverage.
He pulls the real idol out!
Slade: Wade is painting a target on my back, so sending him to the jury will be sweet revenge…
Meanwhile, Price rubs his hands, close to the fire Dante made.
Price: I saved Slade. It could be a big mistake doing it but he's always on the table if we gotta take him out again.
—
Vara Tribe: Day 17
Early morning on Vara, Price and Slade take a walk, a fruit bat flying past a tree nearby,
"Since I did you a favor TWICE, it's time you do me another." states Price. "You can't rely on challenges and idols all the time. I can get you further than you think." he continues. "First let me tell you the reason Skarlet went: Her and the women together could have punched at us early, and you had good points…also thought she would have played her idol, but maybe she was looking to keep it another week."
Slade nods at that, and Price scans his pockets. "Got another fake in there?" he asks, and Slade just looks through him blankly. "Always."
"Perfect."
Price: Slade's still on the table. His obsession with idols is going to screw over someone, but we can flush that and work around him…but there's one reason I kept him here and that's to help me. Peach and Zelda need to be split. I only need two duos here and all of them are at the core.
After breaking down the target to Slade, the DC character chuckles. "It just seems like your targeting friendships." he points out. "Are we going to recruit whoever's left?" Price looks directly into Slade's eyes. "If we don't, it could bite us. We both know it's a numbers game."
"That it is."
"So are we square?"
Price offers his hand to his new acquaintance, who gazes from his hand, all the way up to his face. "I'll find a way for you to stay, did it twice and I can do it again." After a few more seconds pass, Slade takes his hand. "I accept your offer…BUT…"
That "but" captures his full attention.
"..IF you cross me, you could lose out on jury votes."
"I don't make deals without thinking of them."
They shake hands, a protective order in place.
Price: We've already got enough people to pick everyone off: he's gone, she's gone. But keeping Slade covers a base I need taken care of: enemies. He may be ruthless but it's clear to everyone so taking him down won't be an issue.
—
Later, Slade pulls Dante aside, with Price's plan not in mind.
"Since you saved my life, I'll save yours." says Slade. Dante wipes a string of hair from his forehead. "Oh is someone trying to start something?" he asks, but when Slade stands there like a stonewall it clicks. "YOU are a menace…what do you have in mind?" Slade takes a few steps towards Dante's side, beginning a monologue.
"Taking a shot at Price now would be a flop. We'd have to go to a tiebreaker, and if we lose…all of us are finished. Those five could steamroll all of us, so we need to go for the weakest link." As he explains, Dante shakes his head. "Their weakest link happens to be…Wade." he says, which makes Dante smile. "It's never ending isn't it?"
"Not until one of us leaves."
"So Shakespearean."
"That's not all…" interjects Slade. "We have the best chance at taking out Wade right now, we just need to convince one of them that the pecking order isn't in their favor. That way all of us can get further." he explains. "It benefits us BOTH."
Dante: This guy could run for President. I know he's desperate to make deals and get ahead, BUT..where's the lie in his argument? Price and everyone there wants Wade. Don't know if it's because of his attitude or because they want to beat him..but I'm not Wade, and I can't believe I'm saying this but I want to be him.
Dante chimes in on the plan. "So, let's be real, play your idol."
"I am."
"Phew.."
Slade: Dante is easy to work with. He's not sticking to one team, he'll dip his toes into being a villain BUT not go as far as me.
The two come to a tree with coconuts hanging out. "Those three (Ripley / Peach / Zelda) have gotten the bad end. Besides, if you're safe they have to know they'll be the only ones left to chop off..besides YOU." elaborates Slade. "I'm not playing you, I'm just saving the bottom from elimination."
"And I..respect that." replies Dante, with a smirk. "Let's get this show on the road!"
Dante: Wade just needs to suck at that challenge. That's it. If it's an obstacle course, trip as many times as you want. If it's balance, take a break you deserve it. If it's trivia, fall asleep like the rest of us.
—
Before we get to the women though, Dante is busy again as a meeting between the six men (minus Slade) is held in a lower patch of the woods. Bushes surround them, and voices are lower.
"We may have voted differently, but we still split them up. Nice works." opens Price, before Wade, having a lot on his mind, spills.
Wade: Nobody used an idol. Not one of them. They either have the brain of a rock or must be Greek Gods!
"We pretty much split the votes for no reason! None!" he exclaims. The lack of idol plays IS discussed by the group, but not too long. "We get how you feel Wade. It's odd that the guy didn't play his idol, hell maybe even twice now…but he may get away a third time in a row. If he plays that idol we have no shot. Wade rubs one hand on his cheek, and Snake notices. "If we did vote him out, he would target you. We all know about the animosity, and we'd be idiots to just ignore it."
Wade sighs, before turning to Snake. "You're the brutally honest one, did I go too far with this grudge?" he asks. "Yes." responds the other mercenary of the group. "You also look petty." Wade guffaws at that. "I'm not…OK I can be petty." he admits. "Look before I crawl into fetal position can we get on with this?"
Snake silently changes the topic. "Since Slade could save himself, we have no other options than to go for one of the women. Peach and Ripley were tight so taking one of them out could do us favors." he argues. "Hold on, Peach and Zelda were also cool." reveals Dante. "It's not a shock or anything but there's one person in all of this." he argues. T'Challa and Dylan exchange glances before stepping in.
"Yeah, Peach makes friends..but we can't ignore Zelda right?" asks Dylan, and everyone looks at him. "Let's go for one who won a challenge, like, we don't need a vengeful comp beast on our tails." he states. After a few seconds of silence, T'Challa steps in. "He may be the youngest but he's right. Ever since we stepped foot onto new Vulsa, Zelda has started to stand out. I'd trust Peach over her even if they are together. Peach is forgiving..except for Wario."
"And Ripley may not be as forgiving." adds Snake. "She's also strategic, so after Zelda leaves we should take care of her soon." Price cocks his head. "Cutting the competition, eh?"
"Just doing what's best for us."
Snake: I'm doing what's best for me, and Ripley has always been concerning. I know a strategist when I see one. She has targets to hide behind so she doesn't seem like a threat, but I'm always on the lookout for her.
Wade applauds slowly. "Nice, so we have the next week done pretty much!" He looks over at his fellow Vulsa and questions him. "Are you good for Zelda?" he asks, and Dante shrugs. "If they're split, they're split." The Merc with a Mouth gives a thumbs up to him. "Awesome!"
Wade: They probably think I'm Bipolar…but I hope being the cool cheerleader helps them forget that I have voices in my head and hold grudges until the end of time. :)
Dante: The women are a no-go this time..and Wade is getting annoying. The guys paranoid all day everyday, and yeah I could beat him at the end, but everyone else has to think that too, right? There's no way Price and Snake walk to the end, they both look sketchy as #£||.
—
Speaking of the women, we finally see them talking for the episode.
"Wade and Dante, they are getting close and quick." states Ripley. "We can still talk to at least one of them, right?" asks Peach. "We talked to T'Challa and Dylan before maybe we can talk to them again!" she points out. "They've been with Price since the beginning…and don't seem like the cutthroat type." replies Ripley, who turns to Zelda. "Do you have anything that help us?" she asks.
"It's risky…Wade seems like he'll stick with them, so our best bets of even having a chance to comeback are Dante and Slade. Dante wanted to break out and Slade has nowhere to go." shares Zelda. "Then again there are idols in play. If just one of us could get one, then we have a fighting chance when nine of us are left."
Zelda: I did win the first immunity challenge..so they could be looking for ME! I'm lucky that I have such loyal allies having my back.
Ripley steps back in. "What we could do, is convince Dante to turn on Wade. He has to know he's number six. Slade already wants Wade out, so that's five of us…" she explains. "We'll need one more." Peach speaks up about that one. "We have to get T'Challa or Dylan. If we must go to a tie to protect you Zelda, I'll do it, but one of them has to worry about their place. That alliance can't last forever!" she exclaims, but gets shushed by Ripley.
"I get the enthusiasm, but quiet down. Someone could be watching…"
Peach: Wade it is! I feel a bit bad knowing what Zelda said about his time on Vulsa, but it has to be done.
Ripley: I'm not worried about Slade, you could leave a trail of candy and he'd follow it to stay alive..but I've never worked with Dante before. Maybe he's a flake, who knows. Then we have vote six, and Wade is the best target for that. If anyone from that side flips, nobody will go after Price OR Snake right now.
—
Vara Tribe: Day 18
The next day, as fate would have it, Dante approaches Ripley by the campfire, and pulls her aside. It's exactly what she needed however, and talks began.
"It's great you kept him then." admits Ripley. "What better way to comeback than throw Wade to the sharks." Dante leans on a nearby tree. "As a bonus offer, we get some control! Bet you're happy about that." he says. "Its about time." she admits, before moving on. "If we can take out Wade, then it will turn out fine for the both of us."
"Damn right."
Dante offers a fist bump, and Ripley takes it.
Ripley: If we don't get another vote I'm making sure we tie this up. Making one of their own paranoid will be tough, but that's a price we'll have to pay.
—
Two stones are out on the island, occupied by two people: Price and Wade.
"You've been nothing but good to us, mate." begins Price, who leans forward. "We just need to make it past one more vote and the power is ours." Wade's brows shoot up. "We're built different!"
"We're built to win."
Price: I'm acting cocky to reel him in. Me and Snake may have built this team but it's dwindling down and we'll have to go at it soon. That's why I made a backup plan, and I'd know Snake would do the same given how much strategy this guy talks: take Wade. Skarlet won't vote for him, and I can't name someone who's done as bad of a job as him.
He tips his hat in the confession.
Price: That just leaves five of us, and if Wade sticks with us, another friendship is getting ruined.
"But if we want to win, listen close." suggests Price, and Wade leans close. "Spill already." Given how close he is, Price leans back, putting a hand up. "Back off. Our breath stinks." Wade covers his mouth, but his eyes and ears are focused on his ally. "Snake and I want you with us at three." The merc punches the air in victory, a hushed tone in his voice. "That's what we're talking about..you're a godsend Price.."
"Yeah yeah…"
"Those two are gonna be on my $$, but YOU'RE the one who offered." says Wade, saluting him. "God bless you."
Wade: Going to the end with Price is suicide, BUT I don't see T and D making a deal with me. I'll have to do something at five, take the kid to the end and..I HOPE win. Slade still has his toys so I'll have to watch for booby traps!
—
Floating along the ocean, on a raft, is Price and Dante with their fishing rods out. In their time together, the past is discussed.
"I was looking to relax, but you know how Afghanistan is." says Price, no fish on his hook yet. "So you toured some of the worst places to live." responds Dante. "Why?" Price smirks at that question. "My wife saved up enough money over the years and we went on a spree. We got carried away.." he "admits," before looking back to the water below.
No bites.
"Rough crowd out here." says Price, and that makes Dante chuckle. "You have some of the worst luck I've ever seen out here." he says, which causes Price to turn to him. "My lucks bad, tell me about yours."
Price: Dante has a head on his shoulders, he's chill, he's a threat..a threat I'm not taking out yet. He's in the group and is at least trying to make a bond. I could ruin that because I was a captain in Afghanistan, not a tourist, but he won't have to find out.
Dante looks him dead in the eyes. "I'm single, blue collar, and haven't had the cushiest life…but the pizza is so worth it." he replies, making Price nod. "What do you do as a blue collar man?" he asks, and Dante holds back a smile. "Warehouse. Arthritis is coming my way soon." he says with a chuckle. Price looks him up and down. "How are you still single looking like that? Go clubbing and I beg you could pull anyone."
Dante smirks. "I DO have the 'Silver Fox' look down…"
Dante: More favor, equals more trust, equals MORE POWER.
He moves his neck back and forth.
Dante: I can feel my ego rising!
—
With Slade once again suspected to have an idol, backup plans were made incase he played it. Now divisions are starting to form and cards will have to be shown! Who will make it out of this week alive? Continue the journey in 9B!