THE ALL NEW GINYU FORCE

Chapter 3 – The Rapids

Recoome and Relizsh made it to the rapids after a short 2 mile fly through thick woodland, once there they studied a board by the edge of the water; KI RESTRANTS MUST BE WORN FROM NOW UNTIL THE COMPLETETION OF THE COURSE. CONTESTENTS MUST CROSS THE RIVER-FINDING AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE IS NOT APPLICABLE. NO MAN LEFT BEHIND-ANY INCOMPLETE TEAMS AT THE END OF THIS EXERCICE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

Red team looked around and soon found the ki restraints, they clipped them onto their wrists and assessed the situation. The water was cascading quickly, smashing against razor sharp rocks jutting out of the water causing spray to fly up in every direction. Recoome cracked his knuckles.

''Easy. Recomme will carry you on his shoulders across the river.'' Relizsh looked at him in disbelief.

''Can you see how quickly that waters moving? You'll be swept away! And me along with you!'' Recomme stepped to the edge of the water and gazed in thoughtfully.

''No, Recomme will be fine. Come on little man, lets go.'' Relizsh mumbled something under his breath as he found a rock to stand on, Recomme knelt down and Relizsh jumped onto him then climbed up onto his shoulders. Recomme took hold of the other mans legs which were dangling over his shoulders and took a step into the river. Relizsh held his breath… but Recomme started to wade through the water with surprising ease. They were both feeling pretty confident by the time they were a third of the way across the river, the water suddenly got deeper but Recomme was still able to keep his head above the surface… but then he felt a little nip at his leg. He shook it off and carried on, assuming there were crabs or fish in the water, but soon the nips turned into agonising jabs, forcing his legs to start collapsing underneath him.

Relizsh felt the mighty man stumble under him ''What's wrong with you?'' he asked, just in time to be answered by a loud yell as Recomme literally jumped out of the water clutching his buttocks in his hands, he near on sprinted back to shore, dropping his team mate on the ground with a hard bump as he inspected his body. There were chunks of flesh missing from his legs, and one particular large gouge from an ass cheek, blood running down his body. ''What in ze world….'' Trailed off Relizsh.

There was a cocky sounding laugh behind them as Tanks jumped down off a tree branch making them both jump and spoke in his native tongue- Berta called out the interpretation from above them; ''He says it looks like the river is infested with flesh eating fish''

Relizsh rolled his eyes. ''Well yez we've figured that now. How longz he been 'ere?!''

Berta narrowed his eyes ''Much longer then you.'' He returned to Captains Ginyu side. Ginyu nodded;

''It's a good tactic to observe others testing out the environment before making a move yourself, but there is something off about his tactics. For starters his partner is only now entering the zone'' Ginyu's red eyes landed on Jeice who was now coming into the clearing.

Berta nodded. ''Yessss. It would have been little effort for Tanks to carry him so they could arrive and approach the task together….''

Jeice tried to catch his breath as he too pulled on the ki restraints. ''Right then, who's figured this one out then?''

Tanks nodded. ''I''

Jeice turned to him with a cynical look on his face ''You?''

Tanks nodded again. ''Yes. Speed.'' he gestured through the air before turning away from the river and walking out of sight into the woodland.

'….' The 3 other men started at the space where he'd been standing. Suddenly a blur of blue burst out of the greenery and took a massive leap at the river bank, Tank's natural speed propelled him forward and he landed on the other side of the river, smiling cockily to himself once again, before laying down and closing his eyes to take in the sun.

''…..What about me?!'' The red space aussie hollered out, to which the large blue man just shrugged, not even bothering to open an eye. ''For fucks sake mate, I'm beginning to half hope I don't make it through these challenges because working with you would be a right pain in the bloody ass!'' Ginyu and Berta silently continued observing the scene in front of them.

After he'd said his piece Jeice started to forage around the area, trying to find some inspiration. He looked thoughtfully at the trees and the thick vines of the forest before calling up to the sky.

''Hey, Captin'! Are we allowed to merge teams? Or… merge half teams?'' he quipped shooting a glare at the blue lump on the other side of the river. Ginyu thought for a moment.

''Treat it like a real life situation!'' Jeice rubbed his chin.

''Well… if I was in a real life situation… there's safety in numbers, I'd team up.'' The red man concluded. He waved over to Recoome and Relizsh ''Hey, guys, I think I've got a plan to get us over!'' Recoome and Relizsh looked at each other before they both nodded and went to join the smaller man. Jeice's idea was simple but seemingly effective, use Recoome's brute strength to karate chop the wood from the trees into thin slices, then attach them together with the vines.

''We'll need a mighty large raft to fit uz all on….'' Trailed off Relizsh eyeing up Recoome.

Jeice looked up from tying vines ''Nah, It'll be ok. Us two will go over first and make a pulley system with the vines, then once we're over we'll send the raft back for Recoome and pull him over.'' Relizsh nodded at the other mans thought out plans.

They'd nearly finished when Pongo and Xqidi finally appeared, who got to work at once copying the others idea, needing a much smaller surface area they used the spare wood from Recoome's slicing.

''We'll only need an area big enough to keep you afloat, I'll swim and use the vines to make a harness to pull you along.'' Said Xqidi, quickly tying the wood pieces together.

''Jeice…'' asked Relizsh ''How are we going to get across in a straight line? If we enter the rapids now the force will just wash us down stream.''

Jeice nodded ''Well use a Forcola oar each like that on a gondola boat to try and punt it through the water.''

''Hmmm… seems the boy has some brains to back up his brawn…'' assessed Ginyu above them. Berta nodded in agreement.

By the time Recomme, Relizsh and Jeice had make their larger raft and 2 oars, Pongo and Xquidi had finished their smaller one too, only a mere 2ft square for the man's tiny stature. Both teams were about to enter the water when a blur of blue shot past them.

Tanks landed and approached them, Burta translated from above them ''Come on then red, jump on my back we've waited long enough, let's get out of here.''

Jeice huffed loudly ''You've gotta be kidding me! Screw you, I'm going this way'' he pointed to the raft. Berta relayed Jeices reply, Tanks eyes turned to slits and a sinister smile adorned his face as he answered.

''Tanks says if you don't both move onto the next challenge you'll both be disqualified, and if you decide to go he's got no problem with staying this side of the river and not crossing back.''

''WHAT?!'' Screeched the space aussie ''You'd disqualify yourself just to spite me?!'' Tanks may not have understood every word but he knew by the reaction it was what he wanted to hear. Cussing the entire time Jeice walked with the blue lizard man into the jungle so Tanks could get a long enough run up to clear the river.

Back on the shore team red and yellow had started to enter the water. Without Jeice's muscles it was harder for Relizsh to keep control of the raft, but he slowly made progress. Yellow team were pulling in front quickly, Pongo was light to pull along and the flesh eating fish didn't take any notice of the squid type Xqidi, in fact they were about 2 quarters of the way through when team blue came flying from the woodland. As he launched into the air Tanks surveyed the scene, once along side team yellow he kicked out at Pongo knocking him off his raft. Blue team landed safely on the other side, the first team to complete the challenge.

''What did ya have to go any do that for?!'' Jeice steamed at his team mate jumping down. Berta decided he didn't really need to translate that for Tanks to know what he was talking about. Meanwhile in the river Xquidi carried on, the rough water making it impossible for him to know his team mate was no longer on the raft. Ginyu blasted off down river, plucking out a spluttering and coughing Pongo. By the time they got back Xquidi had made it across and discovered the empty raft, Berta had landed and told him what had happened. Ginyu landed with a soaked Pongo under his arm and put him down.

''Pongo and Xquidi are disqualified for not being able to cross the rapids together. But worry not, you have both demonstrated a true understanding of the word teamwork! I'm very proud of both of your efforts today!'' The captain boomed. He then asked if they'd rather stay and watch or return to base, soaked and cold Pongo opted to return to base. And Xqidi who had no desire to be anywhere near Tanks said he'd accompany him back. The captain nodded and removed their ki restraints allowing them to fly back quickly. As they left Relizsh made it over the river, he tied a vine round a tree and sent the raft back for Recoome.

Tanks addressed Jeice ''Come on, lets go! It's going to be a long walk to and over those mountains with these restraints on. You'll have to get back on my back, it'd take a week for your puny legs to get you there'' translated Berta. Jeice looked just about ready to throw in the towel, he didn't say a word as he climbed onto Tanks back but he didn't need too, the look on his face said it all.