Episode 2

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Previously on "Gladiators." Abruzzi cheated and tried to get his thugs to murder competitors. But the gladiators proved themselves willing to kill when they had to. Bobby proved he was able to protect his beloved Julia, and Teri proved able to protect her daughter Sarah. Lindsay also proved she was a surprisingly capable fighter when her back was against the wall. Alliances were made, some began to stalk their desired prey, and one gladiator became a loose cannon, just running and hiding for his life. Reverend Clarence tried to get the others to abandon the game, but Abruzzi proved unwilling, and shot Teri. With less than a minute left in the game, Sarah shot her own mother, and earned immunity for round two. Who will be the next to fall? And who will ultimately win the first season of "Gladiators?"

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Sarah held her mother's body in her arms. The others all left. Sarah had just killed her own mother, not that they could really blame her. But she had made it clear that most, if not all of them, were going to die. Despite Clarence's best intentions, there could be no lasting peace. The other gladiators all got alerts. Teri was dead, and Sarah had immunity for the next round. Gaines and Mandy also got this alert.

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Gaines: Damn, that girl killed her own mother. You would think they'd be allies longer than this.

Mandy: Maybe the mother was wounded, wanted her kid to have immunity.

Gaines: Maybe, I guess motherly love isn't a myth.

Mandy: I wouldn't know.

Gaines: I say we go after Abruzzi before he convinces more mafia guys to protect him.

Mandy: You're not going after him in anger, are you?

Gaines: He's got to die eventually, but if he can convince his people to protect him...

Mandy: I see your point. But we better get some sleep or we won't be able to function properly.

Gaines: I see your point.

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Gaines and Mandy were not the only ones who used this opportunity to get some sleep. After Teri's body was taken away, she too went to sleep. Tomorrow she would bury her mother, she would also go to the firing range. Her mother had bought her a few hours of safety, her last gift. Maybe Sarah would be dead before the week was over, but she would not go down without a fight. Only Kalil remained awake. He was terrified that if he went to sleep, he would never wake up. And it had been awhile since he had his last heroin fix, making him even less rational.

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6:30

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Abruzzi's alarm clock went off. Abruzzi knew he had to sleep, even in this safehouse. But he also couldn't sleep for too long, or the other gladiators would kill him in his sleep. Sarah had the most reason to come after him now, but she had immunity for the moment. Abruzzi also feared that he now had a reputation for hiding behind bodyguards, while Sarah had a reputation as someone who would kill her own mother. Some might decide that she was the fierce competitior, and might just follow her instead.

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7:00

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Sarah woke up, and checked her phone. She still had immunity, but at best that would only last for less than 17 hours, at most. She had a lot to do. First she had to eat breakfast, she'd never make it if she didn't eat. Then she had to make arrangment's for her mother's funeral, which had to be today. Then she had to go to the gun range, get at least some basic education on how to shoot properly.

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8:03

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These were the days that made Greg nervous, and excited. He owned and operated a shooting range, anyone could come in and pay to shoot their guns at paper targets. When the local gangs were at war it meant a lot of new business, but it also meant that these gangs might run into each other. That could lead to them panicking, loss of life, Greg could be sued for liability. He was well aware that these gladiators were trying to kill each other, most or all would come here to practice. If gladiators accidentally ran into each other today, Greg didn't want to deal with the paperwork of a lawsuit from other patrons. Reese had been practicing here for about an hour, so when Jeffrey came in, Greg hurried her out a back exit. Jeff asked Greg a question.

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Jeffrey: That young blonde girl, she here?

Greg: I don't betray any customer's confidence. You want to kill her, do me a favor, do it elsewhere.

Jeffrey: Fair enough. For now, I just need some practice.

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9:45

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Abruzzi had tried to call Jamal and Tyler. They were in rival gangs, but both had good business relations with Abruzzi's syndicate. He hoped they could get over their differences long enough to eliminate some of the competition. But it was no use, both men turned Abruzzi down. It became clear he would have to eliminate the other gladiators himself. He left his safehouse, and was immediately shot. He was involved in a very brief shootout with Gaines and Mandy. Both Gaines and Abruzzi were shot, neither man was mortally wounded. Abruzzi was able to flee, and call 911 for help. Mandy wasn't able to find Abruzzi to murder him, but she decided to help Gaines. His wound didn't look fatal, but he would need help. Gaines asked her to take him to a "former" doctor. Parker was a doctor, until he helped supply some of his friends with certain pills, for a small fee. They weren't real friends ofcourse, in particular the one who turned out to be an undercover cop. Parker lost his liscence to practice medicine, but they couldn't take away his knowledge. Ar any rate, going to a hospital would have left Gaines too exposed, his main hope at the moment was that none of the other gladiators even knew that Parker existed.

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11:43

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Reverend Clarence was on his way to a funeral, Teri's funeral. Sarah had asked him to officiate, she didn't know many preachers. Before Clarence could get to the funeral, he was confronted by Bobby and Julia.

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Clarence: What can I do for you two?

Bobby: I'm sorry reverend, but it's you or us.

Clarence: So you want to kill me, to gain immunity for a brief time?

Bobby: Yes. Julia, shoot him.

Clarence: I forgive you my child.

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Clarence got on his knees, closed his eyes, and prepared for death. But Julia couldn't bring herself to shoot this man of God.

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Julia: I'm sorry, I can't do it.

Clarence: Thank God.

Julia: What now?

Bobby: Look, neither of us are getting out of this alive. I say, we just try to stay out of everyone's way, and enjoy whatever time we have left before those soldiers come for us.

Julia: Sounds like a plan.

Bobby: Sorry reverend.

Clarence: It's okay, we all make mistakes when we're afraid. I have to get to a funeral.

Bobby: When you're done with that, will you help us out with something?

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12:03

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Reverend Clarence arrived at the church, they were about to put Teri in the grave. The funeral was brief, it had to be. Sarah spoke a few words about her mother, and Clarence performed the prayer. When it was over, the two gladiators spoke.

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Clarence: I'm here if you need comfort my child.

Sarah: Thank's reverend, but I'm on a bit of a tight schedule. First I'm going to get a bite to eat, then I'm going to the gun range.

Clarence: So you're planning to kill the others, including me?

Sarah: My mother died so that I could live. I have to live, for her. I'll go after the bad guys first, the nazi, the child molestor, the bastard who show my mom.

Clarence: But you'll still be participating in a system that kills innocent people.

Sarah: I don't have a choice, at least not a good one. I'm sorry reverend, but this is how it has to be right now. At most I have barely 11 hours of immunity left, so I have to get going.

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1:35

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Abruzzi had given them the idea of an alliance, and one alliance at least was possible. Jamal called Tyler.

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Tyler: What do you want n...?

Jamal: I've been looking at the rules. You and I can agree to a one on one fight, the soldiers act as guards to prevent any friends from helping.

Tyler; You want to fight to the death?

Jamal: Yeah, just you and me. No Bloods, no nazies, just you and me. Winner get immunity for a little while.

Tyler: That's actually a good idea n... Okay, tomorrow night, 8pm. That should give us both enough time to say goodbye to our loved ones.

Jamal: Agreed.

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2:00

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After the funeral, Clarence went to help Bobby and Julia. These two star-crossed lovers knew that they were both going to die in the next few days. They wanted to be married before they died, and Clarence was already a minister. It was his joy to help join them in holy matrimony, and to help lead them towards peace and away from killing.

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2:16

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After lunch Sarah went to the shooting range. She was surprised that Lindsay was already here, probably learning how to shoot a gun for the first time. Sarah checked her phone, she still had immunity, for nine more hours at most. Both women saw each other, and for a moment they looked at each other awkwardly. Both were here for the same purpose, to train with a gun for the upcoming battles. For the moment neither was allowed to kill the other, so they just each went about their business, and kept checking their phones. After about 15 minutes, Lindsay just walked away, and allowed Sarah to concentrate on her training.

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4:05

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Reverend Clarence found where Gaines and Mandy were hiding. He had received an anonymous tip, which payed off. The reverend still wasn't certain who it was. Most likely some employee of the show. Maybe it was a religious person who wanted to see a man of God win against two mercenaries. Maybe the show just wanted some quick action. In either case, he had two more souls to try and save. Mandy let him in, and brought him to Gaines, who had received several stitches and been given a bottle of pain pills.

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Gaines: What do you want reverend?

Clarence: To try and convince you two to turn away from the killing and towards God.

Mandy: Even if there is a god, do you really think that saying a little prayer would get him to forgive all of our sins?

Clarence: I can hope.

Gaines: Good luck with that preacher. The world is a violent place, and we are violent people. We tried to live with ourselves by wrapping it up in the flag, but that didn't stop the nightmares.

Mandy: So we figured, the nightmares would come either way, might as well try to get rich and live well for however many years we have left.

Clarence: He who lives by the sword, shall die by the sword.

Gaines: Sorry you got dragged into this preacher, but we all have to go sometime.

Clarence: When it's over, if you two are the last two left standing, how will you decide who wins?

Mandy: I was thinking maybe russian roulette, or maybe a pistol duel.

Gaines: Either one is as good a way to die as any. She won't be the first friend I lost.

Clarence: She might be the last.

Mandy: Maybe, why do you have to be so negative?

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8:37

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Kalil was wandering aimlessly, and found himself at a local McDonalds. He was scared, acting irrationally, demanding to see his son. In his state Kalil couldn't remember that his son was on Death Row for killing a cop, how Kalil had sold his son to the police for a heroin fix. He wanted his family, his life back. He fired his gun into the air, and took the people inside as hostages.

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The police responded quickly, had the place surrounded. The police also called Alan York. He had been suspended for police brutality, but he still had friends on the force. They knew their friend was in a bad situation, and now he had the chance to kill one of the other gladiators. Reverend Clarence was also here, he'd seen this on the news and hoped he could reason with Kalil. Officer Benson was in charge here, and he spoke with both reverend Clarence and Alan York.

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Benson: Reverend, you really think you can talk him down?

Clarence: I hope so.

Benson: Okay, you go in and try to talk with him. York, can you get a clear shot without hurting any of the hostages?

Alan: Absolutely.

Benson: Okay, go up to that nearby roof. If Clarence can't talk him down, take the shot.

Alan: Yes sir.

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Reverend Clarence went inside to talk to Kalil. He wanted to resolve this without anyone dying, but feared that was not possible.

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Kalil: You the preacher man?

Clarence: Yes.

Kalil: You a christian or muslim?

Clarence: A little of both.

Kalil: I don't want to hurt anyone, but they came in and put a gun in my hand, said I had to kill. Then some creep breaks into my apartment, tries to shoot me. I didn't mean to hurt anyone, but they keep coming, they're everywhere.

Clarence: I want to help you, and them.

Kalil: Can God help me? I just want to see my son again, tell him I'm sorry.

Clarence: Maybe I can arrange that, but you have to put the gun down and walk out with me.

Kalil: Swear to God that you won't hurt me.

Clarence: I swear to God that nobody will hurt you, if you put the gun down and walk out with me.

Kalil: Okay.

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Kalil put the gun down and walked out with the reverend. But once he had a clear shot, Alan York took him out with a sniper rifle. Kalil was dead instantly, and Clarence had blood on him. He had given his word, sworn to God himself, that Kalil would be safe. Kalil was no longer a threat to anyone, he was surrendering. But York knew that Kalil had to die so that he could live. Round 2 was now over. Sarah's immunity was gone, Alan had immunity for now.

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This is an excerpt from Kalil's last recorded statement.

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Kalil: I don't really know what this is all about. I never hurt anyone before, at least not intentionally. This ten million dollars they're talking about does sound mighty good. I'd like to use it to get my son one of those high priced lawyers, get him off the way rich people get off. I also hope he knows that I'm sorry, and I hope he forgives me for what I did to him.