Author's Note
If Trent was a Fanfiction reader, he'd love this chapter! You get it? Y'know because Trent's favorite number is number nine and- yeah that was a bad joke. But ignoring that failure, let's respond to the reviews!
Critica7: No problem, you really can't detect sarcasm in writing unless they make it blatant. The four you had named would've all been good antagonists for a season like Pahkitew Island, where it'll be the only season for its generation. But with Scott being the first main antagonist, we'll see how his strategy and overall personality changes throughout the series. And it's true when you said that Courtney and Lightning fit more of an anti-hero role. Amy only lasted too long due to her team being on a winning streak. If that wasn't the case she would've been long gone. I was expecting shock when people read Sadie's discovery. But don't worry, Sadie won't become Scarlett or Dawn level smart. She's just plainly not Lindsay.
Phenomenal Ultra Instinct: Looks like you have a distaste for Amy's character, haha. Glad your happy about Geoff and Sammy making up. Even though I only foreshadowed it last chapter. Yup, Sam definitely played the 'Beth' role last episode. But there'll be way more plot with the idol. At least, way more than what Beth did. In my opinion, Sadie was always smarter than Katie. Her intelligence was just never tapped into due to her being around Katie all the time in canon.
Gucci Mane LaFlare: Thanks for the rating! I guess everyone doesn't like Amy, haha. Least favorite? Jeez. Yeah, dragging out the 'Sad Geoff' plot wouldn't have been good for his overall character. As you can't write to read more of Sadie, I can't wait to write more of her! And I hopefully I will keep up the good work!
Knifez (Only Chapter 8): Yeah, his chances of making merge go down tremendously. But, not all hope is lost. Just wait. Thank you. I'm surprised that you thought my story was solid! And yeah, I know my grammar isn't the best. The pronouns and all that are plainly typos though. But if you have more grammatical errors. Feel free to tell me where I did wrong and where I can improve. Because you're not the first reviewer who said that. Thanks for even adding an example! I guess I have given everyone left some plot. And while I thank you for liking the Harold/Scarlett alliance. I must ask, do you mean Sam/Dakota? Because you wrote Adam/Dakota. Okay, I'll try to have Sammy not get as much screen time. Because she's associated with a lot of people (Courtney, Trent, Geoff, even Scarlett at times) it's hard to not put her on the screen. But I'll try to lessen that. I know exactly how you feel about the Courtney and Sammy interactions. Because earlier in the season, I planned a subplot for them. But as we're slowly progressing through the season, I'm not too sure if I want to keep doing that. That's why writing them together is really awkward for me. And even more awkward for the reader. And thank for praising this story so much! And I'm sorry for booting Lightning so early lol. Maybe he'll come back in the merge. Maybe he won't…
Derick Lindsey: Yup, back on speaking terms despite his sad phase being so short. Thanks for Sadie and I get where you're coming from when you said it was kind of too early. But I can't speak too much about that because I have direct plans for it so… bleh. Jeez, I'm actually surprised on why people mention the fact that it look eight chapters for Amy to get voted off lmao. I mean, it's true that without Sammy she had nothing to do but dang. Thanks for mentioning that idol twist, and I may read that story you mentioned if it's still up! Will the bear show up here? You're right about why it probably won't but you never know the tricks up my sleeve… I only gave Harold the firestarter role due to comedic purposes only. So that's that.
That British Guy: Yet another Amy related review… lol.
Mr looney loon: While I don't mind your short and sweet review, I need to elaborate on Cody coming to his senses.
The teams stand as:
Screaming Gophers: Courtney, Geoff, Harold, Sadie, Sammy, Scarlett, and Scott.
Killer Bass: Brick, Cody, Dakota, Jo, Katie, Sam, Topher, and Trent.
Have any readers been paintballing? I've always wanted to but the consequences of getting hit seem overbearing.
Episode 9 - Paintball Deer Hunter
"Last time on Total Drama Island," Chris began, "both teams set out on a canoe trip to deadly Boney Island." he said over shots of the teams going to their canoes and a map of the dangerous island they went to. Additionally, the island itself. "Geoff moped about Samey about thirty times, but during the great portage, Geoff and Samey finally made up." clips of Geoff and Scott rowing, the cheerleader and surfer conversing and part of Sammy's confessional were played. "There were winners, and there were losers. Also known as… the Bass." clips of the Bass cheering and the Gophers zooming away from the random shark were shown. "The Killer Bass surprisingly banded together to vote out the infamous Amy. And when I say 'banded together'. I mean, get lucky and all vote for the same person." edited clips of Amy's departure played as Chris narrated.
"Dude I knew the Bass kinda got along but I didn't think they could pull something off like that." Chris said, clips of the Bass as a team were shown. "However, Scott may have caused his team a free winning streak by indirectly influencing Sam to bring back the stick statute creepy voodoo thingy, from the deadly haunted island!" clips of Sam talking about the idol and inspecting it was shown. "Will Sam live to regret his souvenir?" Chris said as the shot returned to him at the dock. "And can my teeth possibly get any whiter?" he smiled, his teeth glistening on cue. "Find out here, on, Total… Drama… Island!"
(Transition to Theme Song)
[Many shots of the lights and hidden cameras popping out and turning on were shown. Mostly hurting the wildlife in the process. A cue card shifts the shot over to the dock. The camera immediately starts to fly by the 'Wawanakwa' sign, some buildings on the campgrounds, and Chris who's in a director's chair drinking coffee. The lyrics begin once the camera passes the host.]
Dear Mom and Dad, I'm doin' fine;
[The camera zips past some trees, going up the cliff that left us on a cliffhanger last episode. Peeking over to see two rings made of buoys arranged in the water below.]
You guys are on my mind!
[The viewpoint changes as if someone jumped off the cliff and into the lake; Cameron is shown in his bubble, observing the area with glee. As a fish swims by him, a fishing hook pierces and makes a big hole in his bubble, leaving Cameron to get out of the bubble and flail his arms in despair.]
Ya asked me what I wanted to be,
And now I think the answer is plain to see!
[The camera surfaces, showing B and Scarlett in a canoe, B was shown controlling the motorized fishing rod. Cameron suddenly surfaces barely hanging on to the canoe. As B awkwardly glances at him. The contraption malfunctions and Cameron's bubble flies high into the air.]
I wanna be… famous!
[The bubble hangs in the air momentarily before coming back down. A pan down reveals Jo punching a tied-up punching with extreme passion. Brick promptly jogs past her. Jo gets angered by this and attempts to catch up to the cadet. Only for the pierced bubble to drape over Jo's head. The camera zooms out to show Courtney and Scott watching the scene unfold, Scott laughs at Jo's misfortune and Courtney rolls her eyes at his behavior.]
I wanna live close to the sun!
[The camera goes to another part of camp, Sam and Dakota were sitting on an inflatable raft. Both on their respective favorite devices. Too pre-occupied with their devices, they don't notice quick enough and go over the edge.]
Well pack your bags, 'cause I've already won!
[At the bottom of the waterfall, Lightning was striking several different poses on a broken log, suspended over two rocks. During the middle of that, he missed Izzy flying in on a vine from off-screen. She promptly crashes into Lightning, and they're both sent off-screen.]
Everythin' to prove, nothin' in my way;
[The camera barely keeps up with Lightning and Izzy, panning rapidly to do so. They crash into the outhouse confessional, causing Sugar to unceremoniously fall out with her pants fall the way down, with a pixilation over the part of her body that can't be shown on television. The camera begins to pan to the window in the Main Lodge, Chef could be seen through it.]
I'll get there one day.
[The camera moves past the window. Chef was shown stirring a pot of something, pukeworthy green directly with his arm. He looked behind himself to show Harold and Cody tied up in chairs, sharing the nervous at what's about to come.]
'Cause I wanna be… famous!
[A pan left shows Topher holding a picture of something admiring it happily. He flips the picture over, revealing it to be Chris when he was in a teenage boy band. Holding a guitar proudly alongside three other people. The camera goes past another window and to the stairs near the docks. Katie and Sadie were shown to be admiring Trent who was tuning his guitar just a couple feet away.]
(Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
[Just down the docks, Sammy and Geoff were shown lounging on lounge chairs, chatting it up. Amy defiantly flips the chair Sammy was sitting down, laughing hysterically. Sammy turns red awkwardly as Geoff gives Sammy a concerning look.]
I wanna be! I wanna be! I wanna be famous! (Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
[The camera quick-pans ahead stopping at a waving Beth. Beth backs up and begins to twirl her baton at a great rate speed. So much so, that it looks like it's about to catch on fire. She cluelessly throws the baton up into the air.]
I wanna be! I wanna be! I wanna be famous! (Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
[The time transitions from day to night as the baton stays in the air. As the baton comes down, the sparks from it turns into fireflies. The camera pans down to reveal Sam and Dakota sitting at the campfire, gazing in each other's eyes. They lean in for a kiss, only for it to be interrupted by a crazed Izzy popping up between them, wrapping her arms around them for a hug. The camera pulls out slowly revealing the rest of the cast, whistling the last few notes of the theme song with Chris watching by the side.]
(Transition to Episode)
A light tune began the ninth episode. The camera faded in on a random trail, a bunny hopped into view, minding its own business. Promptly, the shadow on a helicopter centered on the animal, causing it to look up in confusion. An ominous drumbeat played as the bunny hopped away fearfully. But it was none other than Chris driving said helicopter, smiling at the camera with a wink and a thumbs-up. The shadow implied that he flew over the cabins, waking everyone up.
"What is that?" Trent said tiredly, getting up and running to the window.
"Are we under attack?" Brick worried, heading out the door.
"Dude, no!" Topher shouted, also running out. "It's just Chris!" The camera cut to the Gopher girls, who were also fussing over the helicopter.
"I can never get a good night's sleep!" Courtney whined, tossing her sleep mask nonchalantly. "What's going on?"
"Are we gonna die?" Sadie screamed, genuinely scared for her young life.
"That's very unlikely Sadie." Scarlett told her, looking for her glasses under the bed. "Most likely, Chris is trying to destroy our cognitive functions by not allowing us to get 8-10 hours of well-needed rest. Frankly, it's quite irritating."
"Glad I'm not the only one." Courtney walked by in the foreground, she stopped mid-way and dashed out quickly. "I got bathroom dibs!" she screamed, notifying the rest of her girl teammates. They too needed to empty their bladder.
The camera remained on Courtney as she ran through the campgrounds, smiling as she thought she'd be the first one at the washrooms. But that thought got demolished as Katie and Jo were already in line. Courtney groaned and soon joined them.
The camera flashed to the same scene but joined the three girls was Scarlett, Sammy and Sadie. All six were holding in their pee. Angrily waiting for Dakota to leave.
"Dakota! Hurry! Up!" Jo yelled, banging the door with each word.
"Yeah, I have to go!" Katie squealed. "Bad."
"Yeah, we all do." Jo looked at the darker BFFFL like she was dumb. Scarlett got fed up with the wait and began to head towards the forest.
"Forget the washrooms." she said. "I'll take my chances with a nearby bush."
"I hear ya." Jo said following the genius. But going in a different direction once she hit the forest. Promptly, Dakota left the washrooms wrapped in a towel. Much like her hair.
"So guys," she said obliviously, "what'd I miss?" Katie ran through the door and answering Dakota's question: trickling was heard from inside the washrooms. Causing everyone's eyes to bug out in shock. But then they looked up as feedback from the loudspeaker sounded.
"I hope you're ready for the most challenging challenge yet!" Chris announced, Geoff was shown tipping his hat up as he listened. Breakfast in three minutes at the campfire pit." the camera returned to the line outside of the washrooms. Everyone looked down at the door as a yellow liquid slowly made its way out the door.
"Oh no…" Katie said as everyone else looked at each other awkwardly.
/
The camera flashed ahead to all 15 campers facing Chris at the campfire. Ready to hear what today's challenge will be. "Are you ready for today's, extreme-max impact challenge!" he said rather gruffly.
"Nix the emphasis." Scarlett deadpanned, "No one is happy for the presumably dangerous game you wanna put us through."
Chris frowned. "Don't ruin my moment, Scarlett." he picked up what seems to be a can of beans. "Incoming!" he threw the beans into the crowd. Right as it was about to hit Sammy, Geoff caught it to shield her. They shared a quick smile as they met gazes. Trent noticed the interaction and turned back to Chris suspectingly. "This," he threw another one, "is breakfast." the campers all began to catch the beans one-by-one.
"Who eats beans for breakfast?" Cody questioned as he caught one next.
"Well, I have." Sam admitted. "But that's because I didn't wanna go upstairs. I was playing this really cool game-"
"Save it." Chris cut him off. "Today's challenge is about survival. We're going hunting." he pulled out a green gun. But something seemed off about said gun…
"Cool." Geoff marveled, Scott scoffed.
"If we're killing something, can I use my bat?" he asked, mashing one fist into his palm. Harold walked past him and over to Chris.
"Isn't that a paintball gun?' he said, pointing at it. To his surprise, Chris pointed at it at Harold threateningly.
"Why yes Harold, it is." Chris shot the dweeb, knocking him to the ground. Now Jo came up to Chris, but more in disappointment.
"So we can't kill anything?" Jo asked. Chris gave her an immediate frown.
"Do you want this show to get taken off the air?" Chris told her, also shooting her but she stood still and looked at Chris unimpressed. Chris faced the rest of the teens happily as he continued to explain the challenge. "This is the first ever, paintball deer hunt! I'll announce the teams once we get into the woods. So, finish brekky." a loud burp got everyone's attention as they looked at Sam, who had beans mashed all over his mouth and his cheeks flooded with embarrassment.
"Oop." he said. "Sorry guys." the episode transitioned to a spot in the woods. The teams were now separated as they stood in front of Chris. He displayed a bulletin board full of seven paintball guns. Then a trunk was placed was to him. What was in there was still unknown.
"And now for the team breakdowns," he smiled, "the Killer Bass hunters are… Katie, Cody, Dakota and Topher." he threw a green paintball gun to each of them. "Locked and loaded with Bass blue paint."
"Shouldn't we get the green guns?" Courtney said, raising her hand without even getting called. "We're the ones with the green logo."
"And using orange paint with red guns are the Gopher hunters." Chris said, ignoring Courtney. "Samey, Scott and Geoff." he threw guns to the trio and Courtney looked somewhat offended.
"You guys also get these stylin' glasses and wicked camo caps." Chris said as he wore each hunter accessory. He turned to a different direction and the camera shifted to show the teams. The logo for each team spun into view over them. "The rest of you, are now deer." the so-called 'deer' weren't too impressed as they all stayed in silence.
"Why aren't I a hunter!" Courtney complained. "I wanna be a hunter!"
"I'm glad I'm not a hunter." Brick spoke up. "I couldn't take shooting one of you guys. That's just not right. I mean, we're fellow campers."
"No one asked you." Jo told him, covering his mouth so he couldn't say any more.
"Here are your antlers, noses, and little white tails." Chris said holding up the first two accessories and shaking his butt to reveal the third.
"Aw man, do we have to wear that?" Trent rubbed his neck unsurely. "The band is definitely gonna make fun of me for this one."
"You can't make me a deer McLean." Jo ranted, crossing her arms. Chris finally put the antlers, glasses and nose on Jo for her.
"Take these off and you're team is toast." Chris instructed, Jo merely sighed due to not wanting to cost the Bass a challenge. He lastly handed Jo her tail and the camera pulled in on her butt as she defiantly put it on.
"You're lucky I'm a team player." Jo told Chris. Snickers from Trent were heard off-screen. Jo sent a nasty look at the guitarist and he stopped laughing.
/
Courtney, Harold, Sadie, and Scarlett were shown walking through the forest. None of them seemed at least bit cautious as they weren't impressed with today's challenge.
"This is by far, the worst challenge yet." Scarlett said, leading the quartet.
"What about the phobia one?" Sadie asked, right behind her.
"At least the producers were helping us out." Scarlett replied, "My fear of injections has died down a bit since said challenge. But with this, it's creative but not really challenging like Chris intended for it to be. If anything, our second challenge the Awake-a-Thon was and most likely will be more difficult than this."
"Please." Harold scoffed. " The dodgeball challenge was hard."
"No it wasn't." Courtney said. "You just don't get A's in gym class. That's all."
"Hey!" Harold shouted, the camera briefly cut to the sky. Implying that his outburst was loud. "You don't need an A in gym to be cool. I'm cool! Right guys?" he turned to Sadie and Scarlett who already preoccupied themselves to avoid answering.
"Fine Harold, you're cool." Courtney walked past the three, avoiding more conflict. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna find a place to hide. I'm not gonna get caught just from being with you guys." she sprinted off quietly and left the three Gophers in the metaphorical dust.
"So what do we do now?" Sadie asked the two redheads.
"Since Chris has given us a five-minute headstart, it's diminishing as we speak." Scarlett explained, also backing up from her teammates. "So to use this advantage to perfection. I'm going to part away from you two." she explained, running off without warning. Harold and Sadie watched Scarlett run off for a moment before interacting with each other.
"Wanna stick together?" Harold proposed.
"Definitely!" Sadie nodded, they both walked off-screen as she spoke. "This challenge is kinda scary to do alone."
/
The camera now flashed (presumably backwards in time) to the Bass deer walking in the woods. Jo led them as Brick, Sam and Trent followed her behind.
Sam chuckled awkwardly before speaking, "Um Jo? Where are we going?"
"I'm going as far from the hunters as possible." she answered dryly. "I didn't tell you to follow me."
"Okay, then I'm out." Brick said, attempting to walk away before Jo grabbed him.
"Nuh-uh, you stay." Jo eyed Trent and Sam. "You don't care where you guys go."
"I'll leave." Trent said, turning back. "Sam, come on bro." after a moment of hesitation, the gamer compiled.
"I'm coming, I'm coming." he said, going off-screen with Trent. The camera focused on the two-thirds of Jo's alliance.
"Why'd you kick them out of our group?" Brick pondered to Jo. "Numbers are key."
"Not in this challenge." Jo rolled her eyes. "Plus, I didn't even kick them out. They left on their own."
"Then if numbers aren't key," Brick continued, "then why am I here?"
"Just shut up and walk." Jo deadpanned, the cadet looked slightly worried but kept walking alongside the jockette.
/
The camera flashed to over a shot of three hands overlapping each other. The camera cut out to show that it was just the Gopher hunters.
"Break!" the trio shouted. One-by-one they each put on their glasses. First Scott, then Geoff and lastly Sammy. Who sported a big grin on her face.
"I can't wait to find a deer!" Scott said happily. "It's just like hunting! Except shooting people I hate."
"I know!" Sammy agreed, realizing her mistake. "Um, without the hate part though."
Geoff howled, "Dudette! I'm shocked that your so happy about this challenge, brah." he told her. "No offense though. I just didn't think you were that type of girl."
"I'm not happy about the challenge." Sammy revealed, adding a sly look off-screen. "Something else is on my mind."
Confessional: Sammy
The confessional started with the cheerleader squealing in excitement. "Oh em gee!" she began. "The Killer Bass actually voted Amy off! I can't believe it." she settled down a bit. "Why did they vote her off?" she waved off her own question. "Does it even matter, Sammy? She's gone!"
"Start your paintballs!" Chris announced through the loudspeakers. "Game on!"
"You can count on me Chris!" Topher said, the upper half of his body rose from the bottom-left corner as he spoke. "Those Gophers won't know the beautiful thing that hit 'em!"
"You got that right Toph." Cody exclaimed, standing next to the taller fanboy. Next to them was Dakota who was holding her glasses in front of her face. The triumphant tune fading out as she spoke.
"Not gonna lie…" Dakota smiled, looking at her glasses while she put them on. "I could seriously rock these glasses. Can I keep these?"
"Aw," Katie said, gushing over the rich girl, "you look so hot right now!"
Cody stepped over to his girlfriend suavely. Waggling his eyebrows. "I could say the same for you right now." the two hugged lovingly and the shot cut over to Topher.
"What Katie said." Topher said, holding up his gun. "I mean, we would be the most attractive showmance TV has ever seen. How bout it?" the flirty tech geek promptly ran up to the fanboy, gripping his shirt and occasionally looking back at Dakota and Katie.
"Dude!" Cody scolded through whispers. "What're you doing!"
Topher looked down at his fellow hunter with disinterest. "Complimenting Dakota." he pointed down at Cody. "What are you doing?"
Cody retracted from Topher and gave him a bank look. "So… you don't know?"
Topher let out his breath in aggravation. "Dude, don't know what?"
"Yeah Cody." Katie said, walking over to the scene in confusion next to Dakota. "What's going on?"
Cody's cheeks turned red due to all the pressure. "Um nevermind." he covered up the whole situation quickly. The shot cut to each of the other hunter's expressions. All three were confused and the shot returned to view all four hunters. "Let's go win this challenge!" he ran into the woods in a forced manner. Topher, Dakota and Katie all stood briefly before walking into the woods as well.
"What was that?" Dakota asked Topher.
"Heh, let's ask Cody's brain." Topher joked somewhat playfully. "He's such a doofus."
"Hey!" Katie exclaimed, giving the fanboy an annoyed look while the trio slowly moved off-screen. "Leave him alone. We all make weird mistakes!"
Confessional: Topher
"I knew exactly what Cody was talking about." Topher admitted. "Sam has some crush on Dakota. Honestly, Dakota isn't nearly as beautiful as me. So I'm not even slightly interested in her. But as far as I'm concerned, until the two start dating. It's anyone's game. And plus, I'm trying to slay low so as much as I can in this game. No point in bringing unnecessary attention to yourself. Look how that worked out for Amy. If I help in challenges and don't give my team a reason to vote for me, I'm as good as golden!"
"So basically, I'm gonna try and float my way to the top." Topher gawked in awe at his sentence and rose a finger excitedly. "Floater! That's what I'm gonna call it." he leaned back in relaxation. "Dang, I'm a genius!"
Scott patrolled through the forest carefully. He held his gun in front of his chest for protection and darting his line-of-view around his surroundings.
"Come on guys? Where are you?" he said menacingly, ready to attack someone. "Little ol' Scottie's ready to kill some losers." a rustle caught the farmer's attention and he turned to his left. Scott began to slowly approach the bush that he heard the rustle from. Once he got close enough he poked the bush with the barrel of his gun. "Come on," he said in chagrin, still poking the bush. "I swear I heard something." he finally tapped something that didn't seem to be leaves. He grinned evilly and cocked the gun. "I thought so." much to his surprise, the 'bush' began to speak to him.
"Okay, you were right." Courtney said from inside the bush. Making small movements as she spoke to her teammate. "Now back off before you get me caught!"
"Courtney?" Scott said in disbelief, backing up from the bush and lowering his gun. "Is that you?"
The ex-CIT poked her head through the top off the bush. "Yes it's me! Now can you leave? You're gonna get me caught!"
"Sheesh, hold on to your panties." Scott sneered earning an eye roll from Courtney. "The hunters just left the campgrounds you'll be good for a long while."
"I don't care how long ago the hunters left! I just want you to leave Scott!" Courtney yelled, now she was shoulder-deep in the bush as she kept ascending. "What about that is so hard to understand?"
Scott sent a smirk towards Courtney. "I like the orders, ma'am. But I guess it's my time to leave." he was about to leave but the voices of other campers filled the air.
"C'mon!" a high-pitched but male voice alerted, Courtney gasped and quickly ducked back into the bush. "I hear someone!" Scott grinned and aimed his barrel at a forested trail near the bush Courtney resided in.
"I'm right behind you!" a feminine voice responded, and as if it wasn't as obvious enough. Cody and Katie emerged from the trail Scott aimed at. The duo also had their guns aimed at Scott but after realizing that all three of them were hunters. They put their guns down.
"Dang it. It's just the new couple." Scott groaned, "And there's definitely something fishy about you two." he laughed and the couple just exchanged glances.
"If that was a pun towards us being on the Bass, then that was as-" Cody attempted to reply, but Katie covered his mouth before he could curse.
"What he was trying to say," Katie gave Cody a stern look before speaking on his behalf, "was that we thought we also heard a girl's voice." they looked around before Katie returned to talking. "Guess we were wrong."
"Obviously!" Scott said, lying for Courtney who remained still and silent in the bush. "Do you see anyone here?"
Cody ripped his girlfriend's hand off of his mouth. "So you were just talking to yourself?" Cody spat due to presumably tasting Katie's hand mistakenly.
Scott crossed his arms. "You don't?"
Cody shrugged. "Fair enough. I'm gone." he walked out of the little area with Katie following behind slowly. Once they were out of sight. Scott addressed Courtney.
"You're welcome." he told the Hispanic. "I think you owe me one." this time, Courtney stayed in the bush to respond.
"You wish!" Courtney countered. "If you want to win, all you did was give yourself a favor. Plus, I could've easily dodged those paintballs."
"Wanna try?" Scott said, threatening to call back the Bass.
"No! Nevermind." Courtney yelped, still making movements in the bush as she talked. "You can go now."
"Fine." Scott said, walking back the way he came and leaving Courtney alone. Once the dirt farmer left, the shot zoomed in on the bush as Courtney muttered something,
"Finally."
/
Trent and Sam walked through the woods, not too discreet as most deer would seem. Trent looked down at his stomach as it growled violently.
"Dang," he rubbed his stomach, "guess I shoulda ate those beans Chris gave us before the challenge. I thought they were gonna be nasty."
"You sure were wrong." Sam told him, smiling as he recalled the event. "Those beans were the best meal here!" Sam let out a small chuckle. "Besides the Awake-a-Thon meal, heh."
"If you say so…" Trent said, his stomach growled again and he looked around frantically, "dude I don't think I can go on without food. Who knows how long we'll be out here."
Sam eyed his guitarist friend in concern, putting a hand on his shoulder for comfort. "Then let's find a place to camp out." Sam suggested, lifting a smile. "All this walking probably isn't helping."
"Yeah," Trent nodded somewhat painfully, "you're right." after briefly looking down in neglect, Trent got an idea. "Dude! We can just hide in the mess hall. There's food and I bet no one's gonna look in there!"
Sam looked at Trent warily. "Not too sure if that's a good idea. Wouldn't Chef get super mad and try to kill us?!" the gamer increasingly got more frantic. Causing Trent to try and calm his nerves.
"Just relax, okay?" Trent turned to put his hands on Sam's shoulders. The gamer took in several deep breaths to calm himself down, which worked for the most part. "We've got nothing to worry about. Today's the ninth episode!"
"I know," Sam said, "nine's your lucky number. Sorry to say, but it doesn't work."
Trent's face filled with complete confusion. "How?"
"Last time we had nine team members. But we still lost and had to vote someone out." Sam pointed out, Trent still looked bewildered at Sam's accusation. "If it's works then the whole team should be good for the whole season! Or until the teams combine."
"I call bull." Trent turned and they began to stroll again. "We only lost because the luck gods wanted us to vote out Amy."
"Luck gods?" Sam repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Trent? I think you need some food in ya." Sam began to push him forward. "Let's go to the mess hall."
"I'm telling you." Trent remarked. "We're gonna win!"
/
Now the focus was on Harold and Sadie who were walking alone in a different area of the woods. Sadie led the duo while Harold fidgeted with his red nose from behind.
"So what do you back home-" Sadie whipped around and saw the dweeb playing with his nose. "Harold! Stop doing that! Chris said that if you take part of the costume off we'll be disqualified!"
"As if you have anything to worry about." Harold said, ceasing his fidgeting. "If we lose, there's no way you'd get voted out. Everyone likes you."
"Better safe than sorry right?" Sadie stated, pushing the red nose further on Harold's real nose to be safe. "Anyways, what do you do back home?"
"Well, Sam isn't the only gamer on this island." Harold revealed proudly, puffing up his chest. "In fact, my squad in Battlefront, has won ten online multiplayer gaming titles. The secret to our success is teamwork. Beat that, Sam!"
"Cool! I never really won anything." Sadie said, admitting without a problem. "Katie was more of the winner in our friendship."
"Huh," Harold rubbed his chin, "how come you guys don't talk anymore? I thought you guys were like this." he crossed two of his fingers and showed Sadie. The lighter-skinned BFFFL couldn't look anything but guilty.
"We are. It's just," Sadie paused for collect her thoughts. Presumably so she could say nothing but the truth. "I don't know. Ever since she got so close to Cody."
"Oh." Harold said thoughtfully. "You're jealous that Cody is stealing your friend, right? No point in hiding it any longer."
"Okay I am." Sadie admitted. "Usually Katie's the more sensitive one but I can't!" a tear shed from her left eye and Harold heroically wiped it away from her. "I miss by Best Female Friend For Life Harold…"
"Not to ruin the moment but you should really shorten that title." Harold said awkwardly. "It's kind of a time-taker." Sadie ignored the redhead's wrong-timed comment and wiped another tear that came from her eye.
"Can we change the subject?" Sadie sniffed. "I'm not much of a crier. Especially not on TV." she chuckled lightheartedly.
"Okay," Harold said, having mostly no emotion during this whole interaction. "I have a question to ask you." Sadie nodded. "How did you find out about my alliance so quickly? It wasn't even a whole week!"
Sadie snickered, "Well… you guys made it pretty obvious."
xxx
A flashback brought the scene to the mess hall. The shot followed Sadie as Chef filled her bowl with gruel and sent her off. She walked to the Gophers' table and sat down on one end with Scott, B, Geoff, Courtney and Sammy. The camera panned to the other side of the table where Harold and Scarlett sat across from each other. Talking about something that was inaudible to the camera. Sadie watched the two converse with interest.
"Hm…" she wondered.
/
The next scene was at the communal washrooms. Scarlett eyed her hair and the sound of a shower running filled the air. Sadie walked in with a small gray bag. She pulled out her toothbrush and toothpaste and began to brush her teeth at the sink next to Scarlett.
"There's no challenge today right?" Sadie asked the genius, spitting out toothpaste after her question.
"Correct." Scarlett answered, a creaking noise was heard and Harold came on-screen with a green towel wrapped around his naked body. Steam rose from off-screen as he arrived.
"Have you finished your shower?" Scarlett turned to the dweeb in distrust. "That was rather fast."
"Yep," Harold held onto the towel to raise up his arm, showing his somewhat hairy armpits, "my armpits are squeaky clean!" he said arrogantly.
"Yeah yeah, as long as I don't smell them later." Scarlett told Harold, putting her hair back in a bun and exiting the washrooms. "Quick movement now." Harold hurried out after her, letting Sadie ponder about the redheaded duo once more.
"Hm…" Sadie said, spitting out another mouthful of toothpaste.
/
The final scene was actually at the campfire ceremony for Episode 7: Phobia Factor. It was presumably before they started the event as the Gophers flooded in one after another. The last two to arrive were Harold and Scarlett who obviously were going to sit next to each other in the back. Chris glared at the two as they walked by him.
"What took you guys so long?" the host complained, resting his face in his palm. "The campfire ceremony was supposed to start ten minutes ago!"
"None of your business, Christopher." Scarlett replied as she sat down.
"Tell that to all 200 and seven cameras situated here." Chris stated, he was met with stares of either awe or disdain and took that to offense. "What? We need those legendary angles!"
"Hm…" Sadie said again, this time scratching her head before the episode returned to real time.
xxx
"Dang…" Harold marveled. "we really didn't hide it too well."
"Mmhmm," Sadie grunted, "I'm surprised more people aren't talking about it."
"Thankfully." Harold said matter-of-factly. "If someone like Courtney found out, we'd be toast."
"I don't even wanna imagine-" Sadie said as she was unexpectedly got hit with a paintball. "Aaah!" she shrieked.
Cody gasped off-screen. "Hey! I think I got someone!" Sadie and Harold began to panic due to the sudden encounter.
"Go. Go!" Sadie said through gritted teeth. Like she ordered, Harold took off running in the other direction and Cody and Katie emerged once again from off-screen.
"Yes!" Cody cheered. "Guess I'm not a bad shot."
"Sadie!" Katie yelled, running over to her BFFFL and hugging her tightly. "Oh I'm sorry! I didn't know that it was you! If I knew I would've stopped him." Katie turned around and sent a betrayed look towards Cody.
Cody looked around helplessly. "Don't try and pin this all on me!"
Sadie laughed. "Don't worry Katie. It's only a game. And if anything, I should be the one apologizing."
"Huh? For what?" Katie said.
"I mean, since you and Cody started I've drifted away from you a lot." Sadie explained, Katie was about to say something but Sadie kept talking. "And it's not because we're on different teams. Even so, we still could've found a way to hang out Katie. It's all because I was jealous of Cody, and how I thought he stole my best friend."
"Ah! My leg!" Harold screamed from off-screen, he tripped over a small twig on the ground and the camera pulled out to show how far he was from Katie, Sadie and Cody. Which wasn't much.
"Harold! Why didn't you run?" Sadie asked, baffled at how far he was away. "Were you eavesdropping?"
Harold blushed as he got up on one knee. "Maybe. You may continue." the dweeb got up and started to limp away due to his injury. The trio watching him go awkwardly.
Sadie turned to the Bass. "So you guys aren't gonna shoot him?"
"I don't know how to use this thing." Katie admitted, holding up the gun and eyeing its parts. "How do you shoot again?"
"You press that thing right there." Cody guided with a smile, he pointed it at the trigger as the camera cut in on it. "It's not that hard."
Katie whimpered and unknowingly aimed the gun forward. She made noises of discomfort before speaking again. "Why can't you shoot him."
"Because I ran out of bullets." Cody shrugged, Sadie rose a finger but reversed that action when she saw Cody's blank stare. The flirt returned to his girlfriend. "You got it Katie just… press it."
The darker BFFFL braced for impact as her finger tip slowly inched towards the trigger. The tense melody reaches its dramatic peak as Katie held onto the trigger. "Ahh!" she screamed, waving the gun around helplessly as she held onto the trigger and paintballs were ejected.
Harold was still limping away from the encounter. Becoming more confident with each step he took. Unfortunately for him, a paintball struck him in the back. Forcing him on the ground, "Gosh!"
"Katie!" Sadie shouted, shielding her face from the array of paintballs. "What are you doing!"
Katie squeezed her eyes shut as she wasted the paintballs. "Pulling the trigger like you guys said."
"You can stop now!" Cody told her, also blocking his face. "You're wasting all your paintballs!" like the male said, Katie's gun stopped shooting paintballs regarding of the trigger being pressed. Noticing the sudden halt, Katie opened her eyes and kept pressing her trigger to continue the spray.
"Uh-oh," Katie worried, looking at Cody and Sadie dumbfoundedly, "I think my gun jammed." Cody facepalmed while Sadie broke the news to her.
"No Katie, you used all your paintballs." Sadie told her. "Which means you can't really help the team anymore."
"Help the team period." Cody said, looking at all the paint that him and Sadie are covered in. "Now we're covered in paint."
"True, but she did tag Harold." Sadie revealed, dweeb promptly showed up at the scene. Even turning around to show where he got splattered. "That's some sort of help."
"But I don't have anymore bullets." Katie said, dropping her gun carelessly. "What do I do now?" Sadie rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.
"I mean, we could catch up." Sadie offered, putting her hands up in worry right after. "But if you don't want to, I understand."
"We don't need to catch up." Katie told sadie. "We're BFFFLs remember? We already know what's going on. Plus, I kinda wanna be with Cody too."
"Then let's go!" Cody said in thrill, holding his gun. "It'll be the three of us." he gave Harold a sympathetic look. "Sorry bro, but four's a crowd."
"I thought it was three's a crowd." Katie spoke, looking confused.
"Yeah, it is." Harold mentioned, bearing a classy smile. "I gotta go do something anyways." he shot finger guns and walked the other way. "Catch you guys later."
"Yeah, see ya." Sadie waved 'bye' at him before squealing and turning to the couple. "Okay, what should we talk about first?"
"Maybe how we can find other campers?" Cody suggested, his idea got shot down immediately.
"That's boring!" Katie said. "What about… who Sadie thinks is the cutest boy!" both girls squealed immediately, and Cody slightly groaned at his girlfriend and her friend.
/
"Can we please just find somewhere to hide?" Brick pleaded to Jo, who was walking alongside him. "Better yet, split up and meet at the end of the challenge!"
"Nice try, 'Boot Camp'. You're not leaving me that easily." Jo scowled.
"My instincts think that you should relax Jo." Brick advised her. "I think that the game's getting to you."
Jo faced Brick in agitation. "The only thing I'm getting would be the impression that you wanna be banished from my alliance." Brick gulped at Jo's merely false accusation. "Is that right, or am I just going crazy?"
"The latter." Brick nodded. "Definitely the latter."
Jo chuckled delightfully, "I thought so. So don't act up like Cody. Or you're getting a one-way ticket home."
"With all due respect madam, may I ask you a question?" Brick asks, maintaining a calm demeanor.
Jo groaned, "And you don't have to keep asking that. This isn't your training camp."
Brick apologized immediately, "Sorry," he began, cutting the formal talk, "it's just how I was brought up."
"Whatever, shoot." Jo said.
"How has Cody acted up?" Brick told her. "From my eyes, he's doing fine."
"Yeah, from your eyes." Jo faced the cadet and pointed her fingers directly in Brick's face. "Your blind, blind eyes."
"But as a fellow alliance mate, shouldn't we teach Cody how to act?" Brick suggested. "Whenever I don't understand something, my general would always explain it to me. Even if he was mean about it."
"I've enforced my rules plenty of times to Cody." Jo faced Brick again as she spoke. "He just chooses not to listen."
Brick raised an eyebrow. "What rules have you enforced on him?"
"That he shouldn't be around Katie 24/7 and needs to stick with us." Jo stated bitterly. "That's what."
Brick tried to hide a snicker that Jo clearly noticed. "You can't seriously expect him to follow such a rule! You're telling him to avoid his girlfriend. Why wouldn't he not listen?"
"I know you would've." Jo countered. Brick's expression faded to something more crestfallen.
"I wouldn't know," Brick said, "I've never dated someone."
"Well whaddya know," Jo reacted, also appearing crestfallen. "I've never dated someone either." realizing her actions, she promptly shook her head and slapped herself repeatedly, alarming Brick. "But even if I have, I'm here for the money. Not some stupid and unathletic girl!"
"I guess Cody really isn't here for the money." Brick said in awe but his face read confusion. "But could you at least tone it down on him. He's only a bad game player, not a bad person."
"I do what I want." Jo remarked. "Anywho, where the heck are these so-called 'hunters'? It's been almost half an hour!"
/
The scene skipped forward to a shot of the front of the mess hall. A picnic table was placed a few feet in front of the Main Lodge for some reason and Trent and Sam were approaching so unknowingly.
"I hope you know that we're risking our lives doing this right?" Sam said in a panic, guiding Trent ahead despite the guitarist being able to see. "So if we die on national TV, it's your fault."
Trent looked back at the gamer in doubt. "Would you relax? Jeez, I bet no one's even in there. Plus, Chris didn't say we couldn't take a snack or two."
"Or two?" Sam gasped. Momentarily without notice, Chef Hatchet exited the hall, all decked out in his swimwear and even whistling an uplifting tune. The gamer was the first to notice and pulled Trent under the picnic table with him. "Shush!" Sam whispered forcefully. The two teens looked somewhat in shock as the chef walked by without noticing them.
"Dude," Trent gawked as he stood up first, "good reflexes. He totally would've caught us!"
Sam waved his compliment away smugly, also getting up. "Ah it was nothin'. Ten years of straight gaming can change a man Trent. Now hurry up and get some chips or something." Trent began to walk up the steps before stopping and turning to Sam.
"Wait, you're not coming?" the musician asked.
"Hecks no dude!" Sam exclaimed, full of anxiety. "What if Chef comes back and gets us in trouble? I'm not taking that chance."
Trent looked displeased, "Okay then, where are you gonna hide?" Sam walked over to the side of the mess hall and laid against it so Trent couldn't view him.
"I'll go behind the mess hall." Sam said while he slowly inched to his destination. "Isn't there a backdoor anyways? I can just camp out there."
"Okay bro." Trent accepted with a shrug, he walked into the mess hall cautiously. "Watch out for hunters. Not my fault if you get splattered." the shot cut to inside the hall. Every footstep Trent made was heard on the floor, making the scene extra scary. Once he reached the doors leading into the kitchen, he eyed the area for any other people and entered inside.
"Wow…" Trent marveled, gaping at how large and sanitary Chef's kitchen was. Trent arrived at a countertop with a cabinet placed above it. The guitarist's stomach growled again and he opened the cabinet. Which was full of the beans Chris handed out in the morning.
"Really?" Trent groaned. "Just beans?" he took one of the cans out and found a red bag of chips stuffed away behind it. "Yes!" Trent smiled, grabbing the chips, returning the beans and heading towards the door. The camera stayed on the cabinet due to Trent returning to it and also taking a can of beans. "I bet Sam's gonna be hungry too." he told himself. Just as Trent began to get near the door, the front door opening stopped him in his tracks.
"Crappy ol' job." Chef muttered to himself as he angrily tossed his floatie on one of the dining tables. "Making me stay here and 'guard' the food." Trent, hearing Chef's spiel, began to twist the doorknob to open the backdoor. But was to no avail.
"C'mon," Trent whispered in anger, "of course my only way out is locked. Just my luck." abruptly, Chef Hatchet slammed open the doors leading into his kitchen. One look at Trent brought a wicked grin to Chef's face, worrying Trent even more.
"Now…" Chef said darkly, mashing his fist in his hand, "how do you feel about deer stew?" his dark comment brought happiness to himself as he cackled in a diabocial manner. Trent just gaped at the hulking man and tried to ram his way out. Chef slowly approached Trent as he struggled to break through the lock. But right then Trent was in arm's reach, the door fell through and Trent dashed out of there.
"What a beauty." Sam said, looking down at the idol he brought back lovingly. He even caressed the tiki statue. "Once I get back home, you are going straight next to my gaming trophies. My Swii crew will go crazy!-" the sound of a crash and a thud provoked Sam to put the tiki back into his pocket. Now focusing on Trent, who lied on the ground in a hurt fashion.
"Trent! Are you…" Sam bent down to help the hurt teenager before the broken door caught his eye. "did you break the door-"
"Come back here, Trent!" Chef called from inside, sticking his head out to finish his speech. "Don't make me hunt ya down!" the guitarist saw the shirtless man and instantly got up, grabbing Sam in the process.
"We gotta go Sam!" Trent urged, pulling Sam a few feet away from the mess hall with chips and beans still in his hand. After a brief look of confusion the gamer followed suit and ran away from the chef.
/
Dakota and Topher may have been hunters, but they sure didn't pay attention to it as they just conversed through their journey in the woods.
Topher, was tapping the barrel of his gun of his thigh in boredom. "Dakota?"
Dakota on the other hand, was adjusting her hat so it'd fit better. "Yes?"
"What're we supposed to be doing again?" Topher said, the rich girl stopped her actions and looked at her gun.
"Hunting?" she responded, not even knowing herself.
Topher gasped, "Oh… right. We haven't seen a deer in so long so I forgot, heh."
"Holy crap." Dakota said, looking at her gun in a new light. "That's why we have this. It all makes sense now." a mix of Trent's and Sam's screams rang through the air. Baffling Dakota.
"Not all of it." Topher remarked playfully. "Was that Trent and-"
"Sam!" Dakota cried, finishing Topher's sentence. "Where are you!" another batch of screaming was heard as the male duo ran past Topher and Dakota, without even acknowledging them. The hunters looked at was as chasing them and also ran away. Chef finally ran on-screen, clearly exhausted from being active.
"Dang," Chef said, hands on his knees, "another day Trent." the chef began to walk back. "Another day…" The foursome had continued their running for some more before finding a spot in the trail to stop at.
"Man…" Topher panted. "I don't think Chef Hatchet has ever been that scary! What'd you guys do to him?"
Sam and Trent shared a look before the gamer spoke up. "It's a long story. Trust me."
"We probably have time for it." Dakota said optimistically. "Topher and I haven't seen a Gopher deer since the beginning!"
"We haven't seen a hunter since the beginning." Trent added with a chuckle. "Makes me think that Chris should've closed off some areas to make it harder."
"Agh!" Sam yelled, promptly getting hit with an orange paintball on his side. Knowing that he could be next, Trent darted further into the woods. Dakota and Topher raised their guns threateningly even though at the person coming couldn't be shot.
"Finally, a dang deer!" Scott cheered, walking on-screen with his gun raised happily. "It's just like killin' a rat right after Thanksgiving!"
Dakota, Sam and Topher glanced in confusion. "Wow, a weight joke." Sam chided, rubbing the back of his neck. "Gee Scott, don't you have better things to do than make fun of me?"
Scott mockingly tapped his chin for an answer. "At the moment… no." he howled hysterically and the three Bass shot him glares one after another.
"Oh well, hopefully Trent makes this out alive." Sam declared, throwing his friend under the bus. Much to Dakota and Topher's shock. "He just ran this way." the gamer pointed in the opposite direction that Trent ran and the dirt farmer smirked.
"Thanks losers." Scott sneered, shoving Sam to the ground before trotting off to find Trent. After the dirt farmer was out of earshot, Dakota kneeled down to Sam.
"Om my gosh Sam," she lamented, resting her hand on his chest, "I am so so sorry! I should've stood up for you!"
"Eh," Sam said gruffly, sitting up with a wince, "I've dealt with worse. Don't sweat it."
Dakota blushed and rested her head on her shoulder. "Thanks! I thought you'd be mad."
"Dakota," Sam began, fully standing up, "I could never be mad at you. Well, unless you broke all my consoles or something."
"Thankfully, I would never do that." Dakota disclosed, the two shared a heartwarming laugh. Evidenced by the new light tune that was edited in. Topher even shared a laugh, even if rather uncomfortably.
"Okay then…" he stammered, "I'm gonna go find some deer…" he slowly trudged away at the scene, "yeah."
/
The viewpoint switched to a shot of the island's shore. A pan to the left brought the scene to Harold, who was patiently sitting at the edge where his feet barely touched the lake. Scarlett, who was still in the game, promptly walked up to him and tapped his shoulder. Earning a high-pitched yelp.
"Gah!" Harold screamed, whipping around to meet his partner's dry gaze. "Oh, it's just you."
"Yep, I figured you'd be here." Scarlett told, pausing briefly. "But I couldn't realize why."
"I dunno." Harold answered, looking at the lake before looking back at Scarlett. "Watching the lake is kinda therapeutic. Plus, I've been 'killed'." he quoted, grinning as he noticed Scarlett's paintless body. "You're still in!"
Scarlett smiled. "Indeed, Courtney and I to be exact. The amount of times I've ran into her in different hiding spots is simply deranged. She's been doing well. What about Sadie."
"She's out too." Harold recalled, still admiring the lake. "I think she's with Katie and Cody."
"Katie and Cody?" Scarlett repeated in confusion. "I thought the girls were in some sort of argument. Perhaps I was wrong."
Harold kicked a pebble. "No, you were right. They made up though and are being buddy-buddy again."
"Interesting." Scarlett mused.
Harold looked at Scarlett again. "Is there a reason you wanted to talk? I was hoping to relax for a bit here."
"That action needs to wait as we must talk about our alliance." Scarlett informed him.
"Huh? What do we need to talk about?" Harold asked.
Scarlet moaned. "Isn't it obvious?" Harold looked at the genius blankly. "Sadie! You buffoon."
"Okay, she knows. And?" Harold replied.
"And, I hope you aren't planning on including her to the alliance. Due to her becoming friends with Katie again it is possible for her to revert back to her old demeanor." a pan down showed Harold mindlessly nodding to Scarlett's monologue.
"Uh-huh."
Confessional: Harold
"I think I know Sadie better than Scarlett." he demurred confidently. "And I also trust her more than Scarlett. So why shouldn't we include her in the alliance? She's already proved herself. It's not like Courtney's the one who found out."
"But I trust Sadie." Harold told her.
"Harold, I'm trying to make this alliance as more of a partnership as possible. Which means that we have to make all of our decisions as a partnership. If we can't agree on something. Then we don't do it. It's only best for both of our games."
Harold turned back to the water, somewhat nonchalantly. "Loud and clear." he mumbled.
"Excellent. But as much as I would continue this conversation, I must go back into the woods now. Standing out here in the open won't do me any good- curses!" she cursed, getting struck with a paintball in the shoulder. The camera quick-panned to the stairs leading down to the shore. Where Topher aimed at them.
"Gotcha!" he exclaimed, fist-pumping.
"Wow." Scarlett began. "From that far, I can only assume that you've gone paintballing before."
"Nah," Topher admitted, "just a lucky shot."
/
The shot transitioned over to Geoff and Sammy, who trudged forward in presumably low spirits.
"I guess I'm a bit rusty when it comes to paintball." Geoff chuckled sheepishly.
"How'd we miss all those shots?" Sammy questioned herself in utter disbelief and shock. "Jo and Brick were right there!"
"I dunno, brah. I just hope that we're winning right now. If we lose again, I have no clue who I'm gonna vote for. Everyone on our team is wicked cool!"
Sammy giggled. "I'm not sure that wicked is the right word for our teammates. Sure, you and Sadie are cool. But Courtney? She's not wicked."
Geoff sent a concerned look to his fellow blonde. "What? I thought you and Courtney were tight?"
"Eh," Sammy said, squinting her eyes, "as much as we try to get back into the scheme of things. It just doesn't feel right."
"What do you mean?" Geoff queried.
"At the beginning of the show, Courtney and I were really close. Mostly because she felt bad about how Amy treats me. But as time went on, I don't know. She got really into the 'strategy' part of this game and she tried to bring me into it. But I'm not focused on it. So I dunno what to think about her right now."
"Yeah…" Geoff agreed. "she can be bossy sometimes."
"Mmhmm, and don't even get me started on Scott." Sammy said, shaking her head in disapproval.
"What?" Geoff shouted. "You don't like Scott? Why? He's a good dude."
"I hope," Sammy rolled her eyes, "the way acts just confuses me. LIke there's something off about him. I can't trust him with anything. I just feel like he'll screw it up."
"Funny." Geoff scratched his head. "Harold said there was something off about him too. Y'know, back at the camping challenge."
"Glad to know I'm not the only one. Gah!" Sammy said, falling to the ground as she collided with Trent. Who ran into her absent-mindedly.
"Sammy?" Geoff raised her head from the ground. "You okay? That was a hard hit…"
"Sorry Sammy!" Trent yelled, bringing the cheerleader to her feet and giving her a hug. "Do you need some ice or something?"
"No," Sammy laughed painfully, clutching the back of her head, "I'm fine. What're you running from? Please don't tell me it's a bear…"
"Don't worry, it's just Scott." Trent answered, also laughing. He noticed that the guns that Geoff and Sammy possessed and out his hands up freely. "C'mon, shoot me."
Geoff and Sammy looked at each other awkwardly. "Nah bro, you can go."
"Yeah, I don't wanna shoot you." Sammy said, agreeing with Geoff as she smiled at the surfer. Confusing Trent. "We'd probably miss anyways."
"Come on guys," Trent began, desperate to get shot, "I'm doing you guys a favor."
"Dude, just run away or something." Geoff cautioned, even lowering his gun down. "I'm not shooting you. You ran into Sammy remember? Get some rest."
"Rest?" Trent said, puzzled. Taking a deep breath before his next sentence. "Fine, I'll go. But can I have a word with Sammy real quick?" the cheerleader in question was surely caught off-guard by the question.
"Oh um… sure Trent." she agreed, not after giving Trent an odd look. The two set their distance from Geoff before their conversation began. "What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing. I just wanna know… you're just friends with Geoff right?" hesitated Trent. Sammy's eyes went wide, already figuring out that Trent's jealous.
"Yeah, of course!" Sammy said with forced happiness. "We're just friends. I am dating you. Uh, sorry if I hurt your feelings or something."
Trent put his hands up in defense, shaking his head violently. "No, no! You didn't hurt my feelings." he faltered a bit, "I just…" Sammy looked at him uncomfortably as he struggled to say something. "Y'know… uh, good talk." Trent ended, running the way he came in a small panic.
"All good, G?" Geoff said while the cheerleader returned to his side. "What'd he want?"
"Oh nothing." Sammy lied. "Let's go find another deer." she walked off alone and Geoff confusedly looked at the camera, standing alone.
/
"That's how you guys met?" Cody leaned against a big tree. "A singles meet and greet?"
"Yeah," Sadie said, standing next to him, "our parents became very good friends when we were younger. So-"
"We're gonna be step-sisters!" Katrie exulted, running up and hugging Cody. "Can you believe it?" Cody stood up from the tree.
"Hold on, so you're-" Cody tried to say.
"Yup," Sadie smiled, "her dad is gonna marry my mom."
"Oh," Cody exaggerated, "so you guys weren't lying when you said that you're always with each other. You guys live in the same house?"
The BFFFLs nodded simultaneously and Cody beamed.
"Guys, that's awesome!" he exclaimed, "Once everyone knows, you guys will be in a whole new light!" abruptly, Sadie covered his mouth sternly.
"Don't say a word." Sadie ordered, Cody gently moved her hand away and rose an eyebrow.
"What? Why?" Cody asked.
"We don't want anyone to know." Sadie answered.
"But didn't we just leak it on TV?" Katie asked, the two girls looked at the camera in shock and then remorse. "Sorry Dad."
"Sorry Mom." Sadie apologized, giving the camera a slight wave.
"Alright, your secrets safe with me." Cody said, assuring the girls with a thumbs-up. But someone's voice caught all three's attention.
"Shush!" the voice said in a bossy manner. "I'm trying to find where their voices are coming from!" Cody aimed his gun in frustration, knowing exactly where those voices are coming from. He took two shots and evidenced by the shouts, they hit.
"Blast! Looks like we're out." a more masculine voice shrieked. "Dang…"
"Hold on…" the second voice began, "doesn't our team have the blue paint? Someone from our team shot us!"
Cody gasped, and grit his teeth. "Crap…" he swore. And just then, Jo appeared from off-screen, the paint splattered on her cheek. Brick arrived after a moment the apint hit him on the chest.
"Why should I be surprised?" Jo condemned, slowly approaching Cody while Katie and Sadie backed up slowly. "Good ol' Cody, tagging along with Katie again. And look Brick, now Sadie 1.0 joined the crew! I think you know what this means."
"Oh what? Another scolding?" Cody mocked in a complete anger. "Look Jo, I'm tired of you walking all over me. I can hang out with whoever I want to okay?"
"Who died and made you alliance leader?" Jo bickered. "Because Earth to Cody, I'm still alive!"
Sadie looked at Cody and Katie in shock. "Alliance?"
"Yes alliance." Cody turned to Sadie, now taking his anger out on her. "Since the Awake-a-Thon challenge, Jo stringed along me and Brick for her dumb little alliance. Which was only made to help her get farther in the game. And since then, all she's done is just boss us around! And for a while, I didn't even notice it. But then she told me that I had to choose either Katie, or the alliance!"
"Wow…" Katie said, not sure what to make of this.
"Okay, so there was a secret alliance this whole time?" Sadie gaped. "I'm so happy I'm not on your team. Sorry Katie."
"Oh don't be sorry for Katie," Jo re-entered the conversation, "be sorry for Cody. Because as of right now, he's out of the alliance!"
"Alliance?" a new voice questioned, now it was Trent who arrived at the scene. Just as confused as Katie. "What alliance?"
Jo smirked. "Just the alliance that me, Brick and your buddy ol' pal, Cody started. Only for Cody to go against the alliance just for a ditz like Katie."
"Don't call her that!" Cody demanded.
"Go ahead and watch me." Jo smiled evilly, Cody frowned at the jockette only for Trent to start questioning him.
"So you didn't tell me and Sam about the alliance you're in?" Trent ranted, growing in anger. "You ditched the 'Bro Squad' for an alliance you didn't even like?"
"Well…" Cody faltered, lack for something better, "I was just trying to save my own game."
"Well have fun saving that game now, because you completely destroyed my trust." Trent raged, calming down and shaking his head. "Dude… I thought you were gonna be a real one. Guess I was wrong…"
"No, Trent!" by now, the guitarist walked out of the scene. Ignoring Cody's pleas. "Urgh! See what she just did Brick! You see what she just did!"
"Yes, but she explained it to me and it kinda made sense…" Brick admitted, bracing for Cody's retaliation.
Cody merely gaped at the cadet before roaring, "What?! You're actually siding with her!" he turned the other way and sighed. "Unbelievable."
"Yup Cody, looks like Karma coming to bite you in the butt." Jo laughing devilishly. "And just for the icing on the cake…"
"Attention human wildlife and hunters!" Chris yelled over the loudspeaker. The camera showed everyone's reaction to the sudden outburst between teammates. "Please report back to camp!" the camera cut in for a close-up of Jo's face. Where she had taken off the red nose she wore and looked at Cody. Then putting back on swiftly and walking away. Leaving Cody, Katie, Sadie and Brick to submerge in all the drama that had just took place. "It's time to show your hides and tally up the scores!"
/
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Chris scolded as a close-up on Jo's face zoomed out to show Chris walking by in the foreground. Pacing back and forth with each event. "Stealing from Chef… not eating my provided breakfast… having a vicious team argument." the camera panned out to reveal his stern look. "Do you know what I see here?
"I see a very, undisciplined group." the host continued, the camera panned across the worried teams with Chris in the middle of them. Looking at them as he complained. "I see a disgraceful mess- I see… a massive waste of paint product." the camera focused on only Chris's eyes and nose. "And, I have to say…" only for his grin and laugh to erupt after. "that was awesome! When you guys spilled all the beans about each other, wicked TV guys." he pointed to the Bass who all sent glares at one another (Cody, Jo, Trent, Sam, Brick and by extension - Sadie) then the guys cut to Topher who nodded in agreement with Chris so far.
"If I got to go home each week and watch episodes like this," Topher marveled, shaking his head in disbelief, "I'd create fan pages about each and everyone of you. Including whoever would have taken my spot."
"You really live for this show." Courtney commented, revealing her rather clean body.
"You don't?" Topher countered in offense.
"I'm just trying to win the hundred grand." Courtney addressed all of her competitors. "I'm not here for all the petty drama."
"But it's in the name! Total Drama!" Topher bellowed and sighed. "You're such a disgrace."
Courtney began to approach the fanboy. "You better watch what you say-" she told him, getting held back by Scarlett and Geoff.
"Okay, back to me." Chris interrupted, snapping his fingers. "Well, in any normal event. We'd have a clear winner since Courtney's the only paintless Gopher deer. But due to someone breaking my 'Take These Off And Your Team Is Toast' rule. We have a clear winner…" the teams stood in silence as only a few knew exactly what happened.
"Gophers, you are off to a hunting camp shindig!" Chris announced, cheers from the seven Gophers erupted as they won by default. "Bass," the host looked at the losing team awkwardly, "I'll see you at the campfire ceremony. Again." the camera panned across all of the irritated faces of the Bass and the scene flashed away.
/
The camera focused on the night sky, but instead of panning down to the ceremony, the focus was on Brick and Jo standing at the dock.
"Okay, I know a lot of stuff went down earlier today." Jo began directly, taking no funny business from Brick. "But this vote is more important than ever. So I need you to vote for-"
"I know madam," Brick nodded, "Cody. He tried juggling his allies and his girl. But it just didn't work."
"Actually," Jo smirked, rubbing her chin, "I was thinking of the 'guilt by association' route."
/
Now the camera cut to Trent and Sam sitting on the porch with Jo and Brick. The gamer looked rather displeased while his friend looked intrigued.
"Can you hurry this up? I wanna go back for seconds." Sam told Jo, motioning back to the mess hall.
"Seconds of gruel?" Jo asked, returning to reality. "Whatever, I need to talk to you about tonight's vote. I know you guys are ticked off at Cody right now." Trent and Sam both showed expressions of dislike at the geek's name. "But I also know that you guys were close… ish with him, right?"
"Just about right." Trent said, looking at Sam for backup but received none. "What does that have to do with anything-"
"So obviously you wanna see him squirm for a bit right?" Jo continued, her tone becoming more persuasive as her speech went on.
"Maybe not squirm but-" Sam tried to say.
"So let's vote for the person that he liked the most." Jo cajoled. "Katie." Trent and Sam both looked at each other in surprise, causing Brick to speak.
"I know, what a genius." Brick sucked up to Jo, which inflated her ego even more.
"Not gonna lie…" Trent's face grew into a kinda devious smile. Which usually, was out-of-character for him, "I'm kinda liking this plan."
"Man…" Sam said indecisively, "I'm not feeling too hot about this…"
"Great!" Jo swung her fist happily. "But four votes isn't enough. I'll go talk to Topher and you two keep your mouths shut." Jo hopped over the railing and jogged off-screen. Her army teammate also hopped over the railing, following Jo.
"Dude, I gotta tell Dakota about this." Sam said, barging through the girls' door, ignoring Trent's calls to stop him.
"Bro no!" Trent called, but it was too late.
Confessional: Trent
"Don't get me wrong, Cody's definitely on my radar right now." he began in anger. "But I wanna hear him out before he goes home. And he definitely needs some sort of punishment." he slammed his fist on his thigh and gave the camera a vengeful look. "This is that punishment."
"Dakota!" Sam shouted, finding the blonde on her bed playing with her hair. "I gotta ask you something but you can't tell anyone."
"I was expecting a 'hello' but okay?" Dakota told him, not sure of what's going on.
Sam let out a deep breath before ignoring Jo's order. "Jo, Brick and Trent are gonna vote for Katie tonight since they know it'll damage Cody even more. Personally, I'm not sure what to do at this point. But who are you gonna vote for?"
"Jo of course!" Dakota cried in disagreement. "I don't know what happened but it sure won't beat how mean Jo's been since the start of this." she hopped off her bed and stormed to the door. "I have to warn Katie."
Sam grabbed her arm forcefully, dread throughout his face. "Please, I'm begging you! Don't tell her!"
"Sam! It's wrong." Dakota broke free of his grip and slammed the door behind her. Sam groaned pitifully and put a hand on the door.
"Holy crap, what did I just do…" he muttered, pulling out the tiki and kissing it slightly. "oh look-alike hidden collectible from Unexplored 5: Rise of the Kingdom." the gamer face grew red as he spat out the sentence. Returning to its normal color while Sam took deep breaths. "Don't let me down…"
/
The campfire ceremony was now transitioned to with a flash and cut. Looks varied across the eight Bass as Chris watched them intensely from directly in front of them instead of the oil drum.
"Ugh, can we hurry this up?" Jo asked.
"Yeah, you haven't even said anything yet." Topher agreed, worried for the host. "You good?"
Confessional: Jo
"If this works, I should be named 'Best Strategist Ever'!" Jo praised herself. "I vote for Katie."
Confessional: Cody
"I know she's coming for me now." Cody groaned. "The least I could do is return the favor."
Confessional: Katie
"Why me?" she sniffled. "I did nothing wrong!"
Confessional: Dakota
She gripped her hands before hoping for the best. "I really hope Sam pulls through and votes for Jo. I'll feel so bad if Katie ends up leaving…"
"There are only seven marshmallows on this plate." Chris said, as the treats were shown. "When I call your name, come up and claim your marshmallow. The camper-"
"McLean! We know the deal already! Get on with the show!" Jo berated, raising her arms in sudden anger and anxiousness. The host gave her a perturbed look and held up the first marshmallow.
"Fine. Whatever. Spoil the moment, why don't ya. Sam." Chris sid, throwing the white treat to the gamer.
"Cody." the flirty geek caught it, but not without a glare to Jo. Who remained treatless.
"Topher! My man!" Chris added, giving the fanboy a marshmallow and the two shared finger guns.
"Dakota!" the rich girl got her marshmallow and glanced at Sam. Who couldn't even look at his love interest in the eye without shame.
"Brick." the cadet immediately ate the marshmallow once he got it. No look to anyone or anything.
"Trent." the musician caught his looked at Jo and Sam. Neither caught his glance but looked at Chris impatiently, waiting for the inevitable outcome.
"Campers," Chris held up the last marshmallow, "this is the final marshmallow tonight." the same suspense edit was made again for the Bottom Two. But it was cut short for Chris to and out the last marshmallow.
"Jo."
The jockette stood up happily and caught the marshmallow in her mouth. Chewing it loudly as Katie stood up and faced her teammates.
"I still don't get it." she mumbled. "What'd I do to you guys?"
"It's not really what you did." Topher crossed his arms and smirked. "It's what your boyfriend did."
Katie stood in silence. "Huh?"
Topher laughed. "You'll watch the tapes when you get back home."
"Oh okay." Katie whimpered, turning to walk down the Dock of Shame. But a male voice got her attention.
"Wait up!" Cody called, standing up and meeting his ex-teammate. "I'll walk you down."
Katie blushed. "Oh, okay."
The camera skipped ahead to the two at the end of the dock. She was just about to board the Boat of Losers with Chef but her boyfriend stopped her.
"What?" Katie asked. "That was a quiet walk down, heh."
"Again, sorry for what the team did to you back there. I think they booted you in spite of me." Cody looked down sadly. "I should've just listened to Jo. Maybe then we'd both be here."
Katie lifted up Cody's head by a finger on the chin. Revealing the small tears running down Cody's face. "Aw… Cody it's okay. What happened happened. I still like you. A lot." Cody and Katie chortled and she wiped Cody's tears away.
Cody sniffled softly. "I'll win for you."
"I believe you." Katie said, she slowly leaned in for a kiss. Causing Cody to do the same thing. They got closer… and closer...and closer… and-
"Shut yer trap and get on da darn boat!" Chef shouted, leaning on-screen and yanking Katie onto the boat as she screamed. Cody looked at her dejectedly. She waved at him sadly yet awkwardly from the bench on the boat.
"Bye…" Cody muttered, watching Katie's departure slowly happen as the boat continued to drive away. The sad post-elimination theme continued to play as Cody walked back off-screen to the cabins. A pan up, showed the night sky. Ending off the ninth episode of the season.
Author's Note
Yet another big chapter. Personally, the whole episode was my favorite to write so far and I'm more than ecstatic with the result. But as always, we gotta talk about: the elimination. Katie, a more dim-witted player with a heart of gold. Honestly, her elimination should be a reminder to everyone reading and the 14 remaining contestants that anything can happen. The reason why I cut her here was because I knew from the start that she wasn't gonna make merge. (or at least straight through. She could return) She was even supposed to be fodder. But once her relationship with Cody blossomed, I knew I couldn't boot her too early. And, her elimination was only the beginning of a new subplot with Cody and someone else.
What else happened… ah, the Jo/Brick/Cody alliance is now broken up. Jo and Brick on one other than tighter than ever. While Cody on the other hand, is alone with no allies. With this alliance now public news and Cody's number one ally out the door, the Killer Bass's dynamic is all over the place as of right now. Not much idol interactions this chapter, and that's about it for the Bass. I'll let you guys express your feelings about the Bass in the review box.
Now, the Gophers. Right now, I can only think of one thing about this team… Courtney had barely any lines here. Which comes as a shock because she's laying under the radar unlike earlier in the season. Geoff and Sammy reconnect and Trent shows hints of jealousy during the challenge. Usual Trent. Harold and Sadie bond some more and the alliance is in a pretty good state right now. Not gonna lie, I'm not too fond of recalling the chapter's events in the Author's Note so you guys can take it away from here.
Lastly, you guys can start making your pre-merge predictions! Please refrain from guessing placements after the X-Treme Torture episode. I already know who's in the merge but I'm still deciding on placements and whatnot. Don't forget about FanFiction's Favorite Player!
Well, don't forget to rate and review!
And with that, I'm signing off.
See y'all next chapter!
Checkmate King
TJI Elimination Order
Cameron - (22nd Place)
Beth - (21st Place)
Lightning - (20th Place)
Sugar - (19th Place)
Izzy - (18th Place)
B - (17th Place)
Amy - (16th Place)
Katie - (15th Place)