Chapter 14: Do As the Romans Do

While the plane flew south to its next destination, Team Chris relaxed in first class. Noah was reading, Sierra was typing on a pizza box and Owen was eating. "So, where do you think we're going next?", Sierra asked the others. Noah shrugged. "Beats me." "Hopefully somewhere with lots of food", Owen said. Noah put his book down and sighed. "Owen, can't you care about something else for a change?", he asked. "I can try, I guess. Um... do you think we'll win again?" Noah nodded. "We have a good chance. With my brains, and you guys backing it up with brawn, we're a perfect team. We're just at a numbers disadvantage."

Meanwhile, Team Amazon and Team Victory were stuck in economy class. While Cody and Lindsay made out, and Bridgette and Heather looked out the windows, Gwen and Courtney were talking. "Okay, so if we get into another survival challenge, you take charge", Courtney told Gwen. "And if it's a rowing, climbing, first aid, cooking, sewing, singing, dancing, or fighting challenge, I'll take charge." Gwen smirked. "Someone's feeling cocky today." "It's not feeling cocky if you're right. I was a CIT, I have a great skill set!" Heather turned to Courtney, scowling. "Aren't you forgetting a few people?", she asked. Courtney shook her head. "Nope! Gwen and I can handle the challenges. You guys are just backup for team events."

Confession Cam: Heather

"Courtney is lucky I'm a lot nicer than I used to be. Otherwise she'd be out of here asap. Too many cooks spoil the broth, and too many leaders spoil the team. For now, though, I have to focus on getting rid of Cody. He and Lindsay are gonna be a problem if they make it to the merge."

Confession Cam: Cody

"Stupid Courtney, dismissing me like that... I'm glad I have Gwen and Lindsay to rely on. Otherwise I'd probably be a goner. And, if I'm lucky, Sierra will stop being so annoying and start being helpful after the merge. Just need to make sure Lindsay doesn't kill her first."

"Can you imagine if we made it to the finals?", Courtney asked Gwen. Gwen smiled. "That'd be great. Much better than going up against Heather again." "What do you think Chris would do to turn us against each other?" "Oh, let's not guess. I'd rather just sit back and wait for it to happen."

Soon after, Chris called everyone to the dining area. Once they arrived, he started talking. "Prepare yourselves for challenges of an amateur caliber, because we're recreating the original Olympics! We're heading to the birthplace of the Olympics right now, in-" "Greece", Courtney said. "Atlantis?", Sierra asked. "Mount Olympics?", Owen asked. "Wrong! We're going to Rome, Italy!", Chris said. Owen gasped. "Pizza party!" "Actually, the Olympics did come from Greece", Bridgette said. Lindsay frowned. "Aww, but grease is so nasty and bad for your skin!" "No, they originated in-" "Greece. They're right", Gwen added. Chris scowled and pulled out some papers. After skimming through them, he threw them aside. "Interns!" A pair of interns ran up, and Chris glared at one of them. "Everyone should probably hang onto something, except you." Everyone else did so. Chef tilted the plane, Chris opened a door and the intern fell out. Then, Chris glared at the other intern. "You might wanna find some info on Greece, quickly." The intern nodded and ran away. "Okay, Greece it is! Chef, we're changing course!" Chris walked to the cockpit, leaving the contestants in the dining area.

Sierra glared at the Amazons. "Prepare yourselves for battle!", she said. Courtney smirked. "Oh, please! The Amazons are a Greek legend, we're totally going to win!" "Hope you look good in silver, Noah. I'm great in gold", Heather said. Noah just rolled his eyes. Bridgette cleared her throat. "I think you're all forgetting who the real winners are gonna be. Team Victory for the win!" Heather smiled. "Good luck, Bridgette." "Same to you, babe."

The plane reached its destination and everyone got out by a large building. "Welcome to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece", Chris told the contestants, "home to many of the first Olympians. Who, as my intern has informed me, competed naked." Owen sighed and started removing his belt. "Alright, time to drop the laundry..." "NO! That was just a quirky fact, not an order. There's no need to be a hundred percent accurate", Chris told him. Noah smirked. "I guess that explains why you tried to take us to Rome", he said. Chris ignored him. "We only have to resort to nudity if there's a tiebreaker. For now, stay dressed. VERY dressed. Today we're gonna do things a bit differently. Since Team Victory only has two contestants, and Team Chris is Really Really Really Really Hot has three, all today's challenges will be one on one matches. Every victory gets you a gold medal. The team with the most golds wins first class tickets to our next destination. Last place wins a brutal elimination ceremony." "Does the second place team get silver medals?", Owen asked. "No." Owen frowned.

Confession Cam: Owen

"As a kid, I always dreamed of being an Olympian. Standing proudly on that podium with my head held high, as I listened to the national anthem, bringing home another silver for Canada..."

Chris led the contestants into the Acropolis. "Our first historical event is a Grecian scavenger hunt", he said. "The inside of the Odium of Pericles is filled with mazelike rows of huge columns. Players must search through this ancient forest of stone and return with the Grecian treasure that awaits you inside. First one to do so takes the gold. So, who's going in?", he asked. Gwen, Sierra and Lindsay stepped forward.

Confession Cam: Sierra

"I always wanted this to happen. Me, Gwen and Lindsay, fighting for Cody's love! I just didn't expect it to happen so early in the game... or in a scavenger hunt. Whatever. I WILL be victorious! Cody will be mine, I swear it!"

Chris tossed a garbage can lid to each of the three girls. "Um, why do we need these?", Gwen asked. "These authentic Spartan shields will help you in your treasure hunt, for the treasure you seek is tied to a monstrous boar. And by boar, I mean a really angry bear with tusks glued to its face. Good luck, girls. You're gonna need it. Chef, sound the spartan battle horn!" Chef walked up and played a kazoo. Chris groaned. "That's the Spartan battle horn? For reals? Just... just go already! The rest of you, follow me." The three competitors ran deeper into the Acropolis, while the other contestants went with Chris. They arrived at a circular dirt arena. "Pancratian is an ancient Greek martial art with no rules. Last man standing wins the gold", Chris explained. Courtney smiled. "As the strongest Amazon, I volunteer to fight for our team." Cody stepped forward. "I'm pretty sure I'M the strongest", he said. Courtney laughed. "As I was saying, I'll do it." "Great. Now I need someone from Team I am Really Really Really Really Hot." "I'll do it!", Owen said. "I'm gonna destroy you!" Chris smiled. "Sold! And Bridgette, as the last member of your team here, you're in the match as well."

Meanwhile, the girls in the Acropolis were wandering around. Lindsay found the bear and was being attacked by it. Gwen and Sierra saw this. "Lindsay, hang on!" Gwen ran over to help, using her shield to guard Lindsay. "Sierra, gimme a hand here!" "Why should I help my competition?", she asked. "Forget the challenge!" Sierra glared at them. "It's not about the challenge. She's keeping me from being with Cody!" Lindsay glared at Sierra and crept away from the bear and Gwen. "I'm keeping you away from Cody? He's MY boyfriend!" "He deserves better than you! I know everything about him! Middle name, curfew, blood type, finger print pattern, everything!" Lindsay charged at Sierra and tackled her. "I may not know everything about Cody, but I know I'm gonna KILL you!" "Bring it on, blondie!" The girls started fighting. Meanwhile, Gwen hit the bear with her shield and it fell over. She pulled a gold medal from its neck and sighed with relief.

Back at the wrestling match, Courtney had Owen in a head lock. "You can't beat me, Owen! Just admit defeat now!" "No way, sister!" Owen tried to pull Courtney away from his neck, but she just tightened her grip. "That's it, Courtney, show him who's boss! Go, Amazons!", Heather shouted. Meanwhile, Bridgette was at the edge of the ring. "I'm a lover, not a fighter! I don't wanna do this!" Chris smiled. "You can quit if you want, but that means you lose a gold medal. Your choice." After a minute, Owen fell over, gasping for air. Courtney let go and stood on Owen, grinning wickedly at Bridgette. "Alright, you're next!" Bridgette screamed and ran out of the ring. "Well, we have our winner! The gold medal goes to Team Amazon!" Courtney and her teammates cheered.

Gwen arrived soon after. "I got the gold!", she said. Team Amazon cheered again. Courtney high-fived Gwen. Sierra and Lindsay rolled toward the others, fighting on the ground. Noah and Chris laughed. "Girls, we already had a wrestling event! You can stop now!", Chris said. "Okay, now for the next event." Chris led the team away from the Acropolis, toward a series of hurdles. "Welcome to the hurdles event, the ultimate test of speed and flexibility. Players must leap higher and higher over these hurdles, while racing to the finish line. First one across wins the gold. So, who's doing this one?" Bridgette, Noah and Heather raised their hands. "That should be Cody out there! When he was in second grade, he competed in a hurdles event and won the coveted participation award!", Sierra said. Chris shook his head. "The things you know frighten all of us. Really, they do."

The competitors lined up to start the race. "On your mark, get set, go!" They started running. Bridgette and Heather took the lead, with Noah far behind. "You're going down, Bridgette!", Heather shouted. "No way! You are!", Bridgette yelled back. They turned and glared at each other, then smiled. They slowed down, and tripped over their hurdles. Noah smiled. "Perfect." He climbed over his hurdles, running faster and faster, and passed the girls. They got up and ran after him, but he sprinted to the finish line. "And victory goes to Team Chris is Really Really... you know", Chris said. Owen and Sierra cheered. Noah fell to the ground, gasping for air. "I reeeeally need to work out more..." He passed out.

Chris looked at Team Victory. "Okay. You guys haven't won any gold medals, and the events are over. It's time for the dreaded tiebreaker." An intern arrived, pushing a cart with two pairs of fake wings on it. "Chef spent over one hour building these wings out of wax and the feathers we found in the plane's engines. You girls must strap on the wings and take flight, aiming for the gold medal up there." Chris pointed at a tall column with a medal hanging from it. "Whoever snags the gold medal out of the sky wins invincibility. Normally, this would be for your whole team, but this tiebreaker is necessary because there's only two of you left on your team and we need to see who's going home. Now, since it's a tiebreaker, I'll need you girls to change into these togas." The girls ran off with the togas and did so.

They came back and strapped the wings on. Cody gasped. "Lindsay, you look like an angel..." Lindsay blushed. "Aww, really?" "You always do. But this time you have wings!" Lindsay ran to Cody and kissed him. Heather walked up to Bridgette and patted her shoulder. "Good luck. I really hope you win." Bridgette nodded. Chris picked up a bow and arrow and pulled the string. "Ready... set... go!" He fired a marshmallow tipped arrow and the girls flew upwards. Cody and Heather cheered from the ground. "Go, Bridgette, go!" "You can do it, Lindsay!" "No you can't!", Sierra shouted. Lindsay glared down at her. "I'm gonna fricking dive bomb you if you don't stop that!" "Bring it on, loser!" Lindsay growled, stopped flapping her arms and dove at Sierra. She landed on her head, screaming, and started kicking her. "Die, die already you stupid wannabe Cody stealer!" Heather shouted "Bridgette, hurry!" Bridgette kept flapping her arms, and she reached the medal. She grabbed it with her teeth and stopped flapping. She and the medal fell to the ground. "Bridgette wins!" Heather hugged Bridgette and they cheered. Lindsay kept pummeling Sierra.

That night, Bridgette, Cody and Lindsay went to the elimination room on the plane. Chris followed them, along with an intern carrying a backpack. "Well, it's been a long day. You girls both lost every single challenge, with the exception of Bridgette winning the tiebreaker. The choice is obvious, and it's time to make it official. The drop of shame will be taken by... this intern!" Chris shoved the intern out of the plane. Bridgette, Lindsay and Cody gasped. "Wait... if you were just gonna do that, what was the tiebreaker for?", Bridgette asked. "For drama, of course! And it turns out the tension between Lindsay and Sierra is just heating up! I'm keeping both of your girls here for now. Good luck staying in the game with only two players, though." Cody hugged Lindsay. "I'm really glad you're staying here..." "Me too. Let's kick Team Chris's butt together." Cody smiled. "I'd be glad to."