Sarge couldn't help but admit that he was proud of himself. This plan was ingenious. Hopefully he'd get rid of half the competition in one fell swoop. It would be spectacular. He shook himself and forced his mind to stay focused. Even the best plans could go astray if arrogance got in the way.
The ladies had gone on another group 'meditation date' in the field. That meant half of them had probably fallen asleep again. As a result, half of them would still be awake, which was actually rather a good thing. That half hazy point between asleep and awake was exactly what was needed.
Both him and Luigi were in the compound for this specific part of the plan. Luigi had protested that what they were doing was vandalism but Sarge only wrote it off as collateral damage. These reality tv mongols wanted a war, well they would get one.
The Jeep checked his missile launcher for the third time then glanced at the roof. As soon as Guido gave him the signal he'd be ready. Turns out the little forklift was quite the recruit! Sarge thought he'd be excellent as reconnaissance, so quiet and small.
Guido gave the signal, crossing his forklifts together over his cab. Sarge nodded and turned to the launcher. Three... Two... One... Fire!
The rocks flew out of the turrets and crashed through three of the windows.
Li screamed as the sound of the grass breaking resembled a hurricane. She burst through the door, almost crashing into Karin who slammed into the wall in the hallway. Everly had given a gasp but managed not to scream. All three of them were in the hallway and Karin was just peeking out when Guido set off the fireworks on the roof.
Sarge watched with pride as Guido repelled off the roof and down the side, his harness acting just it it should. Guido unhooked it at just the right time and zipped towards Sarge.
The fireworks caused the girls to scream and charge towards the ramp, needing to get out as quickly as possible. Guido had started with the Diadems and Roman Candles. By the time Fillmore shuffled his way out of his room into the hallway the Crosettes were going off.
"Ladies..." the van said.. "It's important not to panic. Let's file down in a nice orderly fashion. Everything will be alright."
"Can you please move?" Lilith was squeaking behind Karin who was moving far too slowly.
"I am moving," Karin said nervously. Another firework whistled through the air and Li squealed as the Horsetails crackled and popped ominously.
"Fillmore's right!" She squeezed past Karin. "Now is no time to panic! Let's move!"
They fumbled down the dark hallway until they reached the door. A light suddenly switched on and several cans of oil crashed to the floor, adding more noise to the chaos.
"IT'S BIGTIRE!" Lilith screeched, quivering up against Fillmore.
Painted on the mansion doors, towering high above them, was Bigtire. The paint was still wet and dripping ominously. Fillmore glanced behind him and thought he saw a flash of familiar yellow disappear out of the kitchen.
"I don't like this," Everly muttered as Li squeezed up next to her.
Fillmore, seeing all of the contestants so frightened, took action. Backing up, he revved his engine. The ladies gasped as laid back, relaxed, calm Fillmore charged forward towards the Bigtire painted doors. He rammed through them, causing the wood to splinter under his frame. The brown paint smeared across his front but he screeched to a halt outside
Li was the first to react and raced through the Fillmore-sized hole. Karin and Lilith followed with Everly taking the rear.
"Alright," Fillmore glanced at the contestants. "Let's all take a deep…"
He was interrupted as the second round of fireworks went off. Li screamed and hid behind Fillmore. Karin and Lilith hugged him on both sides.
Sarge, who was waiting patiently near the bushes, finally caught sight of two small figures racing towards him.
"Good work, soldiers!" He congratulated. Already hooked onto his cannon, the Jeep made his way towards the exit.
"I rigged the kitchen," Luigi reported, relatively proud of himself.
Guido chattered excitedly, describing to Luigi how he had rigged the fireworks, and how brilliantly they had gone off. The Skyrockets were just making the grand finale when they reached the gate. Luigi drove forward with the keycard and swiped it.
Together the three drove out of the iron gates, Sarge pausing and turning around to look at the finale. Excitement was coursing through his engine and he felt himself swell with pride. Their plan had been a success.
As the Skyrockets whistled and exploded into the air Angela finally made an appearance, a sleepy Bill behind her and several pink forklifts around her.
"What is going on here?' She demanded, bursting through the hole in the front door. The contestants hadn't been in their rooms and she had almost panicked. Once she saw them with Fillmore she relaxed… Until some Fountains started releasing their sizzling sound.
"Bill!" She shouted at the Chevy truck. "Get up there and shut those things down!"
"What, are you crazy?" The camera truck demanded. "You can't shut down fireworks."
"Go up there are try!" The Mini demanded, driving right up to him. Bill rolled his eyes and turned back towards the mansion.
"Last time I ever do this off season," he grumbled, nodding to one of the camera vans. Angela took a deep breath and tried to compose herself.
"Ladies," she turned towards the frightened group, putting on her best smile. "I am so sorry for all of this inconvenience. We'll have this mess cleared up and you can go back to sleep in no time."
A whiiiizzzz pop sounded in the background as a final Skyrocket went off. Angela winced but kept her smile.
"Are you saying...We have to go back… in there?" Li pointed a shaky tire at the mansion.
"We'll make sure it's quite safe, I assure you," Angela tried.
"Honey, my Mamma didn't raise no lemon," Everly agreed with Li. "We're leaving!"
"You gotta stay!" Angela was panicking slightly. All the contestants leaving? No, that couldn't happen!
"Hey, Ang," Fillmore rolled forward. "If these ladies say they wanna go, we don't have the right to stop them. This could be a sign that it's time for them to find their own paths."
Or that we need better security, Angela thought to herself. However, she stayed quiet. Fillmore turned to the four remaining contestants and put on his most soothing smile.
"Ladies," he said. "There's no shame in wanting to go home tonight. All four of you are remarkable and talented. If you believe this is a sign for you to go, I won't stop you. You know you can come visit me anytime back home."
Karin and Lilith glanced at each other. Everly spun her wheel thoughtfully while Li shuffled forward slightly.
"I'd like to go home," Li finally spoke up. "I don't want to stay another night in there." She pointed to the mansion. It gave her the creeps.
"I'll go with her," Everly agreed.. "Guess my folks need to see my new paint job."
Fillmore turned to look at Karin and Lilith. Lilith spoke first.
"I'd like to stay," the Beetle sidled closer to Fillmore. "If Fillmore's staying."
The van shot her a gentle smile before turning his gaze to Karin. She gathered together her courage and nodded.
"Ja," she said resolutely. "If Fillmore's staying."
"Of course I'll stay," the van beamed. "Especially for you two."
Li drove forwards first and snuggled against Fillmore.
"Bye, Fillmore," she said before pulling back quickly.
Everly said her goodbyes as well and Fillmore stayed until the haulers came to pick them up. He stood by the road with the two other contestants and watched as the sun rose, signalling the beginning of a new day with only two contestants.
Angela was just relieved there were two left. Else the final rose ceremony would have been a disaster!
Sarge was brooding in his tent, watching as the mindless garbage of Fillmore's 'fear therapy' date played in front of him. His plan had only been partially successful. Only two of the four contestants had left. He'd needed at least three to leave! That way the producers would have no choice but to cancel the season for the final rose ceremony. To make matters worse, security had come in and changed the key cards! Now only Guido could sneak in through his hole in the hedge.
Not to mention Lilith was still around. The Jeep remembered how enthusiastic she had been over organic fuel. He didn't mind Karin so much. German, quiet, sensible… But Lilith would be just as bad as Fillmore. No, no, no, she would most certainly not do!
Sarge glanced up as Lilith started talking on the screen again. Ugh, she was just as big on conspiracies as Fillmore! Bigtire and Dracucar. What utter nonsen… The Jeep's train of thought suddenly screeched to a halt. He grinned slyly. Guido was the only one they needed.
"Are you sure this will work?" Luigi turned to Sarge.
"Of course it will!" The army Jeep explained, tapping a tire on their board. "Our resources show that enemy number one is terrified of him"
"Yes... but... Guido... isn't exactly... terrifying," Luigi glanced towards the forklift. He was wearing a black cape and red contact lenses. Little teeth were painted on his lip.
"Yes, but he's been practicing," Sarge explained. "Show him what you've done Guido."
Guido squinted his eyes and raised his forklifts. He grred and his eyes flashed, looking absolutely terrifying. Sarge shivered inwardly. Yes... this was the stuff of nightmares.
Luigi wasn't impressed.
"I know it's you, Guido."
Sarge elected to ignore him. Dracucar Guido was exactly what they needed.
They picked the perfect timing - the evening of the final rose ceremony. Angela was talking with Fillmore so she wouldn't get in the way. Lilith was on her way back from getting a wash and wax job, humming to herself. She turned into her room and stopped short.
Was there… a shadow behind the mirror? Lilith shrank back as the shadow took form. Dark cloak, sharp teeth, red eyes… It was Dracucar!
Guido, completely in character, raised his forklifts and gave a low hiss.
Lilith released a blood curdling scream and the only thing left in the hallway was rubber marks. With speed that would leave the camera crew and forklifts in shock for days she hightailed it down the ramp and out through the Fillmore sized hole in the door.
She didn't stop there and with another scream tore down the driveway and through the gate. Bill tried calling out after her but the Beetle's fear deafened her. She plowed down the road and into a bunch of bushes, heading for the hills so to speak.
From their camp, Sarga and Luigi heard the scream. The Jeep grinned. Angela was going to freak.