The next morning, Pineapple Chunks, Scheherazade, and Rock Justice woke up in their sleeping bags that had been left on the ground for them and the other 198 participants. Neither of them could discern how much time had passed or what time of day it even was. It seemed time worked much differently in Lemuria than anywhere else. After all, it wasn't just any continent; but a magical one that had once been lost to time.
In any case, the first thing all 201 participants heard when they woke up was the sound of the speakers crackling to life. It seemed that an announcement was imminent, so everyone braced themselves.
"Good morning, participants," the voice from the speakers began to speak. "I hope you've mentally prepared yourselves for the day ahead of you. Our first round of the competition is coming up shortly."
Everyone just murmured amongst themselves and speculated on what the first round of the competition could be.
"But first, it's time for breakfast," the voice from the speakers continued. "You can't go wrong with a little breakfast. Line up and head for the canteen in fifteen minutes. Chairman out!"
Soon, the speakers went silent; leaving everyone to try to talk amongst themselves. Pineapple Chunks and Scheherazade decided to help Rock Justice remember not only who he was, but who they were as well, by writing reminders and notes on the palms of his hands in permanent marker. As the participants gathered their thoughts and prepared for breakfast, Pineapple Chunks, Scheherazade, and Rock Justice took a moment to reflect on their situation. They knew that they couldn't afford to waste any more time thinking about how they ended up in Lemuria or what the first round of the competition could be. All they could do now was resign themselves to their fates as the competition was about to begin and prepare themselves for what lied ahead.
"So what do we do when it's time for the first round?" Rock Justice asked his companions.
"Whatever the game may be, we stick together," Pineapple Chunks replied. "Right, Scheherazade?"
"Indeed," Scheherazade signed in response. "We are an alliance for a reason. No matter what happens, we stick together and try to make it to the end."
Rock Justice nodded. "Alright, I understand. I can't wait to see what the first round will be."
With their plan set, Pineapple Chunks, Scheherazade, and Rock Justice joined the other participants in the line leading to the canteen. As they waited, they couldn't help but notice the diverse group of individuals around them. Most of the other 198 participants looked to be just as old as Pineapple Chunks and Scheherazade, give or take a few months. Others were as young as the French Changed Daily, who had once gone by the name of Delphine Rambeau. This got Pineapple Chunks to wonder...
"Scheherazade," Pineapple Chunks signed to her. "Do any of the other participants seem familiar to you?"
Scheherazade looked around and tried to see if she recognized anyone else, first recognizing the French Changed Daily and then the Canadian Changed Daily and then the South African Changed Daily.
"Now that I think about it, I do see some familiar faces here," Scheherazade signed back. "Wait... you don't think these participants were recruited because they're chiefs from different branches of U.Z.Z., do you?"
"That's exactly what I think," Pineapple Chunks replied. "I think there might also be an ulterior motive for this, but I've yet to figure out what that may be."
As Pineapple Chunks and Scheherazade continued to observe their fellow participants, they noticed a few more familiar faces. There was the Australian Changed Daily, who had once been known as Amber Lewis, and the Russian Changed Daily, formerly known as Natasha Ivanova. It seemed that U.Z.Z. chiefs from various branches had indeed been recruited for this competition.
"Well, whatever the motive may be, I hope you can figure it out soon," Rock Justice assured his friend. "I believe in you."
Pineapple Chunks placed his hand on Rock Justice's shoulder. "Thank you, Rock Justice. We're going to need all the encouragement we can get."
Back in the United Kingdom, Victor, Anita, and Professor Professor were sitting in their designated seats. However, Lucy Woo was there leaning against the mantlepiece instead of Pineapple Chunks. The Kid had called upon her to temporarily take the chief's place since she'd been the original pick for the job before that ill-fated Hamster Man mission. She wore the same outfit that Pineapple Chunks usually wore, except it was adjusted to fit her frame.
"A whole day has gone by since the masked figure kidnapped Pineapple Chunks," Lucy began to explain. "As of right now, we don't know who is behind this or why. Worst of all, we don't know where they could've taken Pineapple Chunks. This is where you and Anita come in, Victor."
Victor was taken aback, and he pointed to himself. "Okay... what can we do?"
Lucy Woo took a deep breath before continuing. "Victor, Anita, we need you to investigate any leads or clues that might help us find Pineapple Chunks. We don't have much to go on at the moment, but I believe in your abilities to uncover the truth."
"Where can we go from here?" Anita asked.
"Well, you can start with the business card Pineapple Chunks called. He wasn't able to figure out what kind of numbering plan the phone number that was printed on it followed, sadly; but maybe if we have Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor investigate it, we might have a good starting point."
Anita nodded in reluctant agreement. If there was one thing Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor were good at in investigations like this one, it was decoding things.
"I hope I've made myself clear on this matter," Lucy concluded. "We have to find Pineapple Chunks at any cost, no matter what it takes. Got it?"
Victor and Anita nodded in understanding. They knew the gravity of the situation and were determined to find Pineapple Chunks.
"In addition to investigating the business card, we also need you to gather any information you can about potential suspects or enemies who might have a motive for kidnapping Pineapple Chunks," Professor Professor chimed in. "I think I have an inkling of who might've done this to him, but at this point, it's pure speculation on my part. We need to find him now before it's too late."
After receiving their instructions, Victor and Anita wasted no time in getting to work. They knew that time was of the essence, and every moment counted in finding Pineapple Chunks.