Before either of them could even have time to register it, Victor, Anita, Jeremy, Tamara, Milou, Patrice, Behati, and Clearence all found themselves inside a cell after the mooks had captured them earlier. They honestly couldn't believe the situation they were in right now. Captured because Professor Professor just had to call at the worst possible moment. Victor couldn't help but wonder how it was even possible that Professor Professor hadn't gotten him killed yet. He must've called in a favor to the fae or something at some point because it just didn't seem to possible to survive even half of the missions Victor and Anita had gone on.
"Alright, guys, what do you think we should do now?" Jeremy asked his companions.
"I... I don't know," Clearence could only reply. "Wait for help, I guess?"
"That could take hours, if not days," Milou pointed out. "We have to figure a way out of this cell. You guys think of anything right now?"
"Ooh, I know!" Victor chimed in. "Maybe we can dig our way out of here!"
Victor was met with stares, most of them blank and some of them intrigued.
"I guess that could work," Tamara said. "But where exactly are the tools we need to do that?"
Victor looked around for a bit, hoping to find something around here that would help them escape. Sure enough, he found a silver spoon just laying there on the ground. It was pretty small, all things considered, but it still looked like it could get the job done.
Victor picked up the spoon and lifted it up for his colleagues to see. "Found this! What do you think, huh?"
Behati put her hand to her chin. "Are you sure about this, Victor? We could take hours digging our way out with that puny thing."
"I'm pretty sure. That's how I escaped The Chef's cell that one time."
"Aw, what the hell? Let's give it a shot!"
As if in the blink of an eye, it was time for the fourth round to start. The remaining 15 participants found themselves in a different room this time, markedly different from the one where they'd earlier played Tug of War. Before them, there were seven circles on the ground that were drawn with what looked to be white chalk. Neither of them knew what to make of these markings. On the bright side, the only thing they had going for them this time was that this round would be a lot less stressful than the previous three.
"Alright, now what?" Scheherazade signed to Pineapple Chunks. "What do you think this next round will be?"
"Marbles, perhaps?" Pineapple Chunks signed back. "Seriously, though, I think that's what those circles might be for."
"Now that you mention it, that definitely seems to be the case."
"Alright, now we're just going to have to wait for the announcement before we go any further."
Scheherazade nodded. "Good idea."
Shortly afterwards, the speakers began crackling to life.
"Good morning, participants," the voice from the speakers began to speak. "I hope you've mentally prepared yourselves for the fourth round of the competition. In this round, we will be playing Marbles. I'm sure you already know how to play the game by now, so I won't explain the rules or anything. What does warrant an explanation, however, is that all fifteen of you will be split up into seven teams. Of course, given that you're an odd number, one of the teams will have to have three people in it. I wonder which team it will be? Good luck, everyone! Chairman out!"
Within seconds, the speakers went silent. The remaining 15 participants looked at each other with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. On one hand, splitting into teams meant that alliances would be formed, and they weren't sure who they could trust. On the other hand, they also saw it as an opportunity to strategize and increase their chances of winning.
"I guess we need to start figuring out our teams." Rock Justice's eyes scanned the room as he fell deep into thought. "Let's see, there's fifteen of us here, so..." He proceeded to do maths in his head. "We'll have to do six teams with two people each, plus that one three-person team. Did I do this right?"
Pineapple Chunks furrowed his brow. "Sounds about right to me. Alright, now what?"
"Now we'll just have to get into our teams. That should be simple enough."
As the participants pondered over the team formations, they began to assess each other's strengths and weaknesses. They knew that in order to succeed in this round, they needed well-rounded groups.
The South Korean Changed Daily spoke up, her voice filled with determination. "I think it would be beneficial to have a mix of physical strength, agility, and strategic thinking in each team. That way, we have a better chance of adapting to different challenges."
The Nigerian Changed Daily nodded in agreement. "I also think it's important to consider personalities and communication skills. We need to work together effectively if we want to win."
After a few moments of discussion, everyone got into their respective plans, with Pineapple Chunks and Scheherazade and Rock Justice being left as the only three-person team. As everyone waited for the round to begin, they exchanged looks of encouragement and support. They were determined to overcome any obstacles that came their way and emerge as victorious and move on to the next round. Little did they know, however, that the game of Marbles held more surprises and twists than they could have ever imagined.
Back at the U.Z.Z. base, Lucy Woo decided to pay Professor Professor and Doctor Doctor a visit inside the laboratory. She wanted them to update her on how the rescue mission was going and when they could expect to get Pineapple Chunks and the other U.Z.Z. chiefs back.
"Hopefully, we'll get them back soon enough," Professor Professor assured Lucy. "It's just a matter of when."
"How soon is 'soon enough?'" Lucy asked, arms crossed. "We don't have much time left before any of the remaining contestants end up becoming Lemurians and end up as intergalactic pets."
"Lucy, we understand the urgency of the situation. Rest assured, we are doing everything we can to locate and bring them all back safely. The sixteen U.Z.Z. agents going undercover should help us pinpoint their exact location."
Lucy nodded, slightly reassured. "I hope you're right, Professor Professor. The fate of the world rests on their success in the competition. We can't afford to lose them."
Doctor Doctor stepped forward, her expression focused and determined. "Lucy, we won't let them down. We've been working tirelessly to develop a plan, and I believe we're getting closer to a breakthrough. Once we gather enough information about the competition and its organizers, we'll be able to coordinate a rescue mission."
While Lucy appreciated their confidence, she couldn't help but worry. "But Doctor Doctor, time is running out. What if something goes wrong before we can save them? We need to act quickly."
Doctor Doctor placed a comforting hand on Lucy's shoulder. "I get it. I really do, but we have to trust in their abilities. They've overcome numerous challenges before, and we have faith that they will find a way to prevail."
Lucy took a deep breath, trying to find solace in their words. "You're right. I have to trust in their skills and resilience. But please, keep me updated on any progress or new information. I want to be involved in any decision-making regarding their rescue."
Professor Professor nodded. "Of course, Lucy. We value your input and will keep you informed every step of the way. Together, we will bring them back safely and put an end to this dangerous competition."
Leaving the laboratory, Lucy couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination.
