…
Day 15
Beast Mode Cowboy Bebop
Camp
Men: Joe, Killua, Kirito, Kyon, Spike
Women: Alice, Ami, Haruhi, Jasmine, Konata, Michiru, Mine, Misty
Around midnight, the players come back from Tribal Council with Haruhi and Konata whooping it up, Alice and Misty laughing, and the Men in total disarray.
"We're through," Kyon says. "We are absolutely, positively through. This vote sealed my fate, as well as Spike's. I'd be surprised if he doesn't up and quit in the middle of the night. And with our tribe so fractured, there's no way we're going to win any more challenges. This is the end for the Men."
Spike pulls Joe aside, as the others walk down toward the fire.
"Did you know that I didn't have my vote?" Spike asks him.
"Yeah," Joe says.
"So, you passed that info on to Killua and Kirito?"
"More like, they passed it on to me."
"I see."
"There's no use in playing anymore," Spike says. "But I'm going to stay in this thing so I can keep my pride. But there's no chance at winning anymore. Joe knew that I lost my vote; it's obvious that those three are going to take out myself and Kyon next, and there's nothing we can do about it."
"I didn't want to have to pick rocks last night," Joe says. "Nevertheless, I did, and our alliance has benefitted greatly from it. However, none of that's gonna matter if we don't start winning some challenges."
Six hours later, Killua holds his usual sunrise chatter with Alice.
"I'm so worn out," Killua says.
"Why would you say that, Albino?" Alice asks. "Your alliance 'won' that vote – thanks to my help!"
"From all the losing, I mean," Killua says. "All we've done out here is lose, lose, lose – to you guys. And the more we lose, the more we lose – get it?"
"You mean that it's snowballing, right?"
"Exactly. Every loss makes the next one more inevitable. We have to start winning, because we have no hope of a merge or a tribe swap this season. Our only hope is to start winning, and soon."
"Well, how about this?" Alice says. "How about your tribe keeps losing, and then you survive as the last one remaining in your tribe? Then you come and join us."
"Thanks but no thanks," Killua says. "That would be akin to suicide."
"What do you want me to do, throw a challenge?" Alice says. "Because there's nothing else I can do."
"No, we're just going to have to hunker down and beat you guys," Killua says. "And when we do, you've got to manage to remain afloat when the voting resumes over there."
"Oh, I'll be just fine!" Alice exclaims, giving the embarrassed Killua a noogie.
"Alice is in such a good spot," Killua says. "She doesn't understand how bad the Men have it over here. We may be living in the same camp, but our spirits are so low that we don't feel like doing much of anything. We've just got to win, there's no other choice. We need to will our way to victory."
"Poor Killua, he's stuck on a horrible tribe," Alice says. "But you know what? He's going to be okay. He's smart enough to maneuver his way through the final five of them and make it over to us. Besides, here's the real secret: I don't think we're going to win the rest of our challenges… and even more secret: I don't think we want to, either."
Later in the morning, the JAM Alliance comes together down at the beach.
"We just keep winning!" Jasmine exclaims.
"Yes, but we are still vulnerable," Ami says.
"Why can't we happy about this?" Michiru asks.
"We can't let our guard down," Misty says.
"That's right," Ami says. "We've discussed the how's of our next Tribal Council, but we haven't gotten to the who's."
"With our four votes, we assume that we are going to a 4-4 tie," Misty says.
"But the other alliance may have advantages that they have bought," Ami says. "So, they may actually have more than four votes."
"Uh-huh," Misty says. "Which means that there's a good chance that our votes will not be enough on their own."
"I see," Jasmine says. "You're trying to figure out who should use the idols in order to get them out."
"Right," Ami says.
"I think the people with the idols should keep the idols," Michiru says. "Ami and Misty, you have the idols. It's only fair that you use them on yourselves."
"But what about us two?" Jasmine asks.
"As long as Misty and Ami do enough to agitate the other alliance, we will fly right under the radar and not get any votes," Michiru says.
"I'll have no problem with that!" Misty laughs.
"Okay, it's settled, then," Ami says. "Misty and I will do our best to draw the votes to ourselves. We also have to make sure we don't make it too obvious that we want them to vote for us. Then we put all four votes on one person, but we won't decide that until Tribal Council."
"Ooh, so we can have one of those huddles in the middle of Tribal Council?" Michiru says. "Count me in!"
"Let's go!" Misty says.
The four girls all put their hands in the middle of a circle.
"JAM!" they shout.
Alice and Mine take the time to talk to Haruhi and Konata about their plans.
"We've got enough votes to split the votes to avoid an idol play," Mine says.
"Why worry about that?" Haruhi says. "We're never going to lose again!"
"Yeah, Haruhi's right!" Konata says. "We ain't going to lose!"
Mine shakes her head. "Look, we're going to need all hands on deck for this next vote," she says. "We have no idea what Ami and her crew will do."
"Yeah, Ami's a mastermind," Alice says. "She's probably got something really complicated cooked up."
"One thing's for sure," Mine says. "Any Fire Tokens that any of us have must be used for advantages by tomorrow. Alice and I are all out. What about you two?"
"I've got three," Konata says.
"I've got a couple," Haruhi says. "But don't you tell me what to do!"
"Whatevs," Mine says. "If you want to go home, that's fine with us. But we plan on playing longer, so it's your choice."
"Oh, all right," Haruhi says. "Here's mine."
"And mine," Konata says, as they pour out their Fire Tokens in the sand.
"Now, what can we buy with five Tokens?" Mine says.
"I know! I know!" Alice says.
She pulls out the Fire Tokens menu and points at a certain item.
"Gotcha," Mine says. "Konata, this will belong to you. You buy it, because you have the most Tokens left."
"Aye-aye, captain!" Konata replies, as she hands the Tokens over to a producer.
"We are going to pull off one of the biggest power plays in Survivor history," Mine says. "I almost want to lose the challenge so we can do it."
"This is going to be so much fun!" Konata says. "I'm going to shock the world by playing this advantage!"
Reward Challenge
"Come on in, guys!"
The two tribes waltz into the immunity challenge area.
"You guys ready to get to today's reward challenge?"
"Yeah!" Konata exclaims.
"For today's challenge, you will run through an obstacle course, then come over to a big pile of sand, where you must dig up five bags of balls. Once you've got all five bags, you'll take the balls out, two for each bag. You'll then roll them skee-ball style up into ten circular slots. First tribe to finish, wins reward. Wanna know what you're playing for?"
"Nah," Haruhi says. "You can tell us after we win yet again."
"Your overconfidence is your weakness," Killua says to Haruhi.
"Your faith in your tribe is yours," Haruhi replies.
"It is pointless to resist," Joe says to Killua.
"Anyway, let me tell you what you're playing for," Jet states.
He pulls a blanket off a table full of food.
"Whopper Whopper Whopper Whopper Junior Double Triple Whopper," Jet says. "You know where you can get this?"
All the players join in unison and sing:
"AT BK, HAVE IT YOUR WAY! YOU RULE!"
"Now all we need is a very serious injury to happen right before the playing of that song," Konata comments.
"So, a very nice Burger King reward on the line," Jet states. "In addition, everyone on the winning tribe receives one Fire Token. I know those things are starting to become rare around here, as lots of advantages are being bought up. So, worth playing for?"
"Why not?" Kirito says.
"Women, you have like a million extra players, you've got to sit a few out. You cannot sit out the same players in back-to-back challenges. Haruhi and Konata sat out the last one."
"I'll sit out," Alice says. "I don't really like that type of food."
"I'm with her," Mine says.
"Me too," Misty says.
"Very well then," Jet states. "Alice, Mine, and Misty, take a spot on the bench. The rest of you, I'll give you a minute to strategize, then we'll get started."
The players talk over how they want to approach the challenge, then they get to the starting line.
"For reward! Survivors ready? Go!"
Spike is first out for the Men, while Ami starts for the Women. She is a bit slower at getting through the obstacles.
"Spike blowing through these obstacles like he's in Beast Mode!" Jet shouts.
"More like Beast Mode Cowboy," Spike replies, as he finishes the obstacles.
"Or maybe… Beast Mode Cowboy Bebop!" Jet says.
Spike smirks as he goes over to the sandpit and starts digging.
"Ami still struggling with those obstacles!"
Spike continues digging, while Ami continues to have trouble.
"Those bags are in there deep! Next player for the Men may go!"
Killua starts doing the obstacle course, while Ami stumbles through the final obstacle and slips to the ground. She picks herself up and goes over to the sandpit.
"Ami, start digging! Next for the Women may go!"
Konata is next to the obstacle course, far behind Killua, who finishes up and goes over to the sandpit.
"Next Man in!"
Kirito goes next for the Men, and he catches up to where Konata is on the course.
"The Men have lapped the Women! Killua just found one of the bags!"
Konata finally finishes the obstacle course and starts digging, while Haruhi begins the course for the Women.
"Kirito is to the sandpit! Next person, go!"
Joe heads out for the Men, while Spike and Kirito dig. Spike seems to be getting very exhausted from digging.
"These bags are buried down there! You've got to dig deep!"
Konata pulls out a bag for her tribe, while Haruhi finishes up the course and allows Michiru to get on.
"Beast Mode Cowboy Bebop looking exhausted over there!"
Spike continues digging, but he starts to stumble. Joe finishes the course to let Kyon come on as the last one for his team.
"Each player has gotta find one bag! You can't have anyone find two!"
Haruhi pulls out her bag, while Michiru finishes up the course to allow Jasmine to get on it.
"Jasmine the last one out for the Women! Kyon finishes the course for the Men, but they've only found one bag so far!"
Spike looks faint as he continues to dig, while Killua pulls out a bag for the Men.
"It is really hot out here today!"
Jasmine finishes the course and gets to the sandpit. Everyone is digging, when suddenly Jet calls out.
"Everybody, stop! Medical!"
Spike has collapsed in the sandpit, and the medical team rushes over to help him. Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu immediately go to work on trying to help him.
"Spike, can you hear me?" Unohana asks. "Spike?"
Spike opens his eyes for a moment, then blurts out one word.
"Bang."
His eyes then close, and he collapses into Unohana's arms.
"This is bad," Isane says. "You've got to help him!"
Unohana tries to take Spike's pulse, before getting out her Zanpakuto and trying to heal him. The players watch from a distance, with Michiru, Jasmine, Misty, and Ami in tears.
"How is he?" Jet asks.
Unohana doesn't answer, frantically using her Zanpakuto on Spike, who is not moving.
"I need to know," Jet says. "He is my friend, after all."
Unohana looks up at Jet with tears streaming down her face. "He's… he's gone."
"Gone?" Jet asks, while many of the players gasp.
"Spike is dead," Unohana says.
"Dead?" Jet says.
"He's not coming back," Unohana says, wiping a tear away. "His heart has stopped. He is no longer breathing. He has completely expired."
Many of the players are in tears now, and they try to console each other. Michiru buries her head in Ami's hands and cries, while Misty and Jasmine hug each other in tears. Even the stoic Mine embraces Alice in sadness.
"This is unprecedented," Jet says. "For the first time in Survivor history, a player has died. And that happens to be my best friend. This is very tough to take. I'm sure everyone here is upset. But the game is not over; in fact, it will continue on. I am going to give a Fire Token to every one of you, and you are free to share the Burger King reward that was going to be given out. Spike will not be replaced on the jury; rather, there will be just nine jury members. Everyone grab a bag of Burger King and a Fire Token from the table, then head on out. I will lay Spike to rest in private."
Still crying, the players go over and do as Jet said. Each one picks up a bag of Burger King and a Fire Token, before trudging on out, back to camp.
Spike Spiegel
1998-2023
A Survivor Icon. A Japanese Hero.
Camp
Men: Joe, Killua, Kirito, Kyon
Women: Alice, Ami, Haruhi, Jasmine, Konata, Michiru, Mine, Misty
Alice and Killua huddle together by the fire, with both wiping away tears. Joe and Kirito also cry, while Kyon sits with Haruhi and Konata in utter silence. Jasmine and Misty cry together, and Michiru and Ami try to stop from becoming hysterical. Only Mine refuses to cry, although her eyes well up.
"I can't believe what just happened," Mine says. "We were playing the game, doing a challenge, and all of a sudden, Spike Spiegel just ups and dies on us. I don't knoefw why, I just know that it happened, right before our very eyes. This is just terrible."
"This is one of the hardest things I've ever done," Jasmine says. "Yes, I was tormented at the Badlands before. But I've never seen someone just die right in front of me. It makes me wonder if I can go on."
"Is this game even safe to play?" Misty asks. "I don't know that it is. This could wind up being dangerous for us."
As they sit there, a boat comes on its way toward the beach.
"A boat?" Alice asks.
"Maybe someone else has died," Mine remarks.
The boat reaches the beach, and the players immediately recognize Jet.
"Jet! What are you doing here?" Misty asks.
Jet smiles. "I interrupt this party for a special announcement," he says.
Out of the boat comes Spike Spiegel.
"What's up?" he says.
"Spike?!" Kirito says.
"He's alive?" Killua says.
"That's right," Jet says. "One of our longest-tenured crew members, Sesshomaru, used his Tensaiga to bring him back to life. So, Spike is back, and the game continues. You may all keep your Fire Tokens; I've given one to Spike as well. The Men are back to having five members, and the jury is back to having ten members. Oh, and Spike is alive."
Everyone comes running over to Spike, and some of them hug him.
"Okay, okay!" he says. "It's not that big of a deal."
"Yes it is!" Haruhi exclaims.
"Yeah, we didn't want to play without you," Konata says.
"We thought you were gone for good!" Alice says.
"Hey, I'm fine," Spike says. "Now let's eat some Whoppers."
"Have it your way," Mine says.
The players gather together and start eating their Burger King food. Not only are there Whoppers, but there are also onion rings, French fries, chicken fries, chicken nuggets, and milkshakes.
"If there was ever a time to come back from the dead, this is it," Spike says. "Now I can stuff my mouth with all this Burger King food. It would have been a real drag had I been brought back in the middle of a gross food challenge or something. I might have asked to stay dead for a while."
After the players eat, they break off into their little groups as they have been for a long time now. Mine, Alice, Haruhi, and Konata meet near the woods, while Ami, Michiru, Jasmine, and Misty meet near the beach.
"We've got to use these Tokens we just got," Alice says.
"But on what?" Konata asks.
"We've got four of 'em," Mine says. "What can be bought with four Tokens?"
"Ooh, I know! I know!" Haruhi shouts. "A small bag of beans!"
"You're wrong, quiz kid," Mine says. "We're buying an extra vote."
"Do we really need any more votes?" Konata asks.
"We need every one we can get," Alice says. "I've already bought an extra vote; I can't buy another one. Same with Haruhi."
"Ooh, ooh!" Konata says. "Let me buy one!"
Mine shrugs her shoulders. "Fine," she says, tossing her Fire Token to Konata. Alice and Haruhi also hand over their Tokens to Konata, who then turns to a producer and exchanges them for a piece of parchment.
"An extra vote," Konata says. "I'm going to use this to perfection. With Haruhi on my side, this is going to be so easy! The only question now is: who do I use this against? I'll have to figure that one out."
"I want so badly to lose this next immunity challenge," Alice says. "That way, we can finally pull off our plan before JAM gathers any more Fire Tokens. I'm thinking about throwing the challenge tomorrow if possible."
The JAM alliance also talks with each other about getting an advantage.
"I have four Fire Tokens," Ami says. "And the rest of you have one each. We need to figure out the best way of using them."
"We don't have enough for a steal-a-vote," Misty says. "We would need one more for that."
"Should we just buy an extra vote?" Jasmine asks.
"No, I think we should hold on to them," Ami says. "Win the next reward challenge, then put them together for another idol."
"But aren't we going to have to use two idols tomorrow night, should we lose?" Michiru asks.
"That's why we need another one, for the next vote after that," Ami says. "We should save them until then."
"Okay," Michiru says.
"I think Ami is a little too overconfident about our chances of surviving this next vote," Michiru says. "The worst part about it is that Jasmine and I are the two at risk. We don't have any idols or advantages. Ami and Misty can protect themselves. They are safe. As for us, if Ami's gambit doesn't work, then one of us two is going home."
"The best way to win at this game is to accumulate as many idols as possible," Ami says. "And that's what I'm going to do. After we make it through this vote, then we get another idol. I won't be allowed to buy one since I've already got one, but I know I'll be able to convince Jasmine or Michiru to let me have it. I have to do what's best for my game. Thinking about the tribe as a whole has not worked in my other times out here. This time, I vow things will be different."