Immunity Challenge
Day 23
It's raining, it's pouring, but Jeff's not snoring as he gets soaked in it. Doesn't matter to him though, it's time for an immunity challenge.
"Come on in!"
The eleven castaways who've made it this far walk right in. Jeff's right there, with the necklace stand. That stands lacking it's lover, but there's about to be a reunion. Jeff's got those hands on his hips. It's time, it's time, it's immunity time.
"Rocket.."
"Yeah.." The raccoon unhooks his necklace and hands it over. He blows a kiss to the necklace and Drax guffaws.
Jeff hooks it back on the stand. "If you win again, it's just true love." As Monty stares at the necklace, he gets a confessional.
Monty: I'm not sleeping this time. It's allll about that endurance, and i can take SO MUCH punishment.
Jeff turns back to the cast. "Alright. Immunity is back up for grabs. For today's challenge, you're going to stand on a small block, while balancing a ball on an overhanging piece of wood. If at any point the ball drops, or you fall off your block, you're out. Last person standing wins immunity, and has a guaranteed spot in the final ten." He explains.
Well well well, if it isn't "Ballin a Jack" from Survivor: 44. Shocked there's not a puzzle at the end.
"I'll give you a minute to prepare, and we'll get started…"
After the break, all eleven are on that block of wood, needing to keep that ball pressed against the piece above. Monty's already having problems.
"Stay damnit..."
It might not stay.
"For immunity. Survivors ready?"
.
.
.
"BEGIN."
Monty presses forward, but his ball shoots out!
"Just like that, Monty's done for!"
The gator grumbles to himself as he heads to the bench of losers. Jeff catches it. "Monty, what happened?"
"It's so hard to keep that ball in place. If we had anythin' else I'd be up there." Monty explains.
"If we did that either everyone would win immunity, or drop instantly. That's not really a challenge." Jeff snaps back.
"Yada yada…"
Jeff turns back to the ten left. "If you don't want to embarrass yourself like Monty, hang onto that ball." The rain certainly doesn't help either. That block's slicker too.
It's even raining in Monty's confessional.
Monty: Jeff thinks he's THAT guy. He's not that guy.
Nobody seems to be slipping yet, but some hands have to be exhausted. One clumsy movement and it's over…
.
.
Drax's ball slips out!
"Drax is out!"
Silver Sonic's ball slides down, but he moves the handle down to quick and pops up, hitting his arm and dropping alllll the way.
"Silver's out!"
Ulala starts to teeter, but that's the least of her problems because that ball is getting slick..it falls!
"Ulala's out, we're down to seven!
Those three head back to the bench, as the rain goes on.
"Four have been taken already, there's going to be more. Will it be you? Or will you hang in there and fight that ball?" Jeff asks.
Rocket spits, showing his stance. He's on-top of his larger block so he can actually play. Everyone heard the act, and Rick copies him with a glob of his own. "Haha, ok big guy." Rocket says. His ball almost slips, but he moves his handle to keep it there!
"Monologuing is your greatest weakness of Survivor!" Jeff shouts.
The other four have their complete focus on keeping not just the ball in, but themselves as well. Rick shuts those eyes, even when he starts to teeter..but he can't keep his ball on.
"Rick's out!"
Rick steps down and passes Rocket. "Nice job, sheriff."
HIS ball drops!
"Rocket's out, didn't listen to my warning." Jeff calls back.
Rocket hops down and walks to that bench with Rick. "Got too cocky."
"Spitters never win." Rick responds.
While the two walk back, thats extra pressure on Li and Daisy.
One of them gets a confessional.
Chun-Li: When Rick dropped, i locked in. If he can't win immunities, one of us HAS to.
Jeff takes a look at the field left. "There's FIVE left. Sektor, Cyrax, Samus, Chun-Li, and Daisy."
It might be four, because Sektor's ball is starting to pop upwards..but he does nothing to stop it, and he's done for.
"Sektor's out, we're at our final four. Cyrax, Samus, Chun-Li, and Daisy."
Sektor walks back to the bench, but inside..he's not too bothered.
Cut to his confessional..but he's sharing it with Cyrax.
Sektor: It shouldn't be too obvious.
Cyrax: You're a target. It's a bad decision.
Sektor: Wrong.
Cyrax: It could backfire.
Sektor: It will work out because we wield it so.
Back to the challenge, and those four are locked in on their ball. For a minute, there's little movement.
"Who's dropping first?" Sektor asks his Gator ally.
"Not Cyrax, that's for sure."
As if he was heard, Cyrax's ball pops up just like Sektor's did, and hits the ground.
"Cyrax is ou—"
Dark Samus' ball slips out!
"Samus is out!"
As the two walk back, "Samus" catches up to Cyrax. Both drops weren't a coincidence…right? "What do we do now?" She asks with a whisper.
"Keep it on Rick." He whispers back.
While they move to the bench in silence, we have a standoff going on. Daisy versus Chun-Li, the day ones.
"We have a showdown: Chun-Li and Daisy. They started on the same tribe, but only one is going to take the necklace." Jeff narrates.
Ulala gets a confessional.
Ulala: I'm so proud of my girls, i'm like "YOU CAN DO IT!"
Back at the competition, Ulala shouts "KICK SOME ASS!"
"Trying." Daisy whispers.
The two stick it out a while longer, practically staring a hole through the ball. It's a matter of time until one has to drop out. Despite the rain, hell despite their shivering, all they care about is safety to get anywhere in this game.
The first round of friend versus friend is about to come to an end, when…
.
.
.
"Shit, shit, shit…" Daisy's ball slips out! It's over!
"CHUN-LI WINS INDIVIDUAL IMMUNITY!"
She steps down, and gets a hug from Daisy who gets in her ear. "That was awesome. I'm getting my win back."
"I welcome the challenge." Chun responds.
That sweet sweet necklace is waiting for her in Jeff's hands. She walks over, and the host wraps it around her neck. She's got a grin on, the power of that necklace taking over. "You look like you just won the lottery." Jeff says.
"A hard one.."
"Endurance challenges aren't easy, but it paid off, because you have a guaranteed spot in the final ten." Jeff replies, before turning to the ten that are vulnerable tonight. "I can't say the same for all of you. You're still vulnerable at Tribal Council, and one of you will become the first member of our jury. Head back to camp, I'll see you tonight."
With that dismissal, they make the trip back to camp, and while her ally's in trouble, Li's taking in the moment.
In her confessional, she's raising that necklace.
Chun-Li: This is beautiful. If Rick could get immunity too, we'd be set.
Merged Tribe
Day 23
Chun-Li, Cyrax, Daisy, Dark Samus, Drax, Monty, Rick, Rocket, Sektor, Silver Sonic, and Ulala
The eleven castaways get back, and Chun gets honored for lasting the longest.
"It looks so good on you!" (Daisy)
"i know right?" Li boasts.
"Your arms are killing you." (Rick)
"Absolutely." She responds. She's not really able to take the whole moment in, because after the hike back it hit her. For the first time in the game: the top dogs of Man are targets.
Chun-Li: I'm riding the high now, but knowing Rick's in trouble is sending me crashing down. He NEEDS to make it out, or else every vote will be a fight for our lives.
There's another still on the chopping block. Sektor's alone with Rocket, a rare situation over their time there.
"We did not start on good terms, but it is comical how my fate is in your hands." Sektor, verbose as usual.
"It's the game, man." Rocket says in a dead tone. "Find yourself here often?"
"No. Outside I use physicality to finish the job. My social skills seem to matter more in the game. Now more than ever." Sektor answers.
That sparks a question from the raccoon. "What do you do?"
"I'm an assassin."
"…"
"I thought that would get a bigger reaction."
"You've gotta hold shit back when you carry that machete." Rocket is unserious.
"Hmph. I'll respect your humor for now. Is Rick still the target?" Sektor asks.
"Yep. Gotta break 'em up." Rocket still has that dead tone.
"Excellent." Sektor just leaves the conversation, no closing, no outro, nothing. It fits Sektor since he is abrupt and disrupts.
The moment he's out of view, Rocket turns to the cameraman. "I see why he is who he is. He's seen some shit."
While Rocket criticizes him, Sektor gets a confessional.
Sektor: He has no interest in me. I don't care. Cyrax is holding up his end, but if the raccoon doesn't hold up his end, I'll be acquainted with the jury bench.
Well aware of his paranoia earlier, Rick pulls Drax aside to fill him in on what's going on.
"We're writing Sektor. You don't have to worry about Rocket getting into any trouble. Let him know that if he wants to vote with us, he can." Rick taking the diplomatic approach.
"Rocket won't flip. He's at the bottom of our six."
"Nobody's at the bottom. Anything can happen when we get down to it, and when we get there..I want you with me." Rick admits. "I've saved you before, and I'll have your back all the way there."
"Really?"
"I convinced everyone to keep you over Brandon." Rick's not exactly telling the truth. He and Chun made the decision together.
"..it's just…"
"Rocket's a good talker. He wants you to think you're in trouble. He lied about what I said in the confessional." Rick? "I said that Sektor was next, and ratting me out just shows he's more loyal to the other machines than he is to you. Just remember how much time he spent with them."
"…"
"You aren't his only friend." Rick's BS'ing him, and Drax is still asking the question of: who do I believe?
Drax: Rick is right. How I feel about the five, is how he may feel about the six. Rocket wouldn't betray me would he?
After that talk, Drax seems to be leaning more towards Rick.
Rocket spots Drax on the walking path, head hanging low. Knowing that it's now or never. He rushes right over, and Drax doesn't even flinch. It's just desperation in those eyes. His rough time just won't come to an end.
"What's going on big guy?" Rocket asks.
"I might stick to the five. Rick seeks your vote tonight.."
"Hold on, what?"
"I don't know. How do you feel about the six? Are their metal bodies better than me? Am I not good enough for your alliance?" Drax asks, deciding to take a seat in the walkway.
He is IN SHAMBLES.
Rocket sits down next to him. The talk with Cyrax earlier seemed to help for a while, but it's crunch time. Pressure's on.
"You're my family, that's why I keep you in the loop. That's why I always stopped by after a Tribal." Rocket rubs his back.
"Rick is my family too..he saved my life in this game."
"If EVERYONE voted for Brandon, he wasn't the only one who did. They kept you around because of how strong you are. It's not because of integrity. Games like this lack it." Rocket counters. "When we swapped, none of them came to visit. I always did, whether we were on the cam or off it."
Drax doesn't have a counter yet, because what Rocket's saying is a half truth. Brandon was agreed upon by the tribe, and the four people did have issues with Drax's personality. Rocket wasn't there in person, but he knows Drax can rub people the wrong way. He DID visit Drax when nobody else in that alliance would.
He doesn't know if there is loyalty within that five because of all the L's. But he's not going to outright say it, that'd blow his whole pitch.
Drax's head hangs again. "…so I'm like a puppet to them. Right when my mind is made up.."
"You're not a puppet to us. Jump in, and we're set."
Drax raises his head. "How do I know for sure?"
"Me, you, Silver, Cyrax, that's the four. When we get to seven, we'll cut the other three out." Rocket explains.
"What if..we want to keep a couple around?"
"We'll hear you out. We just have to take a couple out. Who are you the closest to?" Rocket asks.
"Well…Daisy and Chun deserve to stay longer."
"Ok, then we'll see about getting Ulala next." Rocket notices Drax's reluctance to participate. "But hey, you vote however you want to vote. If it's not by my side, that's fine. I just want you to join me this one time."
"Hm…"
Cut to Rocket's confessional.
Rocket: Not even I know where Drax is going. I feel like crap with this "us versus them" talk, but if Drax doesn't flip, Rick wins. It's over.
Cut to Drax's confessional.
Drax: I don't know where I'm going. I feel like crap having to choose in this "us versus them" bullshit. If I don't choose someone, it's all over.
As the sun sets, Rocket meets up with his core: Cyrax and Silver Sonic.
"What's the status on Drax?" Cyrax asks.
"Still doesn't know. This is gonna be a looong night." Rocket responds, short and sweet.
The Silver Sonic turns to Cyrax. "If he doesn't flip, you should retreat from the spy plan."
"Then my cover would be blown. Tonight we must test where Drax's loyalties truly lie." Cyrax counters.
Cut to another Rocket confessional.
Rocket: Drax, if you flipped, I'm gonna tease you about it after we're done.
They aren't the only ones meeting up, because Rick has all the women, minus Dark Samus, AND Cyrax by his side. Drax is the hot topic around camp.
"I don't know what else Rocket's been feeding him, but if it breaks down at Tribal, we're pulling out all the stops." Rick doesn't sound very diplomatic.
"We've used every argument we can. It's up to him now." Chun-Li says, trying to get a good read on someone who could be their former ally.
"What if we're not doing good enough?" Rick asks.
"We can throw everything at Drax and he'll do what Drax wants." Daisy chimes in. "I say we go in, hope for the best, and if we don't get it? Blame Drax."
Rick cracks a smile. "Aw come on now.."
Cut to Daisy's confessional, and she looks EXHAUSTED.
Daisy: Rocket's feeding him bullshit for breakfast, and he's eating it up! You know it's bad when it's getting to the tribe dad.
Cyrax gives the four some reassurance. "Even if we are the minority, expect the majority to crack."
"Everyone's different over there. Shocked there hasn't been a fight yet." That's funny, Daisy…
"None that you've seen."
"At least there's still a chance if I go." Rick at least has that.
Cut to a Rick confessional.
Rick: I'm used to being targeted for leading a group. The chopping block isn't new to me, but I'm worried about if my group can go on without me. Three on seven is bad, but knowing who's in the three: I got some faith.
Tribal Council: Night 23
The castaways enter the Tribal Council set. Jeff's waiting for them in his usual spot at the podium. They've got their torches in hand and hit the fire pit, where they light those babies up.
"Dip your torches in the fire. Fire represents your life, once it's gone…so are you."
They take a seat on the stumps provided and set their torches in those holes. The second tribal of the merge is set to begin, and someone's going to be sitting on the jury bench across from them soon.
Jeff takes a seat, and Tribal Council is set to begin. "Alright. I've been beating the jury phase into your head, but that's because of how important it is. The jury can vote based off of whatever they want. They don't have to like you, or respect your game, but you look like the better one sitting here at finale, you'll have their votes. That's why jury management is important.
Not everyone knows about that.
"Rick, what are steps people could take for jury management?" Jeff asks.
"Everyone thinks about this differently. For me..don't be cruel, but don't sit back and do nothing. You can use strategy without being rude about it." He responds.
"Sektor, what about you?"
"If someone's the better player, I will vote for them. Nobody sticks together in the game anymore, they must think about how they want to get there, but with WHO as well." Sektor responds. "The honest and integral play style is not impressive to me."
Jeff sets his sights on Drax next. "Drax, there's another aspect of the jury phase. You vote someone out, and have to make them like you enough to give you the win. Is that conflicting at all?"
"…it is tough. You have important friendships, and you'll run into a situation where you'll have to break one to please the other." Drax answers.
"That's when morality comes into play. Everyone's not cutthroat, but they aren't always loyal either. You don't know what you're going to get until you come out here and play." Jeff says. "What approach you take, can determine how the jury sees you. Daisy, how would you feel if you saw a cutthroat player sitting next to a loyal one?"
"I'd have a hundred questions. Does the loyal one want to be here? Was the cutthroat one a dick to me? If I don't like 'em, I'm not voting for 'em. Straight up." Daisy responds.
"That's not wrong, because you can vote however you want." Jeff responds. He sets his sights on a few more he hasn't talked to yet. "Silver…I need to ask, after the 5-4-3, are you worried at all?"
"..No."
"No?"
"No. I was THEIR backup target. Nobody should split the vote, or else you give the other side the numbers." Silver points out. "I say we get a six to five. At worst, a seven to four."
Jeff tilts his head. "That's a bold prediction."
"It is, but there will be lines in the sand for these coming votes."
"What lines?"
Silver turns to everyone sitting around him. "Tribal lines are still intact. We know someone from their tribe, and someone from ours is in trouble."
"Who?"
"They know who they are." His response catches the looks of Rick and Sektor. "Tribal lines will vanish later in the game, but now they'll decide who's going to the jury."
Jeff accepts his answer and gets to Ulala next. "You were in danger too. Is there any concerns from your end?"
"I don't have butterflies in my stomach, but I know somebody who has them."
"Do you mind sharing?"
"I shouldn't."
Jeff sighs. "All of you are being vague tonight. Are you scared about idols? Advantages?"
"It's why none of us are stating who the targets are." Sektor hits back. "Why would we give it away when someone could have an idol? That's stupid of you to say."
Jeff..does NOT look happy. "Is that nice of you say in a social game?"
"You aren't a contestant."
Jeff huffs. "..You really are a machine."
"And I'm thriving."
"Let's see if your overconfidence pays off, because It is time to vote. Rick, you're up first."
It could have been Sektor, but he's too busy pissing Jeff off. Anyways, Rick heads for the booth, ready to send another machine out of the game.
Rick: If you're still here, I got outplayed. (Sektor)
Sektor walks in next, and writes his name down.
Sektor: You've been outplayed. (Rick)
Drax walks into the booth next, and has that pen in hand. He goes to write a letter but stops.
Drax: Hm…
His hesitance is notable to everyone.
"Is he ok?" Daisy asks.
"He hasn't decided." Li responds.
"Oh brother.." now Daisy's worried.
Drax walks back down, and takes his spot. All eyes on him until Jeff opens his mouth. It's time. "I'll go tally the votes…" he goes to retrieve the voting urn. Rick and Sektor watch as he hits the booth. One's in trouble for the first time, while another's all too familiar with it.
The head of one table versus the head of another.
Once Jeff fetches that urn, he heads back to the podium, and places it there.
"If anyone has a hidden immunity idol or advantage they'd like to play, now would be the time to do so…"
Everyone takes a look around, but nobody steps up this time.
"I'll read the votes…" Jeff pulls out that parchment, and has that first one in hand. One's up, there's ten to go.
"First vote.."
.
.
"Sektor."
.
.
"Rick."
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.
"Sektor."
.
.
"Rick."
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.
"Sektor."
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.
"Rick."
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.
"Sektor."
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"Rick."
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.
"Sektor."
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.
"Rick."That's five votes Sektor, five votes Rick, ONE vote left…"
Rick and Rocket look at Drax, who's looking forward. His face is TWITCHING at the choice he's made.
"The eighth person voted out, and the first member of our jury…"
.
.
.
.
"Rick." There's a little gun drawn in the parchment.
The survivor just stares at Drax, who slowly turns to him. "I'm sorry. It's what had to be done…"
"…wow."
#Betrayal
Rick gets to his feet and grabs his torch. Rocket beat him in the tug of war, and that's a pill he has to swallow. Before Grimes can even start his walk, Li, Daisy, and Ulala stop him.
"It's been real.." Rick says, hugging them one by one. It's been twenty-three days together, but that's come to an end, like all good things.
After Rick's done, Drax steps in front of him. "Will you ever forgive me?"
The first jury member just sighs. "We'll talk later." He walks right past Drax, who looks crushed. He's got a frown on, watching someone he knew since day one set his torch in front of Jeff.
Drax may not be ready, but Rick is.
"Rick.."
He raises that snuffer.
"The tribe has spoken."
SNUFF…
"Time for you to go."
Rick gives a little nod to the three women, but eyes Rocket. "Good work."
"You were tough." Whether Rocket actually means that or not is up for debate.
Saying his goodbyes, Rick leaves the Tribal Council area. He'll get some peace and quiet for a few days, but it's at the cost of his own game. The jury phase just started, and he'll be sitting at the sidelines until it's time for the grand finale.
Once he's out of view, Jeff faces the top ten. "We'll see if that gets you points. Head back to camp, good night."
The cast grabs their torches and leaves the Tribal Council area. Thats one betrayal in the books, but it's bound to bleed through on the next pages. What's going to happen now that a shotcaller has left the game?
You'll have to stay tuned.
Rick's Final Words
Rick: They got me. Rocket put in work, and drew a gun on me. It sucks Drax went the other way. He made a mistake, and I can't say it's going to help. He's messed with my people, and if he tries anything he'll make the machines suspicious too. But this is Drax, he doesn't care, I respect him as a person, but he has big flaws in places like this. The girls and Cyrax are gonna need to crawl out of this, but there's bigger fish, so I don't think I'll see them at Ponderosa anytime soon.
He puts on that sheriff hat.
Rick: Should've had that confession somewhere else. I'll be pissed for a couple days, but the food'll make up for it.
Votes 6–5):
Rick— Sektor, Dark Samus, Montgomery Gator, Rocket, Silver Sonic, and Drax
Sektor— Rick, Chun-Li, Daisy, Ulala, and Cyrax
Confessional Count:
28– Rocket ( + 5), Cyrax ( + 5), Sektor ( + 4)
26– Chun-Li ( + 5), Daisy ( + 3)
25– Drax ( + 4)
24– Silver Sonic ( + 2)
22– Ulala ( + 3), Montgomery Gator ( + 2)
21– Dark Samus ( + 2)
Eliminated:
26– Rick ( + 4)
19– Megatron
15– Clank
11– Mighty Gazelle
9– Brandon
4– Nabbit, Sackboy
3– Porky Munch
What a goodbye for Rick. He started off on a tribe that lost FOUR in a row, but called the shots. He was liked by the Five, but then the swap came along, and certain people saw the threat Rick was. He even got along with Cyrax and Rocket. Unfortunately for him, Rocket did something we haven't seen and snuck into Rick's confessional, where he figured out: Rick's leading an "unbreakable" five. Rick's game ends how it began: a talk with Drax.
He peaked too early, and big threats have a hard time getting to the end nowadays.
Anyways, the jury's only going to fill up as we move along here. How is everyone going to react to Drax's flip? Who's going to win immunity? More importantly, who's game is about to end next? Find out next time! :)