Immunity Challenge
Day 34
"Come on in!"
The cast enters, spotting Jeff in that blue polo, and a stand to his side. That's not a Jojo reference. This is a crucial immunity for a couple players, and one of them has that necklace around him. He has no choice but to hand it over.
"Rocket.."
"Yeah, yeah." He unhooks it and Jeff takes it away, wrapping it on its rightful stand. The host turns to the seven, hands on his hips. "Alright, are we ready to get to today's challenge?"
There's a load of "Yes."
"For today's challenge, you're gonna race in from the ocean 'till you reach a barrel. You're going to stand on the barrel using ropes to guide you through the course. On the way, you'll collect three keys. Once you have all your keys you'll use them to unlock and solve a Survivor slide puzzle."
It's the first appearance of "Barreling Along", another challenge from 45.
"First person to finish wins immunity, safe from tonight's vote. Losers will still see me, and when the nights over, another one of you will be joining the jury." Jeff warns. "Take your spots, and we'll get started."
The seven are on a wide platform, with water ahead. Whoever swims the quickest has an easy advantage.
"Here we go, for immunity. Survivors ready?"
.
.
.
"GO!"
They all jump in and go at their own pace. Daisy's Olympic experience is helping her, as she has a lead on the others. All-rounders like Cyrax and Li aren't far behind, but for once in a while, they aren't first.
Samus and Rocket are keeping it even, but find themselves in trouble when Monty just slides past them. These waters are a gator's natural habitat.
"Monty's not in last, that's a first!" Jeff narrates.
The gator keeps his composure as he moves along. The shore ahead starts to fill up, as Daisy's up first, followed by her allies and Cyrax. Barrels are rolled to the course so they can keep track.
Daisy hops on her barrel first, but almost trips from the stability…lack of.
"Daisy struggling to hang on.." Jeff narrates, annoying players at the worst time ever.
Because of that one mistake, Cyrax takes her lead and starts rolling that barrel forward, feet alone. He comes to his first key in a jiffy and unties it.
"Cyrax, just tearing through the course!"
While he speeds to his second one, Ulala and Li passes their ally. That princess starts to get how these barrels work and uses it to get to her first key. That's four people with their first one, but Cyrax sticks ahead, getting his second key!
"This is an average days work for Cyrax. He has the moves!" Jeff narrates, putting the pressure on everyone else.
The girls get their second keys, looking to close that gap. As long as one wins, they'll have more options. Given the cyborg's lead though, they may have to stick to one.
In her confessional, Li has a glare on.
Chun-Li: …I should have seen this coming.
Meanwhile, Rocket's still collecting keys on his mini-set.
"If Rocket wasn't feeling small then, he is now." Jeff's comment gets the ire of the raccoon. "All you do is annoy us."
"Too bad, it's my job."
Rocket gives the fakest laugh ever recorded. "You're a comedian!"
"That's why SNL calls me."
The raccoon gets that barrel to his second key. "I don't even know what that is so it doesn't matter." That gets a laugh from the host, having a nice time watching everyone struggle.
Cyrax rips that third key off, and hops off to unlock that puzzle! He has a head start over everyone else, which is sure to work in his favor. While he pops those locks off, the women get their last keys and rush to crush some locks.
"The moment he got a lead, the rest of you kept digging. That's how we do it on Survivor!"
Nobody's out, because Rockets rolling to his last key!
"Rockets almost done with his barrel. Knowing how good he is at puzzles, they need to speed up!" Jeff praises.
Monty's rolling to his last key!
"Monty wasn't in last the WHOLE time, but he needs to move it before he makes history."
The gator jerks himself forward, and he almost trips for if! "God d—"
"Enough swearing, start rolling." Jeff doesn't like him.
In confessional that Gator looks dead inside.
Monty: ..The hell I do to this guy?
Back to the challenge and Cyrax already has that puzzle in place. He's sliding those pieces around, looking for that opening.
"Cyrax hasn't won immunity yet, could he do it here?"
He has the women on his tail. It's a slide off between him, Li, Ulala, Daisy, and DSamus, with two others joining too late. Monty sees the situation he's in, and just drops his keys. "It's done.."
"It's never done, keep digging!" Jeff's words fall on deaf ears.
"Nope, it's done." The gator takes a seat, causing the host to throw his arms up. "Monty taking last again.."
"What's even the point man?"
Dark Samus hisses his way. "Stop the depression, and stop them instead." She gestures towards Rocket who's starting his slide.
"Ugh.." Monty gets his curmudgeon-y bum up and starts unlocking the pieces.
It's a five way race. Li looks over at Cyrax's puzzle and starts copying him, looking to stop anyone associated with that raccoon from winning. The pace quickens for everyone, and it's crunch time.
"Everyone's here at the same time. It's anyones game…"
Cyrax puts that idea to bed, completing his puzzle first! "Jeff Probst." The host gets a look at it, and throws those hands up.
"CYRAX WINS INDIVIDUAL IMMUNITY!"
The cyborg poses for the camera, playful after a big win. He turns to see Li looking over his puzzle. "You're a smart cyborg. I'll beat you next time."
"You can't outwit me."
"I've already outplayed you." She says, the two sharing a small laugh as they join everyone.
Chun-Li: He earned the win, but as happy as I am to see him win: we're running out of options.
Cyrax heads for that stand, and gets that necklace wrapped around him. Jeff pats him on the steel shoulder. "You feel like you were built to win this."
"My body had nothing to do with it. The man inside did."
"The man inside must be proud. Congratulations, you are safe from tonight's vote and have a one in six shot at winning this game." He turns to those who aren't so lucky. "As for the rest of you, one will be joining the jury. Head back to camp, I'll see you tonight."
The winner, and six losers make the trip back after that new challenge. Cyrax knows very well that his ally is in big trouble, and makes a promise in confessional.
Cyrax: Your sacrifice won't be in vain, Silver Sonic. You needed to go so we could squeeze ourselves to six. Now you can revel as we send your greatest adversary to the jury.
Merge Camp
Day 34
Chun-Li, Cyrax, Daisy, Dark Samus, Monty, Rocket, and Ulala
The castaways get back to camp, sweaty, dirty, and exhausted from what they just had to do. Despite that, Cyrax still gets his due.
"You crushed us. Props." Daisy says, looking his bod up and down. "Shouldn't be shocked since you know, giant robot."
"I'll take the compliment."
His speech earlier clocks with her. She frantically waves her hands. "I didn't mean it like that!"
"Hmhmhm. I'm aware." They have an awkward fist bump. Cyrax seems to be taking it in stride, which is great for the safety of literally everyone.
While the cyborg soaks it in, the runner up in that puzzle confirms what she's doing tonight.
Chun-Li: I was voting for Rocket anyway, but any doubt has left my mind. Idol or not, he needs to go. I'm never letting him reach the end.
Rocket heads with Cyrax to hook the necklace on the shelter. Soon, everyone scatters like rats, needing to know what's going down.
Li and Daisy are the first group, getting that dirt off themselves. The water is going easy on everyone today.
"I sent Ulala over there to throw Rocket out to Monty." Li says, and Daisy scratches her head. Why not just go to the gator herself?
"So she can take the heat?" Daisy asks. One nod confirms what she thought. "Oh..well that means he'll go for her."
"If it's not her, they're splitting us up." Li makes a point, but from the look on Daisy's face, she's not happy about it. They've been down since day one, and five weeks on the island feels like a looong time if past players can say anything about it.
She just sighs. "So we've finally come to this, huh?"
"We have to."
"I know…just wish it didn't have to happen so soon, it's just…I like her, she's been nothing but nice to us! She committed the crime of being right?"
"I like her too but this is what we have to do." Li reassures. "It's a matter of time before they come for us again, and eventually one of us will go. I want you at the end with me."
The princess looks like she's about to cry, but takes a deep breath. Crying would make a huge scene, and this is an important moment. "I do too."
Li sees the toll this is taking. It hasn't been long since they've all met, but there's no distractions out here except for each other. They've won and lost together, and now the brutality of a game like this is coming into play.
The end game is merciless.
Chun-Li: I hate seeing her this way, but there can only be one winner.
Li gives her a quick hug, and they split up.
In Daisy's confession, she isn't crying, but her voice is flat. Like she's processed it but doesn't want to admit what could happen.
Daisy: ..I don't do this to my friends..but if I've learned anything: you don't really have friends. Just allies. It's so..easy to mix them up. I have. When Rick left it hurt. When Sack left, it hurt. If I want to bring the bank back to my queendom..I have to charge through and hope for the best.
She pats herself on the chest.
Daisy: People like me aren't supposed to be like this, but..I've watched someone else change their ways. Maybe it's my time too be the bad girl.
As they leave the water, that Dark Samus is waiting for them onshore. "Am I ruining a moment?"
"You're fine." Li changes the topic. "We do want to fill you in on the vote."
"It's Rocket." She guesses.
"Yes…"
"…"
The silence goes on, making each woman uncomfortable. "Doesn't seem like we have much else to discuss."
"It's an easy one." Li says, backing away as the clone stares into her eyes.
"Excellent. Does Monty know?"
"Ulala's got it."
"Good…" The moment that Samus leaves, Daisy starts whispering. "She's so suspicious…"
"We still need her."
"I know but like..I have a hard time believing anything she says." The princess admits. "I love that she overcame the odds to get here, but..somethings still off."
"One more vote, Daisy. One more." Li keeps her stern demeanor.
"Look look here's the thing…she keeps saying she's pro-woman, but she says it so much I don't think she is." The princess gets an exhale from her ally. "I hate to badger you, but I had to."
"Just play it cool."
In confessional, Daisy keeps up her suspicions.
Daisy: She's all about "I hate men," and has worked with a guy this whole time. Is she trying to use our gender as a weapon? Turn us against the guys? How is that supposed to get her any votes?
Speaking of Ulala, she's doing exactly what Li tells her by getting to Monty.
"We're doing Rocket." She reveals, and Monty's fake gasp tells her everything. "No way, y'all wouldn't do that to him."
"It's like, here we go again. Guy can't catch a break."
"Yep, he's gotten six votes. Sucks for him, it's about ta be eleven."
"Is that a record?" Ulala asks, to which Monty denies. "Nope, Sektor's clinched it."
Ulala smiles and walks with him, and reveals why she went with this in confession.
Ulala: I've got a target painted on me after what I did to Silver, so Rocket needs to go before he sinks me with him. Anything bad about Rocket, I'm going to highlight. Sorry, Rock.
As they walk along, that reporter does just that. "Remember when Rocket tried taking you out? He was crazy for that since you basically saved him."
"Yeah, that's crazy."
"Yeah…"
Monty: She's tryna instigate. I don't know where you were but last I checked all of y'all blindsided me. I'm not trying to hear about no "remember this?"
The gator's stance is clear, as he immediately takes this information to Rocket himself. The raccoon doesn't even look panicked. "Me? Again?"
"Ulala called the shot."
"She wants to be a shotcaller, we'll treat her like one. Wanna target her?"
"Well…I was lookin' forward to Li." Monty's disappointment is clear to the raccoon. "She left me off the reward."
"'Lala would have to. Those ladies are a club we're not in." Rocket points out. "Besides…" he stops himself when Cyrax and Dark Samus walk up to them.
"Interrupting?" The evil clone asks.
"Nope, come right in." Rocket welcomes, and the four are gathered in a circle. Choosing who to gut seems to be a big split between Li and Ulala.
"That trio has all the qualities to win a jury." Cyrax points out. Monty decides to jab at his language. "You will too if you keep talkin' like that, wise guy."
"I'm one cyborg. They are a force. The moment they reach six, we are done for. Now's our only chance to take them down." Cyrax looks at the Samus specifically. "They've been together since we started, that pecking order is clear."
"It is." The clone admits.
"I still want Li. Straight up…" Monty says, but Cyrax raises a finger. "They could have an idol..so we may need to take out our next big threat. She has many friends on the jury. She even made the move on Silver. That's enough to win this jury."
"Oh…" it clicks with the Gator. "OH. It's one of THESE plans. You tell Clank how to pull it off?"
"No, he's an intelligent being who could do it himself. His plan failed. All because Sektor played like his opposition was optimal." Cyrax says, knowing how Sektor can operate.
"..huh?"
"He assumed Clank was making his best move. So Sektor countered with his own best move."
"Oh…man who ain't smart on this tribe?" Gator Golf's own, asking the good questions.
Dark Samus finally speaks up. "This is better communication."
"What did they do at reward?" Cyrax asks.
"They couldn't decide between you…and you." She points to Cyrax and Rocket. "In the end Rocket, they deemed you the bigger threat. Even though we know you are equals." The clone gives Cyrax a knowing look. She never forgot about that idol.
Rocket crosses his arms. "If they think I'm that popular, they're comin'."
"The jury may see you as an underdog." The cyborg calls out. "A constant target, making flashy moves to stay safe."
"We don't have an underdog." The clone chimes in. "It's moreso three nations using each other for their own benefit."
"Brutally honest..but you got a point." Rocket scratches his arm.
Rocket: I've slipped away from the Reaper too many times. If Cyrax read which way they're going, I'm gonna do it again!
He flips off the camera.
Rocket: You're not gettin' me tonight!
The sun starts to set, as Cyrax and Rocket lay in the hammock together. Nobody's around, so that's when Rocket pops the question again. "Still confident?"
"Yes. Remember..if we kept Silver, one of us would go tonight. Now that he's gone, we'll have the numbers and make it to six. It's unfortunate he had to be sacrificed, but that's a price we have to pay to get this far." Cyrax notes, breaking down his thought process with the move.
"You're thinkin' a hundred steps ahead of everyone."
"Have to if we need to survive." The cyborg explains. "You aren't threatened are you?"
"No. Without you I'd be sitting on that bench." Rocket admits. "You got info from the girls, play all these sides, and you've created some of the wildest plans I've ever heard!"
Cyrax sets his hands behind his head. "I was doing well until Sektor derailed me."
"That didn't stop ya cause everyone still likes you. Some people don't but they're gone."
"I could have handled him better." Cyrax admits. "That was tough when he made me his prisoner. Didn't even let me savor one reward together."
Rocket blinks. "I was gonna say Samus but she hates everyone."
"She never made me feel the way he did. He hates that word."
The raccoon sets a paw on his knee. "He's not here anymore. You're fine."
"It's just fascinating to reminisce…"
Rocket: I gotta think about what to do with this guy. He's a Jack of all trades. Need a big move? He's the blueprint. Need an immunity? He'll win it. Hell if he actually sacrifices someone to get his furry shield further, he has my vote. All he has to do is show off these smart moves, to a jury that ALREADY likes his story except for a sourpuss…and he wins. 7-1. I can't do much about it cause he saved me, so he's gotta come up short.
He brushes sand off.
Rocket: We wanna talk about how Li's a threat? He's the dragon, and I'm the only one left who sees it.
Before it's time for Tribal, there's a meet next to a nice mud volcano, between Monty and Dark Samus. It's a nice sight to see, but it's stuck in the background while those two convene,
"First it was Li, now I gotta get Ulala. She thought I was stupid!" That Gator says, nudging a rock to the side. "Those boys want it, and we gotta give it to 'em."
"Hm."
"You…might love those ladies, I do too, but you're a sitting duck if ya stick to 'em." He pushes. "You sure you wanna go down with the ship?"
"It's a ship with cracks."
"Oh really?"
"I caught two sharing emotions in the water..while one was trying to trick you. If we make it to five, we could be in the middle yet again." She pauses. "It's a long shot.."
Monty's eyes almost bulge out. "Nuh uh. No chance they let ME past. You don't want them to take it all do ya? Cyrax is a wiseman, he knows what's gonna happen."
"He's right." She admits, brushing sand to the side. "Doesn't mean we have to play his game. We're playing our own."
"But he's right…"
"…"
"You're not goin' rogue right?"
"If people think I'm a pawn I may. Im no pawn, I choose who goes home! The fate of these alliances are in MY hands!" Her rant makes the Gator scoot away.
"Chill!"
She gives him an ice cold stare. "You lack emotional intelligence."
"I lack a lot of things woman, but 'Rax is making too much sense. Why should we let 'em storm to six? Cause of what, this feminism?" He asks.
"You fool..feminism has nothing to do with it! Any machine left is threatening."
"They're gonna kick you at four. C'mon they've been an alliance forever."
"They have spent more time with me. Which makes this one tougher." She admits. Knowing how much she's lied, is she faking her emotion? Or is it legit? Has Cyrax miscalculated?
Monty's face is frozen. "..yeah cool, but what side are we going? I know what I want."
Dark Samus: I'll make the rational move. It won't be what one side expects, but the other will be devastated when I etch their name. Then I can squash this idiot at the end. What has he done?
Cut to another Monty confession.
Monty: If she talks to everyone like this, I can beat her. If she flips on those girls after all this "pro-woman" talk, they're gonna hate her. Hehehe.
Tribal Council
Night 34
The castaways enter Tribal Council. 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 them 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 fifth tribal of the merge is set to begin, and someone's going to be joining Rick, Drax, Sektor, and the new Silver Sonic on that jury bench across from them.
Silver sees Cyrax with that necklace and nods. He may be gone but at least a good ally won.
Sektor doesn't have the same reaction. He looks at Cyrax like he's filth. "How are they letting him get away with it?"
"He always has a way out. Keeping threats around or saving those by his side." Silver responds, not letting his fr—I mean ally get attacked. "Someone analytical like you should know better."
"I don't support traitors."
Luckily nobody else can hear the jury except themselves.
Jeff takes a seat, ready to get this show on the road. "Alright. These next few days are about to get hectic."
"Ooooh?" (Daisy)
"Whaddya talking about?" (Monty)
Jeff starts to smirk. "I'll tell you. We've changed our schedule. It's not forty-two days anymore. We've shortened our season."
"That mean we're doing doubles?" Rocket asks.
"No. Here's how this will go. Two nights from now, you'll send someone else to the jury. Then..you'll send someone home EVERY night until day thirty-nine. There..THREE people will battle it out for the million." Jeff explains. "If you have any final two's, consider this. Li, what are you thinking about these reveals?"
"I wasn't expecting a final three since most seasons only have a final two. Now everyone has to consider who else they can sit next to." She answers, honestly.
"That's an extra slot at the end. Rocket, what do you say about that?"
"Someone's getting the short end. People come in, and have one or two people on their mind. You add a third person? They won't even think about them." The raccoon's bluntness is true, considering how recent seasons have gone.
Nobody wants to be a zero vote finalist.
Jeff sets his sights on Monty. "We still have a vote to get to. Monty, how do you think this fast pace will affect everyone?"
"We're gonna overthink everything. Did I get the right people out? Did I get the right people IN? Tonight someone can jump the gun and screw up." The gator brushes his snout. "Hope it's not me."
Jeff nods and focuses on Ulala next. "Ulala, how are alliances impacted by this?"
"If someone wants to do something big, then there's less time. So that sucks for people who want to make big moves." She responds, but the raccoon pushes back. "I love me some big moves. But that's not what it's all about."
"I know. It just makes people think." She keeps it at that, and the balls back in Jeff's court.
"Well we've had a lot of discussion about the future of the game. We can affect that in the present because it is time to vote. Ulala, you're up first."
She heads to the voting booth, in trouble again.
The reporter enters first and starts with an "R." She raises and flips that parchment. There's a little gun above the name.
Ulala: If you don't go, they should just hand you the check. (Rocket)
The raccoon enters next, and writes her name down..with a microphone drawn on one end, and a camera on the other.
Rocket: We've got a big scoop tonight: Silver Sonic has sent his regards. (Ulala)
One by one, everyone makes their votes, and get back to their stumps. Jeff's move.
I'll go tally the votes…" he goes to retrieve the voting urn. Ulala and Rocket watch as he hits the booth. Ones been a big target over the past few rounds, while the others just started her rise. What's going to come of this?
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…"
Daisy snaps her head to Rocket. "Got another idol in that pocket?"
"Wish I did."
They turn back to the host, who gets the message. Nobody wants to step up, so no plays. "I'll read the votes.." Jeff says, taking the lid off and grabbing all the parchment. It doesn't take long for him to order it up.
"First vote.."
.
.
"Rocket."
.
.
"Ulala. We are tied."
.
.
"Rocket."
.
.
"Ulala. We are tied again."
.
.
"Rocket."
.
.
"Ulala. That's three votes Rocket, three votes Ulala, ONE vote left…"
The reporter looks at Samus, who's just staring ahead at Jeff. Rockets not phased at all, getting a few votes every time for the past week.
Daisy gets in Li's ear. "She flipped? After all that?"
"We know where Monty stands." She whispers back.
Jeff has that last parchment in hand. "Twelfth person voted out, and the fifth member of our jury…"
.
.
.
"Ulala. Bring me your torch."
#Betrayal
She grabs her torch and gets hugs from Li and Daisy. The princess gets in her ear..
"She won't win."
Ulala nods and breaks the hug. She has the fakest smile ever, and gives Dark Samus a taste of her own eyes. "So all that man talk and you send me home?"
"Couldn't give you the numbers."
"Oh..." her smile fades and her real face is shown as she sets her torch down. She has a frown on, the betrayal stinging. All that talk, just to get a knife in the back.
Behind their backs, Cyrax gives Rocket a knowing look. The sacrifice last vote seems to have gotten them another vote together.
Ulala's nowhere close to satisfied as they are. She has to accept her fate. Jeff raises his snuffer.
"Ulala, the tribe has spoken."
SNUFF…
"Time for you to go."
She does a small wave goodbye and leaves the set. She got her enemies out, but tonight it's her turn to feel how they felt. She could have made it to the final three if she survived, but that's all for nought.
Once she's out of view, Jeff gives the six left final words. "She's right. I'm sure you'll have a lot to think about."
Isn't that the truth.
"Head back to camp, good night."
The top six grab their torches and leave the Tribal Council set. The fields dwindling, and with the first final three popping up, it's a critical point in the game. There's only three votes left, and they'll have to make the most of them, or else they'll regret it.
Ulala's Final Words
Ulala: Sorry spacecats, couldn't get it done. I don't know WHY Samus thought it was a good idea to fake us out. I can't stand people who say they are "pro-woman" but go back on it. We've worked with guys before, so why did she trash them so much? I should have known it was too much to be true!
She brushes her arm, trying to get over what just happened.
Ulala: It's..whatever. They did what was best for them, the ickiness from Samus turns me off. I'm rooting for my people, and hope they can fight it out finale night. This is all we have from Space Channel 5, tune in next time where we crown the winner.
Votes:
Ulala— Rocket Raccoon, Cyrax, Montgomery Gator, and Dark Samus
Rocket— Ulala, Chun-Li, and Daisy
Confessional Count:
51– Chun-Li ( + 9), Rocket Raccoon ( + 7), Cyrax ( + 5)
47– Daisy ( + 7)
44– Dark Samus ( + 7)
43– Montgomery Gator ( + 7)
Eliminated:
38– Ulala ( + 4)
34– Silver Sonic
40– Sektor
28– Drax the Destroyer
26– Rick Grimes
19– Megatron
15– Clank
11– Mighty Gazelle
9– Brandon
4– Nabbit, Sackboy
3– Porky Munch
—
After five weeks, they got Ulala. She was targeted early by our first boot for being "weak", even though he was the weakest. From there, she got into a strong Five with her surviving members..and even a three with Li and Daisy. Those three could have been safe even if they went to more tribals early.
At the swap, she met Silver Sonic, but this small interaction led her to distrust him, and throw him under at the merge feast. That kicked off this small rivalry, and in the end..Silver beat Megatron, but Ulala got him when Rocket and Cyrax let him go to lower their combined threat level.
Today, she was a causality because Li not only won immunity, but trusted Daisy enough to let Ulala do most the dirty work. She got ratted out by Monty, and in the end it let to her downfall here.
We have three more chapters until the finale, which is at the final five now. There's gonna be alot going down from here, so stay tuned! Ticket out, see you next chapter :)