Ticket here, welcome to episode five of Second Chance! This chapter features the aftermath of the close vote last night. Given the bickering at Tribal last night, the conflict isn't over yet. Personalities are ready to clash once again. You know how it is, we're closer to the merge, blah blah blah, two episodes left.

You may be asking: Two episodes until the merge? WHY? That will be answered in episode six..but before we get there, episode five isn't one to sleep on.

With all that being said, enjoy :)

EPISODE FIVE: DAMSEL IN DISTRESS

NuLoabi: Blu, Chun-Li, Cyrax, Diana, Gordon, Li Mei, Little Mac, and Sackboy

NuHathuru: Ellen Ripley, Kano, Metal Sonic, Princess Peach, Sektor, Slade, and T'Challa

Fifteen are left. Who will be voted out next?

NuHathuru

Night 11

Ellen Ripley, Kano, Metal Sonic, Princess Peach, Sektor, Slade, and T'Challa

The seven Hathuru get back, and when the torches get leaned, their real feelings come out. Peach is almost in tears, reeling from the loss.

"Wow guys…"

Metals the first to speak up. "Zelda was precise in her decisions. A very big threat late-game. She'd be insulted if we thought less of her."

Peach pops a squat. No words. No outbursts. Silence.

In her confessional, she's practically hugging herself.

Peach: I understand. But I'm allowed to hurt. The last time she went, everything fell apart for me. My pettiness ramped up, my immaturity reared its ugly head.

A frown forms.

Peach: I can't let that happen again..but it's hard for me to find where I fit. Who can I trust? Everyone has, or will betray me. I only hope those who HAVE can change their ways, or at least put them on hold.

Ripley's consoling the woman. "She wants you to be strong.."

Kano takes a seat across them. "When you double deal it comes back to bite ya." Their glares tell him 'wrong place, wrong time,' but the man pushes forward. "If it helps, I can help you with with idols."

"You have some audacity." Ticked Ripley off. "She just lost a friend and you rub it in."

"Why do you care? You of all people?" Kano leans forward. "I didn't gut her. I didn't toss her aside like a worthless piece of junk."

"I own up to my crap, you do it too much. Do you enjoy rubbing this in?"

"Get off the high horse." Kano really hates horses. "You want to have your cake and eat it too. Kiss Peach's ass and stay close with the others. I can't tell if you're genuine, and I'M the biggest liar here."

"Are you listening to yourself?" Peach getting vocal! "I was going to let it out and you somehow make it worse. I can't with you.."

"Ah..that's the fire from your cousin." The aussies got this weird smirk. "I'll show you the idol if I can get her number."

Peach gives him THE hand.

Not doing himself any favors.

Peach: He's doing his best to make me feel powerless. Run into his arms like the damsel in distress. I'd rather not shout..but I see why T'Challa says he tempts him.

T'Challa's heard enough. "She'd rather be supportive to someone in need of it, than a bitter person who rubs everyone the wrong way."

"If it isn't the white knight.."

"Joke again." Uh oh he's getting stern. "Make a joke about your place in this game. You want honesty?"

"I fish it out, I can take it."

"You're hurting everyone, even yourself. All you have to do is quiet down, lay low until the merge, but you cannot help yourself." T'Challa's on a roll. "This is why we let Kabal go first. He'd do much better."

Kano lets out a chuckle. "They should have gotten Dante instead. He doesn't need to blackmail women to get ahead."

"You would love to do what I did. You'd execute it even worse."

"What have you done, huh? Pretend to change?" Kano asks. "This game has its ways of making you TICK. If I can do that by breathing, imagine what happens when you're cornered? You'll jump at the chance to stab someone in the back. Hell you just did!"

"Zelda was the first to come up with the plan. I chose to abandon it." T'Challa clarifies. "Don't paint me as bad because you've made an ass out of yourself."

While the argument goes on in the background, the Black Panther gets a confessional. He's got this glare on. Rare to see from a calm guy.

T'Challa: I'm not fueled by anger, but I couldn't sit by and watch his personal attacks. Ripley is genuinely guilty, It's not based on game alone. Kano lives in such a cruel world, that he can't separate personal and game. They are both hell.

The animosity between these two has built up to this. Kano just drags it out, by switching targets. "You're gonna stab Peaches in the back, T. That's how you roll." The mercenary turns to Ripley. "Got anything to add or do you need your pet to protect you?"

"What a sad human being." Ripley leans forward.

"And he told me to stop getting personal…"

"You escalate it." Ripley shuts his point down. "You love the reactions. That's why you can't win this game."

"I placed ninth."

"Ninth isn't good enough." Ripley's digging in too! "If you don't win, it hurts. Maldives hurt Zelda because of what I did. It hurt me to get cut short. T'Challa fought for his life JUST TO LOSE, and Peach dealt with her loss for years. Do you think we came back for NINTH?"

"If I get lucky you'll finish come back for nothing." Kano kicks back. Ripley just taps T'Challa's shoulder, and the two head off..

Leaving everyone to stare at Kano. Even a depressed Peach. One sniffle and she speaks up. "You should not have done that."

"Eh…"

Kano: So what if they hate me? They can't do shit about it. I've got a new Black Dragon by my side. They just have their washed up season.

The two that departed go off by themselves. Ripley has the gameplan set right then and there. "No matter what they say, he's gone. How did you survive a day with him?"

"At the cost of my sanity." T'Challa admits. "He's been a bigger prick since coming back. I think I speak for the tribe when I say enough is enough."

T'Challa: Ripley rarely goes off like that, so to see her give him hell surprised me. We had our issues, but anything we did then, doesn't matter. There's one man we need to boot.

Speaking of her.

Ripley: Yeah. Kano's right about how I play this game, but that doesn't mean you target Peach because of it. She's in distress, and the first thing you do is rub it in? Try that against anyone else and that stupid smile gets wiped off your face.

A few seconds later, a distraught Peach catches up to them. Her hair covers most of her face. "While we're still here…thank you." Her voice cracks and she jumps into Ripley's arms. The Alien Protag herself is even shocked at this level of emotion.

But she embraces her nonetheless.

"Hm." T'Challa takes note.

With one confessional, we hear from Peach herself.

Peach: I came in wanting to be like Zelda: logical. Good thinker. Everything. Yet, emotions still run my game and..I'm ok with that.

She wipes something from her eye.

Peach: I don't know why I hugged Ripley, i just, got carried away Hehe..he..

She lets out a sigh.

Peach: I was born into royalty. I had to learn that even though people would kill to be in my position: life isn't fair to anyone. What I went through was traumatizing..but it's not fair to Ripley, or even T'Challa to be deemed as animals. They are human too! They don't deserve to be trashed by a slob who doesn't make any effort to change.

She has to listen to herself.

Peach: I'm besides myself praising a man who blackmailed me, but that was game. Kano would blackmail me in real life. I'll never run into his arms. I don't even care if Metal gets by. Kano has screwed Kano.

Just like that, the tides are turning against Kano. Again. That's three, on a tribe of seven that wants to vote him out. However, theres still four that seemingly want to keep him.

Hathuru can't avoid the mess.

NuLoabi

Day 12

Blu, Chun-Li, Cyrax, Diana, Gordon, Li Mei, Little Mac, and Sackboy

Buzz!

Buzz!

A lone fly makes its way around the Maldives. It's lived a long life, and who knows where it's journey goes next.

Blu's tongue cuts his journey off.

SMACK!

The Yoshi's lounging with Mac and Mei. Those three worked together on pre-swap Hathuru, and now they have to have a key talk again. Unfortunately the fly, it was another victim.

Mac doesn't consider the fly's existence. "Three days in..kinda bored. Hide and Seek is fun and all, but we need more activities."

"Like boxing?" Mei asks. "You seem to have a passion for it. Almost like an addiction."

"It's not that. Nobody's pulling out anything new. Li hasn't even started her sparring yet. You know I'd jump at the chance to take her on." Mac, confident as ever. "Her kicks, my fists."

"She's fought Bisons with her bare hands. Are you sure you can win?" Mei asks.

"There's no elites in this sport."

"Khabib?"

"There's one elite in this sport."

The two put their banter aside to talk with Blu. It'd be really rude to just leave her out."How have you been getting along?" The champion asks.

"Sackboy's so much better in person."

"We knew you'd get along since the preseason." Mac admits. "Just look at you two. Optimistic,

"The people thought we'd hate Gordon too. I don't have a hateful bone in my body"

Mei's in doubt. "Truthfully..you have your moments."

"There was just Kristine, and Gordon, and..Kano. And any Black Dragon." The Yoshi sighs. "I don't have many hateful bones in me let's just leave it there."

Blu: Loabi is a resort compared to Toka! It's so so SO much better. We don't have power hungry bullies running the show. Instead it's just egos. It's not good but anything's better than that first week.

Blu's getting closer with one of Season Four, but that could cause a problem. Mac and Mei are leaning towards the Chef's side. Li Mei takes the time to really see where Blu's at. "Outside of us, and Sackboy: who else do you feel comfortable with?

The Yoshi looks to the sky. "Hmm..Gordon's nice deep down..but he has a temper, and gets dangerous with idols. Sackboy's friends are a ray of sunshine!"

"Sackboy's friends?" Mac stops himself from laughing. "A little disrespectful, but just Season Four?"

"Li and Cyrax only voted each other when they HAD to. We want loyalty right?" Blu asks. "But Cyrax is scary smart..and he's good with idols too. We need Diana to get some immunities."

"You seem unsure. Do you need more time?" Mei asks.

"..yeah." Blu pauses. "I'll get a name in like..two days. Just chilling."

Blu's hesitance comes to more light in Mac's confessional.

Mac: Blu's not the hesitant type. When it was Kristine, she was ON her. When she wanted Gordon, she never let it go. When it was Kano, she never left his throat. So it's weird she's struggling now. Like you're playing for yourself, awesome, but you're walking left while we take the right.

After a while longer, Blu leaves, leaving the loyal pair alone. Li Mei brings Mac's exact concerns up.

"It's never good when she's sketchy." Mei, miss obvious. "We aren't on the same page."

Mac just kicks back. "I think she's messing up if she doesn't join us. Cyrax is a force, Li's strong as ever, and Sackboy can make anyone smile. Triple threats need to go."

"They have her fooled…"

"So good, at making her feel so good."

"With Gordon, we know what we're getting." Mei explains.

"..do weee?"

"He's easier to read than a literal machine."

In Mei's confessional, she even criticizes Blu's hesitance.

Li Mei: Blu's methods are inconvenient. I admire her heart, but cohesion matters more in these seasons. We establishes a trio on Hathuru, one that could have ran the tribe. We were cohesive. Now we can't even agree on a single target.

HUFF.

Li Mei: If we can't agree on targets, this might not work out at all.

At the main area, Gordon's got a blindfold on, while Diana and Season Four watch. He's using the machete to cut up their meal.

"If you could go anywhere, where would it be?" Chef asks, cutting another piece.

"I have many dream locations." Cyrax admits. "Japan, the Bahamas I hear about."

"You're an islander?" Gordon asks, cutting another piece out. He adjusts his fingers as the cyborg goes on. "I'd love more variety in my life, Ramsay. Nothing with snow. I have seen enough of that for a lifetime."

"That makes two of us. Shoveling's a pain in my arse."

Sackboy climbs onto Diana's shoulder. "I can't believe he doesn't even need his eyes for that..he's so much better than I thought."

"Never underestimate your opponent."

While those two discuss Ramsays skills, Li is smiling with amusement.

Chun-Li: I enabled him. If he wants to make Cyrax's target even bigger, we will return the favor. You won't see me sparring unless anyone asks. That put a target on my back in my last run, and I'd rather let everyone else shine with their skills.

NuHathuru

Day 12

Ellen Ripley, Kano, Metal Sonic, Princess Peach, Sektor, Slade, and T'Challa

It's hunting season for Hathuru. Sektor and Metal return with extra fish, but they walk at a slower pace. Metals in his ear.

"You know what to do."

"Is that our approach?" Sektor asks. "Pampering her?"

"Make it sound special. She needs it." Metal says. Yet, Sektor still stops him. "Why are we bending to a humans will?"

"Bigger picture, Sektor."

Peach looks the cyborg side to side. "..Are you well? Your delivery seems off.."

"I am extraordinary. This may not be natural, but it is a totally welcome change."

His delivery brings her smile back. "Did you have fun?"

"Substantial 'fun.'"

The machines share a confessional.

Sektor: I see no problem using my old delivery.

Metal Sonic: You would throw the bucket at players if you had the chance.

Sektor: Is there anything wrong with a blunt delivery?

Metal Sonic: You see where it's getting Kano.

Sektor: ..I'm regretting this training.

After the machines bring their rewards to camp, a strolling Kano happens to come across the bucket. His devious snicker tells all.

"Don't mind if I do.."

He steals a few fish and heads off, with a smug smile. He stole from his own tribe..and that's what he does?

In confessional, he's skinning one of the fish with the machete. Not at the campfire, no.

Kano: I'll be saving these little guys for dawn. If these people don't like me, they don't get many fish in the sea.

A rustling hits the ear, Kano turns and..it's Sektor.

Sektor: This must be a practical joke.

He snatches the fish from his hand and leaves the confessional. Kano crosses his arms.

Kano: What douche steals from his mate?

It doesn't take long for Sektor to bring the news to his number one.

"Stealing from us?" Metal asks, stopping himself from kicking a tree. "His decisions are boggling."

"Getting rid of Peach is better strategically. We can tolerate him for one more vote." Sektor dangles the fish. "Then we give him one last supper."

"No." Welp. "At first, I believed we could use him. Now he's become too much of a liability..and a nuisance at that."

"Very well.."

Metal Sonic: Two weeks is enough time for a course correction, but he's the most stubborn player to breathe. Kano likes to ramble about how he'll change for no one. You missed the fundamentals, my dear nuisance.

Kano continues to dig himself deeper. Being an unapologetic asshole has its perks for some, but they aren't applying here. Everyone is fed up with him, even his own alliance! Loabi's also starting to see some uneasiness, with Blu not committing to either side. She has her relationships with her own cast, but clicks with Sackboy. All these different agendas are colliding, and everyone's getting some content out of it. Li's also setting up Gordon for his unnecessary praise of Cyrax. She at least saw what he was doing there. Maybe others did too but production hasn't shown us.

Anyways, next chapter has..a reward challenge! It's the first time this season where reward and immunity will actually be separate. Who will come out on top? What rewards will be waiting for the winning tribe? Will there be any more developments in this game?

Find out as Day 13 comes around!