Reward Challenge
Day 13
"COME ON IN!"
Both tribes enter the challenge area, heads held high. Gordon cocks his head when he notices Zelda isn't there.
"Loabi, get a look at the new Hathuru tribe. ZELDA voted out at last nights Tribal Council."
"What?.."
Gordon: I don't know what the hells going on over there, but some of these people are scraping by. You can guess.
The chef's not the only one surprised. Blu's jaw is dropped. "What did she do?"
All Mei can do is lean down. "It's not what she did as a person. That tribe is simply unorthodox.."
"Do you really think Metal has an alliance?"
"He must. Even if it's temporary." Mei whispers. "We cut him out, and the others won't have anywhere to go."
"..and do you actually think Kano's with him?"
"Let's hope he's dealt with first."
If there was an award for "most hated", Kano would be number one. The other contenders left already.
Li Mei: The reason Kano's still here, is because that tribe lets him stay. He must know people higher up. Putting "loyalty" and "Kano" in the same sentence is unusual, but that must be what they want from him.
Their reactions are noticeable to Jeff. "Loabi, you seem shocked."
Gordon speaks up for the group. "Given what Kano's done, and how big some of them are, we were expecting Zelda to be here. I don't know what shenanigans are going on over there, but I'll get an explanation soon."
"A lot has happened." T'Challa admits. "The mood at camp has worsened, but that's because some of us are opinionated." Kano shakes his head. "Whether some of us want to admit it or not, our temperaments can get out of control."
Kano raises his hand. "He's talking about me, mate."
Jeff sighs. "Kano, what did you do now?"
"I spoke some hard truths, even offered to help and—"
"No." Peach leans out to look Kano in the eye. "You were acting like a condescending jerk."
That comment makes the assassin shrug. "We said what we had to say. Now we gotta win."
Jeff looks Hathuru left and right. "Are you sure this tribe can work together cohesively?"
"Confident." Sektor says. "We cannot let the opponent get the upper hand, in mentality. Then we're weaker when we shouldn't be."
Sektor's confidence could be key. This is the first separate reward challenge of the season, so whoever wins can get a big boost. Or not depending on how they use it.
"Alright. Reward is up for grabs. For todays challenge, two of you will start by knocking down three targets. Once they're down, a gate will open, and another pair will navigate a series of obstacles. Once you're all through, there will be a key. Grab it, and unlock a cell with your last two members inside."
Similar to Man vs Machine's reward.
"They'll have to scale a giant wall. Once both are up, slice a thread of rope with a machete, and a flag will roll down (A tribe name for each). Li, Cyrax, Sektor, and Sackboy all participated in this challenge before. Cyrax and Sektor were able to win."
Sounds like a rather large challenge for the day. Sektor gives Cyrax massive sideye, while the more heroic cyborg pays him no mind.
"Wanna know what you're playin' for?" After an overwhelming "yes", he spills the beans. "A free night away from camp, with a tasty dinner. You like meat? There's Cheeseburgers, tacos, sausage, bacon, everything you'd want as a meat lover!" Mouths are slobbering just thinking about it.
"You like sweets? Cake, muffins, cookies, anything to snack on."
Peach stares into space a happy woman.
One more catch to this challenge though.
"Before we begin, Loabi, you'll need to sit someone out."
Blu volunteers, and heads to the Sitout bench. After her stroll, Jeff faces the group again. "I'll give you time to prepare, and we'll get started."
Start: Metal Sonic and Ripley / Cyrax and Gordon
Middle: T'Challa, Peach, and Sektor / Diana, Little Mac, and Sackboy
End: Slade and Kano / Chun-Li and Li Mei
Sitting Out: Blu
"Here we go! For reward! Survivors ready?"
.
.
"GO!"
The starting pairs scramble for their sandbags. Metal and Ripley decide to aim their bags at different targets, speeding up their process.
Metal hits a target!
Ripley nails her target!
Cyrax gets a hand infront of Gordon, and hurls those sandbags! Two targets are down, one to go!
"Pinpoint accuracy! What else did I expect from machines?" Jeff asks himself.
Ripley nails the last target!
Cyrax nails his third!
Both gates open, and Metal rushes for their button! One big smack, and the next three are free from their prison. Cyrax hits his for Loabi, leaving Gordon out of breathe.
Pant.
Pant.
"He's a sprinter."
Gordon: Thrilled we aren't in a foot race. He'd leave me in the dust.
Despite being outmatched, Gordon can sit back as Diana, Mac, and Sack take to a mud crawl beneath a net. Hathuru has a…not so steady lead. T'Challa's taking the mud crawl down like a machine, while the literal machine is on his tail.
"How do you sprint in these tight areas?" He asks.
"Years of practice." T'Challa answers, pulling Sektor forward. "It's how I overpowered you."
Sektor looks back. Peach is lacking behind. She's not stuck in a hole or anything, but the Diana's and Mac's on the other side are catching up to her. "I am the least of our troubles."
"KEEP MOVING!" T'Challa shouts. "You are not dead!"
"You will be if we lose!"
"That's NOT how you encourage someone." T'Challa says with a glance.
As Peach nears the end, all three Loabi get there too. One milisecond can do a tribe in, and Hathuru knows this all too well. They are more than capable of winning challenges, but the timing hasn't been there.
Diana's out!
Mac's out!
As the two then back to let Sackboy out, Peach gets close enough for her teammates to rip her out!
"The Panther and the Cyborg working well together!"
As the three sprint for the next course. Sektor clarifies one thing. "Keep in mind, we are not the best of friends, Wakandan."
"You can be grating."
"So they say."
Peach doesn't care for their little squabbles. There's massive balls to cross. Like Wipeout all over again. Loabi's got a little progress on them, because Diana's got Sackboy in her hands.
"You ready?"
The sack gives her a salute and goes flying to the other end! He gets his hands out to catch himself and goes sliding.
"Woo!" Mac shouts, charging forward, but Diana just picks him up! "Wait wait wait.."
"Trust me."
She hurls the screaming boxer to the other end, but he doesn't catch himself and hits his side. "OWW.."
"Are you ok?!" She asks.
Sack also taps him. "Mac?"
"Might have a cracked rib but I'm ok!"
The Amazon swiftly moves from ball to ball, pulling Loabi back into the lead. Jeff admires the teamwork. "Loabi just one upped Hathuru, and they can take it all again!"
Mac: I've never had a woman throw me like that..
..
Mac: I might have a type.
Despite Loabi's bonus in strength, Sektor refuses to let that slide,
"NEVER!" the cyborg yells, reaching the end. He spins around to alert his team. "HURRY!"
T'Challa carries Peach bridal style and moves ball to ball. He almost slips up and throws Peach to the end! Sektor catches her, and looks at the guy disappointment. "That big play and you fall?"
T'Challa gets a hand on the end and pulls himself up. He sprints for the key, snags it, and unlocks the last Hathuru left! Slade and Kano come bolting out, having to make up for lost time.
One of the Li's are already up. Chun-Li's awaiting Mei's arrival. "Just a little higher, Li."
"This wall seems much larger than the last."
Mei makes a leap, but it doesn't pay off. She slides back down. When Slade and Kano arrive, she sprints up..but is literal centimeters away from the street fighters fingertips! She can't get a grasp.
"The gaps closing! Hathuru has less so they could do with that resort."
Slade and Kano rush up simultaneously. Slade actually gets a hand up top! Kano starts to slide down, but grabs his leg.
"Jobs a job." Kano says, using his teammate like a ladder. His boot even scrapes on Slade's mask. Slade wants desperately to fight back. He wouldn't even let Deadpool disrespect him like this..but he keeps his cool.
Kano's up, and offers a hand! Slade takes it!
"Hathuru's up first! Victory's slipping from Loabi!"
Kano himself takes the machete and slices that rope in half! Their flag comes down!
"HATHURU WINS REWARD!"
"VICTORY." Sektor says, looking right over at the cyborg..he just can't stop being bitter at. "Our tribe finally gets vindication!"
"I am happy..for your tribe." Cyrax says, leaving out the "you".
Cyrax: If he weren't so smug I'd be happier.
Sektor: If he was ready to survive in the world, I'd be happier for his tribe.
Both tribes meet up, one getting to reap the rewards of their rough teamwork. "Hathuru, a boats waiting for you back at camp. Head over, and enjoy your stay." After the sevens dismissal, that leaves Jeff with eight others.
"Loabi..I've got nothin' for ya. Head back to camp, see you tomorrow."
They have no choice but to make the hike back. A confessional airs before the short break.
Chun-Li: This is more like it.
The cameraman can't read the sarcasm, but others can.
Reward
Night 13
With their first big win in the swap phase, Hathuru gets the best reward of the season so far. Fuel, and some decent sleep for once in their island lives.
Peach wears a smile, a nice turnaround from how she felt earlier.
Peach: This reward will help me heal. I have all the cake anyone could want. Who would be down over that?
While she feasts on the cake, there's a couple machines who can't. Metal just has the staff put more electricity in him, while Sektor watches.
"I didn't know that kept you fueled." The cyborg admits.
"There's plenty you don't know. Don't look into it, you will loath humans more than you already do."
"I don't loath them..they are simply weaker than us." Sektor can't continue when Slade clears his throat.
"You know Sektor, humans can be strong too. Look at history." Slade says. "Snake, Doofus, even Daisy."
Sektor just shakes his head. He refuses to take the loss on this one. "You have the right to express yourself…" he balls his fists, but when he sees Metal's stare he just lets it go.
Sektor: Social game has become too much for me. It gets me betrayed time and time again. If Metal leaves this game, I will bring fire to each and every one of these humans.
Everyone peels off eventually. Almost everyone.
Seeing this as a perfect time for strategy, Kano with a mouthful of meat spots a passing Slade, and cocks his head at the chair. The moneymaker opts to hear him out. "What travesty is in mind today?"
"It's dirty, but we love our dirty work. Call this a calculated hit, mate."
"..ok?"
"We throw it. I don't care how obvious it is, Peach's time is up." Kano, always for the fences. "Let's spice it up. Tell her I'm going home."
Slade doesn't just do a double take. He goes TRIPLE. "You actually want your name out there?"
"Why not? Keep the gal comfortable before we deal the death blow." Kano plans, taking a big bite of a wing. "Trimming fat isn't the riskiest plot we've done."
"..my."
"Love it?"
"This has to be your best plan yet." Slade smacks him on the shoulder. "I'll let her know."
In confessional..
Slade: It's funny, Kano. We could trim some fat around here.
The man tracks Peach down and lets her know what's up. He does twist a few small details.
"We want to keep Kano comfortable." Liar. "By throwing this challenge, he'll think you're the target, but WE know that's not the case."
Peach nods along. "So I'm the facade?"
"Just this once. Everyone's getting fed up with him."
In confessional, Slade's rubbing his hands together.
Slade: I finally get to set these people up. Its about time!
What about Peach?
Peach: I've never had to be the decoy before.
She twiddles her fingers.
Peach: My Kingdom may be ashamed if I say this, but I am quite uneasy. What if Slade is lying? He made a reach for my idol before, who's to say he's the same two years later? But Kano…if making ourselves look weak, leads to a cut to make us stronger, I will go along.
After all the fuel they are getting, Hathuru's ready to throw their advantage away just to take someone out. It could come back to bite them, but tribe loyalty has been less relevant unless a specific theme binds a tribe together.
Time will tell if this is a good move.
—
People like Peach and Kano are back in the hot seat. They made it to the merge before, but this run will go differently for one of them. However, with Loabi's recent loss, there's still a chance they choke if the players on Hathuru reverse their decision. The sixth vote of the seasons coming up. Who will win immunity? Who will lose their second chance next?
The two week mark will be reached soon. Ticket out, have a good one :)