Welcome back to Second Chance. This is the final part of episode six, before we end up moving onto the next one. It's the big one of this season. Anyways, Loabi will deal with the fallout of the rock draw last chapter, and the cycle will repeat itself. Who's staying, and who's going?
Enjoy :)
NuLoabi
Night 16
Chun-Li, Cyrax, Diana, Gordon Ramsay, Li Mei, Little Mac, and Sackboy
The seven left of the tribe return to camp, and lean their torches on a tree. Then, they decide to sit together at the shelter. There's no more secrets to really be kept. Everyone knew the other sides strategy, and in the end, someone lost a dinosaur.
"Nobody blame themselves for this. She buried herself." Gordon comments.
Gordon: An hour ago, I thought I'd be f*cking off. Nope. A Yoshi went home instead over impulse. I've made some pretty impulsive decisions in my life, but making them on a season where Jeff hates us? Not a good plan.
He picks up a rock.
Gordon: I should have f*cking known we'd be drawing rocks. Right when Jeff warned the safe ones abiut consequences. This just makes me more confused. Do they switch around tiebreakers? What the hell is the system?
"Yeah.." Sackboy frowns just thinking about the look on her face. "Poor Blu. People are going to bully her online forever."
"That's the price we pay going on TV." Gordon responds, pinching the bridge of nose. "Gotta deal with some sweathogs opinions."
"Mmhm…"
Sackboy: I've never felt more bad for someone. I mean, she did what she thought was right. It didn't work out, but she at least tried to do something.
Soon, people go their separate ways. It's mandatory at this point. Anyways, Li and Cyrax follow Sackboy out. He sits on a log and just shakes his head. "This sucks for her.."
"For her. WE are still here." Cyrax reminds him. "We may not be able to have her by our side, but we can fulfill her mission."
"This is not the end, Sackboy."
Sackboy sighs. "I don't know, I..I haven't been blindsided like that."
"You are still learning this game." Li reassures. "Before we reach the highs, we must sit on our lows. Sometimes it is the other way around. We cannot lay dead here."
Chun-Li: Even though my advice sounded repetitive, someone as new to these concepts like Sackboy needs to understand that this game will beat you down. It will not feel like an exciting adventure at times. Once he understands how to win this game, he will feel much better.
The sack nods his head at her advice. "Do I..have to start getting mean?"
"You don't have to treat people badly. But you'll have to consider eliminating some good people." Li reveals. "No matter what."
Cyrax scoots over. "Do not think of yourself as a monster for it. Think of yourself..as a player. This is, in itself, a game. Nothing you do here is out of genuine malice. There are bad people, but you can lie, and still be a good person."
Sackboy blinks. "Really?"
"We will help for as long as we are here."
Cyrax: I've had to lie, to make myself look smaller than I actually was. One day, Sackboy will have to do the same. It's a useful strategy, and one that could win anyone the game if used right. It worked for a slithering Snake, perhaps it could work for a sack too.
As the three head back, Sackboy gets a new confessional.
Sackboy: I needed that talk. I was watching so many backstabs, and wondered how people were just..cool with each other. How could they befriend someone who just stabbed them in the back? And then, mine explained it to me. It's just something I'll have to get used to. People are kinda weird.
Immunity Challenge: Day 17
"Come on in!"
The six Hathuru enter first, finally getting the privilege to do so. This feels gratifying to the original Hathuru, who have lost Nefarious, Shane, Zelda, and Kano over their streaks. Some of those castaways were problems, or would have been around camp, but that's four losses out of seven.
Not the best record.
They come to a stop. "Hathuru, having a better day?"
"It's been lovely. The weather has been rather tame lately." Peach points out. "I'm awaiting the next big storm."
"Loabi went through one last night." Jeff reveals. "Get a good look at 'em."
The reduced Loabi enter, short one Yoshi. "Blu was taken out at last nights Tribal Council."
Peach gasps. "They voted out a Yoshi? She must have committed something serious.."
"HER?" Sektor asks, clenching a fist when he sees Cyrax's stupid stupid face. "There is a threat right in front of them!"
"We had our plans, and she destroyed it." Diana says. "I don't know how else to put it."
Cut to her confessional.
Diana: Every challenge, Sektor goes on about "CYRAX, CYRAX, CYRAX." Talk about something else. You are obsessed with him.
Loabi comes to a stop too. Jeff gets on with the program. "Alright. Immunity is back up for grabs. For todays challenge, you'll go one at a time. Four from each tribe will send their own through an obstacle course. You'll slide into a pile of mud. You'll be digging through a mud pit ahead to secure a bag of balls. There's four in total. You'll take a bag and crawl under a beam, where some sticky rice may slow you down."
Rice as an obstacle?
"All six on each tribe will then aim to send ALL those balls into a tall basket. First tribe to land them all, wins immunity and earns a free pass to the top twelve. That's a big one." Jeff comments, putting emphases on BIG. "Loabi, you have to sit someone out. Who is the unlucky volunteer?"
Mac raises his glove. "I'll take one for the team."
"Ok. Take your spot at the Sitout bench. As for everyone else: I'll give you a second to prep, and we'll get started."
As the tribes split off, Cyrax gets a confessional.
Cyrax: If we fail, it will never be more over than that. I have to "stand on business" as Daisy loves to say. Wise words of an empress. Wise words that gave me an idea.
Runners/Collectors: Cyrax, Diana, Li Mei, and Chun-Li / Metal Sonic, Sektor, Peach, and T'Challa
Only in last part: Sackboy and Gordon / Slade and Ripley
Sitting Out: Little Mac
The fastest machines on their respective teams get ready for the climb-and-slide. Jeff has a good view of the whole course, as he's standing by that tall basket.
"For immunity! Survivors ready?"
.
.
.
"GO!"
Cyrax and Metal race for the climb, but Metal pulls ahead and slides down first. Cyrax, a little behind, leaps over the steps completely to slide down.
"We've got a race!"
Metal enters the droopy mud pit first, staining his blue paint. Cyrax stains his golden paint. Who's getting their bag first? Cyrax answers by yanking one out.
"Cyrax has one!"
Metal yanks out his.
"Metal has one!"
Metal heads for the beam ahead, as rice clings onto his suit. Cyrax sets his bag next to the pit..and goes back to dig for more!
"What's he doing?" Diana asks.
"He's cutting our time." Chun answers.
"If he can't find the rest soon, he will be wasting it." Li Mei says, stepping ahead. "His strategy better pay off."
Sackboy and Gordon watch from the end, as Cyrax pulls out a second bag! He just dives right in for a third. His golden armor is practically replaced with a goopy brown.
"Cyrax! Cyrax!" Sack chants. Gordon just sets his hands firmly on his hips. "Cy—Chef?"
"Someone's desperate."
Cut to a Gordon confessional. He has a little mud on his hand.
Gordon: He's pulling out all the hacks he can. Bloody terrific. I haven't seen a Cyrax with his back against the wall, but if he's using that massive head of his, I better watch my arse.
Metals already made it to the end on the Hathuru side, causing Sektor's turn to begin. After he slides down, he sees Cyrax digging for his last two bags. "Your strategy is slowing your team down." Sektor says, digging for Hathuru's second.
"Or so you think."
"You are not a genius."
Cyrax pulls out the third bag. "You aren't a prophet."
Sektor does some more digging, but still can't grasp that next bag. They must have sent it deeper. He slams his fist into the sand. "These spheres WILL be found.."
"Hathuru starts with the lead, but they can quickly fumble it. That's the story of Hathuru." Jeff shades, not over the ridiculous throwing he saw a few days ago.
"HA!" Sektor yells, ripping the second bag from the sand. He turns around to see Cyrax pull out the last bag. Sektor hurries up and crawls under the beam. The rice stops him from making it through efficiently, but that's two bags collected versus none.
"Hathuru's technically up by two.." Jeff peeks at all those bags. "But Cyrax might be steps ahead."
Cyrax rushes for the end with his bag, dropping mud in the process. Diana slides down, and spots all those bags together. She smiles, taking her bag ahead too. Jeff has some obvious updates for the castaways.
"Sektor's made it!"
"Cyrax has made it!"
Diana crawls through the rice, and ducks her head under the beam. She forces herself through anyway.
"Diana's made it! We're all tied up!"
Peach is in the middle of the mud, unable to track down that third bag. Li Mei slides down for Loabi and just takes their third bag with ease. She's in and out in seconds.
"The tides have quickly turned in Loabi's favor." Jeff points out. "Li Mei's already on her way over. Hathuru needs to pick up the pace!"
As Li Mei crawls through the rice, Peach looks worried, splashing some mud around. "Where could you be?"
Chun-Li's already sliding down. She repeats her tribe before her, and gets to the rice crawl. She's greeted by Mei's feet, and almost gets kicked in the face! "Watch where you're sending those!"
"My apologies."
Li Mei's at the basket. Loabi has three bags, and when Chun makes her way through, that makes four.
"Loabi's got four! You're good!"
All Hathuru can do is watch as Loabi take their simultaneous shots. Several balls collide, knocking each other away. A solid few land in the basket, already giving them a massive advantage.
In his next confessional, his cyborg form is stained with mud.
Cyrax: Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.
Back to the challenge, and it's really an anti-climax as Hathuru just can't catch up. Unfortunately for Peach, she's not having much luck. All they can do is watch, as basket after basket is made. Cyrax's strat has put them at a severe disadvantage.
.
.
.
"LOABI WINS IMMUNITY!"
Cyrax crosses his arms, his hack going as expected. Hathuru just has to take the L, as both tribes come together again for their routine dismissal.
"Congratulations Loabi, you aren't going back to back. Enjoy the night off, because you have a big day coming up." Jeff warns, letting them leave. And then there was Hathuru. "Hathuru. Your no strangers to Tribal. Head back to camp, and I'll see you there.
As the losers head back, a lucky someone gets the last confessional before it's really time to strategize.
Peach: I should be worried for myself, but to be frank: I may be the safest one here. If we must come to a tiebreaker, my safety will come crashing down.
NuHathuru
When the six get back to camp, Peach goes to wash the mud off herself. As for Sektor..he just can't stop himself from SEETHING over what his mortal enemy just pulled. Of course, he wouldn't have complained if a Hathuru did it, but his obsession with Cyrax won't let him leave his fixation.
"He always has a trick…." Sektor sits down, flicking a fly away. "How they let him get this far, I will never know."
"Given Blu went, it had to be a tiebreaker. No offense to her but she wasn't the biggest threat." Ripley deduces.
"There he goes, escaping by the skin of his teeth…but I cannot say I'm sad about his adversity. They let him get away with TOO MUCH on MY season." Sektor says, putting emphasis on the "my." He's such a hater that he doesn't want Cyrax getting credit for anything.
"Whatever makes you happy." Ripley just ignores the rest of his conversation.
"You don't care?"
"No."
Sektor just turns his shoulder to her. "So be it, but when he wins, I'll be the prophet everyone says I'm not."
"Ok."
"I will be proven correct."
"Ok."
Cut to Ripley's confessional.
Ripley: Cyrax is the least of my problems. This is my chance to cut a big threat down before the merge. I don't care what I have to do, to do it. I didn't come here to follow Metal Sonic the whole time.
She heads to the ocean, washing the mud off herself, with Peach. The princess does raise some concerns regarding that night's vote off.
"I think we should lock in four, and await the count." Peach pitches. "Slade isn't naive as to stay by Metal's side, right?"
"He'll stick with his machines until they don't suit him anymore. WE know his play style. He's just trying his best to hide It." Ripley with the call out. "It'll be the Maldives three against the big bad wolves, and I don't think there's anything we can do to change that."
"What if they make us draw rocks?"
"They just did that last time." Ripley assumes. "Odds are they'll throw something else in."
"We can't just game production."
"If we can predict what they're going to do, it gives us a better chance to work around it." Ripley explains. "Since we can rule out a rock draw, there's only a couple options left. A physical elimination, firemaking, or hell even trivia. Metal lost fire, and I'm confident I know more about all of you than he does."
The realization dawns on Peach. "Are..you volunteering yourself?"
"Wouldn't put it that way."
"Then how am I supposed to put it?"
"Those bots are onto us, ESPECIALLY after the Kano saga. I genuinely mean no offense, but they aren't as threatened by you, as they are me. Kano put me on the map." Ripley reminds. "It's a matter of time until they take that shot."
Peach: We had always kept Metal around to get rid of him later. "Later" is finally here..but there couldn't be a worse time for it to arrive. We could have taken him out last time, but Kano's loud mouth ruined any chance of that. Now we MUST not miss, or else there will be many roadblocks along the way.
While the blocks get locked in, there's two people who aren't. They just so happen to be in the secret alliance. T'Challa and Slade have…surprisingly been able to work together, but this next vote will test how well oiled they really are. There's different agendas at play.
"We've beaten Metal's talking points into the ground." T'Challa admits, tired of all the debates. "But that doesn't mean they are wrong. Metal isn't someone we can predict."
"I'd he sticks around nobody will even question us."
"Maybe Slade. But Metal is going to force your loyalty whether you like it or not. The Ripley's and Peach's don't play like that." T'Challa points out, continuing his charge at the machine. "The word has gotten around about him stabbing Nefarious in the back. That was his closest ally."
Slade shrugs. "Nefarious couldn't keep his mouth shut. He brought it on himself. I'm not as slow as he is, and if we keep Metal until later, we can still take him him first. Ripley will be harder, which is crazy to me considering she almost won our season, AND burned an idol."
"Her styles easier to predict. She'll stay loyal until near the end, and make the move too late." T'Challa says, using his power of hindsight. "Am I wrong? Maybe, but it's better to move with the people we know, than a deadly machine we don't."
Slade scoffs. "Come on, T'Challa! Those ladies aren't dumb. THEY voted US out, what do we owe to them?"
"Everyone has to adapt to a new style. We may be loyal to one another this go around. You and me, we would never have made a secret alliance, but due to our circumstances now, we have. The king of Wakanda, and an assassin from the streets of Gotham."
"I go from place to place."
"Where you go outside the game, does not matter here. Circumstances have changed. If you and Metal were on the same season, he may have taken you far, but he is like a scared animal. Scared anjmals don't care who they hurt, as long as they get to survive another day." T'Challa explains. "We have enough proof."
"Sektor's fine."
"He's only keeping Sektor around for his own benefit. Sektor is loud. Sektor has a big personality. I'd he makes enough noise, it keeps Metal out of the light." T'Challa clocking a strategy! "You don't think he'll do the same to you?"
Slade just shakes his head. "AGAIN. I'M NOT GULLIBLE. You don't think I've thought of that? I've already ran plans through my head, if I wanted Metal gone I'd have gotten the numbers. No more Metal. Ripley is NOT that easy, and that's what i NEED you to get."
"Even if she will be a problem, I don't know if Metal should even make the merge. You understand, don't you?"
"I do.." Slade mutters. "God. Are we going to come to an agreement?"
"ARE WE going to come to an agreement?" T'Chall asks. "Is Metal out?"
"…No."
T'Challa looks a little let down from the answer. "Are you sure you want him around?"
"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT? METAL STAYS." Slade yells. "With him gone, everyone's gonna look at ME first. Then after I'm gone it's happy trails for this alliance, huh?"
Slade raising his voice seems to tick T'Challa off. The king steps closer. "Watch your tone."
"Oh watch MY tone?" That gets a little laugh from Slade. "Oh really?"
"Don't laugh it off. You let your temper get ahold of you, and you lost Dylan's vote. I'm willing to go to a tiebreaker, BUT if you keep yelling at me, history will repeat itself."
"That a threat?"
"You need to watch our season again if you think this will go any differently. Work with me here."
Slade's pants get lower and lower. His throat tenses up. He wants SO badly to refute the Panther, but unfortunately for his anger-riddled mouth, T'Challa's reminder struck him with reality. One big fit can wreck someone's game. After catching his breath..
"Ok. Looks like we can't come to an agreement." Slade adjusts his helmet. "Vote how you want."
"You have a better hold on yourself."
"I'm trying." Slade admits. "Don't be surprised if I give someone shit on day thirty."
"Hey, that's day thirty. Stay in the present."
Cut to a T'Challa confessional.
T'Challa: Slade's anger management has gone much better than others. He may be the most cutthroat person I have ever met, but he's smart enough to know he must change. Old Slade would have dug himself into a hole, and there would be no Wesker to cover for him.
Wesker…he really shot himself in the foot, huh?
T'Challa: New Slade is still a selfish man. But he accepts when something doesn't go his way. Hopefully now, he can get ahold of himself, and we can come back to this secret alliance one day.
How about Slade? In his confessional, the helmets off.
Slade: Compromise is a bitch. If Metal goes NOW, it's nothing but negatives. Maldives won't want me, I was already at the bottom over there. T'Challa, as patient as he is, is more stubborn than ever. But I can't blame him, I AM TOO.
He fixes his eyepatch.
Slade: It's a weird feeling. We shouldn't trust each other after this. He wants someone gone, I want another, and we're "choosing sides." A tie could screw us both. But we already know we're going back to each other. Games getting more fluid. It's like I said: Compromise is a bitch. And we have a demon compromising with an angel.
T'Challa will not consider himself a perfect angel, but Slade seems to understand who they both are..and that this partnership, while weird, has been proven necessary. They may disagree, but it's covered both of them before.
So why not stick to it?
Before Tribal, Metal Sonic sharpens a stick like a serial killer. It's just another typical elimination day for him. His names definitely getting written down, and he's always in danger of going home.
"Tick, tick.."
The weird machines alone time gets interrupted when Ripley takes a seat across from him. "I hate to see T go. He's been good on morale."
"Despite our..differences in presentation, I can admit he will get a heroic edit. A majority of us will not." Metal predicts. "Everyone except for Peach is a cold blooded killer."
"I wouldn't say cold blooded. We've just got our eyes on the prize." Ripley joins him in the stick sharpening contest. "Curious what the merge will bring."
"Hell for me. You'll probably find it easier."
"I don't know, this IS a returnee season. Everyone's going to be thinking way too hard."
"A-men."
These two boldfaced liars are just doing their thing. They both know what's coming tonight, whether it's a tie, or four-to-two, or heck even five-to-one. One of them won't ge making the merge.
Now it's a matter of who.
Metal Sonic: I have come TOO far to miss this merge.
He balls his metal fists.
Metal Sonic: I CANNOT FAIL!
Tribal Council
Night 17
The remaining Hathuru enter the Tribal Council area. The last tribal before top twelve. It'd be a big milestone for the five that survive this, to make the merge AGAIN. Especially after the eight eliminations it takes to get there.
"Dip your torches into the fire. In this game, fire represents your life. When it's out, so are you."
As they dip their torches into the fire, Jeff has his eyes locked on them, hands behind his back. He can't contain his smile, because the merge is one of his favorite parts of the game too.
"Are you enjoying this?" Peach asks, smiling herself.
"I always love a spicy tribal."
The six get seated. With everyone at attention, Jeff smacks his knees, and kicks this baby off. "Alright. Here we are again. That merge isn't getting any further. Ripley, what are we supposed to make of tonight's vote? Is it just filler? Or will another big name leave the island?"
"Some consider it filler, some don't."
"That's a pretty basic answer. Are you keeping those cards close?"
"Everyone is." Ripley admits. "Nobody's going to spill any secrets."
"Slade, how true do you think this is?" Jeff asks.
"Our loudmouths have all…well, most of them have left." Slade answers. "Everyone is on guard tonight. Nobody has any incentive to blow plans. If someone just so happens to snap, I will eat my words."
Jeff nods. "I would say that all of the loose cannons are gone, but ANYONE can become one under the right circumstances. Sektor, can you feel the intensity ramping up?"
"I am intense for different reasons than a merge. I have been there before, it is nothing special to me." That comment gets a few "wows" from the people who actually care. "My main objective is to avenge the foul play Cyrax made in—"
"You have repeated this several times already." T'Challa cuts in. "You GAVE him your idol. YOU ruined your relationship. Everything that happened was, and still is on YOU."
"It doesn't matter to me. If I can't win, he can't win."
T'Challa exhales. "We will never get through to you, will we?"
"Let's give up on it and speak about another subject." Peach suggests.
"Ok then. Peach.." Jeff begins. "You've been on the wrong side of the vote a couple times. Kano even named you at his last Tribal. Are you concerned AT ALL?"
Peach shrugs. "We will have to see?"
"We will—Woah Woah. OK, something has to be afoot. I won't elaborate on what, but if I was in your spot: I'd be scrambling." Jeff admits.
"You talked about how people change under certain circumstances. Certain circumstances CAN, and HAS changed what people want to do during this pre-merge." Peach answers. "Zelda and Metal Sonic formed a new majority, but broke it off because of the swap. There was no more Shane to unite them."
"This is factual." Metal acknowledges.
"Kano was supposed to stay, but due to his actions everyone turned against him. It was a dirty betrayal, but it was at the expense of a very dirty man, so I'm not upset." Peach says, getting a laugh from the group.
"That's a bunch of past examples. What about the present?" Jeff asks.
"Maybe I am supposed to leave, but something else has changed. I HOPE.." Peach admits. "
Normally, Peach would get flack for hinting, but given how the beach is divided, she believes that the shots are obvious enough. As does..well mostly everyone. They just don't straight up say it."
"We'll see what has changed, because it is time to vote. Ripley, you're up first."
She heads to the booth, her vote already locked in.
Ripley: This better be firemaking. I need you to fumble for me to get ahead. Can't thrive with someone like you playing with me. (Metal Sonic)
Metal Sonic: You are the least obvious threat..which makes you the biggest. I don't need players going under the radar. I need them covering me ON there. (Ripley)
After the votes are cast, the six head back to their stumps. Jeff uses this as his cue. "I'll go tally the votes.." he informs, heading to the booth for that sweet count. Ripley and Metal look on, uncertain of what fate awaits them tonight.
Jeff brings the urn back. "If anyone has a hidden immunity idol OR advantage they'd like to play, NOW is the time to do so."
.
.
.
Metal STILL holds onto that thing.
"Alright, I'll read the votes.." Jeff says, removing the lid and grabbing the parchment. After a nice order up, he gets to reading. "First vote.."
.
.
Metal Sonic."
.
.
"Ripley."
.
.
"Metal Sonic."
.
.
"Ripley."
.
.
"Metal Sonic."
Slade exchanges a look with T'Challa, as if to say: "I'm watching you." The King doesn't let much show.
.
.
"Ripley. We are tied." There's a ..surprising lack of reaction from the cast. Two blindsides so obvious that nobody's surprised. "Nobody seems shocked by that."
"It's like I said." Peach points out.
"Well, all of these plans could go wrong..because we are revoting. Metal, Ripley, you two cannot vote. We'll see where loyalties really lie. Peach, you're up first."
The princess heads to the booth.
Once inside, she sets a hand on her heart.
Peach: Thank the Star Spirits..the Black Panther held up his end of the deal. All I'm worried about is the tiebreaker. Someone could get cut due to luck. Hope it's not me, that would be tragic. (Metal Sonic)
Slade's in next…with some VERY visible frustration in his tone.
Slade: It's a shame, T'Challa. You chose the women who will CUT YOU LIKE IT'S NOTHING? You may have earned their forgiveness, but they slid a Death Sentence in with it. You seriously can't play the middle for this entire game. (Ripley)
After the revote, those four get back to their stumps. Jeff doesn't say a word, fetching the urn and setting it on the podium. Even though they are backing their allies,
"If you have the most votes, the decision is final. You will be asked to leave the Tribal Council Area immediately." Jeff forewarns. "First vote…"
.
.
"Metal Sonic."
.
.
"Metal Sonic."
.
.
"Ripley."
.
.
.
Ripley. We. Are. Deadlocked."
Peach gulps. Slade adjusts his collar. Sektor crosses his arms. T'Challa and Ripley just look on curious about what Jeff will pull out. The host gestures for two production members to come over, wheeling something in that's covered with cloth.
"Here on Second Chance, we aren't really fans of repetition. Let's switch things up a bit." Jeff says, uncovering a carabiner. "Since you six are so hellbent on this result, we'll make it happen one way..or the other. Ripley versus Metal Sonic, in a returning duel."
Those two have a shaky history with competitions. Ripley sent Zelda into a tie with Snake, sparing his game and ending hers. Metal Sonic of course lost out on the grand prize, and title of Sole Survivor. This brings some bad flashbacks to them.
Ripley: I sent Zelda into the tiebreaker, and broke our group off. Couple years later, she's getting her revenge.
She has a little smirk, clearly not devastated over this twist.
Ripley: This is what I get for being so ruthless. Hope your happy, Zelda.
Cut to Metal's confession.
Metal Sonic: I let my hubris get in the way of combat. If I had just kept that necklace, I wouldn't even need a second chance. The same barrier is getting in my way..RIGHT BEFORE A MERGE. Losing at the end is one thing, but getting cut off before the merge is a worse fate. Many players want me dead. I'm going to live anyways.
The two get in front of their stations, with all the essentials. Peach, Slade, T'Challa, and Sektor watch from the sidelines, their tied votes luckily sparing all of them. Even if unintentional.
"It's time for the tiebreaker. A hook will suspend the carabiner above you. The first person to unhook that twice, will stay. The loser will be the eighth person eliminated. You can get dirty, but its not wise to get your opponent medically evacuated. After last season, we have STRICT guidelines in place." Ahem, Megatron.
Ripley and Metal stare at that ahead. One will stay, but ones game will come to a crushing end.
"Begin."
With Jeff's command, they both go for that hook. Metal claws at Ripley, but she grabs his arm and drives an elbow through that hole. She grabs the other arm tries throwing him back, but Metal lands behind her and a chopblock sends her to her knees!
"Ouch.." Peach winces. "Is she ok?"
"It's one chop block, she'll be fine." Slade affirms.
Metal goes for that carabiner but Ripley grabs his shoe and drags him back. She's met with a dropkick to the shoulder, sending her down! Metal unhooks the carabiner!
"First round goes to Metal! Reset."
After the carabiner gets hooked on again, the duelists find themselves across each other again.
"Second round. Survivors ready? Begin."
Ripley looks like she's running in for a tackle, but she gets behind Metal and covers his face! As Metal flails around, Ripley uses her feet for a special chop block! Metals on his knees, but he's still trying to crawl towards the hook.
"She is not messing around." T'Challa points out.
"DEFEAT HER!" Sektor yells.
"GET HIM!' Peach yells.
Ripley grabs the hook with the biner, and starts smacking Metal's face with it!
DING!
"Wh—'
DING!
"Ripley with a new strategy, can she capitalize?" Jeff asks.
She keeps one hand on Metal's eyes, and another on that hook. After a little struggle, it's a success!
"Second round goes to Ripley! Reset for the last duel."
Metal holds his head, watching as Ripley waves the carabiner in his face. She's feeling hot, but Metal needs to use some heat to clinch a merge. They stand across from each other one more time..
"Match points! Survivors ready? BEGIN!"
Ripley steps right beneath the hook, ready for the machine. Metal tries to jump over her, but she grabs both legs and slams him onto the dirt! She has a hand on, but Metals Legsweep sends her down. He gets a couple knees on her ribs, looking to hold her down while he claims victory.
"He's desperate.." Slade whispers.
"Desperation makes people panic. I imagine he's no different?" T'Challa asks.
"We're about to see.."
Ripley grabs a chunk of sand and throws that at his face! It doesn't hurt him, but it's a decent enough distraction. She grabs him by the metal quills and drives him into the dirt!
"Ferocious competition.." T'Challa mutters.
Ripley has a hand on the hook, but Metal pulls her back, and drops her on her side. He has a go but Ripley shoves his lack of a nose into the hook again. She's getting vicious, so Metal goes to his last resort. He turns into a ball and spins so fast that she gets flung off!
"Ripley's showing her fight, but Metal has more options." Sektor points out.
"Can you go five minutes without praising him?" T'Challa asks.
"I will always praise a fellow cyborg."
Ripley crawls back into the field, looking to tackle Metal, but he leaps over her! With both hands on the hook…
.
.
It's over.
"Metal Sonic earns safety!" Jeff shouts, getting a dirty look from the winner.
"I hate that name."
Ripley picks herself back up, and heads to her stump without a word. It takes no time for her to really process that she lost.
"Ripley, you are the eighth person eliminated from Survivor: Second Chance. Bring me your torch."
With that confirmation, Ripley grabs her things and heads that way. Peach stops her though. "Thank you for having my back."
"It's not about me anymore. YOU are still in the race, go win." Ripley says, leaving someone she used to have bad blood with with words of affirmation. T'Challa gives Peach an extra pat on the back.
"We will get out of this."
"I will hope.."
Ripley sets her torch down. Jeff has his snuffer ready to go. "Ripley…the tribe has spoken."
SNUFF…
"Time for you to go."
Ripley simply nods, taking her exit rather gracefully. She fought until the very end, but unfortunately could not get the win. She could have went far with one. Unfortunately for all of Metals haters, or apathetic viewers, he's still in the game.
After she's gone, T'Challa rests a hand on Peach's shoulder. "It is not the end for us."
All she can do is nod. Her face screams "NERVOUS", especially as her alliance gets dwindled down. She's had a lot of adversity, but T'Challa is about to have a conversation. Letting Slade know he's voting against him may be critical.
Jeff breaks up the silence. "I don't know about you, but I'd kill for some relaxation."
"YOU'D KILL?" Peach asks.
"No no—" Jeff gets a laugh out. "It's been a rough few days for everyone. Just head back to camp, and rest up. It only gets worse from here on out."
The five Hathuru grab their torches and leave the Tribal Council Area. Eight are down, and twelve are left. Given what happened last season, you may know what that means..and so do they.
Voting:
Ripley— Metal Sonic, Sektor, Slade
Metal Sonic— Ripley, Peach, T'Challa
Round Two:
Ripley— Sektor and Slade
Metal Sonic— Peach and T'Challa
Ripley's Final Words
Ripley: Getting me out now is the smartest thing the "bad guys" could have done. Nobody gets to pick the tiebreakers we have, and I had to win with the hand I was dealt. Glad i could score one round over that robot because he's still a smug douchebag. I would have loved to make it to merge, but I knew what I was getting into. Can't blame anyone for it. If Peach can't win, I hope T'Challa can. Someone needs to humble those guys.
Confessional Count:
26– T'Challa/Black Panther ( 6), Metal Sonic ( 5)
25– Princess Peach ( 5)
24– Gordon Ramsay ( 7), Cyrax ( 6)
23– Sektor ( 3), Slade Wilson/Deathstroke ( 2)
19– Chun-Li ( 4), Diana ( 1)
17– Sackboy( 4)
16– Little Mac( 1)
13– Li Mei( 1)
Eliminated:
17– Ripley ( 5)
15– Blu ( 6)
20– Kano
12– Princess Zelda
10- Shane Walsh
4– Kabal, Dark Samus
3– Doctor Nefarious
Ripley had a low prescence at the start, but managed to put her differences aside with Peach and Zelda to coordinate a big flip that put them from the bottom, to the top. Even after the Shane flip, and Zelda's close exit, Ripley and another one of Peach's enemies gave her some comfort. Standing her ground against Kano, Ripley eliminated an enemy, and took a last stand against Metal Sonic, who she was keeping around for shield purposes. Ripley did quite a bit in the seventeen days she lasted. Even though she didn't make it to the end, she was playing like it.
Anyways, the next episode will be a bigger one. Can't wait to get to it! I'll still have to get to the writing. With classes back on, it may take a while, but I won't abandon this story. Ticket out, have a good one.