Welcome back to Second Chance! After a shocking blindside that's left the players confused, a few look to get right back on track. Plus, more rivalries spawn all because of a (technically) 3-2 vote. It's finally time to check back in with the castaways, and what a day it will be.

EPISODE EIGHT: SURVIVOR DEATH

Merged Tribe: Chun-Li, Cyrax, Diana, Gordon, Little Mac, Metal Sonic, Princess Peach, Sackboy, Sektor, Slade, and T'Challa

Eleven are left. With the jury starting now, who's heading there first?

Night 20

As those remaining return to camp, there is that air of confusion. The first confessional goes to one of the blindsided.

Gordon: …how in the hell did LI MEI get the boot? Did I miss a clusterfuck of a plan?

He has a few seconds of silence.

Gordon: What are these people doing?

His confused reaction is a perfect contrast to Metal's cocky one.

Metal Sonic: This strategy could prove fruitful. Sektor is stil around to distract the big targets. The big targets are still around to distract the small ones. All while the small ones get picked off. For the first time, I can say I will sit pretty.

Given he escaped the grasp of prejury, Sektor decides to let his arrogance shine. Pride was always a trait, but now his pride has only grown. Sektor casually leans on the shelter. "Another day in this lost paradise."

Gordon rubs a leg. "Boast about it, why don't you?"

"I will gladly."

"Pompous fuck.." Gordon mutters…

The Chef did NOT use his inside voice because Sektor's head snaps at him like he's a zombie. "If you wish to be my enemy, I welcome the challenge."

"Better challenge: don't be a dick." Gordon snaps back. "You'll do anything but that. If Cyrax told you you to kiss him, you'd still do that before apologizing."

"I do not have homoerotic feelings for him."

"With how much you talk about him, you might as well come out!" Gordon yells, bringing more heat. "For fucks sake man, you're ruining yourself!"

Sektor looks at his arm..the arm that could launch a missile right now. He almost goes through with it, but a little voice in that cybernetic head tells him to "outlast your enemies."

Metal watches this whole confrontation go down, and has to hide his arrogant cackle.

Metal Sonic: Three weeks into the game, and Survivor Death can't catch us. I take pleasure in the explosions I cause. It's so pleasing to watch these people forget that i exist. Even for a moment.

Sektor strokes his little braid on the back of his head. "I'm not ruining myself, I'm flexing my power."

"…I'll bicker with you in the morning.." Gordon says, putting a cap in it for now. In confessional, he's not so calm.

Gordon: I'm going to be a patient when this is over. Every time I think I'm free, someone comes at me with shit, but you know what? Sektor's not long for this, and I'm going to RELISH the night he leaves.

Sektor confessional?

Sektor: I am going nowhere.

Back to Gordon.

Gordon: I'm gonna smear him like paste, that wanker doesn't know what he's in for.

Back to Sektor.

Sektor: I'm in for screaming and shouting from an Australian individual.

After that argument, there's a cut to Slade, just staring into the camera like a creep. Those eyes spell "stalker," which is exactly what he did. As explained by the man himself..

In that confessional, he's leaning on a rock.

Slade: After catching those naughty players stalk Gordon around the forest, I decided to stalk them myself. I overheard Li Mei bringing up a vote split. Mac pushes back but SHE insisted. Since I want these quiet players taken out, I figured I'd leak to Metal and we could help each other. Now that it's worked, I'll let everyone else deal with the confusion. If Metal or Sektor get caught up in it, so be it. I have a reputation to destroy.

Day 21

This season has officially hit the three-week mark. Just eighteen more days to go, and a winner would be crowned. New habits grow, but old habits are still kicking. Such as Chun-Li and her meditation sessions. Sackboy and Cyrax decide to participate, but are joined by Mac, who's probably looking for relief.

Even in a time of peace, Cyrax's head still runs a thousand miles per second.

Cyrax: Why would Sektor use his idol, and keep his biggest enemies in the game? How did he even access one in the first place? I found mine at the feast before he could, there was little time for him to claim one…unless he got it from another place. Or better yet: another player.

The cyborg sits up in certainty.

Cyrax: After a minute of thought, it is obvious to me that Metal Sonic plotted behind our backs. He wants Sektor to take the heat. This is all a distraction. If he keeps picking fights with Gordon's alliance, it will work and Metal will slip away. He may have gotten away with his schemes before. He fooled me into playing my idol. But I AM ADAPTABLE TOO. Sektor may be a nuisance, but YOU are threat, and I will not let you stay quiet!

Aaaand his scheme got clocked.

It's early morning in the Maldives. That little chill is going around, but they won't compare to the chill running through Mac's spine after he hears a theory from Cyrax. The look on the boxers face…he's just absolutely puzzled.

"He did what now?"

Little Mac: I've tricked people before, but THIS is crazy. That's all I can say to describe it. Cyrax thinks that Metal found the idol, gave it to Sektor, and flushed Cyrax's idol because..I can't really wrap my head around it. Point is, I lost my friend, and I gotta get back on my feet.

Given that the boxer asked again, Cyrax explains it in a..simpler way. "Sektor is still here, so Metal wants to hide away."

"He does crazy stuff all the time. I'm wondering who that third vote was.." Mac responds, catching te counter to he and Mei's backup plan. "The first two are obvious, but—"

"Slade Wilson."

"Yeah, could be him, but..don't cut me off man." Mac says, causing the cyborg to tilt his head. "I'm not pissed or anything."

"My apologies."

"K..but If anyone has a thing with 'em, it's Slade. Has to be." Mac assumes, and..yeah he assumed right. "Don't know what his deal was with US though.."

Little Mac: I watched Deathstroke play, he NEVER lays low! It's not who he is. Come on people, this guy gave his partner a fake idol! OF COURSE I'm gonna suspect him!

The Slade in question is headed for the water well. Mac decides to follow him there. Deciding to play it off casually, Mac opens up first. "Where'd you think he found it?"

"Must have searched overnight. Machines don't have sleep schedules. We don't either.."

"That's so true man."

Slade decides to turn around, and leave, but Mac's still following. "Something to say?"

"We don't talk a lot."

Slade squints inside the mask.

Slade: Someone's upset I ruined their game. Did Mac believe I was going to let him repeat Fiji? Gordon's just the face of his alliance. He wouldn't be stalking me if Diana went instead. What a bitter boy.

Why is Mac even doing this?

Little Mac: Is it cool for me to stalk him? No. But I'm gonna see what's up with him. There's no way he's just sitting around and doing nothing. Whatever those three did, it cost me my ride or die, so I have it out for them.

He pauses.

Little Mac: She kept me in check for a while, but with her gone, I'm playing a little loose. What's up with you, Slade?

Mac is still sticking by him, and an annoyed Slade states his next move as monotone as possible. "I will sit on the beach now."

"I had the same idea."

"Do you have anything better to do?"

Mac shrugs. "Sitting with you sounds nice."

In his next confessional, Slade comments on his clinginess.

Slade: This may be the most passive-aggressive, aggressive gameplay someones ever pulled. I have to applaud Mac for how petty he's being. It'll make me target him later.

Mac, still bothered by what happened, vents to another alliance member in T'Challa. Or so he thinks. The king listens in as Mac expresses his suspicions.

"I'm just not getting why he'd do that, we weren't even coming for him. I think there was a plan on the inside.." Mac speculates. "Those three HAVE to be a thing."

"They have Hathuru ties. But Slade is acting like a follower." T'Challa spills. "I do not know when he stopped playing aggressively. But I do know we have bigger fish to fry."

Mac blinks twice. "Dude…he's going to be a big fish if we don't stop him soon."

"If you need me to keep immunity away, I can do that, but for now I wouldn't worry about him." T'Challa says. "

T'Challa: Mac is the only man who wants to take a shot at him. That shot will never happen until I say so.

Given their secrecy, T'Challa has to pull Slade behind a bush just to speak with him. The assassin looks like he's about to strangle the Panther, until he releases that it's just him. "Don't surprise me like that again…"

"It's urgent."

Slade doesn't look amused. "Someone coming for me?"

"Mac's not happy with you." Hearing the sigh from Slade, he keeps going. "He wants you out."

"..Really? Your number one got blindsided, cry me a river." No sympathy from Slade. "When Skarlet went home I wasn't this petty."

T'Challa stifles himself. "After you won immunity..you held a meeting to eliminate Wilson."

"..I was a little petty. Time changes a man, but if Mac wants to fire at me, I'll fire back."

Slade: I love when the quiet types put their foot down. Couldn't hide forever. But since I have more important people to take care of, I'll let Mac live for a couple votes.

As the two head out of that bush, T'Challa's looking EVERYWHERE. Nobody's seemed to catch them. "Coast is clear."

"Ok."

Seeing Slade walk off, T'Challa peels the opposite way. It's just him and the camera now. "Whatever we can do to throw Mac off, we'll do it."

T'Challa: Dismissing Mac's pleas like I did will make me look bad for me, and I don't need him chasing our scent. An idea comes to mind…

In more positive developments, Chun-Li and Peach are prepping the raft for more use. That street fighter has the fishing gear ready to go. Despite a quiet start at the merge, the two still have sense of what they are doing.

There's also that link between them.

"Fish often?" Chun-Li asks.

"Usually my Toads do the hunting for me. Maldives was a reality check.." Peach admits, hopping on as Chun pushes the raft in. The extra weight isn't much to her.

Peach: My cousin had only good things to say about Chun-Li. I don't know she feels about Daisy's betrayal, even to this day..but she seem nice about it. I wont spar with her though. I'm not a pitbull like Daisy is.

Peach decides to go for a compliment. "I love your vibe. Daisy was not wrong about you."

Chun goes for humor. "Will you betray me too?"

"NO, no—" she stops getting defensive when Li smirks at her. "Oh! You have me worried.."

"Don't be. We can't change the past."

Chun-Li: She doesn't seem like an aggressor at first glance, but princesses have a habit of surprising me. I'll pretend that there are no worries, but I'll keep my ears open. As sweet as she is, I still want the title. Daisy, if you are watching this, Peach will determine what I do with her. You would do the same in my shoes.

As the two float by on their raft, they see a new conflict brewing at the shore between T'Challa and Slade. Mac is there too, watching. They have no clue why they are doing it, all they know is that THOSE GUYS are beefing now.

"The quiet days are underrated." Chun-Li says.

"All this ego…I should have known things would go this way." Peach adds. "Everyone has something to prove."

Peach: They never got along at camp, but they were at least cordial. I don't understand the blowup now, but Slade must have been disrespectful. Can't say I'm surprised, his vibes were always off.

What are they bickering about? T'Challa says so blatantly. "You call her weak, and she's not even here to defend herself."

"It's true. What did she do? What moves did she make? Name me ONE." Slade defends.

"She wanted to move silently and that was ok! You would do the same in her spot." T'Challa claps back.

"No, I actually play the game."

Slade: T'Challa wants us to stage a fight to throw these players off. I get to be the villain that I am, and he gets to be the trustworthy hero. Little do they know, they can't trust either of us.

T'Challa's still going, trying to drive the narrative home. "

"You can cope however you want, but she's not getting the call back."

Mac has to stop his jaw from dropping. "You've got a lot of nerve talking about her like that."

"Am I making fun of your girlfriend?" Slade asks, making T'Challa cover his mouth. "She's gone, didn't even make the jury, and now it's YOUR turn to move on without her."

Mac huffs. "I'll make sure you're a casualty."

Slade wobbles his legs, mocking him. "Terrified."

In Mac's confessional, he makes it very clear.

Little Mac: When T'Challa defended this guy, I thought "hey, maybe they have a little something going on." But no. Slade's really as much of a dick as Sektor. He can leave with him too.

Others, such as Cyrax, Gordon, and Metal Sonic walk in to catch the drama. Gordon clicks his tongue and heads the other way. "One day.."

He leaves Cyrax and Metal, who, for once, aren't the focal points of drama. Cyrax has one eye on Metal. "It is an odd feeling to be by the sidelines, is it not?"

"Whatever benefits us more." Metal answers.

Cyrax nods, still keeping that eye on him. "At least it is not us."

Cyrax: Everyone wants to take a shot at everyone. Gordon wants Sektor, Mac wants Slade, and I'm still keeping my eye on Metal Sonic. Either way, those three WILL be split up, leaving them to pick sides. The only question: is who?

Well a few names are already out there. One of them has to be the "Mayor" of Ponderosa, and these next couple chapters will determine who it is. Might squeeze another reward challenge in there! See you around as Day 22 is about to kick off.