20 DAYS, 12 PLAYERS, 1 CRUISE
THIS IS
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pelly Estate
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diane faces the brown, modern house, hidden somewhere in the deeper hills of Appaloosa Plains. She figured out this is the location of the richest street in town; the place she could spend the night in as much dignity as was possible under these circustances.
When approaching the glass entrance of her target, she gives the building to her left one final glance. Diane couldn't battle the chill shiver rolling down her spine; she wasn't able to decide if it was just the colder outdoors or the presence of a stable next to it.
She rings the bell..
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Darnell Residence
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It's a hard time getting to sleep in these circumstances. First you're ripped away from a comfortable, familiar, stylish bed, then you're thrown in town with no money to try and find someplace to stay the night, and then you're forced to spend the night on an old couch which has been unstylish for, like, 100 years or something. Edmund could barely stand the torture of the whole situation, especially the torture for his slightly less younger back. That nosy journalist lady was not gonna get away with this, not for as long as his name is Edmund Van Allen!
And, if he makes it through the night, that is. Edmund rolls over, and sees his roommate, Hector. Thank goodness he isn't snoring, or anything, that's at least something not keeping him awake for the night.
Edmund closes his eyes, tries to sleep for a few minutes and then opens his peepers again, and sits up. Perhaps he should try to drink a glass of water, it can't hurt, right? After getting up, he walks to the kitchen, very quietly, trying not to wake up Hector, or Connie and Honey for that matter. Surely, they were sleeping together in the bedroom somewhere upstairs, but you never know how echo-y these old Victorian cots could be.
Speaking of Connie and Honey sleeping together, probably in a REAL bed, Edmund thinks, isn't it unfair that the young Connie, whose future looks bright and strong-spined, gets to sleep in the comfortable bed while he himself, twice as old for heavens sake, has to rot on the sofa!? Like, she shouldn't need to worry about him as a guy and her as a girl sharing the same bed, he isn't even interested in girls in that way. Edmund instinctively snorts, right between two sips. Heck, it's even possible Connie actually IS interested in girls, for the matter. If that's actually the case, then Honey did make a huge mistake in picking Connie as a roommate. Maybe something to discuss the next morning. First Edmund chugs his third glass of water and then fills his cup for the fourth time, just to take back with him in case he got thirsty overnight.
"I gotta go back.."
Right after Edmund installed his backside on the sofa, his roommate suddenly mumbles out during his sleep. Edmund looks on, with a perplexed look on his face, as Hector repositions himself on his couch, lookin.. panicked?
"Michael. Where are you?.. Mike," Hector gasps. Edmund's getting intrigued by this side of Hector. Michael. Who is that guy?
"Go back, turn the boat back, please," Hector continues, "Nooooo..."
"It's gonna be a long night..." Edmund couldn't help sighing that to himself, while trying to keep his sore back as comfortable as possible.
Edmund: "Ugh, Hector.. I need to keep my eyes on him, at any cost."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pelly Estate
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"What do you want?"
The woman in the door opening, blonde, young and with a certain flair of cracked pressure glinstering in her eyes, puts up a wall of detachment, a trusted shield to Diane, a cloak she wears to keep other people's thoughts at a distance. Diane feels a little... surprised to see her own tools used against her. She decides not to leave without a try to fight it first though.
".. It's a long story. You see, my dear, I'm on this game show and-"
"No time for game shows! Leave." The woman looks decides, with a slice of.. possibly disgust, brewing beneath her façade. Diane doesn't give up yet though.
"I need a place to sleep at, okay?!" she says, going for a more dominant place.
"NO HOBO'S IN MY PLACE!" the local resident throws back in Diane's face.
"Calm down and listen up, my dear," Diane continues in a hushed, but determined tone, "I am no hobo. I am of dignified circles and-"
SLAM!!
"Typical," Diane says to herself, before readjusting her scarf and preparing herself to try her luck elsewhere. When she is halfway on the long pathway back to the road, the door opens again. Diane involuntarily peeks back to see what's happening.
"Pantoufle, KILL!"
Diane beholds the woman literally throwing a dog out, and immediately walks away as fast as she can without running too fast, out of fear it'd chase her thinking it was a game, or even worse.. The barks follow her, making her nerves only calm down again at the point she realizes the pooch jumped somewhere into the garden. She sighs in relieve when on the road again, but the shivers creep up her back again when she realizes she's the only Jetsetter with no place to stay at this hour. Or maybe it's the old after all, Diane thinks.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Host Bedroom
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Min Hee's still awake at the time of the night. Are all these Jetsetters safe? All she knows is that she kicked them out for the night... What if someone gets in trouble?
"Odessa.." Min Hee whispers, after rolling over to the side facing her co-host. Her eyes look like they don't even consider to blink open for just a moment, just a recognition of sleep-ruining sorrow.
Min Hee breaths out, rolls over to her other side, and then back to her back. Maybe she should have arranged a cheap hostel instead. Another note to consider for the next season..
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pinkerton Residence
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The first house next to the one with the dog was empty and tightly locked. The second house, and Diane's final hope for a stay in the upper class part of town, had another VIP living in it: how in the world did celebrity surgeon Gavin Pinkerton end up in a place as Appaloosa Plains? At least he was friendly enough to allow her into his hallway, a whole improvement over her previous attempts for a bed. Now to fight her way to stay.
"Can you give me a reason why I should let you stay in here?" Pinkerton asks.
"I am a lady in need of a place to stay the night, my dear. Wouldn't it be an act of compassion to offer one to me?"
Gavin scratches his cheek and looks at his guest with a kind of disdain. "It depends. You see, some people tend to have a certain reputation clinging to the-"
"Don't believe a word they say about me," Diane replies with a low voice to sound more powerful. "I know for sure that your sheet isn't either as clean, my dear."
"So what?"
"At least I'm better in properly cutting things with knifes. Maybe you can watch and learn from my cooking skills."
"... Alright, you can stay, if you're doing the breakfast."
Diane isn't too comforted by Pinkerton's bossy attitude, but his house is comfy enough for her tastes. Plus, who knows this is her only chance.
"You got a deal." Gavin looks surprised for a moment after hearing her reply.
".. Fine.. The bedrooms are this way, please."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The next morning
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Darnell Residence
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Upon entering the living room, Connie immediately felt like she just jumped into a pool of pure tension. If it isn't for Honey insisting on cooking breakfast herself, she would've jumped straight into the kitchen to help her out, just not to be involved with the discussion Hector and Edmund were having.
"You were talking in your sleep about him."
"Nonsense, I don't talk in my sleep."
"You did last night."
"No, I didn't."
"I was awake, Hector. Don't deny the truth."
Hector sighs, in a 'leave-me-alone-don't-snoop-around-in-my-business' fashion. Connie still remembers Hector's closed reaction a few days ago, in the limousine. Is Edmund onto something?
"You said 'Michael. Where are you?.. Mike.'" Hector's eyebrow starts twitching before resorting to a serious, almost threatening tone.
"Do you have proof, Van Allen?"
"No, but I wasn't finished yet: 'Go back, turn the boat back, please', you said before moaning out desperate no's." Boat was the magic word. Hector's expression went from major annoyance to utter shock when it was uttered.
"B- but still no proof."
Edmund crosses his legs: "Your face now is though." Hector immediately grabs a pillow from his couch and buries his face in it.
"Stop this act at once Dolfinne." Edmund obviously is right, Connie cannot deny that, but she still feels uncomfortable at the way he rubs it in. Connie cathes herself getting the urge to let him bury his own triumphant, smuggy smirk into a pillow, but she knows she'd feel sorry for it later if she'd give in, no matter how right and satisfying it may seem. She moves a little closer to Hector instead: "Hector.." No reaction.
"Er.. Did Michael fall off a boat?" It's silent for a few moments. Then Hector's hair crown appears above the pillow, followed by his forehead and eyes.
"It's no use..." Connie blinks a few times while staring at the bright sea-blue orbs just above the pillow's side. They're becoming wetter and wetter as the seconds pass, just like an actual sea, before the tears start to flow over his eyelids.
"I shouldn't hide anymore," Hector says before revealing his whole face again. "He did.. We were all drunk.."
Connie: "Why didn't he tell us before? .... It'd have gotten a huge load off him if he did, I understand. Poor man..."
"Poor thing..." Connie feels sorry for Hector while his tears splish on his lap. He slowly stands up after a minute: "I'm still not over it.. I need some time alone..." Hector steps out of the room. It's silent for a minute.
"Well.. that wasn't so hard to hide." Edmund's still there as well. Connie sighs at this bitter realization.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dining Area
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Salma is enjoying the fresh breeze of the morning wind which frolics above the Appaloosa River in the morning sun while chatting with followers and eating cornflakes from the bowl on her lap. There is only just one thing which keeps her from truly cherising the moment: the thought of the people she basically stabbed in the back coming back soon.
While she brings a spoonful to her mouth, a comment popped up in the chatroom.
"Hey Sal what you gonna do when theyr mad @ u????" She stares at the comment. Good question indeed, Salma thinks. And she can't contemplate a reply in her head.. Let alone actually reply to it on the chat. Help, she thinks, as the silent seconds piece together in a full minute. Out of her nerves starting to act up, she bangs her face on her laptop's keyboard.
While she brings a spoonful to her mouth, a comment popped up in the chatroom.
"Hey Sal what you gonna do when theyr mad @ u????" She stares at the comment. Good question indeed, Salma thinks. And she can't contemplate a reply in her head.. Let alone actually reply to it on the chat. Help, she thinks, as the silent seconds piece together in a full minute. Out of her nerves starting to act up, she bangs her face on her laptop's keyboard.
And with it, the cornflakes bang on her legs and shoes, the milky liquid drippling down her calves.
"Oh crap, typical." Salma looks down at the mess she made and thinks of a way to get herself some kitchen paper without leaving a trail of dairy over the floor. In panic, she looks up to her screen for a sec to discover another mess she just made.
"gthyfbvnru56j7mc4 ed," already posted in the chat room. Comments along the lines of "Are you ok?", "Wut's happening?" and "lol" were popping up en masse.
"Oh CRAP," Salma shouts, and soon a "Cornfalke trouble, srry, BRB" was added to the list.
*Salma sits down and looks around the Diary Room before talking*
Salma: "Well, the others can return any minute now, I better go and say things before they actually do. I backstabbed the others a bit and AFAIK some of them, Diane and Edmund, are bemused.."
*Salma pauses and lets out a small sigh*
Salma: "So, if they're out to literally stab me in the back back, wish me luck.. And Shay, if they actually do stab me in the back, I want to say I love you."
"Oh crap, typical." Salma looks down at the mess she made and thinks of a way to get herself some kitchen paper without leaving a trail of dairy over the floor. In panic, she looks up to her screen for a sec to discover another mess she just made.
"gthyfbvnru56j7mc4 ed," already posted in the chat room. Comments along the lines of "Are you ok?", "Wut's happening?" and "lol" were popping up en masse.
"Oh CRAP," Salma shouts, and soon a "Cornfalke trouble, srry, BRB" was added to the list.
*Salma sits down and looks around the Diary Room before talking*
Salma: "Well, the others can return any minute now, I better go and say things before they actually do. I backstabbed the others a bit and AFAIK some of them, Diane and Edmund, are bemused.."
*Salma pauses and lets out a small sigh*
Salma: "So, if they're out to literally stab me in the back back, wish me luck.. And Shay, if they actually do stab me in the back, I want to say I love you."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Darnell Residence
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
HEALTH-E rings the bell. Min Hee and Odessa have sent him a message: they were allowed to return to the Jetsetter at 9 am precisely. And, despite loving it to be able to spend a night in the local hospital, he still looks forward to the prospect of access to his Cat Room. A funny feeling for the inexperienced robot, that he would prefer a fluffy, carpet-filled room with colour over the sterile white of a surgery room.
"Oh, hi!"
A familiar face his database recognizes as countrysinger Honey Darnell has opened the door: "Come on in, y'all! We're eating breakfast now."
"Thank you for the offer, but my system is not built to digest human food. Do you have any kind of scrap, metal or oil I could eat instead?"
Honey's eyes open widely and her mouth opens a bit. "Oh..kay.. I'll do what I can see." She brings in HEALTH-E and leads him to a living room, where Connie, Edmund and Hector are eating their food in silence.
"They look bothered by something, maybe you can make th'all laugh. I'll look if I got something for you somewhere."
"Okay." HEALTH-E takes a seat among his fellow Jetsetters. He remembers it is a properr thing to ask another person how they are doing after you have not seen them for a while, so he proceeds with that act. The three takes some seconds to react, although Hector takes noticably more time than the others.
"I could be better," Edmund says, "because these couches were giving my back ouches."
"You give me an idea: I was programmed with the knowledge of a few massage techniques. I could use them on you to try to easy the pain a bit."
"You know what'd really help?" Edmund moves his chest a bit forward before proceeding his statement. "A real Van Allen! Did you know that they are designed specifically to counter these blasted back aches?"
Hector sighs out loud.
"What?" Edmund says to him, "They help my back out on 100% of the times I sit or lie on them, you know that?"
Hector shakes his head, and then looks at his final piece of toast again. HEALTH-E suddenly realizes that he's in the presence of only 3 out of 4 kicked out Jetsetters.
"Does anybody know where Diane is? She is currently not in this room."
"Honey's got a horse," Connie replies this time, "so she decided to find another place to stay instead."
"She did because of her horse allergies, I think."
"Eh.. I think so as well, yes."
"I did just receive a message from Odessa and Min Hee." Edmund and Hector look up as well. "We can go back to the Jetsetter at 9 AM."
"Splendid," Edmund throws in, "the furniture in my room, albeit not Van Allens, are way more comfy than the junk in this room."
A loud cough sounds through the room. Honey walks in with a can of oil and gives it to HEALTH-E.
"Thank you very much. Do you have a cold?"
Honey's eyes open up widely again: "No, I'm fine. Someone else isn't gonna be though, if they don't watch their mouth soon enough..." She looks at Edmund, with a rather angry looks on her face. HEALTH-E takes a sip from his oil.
"We should talk about Diane again. Does anybody know at which place Diane is staying the night?"
The others shake their heads.
"Knowing Diane," Hector finally states, "where would she go? If we can figure that out.."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Back Deck
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"I'm wondering what's taking them so long?"
Odessa impatiently taps her foot on the floor while she and Min Hee overlook the Jetsetter's fireplace corner.
"Patience, young grasshopper. I'm sure they'll show up any minute now."
"Hmf, 9 AM is 9 AM, not 3 PM or something." Odessa checks her cellphone time. It's 9.24
"We're standing here for 24 minutes already, for fucks sake."
"Hey there they are!" Min Hee signals to the road leading to the beach, "Hey Jetsetters! Please gather on the back deck now!"
After the 5 sit down, Odessa starts off.
"Good Jetsetters. You listen so well to auntie Min Hee." Ironic laughter and eager nodding.
"What comes next," HEALTH-E even asks.
"Well, nothing too special," Min Hee answers, "from now on it's just the same old game again. Prepare for the Ranking and just roll along here."
"And don't forget," Odessa adds in, "to cause some good TV. Some extra views can't hurt!" Min Hee shakes her head and steps a bit in front of Odessa: "Off you go."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Green Kolonial Room
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"My night... could've been worse, my dear," Diane tells her confidant, who is sitting in the love seat next to the sofa, "At least I managed to get myself a place in the good neighborhood, with no horse in sight."
"That's lovely," Connie replies, while sweeping away a piece of dust from her dress.
"The best part was that I only had to pay by cooking the host breakfast. That wasn't too bad, I must say. Well, how did your night go?"
"I slept very well," Connie starts off, "but poor Hector and Edmund had to take the couches. Especially Edmund was not happy."
"That serves those vile men right. How was Honey as a host?"
"Well, eh, she wanted to cook herself, so I had to sit with the men."
Diane shakes her head.
"Hector opened up a bit," Connie throws in. Diane is surprised upon hearing: "Hmm?"
"... His brother, named Michael, drowned. They were drunk, ehm, and he fell off in the sea."
Diane is silent for a few moments, processing all she just heard. It's true, she still isn't too fond of Hector since the pool incident, but losing your brother in a way like that.. She wouldn't wish that to happen to someone like him, "That's... tragic.."
"Poor man kept all of that secret to anyone but himself," Connie sighs, "it sounds like a burden to me."
"Hmm... ," Diane wonders, "I suppose so..." In her own honest opinion something is slightly off to the story; it isn't something to be ashamed off. Diane herself would throw something like that into the group eventually. But on the other hand, Hector has shown himself to be an entirely different individual than Diane, she thinks, so maybe his view on the matter is entirely different. It's silent for a while.
"So," Connie starts again, "what should we do for the next Ranking?" Diane shakes her head while crossing her arms, thinking about the chargetaker of the last Challenge: "Salma..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Front Deck
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Edmund creeps around the Front Deck. He wants to have a talk with a certain someone who made him ruin his back, and that certain someone is known to spend quite a bit of her time in the hot tub.
"Oh, heheh.. ," Salma laughs nervously, "Hello.."
"Don't think you can get away with that so easily," Edmund states while thinking something dark about the nerve of today's youth. He rubs his painful back while continueing his stern words: "You, young one, ruined my back and I am not happy."
"Relax, it'll get over soon enough, trust me." Far too nonchalant, Edmund finds about Salma's reaction.
"You should've been the one sleeping on the couch last night," Edmund adds to his train of thought.
"It's just a game, sir." Edmund was about to bounce back, when another voice suddenly speaks right behind him: "Hello Edmund, I think we should discuss our strategies right now."
Edmund himself startledly turns himself to HEALTH-E: "Not right now, I'm busy at this very moment!"
"Hmm..." HEALTH-E looks over Edmund's shoulder to look at Salma beholding the situation. Edmund, however, was getting even more annoyed. The metalhead was giving away their SECRET alliance out in the open, exactly what Edmund didn't want to happen.
HEALTH-E: "I believe that I came to talk to Edmund at the wrong time, now that I am looking at the situation in hindsight."
"Good morning Salma," HEALTH-E says, in the most unaware fashion ever.
"Hi HEALTH-E, how are you doing?"
"I am doing not so well, thank you very much," Edmund interrupts. "And I need someone to pay for that."
"Edmund, listen," Salma raises her voice while also raising from the tub, making sure she wouldn't bump her head in the roof again. HEALTH-E precautionarily takes a step backwards. "Listen, it's just a game. I was simply offered the boat first, and took it."
"Why didn't you think of your elders first?"
"Because someone else would've taken it as well. If I didn't take the boat, then Hector or Diane would've done it for sure."
"If we decide to team up as a trio, we have one half of the house working together," HEALTH-E added in, completely off-topic, "That could work in our advantage."
"I'm not gonna work together with her," Edmund recoils.
Salma: "What happened to very interesting, back in the limo then, hm?"
"Very interesting's rotting on that couch, that's what happened. Goodbye." With that said, Edmund walks away to the indoors, leaving behind a confused HEALTH-E and bemused Salma. The former of the two looks at the latter, who shakes her head, saying it's his loss.
"Should I try to talk to him?"
Salma thinks about it for a sec: "Why not? We might wanna read his thoughts for the Ranking."
"But reading an other persons's thoughts is scientifically impossible, right?" HEALTH-E says susprised.
"Oh no," Salma assures, "just make sure he tells you his suspicions."
HEALTH-E seems to understand it now: "Okidoki. Then now I must proceed with a high velocity. I will talk to you later."
While HEALTH-E rocket-boosts away, Salma smiles to herself: "HEALTH-E, never change too much."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diary Room
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hector: "Okay. I think it's time to finally come clean, ladies and gents.... I, uh.... Holy Octopus. How do I even start this? The fact of the matter is... Well, I'm pretty depressed. More than depressed. I've contemplated suicide many times, but finally found enlightenment when I heard a speech from a motivational speaker. He really spoke to my soul, and guided me out of the darkness and out of my alcoholism. I wanted to do the same for others. I wanted to help people out of the dark and never turn back.... Problem is, this show forced me to turn back. Turn back into the darkness. I can't hide it anymore. I can no longer pretend that the following statement is not true..."
Hector: "I am a murderer. I killed my own brother.
There you have it. On national TV. I'm willing to go to jail for it... It was an accident, and I was intoxicated, so it wasn't actual murder. It was manslaughter. It was very silly, really... We were on a party boat, we were drunk, and he was trying to get the same girl that I wanted. When he told me he got in her pants, that was it... I lost it. I pushed him off. And no one saw. So we kept going. I was still pissed, and still very drunk, so I figured I'd fetch him the next morning. But by then it was too late. By then he had already drowned.... His name was Michael. That police guy the other day had an unbearable resemblance to him, and it took me off guard... But it was a sign. I know it was. It was a sign to come clean, because I've been holding onto this secret for SO damn long and it's been eating me alive."
Hector: "Michael's favorite animal was a Dolphin. Michael was free, like a Dolphin. It was his spirit animal. So when I see a Dolphin, I see my brother. That's why it pains me to see dolphins locked away. And the reason I dawn a dolphin tattoo on my body. It represents Michael, for he is always with me.
So that's me. I'm done hiding my past. It hasn't done me much good. We all only have one life, so you need to live it without regrets. My first biggest regret was that hesitation I had of wondering if we should stop the ship and go back. My second biggest regret is never telling a single soul and blaming his death on something ridiculous like a shark or octopus."
So that's me. I'm done hiding my past. It hasn't done me much good. We all only have one life, so you need to live it without regrets. My first biggest regret was that hesitation I had of wondering if we should stop the ship and go back. My second biggest regret is never telling a single soul and blaming his death on something ridiculous like a shark or octopus."
Hector: "My real name is Hector Seekat, and I am an ex-alcoholic and I killed my own brother. There. Now, can everyone stop hiding behind their lies and come together and accept one another? After all, you can't truly live if you aren't true about yourself."
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Min Hee: "Jetsetters, it is time for the Ranking! One by one, I will call your names. When your name is called, you go and enter the Theatre."
*HEALTH-E puts in his Ranking*
*Salma puts in her Ranking*
*Hector puts in his Ranking*
Diane: "I will keep this simple. You will not trample me like some tiny little bird in a massive stampede. I know someone is after my head, but as the someone said to, I will not lose my head. Thank you."
*Connie puts in her Ranking*
*Edmund puts in his Ranking*
Min Hee stares to the view on the town. She rewatched the recordings of the Diary Room and was shocked, to say the least, about Hector's confession. "I killed my own brother." Is it safe to have someone like that in the game? Min Hee herself isn't too sure about it, but the teenage girl sitting on the bench behind her disagrees.
"It happened ages ago, when he was drunk. We can't kick him off because of something which happened in his far past."
"I know.. ," Min Hee puffs out, "I'm afraid of the safety of the others though. He did freak out against HEALTH-E a week ago, he still is capable of doing things."
"I still think it's unfair. What happened to your fairness protocol enforcement?" Odessa points out, while tickling Lenka's chin.
"In heavy conflict with the safety protocol, you know," Min Hee answers, "I simply can't ignore the fact we could be charged for negligence if he kills someone like he killed his brother."
"You got a point there," Odessa gives in, "I'll talk to him later on, does that sound okay?"
"Hmm... okay. Just be careful..."
There is one person who is not going to take any risk with Hector's past. A person who overheard part of the conversation while heading to the kitchen to cook supper.
Diane White immediately adds the new information to her talk with Connie earlier that day, and comes to conclusions.
Diane: "Unbelievable. Hector didn't lose his brother in an accident, he murdered him in cold blood! Thank goodness the pool incident ended well, a human being could have died in it. That's it. I'll call the police. Folks like Hector belong in only one place, and..."
*Diane readjusts her posture*
Diane: "... That place is locked behind bars. It'll be a win-win case: the safety protocol is enforced, a considerable opponent in the game will be cleared and I'll get rewarded for my assistance. And Hector will get a few years to think about his deeds."
*Diane grabs her phone*
Diane: "I think I'll allow him one final dinner with us, before our ways seperate. Ta ta!"
HEALTH-E keeps looking at certain details in certain paintings. How do people imagine things like this, he wonders, while Salma's sitting on the couch to relax after eating dinner.
"Are you confident this round, HEALTH-E?" she asks.
"I think that I am on the right track myself. How about you?"
"I got Immunity, I'm staying right here for another while," Salma replies.
"Right there? Then how are you supposed to eat, sleep and use the bathroom if you are going to sit there?"
"Oh no, I was simply referring to the Jetsetter and the Jetset game with 'right here'. Another lesson on your path to understanding figurative speaking. Do you understand it?"
HEALTH-E nods: "Yes, I think that I get it."
"Good," Salma says, while Connie comes in. "Oh, hi there," Salma starts off.
"Hi.. er, have you guys seen Diane?"
Salma: "No, I haven't since dinner, no."
"Me neither," HEALTH-E adds to Salma. "What are you looking for from her?"
Connie replies, ignoring a slightly indignant Salma reacting to HEALTH-E: "Oh, er, it's just.. I always get a little nervous when Eliminations are.. eh.. about to happen.."
"Poor thing," Salma says.
"It was worse in the beginning of the game though, but still."
"I can understand.. Luckily we're down to the final 6 now, final 5 at the end of the night, I think."
"You're lucky that you're safe," Connie says to Salma, "Anybody would have loved to have Immunity right now."
"I think it's gonna be a big help to me later on as well."
"Girls," HEALTH-E suddenly interrupts, "I think I can hear a police siren approaching."
"Not again," Salma exclaims, "It's the 3rd time over the last 2 weeks already, I believe?"
"The 4th over the past 10 days, to be more precize," HEALTH-E corrects, "and it was not me who called the police this time."
Salma stands up and walks to the entrance: "We better go and take a look." HEALTH-E and Connie follow.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Host Balcony
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Min Hee stares to the view on the town. She rewatched the recordings of the Diary Room and was shocked, to say the least, about Hector's confession. "I killed my own brother." Is it safe to have someone like that in the game? Min Hee herself isn't too sure about it, but the teenage girl sitting on the bench behind her disagrees.
"It happened ages ago, when he was drunk. We can't kick him off because of something which happened in his far past."
"I know.. ," Min Hee puffs out, "I'm afraid of the safety of the others though. He did freak out against HEALTH-E a week ago, he still is capable of doing things."
"I still think it's unfair. What happened to your fairness protocol enforcement?" Odessa points out, while tickling Lenka's chin.
"In heavy conflict with the safety protocol, you know," Min Hee answers, "I simply can't ignore the fact we could be charged for negligence if he kills someone like he killed his brother."
"You got a point there," Odessa gives in, "I'll talk to him later on, does that sound okay?"
"Hmm... okay. Just be careful..."
There is one person who is not going to take any risk with Hector's past. A person who overheard part of the conversation while heading to the kitchen to cook supper.
Diane White immediately adds the new information to her talk with Connie earlier that day, and comes to conclusions.
Diane: "Unbelievable. Hector didn't lose his brother in an accident, he murdered him in cold blood! Thank goodness the pool incident ended well, a human being could have died in it. That's it. I'll call the police. Folks like Hector belong in only one place, and..."
*Diane readjusts her posture*
Diane: "... That place is locked behind bars. It'll be a win-win case: the safety protocol is enforced, a considerable opponent in the game will be cleared and I'll get rewarded for my assistance. And Hector will get a few years to think about his deeds."
*Diane grabs her phone*
Diane: "I think I'll allow him one final dinner with us, before our ways seperate. Ta ta!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Art Gallery
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
HEALTH-E keeps looking at certain details in certain paintings. How do people imagine things like this, he wonders, while Salma's sitting on the couch to relax after eating dinner.
"Are you confident this round, HEALTH-E?" she asks.
"I think that I am on the right track myself. How about you?"
"I got Immunity, I'm staying right here for another while," Salma replies.
"Right there? Then how are you supposed to eat, sleep and use the bathroom if you are going to sit there?"
"Oh no, I was simply referring to the Jetsetter and the Jetset game with 'right here'. Another lesson on your path to understanding figurative speaking. Do you understand it?"
HEALTH-E nods: "Yes, I think that I get it."
"Good," Salma says, while Connie comes in. "Oh, hi there," Salma starts off.
"Hi.. er, have you guys seen Diane?"
Salma: "No, I haven't since dinner, no."
"Me neither," HEALTH-E adds to Salma. "What are you looking for from her?"
Connie replies, ignoring a slightly indignant Salma reacting to HEALTH-E: "Oh, er, it's just.. I always get a little nervous when Eliminations are.. eh.. about to happen.."
"Poor thing," Salma says.
"It was worse in the beginning of the game though, but still."
"I can understand.. Luckily we're down to the final 6 now, final 5 at the end of the night, I think."
"You're lucky that you're safe," Connie says to Salma, "Anybody would have loved to have Immunity right now."
"I think it's gonna be a big help to me later on as well."
"Girls," HEALTH-E suddenly interrupts, "I think I can hear a police siren approaching."
"Not again," Salma exclaims, "It's the 3rd time over the last 2 weeks already, I believe?"
"The 4th over the past 10 days, to be more precize," HEALTH-E corrects, "and it was not me who called the police this time."
Salma stands up and walks to the entrance: "We better go and take a look." HEALTH-E and Connie follow.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
River Bank
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Odessa runs off the stairs while trying to hold Lenka as close as possible, followed by Min Hee, Captain Dockhatt and a few others: "What's happening over here," she shouts while seeing 2 officers approach.
"Well well well, it seems like you're becoming regulars around here," Officer Felipe Marshall says.
Odessa: "Don't even talk about it."
"What's the matter, officer? "Min Hee asks.
"Our secretary received a call, that there is a murderer around this place. We would be told about the details here."
"Well well well, it seems like you're becoming regulars around here," Officer Felipe Marshall says.
Odessa: "Don't even talk about it."
"What's the matter, officer? "Min Hee asks.
"Our secretary received a call, that there is a murderer around this place. We would be told about the details here."
"HEALTH-E," Min Hee starts sternly, with a frown on her face. "Was it you again?"
"I did not call the police, I swear."
"Okay then people," Odessa addresses the other Jetsetters, all of whom have arrived, "The person who called the police this time will get a strike, no ifs, no buts!"
*Diane messes with the camera in the Diary Room*
Diane: "I want that tape back! Give me the tape! ... How do you open this thing?"
"Okay then people," Odessa addresses the other Jetsetters, all of whom have arrived, "The person who called the police this time will get a strike, no ifs, no buts!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diary Room
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diane: "I want that tape back! Give me the tape! ... How do you open this thing?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
River Bank
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"No, I didn't do it either," Edmund says. Odessa looks closely at him in the eyes and then decides to check the next person: "Diane, did you do it?"
Diane tries to look as straight into the eyes of the host as possible, trying to keep any nervous sign at bay: "No. I was in the kitchen, cooking supper."
"That only leaves us one person.. Hector?"
Hector looks up surprised. "No, I didn't. Why would I ever do that?"
"Good question..," Odessa says. "But who the hell DID call the police then?"
"I guess someone's lying then..," Min Hee suggests.
"Ugh," Odessa moans, "if we only had the camera's working properly! How inconvenient they're only getting installed tonight!"
"Well, there's nothing more we can do," Min Hee concludes, "But, was it neccessary to threat with strikes?"
"Not trying to interrupt here," Officer Marshall interrupts, "but we're here on a case. There's a murderer among you, according to the caller."
"I doubt that there's a killer," Diane states out, "If I count correctly, there are 9 living beings on this boat, and," Diane's gaze falls on HEALTH-E, "the robot. No one's missing, so I'd say no one has died."
Felipe Marshall focusses his attention on Diane: "So you're suggesting someone made a false call?"
"Yes, I am, my dear."
"Well, this trip was a waste of my time. Again." Felipe targets his partner officer. "Time to go, Chuck!"
"And just in time," Min Hee notices, while pointing at the electronic billboard nearby.
"Looks like the Assassin will strike yet again in 3, 2, 1..."
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
???: "Crap!"
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
"Edmund, you have been Eliminated by the Assassin," Odessa states, "Time to say your goodbyes before you leave with me."
"Well, what do I have to say? Probably not too much. But one note for the Assassin," and Edmund glares to his main suspects, "you'll eventually regret Eliminating me. You know very well that I, and only I, was supposed to be the one to show your true identity to the world. As for the others: So long!"
Edmund immediately walks away from the Jetsetter and it's inhabitants, followed by Odessa. After the two have disappeared behind the hills seperating the view on the road, a wave of relief hits the remaining players.
"Thank God he's finally gone!"
"I'm not gonna miss his presence for sure."
"I think that I might miss him a little."
Diane: "Well, my dears, Edmund has left this boat at last. And I am not unamused with that."
*Diane smirks*
Diane: "Good thing the new cameras will be installed soon enough."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Side of the Road
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"So..." Odessa starts off while rubbing the little furball she's been carrying all along, "Edmund, what do you think has happened?"
"Ugh.. The Assassin just made a huge mistake, that's what happened."
Odessa raises her eyebrows a little: "Are you sure it's entirely the Assassin's fault? Why?"
"Easy. I'm 100% sure my suspect is the Assassin, that only leaves the option someone else is on their trail as well. That means the Assassin personally handpicked me to leave over an expandable side character. And that's why it is wrong I am standing here instead of that other person, whoever it may be, end of story."
"Well.. I guess you want to say goodbye then.."
"I never wanted to leave like this," Edmund says while entering the luxurious Ferrari, "but apparantly circumstances force me to. Farewell." Edmund shuts the door and the red car immediately races off to deliver him to the airport.
Odessa: "That was our 7th boot, Edmund Van Allen. It'll only get harder from here on out."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
End of Episode 14
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
No comments:
Post a Comment