More "Survival of the Fittest"
I'm glad people are enjoying this! Here's chapter two. In an attempt to avoid confusion, I am including a list of the tribe members and will cross them off as they are eliminated.
Chapter Two - The First Elimination
Tribes
Cakobau
Annabelle-Marie
Andrea
Hayden
Jarod
Mike
Peter
Rachael
Tiffany
Naulivou
Bob
Candy
Chris
Louise
Meredith
Michael
Richard
Sarah
The two tribes met at tribal council. Everyone got a torch and Jeff Probst began with his traditional ‘in this game, fire represents life’ speech. Then a representative from each tribe (Annabelle-Marie from Jarod’s tribe and Michael from Naulivou) was invited to take a rock from a bag. Whoever drew out the red rock would be able to sit and watch the other tribe before voting. Michael, a librarian, reached in first and pulled out a black rock. With long faces, the members of Naulivou sat down on the logs opposite Jeff. The Cakobau tribe sat on long benches that were standing away to the left, with the directive that they were to say nothing.
Jeff began by asking Naulivou about their unity or lack of it as a tribe. Their answers, although rather guarded, did give away several points to Broots, who knew the game, and Sydney, who could guess at some of their intentions.
Several times, a number of the Cakobau tribe, including Jarod, were seen to exchange glances in response to comments made by members of the other tribe, and then Sydney gave a slight start as he noticed Jarod’s hand moving in seemingly random patterns on his knee.
“Sign language!” he exclaimed. “Is that allowed?”
“Well, they were only told they couldn’t talk,” retorted Miss Parker. “Of course, it won’t do much good if no one understands him.”
“I guess someone does,” Broots interjected, seeing as the person beside Jarod seemed to reply, even as the first Naulivou member was sent off to vote. “What did they say anyhow?”
Both Miss Parker and Broots looked at Sydney, but that man merely shrugged. “I have no idea. I was blind, if you recall, not deaf, and I never taught Jarod how to sign. He must have learned that after he left the Centre.”
“It’s rather underhand,” Miss Parker remarked. “I wouldn’t have expected it of him.”
“They weren’t told not to do it,” Broots corrected. “And Jeff didn’t tell ’em to cut it out, so I guess it must be okay.”
Sydney glanced at Broots. “So what good will it do the Cakobau tribe to see who the Naulivou tribe votes off? I have never seen this program before,” he added, “so I have no idea of the logic behind it.”
Broots looked thoughtful. “I guess the best thing they’ll get out of it will be knowing, at least for now, what the aim of the other tribe is. Is it to get rid of the athletic people or the ones who might be useful in games were you have to think rather than actually do stuff? Is everyone pulling their weight around camp? Does it seem like one person is unpopular with everyone else? Stuff like that. Of course, you don’t really want the other tribe to know what you might do or they’ll be able to plan better for later in the game.”
There was a pause at this juncture while Jeff came back with the votes he had counted. In the end, Meredith was voted off with a majority of five to three, but the expressions on the faces of Sarah and Candy suggested some level of betrayal from at least one of the other members of Naulivou.
Jeff extinguished Meredith’s torch and she left the Tribal Council area while the two tribes changed seats. The screen showed the votes and Meredith’s final words before returning to focus on Cakobau.
“Hayden,” Jeff began, “how does this compare to your work as a tour guide?”
Hayden, sitting in the back row with Jarod, personal trainer Peter and hairdresser Annabelle-Marie, shrugged a little. “I guess the main thing is that I’m used to being in control, but there’s none of that in this game.”
Most of others nodded in agreement, but not Jarod. Miss Parker was unable to stop herself glancing at Sydney, but the psychiatrist’s face remained impassive.
Jeff asked questions of the other members of the tribe before turning his attention to Jarod.
“What do you believe is the most important aspect of the members of your tribe? Do they have to be good at challenges, or contribute in camp?”
Jarod was seen looking thoughtful before the camera switched over to the Naulivou tribe to show them watching intently.
“I guess it comes down to the actual challenges,” Jarod replied, and those who knew him could see the way he was weighing his words. “We’ve got people who will do well in the really physical challenges, but other people who might do better in mental puzzles, or have no trouble when it comes to endurance trials.”
Jeff chuckled. “Not mentioning any names there, I notice, Jarod.”
The competitor grinned at him. “Why not just ask me outright who I’m voting for, Jeff?”
Jeff returned the grin before announcing, “Well, with that, it is time to vote. Rachael, you’re up first.”
During the voting, the camera switched between members of the Naulivou and Cakobau tribes. Jarod voted without appearing to say anything to the camera, but the other members of the tribe suggested that the person they were targeting didn’t work in camp and had been little help during the challenge. No one, not even the tribe’s target, looked particularly surprised with the vote was unanimous for Tiffany. She had voted for Annabelle-Marie, who was another not in the core of the alliance that had apparently formed during the first three days. Jeff dismissed the tribes back to their camps and Miss Parker turned to Broots with a question, but the technician was still watching the screen intently. The next moment, she saw why, as the teaser for the following week’s show was broadcast. It was only when Tiffany’s final words, along with the tribe’s voting pattern, had been shown that he finally turned away.
“I’m guessing this isn’t live,” was Miss Parker’s first comment, “so let’s see if we can track Jarod’s movements since the show finished airing. Broots, we’ve got people inside CBS. Get onto them and see what they know.”
“If they knew anything, I believe they would already have told us,” interrupted Sydney, before the other man could move. “No one involved with the Centre is unaware of Jarod’s existence or the Triumvirate’s desire to have him returned.”
Miss Parker shot him an irritated glance and gave an audible huff, but seemed to agree, as she turned back to Broots. “Well, see what you can find. And prepare a description of the show for Sydney and me so we know what we’re supposed to be looking for - as in-depth as you can. Sydney,” she turned on the psychiatrist, “I want you to prepare a report outlining what this means to the pursuit. The Tower will want to know.”
Sydney agreed with a nod and left the room, but he couldn’t help feeling that his report would be one of the shortest he had ever written. What did this mean to the pursuit? It would end it. Pure and simple.
Chapter Two - The First Elimination
Tribes
Cakobau
Annabelle-Marie
Andrea
Hayden
Jarod
Mike
Peter
Rachael
Tiffany
Naulivou
Bob
Candy
Chris
Louise
Meredith
Michael
Richard
Sarah
The two tribes met at tribal council. Everyone got a torch and Jeff Probst began with his traditional ‘in this game, fire represents life’ speech. Then a representative from each tribe (Annabelle-Marie from Jarod’s tribe and Michael from Naulivou) was invited to take a rock from a bag. Whoever drew out the red rock would be able to sit and watch the other tribe before voting. Michael, a librarian, reached in first and pulled out a black rock. With long faces, the members of Naulivou sat down on the logs opposite Jeff. The Cakobau tribe sat on long benches that were standing away to the left, with the directive that they were to say nothing.
Jeff began by asking Naulivou about their unity or lack of it as a tribe. Their answers, although rather guarded, did give away several points to Broots, who knew the game, and Sydney, who could guess at some of their intentions.
Several times, a number of the Cakobau tribe, including Jarod, were seen to exchange glances in response to comments made by members of the other tribe, and then Sydney gave a slight start as he noticed Jarod’s hand moving in seemingly random patterns on his knee.
“Sign language!” he exclaimed. “Is that allowed?”
“Well, they were only told they couldn’t talk,” retorted Miss Parker. “Of course, it won’t do much good if no one understands him.”
“I guess someone does,” Broots interjected, seeing as the person beside Jarod seemed to reply, even as the first Naulivou member was sent off to vote. “What did they say anyhow?”
Both Miss Parker and Broots looked at Sydney, but that man merely shrugged. “I have no idea. I was blind, if you recall, not deaf, and I never taught Jarod how to sign. He must have learned that after he left the Centre.”
“It’s rather underhand,” Miss Parker remarked. “I wouldn’t have expected it of him.”
“They weren’t told not to do it,” Broots corrected. “And Jeff didn’t tell ’em to cut it out, so I guess it must be okay.”
Sydney glanced at Broots. “So what good will it do the Cakobau tribe to see who the Naulivou tribe votes off? I have never seen this program before,” he added, “so I have no idea of the logic behind it.”
Broots looked thoughtful. “I guess the best thing they’ll get out of it will be knowing, at least for now, what the aim of the other tribe is. Is it to get rid of the athletic people or the ones who might be useful in games were you have to think rather than actually do stuff? Is everyone pulling their weight around camp? Does it seem like one person is unpopular with everyone else? Stuff like that. Of course, you don’t really want the other tribe to know what you might do or they’ll be able to plan better for later in the game.”
There was a pause at this juncture while Jeff came back with the votes he had counted. In the end, Meredith was voted off with a majority of five to three, but the expressions on the faces of Sarah and Candy suggested some level of betrayal from at least one of the other members of Naulivou.
Jeff extinguished Meredith’s torch and she left the Tribal Council area while the two tribes changed seats. The screen showed the votes and Meredith’s final words before returning to focus on Cakobau.
“Hayden,” Jeff began, “how does this compare to your work as a tour guide?”
Hayden, sitting in the back row with Jarod, personal trainer Peter and hairdresser Annabelle-Marie, shrugged a little. “I guess the main thing is that I’m used to being in control, but there’s none of that in this game.”
Most of others nodded in agreement, but not Jarod. Miss Parker was unable to stop herself glancing at Sydney, but the psychiatrist’s face remained impassive.
Jeff asked questions of the other members of the tribe before turning his attention to Jarod.
“What do you believe is the most important aspect of the members of your tribe? Do they have to be good at challenges, or contribute in camp?”
Jarod was seen looking thoughtful before the camera switched over to the Naulivou tribe to show them watching intently.
“I guess it comes down to the actual challenges,” Jarod replied, and those who knew him could see the way he was weighing his words. “We’ve got people who will do well in the really physical challenges, but other people who might do better in mental puzzles, or have no trouble when it comes to endurance trials.”
Jeff chuckled. “Not mentioning any names there, I notice, Jarod.”
The competitor grinned at him. “Why not just ask me outright who I’m voting for, Jeff?”
Jeff returned the grin before announcing, “Well, with that, it is time to vote. Rachael, you’re up first.”
During the voting, the camera switched between members of the Naulivou and Cakobau tribes. Jarod voted without appearing to say anything to the camera, but the other members of the tribe suggested that the person they were targeting didn’t work in camp and had been little help during the challenge. No one, not even the tribe’s target, looked particularly surprised with the vote was unanimous for Tiffany. She had voted for Annabelle-Marie, who was another not in the core of the alliance that had apparently formed during the first three days. Jeff dismissed the tribes back to their camps and Miss Parker turned to Broots with a question, but the technician was still watching the screen intently. The next moment, she saw why, as the teaser for the following week’s show was broadcast. It was only when Tiffany’s final words, along with the tribe’s voting pattern, had been shown that he finally turned away.
“I’m guessing this isn’t live,” was Miss Parker’s first comment, “so let’s see if we can track Jarod’s movements since the show finished airing. Broots, we’ve got people inside CBS. Get onto them and see what they know.”
“If they knew anything, I believe they would already have told us,” interrupted Sydney, before the other man could move. “No one involved with the Centre is unaware of Jarod’s existence or the Triumvirate’s desire to have him returned.”
Miss Parker shot him an irritated glance and gave an audible huff, but seemed to agree, as she turned back to Broots. “Well, see what you can find. And prepare a description of the show for Sydney and me so we know what we’re supposed to be looking for - as in-depth as you can. Sydney,” she turned on the psychiatrist, “I want you to prepare a report outlining what this means to the pursuit. The Tower will want to know.”
Sydney agreed with a nod and left the room, but he couldn’t help feeling that his report would be one of the shortest he had ever written. What did this mean to the pursuit? It would end it. Pure and simple.