Mentor HQ Boat, 10:57 PM Local Time, International Waters
In the banquet hall of the cruise ship, flames scorched carpets and melted plastic furniture. Smoke billowed from a hole in the roof, and created a choking smog hanging in the corridors. Here and there, an emergency sprinkler that still had some water in reserve fired, achieving little more than a temporary abatement.
The floor had fallen through in several places. Below, some lay dead while others still clung desperately to life. The cameras caught most of what was happening; though there were sporadic blind spots, in many instances the picture quality stayed pristine right up until the electronics combusted. The cameras used for the show were very high quality—put together, their worth was probably greater than that of the flotilla itself.
On another cruise ship in the distance, over a dozen technicians and members of the production crew conversed in quick, hushed tones, trying to figure out how to proceed.
"Do we move them?"
"No, no. Can't. Not sure they'd all make it."
"Besides, that creates choke points. Advantage for anyone with the right gun."
"The right gun is already an advantage. What if it sinks?"
A pause as everyone mulled this. Cataclysmic explosions with significant ramifications on game outcome in seasons past, such as Twenty-Seven and Forty-Seven, remained clear in recollection even now, years later. There was a reason explosives were provided in only limited quantities, and the scale of devastation caused by this detonation was greater than had been anticipated.
"It won't." An engineer towards the side of the room, shuffling through blueprints, spoke calmly and confidently. "Or, it won't in any timeframe we need to worry about. They'll all be dead from other factors before that becomes an issue."
Silence, for a moment.
"Should we move them anyways?"
"No, no," a producer chimed in. "It's dramatic. They dug this grave. Let it be the backdrop.
"If anything, it'll give them some urgency."
The Flotilla, 11:49 PM Local Time, International Waters
"Good evening, Mangrove Garden." The voice of Ritzy Daggers echoed loudly through the corridors, and also more softly from the collars of the remaining students, in case any of them were in places where the audio equipment had been damaged beyond function. It had been less than three hours since last they heard her.
"Oh my have you been busy. In fact, we're down to the final few of you. Yes, we have hit the Endgame phase.
"Let me tell you how we got here, though most of you had a front row seat for most of it.
"At your little gathering in the banquet hall, Mandy Gross was shot in the head by her captor, Ashanti Baker. Ms. Baker may have miscalculated, however, as without her human shield she was immediately blasted by Fisk Bateman, Verity Stewart, and Chris Tyrrell. At the same time, we had a fun little explosion—it pays to keep an eye on what's behind your target, just in case you miss.
"In the aftermath, our favorite crusader, Anthony Golden, caught up with Mary Cheung. A whole lot passed between them, but at the end of the day, he hurled her into the burning abyss.
"Finally, the reign of terror of Fisk Bateman came to an end. Half of you contributed to this, but it was Ivan Rodriguez who poured his final drink. At this point, you might as well go for the big gulp.
"That just leaves us to check in with those of you remaining as you make your way into the final stretch. Normally, this might be an introduction, but since you've all seen each other in the very recent past, today it's a reminder.
"First up, Anthony Golden, representing the Crabs. Anthony, you started with such lofty ideals. What happened? You're going into Endgame with more kills than anyone else who has reached this stage in a long time. You have a real shot... and all it's cost is your friends, your morals, and your face. Can you finish your transformation, or will you boil on your way to the top of the pile?
"From the Selkies, we have the only remaining teammates: Olivia Del Rio and Ivan Rodriguez.
"Olivia, you've spent so much time attaching yourself to other people. It's all well and good to stay under the radar... but have you been as innocent as your lack of kills makes you seem? After all, you've treated other people—including your own teammates—poorly in the past. Can you stand on your own feet, or will you try to ride the coattails of others yet again? And are you even trustworthy enough for them to let you?
"And, Ivan, what about you? You achieved your greatest goal. What's even keeping you together at this point? Where can you even go? You've been half dead since the very beginning. Is it all going to finally catch up to you?
"Representing the Leviathans is Chris Tyrrell. You got an awfully late start to the game, didn't you, Chris? Thinking back on those early days, do you have any regrets? Or do you think your stint as shopkeeper prepared you for what you now have to face? Have you really figured out what you're doing, or are you just going where someone points you once again?
"Kaya Robinson, the last Buccaneer in play... you've lost quite a few of your comrades in arms. Is a captain any good with nobody to follow directions? How do you feel about how everything's gone since you ended up on your own? It hurts, doesn't it?
"And, last but not least, we have Verity Stewart of the Sirens. You were the first killer, but can you be the last? You've tried on so many different paths and identities, but it's left you only a fraction of what you once were. Everything you've relied on is gone, much of it by your own hand. So, what will it be?
"Well then. Normally, we'd shepherd you all to a specific location to finish this off, but with everything going on we think you'll have plenty of motivation to find each other quickly. You're to remain onboard the cruise ship, and outside of the lower decks, but aside from that you're free to go anywhere that's not on fire. Don't take too long. Even if you don't choke on the smoke, most of you are barely standing.
"When there's one team left, that's curtains. Until then, do your best. One last time, Ritzy Daggers, signing off."
Weather: 11:49 PM, Day Five, Wednesday, April 21, 2021
The night remains calm and fairly warm, with only a light breeze outside on deck. The inside of the cruise ship has changed dramatically, with smoke rolling through the hallways and areas where the walls or floor have become unstable. These hazardous regions are primarily concentrated around the banquet hall, with further reaches more hospitable. Despite the insinuations in the announcement, the cruise ship is in no danger of immediately sinking.
Finally, with Endgame oncoming, it is time for the final TV3 Killer Toasters! Please take a moment to reflect on the version and share your thoughts!
