The Ranch

Salty Smack Talk (1)

Eight teams left. There was a break in between to let the audience go stretch and eat, along with the contestants and staff.

Now they are all back and the arena is once again covered by a hologram.

Simon D announced the next game," Escape the Flood: Pompeii Edition, five players, you have one minute!"

A countdown of sixty seconds started and the teams quickly discussed the name.

"Escape? So running away? It might be timed."

"Pompeii was destroyed by a volcano, not a flood, right?"

"It's historical themed. Who knows a lot about Pompeii?"

Everyone inputs their choices before time ends and they are led by the staff into the colosseum. Abel, Pierre, Sherlock, Lucien, and Kai follow their guide inside.

After the chosen participants leave, the holographic floor stays, but the giant screens change images. It's showing different angles of a room. In the room, there's a bookshelf, table and chair, a map hanging on the wall, as well as other things you'd find in a home office.

The only difference would be the one wall that's see-through. On the other side, a miniature city is sitting on the left side. On the right, a slight incline with many different lined gorges.

At the bottom of the incline, between the city and gorges, a single bucket lay in front of one of the lanes. The bucket is hanging in the air by a string. Attached to that string is a miniature volcano.

The other lanes dip straight down into who knows where except for one. That one, the one at the corner, continues onwards towards the left before stopping before a different bucket, also attached to the volcano. This lane is very small, and not a lot of water would be able to run through it.

While everyone is looking at the different views, Simon D says, "If you'll direct your attention to the camera showing the replica city," at this moment, water starts flowing down from the right side. It zig-zags its way down like a plinko game.

"There are five buttons hidden around the room that control five switches in the waterway. If an hour passes, the bucket on the edge will be filled, pulling the volcano down and filling the city with lava."

At the start, the water headed towards the small lane, and water slowly trickled into the bucket. Then, to show the audience, the pinball-like flippers set up in different areas along the decline change direction, diverting the water into the other bucket. The pinball flippers operate like railroad switches. The water quickly filled the bucket, keeping the volcano stable and upright.

After the demonstration, the announcer immediately dived into the sponsors for the round, the main one being Scovalof, who came up with the puzzle designs.

Eventually, the two teams entered and the games began. The only part that confused the audience was what would happen if both people passed the one hour mark. It's still a one v one, after all. They can't both lose.

During the first round, Private Scott chats with Simon D. Private Scott had been thinking of this conundrum and decided to test the waters, and see if his speculation is right. "If a team passes the one hour marks and the city is destroyed, does that mean they're out?"

"Not necessarily, but they'll be at the worst disadvantage." Simon D smirks, glad that he was asked that question as it adds anticipation.

No one understands what they mean until one side reaches the one hour mark. The thing is, the other side had already filled the correct bucket and escaped, but the timer didn't end for the other team. Not only that, but the rooms are enclosed and completely sound-proof, so they don't know they've already lost.

When the winning team filled their bucket before time ran out, the ceiling opened up, flooding the place with water. They almost drowned, but managed to escape in time.

The hour passed for the losing team and they eventually filling up their bucket, opening the ceiling. But, instead of crystal blue water, the liquid that filled the room was a clear red. This team struggled escaping even more, one of them barely making it out.

While they're escaping for their lives, Simon D'Souza voice is heard," Let me introduce Galone's newest poison which has a similar effect to eating the world's hottest pepper, but more concentrated!"

If it was just that, it'd be bearable. The change in difficulty comes from the pain spreading to the whole body instead of one small area.

Simon D assures the audience that it's non-lethal, but highly effective. "Side effects include burns, itching, peeling skin, and pus that will last up to two weeks of misery, oh that last part wasn't included." Simon D mumbles while taping the hologram coming from his wrist.

As he just said, when the losing team crawled out of the water, their bodies were puffy and red. Their cries of pain, not so pleasant, unless you're into that.

"Look pretty dead to me." Major Jax comments, toothpick in his mouth.