18.
Roland was out walking briskly on a warm bright morning with the biggest of grins that he has ever had on his face. He is very much so a different person than what he had been just two short years ago. He had been so full of anger, hatred, and distain that he would not have known what a grin was, never mind actually having ever had one on his face. For back then he had nothing to make him happy in even the slightest way. He had known nothing other than hardship and struggle and now with those two years behind him Roland has changed in so many ways.
Physically Roland has also gone through somewhat of a metamorphosis over those two years. He has gone from being an angered overweight beast to now being an easy-going well-built tank having lost seventy pounds and he continues with his physical training routine.
Now, he does have some semblance of a life, he has a decent paying job this time round, a job which is not all so depressing, a job that leaves enough in his own pocket that whatever he could want after can be his within reason ... still there is something missing, something is not quite right.
There are people with home Roland can call not so much friends or acquaintances but something in between. He is not a ladies' man, he may never be that, but this is a choice more than a happenstance. There could have been a lady or two in his life but with Rachel still very much in his head and heart, it may be a while before he can completely let her rest, if he can do that at all. And again, with all that is, with all that has come his way, there is an emptiness within that will eventually need to be seen to.
Going back to the first line in this segment, why is Roland out walking briskly on a bright warm morning with the biggest of grins on his face? Well, first of all he feels good, he feels strong, he feels alive. Second of all is the fact that is the fact that he has received some news or rather he has received an invitation, a third time invitation, making him the only three-time beast invitee in the history of the show. This is what his life had been missing.
Alright, so that may explain the grin but what about being out walking so early in the day? Well, Roland is on his way to go see his good buddy Al. Roland had of course met Al on the Beast Island the year before and together they were the only pairing to ever leave the island together despite the fact that they had been invited separately and had never been intended to compete as a team of any sort and despite the fact that there had been teams in the past who had been invited as a duo with the intention that they could leave as a duo if indeed they were to be successful.
One such duo that may come to mind of course is that of the Catelli's, Marcus and Fabio from Roland's first go round on the Island. Why is Roland heading around to see his buddy, Al? Well, first of all to tell him of the news and secondly and maybe more curiously is to see as to if Al got an invitation of his own.
Right upon Roland's arrival to Al's place, it would be clear to Al that Roland had some news so Al would not let on as to knowing anything, if indeed he knew anything at all. Roland announced his news rather than just tell of it and the two friends hugged. Al knew how much a part that island has played in Roland's life and of how strong a desire Roland had of getting back there so Al was happy for his friend.
There never needed to be a conversation between the two. Al knew where Roland is happiest. Al himself, is easy, he can be happy in a number of places. Right after his announcement, Roland kind of waited for something else to come, he had that want of more than just happiness towards him from his friend and Al would eventually give in. He too had indeed been invited back to the island and he most definitely was going to accept.
The one worry Al had, did not sit too well with him. He did not worry about the fact that both he and or Roland could lose their lives but rather if it once more came down to just the two of them could they both leave the island again together like they did once before? They had been invited separately and individually, not as a unit. The main goal of course is to get there and for both men to survive, leave behind as much destruction as possible, then take it from there.
A couple of weeks would come to pass quite quickly, and the time also came quite quickly for a rather strange and somewhat unique gathering to say the least. One hundred and thirteen is the number of combatants for this season of competition and they all were to be taken to the Beast Island via a cruise ship. The thoughts of this would actually make Roland laugh though he thought that it would be an interesting way to scout the competition as with years gone by no one would generally know anything about the competition at all until they would come into contact directly.
Roland and Al being current island champions would be picked up first. An army escort helicopter would take them to the rather unique means of transportation to where they need to go and being champions, they would be the only two who would be airlifted to the cruise ship. The ship would come in at three separate docks to pick up the rest of the combatants, as to how the remainder of the combatants would get to one of these ports, well that would be up to each individual.
Watching those arrive on-board the cruise ship may have its advantages; it would also have its disadvantages too. From the pure sight of Damien Meadows, it would be clear to see how much of a treat he would and could be. He, Roland, and Al are all of similar height, and with the training Roland has put himself through since the first time he left the island along with his weight loss in that time means that he and Damien are of similar build. Al would be somewhat heavier more along the lines of what Roland would have previously been.
The sights of both Dolph Anderson and Dara Cunningham may not be as impressive as the sight of Damien Morrow though underestimating anyone at any particular moment would not be wise thing to do in any way. Can't go judging books by their covers, take every participant as a serious threat. Every encounter is unique too. The ship is out of bounds. You are free to travel and interact but there is the strict no combat rule in effect until things officially begin on the Island of all Islands.
Roland and Al had stood together to watch those board the ship at the first dock. When Damien boarded, he went straight over to the other two big men, stared them both in the eye and smiled before moving on. Neither Roland nor Al fear anyone or would wish for someone else to take out the competition, rather each of them would relish an opportunity to go against another monster of a man. There would be no intimidation setting in anywhere.
Of course, on the ship everyone would be watching everyone else. Damien couldn't wait to get started; same can be said for Roland and Al though they have the advantage of having gone through it all before. Dolph would continue to work out as often as possible; he would not use his time on the ship to relax in any way. Dara had no problem with allowing anyone to see how proficient he is in the martial arts, regularly demonstrating his abilities out on the main deck. This has all the makings of being the toughest year the show will ever witness.
Roland spent at least ten days on the cruise ship. He cannot be sure as to if he had spent more than that there as he would, as would everyone else, sleep a sleeper than any of them could except. Yeah, a deep sleep from one would awake from to find himself, or herself, on the island. It does seem as more than a few conditions had been changed for this particular year's event.
Knowing that he had not left the ship of his own accord, it would be a safe bet for Roland to assume that no one else had either. It was also clear that when Roland did wake that it was sometime during the night. He would take a quick sweep of where he is before speaking quietly to himself, 'hello darkness my old friend'.
