Isaiah and Demetri emerge from their starting room.
Isaiah: I thought we’d never get out…
Demetri: It’s your fault; if we had a clue-
Isaiah: WE DIDN’T, OKAY?! Let’s just be happy we’re out now.
Demetri: Fine…
Isaiah and Demetri put on their costumes and read the instructions.
Isaiah: Okay, now is our chance to shine!
Demetri: Nothing can stop us now!
Suddenly, both of them are lassoed and dragged to the ground.
Isaiah and Demetri: WHAT THE FUCK?!
Alec: *yells* Bruno! I got two more!
Alec is standing on top of a junk pile. Bruno walks up behind him, carrying Filip, all tied up.
Bruno: Do we really need hostages, Alec? This seems like a waste of time.
Alec: You never know. Maybe we’ll get extra credit!
Isaiah and Demetri struggle to break free.
Demetri: Isaiah, you dumbass! Use your eyebeam to break us free!
Isaiah: Oh, right! I’ll-
Alec kicks Isaiah in the head, shattering his visor.
Isaiah: AHHHHHH!
Demetri: *sighs* This is actually going better than I expected…
Bruno picks up Isaiah and Demetri and carries them on his other shoulder.
Demetri: Come on! Let us go! What is this going to do for you?!
Alec: It’s a hero exercise! We’re bringing the helpless to safety!
Demetri: Oh, fuck off!
Bruno: Alec brings up a good point. Don’t worry, children, you’ll be safe with us!
Isaiah: *sobs* I wanted to do well…
Demetri: Yeah, that was about as likely as Alden passing…
Alden and Romeo are both rejoicing on the ground after escaping their starting room.
Alden: I DID IT! I PASSED THE EXAM!
Romeo: Uh… what?
Alden: I ALWAYS KNEW I COULD DO IT! NOBODY CAN STOP ME!
Romeo: Hey, dumbass!
Alden doesn’t respond.
Romeo: Hey!
Alden: Sorry, were you talking to me? I only go by “God of Everything!”
Romeo: Look around; the exam isn’t over.
Alden slowly pans his head around and realizes they’re in a junkyard.
Alden: Maybe this is the victory area?
Romeo: That’s not what this note says.
Alden: Huh?
Romeo has found their equipment box. Alden snatches the instruction card from him.
Alden: Give me that!
Alden falls to his knees in defeat.
Alden: I thought I’d won…
Romeo: Uh… now that I’m looking around, you might actually have been right.
Alden looks up. The junkyard exit is literally 10 feet away from them.
Alden and Romeo: IT’S RIGHT THERE!
Adrian and Houston turn to Walker.
Adrian: Walker, how is that fair? No other team started off even remotely close.
Walker: Give it a minute.
Alden kisses the ground.
Alden: I’d like to thank the academy!
Romeo: Let’s not waste any time! We’ve gotta get through that portal!
Alden: “Waste time?” This calls for a victory celebration!
Romeo: What? Look, I’m thrilled, too, but I don’t want the rug pulled out from under us-
Alden pulls out a massive piece of paper.
Alden: Here’s a list of everyone I’d like to thank. *clears throat* Me.
10 seconds of silence.
Romeo: That was the entire list, wasn’t it?
Alden: Of course!
Romeo: Are you done then? LET’S JUST GO!
Alden: What’s the hurry? I’m here; nothing can go wrong!
Suddenly, a gigantic mechanical T-Rex emerges from a nearby junk pile, letting out a monstrous roar. Alden shits himself.
Alden: *sobs*
Romeo: RUN!
Romeo attempts to enter the exit portal, but the mecha-rex devours him.
Alden: IT’S DISTRACTED! NOW’S MY CHANCE!
Alden waddles away.
Alden: SEE YAH, SUCKER!
Walker, Adrian, and Houston all stare blankly at the screens.
Adrian: He knows he’s running away from the goal, right?
Walker and Houston: Nope.
Adrian: Okay, just making sure.
Aaron, Alexis, and Verity hear the mecha-rex’s monstrous roar from afar.
Alexis: Well… that doesn’t sound good.
Aaron: It’s probably some big bad monster we have to deal with.
Verity: Should we be worried?
Aaron: Nope! We’ve got bait to give it!
Wes: FUCK YOU!
Aaron is dragging Wes by a rope.
Verity: I agree. I don’t want to feed it my teammate.
Aaron: Hm… okay, what about an arm?
Verity: That’s fine.
Wes: WHAT?!
Aaron finds a rusty and nasty piece of sharp metal.
Aaron: Hold still, Wes. This will only hurt for a few seconds… and then it’ll hurt like hell every second after that.
Wes: KEEP THAT AWAY FROM ME, YOU FUCK!
Suddenly, a mecha-dactyl swoops down and grabs Wes.
Aaron: HEY! That’s my property!
Wes: AHHHHHHHH!
The bird flies away with Wes.
Aaron: Alright, well, let’s keep going.
Alexis: Aaron!
Aaron: Fine!
Aaron, Alexis, and Verity chase after Wes and the bird.
Wes: I FUCKING HATE YOU, AARON!
Wes notices the mecha-dactyl’s claws are slowly cutting through his ropes.
Wes: (Let’s see… Do I save myself or let Aaron do it? Ah, who am I kidding? He probably wants to shoot me down.)
Aaron has transformed his arms into a Javelin Missile Launcher.
Aaron: Any objections?
Alexis and Verity: Yes.
Aaron: *sighs* Fine! You guys are no fun!
Wes starts fidgeting, causing the ropes to get cut further by the dactyl’s sharp claws.
Wes: (Just a little more…)
The ropes sever.
Wes: YES! Wait… now what?
Wes struggles to break free of the dactyl’s hold, which upsets the machine. It starts biting at him.
Wes: AH! What the- FUCK YOU! STOP!
Aaron: *from afar* YOU HAVE A FUCKING GUN!
Wes: Goddammit…
Wes pulls out his pistol and starts firing at the bird’s head, but the bullets bounce off and hit his shoulder and upper arm.
Wes: AHHH! FUCK!
Alexis: *from afar* AIM FOR THE JOINTS, JESUS CHRIST!
Wes: *sighs*
Wes fires at the bird’s neck, loosening its connecting cables and causing it to power down and plummet to the ground.
Wes: AHHHHHH!
Aaron facepalms.
Aaron: Why would he shoot the head?! SHOOT THE LEGS SO YOU CAN FREE YOURSELF, DUMBASS!
Wes climbs on top of the mecha-dactyl’s back.
Wes: OH GOD! I’m gonna do worse on this final exam than the last one! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!
Wes notices a compartment on the back of the mecha-dactyl’s neck. He opens it to reveal a remote control panel.
Wes: Huh? YES!
Wes uses the controls to make the bird begin flying again.
Aaron, Alexis, and Verity: Huh?
Wes soars through the air on the back of the mecha-dactyl.
Wes: YES! HAHA! FUCK YOU, AARON! I got out of that mess all on my own!
Aaron, Alexis, and Verity look at each other as Wes flies around celebrating.
Alexis and Verity: Shoot him down.
Sydney and Wrath are walking through the junkyard.
Sydney: Why are you walking the same way I am?
Wrath: Because the only clue we have is literally this direction.
Sydney: Oh, you mean that pillar of light? I’m sure that’s nothing. You should go inspect those screams we heard earlier.
Wrath: Why don’t you?!
Sydney: Because I don’t like any of these people!
Wrath: Neither do I!
Sydney: Well, that explains why everyone hates you.
Wrath: Oh, hi there, pot, my name’s Wrath, last name Kettle.
Sydney: Really clever. Did you read that one from Gavin’s joke books?
Wrath: Yeah, right after I finished the chapter about a bitch that won’t shut up.
Sydney: I didn’t know that book was your autobiography.
Wrath: I decided to change it up after writing a whole trilogy about you. The first movie is coming out this year. It’s called “The girl whose initials are reversed.”
Sydney: I hope you went by a pen name because I’m not sure “Limped dick beta loser” will fit on the cover.
Wrath: It did, right next to the review quotes: *mockingly* “This bitch sounds like a bitch!” “I hate her just as much as Alden,”-
Sydney slaps Wrath.
Sydney: HOW DARE YOU?!
Wrath: HOW ARE I? HOW DARE I?!
Sydney: YES! HOW DARE YOU?!
Sydney and Wrath growl in each other’s faces before hearing an explosion in the distance.
Sydney: Why don’t you go investigate that.
Wrath: You know what, I will! I’m sick and tired of you!
Sydney: *under her breath* You are?
Wrath: What was that?
Sydney: I said your breath stinks!
Wrath: You think my breath smells bad? Have you even- You know what, fuck this. I’m out of here.
Wrath storms off.
Wrath: *frustrated grunt* (She had me on the ropes there! Dammit! I’ve gotta do better than that.)
Sydney is quiet for a moment.
Sydney: Well, I guess our team should stick together… not that I want to!
Desiree turns a corner and sees Tobias and Ester sitting on a busted refrigerator.
Desiree: Tobias? Ester?
Tobias: Hello, Desiree. It’s good to see you.
Desiree: Glad to see you’re as funny as ever, Tobias. Have you guys seen Talon? He flew off, and I haven’t seen him since.
Ester: No, we haven’t.
Tobias: I thought I heard his screams earlier.
Desiree: *sighs* Great… so I might be down my teammate. Hey… wait a second…
Tobias: Hm?
Desiree: You two weren’t a team… where are your-
Tobias and Ester point forward, and Charlotte and Whitney are wrestling with each other.
Desiree: Oh… huh…
Ester: They’ve been like this for a while now.
Tobias: I don’t need my eyesight to see how pathetic this is.
Desiree: Well… do you guys want to work together? I’m available.
Ester: Sure, I think there’s safety in numbers!
Tobias: Only if you can get those two to be civil.
Desiree: I’ll try…
Desiree approaches Charlotte and Whitney.
Ester: Hopefully, she can break them up.
Suddenly, Tobias stands up and looks to the left.
Ester: Is something wrong, Tobias?
Tobias: Something is coming… fast! Desiree, Whitney, Charlotte! We need to move!
Desiree has joined the brawl.
Tobias: WHAT?!
Ester: Uh… guys, I think you need to-
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Suddenly, the mecha-rex swoops in and devours Whitney, Charlotte, and Desiree simultaneously.
Mecha-Rex: *roars*
Ester: Oh no! They’re-
Tobias covers Ester’s mouth and pulls her behind the fridge. Hiding them.
Tobias: /Don’t let it see us./
The mecha-rex looks around for a moment before moving on.
Tobias: *sighs* Well… it looks like we have our work cut out for us.
Zach is dragging Gus by the back of his collar.
Zach: Gus! Wake up!
Gus: *snoring*
Zach: (There’s gotta be something I can do… I know!) Gus! Your dad is here, and he’s got a belt!
Gus immediately jumps up and starts running.
Gus: I DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD TO COOK MEAT BEFORE SERVING IT! I’M SORRY!
Zach: Gus! Wait!
Justus and Ash hear an explosion in the distance.
Ash: Well, there’s Aaron.
Justus: I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to approach them or not.
Ash: The instructions didn’t say we couldn’t team up. 12 teams can progress to the next stage, so it’s not like it would be a detriment.
Justus: Hm… I guess it’s not the worst idea in the world.
Ash: Why did you hesitate then?
Justus: Notice how you figured out that the explosion was Aaron immediately? We’re probably not the only ones who heard it.
Ash: Okay… and?
Justus: Not everyone is a fan of Aaron.
Alec and Bruno hear the explosion.
Bruno: What was that?
Alec: I’ll give you one guess.
Alec starts walking in the direction of the explosion.
Bruno: Where are you going? The end is this way.
Alec: You can go ahead if you want. I want to take this detour.
Demetri and Isaiah: We don’t!
Alec: You two don’t get a say.
Demetri: Oh, come on!
Isaiah: We at least get credit if you two bring us to the final stage! You’ve already fucked us enough!
Alec: Bruno, you can dump them if you want.
Demetri and Isaiah: OKAY, FINE! WE’LL SHUT UP!
Alec: Good, Bruno, let’s move.
Bruno: I disagree, but I must support you as my teammate.
Alec: That’s what I like to hear!
Hayze, Silver, Saige, and Blair walk through the junkyard together.
Blair: Uh… so… what’s the plan here?
Saige: Head to the-
Blair: I know what the goal is! I’m just wondering if we have any plan if another group of those machines tries attacking us.
Silver: We have the strength to take them down.
Blair: But don’t you think Mr. Walker knows that? I’m sure those aren’t the only things we have to deal with.
Hayze: Blair’s right, Silver, with no outright incentive to fight the other teams… There has to be something else out there.
Silver: Even so, preparing for the unknown is virtually impossible. We have the strength to fight through most enemies, so we’ll have to think quickly if a problem arises.
Hayze: That’s also true.
Saige: Ooh, Silvy’s got confidence! I like it!
Silver: *sighs*
Hayze: I do think we should make a slight detour, though.
Silver: Hm? To go where?
Hayze: There’s one other place of interest in this junkyard.
Blair: What? Where? Everything looks the same except for the pillar of light.
Hayze points to a crane in the distance.
Blair: The crane? Why is that “of interest?”
Silver has a look of realization.
Silver: Hayze is right. We need to go there.
Saige: I agree.
Blair: W- will someone fill me in!
Hayze gets on his motorcycle.
Hayze: I’ll go ahead and scout the area.
Silver: I’ll come with you.
Saige: Aw… how cute they’re going to be on the motorcycle together!
Silver: I’m using my dust to fly!
Blair: I’m starting to feel really dumb…
Saige: Starting?
Blair: Shut it, floozy!
Hayze: We’ll see you there soon. Stay safe!
Hayze drives off, and Silver flies behind him on a mound of silver dust.
Blair: Saige… please tell me why that crane is important…
Saige: No.
Blair: *sighs*
Saige: Now, come on, let’s move.
Hayze stares at the crane in the distance as he speeds towards it.
Hayze: (There’s a chance we won’t be the first people there. After all, someone in this junkyard thinks exactly like I do… literally.)
Calm and Eve are heading toward the crane.
Eve: Can you explain to me why we’re not heading for the CLEAR AND OBVIOUS GOAL!
Calm: All junkyards have a crane they use to move cars to be destroyed via the crusher. It’s a landmark and the only machinery in this area that might operate correctly. Reaching it will allow us to signal other members of our classes.
Eve: Why would we want that? They’re our competition.
Calm: Not inherently. We do not know what the final stage contains, but we know that up to 12 teams can progress. Therefore, we can comfortably work with up to 11 other teams.
Eve: *sighs* Okay, that makes sense, but could you have consulted me first?
Calm: There was no need. I knew you would agree as you are an intelligent person.
Eve stares at Calm.
Eve: You’re lucky that had a compliment attached.
Calm: Luck was not necessary. I weighed my odds.
Eve: *sighs* You’re definitely a piece of Hayze… that’s for sure.
Calm: Is that a problem?
Eve: “Not inherently.” Just don’t be a dick.
Calm: Do not worry, I can leave that to my brothers.
Awkward silence.
Eve: (It’s like talking to a robot…)
Calm: Tell me, Eve, do you like emotional men?
Eve: Huh? What?
Calm: I require a yes or no.
Eve: Why are you asking?
Calm: I am attempting to court you as Gale has suggested. Please answer my question.
Eve: C- court me?
Calm: Do you require an explanation?
Eve: Yes!
Calm: Your large breasts-
Eve punches Calm in the face, sending him flying and crashing into a junk pile.
Eve: I FUCKING HATE HAYZE!
Eve continues walking forward without Calm.
Calm: *groans* Mean you have excellent fertility…
Alden stuffs his crap-filled underwear in the trunk of a car.
Alden: Thank god nobody saw that…
A beep goes off in the control room.
Adrian: What was that?
Walker: My video finished uploading.
Alden falls to his knees in defeat.
Alden: The end was right there, and now I’m lost! IT WAS IN THE BAG!
Alden hears footsteps approaching him.
Alden: Huh? Yes! This is my chance to rebound! I’ll beat these two with ease!
Alden hides around a corner as Grace and Impulse arrive.
Grace: It looks like we’re getting closer!
Impulse: Yeah, it shouldn’t be long until we reach the center. (Which means I only have a little time left to show off to Grace! I have to do something impressive! But what?)
Impulse smells a faint odor.
Impulse: UGH! What is that?!
Grace: Huh? Oh yeah… that’s putrid.
Alden starts sweating bullets.
Alden: (SHIT! IF THEY FIND MY UNDERWEAR, EVERYONE WILL KNOW I CRAPPED MYSELF AT THE FIRST SIGHT OF DANGER! It’s okay, though… they’ll never figure out it’s in the car.)
Grace: It smells like it’s in this car.
Alden: (NOOOO!)
Grace and Impulse approach the car.
Grace: Do you think it’s a trap?
Impulse: Of course not! And besides, if it is, I’ll take care of it.
Impulse reaches to open the truck, but Alden leaps out and tackles him to the ground.
Alden: I’LL KILL YOU!
Impulse: Woah, what the hell?!
Grace: It’s a creature! I knew Mr. Houston would put some of these in the exam.
Alden and Impulse: Wh- what?
Grace grabs Alden and chucks him into another junk pile.
Grace: Kill the monster!
Impulse: Grace, I think that was Alden…
Grace: No way, Alden’s way uglier than that!
Alden slowly gets to his feet.
Alden: Nice try! But it’ll take a lot more than that to take me out!
Alden extends his nails.
Alden: Nothing will stop me from defeating you!
Suddenly, a pack of mecha-lions arrives and surrounds them.
Mecha-Lions: *roar*
Alden shits himself again.
Alden: NOOOOOOOOO!
Grace: Oh, boy! Kitties!
Impulse: I don’t think they’re friendly, Grace!
Grace: What are you talking about? We’ve already found the monster the teachers created for us.
Impulse: You mean the guy on the ground crying because he crapped himself?
Grace: Yes!
Impulse stares blankly at Grace.
Impulse: Well, I can’t argue with that.
The lions approach Alden but don’t pounce.
Alden: Huh? Why aren’t they… oh, OH, COME ON!
The lions are deterred by Alden’s foul odor.
Alden: Fuck this! If you won’t attack me, I’m leaving!
Alden waddles off as fast as he can.
Grace: We can’t let him get away!
Impulse: But, Grace, we-
Grace charges after Alden, leaving Impulse surrounded by the mecha-lions.
Impulse: *sighs*
The lions growl at Impulse as they encroach him.
Impulse: Hey, kitties, you look like you want a piece of me. I hate to break it to you, but I’m not that tasty.
Impulse pulls out a power drill.
Impulse: You should have just bit the bullet and tried to eat Alden.
One mecha-lion attempts to pounce on Impulse, but he uses his Lightning Speed to dash toward the lion and unscrew the entire machine.
Impulse: High-Speed Disassembly!
The lion falls to the ground as a pile of scrap.
Impulse: Anyone else?
The lions attempt to attack Impulse, but he quickly disassembles each one.
Impulse: For machines, you’re really dumb!
Impulse takes apart the final lion and admires his work.
Impulse: Next time, stick with the weakling. AH! Wait!
Impulse frantically looks around.
Impulse: Dammit! I finally did something cool, and she wasn’t here to see it! *sighs* It’s alright. I’ll just tell her about it when I catch up… with… them… Uh! Which way did they go?! GRACE! GRACE!
Hayze and Silver arrive at the crane and spot the car crusher.
Hayze: Well, this looks fine.
Silver: You say that… but…
The ground starts shaking.
Hayze and Silver: Mr. Walker exists…
A massive mechanical mammoth emerges from beneath a junk pile.
Hayze: Well, at least we know we had the right idea.
Silver: Yeah, otherwise, this thing wouldn’t be protecting the crane.
The mammoth charges toward Hayze and Silver.
Silver: I’m not afraid of a pachyderm!
Silver opens all six dust canisters and launches a wave at the mammoth, attempting to block its advance.
Hayze: Uh… Silver?
Silver: Yes?
Hayze: I don’t think that’s going to-
The mammoth charges through the dust wave like it’s nothing.
Silver: What?!
Hayze: Work…
Hayze uses his shadow to create a bunch of arms that slow down and bring the mammoth to a halt.
Hayze: Remember, this simulation was designed by our teachers. Every obstacle is bound to have been created with our quirks in mind.
Silver: I know, but why is yours working on it then?
Hayze: Who says it is?
The mammoth’s trunk starts moving and takes aim at Hayze.
Hayze: Oh boy…
Two missiles fire from the nostrils.
Silver: Lookout!
Hayze releases his shadow hold and dives out of the missiles’ way.
Mammoth: *trumpets*
Hayze: Silver! Move!
Silver: I don’t need to!
The mammoth charges into Silver and sends him flying through the air.
Hayze: Silver!
Silver crashes into the crane, denting the metal before falling on his face. He coated his body with silver alloy armor before contact.
Silver: *groans* Even with armor that hurt like a bitch…
Hayze: Are you alright?
Silver: I’m fine… worry about yourself!
The mammoth turns its attention to Hayze again.
Hayze: (This thing is too powerful for us to take down. We’ve gotta find a way to incapacitate it.)
Silver gets to his feet.
Silver: (That machine won’t let up. We have to do something… but what?)
Hayze and Silver both are quiet for a moment before having a look of realization.
Hayze and Silver: (That’s it!)
They lock eyes with one another before nodding.
Hayze: Alright, you enormous eyesore, why don’t you try charging me?
Mammoth: *trumpets*
The mammoth stampedes toward Hayze.
Hayze: (Wait for it…)
Silver gets inside the crane and inspects the controls.
Silver: (I’ve never operated anything like this before, but I’ll have to learn fast.)
As the mammoth gets closer to Hayze, his eyes narrow.
Adrian: (What’s he doing? Why isn’t he moving? Come on, Hayze! You don’t have armor like Silver. You can’t withstand a hit like that!)
As the mammoth is about to make contact, Hayze leaps off his motorcycle and lands on the pachyderm’s head.
Adrian: Huh?!
The mammoth sends Hayze’s motorcycle smashing into a junk pile. Then, it starts throwing a tantrum as Hayze climbs on its back.
Hayze: Ready, Silver?!
Silver frantically fumbles with the controls before inevitably figuring out how to move the crane.
Silver: Got it!
The mammoth attempts to throw Hayze off, but he creates a web of shadows and forces the machine to the ground.
Hayze: Sorry, but this isn’t a fate you can avoid!
Silver moves the magnetic crane above the mammoth, grabbing hold of it and hoisting it in the air.
Silver: Let’s send this thing packing!
Silver raises the mammoth above the car crusher and drops it and Hayze into it.
Mammoth: *trumpets angrily*
The crusher starts moving.
Hayze: Silver!
Silver runs out of the control room and holds his hand out over the crane railing.
Silver: Grab my hand!
Hayze leaps up and grabs hold of Silver’s hand. He hoists him over the railing as the mammoth is crushed.
Hayze: Phew… nice job.
Silver: Yeah… you too. (I could have let Hayze get eliminated there. He’s my biggest competition… why didn’t I?)
Hayze: Thanks for not letting me go out there. I know it must have been tempting.
Silver: Wh- I uh… I didn’t think about it, to be honest.
Hayze: Well, thanks anyway. You’ve come to the same conclusion I have, right? These exams will determine which of us are in the next Big Four.
Silver: Yes… I have.
Hayze: Well, I won’t let some silly rankings deter me from working with you. I’m glad you feel the same.
Silver: Yeah… me too…
Hayze stands up.
Hayze: Alright, let’s signal the others.
Hayze enters the crane control room. Silver notices the sky is turning dark.
Silver: It looks like “night” is about to fall.
Hayze: Huh… I guess so. That’s probably not a good sign.
Silver: No… it isn’t.
Hayze uses the magnetic crane to hoist his motorcycle in the air.
Hayze: There, now everyone will know I’m here.
Silver: Let’s see who arrives.
Lilith points at Hayze’s hanging motorcycle in the distance.
Lilith: Gale! Look! That’s Hayze’s, right? … Gale?
Gale is staring at Lilith’s butt.
Gale: Huh? Sorry, I was staring at the moon.
Lilith: It’s not night yet.
Gale: No, it is not.
Silence.
Lilith: Should- Should we go there?
Gale: Eh… I don’t know. That seems like a lot of work.
Lilith: I mean the crane, not the moon!
Gale: Ah, you should have been more specific, and no, I’m not going over there.
Lilith: Wh- why not? Hayze could help-
Gale: We don’t need him! You’ve got the better version right here!
Lilith: But what about coming up with a plan? We haven’t done that yet!
Gale: I can do that!
Lilith: Gale, we’ve moved like 8 feet in the last 20 minutes.
They are literally 8 feet from their starting room.
Gale: Look, I’m working on it.
Lilith: Maybe work harder?
Gale stares at Lilith.
Gale: You’re lucky you’re cute.
Lilith blushes.
Lilith: Wh- what?!
Gale: *sighs* Look, here’s the plan: You-
Gus: AHHHHHH!
Gus runs into Gale from behind.
Gale: AH! What the fuck?!
Lilith: Gus?
Zach runs over to the group.
Zach: Lilith… uh…
Gale: It’s Gale, dumbass!
Zach: Oh, right, sorry, I don’t know all your names yet.
Gale: Fuck you! AND GET OFF ME, LARDO!
Gus: I’m sorry… Zach scared me.
Zach: You’ve got some problems, man.
Zach helps Gus up as Lilith helps Gale.
Gale: Well, it was nice seeing you idiots, but it’s time for us to-
Lilith: Do you two want to team up with us?!
Zach: Sure!
Gale: GODDAMMIT! Lilith! We do not need help!
Lilith: I don’t know… we’re not doing that well on our own.
Gale: We’re doing great! Nothing has gone wrong!
The mecha-rex roars loudly, not far from them.
Gus: Wh- what was that?
Gale: Fine, they can come.
Night has fallen, and Blair has created a pit of lava to create light.
Saige: So, we’re all convinced that it can only be a bad thing if there’s nighttime in this simulation?
Blair, Hayze, and Silver: Yup.
Saige: Just checking.
Hayze: We should stay here until it gets bright again.
Silver: If it does at all.
Blair: Let’s not think like that…
Hayze: Besides, we were going to stay here for a little bit anyway to see if anyone else would show up.
Silver: I know, but we need to be worried that something hostile will also come.
Blair: Why did you say “something” and not someone.
Hayze: We all heard those roars today, Blair.
Blair: Yeah… I’d just rather pretend I didn’t.
Tobias: Well, that might not be an option much longer.
Everyone turns to see Tobias and Ester approaching the group.
Blair: You!
Silver: So, we have a fight on our hands.
Hayze: No, I don’t think so.
Tobias: Thank you, Hayze. I’m here for your help.
Hayze: Help with what?
They hear a loud roar in the distance.
Tobias: That.