2nd Place: Doomed to Repeat

Chapter 1: Calm Before a Storm

The plane roared overhead, the bright Hawaiian sunshine glinting off its metallic exterior. The time of the Race was beginning again, and everyone could tell. The base's population had nearly doubled in the last few months, and everyone was working on something to get ready to broadcast the Race to the entire world. Finally, the Contenders had arrived, and in just another day or two they would be shipped to the Isla and set loose to wreak the havoc that only they could.

Jack shivered with excitement as the plane came in for the landing, the wind it created ruffling the palms and roaring over the runway. He stood out on the tarmac, underneath what shade the terminal's overhang provided. He would be hosting the show this year, his dream since the entire thing started. He was here now to meet the Contenders and take them to the hotel where they would stay for the night.

---

Inside the plane the atmosphere was tense at best. All of the people here had practically been born and raised for one reason and one reason only. To kill each other. Almost all were avoiding one another's eyes, in an effort to avoid becoming to attached before the Race.

Sun had claimed a window seat and not moved since the plane had taken off for the last time in Japan. She had taken to staring out the window, napping on and off as the clouds and ocean alternated views below. Despite the atmosphere, she was calmly relaxed, a habit that she had gotten in since she had been a child. What would come would come, and she would deal with it then. For now, she was content to wait until the plane touched down.

Junyo was sat towards the back of the plane looking out of a window at the aproaching runway. Years of martial training had taught him to be calm in stressful situations, and a plane full of soon to be murderers could be concidered stressful to some. It seemed to him now that they had had the right idea to take away their weapons before they had gotten on, who wants everyone dead before the island is even reached? He closed is eyes and waited for the inevitable.

Damien slowly let his eyes study the people around him. While some seemed content to look out windows and down at floors he felt this was the perfect opportunity to study his opponents. After all they were all trapped together with the knowledge that only one of them would make this flight home. If this wasn't mental stress then what was? So he watched, every eye movement, every twitch, any and all signs of weakness in mind or body.

At the front of the seats, was one contestant who didn't seem to perturbed at their situation. Angelique was turned around backwards, knees in the seat, arms crossed and elbows on the back of the seat as she looked at everyone with innocent curiosity. "'ou all act as d'ough 'ou all are al'eady dead. Or are all of you moot?" she asked in a heavy french accent.

Damien's lips curled into a small smile. "For all intents and purposes only one of us is still alive." He got up from his seat moving into the aisle to stretch his legs extending a large hand towards her. "Howdy."

Aiden kept his eyes covered with the wide brim of his hat. He was intently looking down, cleaning under his fingernails with a small knife. He clearly had no intents on killing anyone, yet atleast. Not wanting to get acquainted with anyone just yet, he stay silent as others talked. He knew the more he got to know someone, the harder it would be to kill them in the end. After a few minutes, He looked up and pushed the brim of his hat out of his way, folding his knife back and sliding into his pocket.

"Bonjour, Angelique Mirage," Angelique introduced herself with a smile as she stood as well and shook his hand. "And 'ou are?"

"Damien." He grinned and placed his hand back by his side. "You sure are the friendly type." He sat down in the empty seat opposite.

"Seatbelts." Sun said absently to no one in particular, snapping hers to just before the seatbelt light flicked on. The runway was approaching, just on the edge of a small tropical town. In the distance was the notorious Isla, volcanoes looming underneath a low shroud of fog.

Junyo let out a small sigh. It would begin all to soon. The fools at the front where now aquainted, harder to kill someone if you know their name. He saw the belt sign flicker on, and heard a voice mutter the word, but took no notice of either. Chances of being killed at this point where slim, and air accidents where very rare. His lips curled at his next thought. A few of the passengers where jumpy. Reacted too quickly... assuming what was about to happen. This could be a good advantage.

"I believe in luring my op'onets into a false 'ence of security," Angelique replied with a smile as she, too, sat, crossing her fine legs, and fastening her seatbelt just to placate the others.

Damien followed suit, he was smiling. He was well aware that he now faced his toughest and possibly last challenge. But his whole life was for this and he was ready.

Jacky's eyes opened slowly at the sound of voices and a bell signalling to fasten seatbelts. She reached her hand and grabbed the restraining device and fastened it together. She sat up and looked around a small grin had graced her features as she looked towards the front at the two who had become aquainted. She realized that it would be a good thing to not anger anyone and try to stay one everyone's good side. "Well...atleast as close as their good side I can get, given the situation..." she chuckled to herself while she leaned against the window next to her.

Jack raised a hand to shield his eyes as the plane finally set down, coasting to a neat stop in front of the terminal. There was a small wait, and then the small vehicle transporting the stairs to the plane whirred to life, locking in next to the door just as the hatch swung open in a rush of air and the Contenders started to file out.

Angelique freed herself and followed suit out of the plane. She took her one small carry on bag with her and smiled openly in awe at the surroundings. "Wow.. zees is beautiful!" she exclaimed and laughed happily as she descended.

Damien let his eyes scan his surroundings methodically as he got off the plane. Noting the temperature, vegitation, cloud cover and air quality. Everything down to the very soil.

Jacky sat there on the plane for a moment before standing up and heading for the front of the plane. She decended onto the nicely paved run way while her eyes scanned the surroundings. She gave off a smile and looked at the others one by one. "Finally here." she exclaimed as her arms raised in a stretch of relief.

Jack took a deep breath, gave himself one last pep talk and walked out to greet the Contenders. "Welcome all, to the Island!" He said, grinning wide and spreading out his arms. "This is where you will be staying for tonight. Now, as I'm sure you're all aware, there is to be no killing of each other before the Race actually starts, so I'm sure you won't try it." He held the grin as he scanned the faces exiting the plane, thinking Tough crowd.

Damien immediately frowned as he beheld Jack. This is the kind of person he should be told to kill on national television for the enjoyment of all. Not people like the other contenders who actually deserved to live.

"Why would we bozzer to kill each ozzer, when it is what is out zere zat will try kill us wisout grudge?" Angelique said, pointing in the direction of the trees. Nonetheless, she was patient with this man. She could tell why he wasn't a contender, and thus not worth her time really. He wouldn't make good prey or a good ally.

"Obstacles aren't the most dangerous part of the Race." Sun said, popping her neck as her feet hit the pavement. As far as she was concerned, the man's presence was a necessary evil, to be dealt with then forgotten as soon as possible.

"Zey are when 'ou are too deestracted wis ozzer people, 'ou do not notice zem," Angelique told her with mild surprise at her words. She hoped that girl died first out of such stupidity.

Sun smiled, her eyes narrowing. "Then one must be careful to pay attention to both the people and the obstacles, no?"

"Spleet attention leaves a perfect opening for surprise," Angelique replied, frowning.

"Then what's the point of paying attention at all." Sun said, a statement not a question. The French girl was strange, to be sure. But they were all here because they were chosen. Mustn't let my guard down. Sun reminded herself.

"I've always wanted to come to a tropical island...never thought of it in this situation." Jacky grinned as she looked over the other contenders. They all were so tense, even she was tense but she would never let them know. "So when do we get our weapons back?" she questioned.

"You'll all get your weapons back when we reach the Isla tomorrow morning." Jack said, ushering them all into a column of vans parked nearby to take them to the hotel. Once he was sure they were all situated, four or five to a van, he took his seat with the driver of the first. The vans moved off towards the hotel, another following behind carrying all the luggaage.

Damien looked at the occupants of the car, from one to another. He gave a small smile. "It's not all bad. How many people get their fifteen minutes of fame in such a dignified way?" He really wished he could just fade into the background like others were doing. After all, with the cameras on them even now, who didn't want to be the strong silent type? But he couldn't just watch while everyone refused to engage. Making acquantance now would make it all harder in the end, but that's what they wanted. Drama and violence. That was what he was bred for, to win or die trying. But in the end what was more important, winning the hearts of watchers world wide or being known as the most ruthless person alive? It took a lot for him to take himself out of his element and be social, but it was worth a try.

"If you can call this dignified." Sun responded, now playing a game on a Gameboy Advance she had brought along on the plane. She had chosen one of the middle row of seats, leaning slightly to the side to keep half an eye on the clouds rolling by as they rolled down the street.

"Why not? How many people get to be chosen as the most talented and skilled person in their entire country?" Damien attempted what he felt was a warm smile. "Sun isn't it?" In the back of his mind he wanted to smack himself, the people back home would be shitting themselves at his behaviour. Who was he and what was he doing?

Sun glanced at the small camera recording them from between the front seats of the van, then nodded. "Yes. And you are Damien." She said, not intending it as a question.

Damien nodded. He had been dismissed, and rightly so. He sat back in the car. This was going to be a long trip. Who was he kidding? He might as well just be himself. He went back to watching, searching for weaknesses.

But Sun wasn't done, apparently. "What part of Canada are you from?" She asked, glancing up briefly.

Damien blinked. "I was born in Alberta. But I grew up mostly on the Atlantic coast. Yourself?"

"Born in Korea. Raised in the Midwest. I've stayed pretty much everywhere on the North American continent and Eastern Asia though." Sun said, her fingers rapidly tapping the buttons.

Damien nodded again. Despite his efforts he really wasn't a conversationalist. What did you say to someone like this, so much like himself and yet so different. He was measuring her up, figuring out things about her while at the same time trying to genuinely have a dicussion. "Sounds interesting."

Aiden had stayed quiet the entire time, sitting back and studying who he was up against. It seemed as if no one was making refernce to him, and he liked it that way. He just slid into the car and sat back for the ride.

Jacky smiled and turned in her seat to hold out her hand towards Damien. "Jacky." she introduced herself with a grin. "Nice to meet you. I hear Canada's cold." she continued while she turned around to face the front again, but not before offering a hand shake to everyone else in the vehicle. The last thing she needed was enemies, and she wasn't one to get attached anyways.

Damien bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement. "Canada isn't really cold. It used to be a very cold country rivaled only by Russia, but over the years our three month winter has dwindled into a month and a half of unpredictable weather from snow and temperatures of -40 to sunshine and temperatures of 5 or 6. This is all in celcuis of course." He fell silent. He loved his country and he loved facts, those things he could talk about, yet still he felt almost silly telling them this. They didn't care, just like he didn't truly care. No matter how many named he knew, or how many aquantances he made nothing would stop him from giving his all to get to the goal.

Smiling, Jacky nodded politely and turned around to face the front again. "I've always wanted to travel." she replied suddenly. Something like that statement did not have a place in this atmosphere, and she knew it.

"Well now you've got your chance, haven't you." Sun said, looking out the window as the vans pulled into a long driveway leading up to a huge (and expensive looking) hotel.

They weren't playing around when they built this place. Super sleek and ultra modern, it was a rough horseshoe in shape with a main structure in front and two wings extending from the ends. The main lobby was showcased in a gigantic wall of glass which extended up the front of the building for three stories and showed a grand staircase leading up from the main floor. At the back, nestled between the two arms of the hotel was an olympic sized swimming pool, a jacuzzi and a spa, all overlooked by a gigantic balcony leading off the third floor used for fancy parties and schmoozing. The vans pulled up into the circular driveway that went around a gigantic marble fountain and led straight up to the front doors of the hotel.

Sun was one of the first to open the door and get out, gazing briefly up at the towering glass wall before retrieving her carry-on bag and stepping up the three marble stairs to the front door. She waited there, playing her game, for the other Contenders and Jack to join her.

Jacky soon followed with her backpack and stared up in awe at the hotel. "Wow..." she suddenly grinned. "Funny how this will most be the last good night's sleep for most." She thought outloud and took a step forwards and turned to watch as the rest of the contenders arrived.

Damien in turn got out, memorizing his surroundings, though not particularly awed by it. He was rarely awed by anything. He took in anything and everything with a distant indifference.

Stepping out into the sunlight Aiden adjusted his hat to block the sun before grabbing his only bag, a large, canvas duffle bag before staring up at the giant hotel with a smile on his face.

Angelique boredly got out of her van and walked with the others inside. She was done talking now. Everyone was so worried about dying or killing, they didn't care what happened until then. She mentally shrugged it off, admiring everything around her. "Il ne compare toujours pas à Paris," she thought to herself.

By comparison, Jack practically bounced out of his van, smiling and waving at the fleet of trolleys that came out to pick up their luggage. "This," he said to the contestants, giving a sweeping wave to the hotel's facade above them, "Is the Hotel Paraíso. Not the ritziest place in the world, I'll admit, but it gets close." Ushering everybody into the expansive lobby, complete with another fountain in the middle (this one with leaping dolphins), he started handing out keycards, one to each contestant. "Your room number is on the front. We're all on the fourth floor, got the entire thing reserved. Your luggage will be waiting for you in your room when you arrive." He finished, handing the last card to Angelique with a flourish.

"You have the run of the hotel and the town. I am required to tell you, however, that you must be within the hotel grounds by midnight, otherwise you will be locked out. If in the grounds but outside the building at that time, your room key will also unlock the doors. Dinner is served here from seven until eleven o'clock at night," Jack continued with his opening speech, checking his watch, "And the bar will only close from two until four in the mornings. So, until tomorrow, may you all enjoy yourselves!" Finishing with yet another smile and a bow to them all, he turned and trotted back outside to the vans. Once inside the first, he said a few words to the driver at the head of the column and the vans lurched out of stillness, turning and continuing back down the driveway.

Angelique checked her keycard to see the number, then took her bag and went to the elevator, going to the fourth floor.

Damien walked over to the stairs and began his ascent if a slight jog to stretch his legs after the flight, examining his keycard as he did so.

Slinging the duffle bag back over his shoulder, Aiden shuffled his way to the elevator, holding his key card between his index and middle fingers, examining it.

Watching Jack leave with an undefinable expression on her face, Sun finally turned and ascended the grand staircase.

After a few turns and more stairs, Sun finally reached her room. No one else was in the hall, the other Contenders presumably in their rooms or exploring. Swiping the card through the slot, a little light flashed green as she pushed open the door to her room.

While they may have been called just 'rooms', 'suites' would probably be a more accurate description. The first thing that greeted your eyes as you walked in would be a small, cozy living area with a kitchenette tucked into a corner. The living area contained a TV, coffee table, couch and two chairs, while the kitchenette boasted a four burner range and stove, refrigerator and freezer, microwave and sink. To the right were two doors, the farther leading to the bedroom which held a queen size bed, another TV, two dressers a night table a vanity set and the door to a walk in closet, while the closer went to the bathroom; all white tile and chrome, the bathroom contained the toilet, a sink, a mirror/medicine cabinet and a tub/shower.

Dumping her stuff on the couch, Sun briefly noted that the trolley containing her other luggage (which admittedly wasn't much) was parked in a corner of the living area before sliding open the big french doors on the other side of the entryroom and stepping out onto the balcony.

Looking to the right, she could see that the sun - while still high in the sky - was beginning to fall towards the horizon. Below, the large balcony stood empty save for a few umbrella tables and chairs. Even farther down, the pool rippled in the light as various vacationers swam, dived, played and tanned in the Hawaiian afternoon. Palm trees swayed cooly around the perimeter, and off in the distance the ocean could be clearly seen.

After shuffling into his room, Aiden dropped hisbag onto the bed before going to the kitchenette, grabbing a glass and filling it with tap water. He quickly downed the first glass of water and poured another one, sipping more slowly on this one. After his second glass, he returned to the bed where he pulled out an old fashioned straight-edge razor and proceeded into the bathroom for a quick shave. Afterwords, he grabbed the key off the side table and wandered out into the halls.

Jacky had made a definate stop by the bar to pick up a small drink, just enough to keep her company through the night. After she had aquired the cup of alcoholic beverage she headed for the elevators and pressed the button for the fourth floor. Making her way down the hallway, she looked down to the key card in her hand and checked the number again. She nodded when she turned to look at the door with the matching numbers on them. She unlocked the room and walked in, looking around and sighing. She walked out onto her balcony and sat up against the building wall. She picked up the cup filled with liquid and held it up to the sky. "A toast, China. To the Race." She smiled and took a sip.

Out side the hotel there was a scream followed by the screeching of tires as a white convertible drove up to the hotel. Inside the car were three men, they were all dressed in black suites with black ties. There wasn't much difference between the men other than that the one sitting in the front was wearing a pair of black sunglasses and a white cane probed up in the passenger’s seat. The two men in the back of the car seemed terrified at the man sitting in the front. Once the car was parked on the curb/sidewalk the group just sat there for a little while before the man in the front finally broke the silence "Well... Aren’t you going to help a poor blind lawyer out of his car?" Kyle smiled to himself when he saw the two men in the back of the car jump as if their hearts were restarting.

Hopping over the sides of the car the two men got out and opened the door for Kyle, who picked up his cane and began walking towards the entrance. He wasn't using the cane to help him know where he was going; he was using it more like a pimp cane. As he made his way towards the hotel he paused for a second to take in his surroundings, and mumbled something to himself about this sure beat death row. Spotting the Jacky up on her balcony he tossed her a warm greeting of friendship, "YOU THERE! ASIAN SLAVE WOMAN, GO PREPARE MY ROOM… AND FETCH ME SOME HOT CHOCOLATE AS WELL.”

"I change my mind," Angelique called to Jacky from her balcony next to hers. She was leaning on the railing and looked from Kyle to Jacky. "In zee race or not, I 'ope 'e dies first."

Damien finished stretching his muscles and got up from the floor of his room, going out to the balcony to find out who Angelique wanted to die. Looking down he saw Kyle below and scrunched his nose in disapproval.

Jacky gave a hearty laugh at Angelique's comment and held her glass up to her. "Agreed." She finished off her drink before throwing it at Kyle and rolling her eyes while beginning to speak to him. "Do it yourself you racist bastard." Jacky finished before leaning against the railings with a kind, yet mocking smile for Kyle.

"Ha! Foolish mortal, did think that with my super-blind-lawyer-senses you could actual-" Kyle's monologue was cut off by the sound of a cup bouncing off his skull. "Objection..." was all he got out before falling to the ground unconscious.

"At least it makes our jobs easier." one of the bodyguards commented before scooping up Kyle and throwing the body over his shoulder like a sack mentally disturbed rocks.

"Lets just go tie this guy to the bed before he does anything really stupid." The other grabbed the cup on the way in so it wouldn't be left for someone else to grab.

Hearing some of the commotion, Aiden was drawn to the front of the hotel just in time to see the cup bouncing off the mans skull. His eyebrow raised as the bodyguards carried him towards the door, he still wasn't willing to ask anyone what happened, instead he decided to join with the rest of the contestants who gathered around to see what he could hear about the man.

Damien watched the scene unfold, glancing over at Aiden as he came onto his porch.

The two guards took Kyle inside and checked him into his room carried him up the stairs to where it was. When they were unlocking the door to his room Kyle started mumbling something that sounded like "No... I'm Batman" which only made the guards quicken their pace. Once inside they tightly wrapped him up in blankets and bandaged up the cut in his head from where the cup had hit him.

Angelique had returned inside when they did and was standing in her doorway, watching them. "Oh great," she said. "Zey brought us a crazee."

Sun raised an eyebrow at the man as he was carried by, then chuckled a bit at Angelique's comment. "In all likelihood, yes. That's Kyle Kent. Or so he says. He's the US Contender."

Angelique looked at Sun with slightly widened eyes. "Ah, well zat explains everysing."

"Yes." Sun said, watching as the door next to hers closed behind the strange group. "I've heard that he was thrown in at the last minute because their government just wanted to get rid of him. Something about a possibility of escaping the electric chair."

Angelique just rolled her eyes. "Americans..." she practically spat. "Zey sink zey are so 'oomane... Zey are seemply dooming zere country wis zere own stoopideety..."

"Well, I might have to take care of the US' problem for them, Don't wanna make them angry," Aiden said in a low tone of voice, yet audible to all around him.

Damien had not bothered to go back into the room to find out what had happened to Kyle. He stood there, feeling the light breeze on his face, and looking out onto the world below him. While everyone else found the new addition amusing he was slightly edgy. Most of the tasks would need a great deal of team work and he doubted Kyle would be any help. Any weak link in their 'team' could be hazardous to everyone.

"I've always heard of American's being stupid," Jacky mused to herself while shaking her head, "but this is just ridiculous." She sat at the small table situated against the wall while she looked out of her open door just in time to see the guards hauling Kyle into the room across from her. She glared at the unconcious form. "He's the first to go." Her tone bordering on monotone while speaking of the American.

After the initial excitement over the American's arrival, Sun checked her watch and decided she had plenty of time before dinner. Changing into a bikini top and boy's trunks, she grabbed one of the varicolored towels from the stack in the bathroom and headed down the stairs towards the pool. Her skin being tan enough to avoid burning, she skipped the sunscreen like usual and merely stretched out on one of the various beach chairs scattered around the perimeter and settled back to soak in some sun.

Deciding close to the same, Angelique went back inside her suite, allowing the door to close behind her. She put on an exercise tank and shorts and went onto the sunny balcony, going through sets of stretches, exercises, and katas.

Damien could not get rid of the feeling of being over heated. He would have to adjust to the climate quickly but for now he needed to cool off. He changed into swim trunks, and grabbing a towel from the hotel bathroom he headed to the pool. He closed the glass door blocking off the swimming area from the rest of the hotel and placed the towel on a chair heading to the deep end. He ignored the hot tubs and other people around him, diving in.

Aiden slowly walked away to the hotel's bar, where he sidled up to the bad and slid into one of the barstools, "Whisky, on the rocks, please," was all he said as he rested his arms on the bar.

At first it started out with a small rustling nose coming from Kyle's room, but it soon escelated into a loud chant of "I'm Batman, I'm Batman, I'MBATMAN, I'MBATMAN

I'MBATMANI'MBATMANI'MBATMAN!!"

until finally the orgastic finale of

"I AM BATMAN!!"

The door his room slowly swung open to reveal Kyle completely freed from his former bonds and now dressed as Batman. "I can breathe in space." was all he said befor decending down the hall.

Jacky just rolled her eyes and dressed into her bathing suit and put on a pair of surfer shorts before heading out for a soak in the hot tub before grabbing another drink. She needed time to collect her thoughts before the race began.

---

"Well, well. What's a lovely thing like you doing in a place like this?" came a slightly accented voice.

Sun slowly opened one eye, squinting up into the sun at the shadow that had just fallen over her. Holding a hand up to shade her eyes, she replied "One would think I was minding my own business. What's it to you?"

There was a soft laugh and the shadow moved to sit down on the side of her beach chair. "Oh, nothing much. I just enjoy having good company, that's all." He held out a hand, saying "My name's Lucio. Lucio deCastel. Might I be so bold as to inquire after yours?"

Sun eyed the stranger a bit, trying to decide what his deal was, then finally half grinned and shook his hand. "I'm Sun."

"A pleasure to meet you." Lucio said, shaking her hand and briefly bringing her fingertips to his lips. "The light bringers come together."

"Indeed." Sun said wryly, stretching her hand once she had gotten it back.

---

After slowly sipping his drink down to 'the rocks', Aiden stood up from the bar and walked back to his room, where he sat back in the armchair. He just sat there, doing nothing, but it's this 'nothing' that he was enjoying most. A time of peace and a time of silence. The calm before the storm, if you so wish to say. It was a perfect time for him to get his thoughts around for what was happening the next day.

2nd Place: Doomed to Repeat