Survivor of the 66

Chapter 28

The Agenda

Silver Eyed Beach

"Weeeell, we're back." Sailor Venus was the first to note the change in scenery.

"How exciting," Uranus expressed.

"What an absolute waste of time," Buggy stated. "What was even the point of that whole meet anyway? Just to tease us into thinking we'd truly receive goods. My treasure.. the precious jewels and diamonds I could have and should have grasped in the palm of my hands!"

"Complaining about it isn't going to do you or any of the rest of us any good. Forget it and move on, we still have many trials that await us," Piccolo spoke in response. "The moment we start dwelling on what was or what could have been will be our own written defeat. We need to stay course."

"He's right." Superman agreed. "We'll only hold ourselves back if we keep our short comings in the forefront of our minds."

"Psshpht!" Buggy spat. "I don't care what none of ya's say, that bat freak clown played us all the way from the depths of the great blue to the tops of mount fraud!"

"Where is mount fraud?" asked Leo who raised his hand.

"North-end of this island," Raphael replied.

"Hey!" Venus snapped in his direction.

"You're all free to stand and collaborate among yourselves, but I feel at a time such as this I'll be taking my leave elsewhere," Beerus conveyed. Following his words the tribe's captain would swiftly take flight, relocating to another part of the silver sanded island.

Conan stood staring at the ground and a hand on his chin, clearly deep in thought. It didn't take long for Wataru to notice. "Conan-kun is everything ok?"

"…."

"Conan-kun..?"

Conan faced him soon thereafter, with a smile and all. "I'm fine."

Wataru nodded. "Just wanted to make sure."

Conan would then step off to the side as he tried to make sense of it all. "Everything that happened, there must have been a reason for it all.. surely Bat-Mite wouldn't have assembled us just to tell us-"

"Conan-kun is everything alright?" Wataru spoke from beside him. "Something on your mind you want to talk about?"

"Not auh, I'm fine," assured Conan.

"Just remember, if anything is bothering you, feel free to talk to me."

"Of course." Conan's eyes widened, a realization of sorts settling in. "Could it be?! The Goodies Grab.. the question asked of Whis-san and myself. Were there ramifications after all? Oh no, I.. I offed him."

…..

Grave Yard Valley

Yusaku blinked. Everything around him had vanished. No.. it was him who had been sent away. "The island, we're back."

"You're right," said Gohan.

"I can't believe we allowed Bat-Mite to duke us like that." Donatello shook his head, clearly disappointed with everything that had unraveled the past twenty minutes. "I should have been able to figure it out. The hints were all there, right.. right in front of us."

"No need to beat yourself up over it Donatello, I too feel the same," said Yusaku.

"We all do." Franky would too add himself to the fray.

Donatello felt the grumble of his stomach. "Man, that cheese pizza would have been really good right about now. To think it was all just a tease.. an illusion."

"You can say that again. It's almost criminal how Bat-Mite did us like that. An.. and the cola." Franky clutched his fists angrily. "It's gone!"

Donatello placed a hand upon his teammates shoulder. "I feel your pain. Don't worry, we'll manage through this."

Deathstroke was not only disgusted with the results they had faced, but with the self-pity he viewed from his peers. "Pathetic." As he had done several times before the assassin strolled away.

"Whelp, there goes everyone's favorite guy," Donatello remarked.

"Don't know what we would do without him," replied Franky giving in to the sarcasm.

"Hold on, something is off," Sailor Mars spoke.

"What is it?" Akako questioned.

"One of us is missing," Mars responded.

"Wait, really?" Franky looked over all who were present.

"She's right," confirmed Trafalgar. "Roshi is missing."

….

Living Jungle

After arriving back to their respective island it took little time for everyone to discover there was someone missing from their ranks.

"Yo! What happened to that detective dude?" Beast Boy questioned.

"Detective?" Trunks questioned. His eyes glided over all in range. "Oh you mean Mouri. You're right, he's not here."

"Yah, and I can't sense him either," Goku added.

"My, my, just where could our comrade be?" Fugitoid wondered.

"Maybe he is still at the Bye Bye Bat Base," Brook threw out there.

"Perhaps," said Sailor Neptune.

"If that is the case then one would have to ask why?" The possibilities began to roam through Yukiko's mind.

"You really think Bat-Mite would forget to send him back with the rest of us?" Goku questioned.

"At this point should we be surprised with anything he does?"

Lex felt differently on the matter. "Or maybe.. just maybe his absence is our penalty."

"Penalty?" Neptune questioned.

"You heard what Bat-Mite said back at his little play house, our tribe as well as the one lead by Mr. Kudo both failed to have even one person pass his test."

"Dude!" Michelangelo realized the extent of it all in that moment. "Are you saying Kogoro got eliminated?!"

"That is what seems to be the case?" Lex replied. "What else is there to explain his absence?"

Was that truly the case? "Could we really have lost one of our own like that?" Trunks shook his head.

"It was bound to happen at some point," Lex voiced. "Let us rejoice it wasn't one of our members of higher importance."

"Hey! I resent that statement," Yukiko exclaimed. "We lost a great asset."

"Mourn him if you will, it won't change the fact he is gone."

"Come on guys, creating animosity among ourselves will only harm us in the long run," Trunks warned.

Yukiko stepped back in revaluation. "You're right; nothing good will come of any of this."

".. What now?" Beast Boy questioned.

Michelangelo softly placed his fists together. "What now? We reload and win tonight's challenge! We can't afford to lose again."

…

Seasonal Plains

The mood had completely shifted from when they had last been on the island previously. None spoke, the only call to hear was that of the traveling breeze. Not wanting to stand anymore Sailor Moon dropped down, placing her hands upon her knees after doing so.

"What a sham. We totally got robbed," Sailor Moon said voicing her dissatisfaction.

"The bad taste may linger for a bit." Zoro paused. "I guess we shouldn't be surprised, the hints were there for us to decipher, we just failed in doing so."

"All except two you mean," Masumi proudly reminded.

Nightwing grinned. "You're really feeling yourself aren't you?"

"I am." Masumi could not deny.

"I get the whole thing was nothing more than a test, but I fail to see the point in any of it," Zatanna voiced.

"What do you mean?" Sailor Moon asked.

"Ramifications.. a consequence for us not determining the truth behind the goodies grab.. well at least the majority of us," Zatanna clarified.

"She's right. To this point in the game whenever a tribe has failed there has always been a penalty in some form or another," Usopp said. "Why now the change all of a sudden?"

"A mere assumption," Whis spoke.

Attention fell in his direction. "What's that?" questioned Sailor Mercury.

"Just because Bat-Mite didn't make it blatantly obvious that there wasn't penalty for those who failed doesn't mean it was so," Whis responded.

"You sayin' those two tribes received some kind of punishment?" Cyborg asked.

Whis gave the confirming nod. "To touch on that further the boy wearing the glasses.. Conan, I beileve his name is; clever lad if I should say so myself."

Masumi's eyes narrowed. "What of him?"

"He and I, Conan.. well, we played a direct hand in what I'm certain conspired after we were all returned to our respective islands,"

"Ya, what's that?" Zoro was curious.

"Recall Bat-Mite individually asked Conan and I who we deemed to be the most valuable players from the two losing teams. When asked I named Roshi-san in regards to Tribe Black, while Conan chose Kogoro Mouri of the Pink Elites."

Sailor Moon was clueless. ".. Ya, I so don't get where this is going."

"Hold on," Nightwing eyes popped. "You saying the two you and Conan named have been eliminated?!"

Whis nodded. "I suspect that much, yes."

Masumi blinked. "Could it be, was that really the case?"

"You sure about that?" asked Usopp.

"Well we won't know for sure until we are to return to the Bye Bye Bat Base later today," Whis replied. "Even without one hundred percent confirmation I feel strongly about the possibility."

"Is that right?" Aquaman questioned.

"Think about it, why else would Bat-Mite choose to pose such a question? No matter how random or seemingly irrelevant a question or statement he makes may seem, that typically isn't the case," Whis ran down. "If there is one consistent with our dear host, it is that this survival game is always in drive. Any of us could be eliminated at any moment."

Fright formed on Superboy's face. "Any moment.."

…

Midnight Mountain

"Now that is what ya call a close call!" Harley stated.

"Fur real." Chibiusa felt the same.

"Thank goodness for Heiji, no way we would have been successful this round without him," Chopper complimented.

"Your words of acknowledgement are most appreciated," Heiji spoke in response.

"You are certainly an asset to our team, if I should say so myself," Constantine added. "Though with even such a showing one has to question what will come of it all."

"What do you mean?" Chopper asked.

"I believe what Constantine is referring to is the consequence for the tribes to not have passed the test," Dr. Gero explained. "If you recall a short time ago after the results were revealed there was no clear indication that any such punishment was to come for the black and pink tribes."

"Well there is a challenge scheduled for tonight," Vegeta reminded. "Maybe they will receive a soft penalty or possibly even a handicap."

"There could be some weight to that." Dr. Gero felt this to be the case

Chibiusa slouched down to the ground in disappointment. "It sucks! All I wanted was a notebook, and Bat-Mite wouldn't even allow that."

"It doesn't matter what was requested at the Goodies Grab, be it something of high or of low importance. None were to obtain," Dr. Gero stated.

"A notebook?" Heiji questioned. "Is that what you wanted Chibiusa?"

Looking over she nodded. "Um hmm."

Smiling, Heiji removed the bag sitting on his shoulders. "Here, I've got just the thing."

Chibiusa strolled over. "What is it?"

"I might not have a notebook, but I do have a few of the pads," conveyed Heiji. Reaching inside he pulled out a set number of three notepads. "Here, which one do you want?"

"Yay!" Chibiusa was ecstatic. "Can I have two?"

"Two?" Heiji chuckled. "What do you need two notepads for?"

"One for me, and one for Saturn," Chibiusa explained.

"Saturn..?"

"Sailor Saturn; she is a member of tribe black." Vegeta looked to Chibiusa."I take it the two of them discussed getting the same thing at one point?"

"She is my best friend!" Chibiusa declared.

Heiji snapped his finger. "Sailor Saturn, of course."

"You got anything to eat in that bag of yours?" Chopper asked.

"An apple, here," replied Heiji tossing the fruit to his teammate.

"Thanks a lot." Chopper was grateful.

"What about a lighter?" questioned Constantine. "You know.. in the case mine gives way or something."

"Never leave home without it," replied Heiji who revealed just that. "It is an essential, especially if you ever find yourself out in the wilderness somewhere."

"Gee, what else ya got in that bag, a hidden circus?" Harley jokingly enquired.

"I'll leave that to your imagination," Heiji responded.

"Enough for the imagination, staying focused for what is to come should be priority," Dr. Gero said. "For the next challenge to come is near."

…

Natural Forest

A few hours had passed since arriving back. Wonder Woman flew along, finally spotting the individual who she sought.

"Red Robin!"

He faced her as she touched down. "Sup boss?"

"What are you doing out here by yourself?"

"Processing," to which Red Robin replied before referring to a device in hand.

Wonder Woman crossed her arms, moderately interested. "And what might that be?"

"Remember how when we first arrived on this planet and I told you how I hacked into a number of different servers among the foreigners away from our world?"

Wonder Woman nodded. "Yes..? I also recall you saying there was one network you were unable to bypass. Is that what this is about?" Wonder Woman motioned forward. "Did you finally break the code?"

"Uuuhhh… not quite."

"I see, so that's what you're working on. Still trying to break through huh?"

His eyes drifted away from the held object. "So what's up? Pretty sure you didn't come looking for me just to ask me about that."

"Guilty as charged," admitted Wonder Woman.

Red Robin set the device aside. "So why are you really here? I highly doubt you came in search of me just to inquire about that."

"It's about earlier, what happened at the Bye Base, I just wanted to say.. good work."

"Just aiding the team in the best way that I can."

"Also, there is something I wish to ask."

"Yes?"

"What tipped you off?" Wonder Woman asked. "When did you realize the Goodies Grab was a ruse?"

"In all honesty I was suspicious of the Goodies Grab when Bat-Mite initially brought it up."

"You mean because of the whole 'greatest survivor' thing?"

"Exactly, and after you read that scroll to everyone it was more than clear to me." At that very moment the two of them would hear the sound of someone approaching. "It's Bulma."

Bulma's hands rose to her hips. "You know Red Robin, you could have given the rest of us a heads up about your little deduction."

This prompted a smile from him in return. "And deny you all the chance to try and figure it for yourselves? Now where would the fun in that be? Besides, would you have believed me if I had told you otherwise?"

"Excuse me?"

"It is no secret," Red Robin began. "There are a number of people on this tribe who do not receive well to me, largely due to my connection with Batman, you know.. Bat-Mite's named champion and all. Bulma, you are one of those people."

"Huh? What lead you to such a conclusion?"

"You didn't deny."

Bulma puffed in exhale. "Listen, my problem isn't.. or rather wasn't with you particularly, but rather with Mr. Satan getting the axe instead of you in the initial Bye Bye elimination ceremony."

"And now?"

Bulma was at a loss for words, frozen in the moment. "Well.. I suppose my stance has changed somewhat, on you that is."

"Bulma I can only imagine you came in search of me?" Wonder Woman assumed.

"Yes, I was hoping we could all gather."

"For what if you don't mind me asking?"

"In light of everything that has happened and the added fact there is still yet another challenge to come tonight I thought it would be in the best interest for the entire team to meet.. you know, at the very least get our minds settled after the debacle that was known as the Goodies Grab."

"You know, that might not be a bad idea." Wonder Woman was all for it. "We may not know what we will come to face tonight, but getting ourselves mentally prepared could pay dividends."

"So what are we waiting for?!"

…

Hidden Swamp

The day had come and gone. The drop of the sun brought the set of the evening. Luffy could feel excitement rising.

"It won't be long now."

Just what would the nights challenge bring?

"Luffy.. captain. You have a minute?"

Luffy turned. "Oh hey Pluto, what's up?"

"Not Pluto, Luna," she corrected. "You have my name confused with one of my comrades."

"My bad," a now smiling Luffy apologized.

"Soo.. have you heard anything?"

The look on Luffy's face became puzzled. "Huhhhh?"

"Oh, I guess I should elaborate. Any word from Bat-Mite?" Luna asked. "If you recall earlier today a scroll was sent directly to you, I suspect when contact is made you will be the one to receive."

"Nope."

Luna paused. "No as in you don't remember, or no as in you have not heard from him?"

Luffy nodded. "Yep."

"I've never met anyone more difficult such as he." Luffy's eyes sharpened as he turned his head off to the side. Luna noticed. "What's wrong?"

"Someone's here."

"What do you mean? Did you hear something?"

"Sense em," Luffy noted.

"Could it just be one of our teammates?"

"Nope." Speaking no more Luffy pressed onward.

"Where are you going? Luffy?!" Luna followed after him. Uncertain for what was to come she was now on high alert. After roughly a half minute passed Luna enquired once more on the matter. "Tell me Luffy, who do you believe this person to be that you sense?"

"..."

"I imagine we're almost there?" Luna didn't know if she should be thrilled or frightened.

Pushing on further Luna lunged upward, grasping hold she elevated herself onto Luffy's left shoulder as he motioned around a large tree. Stepping out to the other side they found someone in wait.

"Monkey D.. Luna, good evening to you both."

"Bat-Mite?!" Luna voiced in surprise. "I wasn't expecting you'd be showing face on this island, rather you'd send some kind of message."

"Well," began Bat-Mite who rubbed his hands together. "Here I am."

"Is it time?!" Luffy dashed forward. "What's the challenge?! I'm so ready!"

"As I can see," Bat-Mite chuckled. "But let us pump the breaks just a bit. The decision has yet to be made for each individual for what they will partake in."

"Huh?"

"By what do you mean by that?" asked Luna. "What are the details of tonight's challenge?"

"La ha! The right question has been asked!" exclaimed Bat-Mite. "My dear, that is why I'm here."

"If that is so, why aren't the other tribes present for these proceedings?"

"Why indeed." Bat-Mite would go on to reach for something latched to his belt, seven different straws.

"What's with those?" Luffy asked.

"Here, they're for you," said Bat-Mite handing the items over to him.

Luffy was puzzled. They were different in color; green, black, blue, pink, red, silver, and gold. ".. Ahuh… what are these for?"

"The colors.. are each of those straws in representation of each tribe?" Luna questioned.

Bat-Mite would go on to reveal seven glass cups, all of which hovered in place a few feet above him. "Now, the second act to this little exercise. Monkey D."

Turning his head Luffy laid eyes on the hovering cups. "Woooohh! Floating cups, that's so cool!" Attempting to reach for one of the cups the lot of them flew back to just out of his reach.

"No, no, no, that's not how this is going to work," Bat-Mite stated. "There will be no touching. Listen here, the straws you now hold in your possession, there are seven cups positioned before you."

Upon doing a quick count Luna found this to be true. "And there are seven straws. Is the objective to place each individual straw into one of the cups?"

"Winner, winner, cookin' dinner," Bat-Mite confirmed.

"Sounds simple," said Luffy stepping up ready to deliver.

"I must warn, be weary," Bat-Mite said. "For your choices now will map out the set path for what will occur tonight."

Hearing the spoken Luna couldn't help but take notice of the shape and colors of the floating cups. The one in the center was clear, and also the largest of the group. The three hovering on the right of the center one were brown in color and smaller in size. The same was seen of the ones right of the largest, though they were grey in color.

"There must be something symbolic about this whole set up. Luffy, what are your thoughts?" Luna asked.

Luffy motioned forward, making haste as he placed a straw into each cup one after another. "There we go, all done."

"As I see." The straws along with the cups disappeared with Bat-Mite snapping his finger. "I suppose that concludes the beginning act of the challenge."

"The beginning act? This was part of the test?" Luna questioned.

"See you both soon," Bat-Mite said as he turned his back to the pair. "Ta, ta."

In an instance he was gone, leaving them to reminisce for what was possibly to come. Luna looked to Luffy with an immediate question in mind. "Luffy, which straws did you put in each cup?"

Luffy shrugged. "Dunno."

Luna was baffled. "What do you mean you don't know? Did you not even look to see which straw you placed into which cups?"

"Was I supposed to?" asked Luffy who placed his hands behind his head.

Luna was shocked. "Did you not hear what Bat-Mite said, the straws you chose to place in each cup will dictate what will happen at the challenge."

Luffy was unbothered. "It's no big deal, whatever happens we'll deal with it." Luffy was confident in saying this. "No way will we lose."

Luna's mind was stuck on the floating cups. The largest and one that had been in the center was clear in color. Brown and grey had been the colors of the remaining six cups. Grey, brown, and clear..? None seemingly represented any of the tribes directly. So what did the chosen colors symbolize.. if anything?

"It has to be a clue to something right? What could it be?"

Then there were the straws, all of which were in the colors of each tribes named color. There was no mistaking what the straws represented in her mind. This left the cups, what was the connection between the straws and cups?

"If we are to prevail with tonight's challenge I must figure out the connection."

…..

The room was quiet, the only sound coming from the subtle sound of the beaming torches scattered across the outer walls of the large space. The begging stage of his plan was set, and now there was only but one thing to do.. wait. The silence he had been wallowed in would fade at the echo of ones approach from the outside.

His eyes flashed open, raising his head from where he had leaned, choosing only to speak a single word.

"Enter."

The large doors to the room slowly swayed open, bringing entry to a single individual. "The seed has been planted. The intel that you seek of these.. off-worlders will begin with the proceedings that are scheduled to begin shortly."

"Warriors and some of the fittest minds gathered on a single planet to dwell in a duo until one remains.. or so they believe."

"But I was under the impression your interest would lie with the one to outlast all others. Will you truly choose to act before the a… game's conclusion?"

"You mistake my intentions for something so primitive?"

"What? So I was wrong about your goal all along. What do you really have planned?"

Several silent filled moments would pass before a response was to come. "Tell me, what of the imp? Does he suspect?"

"It didn't appear so, no."

"For now, at least." Standing tall from where he sat his arms folded behind his back. "Relay to the mole to keep a low profile, you've done well Desaad."

"Yes of course." Tempted to leave Desaad turned back for the exit only to hear his voice once more.

"And Desaad, there is one final thing I must ask of you."

He faced him once more. "I'm listening."

"Make preparations to retrieve the beast, we will unleash him against all in attendance when the time is right."

Desaad nodded. "Yes, Lord Darkseid."

To Be Continued