Recording TWO
Mina
Nick
Ned
Inside the Hercules C-130 -
En route Russia-
28 December 1800 EST-
Inside the transport aircraft benches line the sides while the massive cargo hold is empty. Off in the front a pilot in black and white camouflaged flight suit wave at you.
"Secure your geer und backle up!"
He turns on his heel and starts to pull levers and push flips on a wall panel, making the hydraulics of the cargo ramp come to life.
Mina feels excited, this is a totally new adventure. She looks at the other contestants and yells over the noise of the Hercules C-130 : "Hi, I am Mina!"
Hah, Sure brings back memories.
"Yo, I'm Nick."
As I hear the comment I immediately snap my look at its direction.
"Oh, you're awake" I said a bit surprised and gave a friendly smile.
"We might be overthinking it. Maybe there's a high tech signal transmitter that tells them everything they need? You know the tech today..." With a chuckle in between, I said: "No one knows what's possible nowadays..."
"We're in russia, some of their equipment is still holdovers from the comunist days. Also, I don't think russian and US military tech are very compatible."
"Well then maybe the producer is in good terms with them? Some money and some bureaucracy here and there can solve it, perhaps. and from looking at this giant plane and the existence of such a tv show, I'm sure he doesn't lack of it."
"Also a good point."
"Good old coruption, I hope you never go away."
"Huh, Be careful what you wish for..."
"I didn't quite catch your name. I'm Nikita but call me Nick." I offer him my hand for a handshake.
"Ned Masters. Pleasure to meet you" Ned stands up to shake Nicks hand.
Nick stands up as well and they both shake hands.
I look at the girl again "You're awfully silent Nina..."
Mina waits for them too settle down again.
Nick grins awkwardly and looks away...
Hmm, my name is Mina, Nick. Glad too meet you Ned. I am just observing a bit and listening to you two." I smiled at both of them.
"Hello Mina." Ned said as he took her hand. "So what did you guys bring along?"
Nick is quizzical by Neds sudden touch with Mina, "Heh, you guys know each other?"
I meant a handshake!
"No, I don't know any of you. Sooooo...I brought some warm clothes, lots of socks, some food, water, matches and then this..." Mina takes out her hunting knife out of her boot and starts playing with it in her hands.
Ned doesn't say anything, but just unzips his hoodie and shows off his belt.
"Okay, it seems you guys are better prepared then I am." Mina tries not to worry about her meager belongings, her father taught her how to look to nature to provide for what you need.
"I brought some food, water and a first aid kit just in case. Oh and a hammer" Nick nods twice. As Ned unzips his hoodie, Nick couldn't help but say: "Oh, I see you have brought a hammer as well... how quaint..."
"A hammer? What are you guys going to do with that?" Mina feels a bit nervous with this reveal.
"Lots of things."
"He brings a hatchet and you are more worried about the hammers xD?"
"Such as......and a hatchet?" Mina waits with dread, is she here with a ........serial hammer/ hatchet killer. Maybe both of them are.
Ned couldn't help but laugh at Minas expresion.
"In case you're thinking we're nuts, just so you know, he's way more nuts than me if we're measuring by dangerous tools" Nick points at Ned with both of his hands with a smile.
Nick reaches for his gum and pops one. "Guys want a gum? Mine's mint."
"Ooookkaayyy....thanks for the gum." Mina pops it in her mouth and with her first bite, she thinks: "What if it is poison?.....You nitwit, he is eating one too." Mina relaxes and starts blowing bubbles.
"They said we could bring wahtever we wanted, so took what I could carry. Oh, yeah, and a large chunk of my bag is full of mint candy, so yeah, I'll take one." Ned cuickly snatched a peice of gum.
"I was never really good at it. blowing bubbles, that is."
"Okay." Ned said while he blew a large bubble.
Nick looks at Ned and thinks "This guy is good... at least I'm leading on the first aid kit..."
"So tell me, what made you guys want to join in on this 'Adventure' " Nick says while chewing
You all here some conversation between the pilot, air traffic control and a third party. The conversation switches between English, German and Russian. Hearing only one side, you understand it's flight times and permissions. Six hours pass while you get acquainted to each other. You might even manage to nap a bit. A rather uncomfortable flight it is though.
Passing over what you hear from the pilot is Moscow. He declares the following. "Nearing the Urals. Next stop Surgut Airport. The frontier to Siberia. Hey, cowboys. We're not dropping you off there. Only pick up more contestants. Then, you jump for the game. Very good!"
You can't but hear the likeness in the speech pattern to a certain Hollywood actor, Peter Stormare.
New stop, new contestants and maybe a place to get more gear?
"Oh, so there are more peeps? just when I was getting comfortable with you guys"
"Hey, should we make, like, teams or something?"
"Don't know, maybe."
"guess we'll see tomorrow"
Nick lets out a big yawn.
"Don't about know you guys but I'm beat. Guess i'll go catch a few z's if you don't mind"
Nick finds a corner, puts his backpack firmly against the wall and is now lying facing the side of the wall.
"Good night everyone"
*************
A cut in the reel and then four new contestants arrive on a helicopter going down for landing at the airport.
The four argue about lack of objectives and the fortune of going to meet some who know what's what.
"Hey! I see a light and some figures in the panorama window on the upper floor. Great!"
Fade to black.
A voice in broken English says: "Join in for the adventure at 8PM every Friday. Who will pull out and who will pull through?"
Static.