LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!

Everyone laughed as Alice stood on the bench in the dressing room and did her best announcers voice to get everyone pumped up. Shane was pulling her shorts on while Dana was tying her shoes and stretching at the same time still shaking her head at Alice who was getting way to into this. Bette and Tina smiled at each other and Alices antics as Alice jumped around like Rocky preparing for a fight. There was about fifteen minutes left before the start of the show and Alice was so excited to have her chance to debut herself on national television.

The showAmerican Gladiators.

A few weeks back Oscar had approached Tina with a proposal for some charity event that he had signed the center up for. Tina didnt give it much thought at first but when she found out what the show was she was all ears. She knew she could get the family to participate and when she found out what the prize was she was even more excited. American Gladiators was doing a special charity event to which the winning team got $50,000. The losing team still got $25,000 for their charity but Tina knew the center could really use the fifty thousand dollars. They were doing a special show where instead of individuals competing, they were having teams of five contestants competing, with one person doing one event and all five competing in the eliminator. Once Tina proposed the idea to the group Alice was stoked and she started prepping for the physicality of the show while Dana and Bette were hesitant as they werent sure they wanted to do this on national television. Shane was cool with the idea, as she is about most things, and she just said tell her when and where and she would be there.

On the morning of the show the gang met at the Porter-Kennard residence for a hearty breakfast and to talk game strategy. Tina said the most important thing was to stay close to the other team and not let them get too far ahead of them.

Thats bullshit Tina. No offense. But if were doing this we are going to win dammit!

Everyone looked at Alice like she had gone mad but they could also see the look of determination in her eyes. Bette and Dana discussed strategy in terms of how to play the different games, but everything was really up to chance. The contestants werent told which events they were doing or which part of the eliminator they were running. All they knew was which five events there were and that was it.

So what are the events again T?

Umatlasphere, assault, joust, powerball and swingshot.

Well I either wanna do the joust or powerball. I wanna kick some *****!

Alice smacked her fist into her other palm in a semi-though way and did her best mean look face. Shane laughed at Alices antics and turned to Bette with a raised eyebrow.

What about you Bette? Which events do you think youre gonna get?

I dont know. But whatever it is I hope I can do it. I mean it shouldnt be that hard right?

Yeah not that hard except for the fact that you have some gladiator coming after you that looks like she should be a poster child for steroids.

Everyone laughed at Danas comment but she wasnt kidding. Even though she was the most athletic one out of the group, Dana had some reservations about being attacked by a woman twice her size and weight. Ever since Tina brought up the idea she had images of large scary women pounding into her and she didnt like it. But being the trooper that she was she sucked it up and was willing to take one for both the team and the center, which was giving them full support in this matter. Oscar told Tina that he would have everyone there in the audience to cheer them to victory, which he kept reminding her would really help them out a lot.

Al dont get too worked up, remember it is for charity.

***** thatwere kicking some ***** Tina. By the way who are we going up against?

Tina skimmed over the packet that was mailed to her which contained the rules and descriptions of each event along with studio passes for the girls and other logistical paperwork. When Bette saw the medical forms that needed to be filled out by each contestant she almost reconsidered doing this, but with a little coaxing from Tina she unwillingly obliged and filled out the ten page medical form with extreme caution, just in case. Tina flipped a few more pages and finally came to where it said who the contestants were.

Umon the womens side it says Headquarters for Social Justicethats us versusumthe Feminist Majority Foundation. Huhseems like a good cause.

Come on Tinaforget about the causewe are fighting for the center here. We are going to win.

Okay Alcalm down. I want to win as much as you do but remember that this is still just a game okay?

Yeah whatever.

Alice huffed off and mentally prepared herself for the day while Tina and Bette shook their heads and got everything ready so they could head down to the studio. Once there after checking in and meeting the station manager and some of the other crew they were escorted to their dressing room to get changed and have a chance to test out some of the events. They werent going to know which events they were doing until the actual show started, but at least they were going to have a chance to test each one out. Once in the dressing room Alice had been talking non-stop and now she was really doing her best to get all of them psyched up for the show.

Come on guysare we ready???

Yeah Al we are now sit down and shut up!

Jeez Dana, just cuz youre scared doesnt mean you have to take it out on the rest of us.

I am not scared. Besides, have you seen the size of those gladiator women??? Good Lord we are going to get crushed

Dont worry Daneits all for fun right?

Dana shrugged her shoulders as the five of them filed out of the dressing room and into the arena. They all stopped when they saw how big the place was and after a few wows from Alice and Tina and Bette everyone looked around to see which event they hoped to get. Shane and Tina wandered over to the atlasphere station while Bette looked wearily at the swingshot floor. Alice pulled Dana in the direction of the powerball floor and she immediately began roughhousing her despite Danas cries of protest. Just then a few of the gladiators walked in the arena and Alice stopped dead in her tracks. She took one look at the muscular build of the female gladiators and nearly passed out. She pulled Dana close and shrieked at her.

We have to go up against THEM???

What do you think Ive been trying to say Al?

Its justthey look so much smaller on TV

No *****

Dana glared at Alice who looked like her eyes were about to bulge out of her head and the two of them ran over to Tina who was standing with Bette and Shane. They too had noticed the gladiators entrance but they seemed to be more relaxed than Alice and Dana.

Holy ***** you guysdid you see those women?

Calm down Altheyre not going to hurt usits just a game right?

Bettes voice was shaking a little even though she looked confident and when one of the gladiators came over and introduced herself Bette shook her hand with as much confidence as she would if they were standing in the CAC. Just then the station manager came to find them and tell them they had to go through some procedural stuff with the girls so they all followed him into the greenroom where the other team was waiting. They entered the greenroom and Dana and Shane immediately sized up the opponents while Tina grabbed Bettes arm hard and pulled her aside.

Owww Tinawhat is wrong with you?

Did you see who is here?

Bette looked over at the other team and her jaw nearly hit the floor. There standing in a pair of shorts and a wife beater was none other than Candace Jewel. Bette stared at her for a second in disbelief and she hoped to whoever was up there that she and Candace wouldnt have to face off. Bette looked at Tina with a worried look but Tina had a gleam in her eye and a smile on her face.

Um T? Whats so funny?

Nothing babebut this is gonna be fun

And with that she went and joined the rest of the group who was pointing Candace out to Tina who just shook her head in acknowledgement. Bette stood there with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. Things were bad enough but now with Candace on the other team Bette knew they just got a whole ***** of a lot worse. But one thing was for sure. With her here, the rules changedthis was no longer just a game. This was war.