AQUA OLYMPICS
                             4th Event - The Marathon

(All characters copyright their respective owners)

Author's notes:  What... oh, my turn again.  Hey, folks. Trevor here 
again.  Well, the Marathon was originally a simple idea, and it really 
stayed that way as well.  Well, something will happen in the middle of 
the event, and I'll explain it here. (I hate author's notes in the 
middle of a fic.  Really ruins the flow)  Basically, it's the result of 
me being stupid and not saving the AIM chat we were doing this in, so we 
had to find a way to deal with it.  You'll know it when you come to it.  
Well, happy reading! 

Brian:  "And we're back, and I was mistaken a minute ago during those 
last comments with Simon. We're actually going to the Marathon next."

Trevor:  "Indeed. The marathon is a true test of endurance. All the 
contestants race at the same time, following checkpoints to refill their 
tanks. Robert, fill us in on the specific details."

Robert:  "There are 6 checkpoint stations that each racer must pass 
through. Not only is it required, but it is the only way they can get a 
fresh tank of air. The first racer across the finish after passing 
through all the checkpoints wins.  Now, there is no contact allowed 
between racers, and anyone who initiates anything will be assessed a 
severe time penalty. Other than that, simple and straightforward."

Brian:  "And with all of the racers going at the same time, you can tell 
that everyone is gonna try to make it for the inside track, but no 
excessive brawling or else the competitors will be disqualified."

Trevor:  "Actually, gentlemen, for this marathon, a slight change to 
that makes it legal for contact between the final checkpoint, and the 
finish.... they just gotta keep focus on the race. Makes this more 
spicy, huh?  By the way, Tummi's been fully healed, so don't worry about 
that."

Robert:  "Perhaps, I guess it all depends on who's in the lead pack at 
that time. And it's good to hear about Tummi being healed. Tell me, you 
think the relations will help each other? Alvin and his brothers, for 
instance."

Brian:  "I don't think so. They may watch where the other is going, but 
they know as well as we do that this is not a team event. One person 
gets the gold, so they'll all be after it for themselves."

Trevor:  "Especially Alvin... same goes for the Gummi's, not to mention 
the two Get Along Gang members... they're setting up at the line, 
guys... they're off!"

Robert:  "And speaking of the Get Along Gang, Bingo jumps out to an 
early lead, followed by Louie. The others comprise the midpack for now 
with Alvin in the lead there and Tummi bringing up the rear."

Brian:  "Matter of fact, we can see that some of the competitors are 
falling behind quickly as they reach the first checkpoint. Tummi and 
Theo are lagging a bit, with Monty and Simon a bit ahead, but starting 
to lose a hair of the pace."

Trevor:  "Louie and Bingo are going ahead of the pack at a rapid pace... 
they're still holding their own in there as they reach their first 
checkpoint. They pick up their air tanks, and go... here comes Alvin."

Robert:  "And Plucky's right behind him, getting a quicker jump out of 
the checkpoint and taking 3rd place for the moment. Cubbi and Buster are 
next, but Cubbi's having trouble getting the other tank attached. 
This'll cost him."

Brian:  "Those smaller arms on his frame are what did him in there.  And 
looking behind him, Simon and Monty get in just as he checks out. And up 
at the front, Alvin's making a move, now nose to nose with Bingo and 
Louie."

Trevor:  "He's trying to pull into the lead with these two, and is now a 
part of the lead pack. They're starting to show the effects of the 
intense racing already... maybe time to slow up a bit? Meanwhile, Tummi 
and Theodore check in..."

Robert:  "And it looks like Bingo's trying to pull away from the other 
two. Not smart to go all out this early in the race...he'll tire out for 
sure."

Brian:  "We'll see how it goes, but for now, he's first to the 2nd 
marker and making the change as we speak with Alvin and Louie in a 
couple seconds later. Plucky and Buster in now after another few 
seconds. They're keeping themselves in it."

Trevor:  "Cubbi's in there soon after, trying to make up the time he 
lost by messing up his last tank change. The other five are already 
off... but Cubbi's making the transition a lot better now... he leaves 
just as Simon and Monty pop in."

(BZZZZZZZZZZT.... The feed is lost, and a 'We are having technical 
difficulties message.  Please stand by' message pops up on screen.  It's 
some time before the feed returns, and by the time it does, the event is 
over!  Instead, it's Trevor and Robert on screen.)

Trevor:  "Ladies and gentlemen, we've had some technical difficulties 
during the live broadcast during much of the marathon, so while Brian is 
using the washroom, we'll go over what you missed during our broadcast 
trouble. Bingo had a small lead developing."

Robert:  "But he pushed himself too hard and his lead dwindled most of 
the race, despite strong pushes to stay ahead. Buster and Plucky formed 
a temporary alliance for most of the race, not that it did much good 
though."

Trevor:  "Cubbi, despite some streaks of bad luck, actually managed to 
move up some places, despite the fact he would never win. In the 
meantime, Tummi and Theodore couldn't shake each other off, even during 
the later points."

Robert:  "There was a lot of pushing and shoving going on after the last 
checkpoint, but Alvin managed to forge ahead at the very end to capture 
gold while Louie got his 4th silver of these games."

Trevor:  "Bingo managed to pull in 3rd, while Plucky nailed Buster with 
a kick and pulled in 4th, followed by his fellow Tiny Toon. Pretty soon 
afterwards, we had Cubbi, plowing in 6th, and Simon just edging out 
Monty at the line for 7th.  Tummi, deciding he didn't want the dignity 
of coming in last, decided to show us a preview of things to come, most 
likely, by grabbing Theodore, punching him in the back of the head, and 
then he unbuttoned his ass end of his swimsuit, and sat on Theo's face. 
Tummi then gave Theo a fart powerful enough to kill him instantly, and 
he cruised across the line."

Robert:  "So that's why Alvin and Simon are crying foul.... but anything 
went in that last leg, and Theodore certainly went."

Trevor:  "He sure did, Rob. Unfortunately, the feed trouble forces us to 
skip the interviews this time around, so we'll be right back with the 
next event, the Maze!  We'll be right back, after these messages."