New York's LaGuardia Airport

Day One

5.00 am

"Hello and welcome to The Hunt. My name is Michael Cole and I'm your host, as is my colleague, the lovely Lillian Garcia."
"Thank you for the great introduction, Michael. And I'd like to re-introduce you to all ten of our participants."
The camera pans out and all ten contestants are seen, women to the left, men to the right, their names and occupations listed next to their individual headshots. All are wearing the clothes they usually wear at work, the men in their usual in-ring attire, Lorna in a tailored grey-blue suit, Carmen in a black leather mini and bustier, Cheryl in green slacks and an ivory peasant shirt, Sherrie in a tight red sheath with a long slit that ended an inch above decency and Cindi, clad in tight blue jeans and a black tank top.
Men and women eye each other suspiciously, all naturally wondering if the women's brains would win over the men's brawn.
"Allow me to give you the basic rules of the game," Michael said. "You will be split into five teams of two made up of one woman and one man. Each team will have use of a car and of an unlimited gas card. We will also give you each a cell phone, a pocket PC containing maps and, most important, your scavenge list."
Lillian went around, giving black backpacks to each contestant.
"All of you are to change into these outfits. You are expected back here in ten minutes. Ladies, there are bathrooms on your left, gentlemen, you'll find them on your right. Go, your ten minutes start now."
A mad dash started. In the women's bathroom, Sherrie, used to changing clothes in between sets, was the first one in the standard outfit of dark grey tights, a matching long-sleeved top with a revealing V-neck collar and black running shoes. Carmen was next, then Cheryl, Cindi and finally Lorna. All five women stood, side by side in front of the mirror.
"I wonder which one of those lovelies I'm going to get to hook up with," Sherrie purred as she pulled her hair out of its extravagant do.
"Darling," Cindi said sharply, "I don't think that's the most important thing right now."
"Tattoo girl is right," Carmen agreed, "we're here to win this game, not shack up."
"I'll agree wholeheartedly that we're here to win but I'll also admit that those are fine-looking men we'll be teaming up with," Cheryl said, stretching the top over her chest.
"Did you see that big one? He looks bloody frightening if you ask me," Lorna finally piped in as she pulled her hair back in a ponytail with a black velvet ribbon. The other women all turned and smiled when they heard her crisp English accent. She raised an amused eyebrow in response. "What? Us English are too delicate to be adventurous?"
"Aren't you?" Carmen asked.
"You'll just have to see, now won't you?"
That being said, Lorna picked up her carefully folded clothes from the floor and walked out of the bathroom, leaving Carmen and Cindi to make faces at each other over her haughty tone.
It didn't take the men a long time to change either and they were soon leaning against the bathroom's counter, all of them wearing dark grey track pants with tight matching V-neck tee-shirts and black running shoes.

"I have to get my hands on that leather chick," Mark growled. "Her tits were out to here…"
"She's too smart for you man," Scott chuckled, "I'd rather get my hands on the stuck-up cutie in the business suit. She needs to be corrupted."
"And I need to be corrupted by that very hot tattoo chick," Shane said with a gleeful shiver. "She is hot in that rough and tumble way."
"I hear ya. But I've got my heart set on that torch singer," sighed a wistful Jeff. "She's just as hot as that dress of hers."
"I'd rather go exploring my options with Dr. Cheryl," Jason admitted, "I'd love to get cured by her."
"How people still think you're the sweetest guy ever, I'll never know."
Jason flipped off Jeff and grabbed his stuff, walking out of the bathroom amidst his colleagues' raucous laughter.

"Looking very good boys and girls," Michael Cole announced as men and women joined him again. "And on time too."
"All of you should know that while you were changing, we had cameras watching you and listening to you," Lillian explained. "Now the women acted like ladies and though they expressed some interest in the male contestants, they were mostly focused on winning the game."
"… Which is completely understandable, considering the stakes. The men, however, weren't quite as… how shall I say it? Reserved? Their preferences were clearly spelled out and compiled. In the next fifteen minutes, you'll get to know the other contestants. And once that's done, we'll announce the teams."
"And just for fun, why don't you try guessing who you'll be teamed up with?" Lillian suggested.

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