The trainees peering in from the door shifted noisily.
"Beryl," said a voice from outside the room, "are you sure the program wants the best out of us? Why are you guys bullying Stacey so much? Five performances for the ranking challenge on top of the study she has to catch up on and her jam packed schedule, plus a performance for her elimination challenge. Are you sure someone up there isn't trying to kill her? Look what happened after just the streaming exams. She worked so hard and still failed two streams. Everyone knows she isn't well and yet she's being pushed so hard. Is there someone in the program or in the government that actually hates her?"
Kelly stepped into the room with her hands on her hips.
"Even if she's not a part of our competition exactly, we're not stupid or blind. What's the point of pushing her so hard and bullying her in this way? Is someone worried that she'll awaken her previous memories and is trying to keep her suppressed by making sure she stays perpetually overworked and sick to the point of death?"
"That's actually a very good point," Vera pointed out.
"Thank you," Kelly returned and then brought her gaze back to Beryl to await an answer.
"Frankly, most of us in the program think that what is expected of her is way too much, but because of her causing public disturbances, we don't have much of a choice," Beryl lifted her hands. "The program has been given direct orders from above. We're working on finding a way to ease her workload. Just give us a bit more time."
"They better not work her into the ground or I'm going to stage a protest," Kelly said darkly and a few other trainees around her voiced their agreement. "She's a lost kid like me. If they can bully her like this, that means my future is looking bleak. I don't want to be controlled and used to this extent. It might even be better for me to pull out early before I become more indebted."
"Yeah. Even though we aren't in as tough a position, how do we know the government won't try to control us until we become broken puppets too?" voiced another trainee
"All it would take would be one small mistake," said another trainee, "and we'd be more than done for. Stacey's an example and warning for all of us."
"I've heard the others in Stacey's former 'Imperfect People' team are struggling too. They've had so many restrictions placed on them just because they were trying to be creative. Imogen's been locked up at home by her family and going to be sold off as part of a business deal, while the boys in the military school have to receive extra daily punishment."
"Everyone knows they didn't mean any harm."
"It was a total accident. Why doesn't the government go and punish those primary school kids who change the words of the song into that silly version full of dirty jokes?"
"Maybe they were warning the everyone by using the team as an example."
Beryl waved at the cameramen to stop filming.
"You all need to be very careful what you say in front of the cameras if you want to have a successful career," Beryl warned the gathered trainees. "Whether you like it or not, we are citizens of this country who are subject to the government. Those in power will almost always have more power and the ability to promote the things they want, while the rest of us can only look on. You're all only seeing the tip of the iceberg. If you want to gain enough power and influence, you first have to learn the rules of the game currently in play and develop enough connections and have a cohesive plan. Just protesting will make you a target and get you in trouble. If you can't take it now, leave the entertainment industry, so you don't end up being framed, schemed against or used as an object lesson. Stacey was unlucky enough to be chosen as an object lesson. The only way forward for her is to now become even more famous. Do you all understand what I'm trying to say here?"
There was silence in the room.
"What we can do to sway public opinion, everyone," Stacey sighed at the stubborn and disgruntled faces of her fellow trainees, "is to protest and make a fuss without being involved or have anything to do with the fuss. There are ways to do things and there are ways to do things. You all understand. Many of you probably have more methods to use than an ordinary, straightforward person like me. There are people who might be on our side but can't specifically say so. Even so, they can help us to subtly shift and time things to our advantage."
"Huh. And here I thought you were a political dunce," Kelly raised her eyebrows. "So you do understand that you're being bullied. What's wrong with your husband? Isn't he rich and powerful? Isn't he the boss and main investor for this program? Why isn't he helping you? Shouldn't your husband be able to do something about this to help you?"
"Being smart or rich and powerful doesn't always mean you can do what you want," Stacey shrugged. "Sometimes it causes you to become tied up because there are more eyes on you. I think my husband is working on it, but if he can't, it means that his hands are tied. Governments watch people like him closely, looking for a chance to bring a potential powerful opponent down. Sometimes, we need to play it safe and bide our time. We may not like it, but that's life," Stacey made a face.