Business block, Zithen family complex, State Zhyphrese, Draconian continent Voldage, and the Year 2041, Planet Grimoire.
"Is there any way we can find who the real culprits were that gave those damn orders?" Three senior directors who were almost fired because of the debacle were cursing whoever devised the brilliant idea of spiking trainees' drinks.
"Nope, all internal communications have been shut down until further notice."
Not only that, but they'd also been informed that they could only return to their homes after the damage control was created. "Damn Midda and his nitpicking ways." Additionally, more tasks were assigned to them until a new director was found to replace Bryson Zithen. "Why couldn't he have waited to find someone new?" They were under the gun and had to develop new activities with the rearranged schedule. "Now we have to clean up his mess."
Not only that, but they had to do so before five a.m. the next day. "How the hell are we supposed to do this?" It was two a.m., and they needed more viable ideas to work with. "So, what should we do?" one of them demanded.
"Ask the trainees." Another said dryly.
Immediate rejection came from another. "You've got to be kidding me." This would make fools of them if word got out that they'd sought out trainees for suggestions.
"After all, there has to be someone who had some experience with other shows before this one."
None of them could think of a single trainee they could query. "Should we find another expert, such as the one who created the miniature ecosystem of the forest?" That suggestion was made tentatively. "We could draw from other ecosystems so all the trainees can showcase their innate abilities as dragons and other species?"
They all quietly conferred with one another. "Well, that sounds doable."
"Okay, we'll contact the photographers and terrain creators."
When the experts were called in to assist with creating the new program since the former outline had been scrapped, they were more than pleased to assist since some of the original outlines had been very dangerous to begin with.
"I know they need to be challenging, but I'd rather we didn't have to worry about trainees dying while competing." One of the experts insisted. "That was a problem with the original outline."
The three directors frowned at one another in consternation. "All right, what would you recommend for the first activity, then?"
An expert scratched his head. "You still have the preliminaries to conduct, right?"
While the directors would've continued permanently eliminating inferior trainees who were an embarrassment to the species or came from murky backgrounds, they couldn't do that well now.
"That's right," Dyson Zithen shrugged. "We were unsure what we should come up with."
Ilos Killian regarded them with suspicion. "How about this?" He devised a plan that could quickly disqualify candidates without killing them. "Have them do a scavenger hunt for ingredients for each region." He pulled up a map. "We can easily create scenarios where they have to work in groups that aren't made up of candidates from any of those areas."
Ilos's suggestion was met with relieved approval: "That could account for the first set of preliminary trials." At least not officially with the experts in their midst.
Dyson stared at the regions and then smirked. "Why not have four divisions?" he suggested. "The first one will consist of the highest-scoring and highest-ranked contestants from 1st to 10th." He counted off with one hand, "Going all the way to the fourth division with the lowest rankers."
They could devise other ways of dealing with unwanted trainees and candidates. All of them nodded enthusiastically at the suggestions.
The experts grunted. "We can create different relay team requirements," Caltos Murray suggested. "Of course, this would be said alternating between shows that required them to dance and sing or act in skits."
Kyros Zithen frowned. "I suppose that would do for the first through third challenges." He finally granted. "However, what should we do for the final seven challenges?"
Dyson exhaled. "Are you suggesting that we limit the challenges to ten?" He frowned in concentration. "Yes, I suppose that would work."
Kyros suggested, "Yes, we can have all the individual candidates reappear one final time in a dance-off battle to maintain equal opportunity." He shrugged. "That way, the rankings could be shaken up one last time."
It would also offer those who were desperate for another opportunity to succeed. "Besides, even those individuals who don't succeed can accept offers from scouts who aren't interested in the finalists." None of the Zithen directors wanted to be accused of favoritism. "The scouts can begin making offers right around when we reach the seventh challenge," Dyson suggested. "Otherwise, we may lose some of the highest rankers who would prefer to drop out before their status altered."
That was still a probability since it was a common problem in programs that ran too long, and all the candidates became disheartened too quickly after going through extremely difficult and dangerous tasks. Kyros grunted. "There is that possibility." He brought up a topic none of the directors or experts had even thought of as a complication: "The other problem we may need to take into consideration."
Ilos frowned. "What are you referring to?" He was annoyed that something else would prevent the show from progressing smoothly. There were too many complications as it was.
"I was getting to that," Kyros sighed. "There is the reality that many of these individuals would register with academies in other continents." He let that information sink into their consciousnesses. "That was, of course, before those institutes offered to create campuses here on Voldage."
Hmm, Caltos Murray and Ilos Killian were disconcerted indeed. That would cause more than a few gaps they'd have to work around. "Well, to be honest, this is something else that can be worked around in the future," Caltos suggested. "Shall we present these preliminary trial activities and challenges to create the divisions for final approval?"
The directors were hesitant, but it was better than nothing which they'd had earlier. "Yes, this is good enough." Kyros nodded first.
"I agree that it will work for the preliminaries and to create all four divisions," Dyson added his vote of approval.
The third director merely shrugged. "Yes, we can hammer out the logistics for transportation and sleeping quarters once the final draft is approved." Dorlina Galleon surprised them with her curt tone.
"Transportation?" Ilos echoed.
"Sleeping quarters?" Caltos Murray frowned.
Kyros and Dyson frowned in consternation as she'd brought up a valid point. Damn, they'd forgotten all about those details, especially since the last candidates had been purged. Now, more space has been opened for individuals to sleep in better rooms.
"Yes, that can be hammered out later," Dorlina smirked. "I've already reassigned all the current trainees and additional staff to their new individual rooms since there is plenty of space." She inclined her head to them politely. Now I think it is time for us all to sleep."
The topic was ended. The draft was prepared and submitted after the directors and experts included their signatures.