Business block, Zithen family complex, State Zhyphrese, Draconian continent Voldage, and the Year 2041, Planet Grimoire.
Wasn't this quite the problematic situation? The third director, who had yet to offer approval, cleared her throat. While it was confirmed that they'd finally reconvened after a few hours of sleep, they'd all forgotten a few practicalities she would now have to bring to their attention again.
"You seem to have thought of everything except one very basic logistic, or three of them, to be exact." Her icy grey eyes made them flinch.
Naturally, the other directors didn't respond kindly to her interference; they never did when she was doing the talking, but so what? That wasn't her job. Dorlina Galleon despised these egocentric fools.
"So, what have we forgotten?" Kyros glowered at the female. He despised her worse than the one who'd been kicked out. "I hope that this is something important."
Everyone sat in tense silence. Truthfully, the other two directors and all the experts had almost forgotten about her existence.
Dorlina Galleon wasn't shocked at their reactions when hearing her speak. Her appearance startled them all as she advanced into the harsh artificial lighting.
"It is straightforward." Director Dorlina Galleon, with her black hair, grey eyes, and ashen skin, often made them skittish. "They will require sleeping quarters." Her pointing out something fundamental and vital made all of them flinch.
As she continued speaking, they immediately realized she had tracked everything talked about. "Individually customized because there can be no sharing between male and female."
Dorlina slashed a hand through the air. "I know what you think about most of those trainee candidates." It had long talons for fingers. "You'd better not forget some other simple matters." She was more of a dragon than human since her limbs were scaled and covered with shimmering colors of black, white, and grey designs.
"All right, what other considerations have been skipped?" Caltos Murray blinked.
These fellows were all the same, Dorlina sighed. "Transportation for all candidates going to and from the dormitories, the assembly points." She made a valid point. "The challenge locations." Dorlina shrugged. "If need be, quarters should be arranged on the off chance of inclement weather interrupting travels." She reminded them that while they were in a protected space, some of their chosen locations were not known for their splendid weather.
Ilos nodded. "We're planning to merely create microcosms resembling those areas in some of the studios within this building." He was also transfixed at the sight of her.
"I highly doubt Director Midda will approve of that." Dorlina regarded all of them with cold eyes. "I'm sure that he and the sponsors promoting this show will want their home countries or cities included within the show's auspices."
All of them winced at that reminder. They had indeed forgotten there were sponsors wishing to promote their homelands from which half the candidates had arrived other than just the complex where the program was hosted.
Dorlina nodded with satisfaction, but her voice remained curt. "I shall not tolerate any negligence in these matters." She was harsh and relentless, an icy female without tolerance for wishy-washy people.
Kyros was tired of her attitude now.
She wasn't done yet. "Not only that but what type of transportation will be provided for those who are in all divisions?" Dorlina knew what they'd been thinking about doing and was halting it now. "Just because there'll be a lower rank doesn't mean they can be abandoned to the elements."
Kyros threw his hands into the air with disgust.
Dyson merely nodded his head in resignation.
As for the experts, they realized they needed to remember the practical logistics of moving people around if they had to shift to different environments outside of the complex.
"We will put the plan forth that suggests using the studios first." Kyros decreed.
"Then, if it is rejected and alternate suggestions that follow Dorlina's reasoning," Dyson held up a hand. "We will go with whatever is suggested by our experts."
Dorlina shrugged. "Fine, I approve of those measures that follow protocol." She seemed so sure that some of it wouldn't be approved. "Though I recommend doing the sleeping quarters just so the candidates can get some sleep. I've been receiving complaints for the past five hours."
They all winced at Dorlina's grumble. It was too late for some of those kids to still be up.
Dyson knew when to give up. "Fine, we'll adjourn here after assigning sleeping quarters for all of them."
Kyros grimaced. "At least we accomplished what was demanded of us and before the deadline, too." That meant all of them could get some decent shut-eye.
They dispersed at that point since none were in the mood to put with each other's company. Dorlina had some other plans up her sleeve. She knew exactly what was on their minds. When she entered a private transportation vehicle, Dorlina immediately contacted two people. "Hello, Davina?" She regarded her niece, who was scowling at her. "I'm going to need you to open up some more rooms, which is why." She explained the situation and made Davina chuckle. "Wow, my dearest aunt, you sure managed to piss off the remaining old men, didn't you?"
Dorlina shrugged. "It is my job." She was matter-of-fact about her position. "I will also be reporting to the tribunal." A sigh escaped her. "They'd suspected for some time that elitism corroded everything happening out here, and they were right."
Davina nodded. "Be careful," She warned. "Or else, you'll be their next target to remove permanently."
They'd both watched as several dracaena clans were slaughtered because of their obscure origins. Davina and Dorlina narrowly escaped that fate, but it was only because they'd been born to an even more respected and renowned, almost extinct mythical dracaena clan that no one would touch without angering the chaos deities.
Davina sighed. "Eventually, we'll be forced to take sides." She clearly wanted nothing to do with that scenario.
Dorlina frowned. "We may have to relocate elsewhere if that does become a reality." She thought about their precarious circumstances. "Let's just see this show to the end. At least they were forced to bring in experts that made damned sure the playing field no longer favored the elites who've had training for everything under the sun that was encounterable." Dorlina mused. That might make things a bit more bearable. "On the other hand, we'll have another influx of new strangers coming through because more are being recruited to replace those who were purged." She felt terrible about the purging, but there was no helping it. That had been the stupid order of that damned Bryson Zithen. It resulted in more work dumped on the remaining three directors, including senior director Midda.
Davina exhaled. "Thanks for the warning. I'll see to it that I have plenty of temporary staff on hand to register the newcomers." She was grimacing now.
Dorlina shook her head. "There won't be newcomers coming to your place." The last thing she wanted to happen to Davina was to be overrun again. "All who'll arrive are the trainees who've passed through the first stages today," she reassured her niece. Now I have to do one more thing before I go home." She hesitated. "If it becomes too much and you need space, stay at the detached suite near the gate." She referred to her personal abode.
Davina's eyes widened. "Uh, thanks, I'll keep that in mind." They both signed off simultaneously.
Dorlina ruminated over her ambiguous position within the entertainment building and shook her head wearily. It had nothing to do with the fact that she could be considered ancient. It was just the fact that she was female and dealing with anachronistic males who had certain notions about what women should do with their lives no matter what species they hailed from. Dorlina wasn't tolerating that stereotype now. She certainly hadn't from an extremely young age when their viewpoints had been natural. "I'll just create a report and send it to Faustos in the tribunal." He could be trusted, Dorlina hoped, to make the correct ruling in this case. She did exactly what she set out to do and then made it home to get at least six hours of sleep.