Day 10 - A rude awakening and a strategy scramble

It's Day 10 (Friday) in the Big Brother house when you're woken up by a loud, blaring trumpet sound. You have no idea what time it is, but as the lights in the house all simultaneously turn on, you hear an announcement over the intercom.

ANNOUNCER - "Houseguests! The emperor has an important announcement to make. Please gather in the living room posthaste! That means now. NOW! GO TO THE LIVING ROOM NOW!"

You barely process the words, but the message gets through. So much for a slow, quiet morning. You start to groggily roll out of bed as Daisy Mae does the same. You quickly pull on a pair of shorts so you don't walk downstairs in your boxers, then the two of you head down to find the rest of the houseguests in a similar state of half-awake and half-asleep. Once everyone has gathered, you hear the trumpets blare again.

ANNOUNCER - "Houseguests! Please lend your ears for an important announcement from your emperor, Constantine the Great!
... Er, excuse me. I misspoke. I meant to say: Your empress, Da'Vonne-stantine the Great!"

The living room monitor flickers to life and you see Da'Vonne Rogers, one of Big Brother's most popular players from seasons past, appear on the screen. The drowsy energy in the living room suddenly turns electric in recognition and excitement from the other houseguests.

DANIELLE (Diary Room) - "Oh my goodness, it's Da'Vonne! She is my youngest's favorite Big Brother player. I don't know what she's doing here, but I'm so excited. Do I get to meet her? That would be amazing! *shrieks*"

Back in the living room, the houseguests quickly quiet down as the video message from Da'Vonne plays.

DA'VONNE (Video Message) - "Hello, houseguests. Usually, people call me a queen, but I suppose empress will do. Anyway, I'm here to tell you what you need to know about today's Gladiator Gauntlet competition. Soon, you will all be sequestered in different parts of the house before being summoned one at a time to compete. Once you're summoned and get to see what competition is in store for you, you'll have to choose whether you want to play the competition this week or pass and save that opportunity for a future week. As a reminder, you can only play in one Gladiator Gauntlet competition, so think carefully about what decision you want to make.

Of the people who choose to play this week, the winner will earn safety from the block and win a special luxury prize which should make your stay in the house a little more comfortable. Whoever loses the competition will be given a punishment by me, your empress, which will definitely make things more difficult for you in the coming days. Big Brother will let you know when it's time for the competition to begin. See you soon, houseguests!"

Da'Vonne waves goodbye and the video message ends. All of a sudden, everyone is now wide awake as their brains start to process the new information. In whatever time you have before the competition, everyone needs to make a plan.

With the house now awake, people begin cycling through the shower as they go about their morning routines. At one point, Liam is in the shower while Julian brushes his teeth. The two of them are alone, so Liam calls Julian over and whispers to him over the shower door.

LIAM - "I think you need to play for safety this week."
JULIAN - "You think so?"
LIAM - "I think you're going to be a tempting target for the house after you made such a big move against Derek. If you take that possibility off the table, we can focus on laying low and gathering allies this week."
JULIAN - "Okay. Cool."

The two men resume their hygiene routines before anyone can catch them whispering to each other.

LIAM (Diary Room) - "I'm telling Julian to compete this week because I know the alliance is coming after him. I want to keep him in the game because of our Final 2 deal. If he's safe, that means Daisy Mae will need to find a new target, and I'll have time to put myself and Julian in a stronger position going forward."

JULIAN (Diary Room) - "Liam's telling me I should try to win the Gladiator Gauntlet this week, but I'm not sure if I need to. I made an agreement with Daisy Mae and John last week that they'd look out for me if I kept them both off the block, and I think Daisy Mae will hold true to that. So, it might be better for me to not play this week and save that chance for when I really need it."

Ellie, Isabel and Roxy meet up in the supply room to discuss a plan. They believe that they're all safe with Daisy Mae as HOH, but they discuss the possibility of playing in the Gladiator Gauntlet anyway.

ROXY - "If Julian plays and wins, then the plan is shot. So, I think we need people who can beat him to go in and play this week."
ISABEL - "Are you sure we need to? We're safe with Daisy Mae. What will happen next week if someone outside the alliance wins?"
ELLIE - "Maybe if just one of us plays, then the other two can save their shot for later."

The ladies continue to discuss their strategy. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Alina is having her breakfast smoothie when Eugene comes up and sits next to her.

EUGENE - "What are you thinking about the Gauntlet? You gonna play?"
ALINA - "I don't know. I think I'm in trouble."
EUGENE - "Why do you think that?"
ALINA - "Because of that stupid fight I had with Victoria and Daisy Mae."
EUGENE - "You think she'd put you up because of that?"
ALINA - "Little Miss 'Ladies-Shouldn't-Misbehave'? I'd be shocked if she didn't. My only hesitation is I don't want to play if I'm gonna be up against a bunch of strong competitors. Like, at that point, I might as well not even try."
EUGENE - "I hear you."

EUGENE (Diary Room) - "I can tell what Alina's trying to do. She wants me to not compete in the Gladiator Gauntlet so that she can have a better shot at it herself. If I was thinking purely selflessly, I'd give that to her, but I'm worried about my own safety this week. I haven't done well in the competitions, and I was on the block last week, so I'd be an easy target to put up again."

The two shift their conversation back to more casual topics as other houseguests start to join them at the kitchen table. On the other side of the house, you're in the front bedroom talking with Victoria and Raquel.

RAQUEL - "Do you think you could convince Daisy Mae not to nominate us this week?"
John - "I think I have some influence over her, but she's a strong-headed girl. If she wants something, she'll probably stick to it."
VICTORIA - "I'm just going to let you both know that if I see the competition and it looks like something I can win, I'm going to play."
RAQUEL - "Are you sure? We might not need to."
VICTORIA - "I'm sure. I was on the block week one. I've got a win under my belt. I know I'm in people's crosshairs. I'd rather take my fate into my own hands than gamble right now."

VICTORIA (Diary Room) - "I'm in a Final Three with Raquel and John, and John is in a showmance with the HOH so, in theory, I should be safe this week. However, I don't trust Daisy Mae. The two of us have never talked game, and she was pretty vocal with me and Alina when we got into that fight last week. I wouldn't be surprised if Daisy Mae nominated both of us just to make a statement. I need to earn my safety this week to prevent that."

Before you know it, the producers tell you it's time for the Gladiator Gauntlet to start. Each houseguest is sequestered in a different part of the house so you can't communicate with each other, then you are each called to the backyard one at a time for the competition. You're standing alone in the hallway leading to the Diary Room contemplating what you should do. Soon enough, your name is called to go compete. In this moment, you have to answer an important question.