Let’s get this show on the roll

Ann watched the contestants with a bit of a smile on her face from her room hidden in the resort. It was a shame to see Max turn off the TV and head to bed, but she couldn’t expect too much from his first night here. A nudge in the right direction was all she could do. He would fall into temptation soon enough, they all did. Ann was surprised to see how well most of the contestants were taking the situation, though it probably hasn’t sunk in for them quite yet what it means to be on this show.

One thing that bothered her was the fact that all these maids shared her hair and eye color. She ordered the androids in because they could be preprogrammed with everything they needed to do, but she left the actual design of them up to the producers. They probably made them that way to tell which season needed them even though she couldn't shake the feeling it was all to annoy her somehow. Ann couldn’t worry about it since it was already done. She had to make some final preparations for tomorrow. When those girls wake up, the show will start in earnest.

Ann gathered everyone in the cafeteria to go over a few more things with them. None of them looked particularly happy to be there, but whether that was because they couldn’t sleep in like their master or because they realized it wasn’t just all a dream was anyone’s guess.

Ann was once again in her signature black dress with her magician’s hat on top of her head as she began speaking.

“Hello, it's your loveable host, Ann. Today marks the special day when our show begins. We might as well start it off with a gift,” says Ann as she snaps her fingers, and an android is summoned to the room with a bag full of phones. The maid went around distributing the phones as Ann kept talking.

“These phones will allow you to keep track of your points and buy certain items from the online store immediately using your BP. However, you still need to go to the actual store if you need to buy any physical items such as clothes. I’m sure you’ve noticed that you don't have any other clothes than the ones on your back. Well, clothes are a luxury that you need to spend your BP to get. Don’t worry though, as a gift for starring on this show, everyone will start with ten BP.”

Nicole frowned while thinking of the BP she would have to use to get out of her pajamas. Lisa wondered if they cost more money, the more revealing it is.

“Now, let's talk about the dates with your master. Today is the start of the game making it a Sunday. Don’t think too hard about how time works here, or your head could explode. Anyway, they’re randomized, but one thing to note is that the main challenges take place every Sunday, which means that some of you won’t get to see the master before the challenge. Especially since the night before the challenges, isn’t a date night. Also, they’re randomized again after everyone’s gone. Lisa may be first one week while Crystal is first in another. Of course, the lucky gal to go first this time is Jessica. Oh, I can’t wait to see what she does for her date.”

Jessica stared back at her with the same serene expression, and Ann would’ve been impressed if she didn’t know how naïve she was.

“Today, won’t be a date because we have a special event planned near the end of today. One last thing you need to know is that this show will take place over eight weeks. I hope that you won’t waste a single second of it. Maids bring our guests some breakfast. They’ll need it,” Ann states teasingly as she winks.

Ann snapped her fingers and disappeared once more. More maids appeared from the kitchen as plates filled with eggs, hash browns, and bacon appeared in front of them. No one was eager to start talking, but Nicole figured that this time was as good as any to bring up an alliance.

Nicole spoke up and addressed everyone, “Hello everyone, I know that we’re being **** to play this game, but that doesn’t mean that we must be at each other’s throats while we do it. I propose that we all work together to win this game and regain our freedom.”

“What about the wish?” asked Lisa as she scoped up some eggs with her fork.

Nicole was dreading that question.

“I don’t trust that the people who kidnapped us will truly grant our wish or try to monkey’s paw it somehow against us. I think it would be best if we won and chose not to use the wish. However, if you or anyone else ends up winning and using it, then that’s perfectly fine with me.”

Kimberly questioned, “How would this alliance even work?”

“Hopefully, we can all agree to not sabotage each other and share our resources. I don’t think we’re close enough to share any points, but we should be able to share information with the group on anything we end up finding. For example, if we ended up finding a game room, then we should tell everyone else about it when you get a chance.”

Lisa responded, “You mean if we see each other? I think this place is big enough that we could easily miss each other.”

Nicole sighed, “Yes if we run into each other. However, we should all be able to meet each other and share some information at breakfast if we all get up on time.”

Crystal frowned, “That sounds fine, but there isn’t any punishment for betrayal.”

Nicole looked surprised, “What do you mean?”

“I mean anyone who joins in gets free information from you and the other members, but if I withheld information, then there’s no way for you to know unless I get caught in a lie, and by then the damage might’ve been too late to undo.”

Nicole looked saddened as she replied, “You’re right. That is a flaw of this alliance. Anyone at any time could decide to withhold information or things from the group to pull ahead or push someone else down. They can also simply use the alliance to get free information they didn’t know before. Even so, I still want it to create it since it opens communications with people and gives everyone, even the people who want to secretly spit on the alliance a chance to win.”

Serena grins, “It sounds interesting, so I’m in.”

“If you want to make the path to my victory easier, then why would I stop you,” stated Jessica as she calmly bites on a piece of bacon.

Crystal shrugs, “There’s no reason not to.”

Gina smirks knowing that this alliance makes it even easier to use them for her benefit before saying, “I agree.”

Kimberly nodded in agreement while still unsure how this whole thing was going to work out. It honestly depends on how open everyone is with what they find.

“I hope we can all get along,” responded Brianna with hope in her voice.

“I agree as well,” replied Lisa with a bit of uncertainty in her voice.

Crystal (Alternate Outfit)