The Mysterious Miss Direction - vol. 01

"Not even tempted a little bit?" the Madam pipes in. "And trying so hard to keep your thoughts blank. That’s cute. I'll have you know that that is the kind of tactic that leads to giant marshmallow men attacking the city."

Officer Bailey comes through the door and shuts it behind him. "I wish I had anything new to report. You got something?"

"Hello! Me again." The joy in the Medium Madam’s voice is beyond obnoxious. "If you could be a doll and drop that binder off inside the phone booth located at the corner of 7th and Watson, I would be so very appreciative. I’ve left a pen and pad of paper in the phone booth. Write the name of the hostage you want released, leave the binder, and walk away. Your chosen hostage will walk through the doors of the police station within an hour of the drop off. Feel free to tell your friend Bailey about the plan. It won’t make a difference."

"Just an obnoxious voice drilling into my head everytime I try to make progress on this," she explains. She takes a deep breath and leans on the table, looking down at the binder.

"Bailey. I want to ask you a question, and answer me honestly. And don't answer as a cop. I want you to answer me as a person who puts his life on the line to keep people safe." she continues, looking up at him seriously. "If the only option you had to save someone was to do something bad, something that could put others at risk in the future... would you do it? Just to save one, maybe two, people in the most immediate trouble?"

Officer Bailey takes a while to respond. He is having a hard time separating what the cop should say from what he wants to say. "I may not be the best guy to go to for advice like this. The way I look at it, we are all ultimately on our own out here. People can act like we’re one big happy family of humankind, but you gotta do right by yourself first. When faced with two impossible choices you gotta select the one that leaves you with the least amount of guilt. Situations like this... immediate threat versus the possibility of harm down the road... damn that’s a tough one but I worry about what is right in front of me before dealing with maybes.

"People like to compare us. Superheroes and cops. I never really understood that. It’s like comparing an astronaut to an Air Force fighter jet pilot. We both got important jobs that are tough as hell, but it is hard for one side to really understand the issues that the other side has to deal with. I know you’re pretty new to the super scene. You know any people like yourself that might be able to better understand where you’re coming from?"

Before you can answer you hear loud cheers and applause erupt outside the office. Bailey puts on a confused look and goes to the door. Everyone in the office is trying to get the attention of a costumed superhero that everyone in Crowfall instantly recognizes: Fortuna.

She walks through the crowd of cops with a wide smile on her face. She shoots them with finger pistols which she then raises to her lips so she can blow away the imaginary smoke. From head to toe, Fortuna is dressed in black accented by blood red. Black leather pants, a black shirt with billowy sleeves, and a black tricorn pirate hat with red trim rests above the masquerade mask covering the upper part of her face. On her waist is a brown leather gun belt with flintlock pistols hanging down from each hip.

Even from across the room she spots you standing in the office behind Bailey and makes her way over. "Well, well, well. If it isn’t the new kid in town, Miss Direction." She takes off her hat and gives you a deep bow.

"Fortuna." Officer Bailey greets her with a nod. "I was just asking Miss Direction here if she had any friends in the community she could talk to."

"And then I just happen to stroll on by? Imagine that."

"Right place, at the right time," Bailey says and Fortuna gives him a wink.

"That is kind of my schtick. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to the young hero here in private." Bailey holds up his hands as if to say ‘you don’t gotta tell me twice’ and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him. Fortuna turns to you.

"Word on the street is your going toe to toe with the big bad Madam herself. I got something of a score to settle with her, myself. I hope you aren't the dark and brooding kind of hero that tells others where to stick it, because I want to be there when you take her down."

During this whole exchange, the Medium Madam is suspicious silent.

Miss Direction smirks. "I don't imagine I could ever come off as dark and brooding," she jests, giving her head a toss as she laughs so that the bells on her hat jingle. She paints a look of confidence over her earlier worried expression that she is sure she was unable to hide in time. But, it didn't help to have one of your personal heroes in front of you at a time like this.

"But to be honest, I could use the help I can get. And not to be too transparent, I should warn you that our conversation isn't exactly... private."

Fortuna smirks. "Oh I’m not worried about that." She looks you right in the eyes but you feel like she is looking right through you. "Lily already knows I’m coming for her and there is nothing she can do to stop it from happening." The way she says it makes you shiver. You recall the two of them have had a number of run-ins in the past. Anytime the Madam has been defeated, Fortuna has been involved in bringing her in.

"You don’t have to give me too many details; but your powers... magic or science based? I’m guessing magic or she probably would have her claws much deeper into you then she already does. She has a strange relationship with magic. Seems to be drawn to it while also being weak against it... That’s what always gave me an edge against her. My magic seems to block her ability to predict what I’m going to do. I’m guessing your powers give you a similar advantage we can use against her."

Miss Direction could not begin to express the amount of relief spreading through her, now that it seemed Fortuna was here to help.

"Magic," she tells her. "It seems to block her ability to dig too deeply into my memories, though she's dug far enough to uncover the identities of two people who are close to me and ensnare them with her power." She looks down at the binder with all of her information. "She's been trying to get me to destroy what the police have on her in exchange for one of them... I must say, I'm in a bit of a bind."

Fortuna gives a concerned look when you mention the Madam’s captives. This turns to curiosity at the police binder on the villain. She walks over to it and begins to leaf through it. "Wrong, wrong, nope, wrong, not even close." She flips the binder shut and turns back to face you with a disappointed look. "She must have control of someone on the inside already. This is a plant. My guess is she wanted you to read it in hopes of bringing strong emotional connections to the surface of your mind so she could get her claws even deeper into you... You didn’t read it, did you?

"I had hoped that she was truly lying low since she escaped and didn’t plan to get back into the game at all. She has limits on her range and how many people she can control at once but that doesn’t make her any less dangerous. She can plant suggestions that keep people acting in her interest long after she leaves their mind. It’s not good that she’s already infiltrated the police. There’s no telling how much of the city she has puppet strings attached to.

"From this point forward, assume everyone you talk to is acting under her instructions." Fortuna’s eyes dart upward as a thought occurs to her. "Except me, of course. I’m solid. For real. Don’t look at me like that."

"I got as far as the table of contents before I felt her digging around. I didn't want to give her more ammunition against me," she tells Fortuna truthfully. The super's admittance at corruption within the police force did little to make her feel better, especially since she had confided so much in Bailey already. Not that he knew anything about her that Medium Madam didn't.

"Should I ask if you have a plan? I don't want to give Madam... Lily... a heads up if I can help it, but I'm struggling to find ways to not be at her mercy."

Fortuna smirks. "Do I have a plan? Who do you think I am?" She just sort of stands there for several moments before shrugging her shoulders. "Seriously, who do you think I am? I usually just wing it and things work out."

‘This is the one you throw your cards in with, Holly?’ Lily is back inside your head. Her teasing voice is gone. There is nothing left but bitter hatred. ‘If you won’t play my game, maybe you are willing to play her’s. Meet me at the Olympus tonight at midnight. You and Fortuna only. If anyone else shows up I’m killing your father and boss.’

Fortuna snaps her fingers. "I got it!" She shakes her head. "No that won’t work at all. Unless you happen to know how to work a thermonuclear reactor?" Sometimes meeting your heroes isn’t all it's cracked up to be.

Miss Direction sighs, and looks to Fortuna. "Luckily for us-" Wow, it feels stupid saying that to Lady Luck, "it seems Lily is willing to plan for us. Olympus, at midnight. No one else, or the hostages die."

Since the whole hero worship thing wasn't all it was cracked up to be, and maintaining her cheerful demeanor was becoming more and more difficult the longer she has Medium Madam whispering into her brain, she allows herself a moment to put her head in her hand and look as weary as she felt.

You arrive outside the Olympus with time to spare. Fortuna filled you in on the joint earlier. It is a nightclub known for its free flowing booze, fast music, and card games. The place is a known haunt of just about everyone in town that is connected to organized crime. Open 365 days a year, this place is always packed this time of night. Knowing this makes the deserted street feel even more eerie.

If it was the old west, you would be expecting a tumbleweed to roll by. There isn’t a soul out on this normally busy street. No cars parked out front of the Olypmus. You can hear jazz music seeping out from the club, but it is otherwise silent.

Fortuna takes the lead and heads right for the front door. She places her hand on the handle and gives you a ‘what have we got to lose’ look before pulling it open.

The place is mostly empty. Off in the far corner a full jazz band is giving the performance of a lifetime. One man stands behind the bar looking completely and utterly dazed. In the center of the club is the lone occupied table.

The Medium Madam sits at the table smoking a cigarette held in one of those old fashion holders you might see in the 1920’s. To her left is Jonas, with your father on the right. Lily spots you and raises her free hand to twinkle her fingers at you in a ‘hello.’

You have the urge to dash across the room and smack the smile from her face but find you currently have very little control over your body. You glance to Fortuna and the grimace on her face tells that she too is fighting against the Madam’s control. She makes the two of you walk terribly slow across the floor of the club and take seats across from her and her guests. Both of you place your hands flat on the table and are unable to move them.

"So good to see both of you again." You hear her speak aloud for what might be the first time. Her voice is slightly more raspy and significantly more tired than it sounded in your head. She nods to the center of the table where an ordinary deck of playing cards rest. "My dear, Fortuna. If you could be so kind as to shuffle those for me." Fortuna obeys but her jaw clinches tight as she tries in vain to fight it. Lily turns back to address you.

"How good are you at poker, Miss Direction? Your chosen name would indicate you should at the very least be skilled in bluffing. I do hope you know the rules because I am a dreadful teacher."

The bartender comes by with a tray of drinks and places one in front of each of you. Lily hands him the cigarette holder and then reaches out her hand to Fortuna so she can turn over the shuffled deck of cards.

"You have been a constant disappointment, Miss Direction. Always fighting against me and my games. You're not half a fun as Bastet seems to think you are." She holds up a hand with one raised finger. "I will give you this one final chance to save these men.

"The game is five card draw. If Miss Direction wins, I set Jonas Parks and Tom Morton free. If Fortuna wins, I set the bartender and this lovely band free. If I win, I get to keep everyone. These terms are non-negotiable. Does everyone understand the stakes?"

Fortuna gives you a bit of a worried look. You can see her mind racing but she ultimately turns back to Lily and simply nods that she understands. Lily looks to you for your response. Before you can reply, your father and Jonas snap out of their trance.

"Oh god, where am I?" Tom Morton shouts; head darting all around the room. Like you and Fortuna, they are both otherwise frozen in place in their seats. Jonas looks furious but remains surprisingly silent.

She clenches her jaw to keep from calming her father. Its a terrifying thing, to see someone you have seen as so strong your entire life be so utterly frightened. But the game was already beginning. Her poker face was set, and she keeps her eyes on Lily.

"Be still, Mr. Morton. Its going to be alright," she tells him confidently, glad that her mask will make her voice unrecognizable.

"Deal the cards."

"What!?" Tom responds. "How do you--" he is cut off as the Madam makes a zipper motion across her lips. Both Tom and Jonas fall back into their zombie like trance.

The band changes tempo. They now play soft and slow. The leader singer stays silent but sways back and forth with the rhythm of the music. Lily deals five cards, face down, to each of the three players and lays the deck down in front of her.

The Medium Madame's face brightens a bit as she looks at her cards. She lays one down, and draws a replacement.

Fortuna reaches forward and picks up her hand. "Pretty cocky of you to settle things like this, Lily. If you wanted to play cards with me, all you had to was ask." The Medium Madam tilts her head and smiles, but does not respond.

Fortuna's face is stoic. The poker face of a total pro. She places two cards on the table and the Madam deals her two new ones.

Miss Direction slides the cards towards her, careful to keep her face neutral as she picks them up an observes the hand.

Miss Direction is careful not to think too hard about her hand. Her gaze flicks up to Lily as she understands just how important it is to keep, not only a smooth face, but a quiet mind. Likely, that is what she was counting on. A slip up. For Miss Direction to think too hard about her strategy.

But what of her powers? Lily knew that cards were her motif. That she was a master of illusion as well... Is that what she's counting on? For her to cheat and make the terms of the game moot? Fortuna had an advantage, given that she was Lady Luck. Maybe this was all just part of Lily's sick game to make us battle each other...

Not everyone was going to be going home...

While the Medium Madam was smiling at her initial hand, things ultimately did not go quite the way she had hoped. Her face morphs into disappointment as she sees the final card she drew. Once everyone has their final hands, Lily tosses her cards to the table and crosses her arms over her chest. "I’m sure you both are delighted."

Ace, high card. She went for the flush and did not get it.

"Oh well. You win some, you lose some. Come on now, don’t be shy. Turn over the cards so I can decide which of my thralls will be giving me a foot rub tonight."

Fortuna gives you a pained look. She knows that there is currently no outcome that is entirely good. "However this goes down, we’ll find a way to make this right." She locks her eyes on yours; ignoring the laughter of the Medium Madam which is eerily echoed by Jonas, Tom, the bartender, and the entire jazz band. Fortuna turns over her cards next.

Pair of 9’s. Your heart sinks and Lily finds it positively delightful. While she was unable to pick up on your attempt to skew the odds in your favor, she is able to read your defeat with ease. The emotions are too strong to stay hidden. You drop your pair of 8’s to the table and Lily claps. Jonas and Tom join in. The bartender and the jazz band look around in fear and confusion, having been released from the Madam’s control.

"What the hell is going on!?" Lily looks furious that bartender would interrupt her celebration. She pulls a Derringer pistol from a thigh holster. Both you and Fortuna try to act, but are still compelled to stay in place. Lily fires the gun and a bottle of whiskey next to the bartender explodes.

"Get out," she tells them. No one wastes anytime running for the exits.

"I know I said this game was your final chance to save these men, but believe it or not, I am a very generous person. I’m willing to make a trade. Your freedom for theirs. Something related to your powers has stopped me from fully taking over your minds by force. I have no doubt I can manage if you willingly give up control though. Two heroes for two zeroes. What do you say?"

Fortuna finds it hard to look you in the eye. She shakes her head. "We can’t do this, Miss Direction. The damage she could do with us under her control..."

‘Do it.’ You look around in confusion for the source of this new voice. Lily and Fortuna give you confused looks. ‘Agree to the deal.’ The voice is male, high pitched, and sounds very angry. It is clear now that it is coming from within your head. As if you hadn’t had enough of that already.

‘I grow tired of this wretched woman meddling in our affairs. I will help you defeat her. Open your mind to her and we will tear her apart.’

Miss Direction looks back to those at the table with her, trying to hide her brief looks of confusion. She considers at first to offer some lame excuse for her momentary distraction, like hearing a strange feedback from somewhere or something like that, but she doesn't owe Lily anything like that. And she certainly can't let Lily on to this new offer of hers.

It was risky, very risky, to turn herself over to Lily in the hopes that this new player would have the power to suddenly overpower her before she could cause any harm...

But something about this urged forward her frustration. Her rage. Her burning hatred for everything that Lily stood for in this moment. How she bartered and betted with people's lives like chips on a board like she was some kind of goddess. Its lucky for her that she's still trying to keep her poker face up so she doesn't start openly glaring at the woman, but the set of her jaw and glint in her eyes certainly hinted at her anger.

"Deal." she (attempts) to hold out her hand for Medium Madam to shake.