Phase I.I- Announcement

You may not know her very well, but Patricia Baker knows you. As Senator, she had served thousands of Connecticuters, helping craft legislation that improved the lives of many and brought jobs to the state. A born leader, she seeks only to help her constituents, listen to their concern, and ensure that their interests are represented. You may not know her, but she will know you. She will talk to you, and she will personally help you. And she will help keep this community in the shape that has made it an exemplar community in the US! Vote for Baker, Stepford, and vote for you.

"Eh." Leah, in a light blue and pink sweatshirt and blue jeans, lounged on the chair as she waved the ad off.

"What?" Patty, wearing a grey off-shoulder t-shirt and pink sweatpants, leaned against the TV.

"It's kinda... vague. Like, how are you going to help? What exactly are you going to do? How will you implement it?

"Well, I can't just name all of those different scenarios. Just, give them an idea of what I'm about."

"Yeah, but a concrete example might've been nice! Also, the ad says that you know them, and then that you'll 'get to know them'. A bit confusing."

"It's meant to show how I helped people before and helped after."

"Well," Phoebe interjected, crossing her legs, clad in yellow loose pants with stylistic fire symbols on it and putting her arms, clad in an Persian geometric inspired green and black split neck tunic on her lap. "I like it, personally."

"Mom, I need constructive criticism."

"Oh, please, you don't need help. You were a senator, for heaven's sake! You won the vote for the entire state."

"Yeah, but I had a bigger staff back then." She waved to the 6 people working at the "Patricia Baker for Mayor" campaign offices. They were all women: Jenna, Bethany, Renuka, Racquel, Jacinda, and Zoey, and had been hired through her remaining connections. After her affair with John and the time since she had resigned, she couldn't get her old staff back, but had gotten younger volunteers to fill their void. They mostly wore jeans and t-shirts with the campaign logo on them.

"You said that we didn't need as many people." Leah pointed out. "'It's not a whole state, we don't meed as many people.' Was your exact words."

"Honestly, I thought this would be a small town. I didn't realize it was a mid-sized city at most."

"Odd that a city is filled only with these 'little boxes'. These identical McMansions and suburban homes."

"Why are you running here?" Leah piped up again. "You don't know anyone here, you didn't even know this town existed until that guy came to our house."

"Well, his offer was very tempting."

She recalled the handsome young man who came up with a pamphlet. He looked kind of like pictures of her dad when he was a teen, with his short, neat haircut, pearly white smile his pale blue button-up, khakis, and oxfords. At first, he had merely been selling moving to Stepford, but after learning that she had been considering running again, explained that Stepford was mostly newcomers anyways, at any given time, and they had an election ongoing, where the incumbent was unopposed, where she might be able to win the mayorship.

"Well, we're here, and we have a great task ahead of us." Phoebe, as per usual, laid it out. "You need to convince these people that you can be a mayor despite only living here during your campaign."

"I've been to plenty of suburbs, I can take care of myself here. I'll win this election in no time."

Just then, a knock at the door. Leah got up and sauntered over, opening the door.

"Uh, hello!" The man, slightly older, but still pretty handsome, with his shaggy brown hair, big blue eyes behind thin frame glasses, single breasted brown suit and matching pants held out his hand. "Connor Whitling"

Leah recoiled at her mother's opponent, before reluctantly shaking his hand.

"Leah Baker."

"Why, hello! I've been following you! Terrible shame what people have been saying."

"Huh. Thank you." Leah hadn't been here long, but the place gave off a real.... Republican vibe. Not the sort of place that would... support her.

"You won fair and square, and people just need to accept that. In Stepford, we acknowledge and support that. Have you considered Stepford U? Our sports program is very good for young women like yourself"

"Oh, I'm not going to go to school full-time, I'm looking for some classes to keep my mind sharp for Yale once this blows over. Plus I'm helping my mom out."

"Well," Connor pulled out a brochure for Stepford University . "If you change your mind, here's some information."

While Leah looked at the brochure, Whitling put his hands in his pockets.

"Is your mother around?"

Leah pointed behind her, as she became absorbed in the pamphlet. Connor strode in.

"Ms. Baker?" Connor shyly approached Patty and Phoebe.

"Which one?" Phoebe laughed as she checked him out.

"Ah, you must be her sister."

Phoebe laughed, as Patty began her battle pose. She knew that this was some kind of sick power play, an attempt to intimidate her. Well,

"So, Mr. Whitling, what brings you to our headquarters?"

"Well, I like to meet my opponents and just wish them good luck."

"Really?" So transparent.

"Yeah, you know elections can be hard and I think we ought to be off on a friendly foot."

"Well, I agree. I think we ought to be off on a friendly foot." Patty smiled tightly, trying to figure out what he was thinking of.

"Well, I just wanted to introduce myself, and just wish you luck. I gotta get back, my child is home, and I have dinner with them."

"Well, I wish you luck, too. May the best person win." She tried her best poker face, but Connor just smiled.

"Thank you! I wish the best to you too!"

Phoebe raised her eyebrow as Connor went out.

"What was that all about? He was really into the act."

"He's a master. He plays the nice guy at all times. You let your guard down, and... bam!"

"Or, maybe he's nice" Leah stuffed the brochure.

"Oh, honey," Phoebe smiled at her granddaughter. "You've been in politics long enough, like your mom and me, you find most of it is about acting. This guy is real good."

"Really good, but Le, here's a secret: I'm better." Patricia raised her eyebrows for emphasis

"Sure." Leah rolled her eyes and continued looking at the brochure.

Phoebe's watch flashed.

"Oh, I must be off. Got a new care package."

"How many of those things are you getting?" Leah eyed Phoebe as she left.

"We're new residents, I'd imagine they're just being friendly." Phoebe noted as she left.

"That friendly?" Patty and Leah eyed each other, before getting back to the ad.

Phoebe was perturbed a little by the statuesque women around her as she walked towards the bookstore. Both how they all looked like movie stars with their perfect hair and make-up, and the fact they... dressed like all the women in her Hartford suburban neighborhood growing up. It was strange, like she had been transported back to her childhood, except for the occasional LGBTQ+ couples or interracial couples, or the fact the women were using cell phones.

She quickened her pace as she grew more distressed. She thought she had escaped this with her mother. She finally got into the book store and found even more deja vu. This was a bookstore that resembled those she and her mother had scoured as a child, reading up on the latest social theories of the day. There were contemporary books, alongside classics and books from the 50's and 60's. She pulled a paper from her pocket, and uncrumpled it to say "Anthropology". She looked carefully at the genre sections, looking at their titles, before getting to the back with "Psychology" and "Anthropology."

She quickly looked for an opening in the books, again finally finding it in the back.

She laid her head against the books, as a voice came from the other side:

"You came quickly."

"My daughter is working nearby."

"She knows nothing?"

"I've made sure she hasn't. Do you have..."

A folder materialized from the opening. Phoebe grabbed it and opened it to find photos. She held up one of them, featuring an elegant older redhead with a bob haircut, wearing a blue floral sleeveless dress with a boat neckline. She was smiling and gardening in all the photos.

"Oh my god."

"She was easy to find. She goes by Charlotte McCarthy now."

"She.... it can't be. Charlie wouldn't...."

Charlie Welch was one of Phoebe's oldest friends, a fellow activist who went on to a prolific career as head of the American Women's Organization, the premier feminist group in the US. Despite two failed marriages, Charlotte had never changed her name. Phoebe had lost touch with her some months ago, and she had mysteriously resigned and disappeared.

"Why does she...? Why did she...?" Phoebe was flabbergasted.

"I don't know yet, I'm still locating your other friends. Including the one from decades ago."

"I know, I know, I just want to know what the hell happened and if I could save them."

Phoebe had a hidden agenda to helping her daughter win the mayorship of this town. Around the time Charlie disappeared, another friend, a bisexual cartoonist named Cheryl Kurtz disappeared, after she told their friend group she was moving with her partner and son to a town called Stepford. Another close friend, Patty's political mentor Diana Tucker suddenly resigned and also vanished.

And they were connected to Stepford. She remembered back to 1992, when her closest comrade in arms, fellow lawyer Abigail Norton, moved to Stepford with her husband, and subsequently cut all communication, much to her shock. She had spent years wondering what happened to her.

And now, at least to Phoebe, the first disturbing images began to emerge, of the fate of these women.

"I know this isn't a lot...."

"No, it's fine. I at least know what I'm up against. I know need to know how to free them. How to reverse this. Can you find that out, Mr...."

"Cage. E. Cage."

"Mister Cage, please find out."

"Well, that's what you paid for."

"Did you get that photo I sent," Leah posed in her Attack on Titan t-shirt and panties, laying on her new bed, with her collection of comics (including manga), dolls, and computer all set up, as she held the phone to her head.

Chatter.

"Yeah, sorry that you can't video call, X, I so want to see your face."

Chatter.

"Well, we can't risk it. Your dad finds out, he'll blow a gasket. You know he's protective of my mom, even though they broke up."

Chatter.

"I don't think it's a big issue either! Just because she got caught cheating doesn't mean we can't be together."

Chatter.

"Like that has anything.... Whatevs, how's Yale in my absense?"

Chatter.

"Really?"

Chatter.

"Don't tell this to the press, but serves her right. Complaining about my win."

Chatter.

"I miss you too, but I can't be on campus right now. Not with everything that's going on."

Chatter.

"It's fine. A little weird, all the people dress up like it's _Leave It to Beaver _or something. Also the women look gorgeous. All of them, no exceptions."

Chatter.

"Not much. I can handle it. Also, my mom's opponent is super weird. He gave me this pamphlet for the local university."

Chatter.

"It actually looks nice, though. They still wear retro clothes, but it seems nice, they have some good sports, and there's some classes I could take outside of a degree."

Chatter.

"Relax, it's just some classes, I'll be back there in no time. It's only a year. I just need to keep my mind and body sharp."

Chatter.

"I miss you too, but trust me, I'll be there in no time."