Phase I.V- Outreach

".... Well, that's all the time we have today, I would like to thank our guest, Patricia Baker, for coming in today. Good luck with the mayoral race, Ms. Baker."

"Thank you, Deliah, it's been a pleasure." Patty, dressed in her finest blue coatdress and matching hat and hells, flashed a wide smile with her bright red lips. She watched the audience (entirely women dressed to the nines) clap and leave. Delilah, an older redhead wearing a yellow pencil dress, grabbed a cigarette and smoked as soon as the cameras turned off, her cheerier demeanor mostly subsiding. However, Patty was too elated by the attention to notice.

Sure, the interview didn't contain much in the way of actual policies or political content or even much about the mayoral race, but she actually seemed to reach the women. They were listening intently to her, even if it was just about her cooking or cleaning skills. This had been a winning strategy, with a lot of her other appearances on TV also garnering a lot of attention.

"I actually remember you," Delilah noted, putting out the cigarette, "from 'The World Now'"

"Wait, Delilah Saltzman?" Patty remembered a pixie cut copper redhead in a smart business suit who would interview her for NPR.

"Delilah Hutchens-Saltzman" Delilah corrected.

"You left NPR a while ago, and just disappeared."

"Well, that's it. Tranquility TV offered me a better deal to come on here. Good package for the wifey and me. The catch was that I basically have to follow all their rules. The boss makes sure of that. Good salary though, and my wife is pretty happy." Delilah was reserved, seemingly holding back. "So, you've changed your look."

"Yep, helps me relate to the women here, it's worked wonders. Hopefully, this'll help in the campaign."

"Not likely," Delilah mumbled, "you would need to have people who are able to vote for that to work."

"What was that?" For some reason, Patty was a little dazed and tended to zone out.

"Nothing," Delilah sighed in relief that she didn't hear and tried to put a better. "Just, all women in Stepford love this look!"

"Yeah, it's great."

"Say," Delilah treaded carefully to actually get something meaningful without violating her contract. "What do you think of Connor, your opponent?"

"Well, he seems nice, but it's all an act." Patty was a bit hesitant. "He wants to lure me in, and then get me at the last second."

"Well, I actually know him socially, and that's just not him."

"Well, that's how I've encountered most politicians."

"Listen," Delilah leaned in. "However you think the outside world works, it ain't gonna work here. It's a different set of rules, and you have to take people at their word. And I'll tell you, Connor Whitling is a gentleman, both publicly and privately. Ain't no bigger one. He's really an honest guy."

"Really?" Patty was working off the assumption that he was doing an act. Maybe she ought to find out how committed he was to this act.

Phoebe, dressed in a trenchcoat and fedora loaned to her by E. Cage, along with some sunglasses, got into the van and waited near the back.

She had looked around the Stepford Serenity Spa all day, making sure to catalog everything. She talked to the girls in the front, getting all the information she needed. She noted both the 50's housewives waiting and the women dressed in current century clothing. She noted the products, their ingredients, and a bit of the exterior.

She had learned from being a criminal judge that evidence gathering was important. She needed this evidence for... whatever was going on. Something to at least investigate.

She noted in her canvass that there was a truck in the back with "Tranquility" written in cursive, unloading everything. Not only the products in the front, but what appeared to be products for the spa itself. Containers with incomprehensible names, machinery, what appeared to be a lot of tech.

She kept watch of this Tranquility truck before everything was unloaded. Then the truck doors closed, and the truck backed out of the spa. Phoebe started the car, and followed as the truck went.

She would follow the truck as it made some other deliveries, before it turned into a large building on the hill. It went into the back entrance, and into an underground garage.

Phoebe went to the front, and saw a gold plate at the front entrance saying "Stepford's Men Association."

She had a chill going down her spine.

"Are you sure about this?" Leah crossed her arms, in her blue full-skirt dress, with matching blue cardigan. She and Sam were standing in line in front of a table with "Stepford University Cheer Squad" on it.

The first few weeks of school had been a bit of an adjustment for her. She struggled with the dress code, ensuring her wardrobe was just right to be "presentable," and she had to take a bit every morning to make sure her make-up and clothes were just right, causing her to be a late a few times.

However, she had gotten used to the routine. Gotten used to campus. The fact that the professors were mostly male or masculine presenting, and the fact that her classes were more male than female. Or the strange program they had for female students. "Matrimonial Reliability and Satisfaction" certification. Apparently, all female students had to do this, which involved several home economic classes, as well as parenting, "homeschooling" certification, and even sexual education.

She and a couple other new students struggled before they got the hang of it. This was apparently where the female professors were (including the faculty advisor for the LGBT Club).

She had restarted gymnastics, and without the intense hatred, eased into it with full support from her teammates. Her dedication and skill had gotten Sam's attention when they attended, and she dragged her to something that was starting to recruit.

"Look, it's a great opportunity to get ahead a little more." Sam wore a simple turquoise blouse and white bermuda shorts. "A lot of the sportspeople here are also cheerleaders for the football team, and you can try to branch out a little."

"I guess that's true."

"And I do like the uniform."

Leah blushed. She and Sam had been getting closer. In spite of their parents rivalry in the polls.

"Ah, to heck with it." Leah hadn't been able to properly swear in a while. "I'll do it for you."

Leah and Sam sealed it with a hug, before signing up for tryouts.