Pandora's Box

Maenad

Pandora enters her father's office. Jove is sitting at his desk, going through some details on his laptop.

"Dad, I need your help." says Pandora.

"I would hope so, otherwise I'd be pretty upset with you leaving class so early in the day." Jove responds with a slightly joking tone.

"I think I figured out who the new possession is. But the reaction is totally different. I'm not sure how to handle it." Pandora explains.

"I told you it would be. So... who is it?" her father asks.

"It's Sarah." declares Pandora.

"The head cheerleader? What makes you think it's her?" responds Jove.

"I was just in chemistry class and she and the squad just went totally nuts. It was like... like they were protecting her or something." explains Pandora.

Jove considers what his daughter has just told him for a few silent moments.

"I'd have to talk it over with your mother, but it sounds like you're dealing with a Maenad." suggests Jove before adding, "They're vicious spirits, you're going to have to be extremely careful with this one."

"More careful then with Jemma?"

"Much more." continues Jove, "Maenads are dangerous because they tend to work in packs."

"So there's more than one of them?" Pandora asks, clearly concerned.

"Not necessarily, there may only still be one possession going on. It's just that they tend to form a group around them to accomplish their goal. Both for protection and because they need them to accomplish what they want." Jove elaborates.

"And Sarah had her own group right there for her already." Pandora puts together herself.

"Exactly. That would make her the perfect target for a Maenad. And she's probably recruited her teammates to help, who you're also going to have to be very careful with. As part of the group, they're fiercely protective of their leaders and will attack anyone they see as unworthy or a threat. Unlike the Horme spirit and Jemma, the Maenad won't want to spread to as many people as possible. It will keep its numbers low, but it will test those around it for their skills and ability. That might cause other groups to form as a way of challenging the Maenads in their goal, looking to prove themselves better." explains Jove.

"Well that sounds like fun." Pandora says sarcastically.

Jove continues, "It won't be. Unlike with Jemma, Sarah won't want you around unless you're useful to her in some way. Her teammates will see any attempt to get close to her as threatening their own usefulness to her and try to force you out."

"So basically, it's high school." jokes Pandora, trying to mask the concern she's obviously feeling.

"What's particularly dangerous about a Maenad is that it's not just Sarah who's in danger. If Horme had been able to complete its transformation, it would've been the only one of its kind to emerge. With a Maenad though, each team member could transform into a Maenad. The longer they're under the Maenad's control, the more of them will become Maenads themselves." Jove warns his daughter.

"So I have to get close to Sarah when she doesn't want me around, fight off her minions while being their friends, and doing it all without Jemma figuring out what's going on." Pandora says before taking a deep breath, "You're sure there isn't a manual for this?"

Jove smiles at his teenage daughter and the responsibility she's taking on.

"You'll do fine. What exactly did she seem to want when you confronted her in class?" asks Jove.

"She seemed really big on team unity and making sure we all had school spirit. It's how I got her to dismiss her squad." says Pandora.

"That makes sense. It's consistent with how the Maenad would work and what Sarah wants." Jove suggests.

"But it still doesn't tell me what she actually wants." Pandora says somewhat frustrated.

"That may be, although I imagine that you'll have to get close to her in order to figure that one out. The real question is... how are you going to get close to Sarah when she's so well protected?" Jove asks.

"Oh, I already know what I'm going to do." declares Pandora.

"You do?" a somewhat surprised Jove asks.

"Yeah, I just hope I can actually pull it off." Pandora says with obvious concern.

* * *

Pandora enters the gym, clearly concerned and unsure of herself with how obviously public it is. Around her, there are all kinds of students around, focused on various things. Most of them are engaged in some kind of sport, whether it's climbing on the rock wall, running laps, or helping each other work out. The young high school student turns her attention to why she's here. The bleachers with a wide variety of students sitting on it, mostly in clusters. Pandora makes her way over and tries to find a seat. She doesn't know any of the people and so she ends up sitting alone between two different groups.

"All right, are we all here?" Sarah asks, addressing the bleachers of students.

They all cheer, although somewhat halfheartedly.

"I can't hear you." Sarah says, trying to pump up the crowd.

The crowd perks up, getting even more into cheering just like Sarah wanted. That seems to make Sarah smile.

"Great... thank you all for coming to the tryouts for the cheerleading squad. We're looking forward to seeing what you can do." declares Sarah.