History of the Phantom

(This is loosely based on the role play.)

She was born Gertrude Fox, sole heir to the Thomas mafia empire in Ottawa. As a child, she studied dance (her mother, Mercedes, was a famous dancer until her marriage), martial arts (her Daddy's security guard recommended it), and business. She had no time for other interests, including socializing.

At age 24, her Daddy introduced her to a woman who was the premier assassin in the Kazakhstani Mafya. Maria was to train and test Gertrude. The goal of the training was unstated; Gertrude assumed it was self-defense from those like Maria. Her Maria's final line to her father was, "I hope I have made it clear to you what my training entails...so there will be no misunderstanding later, Don Thomas."

Gertrude spent the entire winter in the compound of her trainer, learning. Somehow, Gertrude managed to impress her. She had taken her early lessons seriously, and, while supremely confident, was willing and able to focus and to learn. She, in turn, was able to teach Maria some of the finer things in life.

One thing she was not taught, however, was how to kill. This was not something the heir to an empire would ever sully her hands with directly; it was not something she could believe would happen.

The lessons were varied: tailing, avoiding tails; how to blend in with almost any crowd; combat with guns and knives and hands and bottles.

Finally, it was time for her final challenge. They maneuvered the target into an alley behind a bar. And Gertrude finally realized the goal of the mission: a kill, by her.

She stalled. The target grabbed her. She pleaded with her teacher to save her. It became self-defense. She killed the target, but not before he had destroyed the left side of her face.

Her trainer reported the results of the mission, and was directed to leave her in a cheap hospital in Kazakhstan. She had plenty of time to think of what she had done. She had killed. And how was that different from the times that her aides had killed for her? Would kill at her unspoken request?

While there, her mother contacted her. She was a failure, and it was recommended that she not return home.

That was fine with her.

What follows is the story of Christine Daae.

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