Victoria Thompson

Victoria Marie Thompson (based on real life actreses: Anita Page, Marion Davies, & Betty Compson) was born in the year 3974. She is the only daughter of the beloved silent film actress Doris Thompson who died at the young age of 26 (Victoria's current age) due to an electrolyte imbalance or "crash diet" in attempt to regain her perfect figure in order to continue her film career. This left Victoria's criminal father with the sole responsibility of trying to raise his daughter alone, which he quickly finds that he can't do. He also finds himself in a lot of debt, especially debt he owes Morane personally, so in order to try and pay it off he offers to sell Morane his only daughter in exchange for his freedom. (Morane actually reveals this to Victoria himself after she comes to him to confess to murdering a well known film producer that had come onto her)

It is unknown whether or not Morane was actually the one who raised Victoria throughout her entire childhood, however he *was* responsible for grooming her to be his own personal sidepiece. He had waited until she turned 18, but before then he had her working as an underage dancer at a gentleman's club. She was permitted to cover herself up as much as she felt comfortable, and in turn Morane had promised that none of those men would ever touch her. She had believed him of course, but unfortunately it was promise that wasn't kept.

Just like her mother, Victoria dreamed of stardom, and in her desperation to escape her life as a dancer she soon met thief-turned talent agent: Maxwell Graham. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Victoria became a silent film actress, playing several different roles and quickly rising to fame. Everything appeared to going exactly how Victoria wanted it, that is until she discovered when it came to actual acting with sound, she was severely over-dramatic and couldn't deliver her lines well. Faced with the threat of losing her dream, Victoria pressed on, doing whatever she could to get into leading roles; including allowing the higher-ups to sexually abuse and manipulate her. However, aside from the trauma and waning fame, she began to receive the most adoring fan letters from someone calling themselves her secret admirer (who is actually William Sterling).

Desperate to find out who this mystery man is, she begins to focus on certain details which are included in the letters; one in particular that mentions he is a young soldier in the AMF. Later, when she seeks out some kind of business partnership with Maxwell graham to help him manage the old bar and card game joint known as The Card Shack, she starts keeping her eye on the soldiers who frequent the place. It isn't until Saint Valentines Day where she meets the young and handsome soldier; Sergeant Chris Dickerson. Believing he is her secret admirer, she offers to buy him a drink, and begins to flirt. There she learns that Chris is not only not her secret admirer but he is also married. (He makes it a point to show her his ring)

Feeling like an absolute fool, Victoria decides to give up her search. But unfortunately for her there is an ongoing homicide investigation where two detectives: Vince Hayward, and Detective Marks, are trying to find the person who murdered Melvin Phillips the film producer whose head Victoria had smashed a champagne bottle over. And due to Maxwell's own personal criminal record, as well as the fact he'd been at the scene of the crime with her trying to clean up and dispose of the body, he is their number one suspect.

This leads Victoria to accept what she has done, vowing never to do it again. But after Maxwell reminds her of all that he has done for her, he demands that she go to Morane for help in order to get those detectives off their back. After a few drinks she agrees and reluctantly does so.

When she arrives at his office and confesses, Morane reveals his own dark secret about the time he murdered his own father. He tells her that some people just deserve it, and the man who tried to touch her, deserved it as well. An agreement is made between them; one in which Morane agrees to help absolve her of her crime, but in return she must sleep with him. Feeling trapped with no way out, she agrees to it. But afterwards she finds herself plunged in a deep dark depression, where not even her alcoholism seems to be enough to numb the pain.

   And on top of her plummeting career after receiving several bad reviews on her films, Victoria contemplates ending her own life. She goes as far as leaning over her balcony, wondering how quick it would be over if she decided to climb over and jump, but thankfully she is snapped out of it once she hears a knock at her door and find that it is none other than her only true friend: Enrique Alveras. She is elated that he has come to visit her since she'd been missing for over an entire week, but he also shows up with another letter from her secret admirer. Still feeling down, Victoria disregards its; claiming that she doesn't believe in fairytales. But it isn't until after Enrique leaves that she musters up the courage to read it; quickly learning that this may just be the last time she hears from him since there is a growing threat on the military base.

Filled with panic, Victoria soon arrives outside the gates of the AMF's airbase, and discovers a grisly sight of blood and bodies as well as the remnants of a smoking fighter-jet sitting on the runway. Uncertain of whether or not her secret admirer had survived she leaves the scene and returns home to drink and wait.

## On the Path to Crime and Darkness

In Atlantech Days of Darkness time passes by, and still no new letters. Now with her hope beginning to fade, she next focuses her attention on trying to keep up with her luxurious lifestyle since she hasn't been able to land any more big film roles. She soon becomes desperate for money, and after coming across a specific headline in the newspaper mentioning bank robbers, she decides its time to follow a whole new path; the path of her very own father.

She recruits Maxwell, knowing he is just as money hungry as she is; and after taking several jabs at her ridiculous idea finally agrees, and they begin planning their first heist. Without realizing what she is getting herself into Victoria practices in front of her mirror; aiming her pistol while reciting such lines as: "This is a stickup!" She accidentally fires the pistol at her mirror in the process, and the bullet appears to have gone clear through her bedroom wall into the neighboring unit. In a panic she gets the hell out of there and hurries downstairs to wait outside for Maxwell to arrive in their getaway car.

Unfortunately their "getaway car" turns out to be some beat up old jalopy riddled with bullet holes, in which Maxwell states: "That it was all he could get." All frustration aside, Victoria gets into the vehicle and they take off to prepare to rob their first bank. Victoria assures Maxwell that she can handle it because she's been "practicing" (however she fails to make any mention about her little accident, and with good reason too.) She is also wearing a hat with a black veil she had fashioned from an old dress of hers and sewn onto the underside. (She also made sure the hat matched her dress.) Ignoring Maxwell's jabs, she heads out and makes her way to the small downtown bank where there doesn't appear to be any other clients waiting. Then, Victoria gives her best performance and selects her first victim: a female teller who seems harmless enough; and proceeds to aim her gun at the woman demanding she put all the money in the bag.

This first heist appears to work out pretty well for both Victoria and Maxwell, that is until they return to the Card Shack and Maxwell begins counting it all out. When he is finished he looks displeased and then promptly informs Victoria that she has only managed to get away with ten grand. Victoria is livid and claims that it can't be true because she watched the woman put the money in in the bag herself; not to mention the sack was much heavier. Maxwell tells her she's been had by that woman and needs to return at once and demand the rest of it, and also kill her. Mortified, Victoria refuses, claiming she only wanted to rob banks not kill anyone else. Maxwell then proceeds to convince her that murder is a big part of it; especially when it comes to witnesses. He also tells her that it's the Golden Rule; which is in fact known as Morane's own personal rule he lives by.

Disgusted by all of this, Victoria leaves his office, barely even stopping a moment to chat with Enrique once her mind is already made up to kill that woman who she believes had done her wrong. Fears of ending up in the slums or on the streets turn out to be her biggest motivator, only once she actually grabs and takes the woman hostage around the back of the building does the reality of what she's about to do come seeping in. There is an inner struggle going on within as her hostage begins to ask her why. Filled with pain and anger, Victoria lies and claims that she has been forced to murder the woman on behalf of Morane. (She is tempted to name drop Maxwell but decides against it since she still needs his help.) Victoria also demands to know why the woman had lied and tricked her into stealing only a small amount of money. The woman then explains that she didn't pull anything over on her, and that she did exactly as Victoria demanded and filled the sack with as much as she could. Still convinced the woman is lying, Victoria takes the safety off her pistol and aims it at the back of the woman's head (she refuses to allow her victim to see her face.)

During this struggle Victoria also notices the cross necklace the woman is wearing, as the female teller makes it a point to express her religious views to Victoria, and even says she will pray for her too. Yet, prayers are the last thing Victoria wants to hear about, especially after practically losing her career, her lifestyle, and her secret admirer. But somewhere deep inside Victoria realizes that she isn't ready to do what must be done, and instead of shooting the woman in the back of the head, she fires a shot over her head; aiming at the brick wall of the building instead. Victoria then confess to not being able to kill her, and instead demands that she go into hiding in order to protect herself from Morane; claiming that if he ever finds out that she failed him he will kill them both. The woman is terrified but accepts and takes off once Victoria lets her go (still refusing to let the woman see her face.)

Sometime after letting her hostage go free Victoria goes for a walk around downtown and comes across a very striking black dress in the window of a clothing boutique. Realizing she's still got some money left to spend (over three grand left after giving two to Enrique) she heads inside to ask about the price. Another character flaw with Victoria seems to be that she is very materialistic and likes to shop just about as much as she likes to drink. And just like her alcoholism shopping is seen as another kind of escape from her reality. Yearning to feel as she once did before she'd crashed and burned Victoria buys the dress and even ends up with a free pair of matching shoes. She then heads to a local cafe for a cup of coffee where she next encounters William Sterling on the way to the restrooms. She is taken aback by the uncanny feeling of Déjà vu she experiences when she first looks into his eyes (for what feels like the second time) and after a long awkward silence between them William introduces himself.

Still trying to pinpoint the memory of his face, Victoria accepts William's invite and they both sit down and have a drink together as well as a nice chat. Victoria comes across as dejected but still shows interest in everything William tells her. She even comments on what happened on their base a month ago and tells William she is sorry. Things appear to be going well, until William's feelings get the best of him and he attempts to place his hand over hers. Just as she's done with Enrique Victoria pulls her hand away, but also notes how comforting William's touch actually felt. She also invites him to have a drink with her at the Card Shack the next evening, and he agrees to it. Afterwards she leaves, while William is silently cursing at himself because he knows she is still upset over the loss of her secret admirer and will probably never get over the guy.

## Second Heist

Once Victoria does return to Maxwell's office so they can discuss and plan their next heist Victoria begins to suspect that the only one who had pulled the wool over her eyes with the last heist was Maxwell himself. This happens once she notices the brand new floor in the place; including all the new stuff in Maxwell's office as well as his (shiny new revolver he boasts about.) Victoria then comments, saying there was no way Maxwell could have afforded all this stuff with just five grand (his half). At this, Maxwell confesses to separating ten grand from the rest of the stolen cash, and then taking the rest for himself. He then goes on to explain he made such a move against her because he feels she is too weak and morally conflicted to be robbing banks. In order to cover her ass Victoria lies about murdering that female bank teller, but feels utterly disgusted over Maxwell admitting that he manipulated her so that he could mold her into the person she needs to be in order to become a true criminal.

Desperate for more money, Victoria decides to let her quarrels with Maxwell go for now, and instead plans for their next major heist (planning to hit a wealthy bank located near Gambler's Strip this time.)