In Service Of The Queen Ch 18

In Service of the Queen

by Davina Lee

An alternative future of women and their adventures

*

Author's Note

As we wrapped up the last chapter, Adelaide has made significant inroads as an agent for Empyrea's growing resistance movement. With her accounting degree and Group Captain Thorne's connections, Adelaide has taken her place in the queen's office pool, ready to go to work onboard Elysium (and undercover for La Résistance.)

Will Adelaide's position lead her to uncover the secrets of the beam weapon? If she does, will the information needed to help the cause? Will it be just a dead end? Will it be something worse?

This chapter takes place a little over a week after Adelaide takes the job.

* * *

Chapter 18: Do You Want the Job or Not?

Vivienne and Adelaide's Apartment

Adelaide stood in the kitchen, wearing her pajamas and staring at the kettle. When Vivienne walked in wearing her oversized Empyrea Clippers T-shirt, Adelaide offered only a grunt in form of a greeting.

"Addie? What are you doing?" asked Vivienne.

"Trying to make coffee. It's not going very well."

"I see that. Why are you still in your pajamas?"

"I haven't had a shower yet."

"I see that, too," said Vivienne. "Don't you have to work today?"

Adelaide nodded.

"Addie, the trolleys aren't running. You're going to be late."

Adelaide shrugged. "Work sucks. All we ever do is transcription."

"Addie, if the tender dirigible leaves without you they'll give your job to someone else in the office pool."

"I'm supposed to be doing accounting, not typing. Somebody else can do the typing. I'm taking a mental health day."

Vivienne marched forward to stand between Adelaide and the kettle she was watching. "You're going to mope around the apartment like you did this weekend."

Adelaide shrugged again.

"Moping around the apartment does not count as a mental health day, Addie."

"What? Yes, it does."

Vivienne shook her head.

Adelaide shrugged one last time before turning her gaze to her feet.

Vivienne stuck her left arm out, pointing toward the hallway. "Go," said Vivienne. "I'll make your coffee and breakfast. You take a shower and get dressed for work."

"Thanks, Viv," mumbled Adelaide, as she shuffled off.

"And be quick. Remember, the trolleys aren't running."

"I know."

* * *

Twenty minutes later

"You cleaned up nicely," said Vivienne, now wearing an apron over her T-shirt and thrusting a steaming cup of coffee and a fried egg on toast sandwich at Adelaide.

Adelaide grinned.

"Try not to get any crumbs on that nice suit," said Vivienne.

"Or inside," muttered Adelaide, around the corner of toast in her mouth. "Made that mistake once over lunch and my boobs were itchy for the rest of the day. Probably 'cause I'm not wearing a blouse."

"I can see how that would be a problem. Though I can't deny it's a very sexy look." Vivienne leered.

"Viv," complained Adelaide.

"What, I can't appreciate when my friend looks good?"

"Maybe do it without licking your chops. It's creepy."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to--"

"Oh, Viv, honey I'm sorry. I'm just being overly sensitive this morning. All day, doing what feels like busywork. And dressed like this. It's like everyone's just staring at me while I'm typing up nonsense reports."

Adelaide blew out a sigh.

"Well, not everyone," she continued. "Just the higher ups. And the other office girls... Wow! Some of them are wearing a lot less than me. Clothes that make me look downright prudish. Short hemlines, plunging necklines. Impossibly high heels."

Adelaide took a sip of coffee and whirled around, looking this way and that. "Speaking of... have you seen my shoes?"

Vivienne pointed to the corner by the front door.

"Right," said Adelaide. "Anyway, most of the supervisors are definitely not trying to hide their staring. Some of them are even hitting on the girls, I'm sure of it."

"I'm sorry, Addie, I didn't know," said Vivienne. "I can totally understand you wanting to stay home."

"No, you're right. I need to suck it up and go. La Résistance, Viv. That's why I'm doing this. I just need to remember that. This thing is bigger than just me."

"Don't push too hard. You'll burn yourself out."

"No. It's the memory of those soldiers being unloaded from the train car that day. Bandaged up and carried out on litters." Adelaide paused and swallowed hard. "If I can get information that will make it stop..."

Vivienne stepped closer to lay a hand on Adelaide's arm. "I'm just saying, if it gets to be too much... Well, a mental health day might be okay. But no moping around."

"I know, Viv. Thanks. I'm good."

Vivienne gave Adelaide's arm a squeeze.

"And thanks for breakfast," said Adelaide, shoving the last corner of toast into her mouth and draining her coffee.

"I'm working the dinnertime shift at the café, making desserts. So I can make your breakfast anytime you need it in the next couple weeks. But you're on your own for supper. I'll try to leave you some things in the fridge you can heat up."

"Thanks, Viv. You're the best."

"Go, Addie. You're going to be late."

"Mm-hmm." Adelaide dropped her empty cup on the kitchen table and marched toward the door. "Bye."

"Bye, Addie."

* * *

At the airfield, thirty minutes later

Adelaide stood behind the barrier with the rest of the office pool girls, watching the approaching tender dirigible slowly settle toward the ground. The noise of the propellers made conversation impossible, so they all watched in silence.

It wasn't until the mooring cable was let out from the nose of the dirigible and the ground crew mated it to the cable from the mooring mast, that the engines shut down and the propeller noise abated.

"Ready for your morning stair climb?" mused one of the office pool girls. "I swear that mooring tower gets taller every day."

"I don't mind," said another. "Keeps my legs looking good."

"Still hoping to get noticed?" asked the first girl.

"Score one of these Elysium babes? You know it." The girl chuckled. "What about you Adelaide? Ever going to trade your trouser suit for something more enticing?"

"I'm just looking to do some work in my field," said Adelaide. "Elysium's the only place that needs accountants."

"Mm-hmm," said the first girl.

"Adelaide's already got herself a girl. Somebody in the military."

Adelaide whirled around and stared.

"That's what I heard anyway." The girl smirked. "Somebody high up."

"We're just friends," said Adelaide.

"Mm-hmm."

Conversation was cut short as one of the ground crew waved a green flag and barrier gate was opened. The dozen or so office pool girls formed a line and marched toward the doorway at the bottom of the mooring tower.

* * *

Inside the dirigible

At the entrance at the nose of the dirigible, a young woman in a crisp blue uniform with a single downward pointing chevron on the shoulder, motioned the group across the catwalk and into a seating area. All of the office pool staff filed in, sat down, and buckled their seat belts.

Everyone waited for the all clear message.

After a few minutes of nothing happening, a young blonde in a pressed blue Air Self-Defense uniform sporting two chevrons, ascended a stairway from the flight deck below. "We're having a little trouble with our ballast system. It's nothing serious," she gestured to the group. "but we're going to need half of you in the back to move to seats on the left side. This will help balance the airship."

Adelaide raised her eyebrows, focusing in on the blonde. "Cordelia?" she said.

"Oh, hey, Addie."

"You know her?" asked the young woman buckled in beside Adelaide.

"My sister."

"Your sister's hot. Is she seeing anyone?"

"She's a pilot," said Adelaide. "Take a number."

Adelaide's seat mate shrugged.

"Just need a couple more people to move to the left and we should be good to lift off," said Cordelia.

A pair of office girls exchanged glances and reached to unbuckle their seat belts.

"Great. Thanks," said Cordelia. She waved to Adelaide as she descended the stairs.

"So dreamy," said the young woman next to Adelaide.

Adelaide smirked. "I'll be sure to let her know."

After a brief bump, the dirigible began to ascend.

* * *

Onboard Elysium, two hours later

Adelaide sat hunched over her desk in the cramped, windowless area one floor above Elysium's gondola. All around her were identical desks, with identical hunched over young women. Each woman sat with a keyboard in front of her and a paper trays to the left and right.

Adelaide studied the paper lying face up in the tray to her left. She turned to the keyboard and began typing. The letters and numbers she typed caused a clacking from behind the keyboard. With each line typed, a line of gibberish emerged on an identically sized paper, pinched between a pair of rubber rollers.

All around Adelaide, rows of office girls were doing the same: glancing at the paper on their left, typing on the keyboard, and producing gibberish that rolled out from behind the keyboard. The finished sheets of gibberish were placed in the paper trays on their right.

Between the rows of desks, older women circulated and watched over the process.

"Thea Schmidt?" said one of the older supervisors.

"Yes, Miss?"

"Come with me, please."

Adelaide turned her eyes from the paper in her tray to the girl in the green satin dress, sitting two desks away.

"Miss?" said Thea, looking up.

"Come with me."

"Yes, Miss." Thea pushed her chair back and stood up slowly. She kept her eyes cast to the floor. Her hands were shaking.

"Thea," whispered Adelaide.

"It's okay, Addie." Thea walked on by with the supervisor directly behind her.

Adelaide chewed her lip until Thea and the supervisor walked through the doorway into the next room. When the supervisor emerged again, with Thea nowhere in sight, Adelaide took a deep breath and picked up the next piece of paper from her tray.

Adelaide began typing.

* * *

Fifteen Minutes Later

Adelaide looked up as the door to the next room opened again. The supervisor held the door as Thea shuffled forward carrying a box in her hands.

"What happened?" asked Adelaide, when Thea returned. "Thea? Are you okay."

"I won't be working here anymore." Thea sniffled once as she she tossed the box onto the corner of her desk. Thea stared at the empty box. "I'm supposed to pack up my things."

"Thea. Oh, honey, I'm sorry."

Thea turned to Adelaide. "I don't even have anything to put in the box. I've only been here a week."

Adelaide frowned. She reached out to lay her hand on Thea's forearm.

"The worst part," said Thea, "is they're not giving me any more work to do today. So I'm just going to be sitting here, doing nothing, until the tender comes to take us back down. It's so humiliating."

"Thea..." said Adelaide.

Before Adelaide could offer any more words of comfort, the supervisor stepped up to Adelaide's desk. "Adelaide Walker," said the supervisor. "Come with me, please."

Adelaide looked up. She touched her index finger to the middle of her chest, just under her collarbone and raised her eyebrows.

"Yes, you," said the supervisor.

Adelaide moved her gaze to Thea, then back to the supervisor, and finally back to Thea.

"I'll be fine, Adelaide," said Thea. "It's okay. Just go."

Adelaide stood up, grabbed the cuffs of her jacket and pulled them straight. She turned to glance at Thea one last time before turning follow the supervisor.

* * *

"This way," said the supervisor. "Stand here."

Adelaide stood in the center of a cramped room, completely devoid of any furnishings. Only a single, full length mirror graced one of the otherwise bare walls. From the four upper corners, bright lights shined, all aimed at the center of the room.

"Face forward," said the supervisor.

"The mirror?"

The supervisor nodded once. Adelaide stood looking at her reflection.

"No slouching. Stand up straight."

"You sound like Suzuka," mumbled Adelaide.

The supervisor said nothing.

"Never mind," added Adelaide.

"Turn to the side."

Adelaide turned to the supervisor and cocked her head. After receiving no further instruction or reply, Adelaide sighed and turned to her right. She glanced at the mirror over her shoulder.

"Hold your hands behind your back."

Adelaide did as she was asked.

"Turn to your other side."

Adelaide turned around, her hands still clasped behind.

"Face forward."

Adelaide chewed her lip for a moment and then turned to face the mirror again.

"Unbutton your jacket."

"Unbutton my what?"

"Bring your hands to the front. Unbutton your jacket. Return your hands behind your back."

Adelaide stared at the supervisor, her hands still behind her back.

"We can do this one of two ways. You can unbutton your jacket or I can get you a box. Just like Thea's."

Adelaide grumbled. She slipped the buttons of her jacket and stood with her fists clenched at her sides.

"Hands behind your back."

As Adelaide moved her hands to rest below the small of her back, her jacket gapped to reveal the skin of her midriff.

"On your knees."

"Excuse me?"

"Drop to the floor, facing the mirror. Do it while keeping your hands behind your back."

"What's with this mirror, anyway?" said Adelaide, unmoving. "It's kind of creepy."

The supervisor said nothing. She stared down her nose at Adelaide and pointed to the floor.

As Adelaide pushed one foot forward and the other behind, she bent her knees, lowering herself while keeping her hands clasped. She knelt with her left knee facing forward and her right on the floor. The gap of her jacket shifted to the left.

"Both knees on the floor. Hands behind your back."

Adelaide blew out a breath and folded her left leg under her. Her jacket returned to hanging straight.

Adelaide lifted her eyes to the supervisor, who seemed to be preoccupied with the image in the mirror. Adelaide focused her gaze there as well. She looked at her reflection.

"This isn't one of those trick mirrors, is it?" asked Adelaide. "The kind where it's only reflective one way?"

"Bring your right hand forward and rest it on your stomach."

"You didn't answer my question. Is this--?"

"Right hand forward. Resting on your stomach."

Adelaide did as she was asked. She looked at her reflection. Moving her hand to her stomach had caused her jacket to shift and exposed more bare skin.

"Move you hand up. Slowly."

"On my stomach?"

"Move it up. Slowly."

Adelaide pulled her hand upward.

"Spread your fingers. Let them trail downward."

Adelaide complied. The spread of her hand pushed her jacket to the sides, increasing the patch of skin laid bare.

"Stop."

Adelaide halted the movement of her hand with her thumb poised just below the valley of her breasts.

"Pull your jacket open."

Adelaide looked up with a glare. "You told me to stop."

"Would you say you enjoy working here?"

"Is that a threat? Like before with the box? It sounds like a threat."

"Pull your jacket open."

Adelaide moved her hand to clench the lapel of her jacket in her grip.

"The other hand," said the supervisor. "Leave that one where it is."

"The hand behind my back? You could have mentioned that before. You told me to keep it there."

"Your attitude is not appreciated."

"My attitude? You know what's not--"

"Pull your jacket open."

Adelaide moved her left hand from behind her back and hooked her fingers under the label of her suit coat. She chewed her lip for a moment and began tugging.

The skin showing from her midriff nearly doubled.

"Stop."

Adelaide froze. She looked in the mirror. Her jacket was pulled far enough to expose most of the modest swell of her breast from the side and just the slightest hint of the pink of her areola.

"Play with your nipple. Make it hard."

"You want me to do what?"

"Touch your fingers to your nipple. Stroke it, pinch it, do what ever you need to do to make it hard. While looking at the mirror."

Adelaide blew out a sigh as she glared at the mirror. "Who's behind there? The mirror. Who's watching?"

"Keep your jacket where it is. Make your nipple hard."

Adelaide lowered her gaze to the floor in front of her. Slowly, she began circling the tender flesh only barely hidden by her lapel.

"Stop."

Adelaide stopped.

"Pinch it."

"Pinch it?"

"Pinch it."

Adelaide squeezed once and released.

"Harder."

"Look, I don't know what's going on here and who's behind that mirror, but--"

"Pinch it hard. Don't let go until you are told."

Adelaide squeezed with her finger and thumb under the lapel of her suit coat.

"Harder."

"I'm--"

"Harder."

Adelaide squeezed harder.

"Hold it like that."

Adelaide chewed her lip.

"Pull."

Adelaide stared up at the supervisor.

"Eyes on the mirror," said the supervisor. "And pull."

Adelaide watched her own reflection as the gentle curve of her breast visible in the gap of her jacket was pulled taut and the area around her nipple reddened with heat.

"Other hand. Other side. Pull."

Adelaide sucked a shuddering breath. She slid her left hand from its resting place under the small of her back to lay on her stomach. She trailed her fingers out as she moved it up to just under her right breast.

"Pinch."

Adelaide looked in the mirror at her hands, crossed over her chest. She focused briefly on her left nipple, pulled taut by the finger and thumb of her right hand, the area around flushed blotchy pink.

She touch the fingers of her left hand to her right nipple. It was already hard.

"Pinch," repeated the supervisor.

Adelaide grimaced as she pinched.

"Pull."

Adelaide pulled forward until the shape of her right breast matched the left. A small tear welled in the corner of her right eye.

"Stay like that."

Adelaide shivered briefly.

"Look at the mirror."

Adelaide focused her gaze.

"Lean forward and press your cheek to the floor."

"How am I supposed to--?"

"Do not move your hands. Do not let go of your nipples. Touch your cheek to the floor."

Adelaide turned her head to the left while maintaining eye contact with her reflection in the mirror. She leaned forward. The tear welling in her eye gathered enough to break loose and come to rest at the top of her cheekbone.

"All the way to the floor," said the supervisor.

Adelaide's jacket opened more the farther she bent forward. With her hands tugging her nipples, there was nothing she could do to stop it. The tear on her cheek streaked down her face.

"That's a good girl," said the supervisor. "This position suits you."

Down below, with the hot wet of her tear between her cheek and the floor, Adelaide grumbled.

Several minutes passed with the supervisor saying nothing further and Adelaide simply grumbling with her face pressed to the floor. Finally, the supervisor spoke.

"Congratulations, Adelaide Walker. You've been selected."

"I... I'm what?"

"You've been given a promotion, girl. I'm a little surprised, given your manner of dressing and frankly appalling difficulty following orders today. But, who can account for people's taste."

"People's taste?" mumbled Adelaide, with her cheek still on the floor.

"Oh, do get up, girl. The interview is over."

Adelaide peeled her cheek from the floor and pulled herself back to kneeling. She brought her eyes to the supervisor. "This was an interview? What kind of interview--?"

"And you passed. Congratulations. I would have thought Thea, with that lovely satin dress... Well, there's no accounting for people's tastes."