In Service of the Queen

In Service of the Queen

by Davina Lee

An alternative future of women and their adventures

*

Author's Note

When we left Friend Adelaide at the end of the last chapter, she'd just had her eyes opened to the full experience of working for the queen. And in case you've forgotten, it involved her humiliating herself and being denied an orgasm despite being a willing participant in the sexually charged antics that seem to be the order of the day onboard Elysium.

As determined as Adelaide is to do her part for La Résistance, you've got to wonder how much of this she's willing to put up with.

* * *

Chapter 20: Debriefing

Adelaide ducked as she cleared the opening in the nose of the tender dirigible. She kept her lips in a tight line and her head down as she tromped down the stairs to the tarmac.

"If you need help burying the body, love, I have a farmhouse with a big back yard."

Adelaide whirled around looking for the source of the familiar voice. "Camina?" she said.

"Hey," said Camina, stepping closer to throw an arm over Adelaide's shoulder. "Seriously, though, you look like you've had bit of a rough day. Anything I can do to help?"

Adelaide shook her head.

Camina lowered her voice. "Well, I'm here as your escort. Friend Vivienne's busy at the café. Big surprise. Friend Cosette, well, she's keeping a low profile these days, isn't she?"

Again, Adelaide nodded, this time blowing out a sigh under her breath.

"So you got me!" exclaimed Camina. "The unemployed musician. How's that for luck?"

Adelaide shrugged.

"Seriously though, you look rough."

"I had... an interesting day."

"Mm-hmm. My offer still stands. Big backyard. Nobody comes out there, because there's no electricity and we get our water from a well. So..."

Adelaide shook her head again.

"I'm supposed to drop you off at the library for a debrief. That's the plan, anyway."

"Friend Rebecca?"

Camina nodded. "Yeah, but whatever. She can wait." Camina grabbed Adelaide by the hand. "You're coming with me."

Adelaide stood fast.

"No bodies in the yard," said Camina. "I promise. Daphne's making soup. You ever have Daphne's soup?"

For the third time since she stepped off the dirigible, Adelaide shook her head.

"It might not cure all your woes, but it's a start, I can tell you that." Camina tugged at Adelaide's hand. "Come on."

Adelaide put one foot in front of the other and traipsed along.

"It's not that military bitch who's got you in this sorry state, is it? Captain Whatsername?" asked Camina, as she and Adelaide separated themselves from the crowd of office girls and made for the sidewalk leading away from the airbase. "I'd still like to knock that self-assured smirk off her face. Just say the word."

"It's not her," said Adelaide.

"Hmph," replied Camina. "I was hoping--"

"I'm working for the queen."

"Holy shit!" Camina stopped in her tracks. Camina looked around and lowered her voice to a whisper. "Holy shit. Nobody told me that when I volunteered to pick you up. You're working for the queen? Seriously?"

Adelaide nodded.

"I know what I said about the soup and all, and how Friend Rebecca can wait, but, um... maybe we should go see her first? Do you have, like, important top secret information you need to deliver?"

"I wish." It was Adelaide who tugged their joined hands to get the pair moving again. "I didn't do anything important today. Much less top secret."

"Well." Camina shrugged, glancing at Adelaide from head to toe. "At least you look the part." Camina nudged Adelaide in the ribs. "Super spy. That's a seriously nice suit you're wearing there."

"Thanks." And for the first time since she exited the dirigible, Adelaide cracked a smile.

* * *

At the farmhouse, twenty-five minutes later

"That bitch!" exclaimed Daphne, still standing in front of the stove, but no longer stirring as she turned her full attention away from her pot of soup and toward Adelaide.

"I know, right?" said Camina, looking on. "Anybody up for digging a hole after dinner? Say about two meters deep?"

"You can't..." said Adelaide. "She's the queen!"

"I don't care who she is," said Camina. "If she can't keep her hands to herself--"

"She never touched me."

"Well what about that bitch, Claire. Do we dig two holes or just toss them in together?"

"Nuh-uh," said Adelaide. "Forget I even mentioned Claire. She didn't touch me either. Well, not in a bad way. She kissed me. That's all."

"I found the ointment," said Chloe, bounding over with a jar in her hand. "And I brought an old T-shirt you can put on so you don't make a mess on your nice jacket."

"It is a nice suit isn't it?" commented Camina.

Chloe nodded.

"Friend Adelaide was assaulted," said Daphne. "Let's focus on that."

"It really wasn't--"

"Just because you didn't say no, friend," said Daphne, "does not mean you gave your consent. Particularly to do whatever it was they did to you to cause these bruises."

"I did this to myself," said Adelaide.

Daphne stared. "You...?"

"Aw," said Adelaide, turning her attention to the T-shirt in Chloe's hand. "It's one of your band shirts. I can't take this. I'll get it all greasy with the skin cream."

"I've got a box full in my closet," said Chloe. "This is from the first run. Look at the printing. They got the band name wrong. It says Deus Ex Machina, not Deus Contra Machina."

"Oh," said Adelaide.

"Oh?" exclaimed Daphne. "Oh? Let's talk about your bruises."

"I did it to myself. I told you."

"Do not say anything like,

because I'm clumsy

. Just don't. Friend Adelaide, if you're afraid of retribution, I assure you--"

"I did it to myself," repeated Adelaide. "I rubbed my nipples until they stood up, I pinched them, and I pulled hard enough that I cried. I guess that's how I got the bruises. And I did it while the queen and her chronicler watched. Well, actually, Claire plunged her tongue into my navel just like she was licking my... well, let's just say it hurts now, but at the time... with the sensations mixed together, it was--"

"You were coerced," said Daphne.

"I'm going to fetch the shovel," added Camina.

Adelaide shook her head. "I did it. Willingly. All of it."

"I don't care if she is the queen," said Camina, as Chloe handed the T-shirt off to Adelaide and opened the lid on the jar of skin cream. "Why would you feel like you have to--?"

"Why?" Adelaide shrugged. "Who else is this close to the queen? Huh? Cosette?" Adelaide shook her head. "Rebecca?" Adelaide shook her head a second time. "I'm the one in a position to get information. Me. If I get a few bruises along the way, then so be it. There's a lot of people who have it worse than me."

As Chloe stuck her finger in the ointment jar, Adelaide shrugged out of her suit coat. Camina caught it and laid the jacket over the back of a kitchen chair. Daphne went back to stirring her soup.

"Thank you for taking care of me," said Adelaide, pushing her arms through the holes of the T-shirt and tugging it over her head. "I appreciate it. I don't know how I would have fared alone in an empty apartment. And Friend Vivienne is quite the chef, but wow!" Adelaide made a show of sniffing the air. "That soup smells great."

"Just the thing to fix you up," said Chloe.

Still stirring, Daphne offered a wan smile.

"Speaking of fixing you up," said Camina, raising a finger. "I've got something that'll fix you up, right quick." Camina dashed off.

"Oh, dear," mumbled Chloe.

"It's not a shovel, is it?" asked Adelaide.

Chloe and Daphne both shook their heads.

Camina returned with a rolled up plastic bag, small enough to fit in the palm of her hand. She held it high from the top and let gravity unroll it as she grinned.

Adelaide stared.

"It's the herb, love," said Camina.

"For the soup?" asked Adelaide.

Chloe giggled and Daphne let out a snort.

Camina shook her head. "For the soul. Nature's pain reliever." She held the bag open, pushing it out to just under Adelaide's chin. "If you're going to get your boobies bruised for the cause, you might as well have something to take the edge off."

Adelaide leaned forward and inhaled. "Oh," she said. She inhaled again. Deeper this time. "Oh!"

"You don't have to," said Daphne.

"We grow it on the farm," said Chloe. "There's a patch out back."

"Next to the bodies?" asked Adelaide, deadpan, before breaking into a grin.

"The best fertilizer is the blood of your enemies, love." All eyes turned to Camina as she said it.

"What? Kidding," said Camina. "You think... pshh. Go out there and look if you don't believe me. The only freshly turned earth is Daphne's vegetable garden. Meanwhile, I'm gonna pack this thing."

* * *

In the living room, two hours later

"Well," mumbled Adelaide, as she held in her breath. "I can't feel my tits throbbing anymore."

A bit of smoke curled from Adelaide's nose and she exhaled the rest in a whoosh through her open mouth. Adelaide passed the pipe to Chloe on her right before reaching up to poke at her own cheeks. "Can't feel my face either," said Adelaide, and then laughed.

Beside Adelaide, Chloe flicked a lighter and held it to the end of the pipe. There was a glow and a pop as she inhaled. Chloe pulled the pipe from her lips and stared at it.

"Somebody missed a seed," said Camina.

"You," said Daphne, narrowing her eyes. "You missed a seed. You packed this one."

"Oh, yeah," said Camina, grinning. "I did."

After Chloe had taken a second pull, she passed the pipe and lighter to Daphne, who took a hit and passed to Camina.

"Thanks," said Camina, sparking the lighter.

Camina stuck the pipe between her lips and pulled in a breath. She frowned as she blew it all out again right away. "I think we cashed it," said Camina. "Want me to pack another one?"

On Adelaide's left, Daphne held up her hand and shook her head. To Adelaide's right, Chloe spoke up and said, "I'm good."

Camina turned her gaze to Adelaide. "Friend Adelaide?"

"I miss Tiara," blurted Adelaide, her lip quivering as she said it.

"Oh, honey," said Chloe, leaning over to rest her head on Adelaide's shoulder.

While Daphne reached in with a hand on Adelaide's shoulder, Camina set the pipe aside and stuck her hand out to give Adelaide a squeeze on the forearm.

"We miss her too," said Daphne.

"It's definitely not the same without Tiara," said Camina.

Adelaide nodded as a tear streaked down her cheek. Chloe reached out to dab at it with the side of her finger.

"It's not fair," grumbled Adelaide.

"No, it's not," said Camina.

"You should be together," said Chloe.

"If anybody should be together, it's definitely you two," added Daphne.

"The queen's a bloody bitch," groused Camina. "If you can get me up to Elysium some time, I'll tell her so myself. Maybe with a right to the jaw. Stirring up all this trouble, and for what--?"

"Shh!" exclaimed Daphne.

"Oh, come on," said Camina. "Nobody's actually going invite me up to Elysium. So how would I even--?"

"Shh!" repeated Daphne, throwing her finger over her lips this time and casting her eyes toward the back of the farmhouse.

"What was that?" hissed Chloe.

Adelaide shrugged. "Sounded like the door."

"I'm getting the shovel," said Camina.

"Oh, for friend's sake," said Rebecca Brandt, walking into the living room while waving her hand in front of her nose. "Are you stoned?"

"How'd you get in here?" demanded Camina.

"The back door was open."

"You could have knocked."

"I did," said Rebecca. "Nobody answered." She surveyed Chloe and Adelaide sprawled on the sofa, with Chloe trailing her fingertips over Adelaide's arm. "Now I know why."

"Cut her some slack," said Chloe. "She's missing her girl."

Adelaide turned toward Chloe, nodded, and then broke out into a grin. "I am, really. I'm just a little..." Adelaide poked at her cheeks with her fingertips. "I can't feel my face."

"You were supposed to come by the library."

"That's a little obvious for a rendezvous, isn't it?" asked Camina. "Like, hello, I'm with the resistance. Is tonight's clandestine meeting of partisans in the community room or did I get my days mixed up?"

"Coming from someone who left the back door standing wide open," Rebecca shot back. "And that's not how debriefings work and you know it."

"Well, she's got nothing to report," said Camina. "And it's been a rough day for her."

"Why don't you let Friend Adelaide tell me about it?"

"Fine," said Camina, sitting back and folding her arms across her chest.

"Alone," said Rebecca.

"Alone?" replied Camina.

Rebecca nodded.

"You're kicking us out? Kicking us out of our own living room?"

"We could have done this bit at the library as agreed upon, couldn't we?" said Rebecca.

"Yeah, whatever," Camina fired back. As she rose to her feet, she moved her gaze to Adelaide.

Adelaide nodded. "Thanks," she whispered. "I'll be okay."

Camina nodded once and spun on her heel. She turned and marched toward the back of the house. Daphne and Chloe followed along behind.

"Honestly," muttered Rebecca. "Eavesdropping from the kitchen?"

"Oh, for friend's sake!" hollered Camina.

After some hurried whispering and a shuffle of feet, the screen door opened and banged shut again.

"Now, Friend Adelaide, what can you tell me about your day today? Start from the beginning."

* * *

Thirty minutes later

"Really, that's it. Honest," said Adelaide. "That's all that happened."

"That's it?" asked Rebecca.

"That's it," repeated Adelaide.

"No transcribing with the encryption machine?"

Adelaide shook her head.

"No accounting ledgers?"

Again, Adelaide shook her head.

"Receivables invoices?"

Adelaide shook her head a third time.

"She just played with your boobs all day?"

Adelaide shook her head. "I did it. She just watched."

"You played with your boobs."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you," said Adelaide. "Hey, are you hungry?" Adelaide looked down at her stomach and touched her index finger to it, just above her navel.

Rebecca let out a sigh.

"Oh, and Claire was there, licking my tummy. Did I tell you that part? It felt an awful lot like... well, like a metaphor for something else girls do with their tongues that involves swirling and flicking... Is that the right word? Metaphor? I figured since you're a librarian and--"

"Friend Adelaide."

"Um, Friend Rebecca?"

"We're done."

"Okay...?"

"In the future, please try to conduct yourself in a manner more befitting--"

Adelaide poked at her cheek with her index finger. "I still can't feel my face," said Adelaide. "Did you know that? And I'm hungry. Famished, really."

"Never mind," said Rebecca. "I'll be on my way. I'm sure there's something you can snack on in the kitchen."

"Yes!" said Adelaide. "The kitchen. That's a really good idea." Adelaide rolled onto her side and slid off the couch.

Rebecca walked to the kitchen and turned toward the back door. "We're finished," she hollered.

"Cool," said Camina. "Just in time." Camina pulled the screen door open, holding it for Daphne and Chloe behind her. Chloe trotted in grinning and holding a cluster of potatoes from the stems.

"We're making

bratkartoffeln

," said Chloe.

"At twenty-two thirty?" asked Rebecca. "And don't you need onion for that?"

"Yep," said Daphne, following Chloe and clutching a handful of spring onions.

"So you want to stay and chow down, or what?" asked Camina. "As long as you promise not to talk shop, that is. No resistance planning at the dinner table."

"Thanks," said Rebecca. "I'm good."

Rebecca turned to walk toward the front of the farmhouse. Daphne shrugged and headed into the kitchen, toward the stove.

"I should go," said Adelaide, following along behind Rebecca.

"But the fried potatoes," mumbled Daphne, shaking her head as she watched Adelaide departing. "You're the one who was starving."

* * *

In the front entry

"Friend Rebecca," said Adelaide, hustling to the front door. "Friend Rebecca. I'm sorry if I... Are you upset with me? It seems like..."

"Friend Adelaide," said Rebecca, turning to face Adelaide and laying a hand on her arm. "I understand you had a bad day, and--"

"You don't have to worry about me," said Adelaide. "I can handle it. Everybody treats me like a kid, but I'm not. I'm not."

"You're in a sensitive position."

"I'm in the best position to get information."

"You're in the best position to be manipulated. I think your account of today's--"

"You don't think I can do this?" asked Adelaide.

"It's not you, friend. It's the woman who calls herself the queen. Let's not forget she wasn't first in line to the throne. She only came to power after her sister disappeared under mysterious circumstances."

"She's not going to toss me out of Elysium's gondola, if that's what you're worried about," said Adelaide. "She's too busy trying to coax me out of my clothes. She's pervy, but--"

"She's invaded two cities," said Rebecca. "Marched her troops into sovereign lands outside the borders of Empyrea."

"Well, yeah," said Adelaide. "When you put it that way, I guess--"

"And she's building an energy beam weapon to help her do it again," said Rebecca. "She's dangerous."

"I'll be careful."

Rebecca frowned. "Just keep your head down and listen. Report what you hear. Don't try to force it. Don't try to be a hero."

"I will." Adelaide paused for a moment. "I mean, I won't. Um... I will be careful. I won't try to be a hero."

"Adelaide! Bubala!" Chloe came trotting in with a crispy, brown piece of potato pinched between her finger and thumb. She blew on it twice before leaning forward and holding the potato slice to Adelaide's mouth.

"Friend Rebecca?" asked Chloe, as Adelaide wrapped her lips around the potato and the ends of Chloe's fingers at the same time. "Are you sure you won't stay for a bite? Daphne's really outdone herself on the seasonings and--"

Adelaide nodded vigorously, her eyes wide as she chewed.

"I feel like I've made enough of a nuisance of myself for one evening," said Rebecca.

Adelaide frowned.

"I'll leave you to eat in peace," said Rebecca, stepping through the front door and closing it behind her.

"Well, she was kind of a party pooper anyway," said Chloe, licking some of the butter that still coated her fingers from the bit of fried potato. "Hey, you want to sleep with me tonight?"

Adelaide paused her chewing to stare.

"Not for sex," said Chloe. "Just sleeping. It's late. If you don't feel like walking home, I'll keep you warm."

"The trolleys are running," said Adelaide. "I won't have to walk."

"I'm sorry. You probably think I'm trying to..." Chloe frowned. "I'm not. Tiara's my friend too."

"Oh, no..." Adelaide stopped, closing her mouth. Finally, she said, "I didn't mean to--"

"Are you two going to stand there gabbing all night?" hollered Daphne from the kitchen. "Or are you going to eat some of this before everything goes cold?"

Camina stuck her head through the kitchen door. "I promise I'll walk you to the trolley station if that's what you want to do, but you've got to have some of this

bratkartoffeln

first. Daphne's really outdone herself."

Chloe reached out to take Adelaide's hand. Adelaide grinned and followed her into the kitchen.

* * *

Empyrea City Rail Hub, ninety minutes later

"Oh for friend's sake," said Adelaide, staring at the time table with her hand on her hip.

"Not very reliable anymore, are they friend?" said a woman walking the other direction.

"No," muttered Adelaide. "No, they are not."

Adelaide took one more look at the words service suspended, written in white chalk over the times for trolley stop number thirty-one. She huffed a sigh and began walking.