In Service of the Queen

In Service of the Queen

by Davina Lee

An alternative future of women and their adventures

*

Author's Note

In the previous chapter, Friend Adelaide seems to be settling into her life aboard the Empyrea Corps hospital train. She still writes letters to Tiara, but more and more she's given up hope of ever reuniting with her lost love.

But, as we know from past chapters, when a gal's got her friends at her side, she can do anything. This chapter exemplifies that theme and shines the much needed light of hope over Adelaide's life.

The events in this chapter take place about a month after Adelaide joins up with Empyrea Corps.

* * *

Story text and Empty Spaces song lyrics copyright (c)2024 WaxPhilosophic

* * *

Chapter 25: The Show Must Go On

Dresden Hauptbahnhof (Main Station)

Adelaide stepped down from the coach car, onto the wooden stool just outside the door, and finally onto the platform itself. In her right hand was her bag of medical supplies. Cradled in her left was a box of lollipops. Adelaide shuffled to the side to avoid a series of cracked and uneven tiles on the platform as she distanced herself from the train car.

Several other nurses filed out behind her, each carrying their medical bags. From another car, teams of women working in pairs carried down long folding tables and began setting them up beside the train. Adelaide looked down the length of the platform and saw the long line of people queued up, held in check by a team of women in the navy blue uniform of Dresden's

Polizei Sachsen

, directing them to the end of the line.

Adelaide placed her medical bag on the table nearest her and thanked the woman who brought out a folding chair. Another chair was unfolded and another nurse set her bag down on the table next to Adelaide's.

"Hi, Rose," said Adelaide.

"Hey, Addie. Long time, no see, huh?"

"Very funny," said another nurse, setting her bag down on the other side.

"Maria, hi," said Adelaide.

"The three amigos ride again, it seems," said Maria, moving her gaze from Adelaide to Rose.

"You bring your lollies, Maria?" asked Rose.

"Right here." Maria patted the box next to her medical bag.

"Lots of kids here today," said Adelaide. "I couldn't see the end of the queue. I hope we have enough."

"I hope we have enough everything," said Rose. "Dresden felt the Empyrean wrath at its worst when they decided to stand and fight. They're still picking up the pieces, even now."

"Yeah," said Adelaide, looking around at the steel structure of the train station with nearly all of its glass tiles missing. "This platform's pretty beat up."

"This?" said Maria. "This is nothing. I heard most of the city burned for days."

Adelaide shook her head. "I'm honestly surprised they don't hate us."

"Fortunately, news of Empyrea Corps got here before we did," said Rose. "

Pro Nobis Omnibus

. For us all."

Adelaide nodded. "For us all."

"I used to think it was bullshit, you know?" said Maria. "Something that sounded good for a recruiting slogan and looks nice printed on a banner. But the longer I'm on this train. Well, I'm glad I decided to sign up for six months instead of the weekend gig."

"Maybe by the end of it, they'll trust us to do something more than vaccinations," quipped Adelaide.

"Maybe," said Rose. "But I do like seeing the kids' eyes light up when I hand them a lolli."

"There is that," said Maria.

* * *

Five hours later

"Is anyone coming to relieve us?" asked Maria.

"I dunno," replied Rose. "You hungry?"

"Friend Adelaide's blood sugar gets low sometimes," said Maria. "I don't want her passing out."

"I'm fine" said Adelaide. "I'm not--"

"Give her a lolli," said Rose.

"I'm not having a lolli," said Adelaide. "Those are for the kids."

"Well, what else are you gonna--?"

Rose's words were cut short by a shrill, sustained whistle from beyond the station. As soon as the sound fell silent, another long whistle followed, filling the air. As people began turning their heads toward the approaching locomotive, it tooted out a short blast and followed it up with a final long whistle.

"What in friend's name is that ratty contraption?" said Rose, getting to her feet.

"No idea." Adelaide stood as well and settled her eyes on the old iron locomotive, shrouded in a cloud of steam and smoke, and chugging into the station on the tracks opposite of where the Empyrea Corps hospital train was parked.

The locomotive's brakes squealed and its cars lurched.

"Where did they find that old relic?" exclaimed Maria, as the smoke began to clear, revealing a stout, black steam engine.

No sooner did the engine let out a final hiss, than a lone woman came bursting through the door of one of the train's coach cars. She was dressed in a miniskirt, a crop top, and a kitchen apron. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail with several strands coming loose. The woman held a large wooden spoon in her hand that she waved in the air over her head.

"Listen up, friends," she hollered. "If anyone out there knows how to fix a malfunctioning stove before my soup goes completely cold, I swear to you I will bear your children. I've got sturdy hips, big tits, and I come from good family stock. So who wants to give it a shot?"

"Daphne?" mumbled Adelaide, staring at the woman waving the spoon.

"You know her?" whispered Rose.

"Yeah. Where's Emilia?" Adelaide craned her neck, glancing around at the Empyrea Corps volunteers milling around on the platform. "Emilia? Has anybody seen Emilia? The engineer's apprentice. Where is she?"

"Miss? Miss?" said a child, standing on the other side of Adelaide's table. "Can I get my shot now?"

"Huh...?" Adelaide looked down at the little girl who was bouncing on her toes. "Sure. Roll up your sleeve."

The girl pulled up her sleeve, closed her eyes while pushed her arm out for her jab, and finally looking at Adelaide, she said, "Is that it?"

"Um, yeah..." said Adelaide, as the murmur of the crowd around her began to swell. "Oh you want your lollipop?"

The little girl shook her head. "Nuh-uh. I want to see the priestess," she said. "Mom said I couldn't go until I got my shot. Am I done?"

"Yeah," said Adelaide. "You're done."

As the girl ran off into the gathering crowd, Adelaide stood up, looking around. From behind her, Emilia appeared.

"They said you were looking for me?" said Emilia.

"Huh? Oh." Adelaide threw her arm over Emilia's shoulder and leaned in as she pointed toward the train. "You see that woman over there waving the soup spoon?"

Emilia nodded.

"Go fix her stove," said Adelaide, "Fix her stove and tonight she'll make love to you so hard you won't see straight for a week."

"She'll what?"

Adelaide moved her hand to Emilia's back and shoved her forward. "Go, Emilia. Just go. Trust me."

"Greetings, friends!" shouted a voice from the direction of the steam locomotive.

"Viv?" muttered Adelaide, standing up again and craning her neck. "I swear that sounded like Vivienne."

"Who's Vivienne?" asked Maria.

"Old friend of mine," replied Adelaide.

"The Mabon Priestess has love for you all," hollered Vivienne. "But please remember kindness matters. No pushing or shoving, please."

From up ahead, beside the train, there was a wooshing noise, followed by a shower of flower petals floating down in the air. A cheer of voices went up soon after. When Adelaide was finally able to take it all in, she got to see Cosette, dressed in the flowing robes and leafy crown of the Mabon Priestess, stepping out onto the platform flanked by two women in billowing white robes.

"Bounjour, friends!" hollered Cosette, raising her arms to the sky. "Though the season is still early, I come to you today bringing good tidings and Mabon cheer!"

The crowd sent up another cheer.

"Merci! Merci!" said Cosette, waving. "We have a proper Mabon festival planned for you today. Right here at the station. Tell everyone you know. Tell them to come to the station. Mabon is here, friends."

The driver of the steam locomotive let out a long blast on the whistle and the crowd went wild.

"As this year's priestess, I send my love to you all. And, I must tell you I could not do this alone. The Mabon Priestess has her faithful druids by her side always. And my druids will be preparing a feast for you, friends." Cosette extended her arm to where Daphne stood, raising her soup spoon high in the air.

The crowd cheered again.

Stepping down from the car behind Cosette's, four women in druid robes were wrestling with a large open top grill they lugged down the stairs. Two more druids were unpacking a tent and getting it set up.

"And there's more. Druid Chloe also has a clothing exchange on the Mabon Priestess train." Cosette motioned to Chloe, who waved from the door of the next coach car down the line. "Bring the things you've outgrown and leave them behind. Find something more your size and take it with you."

In the crowd, several mothers were smiling and their enthusiasm spread to the children at their sides.

"We also have druidesses with seamstress skills for little repairs you might need," continued Cosette. "And for everyone's enjoyment, we have music."

Another cheer rose from the crowd as Danielle, with her pink and purple dyed hair, stepped down from the train and onto the platform with an acoustic guitar slung over her shoulder. Right on her heels was Taylor, sporting her long blonde hair and dark roots, and waving to the crowd. She too carried a guitar over her shoulder.

When the duo started strumming, a hush came over the assembled group. Danielle and Taylor began wandering together among the people gathered at the platform and beyond. Their performance soon erupted into a lively instrumental selection that involved as much pounding on their guitars like a drum as it did picking and strumming.

"And we have a favor to ask of you, friends," said Cosette. "On our train, we have brushes and paint in all colors. My druids and I would be delighted if you could lend your talents and add some Mabon cheer to our drab coach cars with your artwork."

"All I ask is for your patience as we get things prepared. And if anyone would like to volunteer to help, please see Friend Vivienne, my chief druidess. She can direct you to where help is needed."

Adelaide turned to see Vivienne raising her hand and waving to the crowd. "Viv," mumbled Adelaide. "Why am I not surprised you and Cosette at the center of all this?"

"Enjoy the festival, my friends!" hollered Cosette.

"You know these people?" asked Rose.

"Yep," said Adelaide. "Chief druidess number one over there is my roommate from back in Empyrea City. The Mabon Priestess is her girlfriend. The ones with the teased out hair are with a band we used to hang out with."

"Wow," said Rose.

"Yeah, no doubt," said Maria. "You never said you know, like, everybody!"

"The Mabon Priestess," said Adelaide. "She was the leader of

La Résistance

."

"I always thought you were making that up," said Maria. "When you said you were part of the resistance, I mean. I thought you were making it up, because everyone was always asking about your sister all the time, the famous dirigible pilot who brought down Elysium."

"Yeah," said Adelaide. "I wish I were."

"Sorry," said Maria.

"Bad memories?" asked Rose.

"Something like that," said Adelaide.

* * *

"Addie!" shouted Vivienne, running over with her arms wide.

"Overdue for vaccinations, Viv? You sure picked an out of the way place to get your jab."

"Ha, ha," said Vivienne, stopping at the front of the table between her and Adelaide. She eyed the dwindling box of lollipops. "Your blood sugar must be pretty low, Addie. A whole box?"

Adelaide reached into the box and picked up a lollipop to hand to the little girl still touching her finger to the small, round bandage on her arm. "Go tell your mom you were very brave, okay?" said Adelaide. Then she stood up.

"Vivienne," said Adelaide, grinning from ear to ear as she stepped around to the front of the table.

"Addie," said Vivienne, wrapping Adelaide up tight.

"As soon as I saw that old steam engine chugging into the station, I had my suspicions. But when Daphne came out waving a soup spoon and offering to trade sex for fixing her stove, I knew. Who else could be behind a plan so half-baked?"

"Transportation logistics," said Vivienne, totally straight-faced. "Getting things people need to where they need them. And let me tell you, the people need some Mabon cheer, Addie. Look at them."

Adelaide paused to survey the crowd around her. Women in druidess robes were hustling this way and that. Some of the local women were tending to the skewers of vegetables roasting over wood fired grills. Children were running around with paint brushes in their hands, stepping up on stools to decorate the train's coach cars in wild, rainbow colors. Music from Danielle and Taylor's guitars was filling the air as people clapped along.

"If this is transportation logistics, Viv, then I'm the Mabon Priestess."

Vivienne whirled around to stare. "Cosette's the priestess this year. Pay attention, Addie."

"I know, Viv. I was making a joke."

Vivienne opened her arms and pulled Adelaide into another hug. They stayed entwined for several seconds. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" asked Vivienne, eyeing the two nurses as she finally let Adelaide go.

"Vivienne, meet Rose and Maria." Adelaide gestured to each woman in turn. "They're both nursing apprentices like me. This is my crazy roommate from Empyrea city, Vivienne."

"Hi," Rose and Maria said simultaneously.

"You planned all this?" asked Rose.

Vivienne nodded.

"That's brilliant!" Rose exclaimed.

"Everywhere we go is so somber," added Maria. "I mean, I get it. It's the aftermath of a war, but... This is so uplifting."

Vivienne leaned in. "Don't tell anybody, but Mabon's not officially scheduled for another month. We're here early."

Vivienne threw her index finger over her lips. Rose and Maria grinned while Adelaide rolled her eyes.

"There's going to be a concert later," said Vivienne. "You ever heard of Deus Contra Machina?"

"Oh, dear friend, you're kidding, right?" said Rose. "They rock."

"The original line-up?" asked Maria. "I heard they broke up."

Vivienne shook her head. "Nope. Just a short hiatus while the Mabon Priestess and

La Résistance

got things straightened out back in Empyrea City."

"The original line-up?" asked Adelaide, swallowing hard.

"Yes, Addie. All of them. And they're playing tonight."

"I don't know if I'm going to be able to make it," said Adelaide. "There's still a lot of work to do here."

Vivienne turned to Maria and Rose. "Do you think you two can handle the vaccinations by yourselves for a little while?"

"Oh yeah, sure," said Rose.

"Easy peasy," said Maria. "It's been slowing down ever since the priestess train pulled in."

"Good," said Vivienne, grabbing Adelaide by the ear. "I need to talk some sense into Friend Adelaide here."

"Viv, please."

"She's here, Addie. Tiara's here."

"I don't think she wants to see me."

Vivienne latched onto Adelaide's sleeve, squeezing it tight in her fingers. "Addie, I swear..."

* * *

Shortly after sunset that same day

Cosette was walking up and down the station's platform, kneeling to give hugs to any children who approached, and waving goodbye to the ones resting on their mother's shoulders who were too tired to raise their heads again.

"Thank you," whispered one of the mothers. "Thank you so much."

"Happy Mabon, friend," replied Cosette.

Farther down, toward the station's main entrance, Deus Contra Machina was setting up their instruments. After a short burst of feedback, Taylor pulled a microphone from the stand and brought it just under her chin.

"Happy Mabon, friends!" she said.

A cheer went up in response.

"Once the little ones are out of earshot, we'll get things cranked up. We're Deus Contra Machina, by the way."

Adelaide turned her gaze to where the band was warming up. She moved her eyes from Taylor, still holding the microphone, to Danielle ducking under the strap of her electric guitar, to Camina, adjusting the height of her drum throne.

"Where's our bass player?" Adelaide heard Danielle asking. Both Taylor and Camina answered with a shrug.

Adelaide turned her head away.

"For friend's sake," said Danielle, "if she's passed out again somewhere--"

Before Danielle could finish her thought, Tiara stumbled onto the stage from behind Camina's drum set, tripping over a cord and crashing up against her bass amp as she came.

Adelaide looked up toward the noise. As Tiara threw her hand out to steady herself, her eyes met Adelaide's. Just as quickly, they both turned away.

"Go talk to her, Addie," said Vivienne, standing beside Adelaide.

"She's probably too busy," said Adelaide. "Her band's performing."

Tiara stumbled backward, crashing into Camina's cymbals, before recovering her balance by resting her hand on top of the kick drum.

"I don't think busy is the word I would be choosing right now," said Vivienne.

Danielle stepped up to the microphone. "Just a moment, friends," she said. "A few technical details to work out on stage." Danielle covered the mic with her hand while leaning over to Taylor and whispering in her ear. "She's trashed" she said, glancing sideways at Tiara.

Taylor nodded slowly.

"What do you say we start with the acoustic set? Maybe do some ballads? Give her a chance to sober up and get it together?"

Behind them, Tiara sat slumped in front of Camina's drum kit and reached out for her bass. She pulled it down off its stand and a loud clang echoed from the amplifier as she laid it over her lap.

"Camina," hissed Danielle. She held her hand at the level of her neck and made a slicing motion.

Camina stood up from behind her drum set and made a dash for the amp's power switch, just as Tiara was bringing her hands to the strings.

"I do not need this," said Danielle, ducking out from under her electric guitar to reach for her acoustic. "That girl's a menace these days."

In the front row of the audience, Vivienne was standing with one hand firmly on Adelaide's shoulder, and her other pointing toward the stage.

Taylor turned to join Danielle in picking up her own acoustic guitar. Tiara had slid to the side and was now lying on the floor with her bass resting across her hips. She was plucking out a rhythm that no one could hear.

Danielle stepped up to the microphone again. "Small change in plans, friends. I promise we'll get things rocking, but for now we're going to start things off with something a little more mellow."

Adelaide turned around and began to walk away from the stage. She never made it past Vivienne, who now stood with both hands on Adelaide's shoulders.

"We might need a little help from the crowd, though," said Taylor. "If anyone knows the words and wants to sing along, we'd love to have you join in."

"I'm not doing this, Viv," said Adelaide. "She's been here as long as everybody else. She never came around. Even now. It's obvious she doesn't want to see me."

On stage, Tiara's head lolled to the side, but her fingers kept moving.

"Just a guess here, Addie, but I don't think she's in the right state to be making decisions about things one way or another. Maybe you could talk to her."

Adelaide tried again to make her way around Vivienne.

"Addie, I swear," said Vivienne, catching Adelaide by the elbow.

"Viv, please. Just let it go." Adelaide wiped at the corner of her eye. "It's better this way."