Dorothy let Lisa, her maid, help her undress. The woman neatly put the clothing away, or aside for laundering. She brushed out Dorothy’s long hair as Dorothy removed the makeup from her face, sitting at a vanity table.
Dorothy was thinking about Relena.
The woman would get herself into trouble is someone did not take her in hand. It was obvious that the fact that her brother and Noin were gone, and many of her friends not close by, and Hiro was missing, had put the vice minister under a great deal of pressure, above and beyond that over her job. Her actions were understandable, but could not be allowed to continue as they had been.
It did not serve her interests that anything happen to Relena’s authority, the air of power about her. She had been the queen of the earth after all. No, it would not do to have her caught up in such unpleasantness.
There was also the fact that this was temporary. Relena was a strong woman, and would overcome this soon enough. There was also no doubt, to Dorothy’s mind, that Hiro would return. No, in a short time Relena would be back to her old self.
Dorothy was planning on taking advantage of that time.
To have someone like Relena in her power was something of an intoxicating wine to her. Dorothy always had enjoyed power, and she would enjoy it as long as it lasted.
She smiled at herself in the mirror. Relena would not enjoy herself much, but then again, she suspected that Relena was looking for a little punishment. So be it. Dorothy would provide it.

Morning came with a dim light of the colony’s dawn. The huge mirrors outside were directing the sunlight into the structure, mimicking the effect of a sunrise.
Relena came awake a little before the light entered her window. The washed out colours of the gathering illumination played upon her eyelids and awoke her.
She sat up in bed, yawning and stretching, for a moment content to be refreshed and in a warm, soft bed. Only a few moments later did the memories of the previous night come back with a force that almost caused her to gasp.
She blushed in memory of it and dropped her head, wondering what she was going to do.
It was at that moment that the door to her room opened and Dorothy strode in. Dressed in the faux aristocratic dress of OZ. She smiled at Relena and said, “It is going to be a beautiful day. Of course that is in the schedule for today, beautiful weather.” She walked to the windows and pushed the curtains back. “I do find the controlled weather of the colonies to be dull at times.” She turned to look at Relena. “There is a bathroom through there,” she indicated a door to the side, “you should get cleaned up.”
“Thank you,” Relena said in a small voice as she got out of the bed, pulling on the sheets with her as a covering. It was ridiculous to be conscious of something like modest after the night before, but the covering made her feel better.
The bathroom was modestly appointed, offering a shower stall instead of a bath. A shower was all she needed however, and she was soon standing under the hot water, letting it wash the remaining lotion from her body. She washed her hair with the herbal shampoo and lathered her body with a soap that smelt of lavender.
When she exited the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her breasts, hanging the middle of her thighs, and another wrapped around her hair, she found Dorothy and Lisa waiting for her.
“Lisa will help you get ready in time, vice minister,” Dorothy told her.
“Thank you,” Relena said after a moment, her throat gone momentarily dry, suddenly afraid of discovery. The night before she had almost wanted someone to discover her, now, the thought terrified her.
“Vice minister,” Lisa said, her voice respectful. She indicated the chair in front of the vanity, obviously wanting Relena to sit.
The respect in the woman’s voice steeled Relena. The maid did not know of the truth. She crossed the room and took a seat.