Deus felt this realm shatter once again. In one time line her staff induction was interrupted, in another, reality focused on Emma and Liz. She wondered what happened to her while that was taking place. Deus assumed time passed as normal but she wasn't entirely sure. Her presence in this reality may have been corrupting it in ways even she didn't fully understand. As powerful as she was, she was not omniscient.
If she continued to study this reality, she realised she may actually gain some level of control. She wasn't entirely sure if she wanted that though, she sort of enjoyed it's free-wheeling unpredictable nature.
Right now, events for her seemed to be happening in a largely linear fashion so intervention wasn't really an issue. She blinked several times as she regained her concentration.
"I think that's all the basics covered," Natalie said to Deus, "Any questions?" she asked.
Deus shook her head. She had found the induction both intriguing and baffling. The procedures in place for ensuring payment for work and handling money seemed far more complex than those dedicated to protecting the safety of the individuals in the buildings. It seemed mortals were really hung up on money. She wasn't oblivious to its usefulness but to her, it was merely a system of exchange.
She knew she was living this life now and should pay more attention to what the inhabitants found important.
"I was thinking of starting you off facing," Natalie said.
"Facing what?" Deus asked.
Natalie laughed, "You've got such a great sense of humour Deus," she told her. Deus stared blankly, "It's just a fancy word we use for tidying the shelves. All the merchandise should 'face' outwards. It's a never ending battle, customers can make a real mess when they want to." Deus nodded in comprehension.
"Now don't take this personally but I usually team the shorter girls up with someone taller. I'm not short and I struggle to reach the top shelves myself. That way you aren't climbing on and off the kick stools all the time as you work down the aisle," Natalie explained.
"That's very considerate of you," Deus said.
"Well, it's not your fault. Why should life be made harder for you?" Natalie asked rhetorically.
Natalie didn't see Deus's eyes glow briefly as she took five years off her age as gratitude for her kindness.
Natalie felt distracted slightly as she felt her skin tingle. "Don't thank me yet." Too late Deus thought. Natalie pointed down the aisle to a taller, dark haired woman. "I'm teaming you up with Charlotte. Consider it a baptism of fire. If you can handle her, you'll probably be able to deal with anything in the store." She waved Charlotte over.
"Charlotte, this is Deus," Natalie said, introducing them. Charlotte looked the smaller woman up and down without saying a word. She'd already heard about the new member of staff. "She's going to be helping you with the facing. When you finish come see me." Natalie walked off, discovering she had slightly more spring in her step than she expected.
"You better get a kick stool," Charlotte said pointing to one on the other side of the aisle.
"Natalie said that wouldn't be needed," Deus stated.
"Yeah, well my back is killing me, you'll have to help with the top shelves too," Charlotte said.
Deus tried to locate the source of the pain in Charlotte's back so she could rectify it but she couldn't sense it. The woman was clearly lying to her. She was curious why. Deus's eyes briefly flashed as she compelled Charlotte to speak nothing but the truth temporarily.
"I think you are lying about your back pain," Deus said.
"Of course I am, I'm just being petty about reminding you who is in charge between us," Charlotte said as she gave a confused look at the words that had just come out her mouth. She spoke again in attempt to correct herself. "What I mean is, I intend to make you do most of the work because I consider myself senior even though we are actually equal." Charlotte placed both hands over her mouth now shocked by her compulsion.
"I think we should get started," Deus said unemotionally.
"I have trouble trusting others, so I expect you to make a complete mess of it. I don't think I want to stand near you, if I'm blurting all this stuff out," Charlotte said as she turned around and walked down the aisle. Now without a witness Deus rubbed the fingers and thumb of one hand together. Dozens of items on the shelves rotated by themselves into the correct position.
She was aware technically she shouldn't be doing it this way but Emma hadn't said she wasn't allowed to use her power, just that she should do the tasks she was assigned.
Composing herself, Charlotte turned back round to see a large section of the aisle faced off already. "You are really good at this, I'm regretting not being more friendly towards you and acting like a total bitch," she said before the shocked expression returned to her face.
"Maybe you should think about your actions more carefully," Deus agreed.
"I think there is something wrong with me. I can't stop telling you what I really feel. I think I might need a doctor or something."
Deus could see tears starting to form in Charlotte's eyes. She decided she'd learned her lesson and dispelled the effect. "I'm actually happy you are being so honest," Deus said as she walked over to the kick stool.
"You won't need that. My back is feeling a bit better, I think I can manage the top shelf," Charlotte said, feeling a sense of relief that the half truth came out her mouth, as such.
—
Up in the office Emma and Liz were talking. "I'm going to need more than a chuffing first name to register her as a staff member," Liz said as she hunched over her computer.
"Can't you work your magic?" Emma asked. She knew Liz was a wizard when it came to working the company IT system. In some ways she almost considered her as powerful as Deus when it came to computers.
Liz groaned, "There are multiple forms she should have filled in with all the relevant information. You haven't even seen her identification, she might not even be allowed to work in the UK," she explained to her manager. Emma had told her vaguely that Deus had some extremely useful skills but Liz was completely flummoxed as why Emma had completely circumvented the company's standard recruitment procedures.
Emma looked at her pleadingly. "Come on, please," she begged.
Liz sighed, "We have to sort out her payroll too. Okay, I need a passport and her national insurance number, minimum and I can put her through as an emergency temp."
Smiling Emma picked up the phone on her desk. "I'll call her back up here. I'm sure she'll be able to manage that," she said hopefully. She had absolutely no idea how any of that stuff worked where Deus was concerned.
"And pray Gemma doesn't spot I've added Deus to the system," Liz said referring to the HR rep, "or the shit really will hit the proverbial," she warned as she typed on her keyboard.
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