Growing into the Job, Post 472: A New Valkyrie, p4 (Elina's POV)

I had to admit, these two girls had really done a good job handling this customer so far. The task our Shield Maiden/branch manager/Marjorie had put in our laps seemed pretty simple: handoff the products while building and promoting the Valkyrie Motors’ brand. Sig, the gear-geek that she was, had been doing well introducing our new flagship car with all its crazy features and technology, while our resident true-believer Inga might as well have been a missionary selling the Valkyrie mystique. I swear that girl probably dreamed of Viking ships and winged horses at night, and would probably eat Astrid Nilsen’s toenails for breakfast if she thought it would get her ‘closer to the All-Mother’. I mean, Inga was a waitress from the Midwest and only one-quarter Norwegian at best, if she was lucky. Despite all that, she’d been three sheets into the Kool-Aid and the most avid follower of Astrid ever since the bunch of us were hired and met at the training retreat in Sognefjord. Sig, too: she had an engineering degree from Gothenburg, and I knew she had her sights on moving up from this sales job, and onto the design team, where she would be able to spread her wings and help develop new concepts and innovations. She’d not only memorized the spec sheet for this XX Behemoth, but had gone in so deep she could probably rebuild the custom thing - or anything on the Valkyrie lineup, frankly -  from the wheels up. 

Sig and Inga, though, actually understood the most important thing about this morning and what was fueling my main drive in this handoff: that the hopes were that this ultra-custom job would be received well enough to spark more sales to the same group. Despite what we’d been told, though, I for one knew this custom job wasn’t just some company car for a medical practice. or even just the small pharmaceutical company that was taking care of the bill. The bankroll that wrote the check for this literal Behemoth - deep into the six figures, close to a mill after all was said and done - had deep, deep pockets and ties to a greater power. Eastern European, probably, from what I’d seen. 

“Omigosh I'm so excited for you to see this!”  our customer giggled in her velvety voice, standing behind her cute little boyfriend and pulling him in close. She was jiggling with enthusiasm, Inga was again ready to pop, and Sig was still reciting some details about the torque differential and software upgrades. Him? He just looked lost in it all, like was watching his world change around him and there was nothing he could do about it.

The anticipation, admittedly, hung in the air, thick and electric as we all stood behind the new car. Even I, I have to admit, was a little fangirly - the Behemoth was not only huge, but it was beautiful, utterly breathtaking. It was a perfect match for our customer.

Initially striking me as just a ditzy, overgrown office siren that, for all I knew, once shared a Hooters’ uniform with Inga, Melissa Monroe had a magic about her, some aura. I was admittedly a bit taken by her earnest, natural demeanor. She had this…charisma, and though I now understood she was part of some bigger purpose, and could be a key contact for me in the future, I still made it a point so far not to stand too close. She was, despite the fact that her IQ was likely somewhere south of her bust size, strangely enthralling, and I swear it had something to do with her perfume. Anyway, our little sales team of warrior-women had done a good job with her so far, and we were all looking forward to the next part of this handoff. 

“Are you ready, little guy?” Inga sang, looking like she herself would be all-too happy to plaster the dude’s face between her big ol’ cornfed knockers and call it a day. But even she was not as enamored with the little manlet as much as she was with this customer and this car. 

Even standing still, the machine that was this custom XX Behemoth seemed to breathe, like it was waiting for something. The deep magenta of its finish, which looked nearly black from some angles and shone like sorcery from others, was honestly gorgeous, like it was poured onto the frame from some giant, molten gemstone. It had already learned to speak, and though I knew its AI could be communicating with us through its exterior speakers, it was now unearthily quiet, as if readying itself, maybe practicing. Or watching. I heard these things did that. 

I prided myself on always being cool under pressure, but even I felt the pulses of excitement racing up my spine. Like I said, I knew this wasn’t just another handoff. It wasn’t even about securing some future sales anymore. This was a statement, the kind of spectacle that made Valkyrie Motors one of the most exciting companies in the world right now. And I wasn’t about to miss my chance to witness the moment unfold. I’d forgotten about what this all meant to the bottom line and my bonus check, and stood quiet. I had my arms crossed, and did my best to keep my manner composed. This moment, like all things, was about control. About watching as one more piece of the Valkyrie puzzle snapped perfectly into place. Still, I’ll admit it - seeing that towering machine standing proud in front of us, ready for the final part of its reveal? Even I felt that little flutter in my chest.

This sort of thing was what made this job great. I mean, the salary was peanuts, compared to what I could be making on Wall Street with my degree. The bonuses were, I guess, fine. The perks were kind of cool – I got that coffee tumbler last week for being a top sales girl, there’s the employee discounts, and free cosmetic surgery is nothing to sneeze at (wait you thought these 34-FF’s were natural? I guess the surgeons are getting better lol). But honestly it was what being with a company like Viking Motors, maybe not at the ground level but right at the point where it’s about to explode, that got me going in the morning, putting on my lipstick and push-up bra. My five-year plan was that I’d have a decent office in a real city somewhere, planning our next expansion or acquisition, maybe with my own team and a male secretary that was - by that point - three feet tall and sitting down at my feet. 

I may have been cool, Sig still nerding-it-up, and Inga bubbling, but the customer was by now radiating pure joy. Her hand rested on the Behemoth’s rear, like she was trying to feel its heartbeat, like it was hers. She’d been whispering little words to her boyfriend - Inga called him “Dr. Vulni”, that name he’d picked up online - half to reassure him and half to string him along, knowing something we all did but he didn’t. She was good at that - building suspense, or at the very least teasing. I admired it and took some mental notes.

“Jay, honey, you’re about to see your surpriiiiise…..!” she cooed, pulling him with her a step, now, back away from the Behemoth with a gleam in her eyes that reflected her new car’s magical finish. Her enormous tits in that tight sweater - I swear they were twice the size of Inga’s, and easily each twice the size of his head - hovered above him like a balcony or shelf. “I can’t wait for you to see what’s in the back!”

Dr. Vulni stood in front of her looking both dwarfed and utterly confused. His head tilted up at the sheer size of the Behemoth’s rear, brow furrowed, clearly trying to make sense of it. Whatever was coming, it was too big for him to even begin to guess.

He blinked up at Melissa, then back at the vehicle. “Surprise?” he echoed. His voice was small, unsure. Maybe he wasn’t used to moments like this? Being surrounded by girls? Or maybe we’d just done a really good job of overwhelming him. Whatever it was, he looked bewildered, and that’s what made this so much fun.

I shifted my weight, feeling the smooth fabric of my Saturday uniform dress (yes they make us wear something different each day of the week, but always matching the others) brush against my skin as I turned slightly toward Sig. I could tell she was chomping at the bit to give the next set of instructions. Her voice was steady, but I knew her too well to miss the edge of excitement in her tone when she finally spoke. “Okay, Melissa, we’re ready ready ready to begin. Just give the instruction we talked about.”

Melissa didn’t hesitate, her voice clear and confident as she looked at the vehicle and commanded, “Okay, Big Mama,” she enunciated, using one of the several, kinda silly nicknames she’d already come up with for the custom XX Behemoth and its hyper-advanced, proprietary Frea 3.2 AI, “Open Berth.”

‘Berth’? That's rich. 

Suddenly, a deep sound thrummed from the car, a low boom that then repeated and became a thrum-thrumm, thrum-thrumm. Inga, Sigrid and I all looked at one another - this is new and, uh, different - and Melissa’s smile broadened even bigger. The lock on the back gate of the Behemoth clicked, and the noise was to warn us of what was about to happen, like a backup signal. But, really, as the gate began to open, we knew what the sound really was supposed to be: the Behemoth’s thundering heartbeat. We were all here to share.

There had been a soft mechanical whir, barely audible at first when, with a slow, graceful motion, the massive rear hatch of the XX Behemoth began to lift, rising upward like a stage curtain about to reveal something monumental. The showroom lights dimmed and the smart-tinting glass that was the space’s walls darkened while several well-placed spotlights shone brighter, like those in a surgical theater, catching the glossy finish of the gate as it ascended, their softer reflections playing off the deep magenta and violet undertones. And the massive thrum-thrumming heartbeat continued, creating another moment with that unmistakable signature Valkyrie touch. Power, beauty, femininity. Strength and burgeoning promise. This, like its new owner perhaps, or maybe even the female body itself, was a machine made to move worlds.

As the gate lifted fully, there was a moment of silence, a stillness that felt like the calm before a storm. Intentionally, it was too dark inside the rear cabin to see anything. Then came the soft sound of hydraulics, barely more than a whisper, as a ramp began to extend from within the Behemoth. Slowly, smoothly, the ramp lowered to the ground, unfolding like a tongue unrolling from some great beast, its edges lined with that same magenta trim. It wasn’t loud, no, but it was purposeful. Deliberate.

I kept my eyes trained on the little man’s face, wanting to catch his reaction before he even knew what he was looking at - I knew I could learn something from this. His confusion deepened, his eyes narrowing as he tried to figure out what exactly was going on. What was this ramp for? Why the secrecy?

It was just a glimpse at first. In the dark of the belly of the Behemoth the signature double-X logo of Valkyrie Motors’ main automotive line appeared, lit, glowing magenta. It matched the monogram on the front of the Behemoth, though much smaller. It had pulsed on, but after only several seconds one leg of the second “X” began to flicker and then short out, leaving what looked like the distinctive “XY”, in pink, of our subordinate brand. 

The “XY” lit its surroundings just enough so that we could see that it was affixed, in the depths of the Behemoth, to what appeared to be the softest hint of a front end of a car nestled inside, the grill. 

There was a car inside another car. 

Or, more to-the-point, there was a male car in the berth of the female Behemoth. 

Then, even more-to-the-point, perhaps, the customer gave her second command:

“Okay Big Mama: PUSH.”

A low, warm magenta lights gently rose within, organically illuminating the rear bay a bit more, all while the pulsing thrum-thrummm of the car's heartbeat continued, if not deepened. I looked briefly at him, Dr. Vulni, gauging his reaction. At his first glance, I could tell what he was looking at, that whatever small car lay inside this huger one seemed almost familiar, as if he was seeing something from a memory, half-recalled and distant. He still doesn’t know. But did it, to him, look the same as it did to me? That this little car, with its meager “XY” emblem, was in the womb?

Sigrid had begun on about something about an adaptive suspension system capable of adjusting based on the weight inside, blah blah blah, reinforced air springs, hydraulic dampers, all allowing the Behemoth to maintain stability on uneven surfaces, even with the added weight of-

Push, Big Mama, push.

The magenta lights brightened, the small car inside began to move forward, slowly, as if pushed outward by the Behemoth. Dr. Vulni’s eyes were wide, transfixed already on the small car, still in semi-darkness. And then, finally, it began to crown. 

“XY’s are the cars we sell to men,” Inga had begun, speaking to the customer but really for her little boyfriend’s benefit as the spectacle began to unfold and the emerging car’s front wheels hit the ramp, “Or, more like, they’re the cars we sell to women so their men can have something to drive.”

“C’mon Big Lady, PUSH,” our customer urged in delivery, smile beaming, excited to meet the newest addition to the family, “Push him out..!”

“It’s company policy not to sell anything to men,” I continued in explanation, as the sleekly curved front end crawled forward. It was done in matte-gray, the same color, cool in its own way, as every vehicle in the XY-line. It was a look that was unmistakably Valkyrie, as were the brief accents of color - around the headlights, for example - that matched the finish of its dominant ‘partner’ (some might say haha ‘mother’) vehicle. It was a signature touch that connected the two vehicles together, perhaps claiming one as the other’s. “If anyone asks, our ‘no-sales-to-men’ policy is kinda like affirmative action, ‘righting the old wrongs of male oppression’ or whatever. That’s at least what we’re supposed to say.“

“wh-wh-what is this?” he finally asked, not hearing me but rather transfixed as more of the little car was coming onto the ramp which led out of the Behemoth and down to the ground. It dripped, beads of water from its skin. His eyes had widened as soon as the front bumper had come into view, smooth and elegant. He was struggling with the idea that he somehow knew this car but - I could see it in his face - it was different than he’d expected. 

Smaller, hm little man? I silently mused, amused, Much smaller. Almost...shrunk, huh?

More confusion crossed his face as he looked over the body of it. A coupe, yes, distinctive lines, a sloping cabin. He recognized some of it, but not all. The front end would look stunted to him, shortened. When his eyes landed again on the emblem at the front of the car, it was as if he was looking for something different than the Valkyrie Motors’ “XX” symbol with second leg of the second "X" sometimes still flickering in, a deliberate quirk in the design. I found that a subtle, nicely mocking touch, elegant in its own way.

It seemed to give him agita. 

The Behemoth's heartbeat had quickened, grown thunderous in volume. Wow, this AI is something else.

“So women are given big discounts on an XY vehicle whenever they purchase an XX model for themselves,” I said, over the Behemoth's thrum-thrumms, though I doubt he was really listening, “Valkyrie Motors wants as many of our vehicles on the road as possible, so we sell the XY’s basically at cost. But-“

“But you know men, sometimes, men and their cars,” Inga continued, in her enthusiasm interrupting me. I hate being interrupted, she knows that. ”Not every guy wants to give up his old car just to have one that matches his wife’s, or girlfriend’s-”

“So, in place of the discount for a new XY, a girl has the option of a retrofit kit,” Sigrid cut in, her deeper voice taking over from Inga’s higher one, “We call it the XY Rebirth Kit, an aftermarket package to change their partner’s old, probably gas-guzzling auto, from whatever manufacturer, into a Valkyrie, with a Valkyrie electric battery and powertrain. We give one kit out free to every customer with every XX purchase, and do the labor to remove the old internal combustion system and install the new one, if she doesn’t buy a new XY.”

“Or they’re available pretty inexpensively, anyway,” I added. “Valkyrie Motors isn’t looking at the Rebirth system as a profit source.”

“No,” Sigrid continued, chiming in with her technicals, “we don’t plan to make money on changing over the world’s fleet of old, male-manufactured combustion-engine dinosaurs to our new, modern electric technology. We’re doing it for the planet, for Mother Earth.” 

“Yeah right,” Ingrid quipped, earning her a glare from both of us.

Indeed, though, the new car being birthed from ‘Big Mama’ here, while carrying the Valkyrie paint job, and moving as silently as a Valkyrie electric, did not carry the signature Valkyrie lines. It was at the bottom of the ramp, now. It was a small car, striking me as about the same size as our company’s XY Sparrow, maybe perhaps even shorter front-to-back. But it was not, originally at least, a pureblood Valkyrie. 

Dr. Vulni blinked, and Melissa released her hold on his shoulders, and actually urged him forward, towards it. He stepped slightly closer, but he still couldn’t make sense of it. “What... what is this?” he muttered again softly, more to himself than anyone else. The car was larger than a go-kart, but not by a whole lot…more like a scaled-down replica of a real car. It still had a cabin, but looked like a one-seater. His voice was barely audible over the hum of the Behenoth’s ramp mechanism, which was now retracting. Its heartbeat had settled, noticeably quieter now.

“Good job, Big Mama,” I heard Inga say, “delivery went so good, and he’s adorable!”

I leaned forward, letting my arms drop to my sides, a small smile pulling at the corners of my lips as I glanced at Melissa. She hadn’t told him, and he hadn’t yet figured it out, but there it was:

“Your new car, Jay, a present from me,” Melissa said from behind him, her voice proud and full, “Ever since your divorce, you haven’t had a car. Sheryl took it away from you, it was hers. You’ve needed me, or the girls, to drive you everywhere.”

“wh-what is this??” he repeated again, taking another step on his own, closer. He was in shock, standing right alongside its flank. Next to him, the car almost looked normal sized. Did he realize she’d just given this to him?

Melissa smiled proudly. “Go ahead, Jay. You can touch it.”

At her bequest he laid a hand on it. ”It’s…warm,” he said. 

“It’s been inside Big Mama,” Inga offered. The Behemoth was now, I swear, purring.

“It’s…wet,” he added. 

Indeed, droplets of water glistened on its gray skin. 

“What do you expect?” Sigrid answered, with a big smile, “the Behemoth washed it for you, inside herself.”

“Do you know what it is now, Jay? Or, like, what it was?” Melissa purred, her voice deepened in the pleasure of pride and the anticipation of him knowing what we had done, what she had given him. The lights of the showroom were still dramatic, lighting all of us in spot, while the deep belly of the XX Behemoth glowed pink and alive. Its heartbeat, still thrum-thrumming satisfied around us, maybe almost proud of what it had just done, had started to slow. “This isn’t just any old car, sweetie,” she said, “This is my old car, I’m giving it to you.”

I couldn’t help but let out a small, satisfied breath. There it was: his surprise, poised and waiting. A modified BMW 2 Series Coupe - painted from its original white to the signature matte-gray Valkyrie color scheme, but clearly ornamented to match and much smaller in scale then its larger counterpart, which towered protectively over it. A car modified, built for him. For his size. The deep magenta trim made it look like an accessory, though, almost a part of the new Behemoth itself, like something you could tuck away and take out when you needed it.

“f-f-f-for me..?” he stammered, incredulous, “H-how..???”

“How did we make it so small small small?” Sigrid chuckled. 

“And are you afraid we’re going to do the same thing to you?” Inga giggled. 

Frozen, he turned his head from the car, his eyes bugged. He’d looked not at Inga, but at Melissa. Adorable. 

“Oh shush, she’s just joking…” Melissa purred, stooping a bit to speak privately to Inga’s left ear, “…you are joking right?”

“She’s joking,” Sigrid answered, “our mechanical team here are wizards, and they were able to scale down the frame and chassis, reducing the car in size-” She looked down at the short man, who - from her six-foot-plus height - must have seemed even more insignificant now than before.

“...Wizards yeah I guess but they’re not witches!” Inga giggled, “They can’t, like, with actual men, shr-”

“Haha that’s enough, Inga,” I cut in, my turn to interrupt before this conversation took itself somewhere it wasn’t supposed to go. “Sigrid, please continue? You were telling us about what they did to the old Beemer-”

“Yes yes yes,” Sigrid continued, still watching the little man gaze in awed wonder at the new XY retrofit, “It’s roughly two-thirds the size, a bit smaller, much of it’s reduction in length we were able to do in removing the old engine system and put in the battery and an electric motor. Otherwise everything else has been modified also. Like, the steering wheel, pedals, and seats are redesigned specifically for smaller people, to accommodate your…smaller body size. It should still offer the same luxury feel as before but in a, um, shrunken form.”

“And it’s safe?” Melissa asked, stepping up behind him and placing a possessive hand on his shoulder.

“Oh, yes, very,” Sigrid continued, “The seats are also fitted with better harnesses to ensure his safety during travel, and the more compact design with its tighter, more snug proportions are designed to fit his body perfectly.

“And it, can, like, get smaller?” Melissa asked, “If he…?”

“The Adaptive Controls for Smaller Drivers, like we talked about last month? Yes, the cockpit’s at its largest setting right now, but haha again our wizards were able to not only make driving this car easier for someone of his size, but the controls can be adaptively scaled down down down and simplified over time. And the seat is Frea 3.2 AI controlled, automatically adjusting as the driver shr…changes in size further.”

“You mean Big Missus will be in charge of this car, too?” Melissa marveled.

I wish I could see his face, but now he was blocked by her broad hips.

“Partly, yes,” Sig continued, “Your Frea 3.2 System has some integration into this XY retrofit, can monitor it and work with its autonomous driving system.”

“So, this is for me? Your old BMW?” he suddenly asked, ostensibly to Melissa but really to all of us, still sounding incredulous, “And i-it’s electric?” 

“It is, hun,” Inga interjected, “Isn’t that cool?”

Melissa’s Enthusiasm was unmistakable, and like another source of energy in the room. "I don’t need my old car anymore, I barely fit in it. And it’s perfect for you now, sweetie. Like it was made just for my little man."  

“It was, basically,” I said. We remade it, just like she was - if the rumors I’d heard are true - remaking him. “It’s really, super custom, much more involved than a normal XY Rebirth.”

“Wow, my god,” he began-

“Language,” scolded Melissa.

“Oh, uh, sorry,” he corrected himself, still coming to terms with what this all meant. As I understood it, and listening to what Melissa had said, he hadn’t had a car recently. So, this was a big deal for him.

“What sort of, uh, range does it have?”

“From the battery, on one charge?” Sigrid answered, still the best of the three of us on all the technical details, “About 75 kilometers. On a good day.”

“Th-that’s, uh…” He was trying to be polite. This was a gift, after all.

“That’s not a lot, no,” Sigrid continued, “the XY Rebirths aren’t able to handle the full-size Valkyrie batteries, and have to settle for a smaller version. It’s also got a lowered power output, partly by design, for safety. The top speed is now capped at 55mph-”

“You don’t need to drive faster than that,” Melissa interjected, her voice like that of a concerned mother, “Can we lower that if we need to?”

“Yes sure sure sure if you want,” came Sigrid’s answer, “The Frea system can handle that. It can also control the other safety features you asked for, like the collision-avoidance system and automatic braking, and the Autonomous Mode.”

“Yes yes!” Melissa laughed, “Tell me about that again!”

“Similar to other XY models,” Sigrid explained, straightening her jacket over her big shoulders, “this retrofit will allow the owner - you, Melissa - or another authorized Valkyrie to guide it remotely. Or you can leave it up to the AI. If you don’t want to berth the XY in the rear cargo space but want to bring it with you, you can also put the XY into “Leashed mode”, and make it follow your XX Behemoth wherever it goes, at a short, safe distance. Tryggt och säkert, safe and secure.’”

“Just like a baby duck following its mommy!” Inga sang.

I saw him stiffen at that, but haha he didn’t say a word. Sometimes what comes out of Inga’s mouth isn’t necessarily helpful, but she’s fucking funny.

“So, there are limitations,” Sig continued, “But we feel the environmental impact is worth the sacrifice in range.”

“And, it’s sooo easy to charge it, isn’t it Sigrid?” Inga chirped.

This, to me, was the fucking best part. We all now knew that the old BMW 2-series coupe was no longer the independent gas-powered machine it once was. Instead, it’s been modified with an electric motor and a battery system that, while functional, is significantly smaller than standard electric vehicles, mimicking the other limitations of the XY line.Take it away, Sig…

“Let me explain the Umbilical Charging system,” she began, with both the little doctor and the gorgeous, towering brunette listening attentively - though I could see the shock we all expected on his face. They all do that when we use that term for the charger with the XY Rebirths. Men and their egos. “Yes, the car will require frequent recharges - it can hold a basic charge but is really designed to work best when paired with an XX vehicle like the Behemoth. The charging cable from the XX Behemoth - you’ll see, it’s so cool cool cool - plugs right into a new navel port in the XY, precis som en navelsträng.” Sigrid was in her element now, her accent thickening - and a few words of her native Swedish slipping in - as she spoke.

“B-but it can, like, plug into a wall or something too, right?” he tried.

They all ask that, too.

Sigrid shook her head gently, in a practiced move, her blond ponytail swaying as she turned toward him with a soft smile. “Well, nej, nej, tyvärr inte, no,” she continued, “but that's the beauty of the system! It’s not meant to be dependent on access to an outlet or even the electrical grid at all. All it needs is its XX counterpart. The XY Rebirth models are designed to take all their charge from their maternal XX. That’s why we call it the ‘Umbilical Charging’ system.”

She paused, clearly aware of the small frown beginning to form on Dr. J’s face as the implications set in. I felt a twinge of satisfaction seeing that look. It’s always amusing watching the reality of these limitations hit them, and it’s all in the name of progress, right?

Sigrid continued, her voice smoothly melodic and professional. I love Sig when she’s in mech-nerd-Swede mode. “The charging cable extends from the Behemoth’s rear compartment and connects to the XY’s navel port. It’s quick, easy, and environmentally friendly. With the XX’s enormous battery capacity it can easily charge the XY as needed, while parked or while driving with it in the cargo berth”

“Like, a little embryo baby feeding from its mother!” Inga added. Again, maybe a lot, Inga. But I still found myself suppressing a giggle.

Our resident Hooters Girl’s little quip did bring another flinch from Dr. J. I couldn’t help but notice, though, that our customer Melissa, was positively glowing at the metaphor. She stood up straight, grinning ear to ear as if the whole setup made perfect sense to her. “That’s... amazing,” she said. “So it’s always ready to go, no matter what?”

“Exactly,” Sigrid answered, nodding enthusiastically. “As long as your XX is charged - and, remember, it pulls energy wirelessly, and it’s solar assisted - the XY will never have to run out of power. It can stay connected for as long as you need, allowing the Behemoth to recharge it on the move if you keep the little guy inside you.”

I watched Dr. Vulni still trying to process it all. The dude was clearly smart - maybe too smart for his own good, that was a thing these days with men - but emotionally he was in way over his head here. He might’ve been a doctor, but right now? He looked like a toddler trying to figure out a complex puzzle and deal with what he was feeling.

Melissa gave a little squeeze to his shoulder, leaning over to plant a kiss on his head. “See, sweetie? You’ll never have to worry about filling up at the gas station again. It’ll always be taken care of. I’ll take care of it.”

He nodded, though I could tell he wasn’t fully convinced. “And what happens if I…run out of charge? While, you know, on the road?”

Sigrid didn’t miss a beat. “Well, it’s important you know your range, and don’t stray too far. But, in the unlikely event that that happens, the Frea 3.2 system can direct you to the nearest Valkyrie outpost - like, our charging stations that in a pinch can fill in for your Mother vehicle, they’re popping up everywhere. Or, Ms. Monroe’s XX can always come to you and feed you a charge, even without Melissa behind the wheel. Its autonomous driving capabilities are impressive.”

“And,” Inga chimed in, “Can’t the XX models call the XYs to themselves, when they sense they’re running low on juice?”

“They can,” Sig nodded, “With the Frea system taking control of the XY’s autonomous driving.” 

“So the little guy will just come running, when he’s really hungry,” Inga beamed, “Like a puppy to its mama.”

“Yes, I guess…”

“And an XX can monitor the XY’s systems, know when it needs service, or repairs. Send it to us here at the car hospital or have it come to mom to kiss its boo-boos?””

Oh, Inga.

I saw the old, clanky gears turning in his head, like they did in every guy when they got their XY Rebirth still grappling with the idea that his “new” car, which would have otherwise symbolized independence, was now going to make him even more reliant on a woman - and a company owned by women. But that’s the beauty of it, isn’t it? It was written all over his face. He looked back up at the Behemoth, eyes flicking between the towering vehicle and the shrunken, reborn, ex-BMW. It was as if he was fully realizing the dynamic at play. Valkyrie Motors had designed the XY line not just for practicality, but to shift the balance of power. Men might look at a car like this and think they were still in control, but in reality, they were dependent - on the technology, on the women who owned the XX models. It was genius.

Melissa, though she was aware of it, didn’t seem to be bothered by his consternation. She was beaming, as though the connection between the two cars was just another way to reinforce their bond. “Perfect,” she said, her voice soft but full of excitement, “It’s like our cars are as close as we are, Jay-Jay.”

“‘Jay-Jay’?” he bristled, hearing her use the name that the car had assigned to him,

She only giggled, and hugged him close into her belly.

I was hoping that, maybe, we’d get a chance to give a demonstration of the charging. The ‘umbilical’ cord was so sleek, so elegant, it was actually really pretty with its pulsing pink lights and everything  -  but it was still obviously a physical representation of male dependence. I’d seen it lots of times before, and it never got old. When an XY plugged into an XX vehicle, it visually and symbolically reinforced that the smaller, weaker car needs the larger, more powerful one to function properly. This was exactly what we stood for at Valkyrie Motors - giving women the power to control their environment, their vehicles, and, in a way, the men who relied on them. It was all so elegantly thought out. Watching Melissa and her little doctor absorb the details, it struck me again how smoothly the model worked. The men wouldn't question it, not when the technology was so convenient, so seamless. They’d accept it without even realizing they’d become dependent. The bottom line will explode. It’s so fucking hot.

Just as I turned my attention back to the car, though, I noticed something strange. Inga was glancing at her watch again, the one I had already clocked earlier as not quite fitting with our look. She tapped it, almost like she was sending a message. Or waiting for one. She knew, probably better than anyone, that Astrid wanted all our attention on our customers when we were with them.

It was then that the  little Dr. Vulni, in a sudden fit of petulance, and cradled against Melissa like a timid child, decided it was the time to speak up. “So, with this…”Rebirth Kit”, the BMW’s performance is actually scaled back, it’s slower, has less range, and is less powerful than its original form, and I need to be near her car to charge it up?”

“Near or inside her car,” Ingrid clarified, with a big, brilliant white smile that she obviously thought was helpful.

He, kind of adorably, just shook his head, obviously slowly getting the picture that Valkyrie Motors, by  reengineering male-designed vehicles that represented a male-dominated past, was helping to bring the automotive world into the new world order.

“I think it just gives me the chance to provide for you even more, sweetie,” Melissa said. In just the short amount of time that the customer had been here, I’d been able to get a pretty good idea how much pride she took in being able to "provide" for him. It seemed like her drive to take care of every aspect of his life - including his transportation - was something that fueled her and deepened their power dynamic. “I’m giving you my old car, one that became too small for me but now made perfect for you. You couldn’t afford a new car, but that’s okay, I got it, I don’t mind. I love being able to give you everything you need, even all your energy.”

I could tell that - even though she was giving him a bit of independence that had been taken away from his ex-wife, this was making him feel even smaller, both literally and metaphorically. Melissa had gifted him with a car that was perfect for him now, but he could tell how it was just furthering his emasculation under the guise of care and love. Again: so hot.

“And even when you’re in your new car,” she continued, “you’ll still feel like I’m right with you, so you won’t feel sick to your tummy. Right girls? They did the perfume-thing?”

“Yes yes yes-” Sigrid answered, perking up, remembering the very particular mods Evolution Pharmaceuticals wanted done to the XY’s climate-control unit, “The car, inside, will always…smell like you.” Like all of us, Sigrid thought this was a weird add, but whatever.

Also, watching these two together and seeing how he’d been so far so accepting of these compromises to his autonomy, made me personally feel more confident about Valkyries future growth and my decision to take this job. I mean, god - or, haha, should I take a cue from Inga and say ‘By Astrid - this thing is going to explode, when more and more men are in these things, and women want the XX’s to get them there. 

I’m, admittedly, a strategist. Maybe it was my business years in undergrad and at Westhalll but I’m pretty much driven by numbers and analytics. Though I respect the cult-like power of all Valkyrie Motors’ branding, my primary focus is on the company’s success in terms of growth and business strategy. Inga, and a lot of the salesgirls here, see Valkyrie Motors as a sisterhood. She believes she is part of something bigger, a movement that celebrates the strength of women and carries on some ’Legacy of the Valkyries’. There’s something to be said for that, there is, it’s powerful. It’s just not 100% me. Annika, on the other side of the spectrum from Inga, is here for the company's technology and innovation. She sees herself as part of the company's future design and engineering breakthroughs, thinking less about the mythology and more about its practical impact. And there’s something to be said about that, too. 

I, though, see the company and my position in it through a business lens. I appreciate how Valkyrie Motors is disrupting the automotive industry and growing its market share, and I’m focused on the bottom line - both in the quarterly reports and my own bank statements. What I want to see is a logarithmic ascent in trajectory for both this corporation’s influence and in my own career.

Valkyrie Motors is a groundbreaking, female-owned and operated automotive company specializing in luxury electric vehicles with custom, futuristic designs. With a strong focus on environmental sustainability, cutting-edge technology, and elegant design, Valkyrie Motors offers high-performance vehicles tailored to accommodate a wide range of needs. Everybody knows this. When we look a little deeper, we can see how Valkyrie Motors aims to disrupt the male-dominated auto industry by designing vehicles that are both powerful and refined, catering to women who value strength, autonomy, and style. I mean, I did a paper on it for some class at some point: Valkyrie Motors wasn’t just founded to disrupt the male-dominated auto industry - it’s been actively buying up smaller, male-dominated companies for the past several years. What started as a strategic acquisition of small, niche electric vehicle startups has now grown into a calculated takeover of larger, more established automotive brands. As Valkyrie grows, it is not only absorbing or eliminating competitors, but also transforming the automotive landscape, reimagining it with female leadership at the forefront. Their ability to innovate and expand quickly has attracted attention from governments and female leaders, political and business-minded alike, and I wanted in. The company’s rise to prominence has, really, symbolized the broader societal shift toward female empowerment and dominance.

Looking at these two together, Melissa Monroe and Dr. Vulni standing next to their new, inequal Valkyrie Motors creations, was a watershed moment for me. His was a symbol of man’s shrinking independence, hers of woman's growing strength - physical, political, and financial. Seeing how the balance of power between these two people had tipped so dramatically, and watching them alongside theIt patently matching automobiles was a stark reminder of this, and made me see a pretty bright projection for Valkyrie Motors, for myself, and for my gender. Who wouldn’t want this? I thought, realizing that these things are going to sell like hotcakes. Dominating men and coddling them into insignificance next to our growing importance, it seemed, could make good business sense. The Future, as they’ve been saying, is Woman. 

This is going to be so much fucking fun.

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thank you to RiF for his edits :)