บท 4: "The whole hive?"
"Did you say mate?"
I asked in sheer confusion. Why does this thing want to mate with me? Did the fact we are different species and the fact I'm literally less than a day old in this current body occur to the creature I was about to follow up my previous outburst with another when all of a sudden the the creature emitted a high pitched screech followed with.
"Forgive this one little spawn! I have yet to display any courtship ritual yet. I encourage you, watch my dance." So I did, I watched as this alien apex predator took a step back, hunched down a touch and proceeded to shake its lower body back and forth profusely whilst its neck extended and un extended rapidly. Now whilst this performance may have made any would be bug species other than itself in the area aroused. To me, it was just plain bizarre.
Whilst this 'buggy lap dance' continued I suddenly had a jolt go thorough my brain as to the reason for this strange event to even concur. 'It has to be my boon!' I thought ,not using my psionic link with the dancing bug, no way would such a strange turn of events happen it should have called me mate as maybe it doesn't understand the concept of love? So its displaying mating instincts towards what should be a little snack.
"What luck" i once again thought. Though good or bad? That truly is the question. Turning my focus back to the lower body now jutted in my face up and down, up and down I decided now would be a good time to get out of here
"Ex- excuse me, while I enjoyed your dance ,truly I did, I would really like to get out of this bin, can you help" As I said those words, the bug turned around and instantly put its massive head right up against my face. "Does this mean you accept this ones courtship dance?" Blood chilling in my body at the speed in which it went from dancing to an inch from my face. "As much you would want me to say yes" I started. "This isn't how my species does 'courting' there is a what we call 'getting to know you period first and secondly, I'm only a day old my species doesn't reach 'mating readiness' till 16 years-"
I paused. I could feel the 'emotions' of the being Infront of me all of a sudden although it may not have currently understood them i could as the details of the second half of my boon came into my head 'pragma, eros, mania.' longstanding, sexual and obsessive love. This being even if I said no would not care it would still take me away and care for me and probably imprison me somewhere waiting till it can forcefully mate with me. so I continued.
"However, if you can wait on mating until then, ill accept your courtship ritual." I finished awaiting a response.
Freethinker variant #1700354 stood silent for a moment it succeeded? This was its first dance and its mate accepted. Another gleeful pheromone released into the air and could feel the rest of the hive feel similar through the suppressed connection. Especially the queen.
"This is most acceptable mate-spawn now lets get you out of there- "Wait!" I exclaimed "Your scythes, you cant exactly picked me up." I said worrying some accident may occur in its excitement "Not to worry mate-spawn, this one called silk drones over they shall make a pouch for you on this ones thorax." As it said this 2 bugs about the same size as myself crawled up its body. Compared to the 5 meter killer, these 2 were nothing to talk about their appearance was very similar to ants but with no discernible head just a small set of mandibles. " These drones purpose is primarily making inside of nest spires safe for eggs but also scavenge up little bits of biomass left behind by main swarm in battle. They shall make you comfy."
As it said this one drone jumped from her thorax down next to me and started spitting up some gossamer onto my body. It was surprising dry and not that sticky I already could tell by this point that everything these bugs from now on there was zero chance that they would intentionally hurt me, so I just let it do its thing. Once done with me, I was essentially swaddled and pulled from the bin by the other and stuck into a makeshift papoose onto the giant bugs thorax.
"Surprisingly comfortable." I relayed to it. "Thank you."
"This one needs no need no thanks, nor do these drones the hive will do all its able for you mate-spawn" Now out of my bin bunker the predator-cum-buggy bus left the alley and what I saw was quite the sight death death everywhere dead bugs dead humans blood ichor an other bodily fluids covered the street. I took a few moments to compose myself. Maybe all the games in my past life desensitised me a bit but I could accept that this kind of thing happens in war as ugly as it was. 'Though the smell...Ugh.'
My new transport must have felt my emotions though our link and tried to reassured me in its own way "Do not worry little-mate-spawn all the biomass you see before you will be repurposed as food and new warriors nothing will be wasted." It seemed proud of its self as it said this.
"Yea, as great as that is, can we get away the smell is a bit nauseating to me."
"Of course"
As it turned in the other direction of the fighting that was going on a little in the distance, more questions came to me that needed answering.
"So, you say you are part of a hivemind? you don't seem very 'hivemindy' to me." I asked.
"Yes this one is but one limb of the great hive. However, this one is a freethinker variant we are designed to help the queen brain with commanding drones and giving orders therefore are given autonomy. we are still connected to the queen and she can take over us as pleases as we are still her." it said.
"So what does this queen of yours think about one of its 'limbs' wanting to mate with an alien?" I asked confused by the fact that if this creature was a basically someone else how would be given free reign to court me.
"I don't understand mate spawn? You already agreed to our courtship, nest world is already making preparations for you to come be with us." The freethinker stopped, cocking its head confused by the question.
I looked up in astonishment and thought to myself. 'Did my boon effect the whole hive?'
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