But Xe didn’t budge. “We can’t leave without unit 25, they saved us all! We must go to their rescue! We owe them that much!”
“They are Flyers. They will understand,” hissed the Swarm Leader in an ice-cold voice. “Execute your orders, Commander.”
Instead, the young Scout was just getting more and more upset. “We have to help them! You can’t decline. I oppose that!”
“You are not in charge, Commander XeraM6697,” growled the Swarm Leader, starting to lose his temper. “Therefore, it’s not your decision to make. I remind you, I’m your Superior, so control yourself or I’ll get you suspended.”
“I’m not returning!” howled Xe, stumbling his feet against the rocky ground. “This is outrageous! I’m going to see the Supremes over this!”
“And they’ll tell you exactly the same thing. Enough of this! I’m not going to quarrel with you, Commander. I have other duties to attend to. You have your orders and I expect you to follow them.”
He proudly spun his air-screw and buzzed off to the foot of a small hill in the vicinity. Having the back protected by its hard cone, the bulk of the gathering swarm assembled there while the numerous patrols still rounded the area to grant safety until the final order for departure.
Puffing and steaming, Xe turned around and found his entire unit standing behind his back. The Scouts were probably there for some time, and by the looks on their faces Xe could guess they disapproved his conduct. He had no problem figuring out that HotoL8785 took advantage of their presence, choosing to pull out of a messy situation and leave his friends to bring him to his senses.
“That’s not right!” he cried, anticipating it would be in vain. “Can’t you see it? Any of you?”
“It’s not up to us to make such judgments,” said Go 6, clicking her hand gears. “Really, it’s not our call. Or yours, Sir.”
“The Swarm Leader made his mind up and there’s nothing we can do about it. We are here to obey the Superiors. It’s our duty, and we have to follow their orders,” emphasized Le. “Besides, unit 25 might be dead by now,” she added in a low tone.
“Orders are orders,” stated Da, though not as loud as customary. Three other Xes by his side shook their heads in agreement. Te said nothing but looked at the ground, avoiding eye contact.
“Please, Sir, reconsider,” pleaded Go 12.
Xe had no choice but to give in.
His air-screw buzzed abruptly as he practically leapt in the air. “Ascend, unit.” His voice resonated with bitterness and apathy. “The swarm two is on the move.” Indeed, the red mass deployed at the hill base has commenced lift off with Eeols soaring in long red lines.
Surprised by such a sudden reaction, his Scouts stared for a moment, but then pulled together and followed him up, relieved that the unpleasant situation was resolved at last.
A short time later the gathering swarm two cleared the rocky zone. It headed back to the rich meadow where it was feeding previously; a huge open plain dotted with blooming Farra plants. The pasture there was so abundant that scouting company three could fly directly to the Hive to summon their swarm to it too. Their Flyers were already out of their minds anyway with the long wait they had been forced to endure that day.
Yet Xe refused to return to the meadow. He had to talk with the Supremes straight away and left his company to look for them. Those were not his orders, but the Commanders kept mute and were willing to close one eye on his behalf due to the emotional strains of last mission. So while swarm number three was leaving the Hive, the young Commander descended to the underground as members of the Supreme Command were usually in their quarters at this time of day.
Situated at the Subterraneous Level 6, the Supreme Command quarters were strictly separated from the common areas. That was a special complex having its own hallways and contained two dozen chambers, including one opening to the honeycomb. Some rooms here were used for meetings and the main one called the Principal was so spacious it could take in all the Commanders of the Swarm. The complex had a single entrance, formidable wax gateways where a small group of sentinels stood day and night; access was limited and anybody wishing to see the Supremes had to obtain a permit first.
Xe hailed the guards keeping watch at the gate and formally requested an audience with Supremes. But there was no need for them to deliver his appeal as almost instantly Supreme BeraX7719 showed at the entrance followed by two Commanders from his usual escort, HegoT8330 and PeraX5291.
His face was disclosing austerity. “Commander XeraM6697, I know why you are here. I was notified about what happened there in the rocky zone. Be advised, Swarm Leader HotoL8785 has the full support of the Supreme Command.”
Xe balked. “How…”
“He has done well. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”
Young Scout shook his head. “Permission to speak freely, Sir.”
“Denied. Your Superior acted in a way he had to, so the case is closed and there will be no further discussion. Is that understood?”
Although he was boiling inside, Xe submitted and bowed his head. “Yes, Supreme.”
“Dismissed.”
Xe left the underground gritting his teeth. He couldn’t settle down and continued to wander aimlessly through the corridors, never being so angry in his whole life. So, good Flyers had to die for the well-being of the community? And that was supposed to be the rule of the Swarm. Xe feverishly rubbed his visor. Who was to determine that anyway? By what right? No, the rule had to be wrong.
Then a strange idea occurred to him; the Swarm had to be wrong.
Just a second later, Xe shuddered regretting such a horrid thought. He certainly never thought that before. Throwing it away quickly like it was tainted, he decided to go to visit the Watchers’ Chamber by the Gate. He might get some news there.
The Watchers on duty hailed the young Scout, recognizing him from the other day.
“What’s the word?” asked Xe hopefully. There was no need for him to explain things; news traveled fast in the Hive and Watchers were more than well informed on the incident in the rocky zone by now.
The Master who was standing the closest to him pursed his lips. “Still nothing on unit 25. Nobody has seen them since they left that crevice you were hiding in.”
Devastated, Xe hit one elongated sliver of wax. “I tried to help them. I truly did, there in the rocky zone…but the Swarm Leader wouldn’t let me. There was nothing I could do for them.”
The Watchers around him kept silent.
“Then I went to see Supreme BeraX7719, who turned out to be pleased with the Leader’s choice and refused to hear me out.”
Yet while Xe was talking, some specks of red showed on the already darkening sky.
The Watchers couldn’t believe their eyes as they were looking through monitoring holes of the chamber. But the specks grew into red bodies, and shortly afterwards the unit 25 landed on the Gate sill; all nineteen of them, alive and well.
Delighted, Xe took the quickest way to the Gate to greet them.
“You have no idea how glad I am to see you!” he said blissfully to Scoutmaster TeraX8891. “We were afraid you were dead!”
TeraX8891 smiled sourly. “It was indeed rough. This was the most terrifying and mindboggling mission. Still, here we are.” Other Scouts of unit 25 nodded in agreement.
“That’s what is the most important. Come, you’ll tell us inside. We’ll have a great celebration over this. I can’t remember the last time I was so happy!”
The resurrected unit headed to the underground to report their amazing run. At the same time, the gathering swarms began to return to the Hive as it was nearly sunset, and with everybody doubling back to the Central Chamber once they had finished with their loads, the huge room was filled up to repletion. Soon the Scouts of unit 25 showed up and jolly Eeols celebrated their homecoming long into the night.
Scoutmaster TeraX8891 was talking in length about how they had escaped the Flies.
“We put a
ll our strength into speed, and when our chasers lost sight of us we slipped into one deep gully to hide. We kept quiet there until it was safe to leave. Then we slowly crept through the shadows, narrow passages, between boulders, and somehow managed to sneak out of the rocky zone in one piece… flying home in a small party such as this was a challenge on its own, but again, here we are.”
Commander Ce nodded listening from nearby. Xe was by his side helping him walk as he still limped considerably due to his sprain.
“This is going to do wonders for Swarm morale,” he commented. “The Supremes will be satisfied.”
“The Supremes,” grumbled Xe. “What did they do?”
“You are angry, young Green, and with no reason.”
“No reason, Sir?” Xe said accusingly. “How can you say that?”
His Scoutmaster shrugged. “Unit 25 is safe and sound, correct? And scouting company three was saved from the Flies without a single causality, wasn’t it?”
“I didn’t say I’m not grateful for both, Sir.”
“You and our unit were commended by the Queen herself. Plus, Swarm Leader HotoL8785 agreed not to lodge a formal complaint regarding your conduct so your record stays clean. Therefore, why are you whining, my young friend?”
“You are partly right, Sir, but the principle…”
“I wouldn’t dwell much on that so-called principle of yours. You think too much, Commander XeraM6697, and that’s one nasty habit you seemingly just can’t get rid of.”
14.
Escorting the Queen
Despite all the calamities, Xe felt a little better in the following period. Perhaps he was just getting accustomed to a tough life. Scouting remained dangerous and full of violence, and they all earned a few extra scars, yet unit 33 was doing really well on destroying Flies; on one occasion, they killed as many as six Stripped Hammerheads.
In the meantime, partly by Commander Ce’s instructions and partly by simply observing and copying his actions, Xe was learning the skill of leadership. Some other Commanders also gave him a lesson or two. His tutors didn’t have a difficult job as the young Scout was a natural, promising to develop into an excellent leader in the future.
That afternoon was sultry without a puff of wind. The Scouts had just secured an area in a quiet grove of fragrant Whitebells and were now awaiting the arrival of a gathering swarm. Their armors were glinting bright red in the sun while they were keeping guard; neither the smallest stir could escape their eyes or the faintest rustle their ears.
“Go is recovering,” said Da as their patrol paused by some old stump of Buddi Buddi, all rotten and covered by metallic fungal outgrowths. “I talked to her last night. She thinks she is going to be able to return to scouting.”
“If only it was true,” sighed Le.
“Let’s hope for the best.” Then Da remembered something else and looked at Xe. “What are your new quarters in the Commanders’ Area like, Commander Xe? You speak nothing of it.”
Xe shrugged. “There’s not much to say. Fine, I suppose.”
The chamber he got as a Commander was significantly bigger than the previous one, and he resided there alone, but it didn’t matter much. After all, the sleeping chamber was just that, the sleeping chamber, and Xe spent very little time in it. Eeols preferred to socialize in the communal spaces, not in their personal quarters.
The additional good news was that Da was better too. He started behaving normally and sounded confident again. The death of a friend left a scar in his heart, but he obviously found some way to accept it, although Xe couldn’t say how exactly; Da talked nothing about it and nobody asked him anything in return, reckoning that would only make things worse.
At their rear, gleeful as always, Te admired snow-white floral petals of the nearest Whitebell blossom. He was the only Scout in their group who seemed to remain pure and untainted from their early days. It was like nothing in the world could ever dampen his spirit, and Xe squinted at his friend with a slight touch of envy.
Heralded by the soft buzzing, part of scouting company three reappeared at the pasture. The sheer immensity of the gathering swarm reddened the scenery all around, but something was different today; flurry and commotion reigned upon red ranks, and Eeols stirred and swiveled restlessly with some boundless excitement.
“Great news! Great news!”
The Swarm just had a momentous event. Deep in the Hive belly, the young Queen was born.
Nobody could remain cold at that and their stay at the pasture was shortened significantly, as every single Flyer was craving to get back home.
The Evening Rally commenced early that day to host the grandiose event. Curious and overjoyed, Eeols of the entire Swarm huddled in the Central Chamber to witness the spectacle. Even the Internals were allowed to be present and strolled the luminous floor inquiringly, unfamiliar with vast dimensions of the chamber they so rarely visited. Matures were pinned up all over the fenestrated walls; squeezed between other Scouts, Xe was sparkling with excitement.
Followed by members of the Supreme Command and about a dozen Servants, an elegant figure clad in majestic gold arrived on the waxy prominence making each helmeted head bow in the highest respect.
The young Eeol Queen was indeed an impressive and most beautiful sight. A golden helmet framed the fresh and fair face half-shrouded by a light visor. Her golden armor was shining brilliantly even in the weak illumination of the Hive interior; ten golden batteries, five above every hip, ornamented her waist. Despite being twice the height of regular Eeols, her every movement was harmonious and full of grace, and when she spoke, her voice chimed tenderly like silver bells.
“Greetings, my dear Swarm, my dear siblings.” She smiled sweetly, standing a bit wobbly as she was still affected by birth sickness. “Thank you all for the warm welcome. It’s a pleasure and privilege for me to stand here before you.”
Her eyes revolved around the Central Chamber. “Let me see you better.”
Tapping her long shapely legs against the waxy surface, she propelled herself into the air with melodic but powerful buzzing of her golden air-screw. Followed by four Servants, she made several circles low under the ceiling while the charmed Swarm gazed at her in admiration, holding its breath with awe.
After returning to the prominence, the young Queen waved to the multitude one more time and then Servants took her to the underground again; not by means of the Main Tunnels but by a special mysterious route reserved for this occasion only. There were royal quarters at the Subterraneous Level 6.
“This is a big day for our Hive,” stated Supreme BeraX7719 grandly, closing the Rally, and the gathered Eeols started to part.
“It was about time for her to show up,” muttered Commander Ce while leaving with his Scouts. “She’s late. The summer is well underway and theseason of Kings is nearly finished. Supremes will have to hurry.”
Not to mention the fact the Hive hadn’t seen a young Queen for three seasons in a row. Last year both Queens in the Royal Room succumbed to a malady in the primary stage of development, and a year earlier no Queen succeeded to hatch for unclear reasons while the Queen getting caught in a sudden tempest during her Flight perished before she had time to take cover. This time, failure was not an option.
Over the next several days the Hive ran feverishly with all necessary preparations. Only the young Queen flew around jobless and merry, and the waxy network of hallways twinkled with her melodious laughter from dawn until the nightfall. Tailed by a large group of Servants at all times, she strolled across the Hive exploring it; everything was new and exciting, worthy of her interest.
Xe found her enthralling, but the glorious event had one aspect he had completely failed to comprehend.
“To leave our Hive, Sir?!” He grasped his red helmet in consternation.
“Nothing is set yet,” said Commander Ce plainly. “The Supremes and the Queen are about to decide who is going to depart with the young Queen when she leaves our Hive to found her own. Nonetheless, yo
u must prepare yourself for that possibility just like everybody else. And why do you look so surprised? You knew this all along.”
Sure, Xe had heard of the Swarm division procedure before, as a matter of fact very early in his life, but he never actually took the time to think about it nor was he truly aware that he could be affected by it. “Yes, but still… Sir, I don’t want to leave our Hive. I admire our young Queen and respect her a great deal, but this is my home.”
Commander Ce shrugged. “Then hope the Superiors don’t pick you.”
They parted and Xe went to meet his unit in the Central Chamber, seeking more comfort than the consult. He knew that his eventual departure would be forever. Once the young Queen departed with her accompanying units their native Hive would never see them again. Eeol Swarms didn’t maintain contact between themselves, not even when the blood ties were in question.
Positions of other Scouts from unit 33 could be summarized as resignation. To travel beyond the boundaries of their present territory, far into the unknown, that was not a pleasant idea, yet every Eeol had to serve the Swarm and abide by the rules. There was no other way.
“If the order came, we go. It’s our duty,” stated Da with assurance in his words.
“We must,” added Xe 4 and swallowed.
“I don’t mind leaving that much,” said Le quietly. “But the first several nights we would have to spend out in the open until a provisional shelter is built, and that sounds scary.”
The small crowd hushed.
“How many Eeols are going, anyway?” asked Go 6 to break the awkward silence.
“Hard to tell,” reckoned Xe. “Maybe one third of the Flyers.” Naturally, Internals were out of the question. “The Queen is going to determine that. Always the Queen,” he mumbled almost inaudibly.
All quests were temporarily canceled. The four scouting companies were instead instructed to scour the enormous area the Wedding Flight of the Eeol Queen would require. For the next couple of days, they cruised across the blue summer skies combing their territory, and one after another the Scout reports came in.
The Call of the Swarm Page 15
