The Call of the Swarm

by Melani Matejak

  “He never attaches to his Eeols,” agreed Te 16. “Never gets close to anybody.”

  “Perhaps that’s not so dumb,” murmured Xe, reckoning Commander Ma might be smarter than he had assumed; bonding to nobody could in fact be a very successful strategy for avoiding the pain of losing a friend.

  Burdened with somber thoughts, Xe bid goodnight to his friends and went to sleep.

  That night a huge thunderstorm came. It didn’t cause any direct damage to the Hive, but heavy rains continued for five days; huge water drops pounded the ground and metallic vegetation, impeding Eeols in their food gathering activities. The Swarm was forced to dig into its meager honey stash again, and with the Hive full of Internals that was a pretty bleak situation. Eeols could do nothing but to wait for the sun to return, sauntering in frustration through the waxy maze of their green-glowing home.

  When the lead-gray canopy of clouds broke at last, the Supremes had to dispatch gathering swarms in a rush.

  “Eeols of the Swarm, be extremely wary,” cautioned Supreme BeraX7719 during the Morning Rally on the first sunny day. “Puddles are going to be everywhere, and Waterworms don’t forgive mistakes. Keep your eyes open and stay away of the water if you can!”

  “I would like to meet some Waterworms,” grumbled Da, clinging his hand gears as he was reminded of poor Pa 2 and his fate.

  “Don’t talk foolish,” whispered Xe. “Better say did you hear something new on Go?”

  Da shook his head.

  There was still no news about Go’s status. She completed her trials but it was still unclear if she was successful; it took time for the Board to make its assessment and this long period of uncertainty frustrated the whole unit. In the meantime, the young Eeoless was assigned to swarm number two to serve as a Gatherer until further notice, which put her out of her friends’ view.

  “Unit 33, in the line!” called Commander Ma from behind their backs, and the young Scouts complied with the order instantly. The Morning Rally has ended and all four scouting companies were commencing gathering on the floor of the Central Chamber.

  Xe still couldn’t figure out his new Scoutmaster. According to what the young Green had seen in this short time, he was not by any means a bad Commander and it couldn’t be said he led them without skill, but there was a total lack of contact on the personal level. With Commander Ce, things had been completely different. Since joining them, Commander Ma has never talked about himself and remained distant and unreachable. Xe wondered if it was his nature or simply a shield against frequent strikes of doom plaguing the Eeol existence.

  Nonetheless, unit 33 was doing well. Although reduced in numbers and subject to the recent change in the leadership, its performance did not suffer. After a brief initial period of adapting to their new Superior, things just clicked back into place and the unit was functioning perfectly. Commander Ma was not Commander Ce, that was crystal clear, but the Scouts learned he wasn’t a bad replacement either. And not surprisingly, Da grew extremely fond of him; undoubtedly those two shared many values and were a lot alike.

  Scouting company three headed in the direction of the Grasshopper Stone. The well-watered meadows displayed their splendor in full color, celebrating the mysterious force of life, but they were also interspersed with countless pools shimmering treacherously in the sunlight. Many looked quite deep.

  The company was ordered to land not far from the banks of one very muddy puddle amidst the beautiful burgeoning meadow dotted with white, blue, and yellow flowers which were just opening for a new day. Some remaining drops of dew still beaded the shaded parts of their stalks and leaves.

  “Scouts, take a look around and secure the area,” ordered the Mission Commander, monitoring with unease the dirty waves on the puddle surface. “No jabbering, no fooling around, particularly when close to the water!”

  Eeol patrols fanned out. Stiff and authoritative as always, Commander Ma took the lead of unit 33. Xe was just a step behind him, vigilant and wary but at the same time using the opportunity to observe his Scoutmaster without him knowing it. Other Scouts followed wordlessly, holding their blasters ready.

  The small patrol slowly neared the mud-spattered banks wreathed by a wide strip of fresh sprouts. Thick vegetation presented a threat no lesser than the water itself, and Eeols searched the rustling strip carefully; yet nothing appeared to dwell here, not even the Ants. On the other side of the pool they discovered only one unbelievably large Caterpillar, armored with multicolored metallic plates and bearing a double row of shaggy spikes running down its back. The dim-witted creature was gorging on brassy shoots, chewing with deafening metallic cracks.

  “We are lucky today,” said Xe 37.

  “Don’t take your eyes off the water,” warned scowling Da, gesturing toward the murky pool. “Waterworms are deceitful. The damn larvae lurk in silence and attack with terrible speed.”

  “Not going to happen on my watch,” said Go 6. “I won’t let them catch me off guard.”

  “Enough talk,” interrupted Commander Ma. “Back to the assembly point, Scouts.”

  With everything being in order, the summoning party was approved to leave for the Hive, which wasn’t far and they were able to bring swarm three in a short time. Its sweet buzzing was barely audible at first but gradually becoming louder and louder, and at the end the immense swarm inundated the fair meadow like a rolling red flood.

  The company was ordered to remain together with the gathering swarm, and for the Scouts that meant no more toil for the rest of a day, so their spirits soared and they unwound a bit. Unit 33 retreated to the shade of a low and weathered rock cracked right across the middle from top to the bottom. A bundle of green triangular leaves flanked it from the east, trembling on the ends of long thin stalks each time the mild summer wind swished through.

  “How is Go doing, what do you think?” wondered Le. The unit hadn’t seen her for several days, actually not since she had joined swarm number two.

  “I doubt she’s happy serving as a Gatherer,” said Xe. “Go’s a Scout. You can’t change that.”

  Le sighed. “I really hope the Board permits her to come back to us.”

  The rich and bountiful pasture was enabling Eeols to quickly fill their body tanks. Therefore, several times during the day, part of the swarm would go back to the Hive, hand over their precious load, and quickly return for the next refill. Nutritious nectar just flowed and flowed to their hungry suckling pipes and everybody wanted these fruitful moments to last forever.

  As the afternoon drew to its end, diligent Eeols were still busy with their work. Swarm Leader CaxaD7605 just couldn’t make a decision to call it off for today. But little by little, daylight was fading away. The dusk was coming mercilessly and the wind picked up, turning harsh and cold. CaxaD7605 was forced to urge his swarm to quickly prepare for departure.

  Commander Ma looked worried. He squinted at the reddish setting sun shining low over the horizon and pulled up his gray visor. The thickening veil of dusk was falling upon the landscape and visibility was decreasing rapidly. “No good. We held up too long.”

  “Still, Sir, today’s results are extraordinary,” noted Xe. Indeed, the swarm collected more food than on three average days. “And we aren’t far-flung from the Hive.”

  “Even so, Commander. It’s late to be out.” He shook his head. “Get ready to move, Scouts, and don’t forget to stick close with the formation.”

  On the Swarm Leader’s command, the whirling red mass soared to the dark skies. But in this dim-lit world flying proved to be a challenge. Stripped of its usual grace, the gathering swarm drifted cumbersomely and unevenly through the cold evening air.

  Visibility was poor and progressively growing worse, so Eeols cheered when they finally glimpsed the dark shape of the Hive looming not far ahead. Everybody was overtired and yearned for some well-deserved rest.

  But then a strange gust of wind arose.

  A huge shadow flew out of the darkness. The strange blur darted
by Xe soundlessly and he caught nothing but a flash of tin wings and a vague image of bog-eyed head carrying a lean coil for a snout. For one brief moment the startled Scout just hovered in place until horrible cries and blaster fire reached him from below.

  The swarm was gripped by chaos. Blasters were blazing in a wild frenzy as confusion made following orders impossible. Losing their orientation and any means of control, panicking Eeols were spinning in the air and smashing brutally into each other.

  Xe was diving blindly not knowing what to do. Passing the bottom ranks, he suddenly spotted Le almost directly in front of him and made a dash after her. But his friend’s course was an unnatural spiraling drop, and trailing behind her, the young Green got spattered with something warm and sticky.

  At the end of the long awkward spiral, she crashed on her belly on the hard clay ground. Xe was at her side instantly, although it was dreadfully clear nothing could be done as yellow blood spurted from the round hole pierced in Le’s neck. Her air-screw was still running, but at a slower rate with each passing moment; and then it stopped, her body sagging.

  Xe embraced the young Eeoless’s lifeless form, weeping painfully.

  “Killer Moth,” said somebody standing beside him. “It was a Killer Moth.”

  Xe raised his head and recognized Commander Ma, his face expressionless in the meager light of the last sunrays. There was also Da and several other Scouts from their unit, standing around in a semi-circle.

  A Killer Moth. A deadly carnivorous Moth hunting by night, agile and swift; being a mere glider with no air-screws, it was an incredibly silent flyer despite its large size. The dreadful creature used that as its main weapon, attacking without warning and fleeing back into the night like a shadow. Xe had never encountered one in the flesh before and would give anything for it to have stayed that way.

  “There are dozens of casualties.” Commander Ma’s tone was flat and official but not cold. “Many were killed in friendly fire in all that mindless shooting.”

  “We also lost Go 6 and Xe 60,” muttered Da.

  “The Swarm is now regrouping,” continued Commander Ma, ignoring the interruption. “We must leave this place immediately. Bodies are to be carried to the gorge first thing tomorrow.”

  Xe gripped Le’s cold arm, but then let it go. His Scoutmaster was right. Even this meager light was to vanish soon, and they couldn’t stay here.

  In the meantime, some order was restored, and with the aid of all the Commanders Swarm Leader CaxaD7605 gathered his Flyers and got them airborne. In the somber mood the wretched formation buzzed slowly to the black cone of the Hive.

  Night crept up swiftly to conceal the bodies that remained behind.

  17.

  The New Blood

  That morning at the Rally, Supreme BeraX7719 announced splendid news. The date of the First Flight for subsequent generation of Starters had been set, and it was to be held in two days. Reinforcements were necessary to keep up with the plans and ensure proper stocking as the bulk of Hive honeycombs still gaped empty.

  As usual, it was BeraX7719 doing all the talking while two other Supremes flanking him on both sides just stood there mute.

  “On First Flight day there will be no quests. During the training period at least one gathering swarm will be regularly seeking as long as weather conditions remain favorable. Starters should be trained in the shortest period possible, and that’s the Queen’s order. Keep in mind that large part of our forces left with the young Queen. The general loss since the last Flight has been substantial too.”

  Like we need to be reminded of that, thought Xe resentfully. And what would the Queen know about losses, sitting in comfort and safety in the deepest chamber of the Hive? When did she find herself threatened over the course of her life? Like never. She only gave orders, which was the only thing she was good at.

  “Flyers!” BeraX7719 suddenly raised his voice. “Keep an eye on our youngsters. It is going to be their first time in the outside world, and you can imagine what it will be like for them. You remember from your own First Flight how it felt, don’t you?”

  Xe winced at the Supreme’s words. His First Flight; how long ago it had been. He stopped thinking about the past, and with utter astonishment he now grasped the fact it wasn’t so easy to recall it anymore. No, he promised himself, I won’t let myself forget those great days.

  “And don’t be short-tempered, Flyers, as youngsters require lot of patience. No nervousness, no jumpiness! Fooling around in this early age is not a flaw but a right of the young, and they deserve some tolerance from our side. They need to be disciplined, but it has to be done gradually. Everything in its own time.”

  The young Green rubbed his visor as the Rally was adjourned and rivers of Eeols flowed in various directions going about their business. Maybe Supreme BeraX7719 was not so much of an old jabberer he had used to believe. To his surprise, as Xe was getting more experienced himself, he was actually starting to discover the importance of the Supreme’s words and actions.

  Contrary to that of a Queen, the position of a Supreme did not look so marvelous. Sure, it had some very appealing sides. The Supremes had a great deal of power and ruled the Swarm somewhat independently, often being able to set things the way they like it; not to mention the golden safety of their lives and many additional privileges. But it was a difficult duty that demanded a lot of hard work as they had to make complex plans to run the Hive, and at the same time deal with community issues, with Flyers and Commanders, resolving disputes and fighting disobedience. That meant life under constant pressure.

  Overhead, several Queen’s Servants were the last to leave the wax prominence following the Supremes’ escorts. Xe couldn’t figure out anything about their positions as he wasn’t sure how their lives really looked like. In theory, the Pages served as mere messengers between the Queen and the Swarm, but nobody could tell exactly what influence they had on the Queen and if their personal opinions affected her resolutions.

  Flying unhurriedly through the shuffling crowds of Eeols, Xe crept to his unit’s favorite patch of green-glowing floor close to the eastern wall. He found his gang stirring and gleeful, exchanging comments about something important.

  “Go is back with us!” Te cried when he eyed the approaching Green. “The Board assessed her able for Scout duty. It’s ridiculous it took them so long to make their decision, but better late than never!”

  “Look!” Xe 36 pointed. “Here she comes with Commander Ma. That means she is going with us on the mission straight away.”

  Commander Ma looked official as always with Go striding by his side. She has all rigid and her face frowned, and as she slipped past Xe into the array, she mumbled through the tightly clenched teeth, “I don’t like this fellow.”

  The young Green just pulled his visor on. What was there to say?

  Before exiting the Central Chamber, their company had to pause for a brief hovering in midair as scouting company one had to go out first. From his place, Xe could easily observe Wa 17 buzzing haughtily at the rear and that made him nervy. They haven’t had any clashes with him in a long time, but he was anxious that fights would rekindle sooner or later.

  Once outside, company three took the course toward the Ridge. Although the summer sun has been a scourge, it wasn’t that hot aloof and Eeols were flying peacefully. Unit 33 couldn’t resist gathering around Go and smothering her with questions, especially as their Scoutmaster wasn’t in sight at the moment.

  “Well? How was it to be a Gatherer? Talk!”

  “Horrible!” she gasped. “I can’t imagine a more boring job. It remained me of the honey-making days when we were Internals. The same mind-dulling system, the same drudgery! I was going nuts! And then the Flyers in swarm number two, I’m so glad I got rid of them. Idiots, show-offs, arrogant pricks! We had quarrels on a daily basis!”

  Like it was going to be much different here, thought Xe with concern. There was some kind of primal hostility between Go and Commander Ma and he
could feel it right from the start. Tactful Commander Ce had had a way of dealing with her, but it was clear things won’t go that smoothly with their present Scoutmaster.

  The area scheduled for the search today consisted of slightly hilly terrain covered by brassy vegetation of thin and scattered patterns. The Scouts had no problem spotting a nice grove of Paloma plants. Adorable pink flowers hanging in heavy grape-like clusters scented the air with a sweet odor that have been a true lure for hungry Eeols.

  But only as the patrolling troops spread out, the serenity of that fair place was interrupted by some deafening howls. The lookouts on guard were calling to everyone.

  “Come! Come to see!”

  In the blink of an eye, all Scouts gathered at the mouth of a nearby ravine.

  Partly hidden among the sharp-edged rocks, a familiar colossal figure lay motionless with his limbs flung in an unnatural way. The once golden armor lost its shine and acquired a dull yellowish color; raspy and weathered, it was crumbling away. Flocks of Carrion Beetles, no bigger than Eeol fist and gray as the slate rock, buzzed upon the scene by means of their miniature air-screws.

  “Yes, that’s a King,” confirmed Second Class Commander HoraN9637, standing the closest to the body. Her three years of age made her the oldest Scout in the company and her words were respected. “Or rather, that was a King. He’s been dead for considerable amount of time. Poor fellow. Perhaps even one of ours. Return to work, Scouts, there is nothing more to see.”

  Yet the crowd overheard her last remark, being shocked with sight of the grand and powerful figure lying broken like this. The Eeols could still recall how proudly the Kings had walked the floors of Hive and how they had intimidated everything alive when they assembled in their mighty golden troop.

  “How did he die? What killed him?”