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"Psionic powers take on many forms. Some of these come out of the need of your kind to adapt, but most are purely unique between two Chrea." ~Guide, Chapter 13

I awaken to the clacking sounds of mortar to pestle, grinding medical herbs to dust. Caroline was already dressed, making up medicine at a small wooden desk made for all sizes propped up in front of a mirror. The smell of licorice root, goldenseal, and skullcap also helped perk up my eyes. I was hoping we'd avoid salves this time around, I'd always fight using them and just walk it off instead. Unless Caroline pleaded anyway. I would soon learn just how much we needed them tonight, but now's the time for a good sunset stretch and tongue bath. I'm still yawning afterwards.

"Evenin'."

"Good evening!"

"Sweetie, could you be a tiny bit less loud? I'm still waking up."

"Happy to oblige, I need to heat these up anyway." Caroline touches the bowl and it seemingly starts to blush as it heats. She can't really light anything on fire psionically without aid, but it's just enough for medical or cooking purposes. I can't even do that, but we all have our innate capacities and talents. "You should be getting up though! You haven't even had breakfast, and it won't be long until we need to get moving." Just as I was about to ask for ten more minutes I began to hear a loud buzzing sound, from many sources yet perfectly in sync to a nearly suffocating hum. Thousands of tiny, seemingly restricted voices at once would be deafening if it wasn't for the fact that I was hearing them only in my head. I'm left clutching my forehead in my hand, an ache starting to form. "Alright, I'm up already! Who gave Travis a Mind-Speaking alarm? That blasted thing hurts." That startled Caroline enough to stop what she was doing and give me her full attention, after a quick glance at Travis. "Huh? Looks like he's still in sleep mode. Are you feeling alright?" My ears perk up in fear, something isn't right here.

<Hail to... bzzzzz... unknown hive... urgent danger. This is a royal request for assistance.>

"Okay, so no one else is hearing that?"

"Hearing what?"

"This damn buzzing, sounds almost like a radio request for help to just about everywhere but my ears. Travis, wake up. I need a scan of the area for any weird psi-signals."

Travis's eyes open, and I hear a beeping sound. Normally this time. "Um... I think I have something not far out from outside the inn. Doesn't appear to be malicious."

"Not malicious, sure. Just strong enough to signal me through rock walls!"

<We have contact! Drone 15743, I require a visual so they may see our dance!>

"Well, sounds like we're going to find out what it is."

<Oh, you are Singular? My humble apologies. Perhaps we should be present instead.>

"This should be entertaining. I think they're gonna try waltzing through our hotel laser grid."

Caroline was left scratching her left ear in confusion. "This... whatever it is, are they hurt?"

"Maybe, why?"

"Aria! How many times do I have to say that we can show a little less hostility now? First you punch out a trader and now this!"

"That Melas Zomos stand was Spartan, decking him could have only helped negotiations!"

Caroline was starting to growl now, a sign that I was on her last nerve. As my common sense woke up I began to cool off with a sigh. "You're probably right though. Travis, lower the forcefield. I'll unlock the door." It took a bit for my ears to return to a more calm state after that. "Right-o captain, the fryer's off!" Travis was still leaning against the wall next to the bed, but lazily gave me a salute before going back to sleep mode. I would have a talk with him later about being more present.

What was quickly transpiring to be the strangest evening I'd ever woken up to hadn't even come to a head, but I sure didn't know about it looking at what answered our room. In our presence was something very yellow according to Caroline's eye, constructed out of stacking rings to an oval-like shape. It looked as if it should be hanging out from a tree limb albeit quite stereotypical. You could tell after a deep observation though that this thing was packing. Though it was quite short, coming up only to my approximately 3 foot 11 inch body's kneecap, it was propped up on three jointed mechanical spider-like legs. One on each side and then a third at the back. The yellow paint in spots had given way to obvious damage revealing very thick plating underneath, and hints of holsters made to hold any imaginable weapon in once-secluded places. Clearly this is a Bee-Tank, a beehive adapted to either protect territory or trade for a living. It seemed to slowly walk toward and then around me, the front always facing my direction. It was as if it was in awe, or contemplating my existence. <According to our sensors, you seem to be a type of hive.> Thankfully this time around it didn't feel like these bees were trying to break my head in. I could now only feel one very powerful voice in my mind. The queen, no doubt. My head no longer hurt, but every now and then I could still feel a new presence throb in and out between different sides of my head.

"I... suppose you could call a colony of nanobots that."

<Yet you are a single Chrea, with autonomy.>

"As far as I'm aware."

<How strange, that none of our kind has ever met anyone like you before.>

"Bees being regarded as sacred constructs might have something to do with that."

<Pardon, I mean a swarm that can act for itself. Even royalty has a limit among insectkind.>

Now it's my turn to be surprised. "You sound pretty self-sufficient to me."

<As queen I have an extraordinary power compared to my subjects. Indeed more than most Chrea. Yet it is the power of many. If I were denied I would be just another drone, and the drones would be stronger but without direction.>

"I guess that answers one question, but what's with the painful Mind-Speak earlier?"

<We were Mind-Speaking on a wide range to whoever could be able to listen, attempting to contact the nearest hive, any hive at all.>

"So, a distress signal. But how could I even hear you?"

A few seconds of silence precede their answer. <We cannot say. Our Mind-Speaking waves can only be understood by the superior mental fortitude of other Hiveminds. This is a first time in known insect history that a Singular Chrea could even do this.>

"I suppose by Hivemind, the definition is typically a group of insects linked together mentally?"

<In a manner of speaking. Lesser ones such as drones are who we call the swarm.>

"Somewhat like a clan then."

<We are still worlds apart. Singular Chrea all can think and act for themselves, most of the swarm cannot.>

"I see... I think." Clearly I'm already in over my head when it comes to insects. Or is that our head? Either way, it's time to change the subject. "Y'know, if it wasn't for this old man you're riding around in I'd be a lot less welcoming." You could just feel the anger as the hive tilted itself to 'face' me with its one circular hole staring up to my face. <Old man!? Insolent cur, this is The Great Fortress Melitodes, not some dirty hovel! How dare you!> Caroline can't help but giggle. "Aria tends to personify machines. You tend to get used to it." My eyebrow arched, she noticed my confusion. "I couldn't hear them, but just look at the body language. It's like the hive moves to act out their emotions!" The construct spun around at surprising agility for its form, and lifted one leg in a waving gesture. <What impeccable young talent. Usually it takes a Sandmelter like yourself years of exposure to our dance just to say greetings and buy honey.> Caroline's eye camera almost seemed to smile, her face beaming. "Look, they're overjoyed!" Well, it was better communication than nothing. For the first time in quite a while I was actually having this seldom known thing called fun, but it was time to get to business. "I can't see how I can fix this without any raw material. You're looking at a lot of these armor plates needing to be completely replaced. That's only with a surface inspection." A hatch opened in the back, and plenty of honey-soaked odds and ends tumbled out. <There is no need, I believe we have enough scavenged material along with a payment in trade. Never forget this, for we are prideful.> It was indeed a ransom's worth in any market of all sorts of gently used product, I'm sold. "Caroline, where'd we pack the shop tools? Looks like I'll definitely need the PortaForge for this job."

A lot of arguing ensued, as one does when repairing an unknown object. How in the world a special mixture of honey could actually be used as lubrication, the application of fallen stingers as metal fasteners, the insistence that every single bee stay inside while I weld parts together, and the questionable color of yellow for the exterior. Finally after a few hours of work it is at least presentable, and I had to admit that I was proud of it. <Our scanners show we are sound of structure and completely mobile. Well done. We will incorporate the new parts as we always have over time, do not worry about how they stick out. As a symbol of our deep gratitude, among all bees you shall now be known as Solitaire. I find it only fitting to give you a hive's name.> I can only assume that this is a high honor presented as only royalty could. "Er, thanks. So, how'd you end up looking like you got run over by a T-Rex?" I didn't need Caroline to tell me they were feeling restless at recounting their journey. The hive's legs started to ease back as if recoiling at the thought. <This morning we were doing the daily menial work around our territory, scavenging pollen and discarded materials. Our mantra is the sacred human saying of "waste not, want not." In reverence of such we were in the middle of removing the armor from a... formerly alive Singular individual, and the wood seemed to close. All the foliage would converge in front of us, and then expand into one singular path going straight. None of us had seen it before. Something came from the side of that road.> So far that sounded like a load of scorpion socks, but I held my tongue. "You're saying that the entire wood just rearranged itself?" The legs started to shuffle against the floor, seemingly in embarrassment. <Royalty does not lie, lest the drones release their power. After that something unseen, it tried to restrain us, but... not physically. I can only assume our collective minds were too much to mentally assault all at once, or it was reflected back. Either way we were left half-paralyzed and sweet bait for a certain spider you may have heard about.> That part however was completely plausible either way. I sat for a few minutes thinking over a new mug of tea about a battle plan, and I conversate with the rest of the group in whispers. We're all in agreement about one thing, which only I alone can ask our new friends. "Let me give you a proposition: we just happen to be going back into that forest to smash that spider as bounty hunters. You wouldn't happen to have a hunger for sweet revenge, would you?" I'd still rather work alone but this is a clear opportunity for one heck of a backup, not to mention a guide. I'd be a fool not to ask. <Melitodes and a group of Singulars led by the Solitare, joining forces? What a tale we would have to tell other queens! We humbly accept your offer.>

"Oh wait, I just about forgot." There was an old leather belt in the pile, long enough to string pants across a Hog Oligarch. I cut it in half, and fasten both ends to the back of the tank. "Now I can carry you through the less predictable terrain." The hive lifts up its right leg in what I guess is protest. <Must we ride upon your back? We do not wish to be a burden.> As if to demonstrate, I lift the entire steel fortress up with one hand. "Don't worry too much, you're light as a feather to me. Let's get loaded up and moving, we're burning moonlight!"

As we exited the inn I looked up, letting myself marvel for a second at how this cavern is big enough to fit an entire roofed building within it. A fluffy poof with blue highlights and two tall ears seemed to be a part of the ceiling rafters until I could just barely make out the wings which were crossed along her chest. "Lyra? What brings you all the way here. Physically, I mean?" Seers, unlike the rest of us, can project their Psychic Imprint elsewhere. Usually to commune with the freshly dead, gather stories about their lives. Seers are the closest thing we have to historians really, since they chronicle information from different sources all of their lives. "Oh you know, Seer business. This seemed like quite the event." Another arched eyebrow for today, we're getting close to a personal record for daily bewilderment. "I don't know whether to be intrigued or concerned by that." You could hear a sound one would associate with a good and throaty laugh in bat speak. "You'll know soon. I'll see you later, Solitaire." Oh, how little did I know what ominous foreshadowing that was, for I still had a question burning to be answered after a split second with my head down in thought. "W-wait, I want to know... that time we were goofing off and just talking as a group with not much of a purpose. Will there be more of that? I really don't understand much of thi-" I turned my head back up and she had already flown off, yet another sign that up until that point I had never tried to take note of anyone around me outside of a few thin points. My entire life was focused on a singular but now defunct purpose, and I was just now learning how to actually enjoy the life that surrounded me in abundance.

At least I got an answer from Caroline: "Oh, I don't think we'll see a dull moment in this group for a long time!"