Formicidae Chapter 01
#1 of Original Writing
Two colonies have been on the brink of war for years, skirmishes on the borders and espionage tactics keeping them on the edge of open battle but never quite falling into all out military action. But the winds are changing as the Queen of South Colony begins to take more drastic measures to set themself in position to take over the North Colony from the inside. In the midst of all of this, new colony members will rise to the challenges- Liza, a newly assigned scout discovers that South Colony may not be the only enemies to fear, while young drone Alix will discover that all is not as it seems at home either.
Giant drops of water fell like bombs across the landscape as Zak scurried from cover to cover, carefully following the scent trail that had been left for them by the scouting party. They cursed their ill luck that the weather had turned so bad on today of all days. There wasn't a colony member alive that wanted to be out while it was raining, least of all a drone like themself.
The sky was dark. Water crashed into the earth to their left, and they had to turn and roll to the right as quickly as possible to avoid being clipped by it. Flying was out of the question of course- there was no way they could risk their wings getting torn in this rain. Big globes of water twice as big as themself caused explosions in the earth, granules of dirt and debris flying every which way. It would only be worse in the air. Clinging to the ground they at least had a chance.
Still, they kept their wings pulled tight to their exoskeleton. Like any drone, those were their pride and joy, and they didn't want to risk them getting damaged. Besides, it wasn't just vanity that made them guard the translucent and oh so delicate appendages. For their mission they were going to need every ounce of appeal, and damaged wings were not likely to win any popularity contests.
"Some fucking luck," they grumbled to themself. They ducked under the shelter of a large expansive twig, folding their body underneath the overhang of it just in time to witness another pelt of water flood their vision. They could only hope the scent trail would be intact after this. Some stray balls of water bounced under the twig, bursting across their feet before they had the chance to catch one, bringing it to their lips for a much needed drink.
The morning had started so well, too. They recalled the conversation with their handler Xerai right before they had sent them out to carry out the mission.
"Are you ready?" Zak's handler had asked. They felt the words tingle through the air in vibrations. A small, confident smile spread easily across their face.
"I was born ready," they said without a moment's hesitation. Turning to face the worker they shot them a wink. "Come on Xerai, you know I'm the only one for the job. I've aced all the training regimes, and I've got the scent kit ready to go. Their Queen will never know what hit xer."
As Zak spoke they patted their jacket pocket, confirming the kit that would make and store the scent disguise. They would need to work fast once inside the colony- for now the scent neutralizers they were wearing masked their presence, but it would wear off after not too long. They would need to create a real disguise if they were going to be accepted as a North drone.
"You've always been one of our best and brightest," Xerai agreed, and patted them on the shoulder. Zak felt the thrill of their nearness- Xerai had been their handler since they had been selected for more than just intimate service to the Queen. It was a rare drone indeed that was trained up as a spy and sent out to infiltrate enemy colonies, and it required a lot of care put into their education. Xerai had taught them a lot, and they knew they would miss them in the event they didn't make it back to South Colony after their mission. In many ways, they almost craved the approval of Xerai more than the Queen xerself... not that they would say as much out loud.
"You flatter me," Zak said, casting Xerai their best roguish smile. Their handler's larger frame stood near to them, near enough to feel their exoskeleton brush against them.
"Not at all, you little minx," they said with a wink. They were taller than Zak, with a wider frame to the slimmer drone figure, their body clearly build for labor and combat. Drones wouldn't normally have consorted much with workers like Xerai, their physicality and constitutions deemed too weak for anything more than a life of leisure, but Zak was special. Xerai had been tasked to train them in espionage and, in case of emergencies, self defense. "You're going to be just fine. Do our colony proud out there."
Two soldiers had accompanied Zak to the edge of colony territory, and then from there they had been on their own. Hours had passed with little to comment on; Zak was adept at sneaking around and had been able to avoid running directly into the path of any bigger beings. This was their first time on an active mission out in the wilds, but it wasn't so different from a simulation course.
That was, until the rain arrived. Zak had heard of it, and had done drills meant to simulate it, but they'd never seen rain up close in person before. The reality of it was, they had to admit, far more terrifying than the veteran worker's second hand accounts. And Zak was a drone.
"For the Queen, and the colony," Zak repeated to themself. Their mandibles ground back and forth in agitation. They had to get to the North Colony, and they had to do it before the rain destroyed the scout's scent trails. The scouts had worked hard on those trails, and by the Sun they weren't going to let them vanish before they made it to the enemy lines. They had been trained for this. With a resolute set to their mouth, they got up quickly, and darted out into the open.
It was time to put their training to good use.
Their heart beat hard in their abdomen, a rhythmic pulsing that seemed to shake their entire body with every beat. The surface of their exoskeleton seemed to crawl with vibration. Skittering feet slid to a sudden stop that burned their soles as a giant explosion of water crashed into the earth directly in front of them, sending them flying.
"Cannot... loose... the trail," they panted as they picked themselves up, their antennae waving about to find it. Dodging and weaving through the rain drops was difficult on its own without having to worry about keeping the trail. It was hard to pick out right now, so many competing scents alighted on the air. They could smell the various minerals in the water so clearly, and it was drowning out the scent of the trail their colony workers had set down. This was always a danger the longer a trail had been standing, but it was cursed luck that had made it rain on this of all days. Zak grit their mandibles and darted off again.
A falling ball of water almost clipped their wings, and Zak was only able to twist out of it's direct line at the last second. It bruised their shoulder, and they clutched it as they rolled to the left and then had to pause to find the trail yet again. They breathed a sigh of relief that the trail seemed to be leading under the shelter of a long stretch of grasslands. It would be more protected under the cover of grass... and so would they.
Dodging and zig zagging behind the wide flat surfaces of the blades, to the looming bulk of pebbles and back again would not exactly make good time, Zak knew. But South Colony had waited this long, they could wait another few days. All that mattered was that Zak made it to North Colony in more or less one piece.
Alix paced the room restlessly, their feet padding across the earth with a soft pitter-patter. They sighed, stopping briefly before changing direction abruptly and continuing again. Nervous pheromones filled the room- anyone would be able to smell them if they happened upon them now. They frowned, mandibles clicking once... twice... three times. The familiar manta made them feel an increment calmer.
Today was an important day in Alix's life. The North Colony coming of age ceremony was in just a few short hours, and they would be deemed officially an adult drone. Excitement seemed to vibrate through their exoskeleton, beating in time with the sense of anxiety that pulsed through their heart. Today was their coming of age day- both for themself and for hundreds of their peers. After today's ceremony they would be formally inducted into the Queen's service, which meant the Queen could call upon them whenever they so chose.
Alix's wings gave a short buzz. They sat on the edge of the small bed and turned to look at their glossy wings, wings which marked them as a drone and secured their place in the colony. Some days they were proud of their wings, so shimmery and ethereal, wings that were like the Queen's xerself's. Other days they wondered what it would have been like to be a worker, like most of their peers, with more options in life. Today both feelings warred within Alix's abdomen, curling a knot of tension in their gut.
Their nervous fretting and mandible clicking was halted by the sound of the bell, vibrations running from the earthen ground and into the soles of Alix's feet. A jolt struck through their heart as they stood, back straightening. It was time. The sounds of their peers scurrying through the corridors began, a small soft sound at first but quickly growing louder. They left the tiny room that had been their pupal quarters behind with one last wistful glance, knowing that from this moment forward they would never return to these wings of the colony. They stepped out to join the crowd of peers.
Their wings buzzed- one of the perks of being a drone: they could rise above the larger throng of workers with ease. Several of their fellow drones were already making their way along the ceiling. Alix felt their body lift as they made their way upwards, colony air moving across them as they did.
Liza marched with their peers, the scent of colony bodies on either side of them, their antennae brushing against exoskeletons that gave them a sense of familiarity and belonging. While the group of them were packed fairly tight through the corridor, there was no excess jostling or shoving. They had all been raised and trained better than that. Workers surrounded them, the scents of the people that they would be toiling alongside after today; today, the formal coming of age for their peer group.
Above them were the occasional drones, their wings beautiful and resplendent in the torchlight. They were smaller than workers, and they had those lovely gossamer wings that let them fly above the throng, but there were far fewer of them than workers, which made up the bulk of the colony by far. All the more reason to work hard to protect them, in the Queen's service. Liza was ready. They had trained their whole pupahood to one day join the Queen's army. A shudder of pleasure ran through their body at the thought of it.
The crowd of young initiates made their way to the central chamber. Liza could sense the scent of the Queen getting stronger and stronger with every passing moment as they all drew closer and closer. The Queen's pheromones were on the air here, lingering on the walls where the Queen had passed by many times before. They had never met the Queen in person before, but xer scent was known to everyone in the colony. It curled inside of Liza and filled them with a sense of warmth and safety. Instinctively they wanted to draw closer to it, to that nurturing presence from which they were each and every one of them weened.
The walls around them opened up, the corridor widening as it met the central chamber of the colony. It was expansive- a giant room that could fit thousands of them in it at once. Older members of the colony were standing in the wings, beneath a raised dais, and if their bodies hadn't been in motion, swaying and fidgeting as the population conversed amongst themselves, they might have blended in entirely with the earthen cavern, carved out of the soil itself.
Beautifully carved staircases led up to the dais, where Liza's peers were stationed. The young drones were standing in a ring around the workers on a raised ledge, almost ornamental in nature with their slim frames and their translucent, shining wings which caught the light from the torches in just the perfect way to bounce it across the room and illuminate the new workers. It made them almost appear magical, dazzling in their beauty. Liza was breathless at the sight of it, but only had a few moments to appreciate the view before they too stepped onto the dais and joined their peers.
It took a long time for all of the newly initiated young colony members to gather in order, but at long last the din in the room was silenced with the sound and vibrations of another bell, this one to hush the crowd of people all speaking to each other, now each falling silent. Liza held their breath. The curtains behind the dais parted.
The Queen xerself stepped into the room.
They were a sight to be seen, and Liza's body seemed to vibrated from their exoskeleton down through their organs. The scent of them was almost overpowering, as well. There they stood, so large and regal. Their thorax was strong, and held upright in a posture of power and elegance. Not quite as broad as a worker, still there was a real sense of strength from their body. Their abdomen was wide and as big around as five workers put together. They were beautiful. Liza wanted to throw themself at the Queen's feet, to draw closer, to worship in any way that might be allowed. They felt the trembling of the workers at their sides and knew that they were not the only one feeling this compulsion- the Queen's presence and scent was strong, and they were the Queen's colony after all.
"Greetings, colony." The Queen's voice echoed through the room, reverberating in the ground, through the walls. Liza could feel it in the soles of their feet and on the air in their antennae.
"Today we welcome new workers and drones into the service of the Queen and the service of the colony. No longer pupa, these brave workers and beautiful drones are now taking up their posts as full fledged colony members. Welcome them, all."
At this word the gathered colony members erupted into a cheer that was almost deafening to Liza's senses. They swallowed, their mandibles clicking nervously. It was a lot to live up to. The colony would have such high hopes for them, this fresh batch of newly of age colony members. They could see the faces of the audience members, all eager to welcome them. It made Liza a little emotional- they could feel their heart clench and tears prick at their eyes at the thought of all of these colony members waiting for them with open arms.
The ceremony was not a short affair. It took hours, as each new initiate was called before the Queen to swear fealty. Liza awaiting their own turn, their eyes passing over the audience and then their own fellows, their heart swelling with pride. Pride at how far they'd come, pride for belonging to this colony, pride to be about to meet the Queen. Each initiate went in turn, knelt before the Queen, swore themselves to xer service and the service of the colony, and then was given their role. Everyone had a role in a colony, and this was the day they would each find out what theirs was.
Liza was most nervous about this part. When they were finally called, their exoskeleton was practically vibrating with nervous energy. They climbed the beautifully carved steps, eyes hardly taking in the intricate designs swirling along the railings, the details that had been placed there hundreds of years ago by the original builders. All their thoughts were on what role the Queen would give them.
They supposed it was probably in many ways easier to be a drone. Drones only had one role, they didn't have to wonder what would be assigned to them on this day. As they reached the top of the steps, and slid down into a kneeling posture of obeisance, all Liza could do was hope beyond hope that their training and hard work had paid off. That the Queen would give them the position of soldier.
"Lift your eyes, colony member Liza." The Queen's voice struck them like a drop of rain, soaking through their hide and down into the soles of their feet. Their antennae stood up as they raised their face to the Queen, and the Queen dipped xerself down so that their antennae touched Liza's. The flood of scent and pheromones that washed through Liza in that moment made them dizzy, the Queen was so overpowering.
"I am honored to swear my life and service to you my Queen, and to my colony," Liza said, the words having been drilled into them and then practiced over and over again to make sure they would not fumble them on this day.
"I accept your service, and so accept it in the name of the entire colony. Do you swear to play your role to the best of your ability, placing Queen and colony first above all else?" This, too, was part of the ceremony and the vow that Liza and all of their peers would make today. They nodded.
"Yes, my Queen. I swear." As Liza spoke the words they knew that there was no going back now. Their life was about to begin now, in earnest.
"Then rise, colony member Liza. You are assigned the role of scout."
Time seemed to stop in that moment as the word resounded through Liza's mind. Scout. Not soldier. Not even guard. Scout.
Thoughts crashed through their mind in quick succession. Scout wasn't so bad. Scouts got into skirmishes sometimes. They were given war training at least. But they weren't ever on the front lines. They weren't the heroes who protected the colony. They just brought back information for more important workers to do something with.
"I- I think there's been some mistake-" they tried to venture, but the Queen's gaze sharpened on them.
"Do you question the word of your Queen?" Liza was acutely aware that they had an audience now of the entire colony watching them, judging their every word and every decision. And they had just taken a vow to accept the role the Queen had given them. They shook their head and snapped their mandibles.
"No, my Queen. Forgive me. I will accept the role of scout, with honour." With that they dipped into one last formal bow, and backed themselves down the steps once more, making way for the next initiate to be sworn in.
The rest of the ceremony went by in a blur. They didn't even have the presence of mind to watch the beautiful display of the drones as they, too, were sworn in to the Queen's and colony's service, their wings spread wide on display and their bodies adorned with beautiful jewelry to enhance their lovely features. Appreciation for such things were beyond them at this moment, as the word 'scout' echoed through their mind over and over and over again.
It was alright. It was better than builder or gatherer or, Sun forbid, nursery worker. Yes... this wasn't the worst thing that could have happened to them. And yet, all their dreams of glory, of protecting the colony, of being a hero seemed to vanish as the ceremony dragged on and on.
Well, they would just have to make the best of it, they told themself. They would have to step up... because that was what a colony member did.
The moon was high in the sky by the time Zak could smell the scent of the enemy colony, and knew that they had definitely, beyond a shadow of a doubt, reached North territory. The air here stank of it, and they could see people milling around, the large form of workers going to and fro- likely patrolling soldiers, as scouting parties and builders were likely to be inside and socializing or sleeping at this hour. Zak had to work quickly to get into the colony proper. They felt their exoskeleton crawling with an almost overpowering sense of dread just from the sheer proximity of the North colony members. They could smell them everywhere, and that scent sent off alarm bells in Zak's mind, an effective 'Keep Away' messaging system to deter anyone not of the North Colony to steer clear.
But Zak couldn't do that, though they were acutely aware that if they were caught they would be in deep trouble.
They followed the North scent trails that lead to the back entrances of the colony, knowing that they would never be able to get through the front gates without causing a scene. The guards stationed out there would stop them, ask them what a drone was doing outside and at night, and they would have no good excuse, especially since they didn't yet smell like a North colony member. Zak made their way around the back, their heart racing every second that it took before finally, a rear gate into the colony walls opened up from the ground. The steps were carved into the earth, pounded down by workers and solidified with saliva. Aside from some decor choices and motifs in the designs along the railings, it was a similar sort of construction to South Colony's.
Zak's sense of unease and dread only grew as they entered the interior of the North Colony. They swallowed, and tried to will their heart to still. The darkness of the underground would have been soothing, if the cloying scent of enemies wasn't so ever present. Zak's antennae felt around along the walls, looking for the scent trails that would lead them to the drone's quarters.
"Halt! What are you doing out in this wing, drone?" words came out of the dark that made Zak's insides freeze. They stopped, putting their hands out in supplication as they turned slowly around to face the guard. A rather handsome worker, Zak thought, attractive face and clearly strong physique. Zak let their wings relax a little, taking up more space with them and letting the shining gossamer catch the guard's eyes.
"I got lost," they said with a small apologetic smile. "I'm afraid I've hurt one of my antennae, and I'm having trouble finding the trail back to the drone's quarters." The explanation might just work, if the worker didn't get close enough to them to realize they had no discernible scent at all. Their mandibles clicked in agitation. "I only just came of age after all," they added. The North Colony had just held a coming of age ceremony- they knew this from the scouting spies, but even if they hadn't they could smell the scent of youthful pheromones flooded through the corridors. No better time to install a spy than after the chaos of a whole new generation of initiates being freshly pledged to the Queen and the colony.
"Hm. Fine. Follow me, I'll lead you back to it," the guard said, and Zak smiled at them appreciatively, and rose into the air on their wings. They knew that they could be a rather alluring and attractive drone, and that was part of why they had been selected for this mission. Workers might not hold the mysteries of life like Queens and drones but they were hardly immune to a pretty pair of wings either. Zak's little ploy worked; the worker didn't ask any follow up questions, but clearly kept an appreciative eye on Zak.
Now to ditch the guard as soon as possible, Zak thought. They spent the journey through the colony hallways memorizing the layout as much as they were able. That was the other reason they'd been selected for this mission; Zak prided themself on being extremely smart. That wasn't a brag, it was just a fact. They'd shown a greater aptitude for learning and planning than any of their peers ever since they were a pupa. Now it was time to put that to use.
The North Colony was laid out in an interesting circular pattern, unlike South Colony which was formed in a grid format. From what Zak could tell of the path the guard took them down, the main audience chamber and Queen's quarters must have been in the direct center of the colony, with each layer around the center forming it's own long corridor section. The only one closer to the Queen than the drone's wing must have been the nursery, if Zak's guess was correct.
Down passageways with walls carved into swirling patterns and pictures that told Zak more information about the North Colony than anyone from South had ever managed to glean. In the dim light of the torches Zak could see various histories play out as they went. Knowing that they were learning crucial intel on the enemy helped to sooth the feeling of panic that still sat just beneath their exoskeleton.
Finally the worker stopped and gestured down a side passage. "This will take you directly into the drone's quarters. I'm sure you'll be able to find your way back from here," they said, and gave them a friendly pat on the back. Zak nodded and stilled their wings, coming to land gracefully on the pads of their feet.
"Thank you for all your help," they said, giving a short bow of respect. In Zak's experience, workers liked to feel respected above most other things. The worker clicked their mandibles, nodded, and walked off back the way they had come, leaving Zak alone for the moment to plan their next move.
Alix had never felt more out of their depth than in the drone's commons area. Each of them had been shown to their new rooms, which were far more spacious than their pupal rooms had been- those had begun to feel cramped and crowded months ago as their bodies developed. Still, it wasn't as though they required the space of a worker, so they were smallish enough to be utilitarian without being overly restrictive. Alix had found theirs downright luxurious, if they were honest.
And now here in the commons area, the drones were allowed to simply mingle. It felt so strange, knowing that from now on they would be left to their own devices, more or less, to await being called upon by the Queen. What would they do with their time?
They supposed they would see if they could make some friends. There weren't anywhere near as many drones in the colony as workers, but when they were all together like this they made a sizable, almost intimidating to Alix's perspective, crowd. They followed the lead of the older drones, who were welcoming the new initiates and seemed more than happy to show them where to get food and how to use the facilities. There were spa areas where older retired drones tended to the needs of the younger ones, and there were game areas where drones could play either solo or with others.
There was, all in all, far too much to look at and learn about and Alix had never felt so shy in their life. They gathered some food from the cafeteria counter and made their way to one of the communal tables, shooting shy smiles at anyone they happened to make eye contact with.
"Hey, newbie!" someone called, and they looked over to see an older drone waving to them. "You look nervous as a pupa in rain shower. Why don't you come sit down, relax a bit?"
Alix chuckled nervously, but nodded. "Th-thanks, I- I will," they said. As they sat down next to the older drone their antennae brushed across their exoskeleton, learning their scent. "I'm Alix," they said, as the older drone did the same in a return greeting.
"Nice to meet you Alix. Name's Pax."
In the dark, Zak struck. It had taken hours of waiting, of stalking the shadows down the less frequented side passages, and Zak knew that their time was running out before their own pheromones would become detectable. They lurked near to the drone's commons room, where drones milled about, conversed, ate. People came and went, but Zak needed someone alone. When the opportunity arose, they went for it.
An older drone that had previously been sitting and conversing with a young one rose to their feet, and the young one did likewise. The young drone was likely a new initiate, and that wasn't what Zak needed for their purposes. They would never pass as a freshly sworn in, barely out of pupahood drone, not under scrutiny. The older one, then, would be their mark. The pair of them walked closer to the side corridors, and then parted ways. Once the younger of the two was out of sight, that was when Zak struck.
They were a lovely drone, Zak mused as their arm wrapped around their neck from behind. It was almost a shame to be doing this now, pulling them off into the darkness of the corridor. The scent down this passage was stale, and faded, which told Zak that people did not come down this way often. Perfect for their purposes. The drone made a shocked choking sound, hands going up to feebly grasp at their arm as they dragged them away from prying eyes to their oblivion.
They fought back, but Zak was stronger than a typical drone. Nowhere near the brute power of a worker, but still- they had had training. "Hushhhh," they whispered to them, lips pressed against their cheek. They could feel the drone's mandibles thrashing uselessly. "I'll make it quick," they said. And they did; swiftly their own mandibles sank into the drone's neck, sawing through exoskeleton, feeling the burst of wet flesh against their tongue. The drone cried out, but Zak's hand gripped their lips to keep them held firmly shut. It was over in a matter of seconds. The drone's head fell to the ground, and then with a thump, so too did their body.
Zak opened their jacket to pull out the scenting kit. They needed to extract this drone's pheromones quickly, before they lost their potency. Zak's heart sped up, blood racing loudly through their body. This was the riskiest part of the mission, and if anything went wrong it would spell disaster. Quickly, carefully, Zak bent over the dead drone's body with a needle and a vial, and began the process.
They watched as liquid spilled from the dead body into their needle. It was slow- too slow. Zak felt restless, antsy at the necessary time it took to do this correctly. Their mind went to every single test run they had performed, every time they'd done this in the South Colony morgue as training. It was an entirely different thing here, deep in the middle of an enemy colony, knowing that every second that ticked by was an opportunity to be discovered.
Finally however they breathed a sigh of relief, and tucked away the vials. They would douse themselves in them in a moment, but first they needed to hide the body. For that they would have to dig out the wall of the corridor and bury it. That was a job typically for a worker, but Zak was on their own. Quickly, they got to work.