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"And in this section, you will find shelved philosophy, writings from the great North Colony philosophers Sarilex, Frotex, Xartrul, and others." The librarian, a retired builder worker, said in a voice that was papery-thin and dusty, like the wings of a moth. Alix listened politely, and looked at the shelves filled with scrolls. There were so many vast sections to the commons library, and they had never really explored them before. Of course, all colony members got a basic education in things like colony history, the geography of the colony and the areas nearest to the colony, the basics of colony roles and what roles everyone within the colony played to form the larger sum of all of their parts. But further reading was something Alix had not had access to until now.

Their eyes panned over the labels on the scrolls, recognizing some of the names but not most. They had just passed the fiction and history sections in their tour, and the librarian was now moving on to sciences. Of course as any colony member knew, the most important parts of their history were found in pictorial form along the walls of the colony corridors, but making a journey across the entire colony just to read the histories would be an endeavor of several days. Alix lingered as the other young drones passed them, and let their fingertips drag for a moment over the philosophy scrolls, taking in the texture of the preserved leaves, the unique scents of earth and mildew.

"Some of our greatest philosophers are drones, you know," someone said from behind them, and Alix turned around to see the larger form of a worker standing there with a smile on their face. Their antennae wavered as they came nearer, and Alix let theirs met them in the standard greeting, learning this individuals scent.

"Drone philosophers?" they repeated. Their voice was so much softer than the worker's, who's voice had a rough edge to it, raspy almost. Alix's was far more dronian in nature, almost whispered. "I'm surprised."

"Are you really? Who else has the time to think all day about such high concepts?" The worker said with a gleam in their eyes. Alix nodded.

"I suppose that makes sense. Do you recommend any? Drones or workers, I don't mind. I haven't read any philosophy at all."

Alix didn't miss the way the worker's eyes trailed their body, sliding over their wings as water down one's back. Their exoskeleton felt hot from the scrutiny, but they knew that it was par for the course of being a drone in the colony- most workers felt that their purpose was little more than to be beautiful, to be admired and looked at.

"I'm partial to Xartrul's writing's myself!" the worker said, pulling a scroll down from a shelf that Alix would have needed to hover on their wings to reach. They placed in in Alix's hands gently. "It's a good place to start, though a lot of their work was hotly disputed by Drix, so you'll probably want to read Drix after to get a feel for the conversation."

Alix nodded along. They let their own eyes take in the form of the worker in turn. They were so much larger than a drone, their thorax wide and broad, with strong shoulders and arms. Alix was often amazed at how very different workers were from drones, both in build and in temperament. They clutched the scroll to their chest and nodded again.

"Thank you very much. I'll start there, then," they said. The worker smiled and puffed their thorax outwards, clearly pleased to have been able to pass on information, and moved on, patting Alix on the back as they went. Alix didn't miss how their fingers happened to brush their wings, but they didn't feel the need to complain about it.

Their wings buzzed a little as they hurried to catch up to the group of drones touring the library. Once they had reached them, they let their feet gently alight on the earthen ground. They could feel the nearness of the other drones like a humming right through their carapace, a warmth like sunlight from the communal nature of all of them being here together like this. The librarian concluded the tour with the assurance that they, like all colony members, were always welcome on their off time to come by and borrow scrolls- and drones had much more off time than workers.

"Um, I'd like to take this scroll out if I could," Alix said as they approached the librarian after the group had begun to disperse. The worker smiled kindly and nodded, taking a look at what was clutched in their hands.

"Ah, philosophy! Very good choice. Maybe you will one day also be counted amongst our great thinkers?" they said with a teasing wink. Heat rose in a pulse through Alix's exoskeleton.

"Maybe!" they said in a rejoinder. "I should get a good grasp on what's already been written first though, I think." That elicited a laugh from the librarian, who nodded.

"Quite wise of you. Make sure to return it within the cycle," they reminded them, and Alix nodded.

"Yes, of course! Thank you very much," they said, and excused themselves. They heard the librarian muttering to themselves as they left about what a polite drone that young one was, and smiled to themself as they left the library chamber and headed for a quiet nook to read in.

Down the east passage there was a sunroom, where holes in the colony ceiling had been installed to let the sunlight in so that they could grow plants. It was a peaceful room, especially on the days of the cycle when it didn't need to be tended to by workers. Alix had discovered it a few days previously, and after inquiring if they were allowed to spend time in it and being told that as long as they didn't get in anyone's way they were welcome to the space, they had decided it would be a place they would return to for reading and relaxation.

The sun was warm on their carapace, and they sighed in pleasure at the feel of it. Streaming down from the sky in bolts of gold, Alix thought the beams were quite beautiful. What was it like outside, proper? They could only imagine from the descriptions that workers gave of it. Drones never had any real cause to go outside of the colony, and it was dangerous to be out there if one didn't need to be. But they wondered at the concept of the sky, a wide expanse of nothing, to not have a ceiling above one's head. It sounded too impossibly big to be real, like the concept of the Sun itself. A fixture in this sky that showered heat upon their world in intervals? It was almost too strange and impossible to be real, and yet here was the evidence in front of them, bathing them in warm light. The world, it seemed, was impossibly larger than Alix could begin to imagine... perhaps that was why they were drawn to the idea of philosophy.

They found themself returning to the main commons areas in search of food once the sunlight had receded and the phosphorescent mushrooms had begun to glow in it's stead. It was fascinating how the Sun moved... Alix wondered about it. They wondered why it moved, and how its dance with the Moon worked, why the two of them exchanged places every day. What laws of nature did the celestial beings live by? Perhaps there were scrolls on this in the library as well. Alix was always wondering strange things like that, and now they would be able to read all they liked about everything.

Once in the cafeteria they made their way to the line to get food. The colony might be mostly workers, but here in the drone's wing they didn't see a lot of them. The room was bustling with their fellow drones, and Alix's feelers could pick up on their scents all around them. It was a nice feeling, to be one small part in a sea of their peers. They felt most comfortable around drones rather than workers, who while nice enough in their experience were also a little intimidating.

Alix shuffled into the line up, antennae already picking up on the smell of foodstuffs- they thought perhaps it was fruit and honeydew, a sugar rich meal. Their mandibles clicked in anticipation even as their stomachs growled. When it was their turn in the line they gathered their foods, ducking their head in thanks to the elder drone that was serving the younger drones.

"You're one of the new initiates, right?" A drone's voice made Alix pause and look to the left before they had been about to find a place to sit down. They touched each other's antennae together in the proper greeting, and then Alix nodded.

"Yes... I've only just graduated from pupahood. I'm happy to be here," they added, a small smile resting on their features. The older drone looked them up and down before crossing their arms across their thorax. They were an astoundingly beautiful drone, Alix thought. Lithe and graceful, their limbs slender and their wings shimmering behind them. They wore traditional drone jewelry, nothing as elaborate and fancy as the ceremonial adornments, but beautiful just the same. Bangles on their wrists and ankles, lines of twine around their large abdomen, and of course drapes of

"I bet you are. Come, have a seat with me," they said, and draped an arm around their shoulders. Alix's eyes went wide for a moment as the drone led them to a table and sat them down beside them. Alix scarcely knew what was happening. "My name's Xella. You may have heard of me?" they said with what Alix could only describe as a sensual smile. They shook their head slowly as they set their food down on the table.

"No... but I haven't been here very long, and I've mostly kept to myself," they admitted. "I'm Alix, and it's very nice to meet you," they said. Eyes darting around they noticed that they were drawing a lot of stares... was Xelle someone important? The older drone seemed to scowl for a moment before laughing, shrugging it off.

"Oh, well, I'm sure you'll hear before long. You get a bit of a reputation when you're one of the Queen's favourites," they said, and Alix could detect a distinct haughtiness to their tone of voice. They weren't always good at picking up subtle social cues, but even Alix could tell that this drone was bragging.

"That sounds wonderful," they said honestly. They were itching for their own first time serving the Queen. The one interaction they had so far had with xir had been at the ceremony, and it had been so overwhelming, so powerful, it had left them speechless. They could still remember the scent of xir, the way it melted through their body like liquid sunbeams.

"Mm, yes, it is," Xelle said dreamily. They leaned their arms easily on the table, relaxed and casual, and leaned in closer to Alix. "Xi calls on me at least once a cycle you know. Tell me, have you been called on yet?"

Alix shook their head. "No, not yet... but I look forward to it very much!" they said.

"I can understand that. Xi's wonderful. Our glorious Queen..." they trailed off, a faraway look in their eyes before they seemed to shake themselves out of whatever reverie they'd been on. "Xi'll call on you soon. Xi always calls each drone at least once, to test us all out you know. So don't worry... even if you don't perform well enough, you'll at least get the one night," they said, and patted Alix's hand gently, almost tenderly, the pads of their fingertips brushing over their exoskeleton as they spoke with wide, sympathetic eyes.

Alix frowned. "I... I don't-"

"Hey, why don't you buzz off?" They heard the voice of someone new approaching and turned to see anther drone they didn't know... except... no, they did know them didn't they? Their antennae reached for them for a long moment, studying their scent even as they squinted at them. They could have sworn their carapace was red; an odd color, they didn't think they'd met anyone with a red carapace before. But they smelled familiar and scent was by far the more powerful sense. Their eyes must have been fooling them.

Pax, that was the drone's name, they were pretty sure. Pax. They had met them just the other day. They nodded to themselves, determined to write the lapse of memory off as a strange, unexplainable occurrence. They didn't want to be rude after all.

"They aren't worried that they won't perform to the Queen's satisfaction, or they weren't before you put the idea into their head. So why don't you fly away, little drone?" they said, and their face held the distinct expression of a worker laying down the law. Alix didn't think they'd ever seen a drone look like that before.

"I was only trying to give encouragement and offer my guidance! I am the most experienced drone here!" Xelle protested, glaring at Pax as they stood up. Soon both drones had their wings buzzing in agitation. Alix's heart started to race. They've never seen drones getting into a fight before, but they'd heard of it happening before.

"Wait, wait, it's... it's fine. Really," they protested, putting their hands out between the two drones. The sound of mandibles clicking was causing vibrations in the air.

"They don't need your help, they need to not have mind games played with them. I know your type." Pax's eyes refused to leave Xelle's. For a long, lingering moment Alix was unsure which of them would back down, or if either of them would. Maybe it really was about to become a fight, in which case Alix really wanted to be as far away from the two of them as possible.

Eventually though, Xelle gave an offended huff and stood up, stomping off, wings buzzing angrily behind them. With a clack of their mandibles Pax dropped into the seat beside them and smiled warmly.

"Sorry for butting in. But they were only trying to size you up and make you feel small at the same time. I've seen a lot of their type come and go; prissy drones that think because the Queen likes them everyone needs to kiss their feet. Good riddance."

Alix blinked, and then picked up a ball of honeydew to bring to their lips. They drank it down in a long gulp, buying time before they had to respond.

"I... I don't really pick up on these sorts of social games very well," they admitted, "never have. So... thanks? Um... do you really think I'll only be good enough for the Queen to call on once?" they blurted out. That hadn't been what they'd intended to say, but they had said it regardless. They really were getting a bit anxious about what was upcoming.

Pax laughed at that, and patted the top of their head like they were still pupal. "Are you kidding? Mx 'I'm the Queen's favorite' was scoping you out specifically because you are an especially beautiful drone and they feel threatened. Trust me. The Queen's going to love you. Who knows? In a few cycles maybe you'll be the new favourite," they said with a wink, playfully jabbing them in the thorax with their elbow.

"You think so?" Alix said, brightening a little. "You're not just saying that are you? I bet you say that to all the new initiates," they said, warming up to the teasing banter a little. Really, Pax was an attractive drone too, with absolutely lovely wings that trailed out behind them a little longer than most.

"Absolutely not. I saw you from across the room and wanted to introduce myself, but then that stuck up Queen's favourite got to you first." Their voice was warm, but the words made Alix frown.

"Oh... I thought we'd met the other day already? I know, it was fairly brief, but... well, maybe I was thinking of someone else. What's your name?" they asked, though they were fairly certain they hadn't been wrong- Pax must have just forgotten meeting them which really shouldn't sting as much as it did. There were tons of newbie drones milling around right now. It must be easy to forget how many you'd spoken to.

Pax blinked at them for a long moment. "Uhh.. Pax. Sorry, you're probably not wrong, I just..." they trailed off like they didn't know what to say before they grinned and clapped their hands together. Their antennae met theirs, and it was the exact scent that Alix remembered from the other day.

"Let's start over. I'm really sorry. I haven't been myself lately. I remember you now... kid so cute I just had to introduce myself twice! What was the name again? Promise I'll remember it this time. Swear by the dirt." At that line they scraped their foot claws against the ground, kicking up a small patch of gravelly dirt. That made Alix giggle a little- it was a swear mostly done by pupa, not really very serious, but that made it all the more charming in their opinion.

"Alix," they said with a smile. "And you better not! I don't know many people yet, so I need all the friends I can get!" they said.

"Aw you can't be that hard up for friends," Pax said with a frown. "What about the other new initiates?" they gestured around the room, and Alix saw several of their fellow new drones, who had grown up with them in the nursery.

"Oh..." they hedged. "I don't know... I'm on friendly enough terms with all of them I suppose. But I've always been a bit awkward and quiet," they admitted. "It's one of the reasons I'm not sure if the Queen will like me. I know how the job works, or you know, the physical aspect. I know that I have to impregnate xir. But... I just don't know if xi will like me over anyone else. It seems like a lot of pressure!" they said, worry showing in their eyes. Pax's mandibles clicked and they sighed, shaking their head.

"Little ball of anxiety you are. And over nothing really. Trust me, you're sweet enough that the Queen will like you. You sort of remind me of when I was first initiated, though," they said. Then they slapped a hand on the table. The click of their mandibles this time was louder, more decisive. "I know, why don't I teach you some of the ropes?"

"The... the ropes?" Alix repeated. "Of.." their voice lowered to a paper-thin whisper. "Of mating?"

Pax grinned and nodded. "Yeah, of mating. I mean, obviously you can't impregnate me, but there's lots of things we could practice, things that lead up to that part." Their antennae waved in the air, and this time when Pax's wings moved they moved in a teasingly seductive arc, like they might be about to fly, suspended outwards on half display. Alix swallowed, mesmerized by the sight. Not just because it was beautiful, but because it was for them.

They nodded. "Ye-yeah... I suppose that would be fine. I'd feel a lot more confident when it's my turn to be called on if I knew a little bit more about what I was supposed to do," they said. Their exoskeleton felt warmer, heating at their shyness. Pax was so bold... Alix couldn't be like that, could they?

Pax smiled and flashed them a cheeky grin. "That's the spirit! I'd love to have you over to my quarter whenever you-" they were leaning in closer, so close their antennae were brushing Alix's mouth, when two drones came racing into the cafeteria, wings moving furiously behind them.

"There's been an attack! The colony-" one of them started, panting and out of breath. The other one jumped in to pick up where they'd left off.

"One of our scouting parties just returned- they were accosted out on their search for food sources. Southern Colony. Only three of them returned. Colony members are saying it was an ambush, and that we might see open war soon."

The drones both sat down in a heap, catching their breath as the panic began to spread through the commons room. "War? What will we do!" someone cried.

"Don't worry!" someone else responded. "The soldiers will protect us!"

"Yes and the Queen will protect us!" another voice chimed in.

Alix's heart was beating hard, rattling in their abdomen like rain on the colony roof. They could feel it pounding through their exoskeleton, could feel the vibrations of it all the way up to their thorax. War was coming... war with the Southern Colony. And they were powerless drones who could do nothing but wait for news from the workers.

"What if they breach the colony barriers? We'll be torn through like rain through dirt!" The room began to buzz with the sounds of drone wings and clicking mandibles and anxious talking, some hushed and some shouting, as colony members began to mill about in confusion. Alix didn't know what to do. They'd thought that once they came of age and left pupal life behind them they would feel more confident, more assured. But it turned out that that was not the case.

A loud whistle ran out through the room, and Alix looked over to see an old, retired drone hovering up above the buzzing cacophony. "Hey! Listen up!"

All eyes on them, all antennae turned in their direction. "This will be dealt with by the Queen, who will send out the soldiers and the scouts and the guards! We do not need to panic... we are drones! This does not concern us, and will likely never even reach us here. Trust the Queen!"

Alix found themself nodding along as other colony members murmured their agreements. "Yes, trust the Queen!" they all called out, voices joining in unison as they all turned their thoughts to that most comforting, powerful of presences. Yes, the Queen. Xi would know how to handle it. Drones just needed to trust.

"It's going to be okay, right Pax?" Alix whispered, not wanting to voice doubt or fear in this crowd that could easily turn mob if it was riled up enough. But when they turned to look at their new friend for reassurance, Pax was no longer beside them.