IMPERIUM INSECTUM

Darkness. That’s what ive been living with for the past few days. A long, unending dark sky with no up or down. Left or right. I should be scared, but for some reason it felt comfortable. It felt right; it felt safe and warm. I could stay here forever, and that would be okay

I closed my mind and let my being drift across the back, moving in any direction it pleased. Wherever it went, I was along for the ride. In this place there is no agency. Just the will of the void and-

*bump*

And something very hard. I turned my attention to the hard object. It was some sort of invisible barrier. That’s odd. I thought this place was endless; was I wrong?

I pressed my mind against the hard barrier again. It was hard, but there was some flex to it. Maybe if I push harder I can-

*Crack*

A bright burst of light shot into the void. Where is this light coming from? There is something outside of this place that shouldn’t be possible, right?

I pushed against the barrier again; the crack grew bigger, and when it did, strange sounds bled through. Were these voices?

<Penn. She’s been in there for 8 days now; it's never taken this long>

<Diva, relax. The observations look similar to the others. Be patient, she->

<8 DAYS PENN! This cant be normal! Should I pry her out of there?>

Diva, Penn. Those names I recognise them. They are important; but why? I cant remember why. I need to learn more. I pushed again and again, each push making the light brighter, pushing the void out until it eventually fully engulfed my vision in a blinding yet pleasant light. I don’t know where I was going, but for some reason it felt right; it felt like…home.

Suddenly the light dimmed, and the darkness came back, but this time it was different; it wasn’t as dark; actually, that darkness was more an earthy brown illuminated with a dim orange light. What is this place?

<Sally, you're awake!>

Suddenly 2 yellow chitonous faces appeared in front of me. wait….I recognise this person that-

<AGHHHHHAAAAA> My throat burned as I wailed, as pain drilled through my skull right into my brain, and as it drilled, it forced A series of images and sounds played back a million times all at once. Wait are thease

<Sally!> Before I could grab my bearings, I felt the cocoon get ripped wide open as someone dragged me into their arms.

<Are you okay? You look okay. How do you feel?>

I looked up to see Mother holding me. She looked concerned. Why would she be worried about me? What happened?

<I can see the confusion on your face, Sally. Let me explain.> I looked to the side to see Penn approaching, notepad in hand. <You were out a lot longer than expected, Sally, so we are concerned. Mind if I take a look at you?>

I nodded. And she got to work; it's all so fuzzy. I remember selecting my evolution, and then meeting that entirely blue girl. Was I dreaming? No, I think that was real in its own way. dammit. Why is my head so messy?

Minutes passed of poking and prodding as she looked over my body. In the meantime, I collected my thoughts. That blue girl. She’s the system, isn’t she? And she told me the truth about mother, what she did.

I glanced towards her. Mother watched eagerly with detail and more care than she does most things. A smile crept across my face.

<It doesn’t matter>

<What doesn’t?>

<Nothing. Are you nearly done, Penn?>

<1 sec…… aaaand done!> She stepped away and wrote something down in her notebook before putting it away.

<So I have 3 big observations. Number one: You have wings now!>

<Wait, I do!>

I turned my attention to my back, and I felt 2 new sensations. I moved them around, and suddenly a large gust of wind blew past me

<Maybe don’t practice indoors.> Penn said, flicking tiny pebbles of her armour

<Hahah sorry.> Penn gave me an annoyed stare before turning back to her notes.

<Moving on, the second big development is you now have an external blood sack.>

Penn pointed to my rear, and just above my ass was a clear sack partially filled with red crimson fluid.

Mother looked it over with interest. <Looks like the evolution has supported your blood magic this time.>

I shook my rear and watched the red fluid slosh around. Hmmm tasty…wait-

<And finally, if you focus on your head. you will find you have a fresh new set of antennae as well>

Mother gently pressed her head against them, and I was instantly bombarded by the full force of the weave. There was so much I could hear before that I can now. How did I ever manage without this in the past?

<Is that all, Penn?

< Far from it, I assume. Besides her now having armour like us, I im sure there are loads more internal changes. If you want, I can dissect her. Please let me dissect her. You can heal her up, right?

< There's no need for that, Penn. There is a much better, LESS INVASIVE Way of doing that.> Mother ushered me to a nearby seat where she sat beside me as she moved me to the bed.

<Now, if I remember, all I have to do is.>

I read over everything; so much had changed. Ive lost the ability to regurgitate food, but in its stead ive gained so many abilities that the wax wire has replaced that weapon I stole from that man, and my blades are meant to cause more bleeding than damage, meaning I'll have to rely more on my blood magic. It's different, but this feels much better. Even now I know im much stronger than before.

<Fascinating. So much new stuff. I must bring you down to the lab and test your capabilities. Please follow.>

<That will have to wait penn.> Mother cut in.

<Oh come on, give me five minutes! Please!>

<You can have her when im done. Come, Sally, I want to speak to you privately.> I gave Penn a shrug and followed Mother as she led me towards the hive entrance, and before we knew it, we were both outside. I looked up to see the beautiful night sky. I was in the dark so long that I almost missed this. The moonlit. star-speckled sky. Mixed with that cool easterly breeze. It's perfect.

<Nice, isn't it?> Mother chimed as she leant her back against a tree.

<Mother, I assume you didn’t bring me out here to stargaze.>

She let out a soft chuckle. <Is it that obvious?> she said as her attention turned back to me.

<Seeing how you sused me out so quickly, let's cut right into the meat, shall we? You have them back, don’t you? Your memories>

<I do.>

Mother stepped forward towards me. Eyes devoid of any expression.

<And you know the truth about what happened that night>

<I indeed do>, I replied calmly. Mother walked around scanning me. She was looking for something, wasn’t she?

<How fascinating. I was expecting you to be angry at me. But instead you look content, pleased even. Why Sys chose to tell you what happened that day is beyond me. But the fact you're not trying to kill me right now is also very concerning >

<Why would I want to kill you, mother? Your actions that night are in keeping with your nature; you are the Queen Alvearix. You take what you desire, with or without permission, and you took me by force. And as weird as it is to say. it has probably been the best thing for me.>

Mother's head twisted in confusion.

<I don’t understand. I raped you and killed your friend. You should be coming at me with the anger of a thousand people. People just don’t let that go!>

<Mother, do you really not know me that well?! Mother, you saw my life prior to meeting you. I was a bum who lived in the sewers. I ate the leftover scraps to survive. My life before meeting you was miserable. Sure, it had moments of gold, but it was mostly black. However, my life now is incredible! I lived in one of those mansions I couldn’t even imagine living in. I ate food that filled me up instead of making me sick, and I got a place to call my own. And I now have dozens of little brothers that adore me, and I do them. Mother, that is all because of you.>

Mother's eyes changed from cold and calculating to warm and loving.

<When you say it like that, it makes me sound like im a good person.> She said as she walked closer.

<Sally im sorry for doubting you.>

<Mother, it's fine. Your duty is to the hive. You thought there was a chance I could be a threat; hence, you took me outside. Maybe it’s the fact that my mind is now connected to a greater collective, but I just cant find it in my soul to be mad or angry at you. In fact, it’s the opposite. Im glad you did what you did. In some sick, twisted way.

She laughed and pulled me into a hug. <Thank you.> she said as she held me close. Now that I think about it, this is the first parental figure to ever hug me like this. Its…Nice.

Mother gently pushed me away whilst still holding my hands. <Now the most important question is: are you gonna stop calling me mother now?>

I chuckled. <Never. I only ever had one, and that’s you.>

<Good… good.> She stepped away and let out a deep breath. I didn’t realise how much this was worrying her.

<With that sorted. I think it’s time I introduce you to the new members of our family. THE COAST’S CLEAR; YOU CAN COME OUT, GUYS!>

Suddenly, a loud rustling came from the bushes as 3 figures leapt out clad in chitin. Wait, that humanoid shape. They aren't new units; all of them are converted humans!

<Mother... are they all what I think they are?>

She nodded. < They are My blades, My dolls. They are a weapon I wield or something for me to play with, maybe both, and the first one I made was Tarsis. Will you step forward?>

One of the three stepped forward silently, not a single noise made. The new family member gave me a smile. Now that I look closer, they look familiar.

<Mother I think I recognise him…her…. actually do i?>

< I'll explain in detail later, but I'll let this one introduce themselves

The man... woman in front of me….Honestly, I couldn’t tell either way. This person wore black-and-yellow armour and a large set of bunny-shaped antennae. They walked up close and did a little curtsey. I gently bowed. Im so confused here.

<I am Tarsis, a pleasure to meet you.> They gave another smile; however, this one revealed rows of shark-like teeth. If there were any doubts in my mind about them being one of Mother's children, they were gone now. That right there is proof he is one of Mother's, all right.

<A pleasure to meet you, Tarsis.> is aid returning the curtsy. Tarsis's smile beamed as he ran and gave me a hug.

< I've been waiting for big sis Sally to wake up. I have so much to ask you about mother!>

<Easy now> Mother chimed. < Give her some space; she’s just woken up.>

He jumped back. <S…Sorry mother! I wont do it again!>

She chuckled. <It’s fine, come here.>

He sprinted across and buried himself into Mother's side. Something tells me there is a lot more going on here than what meets the eye.

<Tarsis was the first to hatch; the second was->

<Malvena> said a woman with mad yellow eyes and long messy silver hair. She stepped forward and gave me her hand to shake.

<Nice to finally meet you, sis. Hopefully we can find some time to spar with each other. I want some combat pointers.>

I smiled and nodded. < Sure.> I didn’t register what she said as I was more focused on her body. One of her arms was a long, flexible claw made entirely of many layers of chitinous plates. Along her back was a weird set of wings that was made of hundreds of layers of chitin interwoven with the mesh that made up Mother's body and mine. Both flexible and durable.

Now that I think about it, silver hair that arm could it be that she... that they all are.

<Judging by your face, Sally, you’ve put 2 and 2 together.>

I nodded. Too thin to think she would convert them too, then again. They were mothers' favourites.

I looked towards the last one.

<And you are…>

<Mori>, she said with a smile and slight nod. This one was different; her armour was thinner, almost cloth-like in places, and she showed more human traits than the others, but even so, I could tell she was dangerous; her eyes had a crazy energy to them, and the staff she held in her hand to say it was ominous was an understatement.

<I must say>, Mori chimed as she stepped closer to me. <Your blood magic is quite interesting and yet underutilised. Come on, big sis Sally, let's find some humans to experiment on and broaden your horizons. I want to see everything you're capable of. Let's crack open the secrets of the arcane together.

Her eyes glowed a maddening yellow, causing me to step back slightly. This one is someone I need to keep an eye on.

<Settle down, Mori.> Mother said. Immediately, she stepped away, but as she did, she still watched me like a crazed hawk. <Let me know when you're ready>, she whispered. I need to keep my distance from that one.

<They sure are an interesting bunch, aren't they, mother?>

<They are, Sally. And that’s not all of them; there's one more who likes to play hide and seek. You can come out now, Verida.

Mother looked around before her eyes landed on a tree. I too turned to face it. Suddenly, a woman appeared, hair as black as night and covered in dark armour from head to toe. There wasn’t much to it, but something tells me that’s the point.

<Mother, that’s not fair. I wanted to introduce myself and see if big sis Sally could find me?>

I froze.

<That voice…….h..h how are you doing that?>

She gave a shrew smile. < Mother gave it to me.> I shook again. How is she doing that!? She sounded exactly like me! That shouldn’t be possible, right?!

<Enough verida. We don’t mimic family; now apologise.>

<S..s orry mother> she said in a completely different voice. I Im not sure if this is hers, but at least it wasn’t mine. She gave me a bow. < Sorry, big sis. I just wanted to impress you.>

< It's fine. Just give me a warning next time>

The girl smiled and nodded before running next to Mori.

<They are very interesting, mother.>

<They are, and they will need guidance. I want you to be their north star. The person they can rely on. It’s a tall ask, but I feel you can do it.>

I nodded and smiled. <Of course, mother. What is your first task for us?>

< Let's see. How about we go collect a missing mole man?>