Go For Stories

Okay, so I asked for a word. Any word. From there I promised I would make a story based around that word. I also promised I would do it in a week, but I lied. I lied because life is unpredictable. I lied because I may have bitten off more than I could chew. More than anything, though, I lied because this story had more to it than I expected.

From this, I wanted a story that could either be the end of a greater tale, or the start of a new one. There are some things I would love to stretch out about this tale, to make it fuller and fill in the world building a bit more, but that’s not the point of this blog. This is here for me to put stories out for you, the people, to read. If I took the time to edit, revise, re-edit, read, delete, rewrite and edit, the words would never see the world and all its glories. Who am I to take that from poor, defenseless and entirely dependent words?

Anyway, the word of the day is: Hexagonal. Enjoy.

“So, you’re saying these all used to paddocks?”

Harmony nodded. Looking at the landscape now, it was hard to believe it was once rich with life and lush, rolling meadows.

“Yep. Green until your eyes stop seeing.”

“Wow! Out here, I mean, that means so much.”

She smiled as she watched the wonder play out across the young man’s face. It had been years since she had been to the surface. It was hard to imagine what it would be like experiencing it for the first time. She looked out over the yellow hills that covered the earth. Right to the horizon, the ground was covered in those weird geometric patterns, like the old books she loved as a kid. She half expected to see an image of a dolphin pop out if she blurred her eyes. Instead, it was just an ugly stain on their planet, made worse by the countless dark shapes buzzing over the fields and the horrible whistling that filled the air.

“Move!”

She stumbled forward at a hard shove in the back. Regaining her footing, she spun around and confronted her assailant.

“Listen here. If you keep that up, we’re just going to go right back where we came from and you’ve lost this chance for good.”

The heavy figure crossed its spindly arms in front of its fuzzy chest. She curled back a lip as its coarse hair caught on itself, making a sound like Velcro as it moved. It didn’t matter how often she saw the Bees, she would never understand how these bloated things with their skinny little limbs could have taken control of the planet like they had. Not to mention how they were even able to lift their fat guts off the ground.

“Think I care?” said the Bee. His voice was light and wispy, like he’d just woken up. They might be able to speak the language, but their voices hadn’t entirely adapted to it yet. “We will get you all soon enough.”

He wasn’t wrong either. Over the last few months, the raids had gotten worse, each one knocking down the human population by a noticeable margin. They had lost all but hope. And hope is what brought them here today.

“Come on, Harm,” said Kol. “Let’s keep moving.”

“Yeah. Alright.” She let out a derisive snort. “I can’t stand looking at these things anyway. Let’s just get out of the fields already. After you.” She held her arms out with a little bow, presenting the path forward to the Bee escort.

“Human’s first,” rasped the Bee.

Kol took her by the arm and dragged her forward. He didn’t speak, but he was right; it wasn’t worth the trauma. If they didn’t succeed in their mission, they were done. The human race would be eradicated and Earth would belong to a new species.

“Okay,” she said, stepping in front of the guards, “but I’m only going because I want this day over already.”

She looked over at Kol as they walked and saw a small smile lift the edges of his mouth. Say what you like about the kid, but he was full of spirit. It was this quality that had him selected for the mission. There was no guarantee that anyone else would hold up under the pressure. It wasn’t like food was plentiful of late and most people were reduced to weakened husks. Harmony reached over and took his hand.

They walked like this for some time, trudging through the growing fields as the day wore on. The paths narrowed beside them and she could see into the large hexagonal wax cells that interlocked and formed the geometric patterns. The wind whistled over the walls of the cells, making the sound that bore into their ears and, over time, their hearts. Standing thigh-high, every one of the millions of cells were filled with the off-yellow liquid that made up the colour of the fields. In the centre of each was a dark blob, some bigger than others.

“What are the dark bits?” asked Kol in a loud whisper.

“The Seeds.”

“Seeds?”

“Yeah, we think it’s their food source. They breed these special drones that grow inside the cells, feeding off the dirt beneath. When they reach a certain age, their bodies start to break down. The rain turns their liquefying bodies into the ‘honey’ that the Bees eat.”

Kol made a noise in his throat like he was about to hurl. “Oh, oh, that’s disgusting. They eat their babies?”

“Yep. Makes you sick, doesn’t it?”

He nodded. “In my mouth. I had to swallow it. That made me feel even worse.”

She squeezed his hand tighter and leaned in towards his ear. It made walking tricky, but she didn’t want to be heard.

“Hey. Not long now and we won’t have to worry, will we?”

“Yeah.” He shook his head as he walked. “Their own babies … Uuugh.”

She looked up at the sky as hundreds of Bees descended from the air, scooped their hands into the cells and flew off again, thick drips of honey falling in globs beneath them. It was all she could do not to throw up in her mouth too.

She was so focussed on watching the alien creatures that she hadn’t paid any attention to their surroundings. Kol tugged on her shoulder, dragging her mind back to the task at hand. Just over the next rise, there was a strange, rounded building with an egg shaped top. It was a dark brown, yet glowed at the top in the late afternoon sun, a beacon to which the Bees would return at dusk.

Harmony recognised the structure at first glance. This was one of the ships that brought the Bees to Earth. They had come in their dozens, filling the skies. At first there was mass panic. The governments of the world had been given no time to design strategies to break the information gently. As one, people had discovered they were not alone in the universe and, as one, they rioted.

The Bees stayed in their ships for a week and a half. The scientists tried to open them to no avail. They attempted to see inside, but had the same level of luck. Humanity calmed down and, once all was a more pleasing level of relaxed, the ships opened their door and the Bees stepped out.

They were friendly and intelligent and very fast became popular with humanity. After all, they were just stopping by for some supplies and repairs. They had stories and science and were eager to help in any way they could to repay humanity’s hospitality.

Despite the general feeling, the Bees never sat well in Harmony’s heart. She felt there was something else going on, something sinister. None of her friends, or even her parents, were willing to listen to her rants. They were only looking for the right materials to repair their ships. We couldn’t possibly send them away with broken ships, could we? No, that would be inhumane. It wasn’t until they began to dismantle the ships that more people took notice. Only, it wasn’t the right people. They were told that the ships were unrepairable, the Bees stranded until their own kind found them.

It took twenty three years for the Bees to be made full citizens of the planet. By then, their numbers had swelled and they had full communities in every city. They had infiltrated parliament and the working class. There were even rumours of Bee-human marriage on the cards. Aside from some minor examples of aggressive speciesism, everything was working out well.

That, of course, is when they stakes their claim. It was quick, ruthless and bloody. In less than three months, the human resistance was reduced to futile skirmishes in the outer fringes. All surviving humans fled underground. The Bees had won.

Now, here they stood; two of the last humans, what was left of the resistance standing at the gates of the Queen with a final chance to save the species. The building, formerly a ship used to get the Bees here, stood proud before them. Its square edges and clear lines made Harmony uncomfortable. It felt too perfect in its construction. In battle, they held up under enormous barrages. Any that were damaged were promptly repaired by thousands of drones within a few short minutes. The lines and the colour gave the hive the appearance of a giant pineapple, only this pineapple brought bile to her mouth, not saliva. Even their living quarters were made from the corpses of their own babies.

“Stop fidgeting,” she warned Kol in a hushed tone. “They’ll catch on.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, his head held low. His voice wavered with the apology. “I’m scared, Harmony. What if they don’t agree?”

“Then we have our orders. Look, don’t think about it, okay? Everything will work out, you’ll see.”

He grinned. “I know. You’re too smart for these brainless bugs.”

“Shhh!” She looked back at the guards, they seemed unaware of the slur. With a sigh of relief, she returned the grin to Kol.

They reached the high doors of the hive and the guards stepped forward. Their antennae twitched and rolled on their heads in unison and the doors swung in on themselves with a whispered groan. As they did, the air inside made its way out. It was somehow warm and crisp at the same time and it smelled sweet, but not the good kind; it was more like the sweet smell of a week old corpse.

“If you are going to throw up,” Harmony said to Kol, “now would be the time.”

He swallowed loud enough for her to hear it and waved his hand. “Nah, I think I’m good.”

“Good. Let me do the talking. Keep your head up and your eyes alert.”

“Will do.”

The guard shoved Harmony in the back again. She wore the insult this time, not willing to berate him so close to the inner sanctum. For all she knew, the punishment could be swift and severe. They stepped into a glowing cave of cells. The walls were lined with the hexagonal pods that littered the land outside. The only difference being that in here they were pure honey. No bodies of their children in the Queen’s house. That would be unseemly. The walls were open and the ceiling quite high, but still not the full height of the hive they had entered. They were in a tunnel that swept to the side in a gentle arc. They followed at a slight decline in a wide circle that led them, at last, to the main chamber.

Here, the full height of the hive could be experienced, made more impressive by their position under the earth. The setting sun shone through the walls, lighting up the high chamber in patterned beams. The pods were larger here, large enough to each hold a full-grown Bee. Some were occupied by the aliens, standing yet asleep, but most were empty as the day’s work was not yet done. An incessant droning noise filled the space, almost too loud to bear.

That must be why they communicate in mime, thought Harmony as she stared across the hive at the open pod opposite. This one was larger than the rest by a long shot. It was currently unoccupied, but was clearly there destination. She could feel Kol slow beside her but, despite his trepidation, he continued to move forward. She could see him fidgeting at the collar of his vest, but let him be. It was acceptable that he appear nervous, possibly even beneficial. If the Bees believed them to be unsure of themselves they may never suspect their true plan.

They closed the gap between themselves and the large pod. As they neared, a dark silhouette formed behind the veneer of wax that made up the wall of the pod. It moved forward until its shape became clear. The wall shimmered and faded and the Queen Bee stepped through. She was taller than most Bees, and thinner; she didn’t have that pudgy waist that all others do. She had put a lot of effort into looking acceptably human over the years. What better way to insert oneself into society? She still retained the species’ gangly arms, but they weren’t as obvious on her sleek form. On her head sat a shining crown of silver, framing her elegant antennae. These she wiggled and a seat raised from the floor of her cell. The wall behind her hardened and she sat, crossing her legs and leaning her arms against the angular rests of her throne. A welcome smile played across her face.

Unbidden, Harmony stepped forward with Kol in tow. The guards lunged and grabbed her by the arms, tugging her back.

“Let go of me,” she commanded in a low voice, filling it with as much authority as she could.

“Yes. Do let her go,” said the Queen. Her voice dripping with almost as much honey as the fields outside. “It’s not as though she can hurt me. Is it now?”

Harmony yanked her arms free of the soldier’s grip and folded them in front of her chest.

“Of course not, your majesty.” She gave a low curtsey, bending her knee until it scraped the floor. The smile on the Queen’s face faded somewhat.

“There’s no need for such formalities. Please, ignore those brutes and step forward. The youth too.”

Kol put his hands in his pockets and trudged forward beside Harmony. She resisted the urge to pocket her own hands. Best one of them kept them where they could be seen. It might give them a chance of avoiding capture. The Queen waved a dark and slender hand in the air, coupled with a twitch from her right antenna. The guards fell in beside Harmony and Kol, keeping at least an arms-length between them; the polite amount. The Queen smiled. Now that she was closer, Harmony could see that something wasn’t quite right about the smile.

“Now,” the Queen continued in her soft voice, “what was it you wanted to see me for? Did I hear cheeky mention of the word ‘surrender’ from my messenger?”

“Not surrender, no.” Harmony fought to keep the waver from her voice. A single drop of sweat rolled down her forehead. The Queen’s antennae twitched. “It was more likely the word, ‘Peace.’”

“Peace?” The Queen rolled her head to the side and her face narrowed, her mouth stretching forward like an exaggerated pout.

“Yes. We believe this has gone on long enough. We, the humans, no longer seek to rule the Earth, merely to share it.” She reached into a pocket and drew out a small ream of paper. “We have brought with us a treaty and hoped that you might look over it, so that we may discuss our mutual future.”

The Queen’s hand shot out, her fingers snapping like pincers. The smiling pout remained on her face, but it was strained. Kol took a small step back and Harmony handed over the treaty. The Queen looked down at it, seeming unsure of what would happen.

“It’s quite thorough,” said Harmony, “but we are happy to help you understand any grey areas.”

“Help?” The Queen looked up at Harmony, staring at her with her large black eyes. “You are happy to help us?”

“Of course, your majesty, it’s our job.” Kol stepped forward, his entire body shivered with nerves, but he kept his voice firm. “Don’t you want peace?”

The Queen’s eyes flitted to Kol, then back at Harmony. She shivered and her wings unlaced themselves behind her, opening out in shimmering fans that let out a small buzzing sound. She stepped towards Harmony, raising herself up to full height; at least a foot and a half taller than any human alive today. Harmony inched backwards, but the Queen grabbed her by the face in her dark, fuzzy hands. She lifted Harmony in the air and pulled her in close. From here, her mouth no longer looked human. It was a pointy, segmented thing that hid rows of sharp bone. Kol danced from foot to foot. He looked down at the hand in his pocket.

“You want peace?” Her voice had lost all hint of honey and, in its place, now buzzed and rasped in Harmony’s ears. “How dare you come here and offer nothing but peace. There will NEVER be peace. Not until every one of you primitive beasts have been eradicated. Once we have rid this planet of your soft filthy species, then we can truly call this planet our own.”

Harmony hung from the Queen’s grasp, feeling her face go red and her head grow dizzy. She fumbled for her pocket with her right hand. She reached in and grabbed the hard lump sewn into the inside.

“You will never be rid of us,” said Harmony in a tight voice. “You wanna know why?” She tore wrenched the button free of the pocket with a tearing sound, trailing an almost invisible wire between it and her pants. “Because we will NEVER stop fighting.” She thumbed the button in her hand. The realisation of what she was about to do hit her with the force of a freight train. Could she really go ahead with it?

It didn’t matter. There was no choice in the matter.

“What,” asked the Queen, her head cocked to the side, “is that?”

“Bomb.”

The Queen flashed a look at the guards that had brought Harmony and Kol to the hive, her antennae aquiver with rage. “Impossible! You were searched for explosives.”

Kol gave a nervous laugh. “Not under our skin we weren’t.”

Harmony let the thought settle in to the Queen. The hive grew restless waiting. Any Bee around the perimeter opened their wings and hovered, ready to fight.

“We are the bombs,” said Harmony. “It’s in our flesh, wired in, ready to blow. They aren’t enough to destroy the hive, but they will definitely kill you at this range. Now, I’m betting killing you would stop all of them. I know enough about you horrible insects to know that. Don’t believe me? Use your eyes. They pick up on different wavelengths, don’t they?” The Queen’s eyes narrowed and then widened, opening so far that Harmony could see a hundred of herself reflected there. “There. You see it, yes?”

“Yes.”

“So, do we have a deal?”

The Queen froze for a moment. The sound of the buzzing wings grew deafening. Harmony grit her teeth and forced herself to focus.

“No,” said the Queen at length.

“What?” She hadn’t expected that.

“No deal. You don’t have the nerve to push that button. You would die too.”

Harmony took a deep breath. “But I would save my people.”

She closed her eyes and squeezed the button.

Nothing happened.

She opened her eyes to see that the thin wire leading to her pocket was cut. It hung useless from the button, swinging as if in a breeze.

“Huh?” A sharp pain tore into her shoulder, then another into her back. She spun to see the guard behind her, hand raised, firing thin projectiles from the palm of his hand. Another hit her high in the chest and she fell backwards. The Queen rushed back to her cell and knelt down at the wall. Four soldiers dropped down in front of her.

“Kill them both!” Commanded the Queen. “NOW!”

“KOL. GET OUT.”

Harmony rushed forward. She didn’t have a plan, just that she needed to try something. Hundreds of drones dropped from the hexagonal cells that lined the hive, hands raised, firing stings at her. Two more caught her in the leg and she dropped to her knee.

Kol surged towards the Queen and her royal guard, determination in the set of his jaw. There was no emotion there beyond the need to kill. To end this war. He tore free his own button from his pocket.

“KOL, NO. YOU’RE TOO FAR AWAY.” She got to her feet and reached out a hand. “DON’T.”

He leapt at the guards, then vanished in a balloon of fire. Harmony was thrown back by the force. She landed hard and everything went grey and fuzzy. The pain left her body and silence overcame. She moaned but could not hear it. Spots and sparks flashed by her eyes, but these gave way to colour over time. The silence, overruled by a harsh ringing.

When her vision returned, all she saw was chaos. The blast had destroyed an entire section of hive, leaving a gaping hole in the wall. Chunks of melting wax dripped from the hole, oozing over the bits of Bee body that littered the floor. The air filled with a burning sweet smell and Harmony thanked God that she couldn’t see what was left of Kol, though there probably wasn’t much.

She pushed herself to her feet and staggered towards the hole in the hive. She looked up at the hundreds of Bees flying overhead. Their wings beat the air in a frenzy, but she heard only that incessant ringing. They seemed to hover, unsure of what to do. Ahead of her, a small mound of wax stirred. She narrowed her eyes and moved in that direction.

As she closed in, a thin arm broke free from the skin of melted wax. It gripped the layers and tore them back, revealing the face of the Queen. It had reverted to its more natural, insectoid shape. This was made more obvious when she spotted Harmony and opened her mouth in a wide, unheard scream of rage. At this, the cloud of alien bugs above circled and swooped low. If Harmony was to have any chance of success, if she were to make Kol’s sacrifice worthy, she had to act now.

At a run, she dove forward through a rain of stings. They shredded her back and legs, thankfully missing anything vital. The Queen raged to her feet to meet Harmony. Their bodies met in a violent clash, fists flying and wings beating. Harmony may not have heard the impact, but she felt it with every fibre of her being. The Queen shot stings from her hands, each one grazing Harmony’s skin. She pummelled the Queen with her fists, striking any part she could. The deadly rain from above halted – the risk to the Queen being too great – as the pair fought.

Harmony brought a fist up into the Queen’s face, sending her backwards. With this space, the Queen had room to aim and delivered a sting right into the side of Harmony’s face, missing her eye by less than a hair’s breadth. Harmony ducked low and drove forward again, closing the gap. She gripped the Queen in a bearhug and slammed her to the ground. The Queen shot her once more. The sting lodged in Harmony’s side, knocking her breath out and sending pain screaming through her chest. She roared in pain, noting that her hearing returned in part.

No longer willing to risk giving the Queen room, Harmony dropped down on her knee, driving air from the stricken Bee’s proboscis. She gripped both fists together and delivered a crushing blow to her face, sending yellow liquid spraying across the damaged hive. The hum of the soldier’s rose in volume and Harmony ducked to avoid a swooping blow from a spear. She head butted her opponent and pulled her in close.

“Give up. Let this end.” Her voice sounded distant and drummy.

The Queen didn’t respond, merely delivered a head butt of her own. Harmony ignored this and pummelled the Queen with her fists. More and more of the yellow blood sprayed from the stricken insect. The Queen rolled to escape and Harmony grabbed one of her silvery wings. She wrenched backwards, drawing the wing from its socket and a mournful scream from the Queen. She discarded the wing. Turning her attention from its floating descent, and wrapped her arm around the Queen’s skinny neck.

“No more chances,” she growled, twisting her elbow to the side.

The Queen’s neck snapped with a pop and her body fell limp. Harmony rolled off the body and lay on her back, staring up at the swarm above. They hovered, every one of them, shivering in uncertain anxiety. There was no movement, save that of their wings. She felt the warmth of a million eyes on her as she struggled to catch her breath.

“WHAT?” She shouted to the sky, wondering why they hadn’t attacked. They should have attacked by now. They should have fallen on her in a rage and torn her to pieces. “WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?”

Then it dawned on her. She had killed their ruler, the matriarch of the swarm. She had walked in here, bold and confident, and had defeated her in one-on-one combat, unarmed. Now there was a void to be filled. She looked at the swarm and laughed. Closing her eyes and lying back, she laughed harder than she had in many, many years. She knew now what they were looking at.

They were looking at their Queen.