Ratling Queen

the tunnels under the Dungeon Core Room

“Silence, children!” I spoke while smacking the polished stone table with my foreleg. It took only a few minutes for the Silent Council to quieten, true to its name.

Not all of us were here, as Scout was currently wandering outside - doing his job, while Scientist and Crafter were hidden away in their quarters, playing with the new explosives that our Creator bestowed upon this world. And hopefully not destroying their laboratories. Again.

On that note Mechanic was unable to sit still on his furry backside - eager to finish the meeting and join his fellows in their experiments. Yet his sense of duty kept him in here. He was after all the commander of the sacred Crusade which joined the Creator forces in conquering the Watery Place. As such he was required to share his experience with the rest of us.

Noticing my gaze he turned to face me and smiled immediately, part of his snout hidden under a self-made iron helmet. Only his mechanical appendages betrayed the nervousness he felt. Still, it was a remarkable show of self-control. Good. The Creator's first children need to be both brave and daring. We are His heralds in the darkness of this world.

I looked around, noticing that every rat present was bursting with enthusiasm. It was obvious that everybody was eager to start planning. On my left sat Strategist, Tactician, and Berserker - the warrior faction, lacking only Scout presence. Somehow they always arrived at violent solutions. On the right Mage and Mechanic were chattering excitedly, their group of creators weakened by the absence of its two members. These guys preferred cunning over brute strength.

The chamber we sat in was nothing special by itself. Just a hole in the ground dug out by the work rats and polished clean by the engineers. As a light source, we had some Bright Fruits made by the Creator. They were a prime way of lighting up our tunnels. A stone table and chairs were scattered around the center of the room, but there wasn’t much furniture except these. What was important about the room then? Why the leaders of the Ratling community met here to plot? It was the location of this chamber that was of significance - it was dug out just under the room where the real dungeon core rested. Our Creator was near and the workers even exposed some of the normally hidden wirings in order for us to bask in His radiance.

Before the discussion devolved into an excited squeaking my serious stare brought all rats present into the mood. The Glory to the Creator skill was teaching me that the right ambiance was beyond important in such meetings and my own instincts happily obliged.

“Thank you.” I spoke while nodding towards Mechanic. “We gathered here because the first Crusade against the dungeon enemies has finished. We were granted both bloody victory and various boons.” Creation-oriented rat's faces rose and even the warrior-caste perked up at my words. “Mechanic, please speak. Speak of the glory you enjoyed.” I asked and the Ratling happily obliged.

“Yes-yes! Mother, as you asked I gathered our forces. Forty rats strong, all armed with spear throwers and trained by Tactician. We also had an additional team reserved for acquiring ammo. Which turned out to be wise-wise! Under the Creator guidance, we marched with the warrior people of the Un-Tasty Ones and two Grand Weapons of His make.” Mechanic eyes glinted under the helmet. He was clearly happy with the appearance of the new inventions. “They were used to spew lightning… and explode!”

This sent the waves of excitement through the council. Even the guards standing near the entrance to the chamber were chittering. After all the rat race had a propensity for exploding weapons. And burning ones. And acid too! Before we were limited to Bright Fruits, Acid Flowers, and simple spears.

Now?

The possibilities were endless.

Still, the discussion was already being thrown off course due to this news. I had to intervene.

“Please focus.” I asked gently and the rats quietened once again. The skill was right once again. This was the correct response. “Continue, Mechanic. Tell us about the rest of the battle.”

“Yes, Mother.” He nodded, barely containing his excitement. “The Creator forces fought the big-big thing, pelting it with spears and crushy-crushing it with weapons. There were also slithery-things trying to bite us. Nasty ones!” He started to gesticulate, showing how bravely his forces battled. It was cute enough, so I let him continue. ”We fought well, but in the end, the exploding Un-Tasty Ones killed many of our brethren.” Mechanic lowered his snout, clearly showing that he felt responsible. “I knew that something was different about them, but didn’t order the retreat. Mother, please punish my ignorance!”

As he finished his words two rats entered the chambers. At first, I frowned at the interruption, but a quick look at their wounds identified them as the veterans of the Crusade.

“Can we speak, Mother?” Asked the older one, lacking a front paw and being helped by his companion.

I nodded in silence.

“We ask you to forgive Mechanic’s transgression against the Creator.” The badly hurt rat trembled at speaking His Holy Name. “We would gladly take any punishment in his stead.” I saw Mechanic wince in a corner of my vision, the tears glistening in his eyes, threatening to spill at moment’s notice.

“There is no way I would do that.” I spoke and the room froze in shock. “After all, there’s nothing to forgive. Mechanic did his job splendidly.” A grin appeared on my lips and the rats slowly comprehended the meaning of the words. Then a strange laugh resounded and everybody stared at Mechanic standing up from his chair, snot and tears mixing together in a show of relief.

Seeing the attention he brought to himself the rat in question tried to unsuccessfully calm down. Only after a few minutes did his composure return.

“I thank you, Mother.” He said with a deep bow, the two wounded rats behind him copying motions of gratitude. “Glory to the Creator.” He added with deep emotion.

“Glory to the Creator.” The people in the room repeated after him.

“Come, speak more of the grand battle. Let us bask in the honor gained.”

“Yes... “ His face turned more serious as he continued. “With our ranks shredded the Creator ordered a retreat. It was then when Scout minions saw something moving underwater. The battle continued with these reinforcements. Since we would be only a hindrance I led my brethren back home... And that is the end of my story.” I nodded and turned towards to Scout’s vice-commander.

“Did you identify the threat?” I growled - only to let him know his place. The rat in question bowed and answered stupidly, but with great confidence.

“We don’t know what they are, but the attackers were clearly creations of our Master.” A sigh escaped my mouth.

“Anything else?”

“Yes, Mother.” The vice-commander started to grin. “The Creator made a few more races. One of them is particularly interesting.”

“Oh, don’t keep us in the suspense! Speak out!” Shouted Berserker, as always easy to anger.

“Yes, sir!” The rat countenance changed. He seemed a bit more professional now. “One of the new races possesses the ability to fly. We observed their behavior and think they can be tamed! Additionally, there are a few new plants present, mostly underwater - some of which seem really poisonous!”

“Good!” Shouted Mage, for the first time really interested in the conversation. “Please bring the samples to my lab!” I could hear him muttering something about getting further ahead than his competition. Poor guy, being blessed with an Analyze skill, yet not having a chance to use it. Well, we could send him to the surface, but that was a dangerous fate for a rat as unique as him. On the other hand, the rats there had their paws already full and would gladly accept any help...

“I could fly!” Berserker was also excited, albeit from the other reasons. He was currently waving his scarred arms with excitement while thrashing the chairs with his large frame. The vice-commander body shook for a bit after hearing that sentence.

“Maybe…” He cautiously answered and not hearing any response added quietly. “But it would take some time even with selective breeding.” I nodded to myself. Still - to create an air unit… that would be an interesting experiment.

“Mother, I have a question.” Asked the silent Strategist. His skill - Calculator - had an accuracy rating directly connected to the available information, thus he usually only listened to what the others had to say. It was surprising to hear him speak out.

“Yes?” After an initial shock, my saintly aura immediately returned.

“How are the Red Rats?” He asked, his cold eyes tracing my movements for any falsehood. I smiled in response to his childish pressure.

“They were moved into the Deep Chambers and asked to train a force of their own.” These were the rooms we had built on the second level. “Afterwards they would patrol both floors and reinforce the already present guards. This chamber included. We have no shortage of volunteers to send into their conversion. Our faith is strong. Glory to the Creator.”

“Glory to the Creator.”

“And how are things on the surface?” The annoying Strategist asked again. Oh well, it was not like this information was secret anyway.

“I had a meeting with the surface Queen. We put aside our differences and she was happy to trade information and resources.” Translation: my Glory to the Creator skill brainwashed and subordinated her to me. “Above ground is similar to our Metallic Jungle, with silver plants and acid traps present in every direction.” Few rats trembled at these words. We all knew how the military sent their squads to camp in the Jungle. And how many of them returned with burned fur or didn’t return at all.

“Then are we sending reinforcements up there too?” Mage asked hopefully.

“Yes, however, our losses are tremendous. The Tall Ones are strong. Some even monstrously so. One of their teams keeps a very good pace, annihilating our forces on their way. An elite vanguard unit.”

“When will they arrive, then?”

“Probably in five to seven days.” Tactician lifted his brow in return.

“They don’t seem that strong.” He spoke with disdain.

“They’re moving that slow only because we started to employ the suicide tactics.” I answered.

“That… changes things.” He shook his head. “Will the flying forces be ready for their arrival?” A question hung in the air for the moment, until vice-commander scurried to answer.

“We’re still testing the basic feasibility of this idea! We’re not even in the prototype phase!”

“Then GET TO IT!” Shouted Tactician, his reddish eyes glittering with madness. “Mother, we will take our leave here. We’re wasting time and I feel like my knowledge will be best put to use down there. In the field.”

“Yes. Go my child and make me proud.”

“Of course. Glory to the CREATOR!” He said, before leaving and dragging the poor Scout vice-commander out of the room.

“There are materials to make and bombs to test, Mother.” Whimpered Mechanic and Mage only nodded his head quickly, agreeing. I sighed.

“Go. Don’t blow up the laboratory.” Two pairs of hurt eyes answered me. “Too much.” I sighed again and they scurried away too.

“Is the meeting adjourned then, Mother?” Slowly asked Strategist, noting that only Berserker and he were left.

“Yes. You know that the time of trials is coming. Prepare.” He gave me a bow I was soon left alone.

This made me think about the future.

I was worried.

The Tall Ones attacking us were relentless. Every day new soldiers were born and every day new soldiers were being killed. They were bleeding us out. It was unsustainable.

We needed stronger weapons.

We needed more explosives.

We needed our Creator intervention.

...

I clenched my teeth until they hurt. Until I could taste the blood.

I decided to get an audience.

Glory to the Creator.