Did you really find the explorers?

More like we found each other.

And you told them to meet me here? Princess pressed for an answer. She was nervous. I also shared the sentiment. We had just been assaulted by flying termites; there was no knowing what they would do next. It was going to be a long sleepless night for everyone, and an even exhausting morning the next day.

Princess wasn’t impressed with my nod but didn’t complain either. I just wished she would trust me a bit more.

We were on the twenty-sixth floor, in the construction site that was to become Princesses home once she became a queen. The explorers decided the time and I, the place —this was the only one I was familiar with that was private enough for her to meet the explorers without external influence. The site was isolated from the city, the ruckus and worry, the aftermath of the assault. And since all the free workers had been called to report at the tower, it was also unoccupied, empty, and desolate. It wasn’t complete yet and would take even longer now that the situation wasn’t so positive, but Princess didn’t seem worried about that.

The termites had given the city its largest wound since the second generation’s western expansion project. Nearly two thousand dead and a quarter of that number injured; of course, we killed them back, but the price we paid was too big. They have insulted our authority: Is how princess summarized their action. In simple words: the next great war was on the brink of eruption.

I could sess no vibrations from the ground or sense any scents. The chamber was eerily silent and chill until it was not. Minute vibration passed from the ground up my legs. I sessed them coming. Princess agreed. She stood a bit straighter, sharper. Their scent arrived before them, allowing us time to get our bearings straight. Princess was born ready. As for me, well, I copied her as closely as I could and hoped I wouldn’t leak any emotions and embarrass her.

There were five of them: The swift and strict captain at the front, the long-legged monster at the very back, and everyone else in between. I was half-expecting them to be flying their scent banner high and mighty. They hadn’t left much of an impression on me.

I see them. The long-legged one let out. She was loud, whether by design or not, was not important. There are only two of them. They are alone. No ambush.

They approached and stopped at an appropriate distance for holding a scented conversation. Princess moved forward to exchange greetings, but the long-legged one was faster than her.

Youse the princess he was telling about? Youse don’t look the part. There was an awkward silence before the captain slapped her head and apologized for her insubordination.

Don’t scent again. He told the long-legged soldier and walked toward Princess Tinbuji. They greeted by touching each other’s antennae, reading the segments and the scents laced over before separating. The royal captain stepped back to his team and Princess returned to my side. I was glad she did.

He started. Accept my apology, princess, for being suspicious. It’s how I was taught; preparation triumphs genius – my seniors used to say.

I was told a similar thing once, many moons ago. Princess picked up. Prepare to be betrayed and you will have an easier time expecting the truth.

It seems exactly like something my senior would say. The captain said then nodded. His demeanor changed. He stood a bit sturdier, antennae straightened. From casual to serious, he switched in a heartbeat. I heard you wished to know something regarding the termites, Princess?

I felt Princess’s attention upon me. Real sly, I thought but acted unimportant otherwise. My opinion of him fell further.

They are The explorers. My inner voice rose. Why are you being biased?

I just didn’t like them for some reason. They were too—too confident. That’s right. It was the ease with which they operated that worried me. The arrogance they had. The termites hadn’t fazed them. The death hadn’t saddened them. The remorse should have affected them, too. They were one of us, weren’t they?

I wished to share my thoughts with Princess but decided to wait. It wasn’t my place to say anything — yet being the keyword.

However, Princess fidgeted. I realized that I must have leaked something again. My heart thrummed, nervous thoughts emerging. She ignored me, however. I hope my guard didn’t say anything inappropriate.

Of course not; he’s well taught, unlike someone. The long-legged soldier clicked in a show of discomfort. I might as well say he was very persuasive.

I wondered what he meant. Nothing bad, I hoped. It was stupid actually, my suspicion.

Its jealously, said my inner voice. No its not! I retaliated. The voice giggled in response. Then why do you suddenly want to join the slaves? That was my decision and it had nothing to do with them! And I wasn’t decided either. Not yet; but I was almost ready.

The battle had shown me the reality. Now I knew what I could never be. I could never be a worker again, and I was not good at being a soldier either. I could be a caretaker… no, not even that. Princess needed a guard, a real guard who could save her. For that, I was ready to ask the help of the aged warrior, even though I didn’t want to associate myself with her kind. Just like how I brought the explorers to meet the princess even though I didn’t like them. There would be strings attached, but if the aged warrior could bring me up to speed and the explorers could help the princess, then those small favors would be well worth the pain —at least that’s what I thought.

A little scented push brought me back to reality. It was disbelief, danger, alertness, everything mixed together. Something had happened. They are attacking! I got on my haunches, ready to pounce, but I was mistaken.

That can’t be right. The scent exploded from Princess. Dirt absorbed the chemicals before they could bounce and distort her following words. But we followed the trail. The trail lain by, by…

You see, the explorer’s captain confronted her emotional outbreak with calm expertise. Anyone could have laid that trail. Someone must have known our destination and used the opportunity to send you all to the mountains.

I listened to their conversation, horrified at the possibilities.

But why would anyone do that? Princess asked, equally uncomfortable.

Well, The scent came from one of the other explorers. Someone must have really wanted you to find the termites and save the ant.

She was surprisingly a worker, a nurse to be accurate. Of course, they would want one to take care of their wounds, which none of them surprisingly had? That was intriguing detail in itself. More surprising was her body. She was tall, taller than me, and just shy of her captain’s height. That was not what a worker was supposed to look like; especially a nurse. There really was no one normal among them.

That will be easy to find out once the ant wakes up. The royal captain said. If it does wake up, that is. Though I do wonder, why do you find the ant special? Does it look any different, princess?

It looks the same as us and carries the same passport pheromones. She replied the spark that she had started with dimming along with her confidence. However, he fought against twenty termites and not only managed to kill half of them, but also kept his life? If that’s not suspicious I don’t know what is.

Youse serious? Youse should have started with that— a tentacle swished toward her head, but the long-legged one timely ducked and evaded this time. Alright, alright, I won’t speak again. Just stop hitting me. It hurts.

That is indeed suspicious. The captain agreed.

Princess raised her head back. She had finally found a supporter. Of course, it is suspicious! She scented a vibrant mix of emotions, previous blunder already forgotten. He managed to do the work of thirty individuals alone!

And he didn’t die.

He’s alive. Princess said. The nurses incubated him in the tower post aid for faster recovery. He’s not dead. She added upon seeing the captain fidget — he didn’t exactly move, but it was easy to see that the possibility of the main lead dying had surprised him.

Princess continued. The nurses sent him down to the thirty-sixth floor before the thunderstorm hit. He was unconscious and not injured. So there was no point in keeping him at the tower. If I’m right, Princess explained. He would still be there, kept under watch, but safe and sound.

He would have been taken to the fortieth floor and forgotten there if he was one of ours is what I heard. He would have been accessed for injuries, total damage, the position of his wounds, and then checked with the slaves for extended hospitality. Every life matters —is not complete without— and should be used appropriately.

Someone —we knew who— let out a scent of amusement. She was ignored, but the smallest one among them, a soldier lankier in form compared to his peers, said something that brought the discussion to an end.

You want to go to the 47th city, and you want us to take you there. Am I right, Princess?

Princess was taken aback by the sudden revelation but recovered quickly. She must have been thinking about how to broach the subject because once the truth was out the antennae that hadn’t stopped waving above her head, calmed instantly.

She agreed with his assessment. I failed to make mother believe me, but that doesn’t matter. She’s was against sending troops so far without any concurrent information before the assault. Now she has a different priority to take care of.

The Queen was more worried about the near tomorrow than the distant future. Since the near tomorrow was dangerous enough, why would she worry about a future that might not come to pass?

Princess surprised me by turning toward me. He’s right. She said. I had leaked my thoughts again. These antennae were going to be the death of me. But I hope I have gained enough of your interest to at least think about the issue. The termites have changed. If the reason behind their change stems from the 47th city, then it needs to be investigated before the situation grows out of hand.

That’s a very tall order. The long-legged one said. Youse should think about it for a second. That place is not in our backyard from where you can return easily. That place is far-far away. So far away youse can’t get there in a day!

I know. Princess said. And I understand I’ll never get there on my own; the reason I beg you to take me there.

But why do you want to go there? The lanky soldier questioned. Espionage is not your job?

Because I care, said princess.

Everyone turned toward the captain who had simply been observing since the lanky soldier had started speaking. He had listened to both the truth and the issue. Being the captain, it was his decision. I didn’t want him to agree. I wasn’t strong enough to protect the princess in the colony; how would I do that out in the open free world? But that’s what Princess wanted. She wanted to join them because she cared? That wasn’t a lie, but it was only half a truth. I hadn’t forgotten the yearning for adventure that I had felt from her during our internal connection.

Let’s see our guest first. The captain said. We might find out more from him.

But he’s still unconscious. Princess said.

You don’t have to worry about that. 29 here, the captain pointed his antennae toward the lanky soldier, the only regular one among them. He is good at these kinds of things. He claims to have the ability to read the minds of the dead.

That’s a false claim. 29 cleared with a short burst of temper, which he also quickly subdued. I can read minds, but not a dead mind. There is a difference. The long-legged one let out amusement again.

How? Princess asked in disbelief.

He doesn’t say. Captain interrupted. Anyways, now that we have a plan, let’s not waste any more time and get to it.