Argus, The Homunculus

A part of me wished that I had been given more time to practice with my subordinates. I could feel that they were nervous, a few of them were even excited. We walked back to the outer edges of the territory. Scix had made a tunnel to the Underneath that Robert was going to rise from. Hard to believe it was planned to be used as a pitfall, or that Scix even had burrow worms under his command. It was something to keep in mind, but I doubted our 'war' would escalate to the point either of us had to use such knowledge against the other.

Scix understood our Queen's orders for going to war as a culling of sorts. To him, it was a tactic to confuse any enemies that might have been watching from the shadows. A method for creating strife and uncertainty that would grow the strength of the Hive. We were told not to kill each other, and to him, that meant subjugation as we were to be treated as foreign minds. All of that was put aside during an emergency, and this was very much one of those.

We had no idea if Kobe might launch an attack to end Scix's pack and eliminate his hive or not. Scix had lost over half his forces and had no meaningful way to repel Kobe beyond the glimmer of hope that his pitfall might work. If he had waited, then he may have died or been forced to struggle until he got a meaningful fighting force again. It would have taken weeks or months for that to happen, so it was better to keep his losses to a minimum.

I would have been tempted to burn some of his hounds or press him until he had no choice but to yield, but that wouldn't help either of us. I smiled to myself, as I noticed the elf in bone armor awaiting Scix's orders. I had been worried that he wouldn't accept any of the people races into this hive, but I was just overthinking it. Even though our views were different, and our answers were not the same. They were still answers to consider, and this would make our Queen happy the next time she reconnected with us.

Scix spoke to me, |"Thank you for coming to my aid, given everything that happened I forgot to ask your price."|

My duty was to protect and it would not do to take advantage of him at this time. Making him reluctant to call for aid could lead to his death in the future. I smiled at the viper rat riding atop the whisper hound. |"Nothing, with Gray held by a foreign force we both need to be at our strongest. Even if we cannot overcome the enemy, we should buy time for both of us to at least get away if needed."|

Scix growled through our connection, |"Very well, I will charge you nothing should such a time come. This war of ours must be hard on you Argus. You always detested fighting, even wanting to latch yourself onto our Queen's forearms to be used as a literal shield."|

I sent back a laugh, |"Yes, and you wanted to be her dagger. We were both more innocent back then. Now we have to face a fraction of the issues she was dealing with. She understood why we shouldn't fight the Minotaur directly, and I doubt that has changed without her here to guide us."|

The hound and rat lowered their heads in contemplation, |"You're right, even my burrow worms would struggle against the Minotaur. Though his champions may succumb. You are helping me, how would you like to approach this?"|

I crossed my arms, |"We don't need to decimate Kobe's forces to win, we just need to make him think it isn't worth his time to stay any longer. Why is the elf here anyway? She looks tired, you aren't expecting her to fight, right?"|

Scix nodded both heads, |"I don't like having Douglas talk for me. I'd rather have her do the talking for me. I will send her back once we have our plan. According to the bugs I have spread about; Gray is fighting the individuals seeking to challenge Kobe. He's managing it with six bodies spread around the square. It is disappointing that he has chosen to do this, but he might have some relationship with the Minotaur after today."|

|"Guess we're just waiting on Robert to show up then. Gray can tire his bodies out, and we can strike then. It's probably the best course to take if we want to make sure he's able to preserve his strength. I'm going to get the kennel thing going for you Scix."| I sent an order to my subordinates to watch over my body. I also decided to take CC with me to help explain things quicker to more of the brothel owners. |"Let these guys know when Robert's here."| Scix sent me an affirmative, while I left.

Mark, The Vampire

|"I understand, my Queen."| I sat awake in the darkness of my home. It was only the afternoon but my body was requiring less and less sleep. The first displacer bugs sat on my desk, waiting to be used. They were modified to be parasitic, that way they didn't have to be eaten. It had taken them this long to produce the fluid found inside the displacer organ of the Fukuma. I just had to let them bite me, and I could teleport.

My talent, 'Here and There, Then and Now' allowed me to be anywhere I had walked before. I could only carry myself with it and I found out anything I had inside me was also carried. While it was great for carrying the clothes I had on me, and any coin inside my pouch, it didn't allow me to carry any weapons or even a bucket of water.

I had lived in this town my entire life. I had walked inside every house, climbed every roof, and traveled to the two closest villages. I grabbed hold of the displacer parasites, ordering them to latch onto the back of my shoulders. I held them to the spot I wanted and felt them chomp down. It stung, but the pain was nothing compared to what my Queen had helped me endure. The nightmares had stopped because of her, the pain almost like a distant memory.

She saved me, as she had saved my people. We, who were not worth saving. We, who attacked our very saviors the night they arrived. She forgave us and accepted us. My Queen was more than a goddess, for she was here upon the land itself. No matter how the world might turn against her for the cursed blood in her veins, this town will always welcome those she called her own.

This world was that of the demons, sinful creatures that walked the very land. The gods hiding atop their mountain, failing in their mission to purify the cursed clouds and land below them. I ask myself, what is the difference between a god and a man? These thoughts fill my most private moments. Was it strength? No, the talents we were born with could impart such. We could attain the strength of the gods through lifetimes of struggle, growing our magic if given the chance to live for centuries.

Was it their age? The forgotten wisdom and knowledge of those kingdoms that rose and fell? Even that could be obtained through a long enough life. A talent that whispered secrets into the mind of its holder was not uncommon. How else could one explain those that used two magics? I stood up from my chair, delicately folding the paper I had written.

With each crease, my mind wandered. Was it faith, that elevated one to godhood? There were spirits born from talents, spoken of in old tales. Local beliefs and cultures rising from such. If the myths were to be believed, then some of the current gods were born from cities, towns, or even villages. It proved that the gods were at one point mortals themselves.

It was not faith that drove my Queen, however. She did not need the prayers of others to sustain her power. She was growing with each hardship she endured. My Queen was not a god yet, but she was no less than one to those she saved. I saw behind the veil when she connected to the others in Eclipse. I felt her power surging and rising during that hour, and in that time she created heralds of her own.

She had brought me to her domain beneath the countless stars. I could hear their whispers, I could feel their eyes on me. The warmth of another had been there, their scent still lingering in the air. At first, I had thought I had done something wrong. I had thought I displeased my Queen in some way, but her embrace calmed me. She let me witness more of her memories, she let me see those she had left behind in Eclipse. She could not connect to them, for her strength was not yet ready to overcome a pact with their king.

I pressed down on the paper, perfectly folded. My Queen could not step foot inside Eclipse nor its Underground. I stuck out my tongue, letting the last of summer's air dry it. I had waited for the ink to dry, so a few more minutes of waiting would not hurt. The words of my Queen were important, and they needed to be delivered. I took deep breaths to hurry the process along.

Ah yes, my Queen could not enter Eclipse, but such a pact was made before I was brought into the Hive. I was merely asked to write a letter, interpreting her words as I saw fit. It was suggested that I should deliver it to the man named Robert, and aid him if needed. A mere suggestion, not an order. Something to do of my own free will, as the village of Anvil was given three heralds to defend it. My town was given two, thus one-way connections were established. My Queen was neither connected to her Hive nor disconnected from it. It was the heralds that spoke to each other and told her what was going on.

Memories were transferred to one herald connected to my Queen, to the other that wasn't. She spoke to her daughter because the two heralds chose to speak to each other and relay such information. She spoke to Douglas, who spoke to Robert in turn. My Queen knew of the war about to start in the Underground. She knew what her personalities chose to tell Douglas, who chose to tell Robert. Ah, my mouth is dry enough now.

I apologize to myself for my ramblings. My mind is odd, it is damaged. Despite these flaws, my Queen still chose to accept me as I was. I pressed the note inside my mouth, mindful of the fangs. It simply wouldn't do to scrape my flesh and bleed on the paper. I fought the urge to swallow the note whispering the words I had written onto it. This madness was a luxury, for when I meet with others I couldn't listen to the whispers. My Queen would let me listen in her domain, but it wouldn't do to bother her when there was work I needed to do.

I closed my eyes, my vision filling with the shade of the woods. I felt the displacer fluid enter my blood, as I ordered the parasites to give it to me. It tasted like the color gray despite being blue and glowy. The memories of how to use such came to me, and through the eyes of the bugs, I saw a red-skinned vampire standing in the shade of the tree. I opened my eyes, as my vision swirled. I blinked a few times no longer certain if I was a vampire that dreamed he was a bug or merely a bug that is still dreaming to be a vampire.

A message was sent to my Queen about how the parasites worked perfectly. I pressed the note against the roof of my mouth, confirming it was still there. I sent that to her as well. I stuck my hand outside the shade, the whole thing combusting into fire. I pulled it back to see the holes where flesh and bone were exposed. Yep, my Queen wasn't a goddess of the light, but the dark. She could not protect me from the harsh rays of the sun, not yet at least. I took a deep breath, looking up among the trees.

There I saw it, two funnels facing away from each other. Connections arranged in such a way that only so much information can flow between the two at any given time. It was beautiful even though I know the madness was making me see this. Like two giant middle fingers pointed suspiciously at Eclipse. It was a connection of spite and playful teasing. She was testing the extent of her exile, finding ways around it. The two hives were not connected, but broadcasting information in one direction to be received. It was glorious.

My Queen received my messages and thanked me for my bravery. She said I didn't have to do this if I didn't want to, but I couldn't sleep after knowing what was happening. I knew she would reward me for taking this initiative, that my people would become safer. This was the duty of a leader, to do what must be done for their people's sake. I tugged on my connection, reaching out to the other Hive across the trees. The spot where these two nodes met, and the two heralds sang through their horns. They knew I was joining them, carrying a message from our Queen. They were ready, as was I.

I felt lonely for a fraction of a second, all the whispers of my Queen's Hive fading, all the stars blinking out. Then I felt the chorus of more voices replacing those whispers. I was connected to the other part of the Hive, the amount of chatter reaffirmed my beliefs. Like a child unwinding the twine that kept the cloth over our presents. I saw what was buried beneath, the true depth of my Queen's power. Memories came to me in a gentle stream, as my Queen had prepared the information I was to receive.

I learned of Gray and his assumed tragedy. How he was the one that took the first steps towards the parasites on my shoulders. That his namesake was what I tasted. I smelt the scent of fire and cinnamon. The same scent that had been present with my Queen just before my arrival. The personality that sought to protect, and understood her path more clearly. I felt the cold edge of the assassin, as he pursued his answers. They were not aware of my coming, but they were being watched.

The box holding knowledge had been opened! The present was more beautiful and radiant than I ever foresaw. My Queen had a blessed child, that longed for her sister. Little Pandora was the one whispering this knowledge into my mind. I could hear her giggling in my ear, even though she herself had not addressed me directly. My vision was blurry, as I searched for Robert through the connections in the Underneath. The chosen human, given purpose through the Hive.

I closed my eyes, only then did I realize I had tears flowing down my cheeks. The beauty of it all had moved me to such a state. I focused, asking for guidance and it was given. Pandora's soft giggles helped me find the eyes following the group. There I saw the man known as Douglas, he was carrying a box with the Queen's bugs on his back. I saw a child wearing a white mask with slanted eyes and a creepy smile. Their form was shrouded in the darkness of the abyss, where mere eyes could not see. Then I finally saw Robert, the man was fit with close-cut hair. He had three scars over his eye. The eye itself wasn't blinded, but with his muscles, he was more intimidating than the memories I had gotten.

My body appeared next to the group with both arms raised. I opened them, getting used to the sense of distortion. I felt a blade pressed against my neck, a dark-skinned man with glowing runes tattooed on his finely honed body. I knew him as Carter, the Ritualist. It was fantastic that he had discovered a way to conceal himself. His voice came in low, as the others watched my every move. "Who sent you?"

I was struck in awe by how professional these men were. There was no hesitation, and it was clear they had been hardened by the battles they faced down here. My mouth opened, as I slowly reached for the note inside. I let out a hum of satisfaction seeing that it wasn't the least bit wet. It was dim here in the Underneath, the smolder of giants crawling all over the place granting just enough light for people to see. I was glad the darkness could not hide its secrets from my eyes.

The hive on Douglas' back began to march its warning. I felt him try to connect with me, but I was already connected to him through his hive. He raised a brow, |"Can you not speak?"|

It felt so strange to talk to another like this, but it was one of the many gifts my Queen had granted me. |"My mouth is dry, I didn't want to get the note wet. My name is Mark, please ask Carter to take the note from me."|

Douglas coughed, "He's one of us. He brought a message."

I handed it to Carter when he reached for it, "Who's it for?" I pointed to Robert, smiling at him. I saw the countless giants around us, like a wave ready to drown the enemy with fire. I gained memories of that night where infernos rose higher than the buildings of the Westside. How my Queen walked among a sea of fire, sending tendrils to engulf all that sought to strike her as she marched her prince to safety. Those giants had not perished with age but came to the Underneath on their search for flesh under Robert's command.

Carter carried the note to Robert, who took it without a word. He opened the paper, letting out a small laugh. "Our leader just sent us tactics and objectives for the battle with the Minotaur himself."

I watched as the shadowy child approached me, a ball of darkness in his hands. He tossed it to me, and we played catch. He saw the Queen as his mother, and I couldn't agree with the sentiment more. I was no longer who I was as a human, but one of her many children now. He whispered his name, Fredrick Torchburn, and how it couldn't be uttered. We both had madness, we both understood.

The others prepared themselves, Carter cracked his neck. "After this battle is over, I'm grabbing a few flagons at the bar. What about you guys?"

Douglas let out a low laugh, "I'll show my tribe how strong I've become, and try to enlist more into our fold. I can't be the only one talking to the bugs."

Robert rolled one shoulder with a sigh, "I'm going to see Eris, and check on her. She'll probably be a little mad that I wasn't able to talk to her the whole month. Hard to believe it's been that long, right guys?" The other two cheered their affirmation. "Anyway, we can't keep the other two waiting. We have our battle plan, and we get to lead." He smirked, as the others sighed.

Carter looked at Fredrick, "Hey, Nameless, are you ready?" The little one bobbed his head, the illusion fading. He whispered that he was older than Eclipse itself and that he was reborn ready. Carter tilted his head back towards Robert, "What are our objectives anyway?"

Robert rubbed his chin, "In descending order; we are to survive, repel Kobe with the help of the others, claim as much territory for them as we can, and then we get to enjoy ourselves for the rest of the month before going into the Underneath again. We got less than three weeks to prepare after today, so let's get to it."

Douglas and Carter pretended to groan, but I knew they didn't mean it. They teasingly called the Queen a slave driver, but their smiles betrayed their true thoughts. They loved her as much as I did. I caught glimpses of Carter's form without all his arms and legs. I saw Douglas in the alley, slowly dying from starvation. I saw Robert himself in the alleys on the top, mugging and kidnapping whoever he could for the Minotaur. These people were discarded and forgotten. They had no hope, no chance.

Then they met our Queen, and now determination drove them forward. There was absolute loyalty in their gait. They were prepared to face one of the strongest gangs because they had a plan given to them by their savior. I didn't have to stay here, I didn't have to fight in this battle, but with these fellows, I would lend my strength.

|"I'm coming as well."| I told Douglas, still trying to moisten my tongue.

"Boss, the vampire said he's coming with us."

"That's fine, the more hands the better." Robert walked ahead, as we followed after him.

Carter put a flask to my chest, "Here, drink up, it might be our last." He grinned before moving ahead.

Douglas clapped my shoulder, |"You're one of us if the Queen sent you. We have come to understand that. Don't do anything reckless, only through life can we repay our debts."|

I drank, while Fredrick used the shadows of the abyss to carry me sideways. I always wondered how baggage felt, and drinking while suspended in such a way was a new experience. "Thanks!" I managed to choke out before drinking more from the flask. My coughing fit was short-lived, as we made our way through a recently dug tunnel going up.

I winced at the night coming from above, relieved to find that it didn't burn me as the sun did. There was a girl that smelt of fire and cinnamon with her hands on her hips. "Finally! It took you long enough. I already got things in my territory taken care of. It's been what, thirty minutes?"

Robert rubbed the back of his head, holding out the note. "Yeah, yeah, we won't keep you waiting any longer Argus." He smiled at her, as she read it. "How long will you take?"

I could sense her whispering to the cold edge, who then whispered to the bone-covered elf. The elf spoke the words the cold edge sought to convey. "Not long, did you come up with this plan, human?"

Robert shook his head, "No, and the code at the bottom translates to; Scix's gift. The rest was an explanation that none of you were to see yourselves as her favorite because all answers are equal. I don't know what those words mean without context, but Mark here delivered the message." He gestured to me. The giants were still filing out from the tunnel. Their sheer numbers slowly forced us to move away towards the buildings. Robert grinned, "What was the battle cry?"

Argus grinned, "This Hive stands ready!" The ten heralds gifted to her fanned out, their eyes shifting colors as orbs of fire manifested in their hands.

The elf thumped her chest as whisper hounds ran along the sides of the tide of giants, all of them letting out low howls and laughing in unison. "This Hive stands ready!"

Robert grinned, as he pointed towards the square where Gray and the Minotaur awaited. The sound of battle growing softer. "This Hive moves first. Let's show them how we have grown."

I was set down by Fredrick and pumped my fists up. "The Hive of Luf'Ard follows the first!"