Mimi

Red was telling me everything that the King and Count were doing, as they performed some kind of childish skit. It was mildly amusing but made me glad I had not gone to meet with Charles. There was too much to do here, and I counted on her to keep tabs on Richard and Di'Rex. My Hive version was directing the personalities and running tests, so I could give this all of my attention while my power was at its peak.

Every prismoid had been ordered to not produce any more spores, their growth stopped. The infestation was stopped, next came cleansing the air and giving the people something to breathe that wasn't more spores. Humming wasps (tier three scouts) were called in to drop off some magic cyclops (tier three giants) from above. I caught the magic variants giving them the order. Their job was to control the fire I let wash off my wings. They were to direct the flow of spores and keep the place from exploding.

A crude airflow was established, it would take hours but the immediate area would be purged of prismoid spores. The magic cyclops would spread out as needed. Giants were dropped in next, to expand the spore-free area, and move people inside. The zone was growing by the minute, allowing me to get started on the first group. Argus sent a care package filled with easy-to-digest foods and a few thousand workers. All of them were cleaners, designed to eat various molds. She was developing down a wonderful path, and I thanked her for the foresight.

I grabbed Eci'Peter, as he coughed, letting the cleaners feast on his infection. The contents of the teleporter was emptied and promptly moved into the wagon where larvae were made to change into more cleaners. He clutched the lute with all the strength he had, each cough turning into a wheeze as his lungs crackled more. He pushed himself well past his body's limits, but I wasn't going to allow him to die for what he did here. His magic would be the most useful, and I knew a proper herald from the king would know the magic the people in this town would have.

A quick thump to his chest, and I could hear the echoes go through his body. I tore through the information I received and realized the limitations of my healing stingers. His lungs were in terrible shape, prismoids had already taken root in the sacs. The others were likely in a similar state. I gnashed my teeth before the mind giants were dropped in. A circle went around the bard lord's body, ensuring that his mind would enter the Hive along with his soul. A second Hive version of myself was created on the spot, just to deal with the minds and information I was going to be taking in.

Then I tore open the man's ribcage and ripped out his lungs. His mind and soul were secure, his body had precious seconds at life. Seconds that were extended when my healing stinger came into contact with the wound. Bone grew, flesh knitted together as the body seized and spasmed. New lungs were regrown as he coughed and wheezed out blobs of blood that barely had the chance to congeal.

Eci'Peter sat up, hacking and coughing his eyes wide. I tossed him to the side going over the memories he willingly gave us. I marched to the female blood mage. "Play something to soothe their pain!" Much of what I wanted to know was shielded by the king's pact, but I knew everything I needed to continue. One stinger was down, I only had five more since I failed to rest long enough for it all to come back. If only we had found a way to preserve the fluid!

Eci'Peter began playing, as the collective pain of the townspeople was soothed just a little. He was silent as I had the second version of myself parse apart the new patient's memories. She wasn't a great healer, but I needed all the hands I could get. The little shade I had was being used by the teleporter to bring in fresh cleaners that arrived in waves. The displacer fluid of all available nodes marked as more larvae was being called upon.

I had committed now, and I would do everything in my power to save the survivors of this town. The teleporter dropped by the nodes to pick up displacer dispensers from the shade. Those dispensers were immediately sent to the Underground to fill more teleporters as all larvae available to my personalities and the Wraiths were requested. Tens of thousands would be turned into cleaner workers by the time night fell, but I only had twenty more minutes to get them here.

The blood mage woke up gasping and coughing in pain as Eci'Peter did. I tossed her to the shade where the teleporter just arrived. "Open it and dump out the contents." The girl quickly nodded, using her blood magic and the information I had given her to do as I commanded. I grabbed the next blood mage, disappointed that my brutal surgery still took five minutes and a healing stinger.

Another teleporter, another blood mage with three healing stings left. Fifteen minutes, as I grabbed the shadow mage. Ten and two stingers by the next one. Five and one by the last useful blood mage. The shade had been expanded, and a veritable carpet of larvae was out on the ground halfway through changing into cleaners. With two minutes left I requested all available dispensers ready to reach the third tier. I had an idea, and the Hive complied.

The dispensers were emptied onto the ground with the larvae, then the teleporters were returned to those that needed them Underground with a thank you. I had used my last healing stinger on the final blood mage, the five humans eyeing me with concern and confusion. I winced as the connection to the rest of my Hive was snipped and we returned to the former way. Red returned to her coffin with concerning news. There wasn't anything I could do to help Richard or Di'Rex at the moment, and this matter was more time-sensitive than fixing some damage that could be walked off.

The first Hive version of myself ended up stuck on the other side, but she was just a copy. It worked out better to have her sorting through affairs with the wraiths, and guiding Pandora. She was also able to exist in Rose's garden, not breaking any of the agreed-upon terms. Five sets of hungry eyes watched me warily, as I let out a deep sigh. "Eat, then be prepared to work." Wax cocoons were made for a cluster of trappers to be dropped in to help the dispensers become double mouths (tier three dispensers). They would be ready and dropped through the prismoid spores in an hour.

I grabbed the first child I saw, gently coaxing them to drink water and eat. The five mages I saved were staring at me in disbelief as the second Hive clone told me how crude the information she provided was. I had pushed the limits, so they weren't given days to process everything. All these mages knew was that I was a monster here to hopefully save their town. Eci'Peter's magic was keeping them from panicking, as they followed my orders.

Once the mages had their fill I had them use blood magic to find out who was most likely to die and start arranging the rest of the survivors based on what their magic told them. The new Cleaners were used to eat the festering fungus clinging to the flesh of the worst. Just enough to not draw blood or drain pus. Just enough to prepare them and keep the fungus from growing as it required almost all of my focus to keep the ones in my little circle from doing that.

Spores were incredibly hard to connect to and stay connected with. They had to be tricked into thinking, meaning it required all available minds to do the thinking for them. I was barely able to allocate bugs for Red to see, and gather supplies for a wagon to be built tonight. In other words, my Hive was blind as I overtaxed them in a way I had never done before. More magic cyclops would help with this, but any bug that could think better helped to lighten the burden. All trappers were mobilized if the resources of a node or village hive was deemed sufficient.

"Um... e-excuse me miss monster." The blood mage I saved first was holding her tattered shirt over her chest to preserve some modesty. The blood had been cleaned off. I looked at her, my eyes glowing bright enough to reflect off her skin. She froze, terrified. "W-we arranged everyone!"

I closed my eyes, realizing that terrifying an extra set of hands wouldn't help the situation. I could hear her teeth chattering, as I nodded slowly, "Good." I let the word linger, as I thought up the next task. "Adjust the rows into columns based on blood type, put stones down to mark the breakoff point for severity, and blood type. Then begin coaxing the weakest to eat and drink as I am doing."

A fat blood mage grunted at that, "Can't you do that instead of taking a break? You were tossing us around just fine, not ten minutes ago!" The female tried to shush the man as he puffed out his chest. "I bet you could fix all of us, you just enjoy our suffering, don't you?"

I cracked my eyes open to look at the man with indifference, it would be so easy to stop right now. To just leave and pretend nothing happened. It was hard to process everything, "Everything I have is being used on a scale you cannot comprehend. Please, do as I have requested. Do not make me spend additional finite resources on satisfying your ego. You are one of the three most powerful blood mages that survived to this point. Save your fellow humans, or stand aside so that others may."

The man balled his fists, "What are you going to do with my son!?"

I rubbed the child's back, not realizing the stress I had caused. A part of me wanted to take the kid hostage and threaten to make the man work. Another part desired to simply toss the dying boy into the spores and watch the father fruitlessly rush to save him. I could kill the witnesses and no one would know. I might gain the magic of Eci'Peter, through eating him. What would all this have been for then? I crushed the traitorous thoughts until nothing of them remained.

It was a struggle to stand, the fat man tensing. I took a few wobbling steps towards him, the others backing away. It was becoming harder to perceive through my body, as more minds were being molded to fit the tier three growth. The burden transferred to my mind. Somehow, I ended up kneeling. I was clutching the child to my chest, before offering them to their father. "I did not realize they were yours, my apologies. Please, help. I need time to..." What was I doing?

Seconds turned into minutes as I stayed where I was. I vaguely recall the father taking his son from my hands. There had been arguments, with one individual being brazen enough to strike me. Their power was weak, as not so much as a scratch appeared on my armor or skin. I now knew how dangerous it was to overtax my ability to process. The important information was secure, but new information was being scrambled as I reasserted commands to get those bugs to evolve and keep the spores in the circle from growing.

Everything had gone dark as if I had been swallowed by the abyss. I was stuck, as commands had been echoed and repeated themselves. The Hive had not been ready for everything I required, it might have been faster to slowly evolve the bugs instead of having every available second-tier begin their evolution to the third if they were capable of such. I was crippled with no way out of the abyss until the process was over, my previous orders bouncing through my connection to assure what I desired would be fulfilled.

In the moments where something could be perceived, I was subject to witnessing it from every possible angle. Each second stretching as the filters I had for such a thing was turned off to give more resources to evolving my bugs. At some points, I could see Red desperately trying to kick echoing commands out and restore some semblance of order. It would be all too easy for her to replace me, here and now. The Hive version of myself was caught in the same loop, loop, loop, loop, loop, interesting.

If I were Red, I would have used the chance to seize the main body and become the Queen. I knew myself enough to admit that. She must have noticed it by now. Ah, she killed the hive version to ensure no one else might stop her. There might have been a chance, had they broken out. There were no regrets, only the tinge of disappointment in not completing what I had set out to do. I doubted Red would save Cynthia, that she might avenge Beru. My most private and intimate feelings would be lost with me.

I watched as Red slowly worked her way through the minds of the Hive. They were my bugs, but this was a proper end, wasn't it? So many unfulfilled projects, so many experiments I would never be able to run and see the results. I smiled to myself in the abyss, the Hive would live on. Who I had become was not meaningless but above all, I was disappointed I couldn't see our children grow up. There was nothing I could do to alter the outcome, so I waited and resolved to not fight back. It would only harm the Hive and the minds of the bugs that had potential.

Red's claws grabbed onto me, pulling me from the abyss I had created. The pit of melted bug brains unable to perceive anything beyond evolving to the next stage. It had been almost enlightening, to realize I was going to experience something similar when I reached my final stage. A cross between the conscious and unconscious. Unable to perceive anything, but capable of understanding everything in the sense that I was one with nothing.

Hot pain struck my forehead, but it was nothing I hadn't felt before. |"Wake up!"| Red's voice came to me through the minds of the Hive. |"I dug you out, now you need to wake up!"| This time my cheek burned. I didn't need to be awake while I was being eaten. |"Pandora is pregnant!"|

My eyes shot open, as I found myself laying on the field of my mindscape. |"Impossible!"| I looked around, seeing Red staring cheekily at me. I squinted at her, "Did you truly want me to suffer?" I huffed, crossing my arms at her.

Red rolled her eyes, "Nah, I hit an epiphany. I'm not fit to be Queen, only you are. We're both hiding things, but it struck me when I got rid of the other copy. The things you're hiding are more important, for now." She offered a hand.

I took it as she helped me up, the stars brighter than ever before, some of them were bigger and brighter than the tiny specks they had been. The beauty finally struck me after not seeing them for so long. "I suppose any copy of myself is destined to become a personality."

Red gave a small nod, "Yep, and taking over any personality hurts the Hive, just as any personality taking over you hurts us all." She wagged her finger, "Every answer is important, right?"

I let out a small laugh, looking down at Red. "I suppose it is pleasant to know I can rely on you."

Red touched her chest, "Me." She pointed at me, "Myself." Then towards the stars, "and I." We both grinned at it that, "Fuck, I guess we need to change our name. How does me times a million sound?"

I shook my head, "If you want to call yourself that, sure. I'm Vespe, the one that leads the many. The Queen of the legion. The ruler of myself."

Red stuck her tongue out, "Whatever, 'my queen.' Just don't go getting caught in an abyss loop like that again."

Hands on my hips, I huffed, "You would have done it too."

That cheeky smile was back, "Who knows? I like to think I'm better than you. It's the vampire mindset after all." She did a few poses, "By the way, you've been out all night. Morning is approaching in a few hours and the situation isn't exactly getting better."

I nodded at her assessment, "Do you think my idea will work?"

Red rolled her eyes, "I'm biased, of course, it will work. Either that or you get to bring in the blood banks for the blood mages to distribute to help them last a little longer."

We gave each other one last nod, as I opened my eyes to find I was on my side. Someone had been bold enough to topple me at my weakest, but they couldn't draw blood, even with their magic. The air was quite a bit cleaner, and the magic cyclops were slowly pushing forward to annihilate any remaining prismoid spores outside our circle of control. A quick use of my shadow and I was on my feet, each of the five mages watching me with immediate concern.

Eci'Peter nodded towards the fat blood mage, "Dumb ass didn't know when to stop."

More memories came to me, about how he was a preacher for the local church. How he hated monsters, it made his actions more understandable. Even as he declared Eci'Peter a traitor to humanity. A sigh escaped my lips, "I'm no monster." I sang in an eerie voice, "I'm a demon, spiteful and angry. Not towards humanity, but the gods themselves. Your people have been chosen and marked for death, yet I wish to let you live. One final choice, I offer to you." I held out my hand, as all eyes were on me, Eci'Peter playing the appropriate notes. "Let the gods kill you, or take my hand and live."

The two shadow mages looked at each other and decided to take my hand. The younger blood mage fidgeted before finding the courage to take my hand and join the other two. The Father grew red with rage, "Marcus, you coward! If the gods decided we are to die, then we must offer ourselves as tribute!"

The female seemed to come to a decision and took my hand as well. She gripped it, looking me in the eyes, "Please save them, miss demon. Whatever you need." I liked her, as she trembled before me and still dared to make demands.

A smirk curled my lips, "Very well." I moved her behind me, taking a step towards the man.

He was devastated, "Amilia..." he whispered, though I had no idea what their connection was. "I raised you since you were a babe." He glared up at me, his faith wavering as he looked at the bodies around us. His people writhing on the ground, barely able to breathe.

"Every second you waste is another second closer to death. I can work miracles, but I can't bring the dead back."

Amilia swallowed the lump in her throat, "Everyone will die! She's the only one that can save them! She's the only one who can save your son! Please, father!"

The father took a slow breath, lowering his head. "Will they be spared from the hells? Tell me the truth, demon." He looked at me with conviction.

I tilted my head, "They hold no choice in our dealings, if anything they are victims. If you believe your gods to be just, then you have nothing to worry about." I snickered, as the father looked back at the other survivors.

He swallowed hard, "What kind of demon are you?" He hesitated, not looking at me.

I rolled my eyes, "An arch sin, offer everything to me and I may ordain to keep you as a pet. The more twisted one's faith becomes, the more delectable the morsel." I let out a soft hum, heavily leaning on what little Alice knew of demons. Thankfully Oswald's journal filled in more than a few gaps for me.

The father grit his teeth and took my hand. "The pact means you must save everyone you can! If you do not do everything in your power, then it is void!"

I tossed him behind me, "Then you better do everything I ask." The work was long and bloody, with the shadow mages coaxing food into the mouths of those too weak to eat themselves. The double mouths were carefully inserted as the smallest cleaners crawled into their sacks and helped to establish a seal with the lungs of those struggling to breathe. The double mouths did the breathing for the humans, as the second sack was opened at the bottom to let broth and other nutrient diluted liquids drip into the stomachs of these humans.

My blood mages tapped into the veins of those I had arranged, giving the appropriate blood to those that need it most. It was crude, but Eci'Peter managed to lull the afflicted with his soft lullabies. The cleaners carried silks from the trappers inside the double mouths to make a loose network so they wouldn't accidentally fall into anyone's lungs and cause more damage. Slowly the spores inside the lungs were filtered out, the phlegm was removed and broken down slowly. By the time night returned, the majority of people had regained some color.

The prismoid that had eaten at the flesh of these people was slowly picked apart to promote scabbing on those we knew could take it. My cleaners were doomed to die after every last spore was scrubbed from this town, but the Hive wouldn't forget the methods used here. If this situation ever occurred again, we now knew that the people could be saved without my healing stingers. I stayed through the night, making certain that everyone was recovering, the air finally safe to breathe for the humans and harmless for my bugs.

Eci'Peter called me over during his break, while the others tirelessly worked with wiping the sick down with cool rags and helping them change soiled clothes. The perks of being a demon and suckering idiots into taking care of their own race. The bard gave me a small smile, "You're about to leave, aren't you?"

I raised a brow at his sudden question but nodded at his assessment. My bugs had a handle on things, and an Entomancer was able to communicate with them. I already healed Richard, while Red hunted enough to keep the survivors fed. I didn't have to do anything else, I knew I had to prepare for whatever a Behemoth was. My eyes narrowed, "Yes," I decided to keep it simple.

Eci'Peter nodded, "You are aware that I can't work for free, right?"

A grin met him, as he tensed up. "I don't expect you to work for free, but surely you didn't expect me cleaning up your mess would be free?" I tapped my lips, "Perhaps I should let the others know that you had a fair hand to play in all this. I was so hoping you might suggest tagging along with me, to pay off the debts."

Eci'Peter paled, looking at the others going about their tasks. He let out a small cough, "My songs aren't free, my generous Queen." He ventured.

I tilted my head at that, "Oh? Neither is my healing stinger that saved you from the cusp of death's sweet embrace. It may be a better approach to tell me what you wanted coin for, or perhaps what favors you ordained to ask with the debt you perceived me to have."

The bard nervously rubbed his neck, "I'm a simple man, that only wants a fair beauty to help keep his bed warm at night. Perhaps some meager beverages from a pub to quench my thirst. I can't exactly go back to Eclipse, given what transpired."

"That's it?" I was almost impressed.

Eci'Peter blinked, "I can ask for more?" He carefully put it out there.

I shrugged, "I have others in my employ with more debt than yourself if you'll believe me. You may ask for anything, but I expect results and loyalty while you are in my service. We're leaving tomorrow after my wagon has enough larvae and bugs to make more nodes."

He slowly nodded, "Isn't it dangerous to leave the town like this? What if a monster attacks? I could stay here and try to boost the loyalty of everyone thanks to your goodwill. There's so much potential here."

"What are you talking about summoner?" That made the man pause, as I pointed at him. "Demons aren't allowed in any city without their summoner present. Besides, I already have eyes and ears on everyone in this place. If they aren't loyal to the one that saved their lives and the rest of their community, then what use are they? At the very least I plan on using them to fill my blood banks and for some additional farmhands."

Eci'Peter squinted at me, "That's all you're making them do, for everything you did?"

I gave him a slow nod, "Carpenters will repair wood damage, giants and cyclops will provide protection. There is still more for me to do, but the infrastructure and people are more important than anything they might hope to pay me with now. You are free to decline accompanying me, though I may have taken a liking to Amilia. She is positively adorable." I noticed her shiver at me saying her name, even though she couldn't possibly hear me.

The bard gave a slow nod, "Alright, I'm in." I clapped my hands together and grinned at the man. Fis'Ton was going to be rather enjoyable.