Chrysalis

Chapter 262

"Ok. Let's try this again. The enemy is down there. We can see them, we are in a superior position where they cannot fight back. All of the advantages are ours. So, what are you going to do? What is your strategy?"

The twenty hatchlings and I are positioned in one of the original four farms, clinging to the ceiling out of harm's way. I lured a monster out of the towards the edge of the open space and tied it down with a gravity bolt. The poor creature is labouring on the ground beneath us, barely able to move, whilst I try to teach these hatchlings how to fight.

The particular young worker I've been trying to teach twitches a little as I focus on my attention on them fully. I'm not sure exactly why but these workers seem a little cowed by me. Perhaps it's just that I'm older and larger.

"Well, I see the monster down there."

"Right."

"I know that I have numerical superiority."

"Right!"

Maybe this time I'm getting through to them.

"I also know that we have a positional advantage here, and the ability to attack our opponent when they can't fight back."

"Yeees?"

Here we go!

"So, I will charge down to engage the enemy, forcing myself into its jaws so that by my sacrifice my fellow workers will be able to attack without being harmed!"

DAMMIT.

Immediately the rest of the hatchlings respond positively.

"Ooo, that's a good idea!"

"Curses! I should have thought of that."

"That has to be the right answer. It's flawless."

The worker who suggested it is now staring at me like a puppy waiting to be praised. Almost wiggling with joy as the praise of his fellow hatchlings rings in his ears.

Ugh. This again.

"WRONG!"

*Thwack!*

antennae down hard I slap the worker on

do I have to say this?! You. Are.

the

feel a splitting headache

act to minimise the loss to the colony to as great an extent as possible. It is possible for you to resolve this situation without any losing any workers, easily! So

at me as if I'm speaking a

don't die is in some way unsatisfactory. I've been trying for thirty minutes to get them to value their own lives, to think of own safety as

lives, not dying seems to be like a personal failure on their part. They burn to sacrifice themselves for the colony, to win something in the exchange and go down in a blaze of

this the wrong way. It's clear that they aren't going to value themselves

to me, all

and antennae focus on me with laser

so earnest, it's quite

wish to serve

"Of course!"

"Yes!"

before this day is done for

down there. So I take

"Naturally!"

heart of the

life for

you there, to the side, just chill out

a moment

benefit the colony, can you do more to serve the

"….."

thinking. In any other situation this would be ridiculous but the fact that they are thinking at all is a

up dubiously, "we were to serve the colony for a time, and then

able to do more for the colony whilst still alive? Especially after you've taken Biomass and experience that could have gone to others? Are

vile poison and

"Selfish?!"

"NEVER!"

selfishness?! I would rather die! Unselfishly …

I nod sagely.

it is your

lean closer

to mention, the other thing to consider. Which colony is better, one with one hundred workers,

for a moment before deciding that yes, more workers is clearly superior to less workers. The ant logic of strength in numbers

to

"…"

hit them hard.

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