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!*

an antennae down hard I slap the worker on the

to say this?! You. Are.

right" the

feel a splitting

you allowed to act in a suicidal way. You should always act to minimise the loss to the colony to as great an extent as possible. It is possible for you to

at me as if I'm speaking a different

thirty minutes to get them to value

not care about their own 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

It's clear that they aren't going to value themselves for their own sake, but perhaps I get them

me, all of you!" I

sets of eyes and antennae focus on me

so earnest,

to serve the colony?" I

"Of course!"

"Yes!"

die before this day is

take it, you also wish

"Naturally!"

the heart

life for

the side, just chill out

a moment to compose

can

"….."

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

"we were to serve the colony for a time, and then die in dutiful service to the

Especially after you've taken Biomass and experience

selfish as if throwing up vile poison and the hatchlings with

"Selfish?!"

"NEVER!"

would rather

I nod sagely.

has invested resources in you, it is your duty to repay the

closer

colony is better, one with one

mutter amongst themselves for a moment before deciding that yes, more workers is clearly superior to less workers. The

is the colony supposed to increase its numbers if you die

"…"

them hard.

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