Chrysalis

She wasn't sure who began it, but the new hatchling was only too willing to join in the cry along with her siblings.

"FOR THE COLONY!"

"FOR THE COLONY!"

"MY LIFE FOR THE COLONY!" She poured her heart and soul into her pheromones as she declared her willingness to sacrifice for her family.

As each ant emerged, fully formed from their cocoons they joined the roar until the brood chamber was flooded with the scent of insect determination. It was rousing stuff, and she felt her heart pound with excitement. The long days and weeks as a larvae and then a cocoon were fuzzy memories for her, but the impatience to contribute had existed even then. Now at last she could run, and chomp, and die!

Seemingly oblivious to the righteous fury burning in the hearts of their charges, the brood tenders continued to pick over the new ants, ensuring that they were clean and helping to cut free any that were still struggling with their string cocoons. When they were all loose the hatchlings continued to vent their excitement and dedication for some time. It was much later when the air was finally clear enough for the tenders to announce what would happen next.

One of the brood tenders crawled to the centre of the chamber and loudly clacked her mandibles to draw the new hatchlings attention.

"Welcome to the Colony, new hatchlings! You are all now precious members of our family. In accordance to the will of the Eldest, you will now be taken to the academy to be taught and trained, so that you may contribute as best you can."

The new hatchling wiggled with glee at the thought of contributing to the Colony. She had to go to this 'academy' place first? Not a problem! She would tear down all obstacles that would keep her from the glorious destiny that awaited. Following the announcement, the team of brood tenders began to shepherd the hatchlings as a group out of the chamber and into the tunnels. The hatchling saw a few brood tenders remain behind and begin cleaning up the broken cocoons, probably preparing the space for the next wave of pupae to arrive.

So it was within the Colony, her instincts told her. Each generation should sacrifice for the next! The new hatchlings chattered amongst themselves as they moved through the tunnels and gaped at the larger, more powerful ants that passed them on the way.

"New hatchlings eh?" One passing ant called, a huge and bulky specimen of an ant with powerful mandibles. "Work hard for the Colony!"

"So," drawled another ant, this one a touch smaller, with a smooth, sloped carapace, "who's going to die first for the colony!"

as one of the tenders marched over to

called back, "let's keep marching! We don't want to be late,

entire life! Such a thing was unthinkable! She rushed to

She hassled them. "Do you WANT to be called

her pace, forcing the tenders to pick

fight? To kill?! How exciting! The brood tenders ushered them in and directed the hatchlings to settle on one side of the room which sloped down to face a small flat space at the front. In that area a large, powerful ant sat, watching them. Not as large as the ant they saw earlier, but still impressive, this ant gave off a feeling of control and command. Each of the hatchlings felt energised and full of

excitement now. Surely now

flooding the room and battered against her antennae. "What

Twenty students await instruction, general," replied

'general' replied. "Bright eager young ants I see. The Colony will have a

preened with pride at the words of the general.

and she was smacked back into reality. "Right now, YOU ARE WEAK. STUPID. AND UNFIT

pheromones that she wasn't able to muster any sort

poking any hatchling within reach with an antenna to prod them into better posture. "We are going to teach you how to fight. We are going to teach you how

eagerly. This was all

useful! We'll feed you Biomass, get you mutations, help you form your core and evolve. Not once, BUT TWICE.

Biomass could be

colony has done all that, and we've poured all this effort into you, you will have the opportunity to

was ready to work right

antenna, "is there no work for a

slope to where she stood

Eldest has decreed will best serve the colony! Are you going to argue with

she shrank back from the omni-directional