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!"

of the tenders marched over to the small ant and thwacked him sharply on the head

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

her entire life! Such a thing was unthinkable! She rushed to the front and

up, you!" She hassled them. "Do you WANT to be called

the tenders to pick up their own speed as they chuckled at

Would they be asked to 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

almost bursting with excitement now. Surely now they would be led into glorious battle! Any moment

the room and battered against her antennae. "What have we got here

instruction, general," replied one of the tenders around the

"Bright eager young ants I see.

preened with pride at the words of the general. She

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

pheromones that she wasn't able to muster any sort of reply and

posture. "We are going to teach you how to fight. We are going to teach you how to work as a team and achieve maximum efficiency in battle. We'll teach you how to secure food, how to recognise danger, we'll teach you about the threats that abound in this place

nodded, eagerly. This was all great

Biomass, get you mutations, help you form your core

that. Soaking up resources they didn't earn? That Biomass could be used to raise the next generation… Why

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

ready to work right

an antenna, "is there no work for a

to where she stood and

the arrangements the Eldest has decreed will best serve the

back from the omni-directional death