Chapter The Critter's Commentary

Chapter The Critter's Commentary

The nest was “abuzz” with activity. Queens were scurrying from one display to the next taking notes and then moving along to the next one without pause.

Lounging in the center of this activity was the Matriarch. To one unfamiliar with her it would appear that she was napping. In truth, she was meditating. Her mind was taking apart all the information she had consumed, and putting it back together again in countless different configurations.

She had to agree with one of the youngest of her demi’s. The humans were indeed “so cool!”.

One of the queens approached and waited patiently. After a few moments the matriarch turned her head to idly regard her.

“Yes?”

“Matriarch,” the queen said nodding respectfully. “The report on the humans you requested has been completed. The author’s notes, usually a waste of storage space, may be worth a read. If nothing else they are quite amusing. The professor was quite free with their opinion.”

“Ah, Professor Kvazz! That grumpy old drone is always good for a chuckle or two!” the matriarch replied as she took the data tablet that was offered. “Hmm,” she said as she scrolled through it. “This explains the delay.”

“Yes, matriarch,” the queen replied. “He was quite... thorough...”nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.

“Well I suppose I should show respect for his diligence and read it in its entirety,” the matriarch replied exuding rueful amusement. “I should have known what I was asking when I told them, ‘give me everything’... Have you read it?”

“I... skimmed it...” the queen replied. “It’s quite the tome.”

“And your opinions?”

“I find the humans quite intriguing although I now have more questions than I did before,” the queen replied. “How they have managed to survive and produce any civilization or technology is astounding. It’s almost as if they exist solely out of spite and stubbornness.”

“Perhaps we have found a kindred spirit then,” the matriarch laughed as she signaled gratitude and a cessation of conversation, turning to the tablet.

The queen nodded respectfully and returned to her duties.

An hour later Axr/Kal/Breen/Mortshana stood in front of the matriarch, vibrating.

The matriarch sighed and set down the tablet.

“Before you actually shake something loose, what is it?”

“I have the latest news and signal intercepts from the Federation concerning the humans.”

“Oh? Anything of note?”

The matriarch smiled.

“It’s a trap!” Mortshana exclaimed excitedly.

“And one you would have just gone charging into, just like the Federation will.”

Morthshana exuded embarrassment.

“We, the keepers of secrets and masters of tricks must not fall prey to them ourselves, my little demi. Consider this in the future.”

“Yes matriarch!” Morthshana said with a bow but she did not depart. She still stood there just shaking with excitement.

“Is there something else?”

Mortshana exuded so much smug accomplishment that the matriarch’s antennae twitched.

“Just one additional, almost insignificant thing,” she said proudly producing another tablet. “I was reading through some human texts and media and found a very intriguing statement. I did a media search and found... this!” she exclaimed as she handed the tablet to the matriarch.

The matriarch sprayed so much astonishment that every queen in the room paused and looked.

“This... this is the Homilies!!!! This is the Homilies of the War Maven! Concept for fornicating concept!” the matriarch exclaimed as she scrolled through the pages.

“Your favorite book!” Mortshana exclaimed. “And to answer your next question, no. There has been no known contact with the humans and this 'Sun Tzu' (a drone if you can believe it!) predates any contact with the others by centuries!”

“Wha?” the matriarch stammered.

Morthshana grinned. She had never seen the matriarch at a loss for words before.

“Well this explains much!” the matriarch laughed. “Thank you for this wonderful find!” she said as a blue liquid started to form in her jaws.

Morthshana eagerly approached and lapped the ichor from the matriarch’s mandibles and then collapsed into a spasming heap.

“When you recover,” the matriarch commanded. “send a silk-spinner to the Raylesh system! Locate this Jessica Morgan if you can. The smart credits are on her departing the system after this trap is sprung. When she does I want to know exactly where she goes!”

She leaned back into her lounge.

“I wish to speak with her personally!”