Rogue smiled cheekily. “Don’t worry about that. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself. I’ve gone on a sly across territories of many Swarms, and no Eeols ever got me, Scout. Just tell me, what place would be most suitable for the hideout around here?”
Xe thought it over.
“Old Bluetop,” he said. “That’s a large monolith with a spring at its base. I heard from older Scouts there are some caverns or fissures in the rock. It’s in close proximity of our Hive, but we never go there and everybody stays away as the place is overgrown with dense herbs.”
“Sounds good. Lead me there.”
They continued their voyage, and soon the small thicket showed at their left. The weather-beaten monolith and its surrounding vegetation were both quiet, dozing in serenity of the first dusk. Only a tiny spring murmured unseen under the rocky slant heavily touched by erosion. It took them some time to find the black mouth of a cavern lost under moss and thick mantle of interlacing Lily Creeper vines.
Rogue liked the place. “Just my type of a thicket.”
“Be cautious, and don’t fool around,” warned Xe. “My Eeols are not to be played with. Keep low, and remember to hide your tracks and any other signs of your presence.”
“Certainly.” Rogue clicked his hand gears. “Now it would be wise to look after yourself, Scout. There’s still a way to go ahead of you; a short one, but this time you are alone, so make haste and keep your eyes open.”
“I shall. Hope to see you soon, Rogue.”
Spinning his air-screw, Xe took a long run and leapt into the air, soaring effortlessly into darkening skies.
He moved up his visor as the daylight was fading. He had to rush, but things weren’t exactly bad. There was still enough light for orientation, and the terrain was flat and open and easy to scrutinize. Additionally, the mere presence of large Eeol swarms kept most predators away from this area.
Just a short buzz later, a huge waxy dome came into view. The Hive was looming mightily against the dark skyline, looking the same as always, and the Scout shuddered with a gust of emotions. He missed this place, he really did. There was nothing that could substitute that waxy shell in his heart.
The familiar dome was getting bigger as Xe buzzed toward it, and a single luminous rectangle became visible at its bottom, irradiating a green internal glow into the twilight. The glow was bright and warm, and the sweet feeling of coming home flooded his heart with an indescribable powerful force.
28.
At Home Again
It would be an understatement to say that Xe’s sudden appearance caused a disturbance in the Hive.
Agitation arose right from the start. When he flew in, fresh Watcher units were just taking their positions at the Gate preparing for the night shift, and at first glance, they had to assume it was just some straggler from today. But as he dropped onto the ledge, they recognized him, and the whole party froze with astonishment.
Xe hailed them coldly. “Everything all right here, fellows?”
The baffled Watchers first exchanged glances. Then the red crowd burst into crying and bolted toward the Scout, almost knocking him off his feet as they seized him by the arms and shoulders tapping him all over, unable to comprehend that their lost Flyer was indeed standing before them again.
“Commander XeraM6697! Alive!”
“Where have you been? We thought we lost you!”
“Long story,” gasped Xe, trying to struggle out of their hugs. But his efforts were futile as an additional army of sentinels poured in from the Watchers’ Chamber, and with everybody fighting to come closer, they practically trod upon each other. Xe was bumped and dragged from all sides and concluded he was too tired for this.
“Restrain yourselves, Watchers!” he shouted. “You’ll hear about everything but later. First I have to report to the Supremes so make way!”
The red multitude obeyed, simmering down and stepping away, allowing Xe to finally scramble out of a heap of bodies. Buzzing up softly, he bounced himself upwards and soared into the void of the Central Chamber.
The Evening Rally finished some time ago, and the vast chamber was empty, glowing with green luminosity in utter stillness. He continued without delay toward the Commanders’ Area, plunging into the Main Tunnel while his heart pounded with joy; seeing all parts of Hive again made him feel happy like never before in his life.
In contrast to the Central Chamber, the Commanders’ Area was still packed as their ranks tended to stay awake longer than the rest of the Swarm. The Commanders were standing around or sitting on wax shards in small groups, chatting causally and relaxing after the hard day on duty; but all conversations died away abruptly on Xe’s entrance, with every helmeted head turning in his direction.
“Hail, Commanders,” he said flatly, his words echoing strangely in the ghostly silence that grasped the Area.
“It’s me, Third Class Commander XeraM6697. I’m back as you can see. Commander Te 16.” He recognized his friend gazing from the narrow aisle between two rows of sitting waxes. “Could you tell me how are my Scouts? I must know.” Xe feared that somebody close to him got killed or maimed while he was gone.
“Your Scouts?” Te 16 faltered, struggling for her breath. “Oh, your unit is fine, just fine, but how are you still alive? You are… you were presumed dead.”
“I survived the fall into the Stream.”
She blinked. “Fall? The Stream?”
“After that stupid Mimic attacked me, and a raindrop whacked me on the head. You didn’t know I ended up in the Stream?”
“No, we did not,” interjected First Class Commander DeraB1044, coming from behind. “Nobody saw what happened to you, Commander. When the rain stopped, and you weren’t around, we sent a search party which found no trace of you. It seemed that you had disappeared into thin air and the Supremes had to proclaim you dead.”
“Damned storm,” sighed Xe. “I guess I should go to Level 6 and report to the Supremes, Sir.”
“No need for it. Somebody already left with the message and the Supremes are going to be here any moment now.”
“Very well, Sir. If I may add, I’m looking forward to flying with you again.”
“Glad you feel that way, Commander, but there were some changes made. I’ve been appointed to lead scouting company one as their former Mission Commander GetaN1008 got seriously hurt in the line of duty and had to recede from his position.”
“I’m sorry for him, Sir. But your promotion is well-deserved.”
“Commander TeraX8891 took my place as the head of company three as he was promoted to Second Class recently. He is now the youngest Mission Commander in the Swarm.”
“He is an excellent Scout, and it’ll be an honor for me to serve under him. Any other changes?”
“Yes, we also got a new Supreme, former Swarm Leader LegaP9308, because Supreme CotaR1608 passed away.”
Xe frowned at the name that didn’t sound familiar to him at first. Then he recalled the old sick Supreme which hasn’t come out of the Supreme Command’s Quarters for a long time. In fact, he wasn’t that old, just over four years, but he was chronically ill, and his condition just kept deteriorating so his passing wasn’t surprising.
“Replacing LegaP9308, First Class Commander LegaS6667 became the Leader of swarm number one. And we had the last First Flight this season. Assessments of the youngsters were only five days ago.” There had to be very few of them since First Flights falling this late were always small and couldn’t compare with Flights occurring earlier in the year; it was probably counting less than three thousand youngsters in total.
A commotion in the huddled masses marked the arrival of the Supremes.
Supreme BeraX7719 looked furious walking in the front, followed by Commanders HegoT8330 and PeraX5291 and two remaining Supremes and their escort further at the back. He came close to Xe and got into the Scout’s face.
“It’s really him. Commander XeraM6697. I’ll be damned…” he shook his head. “I didn�
�t believe it when I heard it. I had already sealed off for my sleep, and I thought I was dreaming.”
“It’s true, Sir,” responded Xe plainly. “I’ve returned.”
The Supreme smiled at him, though rather officially. “Welcome back, Commander. We are most happy to see you alive.”
“Alive and well, Sir. I’m fit for duty and would like to ask for permission to be assigned back to quests immediately.”
Xe could read bewilderment on his Supreme’s face. He obviously came expecting that if the story was true at all the miraculously resurrected Scout had to be completely battered at the least, and it was beyond his grasp to find him bursting with energy.
“You don’t need several days for a break?”
“No, Sir, I feel excellent. Actually, I have never felt better in my entire life.”
“You are full of surprises, Commander XeraM6697,” muttered the Supreme. “We’ll see about that, but first things first. I want your report, Commander, a long and detailed one. Follow me to the Principal.”
“You mean right now, Sir?”
“I certainly do. Come over and report everything, Commander.”
“Yes, Sir. I will.”
But he didn’t.
Xe said nothing about the Rogue or community of the Galahas and skipped his almost fatal incident with the Spotted Spider. He also didn’t mention running into the Anteater, the mere thought of which still made his heart pound. He simply claimed the wild current had taken him downstream, and that by some stroke of luck, he discovered a suitable cave where he could hide until he recovered from his injuries.
“I managed to stay away from carnivores, as there weren’t many in that bare rocky zone anyway,” he elaborated his lie. “A clump of Farra plants grew within walking distance of my shelter, which was enough in terms of nourishment, and with time, I got into shape again. This morning I gathered courage to set out for the Hive, and here I am.”
Crowded tightly in the Principal, all Commanders listened carefully.
“You have undertaken such a lengthy journey alone and still arrived in one piece?” Supreme BeraX7719 shook his head and leaned against the waxy back of his seat, making his air-screw to creak. “That sounds like a difficult achievement, Commander. What about the Flies? Didn’t you run into some while flying all day long?”
“Around four or five, yes. But I blasted them out of the sky.”
The Supreme’s eyes narrowed behind his transparent visor. “All by yourself? How can that be? That doesn’t seem possible, Commander.”
Xe withstood his look. “I don’t know, Sir. Perhaps I’m simply a very lucky fellow.”
The Supreme’s eyes twinkled with suspicion, but after a few moments he shrugged. “Yes, perhaps you are.” He leaned back again, looking tired and without desire to poke further. “That will be all for now, Commander. Dismissed.”
It turned out that Xe’s quarters stayed unoccupied during his absence. After leaving the Principal, he simply headed for it by the familiar route. Although exhausted and sleepy, he refused to hurry and walked leisurely down the large straight corridors immersed in a green glow; he enjoyed the sights of his Hive and just couldn’t get enough of it.
Along his way he met a party of the Queen’s Servants. Buzzing at the head of it, MedaM0075 hailed him officially but with great interest.
“Commander XeraM6697. You are really one extraordinary fellow, do you know that? No Eeol has ever showed up in the Hive after being lost overnight. Even our Queen has never heard of such a case.”
“I was just trying to stay alive, Page,” said Xe honestly.
“And you are good in staying alive, Commander, there’s no doubt about that. Anyhow, the Queen is glad you came back and greets you warmly. She is extremely pleased to have such an outstanding Scout in her Swarm.”
“I’m honored, Page,” he replied automatically.
Xe had never slept so well and sound like that night, the first one he spent in his Hive after a long string of nights out there in the foreign world.
The next day, early before the Morning Rally, there was a flutter in the Central Chamber as the boiling masses clustered around Xe inquiring endlessly about his adventure. More and more of them kept coming, eager to satisfy their interest; news travelled fast in the Swarm and Eeols were curious beings. The Scout was answering all their questions patiently, but also carefully as not to reveal too much.
“You spent all that time deprived of Song, and you haven’t started to change?” asked somebody from the red crowd.
“No,” Xe replied evenly, acting ignorant. “Obviously, it requires more time.”
Likewise, his Scouts were delighted to see him again. For Xe, it was a great relief to find unit 84 in full number and in good health; only Jo limped with a leg injury, but that wound was far from serious.
“I cut myself on the blade of grass,” he whined in a sniveling voice which made the other Scouts to giggle. “What sharp edges, you wouldn’t believe, cut right through my armor! And how much it stung. Damned Sharp-blade Grass!”
All Starters from unit 84 became Troopers during Xe’s absence. But the unit didn’t get devoid of Starters as they got a one new from the freshly trained crowds of the last Assessment Day. It was a tall, swift and zealous Eeoless.
“Scout FeraX8452 reporting for duty, Sir!” She took the official pose before passing Xe.
“At ease, Starter,” he responded in a plain tone. Evidently the youngster was already instructed to report by full name, and it was unfortunate as the opposite would be far more amusing for him.
Xe’s aid, former Trooper Xe 68, had advanced to the rank of a Green. Unit 84 also received five new Scouts; four Troopers and a Second Class Commander CaxaB4343 as a Scoutmaster. But with Xe’s return, it was clear there would be some rearrangements in the unit.
Naturally, the warmest reunion of all occurred when Te and Go appeared with several remaining Scouts from old unit 33. Xe was thrilled. They went hugging and recalling the good old days and sharing beloved memories.
Sometime later, when the multitude thinned and his old friends left, Xe heard Go had ended up as a Trooper again.
“She was demoted,” said some Scouts who were informed about her case.
“What happened?”
They were shrugging. “You know Go.”
Xe sighed. Yes, he did know her. He still intended to ask for more information, but at that moment, the slowly treading Board came into view, and everybody muted and pulled back with respect, making room for the incoming trial.
According to the rules of the Swarm, Xe was to stand an official check before the Board in order for his scouting competence to be assessed following a serious injury. However, due to the specific circumstances, it was only a formality in his case as it was already pretty clear that he was fit and in shape. Also, the Supreme Command wanted him promptly back out on the quests. His marvelous comeback has done wonders for Swarm morale, and it would be foolish for the Supremes not to take advantage of that.
Therefore, the trial took only several basic tests. Xe briefly demonstrated the status of his weaponry, and then flew around a little, making loops and turnovers and abrupt stops in the air, and hoisted a heavy globe of wax all the way to the high concave ceiling of the Central Chamber. As for the lack of two batteries at his belt, the members of the Board agreed it couldn’t be characterized as a significant defect.
“Very well, Commander XeraM6697. This Board finds you capable for Scout duty, and you are to be reinstated to your unit and position, taking effect immediately.”
“Thank you, Sirs.”
Xe got excited while getting ready for a scouting mission again. The great meadows waited for him, and he could already sense the thrill of seeking, so it cost him a great deal of self-restrain to keep quiet and still during the Morning Rally. To make things worse, BeraX7719 seized an opportunity for another of his long and droning monologues he pompously called the speeches, and the Rally lasted much longer than usual.
“…as we witnessed an extraordinary and amazing event…”
Cut it short our venerated Supreme, screamed the Scout inside his head, and let’s go scouting!
Everything had to finish sooner or later, and the Rally did eventually, so impatient Xe could finally summon his unit on the floor of the Central Chamber.
The position of Scoutmaster was again his as the Supremes got Second Class Commander CaxaB4343 reassigned to his previous unit, while four additional Troopers stayed in unit 84. All four of them were Bolo batch and accidentally had their last numbers going in sequence, thus Xe had at his disposal Bo 5, Bo 6, Bo 7 and Bo 8; if he didn’t know better he would swear that was some Supremes’ idea of a joke.
Unit 84 joined company three, and Xe hailed wholeheartedly their new Mission Commander TeraX8891. Although he was young, Scouts couldn’t get a better leader for the company. The truth was his appointment took place only because that nervous yeller, DeraR9726, who was a first choice for a Mission Commander, had been killed by a Waterworm. In the rank of Scouts, promotions often came quickly.
As they awaited an order for take-off, Xe was approached by Jo.
“Are you going to tell us more about your exciting story, Sir?”
“There is not much to tell, Trooper.”
While it was meant to calm the young Scout down, Xe’s remark just made Jo’s eyes shiny. “But such a grand adventure, Sir! I got bored day after day here. If only something like that would happen to me. An outstanding experience, the one that changes your life forever!”
“Mine was definitely of that kind,” Xe said absent-mindedly. “But it wasn’t nice to be far from the Hive. There is no place like home, Trooper. Our Swarm is the center of your universe, even if you don’t know it yet.”
Judging by his face, he definitely didn’t know it yet. Jo snorted, and his young mind continued to run with the most fantastic ideas.
“Come down to earth, Trooper. There are more important things to talk about. What’s the situation in the Hive? Are there any problems? With all this fuss, I didn’t have time to ask. And what became of the Puddle?”
The Call of the Swarm Page 28