Chapter 50: Laughing Matters (1/2)
”I believe I can fly~ I believe I can touch-”
*Angry buzzing*
”Alright, alright. I'll get going. Geez, everyone's a critic.” Mike said while clambering down onto the edge of the hole leading into the hive.
He waved at the departing bees. ”Thanks for the ride.”
Hands on his hips, he looked into the confusing maze of grey honeycomb. ”Welp, better get started on this.”
Mike started climbing his way deeper in the hive. A number of drones passed by, but ignored him. Evidently, some message had been passed regarding his presence. He tried to follow the traffic, assuming that they must be going somewhere important.
He stopped by a chamber that seemed to contain to bees' larva. They were wriggling mounds light grey flesh, with bulbous heads. Kind of cute in a horrifying, nightmare inducing way.
This particular room was guarded by a larger and much more fearsome looking bee. It was nearly twice the size of the others and moved with a sort of aggressive energy. It hummed a warning noise at him. Mike figured that this was one of the soldier bees, and decided he didn't really need to see anymore.
After another lengthy climb he eventually reached a large, open chamber. At its center was a huge bee, dwarfing even the soldier bees that were clinging to the chamber's walls. Its lower body was subsumed by a gigantic abdomen. As Mike watched, another of the grayish larva emerged from the end of the organ.
[Ah, the miracle of birth.]
He approached the Queen Bee, stopping only when the soldiers started to make threatening maneuvers.
The Queen questioned Mike's presence in the bees' quasi-language.
”I am here to collect some honey.” He held up the two jars. ”Just enough to fill these. I'd be willing to trade if there is something you need.”
There was a note of rejection from the surrounding bees, the soldiers seemed particularly aggressive in their refusal. The Queen called for silence. She focused her multi-faceted gaze on Mike, as if evaluating him.
The Queen engaged in a lengthy, almost speech, where she identified a threat to the hive. Apparently some kind of bear-like monster had been attacking on a regular basis. The bees managed to drive it away each time, but at enormous cost.
In exchange for the honey, she wanted Mike to defeat this monster.
[I guess bears in this world like honey, too.] He thought to himself, feeling slightly odd about the whole situation.
”Very well, we will help you in this matter.”
At Mike's agreement the Queen issued a quick command. Two drones flew up to Mike, took the jars from him, and flew off. A short while later, they returned carrying the jars filled with a strangely luminescent grey honey.
[Wow, that doesn't look appetizing at all. Why is it glowing? Is it radioactive?] Another thought occurred to him. [Wait, how did they manage to open the jar, and then put the cork back in?]
He stared at the two drones willing them to explain themselves, but they merely dropped off their cargo and flew away.
”Fine, keep your secrets.”
He placed the jars into his backpack. Looking around, he kind of halfway expected some sort of send-off, but the bees just returned to their previous activities, largely ignoring him.
Sighing, he turned around and started working his way back to the entrance. He wasn't sure what he was expecting from insects, but he still felt a little disappointed.
After several minutes of climbing, squeezing, and scrambling he made it outside. Looking down at the forest floor, he figured that this was the perfect time to try out something he'd always thought was really cool.
He dropped out of the hive, hitting the ground on one knee and one hand, a classic superhero landing.
Shortly afterwards he collapsed over on to his side.
[Oh my God! I think I shattered my kneecaps! How do they make it look so easy in the movies?]
A few minutes of regeneration later, he stood up and faced the other three adventurers, who had gathered around while he was in agonizing pain.
”Are you alright?” Kate asked with a degree of concern. She'd heard a clear crunch of bone on Mike's landing, but he seemed to be fine now.
”Couldn't be better.” Mike clapped his hands together and excitedly asked the group. ”So, I have some good news, and I have some bad news. Which would you like to hear first?”
The trio looked at each other, before Philip spoke. ”What's the good news?”
Mike pulled the two jars of glowing honey from his bag and handed them over. ”Negotiations were successful.
”Alright! See I told you we could do it.” Philip threw a fist up into the air in celebration.
”YOU didn't do anything, idiot!” Kate yelled before speaking in a softer tone. ”Thank you, Mike. If you hadn't joined our group, we would have failed in this request long ago.”