The beetle rams Asmoday against the building, kicking up a cloud of spores from the roof as her thick ruby armor impacts the back of the empty house. It pins her to the wall with its horn, a thick trunk of chitin almost as tall as Asmoday herself, and presses her deeper into the plastic wall. Her shoulders are forced forward as the wall bends around her. Asmoday kicks at the beetle’s head, just out of reach of her armored boot. She drops her sword and pushes against the horn, driving herself deeper into the weakening wall. Plastic squeezes in protest, then with a sudden crack, it gives out.

The beetle is the first to react. It catches the falling Asmoday on its horn and drives her yet further through the house. They hit the front door and she knocks it off of its hinges as she’s thrown through it, sliding across a plastic lawn not unlike a sled sliding across snow. Sparks fly as she skids to a stop over a paved road, lying on her back. Her eyes struggle to focus on the planet’s rings overhead.

This is such a nice, flat road. How come these peasants get to have all this, while I’m stuck digging rocks out of my shoes every two blocks? That’s the real wealth inequality right there.

A flower pot shatters. The beetle is stuck halfway through the door frame, rocking the entire house back and forth as it tries to shove itself through.

Joints all over Asmoday’s body pop as she gets to her feet. She reaches for her sword, then swears.

“Whatever. I don’t need a sword to kick your- woah.”

The house tears free from its foundation. The beetle drags it along as it crawls towards Asmoday.

“Your load’s looking a little heavy there.” Asmoday says as she closes the distance with a walk. “Why don’t I help you lighten it!”

A flash of red lightning, and a shock of thunder rolls through the air as she kicks the beetle back through the house and out of the other end.

“So what’s your story, bug!?” She calls out. “I don’t see a nest here, do you!?”

Asmoday snaps out a quick telekinetic spell, and shoves the entire house backward. It slides into the upside down beetle and collapses around it.

“Maybe some idiot farmer locked you up so they could eat your eggs. Then you got big, and ate them instead.”

The rubble stirs as the beetle tries to dig its way out. Asmoday begins casting another spell.

“But your lord isn’t stupid, even if he is one of the king’s men. He would never have let this happen.”

Asmoday raises her hand into a fist. Dark red energy suffuses the rubble, which then crunches into a ball of debris which surrounds the beetle and floats upward. Green ichor drips down from the hovering ball and pools onto the ground below.

“My sister is getting married right now. Tell me why I’m out here, bug, instead of at the wedding.”

She slams the debris ball into the ground. Yellow ichor splatters between the shards of plastic and furniture.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Yes… yes of course. You’re right, little bug; It is too convenient. But who would want to hurt my little Arabelle? Who would dare?”

XP awarded for defeating a Brood Mother!

“Oops. No matter, I have more pressing matters to attend to. Ha! Ahaha! Get it?”

The pile of gore and debris does not respond. She fishes her sword from the pile, but finds the blade broken into three fragments.

“Whatever. I still crushed it.”

She takes the empty handle and steps over dozens of smaller xeno corpses to the backpack she threw off moments ago when she first arrived. The top half contains a box of radio equipment, which she flicks on and turns the knobs to her squires’ frequency. She takes off her helmet, breathes the fresh, non-sweaty air, and puts the receiver to her ear.

“Squire, this is Asmoday speaking.”

“Martinez speaking, ma’am. Ready when you are.”

“It was an adult brood mother without a nest. Do you have any idea what it could have been doing in Estrago?”

Asmoday reminds herself not to squeeze the receiver too tightly. Arabella will be okay.

“It doesn’t make any sense to me, ma’am. They’re not known to wander around much. Maybe it was making a new nest?”

Asmoday scoffs. “This is hardly an ideal location for a xeno hive.”

“Are you sure? Plentiful food, lots of shelter, fresh running water.”

“It wouldn’t make sense. Xenos live in dirt, eating bugs or whatever. Plastic is for people.”

“I won’t argue with you, ma’am, I’m just giving possible explanations. But I can’t think of any other reason for a brood mother to be there.”

“I can. The only reason that bug could have gotten here is if someone brought it with them.”

“...ma’am?”

“It’s a distraction. Something’s going to happen at the wedding, and whoever is responsible wants to keep me from keeping them from whatever it is they’re going to do. I’m returning to the capital; send someone down here to clean this up.”

“About that. There’s been a development in the wedding that I think you should know about.”

Arabella will be alright.

“Arabella has gone missing.”

“Ah.” The receiver trembles in her hand.

I let her down for a bunch of farmers. Again, somehow. They’re not even good at it this time around.

“Get me a line with the deputy commissioner.” Asmoday orders.

Only someone with power could have shipped a xeno to Estrago without anyone noticing. Until she can figure out who is responsible, it will be safer to conduct the investigation with only those loyal to her. The Captain of the Guard is one of the king’s old war buddies, and the current Commissioner is too principled to take sides. The deputy commissioner, however, has none of these flaws.

She’s had the deputy’s career in her hands ever since he brutalized a fellow palace guard on her behalf. Now, his daughters have a free ride to a college up north, and he’s next in place to replace the current Commissioner.

A radio connects to the call. “Deputy Commissioner Reyes speaking.”

“Valkyrie Asmoday speaking. I regret not having the time to engage in our usual pleasantries, but time is of the essence. Would you please fill me in on the situation with my missing sister?”

“Yes ma’am. As far as we know, she left the palace just before sunrise. Witnesses say they saw her boarding a train to Camisa, so we’re commandeering another train to try and catch up.”

“The Camisa rail passes near Estrago. I’ll hop onboard as you pass. You took the duke’s golden monstrosity, right?”

“As a matter of fact, we have. He’s here himself, and he’s making some motions like he wants to speak with you. Shall I put him on?”

She’s curious to hear her brother-in-law-to-be speak for the first time. “Put him on.”

“‘Valkyrie’ Asmoday, I order you to abandon whatever it is you’re doing and help us find your sister.”

“Speak to me that way again and I will drag you against the gravel until the whole city’s red.”

“Excuse me?!”

She clicks the radio off. In hindsight, he was probably just stressed about losing Arabelle too, but these past few weeks have been frustrating. The king shouldn’t have sold Arabella’s hand in marriage for land. He shouldn’t even be able to! She shoves her helmet back on, and wills the HUD to display a map. A pioneer trail connecting the rail to Camisa to Estrago is highlighted.

She wasn’t kidding about killing the prince-to-be if he steps out of line. It would solve a lot of her problems, and it’s not like there’s anyone else with the authority to arrest her.

Asmoday grabs a canister of foam from her bag and sprays all over herself. The white foam sizzles as it reacts with the dirt and ichor caked on her armor. Next, she casts a small rain spell and showers the foam off beneath a tiny raincloud until the dark red crystals of her armor plates shine. She throws her bag back on, and follows the moss trail to the rail.