V2 Chapter 8 – Organized Chaos
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SOMETIMES THE FAMILY PUTS THE 'FUN' IN DYSFUNCTIONAL.
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The hive hums with the steady rhythm of post-battle activity. Workers move with precision, sorting supplies and tending to the wounded, while quiet clicks of communication echo through the tunnels. Everything was falling back into place, just as it should.
I should feel satisfied with our progress, but standing here, staring at the humans we had captured, I could feel my frustration building.
The hostages were supposed to be useful—alive and spilling information on whatever the humans were up to. But now, as I glanced at the bodies slumped against the cavern wall, I could tell that potential usefulness had come to an abrupt end. My sister knelt beside one of them, poking at the head.
“I think they’re dead,” she says. No, sister, they're alive and well.
I stare in disbelief, clinching my mandibles in an attempt to hold back a surge of frustration. “Of course they’re dead, you dimwit! You hit them with a sword!”
“But I hit them with the blunt side.” She replies innocently, tilting her head as if she genuinely didn’t understand.
"Hit? There's no skull left! Do those heads look like they can still talk!?”
My sudden outburst catches the attention of several Swarm members nearby. They pause their tasks, antennae twitching with curiosity as they turn to watch our exchange.
“Look, look! Big Sisters arguing!” one squeaks excitedly.
“Big Sisters fighting again?” another chimes in, nearly jumping with anticipation.
On the other hand, my sister fidgets with her hands and looks down at both the human’s heads, which have now taken on the unfortunate consistency of a squashed insect.
“I know this isn’t what you wanted,” she mutters. “But there wasn’t exactly time for me to be gentle and take my time. You were about to be cut in two.”
I clench my mandibles and exhale slowly, holding back my irritation. “Yes, and while I appreciate your assistance, maybe next time we could avoid turning our only sources of information into a pile of mush?”
She tilts her head, clearly unbothered, and shrugs. “I was sure I hit them with the blunt side. They should've been fine.”
“Oh, right,” I reply with exaggerated calm. “Because that’s so much better. Blunt side. You just turned their skulls into blood paste instead of neatly sliced bits. That’ll make interrogating them much easier.”
She crosses her arms, and it's her turn to be frustrated as her mandibles click together aggressively. “Look, maybe if you weren’t so busy standing out in the open trying to look like Mommy, I wouldn’t have had to step in at all. You’re lucky I got there in time. Next time, I’ll just stand back and watch.”
“Look like Mother?” I scoff. “I was strategizing like she would. You know, thinking of how to win and keep some alive so we could actually learn something useful?”
“Mother does strategizing? What’s strategizing?” one of the younger Swarm members whispers to a friend, squinting in confusion.
“Oh, yes, strategizing.” She tilts her head slightly, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Like when you nearly tripped on your own feet trying to dodge the Bandit King's ax?”
I glare, not willing to give her the satisfaction. “And your brilliant solution was to bash in the potential prisoners' heads instead of coming to help me right away? You could've saved us both time and lives.”
She chuckles, clearly enjoying herself now. “Well, we’re both alive, aren’t we? So I’d say it worked.”
“Oh, excellent,” I say, throwing my hands up. “Because that’s the measure of a successful mission: not dying and leaving the target in pieces. You don’t get it do you? Next time, let’s aim for ‘barely conscious but still able to talk.’ Is that too much to ask?”
She considers this, feigning thoughtfulness. “Maybe. But I’d probably still end up with an angry sister telling me I’m doing it wrong.”
“Well, in this case, you were wrong. Look, we just need some way of…containing them. Something that doesn’t involve total annihilation on the spot. They were too valuable to lose. We need information, especially now that the humans are active.”
She shrugs. “I’ll try. But you’d better hope they don’t go for you first next time.”
I roll my eyes, about to make another cutting remark, when I feel a strange, prickling sensation. Something between us shifts, like a current crackling between our minds.
《Honestly, how did that Bandit King even spot you? Small and adorable as you are, it’s a wonder he didn’t overlook you entirely.》
Her thought slips into my head, clear as day but utterly silent. As a matter of fact, she's already back to poking at the human's head indifferently. I freeze, completely confused. Kari didn't use telepathy. She can't use telepathy. There are no traces of any power being used as a matter of fact. Did she just…Adorable? And I could…hear it?
I shoot her a glare, my mandibles clicking in irritation. “Excuse me? Small and adorable? W…What do you take me for?”
Her eyes widen as she snaps to attention, but there’s a spark of amusement in them. “You heard that?”
I nod slowly, still trying to make sense of the bizarre connection that just opened between us. “Yes, I heard that. In my head. Which, last I checked, shouldn’t be possible.” My antennae twitch, betraying a mix of confusion and…something else, a strange thrill that lingers in the edges of my mind.
《Are you hearing things now? I knew you were crazy.》
“I am not crazy!”
My sister's mandibles click in surprise, and she stands up, crossing her arms. “Ohhh, you really are hearing me, aren’t you? Can you read minds like mommy now?”
Mind reading? As much as I'd like that, I'm not even trying to do….whatever this is. There aren't even traces of anything psychic.
She tilts her head, curiosity sparking in her gaze. “Well, that’s new.” She says, immediately pausing as her gaze lingers on my mandibles. “You…you didn't say that aloud, did you?” She asks cautiously, a bit of concern in her voice.
I nod in response.
“Interesting. Maybe it’s because I saved you? Like, some kind of near-death sister-bonding thing?” She shrugs, poking at one of the limp humans again, her attention already drifting.
“Bonding? That’s what you think this is?” I snap, though a part of me wonders if she might actually have a point. Mother could very much communicate her emotions without using words, even if she didn't mean to. Still, if this is some sort of "bonding," the last person I’d want it with is my reckless, combat-happy sister.
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“Maybe I’ll try it again. I'll think about something really embarrassing and see if you hear it!” she exclaims playfully.
I narrow my eyes. “Don’t you dare!”
But instead of replying with her thoughts, she simply stares at me in triumph, her expression twinkling with an obvious intent to test her theory. I brace myself for something stupid, but nothing comes, no thoughts, no whispers. Just silence. Perhaps our thoughts were not as open as I’d feared?
I glance away, pretending to be focused on the children who've gathered around us as I test this newfound ability. Can she hear this? I think, aiming my thoughts at the wall.
Nothing. No response, no hint of recognition. Good. Perhaps it's all about direction?
I shift my focus back to her, aiming a thought more intentionally this time.《Can you hear me now?》
She jumps, antennae perking up with a look that’s both surprised and impressed. “Wha…Why does it work for you and not me!?”
“Seems like it only works if I'm directing my thoughts to you. Fortunately, there's no longer a need to worry about you hearing every thought in my head.”
“Shame.” She grins. “Wouldn’t that have been fun?”
《Fun? I wanna have fun!》A new voice cuts into our conversation before I can respond, clearly catching both my sister and I by surprise. Only the younger swarm members would make such a remark, but even then, they could never speak so efficiently. Did they all become better at speaking or something?
I observe the massive shift in the cavern as working and non-working members alike stop one by one to turn to their peers. No words are said, but with their playful jumps and sudden movements it's clear that they are just as aware as we are about this newfound connection. Turns out that it’s not just a little secret between my sister and I. It's a collective connection, and frankly, I don't know if that's good or bad.
《Look at them!》one squeaks, somehow broadcasting her thoughts out loud for all to hear.《They don’t even know what they’re doing!》
《Can you hear this?》another chirps, testing the waters, her mind open and eager.
In a matter of seconds, the hive erupts in laughter and chaos. Young Swarm members burst into fits of giggles, sending thoughts ricocheting off the walls like a bouncing ball. One shouts,《I can hear you! I can hear everything!》
《Me too! What if I think really loud?》
As the voices pile on, they find a way to get louder and louder, trying to have themselves heard of the cacophony caused by their own siblings. The buzzing intensifies, and before I know it, the younger ones are exchanging thoughts faster than I can keep track. Their voices blend into one constant, annoying sound that fills the cavern, each one trying to outdo the other.
I can only watch, horrified, as they experiment with their new connection. On the other hand, my sister's eyes widen in excitement. “Look! They’re just like us! They can do it too!”
“I know that, Sister!” I yell, trying to overpower the voices in my head even though it's perfectly quiet in the cavern itself. Shaking my head, I think about how to regain control. This chaos can’t continue. I figure that I'll just fight fire with fire and reach out with my mind, sending out my voice with as much authority as I can muster.
《Listen up! Everyone calm down!》
But it’s like trying to shout over a thundering storm. My words dissolve into the chatter, barely a ripple in the sea of excited voices. A few take notice of my voice and stop, but its not even close to a fraction of the Swarm. I clench my mandibles, pushing harder, pouring all the strength I have into the command.
《Quiet! Order!》
Nothing. They’re too wrapped up in their own excitement to notice. Frustrated, I turn to my sister, who is still watching the chaos with a big grin.
“Try it! You’re louder than me!” I urge, hoping her enthusiasm will catch their attention.
Without hesitation, she plants her feet, throws her arms wide, and bellows through the connection with a force that makes me unsteady.
《THIS IS YOUR BIG SISTER, AND I DEMAND THAT EVERYONE! SHUT! UP!》
The effect is instantaneous. Every voice drops off, leaving a silence so profound I can almost hear my own heartbeat. All eyes turn to us, wide and blinking as if they’ve just been snapped out of a spell.
My sister crosses her arms, a smug look on her face. “See? It's all about how you say it.”
I shoot her a glance of annoyance, but quickly straighten up as I step forward, determined to regain some order now that we have their attention.
《Everyone, this new….ability is not a toy. Do not yell at everyone. If you want to speak to your peers, simply focus on just them. Not everybody. So, please, let’s keep things organized. We don’t need to shout over each other.》
One of the Swarm members raises a hesitant thought,《So…does that mean we’re not allowed to be…loud?》
I sigh, feeling my sister’s amusement without having to look at her.《No.》I say patiently.《Just… less loud. Let’s aim for organized chaos.》
I survey the crowd, relieved to finally have a semblance of control. But I know it won’t last long if I don’t get them back to their tasks.
《For now, get back to your duties. We’ll have plenty of time to practice and explore this new method of….communication.》
A ripple of groans echoes through the collective connection, already ruining the temporary peace that I had obtained. A few of the younger ones even comment,《But we just started!》
I open my mouth to address the few that didn't understand, but my sister chimes in with a knowing smirk.《You heard her. Fun comes after work! Go on, get moving before angry Sis decides “organized chaos” was too generous!》
At this, a few start scurrying back to their posts, giving us quick glances to check if we’re still watching. One last voice pipes up,《So, we can really talk later? For as long as we want?》
I nod, though my patience is wearing thin.《Yes, later. But remember, no to everyone, please.》
With some final reluctant glances, the Swarm slowly gets back to work. My sister leans in with a chuckle, her voice just for me. “You realize they’re all going to bombard us later with a million thoughts, right?”
I sigh, back to looking over at the scattered remains of our would-be captives. “We have bigger concerns.” I grumble, thinking about what comes next. For better or worse, this strange connection might actually come in handy if we can figure out how to make the most of it. For now, though, we’re still left without any valuable information on the humans, and Mother is still out. Hmm…mother…is this her doing?
“Alright, let’s focus,” I say, forcing the irritation aside. “We’re going to have to come up with a new plan if we’re going to get anything useful. No more bashing skulls in. No more reckless heroics. Agreed?”
My sister shrugs, a slight grin tugging at her mandibles. “Fine. As long as you promise not to trip over yourself trying to act like Mother.”
I groan. ”And I’ll have to deal with voices in my head forever.”
But she just grins, and through our new bond, I hear her voice like a whisper at the edge of my mind,《Oh, you’ll get used to it.》
Just as we start to leave the scene, finally done with the chaos, a little voice pops up in the shared connection, timid but clear.
《Why do we have to work, anyway? The Big Sisters don’t.》
I freeze, antennae twitching as a murmur of agreement ripples through the Swarm. My sister’s shoulders start to shake with barely contained laughter.
“Oh, I heard that!” I growl aloud, and immediately, every younger Swarm member in sight dives back into their tasks with renewed intensity, as if their very lives depended on it.
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Psychokinesis
This psychic discipline is defined by the ability to move distant objects by the sole action of mental force. It encompasses a wide selection of possibility, from movement of objects or living things, acceleration or deceleration of projectiles, and even impact forces. At higher levels, skilled Psychics may even be able to destroy objects or modify their atomic structure from a distance.