Arachna panicked. Molting? As in, transforming into a Hive Mother?

Horde, it was too soon. There was no way she would have the time. Too much to do. She needed to explore. To defeat the rifter. Figure out how to beat the Yumens. To take control of the Eschaton.

If she transformed, her body would grow. Horde, she'd only caught a glimpse of her Hive Mother's body from her dreamlike state. Those spires rising out of the ocean rivaled the size of the Eschaton itself. How in the Xither would she hide if she became that large and couldn't move? Hive Mothers were typically stationary Krath that spawned other Krath but remained grounded in place.

Not yet, Arachna thought to herself.

There was only one place she could go.

Back to the freezer.

Arachna scampered at full speed up through the air ducts, her twin hearts pounding rapidly back and forth. Her small legs thumped against the galvanized steel frame that composed the ducts. Typically, she would make more of an effort to remain silent but not today.

Where was the kitchen?

Left, right, left. Her memory served her well. She just needed to make her way back in. If she could just buy a little more time before she transformed.

Horde, she itched. Her entire body felt like it was going to explode. She wanted to rip her entire exoskeleton off.

Click, cliiiiiiick.

Arachna's body writhed in pain, as she pounded herself against the air ducts. Need to freeze. She badly needed to go into another frozen coma to ward off this vile itching.

There. Up ahead. She peered down at the kitchen from up above. Luckily, no one was there. She dove in, making straight for the freezer.

After opening it with her hands, she felt the cool breeze hit her body, soothing her senses. Ahh. Then she jumped in and closed the door.

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...

15 days until Mars arrival

Arachna awoke three days later. There were no dreams this time. No communing with the Hive Mother deep in space through the Xither. Had something happened to her Mother?

She wasn't sure. She emerged from her sleep, her body ice-cold to the touch. The itching was gone. How many days she'd bought herself until it returned, she didn't know.

Unlocking the freezer with the inside failsafe with her hands, she peered out through the slightly opened door. Two chefs made worked to make an array of food for hungry travelers.

Horde, that food smelled good. She'd been here before, not too long ago. The chefs worked quickly, preparing a variety of food including...pies.

"Too much work, Andy," the first chef said. He wore a white uniform similar to the one that the chef known as Rupert had worn.

"I know, Sal," the chef known as Andy said. He had brown hair and a thin mustache. "How can commander Rip expect us to work overtime like this?"

"He throws Big Cheffy Rupert in the brig for a crime he'd never commit," Sal said, shaking his head as he kneaded a ball of dough. "And expects us to make up the difference."

"Big Cheffy was a cooking prodigy," Andy said as he cut up fruit filling for a nearby pie crust. "He could work the entire kitchen by himself and turn out the best food anyone's ever eaten."

"We'll never sleep," Sal said, now flattening the dough. "And the food won't be half as good."

Arachna crawled along the ceiling, peering down at them, listening to their idle conversation.

The man called Rupert, also known endearingly as Big Cheffy, appeared to be well-loved and respected throughout the ship. From what she'd seen, there was much to like. He was psionically sensitive, worked diligently, and, best of all, made delicious pies.

All superior qualities she'd love to see in a Krathling. No wonder the Yumens had thrown him in the brig.

The smell of the pies wafted in her direction. She wanted to take a few bites of the scrumptious meals. Arachna loved pies, perhaps even more than Yumen flesh or Xitherium for that matter. But what if she combined them? That was what these Yumens did, wasn't it? They combined all sorts of tasty things in this kitchen to make even tastier things.

If only she could snag a few of the treats now. She was hungry after several days in frozen hibernation. The pies should fit in the air ducts up above if she was careful. Beaky would love—

Suddenly, it hit her.

She knew exactly how she would help Beaky hold down his Xitherium. All the pieces clicked together in her mind like the solution to an engineering problem.

Pies.

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