<Get up!>
The sound of Geesyx's urgent stridulations resonated in Fortuthri's legs. The sharp smell of alarm pheromone prickled against her antennae, waking her with a jolt. The colony was in shambles, the workers rushing to protect the larvae and the soldiers massing together for one final, futile charge. Fortu's side ached, her chitin chipped in several places. Still shaking, she stood up.
<I'm fine. Where is Nynbi?>
<Dead. We managed to lure the beast back to the lower caves, but it will be coming back soon.> Geesyx gripped her spear and turned away. <Get to safety with the other workers. I'm going back down.>
Fortu grabbed Geesyx's lower arms. <Come with me! I know a safe place, in the upper caverns. You don't have to do this.>
A mighty roar shook the cavern. IT was coming. Geesyx continued to stare toward the corridor leading to the lower caverns. <The Queen is still being moved. All soldiers must try to slow it down.> She took a giant cave spider silk ribbon from her arm and handed it to Fortu. <Take this. I took it from the first giant cave spider I slew. It is very strong material and will serve you well.>
<Your presence will not make a difference.>
<I must do what I can.>
Fortu stared helplessly as Geesyx joined the mass of soldiers. They were all going to die. That was inevitable. If they were lucky, they might distract the beast long enough for the Queen and workers to get to safety. Over the next few years, they would then produce a new crop of soldiers to replenish the colony's lost population.
Until the Beast grew hungry again.
Fortu looked to where the last few workers were passing through the narrow corridor to the safe caves, then back toward the soldiers. The sound of fighting, drums, and the clicks of the dying beat against her knees.
She made a decision.
Fortuthri gripped her copper pickaxe and began to climb, neither towards the workers nor the soldiers, but towards the excavation tunnel that had been abandoned months ago. If the soldiers could buy her just a few minutes... She heard the footsteps of the last workers passing through the tunnel, and the crash that meant the safe corridor had been sealed off.
No way back.
She placed all four hands firmly against the black, smooth cave wall, and slowly inched her way through the darkness. The sound of fighting had ceased, but she could still hear the Beast's snorting and breathing and the crunch of shattered exoskeletons as it dined on the bodies of the dead.
The sensation of warmth came from beneath her hands.
<I must do what I can.>
She raised her pick and struck it against the wall. A hollow clang rang out in the dark. Again. And again. Flakes of glassy chips flew off of the wall as Fortu continued her labor. The warmth beneath the rock was growing. She paused, gathering her strength. All was silent, except for the sound of dripping water. Three small droplets fell upon her upper left forearm.
Except, as she was well aware, there was no water in this tunnel.
Fortu flung her pick against the wall with one final surge of strength. An orange glow illuminated the cave and outlined a horrific shadow against the ceiling as the Beast of legend struck downwards, crushing the handle of the tiny copper implement in one blow and sending its upper half flying into a nearby tunnel. Fortu was flung to the side as the creature struck out. Molten rock pooled and hissed around the monster's feet and flew away in tiny droplets as the creature charged in a blind rage, venomous spittle dripping from its alien jaws.
Something came from the shadows. A familiar shape rose up before the charging Beast, two spears brandished in its four hands.
<Geesyx?>
<Go!>
She flung herself at the creature, stabbing it in the chest. It struck downwards, slamming her into the pooling magma. Fortuthri fled, leaving behind her a burning, four-limbed dervish of flame that sunk its mandibles into the creature as it flung itself about, bellowing and screeching.
Spiracles pulsing for oxygen, Fortuthri fell against a wall. The sound of the beast was growing faint as it fell away towards the lower caverns. She looked down at her forearm, where three black, necrotic marks were spreading across her chitin. Clicking her mandibles in pain, she felt around her for a sharp implement. A familiar shape lay beneath her fingers - the broken pickaxe, a gift from one of her many sisters. Its base was still hot and pliable. With one heavy strike, she severed the infected limb and kicked it away from her, then pressed the searing end of the pick to the end of her severed stump. She then used the giant cave spider silk ribbon to tie the pick to her arm and molded the soft metal into place with her hands. The sound of a heavy splash came from somewhere far below.
She lay still for what seemed like hours, listening to the sound of the Beast fading into the distance. Then she began to climb. A narrow vertical passage she had discovered last month led to a place where she could sometimes hear voices from far above. Friend or foe, she had nowhere else to go.
New character proposal:
Fortuthri, Worker Ant Woman
Occupation: Miner
Other skills: Architecture, masonry, surgery (though unfamiliar with vertebrate biology), dabbling military strategist and mechanic
Notable features: A copper pickaxe in the place of her upper left forearm.
Current location: Deep underground
Poll
12 (100%)
Author
Topic: The Outpost: Illustrated Community Game (Read 62141 times)