One Day Later

Inside the corvette a timer triggered a small amount of adrenaline to make its way from the inner workings of the sensory deprivation tank, through an IV, and into Jace's system. Already the lip of the tank was opening. Nothing would be allowed to obstruct the emergence of the occupant.

From one moment to the next Jace went from completely relaxed to tight, ready, and engorged. Her body glowed with health and vitality. The power of a pylon surged within her cultivation pathways. The familiar rictus of a smile hardened onto her face and she groaned. Pleasure flooded her body.

Well rested and returned to her previous peak of cultivation Jace languidly rose from the shallow water of the sensory deprivation tank and dripped dry while walking forward through a short corridor. In moments her armor had absorbed every last drop of water except for her hair which hung free for now.

She didn't need and was too impatient to review the craft's telemetry. Instead she directly went to the corvette's bay and strapped herself into the only shuttle in the bay.

There were a few fighter craft also available, but Jace knew her limits and had never piloted a fighter before. Right at this moment she sneered with disdain at the fighters which were capable of killing from afar. She wished for the smell of blood in the air to appease her lust. Licking her lips she felt like she could taste the blood. A fighter was anathema to her needs.

"AI, please exit the bay and approach the hive queen."

Jace gave her command to the shuttle.

It had already been prepped for this task and immediately lifted off. Arriving, waking up, commanding the shuttle, and exiting the corvette was easy. Too easy. She loved it.

Panting with anticipation Jace was so close to her goal. She didn't think of her captains, the crew of her legion's fleet, her staff, the legion itself, her family, or any lost dreams. Right at this moment she could taste victory. She was almost there.

Looking out the front windshield of the shuttle she saw her prey for the first time and was disappointed. Her dream of an epic battle started to die. Still this made it more likely she would survive.

The queen was shriveled and was quite obviously missing some appendages. Parts of her shell was hanging loose or completely gone altogether.

'This will be easier than I thought!'

Putting on a special helmet that was supposed to block esper attacks Jace trembled with excitement. As the shuttle approached closer and closer Jace replayed in her mind what would happen. They would rush out and attack her and she would kill them all.

It was no problem for Jace to go out into space. Her suit would protect her. Even if she lost the suit pylons could infinitely regenerate their bodies if given enough resources.

Drool dribbled down her chin and she didn't care to wipe it away. She wanted them to see how much she wanted them. It was such an inconsequential thing, but she wished they could be happy knowing how much she would enjoy killing them. Jace's mind went down some strange paths for a while.

Soon the shuttle came to a stop only a hundred meters from the queen. 

Again it was a simple job to enter the airlock at the back of the shuttle and exit through the hatch at the top. She didn't exit the way she had come in the shuttle, the side doors were vacuum sealed while in space. Of course she could depressurize the cabin, she was the only one on board, but something within her took delight in holding off the pylon lust just a bit longer.

Null gravity allowed her accelerated body freedom to work.

The hive queen soared through space before her now. It wasn't inside a ship. Instead it was the ship. Cavities within her body housed her spawn.

Beetles could be seen crawling all over her like maggots on a rotting piece of meat. Especially underneath they were crawling over themselves in their pointless efforts. Even more disgusting, Jace could seen beetles entering and exiting her flesh. There was no end to them. The scientists had told her that hive queens could store up to ten broods within their bodies and that didn't include the royal brood. The highest ranking brood was permanently stationed within the hive queen's body and took care of anything the queen needed. These were the strongest and most powerful of their kind.

They cowered and scuttled away from her presence. She wasn't surprised to see that she had not been attacked. Normally she would have expected to be mobbed by millions of beetles already.

Instead she was left to ponder what was the best way to attack. This was extremely uncomfortable. Pylons don't think they kill. Every moment that she allowed her prey to exist alive before her like this allowed an urgent needy desire to grow deep within her body. It was inexcusable that this pathetic being couldn't even work up the passion to give her a good fight.

[Hello, my child.]

Suddenly Jace reeled.

With the first hint of a sound she looked all around. But could not identify who was talking to her.

[Peace, child, I am the Hive Queen.]

And then it made sense, the hive queen was so pathetic that she wanted to ask for mercy.

[I can read your mind, little one. You amuse me.]

The queen said.

[I can feel your pleasure. It brings back memories from when I was young.]

Again the queen spoke wistfully into Jace's mind.

Unable to hold back Jace ached for satisfaction and empowering herself she dived to attack the queen.

[Ha, ha, my little one, your arrogance is priceless.]

Laughing the queen said something that made the pylon seethe with rage.

Instead of delivering a deathly blow Jace found that she only dived to attack within her own imagination. In the face of her own failure Jace could not even contemplate that she had already lost. In her mind, Jace, just began to plot and consider new ways to attack.

[You are already mine, you know. Resistance is futile.]

The queen explained.

Inside an illusion, for the next hour, Jace fumed and ranted trying to kill. But in the end Jace burned through all her power. All she could do was strain and groan with the denial of what she wanted right in front of her. By the end both mentally and physically she was running on fumes. Not even a hair's breath closer to her prey did she come. 

"Why?"

For the first time Jace spoke.

It was only in her helmet, but she knew the queen could hear her.

[You finally understand your position?]

The voice once again spoke into Jace's mind.

Jace's pride would not allow her to answer the question asked. There was no way to answer for Jace, her present captivity was outside her ability to understand. It was death or bringing death. Anything else was only a transition to more death.

"Why?"

Again the pylon demanded an answer.

[Oh, you exceed my expectations. Most pylon's are mindless beasts, but you can actually speak. I think you might be the one. You have more consciousness then any I have enslaved before.]

Without answering again the voice teased Jace.

"Why?!"

This time Jace screamed the question. 

[Child. You must learn your place. You are not the one who asks questions. Do you understand?]

Within Jace's mind an imaginary room opened up with a tea table and chairs. The voice became embodied as a woman in the prime of her power appeared and with a display of manners perched herself on one of those chairs. 

[Please, sit.]

The forty to fifty year old woman commanded and Jace was forced to sit to tea with the queen.

[Now, I am not just any hive queen, my child. I am a progenitor of my race. Yes, I am far more powerful then you could ever imagine. That world you came from, it will be mine now. But I will wait for your family and your legion to leave. They will serve their purpose in good time. And, ... , I will be gentle with the humans who survive my conquest. I assure you.]

At the queen's polite words Jace reawakened her will to struggle and fought her bonds. But she still could not achieve her desire. Instead she could only pant futilely.

[You ask, why? Then I will tell you. Because I have been driven from my home, my daughters have been slaughtered, and my people have become food for the stomachs of their conquerors. So what can I do? I will tell you, I will carefully develop my own champions and take back what is mine.]

Finally the queen explained.

"Why don't you take back what is yours by yourself!"

Screaming the words Jace suddenly found that she could use her voice within this strange dimension.

Carefully the queen took a sip of tea.

[Me? I have reached the peak of my power. I can not attain more and also retain my individuality. My God, the god of all insects has limited my growth. Which is to say that I am still much more powerful than you. At least for now.]

"Fix your own mistakes! I will do nothing for you!!"

Again Jace screamed. The screeching was so out of place within the queens gentile setting. A tea party was not a place for whining.

[You still seem to think that you have free will in this. All you have is power. You don't have any freedom at all. All of us are slaves in some manner.]

Picking up a cookie the hive queen nibbled it before going on.

[It is only pylons who completely give up their humanity that break the bonds that the normal paths to power create.]

Again a little nibble.

[That normal path is one of excellence. I took the path of excellence. But there is a limit. At the limits of power the very path that lead to power also binds that power. I can not go further.]

Sighing the queen put the cookie down as if resisting an incredible delight.

[At least not without destroying my people. If I did take the Falnali equivalent to pylons I would be destroy my children. I would destroy the very reason I need power for. Only pylons who by definition forsake all that defines them can gain infinite power. You have already cut your bonds to your family, your friends, your legion. You would kill them right now if they stood between me and you. Wouldn't you?]

The queen gave Jace a little smile. They both knew she was right. Jace didn't have to give her any face by answering.

[But make no mistake, by giving up your humanity to gain the possibility of infinite power you become bound by another chain. The chain of lust. This desire rules you, it consumes you. Even now when your body has already exhausted all its energy and you are dry as sandpaper rubbing, you still lust. It consumes you. So all I have to do is tell you that I can give you what you lust for and I won't have to force you ever again. You will be mine, heart, mind, and soul. You will be my little slave because you know I can give you what you want. I can give you what you most want in all the world.]

"NO!!!!!"

Jace screamed one last time. But already inside she was panting. Her mind was entrained and willing. She wanted to hear what the queen would say next.

'What could she say that would tempt her enough?'

[I lead you to the very beings that destroyed me so that you can destroy them. You may feed off them.]

Finally the queen spoke and then the power that had been holding Jace back was released.

For a moment the shock of being free stunned Jace. But in the next moment her pylon mind betrayed her. It was like the queen had said, instead of attacking Jace knelt on the floor by the table and begged,

[Please, please, give me this enemy. Please!]

If there was any human part of Jace, some part of her mind that still worked, it was telling her that this was a farce. She was still trapped and tricked by the queen, however in the presence of the queen she was completely helpless.

[Yes, yes, there, there, my child. All you pylons will do anything for power. If only the humans knew how to treat you. They could have more such kittens to play with.]

Petting and stroking Jace the foreign queen cemented her control.

[Now, this is how it is going to go. Yes, the path to power for a pylon is time. You don't need training or cultivation. What use is any such things for an individual who has rejected their own being. No, it is simple. A pylon will gain power just by existing. For some perverse reason the universe rewards pylons by pouring power into their souls. The longer you survive the more power the universe will pore into your soul.]

After another sip of tea the queen went on.

[Ahhh, but you are a woman. It is so much easier with men! Male pylons are easily enslaved by a any woman. I have many slaves here inside me now, even. Pitiful males who would do anything for their love. Pylons far more powerful than you, child.]

Absentmindedly the queen pondered.

[But they give up using their power out of love. Afraid to hurt or kill their lover they instead become slaves. You see there is a trick. Pylons seek power, but if you know how you can flip that switch in their brains you can make them slaves. At a certain level a human's brain can't distinguish between enslaving and being enslaved.]

Tapping the cup the matron pondered what decision to make while she explained.

[Of course there is all the difference on the face of it. But at a certain primal level and pylons are at that primal level like no other creatures are. Pylons gain just as much satisfaction from enslaving others as they do enslaving themselves. Yes, you can feel it. Within you even now as I tell you of it.]

Indeed as the queen spoke Jace was feeling threatened.

'How can a pylon feel threatened.'

Jace surprised herself.

It went beyond anything and everything that she had ever been taught.

Held captive with a touch Jace yearned for power and understanding. Continuing to kneel before the alien queen tears formed in her eyes.

[Yes, my lovely sac of putrescence, you might look good on the outside, but inside you are no different from those weak and pathetic humans you just tried to save. Just like them you can make yourself a slave. The greatest beings of this universe have all enslaved themselves to some ideal. To freedom, to creating peace, to building their dreams. But while it is unthinkable for those humans even you, a pylon, can enslave yourself.]

Jace knew it was true. She could feel her heart thudding within her breast and smell the stink of fear in the air. It was her own smell. She was terrified.

[I can read your mind. You have already discovered it. You are already thinking about enslaving yourself. And it gives you pleasure doesn't it?]

Whimpering at the matriarch's question the former princess huddled closer. This animal like noise was the only way she could respond. So many thoughts were racing through her head all at once. The very cultivation she had performed before to gain power and glory now worked against her. All her training was for destroying and satisfying her lust for power. And now this beetle queen was giving her the most perfect and willing object to destroy. Other humans always broke and died. It was always impossible to force them to do what she wanted.

But this wasn't true for herself. The pureness of the way startled her.

'I could be the perfect slave!'

She knew best how to coach and guide herself. Jace could apply all her hard fought discipline on herself. It was beautiful.

[Unfortunately for a pylon there is only one way to enslave yourself. You became a pylon by cultivating lust for power and so lust is your only path now. Yes, I am going to pray to my God. The insect god to find you a man who will capture your heart the moment you look at him. He won't be perfect, by any means, we don't want perfect. No, all he has to do is be able to capture your heart.]

Fixing her dress the beetle in the shape of a human acted her part so primly.

[And I will be there to make sure that you will enslave yourself to him. You won't be able to help it. Then it will be done. Simple. As you make babies and raise them time will work upon your lusting infinite soul. And slowly you will gain power day by day until the day I call for you. Then you will come to me and fight my battles.]

Looking deep into Jace's eyes the queen smiled.

[Yes, you will destroy for me. You will have all the blood you want.]

Thinking of that day Jace fell into a deep dark abyss of illusion. Fainting away from the pleasure of the dream.

The queen sighed and wiped her hands together brushing away imaginary crumbs.

[Pylons!]

She shook her head in disgust.