Myrmidon's Ascension (Xianxia/cultivation)

[Kaja Rainbow]

Deep inside an elaborate network of tunnels and rooms forking every way, The Director of the Department of Cultivation meditated, dismissing her present worries for the moment. One heartbeat. The essence inside her, the energy in all things, rippled slightly as she directed outside essence into her core. Such is the slow process of refining and perfecting her almost immortal self. Two heartbeats. A hour has passed since her last heartbeat. Her senses turned outward, extending across the entire tunnel network and beyond. She could see the sea of beacons of spiritual energy, some bright and some dim, that are the people swarming around attending to their business. The hive never sleeps. Day and night, as soon as a shift ends, the next shift comes in.

The caretakers tenderly lifted the eggs off the Mother's comfortable cushion, placing them into carts for transportation to the egg nurseries where they would get the most advanced care. A task which could easily be automated, but the hive preferred a personal touch for that task, and the Mother felt similarly. As egg after egg emerged from the Mother's rear, she casually browsed a site on her virtual display. The Director's senses passed onward, brushing across the rest of the hive. The diggers referred to the tunnel plans laid out by the architects as they watched the digging machines burrow. A nonstop procession of automated transportation carts rolled through the cargo tunnels, broadcasting endless navigation chatter to each other to optimize their routes. Groups fresh off their shift headed toward different recreation destinations such as the sport halls, the video game halls, and the movie halls. Those were only a few of the numerous ongoing activities. In short, the hive was in proper working order.

A third heartbeat. Another hour passed. The Director emerged from her meditation, fresh and ready to tackle the thorny problem before her. Which was selecting a group to send to Rose Fields, the cultivation school run by the alliance of aliens the Hive had joined a mere five days before. Situated on top of the Rose Abyss, the school had ready access to the endless resources found in an Abyss. But there were a few deaths every year from the Abyss's many hazards. Still, sending representatives to that school was one of the terms every prospective alliance member had to agree to before joining the alliance. The Director had little time and no perfect candidates. Very few of the most promising talents had made enough of a study of aliens to be comfortable dealing with their peculiar customs. There wasn't enough time to give them even a crash course. And the ones with talent that had studied aliens... they were an eccentric lot to say the least. Which left the problem of creating a compatible group. Yes, even a badly compatible group would instinctively unite for the good of the hive, but there'd be a lot of disagreement and inefficiency.

She twitched her antennae, causing her virtual display to turn on. She paged through the dossiers of the candidates she had narrowed it down to. And an idea came to her. There was a good candidate for the leader of the student delegate. Leadership experience, not too weird, good talent for cultivation. She could let her select the teammates she would be most comfortable working with. It'd be a good test of her leadership, selecting the right candidates. Satisfied with this decision, the Director sent off the message to the leader candidate.

---

Myrmidon's Ascension is a xianxia quest, my own take on a specific Chinese genre about cultivators, people pursuing immortality through improving their own qi and bodies, who often end up getting into fights where they throw magical techniques called arts at each other. Most of them have a setting inspired by ancient China, but this quest's also inspired by assorted Sci-fi. Technology is essentially magitech, with essence-powered (the humans call it qi) ships braving the chaotic void between planets, and most devices having at least a little magic in them. A difference from most xianxia (for those familiar with the genre) is that even mortals have and make use of talismans (magical items) if less potent ones than the ones used by cultivators. Societies are more modern in outlook, though there's still a strong element of competition.

In this quest you won't be playing a human. You'll be playing a member of the People of the Hives, as they call themselves. The most common name used for them by aliens is Myrmidons. As for what they're like, think ant people. While the vast majority are loyal to their hive and hard workers (the exceptions are outcasts), there're a great amount of individual variation in personalities, talents, interests, and so on among them. A common saying is "The individual gives their all for the Hive, and the HIve gives its all for the individual." Since most of them are worker females, you'll be playing as a worker female.

In this quest, the protagonist will be dealing with the trials of cultivation and school life while managing a team of eccentrics and doing her best to put on a good showing to make the hive look good rather than embarrassing it. After character creation, the quest will take an episodic format, sometimes covering a day, a week, or a few weeks, depending on how many interesting things happen during that time. It'll last until her graduation after four years at the school, with a possible sequel thread depending on whether I decide to make one once I've reached that point. For mechanics, I'll be using a narrative system to decide the outcome of actions and combat. As for cultivation, progress in your cultivation level and arts will be tracked by expected days of dedicated effort toward the next stage, though factors like using a particularly rare drug, flashes of insight brought on by a dramatic moment, and achievements can reduce that number and injury to your core or other adverse factor can increase it.

Now for the chargen votes! First thing, a few questions about the hive, since it has a huge impact on an individual Myrmidon.

Name for the hive. After the Great Naming Concord which standardized names across hives to reduce confusion, most hives have names that consist of one or two words. For example, Deep Hive, Pleasant Flower Hive, Diligence Hive, etc. This is a write-in vote with the following format:
[ ] Name:

Why did the hive uproot itself, move across the perilous void between planets, and resettle near an alliance of strange aliens, including humans?
[ ] The hive is an upcoming, ambitious one. There're more opportunities away from the entrenched, powerful First Hives of the core Myrmidon worlds.
[ ] The hive was one of those First Hives, but fell upon hard times and were forced to leave.
[ ] The hive was a branch of one of the First Hives, but rebelled and sought its independence elsewhere.
[ ] It was a really, really good business offer.
[ ] The hive has a tradition of roaming, moving every few centuries or so. Tradition is important, no matter how hazardous it is.
[ ] Write-in.

All of the people in the hive share an elemental affinity, which affects where the hive lives, their temperament, their relationships with spirits of the same or similar elements, and the ways they express the power of their essence. In additional, it's common to have a personal element, but we'll cover that in the next step. Here are some examples. As you can see, they don't follow Chinese elements exactly (and some are the Myrmidons' take on them). You can vote for any of them or for another element.
[ ] Dream, strange and ethereal, strong at drawing out phantasms of the conscious and unconscious.
[ ] Fire, passionate and energetic, strong at the aggressive approach.
[ ] Void, chaotic and formless, strong at changing to fit the situation. (This is a rare element with special setting implications.)
[ ] Earth, deep and welcoming, strong at enduring and overcoming.
[ ] Abyss, hungry and probing, strong at finding and exploiting weakness. (This is a rare element with special setting implications.)
[ ] Write-in. There're nearly countless possibilities for elements.

Nowdays (at least in the time the quest's set in), many hives have a specialty. Every hive is self-sufficient to a certain degree, but many specialize in particular aspects. What is the hive's specialization?
[ ] War hive. Its warriors are many and strong, and a war hive will typically act as the shield of an alliance or hire out their soldiers as mercenaries.
[ ] Trade hive. It has many skilled in the crafts, and it does a robust export business.
[ ] Entertainment hive. It exports entertainment which can take many forms from in-person performers to movies to video games.
[ ] Service hive. It's good at a particular service, such as medicine, transportation between the planets, or espionage. (Specify in the vote.)
[ ] Generalized hive. It does a little of everything. A very self-sufficient hive with no weaknesses, but it doesn't benefit from a particular strength.
[ ] Write-in. (I think I covered all the bases but one never knows.)

 

[Kaja Rainbow]

Spoiler: Winning plan

[X] Plan The Hive That Will Pierce the Heavens!
-[X] Great Heavenly Void Hive
-[X] The hive is an upcoming, ambitious one. There're more opportunities away from the entrenched, powerful First Hives of the core Myrmidon worlds.
-[X] Void, chaotic and formless, strong at changing to fit the situation. (This is a rare element with special setting implications.)
-[X] War hive. Its warriors are many and strong, and a war hive will typically act as the shield of an alliance or hire out their soldiers as mercenaries.

The peculiarity was noticed from the moment the egg emerged from the Mother. The caretaker's antennae twitched as she closely examined the egg full of shifting colors instead of the usual fiery colors. She took out the element meter, her antennae folding in concern as she saw the readout. Pure void element, not a single speck of the Burning Flower Hive's fire element. With decisive action, she took the egg, grabbed an empty egg transportation cart to place it in, adjusted the cart's temperate to a cooler one than she would for a normal egg, and called out, telling the others that it was an egg with no fire element. The other caretakers swiftly parted way, allowing her to send the cart wheeling toward a cooler nursery that would be safer for the egg than the intense heat of the deeper chambers of the hive.

After hatching, the new larva was fed well and given treatment that would ensue it would become a Mother, destined to form a new hive, to help diversify the Myrmidon species. As soon as she completed her metamorphosis into her adult form, Void Eyes felt an alienation from the others of the hive, her different nature clashing with theirs. In the end, it didn't take much encouragement for her to start her mating flight when the appointed time came and all the Mothers and Fathers left their hives to swarm together. After the mating flight, the Mothers landed, primed to start laying eggs while the Fathers prepared for their new lives as regular workers, their mating days over. Many of the Mothers landed, seeking a site to start a new hive.

But Void Eyes never landed. She descended only low enough to scoop up the storage ring full of supplies and educational materials the Burning Flower hive had left her to help her start a new hive and flew up, continuing even as the air began to change more and more into chaotic void. Only when she found a place that felt right did she start burrowing into the void itself, gnawing away at the fabric of spacetime itself to create a tunnel and a chamber out of the shifting void. Then she relaxed and began laying egg after egg.

Great Heavenly Void Hive proved as audacious as its first mother, laying claims on the local region of void and adopting the motto "The Heavens Shall Be Ours". Growing at a swift pace, it greedly imported goods from nearby planets and exported soldiers seeking glory for the hive. Soon enough, it ran out of mercenary gigs escorting voidships and engaging in void warfare as the First Hives responded to the new hive's ambitions by claiming more and more of the prime jobs. "Mind yourself and your place" was the implied message.

Starved of opportunities, the Great Heavenly Void Hive decided on a simple course of action: its best researchers, artificers, and architects proceeded with working out and executing an conversion into a mobile hive. Thus transformed, the hive set a course outside Myrmidon territory. After a long journey full of encounters with void beasts both friendly and unfriendly, mercilessly crushed hostile fleets, last-minute navigation around abrupt natural hazards, and a hurried escape from a malevolent star, the hive was issued a welcome and challenge by the Greenmoon Alliance's Second Admiral. Discussion quickly escalated into a friendly duel over the right to travel through Alliance space. Once the hive's champions barely won, the hive council called a hive-wide discussion because of popular demand, which ended with the hive promptly declaring its interest in joining the alliance that had impressed it.

---

Now we'll decide on the details of the protagonist herself. This won't be a plan vote.

[ ] Name of the protagonist. Like the hive names, a combination of words, though for personal names this can sometimes get a little random as an algorithm creates them, assigning an unique name to every member of the hive.

Before being sent to the school, she was being educated and prepared for her future profession, as determined by her natural aptitudes and likes. What would that profession be?
[ ] Mecha soldier like many in the hive.
[ ] Crafter. Someone has to create all the talismans, formations, and pills the hives and its soldiers uses.
[ ] Spy. Military actions are more effective with good intelligence.
[ ] Doctor. The need for this is obvious.
[ ] Entertainment, in its many forms. Morale and relaxation is important to a hive, let alone one with an impressive army.
[ ] Pilot, to eventually pilot the carriers and gunships of the hive's fleet.
[ ] Write-in.

Because of her talent for cultivation, the protagonist was taught the hive's cultivation arts and some combat skills and arts, as well as arts useful to her profession. In most hives, a Myrmidon might have the hive elemental affinity and one personal affinity (two in rare cases). Those with the void affinity aren't like that. They start with two personal affinities as the standard. Only one affinity, including the void affinity, may be active at once, but the active affinity can be switched to fit the situation. The arts practiced by the hive, based on void beasts' abilities, have different effects depending on which element is active.
Vote for two:
[ ] Fire
[ ] Earth
[ ] Dream
[ ] Metal
[ ] Star
[ ] Water
[ ] Electricity
[ ] Wood
[ ] Gravity
[ ] Write-in

But a Myrmidon's optimal work day is roughly equivalent to ten of our hours in length. Studies have determined that. Which leaves them with some free time to pick up a hobby. In our protagonist's case, she developed a hobby which led her to learn more about aliens. And then started and led a group devoted to that hobby. Yes, this is the leadership experience that got her picked for this job.
[ ] Study of romance. While romance is completely foreign to Myrmidons as they have zero interest in it, this only adds to the curiosity for some. The protagonist is one of those people. She leads a group that discusses alien dating customs, alien romance media, and so on. Naturally, some study of aliens was necessary for this. This choice will lead to the protagonist getting involved in aliens' romantic mishaps more often.
[ ] Fashion. Most Myrmidons are content just donning the hive's standard uniforms, but some take an interest in looking good or interesting. The protagonist is one of them, and after dabbling in it, she started a fashion group which analyzes both Myrmidon and alien fashions, as well as the cultural norms that go into them. This choice will impress people with the protagonist's snappy dressing.
[ ] Video games. For most, this wouldn't lead into a study of aliens as there are plenty of games created by and for Myrmidons, but the protagonist were among those asking the hive to import some of the more foreign games they'd heard of online. In order to better understand the more puzzling cultural contexts in the games she played, the protagonist studied alien cultures and started a group for discussing and playing alien games. This choice will give the protagonist something in common with other video game nerds both Myrmidon and alien and also somewhat help her reflexes.
[ ] Gardening. Myrmidons might appreciate utility, but they also appreciate well arranged and pleasant surroundings. The protagonist took an interest in the potential of foreign plants in gardens which led to study of how aliens arrange their gardens which led to studying their interactions with gardens which led to studying their cultures. Now she leads a group devoted to adopting ideas from alien gardens. This choice will give the protagonist an affinity with plants and make it easier to pick up the Wood element later if she doesn't already have it.
[ ] Write-in.

What weapon does our protagonist favor?
[ ] The gun. Easy to learn and destructive in the right hands.
[ ] The bow. A traditional weapon which is harder to learn but equally deadly in the hands of a skilled cultivator.
[ ] The hammer. Designed to break exoskeletons, a weapon with a long history.
[ ] The axe. Not as widely used but still good at breaking exoskeletons.
[ ] The sword. Not a weapon favored by Myrmidons, it's pretty much an alien's weapon. But some have an affection for it.
[ ] The polearm. Some like the additional reach over a hammer.
[ ] The energy blade. A modern melee weapon.
[ ] The bare hands. A choice for those devoted to perfecting themselves without the need for weapons.
[ ] Who needs a weapon? Just directly fling arts at your opponent.
[ ] Write-in.

 

[Kaja Rainbow]

Spoiler: Winning votes

Winning votes:
Crafter
Star
Dream
Study of romance
Energy blade

The caretakers say that in retrospect there were hints even as a larva that Cuddle Earth would pursue the profession she did. While still a larva, she was unusually inquisitive, straining her head toward every motion. Not long after she completed her metamorphosis into her adult form, she immediately took to asking questions, especially about the many talismans and devices that the hive uses in its daily business and if given a chance would immediately take to examining them closely. Her professional track was soon decided for her, bypassing the usual process of having a new adult gain experience helping in various professions until she finds the one she wants to do. Cu didn't object, greedily absorbing her studies in the intricacies of talismans, drugs, and formations. She showed skill in all three of those fields, but developed a specialty. What is that specialty?
[ ] Talismans, the many items that are part of daily life and useful to a warrior.
[ ] Drugs, the assorted pills, liquids and other concoctions used not just for medical purposes but to help the process of cultivation.
[ ] Formations, intricate constructions of essence used for many purpose.
(Note that Cu'll be able to pursue all three fields, the vote is just for her primary field.)

Her professional studies weren't the only thing that held Cu's interest. She was quite sociable, starting many conversations with her hivemates. She participated in many different leisure activities with her friends, until a turning point occurred when out of curiosity they tried watching an alien movie, which turned out to be a romance. This only led to much bafflement, but Cu wasn't content with being baffled. She investigated this romance genre then the concept of romance. That turned into a major hobby, as she gathered some similarly curious hivemates and started a group research project. That project turned into a formally organized Study of Romance hobby association, with Cu's initiative landing her the leader position she wasn't even trying for but didn't object to.

Her days in the hive passed peacefully as she studied in her profession, worked on cultivating her core, trained in combat, and ran her association. That peace was broken when, as she had her virtual display open while referencing a pill recipe, she received a message with a Director stamp, something she'd never gotten before.

Cuddle Earth, you no doubtless have heard of our new alliance. As a condition of that alliance, we are required to send five of our students to their school Rose Fields. Because of your leadership experience with your hobby association, your talent, and your research into aliens, you have been chosen to lead this delegation. Enclosed are some candidates for the other members of the delegation. Please pick the candidates you are most confident that you can work with. Signed, Spark Berry, Director of the Department of Cultivation.

As her antennae twitched rapidly with alarm, there was the blip of another message in her virtual display. Immediately she brought it up, startled by it also bearing a Director stamp.

Cuddle Earth, congratulations on the new position. I have full confidence in your ability to represent our hive. If you have any questions, you may send me a message. Signed, Harvest Void, Director of the Department of Diplomacy.

There was the blip of more messages, but with a glance all of them had the stamps of lower positions. She briefly scanned over them. One from the Requisitions Department expanding her requisition privileges and including instructions on how to make use of them. One from the Personnel Department explaining her reassignation and its responsibilities. Some from her teachers congratulating her, saying they'll miss her, and offering to answer questions and send any educational material she requests. And then there were more, from her classmates, from her association members, from assorted friends...

With a wave of her hand, Cu muted the barrage of message. She'd go through every one of them and write proper replies later. She allowed herself a brief moment of panic. Represent the hive? Lead a group to do so? When her only experience was with a hobby association with an informal atmosphere?

Her instinctive sense of duty kicked in, bringing focus with it. She looked around the clutter of her drug workshop, with ingredients spread out on the cloth covering the table, walls full of bottles and vials, assorted devices and furnaces for different purposes. First thing, clean up. It was clear she wasn't going to finish that pill today. The simple cleanup work was soothing, allowing her thoughts to settle down. Then she sorted her flood of messages into high priority and low priority, answered the ones that required immediate answer, and opened the dossiers the Director of Cultivation had sent her.

Her antennae only rose higher and higher as she read those dossiers. It took a while as they were quite exhaustive, but she complied summaries as she read. Once she was done, she glanced over her summaries. Those were her choices? Regardless, she'd have to pick four. After some thought over her options, she selected:
(Vote for the four you'd like to see in the team.)
[ ] Game Break, "Gam" for short. The only male on the list. He was hatched with a female body, but experienced severe discomfort with that, a rare thing for a Myrmidon. The Director of Health approved his request for a male body, and soon after he was able to join in on the next mating flight. Much happier with his body, he settled into training for his future profession as a diplomat. He also participated in Study of Romance. Overall the most sensible and safe choice on this list.
Elements: Earth, Metal, Void. Weapon: gun. Profession track: Diplomatic.

[ ] Lamentation for Death, "Dea" for short. Her name was changed from Serene Star on her request after she experienced misfortune, as her favorite caretaker, favorite teacher, and three friends died in different and unrelated incidents. After that she read many domestic and foreign writings and fiction involving death, something which apparently inspired her rather strange persona. She has taken to wearing an eyepatch, entirely black clothing, and bandages on her arms. Regardless, she's regarded as a prodigy as she managed to change her own elements including to one previously unheard of and devised her own arts.
Elements: Death, Curse, Void. Weapon: scythe. Profession track: Soldier.

[ ] Smile Sphere, "Si" for short. Myrmidons with the spirit of a trickster are rare but they exist. Si is one such rarity. As such, she's caused some trouble for the hive, but overall more trouble for the hive's rivals. Her skills in mischief, subterfuge, and sabotage are great. Her judgment is not quite as great. She can also be counted on to point out shortcomings, a valuable skill in itself. Overall, she's both a potentially powerful asset and a headache for those dealing with her.
Elements: Chaos, Wind, Void. Weapon: unarmed. Profession track: Espionage.

[ ] Luxurious Purr, "Lux" for short. Another one who asked for a name change. Lux is a rare instance of a Myrmidon being unhappy with being a Myrmidon, preferring to be a Syran, a mammalian sapient species. The Director of Health discussed the matter with her before reaching a compromise she was happy with. While her base body shape hasn't changed, she is now the only one in the hive with a luxurious coat of fur, cat-like ears in addition to her antennae, and a very fluffy tail. Her knowledge on the Syran is unparalleled in the hive and after her body's change she has proven a loyal and hard worker.
Elements: Wood, Star, Void. Weapon: strap-on claws. Profession track: Soldier.

[ ] Harmony To All, "Harmony" for short. Another requested name change. She is a member of an interspecies religion that believes in the cooperation of all species. However, it has many strange beliefs, such as that all sapient species come from a common origin. Not to mention their purification practices which... is a legitimate but unnecessarily painful method of cultivation. Nonetheless, she's earnest to become part of the delegation and a talented pilot.
Elements: Water, Earth, Void. Weapon: pure essence. Profession track: Pilot.

[ ] Null Hypothesis, "Null" for short. One of the hive's intelligent robots, Null has showed an unexpected talent at cultivation. She has done extensive study of aliens and enjoys the usual benefits of an AI including fast calculation. She's quite earnest to study aliens in person, feeling she can learn more about them that way. Her inquisitive mind leads her to pure research, but she's capable of military operations.
Elements: Metal, Electricity, Void. Weapon: built-in lasers and energy blades. Profession track: Research/Soldier.

[ ] Spiaon. A void beast the hive took in. They've adopted the hive's norms, taking quite well to Myrmidon culture, and are now considered a full member of the hive. However, being a void beast, they can be a little strange and unpredictable sometimes. Overall less of a headache than the trickster, but many outside the hive see void beasts as terrifying and inscrutable. They attend Study of Romance meetings.
Elements: Void, variable. Weapon: variable. Profession track: Soldier.

 

[Kaja Rainbow]

Since this likely won't directly come up in the quest, something that might interest some of you:

Real world male ants don't live very long. They stay in the hive until the time of the nuptial flight, which takes place under the right environmental conditions, when there is no rain. All the queens and males depart the hives in the area at the same time in a swarm, which helps to prevent inbreeding. After the flight, the queens land to start a long life (longer than any other caste) of laying eggs... and the males die soon after, their purpose as one-time sexual missiles having been fulfilled. Mind, there're ant species that do things differently, with practices such as worker females doing at least some of the mating and asexual reproduction where all the eggs laid are female.

In this setting, Myrmidons have long since fixed the problem of males dying and they live just as long as female workers after their one-time mating.

 

[Kaja Rainbow]

Spoiler: Winning votes

Formations
Smile Sphere
Game Break
Null Hypothesis
Harmony to All

In the end, it was a difficult decision. Cu deliberated over the dossiers for a long time, sipping some kind of fruit juice with a citrus tang. She never bothered to find out what exactly was in it. She clicked her mandibles, considering. The first selection she made was Smile Sphere. She wasn't sure exactly why, but an instinct told her the trickster would be useful. The next were Harmony to All and Game Break. A pilot could be useful, and a diplomat would probably be necessary to help smooth things over especially with Smile on the team. She hesitated the most over the last one. Lamentation seemed like an interesting person. But in the end, it was Null Hypothesis that she picked. Her intelligence would be useful, and she was still a good soldier. Plus she'd be a good demonstration of the hive's technology.

Her choices made, she sent them over to the Director of Cultivation. Then she turned to start her packing preparations while she waited for a response... but almost immediately, her display pinged with a new message. This one with the stamp of the Director. That couldn't possibly be an answer already. She opened it. It was a reply to her message.

Cuddle Earth, this is an interesting selection you made here. Especially Smile Sphere. I approve, however, she'll serve you well in the school if you can manage the fallout. I've just notified them that you've selected them for the delegation. Your group will be leaving tomorrow morning from Bay 3. The reason for this haste is that their opening day is the day after tomorrow and they indicated they'd need a good part of tomorrow for orientation and settling you in. I would've liked to give you more time, but the negotiations and other preparations took longer than anticipated on their end. You know how inefficient aliens can be. I'll be there to meet you when you leave. Have a good night. Signed, Spark Berry, Director of the Department of Cultivation.

Cu knew high-level cultivators like the Director were supernatural in their capabilities, but how just fast was she? She left off wondering for later; she had preparations to make. If this was a scene from one of those alien movies, this would be where she'd start packing. But she had nothing to pack; what few things she would need to bring were for the most part already in the storage ring on her finger. So she submitted in a request to extend her current requisitions indefinitely and added a few other ones, to be delivered to her at Dormitory Lobby 8, then signed out of the workshop, marking it as available. A Myrmidon entered the drug workshop as she vacated it for her walk. Yam Wisdom, another crafting track student, this one focusing more on drugs than her. The two nodded politely to each other as they passed. The workshops were in heavy use, so a sight like this wasn't unusual. She set a steady pace to the nearest transit tunnel. There wasn't any need for urgency, so she observed her surroundings.

The passing crowd was full of people wearing crafters' tabards. As she ventured out into the general hallways, the tabards changed, displaying a wider variety of professions. A significant part of the flow was headed in the same direction she was. She took a moment to admire the handiwork on the tunnels, carefully burrowed through spacetime itself and coated with colorful sealant keeping them from folding back into nothingness. Then she was at the transit tunnel, full of swirling pure void, with a queue waiting to enter it. With a quick consultation of a map she called up to hover before her eyes, she visualized her destination and the path to it. Then once her turn came, she voidstepped, letting herself slide into the familiar and welcoming embrace of the void as the transit formation activated. A mere moment later, she emerged in the dormitory area of the hive. In Lobby 8, she called a vote to select a replacement leader for Study of Romance and made other arrangements, including someone to take over her part of caring for her dormitory floor's pet spider.

Now that she was finished and less busy, she sat down as the mixed feelings she'd been putting off dealing with came back. She wanted to do it of course, since the hive wanted her to do it. But for the first time she'd be leaving the hive for a long time, not just the brief outings during her training exercises. Years, from the sound of it, even if she could visit now and then. But she'd get to meet some aliens! She'd been studying them extensively as a part of Study of Romance. She wouldn't get to meet any of her online pals, but maybe she'd make new friends? But she wasn't sure leading a hobby group qualified her to lead a squad. Though the Director seemed confident in her? Maybe she'd do okay? She'd definitely do her best. What would the school be like anyways? What would their talismans and formations be like? Their spirit creatures? What new materials would she get to work with?

She was interrupted in her thoughts by an announcement popping up in front of her. A farewell party to be held for the departing Myrmidons tonight, for those interested in attending. A quick, informal affair with a small part of the hive's daily food output diverted to providing refreshments. She submitted her confirmation of her attendance.

---

The party turned out to be two tables covered with light snacks (such as candied grubs, sliced fruits, dried greens and juices), some mood music playing and a small crowd of friends of the delegation. And the ones she had selected, as well as the ones she hadn't.

Almost immediately, the one she recognized as Smile, a Myrmidon wearing a colorful tabard and with chaotically swirling essence, approached with her antennae up in a cheery manner. "Salutations, exalted team leader! You'll regret picking me, you know."

Cu's antennae flicked in mild surprise, then she replied, "I'm counting on our opponents regretting it more."

That got her an amused antennae wiggling. "Already I like you. I hope I don't cause too much trouble for you. But life is boring without interesting things happening anyways."

"You're more self-aware than I expected."

"Comes of having conflicting instincts, both hive loyalty and the urge to poke at things to see what happens. Being blessed since hatching by a spirit who likes chaos isn't the easiest life, but it's pretty fun."

Cu considered that. "That raises many questions. Maybe we should have an one-on-one talk sometime."

"Well, I see a friend, or at least one of the people who tolerate me." And Smile flitted away.

"Pardon me. I'd like to discuss our future working relationship." Cu turned to see one of the hive's robots. Judging from the awakened essence (giving the feeling of a humming engine) in her, her blue coloring, and her words, this one would be Null.

Cu bobbed her head in affirmation and Null said "Most of my research is into spirit creatures. I think there'll be some useful overlap between our fields, given how often spirit creature parts get used in the production fields."

"That sounds very fruitful," Cu said. She had already seen this in Null's dossier.

"I'm really forwarding to investigating the creatures of the school's Abyss." Null peered around and then added, "And I'm excited to finally meet some aliens in person! There's so much latency between us and them, I have to settle on text communications and a few images and downloaded videos."

"Yes, it's too bad we can't have real-time chats with them." Cu had a few alien friends she talked to, including three romance authors.

"Anyways, gonna say hello to others!"

After a few farewells to non-alien friends, another Myrmidon approached her. This one had a remarkably calm and pleasant essence that rippled smoothly. Instead of speaking, Harmony bobbed her head in greetings. Cu returned the bob then waited for her to say something. Harmony just watched her, her antennae held high and her body language inviting. Just about the time Cu started wondering if she should say something, the other Myrmidon finally broke the silence.

"I approve." Slowly, she formed a gesture with her hand which Cu only recognized because she had watched human movies. A thumbs up.

"Um. Thank you?"

"Yes, I think we can work together. I know you are skeptical of my faith, but you seem like a good person who believes we can get along with aliens."

"Some of them, I suppose," Cu said while wondering if her skepticism was really so obvious.

"Ah, yes. It's a tragedy that so many, both within our species and outside, act in a disharmonious manner. Speaking of aliens, I'm really looking forward to meeting others who share the faith of the Living One. But I'll leave you to mingle."

As Cu was sampling some of the candied grubs, another person came up. He had the slight build of a male and his essence felt solid and dependable. Also familiar. "Hello, Cu. It's nice to meet again today," Game Break said.

"Hello, Gam." Even if she didn't regularly see him in Study of Romance meetings, he was the only male in the room so it wouldn't be too hard to guess.

"How're you holding up? I didn't expect the Director of Cultivation to spring this on you."

"It's sudden but I'm alright." Cu paused. "I'm kinda... surprised and nervous? But also excited about meeting some aliens and seeing what their formations are like." Another pause. "The only part I'm not sure of is me as a leader?"

He nodded. "If it's any help, I think you'll do just fine. You know how to take charge and lead others in the right direction. The rest you can learn. I'm certain they won't leave you without any learning materials."

She considered that. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sure they've things well in hand."

"Yes... Oh, I see my teacher calling me."

"You go talk to her."

The next person to approach her was... distinctive. With the bandages on her arms, the eyepatch, and the black tabard with a skull on the front, it was obvious who she was. Her essence was... unsettling to say the least, but there was a surprising hint of warmth in there. "Hello, Lamentation of Death?," Cu said.

"I see the stars did not favor me in having you select me, but I wish you a safe journey. May a shuttle not fall on you."

That gave Cu pause. From the dossier she'd read, one of Dea's friends had been crushed by a shuttle in a freak accident. "Um, thanks." A moment passed. "Actually, I would've selected you if I wasn't limited to four teammates."

"Is that so? Perhaps we will one day stand together against all that might threat us and the hive. Should that day come, with my cursed scythe, dread eye and the fearsome powers bound in my arms, I will be sure to lay waste to all that opposes us."

"You'd be a dependable companion, I'm sure." Cu meant it too. From the dossier she'd read, Dea was no slouch in a fight. As awkward as a weapon a scythe was, she'd managed to turn it into an effective weapon, laying curses upon it that would afflict those that it hit. And she did practice an art that allowed her to curse her foes with her eye. Not to mention the ghosts bound by the bandages on her arms.

"I am glad to hear that. Until that day happens, I have snacks to consume."

The only Myrmidon in the room (and the whole hive) with a luxurious coat of fur hurried up to her. "Cuuuuddle! If you meet any Syrans there, tell me about it okay? Maybe take pictures if they're okay with it oh sorry I must be being rude sorry I get excited sometimes."

"It's alright." Cu was fighting back the urge to touch that fluffy tail. She wondered what it would feel like.

"Honestly I'm a little jealous. You get to meet all the cool aliens. But I've heard they'll send more to the school later so maybe we'll meet again there."

"Possibly. I certainly wouldn't mind working with someone as loyal and hard-working as you." She meant it too, Lux was a skilled warrior on top of being a hard worker. The vidoes she'd seen of her fighting showed she was quick, often striking multiple times with her claw gloves for every strike her opponent did.

"Don't tell anyone, but I take a lot of naps. Just not when I'm working."

"Like a Syran?"

"That and I just like naps. Oh! I see another member of the fashion group. Hey, Deeeeeeea!"

With Lux rushing off, Cu approached the last person in her dossiers, who appeared to be crowd watching. Today they were taking a vaguely Myrmidon shaped form, with occasional shimmers of colors running across their dark blue shell. As she watched, their shell rippled in a spiral pattern. Their essence felt familiar and welcoming in its smooth shifts, but she was aware it wouldn't feel that way to someone without a void affinity. "Hello, Spiaon. How're you this day?"

"Hm. Today I am in a mood for observation. And for being a Myrmidon. Though the mood to be one comes often."

"Yes, you're practically a hivemate after all."

"A honorary one, yes. I was thinking of nominating myself to lead Study of Romance, since you will be busy and also away."

"You're the one with the most insight into it among us. Since you're capable of it in the first place. And you've been in a romantic relationship."

"Not that I intended it to be part of my qualifications, but yes. Our dance was quite exquisite, until we both tired of it. Now they dance with the Voidcat clan and I with the hive." For a moment, Spiaon became a spiral shaped donut before returning to their Myrmidon form.

"Do you think you'll ever stop... dancing with the hive?"

They shrugged with shoulders that were temporarily enlarged for the purpose, creating a strange sight. "At this point, I do not feel like stopping. As for whether I will feel like it in the future, I do not know."

"Well, I hope you'll stay with us for a good while."

"I appreciate the sentiment. I hope so too. Regardless, it has been a pleasant talk, but it seems the party soon ends."

"Ah, yes, it's nearly time. See you later then."

---

In the morning, after getting a notification that she'd get to choose a mecha to replace the training one she had been using, Cu reviewed her options, which were surprising in how good they were. She wouldn't be able to use the mecha fully until she reached the Third Realm of cultivation, but it'd be an asset throughout her time at school. Apparently the hive considered this delegation important enough to make those mecha available to her.

There was the Scarlet Blaze, a light void-affiliated model with a high focus on speed and mobility. It had extra void engines, allowing it to voidstep frequently during battle and distort space in assorted fashions, something she'd be able to fully weaponize in the Third Realm. It had been used by two of the hives' great heroes. There was a small waiting list of people who wanted to use it, but she had been bumped up in priority. Overall a good choice for someone wanting to be anywhere required in battle.

The Violet Mirage had a long and honored history, having been used by a succession of dream cultivators and repeatedly repaired and upgraded since the early days of the hive. That she had it available to her meant there wasn't a more experienced dream affinity cultivator interested in using it. Which wasn't an enormous surprise; it wasn't a very common element in her hive. The Violet Mirage was a support specialist, having extensive systems to scramble the senses of foes with illusions and amplify the effect of support arts. In short, a strong choice for a leader who wants to focus on supporting her team.

The Azure Guardian was a heavy duty mecha, more durable than most and particularly oriented toward close range brawling, with strengthened void shields to divert incoming attacks and powerful arm engines that could either amplify melee attacks or provide extra energy to energy blades. It didn't have the history of some of the others as it was fresh out of the factory, but it was viewed as a quality choice for those who wanted a durable mecha.

The Rainbow Prism was an excellent all-rounder with a strong star affinity. It had a high number of lasers and energy blades built in, support amplifying systems, and decent defense. It was a good choice for those who wanted a versatile leader mecha as well as the ability to light up the heavens with a massive lethal light show.

---

Which mecha did Cu select?
[ ] The Scarlet Blaze
[ ] The Violet Mirage
[ ] The Azure Guardian
[ ] The Rainbow Prism

 

[Kaja Rainbow]

Spoiler: Tie Compromise

Rainbow Mirage

In the end, Cu deliberated over her choices for half an hour before she decided to request an expanded list of available mecha to see if one stuck her eye more than the initial options she had been offered, and she got a list that included mothballed mecha and mecha deemed less suitable fits for her. She quickly glanced across the list, promising herself that she'd go back to the original list if nothing immediately appealed to her. Then she glanced across a listing and stopped. It was a mecha that was a throwaway project by one of the mecha artificers, who had the idea that combining light and illusions in a single mecha would be a good fit and did it just for fun, incorporating ideas from both the Violet Mirage and the Rainbow Prism. Such random projects were not uncommon with spare resources which the hive had plenty of, and the hive allowed them because allowing artificers to express their creativity helped with creating innovation. While the artificer's conjecture on the good thematic fit turned out correct, the trouble turned out to be finding someone to pilot it, since it benefited most from a pilot with a combination of Star and Dream elements, not the most common combination in the hive.

But it was perfect for Cu. The only issue was that it was currently mothballed and would require some time to become ready. Regardless, she placed a request for it, confirming that she understood it wouldn't be immediately available. The approval came in soon after, along with a personal note from the Mecha Department officer responsible for the approval, saying that she was glad the Rainbow Mirage'd finally see use and asking Cu to take good care of it. Cu's antennae twitched in minor surprise at the note. Out of curiosity, she did a search on both the officer and the Rainbow Mirage. The results informed her that said officer (Ruby Eyes) was a personal friend of the mecha's artificer and expressed her admiration for the design, placing a priority alert directing any requests for it to her desk. Huh.

Cu didn't have much time to think about it as her departure was scheduled soon, so she took the void tunnel to Bay 3, where she found more people than she expected waiting. But she barely noticed them as the feeling of an endless, eternally twilight forest floating in the void embraced her. It felt warm yet lonely, a rare emotion for a Myrmidon in her hive. For a moment, she hesitated to step forward against the gentle pressure, but then she felt a light urging from it to continue onward. So she did so, and it was almost like walking through a soft wall which yielded readily before her. Soon enough, she found herself standing before the iridescent egg shaped mecha dropship that would be transporting her team and their mecha to the school. Right in front of her, and clearly the source of the pressure, was a tall Myrmidon with a strange bark like cast to her deep black shell. "Greetings, I am Spark Berry," said the Director, "I've come to see you and the others off."

"Ah, thank you..." An eighth realm cultivator was more overwhelming than Cu had expected, but she found that she could move more easily now that she was beginning to acclimate.. It was only then that she noticed the massive Myrmidon towering over her and everyone else, giving off a less intense but still powerful feeling of deepest void. The Mother. An ancient seventh realm cultivator as well as the mother of everyone in the hive.

Void Eyes spread her arms in a welcoming gesture. "My children. I wanted to see you for this historic departure. And believe me, I've seen enough events in the hive to know this is historic. You will be the first to go to an outside school. The first to live with aliens full time. You will be representing the hive. But do not feel pressured, I am confident that your usual diligent performance will be enough to give us a good showing." Her antennae twitched in a mischievous manner. "And bring me back some alien treats, okay? I've been craving some."

"Very well, Mother." While the Mother had no special authority, everyone was naturally inclined to protect and indulge her.

"I won't be holding you up any further. I have eggs to lay, after all," Void Eyes said, "Good luck at the school."

Spark Berry nodded. "Good luck to you as well. Cu, take this and review it. It's important."

Cu glanced at the data package that had popped up on her message display. It was labelled as a complete education package for those preparing to become squad leader, complete with tactical lessons, lessons on leadership, and arts for her to practice. "Thank you," she said, reflecting back to Gam's words about how the hive wouldn't just leave her hanging.

"Well, then, I'll go back to my ascension preparations," Spark Berry said. It was common knowledge in the hive that she was preparing for ascension, though she had been preparing for over half a century.

The two powerful cultivators departed, stepping into the void tunnel along with their staff, and with that, Cu could focus on her teammates. She took a moment to refocus herself then did her final checks and getting affirmations from the others that they had completed theirs as well. Then, in union, they all stepped onto the dropship. Harmony headed straight to the pilot's seat while the others took their seats. The bay opened, letting the void in, and the ship launched into its natural habitat with what almost seemed like a feeling of joy.

---

During the trip, Cu has enough time to talk to one of the others. Who does she talk with?
[ ] Harmony is busy with her piloting.
[ ] Gam.
[ ] Smile.
[ ] Null.

 

[Kaja Rainbow]

Character Sheets

Cuddle Earth
Upper 1st Realm
Star/Dream/Void​

Creation: A+
An in-depth knowledge of the production sciences, primarily formations, but pill-making and talismans are available at B+.
Art: Unformed Form. A basic void crafting art that excels at creating flexible, changeable formations, pills, and talismans.

Mind: A-
Perception, mental strength, and general analysis ability. Also covers messing with dreams and other mental abilities.
Art: Unformed Mind. A basic void mental enhancement art that allows shifting mental strengths around, enhancing individual mental faculties as needed.

Leadership: C and rapidly increasing
The ability to inspire and lead as well as combat tactics. Cu is still assimilating the lessons imparted by the expert system.
Art: Unformed Leadership. A basic void tactical leadership art that makes shifting tactics and formations easier.

Mobility: B-
All-around mastery of movement and evasion.
Art: Unformed Step. A basic but very powerful void movement art drawing upon one of the void element's greatest strengths.

Social: C+
Social astuteness, especially toward romance, and charisma
Art: Rose's Charm. A dream social art created by aliens that especially enhances awareness of the connections between others, particularly romantic ones.

Combat: C
Generalized mastery of personal combat. Cu uses energy blades and is learning to use lasers.
Art: Unformed Light. A basic void combat art involving energy blades and lasers.

Best formations:
Everchanging Void Defense: A defensive void formation whose primary strength is its inscrutability. Once comprehended, it is very easy to break through, but that isn't a trivial task as the formation constantly changes, weaknesses disappearing before they can be exploited. Cu has added illusions and lights to it, making more difficult to understand. It requires refreshment every 3 days.
Falling Through the Void: A void transportation formation that allows anyone with a void affinity to voidstep to a known location hundreds of meters away. The reusable version lasts 8 hours but is more expensive than the one-time version. It can be locked so only specific people can use it. Those with comparable formation knowledge can with effort break the lock.
Field of Mirages: A basic dream formation that afflicts anyone who enters it with illusions. Breaking free requires either time, a strong enough mind, or high enough formations skill.
Harsh Starlight: An offensive star formation that fires lasers at specified targets within its long range. It can be set to attack all except selected persons, attack a list of selected persons, or attack everyone.

Game Break
Upper 1st Realm
Earth/Gem/Void​

Diplomacy: A+
In-depth knowledge of customs, psychology, and overall charisma.
Art: Unformed Words. A basic void social art capable of adjusting to any social situation without giving a clear fix on the user.

Awareness: A-
Attention to the finer details around him, especially of social situations.
Art: Unformed Awareness. A basic void sensory art that allows shifting around what gets noticed most easily. Gam usually has it focused on social aspects.

Solidity: B+
Resilience both mental and physical.
Art: State of Solidity. A basic gem/earth art that provides all-around resilience, extending some of it to allies.

Combat: B-
Generalized mastery of personal combat. Gam uses guns.
Art: Unformed Bullets. A basic void combat art revolving around the use of bullet-flinging guns.

Mobility: C+
All-around mastery of movement and evasion.
Art: Unformed Step. Yes, this is a very common art within the hive.

Covert: C
Many diplomats at least dabble as spies. Gam is no exception, though this is not his primary field.
Art: Unformed Face. A basic void espionage art that helps one blend into a variety of situations and get away with things one might not otherwise. One of the more effective basic espionage arts.

Harmony to All
Upper 1st Realm
Wood/Harmony/Void​

Flowing Motion: A+
Mobility techniques of the United Temple of Harmony. Also, ability to pilot any vehicle.
Art: Harmonious Movement. A basic harmony/void movement art that helps one be in the spot most harmonious to ones intent at all times. Some of the benefit can be shared with others.

Harmony: A-
The ability to create a state of peace. Can potentially stop fights or lessen the impact of attacks.
Art: Harmonious Foundation. A basic harmony art that is the starting step on the path practiced by the United Temple of Harmony. An odd art that can end fights before they start, nullify attacks, and help others feel at peace.

Firm Hand: B+
The martial arts of the United Temple of Harmony. Especially good at nonlethal takedowns but can be lethal if necessary. Harmony uses pure essence for her attacks.
Art: Necessary Firmness. A basic harmony combat art that recognizes the occasional tragic need for combat and seeks to minimize its impact.

Pure body-mind: B-
Mind and body purified through pain, making both more resistant.
Art: Harmonious Body. A rather masochistic harmony personal enhancement art that improves overall parameters.

Serendipity: C+
Living in harmony with the world causes fortune to smile upon her as well as guiding her to act at the right time.
Art: Correct Place and Time. A harmony fortune art. Like many but not all fortune arts it has no active techniques, only passive ones.

Teamwork: C
All Myrmdions naturally excel at teamwork, but Harmony especially excels at it, building further upon the innate Myrmdion teamwork bonus.
Art: Harmonious Action. A harmony art that enhances all united team efforts the user takes part in. For everyone doing the same thing, their teamwork becomes more effective.

Null Music
Upper 1st Realm
Metal/Acid/Void​

Beast: A+
In-dept knowledge of and ability to command spirit beasts.
Art: Unformed Beast. A basic void beast mastery skill that helps one understand beasts, win their loyalty, and boost their performance.

Combat: A-
Generalized mastery of personal combat. Null uses built-in weaponry.
Art: Machine:Unformed:Lethality. A basic void/metal combat skill used by many of the hive's robots which focuses on using ones robotic body to its maximum extent.

Analysis: B+
Powerful sensors and processors able to sense and swiftly analyze many things. Helps defend against mental and spiritual attacks as well.
Art: Machine:Sense:Mind. A widely used basic metal element art that helps robots optimize their senses, analysis, and mental and spiritual defenses.

Machine: B-
The rhythm of the machine, overall strength of Null's body and smoothness of function.
Art: Machine:Rhythm:Body. A widely used basic metal element art that helps robots optimize their body's functions and physical defenses.

Mobility: C+
All-around mastery of movement and evasion.
Art: Unformed Step. The hive's most common basic movement art.

Enhancement: C
The ability to enhance others in many fields.
Art: Machine:Group:Strength. A basic metal element all-round buff art widely used by robots. Not as strong as more specialized buff skills but has something to help just about every person.

Smile Sphere
Upper 1st Realm
Chaos/Wind/Void​

Path of Transgression: A+
The path that helps her trespass on others' property and expectations. Getting into places others don't want her to be, stealing things others don't want her to, finding the best way to go against someone's sense of what should be.
Smile has no proper arts, instead using chaotic, shapeless essence guided by her paths.

Path of Liars: A-
The path that helps her lie. Disguising herself, using words to mislead others, creating illusions.

Path of Chaos: B+
The path that helps her sow chaos. Throwing opponents into chaos with unpredictable attacks, performing sabotage, generally creating a big mess of things.

Path of Not Dying: B-
The path that helps her survive. Getting out of places others don't want her to be, evading or withstanding attacks, living through the direct consequences of her actions.

Path of Foolishness: C+
The path of unexpectedness. Making someone laugh, finding an outside of the box way to do things, perceiving things others might not.

Path of Fool's Luck: C
The path of extreme luck, or so it seems.

S is legendary, A is excellent, B is rather good, C is decent, D is mediocre, and F is awful. This is comparative to ones level of cultivation.
When one goes up a level within a realm (i.e. from mid to upper 1st realm, all skills go down by one sign (i.e. A+ becomes A, A- becomes B+.) When one goes up a realm (i.e. from peak 1st realm to lower 2nd realm), all skills go down by one entire letter grade (i.e. A+ becomes B+). Training in related arts will make skills go up.

 

[Kaja Rainbow]

I was kinda in a hurry to get those character sheets out before bedtime, so I left some things unexplained. For one, how XP works. The standard is, you will get 10 per day of study in the subject. Factors such as one-on-one tutoring, high quality/rare drugs (the usual XP rate assumes you regularly use standard mass produced drugs), and such will increase this daily XP gain. One-off events that drive you to push yourself in an area or provide a fortuitous insight (the rarest kind of event) can also give you some extra XP. I suppose omakes can also give Cu extra XP if anyone actually cared to make one.

You won't have to worry too much about arts and standard resources since the hive'll provide them. However, rare/special resources will still be valuable and you'll have opportunities to gather them for use in your crafts. I'll only be tracking rare resources by the way. Likewise, money'll be abstracted; you won't have to worry about standard expenses, but you'll have a limited number of abstract money units (which I'll update the sheet with later) to spend on especially expensive things, and this limited resource will be shared among your team. Still, you're far more affluent than Ling Qi. Such is the power of having a group backing you.

It might seem odd that a group this communist would use money, and really they simply don't in their daily affairs. However, they do keep some money on hand for dealing with outsiders.

As for essence, you might notice that each of the character sheets only have 2. That's because this number represents how many significant expenses of essence you can perform before needing to recover. If you spend a point of essence, it'll have a big impact. Most of the arts and stuff don't have a specific use provided for this, but at any time you may spend 1 essence to greatly enhance your use of the art. A formation with 1 essence invested into it is also more powerful.

As the team leader, Cu can generally give her teammates orders and they'll follow them. However, you won't have direct control over their actions or what they'll cultivate. And it's considered bad form to give others orders over how or what to cultivate because of the inherently individualized and personal nature of the endeavor, though providing suggestions is fine. If omake XP or whatever gets given to the other teammates, they'll decide how to use it.

 

[Kaja Rainbow]

The first thing Cu did was review the information file she'd been given about the school. Rose Fields was founded by the Greenmoon Alliance after quarrels over where an alliance wide school would be located. Specifically, it was built atop the Rose Abyss, a chasm in the fabric of the universe full of monstrous creatures and beings but also many precious resources and treasures. The abyss had no claims on it, so it was viewed as a good place to situate a school meant to bring together students from all the alliance factions. Using materials supplied by all the alliance members and looted from the abyss, the void station that would become the school was built.

The school's core policy was to encourage both competition and cooperation. It provided a place for alliance factions to display their young cultivators' prowess through assorted simulations and missions, both combat and noncombat. Those that won competitions would receive valuable prizes for themselves and prestige for their factions. However, there were also many cooperative scenarios that required students from different factions to work together. Thus this policy allowed the factions to show off but also encouraged cooperation between them. As a direct consequence, conflict outside the competitive scenarios was greatly discouraged, though it wasn't uncommon for teams to prank each other.

The school reflected the composition of the alliance, so Cu could expect to deal with plenty of humans, as well as Syrans, Dancers, Eternals, X!eng, and assorted minority species. She could also expect to be away from the hive for about four years.

Cu closed the file and glanced at her teammates, who all had their displays open. Out of curiosity, she looked at what they were doing. Gam was doing a review to make sure his knowledge of alien etiquettes was firm in his mind. Null had two files open, one on Alliance robots and one on the creatures of the Rose Abyss. And Smile... was watching a X!eng comedy show. Cu wasn't sure what she got out of it, as the jokes and routines performed with many wigglings of the X!eng's tentacles were completely incomprehensible to her, but judging from the way Smile's antennae twitched, she found them hilarious.

"Excuse me. Could we talk? As hivemates." Cu said to Smile. She had decided it was best to get to know the trickster, since it would hopefully let her get a better idea of what to expect from the unpredictable person.

"Decided to get to know the trickster better, huh? Sure thing." Smile put her show on pause, closing her display.

"Yes. I knew from your dossier you were into alien comedy shows. But I didn't know they could get that..." Cu paused, trying to think of a polite phrasing.

"Weird? Incomprehensible? Yeah, different expectations, different ways to subvert those expectations." Smile popped her display back up and issued a command to jump back in the video. "See this part here? About the X!eng who names all her hatchlings? To them it's absurd because they can't do that when they have countless mothers each lying thousands of eggs in a single go. They usually just dump the eggs in the wilderness and move on. The ones that survive long enough have a chance to get adopted. Only then do they get named. So naming the hatchlings right after they hatch's way too premature."

Cu's antennae curled. "Yes, I'm aware of that, but thinking about it is..."

"Tragic, right? But it's the way they do things out of necessity. Really, this section is kind of black humor." Smile jumped ahead in the video. "We'll skip this bit that's hard to translate wordplay. Okay, here's a joke about the X!eng that came back from the dead and..."

After discussing alien humor for a while, Cu said, "You really know a lot about this stuff. And I feel like I get a few of those jokes now."

"Yeah, I got into it at first because it was weird and didn't make sense? And I found that enjoyable? But then I started making more of a study of it and learned a lot about alien culture and such... Which got me assigned to this team, I guess."

"Or at least on the list I had to pick from."

"Decided a trickster would be useful, huh? Looking at some of what we'll be doing, I can see that. Glad to be of use to the hive."

It was then that Harmony announced they were about to arrive, as an screen appeared showing the nearing flower (identified by her display as a rose) shaped station.

---

Humans were even more strange looking close up, Cu mused as she watched the approaching black haired male human in a flowing red robe with rose shaped motifs picked out in delicate lines of golden thread. The official uniform of the school, from what she'd read. He looked over her and the others then spoke, "Greetings, Cuddle Earth of Great Heavenly Void, I am Pan Liang, Head Dean of the Rose Fields school. It's a honor to have you here."

Cu held her discomfort at the formality in check. From what Gam'd told her, this was their way of showing respect to her hive. She spoke the phrase he had instructed her to say. "Greetings, it is a honor to attend your renowned school."

"It is my pleasure. This student, Awesi, will give you a tour of our facilities, or if you need to rest, show you to your suite." He indicated the darker skinned girl in a similar red robe with white embroidering next to him. "Until we meet again."

With the Dean's departure, Awesi gave a curt nod. "C'mon, let's get this tour over with."

Cu didn't object, nor did the other Myrmidons. This was closer to how the hive did things. The tour through the winding rosy halls of the station came with brief explanations of each stop such as "Library," "Farms. Don't enter without permission," and "Best place to buy kebabs." Cu was certain that last one wasn't an official tour stop, especially since the cook in the food court stall looked rather like an older version of Awesi. Family? But she wasn't about to object since it was just the human showing loyalty to her family. Which Cu could understand. It was like hive loyalty.

"I'll be sure to buy some kebabs from here," Cu said, which got her a small smile in return. Harmony gave her a thumbs up.

The tour drew to a close as they entered the student residential section. "And here are the fancy rooms. This one's yours. All of you're really staying in the one suite?"

"That's what we're comfortable with," Null said.

The suite turned out too extravagantly furnished for the tastes of Cu and the others, so they wound up taking down unnecessary rose themed decor. Quickly, one room was designated as a workshop for Cu and anyone else who might need one, the room with the beds was designated as the sleeping space, and another as a general use room because they didn't know what to do with it.

"This is way too big," Smile said. No one voiced disagreement.

After settling in, Cu completed the student intake paperwork and indicating agreement with the school's rules, then left to wander a little on her terms. Eventually she reached a garden (at least it wasn't full of roses) with some other students mulling around.

---

Who did Cu talk to?

[ ] The squid-like blue speckled X!eng muttering to himself over a disassembled talisman.
[ ] The cat-like red furred Syran cleaning a very peculiar looking gun.
[ ] The tall lithe plant-like Dancer observing the garden while meditating.
[ ] The lizard-shaped voidbeast talking to a held miniature aquarium that felt far bigger than it looked.
[ ] Awesi who was loafing on a bench reading something on her display.

 

[Kaja Rainbow]

In this quest's era, the Internet and computing are ubiquitous. Even more so than in our world in fact, as mini-computer talismans and even implants are standard practice. Those talismans tap directly into the user's vision, displaying things in their visual field. In other words, augmented reality. As a safeguard, all such talismans, including the implants, can be deactivated physically by the user. So all the references to displays are to windows and the like displayed in the user's vision. Usually you can see that someone is accessing a display but their contents are private to the user alone. However, Myrmidons typically have their displays visible to every member of the same hive. Like most hives, Cu's hive follow the practice of implanting deactivated mini-computers into larvae since it's easier to do it before they grow exoskeletons. Then once they molt into adulthood, the implants are turned on.

The Internet exists, but interplanetary (I'll explain why it's interplanetary not interstellar in another info post) distances cause all sorts of difficulties. Those difficulties have mostly been solved or worked around, but so far no solution allowing continual real-time transmissions between planets, stations, and other such bodies have been found. Each internet infrastructure is hooked up to powerful relay points which beam and receive requested information in batches across the void. So for example, if you try to download a video that isn't available on the local infrastructure, that infrastructure will send the request on the next outward batches to nearby relay points. If the video isn't available on the nearest infrastructures, the requests'll travel outward on the next batches to the next infrastructures on the relay chain. This continues until the video is located, at which point it's sent back on returning batches until it finally reaches your infrastructure so that you can download it. Receiving multiple copies from different infrastructures isn't uncommon, but the infrastructures automatically smooth such things out. Overall, the speed of this process is decent (you would likely get your video in a few minutes at most, more often less than a minute), but it makes real-time streaming across the void and the like virtually impossible.

With the variety of species and cultures out there, language barriers could easily be quite significant. However, translation programs are standard fare on the mini-computer talismans, and they're quite good. They typically feed an understanding of what was just said or read into the user's mind, allowing for relatively seamless communication.