Chapter 262 Training day (1/2)
”Ok. Let's try this again. The enemy is down there. We can see them, we are in a superior position where they cannot fight back. All of the advantages are ours. So, what are you going to do? What is your strategy?”
The twenty hatchlings and I are positioned in one of the original four farms, clinging to the ceiling out of harm's way. I lured a monster out of the towards the edge of the open s.p.a.ce and tied it down with a gravity bolt. The poor creature is labouring on the ground beneath us, barely able to move, whilst I try to teach these hatchlings how to fight.
The particular young worker I've been trying to teach twitches a little as I focus on my attention on them fully. I'm not sure exactly why but these workers seem a little cowed by me. Perhaps it's just that I'm older and larger.
”Well, I see the monster down there.”
”Right.”
”I know that I have numerical superiority.”
”Right!”
Maybe this time I'm getting through to them.
”I also know that we have a positional advantage here, and the ability to attack our opponent when they can't fight back.”
”Yeees?”
Here we go!
”So, I will charge down to engage the enemy, forcing myself into its jaws so that by my sacrifice my fellow workers will be able to attack without being harmed!”
DAMMIT.
Immediately the rest of the hatchlings respond positively.
”Ooo, that's a good idea!”
”Curses! I should have thought of that.”
”That has to be the right answer. It's flawless.”
The worker who suggested it is now staring at me like a puppy waiting to be praised. Almost wiggling with joy as the praise of his fellow hatchlings rings in his ears.
Ugh. This again.
”WRONG!”
*Thwack!*
Swinging an antennae down hard I slap the worker on the head.
”How many times do I have to say this?! You. Are. Not. To. Die!”
”Ohhh right” the workers chorus.
I feel a splitting headache coming on.
”In none of the plans that you put forward are you allowed to act in a suicidal way. You should always act to minimise the loss to the colony to as great an extent as possible. It is possible for you to resolve this situation without any losing any workers, easily! So you should!”
The hatchlings look at me as if I'm speaking a different language.
This is infuriating. It's almost as if any plan in which they don't die is in some way unsatisfactory. I've been trying for thirty minutes to get them to value their own lives, to think of own safety as something that is important, but it just isn't getting through.
Not only do they not care about their own lives, not dying seems to be like a personal failure on their part. They burn to sacrifice themselves for the colony, to win something in the exchange and go down in a blaze of glory.
Maybe I'm thinking about this the wrong way. It's clear that they aren't going to value themselves for their own sake, but perhaps I get them to value it for another reason.
”Listen to me, all of you!” I declare.
Twenty sets of eyes and antennae focus on me with laser like focus.
They're so earnest, it's quite cute.
”Do you wish to serve the colony?” I ask.
”Of course!”
”Yes!”
”I'll die before this day is done for the colony!”
”Ok whoa, slow down there. So I take it, you also wish to serve the Queen?”
”Naturally!”
”Mother is the heart of the colony!”
”I will throw my life for the Queen before wakes!”
”Alright, you there, to the side, just chill out there. Shees.h.!.+”