After the invasion had ended, the worker ants began the long process of rebuilding. They swarmed the colony and its surrounding areas, repairing damage, carrying debris, and restoring the tunnels that Vladimir had destroyed to their former stability.
Their fallen enemies were buried efficiently, their bodies becoming a distant memory beneath the soil. The colony was getting back on its feet, and the atmosphere buzzed with relief and triumph.
Everything seemed amazing.
However, one fact gnawed at Ari, refusing to be buried like the rest.
He slammed his pickaxe against the mine wall, the clinking echoing faintly through the tunnels. "Why am I back to being a prisoner, doing all this labor? Shouldn't I have my freedom by now? It's been four days."
Did that queen trick me? He gritted his teeth, the bitter taste of frustration lingering on his tongue. I'm such an idiot. Saving the colony didn't automatically put me in her good graces—or grant me freedom.
The bitter thought festered, tightening like a knot in his chest, until a familiar voice cut through the clatter of tools and chatter in the busy mine.
"Hey, Ari. It's been a while since we've seen each other," Evelyn said, stepping closer, her antennae twitching nervously. "Where were you during the war? All prisoners were on lockdown until further notice, and I didn't see you when they announced it. I was...worried about you."
Ari glanced at her, trying to mask his irritation with a smirk. "Well, let's just say I was really busy planning something. Let's leave it at that." He shifted his weight, the worn floor of the tunnel creaking faintly beneath his feet.
Before Evelyn could press further, an old ant shuffled toward them, his movements slow but steady. His worn features carried a quiet strength, though age had etched deep lines across his face.
"Hello there, young one," the old ant greeted, his voice rough but warm, carrying a faint rasp like gravel sliding underfoot.
Ari raised an eyebrow, cocking his head slightly. "And who might you be? Do I know you?"
"This is my grandpa, Brook," Evelyn said, stepping a little closer. "You know—the one you helped out and did his eight hours of work when he collapsed."
A faint memory surfaced, and Ari's gaze softened. "Oh, I see. It's good to see you doing well now, Brook." He gave a small nod, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction.
Brook smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening. "Thank you for your help, young ant. I haven't met someone as kind as you."
The sincerity caught Ari off guard. He wasn't used to this kind of gratitude when he was human. He scratched the back of his head, unsure how to respond.
Before he could dwell on it, a firm voice echoed through the mines.
"Found you. The queen wants you in the chamber—now. She would like for you to attend, so come with me," Valeria called, her tone sharp but calm as she approached.
Ari's antennae perked up. Finally. "Finally! It's about time she called me from this one-meal-paying-ass job," he muttered, dropping his pickaxe without hesitation.
He followed Valeria, leaving Evelyn behind, who watched them with concern. "I wonder what will happen to him? Why did the queen call for him to attend a meeting?" she whispered to herself, her unease lingering.
The path to the queen's meeting chamber was tightly guarded. Military ants stood at attention, their bodies blocking the entrance sealed by a large boulder.
"We are here on the queen's request. Let us through," Valeria commanded.
Without a word, the guards moved the boulder aside, granting them entry. Once inside, the stone was quickly rolled back, shutting them in.
Ari scanned the chamber. Several elder ants sat in a semicircle, their gazes sharp and unsettling. The weight of their stares pressed on him as if silently judging his very existence.
"You both have made it. Take a seat; we will begin this meeting immediately," Queen Celeste said, her voice resonating through the chamber like a low hum of authority.
Ari sat down, his antennae twitching slightly as he took in the chamber. Curiosity piqued.
"Before we get to the main reason for this meeting, I'd like to properly introduce ourselves to the ant who saved this colony," one elder said, his voice calm but carrying a weight of authority.
"We are the heads of the colony, after the queen, of course. We've been responsible for decisions regarding war strategies and food sources long before Queen Celeste's reign," another elder added, his tone formal, though the sharp edge beneath it was unmistakable.
"Now, if I may point out— forgive me if I'm being blunt and overstepping my authority, my queen—why did you not consult us for input on the war that took place between the two colonies?"
"There was no time to think. We had to act accordingly," Queen Celeste said, her voice steady, carrying easily across the stone chamber.
"Although we won that war, I can't help but feel agitated by how it was done," one elder continued, his hands gripping the edge of the bench. "Seeking help from a… dirty prisoner made us look like we had no choice but to follow every single word he said."
Ari's brow twitched. Dirty prisoner, huh? He shifted uncomfortably on the seat, the rough stone pressing against his back.
"Do not address this ant as a prisoner! The queen made the right call. If we had waited for you old geezers to come to a collective decision, we'd all be dead by now," Valeria snapped, her fists tightening at her sides.
"Such insolence is why you are still a lieutenant and never became a commander, Valeria," the elder shot back, his voice sharp, a vein of frustration visible on his temple.
Valeria's fists trembled with frustration, her antennae flicking sharply as she struggled to contain her anger. She clenched her jaw, the stone beneath her scraping lightly against her legs as she shifted in place.
"Don't forget—if he hadn't warned us about the invasion, we'd all be dead by now," Queen Celeste continued, her voice firm, carrying over the murmurs of the chamber. "Valeria trusted him, and I trusted both her and his strategy. Not only did it save the colony, but it also minimized casualties. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't even be here having this discussion. So be grateful."
The elder fell silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully as he considered her words. Finally, he exhaled and nodded. "That's a fair point, my queen. Forgive me for my rudeness."
"Now then, for the main reason this meeting was called," Queen Celeste said, clearing her throat. The sound echoed faintly off the stone walls, drawing the attention of every ant in the chamber.
"Lieutenant Valeria, you have proven your capabilities as a leader and demonstrated exceptional calmness and critical thinking during every crisis. If it weren't for your faith in this ant, the colony wouldn't be here today. I would like to bestow upon you a rank higher than the one you currently hold."
Valeria's eyes widened, her antennae twitching as a flush of shock spread across her cheeks. "Your Majesty… you don't mean—"
"From this day forward, you will be referred to as Commander Valeria," the queen declared, her voice steady and unwavering.
"I humbly accept this title, even though I'm not deserving." Valeria bent at the waist, her antennae dipping slightly as she offered a respectful bow.
A faint smile crept onto Queen Celeste's face. "Apologies for not making this an official ceremony—there isn't much time for preparations. Either way, your father would be proud of what you have accomplished, becoming a commander at such a tender age."
"I bet he would be," Valeria murmured, her voice soft, trembling slightly but brimming with emotion.
Her eyes softened as she recalled the day her father had left the colony. A lump formed in her throat, and tears welled in her eyes.
"Why can't I come with you? Why?" she pleaded, her voice breaking under the weight of longing.
Her father chuckled gently and knelt down, patting her head with a warm hand. "Well, that's because you're still far too young. But when you get older, you'll grow into a very strong military ant one day," he said, his eyes crinkling with a soft smile.
Her throat tightened, and she blinked back tears. "But… what if I don't? What if I'm not strong enough like you are?"
He shook his head, his gaze steady and full of quiet certainty. "I'm not worried about that. You've got the spirit, Val. With time and grit, you'll become something great. I believe in your strength."
She wiped the tears away, the tip of her antenna brushing against her cheek, and felt a firm resolve settle in her chest. "I'll be the strongest military ant one day. I won't let you down."
Now, bowing in the queen's chamber, Valeria let the memory linger in her chest, a small smile tugging at her lips. If only you could see this day, Father.
As Ari watched her accept the honor, a faint glow caught his eye on Valeria's left shoulder. It shimmered briefly, almost like a subtle pulse of light, then vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Huh. What was that? Ari blinked, leaning forward slightly, but the glow was gone. Probably just a trick of the light. He wasn't about to overthink it.
So she was rewarded with a new rank. That's good for her. No one is as devoted to the colony as she is, so she's earned it, he reflected, shifting his weight on the stone seat.
"Next is you, Ari. As promised, for successfully saving our colony and protecting Princess Tanya, you are granted your freedom. You are no longer a prisoner," Queen Celeste announced, her voice firm and echoing slightly in the chamber.
Just the words he'd been waiting to hear. A slow grin spread across his face as a weight lifted from his shoulders.
He hadn't realized how long he'd been waiting to hear those exact words until they finally hit him, and for a moment, he just let the relief wash over him.
"Now that you're free, where will you go? And what will you do?" Valeria asked, her voice soft but curious, her antennae tilting slightly toward him.
"To be honest, I don't know," he admitted, shifting his weight as the faint hum of the chamber filled the silence. "I was just wandering around when you and your squad… kidnapped me and turned me into a prisoner, even after I expressed my innocence."
Valeria lowered her gaze, her shoulders stiff. "I apologize for that misunderstanding. You see, I put the colony's priority first, so I acted for its sake."
"If you don't mind, there is another option that both I and the elders believe would be better," Queen Celeste said, inclining her head slightly toward Ari. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, calm and measured, as if weighing his reaction before continuing.
"Really? Well, let's hear it—as long as it has nothing to do with being imprisoned again," Ari said flatly, his arms crossed, shifting his weight from one leg to the other.
"The first time you came here, you expressed that you didn't belong to a colony. So we have decided to humbly ask you to become part of ours," the queen said. Most of the elders bowed smoothly, their movements precise and sincere. One elder, however, hesitated, his jaw tightening and eyes narrowing as he glanced at Ari. After a long moment, he gave a reluctant bow, his shoulders stiff, signaling his quiet dissent.
"Your strategy was flawless. We could use someone with a level head like you in our military. You planned a way for our soldiers to survive despite being outnumbered."
Ari smirked faintly, leaning back against the wall. They should thank the video games I used to play when I was alive. That's where I got the idea. Didn't expect it to work out this well.
"So, do you agree to join us?" Queen Celeste asked, her gaze steady as it swept over Ari, lingering just long enough to gauge his reaction.
"I will join, but on one condition," he said, folding his arms across his chest.
"And what might that be?" the queen prompted, inclining her head slightly.
"I've got two friends who are prisoners here. If you set them free and allow them to become regular worker ants in your colony, then I'll accept your offer," Ari said firmly, his antennae twitching subtly as he held her gaze.
"That's pushing it! There's no way our queen would agree to such a ridiculous—" one elder began, frowning sharply.
"That's fair enough. Your friends will be freed as well. Welcome to the colony, Ari. I expect great things from you," Queen Celeste said, her voice calm but resolute, cutting through the chamber's murmur.
Ari blinked, almost surprised at how quickly she agreed. Well, that was easier than I thought, he mused, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
"My queen, are you sure? That wasn't the bargain you made with him," one elder asked, his antennae twitching slightly as he studied Celeste.
"I know," Queen Celeste replied calmly, her gaze steady, sweeping over the chamber like a quiet tide. "I have already fulfilled my end of the bargain, but I made a proposal. And if freeing two ants is all it takes to gain an asset like him, then it's worth it."
"Oh, and as for your first task as commander, I want you to train Ari to be on par with our other soldiers," the queen added, her voice leaving no room for hesitation.
"Wait, what?! But, Your Majesty, why do I have to train him?" Valeria protested, her antennae flicking sharply in surprise.
"That's your punishment I've decided for your insubordination," Celeste said, a soft chuckle escaping her. "Consider it a light punishment; the only reason it's so lenient is because your actions saved the colony. You defied me for his sake—now you must take responsibility for him."
"But Your Majesty, Beatrice is—"
"I'm putting you in charge of overseeing his training. Do not disappoint me," Queen Celeste said firmly, her eyes narrowing slightly, leaving no room for argument.
Ari crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Looks like you're stuck with me, Commander."
"Shut up!" Valeria snapped, glaring at him, her antennae bristling.
Ari chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. Guess freedom's gonna be a little less peaceful than I thought.