//------------------------------// // Chapter Ten. // Story: One Mask Among Many. // by Golden Paw //------------------------------//         Buzz watched as the tiny wasps circled twice before scattering and felt an odd sense of sadness. The hives had been carried out with surprising care and affection by Scrund, the resin covered colonies appearing subdued as they were placed on the ground.         “Thank you my little friends. “We kept each other alive and I thank you for that,” Scrund intoned in a sober voice. “Be free now and find your own way.”         Buzz was astonished as the magic binding the small insects faded, but rather than instantly fleeing the little creatures enveloped Scrund as if to say a final goodbye. Their message delivered, the swarm lifted into the air and Buzz almost fancied that she saw the tiny queens of each hive bow in respect.         Scrund finally looked at Buzz with a frown, “They can’t follow where we’re going and will surely die if they stay in this desolate place.”         The more time she spent around Scrund the greater evidence Buzz found that changelings were so much more than the stories made them out to be. She had another flash of respect for him just before the drone lowered his head and began to eat the abandoned hives.         She felt her face screw up in disgust but quickly hid it as Scrund proffered one of the sticky pods, “Best not let them waste.”         Buzz stared at the now vacant hive and found her evaluation of changelings swinging back again, they were revolting things. Still appearances needed to be maintained and so pressing her eyes shut she took a reluctant bite of the pod.         Buzz shivered and it had nothing to do with the dawn chill as the doughy mess was champed between her teeth. Mercifully she could shut down her taste and smell, but the texture.....         “Okay Grizz, here’s the plan, We pick up the scent of that scouting party and follow it back to their hive, then we get our Queen out,” Scrund asserted as he finished off the last of the pods.         Buzz simply nodded as she tried her best to work the last of the ‘meal’ from between her teeth. If Scrund showed any indication he’d noticed her discomfort he hid it well and like a tracking hound on the scent began to work his head back and forth sweeping the ground.         Removing enough of the cloying mass Buzz was finally able to speak, “And how do you plan to accomplish that Scrund? Surely there isn’t much just two of us can do?”         Scrund continued to snuffle around the dusty ground even as he responded, “We can sort that out when we get there, first priority is to locate our mother.”         Buzz had put on enough acts to see a fellow at work and she felt her heart go out to Scrund, he was running ahead of his own despair and keeping himself busy. The first hints of sunlight crested the surrounding mountains and Buzz relished the warmth and light. Scrund however was driven, riveted to his task. He fixed Buzz with a resolute gaze, “Don’t just stand there Grizz, help me.”         She paused for only a moment not sure how to accede to his request, but quickly pressed her own snout to the ground and gave a theatrical snuffle. Internally Buzz switched to her arcane vision and the world became a wash of multi-coloured hues.         Scrund was your standard cloud of dirty purple/browns Buzz had come to associate with changelings. But as she watched him out of the corner of her eye Buzz noted that with his true-self restored Scrund projected an aura of refinement: A higher quality of essence as it were and her mind raced. He had a marked difference from any other drone or bewitched pony Buzz had studied.         She also saw what Scrund must have been searching for, a fading trail of magical spoor that lead off into the dusty wastes. Buzz keenly saw the fresh tracks of other creatures, her mind recalled the roars and monstrous noises of the predators of the Badlands.         “I think I have it Scrund,” Buzz motioned with a hoof and with an eagerness that made her smile he darted over.         After thoroughly exploring the area Scrund hissed in triumph, “Well done Grizz, you impress me more every minute.”         A tiny flash of pride shone in Buzz as Scrund began following the trail across the dusty ground, his eye glinting with excitement.         The sun was heading for its zenith when Scrund suddenly called their steady hunt to a halt. Buzz almost collided with him as Scrund stopped abruptly with a hiss of warning.         She glanced about and saw their trail had led them into a rocky pass. High mounds raised either side, dotted with boulders and outcrops of stone. It seemed utterly abandoned to Buzz, her magical sight not detecting any creature larger than a beetle concealed among the rough terrain.         “What is....” Buzz asked before Scrund dived aside and hauled her into the lea of a jagged rock.         “Above!” Was his only explanation and Buzz carefully peaked her head out to study the clear sky overhead. A dark silhouette hung there, its outline familiar....Spike.         “A dragon, just our luck. We can’t move in the open with the likes of it up there,” Scrund hissed, his fury at the delay radiating off him.         Buzz did her best to hide her joy, With Spike up there then there was a good chance another changeling hive couldn’t be far off. Even as she watched Spike dipped before performing a graceful dive. The massive hulk of dragon swept out of her view behind the rocks before a roar reverberated around the depression.         Scrund ground his teeth, “It’s a big one too. Dragon’s that size don’t normally come this far into the Badlands, curse our poor fortune.” Buzz wanted to tell him that Spike was a friend, her uncle and could even be a help. But that was of course out of the question. Instead she focused her thoughts and signalled him, Spike, Spike can you hear me?         A tense moment greeted her communication before the sounds of rushing wind blew strongly inside her skull, “Buzz is that you? Speak Equestrian for Celestia’s sake you startled me.” Buzz hissed realising she’d still been using Hive Cant, Sorry Spike, is that better?         Even as Buzz watched Spike arose again, his powerful wings beating slowly as he glanced about below him, “Yeah Buzz, that’s better. What’s the news?” “What’s that overgrown lizard up to now?” Scrund mumbled but Buzz paid him no heed.         Can’t talk much now Spike: Scrund and I are tracking a changeling scout from another hive. One that ponynapped Queen Chrysalis it seems,” Buzz sent and she saw the distant Spike nodding in understanding.         “I spotted a lone drone and was trying to follow him myself, but the cunning bug’s good,” Buzz could hear the excitement in Spike’s voice and fancied she saw a predatory smile on his snout.         Scrund wasn’t idle and peered up at Spike with bemusement, “He’s just hanging there and seems to be nodding?”         Buzz strove to ignore her companion as she went on, Look Spike, can’t explain now, but I need you to make yourself scarce okay?         A fiery jet of green flame blossomed from Spike’s mouth and Buzz winced before muting the angry tirade of his annoyance. Cautiously she reopened the link and tried again, Please Spike, you'll make my life Tartarus if you don’t. Another gout of smoke billowed out from Spike, “I almost had him too.”         Sorry uncle, but it’s really important. We can see you, and Scrund won’t move until you’re gone...wait no don’t look around for us! Buzz felt a hoof tug her into the deeper shadows of the rock.         “I don’t like this Grizz. That dragon’s acting very strange you don’t think it knows we’re here does it?”         Buzz finally gave Scrund a worried look, “Look I don’t think it knows we’re here. More likely it’s spotted Nizit.”         Scrund stared at Buzz as if she’d suggested he ware a ball gown, “A fair point but why Equestrian?”         Buzz cursed inwardly, she’d been so happy to see Spike that she was getting careless again and switched to Hive Cant quickly, “A habit when I’m nervous...I...I..”         Scrund waved a hoof as he peered up again, “Shhh, I think it’s leaving Grizz. I hope you’re only half right anyhow, if that thing is after our scout then we’d stand little hope of him leading us back to his hive.”         Peering out from under their protective stone, Buzz saw that Spike was soaring away. She felt her hammering heart slow as he headed off towards the distant mountains, Thanks uncle you’re the best.         The receding roar of Spike caused Buzz to grin, the idea that she’d convinced a being as powerful and strong as her uncle to leave appealed to her pride. Scrund’s grin mirrored her own as they began to track Nizit once more.                  The trail led them further along the gully and down into a ravine . Buzz felt the hairs on her carapace begin to tingle, there was magic here. Scrund seemed to sense it too and his pace slackened.         Before the pair was a jagged path between two sheer walls of broken ruddy stone. The ravine floor was covered with detritus, broken trees, large boulders and skeletons of long dead creatures.         The wind howled over head like a distressed animal, but down here the air was still and quiet. An oppressive gloom hung about the depression, not darkness but a shadow over the soul and Buzz was certain they had found Nizit’s hive.         The walls of the ravine were dotted with small holes, cunningly concealed by native brush or overhanging rock. From the air this place would appear like any other depression in the vast wastes of the Badlands, but from the ground you could see more clearly the hidden nature of the hive.         Buzz could almost feel the weight of several pairs of eyes watching her as Scrund pulled back and hissed in frustration, “I was hoping to catch him before Nizit made it back to the hive.” Buzz studied Scrund’s angry face and had to agree.         She blinked her arcane sight on and peered out again, the scene ahead heavy with Lady Ichor’s spoor. The whole valley reeked of the matriarch and Buzz felt her assumed form trembling with unbidden anger again.         Ready for the flash of emotions Buzz clamped down on it and tried to keep a clear head. If they were going to get in without being seen she’d need to use her wits. Scrund was muttering to himself and Buzz looked about to see he was frantically drawing scrawls in the ground.         Coming closer she saw they were rough layouts of the ravine before them, estimating enemy numbers and probable routes of attack. Buzz was no strategist, but even she could see the odds of a positive outcome were almost nonexistent.         The second they came close the drones on watch would smell their scent and..... Buzz shook her head. She was thinking like a changeling but she wasn’t a changeling, not truly. The vague idea of a plan began to form in her mind and she couldn’t help but grin at her companion.         “Scrund I have an idea that might get us in, but I doubt you will like it,” Buzz said as he rubbed out another doomed plan with a hiss of anger.         “At this point Grizz I’m willing to try almost anything, lay it on me,” He straightened just in time for Buzz’s horn begin to glow and a beam of magic struck him squarely between the eyes.         Buzz trotted up to the nearest entrance hole and tried to ignore the conflicting drives in her core. Buzz had thought like the machine she was and realised that she now had a sample of Lady Ichor’s scent, a template to copy and with that the infiltration pony-bot altered her ‘own’ makeup as only she could.         The first result, instead of the comforting assurance that Scrund’s smell had given her, she now found him repulsive. He smelt like the enemy and Buzz found all her senses screaming at her to hate him. That had made it far easier to cast a stunning spell on Buzzbot’s ‘friend’, knocking the drone out cold and dragging his (surprisingly heavy) body behind her.         As she neared the darkened circle on the rock face a pair of blue eyes watched her coldly, “Halt and be recognised.” The hissing sneer caused Buzz to pause as instructed. Don’t show any fear. You’re among friends here and are returning home with spoils, feel proud and confident.         Two heavy set drones clambered out of the tunnel’s mouth, reminding Buzz far too keenly of spiders emerging from a plughole and forced an air of assurance into her aura. They approached and studied Buzz with intent stares.         “What happened to your wings?” It was a question Buzz had not been expecting but the cover story slipped into place instantly.         “Had a run in with a desert monster, my two fellow scouts didn’t fare as well,” She matched the larger drone’s stare with one of her own and he grunted before turning away. “And you found just this one in return?” The second asked flatly.         Buzz kept her face impassive as the pair examined Scrund’s unconscious form lying sprawled on the ground. Silently praying that she’d read the situation correctly Buzz finally replied, “The way I see it, two less mouths to feed and more food to go around.”         The two drones glanced at each other in a meaningful way, “An injured drone isn’t much use either.”         Buzz shivered inside even as she forced an angry hiss from her lips, “If you think I’m just kitchen fodder then try me, that’s what the monster thought too.” Buzz stamped a hoof and bared her fangs in challenge.         The tense moment drew out before the first drone chuckled, “We can leave that up to others to decide,” Buzz felt a flash of relief flood her heart as the second drone waved her on, “You know the drill, all prisoners to be taken straight to processing.”         Buzz kept her fangs showing as she dragged the forlorn body of Scrund into the ‘welcoming’ darkness. The smells and atmosphere of the tunnel was almost overpowering and Buzz felt her insides rebel at the intensity. She had to fight with every ounce of her will not to let her guard down: She wasn’t home despite all her borrowed senses told her, she was in the middle of the enemy stronghold.         The empty hive had been bad enough, but this place was far worse. A constant stream of pheromone commands lay heavily in the air, sending compelling drives through Buzz and she could feel her own independent decisions being smothered by it.         Minutes passed by where she was swept up in the crush of fellow drones, their eyes fixed dead ahead as if machines themselves. There was order here, a frightful feeling of suppression and direction that led the inhabitants forward with an iron lash in the mind.         Buzz could feel its pull on her until she didn’t know who was making the choices. She plodded, one among thousands, down one passageway to the next ever onwards and dragging the fitful Scrund behind her.         She passed chambers and cramped rooms filled with strange glows that set her teeth on edge until finally Buzz came to a foul smelling doorway. Buzz could feel her stomach convulse as she saw a pile of discarded shells within and realised with dismay that this was ‘processing.’         Several eager looking drones noted her approach and she had to fight the urge to tremble as they circled both her and Scrund. “So how many for the food bank?” The raspy call made Buzz shudder inside.         “Just one, he put up a fair fight so you should get some good eating off him,” Buzz replied and felt her heart ache as the changelings surrounding her cackled wickedly.         “Just one huh? I see two hurt drones here, efficacy states that we should find better uses for an injured drone than....” Buzz’s hoof flew out and connected with the speaker as the anger bubbled over. His fellows leaned back in surprise as she glared at the fallen changeling, his carapace cracked where the blow had landed.         “Now I count three injured, should I make it more?” It felt good to vent the conflicting impulses in Buzzbot’s system and she couldn’t help but smile darkly as the remaining drones backed away in fear.         “No? Good,” Buzz hauled Scrund past the clicking guards and released the breath she’d been holding.         The chamber beyond was like a larder from a mad pony’s nightmares: Hundreds of glowing green pods covered the walls, secured with copious amounts of green resin and slime. She could see those interred within twitching fitfully and with a shiver realised they weren’t all changelings either.         Ponies, were dotted here and there among the mass of battered looking captives. They looked almost peaceful in their capsules with only the slightly wasted aspect to their frames showing they were slowly being drained of everything vital and good in them.         More drones tended the obscene ‘garden’, crawling over the nestled pods like ants over a picnic hamper. Prodding and resealing any faults with expulsions from their thorax and Buzz fought not to gag.         “Just leave it over there,” A drone, waved a hoof casually as he saw Buzz’s captive. She smelt the pheromones drifting from the changeling that addressed her and recognised someone in authority when she saw them.         Keeping an eye on the ‘Overseer’, Buzz dragged Scrund up to a sealed alcove. Inside she could see the sorry inmates staring at the floor with vacant eyes. A drone ahead of her cast some sort of spell on his captive (A unicorn stallion) and pushed the latest of them into the slimy covering across the holding cell.         Buzz gritted her teeth as the new inmate passed through the green barrier with a sucking sound before he drunkenly took his place among the others. The distant eyes of the stallion looking right through Buzz as if she wasn’t there.          Buzz stepped forward and watched this process repeated again and again, ponies and battered changelings being fed into a massive ‘engine’ that fueled the hive. At the far end of the chamber she saw vats of nutrient gruel being stored in further pods and the discarded bodies of the dead heaped unceremoniously in a corner.          It was a sight to test the sanity of any pony which looked upon it and Buzz felt the hatred welling in her core. This was going to stop, one way or another. She felt Scrund stir and looking down he glared at Buzz with his one good eye.         Buzz leant down quickly and pressed her glowing horn against Scrund’s forehead. Imparting knowledge was a simple act for a machine and she’d had plenty of practice with data banks back home. A mind was only slightly different. Look Scrund, I’m sorry but it seemed the best way to get us in here. I’ll pretend to put a charm on you before I stick you in.         Scrund didn’t seem to recognise Buzz and simply snapped at her in anger, teeth missing by inches. She felt her heart crack a little, but didn’t blame him for the act, Listen Scrund it’s Grizz, I’ll be back to get you out as soon as I can okay? His eye went wide with confusion, “But you smell like....”         His words were cut off as Buzz hefted him up against the barrier which like the others drew Scrund into the chamber beyond. She had a brief sight of his eye staring wildly at her before Scrund vanished with a slurp and was lost among the other inmates. Buzz fervently hoped he’d know to play along.         Her task done, Buzz had no official reason to remain within the nutrient halls. But she had some unofficial business to see to first. Shaking herself down Buzz made a beeline for the Overseer she’d seen earlier.         He was inspecting the contents of the latest batch of nutrient pouches, holding the disgusting sack up to the pale light and smiling confidently as he stuck out a pointed tongue and savoured the contents.         “Overseer we have a problem,” Buzz was sure to impart a great deal of real fear into her voice and he narrowed his eyes at her.         “Do I know you drone?” The Overseer hissed with displeasure as he looked over Buzz and took in the damaged wings on her back.         “Just returned from foraging and noticed a problem with the holding cells sir,” Buzz let a little more urgency slip into her tone. Come on, this is more important than who I am.         Cocking an eyebrow the Overseer shook his head and Buzz felt a brief cringe of fear, it seemed he wasn’t buying.....         “Very well scout, tell me what the matter is,” The Overseer sounded impatient and Buzz played on that.         “I think I saw a rupture in the holding cell’s membrane, I think it’s been deliberately dissolved.” That’s it: Make it sound serious enough that it needs the boss’ attention, but no guards. The Overseer snarled, “Sabotage? In my hall!”         Buzz nodded in fear, “Yes sir, I fear that there is someone tampering with the nutrient productions.” Yes you’re the master, I’m just a stupid drone. You will need to see this for yourself.         “Of course they have you idiot, my barriers don’t just fail!” The Overseer sounded angry and Buzz had to fight to hide her grin, “Show me at once!” Perfect.         Buzz bowed in submission and led the larger changeling through the bustling chamber, feeling a satisfied glow all the way as he grumbled at the incompetence of his drones. Buzz lead him into the most out of the way corner in the chamber and pointed at the green slime covering an alcove, “Here master look for yourself.”         The Overseer shoved Buzz unceremoniously out of the way and stooped to look, “What’s the meaning of this there’s not....” Buzzbot’s hoof connected with the back of the changeling’s skull with a satisfying crack and he landed in a crumpled heap at her hooves.         A feral grin spread across Buzz’s fanged jaw as green fire enveloped her. Buzz watched as the changeling groaned before looking at Buzz in confusion, only it was like looking into a mirror of himself.         Buzz felt the pull of her disguise tugging at her mind and let it have a taste of freedom again, “Long live the Queen,” Buzz hissed in the Overseer’s voice before she unleashed her spell.         After a few moments the Overseer reappeared on the chamber’s main floor, a look of satisfaction playing around his muzzle. None of the workers questioned or barred his progress through the thronged area checking on various vital elements of the Hive’s food storage.         It was the task of the Overseer to make sure all was in working order so his attentions were met with obedient bows. Few drones noted that his wings looked slightly ragged and those that did knew better than to question their better. The Overseer’s pheromones demanded obedience and that’s what he got. To question those in command only earned punishment.         The first sign that something was deeply wrong was when one of the nutrient vats, freshly filled, exploded in a shower of sizzling goo. The stench of burnt resin filled the chamber and several drones toppled from their perches among the pods. Scolding hot nutrient gruel was flung across the hall and soon the air was filled with screeching.         As changelings rushed to discover the cause of the explosion further problems developed, the pods designed to leech the essence from their prisoners began to fracture. In mounting dismay the changelings could only cry in fear as thousands of captive pods began to burst open, unleashing a wave of angry foes into the ensuing chaos.         The alcoves which held the mesmerized fodder followed suit and soon the nutrient halls filled with the sounds of fighting. Through it all the workers looked to the Overseer for guidance, only for him to have mysteriously vanished.