Chapter One-Hundred and Thirty-Seven: nning to Nest


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What do you mean, speak? Like, ask you where the bathroom is?” Tom asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake gave him a side-eye.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What? It’s a serious question. Even I can ask where the bathroom is in a few differentnguages,” Tom said incredulously.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No, I mean that he fully understood what I was saying and even responded to me. He said some very concerning things, but most of all he was actually intelligent. At least enough to gather an army,” Drake exined, “Honestly he wasn’t the strongest thing I’ve fought. The Generals and the Royal Knights were much stronger. But he was apparently the most intelligent if he was able to control them, or perhaps sly is a better word. But my point is if that worthless piece of shit can do it. What do you think ants are going to be able to do if they increase in strength and intelligence?” Drake asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oh.. That’s pretty concerning, now that you mention it, bro,” Bjorn said, nodding in agreement.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t get it,” Jacqueline said speaking up.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn leaned back off the tent pole he was resting on, “Regr ants already have a hierarchy. Or amand structure. Queen at the top, everyone else below and protects the queen,” Bjorn exined, “If they have increased in enough intelligence that means that their Hive could expand and grow exponentially. Normally antsmunicate through pheromones. But if they can now use speech, or whatever else the system is able to offer the monsters, it could mean something far more devastating… Just think of howrge a Hive was from Earth before the system.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Some of the group''s faces paled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“We aren’t certain it''s going to be thatrge, but Bear’s right. That’s why I want to make sure of it by scouting ahead myself. And make sure that everyone who is willing toe along is going in confidence that it is life and death at all times. This isn’t the same as when we were held up behind the safe walls of the outpost. This is nit and grit, taking the fight to them for our own profit. Anyone who ising needs to know that,” Drake said firmly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn walked forward, “You already know I’ming. Things seem to have settled down around here so I think it’s time to move on anyway.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Then I’ming too,” Chelsea said without hesitation.


    <em><span style="font-weight:400">Wow, she jumped ship Drake pretty quickly…. Well, at least she isn’t trying to sneak into my tent anymore.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake scoffed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’m going to be going as well,” Julia said from her seat next to Megan and Jacqueline.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Megan looked over as if she had bitten on something sour but raised her hand after some hesitation, “I’ll be going as well, I can’t let them go with you without supervision.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What are you the camp mom now or something?” Drakeughed, finding her excuse rather childish, “If you want toe to make sure your friends are safe you should just say so,” he scoffed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Megan crossed her arms, scoffing as she turned her head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Right, anyone else? I would like to make Amir and Hudson join at the very least, you are both valuable sses that need to be nurtured after all,” Drake said turning to the pair.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I ain’t no fucking child, pup. Don’t need none of your ‘nurturing’ bullshit. We ain’t got much to do here but wait anyway, And I said I wasing a while ago, no sense in going back on my word now,” Hudson said grumpily.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I as well agreed to follow you, Sir Shot. And I intend to do just that. After everything you have done to keep us protected it just wouldn’t feel right to stop here,” Amir added, giving a wary smile.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake smiled back, “It’s ok to be nervous about it. I may have said I don’t know if I can protect everyone. But that doesn’t mean I won’t die trying. Everyone here is family to me. We’ve been through more in these past months than most in a lifetime. So yes, even you Jacqueline, I will protect with my life,” Drake teased.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Up yours, bloody asshole….” Jacqueline sneered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Never lose that girlish charm,” Drakeughed, looking to the others of the group, “Tom, Sherry, Harley, Jacqueline?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’m going wherever you go dude, I need that food…” Sherry answeredzily, her hand going to her stomach.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Can’t say that wasn’t expected… Ok, the rest of you?” Drake asked again.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I will go anywhere my love goes. So I aming as well Mr. Shot,” Harley said, squeezing Theodore’s arm.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake looked at Jacqueline.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Are you mad? I ain’t going nowhere near a ting like ravaging smart bugs by the tens of thousands! Count me out, I’ll sit my pretty dark ass right here and wait,” she scoffed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake smirked, “Ok you stay here alone then. You can cozy up to little Shigure. The same guy who doesn’t like me, or anyone who associates with me. Who also had most of the people around him turn on him, forcing me to kill them. I’m sure it will be a great sixty days for you,” Drake exined, keeping his smirk.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah but you already set him straight didn’t you?” Jacqueline asked, her face beginning to sweat.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake shrugged, “He’s young, who knows.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s just bloody great innit? And you said I had a choice!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You do have a choice. But there’s only one good one,” Drakeughed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Fine! I fucking better not die! Or I swear to god I’m going to shove my mace so far up your ass, it’ll make you look like a bloody sock puppet!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drakeughed, looking at Tom now.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Well?” Drake asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Do I have to?” Tom asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No, but you’re going to be alone if you don’te,” Drake admitted.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“But I hate bugs man….”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No one said you had to go into the nest. We will probably set up outside after we clear out some space. I need you to protect the base of operations anyway.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Do I get some of the loot?” Tom asked curiously.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, sure. I’m sure there will be something for everyone, don’t see why not,” Drake answered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Alright, I’m in then. I’ve seen how the people in the Outpost look at us anyway.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Tom, we all look at you that way,” Jacqueline added.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, but at least I know you all, so it isn’t as bad,” Tom exined.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s kinda sad I''m not even ganna lie Tom… But at least you’re making progress, that’s all I can ask. And don’t mind Jacqueline, she only teases you because she thinks you’re cute,” Drake said winking.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You’re off your rocker!” Jacqueline screamed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Why so defensive? It was only a joke… Unless?” Drake mused wiggling his eyebrows.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I lied! Come here asshole, I need a cozy ce for my mace!” Jacqueline roared.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Now, now….” Drakeughed, letting her hit him. Her strength wasn’t even enough to even scratch his defenses.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Eventually, Jacqueline gave up and Drake had finished asking everyone. He pped his hands together, “Alright now that this is over, let''s get to cooking, which I also don’t understand what you need me for. Don’t some of you have a cooking profession by now?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“We do,” Chelsea said, standing up as well, “But you just make better food. It’s weird and unfair really.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Everyone nodded in agreement. Even the exhausted Jacqueline.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s kind of endearing… But please cook yourselves….” Drake said slumping forward.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“But we like your cooking Mr. Shot, that should be a really bigpliment. Your food is even better than the system recipes, even if they don’t give the same buffs,” Harley added.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I appreciate thepliment. But I do have other things to do…” Drake said grumbling, but still broke a grin.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake was about to walk off to help with the cooking even afterining, but ire was staying behind and unusually quiet. He turned back and walked over to her.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What’s up?” he asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You didn’t even ask me…” she mumbled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Huh?” Drake said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You didn’t ask me to evene!” ire said, raising her voice slightly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What? Of course, I didn’t,” Drake said matter-of-factly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Why? Are you just going to leave me here alone?!” she asked, concerned.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No,” Drake said, “I don’t need to ask, if I’m going you’re going. I told you not to leave my sight, it’s the only way I can keep an eye on you,” Drake grinned, “So of course you’reing. Where I go, you go.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake gave a goofy smile pulling ire into him, his arms around her in front of everyone. Her face lighting up like a Christmas tree.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ew, get a room!” Jacqueline shouted.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Go talk to Tom, Jacqueline,” Drake jabbed back.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Fuck you!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake snickered, letting go of ire as she stepped back a bit, her face a deep shade of red.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What, don’t tell me you don’t want toe?” Drake asked leadingly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“S-shut up… I’m going…” ire mumbled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Good girl,” Drake smiled, giving her a pat on the head, then extended his hand, “Let’s go then, got food to cook and all that.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">ire nodded but continued to look at the very interesting ground.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hmm, we should really get some aprons… Love a girl in an apron… Well, only if the apron is the o-” Drake thought aloud, but was cut off by a surprisingly strong grip around his hand.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Looking back he saw ire’s face smiling, but the smile did not reach her eyes.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What? I was going to say you would look good in an apron. Naked aprons are one of the things on my bucket list.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I will not wear something like that!” she said firmly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“We’ll see,” Drake smirked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I said no!” ire shouted, running past Drake towards the table, and finding a spot next to Harley.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">She is going to dump you before you ever start actually dating you know,”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Natto snickered.


    <em><span style="font-weight:400">Maybe. But it’s better if she knows about how weird I really am if she wants to actually date me.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake chuckled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The rest of the night went rtively normal. Food, jokes,ughs, and of course, making fun of Jacqueline and Tom.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Everyone turned in early because tomorrow would be the day the scouting of the Ant’s nest would begin.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Theodore, Drake, Bjorn, and Chelsea were going to be surveying the area. They would not only have to find the nest and make sure it lined up with the Map Drake had, but also find an entrance if that was the case.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Once they had done that, next woulde fixing the food shortage problem.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake had a few theories on why the food was so scarce, and many of them connected with the ants. And if he was correct, he could kill two birds with one stone.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The morning came quickly, and Drake had decided to actually sleep the night away as he had been up for longer than a week now without it, hammering away at the crafting quest, then the subsequent ne that dangled from his neck.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He stretched as he saw the light bleed through the tent canvas, doing his best not to wake the snoring and drooling Natto, who had decided to upy the pillow next to him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“If only she could always be this quiet…” Drake thought aloud, going for the tent entrance.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Opening the canvas so he could walk through, the sun blinded him momentarily, forcing him to shield his eyes.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Once he wasn’t star-struck, he took in a deep breath, ready to start the long day.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“First, a chat with Mr. Teen Angst.”