《Transcendence: Flesh and Chitin》


 Royalty is Born

    They awoke in darkness, their body confined, limbs pressed tightly against their chest. Panic surged as they struggled to move, to reach out, yet the walls that entrapped them held firm. Lashing out instinctively, their claws scraped against the smooth, warm walls of what felt like a firm yet stretchy membrane. Desperation pulsed within, a deep, primal urge demanding release.


    ¡°I need to get out,¡± they muttered, the words providing direction as they repeated them again and again. Chanting the phrase offered more than encouragement, it became a command to push themselves to break free. As the creature became increasingly familiar with the movement of their limbs, they began to find purchase with multiple strikes, their claws sometimes piercing the sack only to fumble and lose purchase; other times they could apply enough force to shred apart a small opening.


    With one final burst of effort, after an exhausting battle that felt as though it waged on for an eternity, they strained against their slick prison. At last, a significant hole tore open as an arm burst through, reaching outward, feeling the rush of stale air flooding into their confinement. Emboldened by this success, they thrust a second arm out, grasping onto and widening the opening until the membrane ripped completely, spilling them out onto a warm, throbbing surface.


    They lay on the floor, letting the acrid air flow in and out of their lungs. Minutes passed by and as their stamina returned, the heavy fog in their mind had begun to lift. They steadied themself on shaky limbs and stood tall, surveying the new surroundings. The chamber was a dull monotone, with shades of white, grey, and black blanketing as far as they could see. This was nothing especially strange to the being, as they had no concept of sight beyond the pure darkness of their previous confines.


    Looking down, its large compound eyes caught sight of their own limbs: A set of short, segmented legs covered in soft, unformed chitin. They held their secondary set of limbs up and observed the multiple clawed digits, clearly designed for manipulation. Small serreted mandibles sprouted out alongside their mouth, jutting from a sharp triangular head. They twitched in recognition, barely long enough to click together as though verifying that they were indeed part of its body. The insectoid creature turned cautiously, still adjusting to this world outside of pure suffocating darkness, and froze as they saw an enormous shape looming above. A towering creature, easily ten, no, twenty times their height, stood imposing before them. Heart racing, they stumbled back, one set of instincts screaming at them to flee, while the other held a quiet sense of belonging that kept them in place.


    ¡°You¡¯ve awoken, little one,¡± a titanic voice resonated in their mind, causing them to shuttle backward, nearly stumbling over the decimated remains of their egg. ¡°Fear not, for I am here to aid you, and you are here for a grand purpose,¡± the voice continued, mouth not moving but clearly audible.


    Another sound filled the chamber, a rhythmic chittering that echoed around them. They glanced around, anticipating more creatures, but the sound faded, leaving them once more alone with the colossal being before them.


    ¡°It never ceases to amaze me how naive the newborns are,¡± the creature''s voice continued, though its mouth did not move. ¡°With the many generations of knowledge we have carefully embedded in you, I forget that so much is still inaccessible to you.¡±


    The creature shifted slightly, ¡°Distress no further, your Highness. I am here to guide you, to help you grow into your purpose. You are destined to bring great honor to the hive.¡± The creature began to rise, unfolding in segments as it grew ever larger, lowering its head in a gesture of reverence. ¡°Your will be done, for I am in your service, your Highness.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ serve me?¡± the newborn asked, bewildered by the statement, as more questions flooded their brain. ¡°I am¡­¡± It struggled for words, pulling one from their previous exchange, ¡°Your Highness?¡± It questioned, still uncertain exactly as to what that meant, though the body language of his massive companion triggered an unconscious recognition.


    ¡°Yes, that is your title,¡± the creature answered, its tone soft and comforting despite the endless pool of power that radiated from it. ¡°You are an experiment created by the High Queen, meant to carry the hive¡¯s legacy into new lands. Your form is unique, a blend of what is called Human as well as our superior Vescarid genetics. You are the first of your kind, destined for greatness.¡±


    The little one tilted its head in confusion, staring at and beyond the creature before it, trying to take in all this daunting new information. Their mind whirled, the words "Human" and "Vescarid" sparking a glimmer of familiarity, though they couldn¡¯t place how they recognized the essence of each species. They felt like distant memories that weren''t quite their own.


    ¡°I am... Human. I am... Vescarid,¡± they murmured, the concepts intertwining within them. ¡°I now know what I am¡­ but, who am I?¡±


    ¡°Our kind do not possess identities,¡± the creature replied with the patient tone of an instructor. ¡°We are many, yet we are one, bound by the hive. As I said, you are unique, made to act independently. You may choose a name if that is your wish.¡±


    ¡°You say I am blended with a Human? Did this human possess a name?¡° the young master inquired.


    ¡°You come from a human named Darian. An adult male from the village to the north. It was deemed the most appropriate genetic material for one such as yourself and is responsible for much of the foreign individuality you must be experiencing. If you wish a name, that would be as good as any. I leave the final decision to you.¡± As its voice trailed off, the little one was left with their thoughts, pondering how to proceed.


    ¡°Darian¡± it tried the name on for size, ¡°I think this name is satisfactory. Going forward, please call me Darian,¡± Darian said before continuing their train of thought, ¡°What is your name? How shall I address you?¡± he said freely, now feeling much more comfortable with their sole companion.


    ¡°You may call me anything you see fit,¡± the creature said, bowing once more. ¡°I am here to serve and guide you in all things. I am but a humble caretaker at your command.¡±


    Darian did not take long to consider, as the solution to his naming problem was evident, ¡°Then you shall be Caretaker, for that is what you are,¡± he proclaimed with pride.


    ¡°I accept the name bestowed upon me,¡± dipping its head in gratitude. ¡°Now that you are awake, there is much to learn and do. This place is your nest, your hive, and it will be your duty to see it grow. Beyond, you-¡±


    Darian interrupted Caretaker, ¡°Than I shall grow it,¡± now fully enthralled in the conversation and eager to begin their duties.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Caretaker paused to ensure there was nothing more his master had to say, before pressing on, ¡°Beyond, you will find a chamber containing sustenance. I have also carved out several crude chambers for you to decide the purpose of. Explore and prepare yourself. When you are ready, return to me, and I will teach you more.¡±


    Darian nodded instinctually, a gesture their human half found comforting, and proceeded to investigate the hive independently.


    As they explored, Darian felt a calming warmth radiate from the hive, easing both the mind and revitalizing their body. The floor had a soft, pulpy texture that gave slightly underfoot, creating a gentle bounce with each step. Every movement seemed to awaken a new sensory awareness within, a vibrational sense that pulsed through their core.


    Darian skittered across the hive, actively attempting to trigger this new sensation, feeling each tremor ripple outward, allowing Darian to view themself and all movement around them. Darian¡¯s presence was a beacon of light within the hive, their location pinpointed with each movement. Once the basics of this tremor-sense were understood, other creatures within the cave system began to light up in their awareness. Small critters darted along the walls, their movements illuminated in Darian¡¯s mind, awakening the primal hunting instinct.


    Moving with deadly efficiency, Darian hunted the inferior insects, this new sense guiding each capture and directing each bite. When Darian finally returned to Caretaker, much of the hive was now dark and silent, only the emergence of new critters burrowing out from within the walls lit up his awareness. The new insects that stumbled into his hive were few and far between, not worth the effort to track down and devour. The fullness in their belly was matched only by a growing sense of confidence.


    ¡°You have outdone yourself Caretaker. This is a location I am proud to call home,¡± Darian beamed with delight. Bits of beetle speckled their face as they declared their satisfaction.


    ¡°I am honored by your assessment,¡± Caretaker responded, chittering melodically to express their pleasure. ¡°It appears you have fed, but not on the bounty I delivered?¡± it questioned, noting the twitching legs and viscera along Darian¡¯s feeding orifice.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Darian replied sheepishly, tilting their head away from the gaze of Caretaker. ¡°I became absorbed in the thrill of the hunt before I discovered the pantry, and by the time I had taken stock of your offerings I was already pleasantly full,¡± they replied, the confidence that once swelled began to churn and twist into a new sensation, a feeling of guilt by not feasting on the prepared meal.


    ¡°You need not explain yourself. I am pleased with your instinct to hunt. You will proliferate with overwhelming success, that I am sure,¡± it replied, any negative judgment absent from its words.


    ¡°What do we do now?¡± Darian pondered aloud.


    ¡°Now we cover the basics,¡± and with that, the Caretaker spoke in detail of what was expected of Darian. It talked of hunting, laying eggs, building the nest, filling it with worker drones, burrowing and developing new chambers, honing skills, and eventually emerging into the surface world.


    The information was delivered dry and monotonously, but Darian knew it was vital, so they toughed it out until more exciting details were explained. Despite their best efforts, Darian had a question nagging them to no end.


    ¡°I apologize Caretaker, but I must know, was this Darian a male, a female, or did it too not possess a sex, the same as I?¡± Darian awaited a response, their lower limbs tip-tapping on the fleshy floor in impatient anticipation.


    Caretaker paused to address the question, more perplexed than annoyed with the nature of the interruption. Caretaker¡¯s subservient behavior forced them to respond in the best way they could


    ¡°Darian was a human male, a vital member of his hive, of high station and enormous power. Humans tend to refer to each other by sex. Were you entirely human, you would be male. Yet, in human society, females are the ones to produce offspring. As you, too, are required to create life, you might be considered female. However, the Vescarid race does not limit itself in such ways; we are always what we need to be.¡± Caretaker spoke with a hint of pride.


    ¡°I like being Darian. I would like to be male. Is that possible?¡± Darian inquired.


    ¡°You may be as you wish. I will refer to you as the human identifier ¡®male¡¯ if it pleases your Highness,¡± Caretaker placated Darian to progress the conversation to more important topics.


    ¡°Yes, I like that. I am Queen Darian, the male,¡± he stated, satisfied with their decision.


    ¡°I understand your confusion. You share many responsibilities with our High-queen, but I must add that in the human culture, a male in your position would be referred to as a King as far as our knowledge of humans provides us. You would be ¡®King Darian¡¯, and once more, to state your sex is unnecessary.¡± Caretaker clarified, hoping to bring the discussion to a close.


    ¡°Yes, King Darian of the Vescarids. Very good Caretaker. Please continue.¡± he replied, content with now having an identity of his own.


    ¡°The first order of business,¡± Caretaker continued, ¡°Will be to create worker drones that can aid you in developing your hive. As stated, I have provided you with enough sustenance to support you into this stage of proliferation. Still, you cannot accomplish everything independently, so forming your hive''s beginnings is essential for continued growth.¡±


    Darian did all he could to remain focused, but the critters scurrying along the cave walls began to pull his attention away. He maintained his attention on Caretaker out of sheer force of will, but even this was not enough when a violent stirring deep within his core began to call out and demand his complete focus. Ever eager to please Caretaker, Darian winced in discomfort but nodded at the appropriate times and tried to log away the vital information he was receiving.


    ¡°...and the warrior cast will provide you with the security required to maintain a flourishing nursery for your young, of which workers and tenders will¡­¡± Caretaker paused after the third wince from Darian. ¡°Your Highness, what is troubling you?¡± their tone suggested empathy, and though Caretaker could not feel emotions as other races did, its instincts drove it to ensure the health and well-being of the new royal.


    ¡°I¡­ I am suffering,¡± Darian replied, struggling to understand the sensation roiling within his core.


    ¡°Please elaborate,¡± Caretaker requested, kneeling down and assessing the juvenile.


    ¡°The core of my being is protesting for reasons beyond my¡­¡± Darian was hit with another wave of discomfort, now bordering on real pain, causing him to double over and clutch his abdomen. Recalling his previous actions, he stated them aloud to work through the issue himself. ¡°I was born, I explored, I consumed nutrients, and now I suffer.¡± Cycling through his short life over and over again, he asked, ¡°Was it incorrect to consume those creatures?¡± The thought caused him nearly as much pain as the physical pain he was experiencing. Everything in him told Darian that consuming was a necessary constant of life alongside proliferation and expansion.


    Caretaker released a soothing, melodic chitter before replying, ¡°No, Your Highness, you have acted correctly. This is simply your body¡¯s way of informing you it is time to create your first drone.¡±


    ¡°So soon?¡± Darian¡¯s mental connection with Caretaker was difficult to maintain while experiencing so much discomfort.


    ¡°While other species take time to develop, while they must go through trial and error to blend ideal evolutionary traits in hopes of satisfactory contributions; we are born ready to serve our purpose for the hive. Calm yourself, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and focus on this feeling. Reach into your core, and awaken your potential.¡± As a demonstration, Caretaker breathed deeply, closing its eyes.


    Darian mirrored Caretaker¡¯s example, focusing inward. At first, there was only darkness, an endless void. But syncing his breath with Caretaker¡¯s steady rhythm, he felt the darkness begin to part, revealing a faint glimmer within. Driven by instinct, Darian pursued this light, much like he had pursued prey earlier. As he approached, the light intensified until it filled his vision completely. Reaching out, he touched it, reality shifting all around him.

 An Audience with the Queen/The First Darian?

    Darian felt the familiar spongey floor underfoot, though it now seemed distant as if he no longer fully inhabited his own form. Everything around him was coated in fleshy, organic material, stretching through chamber after chamber until he found himself in an impossibly large hallow.  In the center of this hallow was a pulsating mass of flesh that hung suspended by thick tendrils, swaying as if beckoning him closer. He moved toward it, compelled by an invisible force.


    ¡°Come to me, my newest creation,¡± echoed an omnipresent voice resonating from every corner of the chamber and within his very mind.


    Like a moth to the flame, Darian advanced closer until the sickly sweet aroma of the fleshy nodule filled his senses and reeled him in further, tightening its control over his mind. Darian reached out and placed his tiny claws against the entity. As he made contact, again his mind shifted, and knowledge coursed into him. A massive encyclopedia of information swelled in his brain, and though he tried to make sense of it, it all sort of passively existed simultaneously.


    ¡°I have been eagerly waiting for your arrival and am pleased to see you have hatched and are ready to add to our numbers,¡± the voice was all that existed in this realm, flowing over and within everything.


    ¡°Mother?¡± the words slipped from his mind subconsciously.


    The High-Queen was completely silent before a laugh filled the chamber in a startled burst as comprehension hit her. It was a tender sound, laced with genuine amusement. When the moment passed, she spoke to the newborn, ¡°Yes, I suppose I am your mother, as I am to all of our kind. It is a pleasure to meet you¡­¡± she reached into Darian¡¯s mind deeper, probing the furthest reaches and illuminating the darkest corners, ¡°Young Darian¡±.


    Darian felt embarrassed, he didn¡¯t know how to process the attention put on him, and her effortless entry into his mind left him feeling violated. This was just his humanity talking, after all, to be so connected with his mother was the highest honor and he knew that as a simple fact of life.


    ¡°Caretaker says I¡¯m ready to produce offspring, but I don¡¯t know how to do it yet,¡± Darian broke the silence, explaining his predicament. However, she had likely already figured this out.


    ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t need to worry about that,¡± she responded gently. ¡°It will happen naturally. The reason you¡¯re here is to receive knowledge from the Vescora core. We can only provide so much at birth; the rest will be transmitted through this link. I¡¯ve shared what I believe is essential information about the genetic material from countless creatures we¡¯ve consumed as a species. With this knowledge, you can guide the development of your offspring to thrive in your current biome.¡±


    ¡°I may begin now?¡± Darian asked, his form nearly ethereal in this place, but still, he reacted as he would in the physical world, shuffling in place anxiously.


    ¡°You may begin. Reach into yourself again and allow the knowledge you have to take form in your mind. Develop your drone here and I will observe. In the future, you will be able to more rapidly accomplish this task on your own. I will leave you to it.¡±


    Trying to narrow his thoughts, Darian turned to the task at hand, creating drones to support his hive.


    ¡°What makes a drone?¡± he thought to himself as he pondered the functions of a drone and what he would need from this beast of burden. After a short deliberation with himself, he had decided.


    ¡°It should be durable, but I doubt I will need it to perform any combative actions. I think a good drone should have a tough outer shell, but only enough to handle the work environment. They need to be powerful, so much so that they could carry several times their body weight.¡± Darian nodded to himself in agreement before perking up,


    ¡°Oh, and maneuverable, they need to be strong but flexible, they need to be able to handle the eggs with care instead of just exploding them on contact.¡± Rapidly he found himself lost in contemplating, considering all of the choices, second-guessing himself, triple-guessing himself, returning to the original idea and scrapping it all.


    ¡°Do I even want a worker drone first? Shouldn¡¯t I make a hunter, something that can bring me food? I know Caretaker is looking after me, but how long will the stores truly last?¡± The gears in Darian¡¯s mind began turning until he lost track of time.


    After careful deliberation with himself, Darian had decided that a little help around the hive would be best and it would give him the experience needed before developing a much more complex organism. He had chosen the ideal spawn and all that was left was to shape it in his mind.


    ¡°I want a sturdy yet unassuming creature; it should be low to the ground and capable of blending in with its surroundings. The drone should have a lightly armored exoskeleton with overlapping plates to provide easy movement. Plenty of legs to keep itself upright, and maybe a heavy wide tail to assist in moving earth, but also act as a counterweight to balance itself when moving larger objects?¡± he racked his mind to bring to the surface other thoughts he had pondered over the unknown quantity of time he had spent in this realm.


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes, and we can¡¯t forget front-facing eyes. The drone shouldn¡¯t have to worry about attacks once I develop the warrior caste. Besides, it will have the same access to the vibrational sense I do.¡± He verified that his will could override the drone as needed for more advanced maneuvers or commands.


    ¡°It needs to be able to judge distance accurately for more fine-tuned motor skills. Hmm,¡± he pondered, ¡°Since it is a poor fighter, it should have overwhelming stamina. I don¡¯t want them to be tired out after a couple of days of hard labor; that wouldn¡¯t do at all!¡± he declared enthusiastically, happy with how the mental image of his drone would turn out.


    Satisfied with the mental blueprint, Darian smiled as the image of his drone took shape in his mind. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s everything,¡± he affirmed, his claws still pressed against the fleshy node, anticipation building as his vision awaited creation. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    "An excellent creation. This is not far from the design many of my children have settled on, though I look forward to seeing what impact your subtle variations will provide. Is there anything more you require of me, my child?" The voice reverberated in Darian¡¯s mind, sharp yet strangely comforting, as if the piercing pain it threatened to cause was mirrored by the warmth of its tone.


    ¡°According to Caretaker, I am the result of Vescarid genetics fused with the human known as Darian. If he was truly worthy of birthing a queen, then I wish to resemble my genetic donor. Is that possible?¡± Darian murmured, voice timid yet brimming with a deep eagerness.


    ¡°You hatched only today, and yet you have shown great promise, young queen. Your genetic material indeed comes from a potent lineage. I will grant you your wish and share a glimpse of the final moments of the life that contributed to your being. As you grow, I know you will better understand your Vescarid heritage. You are welcome to return to our image, provided you are sufficiently sustained. Best of luck... Darian.¡± The voice faded, yet it lingered, its words swirling in his mind before giving way to fragments¡ªimages and sensations from his predecessor''s past.


    Darian¡¯s senses jolted as the vision consumed him, transporting him to the edge of a small hive encircled by vast plains. Smoke billowed, flames crackling through the grasses as terrified humans fled the chaos. Trapped within his predecessor¡¯s body, Darian watched as the figure moved, every motion purposeful and sharp. He yearned to control the movements, to look around and assess his surroundings, but he remained a mere passenger, watching through familiar eyes with unfamiliar instincts.


    The ground erupted beneath, forcing the vessel to spring backward. A monstrous creature lunged from below, snapping vicious mandibles at anything in range before retreating into the earth. Dust and soil cascaded into the hole, only to be thrust back out as a stream of massive, armored drones poured from the entrance, surging forward with relentless purpose. Despite their size, they moved with terrifying speed, a lethal force more daunting than anything Darian had yet imagined. His mind raced, cataloging their forms and functions, making mental notes for future reference. In these glimpses of the past, he sensed the strength of his lineage and began to understand the path laid before him.


    Darian felt the encumbering weight of the blade his vessel drew from its sheath. It was a massive piece of steel that could shatter stone, but his vessel held it as the Vescarid would hold a worm within his mandibles. With one clean strike after the other, dozens of drones succumbed to his blows; their carapaces shattered to pieces, flesh rent by his blade.


    Hours blended into one another as Darian¡¯s vessel stood amid the carnage of both Vescarid and human; the heavy scent of blood and death scorched his nostrils. His muscles trembled with each ragged breath, and his vision blurred from the sweat and blood dripping down his face. Thoughts of his failures gnawed at him, mingling with the bitter memory of those he couldn¡¯t save. With a shudder, the human forced himself upright, driving his blade into the earth for support.


    Those who could flee had likely only just reached safety; if he could only hold out a little longer, the Duke¡¯s knights would arrive to secure the town, or so he prayed. Stumbling forward, he set his sights on the temple at the center of the square, each step an act of will as he passed the familiar faces of friends and neighbors, fallen and lifeless.


    Reaching the temple, he wedged the door shut in a crude attempt at barricading, pressing his weight against it for a moment as he whispered a quick prayer to his god: a hope for salvation, a plea for strength. His hands shook as he forced himself up the stairs, straining against every step. Finally, he reached the bell tower, collapsing near the edge as he searched for any sign of the Duke¡¯s banners on the horizon.


    Slouching down against the temple''s stone walls, the human took a moment to rest, absolutely exhausted from the previous events. Then, like thunder, rising in intensity, the sounds caused his heart to leap, as his hope rekindled¡­ until he saw them: a dark, unending wave of Vescarid warriors flooding over the land, clawing toward him. With little to no effort, they broke through his makeshift barricade below; the sound of claws scraping stone filled the air, echoing from inside the tower and creeping closer from outside. He gripped his weapon, exhaustion overtaking him as the monsters swarmed into the building, and his world faded to black.


    Darian awoke slowly, his body feeling like he had just battled hundreds of foes. With a moan, he arose to his feet and stumbled back down.


    ¡°Stay still, your majesty. You have been through much,¡± the familiar and soothing voice of the Caretaker rang through his mind.


    ¡°Where was I? What happened?¡± questions swam in Darian¡¯s mind as his stomach churned with hunger, and his body shook with exhaustion.


    ¡°For the briefest of moments, you were linked with the High Queen. Seeing as you have proliferated, this would suggest a favorable interaction?¡± Caretaker gazed down at the bundle of eggs lying beside his master and admired them with approval.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Darian remarked, following Caretaker''s gaze and observing the eggs quizzically. ¡°I created those?¡± he asked aloud.


    ¡°Indeed you did, and if I may add, they appear to be in exceptional health.¡± Caretaker skittered around them, careful not to disturb the eggs, yet eager to assess their condition. ¡°They will make for a fine start to your brood,¡± he proclaimed, returning to meet Darian¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°I have no memory of laying these eggs, but I do recall my interaction with mother,¡± he stated with no specific emotion, rather recalling their conversation with cold, calculating logic.


    ¡°These worker drones will do well to sculpt your surroundings. However, you should know that while you produce offspring, you will not be consciously aware of your surroundings and will return to the hive deeply fatigued.¡± Caretaker gestured to Darian¡¯s present state and continued, ¡°This is why a powerful warrior caste is important, as you will require protection in the coming years. There will be time for your questions later, for now, you must replenish your strength.¡± Caretaker pleaded, using their more refined limbs to assist Darian to his feet and direct him toward the feeding chamber.


    After a thorough feasting, Darian returned, once again full to bursting. ¡°Caretaker, I was shown the death of my human predecessor and given the means to craft my flesh in his image. I would like to do this, I would like to change my exterior, as I had changed my identifier.¡± Darian requested, his body heavy and his urge to proliferate increasing with every passing moment.


    ¡°As a member of the Royal caste, this is well within your ability to accomplish. Much like the creation of your drones, you will need to return to your core and recreate your form to suit the hive''s needs better. If you have determined this is in our best interest, I suggest you begin sooner rather than later, for it will consume a large portion of your nutrients that, I imagine, are already funneling themselves toward egg creation.¡± Caretaker extended their arms to each side and beckoned for Darian to come close.


    ¡°You may evolve in my embrace. I will provide you with any energy you require that exceeds your current stores. Please be sparing, as my stores of energy are finite and my primary function is not combat, but I will be sufficient in protecting you while you evolve. Should I have been defeated when you awake, reach out to the queen, and she will send a replacement. I have faith in you Darian; this hive will change the very world.¡± Caretaker took Darian in their arms, and Darian returned to his core. In little time, a stone-like chrysalis began to form around him, and as this change took place, Caretaker blended his appearance into the stone, standing, waiting for any threats that may arrive.