Run.
It was all he could think. He had to run or he would die. He found himself in the hatchery and breathed a sigh of relief. He picked a larva off his chest and threw it as another took its place. He continued to throw them until over half were attached to other mammals. He would've felt sorry for them if they hadn't just saved his life. He was going to throw the others but two had managed to eat his hands.
He almost screamed but he knew it would tell Bug he was still alive. The ant-like creature would almost certainly have him killed. The only thing that was keeping him alive was the Rangers thinking he was alive. Taz would definitely hurt him, Specs and Krayonder would throw him in prison and Up, despite his injury, would make sure he was punished.
'Eep eep ap ah ork eep.' He jumped, looking around for somewhere to hide. He didn't understand what was being said, so it must be a bug. As the man who tried to destroy all the hive, he didn't expect help from any of its inhabitants. Not finding anywhere the bug wouldn't find him, he ran from the hatchery, shaking a few larva off as he ran.
There was only one other place on this planet he knew. He ran faster than he had ever ran before, ducking behind rocks every time he heard a bug's voice. Fear flashed through him every time he saw something vaguely ant-like. He passed the Ranger ship at one point and had to a shuffle around them. He doubted he was even recognisable anymore, due to all the injuries up and down his body. Even as he neared Pincer's hole, he knew it was no good. The larva had eaten most of him by now and, even if he did make it back to Pincer's hole, it was very unlikely the scorpion was still alive, if Bug was. He doubted even the mosquitoes had survived.
He collapsed.
The larva had left, all finding better meals to munch on. He almost wished they were still there, it would be over quicker. He was outside the Hive, far away from any help that, most likely, wouldn't be given to him.
'Help me.' Junior whispered, praying to deadgod that someone, anyone would answer him.
Far away, even further into the outskirts, a bug name Meda lifted her head. She had heard something but she didn't recognise the language. Turning her head from side to side, she looked for whatever it was that made the noise, her eyes stretching further than normal bugs could manage. Like all the bugs from the outskirts she had many abilities that had led her species being expelled from the Hive. Seeing something curled up on the floor, she took a few steps towards it.
'Where are you going?' she turned to see Melder, one of the Brain Leeches glaring at her. Melder didn't like helping Hive-dwellers.
'I don't think it's a member of the Hive.' Meda said, rolling her eyes. 'If it was, why wouldn't he ask them for help?'
Melder scowled. 'I'm telling Grandpa about this.'
Meda rolled his eyes again as the brain leech left, going to get the leader of their unofficial hive. Grandpa was the first deserter, the one who all others reported to. But now, one of the Healer Ants was going against the rules of the outskirts and going closer to the Hive. Meda hid a few times as she ran across the outskirts, knowing whoever it was needed her help.
When she finally reached the injured, she almost recoiled in disgust. Pincer, the deserter who still kept in contact with the Hive mosquitoes, had told them all about hoo-mans but to see one in the flesh was shocking. Were they meant to look like that? Pincer never mentioned red skin.
He was whispering something over and over again. Meda didn't understand what he meant but she assumed he was in pain, due to the look on his face.
'I'm going to help you.' She whispered but that just made him open his eyes in fear. He began thrashing about, trying to get away. Knowing she didn't have much time before the Outskirters appeared to drag her away, she grabbed hold of what she assumed was his head and concentrated.
She could see the pain he was feeling and knew she had to get rid of it. Her kind were the healers of Bug World and she wasn't about to let someone die, even if they were from outer space. She frowned as she hit a snag in the procedure; he was too close to death for his wounds to be healed simply. She frowned, knowing there was an way to fix this but it might do more harm than good.
Shaking her head, she changed what she was doing, concentrating even harder. He began screaming and trying to force her claws away from him but she held on. This would help him in the end.
Finally the screaming stopped but she was hesitant to look down. Then, the creature at her feet began crying. The cries were louder than before and she knew, if she didn't leave, she would be caught. Glancing at the alien to check his injuries were gone, she turned and ran away from the Hive.
Roach stared at the sky, sighing. Bug had left with the hoo-mans, not even staying long enough to say goodbye. Roach knew he should return to the Overqueen but he felt to mad and sad to go back. He was just about to go back with Bumble and Nips when a scream pierced the night. The three of them turned together, looking towards the outskirts.
'That's no bug.' Bumble said, frowning. 'Must be one of Bug's hoo-man friends.'
'They left one behind.' Nips said, obviously confused. Why would someone leave their own behind?
'We've got to help him.' Roach said finally. With Bug gone, the others had began to turn to him for ideas above hoo-mans and their ways. 'They probably think he's dead. Imagine how happy they'll be when they come back and he's fine.'
They all nodded, headed for the outskirts. Nips, an armoured beetle, was big enough that no one asked where they were going. As they reached the outskirts, the screaming got louder, higher pitched and closer to crying. Roach sped up, leaving his friends behind. He finally reached the crying hoo-man. It was a lot smaller than the others he had seen, probably even smaller than Roach himself.
'What is it?' Nips said, catching up.
'I think it's a hoo-man larva.' Roach said, flying to a stop right next to the baby's head. He blinked up at the insect, confusion and slight fear filling his eyes, too big for his head.
'We have to get him to the Overqueen.' Bumble said, leaning down to pick up the human. He squirmed slightly in the bee's hairy arms but soon settled down as the three bugs turned to head towards the Hive.
Junior looked around at his surroundings. Something told him told not to trust the bugs but he was too small to protest. He blinked a few times before closing his eyes completely. As sleep took him, the last of his memories were taken from his mind. By morning, he wouldn't even remember his own name.
