The Queen had died.



They had found her one day, lying in front of the bar in the room she barely left by now. Her affairs had stopped after several fights with the Drone, but her drinking had gotten worse at the same time.



The Drone had not taken it well. He seemed fine on the outside, doing his work around the household, earning money, but something was wrong. Pollination Tech #9 couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Maybe the Drone missed her after all. Pollination Tech #9 wasn’t sure if he did.



The Queen was buried next to her ancestors at the local graveyard. Glarn attended the funeral along with his friend and listened to the Drone’s traditional speech.

“Birth Queen was the earthborn child of Birth Queen and Colony Drone 2121. She created and formed Pollination Technician #9, on whom all hopes of our species rest. As the leader of this colony, she oversaw all activities. Her child having matured and being able to stand on his own, she faded.”

Pollination Tech #9 listened to the speech and wondered. It may have been the traditional passing rite, but everything about it was just… wrong. This wasn’t who the Queen had been. There had to have been more about her life than just this short list.

Was there?



“She didn’t fade.”

It was Pollination Tech #9 who broke the silence that evening.

“I know about fading. It’s a graceful and voluntary act, where the elder has finished all their life’s work and leaves everything behind in order to make space for their offspring. It’s not passing out in a puddle of your own vomit. So why do we say that she faded?”

He almost wanted to take those words back when he saw the pained expression flicker across the Drone’s face. But it was only for a second before the Drone returned to his usual serene mood.

“How do you know that this wasn’t her way to fade?”, the Drone asked calmly.

“Because she’s been drinking herself to death since I can remember.” Having started once, he didn’t feel like he could stop. “Because it only got worse with each year. Because she didn’t raise me or form me or anything. Because she didn’t oversee our colony. You did all this. So why…?”

“Why did I say all those things at her funeral?” Still calm. Nothing could disturb the Drone’s perfect calmness.

He nodded.

“Because that is how I wished for her to be remembered.”

And there was nothing he could say against this.



He spent the next weeks reading all of his mother’s log entries. He learned of her feelings about the colony. Her increasing frustrations about being bound to the traditions of a planet she had never seen. And he felt like he understood her more now than he ever had when she was alive.



Like his mother, P.T. wasn’t happy with the life that had been planned for him either. The more he learned about Earth culture, the more he wanted to be a part of it. He wanted to be one of them. He wanted to live like them, instead of in a breeding pot. And most of all, he wanted a family just like they had.

After he had finished going through his mother’s log entries, P.T. had come to a decision.



“I wish to go to University, Drone. I feel that it will help me learn more about this planet’s culture. And I will meet new people, which will help me to find possible targets for hybrid creation. What do you think?”

The Drone looked calmly at P.T. “If you wish to know my opinion, I consider it an excellent idea for the reasons that you just mentioned. But even if I didn’t, my opinion is unimportant. You know as well as I do that you are my superior, as well as our colony’s current leader. It is up to you to make that decision.”

P.T. sighed.

“Now, you have already grown out your hair, which will make it easier for you to fit in. You will also need a last name. I hear that ‘Smith’ is one of the most common human last names.”

“’Pollination Tech #9 Smith’? Sure, why not.”

The Drone stopped eating and looked P.T. straight in the eye. “Which brings me to another point that needs to be clarified. What are your plans for me?”

“Plans? I… didn’t really think of any…” P.T. stopped as he realized what the Drone was talking about. ‘No… Please no…’

“Does that mean you do not require my services any longer?” The Drone’s expression never changed. “In that case, I assume my role has been played out. I will...”

“No!” P.T. jumped up and grabbed his father’s shoulders. “I still need you! I wasn’t thinking! You can’t just go and…” Fade… He didn’t even want to say it. He didn’t want to be in this situation. He didn’t want to sit here, at dinner, and calmly discuss his father’s death.

The Drone removed P.T.’s hands. “While you are still in school, I will take care of the house as usual. But you will move away to University soon. What then?”

“You’ll still take care of the house! I’ll come back, you’ll see! And I’ll need you!”

“Fine.” The Drone continued eating. “If that is what you wish, I will delay my Fading.”

“Please do.” P.T. whispered, hands still shaking. He couldn’t bear to lose his father too. Not so soon.


Poor Queen... But in the end, she might have influenced P.T. more than she thought.

Next up: College is crazy!