The Grey Wing habitat welcomed a day of fine weather.
After the long rainy season ended, light pierced through the clouds to blanket the earth, bathing the entire planet in a magnificent vista. Rivers flowed along the great wilderness outside the nest clusters, winding through mountain ranges to converge into an endless expanse of lakes and marshes.
The massive, towering nest zones had shed their primitive forms, appearing more like silent mountains. The docking rails were fully released, and flesh-and-blood weapons opened their eyes, watching over the cradled planet with the highest specifications of defensive mechanisms.
All remaining direct lineages had gathered here, seeking a direction for the future.
Such a scene had not occurred for many great cycles. Every insect was waiting for the commencement of the core conference.
The Flash-pattern species and the Pincer species were the first two to arrive. Their Sub-Kings had received the script in advance; their main purpose on the day of the meeting was to act their parts and play favorites during mediation.
The former had no talent for building houses, but their ability to wag their tongues was overly nimble—they were perfectly suited to be lobbyists.
Meanwhile, in a small nest on the other side of the habitat, Sacdi, who was in no hurry to depart, was still busy with some handiwork.
He draped the garments he had picked out from his trunks onto Gra, looking him over from left to right while never forgetting to offer a commentary: "You look good in anything."
It was a very complex ensemble, one of the results Sacdi had previously asked humans to help procure from the Little Rose Star Sector. Considering the existence of the scaled tail and wings, it was even a modified custom piece.
He knelt on one knee to straighten the hem of the clothes.
Male Zerg did not need to participate in formal occasions, so it was difficult to even find an outer coat suitable for attending a meeting of this level.
To prevent his partner from feeling unnecessary embarrassment, Sacdi had also changed into human-style clothing, a sensation he had not experienced for a long time. It was just a bit tight around the tail.
The male Zerg felt a momentary loss of what to do, attempting to pull his partner up. It was not only because they were both dressed in formal attire he had never seen before, but also because of the other's posture of kneeling on one knee.
"I'll do it myself," he said softly, giving the female Zerg a gentle push. "You don't have to do this."
"Roxanne."
Softly calling the male Zerg's name, Sacdi let out a laugh. "You are too nervous."
"Only those who put on airs care if their knees touch the dust. A powerful person, even if crawling in a quagmire, will not find their speed of rising affected."
"This formal suit is a bit complicated. I simply adopted the most suitable posture for adjusting the clothes; I won't break a fragile, misplaced pride because of it."
There was a gentle smile in his golden-brown eyes as he spoke these jesting words, making the white insect—who had been too nervous to eat or sit still since morning—feel slightly better.
"Kiss me."
When the other finally stood up, Gra couldn't help but plead in a low voice, "Kiss me. My heart is beating faster than usual."
And so, the Core Species pulled his pure white partner into his embrace.
He kissed the other's forehead, then left a tender kiss upon those cold lips.
"Is it still fast?"
He could distinguish the rapid thumping of Gra's heart, but he just couldn't resist teasing the male Zerg.
His gentle voice carried a hint of solemnity, and his lowered eyes did not flinch for anything.
At this moment, Gra finally saw the other's figure gradually overlap with that of the former human Governor. The other was also very handsome—so handsome that his tail wanted to wag uncontrollably. Sacdi did not care for formalities, nor did he care about attending the highest-specification meeting of the core genetic lineages in human attire.
The powerful accepted all affairs in this universe with indifference; they possessed a sense of ease and were never swayed by the emotions of others.
"Even faster now."
Pressing that hand against his chest once more, the powerful and rhythmic vibrations struck Sacdi's palm. Gra did not look like he had completely escaped his nervousness, but he finally revealed a smile. "It's you who made it beat so fast."
"If you say any more sweet nothings, neither of us will be able to hold the meeting today."
The wicked creature who refused to act like a proper person kissed his partner again, stroked the other's swaying little tail, and only then released the insect whose emotions were gradually steadying.
"Let's go. I'll accompany you to seize a chair."
This was no exaggeration.
It wasn't just the Zerg race watching the outcome of this meeting; humans were likewise listening for any rustle in the wind.
"Greedy hearts."
Evelyn had once chuckled because of this.
"You destroyed the Federation, and now you want to personally mold a brand-new Federation. Let me see how long you can keep them suppressed under the reins."
When they walked into the conference nest, most of the insects had already entered in advance.
The entire venue was magnificent and spacious; rather than a nest, it was shaped more like a palace. Unlike the period of territorial expansion when they would squeeze together near the docking rails to hold a seminar anywhere, Clark had provided the most rigorous arrangements this time.
Deep red and black spiral patterns spread from the walls to the vaulted ceiling, and the Armed species standing guard remained silent.
Although in daily life, this group of insects often performed silly maneuvers—like peeking over walls only to be detained—once they entered an operational state, the atmosphere among them was quite chilling.
There were twenty seats; the Grey Wing faction occupied eight.
Aside from Clark and Sacdi as allies, Kleiman and Gra also took their seats. Selin and Xiao from the Energy Star appeared in this venue dominated by direct lineages, replacing the original Sub-Kings.
The Flash-pattern and Pincer species, who had reached a consensus earlier, had long since found seats at the far end.
This was the first time that two male Zerg had appeared simultaneously at a high-level meeting of the core genetic lineages.
Xiao and Selin sat together, looking stiff all over.
The rest of the direct lineages said nothing; the various forms of the swarm were observing and judging.
But the moment he saw Gra, Xiao revealed a smile.
Sacdi had experienced too many similar occasions. Humans pulled and attacked one another, tearing off the skin of sanctimony while hiding filth beneath the sunlight.
Sanctity was non-existent; savagery and ignorance were everywhere.
He walked straight to the seat on Clark's right and sat down, and the male Zerg followed suit.
The Eye of Horus, connected to the Information Nest, watched them like a half-closed eye flickering with light.
Initially, all the Sub-Kings had collectively raised objections to this practice, but Sacdi insisted on disclosing parts of the meeting's details.
"You wanted the Grey Wings to initiate a collective meeting; this is the Grey Wing way."
"Let us begin."
The deep black Core Species sitting in the central position smiled.
There was little emotion in his golden-brown pupils; arrogance and greed were the underlying colors of his soul, while morality and law served as the shackles that caged the beast.
"The entire meeting will be recorded by the Great Information Nest. The contents of the meeting, excluding topics related to the core keys, will be made public after a delay."
The Zerg did not care for red tape; their meetings, regardless of scale, always went straight to the point.
"The first five of the seven agenda items do not involve confidentiality agreements."
Gra did not reach for his partner's hand.
In such a setting, he restrained his fear of the unknown and completely let go of the arm that had always held him steady.
He no longer trembled.
*********
The planet awakening from the rain displayed a vitality rarely seen in the territories of other core genetic lineages.
The males working in the Great Information Nest appeared more worried than usual. Even En, who usually never let any trash into his heart, showed a certain degree of anxiety.
Only Liber had not yet reached the age of many troubles. The silver-grey larva ran outside the nest, found a patch of flat ground, and tried to dig into the soil.
The few male Zerg looking after him during their work breaks stayed not far away, listening to some looped recordings through information connectors.
The adult insects whispered in small groups from time to time, their expressions alternating between unease and apprehension; they would even hold their breath and flick their tails uncontrollably.
The larva tried to listen, but he didn't understand.
He heard the familiar voice of Roxanne; that gentle yet powerful, clear pronunciation made him joyful.
In fact, the larva was confused. He thought the silver-grey adult female and the other young insect without wings or a tail were his new kin—they had given him a name and shared a similar appearance with him. But at other times, he felt that Roxanne and that black female who liked to scare him were also very much like his kin.
And the familiar voice continued.
"...Just as we have determined that the cooperative relationship with humans is indispensable for the future development of the swarm, the different core genetic lineages must jointly bear responsibility and play a management role regarding the development of the race and the threats faced by the security of corresponding fields..."
"...We must strive to keep our race members free from the calamities of war, no longer repeatedly enduring the harms of war within and between lineages. In the past great cycle, more than five thousand male Zerg and larvae perished in the Fourth Quadrant, most of whom were slaughtered by internal members represented by the Sub-Kings of the Pincer species. In this regard, we have noted the report from the Great Information Nest management group, and hereby introduce Agenda Item Two, the 'Greta Act.' We ask the assembly to swiftly deliberate on its various recommendations and call upon all participating members to consider signing and ratifying the relevant documents..."
Language that was too obscure was still premature for the larva, and this excerpted recording also had a certain delay; at this moment, the first round of the collective meeting had likely just ended.
But Liber clearly heard the name of his former nurturer.
So he hopped and ran closer, burrowing into the embrace of those male Zerg.
"Greta!"
He said loudly. The powerful silver-grey female had told him before that they would slowly search for his former lost companions, and that one day in the future, they would meet again.
The insect who caught him did not speak, holding the larva—who was covered in dirt like a happy puppy—in his arms.
When Liber looked up, he saw a smile that looked like crying.
Kara, who came from the Broad-wing lineage, rarely reminisced about anything related to the hatching nests. They were like greenhouses and seedbeds, pinned to the walls to lay countless eggs. His brothers and companions had nearly all died in that disaster.
His memory protectively chose to seal off this past, leaving only ambiguous, mottled scenes.
But on such a gentle afternoon, amidst the scent of rain and green grass, in the warm light spilling through the leaves, he was awakened because of a male Zerg he had never met and who had almost failed to leave a name behind.
The managers of the Great Information Nest had changed the name of the Energy Star Management Regulations, giving it a mark of a nameless person who had once lived and perished in the war.
It was like a blunt knife, carving off a corner of the towering mountain ridge, trying to grind away the heavy chains bit by bit.
Pain revived in an instant, and stale blood flowed from the reopened wound.
The Broad-wing who had gained self-awareness did not particularly like larvae before this, and was also a bit afraid of things related to insect eggs. But at this moment, he held the soft larva, letting out a wailing sound amidst violent trembling.
Low-to-mid-tier insects did not have tear glands; his tears were invisible and colorless, possessing only a bitter aftertaste.
"No pain, no pain!"
The insect who had not yet reached sub-adulthood grew anxious. He climbed onto the other, using his body to nuzzle the trembling elder, anxiously touching him here and there, his scaled tail making a clattering sound.
Roxanne's voice was very gentle, narrating unhurriedly, giving him a bit of courage to try and alleviate his companion's pain.
The other was unable to shed tears, but the larva, who possessed excellent mimicry, was the first to let tears fall.
"...We hope that every individual can realize their right to development, completely abolish the system of private ownership and trafficking of race members, and keep our species free from want in the future. To this end, we also need to establish a reasonable, orderly multi-party trade system based on the principle of fairness, to further expand the content of trade with humans..."
Other male Zerg also gathered around, pressing against Kara, gently stroking his body and back, bringing silent comfort.
This playback of the recording brought them the same feelings of bewilderment and apprehension.
For a moment, they envied the managers of the Great Information Nest, fantasizing that one day they too could walk in the abundant sunlight and loudly speak the same words.
And in other moments, they were saddened by the silent deaths and the act named after a strange name. It was the epitome of all the weak who had died in the war.
A small circle of insects curled together, emitting thin buzzes like tiny sobs.
The larva, tired from crying, was prone to sleepiness. He fell asleep among many arms, still tightly clutching the tip of his own tail with one hand and the Broad-wing's finger with the other.
They were born on a winter night and were about to walk into a spring dawn.
In such warmth, under the shade of the trees, a pair of hands reached out, gently taking the larva whose face bore tear stains.
"How did he fall asleep crying?"
The soft laughter was gentle and soothing, like the wind blowing through green leaves and floating ice.
The white male Zerg held the silver-grey larva in his arms, slowly rocking him.
His partner stood aside, stopping the recording that was still repeating the meeting's contents. They had just finished the first round of the collective meeting of the core genetic lineages, putting the formation of the alliance and the implementation of the act on the right track.
This new attempt did not align with the nature of the Zerg; the participating direct lineages had engaged in fierce arguments over it.
But under the influence of war casualties and the yearly decline in the genetic grade of offspring, the first round of voting for the "Greta Act" barely passed with a slim majority.
The progress of the human trade zones and the access permissions for the Great Information Nest could serve as sufficiently solid bait; no matter how many rounds of convoluted negotiations occurred, they could not stop the arrival of a new day.
Gra touched the little male Zerg's cheek, wiping away the somewhat cool tears.
The other would never see his former nurturer again, but by the time this larva—who had become lively and healthy—grew up, every insect would hear the names of those nameless ones.
They would eventually meet again in another form.
"It will get better."
Sacdi said, shrouding his other half under his wings and embracing his slightly weary beloved.
"There are too many difficult, muddy paths in this world. The former me, and the current us, have finally walked through them."
"Everything will be better than today, better than yesterday, and better than the days before yesterday."
Gra, who had exhausted too much energy, gave the weight of his body to the Core Species, leaning completely into the other's embrace.
His scaled tail was gently coiled; Sacdi's voice, temperature, and scent made him feel relaxed and happy.
The male Zerg remembered words he had seen long ago.
—To walk together with this world of suffering; among the fleeting stars, the waves of the sky also bow their heads, like pale rivers surging in winter.
However, his steps had unknowingly ceased to be heavy, as if he could be light enough to run, as if he could touch the low-hanging sky.
His partner with the golden-brown eyes held him in his arms, softly murmuring his name.
On a gentle spring day, he heard the other's voice.
"You have made of this world a path of fragrant grass."
"Roxanne."
-------END-------
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 格雷塔法案 | Greta Act | A legislative act named after the nurturer Greta to protect male Zerg and larvae. |
| 发展权 | Right to development | A concept introduced in the meeting regarding individual growth. |
| 私有与贩卖制度 | System of private ownership and trafficking | The practice of treating Zerg (especially males) as property. |
| 荷鲁斯之眼 | Eye of Horus | A device or interface connected to the Great Information Nest. |
| 亚王虫 | Sub-King | High-ranking Zerg leaders below the main King/Core level. |
| 闪纹种 | Flash-pattern species | A specific lineage of Zerg known for their patterns and lobbying skills. |
| 鳌种 | Pincer species | A specific lineage of Zerg. |
| 武装种 | Armed species | A Zerg lineage specialized in combat and guarding. |
| 阔翅 | Broad-wing | A lineage of male Zerg, including the character Kara. |
