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Everything, everyone fell silent upon Kyrbri meeting the floor.  It all seemed to happen in slow motion right before both myself and the other drones looking on just past the strange, colorless barrier closing them off from the chamber.  Before the fallen queen had a chance to react, Aten was there, looming over Kyrbri like horror personified.  A foot was raised and quickly, firmly planted upon Kyrbri's throat as Aten stood up, head high, greeting Kyrbri's position with nothing more than a simple look of disdain.  Kyrbri could do nothing but feebly attempt to push Aten's foot off her windpipe, but Aten held strong and refused to budge. <"Call it,"> Aten said flatly. Kyrbri would only respond with a growl, pushing harder and digging her claws deeper into Aten's leg.  I poked my head around from far behind them so I could get a better look of what was going on.  Perhaps Kyrbri saw my shifting since she started trying to swipe her tail toward both Aten and I, but Aten scooped up and restrained her tail with her own.  At that angle she was not able to free her tail, and while it could still be moved it was not able to reach very far. <"Call your defeat,"> Aten spoke up again. <"Aten, why do this?"> Kyrbri sputtered.  <"What do you stand to gain from coming here and taking what is mine?"> <"A more restful sleep at night,"> Aten replied. Kyrbri did not seem to like that answer given the irritated hiss she retorted with. <"If you truly think that you own the lives of more than just yourself, that alone is reason enough for me to come here,"> Aten followed up. <"And who is to say that once I return to my feet I will not come after you?"> snapped Kyrbri. Aten tighted her foot's grip around Kyrbri's throat, causing her to cough and wheeze. <"Call it a hunch,"> said Aten, bluntly. I could hear resuming whispers behind me of possibilities, of fears and concerns, even some of hope and change for the better.  Maybe this was not such a bad thing, maybe there really was greener grass elsewhere...or grass at all.  A couple remarks picked up about our appearances, how we looked healthy and cared for.  From one hushed voice of hope came several more of a similar nature. <"Aten, we both know that you do not have it in you to kill anyone--"> Kyrbri hacked and coughed, <"--even me."> Aten stood in silence and pondered those words for a moment.  Though the drones behind me heard what was said, their little discussions still carried on unfettered and without pause. <"You are correct, I cannot find it within me to kill another,"> Aten conceded. Even I cocked my head at that one, given the current situation.  Kyrbri managed a sly, malevolent grin from those words. <"...But I can and will certainly protect these people from the harm you feel so compelled to inflict,"> Aten continued.  <"I will do so until you concede, either with your words or with your life."> The grin melted back into the stare of anger, but gave away a strange hint of fear. <"People?  You call them people?"> Kyrbri mocked.  <"They are drones, Aten!  Their purpose is to work and serve!  They are nothing but servants we happen to manufacture!  Do you not remember anything from before?"> One last quick squeeze of Aten's foot left Kyrbri a hissing, spitting mess on the floor, barely able to articulate a word. <"I remember everything from before, Kyrbri.  You say that they are not people, yet in reality it is you who has forfeited their humanity."> Aten let Kyrbri gasp for air on the floor for a few long seconds before repeating her request. <"Call it.  This is the last chance I will give you."> Whether it was the stare of daggers plastered across Aten's face or the unrelenting grip of her foot, Kyrbri finally conceded with a few taps of a hand upon the floor.  I was actually quite surprised to see Kyrbri accept defeat.  Maybe even she, in her terrible state, knew that pushing further was a lost cause.  Aten loosened her grip just enough to let Kyrbri speak. <"...I concede."> <"Louder,"> urged Aten.  <"Make sure they can hear you."> <"I concede!"> Kyrbri managed to shout. The whispers immediately ceased, all eyes focused now Aten and their fallen queen. <"Now tell them the terms upon which you have agreed."> <"...I relinquish this property, and its inhabitants, to the victor above me."> Word spread quickly from the chamber to the onlookers outside, to the bridge where most gathered, and yelled to those across and below.  Few if any had much of a reaction to offer given how sudden everything had been, now wondering the same things those nearest were discussing.  The colony here was fairly small so the gossip reached all of them in impressive time. Around me I could feel a breeze, but could not see anything moving outside.  I looked back toward Aten and Kyrbri still holding their positions. <"I have no issue with letting you live, Kyrbri, but it will not be here."> With those words the breeze turned into a mighty gale, somehow forcing a hole into the wall beside them, leading back outside.  Kyrbri jumped, unsure of what just happened, knowing only that Aten was somehow responsible for what had just taken place. <"However, I do not trust you not to do something stupid upon your exit, so I have prepared for you a different route."> Aten used her foot to push her sister toward the new opening, taking steps to block her from attempting to retaliate and grasping her tail so it could not be used. <"You may leave through here,"> Aten pushed and urged, blocking the adverse path.  <"Should you try anything unsavory, I will not hesitate to take much more drastic measures.  I highly recommend you not try my patience."> Another gust of wind was all it took to convince Kyrbri, who then crawled through the hole and scurried as fast as she could down the tree.  I took up a brisk pace to peek out through the opening to watch her departure.  Upon meeting the ground below she took one last look back up at us, her expression a mix of confusion, anger, and unease.  Aten only looked down toward her, expression and stance unwavering as Kyrbri turned back around, fleeing north. Aten continued to watch until she was almost out of sight before turning around and walking to the proper entrance, the barrier dissipating as she walked through.  The drones waiting on the platform quickly scrambled a little farther down the bridge to make way for this strange new queen, behind which I stood.  All eyes were on us, especially her, as she looked over and surveyed the area and the little faces staring back up at her.  A moment later, when everything returned to silence, she spoke loud and clear. <"Any who wish to follow their former queen may do so.  You will be given a free pass, without any hesitation, to leave these grounds unjudged and unharmed."> Some of her high-rankers quickly defected, running north after Kyrbri without a word.  I think the both of us expected that much. <"Any of you who would like to leave for any other reason may do so.  I will not stop you, neither will anyone else."> This time nobody left, but Aten still allowed a short time for any considerations needing to be made. <"For those who still remain: I exercise no dominion or control over you.  By remaining, you do so because you elect to, not because you are being forced to.  I have not, and will not, do any such thing.  Do you understand?"> The other drones looked at Aten, then to each other, then back to Aten.  Though initially with hesitation, they nodded.  Slowly but surely the reality of the situation settled in their heads and I could see it as it did, faces of tension turning to relief, to wonder, some even to exhaustion. <"From this day forward, you are free."> --- Please consider supporting me on Patreon if you like my work: https://www.patreon.com/ratte I also take ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/ratteart Patrons can access a couple alt versions here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/liberation-alt-16648925 The more I can get per month, the more time I can dedicate to making work like this. Thank you for your kindness.

Thank you for your kindness.

-Aten

-Aten

-Sagis

-Sagis