Tevun-Krus #98 - BugPunk

Smith & Jones - An Episode by @CarolinaC

Smith & Jones

This Episode broaught to you by CarolinaC

The dusty space had stood empty for months; it was warm there, the air scented delicately of honey. The space hummed as if with the pulse of heavy machinery, far away; for a long time, that was the only sound. 

The air seemed to sizzle as an orange-edged portal opened, and deposited three human figures onto the floor. With a rippling noise, the portal closed again, and the travellers began to sit up.

The three people included two men, and a woman. The man with dark hair and a monocle was named Smith. The man with fair hair and muttonchop whiskers was named Jones. The woman, whose red hair fell below her shoulders, was named Kris. All three found themselves dressed in black-and-yellow striped jumpsuits. Smith and Jones' jumpsuits were full-length, but Kris' ended at her knees, showing off her knee-high boots. 

Kris sniffed the air. "I think I like this place," she said, "It smells like honey."

Jones was already on his feet, fiddling with his cufflinks. "I'm not sure I like it; we appear to be dressed like convicts."

"Perhaps we're here to save someone who's been unjustly imprisoned," Smith offered, tugging on one of his cuffs. "I can't think of any other reason to dress us in these atrocious stripes; horizontal lines are just not flattering."

"Speak for yourself," Kris said, "I look great in everything. Look, how about you two go figure out what our mission is in this story, and I'll go see if I can cash in on my present from Cyber Santa." She waved a small paper ticket in the air. It was labelled as a coupon for free mead. "Anyplace that smells this strongly of honey has got to be a . . . meadery? Is that the word?"

The hum was louder, now.

"I don't think so," said Smith. 

"I believe it is the correct word," Jones replied.

"No, I mean she can't leave," Smith said.

"Ah," said Jones.

Kris gave the two men a jaunty wave, "You'll manage without me, don't worry."

The buzzing of giant machinery grew louder still.

She turned and walked towards an almost-invisible door. It was curved and matched the dusty-grey wall almost exactly. She was about to reach to try to push it open, when the door opened of its own accord.

The three travellers had mere moments to scramble out of the way and across the room as a phalanx of soldiers marched in, each carrying a dull, bronze spear. Colour-wise, the soldiers matched the yellow-and-black outfits of our heroes. However, unlike our heroes, they were not human. They were huge, bipedal insects – giant bees!

Smith's mouth fell open as the bee-soldiers formed a circle around the travellers. They buzzed menacingly, coming closer and closer. 

Kris, however, smiled. She held out her coupon. "Can you possibly get me my free mead?"

Unfortunately, the bees did not take this well. Their buzzing became louder, and they marched our heroes out of the room and into a hexagonal corridor. Every time one of the three travellers paused, a bee took the opportunity to push, jostle, or poke them with a spear, so that they continued forward.

They walked for what felt like a long time; the hexagonal corridors met and diverged and spiraled off into honey-scented darkness. Eventually, the bees marched the travellers though yet another hexagonal archway, and into a tall, narrow room.