Spider-Bots Rising

Chapter Twenty-Four: Queen Arachni

They had no time to wait around for the bots to complete their reboot. They weren't sure they would want too, anyway. It was true that the spider-bots had been under some kind of mind-control for most of the evil deeds they had done lately. But even at the best of times, they weren't the friendliest of creatures.

The Dreamseeker, Abby, Nigel, and Chuck turned away from the lifeless swarm of spider-bots. They had two final goals now: find Queen Arachni, and take her down.

Without speaking, they all began walking in the same direction. In the very center of the orb, there was one more point of light. A glowing mass which stood out among the sea of darkness. They knew they would find her there.

Their footsteps echoed coldly as they walked. The Dreamseeker looked around at the inside of the dome. This was The Net, the great Dark Web they had been searching for. Now that she had time to notice, it wasn't what she expected. The outside of the orb was so bright and full of energy. With all of that data woven together, she thought the inside would be chock-full of brilliant wonders. But in reality it was just dark, and cold, and empty. Blank, staring screens sat here and there. Wispy cobwebs spun from the green strands flickered in corners. It felt like walking through an old abandoned warehouse.

At last they neared the Web's center. The Dreamseeker felt every hair on her body stand on end.

Several strange machines were arranged in a wide ring. Some of them looked like telescopes set atop four spider-like legs. Their dark, glassy lenses locked onto the Dreamseeker and the others as they came closer. Other machines held raised, flat monitors which tilted gently, this way and that. Their screens flashed the same large green word over and over again: "READY," "READY," "READY."

Right in the middle of it all was a small tower. It rose at least 10 feet in the air and was made entirely of flashing screens. A veil of green webbing clung to its sides, stretching off into the shadows at the bottom. The screens flickered and hummed on all sides.

At the very top, a dark figure was outlined against the green glow of the tower. It was an enormous, fat spider-bot. The largest one they had seen yet. Queen Arachni.

She turned slowly to face them, her powerful jointed legs clutching the tower. The back section of her body was one huge glass tank. It was round and hung low behind her. It was filled to the top with swirling, golden imaginanium. She peered down at them.

"Welcome, Dreamseeker and friends," she said. Her voice was low and surprisingly smooth. It didn't sound robotic, but full of life. Her three rows of beady, acid green eyes shone brightly. She clenched her thick pincers together with a sound like a heavy metal door slamming shut.

"You still have time to stop this, Arachni," the Dreamseeker said coolly. She didn't yell or call out. Even though the Queen sat high on top of the tower, the Dreamseeker knew her voice could be heard in the silence. "You can take all this down, or we can take you down. You've seen what happened to your bot army."

"Dear me, yes I have," Queen Arachni said. There was a hint of cruel laughter in her voice. "It is a shame, isn't it, the poor little things. But they were built to serve me, their queen. And that's what they've done. It's no longer any matter to me if they live or die."

"So none of this was ever about the spider-bots ruling the Dreamscape. It was only about you ruling it. All of this, the entire Dark Web, it's all just for you? But why would you want that? What's the point of being the queen of a whole realm of mindless zombies?"

"Oh, idiot child," she said, sighing deeply. "It is sweet to see you trying so very hard at thinking. But sadly, your human mind is so small and limited. The 'point' as you say, is not just to rule over the Dreamscape, no. My reach will be much farther than that. I will rule over the Dreamscape, and every revery within it, so that I may rule over the Waking World. The world of real, breathing humans, awake and living their lives. They are the real prize. That is the true kingdom I shall rule over. After all, what better way to control a person than by controlling the very things they dream of?"

The Dreamseeker was stunned. She had never considered this. Queen Arachni was going after the minds of the Waking World? No! She had to be stopped! This all had to stop right now.

"You'll never be able to do it!" the Dreamseeker said boldly, stepping forward. "You'll never be able to win their minds, and you don't even know why! There are forces out there stronger than your Dark Web. Much stronger. A mind that truly thinks for itself cannot be controlled. A person that believes in themself and who they are can never have their dreams stolen away from them. We are all a bunch of weirdos, and we're proud of it! We got this far, and we are not afraid of you."

The Dreamseeker saw the others step forward beside her. Queen Arachni leaned down towards them, her head impossibly large.

"Yes, you have gotten this far," she said, her voice almost a purr. "But you do know what spiders do, don't you?" The Dreamseeker could feel the insides of her ears vibrate. Her whole body was tensed and ready. It was almost time. "They lure little flies into their pretty webs." Queen Arachni snapped her giant golden pincers together. "And then they eat them."

And the battle for the fate of the Dreamscape began.