Forest Guardians Chronicles: A Matter of Humanity Beth Roose (good books for high schoolers TXT) 📖

back to the hive.” She swooped to Morgan’s level, within an inch of his face, “You will find that power stone that we spoke about. If not...you know what will happen to you. Do not fail me, Morgan. Understood?” The fierce queen bee flew backwards, still facing Morgan, and stopped just short of a window that was open. Morgan, trembling with fear, exclaimed “Wait my Queen! We need to discuss plans further!” The Hornet Queen screamed in a loud and piercing voice “NO! You will find the stone. Nothing further to discuss. If you do not deliver, you will experience the most painful thing in the world: hundreds of stings from my drones and myself! You will DIE!” Morgan looked mortified. Sliding his shaking hands in his pockets to hide his fear, Morgan peered up at the Queen and replied, “Yes, my Queen. Your wish is my command.” The Hornet Queen turned to fly out the window, but stopped and turned to the frightened scientist one last time. Pursing her lips, she requested, “I want the formula you used to restore my life after the Pukwudgie struck me with his poisoned flaming arrow. Two of my drones are sick from the same poison.” Morgan, fearful that he might be too late, replied, “My Queen, you will need to bring them here to my lab where I can formulate how much of the serum to administer safely. I will be back after dusk this evening, so we will not be seen by the Pukwudgie or the Hairy people of the forest.” The Queen, while rubbing her index finger and thumb down her chin, contemplated what Morgan said. Finally, she demanded, “BE HERE!” She turned and flew out the window, into the darkness, leaving a trembling Morgan in her path.

Morgan shook his head back and forth “what have I done Lord, what have I done?” He buried his head on his arm and as he looked up, he observed the multicolored fluid filled bottles surrounding him. He refocused his eyes once again on the Crisper Splicing Microscope. He moved his chair closer to the Crisper, inhaled deeply, and reached to his right for a box of slides pulling out a slide marked with an orange tab. As he placed the slide in the Crisper Splicing Microscope, he thought to himself I must find the DNA sequence to splice the right genes together. He then pressed his forehead against the visual activator to look at the slide. He used vocal commands to enlarge the visual output of the Crisper.  With a loud gasp, he pushed back from the Crisper.  Morgan leaned his forehead back into the visual plate for another look and sat looking intensely for about a minute and pressed his back into his chair again. He found himself looking up in the air for a second, looking over his shoulder toward the window. A silent buzz filled the night sky. They are coming, he thought to himself. Surely enough, as he listened closer and squinted his eyes out of his window into the night sky, Morgan saw an oncoming attack: The Hornet Queens and her drones.

The Hornet Queen and her drones stormed in a rage through the window as Morgan stumbled to stand. “One of my drones died no thanks to you, human!” she exclaimed. “My Queen, I am so sorry,” Morgan stuttered while assessing the drones behind the enraged queen hornet. Morgan spotted a drone that looked quite unwell. Morgan peered at the drone in a uniquely fragile state and quickly stated, “Please come right here on the table. You do not have much longer until the poison from the arrow takes over. We need to administer the antidote immediately.” The unwell drone flew just above the table and stopped mid flight, looking over his shoulder at the Queen. “Well, what are you waiting for?” the Queen spat angrily. Landing on the table, the drone looked at Morgan, assessing all the uniquely shaped potion bottles filled with multiple colors of fluids, smoke, and foreign species. Morgan noticed the uncertain facial expression of the drone and with a wave of his hand said, “I know this looks scary, but it will be alright, you will be back to feeling yourself in no time!” The irritated Queen rolled her eyes and impatiently tapped her foot and turned to her ill drone.  “You will do what you are told by this human, understand?” The drone nodded his head up and down, confirming that he would follow exact instructions.  The Queen continued: “I will return in one week to check on your progress.” Morgan walked over to the window and said to the Queen, “We will see you in a week. Let’s do the next visit around the same time so as not to draw attention to anyone. Would not want to stir up any trouble!” The Queen pursed her lips and crossed her arms. “I better see improvement. He is my best drone.” Without another word, the Queen flew out the window, disappearing in the night sky, leaving behind her most important asset.

Morgan hastily reached up and pulled the window shut. He turned around and stood looking at the poisoned drone on his table. “Well I guess we should get started. The first thing I will need is some of your saliva to test your DNA. I need to pull some specific information and genetic code before we can begin any treatment. Shall we start with a swab in your mouth?”

The Drone sat in mute, no movement to his being, sitting like a statue on Morgan’s examination table. Morgan approached the table and reached for a tall, clear glass bottle that was filled with long strips of paper. He took off the lid and removed one of the long pieces of paper. Suddenly curious about his surroundings, the statue-like drone asked, “What is that?” Morgan responded to the drone in a very soft and kind voice, thinking it would calm the drone.

“This,” Morgan