Chapter One-Hundred and Thirty-Seven: Planning to Nest

"What do you mean, speak? Like, ask you where the bathroom is?" Tom asked.

Drake gave him a side-eye.

"What? It's a serious question. Even I can ask where the bathroom is in a few different languages," Tom said incredulously.

"No, I mean that he fully understood what I was saying and even responded to me. He said some very concerning things, but most of all he was actually intelligent. At least enough to gather an army," Drake explained, "Honestly he wasn't the strongest thing I've fought. The Generals and the Royal Knights were much stronger. But he was apparently the most intelligent if he was able to control them, or perhaps sly is a better word. But my point is if that worthless piece of shit can do it. What do you think ants are going to be able to do if they increase in strength and intelligence?" Drake asked.

"Oh.. That's pretty concerning, now that you mention it, bro," Bjorn said, nodding in agreement.

"I don't get it," Jacqueline said speaking up.

Bjorn leaned back off the tent pole he was resting on, "Regular ants already have a hierarchy. Or a command structure. Queen at the top, everyone else below and protects the queen," Bjorn explained, "If they have increased in enough intelligence that means that their Hive could expand and grow exponentially. Normally ants communicate through pheromones. But if they can now use speech, or whatever else the system is able to offer the monsters, it could mean something far more devastating… Just think of how large a Hive was from Earth before the system."

Some of the group's faces paled.

"We aren't certain it's going to be that large, but Bear's right. That's why I want to make sure of it by scouting ahead myself. And make sure that everyone who is willing to come along is going in confidence that it is life and death at all times. This isn't the same as when we were held up behind the safe walls of the outpost. This is nit and grit, taking the fight to them for our own profit. Anyone who is coming needs to know that," Drake said firmly.

Bjorn walked forward, "You already know I'm coming. Things seem to have settled down around here so I think it's time to move on anyway."

"Then I'm coming too," Chelsea said without hesitation.

Wow, she jumped ship Drake pretty quickly…. Well, at least she isn't trying to sneak into my tent anymore. Drake scoffed.

"I'm going to be going as well," Julia said from her seat next to Megan and Jacqueline.

Megan looked over as if she had bitten on something sour but raised her hand after some hesitation, "I'll be going as well, I can't let them go with you without supervision."

"What are you the camp mom now or something?" Drake laughed, finding her excuse rather childish, "If you want to come to make sure your friends are safe you should just say so," he scoffed.

Megan crossed her arms, scoffing as she turned her head.

"Right, anyone else? I would like to make Amir and Hudson join at the very least, you are both valuable classes that need to be nurtured after all," Drake said turning to the pair.

"I ain't no fucking child, pup. Don't need none of your 'nurturing' bullshit. We ain't got much to do here but wait anyway, And I said I was coming a while ago, no sense in going back on my word now," Hudson said grumpily.

"I as well agreed to follow you, Sir Shot. And I intend to do just that. After everything you have done to keep us protected it just wouldn't feel right to stop here," Amir added, giving a wary smile.

Drake smiled back, "It's ok to be nervous about it. I may have said I don't know if I can protect everyone. But that doesn't mean I won't die trying. Everyone here is family to me. We've been through more in these past months than most in a lifetime. So yes, even you Jacqueline, I will protect with my life," Drake teased.

"Up yours, bloody asshole…." Jacqueline sneered.

"Never lose that girlish charm," Drake laughed, looking to the others of the group, "Tom, Sherry, Harley, Jacqueline?"

"I'm going wherever you go dude, I need that food…" Sherry answered lazily, her hand going to her stomach.

"Can't say that wasn't expected… Ok, the rest of you?" Drake asked again.

"I will go anywhere my love goes. So I am coming as well Mr. Shot," Harley said, squeezing Theodore's arm.

Drake looked at Jacqueline.

"Are you mad? I ain't going nowhere near a ting like ravaging smart bugs by the tens of thousands! Count me out, I'll sit my pretty dark ass right here and wait," she scoffed.

Drake smirked, "Ok you stay here alone then. You can cozy up to little Shigure. The same guy who doesn't like me, or anyone who associates with me. Who also had most of the people around him turn on him, forcing me to kill them. I'm sure it will be a great sixty days for you," Drake explained, keeping his smirk.

"Yeah but you already set him straight didn't you?" Jacqueline asked, her face beginning to sweat.

Drake shrugged, "He's young, who knows."

"That's just bloody great innit? And you said I had a choice!"

"You do have a choice. But there's only one good one," Drake laughed.

"Fine! I fucking better not die! Or I swear to god I'm going to shove my mace so far up your ass, it'll make you look like a bloody sock puppet!"

Drake laughed, looking at Tom now.

"Well?" Drake asked.

"Do I have to?" Tom asked.

"No, but you're going to be alone if you don't come," Drake admitted.

"But I hate bugs man…."

"No one said you had to go into the nest. We will probably set up outside after we clear out some space. I need you to protect the base of operations anyway."

"Do I get some of the loot?" Tom asked curiously.

"Yeah, sure. I'm sure there will be something for everyone, don't see why not," Drake answered.

"Alright, I'm in then. I've seen how the people in the Outpost look at us anyway."

"Tom, we all look at you that way," Jacqueline added.

"Yeah, but at least I know you all, so it isn't as bad," Tom explained.

"That's kinda sad I'm not even ganna lie Tom… But at least you're making progress, that's all I can ask. And don't mind Jacqueline, she only teases you because she thinks you're cute," Drake said winking.

"You're off your rocker!" Jacqueline screamed.

"Why so defensive? It was only a joke… Unless?" Drake mused wiggling his eyebrows.

"I lied! Come here asshole, I need a cozy place for my mace!" Jacqueline roared.

"Now, now…." Drake laughed, letting her hit him. Her strength wasn't even enough to even scratch his defenses.

Eventually, Jacqueline gave up and Drake had finished asking everyone. He clapped his hands together, "Alright now that this is over, let's get to cooking, which I also don't understand what you need me for. Don't some of you have a cooking profession by now?"

"We do," Chelsea said, standing up as well, "But you just make better food. It's weird and unfair really."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Even the exhausted Jacqueline.

"That's kind of endearing… But please cook yourselves…." Drake said slumping forward.

"But we like your cooking Mr. Shot, that should be a really big compliment. Your food is even better than the system recipes, even if they don't give the same buffs," Harley added.

"I appreciate the compliment. But I do have other things to do…" Drake said grumbling, but still broke a grin.

Drake was about to walk off to help with the cooking even after complaining, but Claire was staying behind and unusually quiet. He turned back and walked over to her.

"What's up?" he asked.

"You didn't even ask me…" she mumbled.

"Huh?" Drake said.

"You didn't ask me to even come!" Claire said, raising her voice slightly.

"What? Of course, I didn't," Drake said matter-of-factly.

"Why? Are you just going to leave me here alone?!" she asked, concerned.

"No," Drake said, "I don't need to ask, if I'm going you're going. I told you not to leave my sight, it's the only way I can keep an eye on you," Drake grinned, "So of course you're coming. Where I go, you go."

Drake gave a goofy smile pulling Claire into him, his arms around her in front of everyone. Her face lighting up like a Christmas tree.

"Ew, get a room!" Jacqueline shouted.

"Go talk to Tom, Jacqueline," Drake jabbed back.

"Fuck you!"

Drake snickered, letting go of Claire as she stepped back a bit, her face a deep shade of red.

"What, don't tell me you don't want to come?" Drake asked leadingly.

"S-shut up… I'm going…" Claire mumbled.

"Good girl," Drake smiled, giving her a pat on the head, then extended his hand, "Let's go then, got food to cook and all that."

Claire nodded but continued to look at the very interesting ground.

"Hmm, we should really get some aprons… Love a girl in an apron… Well, only if the apron is the o-" Drake thought aloud, but was cut off by a surprisingly strong grip around his hand.

Looking back he saw Claire's face smiling, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

"What? I was going to say you would look good in an apron. Naked aprons are one of the things on my bucket list."

"I will not wear something like that!" she said firmly.

"We'll see," Drake smirked.

"I said no!" Claire shouted, running past Drake towards the table, and finding a spot next to Harley.

"She is going to dump you before you ever start actually dating you know," Natto snickered.

Maybe. But it's better if she knows about how weird I really am if she wants to actually date me. Drake chuckled.

The rest of the night went relatively normal. Food, jokes, laughs, and of course, making fun of Jacqueline and Tom.

Everyone turned in early because tomorrow would be the day the scouting of the Ant's nest would begin.

Theodore, Drake, Bjorn, and Chelsea were going to be surveying the area. They would not only have to find the nest and make sure it lined up with the Map Drake had, but also find an entrance if that was the case.

Once they had done that, next would come fixing the food shortage problem.

Drake had a few theories on why the food was so scarce, and many of them connected with the ants. And if he was correct, he could kill two birds with one stone.

The morning came quickly, and Drake had decided to actually sleep the night away as he had been up for longer than a week now without it, hammering away at the crafting quest, then the subsequent necklace that dangled from his neck.

He stretched as he saw the light bleed through the tent canvas, doing his best not to wake the snoring and drooling Natto, who had decided to occupy the pillow next to him.

"If only she could always be this quiet…" Drake thought aloud, going for the tent entrance.

Opening the canvas so he could walk through, the sun blinded him momentarily, forcing him to shield his eyes.

Once he wasn't star-struck, he took in a deep breath, ready to start the long day.

"First, a chat with Mr. Teen Angst."