Mother of the Other Species

Even many years later, Lin Xi still dreams. In those dreams he remains an ordinary person; his companions are alive and untransformed. The Sun God Ship never had a positioning error, no failed jumps, lost its coordinates, or crash‑landed on that mysterious planet.

Yet when he opens his eyes to the massive beings that circle him—deep‑red eyes, terrifying wings, jointed limbs—along with the thick pheromones swirling, Lin Xi awakens. His dream will always be a dream. His reality will forever remain cruel as before.

He has long ceased to be human. He is their progenitor, the queen of the insects, the mother of the mutants. He is also his sole, eternal love.

Shavile smiles, rubbing his pterospheres, and says to Lin Xi, 'You must know you can never become that person; you are only…'

Lin Xi replies, 'I am just a bug cloaked in his skin, dear. I know what you’ll say. But what does it matter? Aside from me, you have no other choice in this star system.'

Shavile continues, 'You could choose to birth another king‑bug… hiss… but even then, you still need to stay with me, right?'

Alien‑planet version of Robinson Crusoe. Outside humanity. Insect tribes roam.

Attack—not human; no need to think. This piece will also be liberating.

Content tags: horror, interstellar, future alternate. Keywords: protagonist Lin Xi, "No.1"; supporting Blake, Elisa; others: insect race.