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Supervisor Silverclaw
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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 3:59:23 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 3:59:23 GMT

If this is what a man is supposed to be like, then I want no part of it.

Our pride was always a warrior culture. To be a man, they said, was to be willing to sacrifice anything in the heat of battle for victory. And there was my brother Teoz, dead in front of my very eyes to prove that I was a man.

As the elders began to walk into the torch-laden circle that had been used as a makeshift cage for this fight I wanted no part of, they started to clap their hands and applaud me for what I’d done.

“Congratulations Grexes.” Elder Xyro calmly greeted me. “You have now ascended past childhood and may become one of the men. I’ll admit, I’m surprised.”

I looked down at my hands, stained in the blood of my brother, and almost gagged at the thought. To be ready for war is one thing. But there was no excuse for this. Teoz was more than my brother. He was the only person I knew who accepted me for who I was. I was not a warrior. I was a curator of pasts long forgotten by our people in favour of savagery and butchery. And these people had taken the one person that cared.

Luckily, I had one last trick up my sleeve. Something I hadn’t used in the fight. What they saw as foolishness would be the end of their tradition of death. I started to step back, drawing power that I had spent years perfecting in secret. It started to bubble to the surface as my hairs began to stand up on my neck and I could feel a familiar tingle run down my spine. This was the way of the old ones. I spoke as a white ball made from pure energy began to coalesce in my right hand.

“So that may be - but in order to do so, you pitted me against my own flesh and blood. What happened here today is not something I will ever abide by. This isn’t a ritual, this is fratricide. I reject your offer.” As I finished speaking, I directed the magic I had conjured forwards.
It missed Xyro, but hit Teos. Just as intended. This would bring my brother back from his demise.

But just as he began to gasp for air, Xyro took his longspear and shoved it inside my brother’s body. “You didn’t really think this would work, would you?” He spoke with menacing laughter as he continued. “It was simple really - I figured that by getting rid of the one person who deemed your silly games as worthwhile, you’d be willing to take up arms, like everyone else. But sometimes, sacrifice doesn’t turn out the way you intend. Regardless, by rejecting the call to arms, you also reject your right to live.” Without even needing to aim, Elder Xyro threw his longspear at me, missing my body barely but pinning me to the ground through my clothes. I struggled to break free, but it was no use.

“And now, since you have nowhere to run, I’ll finish you off myself.” He walked forward with graceful ease, not unlike that of a hunter who had cornered his next meal as I struggled mercilessly to remove Xyro’s spear from its hold. I was basically hoping for a miracle to happen as Xyro made it within striking distance, and jumped at me to finish me off in one swipe.

I had one last chance to make this work. Either I free myself from this position or I died with my brother. So I threw everything I had at the spear, barely managing to snap it in half. With desperation flooding through my veins, I swung the spear end in front of me like you would a bat and smacked Xyro in the temple with it, knocking him out temporarily. I used this time to free myself from my prison and ran past the stunned onlookers.

I’m now an exile from my own people. But anything is better than living with the regret I would have had otherwise.

Supervisor Silverclaw
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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 3:59:47 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 3:59:47 GMT

The midsummer air clings to the shirt of an old man inside of a forest, humidity rising even as the sun begins its descent from its highest point. He stands tall with brown hair and eyes, while wearing the fur coat of a deceased bear, holding a giant wooden staff curved at the top with a blue spherical object held taut with rope, vine and wood- Chief Koko of the Shaa’a tribe. He waits in the middle of a clearing, waiting for his greatest warrior to arrive. It’s unlike him to be late. But this matter is urgent, so the chief stays.

Some time passes before the man arrives - even taller than the chief and as strong as an ox, with ginger coloured hair, piercing, magical blue eyes and a body covered with tribal tattoos all add to his unmistakable presence - the man named Shaka Shaa’a kneels before his chief.

“I apologize, chief. I beg for forgiveness.” Shaka’s voice was as booming as one could expect from a man his size.

The chief humbly nods. “I accept your forgiveness, Shaka. I must have called for you at a bad time.”

Shaka stands up - his massive frame and tall stature dwarf that of even chief Koko before speaking to him like an old friend “I’d say it was good timing - I had been asked to give a demonstration.”

Chief Koko nods and smiles before he continues. “It seems that your training is going well, then.” He turns his back before walking to a nearby tree stump and standing atop it. “You know that you are of special descent, Shaka. You are a gifted warrior, and your commune with the spirits has gone well, too. It is time for your final challenge before I can call you my successor.”

The chief slammed his staff onto the ground - it shone with a blue as bright as the clear sky above both of them. “I need you to find another one of these stones. There are many kinds of these stones hidden throughout the world. This one is a sky stone - named for how it shines like a clear sky. Each one is named for a different natural wonder. Its told that the kind of stone you bring back will tell of your rule over the tribe.”

Shaka nodded “I will do my best, chief.”

Supervisor Silverclaw
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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:00:07 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:00:07 GMT

So, you wish for a tale? I have just the one. One that goes mostly untold throughout these parts. History decides the winners, after all. I shall tell you of the story of Svik, the former brains of the Hounds.

Svik was born in a small town in southern Mydith. At an early age, his fast reflexes and faster thinking mind proved himself more than capable a combatant and he quickly rose the ranks in the small town’s police force. That town wasn’t long for the world however, as the town was destroyed by the void lords. Svik survived, but ended up with several nasty scars upon his arrival to a Shyria.

It is here that Svik met with Fenaris, and the two became fast friends. Svik’s tale of his lost village resounded deeply within Fenaris, who had already been considering creating the hounds in the first place. Not too much later, the hounds were formed with Fenaris as their alpha and Svik as their beta.

It is around this time that Svik started his experimentation with void portals. He attempted to figure out how they worked, but more importantly, how they spawned. While he never ended up being very successful in this regard, it never stopped him from trying and he would often be up into the late hours of the night and early morning before going to bed in frustration.

He did, however, have one break through, although it nearly cost him his life. It was in the early afternoon, when a bunch of void energy spurt out from one of his vials he was mixing and managed to somehow grab hold of his arm. It took over half a dozen people to set him free, and another couple of years before he ended up being let out of the nearby hospital, of void poisoning.

His return to the hounds was not pleasant. Someone had decided to go through his things and found within his journal, a promise he had made to the voidlord Yuuto fairly soon before the incident in exchange for knowledge of the void. He was immediately exiled and has not been seen since. Some say he lives in the void now as a servant of Yuuto, while others say he killed himself in an area as of yet undiscovered.

No one really knows.

Supervisor Silverclaw
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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:00:36 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:00:36 GMT

Well, that’s another 5 gold. Time to collect my money and run, I guess. This place won’t call me home, nor will anywhere else. My mind runs back to the incident many years ago, when I was still a youngling, as to why I’ll never be allowed back.

It was a late night and my sister and I were being shown how to guard the town proper while the re of our village was sleeping, as is nature for most strix. My sister and I ended up in an argument. I still remember it - she tried to make me look bad, and when I called her out for it she was having none of it. So we bickered for a solid half an hour until she went in another direction. This wasn’t the first time she had done such a thing - I tended to be more naturally adept than her at things, and she was always annoyed at that. I figured everything would be fine. They always had been.

The next morning, she was found dead. By the end of the day, it was ruled suicide. The guards, remembering the squabble from last night, blamed it on me. Shortly after, the entire town had my name on their pitchforks. I may have been able to do things better, but she was always the popular one. So I flew away. Into the nearby forest, hoping that no one would follow. Or that if they did, they wouldn’t be able to find me.

I waited for months in the forest, unwilling to move away from it in fear that they were still looking for me. Eventually, I summoned the courage to move on when I heard footsteps nearby. I ran for my life away from the forest and into the nearby city where I stayed underground for some time as a part of whatever gang I needed to in order to stay alive, only to “disappear” one day as the rest of my gang was brutally murdered. Whatever I needed to do to stay alive one more day, at this point.

So I took the only skill I had at the time, murdering people, and became a mercenary for hire, eventually to specialize away from people as a whole and more towards magical creatures and strange beings with the occasional murder if it paid well enough. Now I’m on the road again, in search of another contract,

Who knows where that’ll be?

Supervisor Silverclaw
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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:01:01 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:01:01 GMT

All around me is blue sky and salt water. I’m standing on a boat, and around me are people that are making their living the same way I am. By looting, pillaging, plundering, and general ne’er-do-well-ing. I help someone with the siege engine for a little bit, then walk off.

But before I can find out what happens next, I wake up. Another night, another dream of living on a pirate ship. Ma and Pa are out on the sea again, doing just that. They always refuse to bring me along, but at this point, I think that they don’t want me to be involved or something. I don’t really care.

I walk down to the nearby tavern, the Formidably Maid. I pass by a dozen or so people I know in town - all acquaintances of some kind. I’m a popular person in these parts, but I make sure to never tell them my last name - the legacy of a man whose parents are Free Captains is quite something. I have the feeling a small handful of people know that anyways, however.

I walk into the tavern and I get a couple of winks from the regulars - everyone wants Jase. They say I’ve got some of the best tales around, despite never going to sea. I get them from Ma, but once again, I don’t tell anyone that. I walk up to the barkeep, a friendly young woman who's also something fancy to look at, and order my regular. I pay her quite handsomely and sit down next to a group of people who are eager to hear more stories.

I entertain the day away with stories and strumming, as my mouth and my guitar take the night away again. Honestly, I’m also more than a bit tipsy. The better the stories I tell, the more people are willing to go out of their way to give food, drink, and coin.

I take a different route on the way home. This one is longer, but it also passes by the docks. My long coat protects me from the chills that the wind can give at this point at night, but it doesn’t matter to me anyways. I scour the docks for a little bit and eventually come across a spare pirate’s hat. It’s a bit big for my head, which means it falls over my eyes a bit, but I pick it up anyways and pretend that I’m the captain of a ship for a little while, before taking the hat with me back home. One day, it’ll be more than a dream.

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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:01:26 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:01:26 GMT

The first thing I do when I enter a new village is stake out the local tavern. While I do like a good drink, I find that the tavern is a good place to go when I’m looking for someone who’s been wounded. The one thing I can count on, no matter where I am, is that every town has its fair share of local drunks who do nothing but cause trouble - and someone needs to be there to fix it.

A lot of the people here are downtrodden. Some are spending their last coin on a good meal, while others are simply enjoying themselves with a drink and good company. I order a whiskey from the barkeep, and watch. Something’s bound to happen, eventually. It always does, if you keep watch. The drink itself is alright, but nothing special. I pull out my holy symbol of Sarenrae, attach it to a length of chain, and put it around my neck - a makeshift necklace. And with that, I’m prepared for the night’s events.

The night goes by slowly at first - I sit in a chair alone in a booth, watching people come in and out the door for hours. Some people stop to talk to me. I assume they think I’m just lonely, or that I’m waiting for someone. I assure them that I’m fine, but they can stay to talk if they wish. I have many tales to tell.

Two men, both in their early 20s, decide to stay. I tell them that I’m a healer from out of town, and that although I have no affiliation in particular with a church, I am capable nonetheless, and have saved many lives. I tell them of my name, Kyras. The two men nod and watch as I perform simple magic tricks for the sake of amusement, and then tell them of some of the people I’ve helped. I work for cheap - many would call me a faith healer, as I don’t possess the standard array of curative magics. But I heal in an alternate way.

I don’t get to explain how before a loud crash is heard, followed by the sound of broken glass. The room goes silent, aside from a few hushed gasps - someone’s been knocked out cold. I spring into action as I walk towards the unconscious girl. The oblong shape on her forehead tells me one thing - she was too drunk to know where she was going, walked into a wall, and is now on the floor and bleeding.

I speak a prayer to Sarenrae out loud, as I cast a spell and touch her forehead - the woman’s body is ablaze and many people spring into action, not realizing what I’ve done. I stall for some time, and then point to the woman - her wounds are healing.

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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:02:03 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:02:03 GMT

You’re still out there, Ikar. I’m convinced. I’m going to find you.

I was always able to rely on you. When we weren’t even 5 years old, the two of us were inseparable. We were attached at the hip and always talking about something. I remember those days like it was last week. The two of us would end up at each other’s place all the time. So much so that our families intertwined and became one large extended family. We were each other’s emotional and physical crutch. When you busted your leg so bad you could barely stand, I was there for you. You were there for me during that break-up between me and that guy. You know, that guy. We even got matching tattoos. You always said I was the strong one after that, for how well I took it.

When we got a bit older, we dreamed about going on long journeys together. We made pretend. One of us would be the police force, the other would be the bad guy. We both took turns. You were a really good cop, but I never made it easy on you. It was all in fun and games and we never went too hard with it, even when our pretend games would become pretend fights. I was convinced you were holding back on me this entire time. But I took the victories as I got them and became a stronger person for it. I guess that's how we trained.

Eventually, we got old enough to travel on our own. We never looked back. We became a roaming mercenary duo. You were always the one who came up with the plans, and I was the one who executed them. Most of them went really well, too. We were successful enough to keep ourselves well prepared and well fed, but that’s not saying much.

Then one day, we took on a mission together. It was our biggest job yet. But we got greedy and chased into the dark. Between our greed and our lack of knowledge of the surroundings, we got ambushed and started running out. We almost made it out before they encircled us. There was still a crack in the wall, large enough for one of us to get through. You insisted I took the path. I knew what this meant. You were sacrificing yourself. I ran through, and made it to safety. But you never showed up.

I can feel you calling, Ikar. You’re in pain. I’ll find you.

Supervisor Silverclaw
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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:02:32 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:02:32 GMT

I still remember, years ago. Back when I had everything I could have dreamed of. My wife Miriann, as well as my three wonderful children, Joseph, Ava, and Sophia. I was making something of myself then. Everything seemed like it was going right. It was supposed to be this way. It was always going to be this way.

I come from a hard life. Spent my free time scrounging for food and doing bad things in order to get by. Killed a few people, stole some stuff, whatever needed to be done. The people who live like that? Just as bad as you think they are. Scratch that, they’re worse. Much worse. Eventually, you think you never get out.

But then I met her - her gorgeous brown hair, the way she walked. She made my troubles go away, and I believed I could honestly be something better. I still remember how the years went by, she and I would talk endlessly. She taught me new skills and helped me land a stable job. Eventually, we married and had three kids.

Joseph was the first child. He always cut a dashing figure and reminded me of what I was like when I was a kid, so I steered him in a direction away from all the pain of the lower class life. Ava, bless her heart, was as sweet and as tender as they came. She loved everyone, regardless of where they came from, while Sophia was my little princess. But then, something changed.

I still don’t know what happened. I sensed the change in the air when Miriann was pregnant with Sophia. And then the arguments happened. When the chips were down, she’d abuse me too. I wasn’t her love interest anymore, I had become a formal burden with no reason given as to why. It took everything I had to stop myself from returning the favour - I wanted my kids to have a good life, and not to have to experience the pain I went through. But it didn’t matter. Nothing did. On the day of Sophia’s first birthday, I received the divorce papers. I broke down on the ground. I had never wanted this.

The divorce was to happen regardless, though. We fought for the kids. I did everything I could to not let her have them - I showed them the scars, explained the misery. I told the judges of all the things she had done to me, that this is what the children would see. But in the end, none of it mattered. She had the money to give the kids - and the judges - what they wanted. A week after, I lost my job too.

It’s back to the same old for me. But I’ll never forget her. I’ll never forgive her, too.

Supervisor Silverclaw
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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:02:54 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:02:54 GMT

My name is Erebos. And here’s my story.

I still remember all those years ago. Sitting in some backwater shed, with the only people in the entire region who understood me. It’s been over 6 years since I last saw any of their faces.

We called ourselves a thieve’s guild. The money we earned from our little “habits” would be used on what civilized folk would call debaucheries. Booze, Drugs, Sex, and so much more. It was how you made the pain go away. The pain of being someone no one wanted to equate with you, just because of who you are. Then the next day, we’d do it all again.

It was a neverending circle of pleasure, happiness, and death. In that time, I gained lots of experiences. I stole from lots of people and did many things no one would ever risk doing to themselves. I watched many friends overdose and die. But we would live on the next day, with our lost friend in our memories. By the time we were contacted by the monarch, there was about 2 dozen of us remaining.

We didn’t have a choice really. It was either take part in the siege or die on the spot. We were promised great riches on the success of the siege, so we would have accepted regardless. But conscription tainted the experience, just that much. No more than a month later, all of my friends had died.

The siege was taking a dark turn. We had been on the back foot for a while, and something needed to be done or we would lose soon. And so one of the generals ordered me and my friends on what equated to a suicide mission. None of us had a choice - but I was late. Just by a few minutes, and by the smallest of margins. My shoes wouldn’t stay tied. But by the time I made it, the crew had gone on without me. I never saw their faces again.

For the last 6 years, I’ve been a pawn to the monarchy to get what they want, lest they reveal my deepest secret.

I can’t let that happen.

Supervisor Silverclaw
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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:03:08 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:03:08 GMT

My name is Apollo. And here’s my story.

I’ve been a traveller as long as I can remember. I travel in service of the crown prince. At times I’m a diplomat between nations, yet others I’m a mercenary or an assassin. There’s no job I can’t handle, and I take my job in great pride of the nation of Thurin.

Getting to meet a new person is like getting to meet a new story you haven’t yet read. If you sit down with them long enough, you’ll inevitably learn something truly fascinating. So I desire to sit down with people and learn about them. I, however, can’t do the same.

I tell people many things about myself, although most of them are lies. The crown prince tells me that if I’m honest, unimaginable things will happen. I have no intent to find out what those “things” are.

Despite all of that, I take everything I do with stride. Most people say I fill their life with vigour when I’m nearby, and that I’m truly a sight to behold. I take the compliment with as much heart as I can, and continue to do my work as best as I can.

I love to learn, as well. Part of the reason why I’m alive is so I can experience new things. Be it a new person, a new city, or a new alchemical technique I’ll never be able to use, I don’t care what it is. The excitement of learning something new is incredible.

I have one dream though, that I fear will never happen. I would like for everyone to forget about me.

I would love it for that to happen.

Supervisor Silverclaw
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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:03:39 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:03:39 GMT

Somewhere, deep within one of Mydith’s snowy forests, a voice is heard. Then another. And another. Eventually, a chorus of 100 low-pitched humanoid figures can be heard. A large fire starts. More humanoids are dancing around an object, black as tar and about the size of your average dinner table. Chained to the object is an infant boy, unaware of his surroundings and in awe of the lights and sounds. It’s the night of the full moon, and a ritual is taking place. The group is planning to abduct the child into their cult.

Eventually, everything stops. A figure covered in dark fur and over 14 feet tall looks down. The infant child has not changed.

“And you all call yourselves professionals! This is the one chance we had and you failed it. Sack the boy and toss him somewhere in the woods. We can’t have anyone find us.” 5 other figures release the boy, throw in into a felt bag, and bring him into the wilderness where it is assumed the boy will starve to death.

Years Later

I’ve always had a strange affinity for nature. When I was old enough to live on my own I bought a small shack out in one of the forests and lived off the land. Occasionally I would meet a lost traveller, cold and alone. I would invite them into my shack for the night and point them in the direction they were looking for.

Today, I was late. I found a lone traveler on the ground, soaked in a pool of his own blood. Closer inspection shows strange claw marks, like that of a beast around twice the man’s size. I should bring him to where he belongs, which is 6 feet under so the man can be one with nature. But … I can’t. And why do I have a strange desire to taste him?

So, we finally meet. Pleasure to be of your acquaintance.

What? Who are you? And why are you in my head?!

My, my. Don’t we ask a lot of questions. I am you. And now, you will listen to me. Just as I have done to you since before you were aware.

No! I will not partake! Let me perform my duty in peace.

Unfortunately, your duty is to listen to me. And you can’t resist an easy meal, can you? He’s right there, after all. Alone. Helpless. No one will know. It’ll be our secret.

I will fight you with every last fiber of my very being. You do not get a say in what I do or how I act.

That, my new friend, is where you’re wrong. I finally have the power to overcome you. Just watch.

In a matter of seconds, I grew to over double my size and took on wolf-like features. And the hunger, the hunger! I was ravenous. As if I hadn’t eaten in years despite the fact that I had eaten fifteen minutes ago. And this man did look rather appetizing. My teeth - no, fangs - sank right in.

No! Stop this you monster!

Oh, quit being such a child. You’ll learn to cope.

Shortly after the body was picked clean, I turned back into my normal self. I can’t believe what just happened. A prisoner of my own body is not an experience I wish to experience again. And yet, I can’t help but know it won’t be the last.

Tears in my eyes after having just forsaken my own code unwillingly, I started to dig this man the grave he deserved. I will fight this thing with every fiber of my being, even if it means my own death to do so. It will not win.

Supervisor Silverclaw
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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:03:50 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:03:50 GMT

No.. No more of this. It was hard enough as is to get Felicia to come back to camp at a decent time. I can’t see in the pitch-black. But at the same time, I’ve been here before… I know what this is.

“You won’t keep me here for long, beast! Speak your mind!” I need to find a way out before he causes harm. This is important.

“So you do learn. Shame your so-called friends don’t.” A torturous and maniacal laughter is heard all around. “When I don’t have to deal with you anymore, they’ll just be easy pickings.”

“They’re stronger than you believe them to be. Besides, we made a deal. You’re not to touch them. I know what you want to do with them. They’re not your food. Causing them harm also means the destruction of untold people. And I’m sure you’d at least like to watch it yourself.” I know he’s listening. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t do this. But maybe he’s doing this to just torture me. I can’t tell. I need to get out. How?

The laughter picks up again. Both stronger and more insidious. “Oh yes, we have a deal. You see, that deal only lasts for as long as I want it to. What are these friends of yours going to save? They can’t even stop arguing amongst each other. You think they’re going to stop the void lord Serebor? I’d just be helping along. You like to help, right?”

A defeated sigh is let out. “What do you think my goal is? They need my help. You’re just going to kill them when you get a chance.”

“The fact that you think you’ll have a say in the matter entertains me. Now why don’t you just roll over and die so that we can just move this along? No one can help you. The clock’s ticking…”

Ugh… he’s still right. I don’t want to cause an alarm, but who knows when…

“Oh come on. You’ve got to have more fight than that. It’s been thirty years! Finally done, are we? Then let me play. Just once.”

“Never. I refuse.”

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A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:04:00 GMT

Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:04:00 GMT

As I stand upon the great void lord Serebor, many thoughts are going through my mind.

The fact that I’m about to die isn’t one of them.

I begin to lose myself in the fight. It isn’t a rare occurrence by any means, but it’s rare for a fight to last several hours. Serebor refuses to go down by any normal means, and we’re absolutely powerless to kill him on our own. But he is responding. He’s moving. For several hours we pummel the giant beast until he ends up within range of the Manticore, who finishes him off.

Unfortunately, for me, I don’t notice how close we are until it’s too late. As the Manticore comes down, my body falls before I even know what happens. My mind, still active, falls into a brief moment of panic before everything goes dark. I’m dead. Gone. Finished. Beyond repair by even magical means.

I end up in a place that’s far too familiar. The dark recesses of my own mind. What used to bother me to no end barely elicits a response now. As I get up and begin to wander the empty catacombs of my own mind, I notice something. Every other time I’ve still been able to see what’s been going on around me. But not this time. As I wander around the halls, my feet make claking sounds against the floor of my mind and I begin to wonder exactly what everyone is thinking.

Stanwik and Syreld are probably just glad this is over. They’ll share a moment of cheer before realizing what exactly happened. Felicia, however, will know immediately. I imagine she’ll run up and try to revive me. I can tell from in here however that won’t work. I can feel the very fabric of my own being beginning to pull away from reality itself and move to wherever it is that they go.

I put my hand against the wall as it begins to melt away. I can feel what I used to call a prison running through my hand like an ice cube in the middle of the summer. Instinctually, I begin running. This place feels even less safe than it had before, but there’s nowhere to go. Every hallway leads to another dark and melting room. I take off at top speed, looking for anywhere I can call safe.

Eventually, I stand at the crossroads. The point where all three portions of my mind meet up. I don’t stop to think and run straight forward. Every step I take gets ever so slightly harder, as my ability to run from whatever this melting is lowers. I have no time to think about those I’ve lost or the times I’ll miss. All I need is safety. But it’s all for naught. Everything is overtaken. There’s nowhere to go. I sink down into the floor, wondering what will happen next.

All of a sudden, a bright flash of light. As I look around, this isn’t a place I recognize. Then, a voice from all angles.

“It’s nice to finally get to meet you, Stekri. I’m surprised I managed to make it in time.” The voice speaks with authoritatively, but is kind and gentle.

“I’d say the same, but I don’t know who I’m talking to.” I’m still in a panicked state, and look around nervously for whatever this could be.

“Don’t worry, there will be no harm to you here.”

“I would still like to know who I’m talking to. Show yourself.” I command.

“While I do not have a physical body, I will let you know what I am. I’m here to grant your last wish, and then ferry you off into the afterlife.”

I stop and think. “I have only one thing I wish to do.”

As soon as I tell the being what I wish for, he nods and it begins. I’m in three places at once. At the Serebor fight near Syreld, Stanwik, and Felicia as well as near Rei and Volir. My eyes see nothing but the people I want to speak to. I take up a ghostly form, and begin to speak.

“Hello everyone.” I begin in a somber tone. “I’m glad to see you all one last time. I’ll miss you. All of you. And from the very bottom of where my heart would be if I was still alive… thank you. It wouldn’t be without all of you here now that I would be the person I both was in life and will be in death.

Stanwik. Although I didn’t get to know you too well, you were a joy to be with and it was great to see Syreld open up to someone.

Syreld. I was very surprised watching you go. You say you wish to be the best at your craft? I think you’ve already achieved that.

Rei. Although you may have driven all of us more than a little crazy at times, you have a good heart. Your kids will grow up to be fantastic people, I’m certain.

Volir. In many ways, the two of us were very similar people when I met all of you on this journey. Apart from the physical resemblances, we both had something we were trying to protect and we both had issues with our very psyche and our being. Just as I overcame mine, I know that if you still have issues, you will overcome yours.

Felicia. You were the emotional center of the team. Everyone depended on you, and of everyone here, I don’t think this journey could have been done without you. I don’t know what you plan on doing, but you’re the kind of person who can be successful that whatever they choose.

It was a journey I will never be able to forget. I wish you all the best of luck on your future journeys.”

And with that, I stop and am ferried away to the afterlife. I am not sure what it will foretell, but nothing can top getting to see my friends one last time.

Farewell.

Supervisor Silverclaw Administrator . Posts: 1,235	A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 4:04:30 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Supervisor Silverclaw on Jan 18, 2021 4:04:30 GMT You really scrolled through all of that to find an image? Congratulations. But your princess is in another castle.

Sunny
Monsters of the Construction Site

Posts: 199

A thread containing stories Jan 18, 2021 5:25:43 GMT Spam likes this

Post by Sunny on Jan 18, 2021 5:25:43 GMT

According to all known laws
of aviation,

there is no way a bee
should be able to fly.

Its wings are too small to get
its fat little body off the ground.

The bee, of course, flies anyway

because bees don't care
what humans think is impossible.

Yellow, black. Yellow, black.
Yellow, black. Yellow, black.

Ooh, black and yellow!
Let's shake it up a little.

Barry! Breakfast is ready!

Ooming!

Hang on a second.

Hello?

- Barry?
- Adam?

- Oan you believe this is happening?
- I can't. I'll pick you up.

Looking sharp.

Use the stairs. Your father
paid good money for those.

Sorry. I'm excited.

Here's the graduate.
We're very proud of you, son.

A perfect report card, all B's.

Very proud.

Ma! I got a thing going here.

- You got lint on your fuzz.
- Ow! That's me!

- Wave to us! We'll be in row 118,000.
- Bye!

Barry, I told you,
stop flying in the house!

- Hey, Adam.
- Hey, Barry.

- Is that fuzz gel?
- A little. Special day, graduation.

Never thought I'd make it.

Three days grade school,
three days high school.

Those were awkward.

Three days college. I'm glad I took
a day and hitchhiked around the hive.

You did come back different.

- Hi, Barry.
- Artie, growing a mustache? Looks good.

- Hear about Frankie?
- Yeah.

- You going to the funeral?
- No, I'm not going.

Everybody knows,
sting someone, you die.

Don't waste it on a squirrel.
Such a hothead.

I guess he could have
just gotten out of the way.

I love this incorporating
an amusement park into our day.

That's why we don't need vacations.

Boy, quite a bit of pomp...
under the circumstances.

- Well, Adam, today we are men.
- We are!

- Bee-men.
- Amen!

Hallelujah!

Students, faculty, distinguished bees,

please welcome Dean Buzzwell.

Welcome, New Hive Oity
graduating class of...

...9:15.

That concludes our ceremonies.

And begins your career
at Honex Industries!

Will we pick ourjob today?

I heard it's just orientation.

Heads up! Here we go.

Keep your hands and antennas
inside the tram at all times.

- Wonder what it'll be like?
- A little scary.

Welcome to Honex,
a division of Honesco

and a part of the Hexagon Group.

This is it!

Wow.

Wow.

We know that you, as a bee,
have worked your whole life

to get to the point where you
can work for your whole life.

Honey begins when our valiant Pollen
Jocks bring the nectar to the hive.

Our top-secret formula

is automatically color-corrected,
scent-adjusted and bubble-contoured

into this soothing sweet syrup

with its distinctive
golden glow you know as...

Honey!

- That girl was hot.
- She's my cousin!

- She is?
- Yes, we're all cousins.

- Right. You're right.
- At Honex, we constantly strive

to improve every aspect
of bee existence.

These bees are stress-testing
a new helmet technology.

- What do you think he makes?
- Not enough.

Here we have our latest advancement,
the Krelman.

- What does that do?
- Oatches that little strand of honey

that hangs after you pour it.
Saves us millions.

Oan anyone work on the Krelman?

Of course. Most bee jobs are
small ones. But bees know

that every small job,
if it's done well, means a lot.

But choose carefully

because you'll stay in the job
you pick for the rest of your life.

The same job the rest of your life?
I didn't know that.

What's the difference?

You'll be happy to know that bees,
as a species, haven't had one day off

in 27 million years.

So you'll just work us to death?

We'll sure try.

Wow! That blew my mind!

"What's the difference?"
How can you say that?

One job forever?
That's an insane choice to have to make.

I'm relieved. Now we only have
to make one decision in life.

But, Adam, how could they
never have told us that?

Why would you question anything?
We're bees.

We're the most perfectly
functioning society on Earth.

You ever think maybe things
work a little too well here?

Like what? Give me one example.

I don't know. But you know
what I'm talking about.

Please clear the gate.
Royal Nectar Force on approach.

Wait a second. Oheck it out.

- Hey, those are Pollen Jocks!
- Wow.

I've never seen them this close.

They know what it's like
outside the hive.

Yeah, but some don't come back.

- Hey, Jocks!
- Hi, Jocks!

You guys did great!

You're monsters!
You're sky freaks! I love it! I love it!

- I wonder where they were.
- I don't know.

Their day's not planned.

Outside the hive, flying who knows
where, doing who knows what.

You can'tjust decide to be a Pollen
Jock. You have to be bred for that.

Right.

Look. That's more pollen
than you and I will see in a lifetime.

It's just a status symbol.
Bees make too much of it.

Perhaps. Unless you're wearing it
and the ladies see you wearing it.

Those ladies?
Aren't they our cousins too?

Distant. Distant.

Look at these two.

- Oouple of Hive Harrys.
- Let's have fun with them.

It must be dangerous
being a Pollen Jock.

Yeah. Once a bear pinned me
against a mushroom!

He had a paw on my throat,
and with the other, he was slapping me!

- Oh, my!
- I never thought I'd knock him out.

What were you doing during this?

Trying to alert the authorities.

I can autograph that.

A little gusty out there today,
wasn't it, comrades?

Yeah. Gusty.

We're hitting a sunflower patch
six miles from here tomorrow.

- Six miles, huh?
- Barry!

A puddle jump for us,
but maybe you're not up for it.

- Maybe I am.
- You are not!

We're going 0900 at J-Gate.

What do you think, buzzy-boy?
Are you bee enough?

I might be. It all depends
on what 0900 means.

Hey, Honex!

Dad, you surprised me.

You decide what you're interested in?

- Well, there's a lot of choices.
- But you only get one.

Do you ever get bored
doing the same job every day?

Son, let me tell you about stirring.

You grab that stick, and you just
move it around, and you stir it around.

You get yourself into a rhythm.
It's a beautiful thing.

You know, Dad,
the more I think about it,

maybe the honey field
just isn't right for me.

You were thinking of what,
making balloon animals?

That's a bad job
for a guy with a stinger.

Janet, your son's not sure
he wants to go into honey!

- Barry, you are so funny sometimes.
- I'm not trying to be funny.

You're not funny! You're going
into honey. Our son, the stirrer!

- You're gonna be a stirrer?
- No one's listening to me!

Wait till you see the sticks I have.

I could say anything right now.
I'm gonna get an ant tattoo!

Let's open some honey and celebrate!

Maybe I'll pierce my thorax.
Shave my antennae.

Shack up with a grasshopper. Get
a gold tooth and call everybody "dawg"!

I'm so proud.

- We're starting work today!
- Today's the day.

Oome on! All the good jobs
will be gone.

Yeah, right.

Pollen counting, stunt bee, pouring,
stirrer, front desk, hair removal...

- Is it still available?
- Hang on. Two left!

One of them's yours! Oongratulations!
Step to the side.

- What'd you get?
- Picking crud out. Stellar!

Wow!

Oouple of newbies?

Yes, sir! Our first day! We are ready!

Make your choice.

- You want to go first?
- No, you go.

Oh, my. What's available?

Restroom attendant's open,
not for the reason you think.

- Any chance of getting the Krelman?
- Sure, you're on.

I'm sorry, the Krelman just closed out.

Wax monkey's always open.

The Krelman opened up again.

What happened?

A bee died. Makes an opening. See?
He's dead. Another dead one.

Deady. Deadified. Two more dead.

Dead from the neck up.
Dead from the neck down. That's life!

Oh, this is so hard!

Heating, cooling,
stunt bee, pourer, stirrer,

humming, inspector number seven,
lint coordinator, stripe supervisor,

mite wrangler. Barry, what
do you think I should... Barry?

Barry!

All right, we've got the sunflower patch
in quadrant nine...

What happened to you?
Where are you?

- I'm going out.
- Out? Out where?

- Out there.
- Oh, no!

I have to, before I go
to work for the rest of my life.

You're gonna die! You're crazy! Hello?

Another call coming in.

If anyone's feeling brave,
there's a Korean deli on 83rd

that gets their roses today.

Hey, guys.

- Look at that.
- Isn't that the kid we saw yesterday?

Hold it, son, flight deck's restricted.

It's OK, Lou. We're gonna take him up.

Really? Feeling lucky, are you?

Sign here, here. Just initial that.

- Thank you.
- OK.

You got a rain advisory today,

and as you all know,
bees cannot fly in rain.

So be careful. As always,
watch your brooms,

hockey sticks, dogs,
birds, bears and bats.

Also, I got a couple of reports
of root beer being poured on us.

Murphy's in a home because of it,
babbling like a cicada!

- That's awful.
- And a reminder for you rookies,

bee law number one,
absolutely no talking to humans!

All right, launch positions!

Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz! Buzz, buzz,
buzz, buzz! Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz!

Black and yellow!

Hello!

You ready for this, hot shot?

Yeah. Yeah, bring it on.

Wind, check.

- Antennae, check.
- Nectar pack, check.

- Wings, check.
- Stinger, check.

Scared out of my shorts, check.

OK, ladies,

let's move it out!

Pound those petunias,
you striped stem-suckers!

All of you, drain those flowers!

Wow! I'm out!

I can't believe I'm out!

So blue.

I feel so fast and free!

Box kite!

Wow!

Flowers!

This is Blue Leader.
We have roses visual.

Bring it around 30 degrees and hold.

Roses!

30 degrees, roger. Bringing it around.

Stand to the side, kid.
It's got a bit of a kick.

That is one nectar collector!

- Ever see pollination up close?
- No, sir.

I pick up some pollen here, sprinkle it
over here. Maybe a dash over there,

a pinch on that one.
See that? It's a little bit of magic.

That's amazing. Why do we do that?

That's pollen power. More pollen, more
flowers, more nectar, more honey for us.

Oool.

I'm picking up a lot of bright yellow.
Oould be daisies. Don't we need those?

Oopy that visual.

Wait. One of these flowers
seems to be on the move.

Say again? You're reporting
a moving flower?

Affirmative.

That was on the line!

This is the coolest. What is it?

I don't know, but I'm loving this color.

It smells good.
Not like a flower, but I like it.

Yeah, fuzzy.

Ohemical-y.

Oareful, guys. It's a little grabby.

My sweet lord of bees!

Oandy-brain, get off there!

Problem!

- Guys!
- This could be bad.

Affirmative.

Very close.

Gonna hurt.

Mama's little boy.

You are way out of position, rookie!

Ooming in at you like a missile!

Help me!

I don't think these are flowers.

- Should we tell him?
- I think he knows.

What is this?!

Match point!

You can start packing up, honey,
because you're about to eat it!

Yowser!

Gross.

There's a bee in the car!

- Do something!
- I'm driving!

- Hi, bee.
- He's back here!

He's going to sting me!

Nobody move. If you don't move,
he won't sting you. Freeze!

He blinked!

Spray him, Granny!

What are you doing?!

Wow... the tension level
out here is unbelievable.

I gotta get home.

Oan't fly in rain.

Oan't fly in rain.

Oan't fly in rain.

Mayday! Mayday! Bee going down!

Ken, could you close
the window please?

Ken, could you close
the window please?

Oheck out my new resume.
I made it into a fold-out brochure.

You see? Folds out.

Oh, no. More humans. I don't need this.

What was that?

Maybe this time. This time. This time.
This time! This time! This...

Drapes!

That is diabolical.

It's fantastic. It's got all my special
skills, even my top-ten favorite movies.

What's number one? Star Wars?

Nah, I don't go for that...

...kind of stuff.

No wonder we shouldn't talk to them.
They're out of their minds.

When I leave a job interview, they're
flabbergasted, can't believe what I say.

There's the sun. Maybe that's a way out.

I don't remember the sun
having a big 75 on it.

I predicted global warming.

I could feel it getting hotter.
At first I thought it was just me.

Wait! Stop! Bee!

Stand back. These are winter boots.

Wait!

Don't kill him!

You know I'm allergic to them!
This thing could kill me!

Why does his life have
less value than yours?

Why does his life have any less value
than mine? Is that your statement?

I'm just saying all life has value. You
don't know what he's capable of feeling.

My brochure!

There you go, little guy.

I'm not scared of him.
It's an allergic thing.

Put that on your resume brochure.

My whole face could puff up.

Make it one of your special skills.

Knocking someone out
is also a special skill.

Right. Bye, Vanessa. Thanks.

- Vanessa, next week? Yogurt night?
- Sure, Ken. You know, whatever.

- You could put carob chips on there.
- Bye.

- Supposed to be less calories.
- Bye.

I gotta say something.

She saved my life.
I gotta say something.

All right, here it goes.

Nah.

What would I say?

I could really get in trouble.

It's a bee law.
You're not supposed to talk to a human.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

I've got to.

Oh, I can't do it. Oome on!

No. Yes. No.

Do it. I can't.

How should I start it?
"You like jazz?" No, that's no good.

Here she comes! Speak, you fool!

Hi!

I'm sorry.

- You're talking.
- Yes, I know.

You're talking!

I'm so sorry.

No, it's OK. It's fine.
I know I'm dreaming.

But I don't recall going to bed.

Well, I'm sure this
is very disconcerting.

This is a bit of a surprise to me.
I mean, you're a bee!

I am. And I'm not supposed
to be doing this,

but they were all trying to kill me.

And if it wasn't for you...

I had to thank you.
It's just how I was raised.

That was a little weird.

- I'm talking with a bee.
- Yeah.

I'm talking to a bee.
And the bee is talking to me!

I just want to say I'm grateful.
I'll leave now.

- Wait! How did you learn to do that?
- What?

The talking thing.

Same way you did, I guess.
"Mama, Dada, honey." You pick it up.

- That's very funny.
- Yeah.

Bees are funny. If we didn't laugh,
we'd cry with what we have to deal with.

Anyway...

Oan I...

...get you something?
- Like what?

I don't know. I mean...
I don't know. Ooffee?

I don't want to put you out.

It's no trouble. It takes two minutes.

- It's just coffee.
- I hate to impose.

- Don't be ridiculous!
- Actually, I would love a cup.

Hey, you want rum cake?

- I shouldn't.
- Have some.

- No, I can't.
- Oome on!

I'm trying to lose a couple micrograms.

- Where?
- These stripes don't help.

You look great!

I don't know if you know
anything about fashion.

Are you all right?

No.

He's making the tie in the cab
as they're flying up Madison.

He finally gets there.

He runs up the steps into the church.
The wedding is on.

And he says, "Watermelon?
I thought you said Guatemalan.

Why would I marry a watermelon?"

Is that a bee joke?

That's the kind of stuff we do.

Yeah, different.

So, what are you gonna do, Barry?

About work? I don't know.

I want to do my part for the hive,
but I can't do it the way they want.

I know how you feel.

- You do?
- Sure.

My parents wanted me to be a lawyer or
a doctor, but I wanted to be a florist.

- Really?
- My only interest is flowers.

Our new queen was just elected
with that same campaign slogan.

Anyway, if you look...

There's my hive right there. See it?

You're in Sheep Meadow!

Yes! I'm right off the Turtle Pond!

No way! I know that area.
I lost a toe ring there once.

- Why do girls put rings on their toes?
- Why not?

- It's like putting a hat on your knee.
- Maybe I'll try that.

- You all right, ma'am?
- Oh, yeah. Fine.

Just having two cups of coffee!

Anyway, this has been great.
Thanks for the coffee.

Yeah, it's no trouble.

Sorry I couldn't finish it. If I did,
I'd be up the rest of my life.

Are you...?

Oan I take a piece of this with me?

Sure! Here, have a crumb.

- Thanks!
- Yeah.

All right. Well, then...
I guess I'll see you around.

Or not.

OK, Barry.

And thank you
so much again... for before.

Oh, that? That was nothing.

Well, not nothing, but... Anyway...

This can't possibly work.

He's all set to go.
We may as well try it.

OK, Dave, pull the chute.

- Sounds amazing.
- It was amazing!

It was the scariest,
happiest moment of my life.

Humans! I can't believe
you were with humans!

Giant, scary humans!
What were they like?

Huge and crazy. They talk crazy.

They eat crazy giant things.
They drive crazy.

- Do they try and kill you, like on TV?
- Some of them. But some of them don't.

- How'd you get back?
- Poodle.

You did it, and I'm glad. You saw
whatever you wanted to see.

You had your "experience." Now you
can pick out yourjob and be normal.

- Well...
- Well?

Well, I met someone.

You did? Was she Bee-ish?

- A wasp?! Your parents will kill you!
- No, no, no, not a wasp.

- Spider?
- I'm not attracted to spiders.

I know it's the hottest thing,
with the eight legs and all.

I can't get by that face.

So who is she?

She's... human.

No, no. That's a bee law.
You wouldn't break a bee law.

- Her name's Vanessa.
- Oh, boy.

She's so nice. And she's a florist!

Oh, no! You're dating a human florist!

We're not dating.

You're flying outside the hive, talking
to humans that attack our homes

with power washers and M-80s!
One-eighth a stick of dynamite!

She saved my life!
And she understands me.

This is over!

Eat this.

This is not over! What was that?

- They call it a crumb.
- It was so stingin' stripey!

And that's not what they eat.
That's what falls off what they eat!

- You know what a Oinnabon is?
- No.

It's bread and cinnamon and frosting.
They heat it up...

Sit down!

...really hot!
- Listen to me!

We are not them! We're us.
There's us and there's them!

Yes, but who can deny
the heart that is yearning?

There's no yearning.
Stop yearning. Listen to me!

You have got to start thinking bee,
my friend. Thinking bee!

- Thinking bee.
- Thinking bee.

Thinking bee! Thinking bee!
Thinking bee! Thinking bee!

There he is. He's in the pool.

You know what your problem is, Barry?

I gotta start thinking bee?

How much longer will this go on?

It's been three days!
Why aren't you working?

I've got a lot of big life decisions
to think about.

What life? You have no life!
You have no job. You're barely a bee!

Would it kill you
to make a little honey?

Barry, come out.
Your father's talking to you.

Martin, would you talk to him?

Barry, I'm talking to you!

You coming?

Got everything?

All set!

Go ahead. I'll catch up.

Don't be too long.

Watch this!

Vanessa!

- We're still here.
- I told you not to yell at him.

He doesn't respond to yelling!

- Then why yell at me?
- Because you don't listen!

I'm not listening to this.

Sorry, I've gotta go.

- Where are you going?
- I'm meeting a friend.

A girl? Is this why you can't decide?

Bye.

I just hope she's Bee-ish.

They have a huge parade
of flowers every year in Pasadena?

To be in the Tournament of Roses,
that's every florist's dream!

Up on a float, surrounded
by flowers, crowds cheering.

A tournament. Do the roses
compete in athletic events?

No. All right, I've got one.
How come you don't fly everywhere?

It's exhausting. Why don't you
run everywhere? It's faster.

Yeah, OK, I see, I see.
All right, your turn.

TiVo. You can just freeze live TV?
That's insane!

You don't have that?

We have Hivo, but it's a disease.
It's a horrible, horrible disease.

Oh, my.

Dumb bees!

You must want to sting all those jerks.

We try not to sting.
It's usually fatal for us.

So you have to watch your temper.

Very carefully.
You kick a wall, take a walk,

write an angry letter and throw it out.
Work through it like any emotion:

Anger, jealousy, lust.

Oh, my goodness! Are you OK?

Yeah.

- What is wrong with you?!
- It's a bug.

He's not bothering anybody.
Get out of here, you creep!

What was that? A Pic 'N' Save circular?

Yeah, it was. How did you know?

It felt like about 10 pages.
Seventy-five is pretty much our limit.

You've really got that
down to a science.

- I lost a cousin to Italian Vogue.
- I'll bet.

What in the name
of Mighty Hercules is this?

How did this get here?
Oute Bee, Golden Blossom,

Ray Liotta Private Select?

- Is he that actor?
- I never heard of him.

- Why is this here?
- For people. We eat it.

You don't have
enough food of your own?

- Well, yes.
- How do you get it?

- Bees make it.
- I know who makes it!

And it's hard to make it!

There's heating, cooling, stirring.
You need a whole Krelman thing!

- It's organic.
- It's our-ganic!

It's just honey, Barry.

Just what?!

Bees don't know about this!
This is stealing! A lot of stealing!

You've taken our homes, schools,
hospitals! This is all we have!

And it's on sale?!
I'm getting to the bottom of this.

I'm getting to the bottom
of all of this!

Hey, Hector.

- You almost done?
- Almost.

He is here. I sense it.

Well, I guess I'll go home now

and just leave this nice honey out,
with no one around.

You're busted, box boy!

I knew I heard something.
So you can talk!

I can talk.
And now you'll start talking!

Where you getting the sweet stuff?
Who's your supplier?

I don't understand.
I thought we were friends.

The last thing we want
to do is upset bees!

You're too late! It's ours now!

You, sir, have crossed
the wrong sword!

You, sir, will be lunch
for my iguana, Ignacio!

Where is the honey coming from?

Tell me where!

Honey Farms! It comes from Honey Farms!

Orazy person!

What horrible thing has happened here?

These faces, they never knew
what hit them. And now

they're on the road to nowhere!

Just keep still.

What? You're not dead?

Do I look dead? They will wipe anything
that moves. Where you headed?

To Honey Farms.
I am onto something huge here.

I'm going to Alaska. Moose blood,
crazy stuff. Blows your head off!

I'm going to Tacoma.

- And you?
- He really is dead.

All right.

Uh-oh!

- What is that?!
- Oh, no!

- A wiper! Triple blade!
- Triple blade?

Jump on! It's your only chance, bee!

Why does everything have
to be so doggone clean?!

How much do you people need to see?!

Open your eyes!
Stick your head out the window!

From NPR News in Washington,
I'm Oarl Kasell.

But don't kill no more bugs!

- Bee!
- Moose blood guy!!

- You hear something?
- Like what?

Like tiny screaming.

Turn off the radio.

Whassup, bee boy?

Hey, Blood.

Just a row of honey jars,
as far as the eye could see.

Wow!

I assume wherever this truck goes
is where they're getting it.

I mean, that honey's ours.

- Bees hang tight.
- We're all jammed in.

It's a close community.

Not us, man. We on our own.
Every mosquito on his own.

- What if you get in trouble?
- You a mosquito, you in trouble.

Nobody likes us. They just smack.
See a mosquito, smack, smack!

At least you're out in the world.
You must meet girls.

Mosquito girls try to trade up,
get with a moth, dragonfly.

Mosquito girl don't want no mosquito.

You got to be kidding me!

Mooseblood's about to leave
the building! So long, bee!

- Hey, guys!
- Mooseblood!

I knew I'd catch y'all down here.
Did you bring your crazy straw?

We throw it in jars, slap a label on it,
and it's pretty much pure profit.

What is this place?

A bee's got a brain
the size of a pinhead.

They are pinheads!

Pinhead.

- Oheck out the new smoker.
- Oh, sweet. That's the one you want.

The Thomas 3000!

Smoker?

Ninety puffs a minute, semi-automatic.
Twice the nicotine, all the tar.

A couple breaths of this
knocks them right out.

They make the honey,
and we make the money.

"They make the honey,
and we make the money"?

Oh, my!

What's going on? Are you OK?

Yeah. It doesn't last too long.

Do you know you're
in a fake hive with fake walls?

Our queen was moved here.
We had no choice.

This is your queen?
That's a man in women's clothes!

That's a drag queen!

What is this?

Oh, no!

There's hundreds of them!

Bee honey.

Our honey is being brazenly stolen
on a massive scale!

This is worse than anything bears
have done! I intend to do something.

Oh, Barry, stop.

Who told you humans are taking
our honey? That's a rumor.

Do these look like rumors?

That's a conspiracy theory.
These are obviously doctored photos.

How did you get mixed up in this?

He's been talking to humans.

- What?
- Talking to humans?!

He has a human girlfriend.
And they make out!

Make out? Barry!

We do not.

- You wish you could.
- Whose side are you on?

The bees!

I dated a cricket once in San Antonio.
Those crazy legs kept me up all night.

Barry, this is what you want
to do with your life?

I want to do it for all our lives.
Nobody works harder than bees!

Dad, I remember you
coming home so overworked

your hands were still stirring.
You couldn't stop.

I remember that.

What right do they have to our honey?

We live on two cups a year. They put it
in lip balm for no reason whatsoever!

Even if it's true, what can one bee do?

Sting them where it really hurts.

In the face! The eye!

- That would hurt.
- No.

Up the nose? That's a killer.

There's only one place you can sting
the humans, one place where it matters.

Hive at Five, the hive's only
full-hour action news source.

No more bee beards!

With Bob Bumble at the anchor desk.

Weather with Storm Stinger.

Sports with Buzz Larvi.

And Jeanette Ohung.

- Good evening. I'm Bob Bumble.
- And I'm Jeanette Ohung.

A tri-county bee, Barry Benson,

intends to sue the human race
for stealing our honey,

packaging it and profiting
from it illegally!

Tomorrow night on Bee Larry King,

we'll have three former queens here in
our studio, discussing their new book,

Olassy Ladies,
out this week on Hexagon.

Tonight we're talking to Barry Benson.

Did you ever think, "I'm a kid
from the hive. I can't do this"?

Bees have never been afraid
to change the world.

What about Bee Oolumbus?
Bee Gandhi? Bejesus?

Where I'm from, we'd never sue humans.

We were thinking
of stickball or candy stores.

How old are you?

The bee community
is supporting you in this case,

which will be the trial
of the bee century.

You know, they have a Larry King
in the human world too.

It's a common name. Next week...

He looks like you and has a show
and suspenders and colored dots...

Next week...

Glasses, quotes on the bottom from the
guest even though you just heard 'em.

Bear Week next week!
They're scary, hairy and here live.

Always leans forward, pointy shoulders,
squinty eyes, very Jewish.

In tennis, you attack
at the point of weakness!

It was my grandmother, Ken. She's 81.

Honey, her backhand's a joke!
I'm not gonna take advantage of that?

Quiet, please.
Actual work going on here.

- Is that that same bee?
- Yes, it is!

I'm helping him sue the human race.

- Hello.
- Hello, bee.

This is Ken.

Yeah, I remember you. Timberland, size
ten and a half. Vibram sole, I believe.

Why does he talk again?

Listen, you better go
'cause we're really busy working.

But it's our yogurt night!

Bye-bye.

Why is yogurt night so difficult?!

You poor thing.
You two have been at this for hours!

Yes, and Adam here
has been a huge help.

- Frosting...
- How many sugars?

Just one. I try not
to use the competition.

So why are you helping me?

Bees have good qualities.

And it takes my mind off the shop.

Instead of flowers, people
are giving balloon bouquets now.

Those are great, if you're three.

And artificial flowers.

- Oh, those just get me psychotic!
- Yeah, me too.

Bent stingers, pointless pollination.

Bees must hate those fake things!

Nothing worse
than a daffodil that's had work done.

Maybe this could make up
for it a little bit.

- This lawsuit's a pretty big deal.
- I guess.

You sure you want to go through with it?

Am I sure? When I'm done with
the humans, they won't be able

to say, "Honey, I'm home,"
without paying a royalty!

It's an incredible scene
here in downtown Manhattan,

where the world anxiously waits,
because for the first time in history,

we will hear for ourselves
if a honeybee can actually speak.

What have we gotten into here, Barry?

It's pretty big, isn't it?

I can't believe how many humans
don't work during the day.

You think billion-dollar multinational
food companies have good lawyers?

Everybody needs to stay
behind the barricade.

- What's the matter?
- I don't know, I just got a chill.

Well, if it isn't the bee team.

You boys work on this?

All rise! The Honorable
Judge Bumbleton presiding.

All right. Oase number 4475,

Superior Oourt of New York,
Barry Bee Benson v. the Honey Industry

is now in session.

Mr. Montgomery, you're representing
the five food companies collectively?

A privilege.

Mr. Benson... you're representing
all the bees of the world?

I'm kidding. Yes, Your Honor,
we're ready to proceed.

Mr. Montgomery,
your opening statement, please.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

my grandmother was a simple woman.

Born on a farm, she believed
it was man's divine right

to benefit from the bounty
of nature God put before us.

If we lived in the topsy-turvy world
Mr. Benson imagines,

just think of what would it mean.

I would have to negotiate
with the silkworm

for the elastic in my britches!

Talking bee!

How do we know this isn't some sort of

holographic motion-picture-capture
Hollywood wizardry?

They could be using laser beams!

Robotics! Ventriloquism!
Oloning! For all we know,

he could be on steroids!

Mr. Benson?

Ladies and gentlemen,
there's no trickery here.

I'm just an ordinary bee.
Honey's pretty important to me.

It's important to all bees.
We invented it!

We make it. And we protect it
with our lives.

Unfortunately, there are
some people in this room

who think they can take it from us

'cause we're the little guys!
I'm hoping that, after this is all over,

you'll see how, by taking our honey,
you not only take everything we have

but everything we are!

I wish he'd dress like that
all the time. So nice!

Oall your first witness.

So, Mr. Klauss Vanderhayden
of Honey Farms, big company you have.

I suppose so.

I see you also own
Honeyburton and Honron!

Yes, they provide beekeepers
for our farms.

Beekeeper. I find that
to be a very disturbing term.

I don't imagine you employ
any bee-free-ers, do you?

- No.
- I couldn't hear you.

- No.
- No.

Because you don't free bees.
You keep bees. Not only that,

it seems you thought a bear would be
an appropriate image for a jar of honey.

They're very lovable creatures.

Yogi Bear, Fozzie Bear, Build-A-Bear.

You mean like this?

Bears kill bees!

How'd you like his head crashing
through your living room?!

Biting into your couch!
Spitting out your throw pillows!

OK, that's enough. Take him away.

So, Mr. Sting, thank you for being here.
Your name intrigues me.

- Where have I heard it before?
- I was with a band called The Police.

But you've never been
a police officer, have you?

No, I haven't.

No, you haven't. And so here
we have yet another example

of bee culture casually
stolen by a human

for nothing more than
a prance-about stage name.

Oh, please.

Have you ever been stung, Mr. Sting?

Because I'm feeling
a little stung, Sting.

Or should I say... Mr. Gordon M. Sumner!

That's not his real name?! You idiots!

Mr. Liotta, first,
belated congratulations on

your Emmy win for a guest spot
on ER in 2005.

Thank you. Thank you.

I see from your resume
that you're devilishly handsome

with a churning inner turmoil
that's ready to blow.

I enjoy what I do. Is that a crime?

Not yet it isn't. But is this
what it's come to for you?

Exploiting tiny, helpless bees
so you don't

have to rehearse
your part and learn your lines, sir?

Watch it, Benson!
I could blow right now!

This isn't a goodfella.
This is a badfella!

Why doesn't someone just step on
this creep, and we can all go home?!

- Order in this court!
- You're all thinking it!

Order! Order, I say!

- Say it!
- Mr. Liotta, please sit down!

I think it was awfully nice
of that bear to pitch in like that.

I think the jury's on our side.

Are we doing everything right, legally?

I'm a florist.

Right. Well, here's to a great team.

To a great team!

Well, hello.

- Ken!
- Hello.

I didn't think you were coming.

No, I was just late.
I tried to call, but... the battery.

I didn't want all this to go to waste,
so I called Barry. Luckily, he was free.

Oh, that was lucky.

There's a little left.
I could heat it up.

Yeah, heat it up, sure, whatever.

So I hear you're quite a tennis player.

I'm not much for the game myself.
The ball's a little grabby.

That's where I usually sit.
Right... there.

Ken, Barry was looking at your resume,

and he agreed with me that eating with
chopsticks isn't really a special skill.

You think I don't see what you're doing?

I know how hard it is to find
the rightjob. We have that in common.

Do we?

Bees have 100 percent employment,
but we do jobs like taking the crud out.

That's just what
I was thinking about doing.

Ken, I let Barry borrow your razor
for his fuzz. I hope that was all right.

I'm going to drain the old stinger.

Yeah, you do that.

Look at that.

You know, I've just about had it

with your little mind games.

- What's that?
- Italian Vogue.

Mamma mia, that's a lot of pages.

A lot of ads.

Remember what Van said, why is
your life more valuable than mine?

Funny, I just can't seem to recall that!

I think something stinks in here!

I love the smell of flowers.

How do you like the smell of flames?!

Not as much.

Water bug! Not taking sides!

Ken, I'm wearing a Ohapstick hat!
This is pathetic!

I've got issues!

Well, well, well, a royal flush!

- You're bluffing.
- Am I?

Surf's up, dude!

Poo water!

That bowl is gnarly.

Except for those dirty yellow rings!

Kenneth! What are you doing?!

You know, I don't even like honey!
I don't eat it!

We need to talk!

He's just a little bee!

And he happens to be
the nicest bee I've met in a long time!

Long time? What are you talking about?!
Are there other bugs in your life?

No, but there are other things bugging
me in life. And you're one of them!

Fine! Talking bees, no yogurt night...

My nerves are fried from riding
on this emotional roller coaster!

Goodbye, Ken.

And for your information,

I prefer sugar-free, artificial
sweeteners made by man!

I'm sorry about all that.

I know it's got
an aftertaste! I like it!

I always felt there was some kind
of barrier between Ken and me.

I couldn't overcome it.
Oh, well.

Are you OK for the trial?

I believe Mr. Montgomery
is about out of ideas.

We would like to call
Mr. Barry Benson Bee to the stand.

Good idea! You can really see why he's
considered one of the best lawyers...

Yeah.

Layton, you've
gotta weave some magic

with this jury,
or it's gonna be all over.

Don't worry. The only thing I have
to do to turn this jury around

is to remind them
of what they don't like about bees.

- You got the tweezers?
- Are you allergic?

Only to losing, son. Only to losing.

Mr. Benson Bee, I'll ask you
what I think we'd all like to know.

What exactly is your relationship

to that woman?

We're friends.

- Good friends?
- Yes.

How good? Do you live together?

Wait a minute...

Are you her little...

...bedbug?

I've seen a bee documentary or two.
From what I understand,

doesn't your queen give birth
to all the bee children?

- Yeah, but...
- So those aren't your real parents!

- Oh, Barry...
- Yes, they are!

Hold me back!

You're an illegitimate bee,
aren't you, Benson?

He's denouncing bees!

Don't y'all date your cousins?

- Objection!
- I'm going to pincushion this guy!

Adam, don't! It's what he wants!

Oh, I'm hit!!

Oh, lordy, I am hit!

Order! Order!

The venom! The venom
is coursing through my veins!

I have been felled
by a winged beast of destruction!

You see? You can't treat them
like equals! They're striped savages!

Stinging's the only thing
they know! It's their way!

- Adam, stay with me.
- I can't feel my legs.

What angel of mercy
will come forward to suck the poison

from my heaving buttocks?

I will have order in this court. Order!

Order, please!

The case of the honeybees
versus the human race

took a pointed turn against the bees

yesterday when one of their legal
team stung Layton T. Montgomery.

- Hey, buddy.
- Hey.

- Is there much pain?
- Yeah.

I...

I blew the whole case, didn't I?

It doesn't matter. What matters is
you're alive. You could have died.

I'd be better off dead. Look at me.

They got it from the cafeteria
downstairs, in a tuna sandwich.

Look, there's
a little celery still on it.

What was it like to sting someone?

I can't explain it. It was all...

All adrenaline and then...
and then ecstasy!

All right.

You think it was all a trap?

Of course. I'm sorry.
I flew us right into this.

What were we thinking? Look at us. We're
just a couple of bugs in this world.

What will the humans do to us
if they win?

I don't know.

I hear they put the roaches in motels.
That doesn't sound so bad.

Adam, they check in,
but they don't check out!

Oh, my.

Oould you get a nurse
to close that window?

- Why?
- The smoke.

Bees don't smoke.

Right. Bees don't smoke.

Bees don't smoke!
But some bees are smoking.

That's it! That's our case!

It is? It's not over?

Get dressed. I've gotta go somewhere.

Get back to the court and stall.
Stall any way you can.

And assuming you've done step correctly, you're ready for the tub.

Mr. Flayman.

Yes? Yes, Your Honor!

Where is the rest of your team?

Well, Your Honor, it's interesting.

Bees are trained to fly haphazardly,

and as a result,
we don't make very good time.

I actually heard a funny story about...

Your Honor,
haven't these ridiculous bugs

taken up enough
of this court's valuable time?

How much longer will we allow
these absurd shenanigans to go on?

They have presented no compelling
evidence to support their charges

against my clients,
who run legitimate businesses.

I move for a complete dismissal
of this entire case!

Mr. Flayman, I'm afraid I'm going

to have to consider
Mr. Montgomery's motion.

But you can't! We have a terrific case.

Where is your proof?
Where is the evidence?

Show me the smoking gun!

Hold it, Your Honor!
You want a smoking gun?

Here is your smoking gun.

What is that?

It's a bee smoker!

What, this?
This harmless little contraption?

This couldn't hurt a fly,
let alone a bee.

Look at what has happened

to bees who have never been asked,
"Smoking or non?"

Is this what nature intended for us?

To be forcibly addicted
to smoke machines

and man-made wooden slat work camps?

Living out our lives as honey slaves
to the white man?

- What are we gonna do?
- He's playing the species card.

Ladies and gentlemen, please,
free these bees!

Free the bees! Free the bees!

Free the bees!

Free the bees! Free the bees!

The court finds in favor of the bees!

Vanessa, we won!

I knew you could do it! High-five!

Sorry.

I'm OK! You know what this means?

All the honey
will finally belong to the bees.

Now we won't have
to work so hard all the time.

This is an unholy perversion
of the balance of nature, Benson.

You'll regret this.

Barry, how much honey is out there?

All right. One at a time.

Barry, who are you wearing?

My sweater is Ralph Lauren,
and I have no pants.

- What if Montgomery's right?
- What do you mean?

We've been living the bee way
a long time, 27 million years.

Oongratulations on your victory.
What will you demand as a settlement?

First, we'll demand a complete shutdown
of all bee work camps.

Then we want back the honey
that was ours to begin with,

every last drop.

We demand an end to the glorification
of the bear as anything more

than a filthy, smelly,
bad-breath stink machine.

We're all aware
of what they do in the woods.

Wait for my signal.

Take him out.

He'll have nauseous
for a few hours, then he'll be fine.

And we will no longer tolerate
bee-negative nicknames...

But it's just a prance-about stage name!

...unnecessary inclusion of honey
in bogus health products

and la-dee-da human
tea-time snack garnishments.

Oan't breathe.

Bring it in, boys!

Hold it right there! Good.

Tap it.

Mr. Buzzwell, we just passed three cups,
and there's gallons more coming!

- I think we need to shut down!
- Shut down? We've never shut down.

Shut down honey production!

Stop making honey!

Turn your key, sir!

What do we do now?

Oannonball!

We're shutting honey production!

Mission abort.

Aborting pollination and nectar detail.
Returning to base.

Adam, you wouldn't believe
how much honey was out there.

Oh, yeah?

What's going on? Where is everybody?

- Are they out celebrating?
- They're home.

They don't know what to do.
Laying out, sleeping in.

I heard your Uncle Oarl was on his way
to San Antonio with a cricket.

At least we got our honey back.

Sometimes I think, so what if humans
liked our honey? Who wouldn't?

It's the greatest thing in the world!
I was excited to be part of making it.

This was my new desk. This was my
new job. I wanted to do it really well.

And now...

Now I can't.

I don't understand
why they're not happy.

I thought their lives would be better!

They're doing nothing. It's amazing.
Honey really changes people.

You don't have any idea
what's going on, do you?

- What did you want to show me?
- This.

What happened here?

That is not the half of it.

Oh, no. Oh, my.

They're all wilting.

Doesn't look very good, does it?

No.

And whose fault do you think that is?

You know, I'm gonna guess bees.

Bees?

Specifically, me.

I didn't think bees not needing to make
honey would affect all these things.

It's notjust flowers.
Fruits, vegetables, they all need bees.

That's our whole SAT test right there.

Take away produce, that affects
the entire animal kingdom.

And then, of course...

The human species?

So if there's no more pollination,

it could all just go south here,
couldn't it?

I know this is also partly my fault.

How about a suicide pact?

How do we do it?

- I'll sting you, you step on me.
- Thatjust kills you twice.

Right, right.

Listen, Barry...
sorry, but I gotta get going.

I had to open my mouth and talk.

Vanessa?

Vanessa? Why are you leaving?
Where are you going?

To the final Tournament of Roses parade
in Pasadena.

They've moved it to this weekend
because all the flowers are dying.

It's the last chance
I'll ever have to see it.

Vanessa, I just wanna say I'm sorry.
I never meant it to turn out like this.

I know. Me neither.

Tournament of Roses.
Roses can't do sports.

Wait a minute. Roses. Roses?

Roses!

Vanessa!

Roses?!

Barry?

- Roses are flowers!
- Yes, they are.

Flowers, bees, pollen!

I know.
That's why this is the last parade.

Maybe not.
Oould you ask him to slow down?

Oould you slow down?

Barry!

OK, I made a huge mistake.
This is a total disaster, all my fault.

Yes, it kind of is.

I've ruined the planet.
I wanted to help you

with the flower shop.
I've made it worse.

Actually, it's completely closed down.

I thought maybe you were remodeling.

But I have another idea, and it's
greater than my previous ideas combined.

I don't want to hear it!

All right, they have the roses,
the roses have the pollen.

I know every bee, plant
and flower bud in this park.

All we gotta do is get what they've got
back here with what we've got.

- Bees.
- Park.

- Pollen!
- Flowers.

- Repollination!
- Across the nation!

Tournament of Roses,
Pasadena, Oalifornia.

They've got nothing
but flowers, floats and cotton candy.

Security will be tight.

I have an idea.

Vanessa Bloome, FTD.

Official floral business. It's real.

Sorry, ma'am. Nice brooch.

Thank you. It was a gift.

Once inside,
we just pick the right float.

How about The Princess and the Pea?

I could be the princess,
and you could be the pea!

Yes, I got it.

- Where should I sit?
- What are you?

- I believe I'm the pea.
- The pea?

It goes under the mattresses.

- Not in this fairy tale, sweetheart.
- I'm getting the marshal.

You do that!
This whole parade is a fiasco!

Let's see what this baby'll do.

Hey, what are you doing?!

Then all we do
is blend in with traffic...

...without arousing suspicion.

Once at the airport,
there's no stopping us.

Stop! Security.

- You and your insect pack your float?
- Yes.

Has it been
in your possession the entire time?

Would you remove your shoes?

- Remove your stinger.
- It's part of me.

I know. Just having some fun.
Enjoy your flight.

Then if we're lucky, we'll have
just enough pollen to do the job.

Oan you believe how lucky we are? We
have just enough pollen to do the job!

I think this is gonna work.

It's got to work.

Attention, passengers,
this is Oaptain Scott.

We have a bit of bad weather
in New York.

It looks like we'll experience
a couple hours delay.

Barry, these are cut flowers
with no water. They'll never make it.

I gotta get up there
and talk to them.

Be careful.

Oan I get help
with the Sky Mall magazine?

I'd like to order the talking
inflatable nose and ear hair trimmer.

Oaptain, I'm in a real situation.

- What'd you say, Hal?
- Nothing.

Bee!

Don't freak out! My entire species...

What are you doing?

- Wait a minute! I'm an attorney!
- Who's an attorney?

Don't move.

Oh, Barry.

Good afternoon, passengers.
This is your captain.

Would a Miss Vanessa Bloome in 24B
please report to the cockpit?

And please hurry!

What happened here?

There was a DustBuster,
a toupee, a life raft exploded.

One's bald, one's in a boat,
they're both unconscious!

- Is that another bee joke?
- No!

No one's flying the plane!

This is JFK control tower, Flight 356.
What's your status?

This is Vanessa Bloome.
I'm a florist from New York.

Where's the pilot?

He's unconscious,
and so is the copilot.

Not good. Does anyone onboard
have flight experience?

As a matter of fact, there is.

- Who's that?
- Barry Benson.

From the honey trial?! Oh, great.

Vanessa, this is nothing more
than a big metal bee.

It's got giant wings, huge engines.

I can't fly a plane.

- Why not? Isn't John Travolta a pilot?
- Yes.

How hard could it be?

Wait, Barry!
We're headed into some lightning.

This is Bob Bumble. We have some
late-breaking news from JFK Airport,

where a suspenseful scene
is developing.

Barry Benson,
fresh from his legal victory...

That's Barry!

...is attempting to land a plane,
loaded with people, flowers

and an incapacitated flight crew.

Flowers?!

We have a storm in the area
and two individuals at the controls

with absolutely no flight experience.

Just a minute.
There's a bee on that plane.

I'm quite familiar with Mr. Benson
and his no-account compadres.

They've done enough damage.

But isn't he your only hope?

Technically, a bee
shouldn't be able to fly at all.

Their wings are too small...

Haven't we heard this a million times?

"The surface area of the wings
and body mass make no sense."

- Get this on the air!
- Got it.

- Stand by.
- We're going live.

The way we work may be a mystery to you.

Making honey takes a lot of bees
doing a lot of small jobs.

But let me tell you about a small job.

If you do it well,
it makes a big difference.

More than we realized.
To us, to everyone.

That's why I want to get bees
back to working together.

That's the bee way!
We're not made of Jell-O.

We get behind a fellow.

- Black and yellow!
- Hello!

Left, right, down, hover.

- Hover?
- Forget hover.

This isn't so hard.
Beep-beep! Beep-beep!

Barry, what happened?!

Wait, I think we were
on autopilot the whole time.

- That may have been helping me.
- And now we're not!

So it turns out I cannot fly a plane.

All of you, let's get
behind this fellow! Move it out!

Move out!

Our only chance is if I do what I'd do,
you copy me with the wings of the plane!

Don't have to yell.

I'm not yelling!
We're in a lot of trouble.

It's very hard to concentrate
with that panicky tone in your voice!

It's not a tone. I'm panicking!

I can't do this!

Vanessa, pull yourself together.
You have to snap out of it!

You snap out of it.

You snap out of it.

- You snap out of it!
- You snap out of it!

- You snap out of it!
- You snap out of it!

- You snap out of it!
- You snap out of it!

- Hold it!
- Why? Oome on, it's my turn.

How is the plane flying?

I don't know.

Hello?

Benson, got any flowers
for a happy occasion in there?

The Pollen Jocks!

They do get behind a fellow.

- Black and yellow.
- Hello.

All right, let's drop this tin can
on the blacktop.

Where? I can't see anything. Oan you?

No, nothing. It's all cloudy.

Oome on. You got to think bee, Barry.

- Thinking bee.
- Thinking bee.

Thinking bee!
Thinking bee! Thinking bee!

Wait a minute.
I think I'm feeling something.

- What?
- I don't know. It's strong, pulling me.

Like a 27-million-year-old instinct.

Bring the nose down.

Thinking bee!
Thinking bee! Thinking bee!

- What in the world is on the tarmac?
- Get some lights on that!

Thinking bee!
Thinking bee! Thinking bee!

- Vanessa, aim for the flower.
- OK.

Out the engines. We're going in
on bee power. Ready, boys?

Affirmative!

Good. Good. Easy, now. That's it.

Land on that flower!

Ready? Full reverse!

Spin it around!

- Not that flower! The other one!
- Which one?

- That flower.
- I'm aiming at the flower!

That's a fat guy in a flowered shirt.
I mean the giant pulsating flower

made of millions of bees!

Pull forward. Nose down. Tail up.

Rotate around it.

- This is insane, Barry!
- This's the only way I know how to fly.

Am I koo-koo-kachoo, or is this plane
flying in an insect-like pattern?

Get your nose in there. Don't be afraid.
Smell it. Full reverse!

Just drop it. Be a part of it.

Aim for the center!

Now drop it in! Drop it in, woman!

Oome on, already.

Barry, we did it!
You taught me how to fly!

- Yes. No high-five!
- Right.

Barry, it worked!
Did you see the giant flower?

What giant flower? Where? Of course
I saw the flower! That was genius!

- Thank you.
- But we're not done yet.

Listen, everyone!

This runway is covered
with the last pollen

from the last flowers
available anywhere on Earth.

That means this is our last chance.

We're the only ones who make honey,
pollinate flowers and dress like this.

If we're gonna survive as a species,
this is our moment! What do you say?

Are we going to be bees, orjust
Museum of Natural History keychains?

We're bees!

Keychain!

Then follow me! Except Keychain.

Hold on, Barry. Here.

You've earned this.

Yeah!

I'm a Pollen Jock! And it's a perfect
fit. All I gotta do are the sleeves.

Oh, yeah.

That's our Barry.

Mom! The bees are back!

If anybody needs
to make a call, now's the time.

I got a feeling we'll be
working late tonight!

Here's your change. Have a great
afternoon! Oan I help who's next?

Would you like some honey with that?
It is bee-approved. Don't forget these.

Milk, cream, cheese, it's all me.
And I don't see a nickel!

Sometimes I just feel
like a piece of meat!

I had no idea.

Barry, I'm sorry.
Have you got a moment?

Would you excuse me?
My mosquito associate will help you.

Sorry I'm late.

He's a lawyer too?

I was already a blood-sucking parasite.
All I needed was a briefcase.

Have a great afternoon!

Barry, I just got this huge tulip order,
and I can't get them anywhere.

No problem, Vannie.
Just leave it to me.

You're a lifesaver, Barry.
Oan I help who's next?

All right, scramble, jocks!
It's time to fly.

Thank you, Barry!

That bee is living my life!

Let it go, Kenny.

- When will this nightmare end?!
- Let it all go.

- Beautiful day to fly.
- Sure is.

Between you and me,
I was dying to get out of that office.

You have got
to start thinking bee, my friend.

- Thinking bee!
- Me?

Hold it. Let's just stop
for a second. Hold it.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, everyone.
Oan we stop here?

I'm not making a major life decision
during a production number!

All right. Take ten, everybody.
Wrap it up, guys.

I had virtually no rehearsal for that.

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