The Rising Dawn, # 35— "Bees and Dollar Bills"

Dorothy was watching over an indoor apiary, with one of the types of insects she preferred as company (honeybees). A system of hydroponics kept an abundance of flowers as fodder for the bees, as well as a system of taps of sugar water, which wasn’t expensive, as opposed to honey, which was. 

Dorothy Catcher was Ladybug’s Normy name, and a few of the Dawns wanted to weaponize her Gift. If she spent enough time with any kind of insect, Ladybug could bend them to her will. With most insects, it wasn’t very useful. But biting flies, wasps, yellow jackets, and other pests had a great deal of tactical value, yet Wraith insisted on an apiary for a number of reasons.

One was that honey was already a lucrative product, and after an inquiry, it appeared to be the case that Dorothy could imbue the bees with her ether, which in turn produced honey with remarkable properties. This honey produced the same effect as coffee, and also served as a stimulant not unlike tobacco, and the taste appeared to have a touch of mint. Dorothy loved staying with the bees, which never stung her, and their buzzing did not fray her nerves in the least.

Their scientists were monitoring the bees and their various products. The wax proved more effective as a balm than what was on the market, and Ladybug’s Bee Pollen would become a popular substitute for multivitamins and protein powder. A few personnel took care of the grunt work, while Dorothy worked her magic with the bees themselves.

Moreover, the bees were evolving at a rate once believed to be impossible. The insects were producing more than just drones, queens, and worker bees. There was now a defensive type of bee that comprised approximately three percent of each hive, having pincers that proved to be effective against vurroa mites, upon testing. These ones also had limitless stings, and could only be safely approached if Dorothy was nearby.

There was now a difference between bees that performed different tasks, a form of specialization, and because of this overall productivity was increased. Then, about one percent of them were being called Ether Bees, which were attracted to anything that emitted ether, and were found to gather small amounts of it, usually from Dorothy, (or Ladybug). There was study to be done as to whether these bees were responsible for the medicinal uses of the honey.

Dorothy was about seventy-percent non-verbal, and still sucked her thumb at age twelve. She played games with her dolls and the bees, and once she was given the Apiary, she had no desire to leave, and had to be coaxed out even for lunch.

Even still, Ladybug Honey yielded a handsome source of revenue, and it was near impossible to keep up with demand.

They once tried to get The Study to befriend her and the bees, but the Study wailed at the prospect of going near them. Though Ladybug was immune to the thrumming of the bees, they caused Little Grego to flee in panic, even when he was assured Dorothy would not let the bees sting him.

“Hello, Dory,” said Jessica Sweetly. Her Dawn name was Citizen Snow.

“Ladybug,” said Ladybug, gently but firmly correcting her. The bees seemed to hum in assent.

Needle, Beacon, Parse, and Gallant were with her. Gallant was not wearing his armor, but he was still a masterpiece in his form and countenance. He was known for quickly ascertaining the activities a Gifted should engage in to excel in their respective abilities.

However, as of now, he had little to say to little Dorothy, as letting her roam free seemed the most that could be done to let her thrive.

“I do want her to make friends,” said Gallant, “she may become alienated if she only communes with insects.”

“It’s hard to get her to leave this place,” said Snow, “and most of us don’t like being near, well. Bees.”

Though the other Citizens felt their nerves frayed when the bees thrummed near them, Dorothy (purportedly and ostensibly) would not allow the bees to sting them, including the Defender brood.

However, both in practice and according to the scientists delegated to study Dorothy and the bees, the bees would react and thrum their wings in a frequency aligned with Dorothy’s tastes and preferences. As such, they seemed to bother Wark (Beacon) more than the other Citizens.

“Hey! Hey! Woah now!” said James (Wark, Beacon), “I’m just here to see the girly do her magic! Ho-onest!”

“You big baby,” said Needle.

“They’re buzzin at me, like— well, I don’t like it!”

The bees gently smelled Parse, Needle, and Gallant, although Needle wore a fragrance that brought the bees too close for her comfort.

“Hey, woah!,” said Needle, nearly swarmed by curious bees, “Personal space here, people!”

“If I’m not mistaken,” said Gallant, “this is how Dorothy is getting to know you.”

“Ladybug,” said Dorothy. When she said this, the bees near Gallant briefly thrummed in an unpleasant way.

“I see,” said Gallant, “If we spent enough time in here, there would be some kind of social dynamic with the bees as a medium.”

“Medium might not be the right word,” said Parse, “My estimation is every bee here is infinitesimally in a relationship with Ladybug.”

“I see,” said Gallant appreciatively, though outside the Dawn Society, many would find Parse obnoxious.

“Emerald,” said Jessica (Snow), referring to Parse, “Would the dynamic with her and the bees improve if she were socialized with, well— people?”

“There’s a chance greater-than seventy-percent chance that that’s true,” said Parse.

“... but she doesn’t want to leave,” said Jessica.

“Leave it to me,” said Needle. 

With impressively steady nerves, Needle approached Ladybug.

The bees swarmed her as she drew close, surprisingly unpleasant even for someone as disarming as Needle.

“Hey there, little Ladybug,” said Divitra Florens (Needle), “Can I tell you some things?”

Dorothy offered her a plastic tea cup with nothing in it.

Needle sipped from it. “Mmmmmm. Wow. So good!”

The bees seemed to calm down, though they were systematically smelling and analyzing Needle in a way that would perturb normal people.

Then she said, “I have a proposition for you.”

Dorothy gazed at her.

“The bees tell me they want to see you grow up,” said Needle, “and that means you have to make friends with humans.”

Dorothy gazed at her.

“So anyway,” she said with strong affability, “I think the bees will love you more if they see you act like a big girl and come to your lessons, and be the best version of yourself. Lots of people want to meet you.”

The bees buzzed in a way that was unpleasant, but non-threatening.

“You can bring some friends with you!” said Needle.

Ponderously, Dorothy gathered herself and took Needle by the hand.

“See? Little Dorothy Catcher, off to be a big girl!”

One of the Defender bees stung her.

“Ow!”

“Ladybug,” said Ladybug.