(Mother Wasp POV)

I stared at my precious little worker wasp and his robot companion. It was time to finally explain the events of the last two years that led to today.

My real name is Aurelia Gardenia, dearies.

After college I worked a few different jobs, trying to make my way up through the scientific fields in order to make a difference. To help people.

Where I specifically specialized in was the study of bees, wasps, and other hymenopteran life forms and how we can utilize them to our best benefit.

A bee sting may hurt, but ultimately they are very important little creatures. I always had a fondness for them, enough for me to base my whole research off of them.

So when I got a job offer at Stromford Industries to be a researcher, one that could continue studying on bees, wasps, and the like, I immediately took the opportunity.

It was a dream come true.

Or at least, that's what I thought back then. Now I wish I hadn't. I suppose you could actually call it a nightmare in disguise.

It was for six months that I conducted my research. Studying the insects, conducting experiments, creating various ideas and papers on how they could help others.

I guess what I saw as good progress was worth nothing to Stromford. I was thrilled when the CEO of the company came to visit my researching lab in the South Stromford Facilities himself.

"Mr. Stromford!" I excitedly gasped. "It is a pleasure to see you here! How may I help you?"

Killian Stromford looked around the room with a cold look. It wasn't exactly the cleanest, with different papers and other items strewn across tables and desks. At the desk I was just sitting at was a sealed simulated habitat that a few wasps flew around in.

"Ms. Gardenia, correct?" Killian Stromford asked.

"Yes sir." I nodded.

"You're fired." He stated.

"I...what...?" I paused, looking at him in shock.

Did...did I hear him right?

"It has been six months and your research hasn't been of any use." He adjusted his suit. "So I found another use for you."

"What are you-?" I questioned.

He snapped his fingers, two guards walking in.

"Get her." He nodded towards me. "And you, get the bugs."

The two guards nodded. One of them turned towards me, staring me straight in the eyes as he started to walk forwards.

"H-hey, what's going on?!" I demanded, my heart pounding as I started to back up.

What is happening? What is going on?

The guard continued to walk towards me, and my fight or flight instincts kicked in. I tried to dabs past him, only for him to grab me by the wrist. I turned back in fear only to see a fist approaching my face.

I blacked out after that.

I sighed to myself, running a hand through my hair. My little henchman looked at me, a frown upon his face.

"You were experimented on." Jason concluded.

"Yes." I nodded. "I was."

My vision started to return as I came to. I was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. I tried to move, before realizing that I couldn't. I was laid on a metal table, metal restraints on my wrists, ankles, and stomach. I wiggled and struggled to no avail.

"I see you've got me two new test subjects, Mr. Stromford." Stated a man in a lab coat. He held a clipboard in his hands, writing something down as Killian Stromford spoke.

"Yes." Killian crossed his arms. "The failure leader of the Automatic Weapon project and the hymenopteran researcher."

"Ah, the one from North." The man in the lab coat chuckled. "I always knew that advancement through robotics was the wrong approach."

"Your refinement of the I-Genome is coming along nicely." Killian stated. "Much better than the abominations that were the first few trials."

"Yes, those failures have been disposed of." Replied the man in the lab coat. "And our recent success, Flycatcher, has been properly disciplined. He should listen despite his broken mind."

"Good." Nodded Killian Stromford. "I expect these next two to be better than the last. Now I will leave you to it."

Killian Stromford turned away, walking out of the room without a single look back. The researcher finally looked up from his clipboard. To my horror, our eyes immediately connected.

"I see you've already awoken." He stated, placing the clipboard down. "I should start before the other one wakes. It's easier that way."

"W-what's going on? What's going to happen to me?" I asked fearfully.

"Allow me to demonstrate!" The man in the lab coat grinned, holding up a vial of some golden-looking liquid. "This little concoction is what I call the I-Genome serum."

He poured the vial into a syringe, walking over to the man restrained in a similar fashion on the table next to me. He was out cold, having no idea of what was about to happen to him.

The man in the lab coat tilted the man's head, feeling for a vein in the neck. He found it, stabbing the syringe in and pressing down to send the liquid into the man's body.

The man's eyes shot open as he let out a bloodcurdling scream, thrashing against the binds that kept him there. The man in the lab coat backed up with a grin as the restrained man continued to let out agonizing screams, shaking and struggling.

Tears started to stream down his face as his screams only got louder. And then his head started to split open. Peeling open as if it was some sort of flower trying to bloom, his skin melted as his skull cracked.

And bursting from the skull was another hard material, a shiny red one that started to grow and become larger. Sprouting out from it were two antennae as bursting from his mouth were a large set of mandibles. Beady eyes made their way from the depths of the new head being formed, revealing a man whose head had become an ants.

A painful screech came from somewhere underneath that head, the sight permanently ingrained into my mind.

"Quite the major reaction in response to the ant DNA variant I-Genome." Noted the man in the lab coat, writing on the clipboard. "I'll have to conduct tests to see if that has any correlations."

He placed the clipboard back down, pulling out another golden vial and pouring it into another syringe. He turned around, pure terror going down my spine as his eyes connected with mine.

"I'm thinking we go with some bee DNA crossed with wasp DNA." He grinned. "It'll be the first time crossing two. I wonder what will happen?"

He stepped forwards.

"No." I whimpered. "No, no, no, no, no!"

My memories of that moment are foggy at best. All I remember is excruciating pain. Long, unforgettable pain which still drives me today.

There were no major repercussions. I'd say I got it the best out of all of them. I didn't have any physical mutations, rather an ability that actually benefited me.

I was the best success out of them all.

But unlike the others, my pain lasted for much longer. I still suffer from bouts of excruciating pain every once in a while as a side effect from the I-Genome serum. And using my ability often gives me a headache. In fact, I'm experiencing one right now.

At least my mind wasn't broken like the others.

My cute little helper frowned even deeper, his hands tightly clenched in fists against his pants as he stared at me.

"The I-Genome..." I spoke. "...stands for the Insectoid Genome. It's a serum that's supposed to work as a replacement for the S-Genome for those not born with one."

"It's effects are random and painful, though they do depend on the DNA variant." I continued. "It's why my ability has the highest affinity with bees and wasps."

Jason shifted, crossing his legs. "I hate to break it to that stupid researcher but spiders aren't insects."

I felt myself lightly smile at his comment.

"Well, that's my story, dearie." I stated. "Which is why I've been trying to expose and bring down Killian. It's not enough to just kill him. I want others to know of the threat his whole company is. And watching it crumble will be the perfect revenge."

I crossed my legs, giving my forehead a light rub as the headache started to increase. "I will get you the payment soon. I hope that when I do, you'll decide to continue working."

I slowly stood up, my legs a little wobbly. "I should take my leave."

Jason stood up, putting a hand on my shoulder. He lightly pushed me back onto the bed.

"You can sleep here for the night." He stated. "They'll probably be searching. Better to stay low."

"Since you suggested, I'll gladly take the offer, dearie." I smirked.

I noticed his robot companion stare at me strongly from behind his back. I simply grinned back at her.

With all that's happened today...

...I think I might just take him for myself~

"May I use your restroom?" I asked.

"What am I gonna do, refuse?" He joked.

I stood back up, walking my way to the bathroom. I locked the door behind me and stared at myself in the mirror.

I brushed my hair over my shoulder, revealing the eyepatch which covered one of my eyes. Or at least, what used to be one of them.

I took off the eyepatch, looking at the empty socket that was left behind. My punishment when I had attempted to escape after gaining my powers.

I vividly remember the man's figure looming over me, those metal devices moving closer towards my eye as I couldn't do a thing but watch. He plucked it right out.

And now, I left to wear this eyepatch.

If it wasn't for another incident happening in the same building, I wouldn't have been able to escape at all. I'd still be under their control.

I put the eyepatch back on with a sigh, before moving my hair to cover it once more. I wonder how he would react if he saw that. Would he recoil in disgust? Or would he accept it without a care?

That silly little henchman of mine, somehow making me think so much about him. And with how he helped me tonight, I know I'll still be stuck thinking about him.

Why, why do you continue to worm your way into my brain? You are the thing I've thought most about other than my revenge plans.

Why is that?

Seeing all that you had done, I couldn't help but want to tease you. Want to reward you. Want to see you succeed.

Want you all to myself.

And now, those desires have become even stronger. If it wasn't for me recounting my story, my head would've been filled to the brim with thoughts.

Thoughts of kissing, cuddling, flirting, rewarding, going on dates, how good you looked in that suit or when you were shirtless, the feeling of someone fighting for me, being all yours.

It wasn't just flirting when I said I wanted you to teach me all your "tricks" at the masquerade ball. And now that's even more true.

I know you could've fled.

But you didn't.

You helped me.

You saved me.

And I felt a giddy grin form onto my face as I my heart thumped. Finally, I realized why I had been so interested. Why I had continued to watch you through the bees. Why I had wanted to reward you so badly.

I love you.

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love~!

Don't worry, my dear little worker wasp, for I finally understand. Mother will take care of you and treat you right. You will never need to worry again. I will take care of all your needs. Anything you need done shall be done. Anyone you need gone will be gone.

You're my henchman, Jason.

And I'm afraid that even if you want to go...

...I just won't be able to let you leave.

Not anymore.

Now, how should I reward you for what you did today~?