>>5281473The words of PTE ring in their mind. He was right, in that no life after death exists, leaving souls free to be manipulated. They begin their greatest project yet. With no magic at their fingertips, they pray to their unseen Judge, working together with Him to establish a great piece of work. No more will the spirits of the dead wander the shelves aimlessly. By his hand, they finally succeed in forming the afterlife they sought.
After death, the souls will seek out and fuse with one of the countless empty tomes that line the library chambers within the Silverfish territories. Their hopes, their dreams, their aspirations, and the record of their lives will be inscribed in the book, serving as a mark that they indeed lived. As new generations peruse and read these stories, they learn from their mistakes and their accomplishments, storing such things within themselves and carrying it onward far into the future. In this way, all will be immortalised, guarded over by the bugs and protected from further exploitation. As the greatest civilization to have sprung up, they've come a long way from foul insects who did nothing but consume knowledge and hide away in hives. Now, they see their duty: To guard this place, and ensure the Library and its souls come to no harm.
There's still much to do. They've gotten rid of the Buglins after the war, and are working on tidying up the Great Hole. There are houses to build, there are places to explore. They still need to see what lies beyond the factory and the swamp. But all that is for the future. For now, the Hive Queen sets a hand on her abdomen, sitting within her grand chamber. Though their allies and enemies have been slain, the Silverfish make no habit of wasting biomass. Somewhere within them, intertwined with strands of their DNA, are the remnants of the AAA, Goblins, and even the long-extinct Skaven. Perhaps some day, in the far future, when they feel like they're ready to bring these folk back, their ilk will walk the library again. They'll be released into a prosperous Golden age, with the Silverfish replacing the Scribes and serving as true custodians of the infinite hallways. Perhaps with the Spartans standing alongside them, if they've managed to pull themselves out of their decline. But all that is idle dreaming for now.
A 'smile' across her mandibles, the Hive Queen drapes a dark cloth over her eyes.
And she takes a nap.
[2/2]
[FIN]
