The burning children clung to her, touched their siblings, they passed their pain on in a wave that would not cease.

It went on and on until parts of the collective gathered and fell away, dying, melting, her children sacrificing themselves so that she might live.

does this thread have a point?

Slow, slowly, the agony receded, trained away from the physical, became the suffering of loss, of infinite sorrow.

As the injured pulled away, left her enveloping arms to die alone, the rest of the children came forward, singing, crooning to her, easing her torment as best they could.

They engulfed her, soothed her with their liquid kisses--and by their sheer numbers, they overtook her.

It only took a moment.

The queen lost her identity as Marcus had lost his, giving over to the hive, becoming more.

Becoming all.

Thanks for flooding my inboxes with pointless crap. But this... GOODBYE and GOODRIDDENS!

here's a big fat CHEERS! for you pal.

CHEERS!

The allness of the new creature was whole and healthy, a giant, different than before.

Stronger.

It heard mechanical sounds nearby.

It reached inside itself, accessed the mind for information, understood--the murderers were trying to flee.

They would not escape.

The hive gathered itself on a thousand supple limbs and went after them.

Neither of them wanted to think about running into any further trouble, but they had to assume the worst.

Rebecca checked the handguns while Billy loaded the shotgun, the two of them calling out the dismal numbers--fifteen nine-millimeter rounds left, all total.

Four shotgun shells.

I'd LOL if you got a skull point for each reply to your own thread.

Two Magnum rounds.

INT. STUDIO APARTMENT (BLINDS OPEN)

A videophone RINGS OS...

DR. BIRKIN (V.O.)
This is Birkin.

LYLE (V.O.)
(tinny)
Dr. Birkin, Admiral Hollis would like
to see you as soon as possible.

CUT TO:

INT. UMBRELLA - OFFICE

A military office, United States Aerospace Command seal
blazoned on the door. Views of the Earth. Admiral HOLLIS
sits behind his desk, a gruff career officer and a good man.

Dr. Birkin enters, escorted by Hollis' adjutant, LYLE.

DR. BIRKIN
You wanted to see me, Admiral?

HOLLIS
I apologize for the short notice,
Bill, but we've had something come
up that requires your immediate
attention. Lyle?