Chapter Text
Darling Kanaya trudged through a sea of sludge on the ground from the Mother Grub’s final stage of molting. Upon making it to the grub's majestic form, Kanaya wiped a bead of sweat off of her forehead.
KANAYA: Just One More Week
KANAYA: It Has Been Seven Human Years
KANAYA: It Will All Be Worth It
She placed her hand onto the Mother Grub and touched her forehead against it. It was a beautiful sight, one reminiscent of those of a being of a pure heart connecting with a beast beyond their comprehension and pacifying them, developing a kinship powerful and long lasting.
Kanaya’s work was finally about to pay off. The final stages of the Mother Grub’s development were underway and troll production would finally return. Ectobiology was a decent solution in the short term, but the limitations of such a binary reproduction were not well suited for their biology. Health risks were of course an issue, but a much lesser focus compared to society’s difficulty to parse the origins of a given ancestry; this led to issues with regards to the laws and ethics that the human-centric Earth C had been founded on.
That is to say, incest was a common topic of conversation when it came to the debate of whether or not the Mother Grub should be allowed to produce trolls. Many would argue that the existence of such a quandary is all the more reason to allow for natural production, while others would say that the dynamics produced via ectobiology are mere labels ascribed by humans within the troll population. In this conversation also comes those who believe that this issue in the first place is the result of the unique circumstances of troll biology, and thus is not desirable to fit into the new systems.
At the end of the day, this argument stems from a forming divide within society along the lines of whether trolls are allowed to have a place in society. In that aspect, incest is but one facet employed by hateful individuals to attack trolls regardless of their desires.
For all of these reasons and more, I find the subject to be one of deep complexity that I believe would require a deep dive that we don’t have time for. Let’s just say the Mother Grub should be allowed to produce, if only to avoid these types of conversations.
???: Ma’am! Sorry for bein’ late!
Kanaya looked behind her to see a young jade blooded troll with long black locks, a green bandana, and long uneven horns. The troll girl was panting trying to catch her breath while she held a frankly oversized broom in her hands.
KANAYA: Oh
KANAYA: And You Would Be?
SWIFER: Swifer Eggmop! I’m the one who applied to help with Mother Grub duties!
SWIFER: Remember!
Kanaya placed her hand on her chin and gracefully pondered, trying to recall hiring the assistance of one Swifer Eggmop.
KANAYA: Right I Had Jade Put Up Fliers To Help Bring In Assistance
KANAYA: I Believe Rose May Have Responded To You Via Email Giving You The Job
SWIFER: Yes ma’am!
KANAYA: Wonderful It Is Nice To Have You On Board
KANAYA: Give Me One Moment
She softly rubbed the side of the Mother Grub before making her way through the sloshing molt towards the edge of the breeding pit. Upon reaching the edge, Swifer lent her a hand to climb out.
Kanaya dusted off her red skirt and eyed the short jade blood. In a way, she reminded her a lot of her friends. She visually felt similar to that of Aradia, Vriska, Karkat, and herself. She could vaguely trace the chain of ectobiology that resulted in the young woman.
KANAYA: I See You Have Brought Your Own Equipment
SWIFER: Sure have! I’ve been waitin’ so long to use this thing!
SWIFER: Believe me there’s been so many places askin’ for a scrub that’s prepared me for this moment!
KANAYA: Well It Will Be Good To Have Help In This Venture
SWIFER: Put me to work ma’am!
KANAYA: Hm?
SWIFER: Gimme the green light and get me workin’!
SWIFER: I wanna make you proud!
KANAYA: Oh Um
She was caught off guard by the excitement of the girl before her; the glowing excitement in Swifers eyes showed her that she didn’t just have an assistant, she had someone willing to put her life into this work. Kanaya felt a tear form in her left eye as she thought about how bright eyed and excited she was all those years ago. So naive, yet so motivated.
KANAYA: Ahem
KANAYA: The First Order Of Business Is To Clean Up The Molted Exoskeleton That The Mother Grub Has Just Rid Herself Of
KANAYA: After We Will Begin The Process Of Providing The Resources For Her To Begin Her Egg Production
KANAYA: I Will Direct You To The Proper Pails When You Have Finished Cleaning Up
SWIFER: On it ma’am! You’ve got my word it’ll be done in a jiffy!
Without a moment to waste, the young jade blood jumped deep into the pit with her trusty broom and began corralling the sludge. There was something endearing watching the bright eyed girl work with the kind of excitement that Kanaya had as a child. In a way, it was inspiring. This was the next generation.
Kanaya got a notification on her phone that vibrated from within her pocket. She pulled it out to see a call request from me.
KANAYA: Good Afternoon My Love
ROSE: Good afternoon. How are the final preparations going?
KANAYA: Quite Well I Would Say
KANAYA: It Appears An Applicant That You Had Accepted Finally Found Her Way To The Cavern
ROSE: Oh?
KANAYA: Yes I Am Assuming That You Were The One To Respond
ROSE: Yes, that would be Swifer, correct?
KANAYA: Mhm
ROSE: She seemed like quite the excited individual, and the only one who applied. I believe she will do a good job.
KANAYA: I Agree
KANAYA: She Is Already In The Process Of Working Through The Lengthy Cleanup Of The Molted Exoskeleton
KANAYA: She Works Quite Fast It Appears
ROSE: A solid choice I’d say then.
KANAYA: Indeed
KANAYA: How Has Your Meeting With Terezi Gone
ROSE: Things are going quite well I’d say. It appears all bad blood has settled from that of boiling to a nice comforting simmer.
KANAYA: A Simmer Of Light Caliginous Rivalry
ROSE: It is very much perfect for a cross quadrant stew. Different chunks of meat and vegetables of the flushed, pale, and caliginous varieties are cooking quite nicely in the broth that has been developed.
KANAYA: Your Metaphor Is Getting Away From You Rose
ROSE: Oh yes. Things are going quite well between Terezi and Vriska. I would say that the misunderstanding has been cleared and we have the stage set for a nice and calm existence here.
KANAYA: That Is Good To Hear
KANAYA: One Of The Many Challenges Resolved So That We Can Continue To Focus On The Key Task At Hand
ROSE: The task at hand?
KANAYA: Jane Dear
ROSE: Oh yes, Jane’s press conference.
KANAYA: Yes
KANAYA: I Have Been In Contact With Karkat Regarding The Potential Announcements
ROSE: Do you agree with him about the potential of a presidential bid?
KANAYA: Potential?
ROSE: Hm?
KANAYA: Please Rose I Would Like You To Carefully Recall Her Current Platform And My Position
ROSE: Has she visited recently?
KANAYA: Frequently
ROSE: Oh?
KANAYA: She Has Checked In Often And Pitched The Idea Of Me Being The Head Of The Board For Responsible Troll Production
ROSE: And your response?
KANAYA: I Dont Believe I Need to Spell Out My Answer To You
ROSE: Haha. Right, I figured. I’m surprised that she has taken repeated swings at this idea.
KANAYA: I Suppose Shed Rather Not Have An Enemy In This Venture
KANAYA: However I Dont Think There Is A Path Forward That Is Not Extraordinarily Compromising
ROSE: I would agree.
ROSE: So are you worried about the proceedings this evening?
KANAYA: Not Particularly
KANAYA: She Will Have To Take This Away From My Cold Dead Hands
KANAYA: The Mother Grub Will Produce As Planned No Matter What
KANAYA: It Is Her Decision To Throw The First Metaphorical Stone
ROSE: This is true.
SWIFER: All done ma’am! She’s all as clean as can be!!!
Kanaya looked towards Swifer in the birthing pit who was covered in slime, yet the surrounding area was completely clean.
KANAYA: Oh!
SWIFER: This was the hardest job I’ve had yet! That exoskeleton was mighty heavy but we got it done! God, I’m sure those birthin’ juices are gonna be even harder, but I ain’t against a challenge!
KANAYA: Apologies Rose Give Me A Moment
ROSE: Of course, my love.
Kanaya pulled her phone away from her ear and approached Swifer.
SWIFER: What do you got for me now ma’am?
KANAYA: I Will Have You Take The Pails From The Secure Box Within The Resting Quarters And Begin Feeding The Liquids Into The Mother Grub
SWIFER: On it ma’am!!!
SWIFER: Oh uh
SWIFER: Where at?
KANAYA: I Will Show You Once You Acquire The Pails
SWIFER: Roger that!
Swifer excitedly scampered off to the break area to retrieve the required liquids for troll reproduction.
KANAYA: Apologies
KANAYA: Where Were We
ROSE: Yes, I agree that it is on Jane to make the first move against troll reproduction before we can defend ourselves.
ROSE: However, I do find that there might be some form of pushback that will result in an almost certain result.
KANAYA: That Being?
ROSE: A conflict.
KANAYA: A War
ROSE: That is the fear, yes.
KANAYA: Hm That Is An Undesirable Outcome
ROSE: Is it?
KANAYA: What Do You Mean Rose
KANAYA: I Believe The Answer Is Fairly Obvious that Interpersonal Conflict Within Our Ranks Is Not Exactly A Good Thing For Our Still Budding Society
ROSE: Some say that the biggest changes occur within the hardest of times. Would it not show the plain issues with Jane and result in her swift breakdown as a figure?
KANAYA: I Suppose
KANAYA: I Would Rather Us Not Have Conflict At All If We Can Help It
ROSE: This is fair, and I agree with you. I’m merely positing that regardless of results, we will not be in a bad position. We have luck on our side.
KANAYA: I Suppose I Will Have To Trust You
KANAYA: Though I Dont Think That Is Difficult To Do
ROSE: ;)
KANAYA: I Can Feel You Winking From The Other Side
ROSE: I am. I’m quite glad you can pick up on my expressions.
KANAYA: As Am I
SWIFER: Pails secured ma’am!!!!
SWIFER: I’m ready to get breeding!
KANAYA: Another Moment Love
ROSE: Of course.
When Kanaya looked back, she was faced with twelve pails with a range of colors that perfectly matched the exact blood of her friends on Alternia. Prior to the dissolving of alliances and the ensuing conflict, Kanaya had each of them provide the necessary fluids to feed the Mother Grub for the fresh batch of trolls in their hypothetical new universe. While things did not progress as planned, and the pails did not relinquish themselves from her fetch modus until touching down on Earth C, the investment paid off in spades. Hearts as well.
KANAYA: Okay Come With Me
SWIFER: Yes ma’am!
Kanaya guided the excited girl down into the birthing pit and towards the rear of the Mother Grub; upon seeing its wriggling behind, she grabbed a portion of its body and lifted it to show the large vaginal orifice in which the fluids could be inserted.
KANAYA: You Will Pour A Certain Amount Of Each Pail Into A Mixing Pail And Combine Them Based On An Assigned List That Ive Written Down
KANAYA: These Should Give The Best Possible Results For Our Starting Batch Of Eggs When The Mother Grub Begins Production Next Week
SWIFER: Yes ma’am!
SWIFER: Why the specific amounts? Is this some kinda science or somethin’?
KANAYA: Breeding Is A Science Yes
KANAYA: The Fluids And Their Assigned Mixtures Are Based On A Careful Balance Based On My Friends Relationships
KANAYA: It Is Not A Perfect Process But It Will Do
SWIFER: Aye aye!
SWIFER: I’ll get to sciencin’ right away ma’am!
KANAYA: Very Good
KANAYA: Thank You For Your Help Swifer
SWIFER: All in a day’s work ma’am!
As like before, Swifer ran off like an excited child and got to work. Kanaya couldn’t help but smile at the young blood. The future was looking bright no matter what happened next.
She walked back over to the edge of the pit and leaned against the wall, bringing her phone back to her ear.
KANAYA: Apologies Again
ROSE: It’s okay. <3
KANAYA: I Am Curious About Something
ROSE: Hm?
KANAYA: Will You Be Attending The Proceedings This Evening?
ROSE: Jane’s press conference? I wasn’t planning on it. Are you interested?
KANAYA: I Wont Lie The Prospects Do Intrigue Me
KANAYA: Im Sure Plenty Of Our Friends Will Also Be Attending
ROSE: This is true. If you’re looking to attend, then I would happily join you. It’s a shame we don’t have as much time these days to support one another.
KANAYA: You Can Always Join Me Here
ROSE: You’re right, and I believe I will be doing so more often now that things are progressing there and other areas are calming down.
KANAYA: That Would Be Lovely
KANAYA: But Yes You Attending With Me Would Be A Good Justification
ROSE: Then I shall.
KANAYA: Very Well I Will Meet With You At Home Once I Am Done Working With Swifer To Get The Mother Grub Prepared For Production
ROSE: Sounds good, my love. <3
KANAYA: See You Soon Rose Darling
ROSE: See you soon, my wonderful Kanaya.
Kanaya reluctantly ended the call, saddened by her inability to continue speaking with her wife. I too am upset with this turn of events. Sigh. Such is the way of this cruel world.
Before coming to work with Swifer, she climbed out of the brooding pit and walked to the exit of the cavern, being filled with the blinding orange light of the slowly setting sun. Upon reaching the outside, she took in the beautiful view.
An endless ocean of dark green pine trees stood in the foreground of the evening sky, a calming purple painted with a band of radiant orange by the setting sun.
A bright green light glimmered in the distance.
Something about the presence of such a detail spread unease throughout her body. For all she knew, it was another one of Jake’s space ships out on a test drive. However, something itched in the back of her mind that perhaps something was amiss.
Pressure built up within her that she was unsure how to handle. Stakes were significantly lower these days when it came to conflicts, and in the last seven years, she’d grown quite soft. Jane was a point of difficulty for sure, but it was nothing like Her Imperious Condescension; there was something tangible about Jane that she could properly face head-on.
Kanaya wrapped her arms around her body and closed her eyes. Everything was going to be okay, no matter how challenging it got, dear Kanaya. The fruits of her labor would pay off, and no one in paradox space was ever going to stop her.
This would be her finest hour, whether Jane Crocker liked it or not.
With confidence, Kanaya, in her unparalleled beauty, stood tall and walked back into the brooding caverns. The first batch was going to be a success—and now with an assistant to help her in Swifer, it was going to go smoother than ever.
KANAYA: Swifer!
She yelled into the cavern.
KANAYA: Let Us Get To Work
SWIFER: Yes ma’am!!!