But they were pushed too hard.  The queen demanded too much from them and offered no consolation in return.  Just keep going, keep working:  things will improve, and we will not forever be doomed under her reign.  We love her, she gave us life; it is the least we can do to give our lives back to her.

            I gave birth to measly beings; they’re only good for giving to me, gaining for me, working for me, my little drones.  What would be the point of loving them anymore?  How would I gain from wasting my superior affection on them?  Continue, my things, give me your lives so that I may live an undisturbed life.

            Maybe she’ll love us like she used to if we just keep giving.  Yes, everyone work harder, give more, appease her every whim.  After all, she is beautiful, she does give us life, she is our mother, and she is our meaning, right?  But of course!  What else could life be?  We love you, mother, and we obey.

            It would seem that reserving my affection has been the correct choice.  Not only am I receiving more than I ever have before, but it has required not a lift of my antennae to accomplish.  My drones are just as puny, pathetic, stupid, and small as ever.  If I asked them, they would surely crawl to the ends of the Earth in search of any of my desires.  I’m so wonderful.

            Can’t keep working.  Only void.  Only void.  Where is our loving queen?  Has she forgotten us entirely?  We cannot continue.  Only void.  Only void.  Is she not just?  Is she not beautiful?  No more. Only void.  Only void.  Till the end, we would do anything for her, but has she betrayed us?  She no longer cares.  But we love her.  She is.  We are not.

            Yes!  Continue, my drones.  Create for me a mountain.  Create with your last; for I am worth it: I am your queen.  I must climb the mountain to remain supreme, but how will I complete such a feat?  I haven’t moved for so long, is it even worth it?  Yes, I must reach the top.  Drones, send me to the top.

            She wants us, she needs us!  There is hope yet.  We must help her, for she will be happy with us and love us once more.

            On their way to the top, drones carrying their queen, one by one the drones’ lives were sucked from this world.  By the time they were in reach of the top, all of the drones laid lifelessly haphazardly along the height of the mountain.  The queen was nothing without her drones.  She sat breathlessly on the side of the mountain, and there she sat for all eternity.