“Look, I’m going to tell you something that’s going to sound crazy, but I promise you I’m not crazy. And please, please, don’t cut my head off.”
The scout actually seemed shocked. “After saving you from a spider? That would be a waste.”
“Um, okay, that’s comforting, I guess. Well, the thing is…I’m not from your nest. I wasn’t even an ant a day ago.”
Quickly, the scout studied me. “You look like an ant to me. What were you?”
“I was a human.”
Instantly, the ant stumbled a bit, no mean feat on six legs. Then, she asked quietly. “Human?”
Unable to judge her exact thoughts, I answered, “Yes.”
“Human as in…big, enormous, block-out-the-sun human?”
“Yes.”
“Not going to lie. That does sound crazy.” Pausing, the scout licked her foreleg and preened a bit in thought. “Still, I suppose I’m not in a position to judge such things considering I betrayed my responsibilities. That probably makes me a little crazy, too. But why are you telling me this?”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “Since you saved my life twice, I figured I owed you the truth.”
“Provided it really is the truth.”
“You don’t have to believe me. I just wanted to tell you, that’s all.”
The scout mulled over this in silence as we continued on our way. Unlike before, she stayed at my side as if to keep an eye on me. Finally, she tapped me lightly. “Can you show me?”
“Pardon?”
“Show me what humans are like. I’m curious.”
“So you believe me?”
“We’ll see. Show me first.”
“And how would I do that?”
“Like this.” She moved in front of me, forcing me to halt as she touched her antennae to mine. Then, I understood. Ant telepathy. “Ready.”
I sighed. “Sure, I can try.” Hesitantly, I tried to project some basic knowledge of humans, general anatomy, social structures, a few examples of technology.
It was only a few tidbits, but the scout began to tremble. Fearing I had overwhelmed her, I pulled away. Immediately, like an inflated balloon released without being tied, she started to run in random patterns around me. “Oh my! Oh my! The world! So much! Oh my!”
She was back in a flash, practically bumping foreheads with me. “More! Tell me about your…What was that word again? Oh, houses!”
In the face of such intensity, I had to cooperate. I gave her what I knew. Having more of a direction for my thoughts, I was able to present more detail, basic layouts, materials, indoor plumbing, other basic amenities, etc. Before I knew it, I was giving the scout a tour of my own home. It surprised me how clearly I could picture it all, and it all became even more solid with a mental boost from the scout. Soon, I found myself mentally walking down those familiar halls, peeking into rooms here and there. My own telepathic VR experience.
“Wow, it’s like a tunnel, only brighter!” Her “voice” made me jump. Turning around, I gawked at the image of a giant ant poking around my house. In this setting, the sheer inhuman quality of her appearance was magnified in a way I found very unsettling, to say the least. Ants were simply never meant to be as big as people. Sensing my discomfort, she looked at me. “Oh, sorry. I suppose this must be rather frightening for you.”
“I-It’s fine,” I shrugged, trying to be polite. “It’s just unexpected.”
“Honestly, I find your appearance equally strange. Having only four limbs seems…lacking somehow.”
Blinking, I glanced down to find my own human body. I was back! If only in my mind.
“Wait,” the scout said. “I know what might help. Let me try something.”