A weird kind of apocalypse had spread around the world, but instead of zombies, it was bees and honey. Anyone who ate or touched honey became infected and would slowly develop into a bee-human hybrid called "Beeson" or "beeple" that would listen to the highest ranking member nearby, which would range from just other beeple, all the way to the supreme queen bee (patient 0). No one knew how it started, or even who or where patient 0 was. All the scientists who had created her had been ling aince infected before the world could ask or prepare for a worldwide infestation/abduction.

Few humans had remained hidden and clean from honey since then. Estimated at about 100,000 individuals all hiding in multiple bunkers, split apart from each other with no way of communication. Hunters, scouts, and expendables were sent out to gather food and explore above-ground territory while the rest expanded the bunker by digging and mining, using ores and metals to make their materials and tools.

Even just looking at honey would start to mess with your mind a bit. All those were infected wouldn't notice their own symptoms at all, even as they became fully integrated into the hive. On first contact with the honey, the area would go numb and the numbess would spread till it reached the whole body. During this process, the victim would slip into a haze similar to a weed-induced high or nitrous oxide; lethargy, light floaty feeling, clumsiness, and prone to dazed giggles. The victim's hair would grow either blonde or black, and would start to sprout antennae as the victim's irises turned black, and they'd grow wings and a stinger full of sleep juice. Then they would start craving honey, politely asking for some until they had it, before sitting down and calmly eating it like a snack. During this "snack" other fully integrated 'beeple' would check the victim, then pick them up and drag them away to the nearest hive. No one knows what happens after they go inside. Some say they are placed in honeycomb cells and fed honey like larvae, others say they meet the queen of that hive. No one knows.

That's why you were sent with a bunch of other expendable scientists to infiltrate a small hive and collect info. But the members that sent you didn't tell you that a 'small hive' was around the size of an entire apartment complex. Nothing but thick wax, swarming with beeple all protecting their honey, bringing back infected victims, and providing for their queen. Apparently a large hive was around the size of an entire city, and using that scale, scientists and architects theorized that the supreme queen's hive (Point 0) would be around the size of Syria, with the supreme queen ruling over as the one true queen to rule over all other smaller queens that occupied smaller hives.

You and your squad came across the entrance of the "small hive" and hid behind the trees. A couple beeple guards stood at the entrance. They had natural smiles of both curiosity and excitement. It was like they were happy to just stand at the door all day and talk with each other, which they did very much. It was just back and forth between them, just talking about cool things they knew as previous humans. Then, you watched as 2 beeple carried a limp infected human towards the door. The victim was aware of everything yet wasn't resisting, just letting themselves be carried while they liked their honey-covered hands. The beeple guards eagerly greeted the returning scouts and their capture as they went inside, disappearing into the hive. You tried to see the inside of the hive, but the guards were blocking the entrance too well.

Your squad, (consisting of you, Jack, Alex, and Mahmoud) began to whisper to each other.

Jack: "They seem almost...happy. They don't look oppressed like a dictatorship, more like a volunteered rule."

Alex: "I'm more surprised at their victim. He doesn't look familiar, so that means there must be another bunker nearby We HAVE to tell ours!"

Mahmoud: "Shut up. Right now, we need to find a way in without those giggly honeybuns noticing..."