ARC Ladies

“Late as usual, I see, Lettie!” Chief said loudly so that everyone turned to look as I tried to sneak into the back of the hollow without anyone noticing. Chief always noticed.

“Sorry, ma’am! Won’t happen again, ma’am!” I lied.

“Hah!” she laughed shortly. “It’ll happen tomorrow or I’m a rhinoceros beetle!” she said as she handed me my assignment.

“Ugh, zucchinis?” I mumbled as I stared at the leaflet Chief handed me.

“You want a better assignment? Show up on time!” The rest of the ARC Ladies laughed along with Chief this time. “Now,” she said as she addressed the entire outfit. “I expect a clean and safe shift tonight. If you need help, call for backup. We all have antennae for a reason – use them! Don’t try to be a hero. Dismissed!”

With that, me and the rest of the ARC Ladies set out. It was a long flight from the orchard to the garden, but the aphids preferred the little stems of the new vegetables to the dry leaves in the fruit orchards, so it was one we had to make. I flew alone behind the rest of the ARCs, as usual. I always preferred to be alone before a shift.

“Ah, don’t let the Chief get to you, Lettie,” said a familiar voice. Missy had dropped out of formation and buzzed up beside me. She was small for an ARC Lady, but applications for the Aphid Removal Crew were thin these days, and the Chief couldn’t be as picky as she used to be. And anyway, what Missy lacked in size she made up for in strength and ability – there was never an infestation too great or frightening for Missy to handle alone, and she was well-respected.

“Chief can’t get to me. No one can. I’m fine.” Missy was a good friend, but I wasn’t in the mood. They kept giving me the worst assignments because they think I can’t handle the tough stuff, but they’re wrong. Although, if I’m being honest, zucchinis are tougher than I’m used to. Normally it’s spinach or lettuce, or maybe even cucumbers. But zucchinis were something else entirely, and normally only the biggest Ladies got zucchinis. Their long, curving stems were tiring to patrol, and their great, broad leaves left room for some of the largest infestations in the garden.

“Lettie, zucchinis can get rough. Remember what Chief said – don’t be a hero. I’ll be right next door on tomatoes. If you get into trouble, you call me. Got it?”

“Fine,” I said reluctantly. But I wouldn’t need help. Not from Missy or anyone else. If the other Ladies could do zucchinis, so could I. “I’ll see you at dawn,” I said to Missy as the garden came into view. The ARC Ladies scattered into a whirlwind of red and black as they dispersed into their respective crops. I saw Primrose dive into the cabbage crop, while Lucy and Lilly took to the cucumbers – they were sisters and they never separated, no matter what their assignment. Callie took the broccoli alone. Callie always worked alone.

Missy gave me one last sideways glance as she sped off past the zucchinis and into the tomatoes. I narrowed my eyes and swooped down onto my assignment.

I had never been on zucchinis before, and the stories I’d heard really didn’t do them justice. Their stalks shot out of the ground like the tree trunks of the orchards, and their stems seemed to rise up and wind around on and on forever. The only sign they ever had an end were their leaves billowing out above and all around. The twilight sky was hidden completely by the immense canopy of zucchini leaves overhead, and the darkness that surrounded me was complete.

I had been on some tough assignments with the ARCs before, but this was the first time I had ever felt the way I did now. All six of my legs trembled. My wings buzzed nervously inside their shell and my antennae almost called out for help without being asked. My breath quickened, and for a brief moment I thought about abandoning my post. I thought of flying away beyond the garden, beyond even the orchard and into the wilds beyond.

But as quickly as the feeling came, it went. I steadied my breathing and stabilized my wings. I dug my legs into the stem I stood upon and silenced my antennae. I hardened my face and searched all around me.

“All quiet here,” I said confidently. I can’t have been the only Lady to have a fleeting moment of fear, but I wouldn’t let it stop me. I began my patrol.