Counting Heads

2.4

Fifteen minutes later, a dead-man switch inside a meter-long section of rain channel below the rooftop ledge of a gigatower in Indianapolis timed out and closed a circuit. This high up, there were no windows overlooking the ledge, or fixed cameras, or bees or slugs on patrol. The ceramic rain channel began to evaporate like a slab of dry ice. Before long, a miniature launch node lay exposed in the newly formed gap in the ledge. Twenty-seven miniature insectlike mechs were parked on it in a triple row. They perched, checking systems, while their multiple sets of foil wings were buffeted by updrafts of warm air.

One mech, a dazzling bee with a blue gemstone body, revved its wings and lifted off. It was followed by two sleek blue wasps sporting twin laser stingers fore and aft. With the bee in the lead, the team of three spiraled high above the gigatower in a furious whine of wings.

One by one, the other bees rose—a red one, a yellow one, an orange, and a white one. A pair of wasps joined each bee, and the little teams fanned out in separate directions.

Finally, four beetles with bulging carapaces lifted off from the ledge. They labored into the air and wallowed in the currents, waiting for their wasp escorts. When all of the mechs were successfully launched, the node itself began to melt and drip down the side of the building.