Originally a character in the Sci-Fi novelette "Swarm" by Bruce Sterling, the story was adapted as an animated short in Netflix's anthology Love, Death & Robots (Volume 3, Episode 6).

Dr. Galina Mirny is introduced as a researcher exploring and studying an eusocial, hive-like alien species known as the "Swarm" which lives within an asteroid. She explains that this huge swarm is divided into numerous different sub-species, including fifteen unique symbiotic aliens living among the hundreds of specialized castes native to the swarm.

The hive is presented as a peaceful collective of non-sentient species, allowing the doctor free passage and peaceful study. This changes when Galina meets another human character, Dr. Simon Afriel. The new arrival expresses that there is a scientific initiative to study and produce swarm animals for humanity's benefit. In spite of personal reservations and fears of humanity exploiting these creatures, Dr. Mirny agrees to help him.

In an ill-fated attempt to steal an egg for humanity to study, their intentions are discovered by the hive, causing the animals to become hostile to the two humans. Dr. Afriel is captured, whilst Dr. Mirny is enslaved and lobotomized in response to the perceived threat that humanity presents the hive. Galina's mind and memories are being utilized by a previously unseen sentient species referring to itself as "Swarm", for lack of a better name (in truth the creature has no name but uses this to better communicate with Dr. Afriel).

The entity, acting as an emissary and defender of the Swarm, explains that its species is birthed in response to hostile intruders, like an antibody responding to infection. Furthermore, the other symbiotic species seen within the hive were once hostile species that the Swarm has assimilated into its collective. Swarm views this as a mutually beneficial relationship, where these species are preserved from extinction by the hive. It is confident that humanity will inevitably be assimilated...