Chrysalis

[Do you guys mind? My pet is feeling a little put upon here.]

As one the Sophos turn on me.

[MIND YOURSELF, BOY! THE EXPERTS ARE TALKING!]

Yikes. Not one to mince words, this one. Although, I could say the same for all of the Sophos I've met. They seem universally loud and pugnacious.

[THAT'S HIS PET, YOU NINCOMPOOP!]

[HOW DARE YOU!]

[OH, I DARE THAT AND MORE!]

[FORMO, YOU SLACK JAWED NINNY! I'LL MAKE PAJAMAS OUT OF YOUR FAVOURITE PET FOR YOUR WORDS!]

[YOU WANT TO TRY IT ASONAN? I'LL TURN YOUR HOUSE INTO A BIOMASS PANTRY. AND LAUGH! HEARTILY!]

[Calm down! Sheesh! No need to get so worked up!] I interject.

They turn on me once more.

[THIS- ahem. This is merely banter, old boy. Conflict between Sophos is- well, its unheard of.]

[AND NOT JUST BECAUSE WE CAN'T TALK!]

[OH HO! JOLLY GOOD JAPE!]

[QUITE SO!]

I'm not sure if my burgeoning headache or weariness will become more pressing in the short term. These damn Sophos are exhausting.

[WE WERE MERELY EXAMINING THE CHOICES YOU'D MADE WITH YOUR PET!] the one named Asonan shouts at me.

[I don't see why it's so interesting] I said, honestly. [For the most part, I let Crinis make her own choices.]

Silence fell at my words as the Sophos sightlessly stare at me for a moment before they turn back to studying Crinis.

[Anthony, you really let your pets make their own evolution decisions?]

[Yes?]

[Even that one?] Formo points and Tiny as the ape continues to shovel handfuls of Biomass into his face.

[Yep.]

didn't design their evolutions?

a little work on Crinis before I reconstituted her, but my skill levels were low back then, and still are now, compared to yours I suppose, so I wasn't able to get

[… why?]

line as Formo queries me. I'm not sure why they have such an interest though,

their own minds, even if they're pets! They can decide what

that, we just find it interesting that your pets were able to make

[Really?]

with that one,] he points at Tiny again, [You'll need to intervene. The Lightning Fist Ape is an interesting creature, but it chews up its own mental attributes every time it evolves until it eventually becomes effectively mindless. We rarely bother with them due to the hassle, but if you can find a balance it could

[Uhh, that's great advice.]

reign. But I can respect

[Thanks!]

HAS,] another member of the Crinis fan club interjects. [IT'S AN INTERESTING NEW APPLICATION OF THE SHADOW FLESH ARCHETYPE. I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW IT WILL

think Crinis is pretty darn close to

[Ah! Yes, Master!]

that by looking at her core,] Formo

you look

the Sophos around me rolling

waste time on core shaping our

SIX?!

I created a whole new species of Ant monster and I'm only

[YOU DID WHAT?!]

that. All of the Sophos turn to stare at me once more, but this time the air feels

me and the

BLASTED THING

[INCREDIBLE!]

[INSPIRED!]

FANTASTIC IS WHAT

MY BOY!] Formo is back to his head thumping loudest. [CREATING A NEW SPECIES IS A GRAND ACHIEVEMENT! ESPECIALLY FOR

a chorus of "GOOD SHOW!"

for a second there I thought you guys might get angry at me for making super intelligent

SO EASILY FRIGHTENED! WE'VE FOUGHT OFF SWARM

[HUNDREDS!]

ARE NOT

to hear. It's good to find people who aren't afraid

WE

within the colony who are dedicated to core shaping after

[OUTRAGEOUS?!]

[HOW DARE YOU, INSECT?!]

[NOW, THAT IS THREATENING!]