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.]

their evolutions? Or manually

now, compared to yours I suppose, so I wasn't able to get much done. For the most part, I let

[… why?]

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

I can't be bothered to micromanage every little thing, on the other, they have their own minds, even if they're pets! They can decide what they want and

just find it interesting that your pets were able to make quite good decisions

[Really?]

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

[Uhh, that's great advice.]

our pets such free reign. But I can respect your choice to

[Thanks!]

the Crinis fan club interjects. [IT'S AN INTERESTING NEW APPLICATION OF THE SHADOW FLESH ARCHETYPE.

think Crinis is pretty darn close

[Ah! Yes, Master!]

that by looking

can you look at

almost feel the Sophos

up your skills Anthony. We hardly waste time on core shaping our real

SIX?!

a whole new species of Ant monster and I'm only rank three in

[YOU DID WHAT?!]

sconce at that. All of the Sophos turn

Queen's core to produce offspring more like me and the species of the entire

A BLASTED THING

[INCREDIBLE!]

[INSPIRED!]

IS

thumping loudest. [CREATING A NEW SPECIES IS A GRAND ACHIEVEMENT!

pronouncement is met with a chorus of "GOOD SHOW!" and

to admit for a second there I thought you guys might get angry

NOT SO EASILY FRIGHTENED! WE'VE FOUGHT OFF

[HUNDREDS!]

NOT INTIMIDATED

hear. It's good to find

WE

within the colony who are dedicated to core shaping after I was inspired by

[OUTRAGEOUS?!]

[HOW DARE YOU, INSECT?!]

[NOW, THAT IS THREATENING!]