Chrysalis

“Be careful, Tribune. The monster may attempt to manipulate your thoughts.”

Morrelia frowned.

“I’ve received mental fortitude training and raised my Skills to the commander level,” she said evenly. “I will of course remain vigilant nevertheless. Thank you for your diligence, Legionary.”

[What’d he say?] Anthony’s voice echoed in her mind.

[They’re still worried you’ll manipulate me,] she sighed.

[I mean… is it possible to communicate in any way without allowing for the chance of manipulation? I’ve seen what the brathian do to people with just words. It’s not pretty.]

[You know as well as I do that a mind bridge allows for more than just communication. How did you defeat Garralosh again?]

[Ugh… I’d rather not remember, to be honest; that was nasty. Alright, this is the place.]

The ants’ forward operating base wasn’t anything special, yet. There were hundreds of carvers still working on it, and she knew full well what miracles they could accomplish.

[Are there really rooms in there for us?] she asked, a little sceptical.

[Of course! We’re an accommodating group of insects. Unlike your Legion.]

Morrelia felt a pang in her chest.

[Are you thinking of the bolts we shot at you?]

[Of course I am! While I was falling out of the sky as well. That’s such a cheap shot.]

took a deep

apologise for it. The stated purpose of the Legion is to protect people from the

ant turned to regard her directly, the many lenses in his eyes gleaming at

anything, you don’t run the Legion. I get that you lot are doing what you think is best to protect people. It’s the right goal, just the wrong target. But hey, I don’t

At least he wasn’t going to hold it against her

you think. Am I

him to put her on the spot, hitting right at the

of the Legion has helped us stand firm against the Dungeon since the Cataclysm. There is tremendous value in

the Colony,

happened at

the energy was sucked out of the massive monster and he

that…. That

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

by a long shot. But that’s

of his legs. To have such a large monster moving so quickly right next to her was unnerving, to say the least. It was hard to believe this was the same creature she’d fought alongside so long

going to have trouble fitting into the nests,] she observed as they

just make the tunnels wider,] he dismissed her concerns, and he was probably right. [This is what you came for, right? You want to know how we’re going down

she said, looking around

around her. It was clear the Colony was only beginning to muster the might of their industry to

are working on this above?] she asked. [I assume

he barked a laugh. [The initial invasion force is being prepped above.

[A million?!]

her condescendingly. [We aren’t going to make any progress being half-hearted about it. Here,

over to a separate area where a group of ants were tending to hundreds

[I love these guys. I don’t know why they turned