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.]

a

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

giant ant turned to regard her directly, the

apologise or 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 think I’ll ever convince the people who

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

[is what you think. Am I a threat to

her on

stand firm against the Dungeon since the Cataclysm. There

the Colony, and we’ll do right by

what happened at

an instant, all the energy was sucked out of the massive monster and he slumped

about that…. That whole mess was

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

muttered darkly, [not by a long shot. But that’s not

a large monster moving so quickly right next

get any bigger, you’re going to have trouble fitting into the nests,] she observed as they walked toward

is what you came

right,] she said,

her. It was

above?] she asked. [I assume

laugh. [The initial invasion force is being prepped above.

[A million?!]

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

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

love these guys. I don’t know why they turned out so happy, but they