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

stated purpose of the Legion is to protect people from the Dungeon, and

her directly, the many lenses in his eyes gleaming

you to 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

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

continued, [is what you think. Am I a threat to the peace on

take long for him to put her on the spot, hitting right at the heart

has helped us stand firm against the Dungeon since the Cataclysm. There is tremendous value in it, yet… I still struggle to imagine the

Colony, and we’ll

what happened at

the energy was sucked out of the massive monster and he slumped to

That whole mess was disturbing

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

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

moving so quickly right next to her was

going to have trouble fitting into the nests,] she

tunnels wider,] he dismissed her concerns, and he was probably right. [This is what you came

said, looking

thousands of ants, hard at work on a myriad of tasks around her. It was clear the Colony was only beginning

working on this above?] she asked.

barked a laugh. [The initial invasion force is being prepped above. It’s going to

[A million?!]

going to make any progress being half-hearted about it. Here,

where a group of

wuffers,] Anthony told her, [I love these guys. I don’t know why they