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

from the Dungeon,

regard her directly, the many

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

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

[is what you think. Am I a

to put her on the spot, hitting right at the heart of

Legion has helped us stand firm against the Dungeon since the Cataclysm. There

you do right by the Colony, and we’ll do

what happened at

all the energy was sucked out of the massive monster

about that…. That whole mess was

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

a long shot. But that’s

moving so quickly right next to

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

just make the tunnels wider,] he dismissed her concerns, and he was probably right. [This is what

right,] she said, looking around

her. It was clear

are working on this above?] she asked.

course not!] he barked a laugh. [The initial invasion force is being prepped above. It’s going to be

[A million?!]

he told her condescendingly. [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 hundreds of… strange… wobbly

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