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

protect people from the Dungeon,

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

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 run your outfit of that, so it is what

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

Anthony continued, [is what you think.

on the spot, hitting right at

[The wisdom of the Legion 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 turning on

do right by the Colony, and we’ll

what happened at the Silver

sucked out of the massive monster and he

That whole

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

heck no,] Anthony muttered darkly, [not by a long shot. But that’s not why you’re

up onto the tips 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

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

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

she said, looking around

at work on a myriad of tasks around her. It was clear

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

not!] he barked a laugh. [The initial invasion force is being prepped

[A million?!]

her condescendingly. [We aren’t going to make any

walked over to a separate area where a group of ants were tending to hundreds of… strange… wobbly

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