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

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

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

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

sighed in relief. At least he wasn’t going to hold it against her personally, but

know,] Anthony continued, [is what you think. Am I a threat to the peace

on the spot, hitting right at the

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

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

what happened at

was sucked out of the

Don’t talk about that…. That whole mess was disturbing

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

a long shot. But that’s

recovered his bounce alarmingly quickly, springing back 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

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

he was probably right. [This is what you came for, right? You want to know how we’re going

right,] she said,

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

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

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

[A million?!]

stratum, Morrelia,] he told her condescendingly. [We aren’t going to make any

where a group of ants were tending

her, [I love these guys. I don’t know why