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.]

took a deep

purpose of the Legion is to protect people from the Dungeon, and to that end, they’ve determined you

directly, the many lenses in his eyes gleaming

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

sighed in relief. At least he wasn’t going to hold

to know,] Anthony continued, [is what you think. Am I

put her on the spot,

I’m not sure,] she said. [The wisdom of the Legion has helped us stand firm against the Dungeon since the Cataclysm. There

do right by the Colony, and

what happened at the

sucked out of the massive

That whole mess was disturbing

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

by a long shot. But that’s not why you’re

so quickly right next to her was unnerving, to say the least.

the nests,] she observed as they

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

right,] she said, looking around

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

this above?] she asked.

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

[A million?!]

the fifth stratum, Morrelia,] he told her condescendingly. [We aren’t going to make any progress being half-hearted about it. Here, take a look at these

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

I don’t know