Chrysalis

So… Morrelia is going to hang out with the Colony again. That’s… fine. It’s fine.

Though if her two fellow Legionaries could stop looking at me like I spat on their mother’s kitchen floor, I’d appreciate it.

I mean, I get it. They think that all the monsters they see around them are going to turn insane and submit to the will of the Ancients, thus turning against all non-monstrous life on Pangera. Every ant they see is a future enemy, so why would you be happy to see so many of them, working so industriously?

You wouldn’t! You would be distinctly unhappy.

So I can’t quite find it in myself to blame them, but I sure wish they’d get with the program and realise the Colony is different. We won’t be succumbing to any such outside influence, thank you very much! Although if they ask me why the Colony is safe from outside influence… I don’t think I’ll be elaborating much.

Which leaves me with only one course of action! If I amass meritorious deeds and allies, then the Legion won’t have anyone to help them if they decide to try and exterminate the Colony.

[So… are you really cleared to stay here for a week?] I ask Morrelia as I escort her and her two fellow Legionaries to their rooms.

[I’m an officer, Anthony. I’m able to make decisions.]

[Really? Your commanding officer doesn’t care if you hang around here for a couple of weeks and go on manoeuvres with a group of monsters? That’s… not what I would have expected.]

[From the Legion?]

[Well, yeah. You guys don’t exactly have a ‘monster-friendly’ reputation.]

That’s putting it mildly.

target is inviting us to be near them and allow

you get sneaky? I remember you being more of a ‘slice first, think later’

She grunted.

extreme. The Legion hasn’t lasted for thousands of years

speaks volumes about their organisation. They aren’t a country, they’re an independent military force, who’ve fought against the

story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the

a presence in the fifth?] I ask,

Morrelia hesitates before nodding.

part of my training there. It… wasn’t

that’s not a secret you aren’t supposed to share with

divided loyalties, Anthony. Don’t make it harder for

My mandibles are

emphasis, causing the two accompanying Legionaries to jump in alarm, hands flashing to their weapons. Heh, what could you even do with those? I’m

be tier eight. I estimated earlier it would take us a year to get through the stratum below, which

the section set aside for humans. You can tell because it’s too small for me to enter. Pick a room, any room, make yourselves comfortable. We don’t have much in terms of supplies down here, given where we are, but I’m sure someone will do a run to get you some

no need,] Morrelia assures me, [we have

do it anyway,] I shrug my antennae, [we take hospitality seriously

to settle themselves, only to have Brendant approach me

and they’re staying with us?

thing without asking if I should. Hopefully, the rest of the