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.

saying the target is inviting us to be near them and allow us to collect intelligence. Why would

sneaky? I remember you

She grunted.

go through to be officers is thorough in the extreme. The Legion hasn’t lasted for thousands of years without ensuring our officers aren’t

aren’t a country, they’re an independent

the author. Help them out by

guys have a presence in

Morrelia hesitates before nodding.

of my training there. It…

aren’t supposed

manage my divided loyalties, Anthony. Don’t make

said. My mandibles

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 a tier seven mythic monster, two of you aren’t going

to get through the stratum below, which might be enough time for me to gain the levels I need. I mean…

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

assures me, [we have

do it anyway,] I shrug my antennae, [we

to settle themselves, only to have Brendant approach me the moment I

the Legion and they’re staying with us? Can I ask what’s

and did my own thing without asking