Sure enough, it doesn’t take long before Vibrant comes sprinting out of the office, even more energetic than before.

“It’s amazing, Senior! They know soooo much! Even though they have rock-rock heads!”

“Hey, they just have a second layer of rock skin, it’s not like their heads are actually filled with rocks.”

“I thought they just had thinking rocks.”

“What the heck is a thinking rock? You know what, I’ve seen weirder things on Pangera than that. Sure. Go and evolve, have fun. At least the torpor police won’t have to bother chasing you for a while.”

“I wish I could evolve while running. That would be amazing!”

“No it wouldn’t and don’t ever try it. In fact, it’s banned. I don’t want to find out if that's possible. Evolving is the only extended nap I ever get anymore and I refuse to have it taken from me.”

It’s also the only time I get free from the endless influx of the Colony’s Will. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing, having the desires and impressions of my family thudding into my mind in a never ending stream. It just gets overwhelming at times.

“Have you spoken to your crew about what they’ll be up to while you’re down here?” I ask Vibrant.

It’s hard to believe she’s a leader, given her easy-breezy attitude, but not only is she a member of the council, she’s also a certified, bonafide commander of her own personal army. I wonder if they’ve come up with a name for themselves yet? Vibrant’s speedsters? Always Accelerating Ants?

Goodness knows.

“Oh, they’re super busy! So much running around. I told them they all have to evolve so they can kinda-sorta keep up with me, otherwise I’ll leave them behind!”

Well… makes sense, I suppose. I’m guessing her followers are currently sprinting around on the third stratum trying to hoover up experience and cores as quickly as they possibly can. Which is fine. A more powerful speed-squad is only helpful to the Colony after all. In fact, of all the little groups running around, hers is the fighting unit that gets the most done, and it isn’t close. Something about being able to get from hotspot to hotspot in record time makes all the difference, I suppose.

“Fair enough. I’ll leave you to it, then. Good luck! Hope it all goes well!”

She’s probably going to get a mythic evolution that turns her into the ant equivalent of a fighter jet, or one of those rocket-propelled cars on Earth.

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I clap my front two legs together and offer a silent prayer to the unnamed ones. Whoever’s job it is to catch Vibrant after this is going to need more luck than exists in this world.

Vibrant races off to find a chamber to evolve in and I shake my head. The Colony is getting stronger, so it’s all fine. In fact, I wonder how long it is until Brilliant and Solant evolve again? The other Colony Champions have been making great contributions lately, but those will only grow in scope the higher tier they reach.

With Sarah, Crinis, Tiny and Invidia all down for the count, I seek out Odin and find the wiry demon outside of Sarah’s chamber. He’s sitting eerily still, like a statue, just… watching. What is up with Sarah and her ability to get these weirdos to follow her around? First was Jim, and now this guy.

[Hey there, Odin. How’s things?]

The demon jumps in surprise as I smack a mind bridge into him and start yapping.

[Wha—how did you find me? I was in stealth….]

[You’re going to need a few more ranks if you want to avoid my eyes. Also, learn some mana manipulation so you can conceal the energy coming off your core.]

[Ah. I hadn’t thought of that.]

He gives off a cold and calculating vibe, and his mental voice is quite mature, giving me the sense he was a lot older than me when he died. Doesn’t mean much though, I’m his elder on this side of the divide, and this is where we happen to be!

[I can also smell you. Ant antennae are quite sensitive to scent. There’s also your gravitational field. I can pick that up too.]

[What? Wouldn’t that field be absurdly weak?]

[Yep!]

An awkward pause.

[Soooo… are you planning on just hanging around outside of Sarah’s evolution chamber until she’s done? Just… hiding in stealth the whole time?]

The lithe demon shifts uncomfortably.

[I… just wanted to see what she turns into. She’s already such an… incredible engine of death. I can’t imagine how she’s going to improve on perfection.]

[You are a weird guy.]

I decide there and then I’m going to do Sarah a favour.

[Come on, then.] I prod the demon with my front leg. [Let’s get moving.]

[Exc—hey! Stop that!]

[Nope. You’re coming with me. Sarah would probably appreciate some privacy and there’s nothing to be gained by you sitting here staring at her. In fact, that’s a profoundly odd thing to do. You’re living in the Colony, so make yourself useful to the Colony. Let’s get to it!]

Ignoring his protests, I continue to poke and prod the former human until we leave the evolution chambers behind and make our way deeper into the nest. I don’t think it’ll take long for me to find some sort of trouble to get into, it always seems to come and find me when my friends aren’t around, and sure enough, a runner speeds up to me within ten minutes.

[Eldest! The brathian delegation has returned, and they wish to speak to you right away!]

That’s a bit sudden. Couldn’t they have sent word ahead or something? Good thing I’ve got nothing better to do.

[Sure, lead the way!]

I drag Odin along with me and it isn’t long until we find ourselves back in the spacious chamber the initial negotiations took place in. Enid is already there, sipping a cup of tea and chatting pleasantly with the same scaled lady we spoke to last time. Along with her entourage. In fact, I think there’s even more of them this time.

I wonder what they want?