Author's note:

We now return to our scheduled programming.

Chapter 54: Pride in Disgrace

Hot water flowed from the shower head. It seeped into Fox's fur and washed through the roots of his pelt. White suds circled between his feet before disappearing through the drain below. Once it was all out, Fox then grabbed a bottle from the shelf. A yellow, greasy fluid spilled over and between his palms. Fox rubbed it all over his body. The calming scent of imiccila flowers mixed in with the water's steam.

Though their application was similar, the products that Cerinians used to bathe had taken Fox time to grow accustomed to. Instead of shampoo and conditioner as he was familiar with, they used a simple soap recipe to clean their coats, followed with fragrant oils to rehydrate the skin and hair. Once Fox got over the initial sliminess, and the oil soaked in, he hardly noticed the difference after. The benefits were better overall since both products were easy to make at home. Fox ended up saving a fortune in haircare that way.

He turned off the water and shook it from his fur. Stepping out from the shower, Fox rubbed a towel vigorously over his head. He then checked his reflection in the mirror, framed within varnished wood. The clawed scar still marked his front from shoulder to waist. A constant reminder of his first encounter with an ordus. In recent days though, Fox didn't think about it as much. He instead smiled at how toned his arms and torso were. Life as a guard did more wonders than going to the gym. Fox reckoned he could now give professional athletes back home a run for their money.

Getting dressed, he walked downstairs to find Krystal ready for the day and tending to the kitchen. She hummed a tune with her back to Fox. No sooner had his foot hit the bottom landing though, Krystal glanced over her shoulder. "Just in time," she smiled. "Breakfast is ready."

"Awesome," Fox grinned. He sat down at the table. "What are we having?"

Krystal laid one of two plates in front of him. "Fruit bread, cooled overnight, with a kechen conserve, sliced doa, and freshly brewed tea," she answered, noting the mug already steaming on the table.

Fox looped an arm around her as she sat down and kissed Krystal on the cheek. "It looks delicious. Thank you." Her tail laid over his. Krystal nuzzled into his face.

He picked up a bright, golden slice of doa fruit. Its juicy, tender flesh broke apart easily inside Fox's mouth. He savoured its sweetness while he slathered the conserve over his bread. "So, what are your plans today?"

Krystal chewed on her bread before answering. "First, I'm meeting Javlin at the river to help him practice his ice magic. Then I'm heading to the markets. We're running low on charcoal, so I'll add it to my shopping list."

Her expression soured. "After lunch… I have barrier training at Andross's laboratory." Fox stroked her back comfortingly. "Then finally, I'll join you, Sheld, and Hiumart at the harbour for dinner."

Fox's brow lifted. "Harbour…? You mean 'restaurant,' right?"

Krystal flinched. "Is it?" He nodded. "Darn it… I mean I'll join you at the restaurant for dinner tonight."

She lowered her head into one hand, visibly annoyed. Fox pulled her into a gentle hug. "It's okay. That was just a little mix-up. Your Papetoonish is still coming along great."

"Thank you, Fox," Krystal sighed, responding in Cerinian. "Those two words sound almost the same though."

"Yeah. The lower pitch in the 'ee' sound is important there. But you're doing fine." Fox kissed her and smiled. "You've come such a long way from when you started. Your practice is really paying off."

A small smile cracked across Krystal's lip. "Will it be enough when we get to Lylat?"

"I know you'll be fine if I'm not around to translate for you." Fox adored seeing Krystal's ears perk up. "I really appreciate how hard you've worked to learn Papetoonish. Talking with you in my own language helps me feel a little less homesick."

Krystal thanked him with a nuzzle. "I had a good teacher."

Fox's grin grew. "Mine were better." Her tail wagged.

They finished breakfast quickly and washed up. Krystal then helped Fox into his guard armour. She smoothed out the officer's sash, her hand lingering on Fox's chest for longer than necessary. Conscious of time, Fox enveloped Krystal into a parting embrace.

"Have a good day," he told her.

"I'll try to. The only thing I'm worried about is my barrier training."

Fox squeezed Krystal gently. "It'll be okay. Just don't let Thene get to you."

"Easier said than done," Krystal sighed dejectedly. She pulled back and pecked Fox's cheek. "Enjoy your day at work."

"Will do." He returned the kiss, this time upon Krystal's lips. "Love you."

"Love you too."

As he left the house and followed the road, Fox's thoughts remained with Krystal. Despite his reassurances, he worried about how she'd cope with her training. Thene undoubtedly understood how crucial it was for them to shield the rocket together. However, that woman seemed antagonistic by nature. Next to Krystal, they were polar opposites. Fox hoped they could somehow work past their differences for the sake of the mission. Yet a small voice inside Fox told him that they had a snowball's chance in hell of that happening.

Adding Andross alongside Thene, Fox couldn't believe that his hopes for getting home depended on such stubborn people. Given how impossible their challenge seemed, he supposed that a substantial quantity of stubbornness was what they all needed.

When more advanced civilisations first experimented with space travel, they found that using two separate fuel sources was ideal for their earlier rocket models. A solid fuel and a liquid fuel. The first was intended to burn quickly and powerfully to initiate lift-off. The liquid fuel, conversely, burned at a slower, more controlled rate to last the majority of the flight.

Hydrogen and oxygen were commonly used to produce liquid fuel for numerous reasons. In addition to being both abundant and light in mass, the process for collecting the two gases was relatively simple. These elements bonded together to form water. By destroying these bonds at the molecular level, such as by pumping an electrical current through a water tank, the composite elements would separate and reform as pure gases. Cooling and isolating them was the only challenging part. That step could easily be resolved with distillery equipment and a couple of large gas canisters, like the ones that Thene tended to now.

She kept an eye on the pressure gauge installed on one of the tanks. Its thin needle flickered towards the right side in increments. Once it reached the desired level, Thene switched off the generator. The basin of water beside it ceased bubbling after a couple of seconds. Thene closed the gas tank's valve and disconnected the hose. She then carted the tank to where Simon would deal with it later.

Upon entering the lab, she found him filling a briefcase with documents. Thene did not recall any appointments in his schedule for today. "Going somewhere?"

"Yes." Simon closed the case. "I received a message from our iron supplier. They believe there's an issue with the payment for our last shipment."

Thene crossed her arms. "I remember that we paid it in full already."

"As do I. Which is why I'm going over there to show them our receipts." Simon grumbled incoherently. "It's probably some error in their paper records. You would rarely see that kind of issue with an electronic system."

"Do you need me to accompany you?" She was the one who carried out the transaction, so her testimony would help.

Simon looked at her and shook his head. "You have your training with Krystal McCloud this afternoon. I'd rather you stay here to prepare for that."

Thene frowned at being reminded of that. "Fine," she sniffed.

"I hardly wish to bore you with old men prattling over a simple purchase." Simon then approached Thene and left a kiss upon her cheek. He held her by the shoulders. "Will you be alright without me here?"

The question was almost patronising. "The workers know what they're doing this time around. They don't need me to supervise them."

"I'm not talking about the rocket. I'm talking about you and McCloud," Simon said. "Can you get along with her without me mediating?"

Now it was patronising. Thene removed her mate's hands. "I can conduct myself just fine, thank you."

"I certainly hope so." His gaze held firm. "Remember what I told you. If McCloud is struggling, help her to do better. That means giving her constructive feedback with no belittling or insults. Understood?"

She wanted to roll her eyes, though Thene realised that would only encourage him to further treat her like a child. So, she refrained. "Understood," she replied, barely keeping her teeth from gritting.

Simon nodded, hopefully satisfied. "I should be back in a couple of hours."

Thene saw him off without another word. Left alone, she let the distaste she felt show clearly on her face. Her mood was ruined, and a cup of tea was necessary to improve it. "The things I do for that ape," she muttered.

As best as her morning plans served to distract her, they could not hold off those for the afternoon indefinitely. A sour frown hung from Krystal's face as she trudged up the hill towards Andross's laboratory. The incline itself felt harder with every step. A prayer for anything to cancel her training here floated inside Krystal's mind. However, she chose not to indulge in it. Her parents would chastise her for shirking a commitment.

Behind the building, loud, mechanical sounds echoed. Construction for the new rocket sounded like it was going smoothly. A silver lining for Krystal to tell Fox about later. Thinking of him, she found the resolve to knock upon the lab's front door.

No response came for several minutes, though Krystal did sense a presence inside. Intuition gave her an idea of their identity, and she was determined not to let them get under her skin this soon. Krystal deigned to knock a second time. 'Don't ignore me, mind thief.'

At last, the door cracked open. Thene's face bore no discernible expression through it. "Come in," she said.

"A good day to you," Krystal replied, attempting courtesy.

The lab interior was the same since her last visit. Krystal looked around. "Is Doctor Andross not here?"

"He is out on an errand." Thene walked towards the cleared space in the main room and held her staff. "Now, let's get on with it."

Not wasting any time. Krystal agreed with that much. She took up her position opposite Thene and stood with her own staff before her. "Ready whenever you are."

Thene's mind knocked on the outskirts of Krystal's. At least she had the decency to ask permission. Krystal allowed her entry. It hardly surprised her to find Thene loathing their contact as much as she did.

"On three," Thene said. "One… Two… Three."

Krystal summoned the power from inside herself. She projected it outward, letting it merge with the magic that Thene exuded. Carefully, Krystal shaped the bubble around them, trying to expand it as far as possible while keeping in time with Thene's progress. After pushing past six metres in diameter, the power sadly became unstable. It ruptured at a particularly weak point in the dome. From there, the mana released itself, and the spell collapsed.

Krystal chided herself. She tensed as she prepared for Thene to rant at her faults like during their previous sessions. Yet, she did not. Though stern, Thene's expression did not change in the slightest. "Again," she said simply.

Getting over her initial surprise quickly, Krystal gathered her strength again for a new attempt. She paid closer attention to what she was doing. Whenever the spell felt like it was becoming unbalanced, Krystal stopped to focus on the fault and reinforce it. Thene seemed to slow down when she noticed, though Krystal sensed that it wasn't without displeasure.

Through her efforts, Krystal expanded the barrier's diameter to eight metres. Maintaining control over its entire surface became a tremendous effort. There was simply too much for her to keep her mind on at the same time. As soon as Krystal focused on stabilising one weakness in the shield, another suddenly tore open where her attention left it a moment ago. The collapsing mana blew several papers into the air.

"Damn it," Krystal hissed under her breath. How were they supposed to make a barrier larger than a rocket ship? It was impossible to get one to even fill the room!

"You're casting the spell out of order," Thene remarked.

Krystal blinked at her. "Excuse me?"

Thene raised a closed fist. "To create a barrier, you need to project your mana, give it shape, harden the shell, and then expand it." She lifted one finger with each step. "You're trying to expand the barrier without giving the shell substance, so the spell becomes more unstable as you go."

Krystal wracked her brains, trying to understand what she was saying. "But the Lythan Jad taught us…"

"The Lythan Jad's method is wrong," Thene interrupted sharply. "I will admit that the Jad's way produces a sturdier shield. However, the intent there is to create a small barrier that protects the caster from harm. It doesn't allow the barrier to scale over a wider area though. The shell becomes too brittle that way."

"Then what good is hardening the shell before expanding it at all?" Krystal snapped. What the hell was this woman thinking?

"If you just form a weak shell to start with, it will still be elastic enough to expand. You can then harden it once the barrier has reached its desired size." At Krystal's further confusion, Thene leaned upon her staff. "Think of it like a football. As you blow air into it, the ball's volume will increase naturally as the internal pressure rises. Mana follows the same principle when it's given physical form. It just stretches more easily than leather can."

She tried to picture blowing up a ball like from her childhood, yet Krystal remained sceptical. It went against everything she learned through her lythan training. "At least give it a try," Thene huffed.

Krystal's indecision faded. Fine. She could show that vixen up by proving her backwards theory wrong.

At Krystal's count, they reattempted the spell from the beginning. Krystal shaped her mana until it surrounded them in a perfect dome. "Good," Thene remarked. "Now solidify the shell." Krystal concentrated on the spell's outermost layer. She condensed the mana until it manifested as a waxy screen above her.

"That's enough," Thene instructed. "Now expand the barrier."

Krystal probed the shell. Apprehension filled her. It didn't feel strong enough to withstand a strike from a tree branch, let alone stretch beyond its current size. Krystal decided to the Void with Thene and pushed the barrier outward using her will. It grew a few inches. Krystal felt the power spreading thinner as it went. At any moment, she expected it to tear apart just like before.

Except, it didn't. Krystal pushed the barrier further. It grew and stretched, yet it held together. The ease in which it did seemed ridiculous. Really trying to test its limits, Krystal threw more power into expanding the barrier. Its diameter grew three metres with barely any strain across the shell. Krystal's jaw hung agape. "It worked…"

"The shell is getting a bit thin," Thene spoke up. "Feed more mana into it first. Then we'll keep going."

Stunned, Krystal almost didn't hear her. "R-right…" she stammered. She carefully channelled more power over the barrier's shell. It congealed across the membrane, reinforcing it like fresh clay over a cracked and crumbling wall.

'Incredible…' Krystal thought. Whereas before, she needed to stretch her attention throughout the barrier, it no longer required her support. As long as Krystal distributed her mana evenly, the shape would hold as though by its own will. It amazed her how a simple change created such a major difference. What other spells could be made easier through tweaking their methods?

Together, Krystal and Thene made the barrier so large that it touched the ceiling. At that point, they stopped. Thene directed Krystal to sustain the spell for as long as possible. Krystal assumed they'd do so for maybe a minute or two. However, Thene kept her at it. After what felt like ages, Krystal's body shook from the strain. Her concentration threatened to slip.

Just when she was about to break, Thene finally spoke. "That will be enough. We can release the spell now." Krystal let the barrier fade slowly and fell to her knees in gratitude. Through her exhaustion though, she became proud from producing a stable barrier spell at long last.

"That was much better," Thene remarked. She stood tall, giving no visible indication that she felt fatigued as well. "Now that you've grasped the fundamentals, we can focus on building our endurance. For that, we'll continue our work outside."

Krystal panted. "Can we at least take a short break first?"

Thene's face turned cold. The new expression faded after a moment as she turned her head and sighed. "Very well. I suppose you've earned one."

Krystal shifted into a more comfortable sitting position and let out a breath. She began to draw mana from her staff to replenish her body's. Had Krystal used the staff's blessing, she could have casted the barrier much more easily. However, any self-respecting mage would use their own power to master a spell before relying on an item to enhance it, otherwise their skill would fail to grow fully. For the next step though, Krystal suspected that she would need the extra help.

She began to feel better after a minute. Krystal saw Thene recline in a nearby chair, observing her own staff. The design was unlike anything Krystal had ever seen. Its shaft consisted of several parts, each segment a little bit thinner than the one above, which allowed them to slide over each other and compress the staff to half its full length. Thene could easily carry her weapon from the sheath on her hip that way.

That wasn't the only aspect that made Krystal curious. She looked at the gemstone in the staff's head. She could feel mana radiating from it similar to hers. But for that to be…

"Your staff is blessed."

Thene glanced at Krystal. "Yes. It is."

Krystal's grip on her staff tightened. "Only spirits can bless an object with Cerinia's mana. How did you do it?"

"You answered your own question, did you not?" Thene huffed, staring off at her staff. "I appealed to the spirits, and they responded. It's that simple."

"But only lythans nominated by the Grandmaster can take the Spirit Trial," Krystal frowned.

Thene turned up her nose. "Really? Is that a written law from the chief?"

Krystal growled. No, it wasn't. "That's not the point!"

"Then what is your point?" Thene lifted one leg casually over the other. "If there's no law banning someone from beseeching the spirits, then there should be no issue in me asking them to bless my property. The Lythan Jad's rules are just that: their rules. Nothing more than policy for their members to follow."

"Were you not one yourself?" Krystal countered.

Thene's eyes darkened. "Not since your uncle cast me out."

Anger flared inside Krystal. "For invading my mother's mind!" Her hackles stood on end. "You were her student! She trusted you! And yet you violated her!"

Painful images from Krystal's childhood rose from the darkest recesses of her memories. "Mama cried for weeks after what you did! She could hardly sleep. She stopped smiling and laughing like she always used to! And worse, she almost resigned from her position at the shrine!"

Tears began to burn in Krystal's eyes. "Did you ever feel sorry for the hurt you caused? Even the slightest bit of remorse?! Of course not! Because you went on to do the exact same thing to Fox when he first came here for Andross's help!"

"Your mate was always itching to harm mine. Excuse me for wanting to keep Simon safe by reading his enemy's mind," Thene sneered. "And as for Nomar, she was not the helpless victim that you make her out to be. I did what I had to because she wilfully got in my way and exhausted all my other options. She didn't want to teach me anymore? That was fine. I could accept that. But she did not need to bar me from the shrine's library or from studying under a different master!"

"She only did that because she thought your mindset was dangerous!" Krystal snapped. "For Meen's sake, you were experimenting with poison! How is that supposed to fulfill a lythan's duty to protect people?!"

"I was trying to test whether they could be used in medicine!" Thene snarled. Krystal's white-hot rage died suddenly. Shock had slain it. Thene's, however, smouldered under the thin surface. "Do you know what the difference between poison and medicine is?"

"What kind of question is that?" Krystal regained her fighting spirit. "Poisons harm people while medicine heals them."

"Wrong! The difference is dosage." Thene leaned forward. "As a master lythan, you should know that giving someone too much medicine at once can cause side effects. It can make them sicker than they were already. Just like poison would. So, one day I thought to myself: What would happen if you took a poisonous compound and gave someone the smallest dose possible? What effects would it have? Could it then be used to treat illnesses that we haven't yet found a cure for? That was what I was trying to find out before your poor, helpless mother interfered."

Krystal bared her fangs. "That's insane!"

"To most people, it might seem like it," Thene replied evenly. "But you know what? After I met Simon, I learned that I was right! Scientists on other planets have been using deadly chemicals in medicine for thousands of years. In controlled doses, they save more lives than anything our world has ever produced. The antibiotics we made for the nuhmryg epidemic are a perfect example of that."

Stunned a second time, Krystal thought back to when she laid bedridden with the disease. For days, she feared that Yul would claim her life before she got the chance to embrace Fox again. Her parents worked desperately to give Krystal as much time as possible. Then, after Dr Andross arrived at her bedside with two white pills in his palm, everything changed. Krystal's fever broke overnight. The dizziness abated by the following noon. Slowly, her energy returned. Had she not known better, Krystal would have called it a divine miracle. Instead, it had been Andross and Thene's advanced medical knowledge that saved her life then.

"Do you now see the difference between your Jad's knowledge and that of other worlds?" Thene continued to rant. "We are so far behind the rest of the universe that it's embarrassing. And your clan kept me from making a discovery that would have helped Cerinia close that gap! They punished me for trying to find a better way to do their jobs! So, forgive me if I don't give a damn for Nomar Sharrde's feelings."

Her words cut Krystal deep. They hurt her; both through their venom and the truth she now saw behind them. They tightened Krystal's insides so viciously that her claws dug into her palms. This did not cleanse the anger from her heart. However, Krystal no longer felt like she had a strong position to condemn Thene for what she now realised was a misunderstanding that had spun horribly out of control. Any attempt led to the words falling apart in Krystal's throat before she could utter them.

When silence lingered between them, Thene stood and turned her back. She sighed tiredly. "Let's just end training today. I can't do this with you right now."

Krystal hung her head. She didn't feel much like practicing magic anymore either. Pulling her knees close to her chest, Krystal chewed on everything she just heard. A question began to burn in her mind.

"After the epidemic, Randorn offered you a chance to return to the Lythan Jad. But you refused. Was that because you were still angry with him and my mother?"

Thene did not move. Her frame became like a statue's, arms crossed against her chest. "I still resent them to this day. But that was not the reason why I refused."

"Then why?"

"Because I found something better." Thene finally turned back to Krystal. "When I met Simon, he agreed to teach me if I became his assistant. I wanted to learn everything that he knew, so he taught it to me. It didn't matter to him what I might use that knowledge for. Simon didn't constrain himself with preconceived ideas or moral codes, so he never expected that from me. I could finally learn whatever I wanted without others trying to hold me back."

"Andross ended countless lives in the Lylat System before he arrived here," Krystal reminded. "Didn't that bother you at all?"

Thene scoffed. "I was made an outcast from both the lythans and my clan. I spent months on my own, foraging just to get by. I didn't have a lot of empathy left to care much at the time."

Her gaze swept around the room. "Look around us. All the equipment that you see was created on other worlds so that people could understand how the universe worked. While we practiced our magic, they had to discover other ways to improve their lives. Lightbulbs; cell phones; hot water systems! People like the Cornerians invented all these things because they couldn't use magic. Now they're capable of doing far more than anything we could possibly have imagined."

Thene then gestured out the window, to where the new rocket was being assembled inside a frame of scaffolds and tarp. "Do you remember watching the first shuttle take off in front of us? Think about all that transpired to make it happen. We used water from the river nearby to create electricity. We used that same electricity to then turn water into air. We cooled that air into new liquids, which we mixed to create fire. Then we launched a metal object high into the sky as though it were a bird! All without magic! That is what science is capable of! That is what Simon was able to teach me. And it is far greater than anything that the Lythan Jad has to offer."

Taking in a steep breath, Thene released it slowly. She looked Krystal square in the eyes. "I might have been expelled by the Lythan Jad, but I outgrew them. There is nothing for me there now, and I have no interest in going back."

Hearing her reasons gave Krystal an entirely new perspective. She took more time to digest it. Being a lythan meant a great deal to Krystal. Very few things were more important to her. It was her calling. Therefore, it was difficult for her to imagine herself as anything else. Thene tried following that same path and found it a poor match for her. Yet she discovered a new path that aligned better with her goals and personality.

"You really prefer being a scientist, don't you?" Krystal asked.

The edge waned from Thene's posture. "I do. It allows me to be myself."

"If we succeed with the rocket, what do you think you will do?"

Thene sighed softly, looking away. Her expression seemed uncertain. "That depends on whether I can keep Simon safe from the Cornerians. It doesn't matter to me where I go afterwards, but I would much rather it be with him at my side. I don't wish to be alone again."

Krystal's ears drooped. She knew what being apart from the one she cared about most felt like. "One thing I've realised through learning Papetoonish is that there's no single word for what a lythan is. That's because my role is so different to any other found in the Lylat System. It makes me worry what I would do after leaving Cerinia."

Tapping on the crook of her elbow, Thene hummed. "A lythan's duty boils down to protecting and healing. There are plenty of occupations that revolve around one or both of those. You'll find something."

Krystal lifted her head. "I think that's the kindest thing I've ever heard you say."

A funny look overtook Thene's face. A frown quickly settled over it. "Don't get used to it." Yet, a miniscule smile broke through, if only for an instant.

The frost around Krystal's heart started to thaw as she thought about her future in the Lylat System. Fox's previous work as a mercenary might have been a good outlet for her warrior training, though he didn't plan to return to it himself. He wanted to focus on reintegrating into his old culture during their first year. That would give Krystal time to adjust to life on his world and find a new role that fitted her. As long as she could use her talents to help others, she would be content.

Of course, all that planning would go to waste if they didn't make it out of Cerinia's orbit. "I'm ready to try the next step," Krystal said. "You're not still quitting already, are you?"

Thene sniffed. "You're persistent. I'll grant you that." In one seamless motion, she extended her staff to full length. "Fine. Break's over. Let's get this over with."

Krystal rose to her feet. Thanks to her staff, she felt refreshed. Better than before, even. Resolutely, she strode outside after Thene to where they'd have more room. She might not like the vixen; or agree with her views; but Krystal discovered that she did respect Thene's drive to achieve her goals. And above all else, Krystal understood that she needed Thene to achieve her own. As Krystal stood opposite her on the open hillside, she became more determined to succeed.

The cavern was small, dark, and devoid of any formidable defences. Cold stone and earth surrounded all sides. The surface barely hung a few kilometres metres above. Overall, it paled to the original Queen's chamber deep within the Homeworld. Yet this nest would serve well enough as a starting point. The few tunnels leading outward echoed with the clicks and scrapes of the new workers digging deeper into the ground. Tirelessly, they would expand the nest for the swarm. All the way to the planet's core if required.

Data fed to the Queen continuously from their workers. Analysis of their genetic makeup and collective memories were ongoing. This planet's organic residents possessed qualities unobserved in any other recorded species. Scientific knowledge failed to adequately explain the mechanics of their capabilities. However, their method of communicating non-verbally across long distances functioned similarly to the swarm's own mind. There lay opportunity for self-enhancement.

Assessment of the local region yielded valuable information. Only one species demonstrated the sapience to establish a functional society. Their technological capabilities were insignificant. Threat of opposition was likely negligible. Bountiful stock for harvest. Extraordinary benefit to the Aparoid swarm.

Current numbers should be sufficient to assault settlements. It would be advantageous to avoid detection from neighbouring populations until full analysis of their combat capabilities was complete. Intelligence collected to date would support tactical planning. The Queen issued orders for drones to resume surveillance. Caution towards the residents' sensory abilities would be necessary. Eliminate any sapient organism that discovered them swiftly.

Preparations thus far satisfied the Queen. They settled into the earth, directing 80 percent of processing power to analysing memories from the recently integrated. The mission was proceeding smoothly. If probability favoured them, the Aparoids would soon identify a means to bypass the anomaly trapping them inside the planet's atmosphere. Reconnection to the main swarm might then be achieved. The Queen's purpose would be fulfilled.

All for the Aparoid swarm.