Their small, single-minded brains clung to one thought: they must reach their queen and protect her.
Their relentless focus was unshakable.
The disc-like artifact hovered in the air, defying conventional physics.
The light it emitted formed an impassable shield, halting the swarm in its tracks.
Kahlil and Tariq swallowed their saliva hard.
Yet again, their benefactors demonstrated abilities and tools beyond their comprehension.
"If the Empire had something like this in the past," Tariq murmured, "we wouldn't have needed to fear penetrating the heart of the space insectoid swarm or being surrounded by massive tides of these creatures. We might have even escaped unscathed."
The collapse of Planet Umbra didn't accelerate but continued steadily at a constant pace.
Amalia concentrated, carefully controlling the fusion of Planet Umbra with her small world, accumulating its essence bit by bit.
