Delphi watched Tika rise up out of The Cellars into Hrrm's Hive, weapons strapped to every part of her body.
Each of his guards got her co-ordinates.
He watched Tika peer upward, as if sniffing the air...
and then Delphi watched her walk in a determined manner...
towards him.
Towards where Delphi rested in his tub on the other side of Hrrm's Hive.
He contacted PhlaPhla. "Things have become critical, I'm afraid. It seems I'll be needing your assistance, after all. All the assistance I can get, actually."
"Impossible," PhlaPhla replied.
"Oh? And why is that?"
"We've decided you're done."
"What? Why? Because..."
"Because you've handled the present situation so badly, for one thing."
"One thing?"
"There are other reasons."
"You're going to allow this child, this Azurian, to destroy Hrrm's Hive?"
"Hrrm's Hive can be rebuilt."
"That sounds like a death sentence."
"For you, nothing less. You've gone mushy, Delphi. This situation should have been squashed before it even began. Either the child finishes you or we do."
"There's a third option, PhlaPhla."
"Yes? And what might that be?"
"You'll see," Delphi replied, then cut off all further communication.