Chrysalism - 1 The Desert claims the unwary, swallows them whole and with a natural non-remorse. "Legacies were forged here, legends fell, empires rose. And through it all, these rustic bunkers survived." "[i]Well, obviously. They are bunkers, are they not?[/i]" "Of course. But you're too concerned with why they survived - simple questions, simple answers. Go deeper." "[i]Why . . . Why are they here in the first place. Who built them?[/i]" "Look around you. All stones tell a history. Consider the shelves, bolted into carved put walls." "[i]They're . . . Sturdy. Iron I think, rusted over, very old. But you didn't want me to notice the shelves . . .[/i]" "Go on. And quickly." "[i]The walls. They're natural, carved out with water. On this desert world? No, not from the desert. The cliffside.[/i] "So bunkers have been built in a cliff-face, on a remote desert world, where water is . . . Relatively abundant." "[i]This tells us they were survivors. The planet is remote, so why is it so extensively studied in galactic archives?[/i] "Hmm. Think. What could cause survivors to run to the edge of what is known." "[i]The shelves are dusty, this place isn't impervious to sand, the elements.[/i]" "So why build the bunkers in the first place, if surviving the sand storms isn't priority?" "[i]Ran away, Remote location, Harsh Environment, Bunkers, Cheap Shelves --- War.[/i]" "[b]Very good[/b]" The student whirls around, the new man's armor was old and clunky. It was a miracle he snuck up on them. Well, not his mentor, who had already drawn on the Ancient Soldier. [i]Yes[/i], the student thought, [i]A soldier, a survivor.[/i] "[b]You've taught your student to think well, old mate. But have you taught him the most important lesson about these dunes?[/b] "Listen closely student." His mentor holstered his weapon, the new man followed suit. Thunder rolled outside, a storm picking up, getting closer. "And listen well." "[b]You see, young lad. These dunes are dangerous. The desert claims the unwary, swallows them whole and with a natural non-remorse."[/b]