Jacobus studied the single enemy they'd captured. A tall being, its carapace flame red. It was injured as well: several large gashes in its exoskeleton seeped green gore. One of its upper limbs had been completely severed. The three Primists who had captured it hauled it forward and threw it to the ground.
Jacobus stood over the broken captive. “Tell me,” he said. “What is going on here? What is this hell planet?”
The insect paused, then emitted a stream of chirps and clicks. It took Jacobus's headset a few moments to interpret. “Hell planet, Primist? Is that what you see with those small eyes of yours?”
“And what do you see, bug?”
“I see heaven, Primist. I see Paradise. With you as the rot, the worm in the core. Don't you understand?”
“No, demon. I do not understand. The billions cra
