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((The Mon/Wen/Fri Double -- page 1 of 2))
Emiliana still didn't see where Gohvis was going with any of this, but she doubted that it was some random tangent of his. There must have been something about these ants that was relevant to Gohvis' overall goal.

"Even though the Jaskadan jumper ant is a hundred times its size or more, the Ardoran angel ant is one of the few animals in the world that it cannot conquer. The angel ant is immune to its venom, has a body that can withstand pressures over ten tons, temperatures over three thousand degrees, and has an average lifespan of 150 years."

Her eyes widened a little at that bit of information.

"Try as the jumper ant might, it cannot kill the angel ant," said Gohvis. "It can 'occupy' angel ant territory, but that makes little to no difference to them. The angel ant can simply continue about its business as usual, climbing over the jumper ant's giant body like it would any other obstacle to gathering food. Even the angel queen is essentially invulnerable to attack or interruption of her reproductive cycle."

Emiliana had to ask a question now. "If all of that is true, then it seems like the angel ant could take over the entire world. Er, well. The entire ant world, at least."

"Ah, but that is precisely the point. Angel ants do not wage war like most ants do. They certainly do not conquer like the jumper ants. And why should they? They have no need to. Almost nothing can truly threaten their colony."

Hmm. She felt like she was beginning to understand now. "Are you saying that you want to make human beings like the angel ant?"

"Mm. You're getting warmer."

"But I'm not spot on?"

"Making humanity as physically resilient as the angel ant would be one step to ensuring its survival under extreme conditions," said Gohvis, "but in truth, it is the social behavior of the angel ant that I find most interesting."