The hivemind is conquering for me?

*Clink*

After clinking our respective drinks together, we both took a sip before I asked. ”So, Z, what brings you here this evening? Are you a noble, or are you a member of a gang?” Z rasped her fingers against her glass as she looked at me playfully. ”Can it not be both?” She asked as she rested her cheek against her hand.

I grinned as I picked up my glass one more. ”I expected that to be the case. A woman with beauty such as yours could be a major player in both fields.” I said before taking another sip. Z guffawed upon Apollo’s spot on expectation.

”You know, you are quite the flirt. I could not help overhear your conversation with the bartender not long ago. What would Sophia think about you calling me a beauty and talking to other girls the way you do?” She said playfully.

I cocked my head to the side to feign confusion. ”Did I lie?” I asked, causing Zeona to require clarification. ”Did you lie about what?” She said mildly confused. ”Did I lie about you being beautiful? I don’t think I did. You are quite attractive. That is not flirting, that is just simply the truth. Sophia has no issue with me telling the truth.”

Zeona looked me up and down for a moment, as if trying to weed out any ploys. Finding none she simply smiled with a mild blush. ”Well then. A woman should take a compliment when she hears one then. Thank you, I do put a lot of effort into my appearance after all.”

’A bit too much if I am being honest with myself.’ She thought as she remembered the last time she had her synthetic skin replaced and how much the cost actually was. She did not linger too long on that thought however, as she was asked another question.

”So, who do you work for? I take it since you are here, you must be a high up in a gang or something like that.” I asked curiously. Zeona raised an eyebrow at his question. ’Wait, is he actually totally in the dark about who I am?’

She suspected since Sophia knew her name, that her partner might also know it as well. ”I work for no one. I am the shadow leader of a militia you may have heard of. Talos. Ring any bells?”

’Um, yeah? But probably not in the way you are thinking.’ I thought to myself as I remembered a rather fond memory of my past life. ’HOLD UP!’ My brain said as it took over my train of thought. ’I can already Psionically alter my voice to make it louder. What if...’

Realising I was being rude as the woman stared at me, I shook my head slightly before replying. ”No, sorry. I don’t believe I have ever heard of your organisation before.” I said honestly, causing Z to be taken aback.

”Really?” Zeona asked, perplexed. ”You have never heard of us.” Shaking my head I replied. ”No, sorry. Should I have? I am not really a part of the gang related part of Sophia’s business.”

’No elevated heart rate, he is keeping eye contact and no fidgeting. He really does not know. I suppose my initial train of thought was right. Wrong place, wrong time.’ She thought to herself, still though she decided to press to find out how much he did know about that particular night.

”Apollo, you know a woman named Jinx, correct?” She asked, to which I replied with immediate affirmation. ”And you went out on a bike ride with her a short while ago, correct?” She continued, causing me to fill in the gaps of where this line of questioning was going.

”Oh... Were the people who attacked us your people? But why did you? Oh, the bike? Jinx did say it was stolen. Wait, hold up a minute!” I said upon realising something. ”Did I cause a fucking war to break out because I went on a bike ride with a pretty girl? Jeez, what a chain reaction.”

I was flummoxed.

Looking back to the woman who had a neutral expression on her face I felt like I owed her an apology. ”Z, listen. I never intended to hurt any of your militia, nor start a chain of reactions that led a war. I promise I only killed your troops in self defence and for that I am truly sorry.”

Zeona held the man’s eyes for a short while, judging the man’s character. He genuinely seemed remorseful for his actions. Something rare to find in Spartari these days. Something irked her though, something that required clarification.

”Apollo. I looked you up before I came here tonight you know? There is not much about you on record. All I could get was where you were born and the fact you became a mercenary for a short while. Tell me, did you have to kill people during your time with them?”

I nodded my head simply, intrigued about where this woman was going with her words. ”Surely then, you have become used to killing by now correct? Why feel remorse for the people under my charge?” She asked with a tilted head.

With no hesitation I replied. ”Because I am not used to killing.” Z seemed taken aback by what I said, but stayed silent to allow me to continue. ”Sure, on Alexandria, whatever number it was, I killed a lot of beings. Dinosaurs, robots, people and more robots. I got good at killing. Got good at killing fast, but I will never get used to it. Maybe I have some bizarre contradictory moral compass, but while I have it, I will do my best to stick to it. Kill only for necessity, not enjoyment. That is why I feel remorse for killing your men, because I would rather not have had the option.”

Again, I felt hypocritical saying that, as I had and will in the future help my bug wife in her conquests. But at the same time, it was how I truly felt about the violent nature of this universe and Its effect on me.

”*Sigh* It is a good thing you are leaving the planet tomorrow Apollo. Your heart is too soft for the line of work you have found yourself on the edge of. You are forgiven for your actions in regards to the events of my stolen bike, I never really cared for it to be honest, Talos was just sending a message that I was not to be stolen from.” She said and took a sip of her drink.

”What about the war?” I asked curiously. ”What about it? Oh I think I see the point you are trying to make. In truth, the events that led to the war were a blessing in disguise. I have had my eye on expanding my territory for a while now, Jinx’s impulse has just given me a casus belli to begin the war without the other leaders thinking I am power hungry. However, in regards to Sophia and her neutrality. Because of your admission tonight, I see no reason for this neutrality to be a front and I will not be attacking her territory at all.”

I smiled softly hearing that. ”I appreciate you being accepting of Sophia’s neutrality, but if you were to attack her, no offence, she would kick your butt.” I said playfully, yet with an undertone of truthful warning.

Zeona let out a single laugh. ”Heh, Is that so? I suppose it is a good thing she has decided to remain neutral then hmm?” We both then stared at each other before laughing once more, finding the tension had left the conversation.

Zeona felt a natural end to the conversation approaching, but she had to admit to herself that she enjoyed talking to a man that was not fawning over her with every word that spewed from his mouth. That and even with the heaviness of the conversation, she did not feel uncomfortable once, meaning she enjoyed the present company.

Feeling the conversation coming to an end and failing spectacularly at being a cool spy type, I said. ”Right then, Miss Z it has been a pleasure, but-” I was suddenly cut off by Z. ”Apollo, you had a stint as a mercenary correct? But that was only your first time. Tell me, what is your vocation if you are not connected to Sophia’s business?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but decided not to and replied vaguely. ”I cannot really say what my vocation is Miss Z, for it is not exactly a legal Spartari practice.” Z looked at me for a moment bewildered before a smile crept upon her face when she realised I was serious.

”HA hahahaha! Apollo, look around, you are surrounded by the most wanted criminals. You don’t need to be shy if your job is on the other end of the law. Trust me, It will stay between us.” She said as she brushed her hand across my shoulder for a second.

I chuckled to myself, realising the irony of the situation. She even told me she was a gang leader who was currently at war. What I did was nothing in comparison.

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As I began to tell her about my vocation, the pair of us were unaware of a large man filled to the brim with weapons that he could not take off at the door watching the woman he was infatuated with, laugh playfully with some unforgettable prick.

”This will not stand.”