The hivemind is conquering for me?

After our ’quickie’ Kathrine left before she decided to stow herself away, leaving me to relax for a short while as her base forces continued to load up the ship. The first thing I did was put the communicator with the one I had received from Rekosh.

I really didn’t plan on using it much, but keeping it somewhere I knew was safe, while also making sure my privacy wasn’t being invaded was mandatory as when I inevitably felt longing for all my darling partners, it would be nice to be able to reach out.

With that sorted, I immediately went to the cockpit and heard Ronnie muttering to the ship. ”Oh wow, your inertia dampeners must have been running overtime to actually have you stop in such a way when he turned off the engines. Do you want me to take a look at them to make sure they are still at peak operations? Huh? What?”

Ronnie then turned around and smiled at me like I was an idol. ”Apollo the ship was just telling me about the training you did with the outer family! The way it described the events... You are a natural pilot? Is there anything you cannot do?”

I smiled at the compliment and sat down in the chair opposite Ronnie. ”So Ronnie, the ship told you about my training... Will the ship just talk to anyone with your ability? Because-” Ronnie picked up what I was putting down and got to the defence of the ship immediately.

”-Oh no Apollo. The ship is loyal to the one that they designate as its current owner, that being you. It will never tell anyone you don’t consider an ally anything. It would rather be turned to scrap. Especially this ship. She has taken quite the liking to you.” He said, rubbing his seat comfortingly as he said the last part.”

I nodded at this information, believing Ronnie to a fault. ”Ok, tell the ship I like it very much as well. It is a very good ship. By the way, what were you talking about when I walked in? Inertia dampeners?”

Ronnie nodded his head after mumbling under his breath, he then turned to me and explained. ”Basically the ship was telling me about when you performed that manoeuvre by coming to a dead stop with the engines off. Basically the Inertia dampeners were pretty strained by that move, you just need to be careful and try to focus more on slowing down first rather than coming to a complete instant stop. I know it was simply training and it had no way to convey this information to you, so the ship is not agitated by you being rough with her.”

I nodded my head and patted my seat. ”Got it, apply force back in the stop instead of relying on the ships failsafe tech. You got it.” Ronnie seemed to get really excited about ship talk and asked.

”Do you want me to explain to you how the dampeners work? Honestly, it’s ingenious. The fact that science is beginning to advance to the point it is reality bending like Psionics... It gets my motor running so to speak.”

My lips folded inwards, trying not to smirk at what Ronnie just said before replying. ”Maybe later Ronnie, how long is the trip again? Thirty hours? We will have time to discuss it.”

”Forty hours actually Apollo. Apparently a Coalition Armada has begun a counterattack on the worlds the army took a few months back, Warp lanes are on lockdown so even with our VIP status, we will have to wait to enter, It’s going to take long as well especially since we are having to fly super slow through the active space and its on the way to Leondis, Practically the heart of Spartari military. So, many checkpoints... Don’t worry though, we won’t have to get out for those ones, they are quick scans and go to make sure the ships traveling are legal.”

”Oh thank goodness, knowing my super luck, we would have been stopped at every single one if they were searches.” I said, causing Ronnie to smile at my joke. ”Well, the military wouldn’t want to agitate anyone over the coming days. Spartari has a lot of flaws, but it treats those with Psionics with the utmost respect. A random guard doesn’t want to piss off the wrong person who is Psionically gifted, they wouldn’t live long afterwards.”

Ronnie and I went back and forth over similar such matters for another fifteen minutes before an armed man walked into the cockpit and looked between the two of us with narrow eyes before addressing me. ”Archon Apollo, All of your belongings are now aboard. Lady Hyllus has also given permission to stock the vessel with a week’s worth of rations for ’Just in case Apollo acts like a magnet for trouble again.’ Were her exact words.”

I then looked at Ronnie and chuckled at the fact I had just brought up something similar. ”Oh I love that woman. Thank you sir, you can be on your way.” The man then nodded and turned to leave the ship.

Once he was out of earshot, Ronnie turned to me with a confused expression and asked. ”Apollo, I know it is not my place to ask, but may I ask you a question regarding your relations anyway?”

”Of course Ronnie, ask away.” I gestured before sitting back as he seemed to gather his thoughts. He took a long pause before looking up at me and said. ”Being a part of the family, I am naturally connected to what you consider your partner. I feel utmost respect and adoration for you Apollo. Which leaves me confused as the females of the family and especially outer family must feel so many more sexually charged emotions to you, it leaves me confused as to why they would be ok with you having sex with others outside of the family, especially sharing your love. I guess my question is why are they ok with you having intimate relations with others?”

I nodded to Ronnie’s question, before replying. ”Oh, that’s easy. I am being selfish.” Ronnie clearly not expecting that answer parroted my word. ”Selfish?” I nodded my head and replied once more.

”Mhm. Before I came here the first time, shortly before you picked me up, Jewel, the great mother, and I had a discussion about me mating with other species’ Because the outer family had no desire or instinct to mate before I came along, whenever they ate someone from our species, they would try to understand the mating rituals of our species.

And well. Humans fuck... A lot. Now while that is basically music to the ears of the outer family who would ride me until all the bones in my body turn to dust... Jewel, being the amazing bug wife she is, also understands that With my exploration, I might want to dip my wick into some exotic species here and there. I know I have only been around humans so far, but in the future who knows?

I digress. I didn’t mean to fall in love with Kathrine either and it sort of just happened. Jewel has given her consent to the relationship as well which is a key point for actual relationships going forward. And a final thing. As long as I don’t get anyone else pregnant before her, she is basically ’fine’ with my decisions of carnal pleasure as she understands I have a lot of love to give and if we only gave it to each other.... We already have a hard enough time stopping when we start, it’s good to let ’lesser beings’ occupy some of my time. Anyway, sorry for rambling on Ronnie, did I cover what you wanted to know?”

Ronnie nodded his head and looked at me with fervour. ”Yes Apollo! Thank you so much for gracing me with the inner thoughts of someone as powerful as the great mother. I still recall her visage from the instance I caught a glimpse of her and the thought causes me pain due to how powerful she was. For her to be so powerful, yet so caring and magnanimous. Truly, she is the perfect vessel to bring us universal unification! I am honoured to have glimpsed into her mind’s thoughts even for a moment. Thank you for this gift Apollo.”

”Umm. No problem kid? Now, uh. Since the ship is ready for take off, why don’t you hail orbit? I am going to go check on the others to make sure they are ok and ready to leave.”

Ronnie nodded and saluted slightly and watched as I walked away down the ship’s interior. He then swivelled on his chair right into the sight of a large maw that went . ”Boo!”

”Ahhhhh!” He suddenly screamed, causing Onyx to switch into her humanoid form and sit next to him with a smirk. ”Oh Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie. I forgot how much fun it was to scare you. I have been so preoccupied with charting the future, I forgot to enjoy the present. Still, the future holds big things for you Ronnie, and with it, big scares.”

Onyx then smiled again, causing Ronnie to shudder in wonderment at why the smaller, humanoid figure was scarier than the Stalker form.