The hivemind is conquering for me?

The ship’s sirens began to wail, causing me to groan. ”Seriously? Another checkpoint? You really were not kidding, this has been bonkers.” I said as I got up out of my Janine lap pillow. She had been giving me a nice head massage as a thank you for yesterday, but the mood was soured now.

”That was a proximity siren, not a scan, Apollo, we left FTL. Look, you can see the planet in the distance.” Ronnie said from the pilot chair, causing me to hastily walk over. Sure enough out in the distance, a planet was beginning to grow ever closer as we made our way towards it.

Ecumenopolis 7, or better known as the only planet with a name within the Capital system, Leondis. The planet was incredibly rocky from what could be seen on the scanner with small oceans jotted around its landmasses.

I could imagine that the military built all their facilities in the flatlands surrounding the mountainous, rocky regions and dug underground into the mountains to store munitions and other secret projects. The terrain I could already imagine would be a nightmare to siege for any species that attempted. chokepoints and impassable terrain everywhere would make the defenders have the ultimate advantage as it would force any ground assaults into focused kill zones.

My times watching the Hive fight against the Ker’mins throughout my childhood made me begin to think of ways to counter such an organised defence. Sure, Jewel could do what she always does, mass invasion. She has got the resources and biomass to do that, but I enjoyed thinking of ways to counter the enemy without expending my precious love bugs.

...

After a few hours of very slow space flight, due to the absurd amount of ships in the region, we were eventually passed through a designated opening surrounding the planet’s defensive mesh, something I had not noticed until we were right up next to it.

I could immediately tell it was some advanced technology and would not even begin to try and understand how it worked. I liked working on flesh with Psionics, not machinery with technology after all.

Shortly after passing through the opening, we were hailed on the ship’s communicator and instructed to follow a military ship down to a designated spot on the planet below. As we entered the atmosphere, we received another instruction that we need to bring out any weapons we have with us to register.

”Orchid, you carry Janine’s rifle when we land. You already have your permit from Kathrine for your swords so we will be ok.” I said, causing Janine to look over at Orchid. ”Wait, your swords are also alien? I just thought they were made of some alloy.”

Orchid didn’t reply and turned to me in lieu of an explanation, she was still getting in the zone, my giving into her kink had thrown her off and she needed to seriously focus.

”Yes, Orchid got her swords from the same place I got my armour. There was some serious organic weaponry there I tell you...” I said, causing Janine to raise her eyebrow. ”Wait. Are you telling me you have even more equipment like this?” She asked, knocking on my vambrace.

I smiled and winked playfully. ”Can’t show all the goods can I? They were illegal before I got my permit, couldn’t just arrive with an entire arsenal now could I?” I suppose it wasn’t the worst idea in the world to say that. It just meant that if Jewel ever made me more goodies in the future, I wouldn’t have to explain how I got them. I could simply state they were from the same ’derelict ship’ I ’found’ my armour. Simples.

Below us as we began our landing descent, I could see hundreds, thousands of ships leaving me with this excited feeling within my chest. Each ship must have at least one Psionically gifted person within.

”I have never seen so many Psionic individuals in one place. Oh this is going to be kick ass!” I said, causing Orchid to look over at me confused. ”Apollo, You-” ”-Individuals, Orchid.” I stopped her, knowing what she was going to attempt to subtly convey to me. Hey eyes then widened before nodding her head.

Orchid was actually feeling a little nervous. Not about going to this place, she didn’t care in the slightest. She just was so out of her element. She felt that way around the cultists at first. Hybrids, they felt wrong to be around, but now? Well, now she could tolerate being around them. The majority were not in contention for her time with Apollo after all.

But here? So many prey humans, so many Psionic humans... Orchid was struggling to not salivate a waterfall. This was prime hunting ground and she couldn’t dig in? Still, Orchid was determined to be here for her Apollo. She would play the step sister role immaculately. She would stay silent when she was not forced to interact with the prey and would observe everything. Strengths, weaknesses. Exploitations that she could then give to the hive when it was safe to do so.

Meanwhile, Janine suddenly took my hand as she looked through the ship’s glass. I could feel her pulse was raised, causing me to prompt. ”Why are you suddenly so nervous? Don’t tell me you have gotten cold feet just as we have arrived.”

Janine then looked up at Apollo to prove she wasn’t scared, but that smile. That damn smile. It took her off guard, causing her to look away before Apollo noticed her flush. ”No, I am not... Well, maybe a little. There are just so many people here and I am supposed to just be an accessory to you. On top of that, all these Psionic individuals and here I am, basically an infant Psionic baby. How am I supposed to keep up? I mean, I know I won’t be taking any of the tests due to our arrangement, but still, I feel a shit ton of pressure here.”

I listened to Janine intently. I could understand where she was coming from and after mulling it over, I believed I had brought together the perfect sage wisdom to pass onto her.

”Don’t”

”Huh?” She suddenly turned up to me, confusion written all over her face. ”Don’t what?” She asked.

”Don’t feel pressure, don’t feel like you need to keep up, don’t feel like you are here to set any expectations. Just don’t. Be yourself, come what you have come here to do, enjoy yourself and most important one of all. Don’t give two shits what any of these human Psionic wielders think. You are a Sepiida! With Psionic might! That makes you a freaking super super star. One in a galaxy! You aren’t here to follow a laid out path as your path has yet to be paved. You are walking on fresh ground. You are going to pave it yourself and it will be beautiful no matter what you do as that is how incredible you actually are, Janine.”

Janine’s eyes went large and wide as she gazed up at me slightly slack jawed before she uttered. ”I love you...” I smiled at seeing the soft side of Janine again and brought her into a hug.

”Aww, how sweet. I love you too.” *Mwah!* I then kissed the top of her head and let the hug linger a short while as she squeezed tightly, before pulling away shortly after we landed. ”All right, I’ll go get the weapons and bring them to the exit. Ronnie, are you ready to go?”

We didn’t need all our personal belongings for the planet portion of enrolment, according to the leaflets, as it would be a waste to unpack it just for you not to be eligible then having to pack it all up again.

”Yeah! In a second! I am just preparing the ship for deep slumber maintenance. We don’t want her getting bored do we?” He said as he rubbed the side of his chair before he went back to flipping a bunch of switches. Once he was done, he ran to go get his pistol and his documents.

Meanwhile, Janine stood still as she realised what she just accidentally did. Thankfully Apollo just thought she was being sappy and was about to head to the exit before she felt Orchids gaze upon her, looking her up and down with squinted eyes.

”W-What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Janine felt like she was being eyed by a predator. And not for the first time around Orchid.

Orchid said nothing for a moment, eyeing the Sepiida in front of her for clarification. Scanning her up and down before she spoke up.

”I knew you smelt different after we returned. You will explain to me in detail what has happened. I will hold my tongue for now.” Orchid said before walking off, leaving Janine behind on her own. She then brought her shirt up to her nose and inhaled. Smelling nothing different, she then thought.

’Ok, that was creepy as shit.’