The hivemind is conquering for me?

The trip to the ship was a quick in and out and after regrouping with Gabrielle, who was looking at me a little funny, we made our way back to Brent. After doing so, I pulled out a little pouch and tipped the contents into my hands. A loose stack of eight cred chips fell into my hand and I put away five before handing over three of them.

”Here. These are open with no pin required, all you will need is a halfway to access the money.” I said, causing Brent to become elated.

Open chips were literally the best for this sort of transaction. It truly meant no funny business. He admired Apollo for carrying such a large sum of money un-contested. He reached to his right, already having a half way at hand and placed the chips in one by one.

Brent nodded his head noticing everything was in order before reaching underneath his little desk and handing me over a set of keys. ”Well, Archon Lambdason, here are the keys to your new home. You will be able to visit it right after the welcoming ceremony. In the meantime, would you like our staff to move your vehicle into the residence ship lot? It will be roughly ten minutes closer to your home than it currently is.”

”Well I won’t say no to that” I said, it was a no brainer. ”Splendid, and would you like us to unpack your belongings and move them into your new home?” I smiled at the man for his hospitality, but shook my head.

”No thank you, the transfer is simply enough. My companions are quite protective of their privacy and would prefer to move their stuff themselves.” I explained, making Brent reply in simple understanding.

With no reason for us to talk anymore, we simply shook hands again and said goodbye, walking back towards the ceremony field to await the others.

Meanwhile, once we left the sight of Brent. He suddenly leant back on his chair and blew out exasperated. ”Here you go hun.” His friend suddenly said as she handed him a hot beverage. ”Thanks.”

”Do you want to talk about it?” His friend said, bringing her own drink up to her mouth. ”There is nothing to talk about. I just watched an eighteen year old drop three hundred million on a home like it was pocket change... That’s quite difficult to recover from.”

The woman then sat on the desk beside him and smiled. ”You are acting like you haven’t just received your 1% commission bonus. Three mill is a lot of money.” He chuckled at his friend’s words. ”Trust me I know it’s a lot of money, which is why I am going to savour it, but that guy. I don’t think he has actually ever struggled with money. It is just a little enviable is all.”

”Mhm, mhm.” The woman said as she casually began swinging her feet with a calculative smirk on her face.

”I’ll give you a blowjob every day for a month if you give me a mill.” She said, causing Brent to begin laughing hysterically until he noticed the serious look in her eye, causing his heart to race.

”Three months.” ”Two.” ”Done.”

She then got off the table before grasping his hand, pulling him away to somewhere secluded for his first of 60 payments.

...

Once again we played the waiting game. I didn’t mind, as chatting idly and sitting in silence were two of my favourite things. I wasn’t one that needed constant visual or audible stimuli to be happy around my loved ones.

Eventually though as we looked up at the morning sky, we began to see shuttles begin to descend onto the moon’s surface. ”Wow, people are loud.” I thought as the individuals getting off the shuttles all that distance away, created this buzzing noise in the distance as their excitement to be here got the better of them. Before the people started making their way over, Nerissa spoke up.

”Apollo, Gabrielle and I will depart from you temporarily, allowing you to blend in with the crowd a little better. We will meet after the ceremony is concluded. Gabrielle, shall we?” Gabrielle showed immediate reluctance, but ultimately decided to follow Nerissa. Very well. ”Apollo... Orchid, Janine. I shall see you all later.” She then resisted the urge to hug her son again, an almost impossible feat and followed Nerissa as she began to walk away.

Once they had distanced themselves. Gabrielle had to ask. ”Why would you do this? He was being comfortable around me. I was just about to start asking questions about his love life!” Nerissa shook her head. ”You just answered your own question. But in all seriousness. I could tell Apollo was bothered by all the attention yesterday because of me. I thought I would give him a short reprieve by standing on the edge of the stage. That way I can still see him, while also drawing attention away from him. Plus Apollo hates public speaking and being the centre of attention despite his easy going personality. This way, he can just blend in and enjoy himself.”

”Uh oh...” Gabrielle suddenly said, her skin going pale as the blood rushed from her face. ”What is it? By my goddess, what have you and that princess done?” She asked exasperated.

Gabrielle didn’t reply immediately and turned directly towards Apollo who just waved at her so cutely. ’Ah I should just kidnap him...’ She thought, but as she waved, her voice said something different. ”I need to go and find Hailey...”

...

”Oh wow! Both kings signed this dispensation?” The Headmaster of the College said as the deputy head master just brought him this piece of information. ”Yes Maximus. The princess said she had gotten permission from her fathers side first and that Sigismund reached out personally to add his stamp to it.”

Maximus was nearly two thousand years old at this point. One of the very few his age that were still active in the Empire. And in all that time, he had never seen or heard the two kings come to agreement on something that was previously outlawed.

”Most curious. I wonder if it is the science or the person who they are interested in...” He ran his fingers through his classic long white bear. ”This Apollo chap, Is it confirmed he is here?”

The deputy head then pulled out her data pad and handed it over. ”He arrived with the Praetorian early. He was the person she was waiting for.” Maximus looked up hearing that and reached out for the data pad.

”Really? Now that is interesting isn’t it? Lets have a look at the whippersnapper. Hmm. Doesn’t look like much, sure above average looks and... Oh well now that is very interesting.” He said before stroking his beard.

”Max?” The deputy head asked. ”What have you seen?” Maximus looked at the young man for a few more seconds before handing back the data pad. ”Very well, you can alter the ceremony as you see fit. I think this is actually a good idea.”

The deputy head looked at Maximus for a few more seconds awaiting and answer, but the fucker just had that cocky smile on his face as he rasped his fingers together, keeping the little secret all to himself, smugly... ’Actual man child.’ She sighed to herself before leaving the pocket space and a moment later she was in front of Princess Hailey.

”So?” She looked at her with a desperate look on her face. ’Seriously what is the deal with this man, I should look into him myself.’ She thought before answering Hailey. ”We have permission to proceed how you wanted. You will speak before I do and I will announce this piece of news. But... Are you sure you wish to reveal yourself in such a way? I don’t mean to pry, but you did keep this information from your friend, will he not be saddened to know you kept things from him?”

Hailey rubbed the back of her neck. ”Um. He might. But I need to tell him at some point. I thought this might be best... Ah don’t make me doubt myself now! I need to stay focused.” The deputy head looked at Hailey and smiled. She remembered when she came as a mopey teenager. She was glad that the princess was finally in a place where she showed even the slightest more emotion than coldness and anger.

”Ok, let’s go and prepare in my office.”

...

She looked around curiously. She had yet to spot her target. She couldn’t see him as she watched the shuttles empty, but that didn’t deter her. It just meant she had some fun on her hands.

’So he is good at hiding? Perfect. I am good at seeking.’ It was fine, she would sniff him out eventually. She was confident in her abilities, she would find her target by any means necessary and... Oh.

As she entered the large lot of space. There he was over in the distance. Talking to a female, purple hair. Most likely the sister and a Sepiida.

So her fun of finding him was squashed, but she wasn’t deterred, she still had the fun of honey potting the man. She wanted her planet. And the moment she thought that thought, she disappeared...