The hivemind is conquering for me?

Next to me was my blue skinned Spy, Myu. She looked a little different from the last time I saw her. There wasn’t a drastic change, but thanks to my enhancement formula, her skin had a slight glow to it, her hair was vibrant and her features, which were already very pretty, were just beginning to be exaggerated just a little bit. Making her appear even more so.

Knowing what she probably wanted to talk about. I spoke with a slightly elevated voice that no one else but the intended target would hear. ”Orchid, upstairs.”

As I watched Orchid make her way through the party, I smiled before turning to Myu. ”Come, we can chat in my bedroom.”

...

”Nice room Apollo. I would love to be able to try out that bed someti-Eep!” Myu’s attempt at flirting was cut out by Orchids intense glare, scaring the Sepiida.

I ignored it and asked the important question. ”So, Myu. How are you finding the formula? Is it worth what you are doing?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

The Sepiidan’s fear vanished and was replaced with a look akin to reverence towards me. ”Are you kidding? Apollo. I feel a hundred years younger already. This... Formula. It’s revolutionary! I will literally, and I mean literally, do anything for you at this point for another taste.”

”Would you kill?” Orchid asked, coldly. Prompting Myu to look at her, shocked.

”W-What?” Myu stammered out.

Orchid then slowly walked forward with a pressure that caused Myu to start walking backwards until she hit the wall. ”You just told Apollo you would do literally anything for the gift he has given you. So tell us. If Apollo wanted you to kill someone. Would you?” Orchid doubled down. Her face inches away from Myu’s

I had not expected this from her. It was hot.

Myu looked to me for help, but I just folded my arms and remained stoic. Orchid then grabbed the Sepiidans chin and forced it to look at her. ”Answer me.”

Myu seemed paralysed for a moment before ultimately replying. ”Y-Yes. I’d probably end up crying, but I would do it. You don’t understand. This feeling. This superiority. The other Sepiida... They are so jealous of my sudden boom in looks, they keep asking me my new secret. Ugh! The satisfaction I am feeling over them. Over everyone. If killing is what it took to get more. I would get more. D-Do you need me to kill someone?”

I wasn’t going to lie, I kind of expected that answer. When pushed to the edge of their emotions, especially sexual hormones, I have found the Sepiida can and will do some crazy things.

Talia ate a freshly cut out heart of one of her kin, as did Letho, the male Sepiidan cultist before he was converted. Janine could already kill and was good at it and now Myu had admitted if she needed to. She would put her weak body on the line for my benefit.

This was good to know.

However, it was not needed at this moment. ”Orchid, heel.” I said playfully. After she pulled away, I let Myu catch her breath for a moment. ”No, we don’t need you to kill anyone, but your loyalty is appreciated. And will not be forgotten, will it, Orchid?”

Orchid just stared at Myu, but I could tell that was a yes.

”So, let’s get back on topic. Myu, I assume you wanted to talk in private about our arrangement while I am away?” I asked

Myu looked warily at Orchid for a moment before nodding her head submissively.

”Well, don’t worry your cute little head over that. You will still be getting your fair share. I have a few years worth already made. But instead of reporting to me, you will naturally be reporting to Orchid. You are to treat her as you would me in this arrangement. Is that clear?”

Myu nodded her head once more. ”Utterly so, It will be nice to have girl talk and get to know you better Orchid.” She said, trying to act friendly, but Orchid just continued to stare at her.

I nodded my head, they were already getting along so well. ”Alright. Well come by the lab first thing tomorrow and I will get you this month’s and something else. In the meantime. Have a trial run with Orchid. Use the same filter we have set up for her. Even though she is utterly gorgeous. Orchid isn’t a girly girl. Gossip isn’t something she enjoys.”

Orchid let out a small smile at my buttering her up. Should be enough lubricant to make first contact with Myu go smoother. I then left to re-join the party. The moment I did I bumped into another friend who I had seen at the meeting earlier, but didn’t interact with as I was asked to stay behind.

”Tammy.” I started. I was excited my combat partner was also chosen, though I suppose it did make sense. However, I could tell she had been crying. Her eyes were red and her mascara was runny. ”Tammy what’s wrong?

My asking of the question seemed to open the dam back up and her tears began to pour. I looked around, panicked, before seeing Janine’s door. She wouldn’t mind us entering there. She walks into mine naked freely now anyway. Privacy wasn’t needed in our relationship anymore.

”Come on, let’s go in here and you can tell me what’s wrong.”

...

After shutting the door behind us, Tammy collapsed into me and hugged me tightly, as she began crying. I just hugged her and stroked her back for a minute before she composed herself.

”He won’t come with me Apollo. He won’t! I asked him to come, but the green haired cunts said it was not his path and he listened to them! He didn’t even say good luck, just. ’That’s that then.’”

Knowing exactly who she was referring to, I frowned. We started on rocky ground, but Tamara had opened up to me these last months and we had become good friends. So for that shit head to be making her cry, again.

”Stay here. Drink. Enjoy yourself, you deserve it. I will be back shortly.” I said and walked out of the room.

I then left the house and Tamara followed me. ”Apollo, don’t! He doesn’t like being bothered at this time. He and Francesca will just be watching shows. Please don’t upset him. I am just being over-stimulated. You know how I can get!”

...

Five minutes later:

”See I am fine. Look, I am not even crying anymore. No, don’t knock on his door Apollo it will just make him more upset and I-”

*BANG BANG BANG*

I waited a moment as Tamara became as quiet as a mouse. Holding her breath.

*BANG BANG BANG* I slammed my fist against the door again and it finally opened.

”By all that is good, do you have to bang that loud, give people a minute to get to the- Apollo? What are you doing here?” Francesca asked as she began to fix her hair.

”I need to talk to your brother. Now.” I said sternly, causing Francesca to do a double take in surprise.

”Has something happened?” She asked and I was about to explain when.

”Sis, who is it?” Sigfried asked as he came to the door shirtless. Seeing me he smiled. ”Oh, Apollo. Hello. What can I do for you? You need to work on your knock buddy, it’s way too aggressive.”

”It’s aggressive because it was supposed to be. I should kick your ass, but I am holding myself back.”

The siblings looked between each other surprised, Francesca speaking first. ”Siggy? What’s happened? What have you done?”

Sigfried then looked at his sister. ”Me? I’ve done nothing. It’s him that said he wants to kick my ass.” He then turned back to me. ”Apollo, what’s going on? Surely this is a misunderstanding.

”Tamara asks you to go on a dangerous expedition and you let your two other partners dictate your decision and tell her ’That’s that then’ You don’t even give her a reason why you won’t go? Just that’s that. I-”

Francesca then interrupted me. ”Hold on! Sigfried what the fuck? We were literally talking about how it sucks we were not chosen earlier and Talia asked you as a plus one? Are you fucking simple? We have been waiting for an opportunity like this and you say no? Why?”

”Because it’s not our destiny Francesca! Not our path. We need to wait.” He declared.

”Wait for what? Will you stop being so cryptic about our future plans? Why is it only you and the green haired weirdos that are allowed to know about our plans?” Francesca asked, prompting Sigfried to roll his eyes.

”We have been over this. It is need to know and you don’t need to know, yet. Tamara can go on her own. I’m sure she will be fine.”

I then interjected disgustedly. ”So you would send your girlfriend to the front lines, a dangerous mission, on her own? You wouldn’t even attempt to join her when the opportunity arose? That is pathetic” I couldn’t help spout venomously.

My words seemed to get under Sigfried’s skin though as he yelled back.

”That crazy bitch is not my girlfriend!” His voice was filled with genuine malice before he continued a little calmer.

” She never has been. She is just a whole bunch of crazy that no matter what I do, will not leave me alone! So yes, although I am not going on the expedition for my own reasons. If I didn’t have those reasons, I still wouldn’t have gone with her!”

*Sniff*

The sound of silent whimpering was all that could be heard after he shouted that as the siblings realised I had not come alone

*thud*

Tamara collapsed to the floor, like a puppet with its strings cut, her eyes sunken, tears streaming from them.

”Real class act Bro.” Francesca spitted with venom before rushing to her friend’s side. After consoling the puppet of Tamara, Francesca looked up at me and asked.

”Apollo, can you tell whoever is in charge of the upcoming mission that I will be Tamara’s plus one? I’m sure if the deadline is over, they would make an exception for a healer.”