The hivemind is conquering for me?

After ten minutes of the Praetorians giving Sapphire some well deserved love, I finally built up the nerve to ask.

”So, is there a reason I was called over?” I asked and got no response.

”Hello?” I followed up and still got no reply, so I went nuclear.

A certain blue chonk proceeded to poof away and with it the enchantment on the Praetorians broke.

”Huh?” Phoebe mumbled, wondering why she felt like she just lost a piece of her soul. Looking around, she realised what was happening and cleared her throat before standing up.

”Apollo, with the assault planned for tomorrow, we are joining the left flank and attacking hard. We would like you and your company to join us. Due to our friendship we thought it best to ask you instead of ordering you, as we assume that you will decide to join us of your free will.” Phoebe said in a calm and collected voice, acting like she had not been using a high pitched pet voice for the last ten minutes.

Deciding to do the friendly thing and ignore all my dark urges to hone in on the teasing, I replied. ”Of course. Working with you all again will guarantee victory.”

Phoebe smiled hearing that. ”That is wonderful to hear Apollo. We shall see you tomorrow then. For now, please leave.”

I blinked in surprise at the sudden cold remark, something Phoebe instantly picked up on and raised on her hands.

”Sorry. That came out wrong. I meant that you are a high importance individual. If you go missing unprompted for too long, it will be noticed. We don’t want to deal with Phalanx leadership for another 10 hours or so, we need a break to just relax and gather ourselves.”

I let out a soft laugh and nodded my head. ”Say no more, you guys enjoy yourself. Ness, Rhapso. Feel free to stay behind for a bit, I’m just going to have a walk around anyway.”

Rhapso and Nerissa looked at each other and came to the same conclusion at the same time.

”Absolutely not.”

The odds of Apollo shenanigans goes up by a massive factor when no one is observing. They weren’t taking the chance of it occurring without them being there to witness it. They would prefer zero shenanigans rather than missing it and hearing it second hand.

”Don’t be daft.” I replied. ”You are all family and you guys know I value family. Just stay here for a few hours. Speak some ancient Spartari and have a good time. We will catch up later. In fact, as a Sentinel, I order you to have some family fun time. I will come pick you up later.”

I then gave a wave around and began to walk away before Phoebe spoke out. ”Apollo, wait a moment please.”

I turned back to see Phoebe looking down meekly, scratching her cheek with her nail.

”Can you leave Sapphire behind?”

...

Walking along, I was as alone as I could be. Onyx was on one of her adventure walks, though she guaranteed she would be back within hours. Just my weapons and Sol all of whom were silent and simply existing.

The months behind enemy lines and the weeks of fighting from battle to battle under Serena, I hadn’t had much time for myself. My last moment to myself was with Sol.

As such, I was taking this moment to just have a wander, armour off and meandering through the Phalanx.

Sadly though I think my actual face has become a bit famous. Purple hair, red ringed eyes, over seven feet tall. The list of individuals fitting that description were quite slim. I didn’t mind anymore though. The looks I was receiving I had gotten used to.

But there wasn’t much else to do. I wasn’t going to the war tent again, aka, war of the women. I only went when I had to, the insults I heard from them towards each other, the creativity. I had learnt some words and ways to use them I had never thought of before.

Wandering aimlessly, losing where I was in the thousands of thousands of personnel tent maze, I suddenly heard something strange at the limit of my hearing.

” Esh- Abba! Ant Machael!”

”Machael!?! Esh Kovhka Gabbara!”

The words stopped me in my tracks. That was not Spartari. That was a foreign language and one I heard before.

Instantly I began to follow. As I approached I began to hear the words even more clearer. I didn’t understand a word they were saying, but I did?

They were talking about strength. The translation was a little dodgy, but one was saying they were strong, calling the other weak while the other replied, saying they were as powerful as the stars.

I stopped walking as I felt a massive headache suddenly come on. ”Argghh!” I grunted in pain and took a knee. This wasn’t physical pain. This was Psionic in nature.

I didn’t feel danger so I allowed the Psionic event to occur without restraint. There was no damage to my Mindspace Barrier, but my Origin was thrumming. A familiar thrum, one I have had on numerous occasions, but nowhere near as intense as the others.

After roughly ten minutes I opened my eyes and I was covered in sweat. A small group of Phalanx and a medic stood around me and upon seeing me open my eyes, the medic asked, ”Sir, are you alright? These lads found you here unmoving. I couldn’t take your vitals clearly and I don’t know how Psionics affect your biology, I am not trained for that.”

I rubbed my temples and stood up, catching a couple of the Phalanx and making them take a step back.

”I’m good, doc. Sorry to worry you. To worry you all. It’s a Psionic thing, I am perfectly healthy. Please, go about your business and don’t worry about this nobody.”

It seemed a few of the Phalanx did know who I was and my comment about being a nobody made them laugh. The Phalanx then dispersed one by one, but the medic lingered around for a moment.

He then proceeded to place his hand on my arm and looked up at me. ”Are you sure you are alright son? Just because you are super human, doesn’t mean you need to act like you are invincible. If there is something wrong, please tell me.”

I laughed softly, not out of condescension, but at the sincerity in his voice. He genuinely cared about my well being. This man was a good doctor.

I smiled and patted his hand in solidarity. ”I am fine. Really. I am better than fine. It really was just a Psionic thing. Now enough worrying about me and go tend to someone that actually needs your help.”

The doctor then let out a chuckle of his own before giving me another pat on the arm followed by a salute and took his leave.

I trailed his path for a moment. That was a very human interaction. Just people looking out for one another. No agenda. No drama. ’I needed that.’

I then recalled what I was doing before going down and continued forward.

A few tents later and I arrived at a firepit dug into the ground. Armour discarded here, there and everywhere and a group of ten or so men and women dressed in very little clothing and adorned from head to toe in tattoos.

As I approached I caught their attention and one of the women spoke.

”Mother my womb beckons! Now that’s a man! That’s power. I’d like to see you two skinny fuckers try and out compete that!”

One then waved their hands in my direction. ”Bah! That one has Shaman power. Cheating. Real men use only their biology. Proof their ancestors were worthy of producing offspring.”

The other then added. ”And look at him. Star warriors... So afraid to show off their bodies. Sure he has the stature of a warrior, he is no skinny weakling. But I doubt he maintains his body the way we do.”

Another of the women then spoke up, twirling a knife on her knee. ”Maintained or not, I’d welcome that star warrior in my bed anyway. I have a feeling he would keep me plenty warm on the coldest of nights.”

Another man frowned hearing that and stood up and approached the large man fearlessly, stopping before him, posturing to do his best at going chest to chest before speaking in very broken Spartari.

”You... Leaf... Uuuhh... Private meating.”

I looked at the man and smiled before simply removing my shirt and turning to the others. ”Are you sure I can’t join you? You are all from Fabbarinth, correct?”

The group’s eyes went wide in shock, their mouths became agape and perfect for fly trapping.

After a few moments for the shock to kick in the man who had postured up to me looked my body up and down, shock taking a hold again before asking in his native tongue,

”You speak our words?”