The hivemind is conquering for me?

”MMhhh~” I stirred to the satisfying sensation of having a hand brush gently through my hair.

As I started to awaken, I could feel myself shaking, or rather, what I was laying on was shaking.

I tried to sit up to investigate, but I realised my body was not ready to do that. The creaking of my ribs were evident. I took solace that my lung had reflated and the fact I was alive and just allowed myself to slowly awaken.

After a few minutes I finally found the energy to groggily open my eyes. Only for a face I did not recognise looking down at me.

Instantly I was transfixed by the entirely Psionic blue eyes with luxuriously long eyelashes. The eyes held no secrets. They were soft, caring and affectionate. The lips were a berry purple. They looked thin, yet ample. The woman’s nose was small and cute like a button which corresponded well with her smaller face and sharp jawline.

A beautiful woman if I ever saw one. Only there was something that made her stand out. Her skin was a pale blue.

I immediately thought ’Sepiida’, but I shook that thought aside for many reasons. The first being under her eyes and what was under them. She had freckles. Lots of them. But they glowed white like miniature stars on her face.

She had two pairs of horns that protruded from her forehead, slicked backwards alongside her shortish purple and lilac hair that adorned the top of her head.

What really convinced me she wasn’t a Sepiida though was the few tendrils I could see swaying back and forth, protruding from her hair, charging up periodically with blue energy.

I felt my hope begin to rise upon seeing this alien sat before me, but once she spoke. It only confirmed it.

”My King. I am relieved to see you awake.”

”Sithrik.” I said with certainty and watched as her face curled upwards in delight.

I reached up with my hand to stroke her face, but a hand suddenly stopped me. It was then I realised the hand that was stroking my hair had stopped. Looking at the hand holding my own. It was four digits ending with sharp nails and was completely covered in blue scales.

”Apollo. You need rest. Whatever you did to bring me back. You almost killed yourself doing so. That was too risky.”

”And you did!” I said with rage. Though not at her and she knew it as she just smiled and continued to stroke my hair.

” I did. I died protecting my King. My love. As I should have. And now here I am. In a whole new body. One that is... More compatible with yours. Would you like to see?”

I simply nodded my head and Sithrik backed away from me slightly.

Her whole body was covered in blue scales. It made sense with my power, though I would miss her old scale pattern. She now had two distinct parts of her body. She had a torso, humanoid. Her figure was very slim, athletic.

My mammalian brain, even in my current state, lingered on her chest for a moment. She had a small bust, A cups, perhaps B cups with no nipple region, but I liked them very much. The scales were... Enticing.

My eyes then trailed down her torso. She was completely nude so I saw something delicious right in front of me. Her torso continued down a little further from there, it looked like she had the beginnings of legs, wide hips, but those quickly changed into a long, long tailed body that shimmered Psionic blue between the cracks. She also appeared to be much smaller than she was. Possibly fifteen feet in length compared to her previous thirty.

She must have noticed my gaze on her tail as she activated her Psionic power. Immediately a gush of blue flames engulfed her before dissipating quickly as I heard the sounds of guns readying themselves in our surroundings.

”You are beautiful, Sithrik.” I said, smirking as I attempted to flirt through the pain.

”Thank you, Apollo. I am glad my new body is to your-”

”-No. I am not talking about your body. I am talking about you. You saved me by sacrificing your own life. You are more than a concubine now Sithrik. You are closer. I will tell you secrets when the time is right. You have earned everything I can give you and more.”

Sithrik stopped her stroking of my hair and leant down, her face reaching inches away from my own before a serpentine tongue flicked out and licked my cheek. She then reached closer to my ear and whispered enchantingly,

”Why would I need more when everything I desire is right before me?”

”Sithrik... I am low on blood, I can’t afford it to go elsewhere. Please, back up.” I spoke desperately and the snek, or rather, snek-woman did so.

”Of course. You just rest for now. We will find an opportunity to explore everything this body can do at a later-”

”-Is he up!” Sithrik was suddenly cut off by a person getting onto the vehicle.

”Hey Ness.” I said while giving a slight wave. ”So, I got my ass handed to me, huh?”

Nerissa said nothing initially. She just got on her knees beside me and began inspecting my body before I heard her mumble.

”He has stabilised himself. No decay. Good.”

I then felt extreme pain all over my body as Nerissa hoisted up my torso and hugged me tightly.

I thought about yelling out in pain, but shrugged my shoulders, the hug was a tight one, she wouldn’t budge. My ribs were not appreciative of my thoughts, but I ignored them. Their fault for breaking in a single blow while I was in armour... Weaklings.

Nerissa then pulled away and just looked at me. I took advantage of being upright to look around. We were in a column of armoured vehicles and ground troops. I heard some gasps around as I rose. Those nearby seeing I was alive must have been a shock since I had fought against a Warlord and lived.

Barely.

Looking back at Nerissa. I suddenly remembered what I ordered during my enhanced state. I had to ask considering Sithrik was right next to me.

”Gabrielle? Is she?”

”Alive? Yes. She is critical, practically every one of her bones were broken by the strike she endured and she has serious internal bleeding, but she is a tough woman. I think she will pull through. Francesca is with her right now.”

”Thank the stars.” I uttered in ultimate relief. It was selfish of me to care about the two individuals close to me against the probably millions that had died across the battlefield in a whole. But I didn’t care. Those two almost died because of me. If either perished permanently, that would have stuck with me.

”What’s the situation?” I asked Nerissa, but she just shook her head.

”Not now, Apollo. You need to rest. Once you are back to strength, we will let you know.”

I sighed. I wanted to not feel useless, but I really was sapped. ”Ok. No arguments here. I could do with more sleep... Oh! This is Sithrik by the way. I heard guns drawn on her when she was showing off a moment ago. Just, yeah. Do something to make people less agitated.”

I didn’t even wait for a reply, I just crashed back down and let the black claim me.

I needed it.

...

Nerissa watched Apollo’ chest rise a couple of times to make sure he was still breathing before casting a glance at Sithrik’s major body alteration.

She was intrigued. Apollo always said that Sapphire’s size was the result of his power altering and completing her apex evolution. Sithrik was now much smaller and took on an appearance that was shockingly similar to the gods’ old pets. The gorgons.

The only difference being that Sithrik did look more human in the face compared to the reptilians she remembered.

”I will continue to watch over Apollo. You can go.” Sithrik stated after being blatantly stared at for longer than she liked.

”Of course.” Nerissa simply stated before getting off the transport and walking away.

She then briskly exited the column and walked a short distance before disappearing.

Inside was a transport vehicle that she had materialised, self driving and on it were her kin.

”He is stable. I spoke with him. Told him about Gabrielle. He was relieved. I estimate he will be combat ready in two days.”

Everyone let out a sigh of relief, except Rhapso who had been surprisingly chipper the last twenty hours.

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence Polymede, Rhapso’s replacement in the squad, suddenly spoke up.

”Alright, we are clearly all thinking about it, but you all are too close to that human to ask or bring it up. What the every loving fuck was that?”