The hivemind is conquering for me?

Nerissa had ’commandeered’ an anti-grav speed bike brought by the other Praetorians and had crossed a large distance in a very short amount of time. Thespius would probably scold her when they met back up, but she didn’t care. What she was doing was more important to her than following rules.

It didn’t take long to find who she was looking for.

King Sigismund was in the midst of cleaning up. He and the Phalanx were cleansing the continent of Drakoshi in a large sweeping motion. None were allowed to live. None were allowed to be spared.

There was no mercy for the alien.

Nerissa drove over to the command tent and parked outside. Some Nymphs were surprised to see her there and walked over to engage in conversation, but shocking them, she ignored them and entered the tent.

”Your grace. We should prepare for another siege. Although your strength is without doubt, you are our King. Having you vanguard while the enemy has managed to scrape together multiple Boomsticks and a still active Warlord is not tactically sound.” The familiar voice of Serena Hyllus spoke to a figure in fall war gear that was looming above the rest of them as he observed a map.

”No. We will lose too many men if we engage in a prolonged siege. Plus, thanks to Sentinel Lambdason’s strange powers, there is both a literally and figuratively a Warlord sized hole in their defences. If I storm that breach, distract as much as I can, perhaps even make my way to the orbital gun if I don’t lose myself in combat, we can win the battle much quicker, especially with orbital support. This is how we will do things.” Sigismund declared and looked up around the room.

He had a reputation for his anger, but if his plan was truly a bad one, his support staff would let him know. They were loyal enough to risk it, though since Apollo’s drug, he’s been much more in control, much to their delight.

As he scanned the room, he was caught surprised by a Praetorian that had not announced themselves. After a few seconds, Sigismund recognised the Praetorian. It was one of the two that had been here with Sentinel Apollo before he arrived.

”Praetorian Nerissa?” He asked, getting a head nod from the Praetorian. ”Is everything alright? I was not expecting to see you here. Is Apollo well?”

Serena snapped her head towards Nerissa in worry. Had her nephew taken a turn for the worse?

Nerissa spoke. ”King Sigismund. We must have words.” Her tone silenced the already silent room. It was not a request. But a statement. Everyone turned to Sigismund, his helmeted face unreadable. Just those glowing red eyes piercing towards the Praetorian.

”Very well.” Sigismund spoke before addressing the room. ”Leave us.”

The tent evacuated swiftly, leaving the two armour clad individuals as the lone inhabitants. Sigismund then gestured towards Nerissa with one open hand as he stated. ”So you wish to have words? Have them. It is not often you Praetorians drop the formality in front of other humans, so speak.”

”Is it true you are sending Apollo to Coalition Space?” Nerissa asked first. She trusted Apollo with her heart, but she needed to hear the words directly from the giver.

”This? This is what you have come here for? Yes. I have asked Sentinel Apollo to act as a diplomat for the empire. His actions on their world of bastion makes him a good bridge between for peace while we deal with the scourge and the Drakoshi. I take it you are here to object? Well I am sorry, but I did not order Sentinel Apollo. I asked him and he agreed.” Sigismund explained, but Nerissa shook her head.

”That is not why I have come. Since you are the one giving out the mission. I thought I should let you know that I and most likely Praetorian Rhapso will be accompanying Apollo during his visit to the Coalition.”

”Absolutely not!” Sigismund barked. He then pointed at Nerissa. ”Despite what you are, what you all are. You are Spartari. You are far too valuable, too elite to be sent into enemy space in so few numbers. I cannot risk losing key military strength under any circumstances.”

”Are you saying Apollo’s life is not valuable?” Nerissa asked, an edge to her voice.

Sigismund let out a sigh, through his helmet’s modulator it sounded more like a low growl. ”No. He is valuable. Trust me when I say this, Praetorian. I do not want to send anyone over to the filth that squalors in coalition space, but their Seer asked for Lambdason personally. Without Apollo going there, the peace will likely not stand and the way things are right now. We have a lot more to lose than them if the war continues. The Sentinel is a risk I am forced to take out of desperation. Not from desire.”

”I see...” Nerissa contemplated for a moment before shaking her helmet. ”King Sigismund. I am currently not active within my Order and considering you are not permitted to brand me a traitor. I will be going with Apollo if you like it or not. I suggest you attempt to see the positives of my and Praetorians Rhapso’s decision to go with Apollo and plan accordingly. Now, I shall return back to Amberrock. Happy hunting, your grace.”

Sigismund stood there for a moment. His emotions failed to pick amongst themselves how to feel about what he just heard. This was unexpected. Sigismund knew that not just him, but most kings and queens of the empire after the founders disappeared, always had a rift. A distance with the Praetorian Nymphs.

It was understandable. They were created to be servants to their ’gods’ after all. But still. They were never loyal to the kings and queens, but to Spartari as a whole. Yet Nerissa. Just now. He couldn’t see the Nymphs face, but the tone of her voice. Her blatant disrespect towards him. Her declaration.

Someway, somehow. Apollo had earned the loyalty of not one, but two Nymphs from the sound of it. This left Sigismund in a very awkward position. Of course, he was glad his heir candidate was able to garner loyalty from the Nymphs. This would only back his right to rule in the future, but this also currently possessed a more political issue now.

Sentinel Apollo, perhaps unbeknownst to the kid as he did appear very laid back and straight forward, had sapped strength from the crowns with his actions. If it was another, more snively noble. Sigismund might have had to be forced to act, to secure stability...

”This is a pickle...” He murmured to himself and stared into space for a few moments before shaking his head. He could deal with this after the war. For now, he needed his head in the fight.

”...”

...

I frowned as I used Rhapso’s knees as a head pillow, at her request. Her information on domains, while exciting to learn about, were not applicable to me at this moment. She only knew theoretical knowledge about human and god domains and powers and only knew how to practically alter Nymph Mindspace.

Still. It was a good starting point. All I needed was time and research... ’Or perhaps a fully Psionic body?’ That would still be a long way off as I had only just begun to replace parts of my blood with psionics after all. But knowing how a Nymph made a foundation for a domain was still good to know. I could cross reference what I knew with what I could learn in the future.

As I lost a bit of time with my head getting gently massaged by the vines Rhapso had sprouted from her hands. I suddenly snapped my eyes open in realisation. ”Shit.”

”Apollo?” Rhapso asked, worried she had done something wrong.

I shook my head. ”No not you, you are doing wonders right now. I just realised I need a communicator.”

”Oh. Ok. Would you like me to find you one? I am sure my Order brought some with them in order to tune some of the raw Redoxuite.” Rhapso gave a solution instead of asking questions and I was grateful for that.

”Sure, that sounds great, can you-”

Suddenly the door to my room swung open and a figure just stood there for a moment surveying the sight. The figure then shut the door behind them, removed their helmet and took in a large inhale.

”Nothing in the air... Good.” Nerissa spoke with slight relief in her voice.

I gave her a quick wave. ”Hey Ness. How was your business?”

”Good. Very good. Apollo. I have made it so Rhapso and I will join you in Coalition space... That is if you want us to go with you...”

I smiled jubilantly hearing that. ”Oh that’s awesome! of course I want my two Nymphs with me. Why wouldn’t I?”

’My Nymph’ Nerissa echoed in her mind. The possessiveness made her smile. She felt a certain heat rising within her again, but got embarrassed and turned to Rhapso.

”Rhapso. You should probably come with me to Thespius so he knows officially that you are taking temporary absence from the order like I did.” Nerissa suggested.

Rhapso nodded her head. ”Yeah, good idea. I was about to go to him anyway to get an untraceable communicator for Apollo. I guess we can kill two birds with one stone.”

Nerissa turned to Apollo, curious before a smile appeared on her lips.

”Apollo, do you want to join us? I am sure Thespius and the others would want to meet you very much at this point.”