The hivemind is conquering for me?

Shortly after Janine returned to the dining room, Millie entered the room for the final time with another massive plate of goodness.

She had really gone all out. There was so much food down the long table, how she managed to make it all so fast I didn’t care to ask. I was in paradise... I didn’t even dare to tell her ’You shouldn’t have.’ Or anything like that, because the look on her face, she was beyond delighted to have made all this food. She looked proud and that made me happy.

”Everyone. A moment before you all feast?” She spoke before walking to my side and squeezing my shoulder.

”I just want to say what a privilege it is to be here tonight. Until recently I was trapped in that little bakery of mine at the College for a very long time. I was both trapped and safe at the same time because I was alone...”

She then turned to me and smiled. ”However, realising I have my own flesh and blood, still alive and doing things that make me feel prouder than I thought possible... It’s a gift I never expected to have. So Apollo, even though our relationship is an odd one with our long years of not knowing about each other, I will simply say this... I am honoured to be your Grandma. I, and I’m sure everyone in this room, knows that you are going to go on to do so many amazing things with your long life and I cannot wait to watch you grow. So tonight, this feast I dedicate to you, my darling Grandson... Now if you attempt to call me Grandma after I said all that, I will beat you with a wooden spoon.”

I chuckled while being a little misty eyed. ”Thank you, Millie. I am honoured to have you in my life as well, to have everyone around this table in my life... I- I am blessed. Truly.”

Rhapso and Nerissa, who were standing at the side, glanced at each other at the word ’blessed’ being used, but no one else seemed to notice as Millie spoke up.

”Well, dig in everyone, I hope you enjoy and- Oh? We are missing someone.”

I turned to Janine who was sitting at the end of the table. She replied to my question before I even asked it.

”Serena was getting dressed and should be coming down at any moment.”

”Oh, Serena is missing as well? I forgot. I actually meant our little snake friend. Where is Sithrik, Apollo? Does she not wish to eat with us?” Millie asked and before I could reply, Sithrik’s little head poked up from the neck hole of my shirt.

Sithrik then looked around for a moment ,getting her bearings, as she was just about to have a nap before spotting Millie and saying, ”Oh, Millie, forgive my absence, but I do not require food anymore since Apollo remade me. I simply feast on ambient Psionic energy, most of which comes from Apollo himself.”

”Oh... I see. I made a medley dish with an array of birds with you in mind, no trouble though. If you don’t eat, it is ok.”

Millie then sat down in her seat, she looked a bit upset, but was understanding. ’Looks like she has found her favourite granddaughter candidate haha.’ I thought to myself.

I was about to suggest to Sithrik to cheer up Millie, but as I looked down, the blue danger noodle was gone.

It wasn’t hard to find her in the room though as she turned into her sexy form and slithered over to Millie.

Everyone had already begun to dig in. Millie had just added something to her plate when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Turning towards the hand, she was greeted by a set of scaled boobs in her face as Sithrik reached across the table. She proceeded to pick up an entire cooked small bird before turning to face Millie.

”I don’t require food anymore, but if my new friend wants me to eat her food, I won’t say no; It does smell very nice after all.”

Millie suddenly lit up in the face, but quickly panicked as Sithrik placed the whole bird in her mouth, bones and all.

”Wait!” Millie exclaimed before hearing snapping and popping coming not from Sithrik’s mouth, but her throat as she began to urge the meal down her throat.

’Hot... Ok, what is wrong with me?’ I thought for a moment before smiling at the scene as the two began to discuss the meal.

I got lost in the scene for a moment before Valerica to my left suddenly asked. ”Apollo? Are you not hungry?”

I turned to her, confused. ”Have you met me? I’m always hungry. I take after Orchid in that regard.” I turned, giving my love-bug a wink and smiled as I watched her suddenly blush as her mouth was practically hinged as far as it could go while getting her mouth around a leg of some sort.

”Then why aren’t you eating?”

”Jeez mom, can a guy not take in the scene of watching all these beautiful women being happy around a table before he digs in? I was feasting with my eyes first and they like what they are seeing.”

’Plus I need to give everyone else a chance to eat first before I turn into the glutton lord...’

”I, hehe, I see. Well take your time. Look all you want.” Valerica commented before subtly pulling down on her sports bra from the bottom for a moment to expose more of herself to-

”Oh, sis, we are wearing the same top. Cute.” A voice suddenly spoke from the entrance to the room.

Serena walked in casually wearing a sports bra/top, the same as Valerica whilst wearing some form fitting jeans that emphasised her rear asset quite well.

I also respectfully appreciated Serena’s abs again. They weren’t as defined and sharp as Valerica’s but they were very nice.

Serena then walked further into the room before extending her arms wide. ”Millie. It has been a long time. It is good to see you here.”

Millie stood up for a moment and hugged Serena after she approached. ”It’s nice to see you also, Serena. How long has it been?”

”Archon Chraromere’s bacchanalia party if I recall correctly.” Serena said, with a playful smirk.

”Charomere... Yes. Goodness that was decades ago, how the time just goes. I don’t remember much about that weekend haha. I was pretty wasted the entire time and... *Ahem* Occupied.” Millie said, casting an embarrassed look at me as I smirked at her as I understood the implication of her words.

”Really? You don’t remember you and I going to a private room and getting to know one another in a more ’intimate’ way?” Serena spoke, rubbing Millie’s arm playfully for a moment.

Millie looked confused for a moment. ”What are you- *GASP* Oh my goodness, we did, didn’t we? I totally forgot! Wow... That... Isn’t an appropriate topic for dinner. Please, take a seat and enjoy this meal I prepared. We can sit down later and *Ahem* Reminisce later if you want? Preferably when my grandson isn’t in the room... Speaking of, what are you chuckling about? Do you find me being uncomfortable, amusing?” She suddenly yelled at me.

”Wow! That is one fascinating roof you have up there Valerica... Is she still looking at me?”

...

Once Serena took her seat the room returned to normal. I looked around for a few moments. Janine was talking Psionics with Hecate, with Serena and Valerica joining in on occasion. Sithrik and Millie were in their own little world, laughing with one another.

That pairing I had not expected. It was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.

Nerissa and Rhapso were standing off to the side. I had asked them if they wanted to eat, but after explaining how the stick and I could exist side by side and how I found no discomfort from this specific case of Anti Psionics. The both of them were not really in the mood for food.

Finally I turned to Orchid. The moment I looked at her, she stopped her eating and gazed right back at me. Her eyes softened instantly. The love. It was so deep. Sometimes I felt bad about how much they love me. The Boon... I know our love was real, but still. Sometimes I did feel bad.

That feeling didn’t last long though as Orchid reached under the table with her leg and began stroking my inner thigh with her foot. She wasn’t even being naughty, I could tell by her eyes. She just wanted me to feel close to her.

She knew not what I was thinking, but she knew I needed her affirmation of love. The hives love....

The Hive...

I was fortunate the first mission I was taking into Coalition space was only going to be a couple of months at most, because any longer and I would actively leave. I was missing Jewel, I was missing Orchid, even though she was still here, I was missing Onyx. I was missing Fianna, Nukumi and Bed Bug! I was missing every single bio form.

Every single one.

The uncountable horde.

My uncountable horde.

My mate.

I was on the verge of melancholy before I noticed Orchid suddenly moving toward me, object in hand.

In her hand was a fork with a piece of meat on the end.

”Apollo, eat. Your thoughts are distracting you from delicious food. Eat and feel better.”

”You are too good to me, Orchid.” I said as a fact before biting down onto the outstretched fork.

”Oh my fuck...” I couldn’t help blurting out, I almost began to cry again, this was dangerous. The urge to kidnap Millie and have her cook for me everyday till eternity was strong as I chewed...

Before I could even begin to appreciate all the phenomenal flavours, I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder, the opposite side of me.

Turning left. Valerica was blushing slightly as she held out an object. A fork with a piece of meat on the end.

Her eyes gazed into mine, a hint of shyness on the usually very direct woman before she stammered,

”S-Say ahh~ For mommy...”