The hivemind is conquering for me?

I woke up with a packaged steak on my chest, not the weirdest awakening I have ever had but its up there. Looking to my right, The assumed culprit Orchid was staring at me with a beaming smile. “Good morning my love, Orchid found you some food.” I could tell Orchid was proud at providing for me in the strange alien environment that was Ronnies ship.

Usually she would just bring me a piece of biltong mystery meat combo from who knows what manner of creatures and I would munch on that. this led me to assume she had aid finding the food stores here.

Deciding to let her have her small achievement I greeted. “Good morning my little provider, thank you for putting the steak in a bag on my chest as that is a normal thing to place there.” Orchid did not detect my sarcasm at the end and was all smiles at a job well done.

Deciding to ignore her sweet behaviour until I had my fill I went in search of the kitchen space. When I arrived to what I assumed was it I grew confused and called out. “Hey Ronnie can you come here a sec?” Before I even finished my sentence I heard footsteps running towards me.

He presented himself through the door with eagerness his hair half dishevelled while the other half combed straight as he presumably stopped midway after hearing my call . “Do you require something from me fa-Apollo?” Ronnie asked eagerly.

“Yeah its no biggie I just want to cook this steak but since your ship probably has a no fire rule I was just wondering how.” Ronnie looked a bit saddened that his task was not extravagant but that did not stop him from aiding his Father with everything he had. “Ah yes is this you first time in a Spartari vassal? That would make sense follow me.”

Following him two meters, he stopped in front of a wall and opened a metallic shelf. Reaching out his hand in request I hand over my food I handed it over. Flipping over the package to read the back for a second Ronnie then placed the steak into the tray and closed the drawer.

“The ship uses very powerful microwaves to cook the food in the tray click the blue button to your left then the green one twice.”

Following Ronnies instructions I did has he asked and 30 seconds of waiting the tray shot out of the wall on its own with my steak cooked in its bag. Taking said bag while disregarding the heat I opened it and took a bite. “Mmh It gud, *gulp* thanks Ronnie.” Ronnie awkwardly bowed upon my thanks and left the room for me to enjoy my food.

Once Ronnie got back to the cockpit and sat in his chair he let out a sigh of relief at not messing anything up. “Why so tense Ronnie?” A monotone female voice rang out from his left causing him to jump in fright. Looking to the source of the voice no one was there. He knew he was not crazy and someone definitely spoke to him. “What are you looking at?” This time the voice came from his right.

Reaching underneath his chair He grabbed his laser pistol from underneath his chair and was about to run to inform Apollo of an intruder before the voice made itself heard again. “Oh relax little Ronnie, I was only teasing.” The voice this time came from the chair he was just sitting on.

The possessor of the voice had made themselves visible to him this time and he saw a woman with green eyes and a cruel smile.

Ronnie wanted to question the intruder further but he had frozen. The intruder was emanating an aura so deadly he was scared that if he moved he would perish. Seeing the reaction from Ronnie Onyx let out a horrific smile as she stood up and slowly crept towards him. “Yes! That face, that look. Fear!

While I cherish my time with my Apollo and will never go back to that way of life I had before, the fear my prey felt as I hunted their worlds so familiar so nostalgic so-”

“By all that is Psionic Onyx! No wonder you said the kid is terrified of you what the hell was that face you were pulling? You almost made me soil myself.” I said only half joking.

Onyx who had now been caught in the act did a complete 180 in her personality. “Ah darling there you are how was your meal?” with a skip towards me she fell into my embrace and whispered. “Mmmh darling last night was incredible you made me feel so good~”

Ignoring Onyx I looked over at Ronnie who was still shaking and frowned slightly. I had only known him for a day but he was a good kid, he did not need a scary stalker tormenting him. “Have you had your fun sweetie? If so go bother Orchid while I try to bring him out of his standing coma.”

With her task done Onyx gave Apollo a quick kiss on the cheek and went off to do as he requested.

Watching Onyx happily go down the hall I had a feeling I should have worded that better As I did not want those two getting into a quarrel while on this ship. Turning my attention to Ronnie I walked over and placed my hand upon his shoulder.

On reflex after coming to Ronnie attempted to aim his gun towards me but I easily disarmed him before pushing him onto his chair. Once he realised what he had done he began to apologise profusely but I didn’t take the action to heart so there was no need for it.

After putting his thoughts together and catching his breath Ronnie asked. “Who-what was that?” “That being was Onyx, a stalker gene variant from the hive she is my cloak and shield but at the moment her emotions are a bit out of sort from her psionic abilities and mutations. I’m sorry she scared you.”

Ronnie listened intently but then frowned. “She is from the outer family? But she feels so… Foreign?” I thought for a moment trying to come up with a simple explanation for his feeling before responding. “Onyx is different from the rest of the hive or outer family as you say.

Her role in the hive was an extremely special one before meeting me and for that reason is not a part of the main hive mind brain or psionic link. That may be why she feels ‘foreign to you.”

Despite his fear of her, Ronnie was fascinated learning more about the outer family. All he really knew about the outer family is what Mother Sophia shared with the rest of the family which was only essentials.

“What about the Aura of death that I felt coming off of her and was her being invisible a psionic ability?” Ronnie wanted more knowledge about the hive and the being that terrified, It was like an itch inside of his mind yearning to know more about his destiny.

“Aura of death?” I said rhetorically for a moment before looking at Ronnie with a raised eyebrow. “Hey Ronnie, I was going to end up asking this a bit later but it works now. Are you Psionically gifted by chance.” Ronnie nodded his head in affirmation. “Ah that explains it then. Onyx is a psionic killer, It his her main speciality behind her psionic power.

Unless she wants you to see her, Onyx is regarded as invisible to anyone who has a Psionic gift. So when you gazed upon her form your mind was alerting you that your death was before you.”

Learning about your fear and understanding eases the sense of fear and Ronnies fear had subsided slightly. He would still do everything In his power to never come in contact with that walking reminder of death, although that is totally out of his hands as Onyx had found a fun plaything.

Leaning back in his chair and taking a deep breath Ronnie looked at me before expressing. “Thank you for taking the time to explain Apollo. Someone with your importance does not have to explain anything to his property so I appreciate it.”

“Hey don’t fret it I may be the mate of the Hive but I’m still human and understand human feelings, somewhat, So don’t try to deify me or anything and just treat me like a member of the family because as you say that is what the hive is, one giant family.”

Ronnies mind began to race at what Apollo had just said. He pictured Apollo leading his family through the universe converting entire planets into more family and devouring others to sustain the ever growing family. Ronnie grew ever excited at the prospect that his Father Apollo would not only be his and his families Father, but the Father to the entire universe.