The hivemind is conquering for me?

On my way back to the Thanatos, I picked up a few handfuls of snow and used them to clean my face. As I arrived in front of the Thanatos, I was greeted by two familiar faces.

“Oh Apollo, welcome back.” Janet said with a happy smile on her face while being hugged by Ernie from behind who gave me a simple nod.

“Hey guys, I won’t be staying too long, Just saying goodbye to everyone and thanking you all for being so hospitable.” I said to Janet which caused her to slip out of Ernie’s arms and come give me a little hug. “Oh aren’t you nice. I am sure everyone will appreciate that, I know I have.”

After Janet hugged me, Ernie walked over and looked me in the eyes. There was still clear traces of pain from losing his brother in them, but thinking his brother died valiantly had eased his burden greatly.

Ernie proceeded to grab my hand and pull me into a shoulder hug. “You are ok for the noble sort Apollo and with a hell of a punch at that. I wish you all the best and I know Bertram would have thought the same.”

I felt a slight knot of guilt in my stomach as he said that. I liked Bertram and Paul as well, I wished they had chosen to run like everyone else.

“Thank you Ernie, that means a lot.” I said while smiling. Ernie then smiled back and patted me on the shoulder before letting me head into the bowls of the ship. Unlike the Tuarox, the Scythes were not partying and instead looked like they were prepping for another mission.

As I asked around while saying goodbye, it turned out I was right and they had taken a simple scavenging mission near the Drakoshi border and would depart in three days time.

While walking around, I eventually made my way to the logistics department and went inside. No more than a second after I entered, I was greeted with. “Well, well, I thought you had ran off for good cunt, its a pleasure to see you back here.” Willy exclaimed.

“Hey Willy, I am just making the rounds to say goodbye.” I replied with a smile as I had grown used to his overuse of that word. “Ah the royal cunt is doing a dick suckin’ parade? I don’t blame you. And you have come to your favourite Willy to get sucked next?”

“I wouldn’t word it quite like that Willy.” I said a tad bit uncomfortable, but he simply laughed as he stood up from his chair and walked over to me. He then proceeded to extend his hand asking for a handshake.

Once I reached out, he clasped on hard “You are a good man Apollo, I have never met a noble who has managed to integrate with a company so fast before. You have proven to everyone here that you are a valuable ally and a good friend. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours and It was my honour to call you a cunt.”

Willy had almost managed to make a very touching speech, but just could not control himself long enough which caused me to laugh out loud while I said goodbye and left.

It took another hour of small talk here and there before I finally made it to Caleb’s quarters. I knocked on the door and proceeded to here shuffling inside. I waited a minute before Caleb came to the door, seemingly perfectly fine. Upon seeing me his face fell slightly and he sighed. “It’s ok, Its just Apollo.” He said into the room before turning back to me. “Come on in.”

As I entered the room and Caleb closed the door, I could see Janine re entering the common space with her helmet off. “Oh, is that why I heard scuttling about before the door opened?” I said putting things together. “Janine, where’s your helmet?” I asked.

“Hey Apollo, Its on Caleb’s desk.” She pointed behind me. When I turned, I saw Janine’s helmet, in pieces. I turned to her questioningly to which she answered my thought. “Had to dismantle my helmet to return some tech loaned to me. Now that I am ceasing my contract, I am obligated to either buy the tech from Caleb or return it.”

Janine’s answer made me confused for a moment before a mile plastered my face. “So you decided to take up my offer and work for my Fiancée?” Janine also couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, but only temporary. If I find I don’t like the job or the work I will be doing, Caleb has no problem hiring me back after I leave, right?” She asked and turned to Caleb.

“Of course I don’t Janine, you are welcome on my ship always. Caleb then looked at me seriously for a moment. “Apollo, I trust you completely at this point, but will your Fiancée have issue with Janine’s… Race.”

His question made me smile. Would Sophia, a member of a hive species that sees all other species as prey have a problem with Janine? “No Caleb, Sophia has no issues with Sepiidans and will treat Janine as an equal with all her other human hires. In fact, she has quite a few Male Sepiidans who work for her as well and a couple of them are in high positions.”

Janine was both pleased and sceptical to hear this, she decided to believe it when she saw it herself, while also taking Apollo’s words at face value.

“That is good to here, I took Janine in a long time ago so I am a little defensive of her. However if she wants to leave, I could not think of safer hands for her to go with.” Caleb said and sighed as he looked at Janine.

“You will be missed around here kid and I wish you the best. Now reassemble your helmet while I have a talk with Apollo.” Janine smiled at Caleb’s words and gave him a small hug and a hushed thank you before she began putting her helmet back together.

Caleb then walked over to the other side of the room and I followed suit. He then sat down on his couch and reached over to a small table for two glasses and a bottle of brandy. “Come, sit.” He pointed with his head next to him.

I took a seat as he began to pour the brandy’s. “When I first saw you in that armour, I almost shat myself you know? It is really intimidating to stare down new things.” He said as he passed me one of the glasses.

“Well its a good thing you did not shoot and allowed me to talk to Kat or things would have really turned south fast.” I replied as I took a sip. ‘Mmhh. Fruity.’

“Haha, Apollo, have I told you, that you remind me of a young me, not as good looking obviously, but still a young me.” Caleb said causing me to roll my eyes. “You may have brought it up once or twice.” I replied. “Why bring it up again?”

“Because its the greatest praise I could ever give to another person. I mean look at me I am awesome.” Caleb’s vanity had no ceiling and extended through the night sky. “And it is for that reason I have no objection to Janine going with you. I know you will do right by her as you are a good person, and that is the one thing different between us.”

I turned to look at him curiously to see if he would continue. He took a large chug of his drink, downing it all before he continued. “You have an energy to you kid, it makes you seem a little slow at times, but its infectious as it brings joy to those around.

I hope you never lose that, I hope you don’t have to do things that go against your morals and twist that kindness into something dark.” Caleb’s words seemed troubled while he looked ahead as though seeing something that isn’t there.

“Because I actually fear that if you lost that energy, I think tragedy will strike among the countless.” As though a veil had been lifted, Caleb blinked his eyes as he looked around the room. “Sorry kid, didn’t mean to become sombre there at the end. Here.” He said as he poured himself another drink and raised his glass. “To our health and good fortune, may we stay true to ourselves.”

I smiled at his toast, forgetting the fact he just subtly called me an idiot and raised my glass to meet his. As we finished our drink with a little bit of small talk, Janine had finished putting her helmet back together and walked over.

“You ready?” I asked as she stood there with her hand on her hip and her legs spread apart. “Yep, all my belongings are down in by the loading bay, just waiting on you two lovebirds to be done.”

I chuckled as I stood up. “Very funny Janine, you may swing for the other side, but I am not and I am also not against a playful spanking among friends when needed, now lets go.”