The hivemind is conquering for me?

Orchid was doing as Apollo requested. She had been walking around for the last couple of hours. She didn’t mind this. The smell of the rich oxygen environment reminded her of distant memories. Of wars and consuming weak prey.

Orchid felt nostalgic for her old body for a moment. She looked down at her hands. She had to admit, her current bony grippers with its intricate bone structure were incredibly efficient, especially in pleasing Apollo, but she did miss her scythes from time to time.

Using a sword to pierce a foe just didn’t pump her instincts as much as her own appendage inflicting the wound. And then there was her mouth. Sure with her current form, her bite force had actually increased due to the raw strength granted by this body, but the wound was not nearly as deadly as her previous maw.

Still, this moment of nostalgia ended hastily as with her thinking about her mouth and being surrounded by all these humans, she had begun to feel incredibly hungry. Orchid reached into the pocket of the robe she was forced to wear and pulled out a chip.

As an entity that shared everything among its vast broken up body, Orchid still couldn’t quite wrap her adorable head around the concept of money and paying for things. It seemed redundant for a species not to aid each other for free in order to grow strong.

That being said, she was currently adopting the role of a bio-cult infiltrator, she needed to adapt to her surroundings, blend in, for her mates sake. She put the chip back into her pocket, before walking to a place she knew she could acquire food.

Arriving at the alcohol dispensary, Orchid noticed that during the teaching hours, it was a lot quieter. The rest of the College was still engaged in classes, it was only the first years that were not yet being taught fully yet, that was in a couple of days.

Orchid was pleased with this outcome. She could only tolerate noise if Apollo was with her. She could tune everything out by looking at him, feeling his presence. Fantasising about holding him in a room for all of eternity while she just watches him. Safe, secure. Mating whenever he chooses...

Orchid shuddered in delight before walking over to the bar area where the individual who takes the food orders was located. When she walked over, she was delighted to find by the smell, that the human behind the bar was female, it was less likely to make remarks at her this way.

Orchid arrived at the bar and the female noticed her. ”Be with you in a second, honey.” It said, causing Orchid to frown. Thanks to a little mishap which resulted in a dead cultist after it called her honey, she learnt from Sophia that sometimes humans just call each other terms of endearment randomly, especially bar staff. The term of endearment can increase tipping rates, but the cunning rouse shall not work on Orchid.

While waiting for the food keeper to be ready, Orchid looked around the bar, specifically at the two threats her instincts had felt. Orchid was surprised by humans in this regard. As one of the threats made sense. A burly male almost thrice as wide as Apollo was with gargantuan muscles was sat down consuming a meal. Orchid wagered he could take on multiple freethinkers at once, his frame and whatever Psionics he had, possibly boosting that number.

However, the other was what left her most impressed. It was a female that was even smaller than Keyla by an inch. Small and delicate. Orchid didn’t know why, but the female felt even more dangerous than the male.

This phenomenon in humans had always amazed her, especially due to Apollo. He looked so cute, adorable and delicious, yet underneath all of that, was the capability of near Omnikinetic power? It made sense in the context of him being her mate, but the fact he still just looks like a regular human? That baffled her. With other species’ there are always mutations, easy tells. But even though there are some humans with these mutations, there are not a lot of them compared to the seemingly weak looking powerhouses.

Orchid was brought out of her analysis by a chipper voice behind her. ”Heya, sorry for the wait, what can I get you?” Orchid turned around and spoke plainly. ”Bovine steak and leafy flora.”

”Leafy Fl- Oh a salad? Haha, never heard it called that before, but I suppose it’s correct. Sure thing sweetie. How do you like your steak?” She asked, and a small pause emerged between them, prompting Orchid to reply. ”With my Salad?”

”No hon, I mean how do you want it cooked, blue, rare, medium well-done?” The bartender asked, causing Orchid to blink confused. ”O-I don’t know what that means.” The Bartender was patient, she knew people from all walks of life, this pretty woman could have lived the last two decades in a cave for all she knew?

”No problem honey, I’ll explain it simply for you. Blue and well done are the opposite ends of the spectrum. A blue steak, we basically sear the outside to remove bacteria, but the inside is still raw, on the other hand, well done is-”

”-Blue.” Orchid cut her off. ”Mmh, interesting choice, I am a rare girl myself, but I find blue just a bit too bloody for my liking. Here, place your cred chip in here and go sit down somewhere, I will bring it over shortly.”

Orchid did as instructed. As she sat down at her table, she was pleasantly surprised that she could order raw meat without suspicion by simply calling it blue? While it won’t be good as live meat, it will be a most decent substitution.

...

While Orchid was patiently waiting, a group of very loud individuals suddenly entered the bar. Their chaotic wave in the previously calm ambience caused heads to turn and watch as they approached the bar.

It was a group of thirteen first year males. They were excited and drunk on a power trip at being at the College, this mixture created the unwanted by-product of noise. It didn’t help that they all seemed to be blowhards.”

”Guys I am telling you, best muff I’ve ever chomped down on.” ”Bollox, you just want to boast that you have been with a senior.” ”No! I’m serious! The woman could change her taste on a whim, it was like I was eating out a candy store... I think I might be hooked!”

A series of laughter broke out from the group before they started ordering beverages. As they were waiting, one guy swatted the other in the stomach and said. ”Hey, Moran, isn’t that the purple haired babe, you have been pining over?”

”What? Where?” Moran suddenly exclaimed before looking over to where his buddy was pointing. Sure enough there she was...

He had been looking everywhere for the woman, her face was etched into his mind. He had never felt this way before, he usually just bedded the ladies and was done with them, but this woman... She was special.

”Fucking no way! Haha, guys Moran is blushing!” A burst of laughter erupted one more time before Moran yelled. ”Fuck off, I’m not blushing, its just hot in here.” The teasing continued for a short while before one of the group suddenly stated.

”D’ya know what? Moran has a good eye though, that is one bad bitch. Mmh, would love that wrapped around me I’ll tell you what.”

”Fuck you Harmon.” Moran stated, before another chimed in. ”No, he is right. Fuck that is one piece of ass. I might have to introduce myself.” A murmur of cheers and goadings began as a little bit of competition emerged from within the group.

”Guys, she has just gotten food, it’s probably best not to do anything right now.” A reasonable voice spoke out within the group, but was completely ignored. ”Fuck that, if Moran is too much of a pussy to do anything with this girl, I am shooting my shot, step aside and see how its done boys.”

The man downed his drink and with a couple of adjustments to his grooming he walked over.

...

’This is really bloody, Orchid likes this, it’s like the bovine was very recently slaughtered.’ She thought to herself. She was even enjoying the slight searing around the edges of the meat, it gave a nice contrasting texture against the raw.

”Sup girl? How you living?”

’Orchid wonders if Orchid can get Apollo to try meat this raw? He has the stomach for it, but it’s his tastebuds that would be the main issue, he likes things tasting a certain way.’

A seat pulled out opposite her as she used her knife and fork to cut up another piece of meat.

”Come on girl, don’t be like this, I’m just trying to talk to you, can I at least get your name?”

Orchid took another bite of her food and was about to continue the process before noticing the man reaching his hand over.

”If you touch my plate, you will be severely mutilated. That is the only warning you are getting.”