The hivemind is conquering for me?

Gabrielle fell into deep thought after our brief conversation. I didn’t want to disrupt her as I knew first hand that inner monologue was crucial for thought management.

I also decided that Gabrielle, even though the things she brought up sounded like she was hinting at the cult, she wasn’t actually talking about that and must have been something else. I have given her no reason to suspect and I doubt even further that Sophia did when they first met.

All speculation.

After I finished my mound of food, Gabrielle snapped out of her thoughts and looked at me with a smile. ”Good. You finished your greens. I am glad to see. Ok, big day tomorrow, I am going to get some rest. I advise you to do the same. See you later.”

”Bye Gabrielle.” I replied before jolting in surprise as she gave me a peck on the forehead before walking off without looking back. Smiling at the sweet gesture, I stood up myself and began making my way back to my tent.

...

Meanwhile Gabrielle was freaking out. Without thinking she just kissed Apollo on the forehead. Being around him. Her instincts screamed between maternal and feminine.

’I’m worrying over nothing. It’s fine. Apollo is my sweet little man. He probably just thought the kiss was a sweet gesture. Nothing more.’

Gabrielle nodded to herself. It was. Of course it was. But her internal debate started again. Was it a mother kissing her son or was it...

She shook and nodded her head back and forth, up and down over and over as she walked, freaking out onlookers.

’-You saw the way he looked at you when you asked those questions. He was suspicious. Bringing up Millie? That was foolish. Too obvious. Does he know? He might know. But if he does? Why won’t he say anything? I know I am a coward, but he has no reason to not ask. But if he hates me, he might be stringing me along? That’s ok... That’s fine. I can live with that. Just as I can stay close to him. Until he decides I need to go I can do that and-’

Gabrielle’s train of thought was suddenly cut short as a hand firmly grasped her shoulder. Turning hastily, she was ready to strike out on pure reflex, but suddenly composed herself. It was someone she knew.

”Tamara?”

Tamara nodded and replied. ”Yes. I recognised the look in your eyes as you passed us. Emotional influx? I’m still not good at controlling myself and might say something bitchy by accident, but I know how you feel. And considering you have helped me before, It’s only natural I help back. So do you want to go somewhere quiet and distract yourself?”

Gabrielle looked thankfully at Tamara. The woman was rough around the edges, but a good girl. After seeing her in action for a few months, sharing a small space, she got to know the woman a bit better, but this action now has put a mark in her tick box.

’She would be a good wife for my boy after a few behavioural tweaks...’

Gabrielle then smiled jubilantly and took Tamara’s arm and wrapped her own around it. ”Yes. Please. I am feeling better already, but if you wouldn’t mind, to keep me distracted, can you tell me a bit more about yourself Tamara?”

Tamara looked taken aback by the sudden flip. ’Am I like this?’ She thought before replying, ”Sure, what do you want to know?”

Gabrielle pouted her lips for a moment in thought.

”Erm... Oh, how about we start from the beginning? Tell me where you are from.”

...

After making my way back to my tent. I spotted three figures waiting outside. Two Praetorians and a Pyresnake.

”Ladies.” I said casually as I walked past and entered my tent. I didn’t close the flaps so they were free to come inside. And they did.

The moment I sat down on my bed, my bottom half became constricted as Sithrik once again forgot what personal space was.

”Darling. I awoke and found you still not back. I wished for cuddles, but you were nowhere to be found.”

Stroking the underside of her chin with my palm as it rested next to me, I felt her body respond in delight as I replied. ”I just felt like going for a walk. I didn’t expect for this and that to occur.”

”You need not explain yourself to your consort, my King. I am just happy you are back.” Sithrik declared, constricting me tighter. ”And I must add. I enjoy the sight of your new body patterns.”

”Wait what?” I asked, confused, looking down at my body. ”Oh shit, I forgot. Did Cassian and everyone else just not say anything? Why am I-Oh right. Someone stole it.” I reminded myself.

”You went to the knights, Apollo? I wish I was with you during that battle you fought in together.” Rhapso declared and I nodded my head.

”Yeah. I like those guys. I don’t like the way they look at me like I’m made of gold, but I appreciate them as battle brothers and sisters. They deserve my respect. Especially when they, like me, are here of their own accord. Oh! And I also saw the inside of a Castellan. That was an experience.”

Rhapso nodded her head. ”Yeah, I know what you mean. The tech used is seriously impressive, but beyond barbaric compared to what they could do otherwise. But the knight orders have the autonomy to do that to themselves. They serve the empire too well for change to be forced on them.”

I nodded, it made sense. If it helped the empire, Spartari would look the other way for a lot of things.

My attention then turned to Nerissa. Her body language was slightly different. ”Ness.” I addressed her and she replied without waiting,

”Hmm? Yeah? What’s up?”

”Oh, nothing is up. I’m just letting you know, Gabrielle has requested she take formation by our side during the battle tomorrow. Adjust accordingly. We both know what she is capable of after all with those hook swords.”

Before she could reply, Sithrik interjected. ”What? Why is Ssshe allowed at your side and I am not? That is unfair, Apollo. You know how well I kill Drakoshi.”

I rolled my eyes and tutted playfully. ”You know why. I almost got impaled because you couldn’t stay in formation with that long danger noddle of a body and I tripped. It’s better for you to be a bit further back. Where you can find the space to strike in and out.”

”But what if I coil up!?! That way I am not a tripping hazard. Please~?”

”No Sithrik I’m sorry, but as Sentinel, I have to think tactically and in large conflicts, you are not... Don’t stare at me like that.”

”...”

”Sithrik, I am serious.”

”...”

”How do you do that thing with your eyelashes? You don’t even have any!”

”...”

”Sithrik, I am warning you. Knock it off.”

”...”

...

Ten minutes later I decided the best course of action was for Sithrik to join us on the front line. The other praetorians shouldn’t have an issue and with their combat prowess, were much less likely to trip on the snek.

After I came to that conclusion with no outside factors, I was for some reason sleepy with a mild headache, so I asked for some privacy. Sithrik had her own little tent nearby as she could not be trusted not to touch me in my sleep and Rhapso and Nerissa would just idle about as they always do.

However as I prepared to lie down, I realised Nerissa was still standing there.

”Oh, Ness. Is everything alright? Do you need something?” I asked curiously.

She just continued to stand there for a few moments before removing her helmet. Her purple glowing eyes showed traces of genuine confusion within them.

”Are you? Um. Are you not going to ask?” She asked, her voice barely audible as she looked towards the entrance of the tent.

”Ask about what?” I inquired. ”Ness? What’s going on? You have me worried.” I further stated. I then proceeded to stand up and walked towards her.

As she looked up at me, she began to blush and looked away. ”You know. About my ’learning experience.’ I thought you would ask right away, but you did not.”

”Oh!” I exclaimed, clocking on to what she meant. ”Of course not.”

”Really?” Nerissa asked and I swear she looked disappointed by my response.

Nodding my head I said, ”Well yeah? It is a private moment for you. A personal moment. Now don’t get me wrong. I am all sorts of curious. Why wouldn’t I be? But it was for you and you alone. I wasn’t going to breach into such an intimate act. Especially your first time.”

”Oh. I see.” Nerissa stated calmly.

”Though don’t get me wrong. If you want to tell me. I am happy to hear all about it. But I was never going to ask you. Like I said, that would be-”

I then proceeded to get hit with a double whammy assault.

She booped my snoot, stunning me silent before continuing as she kissed me with a fiery intensity I had not expected from the shrinking violet. After she pulled back, I licked my lips of the sappy taste before asking,

”So, I am assuming it was a good experience?”