The hivemind is conquering for me?

The woman’s breathing hastened and her cheeks turned red as I got closer to her face. This was a good sign for my decision.

”O-Olivia, lord Sentinel. But my friends call me Liv.” She spoke in an almost frightened tone.

”Liv? Such a pretty name. Can I have the honour of calling you that?” I asked, brushing my finger across her cheek at which point the woman went wide-eyed and nodded her head.

I smiled. ”Good. I’m glad. I hope you can call me Apollo as well instead of sentinel?”

The woman audibly gulped, her eyes just staring deeply into my own.

”Liv, I was curious about something. Your arm. What are your plans going forward?” I turned my gaze away from her face and towards the absence on the left side of her torso.

Liv then looked at the absence on her left and winced. ” I will probably get metal. I served five years so I can get one free.”

”Hmm.” I hummed and nodded my head along. ”Sure. You could do that. Get a nice metal arm for all the hardship you have endured. Or, don’t.”

Liv’s face scrunched into confusion and was about to speak before I suddenly grabbed her chin and brought myself closer to her face.

”Listen to me and listen carefully, Liv. Your future could go multiple ways and they all converge from this spot. Right here right now. First, you don’t listen to me after I make this first point. You go get a metal arm and we never speak again.

Or you don’t get metal and after you are discharged you go to Ecumenopolis 4 and-

”-The Ecumenopolis? Se- Apollo. I am from the mid worlds. I can’t afford a trip to-”

”-Let me finish, sweetie. Ok?”

Liv then proceeded to just nod at me, her lips sealing tight.

”You make a trip to Ecumenopolis 4 and from there you find a club on the border of the southern hemisphere called Sophia’s. If you go there, I promise you will be taken care of for life. You will never have to go without again.”

Liv looked at me, her thoughts were obviously conflicted. I wasn’t sure how much space faring actually cost, but considering her reaction, it was clearly quite a bit, so I added.

”Liv. I need you to trust me on this. I need you to believe in me. Do you believe in me?”

Liv’s eyes opened wide once more at my words before I could feel her attempt to nod her head, but my hand on her chin kept her in place.

”Good. Now of course, I am not forcing you to do this. But if you believe in me, I hope I will see you there one day. Happy that you took my advice. If you decide not to go... Well, I enjoyed meeting you and I wish you the best.”

I then let go of her chin and stood up. ”I wish you a swift recovery Liv. Take care.” I then turned to leave, but I felt her reach out with her arm, tugging on my shirt.

”Wait!”

The sudden action was clearly agony for her as her eyes teared up again. I then carefully sat down beside her again and waited for her to compose herself, at which point she asked,

”Apollo... What is going to happen when I get there?”

I smirked at her and shook my head. ”I’m sorry. I can’t tell you. I need to know if you are willing to take a risk when I have asked you something. Or if you won’t. But I guess we are human. We want to know at least something about the unknown. So why don’t I give you a teaser?”

I then grabbed Liv’s chin again before leaning my face down towards hers. I watched as her eyes went wide before swiftly closing and her lips puckered ever so slightly.

I had planned on kissing her on the forehead, but this woman had given a lot and she was literally aglow with faith towards me. ’Why not?’

I pressed my lips against this normal, unassuming, human woman and it was nice. Simple. I could feel Liv trying to raise her head for more, but she was truly exhausted. I then softly pulled away and just stared at the woman for a moment.

Her eyes were darting back and forth between my own, her pupils had seriously dilated. I found her innocence seriously endearing and found myself stroking the side of her face for a moment.

It was then the glowing that I could see from her body suddenly explode once more, illuminating her entire figure. It was blinding, yet it did not hurt my eyes. It was then I suddenly heard a voice.

’Do it again. Please.’

*Gasp*

I clutched my chest. My heart was beating too fast. I could hear Liv ask if I was okay, but I ignored her as I internalised my perception and focused on the problem at hand.

A few seconds later I got control of my body. I then let out a sigh of relief. It seemed I had not gone over the edge and had another heart attack. Once the double check was all clear, I turned to Liv and smiled at her.

This was a Spartari Human. In this age. Religion just didn’t exist. So somehow, this woman just prayed to me without meaning to... ’I should discuss this with Rhapso... Oh shit!’ I suddenly profaned in my head.

’Ha! If I had a credit for every time I almost died of a heart attack by someone praying to kiss them, I’d have two credits. Which isn’t a lot, but is crazy that it has happened twice already.’

After my internal realisation, I visually realised that Liv was staring at me, her face full of worry. I gave her a reassuring smile and patted my chest. ”Sorry. Some wounds from my fight with the Warlord haven’t fully healed yet. I’m fine though.”

I then proceeded to stand up and straightened myself out. ”So... If you do take up my offer and I end up finding you on Ecumenopolis 4 the next time I am there. I promise that we will do that again.” I said and winked playfully.

”I will... See you there then. Without my arm...” Liv said, looking at the missing appendage with a sad longing.

I held back a smile, as it would be wrong to do so in this situation. When she gets to Sophia’s and after she is a part of the cult. It will just be a matter of time before she gets her arm back. Well as long as Sophia doesn’t eat her.

”Oh shit! Um, be right back.” I suddenly ran away at full speed, confusing Liv who just saw a blur. As she began to look around, I already arrived back with a piece of bedding I had ripped from somewhere and began to use my Pyrokinesis very carefully to burn a message into the fabric. Once I was done I folded the cloth and burnt a sealed edge into the sheet before placing it into her hand and closing her hand around it.

”When you get to Sophia’s. You ask for someone in charge about me and then give them this. You are not to look at what I have written. This will also be a part of this test I am giving you. Understood?”

She nodded her head and slowly let out a long yawn before slowly blinking her eyes. This whole thing must have been exhausting in her condition.

”Alright. I’ll let you rest. Till we meet again. Liv.”

...

Olivia watched as Sentinel Apollo left. If she wasn’t so tired, she would have considered that entire thing a dream. She couldn’t believe it. He kissed her!

Her!

She looked a mess, she probably reeked, no she knew she reeked of sweat and blood and yet, he wanted to kiss her? And wanted to do it more in the future? All she had to do was go to the core worlds after her discharge?

That thought left her incredibly nervous. If she survived her service, she was supposed to go home to the farm and work a quiet life that was safe. Even with one arm, she would be fine with that type of work. Moreso if she got some metal.

That was the path she was supposed to take after her service, but what Sentinel, no, what Apollo asked of her. To take a chance? To believe in him? To undertake a trial in which she didn’t truly know the outcome of...

The choice should be simple. Go home. No risk. Live and work... But something was telling her. Urging her. Go.

Go to the core worlds. Do what the Sentinel told her to. Go to this ’Sophia’s’ place. She had no reason to go. Nothing but risk. If she blew her savings, she would be stranded there, but something deep down was telling her to do it.

Even if she didn’t believe herself that it was a good idea. That she should believe that man. Apollo. Her Sentinel. Her saviour.

With her decision made her eyes grew heavy, the last thing she thought of before sleep came to her was to believe.

Believe in him.