The hivemind is conquering for me?

I watched as the ship took off. Tamara, Francesca and Morrgan must have given me the slip and made it back to the ship, the latter I wasn’t too fussed about, I didn’t want to give the man more opportunities to give me bad touch, but the other two I definitely would have liked to say goodbye to.

I stood alone, Nerissa and Rhapso forced to attend some Praetorian gathering, even though they weren’t actively a part of the order anymore, and Sithrik was taking a well earned nap. With my free time, I decided to go for a walk to clear my thoughts. I had a lot to think about the future after all.

My walk was short before I began to think about one thing.

Food.

I had just realised that I hadn’t eaten since yesterday. All that fighting, all that blocking and thrusting. I might not have been injured, but I was still human, barely, but still fundamentally meaning I still had to resort to energy in and out.

Smacking my lips together at the thought of a little feast, I made my way to the familiar mess tent.

After piling the food onto my plate, I looked at it happily and made my way to find a seat. Upon doing so, I was surprised to see people I still recognised here, people I thought had just left.

Tamara, Francesca, Willow, Rhea and Serena sat together. As I approached, the first one to spot me was Willow as she snapped her head towards me and smiled gleefully.

”Apollo! Come sit here next to me!”

”Hey everyone.” I said after I sat down next to her.

”Hey.” They replied collectively.

As Willow glued herself to one of my arms, making the task of consuming this pile of nutrition harder, I turned to Tamara and asked. ”How come you two are still here? You didn’t miss the ship by accident did you?”

Tamara went to reply, but Francesca cut her off. ”The king poached us. Said he wanted our talents and wanted us for his own retinue. Taking into consideration that Tammy and I do not want to go back and see my brother just yet, we were more than happy to agree to the request. Isn’t that right, Tammy?”

Tamara turned to Francesca for a moment before looking right back at me. ”Yeah, what she said.”

”I see. Well, I am glad for the both of you. I am definitely going to miss you guys that’s for sure.” I admitted.

”Well, you aren’t rid of us yet, we are going back to Euc 1 with you. So are these three.”

Turning to Willow, I asked. ”Really?”

Willow nodded her head before Rhea on the other side of me took my free arm, denying me more food and spoke,

”Yes. We have a week off after this war. So we are going to go crazy partying and shopping for stuff before we are sent elsewhere. Though Great aunt has said that she wants us to accompany her on her next mission as well, so that should be fun.”

Serena then complimented Rhea. ”Rhea has done the Hyllus name proud in this war. Kathrine has raised a good one. Wouldn’t you say, Apollo?”

”Yes, do you think I have done a good job, Daddy?”

I inhaled sharply and began to violently cough as my Saliva attempted to drown me during my sudden shock.

Willow let go of my arm and hastily passed me a glass of water which I downed quickly.

”Fuck...” I spoke after a few moments, getting looks from everyone present. Deciding to ignore it, I turned to Rhea, who was smiling sadistically at me.

”What’s wrong? You are in a relationship with my mother after all, Why shouldn’t I call you Daddy? Oh I remember! Lena blurted it out a while ago, being called that turns you on, doesn’t it? Silly me. Did your step daughter turn you on, Daddy? No need to be embarrassed. I am a big girl, I know these things happen. So Did I? Did I turn you on, Daddy?” She asked, placing her hand on my inner thigh.

The table went silent as I stared at Rhea. After taking a deep breath, I replied. ”Rhea did exemplary. Especially during our sabotage campaign. I was proud to fight alongside her every chance I got. So did Tamara and Willow. Every individual I had the honour of fighting beside gave their everything and I am beyond proud of each and every one of you. I am also proud to have fought under your direct orders Serena. Your tactical mind and overall intellect has humbled me this campaign. Once more I am honoured to have participated in this war with every single one of you and I hope I have done enough to the point you feel the same.”

The table went silent after I spoke. Willow and Rhea had let go of me and I took advantage of that fact and began wolfing down my meal.

...

Each woman at the table were all sharing the same thought with a few details different. The core was. ’Is this man serious?’

Apollo during the duration of the war had done the impossible over and over again. Winning fights he had no right winning. Leading sieges with shockingly low casualty reports. Active on the front line wherever he was and through all of it, remained humble. Modest.

Each person present knew that not many would stay as humble as Apollo had been. The man killed a Warlord on his own for goodness sake! Not many could claim they had done that and he had barely brought it up. Others would be parading themselves into the political stratosphere. Glory, honour, wealth would be theirs in abundance

Instead, what was Apollo doing? He was eating like he was a family of seven. Unbothered, unaware of how awe inspiring he truly was and he had the nerve to think they might not feel the same way he does about being honoured to fight alongside him?

...

Serena felt especially bad upon realising Apollo’s thoughts on the matter. She had planned on using his influence for the family. Which was not outlandish to do. He was a part of the family, adopted or not, but the idea felt dirty to her now. It’s not what he would do.

He just wanted to feel from those closest that he had done enough. That all his effort, it was more for them than himself..

Serena found her staring at Apollo for a few moments and her mind wandered, recalling what Rhea had just said. Being called a father turns him on?

Staring at the heroic figure she unconsciously bit her lip. ’Does he want children already? So young and thinking about that with Kathrine. But what if she doesn’t want more children? Hmm~ I supposed if he has the desire to produce more children, I don’t mind-’

Serena’s eyes suddenly went wide and her face blushed instantly. What was she thinking just now!

Valerica’s words to her repeated in her mind and she quickly found herself angered. She wasn’t that person. She wasn’t thinking about Apollo that way. She was too old! And, more importantly, her sister was not right!

No.. She was just thinking about the next generation of Hyllus’ She was thinking about the strength of her family, that was it. Nothing more. Yes, nothing m-

Serena suddenly realised Apollo was looking at her, a smile on his face directed at her that caused a reaction in her underwear...

”W-What?” She asked, thinking she had missed something he said.

...

”I asked what is your next operation if you are asking for Rhea and Willow to come along?” I repeated myself, she looked to be thinking hard about something, being the tactical genius she was, I didn’t blame her for getting lost in her own thoughts.

”Oh! Um, I don’t know yet. I am a high value commander, I usually get sent to where I am most needed. Sometimes I am not needed for months. But with the temporary peace with the Coalition coming to pass, I will most likely be sent east for security reasons. The Scourge has wrapped around the outer edges of the galaxy and the east is rather undermanned. But it might be months until I am required to go there. Meaning my great niece and her friend might have even more time off than they originally planned.”

”I love you Serena! Have I ever told you that you look so much younger than Grandma?” Rhea exclaimed, smiling brightly, prompting Serena to laugh.

”No, maybe say it again into my communicator so I can show Valerica?”

Rhea scoffed. ”And have hard evidence? Fuck no. She will force me into how many rounds of Pankration if she found me badmouthing her the next time I see her. I am not crazy enough to invoke her ire.”

”Oh? But you are willing to invoke mine?” Serena teased and Rhea nodded without hesitation.

”Oh 100% yeah! You are level headed and smart. Grandma is nuts... Shit.” Rhea’s eyes suddenly went wide.

’Grandma is nuts. Grandma is nuts.’

A recording suddenly looped and Serena flashed Rhea a wicked grin before declaring,

”Your ass is mine now, Rhea”