The hivemind is conquering for me?

”Sentinel, I...”

Rickon brought his hand up to his nose as he suppressed a sneeze before continuing.

”I would like to apologize to you profusely. I spoke out of line and rather frankly, I was rude. I know not everyone has had the luxury I have been given in my station of life and I should not assume everyone I will ever meet will have my training on formal etiquette. So forgive me.”

Rickon then bowed his head slightly towards me and everyone turned their attention towards me.

”It’s fine, honestly. I’m not fussed. Call it teen angst as your comment was a nothingburger.”

Rickon gave me a nod and took his seat once more. I began to dig into the rich soup before us before I heard Elaine ask me.

”Apollo, were you really raised in a cave? That isn’t an exaggeration of some sort?”

I nodded my head. ”Oh yeah. It was me, my sister and my teacher for the longest time. Some other family members would come and go here and there, but my sister and teacher were quite protective of me, me being adopted and all that. I can happily say that I grew up in a loving and comforting environment, despite never seeing a sun until I was deep into puberty haha. In fact outside of my family, Hailey was one of the first other people I had ever encountered. I’m surprised I managed to get on her good side as I was certain I botched our first meeting with my antics.”

Hailey smiled at me and placed her hand on my forearm. ”I thought you were different from any man I had ever met. You were unique, a breath of fresh air. You certainly left an impression. One that swiftly blossomed into love.”

The sound of clanging was heard from the far side of the table, drawing all attention towards Dickon who was breathing heavily and grasping his chest.

Sigismund rolled his eyes at this and turned back to Apollo.

”Lad, tell me about this teacher of yours. Through the grapevine I have heard the name Jewel, is that right?”

I nodded my head at Sigismund. ”Yep, Jewel.” I then resumed eating.

Sigismund frowned at my lack of further detail. ”Tell me about her.”

”She is old, but looks young. She is powerful. She is self taught so she didn’t have to go to any college or academic place of learning. She loves me. I love her.” I replied bluntly. If there was anyone I didn’t want knowing more details about my love, it was Mr Xenophobe here.

He didn’t know that though and attempted to continue. ”Come on lad, give me something here, I-”

Suddenly the door opened to the room and in walked a familiar Praetorian. Seeing this, Sigismund turned to him and asked. ”Thespius? Is there trouble?”

”Apologies for intruding during your meal. There is no trouble, but if possible, could I borrow the Sentinel for a moment? He should be back in no time.”

”Yes! Of course you can. And no rush! Please, whatever you need him for do not rush your task, take as long as you need.” Dickon declared before turning to me. ”Well, you heard the Praetorian, away with you.

”DICKON!” Hailey raised her voice maliciously at the obvious thing he was doing.

I kissed Hailey on the cheek to calm her down. ”It’s fine, babe.” I whispered in her ear and was about to stand up before she grabbed me by my toga strap and stuck her tongue down my throat.

I just let her for a few moments as the table went silent before she pulled back and licked her lips. ”Mmh~ Best thing I have tasted today by a wide margin.”

She then gave me a playful wink before letting me go.

I didn’t even bother turning towards Dickon after that. I knew what his facial expression was going to be, I just gave Thespius a bro nod and began to follow him towards the exit.

...

”Apollo, there has been an... Incident that revolves around the ’cube’ you have left in the room nearby.” Thespius stated once the doors behind us closed.

”My armour? Shit. You didn’t take it did you?” I asked, worried.

”No. Don’t worry. Actually we are coming to that room now so you can get it back on you. I assume someone asked you to remove it?”

I nodded. ”Yes, Elaine, um queen Elaine asked me to remove it due to her kids being in proximity.”

”Ah, I see. Yes, that makes sense. We tend to forget about parental instincts as we do not reproduce.”

”So, what was the incident?”

”There is a few parts to that. First, some Praetorians found the armour’s anomalous signature and followed it here. Upon trying to touch it, your Minigun autonomously activated causing some alarm.”

’It did? It’s not fucking supposed to!’ My armour was supposed to be inert when away from me.

”Oh I see...”

”Yes, after that, the patrollers were about to call for backup when Phoebe arrived and began to delay- ah, one moment we are here.”

Thespius opened the door and the cube was still there, exactly where I left it. It didn’t look, nor did it feel like it was autonomous.

”So you want me to pick it back up?”

”Yes, please.” Thespius nodded.

I walked inside the room and placed my hand on my armour. The moment the link was re-established it began entering my arm swiftly. Once it was done I tensed my arm a couple of times.

”I forgot how heavy it was, I am so used to it at this point.” I muttered to myself.

”Truly, that is some interesting technology you have there, Apollo. Our scans cannot even understand exactly what it is. And that is really saying something.”

I just smiled at Thespius. ”So, is that all?”

”No... Not quite.”

Thespius then turned and shut the door and locked it behind him. I frowned at his action, something he picked up on.

”Be calm, Apollo. I just need to speak with you in assured privacy.”

Thespius then clicked the sigil on the centre of his chest plate and a golden light swept across the room.

”Sound dampener.” He explained, noticing my curiosity.

”Ok? What’s going on?”

”Apollo, once Phoebe arrived at the scene here, she actively dissuaded the others of our order to leave. Neither side was budging, until Rhapso and Nerissa arrived... Rhapso threatened extreme violence amongst her kin if they didn’t leave your cube alone... This troubles me greatly. Basically, what I am asking you is, have you coerced my sisters in some way?”

”What? No? Why would you ask that?” I asked, baffled.

”Apollo, for over three hundred thousand years, aside from spars, there has never been an incident of internal violence between our kin. Not once. Rhapso and Nerissa, even Phoebe and her kill team to some extent have shown rapid signs of change in a short amount of time. The one corresponding link is direct contact with you. I like you, I really do. But I am concerned for my kin. We don’t change at this pace. So the question has to be asked. Are you doing something to my sisters to force them to act this way?”

My face scrunched up as I thought to myself. ’The fuck? Why do I always get caught in shit? I have a meal, shit. I leave my armour, shit. I breathe, shit. Seriously, I am certain now, I have some sort of Psionic luck, but it goes both ways. I lucked out with the recipient of my boon and now it ping pongs back and forth from extreme good to bad to counteract that I swear...’

”Heh.” I suddenly heard an amused chuckle coming from Thespius.

He held up his hand. ”Forgive me. But your face is too easy to read. I can now tell even without your own words you had nothing to do with this and my sisters are clearly just fond of you. I actually find it sweet on their behalf. Rhapso has been lost for a long time, I am glad she has found something, or someone to be excited about. Though I wish she had less violent reactions when it comes to you. And Nerissa? Well, she is also certainly fond of you. Her blessing and her bloom is evidence enough of that.”

Thespius tapped his sigil once more and let out a long breath. ”Apollo, can you promise me something?”

I nodded my head and Thespius continued,

”When you go to the Coalition... Look after my sisters. Please. I know they can defend themselves, but...”

”Don’t worry. I also understand. To me there is nothing more important than my family. I will give everything to make sure they are safe... Rhapso and Ness? They are also my family now, if they want me to think of them that way or not... I will do everything possible to ensure their safety. Even though they can both respectively kick my ass.”

Thespius chuckled. ”Thank you. Now, I’ll escort you back. Sorry about the boxing in. I know that was what you would call a ’dick move’ It’s just if I sensed you had coerced them. I would have had to smite you.”

I nodded. ”Good. I would have done the same in your shoes. No one harms my loved ones and gets away with it. Even an attempt will be met with my full wrath.”

Thespius patted me on the shoulder as we left the room.

”Well spoken, Sentinel. Well spoken.”