Chapter 1: Another one
Name:The hivemind is conquering for me? Author:Ben_Cresswell
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"Bright." I muttered as I brought my arm to my eyes.
"Oh a thousand apologies we forgot to turn the supernova background off." A calm, powerful voice stated "There is that better." Suddenly the light which was burning my retinas vanished and what remained was an office? Grey walls, A small desk with a door behind on the other side of it and oh some sort of creature made or pure blue light?
"Where? Where am I? How did I get here?" I asked not understanding what I'm looking at. "Who are you, what are you"
*Haah* The being sighed "Great another talker" They muttered "Where's the stunned silent types I've been hearing so much about" *ahem* clearing their non existent throat it continued.
"What we are is not important now, welcome to your life evaluation your physical body has come to its inevitable end and your mind was able to enter a higher conscious due to your open view on 'Afterlife' you've been approved for reincarnation congratulations!"
"Come to its end you mean.. I'm dead? How, when? I don't remember" I asked in mild panic I tried recalling something anything out of the ordinary from today but blank everything seemed normal
"Well" the blue being interrupted" It doesn't matter now does it? Your flesh sack is already decomposing and a new one is waiting for you somewhere in the infinite how exciting right?"
Before I got a chance to interject the being continued "Now lets see." It looked at some forms on its desk. "karma, karma, karma lets seee... Ah here" "Some good yea to be expected. Some bad mmhhhm mhhhm nothing out of the ordinary. Congratulations your karma in your last life turned out just slightly positive from neutral a good balance"
"So does all this mean anything or are you just telling me this for nothing" I said curiously
"Of course, of course. You get a small boon in your next life. Nothing super powerful and no great curse as I said balanced karma you don't deserve that. However, the one you do get is a roll of the dice. You will receive it the instant you are born it could be absolutely anything." "Of course you can decline this offer and return to the infinite as energy what say you?"
I pondered for a moment becoming one with the infinite does sound rather pleasant in a way but so would a chance to start a fresh. My past life wasn't anything to write home about, evidence of that was my balanced karma. 22 years and nothing to show for it may as well hit the reset.
"Will I get to choose my new world?" I inquired
"No" Sёarᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
"Race?" "No" "Gender?" "No" "Anything" "Yes" "Really?" "No"
...
"Fine ill still take your offer and boon. Thank you"
"Wonderful wonderful now lets get the process over quick we have another appointment after yours in two of your 'linear' decades and we really want to get some rest before that, soo please this way" he gestured to the door behind his desk and stated " Walk through and your existence will be remoulded into its new form and what should feel like a short time your new life awaits"
Standing from the chair I walked to the door and took a deep breath. As the door was opened there was what I assume to be a sort of portal a black centre surrounded in rainbow accents I could feel myself pulling towards it but I stopped myself ,probably self preservation kicking in, and asked. "Does it hurt?"
"Does what hurt?"
"Remoulding my existence. It does not sound like a pleasant experience."
The being paused, surprise would be showing on its face if it had any distinguishing details "We are not sure, we've never considered that hmmmm." It rubbed its chin 'we should follow up with the boss' after this.' it looked back to me regaining themselves "But it shouldn't. We've never heard screams."
Great...
"Very reassuring" I whispered "Ok. Ok. Ok. lets do this. Wish me luck" As I said that I jumped through the portal into whatever fate awaited me.
Chapter 2: You call that a boon?
Name:The hivemind is conquering for me? Author:Ben_Cresswell
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Apollo minor-spartari outer rim-ongoing warzone Searᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
"We have to keep moving, the bugs broke through the defence forces line!" A man shouted to his partner. "Wha- what about the baby they wont let it into the evacuation shuttle its for military only!" A woman retorted looking down at the small innocent in her arms.
"I told you, you should have aborted the thing when you found out. We're lucky you weren't showing otherwise we both would have been court marshalled for affairs whilst deployed." The man snapped making the woman flinch.
"But-" The woman started "No buts, if you want to get out alive hide the baby somewhere and lets move our asses!" the man interrupted.
The woman looked down at the baby, it looked back at her with a frown as if knowing it was about to be abandoned. The woman held back a sob and whispered to it. "I'm sorry I'm so so sorry" She stopped her run by an alley placed a kiss on the babes head before placing him in a nearby rubbish bin.
"If the defence holds the monsters back I promise, I promise I will come back for you." She said holding back tears, her instincts as a mother were telling her to pick him back up and risk it, but was pulled out of that thought by a vice grip. "Come on you've done all you can for the bastard we have to go I can hear the fighting getting closer." With that, the woman was pulled away from her son.
Her fate and the fate of the father solely rested now on if they make it to their shuttle.
Meanwhile, in aforementioned bin, the abandoned baby's mind was a flurry with thoughts.
"What the heck man! Sure, just leave your child to its inevitable demise. Man I've been screwed by that accursed blue lamp" I frowned as it continued "And what the heck is this boon" Although I hadn't been told my boon by anything I knew it instinctually.
'The first female that see's you that is not a family member will instantly fall in love with you in a state of pragma, eros, mania.' "You call that a boon? I call it call child services." I inwardly sighed "I should've just picked join the infinite as energy at least I wouldn't have to die again so soon."
"Anyways, I wonder what my parents meant by bugs? To have a defence force be overrun they would have to either be a swarm of tiny bugs in the countless just eating everything or-" My thoughts were interrupted by shouts coming from the nearby street.
"Fall back, fall back, a contingent of the basilisk strain has reinforced their assault with a queen guard!!! Re group at the next checkpoint, there should be incendiary rounds to swap out Go! Go!
Go!" A strong feminine voice called out at the dozens of feet rushing by, crackling of kinetic rounds and cracks of thunder as laser rounds went off just meters away from the bin-cum-makeshift shelter I found myself in.
"Sounds like the fighting is coming close by, I wonder what on earth a basilisk strain is?"
Meanwhile
"ATTACK DRONES. FULL FRONTAL ASSAULT. CONSUME BIOMASS AND RELEASE THE EGGS."
With this psionic command, the basilisk queen guard, given name by humans, or as it better knows its self as freethinker variant #1700354 walked behind its drone swarm with further 50 basilisk swarm guard charging past it. It was charged by the hivemind to take out this section of planet with as little biomass loss as possible.
It knew as a freethinker that current biomass loss would be astronomical, but the gain from the meat of the sapiens and the rest of this small world would bring a hundredfold increase.
As it walked down what the prey called 'streets', it stopped. It seemed to smell a prey, but small not enough to be a meal, but biomass is biomass and must be consumed. It started again towards the alley telling its guard to continue forward in the main assault, whilst it headed towards the metal container containing the morsal.
…
Despite being in a bin all I could smell was sweet pheromones and I could hear clicking, chattering and screeching swarming past the alley I was in. Suddenly, I could hear big impactful steps coming towards me. "Well this is it, whatever is out there I can tell is not human." I thought.
What felt like an eternity in anticipation the stepping stopped just outside the bin was I safe? Did whatever was there think this was just an empty alley? Before I could garner any hopeful thinking.
*BANG*
The lid of the bin ripped off violently. I looked up see my end before me and what I saw made my blood run cold. 5 meters tall, a white chitinous body with tan accents down its front and sides spikes decorated throughout.
4 legs each one ending with a sharp thick spike which could run a man through with ease a vertical torso with 2 scythe like appendages sharp enough clearly to cut through metal with no resistance. A head, in a shape similar to a pentagon with small protrusions sticking out of the top in a row. Teeth like ivory needles drenched in saliva and eyes black as void staring down into his own.
Petrified! Even if I wasn't a helpless baby, my body wouldn't be able to move. Those deep dark eyes peering into my own had something about them that stopped me from moving.
Then I remembered. "Ah! Basilisk strain! From the stories I remember, a basilisks eyes have the capability of paralysing a being no wonder it feels like I cant move. Even though I cant to begin with..."
Coming back to the moment facing the being that would most definitely spell my demise, I cant help but admit in my final seconds that there is some beauty to its form. It looks like a perfect apex predator its whole being emanates death if I am to die which I know is the case I'm glad its to such a perfect being.
I smiled at it. At peace, ready to go...
…
A few seconds passed. Nothing. Strange, maybe its just taking a second to enjoy the moment as humans sometimes do when looking at a nice meal. A minute passed by, still nothing, truly strange. Suddenly, I felt the paralysis wear off. Confused, I lifted my arms at it beckoning the end letting it know I couldn't escape if I wanted and then it flinched...
"Huh? Di- did it flinch?" I exclaimed in my mind. "How could I make it flinch?" The 5 meter tall perfected death machine flinched at the raised arms of a day old child? Flummoxed would be a good word to describe my current state.
"what's going on?"
Chapter 3: Did you say mate?
Name:The hivemind is conquering for me? Author:Ben_Cresswell
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Frozen. Freethinker variant #1700354 could no longer move, no it was no longer a free thinker. The true hivemind herself had taken over its body not only was this body frozen in place, but every single body in the entire hive stopped. Casualties uncountable piling up from multiple warfronts, precious biomass burnt, hacked at, shot at and disintegrated.
But it didn't matter, the small weak unprotected prey-spawn in front of it was all it saw, all its instincts were screaming protect. A strange feeling the hive has never felt before washed over every body it owned simultaneously. A psionic attack? No what attack could make its instinct-no emotion? Go this haywire.
Still staring at the prey-spawn, NO! This isn't prey anymore this is something else, but what? It was also staring at the current body in a way I couldn't quite understand. This 'emotion' This one has never seen on the prey's warrior caste before. Anger, fear, desperation all understandable from pray but this? its mouth curled upwards.
the current body tried to replicate alas it had no flesh over its teeth like the small-spawn.
Seconds past by that felt like eternity watching this small-spawn that brought a calm to the hive the hunger, the drive for domination ceased. Calm. A few seconds turned into a minute and then it realised this current body one of its guard brood still has its paralytic gaze mutation active.
!!!!
What if it hurt little-spawn! Quickly forcing the body's gene suppressants to deactivate its effects its eyes ones again go full focus on its most important thing. The little-spawns mouth goes flat and raises its arms up.
Although still in control of the body, a chemical reaction happened in every other body across vast space as the hivemind shouted psionically "RAISE YOUR SCYTHES WHAT IF IT GETS INJURED!!!" Every single variant of itself that had them flinched their upper limbs up at the command still stunned from what they are all seeing.
After the command, a few seconds go by until the hive hears the most beautiful noise it had ever heard
"What's going on?"
*Pffft*
Every single body the hivemind was made of ,excluding male drones, let off huge clouds of mating pheromones. Humans already stunned by the paralysis redoubled their efforts on war fronts thinking a new bioweapon was being released and purged the bugs even harder than before.
Inconsequential. It heard its future mate! Never had the hivemind thought possible it would have a mate. Even the males produce eggs asexually after enough biomass consumption the females were elite warrior caste and psionic caste. No need for another and yet hear it was. This one being on the preys outer rim barely at its door stood natures gift to it.
Before it could stare more at the little-spawn-mate it heard more.
"Why has it sprayed that wonderful smell? Huh my old mother must be right I'm a real treat haha! Come on then bug beauty, gobble me up"
!!!
The mate didn't use mouth flaps to utter that it must have a psionic gift! That means we can communicate. The hive once again let out a new pheromone... It was glee it made the air taste like salted popcorn.
But its so small it couldn't take my psionic strength as is. The hive pondered a moment.
VARIENT FREETHINKER KEEP PSIONIC LINK OPEN WE CANNOT SPEAK TO THE FUTURE MATE AS IS. YOU MUST USE OWN PSIONIC GIFT TO COMMUNICATE.
MAKE GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION DANCE AFTER GREETING. MUST REFOCUS MANY BIOMASS LOST.
With the 'queen brain' now out of its body, but still observing through the open link, freethinker variant #1700354 immediately got to courtship.
"Greetings small-spawn"
"Huh" I thought "Who said that?" Starting to left and right of the killing machine Infront of me I started wondering who would be stupid enough to get close enough to it and speak?
"Now that we are connected psionically I can feel your fear and disorientation please be at ease our one, this one means no harm"
I suddenly grasped the situation the chitin covered creature in front of me was speaking into my mind. I could tell it was my mind because as it said those words to me incomprehensible clicks and chatters were coming out of its mouth " Are-are you? how are you speaking to my mind are you a telepath? more importantly why aren't you eating me already? You clearly look like you eat little babies?"
"Ea-eat you!
I would never little-mate-spawn" The freethinker stammered releasing a musky pheromone of fear unconsciously "As to your other question we heard you reach out with your own psionic gift otherwise we wouldn't be able to communicate little spawn as psionic communication relays intent not words." I understood we weren't communicating with words so to speak more like relaying intent through our mutual gifts.
speaking of
"So I have a psionic gift? is it a rare thing?" Despite being calm in this truly bizarre situation I had only been on this planet hours at most I may be smart but not omnipotent and don't have the cheat-sheet to this new world so information digging I must go
"It depends little spawn to your prey species we have encountered very few as we have recently arrived at this star map a decade or so but they do seem rare. as of the hive, all have a link to the psionic mind but only elites such as my gene caste and other more adapted psionic users can relay orders and use it for attacks." S~eaʀᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
I pondered this information for a moment so I'm something of a rarity? if the being In front of me has relayed true intent and wont eat me maybe I'm of some use "So … what happens now if I'm not food? Not exactly a safe space for a baby, a bin in a warzone? Are you taking me with you? A hostage maybe?
As you said psionic users are rare in my species, you could use that in some way?" hopefully with that it will allow me to continue what I thought was my already ended existence
!!!
"Mate is in danger? No need to worry the swarm will finish our attack and once the enemy warriors are vanquished, we shall retreat to nest world where mate can be safe whilst the rest of swarm will turn current planet into forward nest world for future assaults"
"Oh ok-" I paused the word has come up a few times now and had not clocked on until now
"Did you say mate?"
Chapter 4:
Name:The hivemind is conquering for me? Author:Ben_Cresswell
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"Did you say mate?"
I asked in sheer confusion. Why does this thing want to mate with me? Did the fact we are different species and the fact I'm literally less than a day old in this current body occur to the creature I was about to follow up my previous outburst with another when all of a sudden the the creature emitted a high pitched screech followed with.
"Forgive this one little spawn! I have yet to display any courtship ritual yet. I encourage you, watch my dance." So I did, I watched as this alien apex predator took a step back, hunched down a touch and proceeded to shake its lower body back and forth profusely whilst its neck extended and un extended rapidly.
Now whilst this performance may have made any would be bug species other than itself in the area aroused. To me, it was just plain bizarre.
Whilst this 'buggy lap dance' continued I suddenly had a jolt go thorough my brain as to the reason for this strange event to even concur. 'It has to be my boon!' I thought ,not using my psionic link with the dancing bug, no way would such a strange turn of events happen it should have called me mate as maybe it doesn't understand the concept of love?
So its displaying mating instincts towards what should be a little snack.
"What luck" i once again thought. Though good or bad? That truly is the question. Turning my focus back to the lower body now jutted in my face up and down, up and down I decided now would be a good time to get out of here
"Ex- excuse me, while I enjoyed your dance ,truly I did, I would really like to get out of this bin, can you help" As I said those words, the bug turned around and instantly put its massive head right up against my face. "Does this mean you accept this ones courtship dance?" Blood chilling in my body at the speed in which it went from dancing to an inch from my face.
"As much you would want me to say yes" I started. "This isn't how my species does 'courting' there is a what we call 'getting to know you period first and secondly, I'm only a day old my species doesn't reach 'mating readiness' till 16 years-"
I paused. I could feel the 'emotions' of the being Infront of me all of a sudden although it may not have currently understood them i could as the details of the second half of my boon came into my head 'pragma, eros, mania.' longstanding, sexual and obsessive love.
This being even if I said no would not care it would still take me away and care for me and probably imprison me somewhere waiting till it can forcefully mate with me. so I continued.
"However, if you can wait on mating until then, ill accept your courtship ritual." I finished awaiting a response.
Freethinker variant #1700354 stood silent for a moment it succeeded? This was its first dance and its mate accepted. Another gleeful pheromone released into the air and could feel the rest of the hive feel similar through the suppressed connection. Especially the queen.
"This is most acceptable mate-spawn now lets get you out of there- "Wait!" I exclaimed "Your scythes, you cant exactly picked me up." I said worrying some accident may occur in its excitement "Not to worry mate-spawn, this one called silk drones over they shall make a pouch for you on this ones thorax." As it said this 2 bugs about the same size as myself crawled up its body.
Compared to the 5 meter killer, these 2 were nothing to talk about their appearance was very similar to ants but with no discernible head just a small set of mandibles. " These drones purpose is primarily making inside of nest spires safe for eggs but also scavenge up little bits of biomass left behind by main swarm in battle. They shall make you comfy."
As it said this one drone jumped from her thorax down next to me and started spitting up some gossamer onto my body. It was surprising dry and not that sticky I already could tell by this point that everything these bugs from now on there was zero chance that they would intentionally hurt me, so I just let it do its thing. Sёarᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Once done with me, I was essentially swaddled and pulled from the bin by the other and stuck into a makeshift papoose onto the giant bugs thorax.
"Surprisingly comfortable." I relayed to it. "Thank you."
"This one needs no need no thanks, nor do these drones the hive will do all its able for you mate-spawn" Now out of my bin bunker the predator-cum-buggy bus left the alley and what I saw was quite the sight death death everywhere dead bugs dead humans blood ichor an other bodily fluids covered the street. I took a few moments to compose myself.
Maybe all the games in my past life desensitised me a bit but I could accept that this kind of thing happens in war as ugly as it was. 'Though the smell...Ugh.'
My new transport must have felt my emotions though our link and tried to reassured me in its own way "Do not worry little-mate-spawn all the biomass you see before you will be repurposed as food and new warriors nothing will be wasted." It seemed proud of its self as it said this.
"Yea, as great as that is, can we get away the smell is a bit nauseating to me."
"Of course"
As it turned in the other direction of the fighting that was going on a little in the distance, more questions came to me that needed answering.
"So, you say you are part of a hivemind? you don't seem very 'hivemindy' to me." I asked.
"Yes this one is but one limb of the great hive. However, this one is a freethinker variant we are designed to help the queen brain with commanding drones and giving orders therefore are given autonomy. we are still connected to the queen and she can take over us as pleases as we are still her." it said.
"So what does this queen of yours think about one of its 'limbs' wanting to mate with an alien?" I asked confused by the fact that if this creature was a basically someone else how would be given free reign to court me.
"I don't understand mate spawn? You already agreed to our courtship, nest world is already making preparations for you to come be with us." The freethinker stopped, cocking its head confused by the question.
I looked up in astonishment and thought to myself. 'Did my boon effect the whole hive?'
Chapter 5: Orchid
Name:The hivemind is conquering for me? Author:Ben_Cresswell
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It took a few minutes for me to process the fact I had essentially become the 'mate' of an entire species. which at the same time is also a single being at the same time. when I first came to understand my boon I thought it would be absolutely useless. The way it may have gone is some nurse may have fallen in love with me at birth and kidnapped me from the ward to raise as her future lover.
pretty twisted. But my life givers decided to keep me hidden in order not to get reprimanded by their bosses. in a way this boon has given me a very powerful gift. not only am I not going to need child services, I now have an entire species madly in love with me and would likely be able to provide vast amounts of resources to me for whatever I need.
So much has happened in such a short time, so many thoughts about the future, so many possibilities. would the hivemind expect me to help in its assaults on human and goodness know what other alien species' planets? would I just be expected to spend all my time with it, never leaving its nest again? its clearly a spacefaring race would I be able to explore new planets? see new things?
The prospect of this new world I was sent to, no this new universe. so many questions needed answering.
As if peering into my head through the open psionic link my current mode of transport relayed to me " Mate-spawn your mind energy is polluted with thoughts. Is there anything you wish to ask this one? This one shall do its all in answering." I paused a moment in surprise by the voice, forgetting about the link.
" Sorry I'm a worry thinker and not used to having other beings in my head humans don't have this capability." I relayed before continuing " I recall you mentioning earlier that you are a 'freethinker variant'? Is that your name and do all freethinkers look like you?"
" My designation in freethinker variant #1700354. The hive does not require names as we are linked therefore all know each other. And no, not all freethinkers appear similar. This ones gene-caste was made with an altered eye mutation which petrifies prey. This one is also a swarm commander therefore was made with a body flawlessly designed to kill up close"
"I see that does make sense, but can I request that I give you a name? Humans connect better with other if you know each others name and you did say you have autonomy from the rest of the hive which at times makes you an individual." After I asked it this question I felt our psionic link break and the freethinker stopped in its tracks again. 'Huh? Did it not like the idea?'
After 5 minutes of standing still in the rubble, of what was but a day ago a defence force bunker, my link with the freethinker reconnected and it started moving again.
"Forgive the pause mate-spawn, the queen had entered this ones psionic link fully and with your current strength you would not be able to bear it and we would never wish harm to you." I noticed a slight change in the way it spoke it sang more freely with a husky allure. "The hive-queen has decided to grant this one the same freedoms as a bio-cult infiltrator would receive as a bonding gift to you.
This means this one Is now as fully independent from the Psion link as much as our species can be." "as this one is now truly an individual and don't just have autonomy this one would be most honoured to accept host bonding ritual of name giving."
I thought hard for a moment I wasn't expecting the hive to essentially give up control of one of its limbs just so I could connect better with it. 'Love must truly be a powerful tool'. 'Now to think of a name.... What do I know about this creature I'm currently attached to? I know 'it' is a she. its 5 meters so I could call her Giganta?
No that's a bit uninspired I mused. What else she's mostly white albedo maybe?' No again pretty basic I looked around at what a could see from her. Sёarᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Not but but her scythes did remind me of a very beautiful insect back from my old world and although she lacks the pink and has tan accents instead this apex predator looks like if an orchid mantis was dropped into a vat of super evolution and she was what came out.'
"If you dislike the name I give you, you can always say no and I will think of something else, but I was thinking about 'Orchid'. What do you think?"
"Orchid cherishes her new name mate-spawn. Orchid wishes to ask mate-spawn a question" "Sure, but can you stop with the 'mate spawn' its a little creepy to me." I replied.
"Forgive Orchid mate-spawn Orchid does not wish to make you uncomfortable. But that can be changed with my question. What name does mate take? Orchid and the rest of the hive wish to know this."
"Oh, totally slipped my mind sorry my name is-" Totally slipped my mind was incorrect, I cant remember my name at all. In fact now that I think about it, I don't even think I knew my name when I was with the blue lamp? How could I forget my own name? Is it a side affect of dying? Panic started to take hold of me but before it could take root Orchid called out to me. "Mate-spawn what is wrong?
Do you not wish to tell Orchid?"
I composed myself after a few seconds the panic fading. Who cares about my old name this is my new life, a new name is just what I need of. Thinking of an eloquent response a few more seconds later I responded "No I would tell you its just that well, in human society the parents usually name their chi-spawn, but my parents abandoned me in that bin without giving me a name.
Heh perhaps as my bonding gift to you, you can give me a name?"
Orchid stopped again, she seemed to do this a lot when confused.
"You want Orchid to choose your name mate spawn?"
Chapter 6: Feeding time
Name:The hivemind is conquering for me? Author:Ben_Cresswell
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Orchid was panicking. She had no idea how to come up with a name? The fact her mate spawn chose her name so effortlessly must make him a genius! 'Truly worthy to be our mate.'
"Forgive me mate-spawn, Orchid does not know how to create names for you. The entire concept is brand new to Orchid and she wishes not to choose a name mate-spawn will dislike."
I smiled understandingly " Its ok, take your time. I'm sure there's some time to spare before we arrive at wherever you are taking me right now. Speaking of, where are we going?" We had been walking for a while now and are out the outskirts of the small city. From the looks of it the city seemed newly made.
No more than 5-10 years ,well before the hive tore most of it down in its assault, it was small as cities goes more a giant basecamp.
"Orchid is taking mate-spawn out into this worlds frontier, away from preys air defences so a void swimmer can take us back to home space. Only few cities like this one exist on this dwarf planet. We chose to attack this planet for its gasses underground we concluded the prey chose to settle this world for the same reason."
After the brief explanation on our destination, I continued to ask Orchid a variety of questions such as where is there home planet, about how their gene caste system works, details about the myriad of species that they are etc etc. I was starting to feel comfortable around Orchid, I could tell that despite what there outwards appearance may say, the elite of their species was very intelligent.
Which brought to to one of my final questions about the hive for now.
"Tell me Orchid, your hives upper elite are technically speaking sapient. Do you not feel conflicted eating other sapient life?" This question was a serious one. Most of the time when you hear about man eating creatures in science fiction they are usually portrayed as 'evil' and as such I want to hear the hive justification on its dietary behaviour.
Orchid stopped, again, before pondered the question I had. "The hive is one predator mate-spawn. We hunt and consume flesh, plants and all other forms of biomass not out of emotional reasons, as we have observed many from your species do mate-spawn, but out of sheer instinct and necessity otherwise we cant grow and evolve into our truest form."
I took in this information for a second perhaps as a human my bias was at first conflicted by the thought of Orchid and the rest of the hive consuming humans but from there perspective it sort of made sense right? You don't blame a lions instinct if they kill a human, you may be sad that it happened, someone may even kill it in retaliation but from its point of view it was attacking prey.
Nature taking course.
"Your right Orchid, I'm sorry I did not consider the equation from the hives perspective I'm only human after all making mistakes is part of our Nature."
"You need not ever apologies mate-spawn, Orchid and the rest of the hive will never tire of your inquiries about ourself." I was about to thank her when.
*grglglgl*
My stomach grumbled. Now that I think about it, I was only fed once by my mother and that was over 6 hours ago. "Orchid, I need food." I relayed. "No worries mate-spawn. Will regurgitated biomass be sufficient?
I have plenty in my stomachs." Shuddering at the thought of 'who' that biomass was once, I slightly joked "Now don't get me wrong, I like human soup as much as the next guy, but I'm an infant human ,which are mammals, and I require milk as its all my current digestive system can handle."
*swoosh*
In a blur, to the left of my head Orchids scythe had just pierced her chitin-plate exoskeleton and into her flesh underneath ripping out a huge chunk of blue ichor covered flesh from underneath. Before I can express my shock I heard.
"No need for worries mate-spawn, due to Orchids new freedoms given by the hivemind, Orchid is now allowed to make gene alterations on herself in stead of pre made alterations in a nest pod. Orchid shall use her reserve of biomass to gene-craft an exocrine gland which will provide mate-spawn with all the nutrition needed."
Orchid proceeded to extend her psionic link out to the hive for a moment before closing it once more and relayed to me "Another freethinker variant has consumed a female human-pray in the city and has processed the information of her exocrines structure which it called 'breast' I shall begin my gene alteration now.
Asking Orchid to turn my papoose sideways with the flat side of her other scythe so I could watch the process, I was mesmerised. The already clotted wound started morphing and transmuting like magic taking a new form. Alas it wasn't magic, as magic is just a word to describe science and other knowledge humans don't understand. Watching the process of the gland being created caused my eyes to shine.
'This, is art. If humans could alter there body's this way who knows what we could achieve. I decided then and there to learn all I can from my future 'mate; about this wonderful branch of science.
It took mere minutes for a 'functional' exocrine gland to form. The formed nipple was grey in colour and just jutting out of the hole in her thorax's chitin plate functional indeed but rather bizarre considering.
"That was incredible Orchid." I relayed to her. "Your ability to alter your genes in such a way was a sight to behold."
Orchid moved her scythe more angling me closer to her formed bud. "Orchid enjoys your praise mate-spawn, but you must feed. I implore you" She said, jutting her scythe back and forth in a nudging manner.
'Well here goes nothing.' I thought as I latched on. As the suckling the commenced, my subtle unease washed away. 'Not bad, tastes kind of like melted ice cream.' After having my fill, I unlatched and relayed to Orchid. "Very tasty Orchid, you have made yourself an excellent boob hehe."
*yaaawn*
"What a strange day, I feel sleepy. Wake me up when we get to where we are going." I said shutting my eyes. S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Orchid turning back around whispered through the link. "Thank you mate-spawn. Orchid enjoyed the feeling of nourishing you and is glad you enjoyed my taste." Orchid paused noticing the psionic between herself and her mate had closed off. Opening the main link with the hive as she walked she realised something.
For the first time ever, even with its numbers countless, the hive felt lonely.
Chapter 7: Apollo
Name:The hivemind is conquering for me? Author:Ben_Cresswell
+ - Turn on Reset
I woke up some time later to sounds of clicking and scuttling all around me. Opening my eyes, I discover the sun setting on the horizon a purple hue in the sky as dusk was setting in.
Trying to move I look down realising I was in a papoose made of a gossamer like substance I suddenly recalled. "Right I died." I sighed then looked up. Orchid was looking round making low screeches. I turned my head back to see what see was screeching at and what I saw made my jaw drop.
Bugs, bugs everywhere. Sёarch* The Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Thousands of them, some reaching the same height as Orchid, some looking like smaller copies of her. A variety of drones and warrior caste that Orchid mentioned to me earlier and others variants I had no clue all whirling round with such purpose, a hive at work all one, no mistake in any movement.
I went to activate my psionic power to establish a link with Orchid to ask her what is happening here. I wailed. "Waaaaaaaaaagh!" The connection instantly severing .The pain coursing through my head was the result of extreme sensory overload. The only reason I was conscious is the simple fact that I have a psionic shield ,albeit very weak, all psionic users have.
Plus the fact that I'm not seen as a hostile mind to the hive itself or I would have received more than just sensory pain, id be dead from a defensive countermeasure.
As i did scream, the once organised flood of bodies paused and snapped their necks towards now direction. Orchid instantly severed the connection to the rest of the hive and into mine.
"MATE-SPAWN!" She screeched letting of a bitter pheromone into the air indicating fear. Before she could continue her screeching, a tentacle pulled me out of my papoose and into the air.
Two other smaller tentacles latched onto my temples and a coolness rushed into my head, warding off the intense pain I felt a moment ago. Looking through my teary eyes, I saw a very peculiar member of the hive. It was 6 meters tall. It had no legs and hovered in place, just slightly off the ground. The trunk of its torso was thin with 2 clawed arms.
Its head was similar to Orchids however, it had no discernible mouth and the back of its head was bulbous and pulsing with psionic might. Flowing from its head like hair were a plethora of tentacles squirming independently from one another.
"Worry not now little-mate-spawn." A calm, soothing voice entered my mind. "This one has mended the damage to your mind shield that our amplified link caused." The creature started rubbing my cheek tenderly with its tentacles. "This pain we caused you hurts us greatly and we promise it shall never happen again."
Though healed and mildly enjoyed the caressing, my mind was still recovering a smidge so I just conveyed "t-thank you. Hungry."
"I understand. Our mate, this one shall return you to the Orchid. We shall converse more on the void swimmer." With one final caress, the being put me back into Orchids makeshift papoose before hovering back to its task the rest of the localised swarm doing the same.
Once back into the papoose, Orchid instantly span me around and had me feed again. After I had my fill at the melted ice cream machine, I was spun back around an carefully reconnected my psionic link with her. Before I had the chance to greet her I heard. "Are you ok Mate-spawn? Did the Psion agitator help you?
Orchid closed of her connection to the hive again after you wailed so you could reconnect to Orchid when you wanted to." I could tell by the emotions coming through the link that Orchid was truly worried about me. she felt almost grief stricken at the thought of causing me pain.
" I promise I'm fine whatever that...Hive body did it, washed away the pain from my head I just feel tired again despite waking up." After saying this, Orchid let out a low growl sound which I inferred as a sigh of relief.
"Now, what's going on here? Are we waiting for that void swimmer?" "Yes mate-spawn. You left your short torpor at a good time, the void swimmer has finally been able to find a breach in the preys air defence after we finished our attack on a few more of their concrete nests. The void swimmer shall be here shortly."
After a short wait, in which Orchid started to rub my cheek with the back of her scythes in an imitation of the Psion agitator, I felt a change in the air. I looked up to see a ship of behemoth of a ship. roughly a kilometre long and half that height wise. The ship was a brown fleshy colour with thick darker brown supports adorned all over the exterior at the front?
Of the ship 2 tendrils poked out like antenna. I looked over towards the being that helped me earlier their tentacles almost identical in shape to the ships only on a whole different scale. The ship came in contact with the ground with a controlled thud, no hydraulics or loud whooshing present from what you would expect from a ship of such size only the sound akin to breathing.
"What a spectacular sight, its majestic." I exclaimed. As someone who loved sci-fi things in my past life, to see a ship of such calibre left me elated and giddy.
"While smaller than the main hive ships by a large amount, the void swimmers were some of the first designed by the queen when we first left our nest world and since our goal is to take you back to nest world, a swimmer will be comfortable to you on our journey as it can store oxygen in its whole body instead of just in the torpor nests." Orchid gave a small speech and the information was shocking.
This whole ship is one living being!
It took about 10 minutes for all the drones and such to get onto the ship with the extra biomass they have accumulated though the main force still attacking the planet would have gathered this eventually. It was more efficient to take at least some back now and not waste all the extra space the ship would have if it was just me and Orchid on the ship.
As Orchid stomped into the ship, I could tell right away this ship definitely wasn't made with humans in mind. For a start the walls were constricting and relaxing in a rhythm. 'Yep clearly alive.' I shuddered. Second, holes going this way and that way all over the walls for drones to scuttle around easier while bigger pathways were left for bigger entities such as Orchid to travel through.
As Orchid was about to go deeper into the belly of the beast, literally, I asked "Is there a place we can watch us leaving orbit? I want to see the world as we leave."
Orchid changed her direction of movement "Of course mate-spawn there is some translucent tissue towards the ships tendrils you should be able to see out from there." After 5 minutes of walking Orchid arrived at the location said. What was there was a wall of pink translucent tissue enough to see out off but not as clear as a window. This would work.
"Thank you Orchid, no not just you, the whole hive." I said, Tears forming in my eyes. "What for mate-spawn?" Orchid tilted head in confusion at my emotional state. "Although its not the way I ever would have imagined it you have made one of my life long dreams come true. To step into the stars and see what is out there." Even more confused orchid tilted her head in the other direction.
"But mate-spawn I don't understand? You are only a day old, how would you have had these dreams?" I paused. crap! *sniff* "Don't mind me Orchid, just something weird your mate does time to time." I played off trying to distract her by mentioning 'your mate.' Which worked.
After saying that, this the ship finally started to rise from the planet. It took roughly a minute of flight before being able to see the whole planet from a fair distance away. It was a dwarf planet roughly 2000 km in total. Most of the planet was rocky and mountainous in terrain. The places where greenery was abundant, human cities, were created in those futuristic circular style.
Very little water was visible from space as most of it was underground or transported in from neighbouring worlds. It was almost peaceful. Almost. From a certain angle, you could see what looked like more Colossal hive ships surrounding the planet and smaller metallic ships evacuating under intense defensive fire.
Explosions on the planets surface were visible even from this distance indicating the defence is truly fighting to the end.
I let out a sigh, beautiful and horrific all at once. To distract myself I asked Orchid.
"So Orchid, have you had any luck with figuring out my name yet as I said I'm not the biggest enjoyer of mate spawn."
"Ah, yes! Orchid has chosen a name along with the rest of the hive when you were in torpor that we think would be perfect."
"Is that so? please let me hear it" I asked. "Yes as we take this world for you, we can never forget what it has given to us. Our greatest treasure, our future mate, you. As such we shall take the name your prey-species gave this world and immortalise it in you. Therefore, even when its resources become one with the hive.
The name of your home world shall always be with you.
"Apollo."
Chapter 8: Information and speculation
Name:The hivemind is conquering for me? Author:Ben_Cresswell
+ - Turn on Reset
Leondis-Spartari Ecumenopolis -Core world 7
In a war intelligence room, 12 people were sat at across from each other on a long conference table. Nervous energy permeated through out the room with occasional glances at seat 13 currently absent. The 12 present were all early of course, the man they were waiting for was not someone who you wish to grace with lateness.
*step step step*
sharp footsteps echoed closer to the conference room from the hall outside the room every individual proceeded to sit up straight and made last second adjustments to their already immaculate black and red military suits. As the door opened everyone stood and bowed "A thousand victories to you my king." the 12 voices choired in unison.
The man ignored the serenade and with strong steady steps made his way to his chair.
the king was a handsome man in what appeared to be his mid 50's with a grizzled face, moulded by a lifetime of war and military service. A slight frown lingers perpetually on his face, although somewhat ordinary in appearance he comes across rather striking due to his sharp, sword like eyebrows and thin lips. with his posture oozing authority, he uttered in a deep gruff voice "speak".
the woman to his right took a deep breath then started "yes sir, about one week ago the evil scourged known as the swarm attacked 27 outer rim planets under spartari control. while we would not usually ask you to come back from the Drakoshi front for such trivial reasons your grace, however the scourge has proceeded to act in a way which has yet to be documented in the last 10 years."
the King's eyebrow arched up "give me what information you have" he demanded. the king was handed a data pad with hundreds of different reports from the planets in question. he skimmed through the reports his frown growing through confusion "they stopped?" the king looked at those present "what do you mean they stopped?"
"we-we aren't sure your grace" a hulk of a man interjected "on all planets at the exact same time 3:52 pm core world 1 time.
every single drone, warrior and even elites such as basilisks and brain bursters just came to a complete halt for 5 minutes." 'hmmm' the king pondered a moment 'there must be a logical explanation for this' the king looked back down at his pad ignoring the others present a short pause grasped to room before he questioned ."this gas it released just before they regained movement, harmful?
" no your grace no casualties in those who were effected by the gas however quarantines have been put in place onto those who were exposed in case the substance was a bio-weapon in nature" the woman from earlier retorted
"what about in other sectors we can observe any news from the coalition?" "yes your grace" a blue humanoid said from the far end of the table "our spies in the traitorous coalition have reported similar events occurring no other information at this time." the king looked at the blue alien 'ugh what was king Lysander thinking passing the bill allowing the filthy xenos permission to join our mighty military.
if I can find a way to assassinate the civil king Dickon and replace him with a puppet I could flip the bill and remove the filth before it festers.' shoving his racist thoughts to the back of his mind till later the king continued.
"so its happening in the unliberated squalor systems also? A shame if was was just in our planets it could've meant we had a potential resource that causes the swarm to freeze up." "do we have any theories so far? sometimes speculation can pave way to results"
two members of staff in white uniform looked at each other before one spoke in a rather weaselly voice " some speculation at Rnd my king is that perhaps one of our enemies have made a psionic weapon which targets the swarms capability to relay orders, but such a weapon to us is theoretically impossible so has been ruled out."
the king nodded his head 'impossible indeed psionic weaponry is very difficult to make and one with such strength is unfathomable' the king himself only had a few war gears that are psionically capable in nature, none as powerful to the extent the researcher speculated about.
interrupting the kings thoughts the second members female robotic voice rang out " as we know from autopsies and testing, the scourge is a hivemind species I believe perhaps that the swarms main brain became occupied by something that required its full attention. my guess? a powerful enemy forced its hand and it momentarily gave up its control over the lesser bugs in order to deal with it."
a heavy silence descended upon the intelligence room the prospect of a being which forces a being who can 'mind control' trillions of bodies at once was a grim thought.
" an amusing speculation techno mechanic" the king let out a small smirk " but a speculation none the less" "we know that wherever the swarm calls 'home' is at least 50 years traveling time away with our current FTL technology so even if there is another hostile threat its will be nowhere near us, if there even is a threat which I doubt very much." "with that said though start sending double the amount of troops to the northern outer rim to deter more attacks.
new behaviour in our enemy should always call for overcaution rather than under caution. that shall be all." "now that I'm back in the Ecumenopolis I have to go meet with king Dickon. for pointless political meeting for a few days." the king said exasperated while standing up "a thousand victories all.". the other 12 in the room standing followed suit " a thousand victories to you King Sigismund."
…
On the void swimmer Orchid and I were staring out through the same translucent tissue I was a week ago for outside of the ship was a sight so beautiful even after a week I have yet to tire from it. outside of the ship was a cacophony of vision. lights flashing and fading, reality distorting. colours which I cant even name ever changing.
psionic power hitting the ship with sheer force I can feel it in on my mental defences. I found it majestic beyond words.
according to Orchid the hives method of traveling faster than light is completely different from any other know species it has come across. from the detailed explanations I have received the dumbed down version I got is. Due the Psionic might of the hive, the hive can feel special tendrils of pure psionic energy that run throughout the universe as branches.
the tentacles that are found on the hives ships act as a sort of psionic key allowing the hive to use these branches and in essence become a part of the universal psionic energy. the speed at which you travel through the tendrils of energy makes the speed of light look like a slug.
from what i understand it would take humans with their current FTL technology approximately 128 years to get from apollo minor to the home world of the hive and it takes the hive on the tendrils 2 weeks! the only downside of this travel is the hive cant manipulate the tendrils so sometimes the branches might let scouting forces out in the middle of dead space with nothing for it to consume. seaʀᴄh thё Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
however, the more a single branch is used the bigger it gets allowing a hive invasion to get closer and closer to its goal the more it uses that branch.
" Apollo-mate, the last thing Orchid wishes to do is deprive you of the joy you are emanating through our link but I have been relayed by the psionic agitator that she has exited torpor early and wishes to check on your mind for any lingering damage from last weeks incident." Orchid relayed this to me while stroking my face with a stump.
according to her she cut of her left scythe in an attempt not to hurt me whilst caressing me. she also said when we get back to nest world she will do a major gene-splice augmentation which bio infiltrators go through in order to care for me better.
"its not a problem dear Orchid, although I enjoy watching the pretty lights I am more than happy doing other things." I said noticing once again the funny squeaks Orchid makes when I use words of endearment. I noticed this on the second day of our journey I threw it out as a whim during one of our conversations and it made her do what I now call 'classic Orchid pauses' followed by said squeak.
its funny to me how much i enjoy teasing this 5 meter tall death machine.
"Orchid is happy you are happy" she commented bubbly through the link, letting of sweet pheromones simultaneously. "how long does the agitator want me for? although I have nothing against it her, all those tentacles make me feel like I'm in a Japanese animation and I'm not about all that"
"Orchid doesn't understand what some of those words mean Apollo-mate but Orchid can feel your intent do not worry while you are with the agitator Orchid shall remain with you
I sighed with a smidge of relief. although I knew the psionic agitator would do nothing to me which would cause me scream out 'YAMETE', having Orchid there would keep me calm and composed.
Chapter 9: Mindspace
Name:The hivemind is conquering for me? Author:Ben_Cresswell
+ - Turn on Reset
5 minutes of Orchid ferrying me through the void swimmer later, we passed through a 'door' threshold. The moment we did, I felt a gentle force wash over me which lifted me into the air. 'No tentacles this time fortunately.' For a moment before the notion was squashed as a large tentacle reached out for me in mid air before pulling me closer to its wielder.
"This one is sorry little Apollo-mate. This one is aware your discomfort towards my tendrils" The agitator claimed, its voice as soothing as the first time I heard it. "Its not discomfort per se, its more an irrational distaste. Please don't feel bad or anything, with prolonged exposure I'll get comfortable with them." I said hoping to make the being happier. It is also considered my mate after all...
"This one is glad to hear you say this, as the next week of travel Apollo-mate shall spend his time with this one." The psionic agitator relayed its voice traced with a tinge of excitement.
"All week?" I asked puzzled. "Is that how long it takes to check my mind for possible damage?" S~eaʀᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
"This one assessed your mind the moment you were in this ones embrace Apollo-mate. The next week we shall be strengthening your mental defence so you can be in the presence of the queen-brain and testing which aptitudes you have in psionic manipulation so we may better guide you in the future our mate."
"I understand the first part, Orchid has had to cut her psionic link with me a few times in order for the queen to relay orders to her without affecting me. But what are these aptitudes you mentioned?" I asked excitedly I had thought my ability in psionics were purely telepathic in nature so thinking that I could have other types of powers I have only dreamed of enticed me greatly.
"This one shall explain. Psionic manipulation is more than just telepathy through Psionic links. the hive uses this ability to extreme flawlessness compared to other races who if not trusting of each other their minds will rupture attempting to link even more than 2. However, there are other abilities the hive and certain elites can wield such as This one.
"This one was created with mutation in its telepathic ability allowing for a new psionic power, telekinesis. The hive brain herself through devouring so much biomass has developed almost all forms of psionic powers therefore is able to tell through some tests which powers you may or may not have."
I furrowed my brows. 'That's quite the explanation.' "How do these tests work? They aren't invasive in any way are they?" "No need to fret Apollo-mate, the tests will be done whilst you are asleep this one needs to enter your mind and find your Psionic origin, the source of your power. And you being awake may cause your defences to flair up and as we said we never wish to cause you harm."
I thought for a moment of course they wouldn't wouldn't hurt me but the idea of something 'digging' in my mind left me uneasy. However, the idea of knowing which abilities I have far out weigh my concerns so I stated "You have my complete trust o' future mate, but before you set me off to sleep can you place me back in my Orchid pouch?
I feel at ease there." A grggling sound came from who knows where out of the agitator in front of me before it relayed with a twinge of glee. "Of course Apollo mate." She started moving me back to Orchid " Your comfort and happiness means more to us than anything in this universe and we are truly glad you trust us so."
Once strapped back into my mobile cot, Orchid made me feed as she wasn't sure how long this would take. Usually the hive instantly knows any mutation in its 'limbs' as they are all connected, but it could take a while with me considering they are going to take extra care with me. After having my fill I naturally felt drowsy and fell asleep peacefully.
Once asleep, Orchid re-established her link with the hive and relayed to the agitator. "He would name you if you asked you know? Although we could feel mate-spawns trepidations about us at first he clearly cares for us now." "This one is aware designation Orchid, but the hive fears him giving names to us with stronger psionic might.
The queen brain thinks it may damper our abilities as although we have autonomy like you freethinkers most of our might comes straight from the collective whole and giving us an individual name may suppress our link. We may all care deeply for Apollo, but not all of us are to be with him in his future we are content just seeing him through the link." The agitator paused, caressing my sleeping face.
"Just knowing this one has been able to caress future mate and be of help to him is more than enough. Besides, the queen made it clear no more names till she has received her name gift."
Orchid looked up at the floating kin in front of her she wasn't aware of some of the things the agitator had said to her which left her scared.
Although now almost fully autonomas thanks to her new freedoms of bio-infiltrator class, she was still ultimately made to be a freethinker and although yes the freethinkers still had autonomy, they always had an understanding of what the hive at large was thinking, doing ,attacking and devouring but now she actively had to access her link and although she didn't realise it at first due to always being with Apollo, she now realised how lonely and isolated from the rest of the hive she felt.
"DESIGNATION ORCHID" The queen herself feeling Orchids worry entered the link personally. "WHAT YOU ARE FEELING IS UNDERSTANDABLE, I NEVER MADE YOU FOR THIS PURPOSE, BUT THE FREEDOMS I GAVE YOU WAS FOR A REASON MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU WERE DESIGNED TO DO. OUR FUTURE MATE IS BONDED TO YOU NOW I CAN FEEL IT EVERY TIME I WATCH YOUR PSIONIC LINK FROM THE OUTSIDE.
YOU MAY FEEL ALONE NOW BUT KNOW YOUR NEW FUNTION IS ONE THING. TO CARE FOR OUR MATE IN A WAY THE COLLECTIVE HIVE CANNOT. ALTHOUGH NOW ISOLATED YOU ARE STILL US NEVER FORGET."
With that the queen left Orchid to ponder for a moment. A newfound pride filled her thorax. The queen was right. Although isolated, what she received in turn was a gift. In the whole hive, the one Mate-spawn Apollo felt closest to was her! The entire time on the ship, although incapable to move on his own currently, Apollo only wished to be with her.
Stopping her unconscious stroking of Apollos face with her stump she re-linked with the agitator and said. "Apologies for delay agitator, please find our mates gifts there must be plenty just observe how perfect he is." "Yes he is indeed perfect. You should enter torpor for a while designation Orchid, you have yet to do so since Apollo-minor.
Mate should be asleep at least 12 hours and this one can provide nutrients directly to his brain while I search for the origin."
"Orchid shall listen to your advice agitator" With that, Orchid hunched down a bit now only 3 meters tall instead of her usual 5. Her pitch black eyes still open but her mind now entering a state of rest. iIt was needed more than she thought. Her care for her mate the only thing allowing her to still perform at peak.
With Orchid now resting the agitator got to work. Although not physically entering her hosts brain, a psionic users mind is usually paradoxically larger its body therefore takes a while to navigate the whole thing . The queen for examples mind is theoretically as large as her furthest 'limb.' Truly gigantic; on par with gods if they exist.
The psionic might she radiates is enough to destroy any threat that even gets close to her planets solar system. Not that Apollo is anywhere close to that.
The first thing the agitator did was 'massage' Apollos mind defences into allowing her access. It helped that they have had psionic communication before and the defences didn't consider her a threat it didn't take long for her to make a way in and once she was in, she was rather shocked apollos mind was much bigger than any humans she has seen before.
Her main function on a battlefield was to attack other psionically gifted users minds and in a very crude definition, 'Burst' Their minds open so she has definitely seen her fair share of how human minds should look like.
As she was probing gently through her mates mind, she grew confused from time to time a lot of her mates mind was blocked off from her in a way the hive has never seen before. Out of respect for her mate and self preservation, as those that were blocked off seemed more defended than his own Mindspace barrier, she ignored them.
After a few hours of probing her mates mind, she found what she was looking for and it made her stop.
It made the whole hive stop. For the second time a week after the first. The entire hivemind let out another huge cloud of mating pheromones.
What the psionic agitator had seen had put every single female body the hive possessed into a heat like state.
Chapter 10: Power
Name:The hivemind is conquering for me? Author:Ben_Cresswell
+ - Turn on Reset
Opening my eyes groggily, I looked around the room with mild confusion "ugh why do I feel like I'm hungover after an all night bender?" I thought aloud to no one in particular however a reply came anyway " Apologies Apollo-mate Orchid has been informed that the mild pain you are feeling is a species wide effect your species goes through if their mind defences are breached.
there wont be any side effects as nothing was attacked but you may feel some discomfort throughout the day.
"a small price to pay considering I get to learn about my powers. speaking of did the agitator find anything?" I questioned looking around for her. "where is she by the way?" Orchid turned her body around and what was unveiled made me gasp. The psionic agitator was no longer hovering in the air just above the ground. But instead was sprawled out on the ground staring deeply at me.
"what- what happened" I stammered out "is the agitator ok? did something go wrong in my mind?"
"Be calm Apollo-mate. The agitator is fine she is just being suppressed by the hive the whole ship is actually." Orchid relayed to me in a calming tone. "but why? and why isn't the hive suppressing you?" "Orchid is not sure Apollo-mate when she fell Orchid was still in torpor and the link to the hive was fully closed.
when the agitator did fall I got up to aid her but the queen told Orchid not to get close or establish link or Orchid would too be suppressed. apparently whatever the agitator saw sent the hive into heat again like the first time Orchid lay eyes on little-mate-spawn."
My mind racing at the prospect. What could possibly be in my mind that would cause the hive into another frenzy? the first time it saw my rugged good baby looks and that set it off haha no it was just the affect of my boon causing reactions in the hive but this time? I truly had no idea what could cause such a phenomenon.
"well, no point speculating" I relayed to Orchid "lets just wait till the agitator gains control again and ask her. in the meantime how about we play a game. "oh which one does Apollo-mate wish to play this time?" I thought a second before saying "I spy with my little eye, something beginning with..."
about 2 hours passed by with me and Orchid just passing the time goofing off ,her own personality has been starting to take form rather well. The agitator started stirring Orchid seeing this crouched low with her scythe out in defence of me just in case.
"worry not designation Orchid, This one is in control of itself once more. The desire to mate with Apollo hit harder this time as we knew what it was and did not catch us by surprise. we are truly sorry Apollo-mate we shall begin working to shallow the feeling we get so we can still function in that state."
"there is no need for apology as nothing happened to me. That being said what caused you to enter into that state." I inquired. a faint sweet pheromone came of the agitator again as she remembered what she saw before composing itself "This one told you earlier that the hive through consumption Of creatures myriad, it has gained almost all forms of Psionic power.
therefore it is able to also determine what powers another being can use this is why This once went into your Mindspace to discover your ability, and what we found only further proved that you are our mate. Apollo-mate has the purest form of Psychokinesis almost tapping into Omni kinesis. Apollo-mate has the potential to wield all manner of Psionic power with enough training."
dumbfounded! I wasn't supposed to be so lucky I was given 1 random boon and a random life if I thought my boon was pretty low on the luck totem pole and even then by sheer luck I affected the hive. But the body I was reincarnated into must have won the lottery! it also made sense now why the hive acted in the was it did. What is the thing that any conquering species needs more than anything? POWER!
the hive may be unfathomably powerful as is but the more powerful it gets the easier its hunts become less biomass lost for biomass gained. if I wasn't its mate and the boon did not work on it and if it did eat me in that bin, I would have given it a hearty boon to aid in their domination.
but I wouldn't let myself get washed away in self gratification, this is a gift beyond gifts and only a fool would not take advantage of the resources I have available to train it and I'm no fool.
"Right then, I guess we should start training my mind defences in order for me to see the queen right? how does one go about doing that? please don't tell me its in silent meditation for years on end for the most minimal amount of progress" I groaned out. I would still do that if it was the only option but id rather enjoy myself and my powers.
rather than sit in a cave for decades on end and call it a life. cultivation man...
"While that is one inefficient way you could do so apollo-mate the queen would get rather restless waiting what this one suggests is much more simplistic. This one would attack your mental defences with a small amount of my psionic might like this one did earlier only this time instead of 'massaging' my way through this one will attempt to crack it open.
at first you would not be able to defend but as this one continue to repair and strengthen your defences you will start to be able to actively reinforce it through reflex."
This left me to ponder a moment the amount of trust needed for this exercise would be astronomical in proportions one wrong slip, one negative emotion while the mental barrier is down would destroy a persons mind. Do I trust the hive enough to allow this training to commence?
Of course I do even if they weren't in love with me the fact that the psionic agitator has already been into my mind for an extended period of time and nothing bad happened, except for a hangover like feeling which has already passed, and like I said only a fool would not take advantage.
"Will it be strong enough to be able to converse with the queen next week?" "that depends Apollo-mate on how much you are willing to push yourself. but in theory, yes a light conversation with the queen with feel like how it is speaking to This one that minor strain on the back of your head.
while strengthening your defence will remove that feeling whist speaking to This one" The agitator replied patiently "let this one know when you are ready to begin. Designation Orchid stop stroking Apollo-mate it will distract him when he is able to defend." Orchid did a classic pause not realising her unconscious action.
letting out a small chuckle at her action before steeling my mind for what is to come. "ready"
"As you wish Apollo-mate if the pain becomes too much let this one know it is better to take it slow than causing trauma." with that warning the agitator let out small amounts of its psionic power. once it hit my barrier it made me suck in air.
"tsk." The pain was prickly like hot oil spurting on you from a pan only constantly and all over. Unable to take the damage for long my mental barrier started to crack all over. I was powerless to do anything I could only feel my barrier getting weaker and weaker totally at the mercy of the telepathic assault. Before the barrier could hit the shatter point, the pain subsided along with the attack. seaʀᴄh thё Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
"Very impressive mate spawn 10 seconds even with that amount of psionic power a standard Quenicar preys mind would have been destroyed in that time. Let me fix the damage and we shall go again." Not bothering to ask what the duck a Quenicar is, I just took the compliment as is and enjoyed the soothing feeling as my defensive barrier was restored.
"How was the pain Apollo-mate.? "Orchid asked with a slight pain in her voice knowing I was in some amount of pain. 'This taxi tanks exterior is a gigantic contrast to the cute feminine voice that relays into my head. "Not as bad as I thought it would've been. If it was my body effected by the pain I think it would have hurt more." I replied.
it was true if my body was coated in that oil like pain I would be screaming. That stuff makes you scream profanities if its just a drop never mind a thousand drops. "that is an astute observation mate spawn although the damage to your mind barrier will hurt its tolerance to pain is also much higher" the agitator chimed in. After steeling my self for round two I said
"Ok I'm ready lets go again."