The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 4: "The whole hive?"

"Did you say mate?"

I questioned in total bewilderment. What could make this creature desire to mate with me? Had it realized we belong to entirely different species, and that I'm scarcely a day old in this new form? I prepared to launch yet another outburst when abruptly, the creature unleashed a shrill screech, accompanied by these words.

"Forgive this one, little spawn! I haven't performed any courtship ritual yet. I urge you—watch my dance." And watch I did, observing as the extraterrestrial top predator stepped backward, crouched slightly, and began vigorously shaking its lower body side to side while its neck thrust out and retracted in quick succession.

Though this display might have stirred arousal in any nearby bug species except its own, to me it appeared utterly weird.

As the 'buggy lap dance' persisted, a sudden flash struck my mind regarding why this odd occurrence was happening. 'It must be my boon!' I realized, refraining from the psionic link with the gyrating bug—no such bizarre development would arise otherwise. It labeled me mate, perhaps unaware of love's true meaning?

Thus, it showed mating urges toward what ought to be mere prey.

"What luck," I mused inwardly once more. Good or bad? That remained the burning question. Shifting attention back to the lower body thrusting up and down right in my face, up and down, I resolved it was time to escape this place.

"Ex-excuse me. While I truly enjoyed your dance, I really need to leave this bin—can you assist?" Upon uttering those words, the bug spun around and thrust its enormous head directly against my face. "Does this signify you accept this one's courtship dance?" A chill raced through my veins at how swiftly it shifted from dancing to mere inches away.

"As much as you'd wish me to say yes," I began. "This isn't how my species handles 'courting.' There's a 'getting-to-know-you' phase first, and second, I'm just one day old—my kind doesn't achieve 'mating readiness' until 16 years—"

I halted. Suddenly, I sensed the 'emotions' radiating from the creature before me, even if it didn't grasp them yet. The latter part of my boon flooded my thoughts: 'pragma, eros, mania.' Enduring, passionate, and possessive love.

This entity wouldn't heed a refusal; it would seize me, nurture me, likely confine me until ready to mate by force. Thus, I pressed on.

"However, if you wait for mating until that time, I'll accept your courtship ritual." I concluded, bracing for its reply.

Freethinker variant #1700354 remained still briefly. Had it triumphed? Its debut dance, and its mate consented! Another burst of joyful pheromones filled the air, and I sensed the hive echoing the sentiment via the muted bond—especially the queen.

"This proves highly agreeable, mate-spawn. Now let's free you from there— "Wait!" I cried out. "Your scythes—you can't precisely pick me up." I warned, fearing an mishap in its thrill. "Fear not, mate-spawn. This one summoned silk drones; they'll craft a pouch on this one's thorax." With that, two bugs matching my size clambered onto its frame.

Next to the 5-meter slayer, these two seemed insignificant; they resembled ants closely, yet lacked a clear head, sporting only tiny mandibles. "These drones mainly secure nest spires for eggs internally but also gather stray biomass post-battle from the main swarm. They'll ensure your comfort."

At those words, one drone leaped from its thorax beside me and began ejecting gossamer over my form. Surprisingly arid and minimally adhesive, I sensed by now these bugs posed no deliberate threat, so I allowed it to proceed.

Finished with me, I found myself wrapped snugly, lifted from the bin by the second drone, and secured in an improvised carrier on the colossal bug's thorax.

"Surprisingly comfy," I communicated. "Thank you."

"This one requires no thanks, nor do these drones—the hive shall exert every effort for you, mate-spawn." Emerging from my bin fortress, the predator-turned-transport quitted the alley, revealing a gruesome panorama: carnage everywhere, slain bugs, lifeless humans, streets slick with blood, ichor, and assorted fluids. I paused to steady myself.

Perhaps games from my prior life dulled my senses somewhat, yet I acknowledged war's grim realities, hideous as they were. 'But the stench... Ugh.'

My fresh carrier detected my unease via our connection and sought to comfort me its way: "Fear not, little-mate-spawn. All visible biomass shall transform into sustenance and fresh warriors—nothing wasted." Pride swelled as it spoke.

"Yeah, wonderful as that sounds, let's move—the odor nauseates me."

"Of course."

Veering away from distant skirmishes, fresh queries bubbled up demanding resolution.

"So, you claim membership in a hivemind? You don't act very 'hivemindy' to me." I inquired.

"Indeed, this one forms merely a limb of the vast hive. Yet this one belongs to freethinker variant—we aid the queen brain in directing drones and issuing commands, thus granted independence. We stay linked to the queen; she may seize control at will, for we remain hers." It explained.

"Then what does your queen make of one 'limb' seeking to mate an alien?" I probed, puzzled how this extension of another gained liberty to woo me.

"I fail to grasp, mate-spawn? You've consented to courtship; nest world prepares for your arrival among us." The freethinker halted, tilting its head in bewilderment at my query.

I gazed upward in shock, pondering inwardly: 'Has my boon influenced the entire hive?'