The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 774: Curiosity, Nothing More

"Ms. Lambdason, we will not consume much of your valuable time. We merely need to discuss matters concerning your brother. Our intention was to speak with him directly, but it appears he has abruptly departed on a crucial mission? Is that accurate?"

Orchid's eyes narrowed, and she rose to her feet. Her imposing seven-foot stature, while not as broad as Apollo's, was still quite intimidating, particularly when her eyes blazed with homicidal intent. "Choose your subsequent words with extreme care, or I shall extract your hearts and feast upon them."

Malone took a cautious step back, his hand twitching towards a defensive stance, yet Thorne remained focused on the woman before them.

"O-Orchid. Kindly refrain. The surroundings... this is a public place," Janine pleaded, attempting to gently pull on her friend's hand, but her efforts were in vain. This continued until,

"Sterling Thorne, my, my. It has been forty years since I last saw you, a mere little brat. How fares the family? Oh, wait. You are the one who... Ah, hello there, dear. How have you been?" Valerica suddenly stood, announcing her presence.

Dean's eyes widened once more at the sight of another red-headed beauty amidst the black and white setting, but he managed to compose himself more effectively than he had with Kathrine the other day.

Sterling, however, narrowed his eyes at Valerica's unexpected appearance. "Valerica Hyllus... I should have anticipated your presence here. Did your daughter summon you ahead of time? Is that why the lead I'm currently pursuing has 'gone on an expedition,' hmm?"

"My daughter?" Valerica tilted her head, casting a fleeting glance at Orchid before realization dawned. "Oh, Kathrine! Precisely. Why? What has that little troublemaker done this time? I swear, if she's instigated another drunken brawl and I'm left to settle the damages, I will— Oh, never mind, she's slated to marry my son soon and has supposedly reformed. Apologies, I sometimes forget those details. She should be with M— So, what exactly has she done?"

Sterling suppressed the urge to strike the boisterous woman before responding with forced calm. "Your daughter has committed no provable offenses, but we are investigating a recent murder, that of Axel Belnevis."

"Never encountered the name," Valerica declared matter-of-factly.

Malone then interjected. "Really? Because the individual in question attempted to have your daughter assassinated. Surely that is something you might discuss?"

Valerica merely scoffed. "Spare me. We are Hyllus's. If we were to retain the names of every aspiring upstart who dared to attempt our assassination, our minds would be cluttered with insignificant debris and the appellations of the deceased. So what? How did he meet his end? Did Kathrine kill him?"

"You no longer keep up with the news, guardian?" Thorne sneered. "Axel was dispatched by the Sanguine Butcher."

"Watch your tone, young man. I am still more than capable of crushing you into the dust as I did during your pre-basic training. Now, why would you persist in investigating my daughter when you possess knowledge of the perpetrator? She is not the butcher... I believe. No, definitely not. I distinctly recall her engaging in debauchery at the time the killings last occurred. I discovered her actively involved with two women wielding strap-ons approximately twenty minutes later, and that particular murder took place on a middle world... Ugh, that room still carries the lingering scent of semen, I swear... Honestly, what does my precious boy see in that woman?

...

Oh, you're still here? My apologies, what were we discussing? I'm getting old; my mind tends to wander."

Thorne and Malone exchanged glances, after which the latter pressed the inquiry. "Lady Hyllus, to be perfectly candid, we are here today pursuing one of our few viable leads. Axel attempted to end your daughter's life, and subsequently, the Sanguine Butcher eliminated him after remaining dormant for so many years. We are merely assembling the fragments of evidence available to us."

Valerica hummed thoughtfully. "I understand. Kindly grant me a moment. Orchid, my dear. May I have a brief word with you over there?"

Orchid frowned; she disliked being addressed as 'sweetheart' by anyone other than Apollo, but she recognized the maternal figure's attempt at pleasantries, so she moved aside.

Thorne and Malone observed intently, attempting to decipher their conversation through lip-reading, but their efforts yielded nothing.

Moments later, Orchid returned, crossing her arms. Her eyes narrowed. "You are permitted three inquiries. Proceed with them. Should you exceed this limit, I will break your limbs."

"Whoa there! Hold on a moment, madam," Malone exclaimed, extending his hand. "You cannot issue threats in such a manner. Are you aware that if we were less lenient, we possess the authority to arrest you for such a declaration?"

Orchid shook her head dismissively. "No, I was not aware. I am also aware that I would prefer to end your existence than allow that to transpire. Two questions remain."

Malone subsequently received a sharp slap to the chest from Thorne, accompanied by a disapproving look that clearly conveyed, 'Well done, you imbecile.' He then directly posed his question. He opted for a straightforward approach, getting straight to the point. The woman struck him as peculiar, and he disliked the unknown reason behind it.

"Ms. Lambdason. Is it possible that your brother could have connections to the orchestration of Axel Belnevis’ death?"

Orchids looked around. "We are standing on a moon that hones breaking reality with Psionics. Anything is possible, as slim as it could be. One left."

"But you didn’t answer my question-"

"-One. Left."

Thorne sighed. He knew this was going nowhere so he just followed up. "Alright, I get it. I do, you care for your brother, I’d go as far to wager that if someone tried to hurt him. You would seek vengeance. Now, do you think it’s possible that if Apollo heard about his partner having an attempt on her life, he might be inclined to retaliate?"

Orchid stepped forward until she was looking directly down at Thorne and brandished her teeth in front of him before speaking slowly. "Apollo is the most perfect creature in all of existence. His capacity for love leaves this one without the ability to breathe constantly. So in honour of his spirit and my love for him, I will warn you before you try and accuse him of anything further. Leave. Do not come back and cease this investigation. If I find out either of you comes for him or his loved ones again. I will hunt your entire family down personally and make what the butcher does look like play."

She then looked the man in the face and grimaced. "Disgusting." Before walking away in the direction of home.

Janine then got up and yelled. "Orchid! Wait up!"

Valerica then walked over to Thorne and smiled. "Well, gentlemen I am afraid that is all you will get out of that woman. I traded some pretty expensive items to her in order not to murder you... Hypothetically speaking. So, unless you fine gents are willing to go into an active warzone to ask your questions, as Apollo is on Lleon T1 right now, not just ’On an important mission’ that is the best you are getting."

She then turned to Thorne. "And Sterling." She proceeded to reach forward in the blink of an eye and swat the man around the back of the head, knocking his hat off "

"Call your mother! Goodness, the woman pushed you out of her vagina and she cannot even get a phone call out of you! Have some respect." She then began mumbling as she walked away.

"Why does our entire generation have such shitty children? We were never like this... Must be something in the water on Euc 1. My darling Apollo is nothing like that. So good to his mama hehe~"

"You good Thorne?" Malone asked as his partner picked up his hat. Thorne did not respond right away. He placed his hat on his head before reaching into his pocket and retrieving a cig and lit it, the orange illuminating his face.

"I will be as soon as I am no longer on a landmass with that woman... She used to give me nightmares." Thorne said and let out a large exhale after the well needed drag.

"Lady Hyllus? Shit, she was nothing compared to that Orchid lady. Did you see the look in her eyes? It was like she was looking at a pair of xenos with the disgust in her eyes... Brrrr! So, what now?"

"What do you mean?" Thorne asked Malone, confused. "We still follow the trail. We now have the location of this Apollo. We have clearance, so until the butcher strikes, we follow what we can. Though I did notice something odd about what Orchid said, come. I’ll explain on the ship."

...

Althea, Mindy and Evanthe and Mithra were now sat on the picnic blanket having watched the entire thing. As the light returned to the surroundings once the detectives left, Mindy spoke up.

"Well that was... Something."

"I know right! That was like something I have read in one of my comics! ’The detectives come for Apollo, their main lead in a top secret investigation. Only to find him absent, his scary sister the one in his place. She is tough, but accidentally lets something slip through the cracks the detective clock onto later.’ Ah! This is going to be such an awesome inspo for my comic! I have to have a detective scene in the story now for sure!"

Althea turned to Evanthe hearing that. "You are writing a comic? Can I read it? I don’t remember the last time I read something for entertainment."

"Same, I’ve only been reading Psionic manuals and science books for years, I could do with reading something more fantastical." Mithra chimed in.

Evanthe began to blush hearing that. "Oh, I uh... I don’t know... it’s a little graphic. I’ve added..." She then whispered. "Naughty stuff."

Mindy then pulled Evanthe head into her lap and kissed her forehead. Her snake-like eyes gazing deeply into her friend’s vibrant greens. "Oh? Is it the same comic I saw when I entered your room the other day perchance? The one where the main character looks practically identical to Apollo? All naked and oiled with those big bulging muscles and-"