The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 799: Tummy Turbulence

Following the assembly, I proceeded directly to my newly assigned quarters. A rather compact room situated in the heart of an immense concrete edifice, representing the most secure location within the fort. I promptly disrobed, disregarding the serpentine presence coiled upon my bed.

The instant I recognized the arrival of night, my energy reserves plummeted. I had been in constant motion for four consecutive days, and while drug-induced hallucinations coupled with a day of intense exertion might sound like a viable method for relaxation on paper, in reality, it proved quite draining.

Sithrik, likely sensing my depleted state, gracefully shifted to the side and dismounted the bed as I approached. I reached out, offering a gentle pat to her head as I passed, before settling onto the mattress. Deactivating all my passive Psionics, akin to releasing a mental muscle, save for Gyrokinesis, I succumbed to the lingering warmth Sithrik had imparted to the bed before drifting off into slumber.

...

After an interval of eight hours, during which I engaged in playful exchanges with Sol and Onyx, I awakened with a contented smile gracing my lips. At some point, Sithrik had curled herself atop my chest, her radiated warmth being surprisingly comforting.

Slipping free from beneath her embrace, I stood and stretched my back, only for my eyes to widen in alarm.

’Something is amiss...’

*grgrgle*

My stomach began to rumble, not for its usual demand for sustenance. No... A peculiar sensation indicated something needed to be expelled.

A wave of panic washed over me. I hadn’t encountered such a bodily need in years; my organism typically processed all ingested matter. It was as if I only required to relieve myself when I consumed excessive fluids too rapidly. While the internal plumbing remained operational, the psychological impact left me momentarily stunned.

*grglgle*

I ceased dwelling on trivialities. Hostilities were imminent. I felt fortunate that an adjoining restroom was present in my quarters. Pushing through the door, I secured it behind me before assuming a squatting position over the porcelain throne and relieving myself entirely.

...

A minute later, I found myself washing my hands, an overwhelming sense of relief flooding me. My robust digestive system had fortunately functioned correctly, preventing me from committing an unspeakable atrocity upon the toilet. "Still," I mused aloud, commencing the drying of my hands. "What did I consume?"

The Praetorian fare was adequate, and prior to that, my only ingestion was... "Oh... Seriously, what was in that peculiar concoction?"

...

Observing the brown, viscous residue before me, I nodded with a sense of satisfaction.

Water was already commencing its deluge across the battlefield, transforming the crater-scarred terrain into a waterlogged morass. From my elevated vantage point, I observed Phalanx units, operating with minimal or no specialized gear, diligently performing their duties. They distributed the water and navigated the mud, careful to avoid sinking.

I had noted that even with these adjustments, certain soldiers still found themselves ensnared. This observation brought a smile to my face. If even human soldiers, weighing at most a hundred kilograms, were getting stuck, then the Drakoshi, with their significantly greater natural weight, would undoubtedly face considerable difficulty.

My attention then shifted to two distinct figures: Francesca and Rhapso. Both appeared to navigate the muddy terrain with effortless grace. Francesca glided through the mire, while Rhapso simply traversed it as if her armor possessed negligible weight.

I watched with a smile as the pair coordinated their actions, rendering this field of carnage even more lethal, before being drawn away by the whooshing sound of machinery nearby. Turning, I noticed a lone knight transporting cargo back and forth.

I had not been informed of any ordered presence here. If it were the guardians, I would be immensely pleased.

"Knight. Approach me for a moment," I commanded, raising my voice. The knight immediately turned in my direction, deposited a crate of munitions it was carrying, and proceeded to my side.

"Lord Sentinel!" the Knight announced, striking its chassis with a free hand in a gesture of salutation.

"At ease. I merely wished to pose a question, if you would permit it?"

The knight's arms lowered with a surprising degree of human-like fluidity.

"Certainly, my lord. Inquire about anything you desire."

"I was simply curious about something," I began. "I have only been here for a day, but I presumed I would receive notification if a knightly order was stationed at this fort. Are the rest of your brethren-in-arms present? I would need to take notes and make adjustments to our battle plans to account for their firepower."

The Knight Chassis took a half-step back; I could discern the pilot's confusion from the subtle shift in the hulking metal.

"Knight Order? What are you- Oh! My apologies, my lord. No, I am not affiliated with an order. I hail from a knight house. We bear similarities to an order, though a house lacks the same extensive resources and manpower, as we do not possess an entire world. Instead, we pledge our service to the military in exchange for accolades, acting as solitary knights supporting crucial strategic installations. Though this makes us sound like commoners... My family essentially owns the planet we inhabit in all but name within the private sector, yet we remain steadfastly loyal to our Archon and the empire."

My head bobbed in acknowledgment. Recalling the different households brought Evanthe to mind. Hailing from a knightly lineage, her health had prevented her from pursuing training as a pilot in her younger days.

"I understand. Thank you for filling a gap in my knowledge, Knight. Witnessing the devastation knights can inflict makes me quite relieved to have you on our side. May I have your name, if you don't mind?"

The Knight offered another salute. "Certainly, Lord Sentinel. It would be my honor. Knight Alex Zeva, at your service."

A flicker of surprise crossed my face, but I quickly dismissed it internally. I decided to regard it as mere coincidence and move past it.

"Very well, Alex. I shall permit you to continue with your duties. I anticipate seeing you on the battlefield when the next wave of Drakoshi arrives."

Alex saluted once more, a hint of amusement coloring their synthesized voice. "Haha! I shall not disappoint your expectations. My Plasma cannon can obliterate even unarmored Drakoshi!"

I gave a nod. "I will hold you to that promise."

The Knight then departed to resume their post. I observed the mech's impressive form for a few moments before another uniformed individual approached.

"Good morning, Apollo. Did you rest well?" Nerissa inquired, drawing alongside me.

"Indeed, I did. Rested quite well," I replied, gazing out across the fortifications.

"Mhm mhm. And how is your stomach this morning? Feeling any discomfort?"

I turned to Nerissa, narrowing my eyes. "So, my suspicion was correct... That peculiar drink was the culprit!"

"As we indicated, its potency far exceeds that of regular alcohol. Frankly, I'm astounded it took this long; humans typically succumb within a day... Or so I've heard. However, I factored in your enhanced physiology. This is an unpleasant topic, I realize, but how severe was the reaction, if I may ask? My inquiry is purely for academic interest; please refrain from excessive detail."

I regarded Nerissa with a peculiar expression before chuckling at her. "I'm perfectly fine. It was over in less than a minute, truthfully. Though, I am quite famished now."

Nerissa looked at me, surprised. "You can eat? Remarkable. Perhaps I underestimated your resilience. I hadn't thought it possible."

"Why? Are you also experiencing-"

"-Hahaha! No. Being Psionically manifested, I possess certain advantages over you in this regard. I am immune to the potential adverse effects you might have faced. Now, let's cease this discussion; it's hardly befitting a Sentinel to dwell on such matters."

"But you were the one who initiated the conversation!" I protested, but Nerissa simply turned her gaze back to me.

"I have no recollection of discussing such things, Apollo. Now, come along. Let's find you something to eat."

I watched Nerissa walk ahead, a subtle, almost imperceptible bounce in her stride that was evident to me. 'She's certainly become more audacious since the recent events,' I mused, observing her departure.

My lips curved upwards slightly, and a smile began to form.

"I like this development."

...

After devouring the meal presented to me in mere seconds, I eyed someone approaching with ravenous anticipation. It was one of the sub-commanders from yesterday's briefing. I suppressed the urge to weep at the realization they weren't carrying sustenance.

Instead, they placed a data pad before me and spoke.

"Sentinel, please forgive my interruption of your meal, but we've detected Drakoshi scouts approaching our position. Based on our intelligence and prior engagements, we anticipate an attack within approximately twelve hours.

Our forces to the north and south are already deployed and awaiting orders. All that remains is for you to authorize phase one, and we shall commence.

I drew in a deep breath and stood, using the movement to subtly swipe a delectable cookie from Nerissa's plate and pocket it before addressing the sub-commander.

"Understood. We initiate phase one. Recall the troops. It is time to prepare for a siege defense."