The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 805: Synthesis

Onyx advanced, drawing near the object that obscured her foresight. It bore a resemblance to an egg, yet it was encrusted with peculiar white crystals and exuded a clear fluid.

Approaching, Onyx inhaled the surrounding air. The liquid's scent felt recognizable, though her mind inexplicably failed to grasp its origin in that moment. She did notice, however, that the aroma of the egg's secretion clung to the insect's mandibles. It had been consuming the liquid, so it clearly wasn't its own egg...

Kneeling beside the glistening egg, Onyx pondered why it had the power to obstruct her foresight. As she settled beside it, the egg unexpectedly stirred.

Her curiosity piqued, Onyx moved closer for a better look. The moist, oozing egg suddenly split open at its apex. Peering inside, a wave of realization and astonishment washed over her. "Oh, it's-"

Just as her mouth formed the words, a diminutive creature erupted from the egg and clamped onto Onyx's face, forcing its way into her mouth.

Paralyzed, Onyx stood immobile, allowing the event to unfold.

...

Minutes later, Onyx was smacking her lips. "Mmm~ Quite delicious," she mused aloud as her foresight returned. "I can hardly believe one of the queen's decoy eggs was here!"

It was one of Jewel's failed experiments—eggs strategically placed to ensnare unsuspecting individuals. She recalled mentioning this to Apollo before their first intimacy. Apollo would surely relish hearing this tale when she reunited with him.

However, a frown creased her brow as she examined the eggshell. The white crystals had evidently altered the bioform within, corrupting its genetics and rendering it feral. It lacked any connection to the hive or allegiance, yet its core genetics remained. This meant Onyx's power should have been effective against it...

Had a mammal encountered this creature before the insect, becoming a host while Onyx was on the planet, and then mutated under feral influence? Apollo would not have been safe then...

The mere thought ignited a simmering rage within her. Something had perverted a bioform, turning it against its intended mate. These white crystals... they were too perilous for Apollo. They had to be eliminated.

Reluctant to touch the white crystals, despite feeling no immediate threat from them, Onyx reverted to her stalker form. Opening her mandibles wide, she unleashed her stomach acid upon the egg.

She observed as the entire mass, crystals included, began to dissolve into a liquid. Her mandibles clicked together, the lingering rage fueling her now calmer state. These white crystals represented her enemy; should she encounter more, they would face destruction.

Yet, a lingering question echoed in her mind. When Jewel had dispersed these eggs, the Psionic tendrils reaching this galaxy were nowhere near completion. This prompted her to wonder: 'Just how did it arrive here?'

...

Upon entering the bunker, a sense of curiosity emanated from everyone, with the exception of Rhapso and Nerissa, whose faces were etched with concern. "I possess no data regarding the species of origin for this structure..." Nerissa stated.

"Could it merely be from one of the species the founders purged before they began establishing records?" Rhapso speculated, but Nerissa offered no reply, her gaze continuing to sweep the surroundings.

"This place feels rather unsettling," Gabrielle remarked, clutching my arm. I let out a chuckle before calling out, "Sithrik, are you still here?"

The distant clatter of something falling echoed, followed moments later by Sithrik's appearance. "Apollo! You've returned. And you've brought the others. Come this way; I've explored the majority of this bunker, and it is quite expansive."

Sithrik commenced an extensive tour. While designated as a bunker, the structure also bore the distinct appearance of a place where individuals had genuinely resided for an extended duration in the past.

Individual chambers, complete with what appeared to be bed frames, were present. A communal lounge featured a table and chairs. Though time had eroded much of its original state, I could easily envision a gathering of aliens enjoying themselves within this very space.

Sithrik then detailed several areas she could not access due to securely locked doors, expressing her reluctance to cause damage or destruction while alone and underground. Those sections could be explored at a later time.

As we entered a particular room, white lights flickered to life, dispelling some of the eerie atmosphere. The closest comparison I could draw was to a kitchen and dining hall. With the illumination restored, the group dispersed, examining every feature.

I opened a cupboard; the interior was frigid, judging by the ice inside... Power was still active after an untold number of years! This bunker was truly remarkable.

*BwomBwomBwomBwom*

A sudden noise began to resonate, capturing everyone's attention. Gaze directed towards the source of the sound, a brilliant beam of light emanated from a device on the wall, slowly scanning Rhea from head to toe. My senses immediately heightened.

Once the light concluded its pass, Rhea appeared unharmed, but what astonished me was...

A robotic voice intoned, "Anthropinon gonioma anichneuthe. Chaire, xene. Lege pros synthesi." The language was recognized, albeit faintly.

Rhapso and Nerissa, noticing my attention, hurried towards the device, clearly understanding the utterance.

"W-What was that? Am I dead?" Rhea exclaimed, nudging me aside.

I reassured her with a pat on the shoulder. "No, you aren’t dead. Thankfully. It appears you were scanned, and this machine suddenly spoke in ancient Spartari?"

"It was definitely ancient Spartari. I caught the word ‘Xene’ – meaning stranger, foreigner, or guest, I believe. The rest was unclear, perhaps an unusual dialect?" Gabrielle chimed in.

Turning back to Rhapso and Nerissa while Rhea clung to my torso, I asked, "The Praetorian Order studies Ancient Spartari to decipher old texts, right? Did you make sense of what it said? Guys?"

Rhapso and Nerissa were engrossed in scanning the device embedded in the wall, their armor engaging with its mechanisms. After a few moments, Nerissa seemed to snap out of her concentration.

"What? Oh. Yes. It was ancient Spartari, though the translation was a bit rough. The closest rendering is ’Human genome detected. Greetings, guest. Speak for synthesis.’ This is an incredibly significant discovery. This place must be kept even more secret, especially after the war. My order will meticulously analyze this bunker for insights into how an alien facility utilizes Ancient Spartari language within its programming lexicon."

As she finished speaking, the machine vocalized again.

"Data gathered. New Human dialect detected. Set this to standard for guest?"

"How the... But it didn’t even..." Rhapso murmured, bewildered. I gently detached Rhea from my body, allowing Willow to take her place, and then moved Nerissa and Rhapso aside.

"Yes, set the detected language as standard," I commanded. Moments later, the machine confirmed.

"Confirmed. Welcome human guest. Please speak for synthesis."

Curiosity piqued, I surveyed my surroundings before seeking clarification. Recalling Ronnie’s advice, I addressed the machine truthfully.

"Machine, can you clarify what you are capable of synthesizing? I will tell you the truth. My name is Apollo. We are not classified as guests. We discovered this place by chance; your creators have been absent for at least a few thousand years."

A prolonged silence ensued from the machine.

"Explanation for system corruption clarified. Thank you, Apollo. Human neo-species. Clarification of query: This machine synthesizes biological matter, primarily for sustenance. It utilizes a genetically modified algae rich in nutrients. Warning: The algae lacks sufficient biominerals for human requirements. For prolonged use, external supplements such as Vitamin D, C, and K are recommended for optimal health. Shall I demonstrate synthesis for clarification?"

I nodded, and the machine, seemingly anticipating my response, replied, "Understood. Your physical condition exceeds human peak. Synthesizing high-calorie protein based on human preference parameters."

A flash of light illuminated the room, accompanied by an enticing aroma. A tray emerged from the wall panel, and the scent alone made my mouth water. *'It smells like dino nuggies?'*

"Six Hydradon steak cubes synthesized medium-rare. Each cube is enhanced to contain two hundred grams of protein, sufficient to maintain your muscle mass energy levels."

Lifting one of the cubes, I inhaled deeply. The aroma was distinct from the beasts I had slain near Alexandria, yet similar, confirming Nerissa’s observation about the creatures’ devolution.

"Apollo, you aren’t actually going to eat that, are you? This is alien technology; it could be poisonous, for all we know," Gabrielle cautioned. However, as I turned, the cube was already in my mouth.

"It’s incredibly delicious. *Gulp* Man, this is tasty. Anyway, I’m resistant to poison. You guys go ahead; I’ll try to get more answers from the machine. Don’t worry, I’ll report anything I discover and when I catch up."