The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 825: The Path Taken

"Rhapso... Get up." I said slightly disturbed by the Instant growth in my pants at being called ’my god’ with that look on her face.

Thankfully, she didn’t seem to spot it and rose to her feet, looking up at me still with reverence.

Turning to Onyx for a second, I looked at her thoughts with clear intent. ’What do I do now?’

Onyx shifted back to her humanoid form, without even a glance from Rhapso as she continued to stare at me, awaiting me to speak.

’I don’t know? I thought you knew, my universe.’ She relayed back through her bondage link.

My eyes then went wide. ’Wait what? Onyx, now isn’t the time to joke around, tell me what your future vision sees. I have just given away our biggest secret to someone I only know on a surface level. We are kind of boned if things go askew now.’

’My universe, you know I have gaps in my sight. I didn’t see Sol, I can’t see others with foresight and I cannot see a clear future unless it’s a fixed point. This is a path I haven’t seen. But do not worry, I trust you and that big baby of an Origin with my everything. You know what to do, just do it.’

Giving Onyx a final look of plea, I turned back to Rhapso who was still looking at me like I was her...

"Rhapso, what did we talk about in the glade? Do you remember?"

The Nymph instantly nodded her head with glee. "Yes of course, Apollo. I just assumed that this was one of the moments I could address you in that manner. Forgive me. Now, shall I begin to break my oaths? I can do most of them here, but there is one that is loud and although Nerissa has never heard an oath breaking, if she did. She would instinctively know what it is. We should leave the bunker for that one."

I frowned immediately hearing she wanted to leave the bunker, but Onyx just nodded her head, giving me all I needed to know. If this was a trick, Onyx could kill her...

"Fine, but I have some questions before we arrive at a safe space, is that understood?"

Rhapso nodded. "Yes, Apollo. Of course. Anything for you."

Rhapso then got back inside of her armour and we were just about to leave the room before I stopped and spoke aloud.

"Astra... not a word about this to anyone, understood?"

"Yes, Apollo. Directive confirmed."

With that out of the way, the three of us made our way to the bunker entrance. I had begun to come up with an excuse for why we were leaving so suddenly, but thankfully, Willow was the one on guard at this moment.

She clearly wanted to ask where we were going, but I cut her off. "Willow, You didn’t see us leave. Understood?" I gave her a look that she immediately understood before giving Rhapso, a figure she had fought beside for months, a hostile look.

"Understood."

...

After travelling for a few miles in silence, Rhapso suddenly spoke up. "Sorry. I clearly have done something wrong. I know that still in this moment, we are by oath, sworn enemies. But once they are gone. My devotion will be without question."

There it was again. Devotion. It felt undeserved, so I had to ask. "Rhapso, let me ask you something."

"Of course, Apollo. Ask me anything!" She said jovially, trying to get close to me, but Onyx stood between us.

"Why me? Why now? Why today? What made you declare that to me? What makes you think I am worthy of such loyalty? A loyalty so strong you would betray your own for a person you have known for only a couple of months? I’m coming up short for a logical reason and it’s leading me to seriously doubt your intention. Even more honest, I am expecting you to attack Onyx and I at any moment."

"An action that would spell your demise." Onyx added in, staring down Rhapso who had come to a halt.

Taking off her helmet, I was expecting a sudden expression of her true emotion. Perhaps being caught in the act she was going to show a final act of defiance, but instead what I saw was genuine mortification as her eyes threatened to fall out of their sockets.

"What! I would never! I promise! I’ve known it since the second I lay eyes on you in that glade. Something told me you are who I am to serve. God or not. You are the one my existence is pulled to... It’s... I understand your scepticism. Any other of my order would be trying to kill you right now. I mean, the scourge? I wasn’t even aware your kind was capable of coherent thought Onyx. But you have to believe me. Have you ever felt or experienced something so outlandish, so bizarre, yet you know it is your truth and you have to follow the path no matter what? No matter how crazy it seems? Because you know in your very existence, it is the path you are meant to take."

With everything she just said, I wanted to take a moment to think about it all, but Onyx suddenly spoke.

"I do... I know what you feel." Her gaze then lingered on me for a moment as my Link to her became overwhelmed with almost too much love. She then stepped forward towards Rhapso and grabbed her chin.

"You truly think your path is with Apollo? You think you are meant to be in his future? Forever? No matter what transgressions take place? No matter what atrocities you might have to commit? No matter what, you will be by his side? Look me in the eyes and tell me your answer, Nymph."

There was no hesitation on Rhapso’s part. No moment to think. She looked directly in Onyx’s eyes and replied. "Yes. And once my vows are broken to my current loyalty, I shall make a death vow to Apollo. The universe will see my devotion to him. It will feel the love that has cascaded in the blink I have known him for."

I looked around, feeling a little awkward being talked about like this, but a few seconds later, Onyx pulled away and turned to me before casually shrugging her shoulders. "Congratulations Apollo, you have found another crazy alien. Just remember who is first in your heart and we will never try to eat you~"

"Thats not funny, Onyx. You know you sleep talk, that’s not just a casual jest!" I admonished, but the stalker had returned to my Mindspace and was in the process of inspecting my Origin.

Allowing her to do just that, I turned back to Rhapso, who was smiling at me innocently. "Shall we continue on? I think I gained your partner’s trust."

The two of us continued to walk for a while after that before she asked. "So what happened on Apollo-minor? Actually. Because I don’t understand how you were able to converse with a hivemind entity and make it your partner... That’s both horrifying and insanely cool."

"Thats a really long story, I’ll tell you another time in detail, but the short version is, I have been awakened since birth and had full cognitive capabilities. I then used my charm and nineteen years later and I still haven’t been eaten when I most definitely should have been." I said with a chuckle, but Rhapso just looked at me wide eyed.

"Thats horrifying. Do they actually threaten to eat you? That sounds unhealthy for a relationship."

"What? Oh, no. I mean they do... But not nearly as much these days. And its not a threat. Its not do this or we will eat you, do that or we will eat you. It’s not about the act of eating me like they do with other biomass, it’s more about just keeping me close forever... An act of love. The hive isn’t like you and I. They are apex predators with a different way of thinking. But I know they will never harm me. Our love is too deep for that."

"Fascinating. Can you tell me more about them? I feel like my mind has just had a veil lifted."

I didn’t share too much with Rhapso just yet. Just a few bits and pieces. General hive Trivia. Where I grew up. Who Jewel was and why I am here now. It felt honestly liberating to speak to a non hive or bondaged person about it. I could talk about my wife with a friend. It felt good.

Though I was of course only telling her because Onyx trusted her. Until the oaths were renounced and she proved her loyalty to me, I was ready to flip the switch on a moment’s notice.

Eventually, Rhapso came to a stop and looked around, taking in a deep breath she nodded to herself before looking at me. "Yes, yes this place will do. It has enough Psionic ambient energy in the air that breaking my oaths will have the least amount of backlash possible to myself."

She then turned to me and removed her armour again, the semi naked Nymph then flashed me a kind gentle smile and got onto her knees while maintaining eye contact with me.

"I am ready to begin when you permit me, Apollo."