The hivemind is conquering for me?

It was definitely familiar. Unless every Spartari checkpoint was identical, even down to the landscape outside the landing dome. "Must just be a coincidence then." I thought aloud. "What is Apollo?" Kathrine said turning to me. "Oh this is the same checkpoint I was stopped at last time."

Kathrine's eyebrows raised slightly at the information. 'Perhaps this inspection is not as random as I had thought.'

As the Scythes began to leave the Thanatos a few at a time, The bases centurion was watching with extreme intent. The aura she was radiating off was icy and caused a few of the mercenaries to flinch in surprise. Inside however The centurions mind was going crazy. "Where is he? Where is he? Where is he?" Hailey was growing impatient.

Since the call with her aunt, she knew the ship was heading along her warp lane and knew she could fake a random inspection. "I hope I have not gone too far with this, aunty Kat will smell the bull crap from a mile away."

As more and more mercenaries began to depart from the ship, Hailey began to think she stopped the wrong one. Until the captain of the ship announced himself. "Rejoice you brave phalanx guards! The one, the Only, The handsome Captain, Caleb Starstrider has arrived! Some of the mercenaries gave out fake jeers to mock the boss but he just waved at them and yelled.

"All those that mock me secretly wish to be me!"

Hailey could instantly tell that she would not like talking to this man, but behind the man slowly slinking from the shadows inside the ship were two familiar people. Her darling aunt, whom has been ever so helpful and loving to her. Next to her aunt was the man whom had taken root inside her mind and would not leave.

The side of Hailey's lips began to crease upwards, but in order to keep her façade up in front of her troops and the mercenaries, She kept her face neutral. The action proved harder than usual as her aunt kept on playfully touching Apollo's arm as they walked down to the rest of the mercenaries.

Seeing no one else was leaving the ship, Hailey strode forward to the middle ground between the two parties alongside her elite guard. Much to her disappointment, It was not her aunt that stepped forward to meet with her, but was in fact the loud mouthed captain.

"By my ancestors it must be Bacchanalia if I'm seeing a woman this pretty in the middle of the day. A please to meet one so beautiful, My name is Caleb and this here is my ship the Thanatos. My men have stood down as expected and you are free to inspect whatever goods you please." he said before whispering being his hand. "Although the best goods are right in front of you, if you want a sample."

Other than the wink that made her want to vomit, Hailey drowned out most of the grossness the man had said as it was not the first time, and it will definitely wont be the last. "Truly humorous Captain. Why don't you, your boss and her companion over there join me for drinks hmm?"

"Ah I get it, can't be seen entering your office alone with a man as handsome as myself. Do not fret pretty thing, I will have those two gone shortly afterwards so we can have a more... Private discussion." Caleb said as he walked back to Kathrine.

After giving instructions to his men to wait inside of the Checkpoints main building, Caleb returned to Hailey with Kathrine and Apollo in tow, the former was giving a knowing smile at her niece the entire time.

Hailey did not say another word until she had escorted the trio back to her office. "*whistle* not a shabby little workspace babe, it seems soundproof as well." Caleb commented, not realising how carried away he was getting. "It sure is, you two wait here. I need to show something to your captain behind that door over there." Hailey commented and pointed to a door at the other side of her office.

Caleb got the message and strode over quickly, giving me a wink in the process. As I watched the pair of them reach the door, Hailey opened it while Caleb stepped through. Hailey then closed the door right behind him before locking it. "Animal." Hailey cursed under her breath before turning back towards us and walking over to her desk.

"Aunt Kathrine. It has been years, what a pleasant surprise to see you again." Hailey says with a smile. "Oh my little girl!" Kathrine says as she runs up and plants Hailey's head between her breasts. "Look how big you are now. And look at you wearing the hell out of that uniform. I mean that ass, yummy!"

"Aunty! Not in front of company!" Hailey said, mortified in front of her crush. Pushing her Aunt away, Hailey took composure again and smiled. "Speaking of company, Arcon Apollo, I must say it is a pleasant surprise seeing you so soon after our first encounter. Tell me, what are you doing on a mercenary ship? And with my aunt no less?"

She proceeded to stick her arm out in front of her. Knowing it was common place now, I reached for It and kissed the back of it before saying. "The pleasure is all mine Miss Hailey, though I must say, I think I am cursed, both times I have been on this warp lane I have been stopped by your checkpoint."

Hailey smiled at my joke, but was secretly hoping I had not put two and two together. "Anyway, coincidence aside, Small universe huh? The family I said I was staying with are actually work associates with your lovely aunt here. I just happened to meet her randomly as a part of a business deal. A few days later she offered me this job and since I had nothing else to do, I took it."

"Oh is that so? Well any friend of my aunt is a friend of mine Apollo. Say I'm supposed to be off duty now and since my guards wont need supervision, how about the three of us play a game to pass the time?"

"What did you have in mind darling? I Hope its not something that will embarrass me." Kathrine asked Hailey, still wondering what she was up to.

"Oh not at all aunty just a fun way to pass the time, alongside a few drinks. Apollo are you on board?" Hailey asked me. "Oh sure, I'm down for whatever. Are you sure you two don't want to catch up for a while? I am fine to wander around for a bit." "NO! *Ahem* No, that is quite alright.

Aunty and I will talk later. So how about it?"

I saw no reason to say no to her request. The woman was being nice so I may as well act nice as well and agreed.

"Excellent." Hailey said with enthusiasm. She proceeded to reach down into her desk and brought out 3 shot glasses and a bottle of brown liquid. "Aunty, would you care to pour us the drinks?" Kathrine nodded and did as such while Hailey unlocked a drawer behind her and brought out three throwing knives.

"The aim of the game is simple, we will all be standing behind me desk, while throwing these at the board over there. A barracks game really, but one that brings back fond memories in my case." Hailey said with a bittersweet smile.

'So darts, but with knives? a bit basic, but will probably be some fun.' "Sure I'm up for it Kathrine?" "Yep I remember playing back in basic, Accidently threw one at my drill instructor when he surprised me. My mom had to donate a lot of money to fix that little mistake."

Since Hailey was the game host, she went first. the board was about 9ft away from the back of her desk. She threw the first two in rapid succession. One missed the centre and one hit. "Thats lining up done." She muttered as she threw the last one dead centre. "Since I missed one, I have to have 1 shot." "Ok ill go get the knives while you do." I said to be polite.

"Ah-ah-ahh. No need. Watch." Hailey turned her attention to the board and the three knives un lodged themselves from the board and flew straight past me into Hailey's hands. "Perks of having Telekinesis." She said with a boasting smile before downing her shot.

Ahhing in satisfaction from her drink, Hailey said. "Alright Arcon, lets see what you have got." Hailey said dropping the daggers into my palm.

'Hmm, I have never focused on ranged combat only close quarters like the hive. Still, I have good hand eye coordination, I should not suck at this.'

lining myself up I threw the first knife and it landed centrally, just slightly underneath the red centre. 'Distance is fine, no more power needed just better accuracy and a little further up.'

My next throw missed again. this time the height was right, only slightly to the right of the red. Taking a deep breath, I focused up and threw my last knife. "Bulls eye." 'fluke' Dead centre.

"Nice throw Apollo. However two misses so two shots. Ill get the knives." I held my hand up in front of Hailey. "No need." In a moment the knives that were in the board were now in the hand right in front of her. "Kathrine, your turn." I said with a cocky smile.

Downing my shots Hailey looked at me out of the corner of her eye. "He did not even need to look at the knives." A smile formed secretly as she looked away.

"He is strong."