We entered the back room of the store and Millie rolled up her sleeve. I was impressed how the Psionic energy in her body had left her skin so elastic. 'I suppose that shouldn't be a surprise though. Valerica is older than her and her body is yummy.'

"Will it hurt?" Millie asked, placing her arm on a counter top. "You might feel the needle prick, but it shouldn't hurt. At least you have plenty of confectionaries around for afterwards. Also, don't worry, I'm not filling up the whole bag, just half.

Millie sighed out in relief hearing that and nodded her head. "Ok, I am ready." I nodded back and gave Millie as I approached. "In order for me to get the needle in safely, I am going to have to touch your arm, is that ok?"

Millie inhaled deeply before saying. "Yes, I trust you. Here." She pushed her arm out towards me. I then calmly and gently placed my hand down on her arm. I felt her flinch, on reflex, but she controlled herself and nodded at me to keep going.

I remained incredibly delicate, careful and respectful during the entire process of inserting my needle into her and then pulling out after I finished. It wasn't long and once it was done with Millie began munching on some of her own cookies as she was feeling a little lightheaded.

"Once again, thank you very much Millie. I will keep you updated on whatever I find out, if you wish? And I will be coming back for more food naturally. Now I need to go and get this in the fridge."

Millie walked up to her counter eating a cookie as I was gathering the Orchid and co. "Sounds good to me. Let me know what mysteries you uncover. And good luck with your other classes today. Everyone take care and a cookie for the road!"

...

I might have been stuffed, but I ate the final cookie offered as I was walking towards my next location. While doing so, I turned to Orchid and suggested. "You should go home Orchid, check on the other one. I'm just going to drop off this and head to the next class."

"Ok..." Orchid said, trying not to sound upset. The logic was reasonable, but she still wanted to be with her mate. 'Though Orchid does think it smart to make sure the original usurper is not up to mischief.'

...

As we continued walking, we arrived at my dispensation building. With it in sight, a thought suddenly occurred to me. Reaching over I took Janine's hand and interlocked my fingers with hers while casually continuing forward.

...

'What is happening? What is happening? What is happening?' Janine's brain just switched into maximum overdrive at the sudden hand holding. 'Why has Apollo just slipped into phase three when I haven't even started phase zero yet? Should I- No! Don't be an idiot. Who cares? This is only good for you. Shut up. Don't say a thing and just enjoy it!'

Just as she was finished thinking that, fate must have read her mind and had other things in store for her.

"Actual idiots." I muttered and released Janine's hands as the door shut behind us. I then heard a soft confused voice ask. "A-Apollo? What just happened?" She asked before coming to a realization herself. "Wait, how did I just walk through that security? I know we were holding hands, but still?"

As we walked, I turned around and opened my hands out grandly. "Welcome to the results of deeply ingrained speciesism in the empire, my dear. Absolutely brainless, the lot of them. They have just let you in here completely unattested. They even checked to make my face matched with their pad, but you? Nary a look. It's shambolic."

"Oh..." Janine expressed, downtrodden. 'So he didn't hold my hand because he wanted to?' She thought to herself before she felt herself being engulfed in a hug.

"I'm sorry. Truly. Your species deserves better than their lot in life. I promise you that I will always treat you fair and equal." I declared, prompting Janine to hug me back, tight. "I know you will, it's one of the many things I love about you."

After a few tender moments, the hug broke off and we entered the lab. I didn't linger long. Simply placed the blood in cold storage and turned around, not risking looking at any equipment. If I did, there was a chance I would start doing stuff and I couldn't blow off the first day of classes...

I did notice, however, that Janine was looking around, interested. "Anything caught your eye?" I asked, prompting her to jolt. "What? No. Just this looks a lot different than S- I imagined." I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and looked around the room.

"Hmm, I know what you mean." I concurred. 'Way too much tech. I mean even hybridising would make me comfortable. But I couldn't explain my flesh tech hybrids to the others... Man, I wish Ronnie was here, his tech savvy with his under link. I could make this place close to my main lab... Oh well, no use crying over what's not possible.

I then shook Janine slightly. "Come on, better we are early than late.

...

Heading back to the lecture building, I followed my itinerary to the classroom of a specific teacher. "Miss Duvile. This is it. Are you excited to learn what insanity Spartari are cooking up with this aura projection of theirs?" I asked, Janine prompting her to reply.

"Oh, it can't be that bad, can It? I mean, if they are doing a class on it, it has to be safe-ish."

She had a point. Just because Jewel said the Psionic plane was scary and having seen her without my barrier up... Nope, never mind. I couldn't convince myself. These people were nutjobs if they were going into the Psionic plane without protection. You never know what is out there. Watching, listening. Subverting thoughts from the cracks of reality.

But that being said. This was Janine's class. Not mine. And I would at least be open minded about the whole ordeal. Jewel comes into unique Psionics she has never seen all the time, this might be something similar my species has discovered?

'If so, that would be cool. I would love to be able to teach Jewel something before she comes over and eats it herself.' The thought left me giddy and actually excited for the class now.

Opening the door to the classroom, It seemed I had made quite the extensive network of friends in my time here as another person I recognised was already in the class talking with the teacher.

"Hey, chipmunk! How is it going?" I announced cheerfully and walked over. She wasn't alone of course. Standing next to her was a woman of short stature. Shorter than even Keyla at 4ft10. She had straight black hair and had an aura about her that I immediately felt danger from. The woman also turned, hearing me address Mithra. The woman was fairly attractive. Nice brown eyes, a small nose and rather plump lips.

She was wearing a sweater vest that did a poor job of hiding the excessive fat reserves on her chest region. 'Her poor back.' Was all I could think on the matter before my attention was brought to the other, much taller individual present also next to Mithra.

A man, roughly 6ft8 stood there. I couldn't see much about him other than his green eyes as the man was covered head to toe in an armoured hazmat suit. He even wore a rebreather over his mouth that made a noise every time he inhaled that sounded like he was sucking his teeth, just a bit boosted.

The man's description I recognised from Mithra the other day and knew it was her father. At my announcement, he then turned to his daughter and started laughing while holding his stomach. He then continued a little more as his daughter pouted at him.

"A chipmunk? I have to say daughter, with those pouty cheeks you put on when annoyed, Chipmunk is certainly apt, but tell me, who is it that is calling you that name so casually?"

His tone fell sharp as he turned his attention back to me. I then walked over with a smile and extended my hand out towards his reinforced glove. "Hello there. My name Is Apollo, Mithra is in my Dispensation"

"Oh is that so? I recognise your name. Gene enhancement correct? A fascinating subject to be sure. Between you and I, I speculated looking into that illegally myself around eighty years ago, but thought against it. Oh, but where are my manners, young man? My name is Virulent Chiron, but you can call me toxin, a nickname of sorts, due to my current... state of self."

Virulent, looked like he was about to ask me something, before I felt a tug on my jacket. Looking down, Miss Duvile was looking directly up at me and asked the question.

"Apollo, is it? You wouldn't happen to be the Apollo who is Orchid Lambdason's brother by chance?"

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