“I can’t do that,” Luo Jia said.
Olivia felt genuinely wounded. “Why not?”
Luo Jia was staring straight at Olivia’s back.
Olivia, remembering she hadn’t retracted her spider legs, grew even sadder. “Is it because of these? Did they scare you? I’ll pull them back right now.”
Luo Jia stopped her. “No, no, that’s not it at all.”
Olivia paused. “You… don’t hate me?”
“Of course I don’t hate you.” Luo Jia pointed to the spot beside him. “It’s just that a tiny little creature just crawled past there. If you sit down, you’ll definitely squash it. Also, your… well, your back is really cool. It looks great.”
Olivia arched an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. “Oh? Then tell me, what exactly is ‘great’ about it?”
Luo Jia answered honestly, “It looks very powerful. And even though it seems black at first, you can see deep red glints in the sunlight. They look shiny and high-quality.”
This wave of praise left Olivia overjoyed. She decided then and there that she would spend more time with this interesting little “Mother.”
She deliberately extended one of her spider legs toward Luo Jia, asking with a half-serious glint in her eye, “Would you like to touch it, Prince Luo Jia?” Heh heh, this will definitely freak him out. A crying face on this one would surely be cuter than the one on the throne.
Luo Jia’s eyes lit up. “Really? May I?”
Luo Jia’s look of pure anticipation made Olivia feel a bit bashful instead. A Zerg’s appendages were quite sensitive and intimate parts… but if it was Mother…
“Of course you can.” Olivia retracted the sharp barbs on the leg and turned slightly to make it easier for him to reach.
Luo Jia’s hand reached out cautiously. “It’s a bit cool to the touch. Very smooth. And so hard.”
You’re going to make me go soft with talk like that
Olivia felt a wave of tingling numbness wash over her entire body. She leaned into the sensation, enjoying the touch with a mix of “pain” and pleasure.
Soon, Luo Jia stopped.
Olivia felt a bit unsatisfied. “Why stop?”
Luo Jia looked embarrassed. “Am I… am I harassing you? I’m sorry.”
Olivia suddenly remembered this Mother came from the human world. As a female warrior, she seemed to have been… “respected” by this adorable little Mother?
“Hahaha!” Olivia burst out laughing. She boldly scooped Luo Jia up and sat him on her shoulder. “If it’s you, you can do whatever you like.”
Luo Jia was startled. This female general was truly uninhibited. He could feel her hand playfully patting his backside.
“Olivia… put, put me down!” Luo Jia struggled, realizing that in the Zerg world, the “super strength” he thought he had was completely negligible.
Olivia set him down but leaned in to take a deep breath at his neck. “You smell wonderful.”
“Thank you?” Luo Jia tilted his head.
The next second, Olivia pulled him into a hug, burying his face against her chest.
“Let… let go… Olivia…” Luo Jia pushed against her with all his might.
“Don’t move, Prince Luo Jia.” Olivia pulled out a fist-sized Energy Star-Crystal from her person and pressed it into his hand. “This is a little trinket I picked up recently. Take it to snack on.”
Luo Jia recognized the scent—it was the same as the fragments on his plate. “An Energy Star-Crystal?”
“Yes,” Olivia said. “This stuff is good for your development. Go ahead and gnaw on it for fun.”
Luo Jia had no idea how precious an Energy Star-Crystal was, let alone one of this size. But since it was food, he took it without guilt, his eyes curving into crescents as he smiled at her. “Thank you, Olivia.”
Olivia patted his head with a grin. “Sorry, Luo Jia, I can’t stay long. Do you have a communicator? We should add each other.”
“A communicator?” Luo Jia shook his head.
Olivia was stunned. She hadn’t expected that group of idiots to forget to give Mother a communicator. “Alright, then it’s a date for next time. When I come back, I’ll bring one for you.”
Luo Jia nodded. “Okay!” Olivia was warm and spirited; Luo Jia genuinely felt she was a good person and already considered her a friend. He looked forward to seeing her again.
Olivia found the fragrant little Mother simply too precious. She patted his shoulder. “Prince Luo Jia, evolve quickly. I look forward to the day I can be dominated by you.”
Luo Jia: “Olivia, what do you mean by ‘evolve’?”
Olivia winked. “You’ll find out sooner or later. Being with you is so relaxing. See you next time, dear.”
With that, Olivia hurried away.
Luo Jia watched her retreating figure, looked at the crystal in his hand, and thought about her riddle-like parting words.
“I hate riddlers… I have no idea what she meant.” Shrugging it off, he took a big bite of the Energy Star-Crystal.
Mmm…
Delicious.
Olivia continued on toward the “Cradle Palace” where the other Mother resided. She retracted her spider legs to avoid scaring the frail Mother.
To be honest, she had never had a good feeling about Kaka. Theoretically, she should cherish the Mother unconditionally… but every time she saw Kaka, she felt a subtle sense of discomfort in her heart.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been away from Mother for too long?
As she reached the doors of the sleeping quarters, she heard Qing’s voice from inside.
“Mother, your soul is noble and pure. Under your eternal radiance, I have been saved. Thank you for soothing me when I was about to fall into madness, for washing the filth from my soul… Praise you, my supreme Mother.”
Qing’s voice was filled with fanatical devotion.
Olivia couldn’t quite understand. What does being soothed actually feel like?
Then, a youthful, tender voice replied from within:
“Rise… I am Mother… it is only what I should do…”
Qing’s voice rose in excitement: “It really was you! Mother, your words are the compass of my life! Please, use me as you wish!”
From the doorway, Olivia watched as Qing devoutly kissed the tips of Kaka’s toes, while Kaka affectionately stroked Qing’s ears.
Olivia was confused: Did Kaka really open the Hive Mind?