When everything was underway, and the group of nine soldiers with the new drone was in the air, island preparations were being done. Hunters were being lured into areas that would be easy to help in an ambush. The same was done with any infected human packs. They were going to turn the area surrounding where the plane was set to drop off the group into a warzone.
A new breeder couple was now in the hospital with a tentacle nursery in place. Agatha did want her children to have access to other meats, so the hospital freezer was stocked with frozen fish, beef, and chicken. Hunter meat was also freely available, but she knew her kids liked the variety. She was the same way.
"They settled in?" Alex asked, as he rubbed Agatha's growing belly. She was now pregnant with their drones. She nodded and snuggled into him with contentment.
"They have been settled. Zeus, how long has it been since we've been together?" she asked. "It's only been about two months. Right?"
"About that long," he agreed. "Why do you ask, Hera?"
"Just...amazed at how much has progressed. But...I do think it would be funny," she giggled. "if, on the three month mark, we start to expose ourselves."
"No," Alex said with a sharp shake of his head. "We can't. We still need to get our offspring overseas. Once they start to settle out there and have a foothold would be the time to do just that. There are a lot of areas we need to take control of. Quite a bit can be accessed all across Europe, you know. Even in the Asian continents. There is a lot of unclaimed territory. Japan is one major area that we do need to get to. Ah...speaking of Japan...interesting..."
"So, Lynette's brother did call on her. He plans to visit next week? That's rather soon, isn't it?" Agatha frowned. "Who wanted to go to Japan?"
"Demeter and Hephaestus did. They will likely be waiting for that guy to make an appearance. Did they settle in with Osiris and Isis?"
"They did. They already have drones infiltrating in different cities near them, too. I didn't know how big Massachusetts was! Oh, there should be a shipment of funds and more meat products heading to Robert's home soon. The drones are starting to take over the Postal Service in various areas."
"I know it," Alex nodded. "We can get stuff shipped to us freely the more we advance through the ranks of human society. It's incredibly easy. No challenge at all. It's kinda pathetic. But, if it helps us get our goals faster, then fuck it. I'll take it."
"Same," she nodded. Her belly swelled slowly, and he rubbed a hand over it. "What will you do if any of those soldiers reach the hospital?"
"I'll have Hermanubis and Sigyn start to send out their scouting parties. They actually found quite a few stray animals. Not humans, but true animals. Sigyn has decided that she likes cats. They would work well for her, considering that they are a part of Egyptian cultures."
"I do wonder if animals could become something we could use," Agatha mused.
"Hmm. It's possible. I do remember that, when I stopped a bomb from exploding the island, I was able to reform from a bird. I can't really change into it, but they could be used as an emergency form of direct DNA reconstruction. I don't want any mangy mutts or strays on the station, though. We already have Steve and Robert. Ouch!" he winced at the poke to his gut she gave him. "Okay, fine. Robert is a purebred mutt."
"Stop it!" she growled. "Granted, I refer to him as my stud male, but he's still my stud male! Hmm. I wonder if Steve could become a stud male. Not for me, obviously. But, maybe for one of the new Queens. We know he's loyal. He has a good build on him, too."
"Hmm..." Alex mused. "He is behaving. Okay. Robert is going to talk to him now."
"Good. Now give me something to eat," she grinned. He kissed her, muttered in her ear to make her blush hard, and left to get her a large slice of Hunter steak. In the agricultural part of the base, Robert was moving over to where Steve had made his quarters. He chose to live in the room right next to where the easiest place would be to tend to the animals. At the knock on the door, Robert was nodded to and let in.
"I have something I want to discuss with you. If you have the time," Robert smiled.
"Plenty now. What's up, Sir?" the young man asked.
"Nah, no more formalities. We aren't a part of the army anymore. Just call me Robert, okay? Alex can just...yeah. He can fuck off. Anyways," Robert chuckled. "I came here to ask if you would be interested in possibly helping create a new family line."
"What?!" Steve blinked with a touch of surprise.
"Agatha can't create the breeders needed unless I help her. The breeders can only create drones. However, a possible Queen, another like Agatha, in this sense, may be born in a few days. In eighteen days, she will be grown up and able to make drones and breeders of her own. I'm not going to help with that. So, if you want to help that future Queen make breeders and her eventual mate makes the drones..."
"Wait...wait..." Steve said, and he shook his head. "I don't get it."
"I'll try to explain it to you," Robert nodded. For thirty minutes, he slowly went over everything. Steve was surprised that he was being offered such a formal spot in their army.
"It's a lot to think about," he admitted.
"It is. It's either that, or you could become betrothed to a female of your own with no chance to share her. Much like how Ragland is with Hariti, and how Dana is with Hermes. You will have the ability to help create new Queens and Kings. But, if you choose to be a stud like me, you will be given the ability to make a vast family of your own. It would happen with a female offered to you, but it would be much faster as a stud. Yes, granted, at first I was against it, too. But, after learning of how the military government was ready to kick me out, I don't care. I love my kids. All of them. All of the kids from me are less than two months old, too."
"What?!" Steve gaped.
"Yes. They grow fast. And they learn from what you know. They have the ability to talk telepathically. Your wife would be able to talk to them. You can also mentally talk to your wife, too. Not sure about the kids, though. We'll have to see. It's up to you."
"But...this is how I would fully earn my keep, huh?" Steve frowned. "Would I be on a more even level with everyone?"
"Definitely! If you help contribute to the growing army, we will definitely see you as an ally. Your future wife would protect you, as well as Sekhmet. Granted, Alex will always see us as his lesser peers, but he's like the asshole brother you never want to be around. Or to have. He's just someone that...no matter what you want, he's not leaving."
"Okay. Nosy neighbor or relative. Got it," Steve nodded, and Robert started to laugh at that. "I can deal with that. I already gave my promise that I wouldn't go against you guys. You all saved my life. I owe everyone here. And, if I get the chance to have a girl of my own...I gotta take it. What do I have to do?"
"Well, do you want to be a stud breeder, or someone to help create Queens and Kings?" Robert asked. "If you become a stud, you share the girl with her destined mate. Alex and I take turns with Agatha. He makes drones, and, the moment she's cleared of those eggs, I help make the breeders. We formed a truce that way."
"I never really liked to be part of a triangle," Steve admitted. "I'd like to see if I can get a girl to myself. I think that would be best for me."
"We'll see what happens. As for right now, you may be considered as a stud. Like me. But, things can change. I'll let Alex know of your decision. Just keep doing what you're doing," Robert nodded. They shook hands, and the older man left the room to leave the younger one in his own thoughts. Hermes came over to approach his father with a perplexed look.
"Father, I don't want him to be a stud for my daughter," Hermes said. "I don't think he should be one to create Queens and Kings, either. He should be a stud, but not to my kid. He's not good enough for me."
"I beg your pardon?" Robert asked now with a raised brow. "What does your mother think? It will be her choice in the end, you know."
"I already talked with Mother," Hermes said. "She agrees with me. Maybe one of Ragland's daughters will take Steve up. I don't want him to touch any of my daughters. I haven't seen him fight. He can survive, but I don't know how he can hold himself in a real fight. I've been inspecting the soldiers that will be tested on the island with the help of the drones. One of them may work for me. Not Steve."
"Why not?" Steve asked, as he walked over now. He heard them talking just outside his room, and now he had to defend himself. "I made top marks in my last training session! I was picked to be a part of that fucking squad before I almost got my ass handed to me! They told us nothing of what to expect! I was only told to look sharp and keep my weapon loaded and ready! I had no idea what was going on until I was the only one left standing."
"Steve," Hermes sighed. "there is another reason I don't want you around my daughters. They will all be Queens. You don't want to be a stud, anyways. Right? You want to help create more Queens. Not breeders or drones."
"Oh..." Steve frowned in thought.
"I'm not doubting your military prowess at all. I know you can survive. That's not the issue. Every daughter I make, Mother will be making a King for. That's how it seems to be working. I don't think that Ragland can make Kings or Queens for my sons or daughters, either. They would have to come from Mother. She is an Empress. Above the Queens," Hermes explained. Now Robert looked at him with complete amusement.
"An Empress. That makes a lot more sense! And Alex would be an Emperor, then. But, he can't make the Kings. Would that make me the Emperor?" Robert mused now.
"Fuck you! I am King and Emperor!" Alex seethed, as he rushed at him. One of his drones caught the whole conversation for him. "You are a fucking stud! That's it! It's all you'll ever be! Don't even think for a fucking second that you're anything more than that!"
"My King! Please stop!" Hermes said, as he quickly stepped in front of his father. Alex growled, and he came to a dead stop in front of the breeder male. "Father is considered the main stud to Mother. That's all. There is no need to hurt him."
"My King..." Athena whispered from where she was with Dionysus. She was heavily pregnant, but she had to be there to help with her brothers. "Mother cares about all of us. If not for us, then think of her. Father will never be up to you in standards, my King. But...he's still my Father. Our Father. He is the main root of our existence."
"Without him, we wouldn't be able to help you, my King," Apollo said when he walked over. Aphrodite looked very worried, as he supported her. Alex seemed to grimace. Then he groaned when he heard Agatha's angry muttering getting closer.
"Robert! Alex! Front and center!" she growled out. "NOW!"
"Say nothing," Hermes muttered to Steve. The young man nodded slightly.
"Agatha..." Alex sighed.
"No. You promised me you wouldn't do this, and I don't care if the promise was made to only be around me. I care about Robert. I love you, Alex. I told you this before. And, if it wasn't for Robert, we wouldn't be where we are today!" she frowned. "Apologize to him. Now. And I want you to mean it."
"Can I still tell him to fuck off?" Alex muttered.
"That's fine. Just don't go trying to kill him," Agatha said sternly. "And, Robert, you apologize to him, too. Granted, he tricked you into being here, but, if it wasn't for me, he would have killed you. So I want the two of you to apologize to each other and shake hands."
"Fucker," Robert mumbled.
"Son of a flying fuck," Alex mumbled back. "Sorry."
"Sorry," Robert nodded. They shook hands to appease her and the breeders around them.
"Now, both of you come back to the bedroom with me. We all need to have a talk," she sighed. Robert looked at her with surprise.
"The handshake wasn't enough?" Alex asked.
"That was to help calm me down and make the kids happy. Bedroom. You two with me. Let's go," she said again. Her belly was swelling even more from the drones. Now Alex realized why she wanted them to head into the bedroom with her. He was quick to scoop her off her feet and carry her away.
"Better not keep her waiting, Father," Hermes sighed.
"Right," he nodded. The other two breeder couples gave him their tight hugs of relief before retiring to their chambers. "Steve, what you just witnessed was Agatha getting mad. Don't get her livid. Ever. Go back to your chores. We'll talk about you a bit more later."
"Okay. Good luck," Steve smiled.
"Thanks," Robert sighed. Hermes gave his father a hug and went back to Dana. Geb and Sekhmet would have been there, but they were tending to a new delivery of drones. Robert easily felt their relief, and he stopped by their room to hug each of them. After that, it was to help Alex keep Agatha calm until the drones were birthed. They had to work together neutrally to show that there was no more malice between. Their truce was fully called back into effect. They planned to make it far more permanent.