Chapter 9: Hive Mind Justice and a Grimm's Nuance
The buzz in Portland wasn't just the Mellifers; it was the growing tension. Nick, with Hank by his side, was slowly piecing together the puzzle of the bee-related murders. He'd learned about the Mellifers' peaceful nature, their hive mind, and their unwavering loyalty. The concept of a Wesen society enacting its own precise, collective justice was a new, unsettling layer to his Grimm reality.
Adam and Wanda were still on the sidelines, but their influence was about to become less "subtle breeze" and more "well-aimed gust."
"Alright, System, Mellifer diplomacy. Any historical precedents for convincing a hive mind to, you know, not sting someone to death?" Adam mentally queried, watching Adalind flit around the police station, looking increasingly agitated. "And maybe something about subtle distractions for a Hexenbiest who's about to get a very painful lesson in karma."
The Library delivered a wealth of information: ancient texts on Mellifer justice, obscure rituals for appeasement, and even a few forgotten Grimm techniques for disrupting a Wesen's focus. Adam found a particular, almost imperceptible frequency that, when emitted, could subtly redirect a large swarm of insects.
"Perfect," he murmured. He pulled out a small, almost invisible device from his pocket – a miniature sonic emitter he'd acquired from the Library shop's "covert gadgets" section. He subtly activated it, aiming it towards the general direction of Adalind's known movements. "Let's see how our Hexenbiest friend likes a little, shall we say, unforeseen bee traffic."
Wanda, meanwhile, was preparing for her own subtle intervention. As the Mellifers, a buzzing, angry cloud, descended upon Adalind, she extended her hands, a faint crimson shimmer surrounding them. She didn't create a massive force field; instead, she subtly manipulated the air currents, creating a series of invisible, temporary barriers that gently redirected the most aggressive bees away from innocent bystanders, ensuring no collateral damage. She also created a fleeting, almost imperceptible illusion – a sudden, shimmering distortion in Adalind's peripheral vision, just enough to make her stumble, disrupting her focus.
"What in the…?" Adalind muttered, swatting at the air, her elegant composure momentarily ruffled. She looked around, suspicion flickering in her eyes. It was too coincidental. Too… lucky for Nick. Or unlucky for her.
Nick, watching the chaos unfold, saw the bees swarming, then inexplicably veering away from civilians, focusing almost entirely on Adalind. He saw Adalind stumble, giving him the precious seconds he needed to intervene. He didn't know how, but something was helping him. Something was… interfering. He used a non-lethal method, a specialized net he'd learned about from Monroe, to apprehend the Mellifer queen, stopping the swarm without killing any of them.
[MISSION COMPLETE: Mellifer revenge mitigated. Adalind Schade's plot thwarted. Reward: 100 System Points.]
[FACTION RELATIONSHIP: Mellifers now neutral/positive towards Grimm. Host's influence successful.]
Adam grinned, a triumphant, chaotic-good grin. "Boom. One hundred System Points. And we saved the bees, stopped the Hexenbiest, and made Nick look like a genius. All in a day's work for the unsung heroes of Portland."
He glanced at Adalind, who was now being led away, her face a mask of frustration and growing suspicion. Oh, she knows something's up. She just can't prove it. Excellent.
"She's going to be very annoyed," Wanda observed, a hint of satisfaction in her voice.
"Good. Annoyed Hexenbiests are less dangerous than vengeful Hexenbiests," Adam quipped. "Though, to be fair, she's usually both. Now, about those System Points… I'm thinking a new book on Wesen diplomacy. Or maybe a charm that makes people less annoying. Though I doubt the Library has anything that powerful." He patted the side of his unassuming trailer. "Another successful intervention, old friend. Time for a celebratory, non-bee-related beverage."
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