The Hive (Rasper Book 2)

by Kathleen Groger

  “You’re mistaken.”

  “Why do you continue to lie to me?” the director thundered. He set the gun on the table and grabbed a laptop from a desk drawer. “Here’s the laptop you stole. You’re so naïve. Just like your mother. She didn’t appreciate what we could offer her. You’re playing checkers in a chess match.”

  My heart sank. He had the laptop with the tank release program on it. “Don’t you talk about about my mother. You didn’t know her.”

  “Oh but I did. Better than you since it seems she failed to tell you how she volunteered you for research in exchange for money. Now stop lying. Tell me how to find the damn queen.”

  I had to get him calmed down. I tried to soften my voice when all I wanted to do was scream at him. “Okay, you knew we went down to the tubes. To try to find my friend. My friend you stole from me. But that does not prove I’m connected to this so-called hive.”

  “Watch.” He laughed a twisted-sounding laugh, tapped a few keys, and an image came to life on the large screen on the wall.

  An image of me. I was asleep in my bed, in the residential quarters. Goosebumps broke out across my skin. He had recorded me sleeping. The invasion made anger burn in my gut. How dare he record me.

  In the video, I thrashed around and kept saying, “Pink fog. Trapped. Can’t breathe.”

  I inhaled and forced myself to not spew obscenities at his violation of my privacy. “So I said something in my sleep, after I saw the pink tubes, that doesn’t prove anything.”

  “This video was taken before you even knew the room existed.” His words were like weights pulling me down deeper into a bottomless abyss. He knew.

  “Taylor confirmed you told him about seeing places you haven’t been.” He set the laptop on the table next to the gun.

  Taylor sprang up. “Don’t lie! I said no such thing.”

  The director rounded to face him. “You most certainly did.”

  Taylor’s face was white. “Val, believe me, I didn’t say anything. Why would I?”

  By the craziness leaking from the director, I could tell Taylor hadn’t told him.

  “Taylor, do you honestly believe you are special? Do you think that I didn’t know about everything you’ve said? Every conversation you’ve had? Everything you’ve done? Every program you’ve hacked? Everywhere you’ve been?” The director’s face twisted into a sneer, making him look ugly. “I have let you do it all. You’re just a pawn. Like your mother. Like your father. Your only purpose is to serve me.”

  Taylor’s hands shook and looked about ready to hit the director. “That’s not possible.”

  “Of course it’s possible. You know from your hacking that my brain chip implants work.” The director had given up any form of calmness. He was full out yelling. “Where do you think the scar on the back of your neck came from? Not from a fall. I put it there.”

  Dr. Morgenstern moved to the corner by Carter.

  Taylor grabbed the pistol from the table and aimed it at the director.

  “Are you going to shoot me, Taylor? You don’t have the guts.”

  “You used me. This whole time. You’re a lying son of a bitch. I won’t be your puppet any longer.” Taylor went to pull the trigger, but he didn’t shoot. Couldn’t shoot.

  The director laughed a maniacal laugh. “Checkmate to you, Taylor. See, you can’t kill me. You are blocked from harming Level Five personnel just like the rest of them.”

  In unison, as if we had practiced it a hundred times, Adam and I aimed our guns at the director.

  “But we’re not.” I gave him a look of hatred. “You psycho.”

  The director licked his lips. “Here’s the best part though. While the two of you may be able to kill me, you won’t.”

  “Please enlighten us on your reasoning, Uncle.” Adam emphasized the word uncle.

  “In my wisdom, genius really, my chip is not only attached to my heartbeat but also to the facility’s self-destruct sequence. So you see, if my heart stops, we all die. All of you must fight to keep me alive, even sacrifice yourself in order for the rest of us to live.” He took in a deep breath and looked around as if he was some type of god. He held his hand out to Taylor. “I’ll take the gun back now.”

  “No, I’m going to keep it.” Taylor stuck the gun in his pocket. “And you’re right, I have seen all the info about your mind implants. You know what else I saw? I saw a video of you and the one Rasper guy having a little conversation. Guess you forgot you record every damn thing.”

  “What?” Dr. Morgenstern raced back and swiped the laptop from the table before anyone could react. “Show me.” She held it for Taylor to see.

  He pointed at the screen. “There. Play that one.”

  Dr. Morgenstern played the video. It came to life on the big screen. The audio was garbled, but it showed the director talking with the goateed Rasper who I assumed was the local leader.

  “You did this? You told them how to breach the facility. Why, Darren? Why?” Dr. Morgenstern’s voice was filled with betrayal. She then tapped a few keys. A look of victory crossed her face.

  “To make sure Val takes me to the queen of course.” He turned to me. “Let’s go wake your friend up.”

  “I don’t think so.” Dr. Morgenstern darted behind the desk and hit a button.

  Adam aimed his gun at her.

  The door unlocked and opened, but instead of Bowie and other guys, there were two large Raspers standing in the doorway. I recognized one as the goateed Rasper leader, and he had a big smile on his face.

  27

  “Stop,” I commanded.

  Goatee laughed. “Val, you are not strong enough yet to command me.”

  Adam turned to take aim.

  “Don’t. I came for him. Just him.” He aimed his pointy nail at the director.

  I made a motion for Adam to lower his gun. “Did you kill the people standing outside?”

  “There was no one outside this door. My team has only one mission. Director Solomon.”

  The director stood still like he was in shock.

  “Then stop the Raspers from killing everyone.”

  “I have no power to do that. Their instructions do not come from me.” He turned his head and looked directly at me. His ice-blue eyes were in sharp contrast to the yellow in the rest of his eyes. “They are bringing balance. I can only offer that I will not attack you. I am here for him. He double-crossed us and has tortured many of us.”

  I held up my hands. “You can’t kill him. His heart is attached to a self-destruct sequence of the building.”

  The director leapt toward Taylor and yanked the gun from his pocket. A shot rang out in the air. The lead Rasper’s shoulder jerked back as black liquid painted the door behind him. The two Raspers both rushed forward and grabbed the director. The goateed Rasper ripped the gun from his hand. The black spot on the Rasper’s shirt where the bullet had entered was growing, but his face showed no acknowledgment of pain.

  Adam and I looked at each other. Neither one of us aimed our guns at the Raspers.

  “Let me go,” the director shouted, struggling to get free.

  “Val. You know what you need to do. If what you say about his heart is correct, you have about fifteen minutes to leave,” Goatee Rasper said, and with a speed I hadn’t seen before, the Raspers took off with the director pleading for his life.

  “Shit,” Adam swore, turned, and pointed his gun at Dr. Morgenstern. “How much were you involved in this?”

  “Children, let’s focus.” Dr. Morgenstern closed the laptop and clutched it to her chest. “I saw the Raspers were at the door. I’m on your side.”

  “You have never been on my side. You have only ever been on your own side. You deserve whatever happens. Now give me the damn computer. We need to free Megan.”

  Adam cleared his throat.

  She handed me the laptop. “You may be right. But you need me. I’m the only one that can get us out of here in time. There are escape pods. All we need is a pilot.�
��

  “What escape pods?” Taylor got in her face. “She’s lying. There is nothing like that here.”

  “Don’t block my shot, man,” Adam grumbled.

  Taylor moved out of the way.

  Carter glided forward. “It’s true. She knows where they are. Only her and the director know their location.”

  “We don’t have time for this. We have to save Megan. Bring her with us.” I focused on Carter. “Can you contact Kalis?”

  “I’m right here.” Kalis and Rollins entered through the open door.

  “Where’s Zombie?” I had hoped they would find him.

  “He’s still not responding. Where’s the director?” Kalis swept the room with his eyes.

  “We have to go. I’ll explain on the way.” I ran from the room, and everyone followed. While we raced to the lower level where the tanks were, I filled Kalis and Rollins in on what had happened.

  Kalis tapped behind his ear. “Bowie, what’s your location?” Kalis paused. “Shit. Okay, grab a female uniform and meet us—hang on.” He turned back to look at Dr. Morgenstern. “Where should he meet us?”

  “At the Z symbol.” She kicked off her heels without breaking stride.

  “Bowie, meet at the Z in less than five. I’m leaving my comm open.” He turned to us. “Bowie’s alive, but the other people who survived the Raspers got stung by Bugs. They’re gone.”

  It took us too many precious minutes to reach the lower level. I held my breath as I entered the room full of tubes, not sure what I’d find. I prayed she was still there. Prayed the Raspers hadn’t destroyed her tank. With a deep exhale, I gave thanks the remaining tubes were still intact, flooding the room with their pink light.

  “Taylor, can you find the program to release Megan?”

  He took the laptop from me and hit a ton of keys.

  I put my palms on the glass of her tank. Her eyes were open. Looking out into the distance. Tears ran down my cheeks.

  “We’re going to get you out,” I whispered.

  Her hair waved back and forth in the liquid, shifting off her face revealing a mark. A sallow-colored spot that resembled a handprint covered the right side of her face with the palm being on her forehead and the finger spread across her eye and down her cheek. “What’s that?”

  “What?” Adam and Dr. Morgenstern were at my side in an instant.

  “Look at her face.” I tapped the glass ever so softly.

  Adam blinked a few times. “Is that a handprint?”

  Taylor stopped typing. “Uh, Val, Adam? There’s something you need to see.”

  “Stay there,” Adam directed Dr. Morgenstern.

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re wasting time here. She’s a goner anyway. Leave her.”

  “Shut up.” I didn’t have time for her crap.

  Adam and I both turned and flanked Taylor’s shoulders, staring at the screen. It was Megan’s medical chart from her time here.

  Female subject NS198 was found alive at the crash site of helicopter ZF485. NS198 was transported immediately to Zigotgen and arrived at 13:44. NS198 suffered from an injection by an alien metal spider. She did not die. She was monitored until 17:00 for signs of turning into an alien host. However, no neurological or biological changes were observed. The only physical change was a yellow shaped mark similar to a downward pointing handprint covering the right side of her face.

  Tests were immediately authorized and overseen by Dr. Morgenstern. NS198’s blood came back with both normal and infected markers. A CT scan and MRI were ordered. The results showed a small tumor in her brain’s cerebrum.

  The tumor was biopsied and determined to be a Grade 1 – Pilocytic Astrocytoma.

  It appears NS198 started to turn, then stopped. This is an abnormal response to an alien injection. Death or change have been the only previous options. NS198 will be incorporated into the tube tests to see if her infected markers will reverse with the test antidote.

  “Megan has a brain tumor?” It felt like gravity had just tripled, pulling harder on my body as my knees shook. I grabbed the back of Taylor’s chair to steady myself. “Is there any more information? Is it fatal?”

  Taylor turned and looked up at me. His face was full of pain. “Nothing else. That’s it.”

  “Told you we’re wasting time if you want to get out of here alive.” Dr. Morgenstern didn’t even have the capacity to sound like she was sorry.

  No. No. No.

  Megan was a fighter. She would be okay. A lump of worry balled in my throat. I forced back the urge to cry and straightened up. I wasn’t going to lose her again. Not to this.

  “The antidote doesn’t work,” Dr. Morgenstern reminded us.

  I felt the syringes in my pocket. “Carter, do you know how to operate any of this equipment?”

  “No. However, if Taylor were to upload the project’s information, I believe it might be possible.” Carter glided from the tanks to us. “Or Dr. Morgenstern could access it for us.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t trust her to do it correctly.”

  Adam waved the gun at the doctor. “Tell Taylor where the program is.”

  She marched over to Taylor and directed him. He banged away at the keys in a dizzying speed.

  I paced the length of the room. Carter moved in behind Taylor. Kalis and Rollins stood guard at the door. Dr. Morgenstern tapped her nails on her thigh.

  “What are you thinking?” Adam asked me.

  “If we add my blood to the failed antidote, it might work.”

  “What if it doesn’t?”

  Could I live knowing her death was my fault?

  “Got it,” Taylor called, pulling me out of my dark thoughts.

  Adam smiled a rare smile. “How long will it take to upload?”

  “It’s a lot of megs. A few minutes.” Taylor typed on the computer, then had Carter plug into the computer with a USB connection he made appear from his wrist.

  “We don’t have a few minutes. We need to hurry.” The scared look in Dr. Morgenstern’s eyes betrayed her calm exterior.

  I walked to Megan and leaned my forehead against her tube. A brain tumor. Had she known? I held my hand to the glass. I swore I could feel her heart beating through the tube but knew that was crazy.

  “Almost done,” Taylor called out.

  A rumbling noise filled the room, and a vibration shot through my body.

  “What’s happening?” Adam asked in a tone higher than his normal pitch.

  Kalis and Rollins held their guns at the ready. My finger moved toward the M16 when the rumbling turned into a deafening cracking sound. Suddenly, the floor opened up at my feet.

  “Is it self-destructing?” Taylor yelled.

  “Shit. Move faster.” Kalis alternated between watching the crack grow in size and aiming out into the hallway.

  The crack ripped past my boots. “We have to get Megan out.”

  “But…” Taylor spluttered. He grabbed onto the laptop as another crack zipped through the floor right under him. Carter pulled away from the computer and glided to one side. Taylor dashed to the other.

  “Taylor, can you open the tube release program?” Adam yelled over the thundering sound of cement shifting and breaking.

  The crack raced toward the tanks, hitting below the one right across from Megan. The glass shattered, and its occupant crashed to the floor. His skin was Rasper yellow, but he didn’t move. I jumped over the growing crack and felt for a pulse. He didn’t have one.

  “Get her out.” I leapt back over to Megan’s tank.

  “Hang on,” Taylor said.

  “We need to go. The floor is collapsing outside of here. We will be trapped if we don’t go. Now,” Rollins screamed, motioning for us to come with him.

  “I’m not leaving Megan. Not again.” My pulse raced out of control. I was going to get her out. I had to.

  “We have to go,” Dr. Morgenstern yelled.

  “Running the program now.” Taylor looked at me over the laptop,
and for a second, the fear he had to be feeling flashed across his face.

  We didn’t have time to add my blood to the serum.

  “Kalis, don’t let the doctor leave.”

  The light in Megan’s tank blinked on and off, then a whoosh of water releasing clashed with the rumbles of the floor breaking apart. Adam stood on one side while I stood on the other. I set the M16 on the floor. The glass tube slid up about three feet then stopped. Megan slipped down but was still trapped inside the tube.

  “Shit. It’s jammed.”

  Adam grabbed the bottom, trying to lift it up. His jaw was clenched and his face turned red. “Come on, damn it.”

  It didn’t move.

  “It’s stuck. We need to pull her out.” I grabbed Megan’s leg.

  Adam held her other. We pulled, but her body was wet and my hands slipped off. I readjusted, and the two of us pulled her free from the tank. She collapsed against us. A slight moan escaped her lips. Taylor removed his sweatshirt, and with a quick tug, Adam and I got it on Megan.

  The left side of the floor lifted violently, throwing Taylor toward one of the glass tubes. His hands hit it hard with a thud. The glass exploded and sent shards of lethal projectiles out in all directions. Taylor landed on the floor. He slipped half into the gaping chasm.

  “Damn it,” Rollins groaned.

  Adam pushed Megan on me and away from the opening, then dove toward Taylor. It took all my strength to keep from dropping her into the growing chasm. The M16 skittered into the crack.

  Adam clasped his hands on Taylor’s forearms.

  “Help.” Taylor struggled.

  Adam pulled and almost had him up when Taylor slipped. Adam kept hold of his wrists and yanked him back out. Rollins raced to me. He lifted Megan like she was a bag of feathers, throwing her over his shoulder. “Come on.”

  Kalis fired repeatedly. I turned to see three Raspers fall into the gaping crevice.

  “We have to go now,” Dr. Morgenstern pleaded.

  I looked over at Adam and Rollins. They both nodded. I pulled out the Glock and helped Kalis blast away four more Raspers.