A Carving in the Bone: The Hive Trilogy: An Unborn Space Opera

By C.L. Roman

They say bad news comes in threes, but trouble can multiply.

With HiveZ on the way to the Crab Nebula and annihilation, Tessa Graham is finally ready to relax. After more than a thousand years fighting mankind's worst enemy, she feels like she deserves a break.

 

Unfortunately, fate has other plans.

 

Jordan Hightower is a man with responsibilities – the first of which is providing for his young sister, LouAnn. He is also a quick-thinking privateer, always looking for a profit, so when he comes across the Stalwart – a vessel carrying highly lucrative cargo – he's all in. But what he doesn't know may just kill him this time.

When Jordan accidentally releases HiveZ to wreak havoc on the remnants of humankind, Tessa is once again forced to track the monster down and destroy them once and for all. The question is, will Jordan be a help, or another hindrance?

 

Fans of Ursula LeGuin, Iain Banks, and John Scalzi will enjoy this exciting conclusion to the Hive Trilogy, a fast-paced thrill ride of a novel about fighting insurmountable odds against an implacable enemy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.L. Roman
• Release date: Oct 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201901905

C.L. Roman

C.L. Roman is a writer and editor in NE Florida. She writes fantasy and paranormal YA and is currently developing several series: Rephaim and Witch of Forsythe High, among them. In between novels, you can find her on her blog, The Brass Rag. Cheri lives with her husband and Jack E. Boy, Superchihuahua.

Book preview

The Hive Trilogy, Book Three

A Carving in the Bone

An unborn Space Opera

C.L. Roman

Copyright © 2021 C.L. Roman

Brass Rag Press

All rights reserved.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

Glossary

Chapter One

Ankada, Anarkhia7

The city of Ankada was a darker hole on an already lightless planet. Nothing good lived under the scanty shelter provided by the ramshackle biodomes. Instead, the grubby sphere was inhabited by the dregs of the universe, eking out an ugly existence under the corrupt supervision of a pseudo-government called the Iron League.

Still, there were attractions to doing business there.

You had to pay the various tolls and taxes, but no one interfered in your business after you’d met your obligations. There were only two laws here: pay up and mind your own. Most did their best to circumvent the first, but no one broke the second unless there was a decent chance of success with a guaranteed profit.

Jordan Hightower, captain of the Dark Heart and commander of the Red Knights, made sure anyone sticking their nose in his business paid a high price for the privilege of failure, and thus, most left him and his crew to fend for themselves.

Exactly as Jordon liked it. He brushed back an auburn curl from his forehead and opened a commlink to his first mate. Suze? We have a buyer for that load of telsa powder.

Oh yeah? The young Lacertilian’s voice held a note of skepticism. Telsa powder was a highly effective anti-aging drug, making eighty-year-olds look and feel twenty. It also slowly eradicated the body’s immune system, was incredibly addictive, and often led to death within five years. Pharmaceutical companies had been trying for decades, without success, to cut out the dangerous bits while keeping the rejuvenating properties. Legally, they were the only ones who could buy it, and for good reason. Even the folks on Ankada were reluctant to touch it. Who?

Duran on Fortuna Three.

Damn it, Jordan. You know what he’s going to use it for.

He dilutes it, and he doesn’t give it to anyone who isn’t already addicted.

According to who?

Come on, Suze. I didn’t want it in the first place, but now we have it, and we need to get rid of it. Duran made a good offer.

Fine. But you deal with the sleaze-tail. I want no part of this deal.

A sly twinkle glinted in Jordan’s eye. Not even your cut?

No one said anything like that. Suze snorted. You keep your homosapien digits off my credits, Jordan, or I’ll pluck out your eye with the tip of my tail.

Knowing she couldn’t see him, Jordan shuddered but replied easily. Duly noted. Did you figure out how to unlock the crate we took off the Stalwart?

Not yet. They got it triple-locked with multiple backups, so there’s no way to cut power to it without opening up the box.

Jordan felt a thrum of excitement in his bones. No one locked something up that tight unless it had massive value. We could just let it run down. Not many energy sources last forever.

This one might. It’s got a Neptunian power rig. Draws energy from its surroundings. Might be able to pry it open, but that’s fair certain to damage the box, and maybe whatever’s inside too.

All right. I’ll come down, take a look. An anticipatory tingle shot through Jordan’s fingertips. At one time, he’d been the best lockcracker in the business. Time to see if he still had the stuff.

On the comm-link, Suze let out a sigh of relief. Thanks, skipper. I coulda called Goru in, but he charges a hefty fee, and he stinks.

Remembering his last encounter with the slug-like Norillian, Jordan shivered. Yeah, best to avoid bringing in outsiders anyway. Be down in a flash. He signed off and sauntered out of his quarters, headed for the Dark Heart’s cargo bay.

As he left the OPT, sixteen-year-old LouAnn, the ship’s procurement tech, hurried up to him. Hey, Skipper. I got a line on another cargo for us. Her demeanor was missing its usual bounce, and he wondered if she lacked enthusiasm for the job or for telling him about it.

What’s the loot? he asked.

Sentient commodities.

He shook his head and kept walking. We don’t do slaves, Lou. Or refugees. You know that.

These are... Some of them are human.

Jordan’s shoulders stiffened, and he stopped walking, but he didn’t turn around. Who has ‘em?

Vladdinian slave traders. Her words tumbled over themselves as she hurried to convince him. They’re advertising males and females, some with kids, Jordan. We have to try and help them.

How much of the cargo is human?

Does it matter?

He turned to glower at her, and she swallowed hard before hurrying on. The ad didn’t say. But they’re bringing them into Ankada next week. We could cut ‘em loose, easy, get ‘em over to Verilan or Hifaesta with one vortex leap. The Dark Heart is the fastest frigate in the galaxy. They’d never catch us.

He studied her in silence for several minutes. Finally, he sighed. No. We’re going to have to pass on this one.

But—

We just lost two ships, Lou, and the Vladdinians are the nastiest, most tenacious fighters in the quadrant. Maybe in the ‘verse. All for no profit.

Tell that to the slaves being sold into the stars know what kind of life. Tell them there’s no profit in freeing ‘em, Captain.

He spun on his heel and pushed his face close to hers. Protecting my crew is my first responsibility. If I take them up against the Vladdinians, I’ll likely lose more than one. You want to lift that weight?

She backed up a step and stared at the floor, a swath of coppery hair falling into her eyes. No, Sir.

Already regretting his harshness, he reached out to ruffle her curls, but she shied out of reach. Lou, don’t ‘sir’ me. You’re my sister, not my employee.

I’m your partner, just like Suze is. You agreed to that, or I’d have stayed on Lessara.

Not with Mom and Dad both gone, you wouldn’t.

Whatever. You said you’d listen to me just like you do, Suze. You promised.

I did listen. But I had to say no this time. You know why. I can’t risk our entire enterprise for one small group of unfortunates. It isn’t just the Dark Heart. The crews of the Dauntless and the Stargazer depend on me too.

Jogger and Deke would abandon you in a heartbeat, she flashed back.

He was well aware that he couldn’t trust the other two captains, but he couldn’t let her see that. Maybe, maybe not. Doesn’t change a thing. I can’t let them down.

She hung her head. I know. It’s just... Those people the Vladdinians captured. They need help, and no one else is going to do it.

I’m sorry, kid. I really am. But I have to look out for us first. OK?

She shrugged.

Look, I got to go help Suze with this latest haul. There’s some kind of problem getting the last container open. Want to come watch?

She shook her head, and he sighed. All right then. I’ll tell you about it later. And I expect you’ll have us a target for our next run by dinner time, yeah?

Sure, she said.

He gave her one last look, but she wouldn’t meet his gaze. Finally, he turned and marched away. At the bay’s far end, he could see a small gathering of crew members standing around a long, gray box — the container from the Stalwart.

He nodded to the group as he approached. Suze, any progress?

Nope. The Lacertilian female flicked her tail and pointed to the label on the container. Tag says bio-technical, but you know that means less than nothin’. They slap on whatever warning they think will scare you most, usually.

Jordan eyed the container. You scanned it?

‘Course. Fat lot of good it did, too. Suze snorted. Couldn’t get past the security shielding with the Dark Heart’s system. You really gotta upgrade soon, Skipper. She blinked the transparent membranes over her eyes nervously – a habit he found seriously creepy even in a lizard species but ignored since she was the best first mate he’d ever had.

Suze issued a final warning. Be careful, will ya? For all we know, it’s a bio-weapon or some kind of exotic critter that’ll jump out and eat us all.

Jordan grinned. We could always just toss it back into space, he suggested.

Her elliptical pupils widened into ovals. And lose who knows how much profit? Are you tuggin’ my scales?

He reeled back and pressed a dramatic hand against his heart. Me? Yank YOUR scales? I would never, Suze. You know that.

She blinked at him three times, the Lacertilian version of rolling her eyes. Best get on with it then, she said. Aye, and here’s your sister come to watch the master at work.

He followed her look and saw Lou coming across the bay. A half-smile curved his lips. Well, I’d best get started then.

Stepping close to the container, he checked the nearly invisible seam between the lid and the box. Too tight for a pry bar to get in there without doing damage. The surface was colder to the touch than it should have been, given the bay’s ambient temperature. A red warning glared at them from its top.

DANGER: BIO-TECHNICAL COMPONENTS. Maintain sub-zero temperature.

Good thing you didn’t try to open this, he said. It’s climate-controlled. Means we likely have something tricky inside. Sub-zero, huh? That’s a stretch.

Might not be, Suze said. I heard they got some bio-chemical weaponry as needs to be kept cold or it goes off.

This came from a Simoi ship. They don’t trade in weapons, Jordan replied. Besides, you refrigerate bio-chem; you don’t freeze it. Taking in her hard look, he shrugged. OK. Let’s move it into storage area two. Set the controls to keep things cool, just in case.

Two burly deckhands rolled the sarcophagus into the indicated storage area while Suze stood by the door and adjusted the unit’s temperature control.

The group gathered close, zipping up jackets and pulling up collars as the temperature dropped.

Easy, Suze. No need to freeze us all.

It says sub-zero.

Yeah, and these science types always exaggerate. Chilly is fine, but let’s not get carried away. Jordan pulled a small tool bag from his pocket and examined the box’s lock panel as a shiver of excitement rose in his chest.

Last time I saw a box like this, it had Pharyngian Orchids inside. He glanced past the other crew members to Lou, who was standing on the outside edge of the small crowd. Made enough on that haul to buy the Dark Heart, remember?

I remember. She smiled.

That one locked with a password, same as this. I think I can just... He inserted a probe into the locking mechanism and studied the screen, making one small adjustment at a time and checking the results before moving on, breaking the code one character after the next.  It took several minutes, but finally, the mechanism whirred and clicked. It was open. Jordan grinned. Let’s see what we’ve got.

He lifted the lid, and everyone crowded close as white vapor rose in a dense cloud from inside the box. As the mist cleared, Jordan found himself staring, dumbfounded, at a slender, humanoid form, its feet broken off and sitting neatly on its shins.

What in Latarna’s womb is that? Zakar, a big male Cornusian male with rippling muscles and a thick head of black hair, blurted.

Android? Suze wondered. Cyborg, maybe?

Do you think it’s alive? Lou whispered.

Hastily, Jordan hustled her several meters away from the sarcophagus. No, it’s likely dead or deactivated. You go on up to—

A sharp cry followed by a sickening thud jerked his attention back to the container. Zakar struggled in the grasp of a silver-blue hand sticking up from the containment unit. Jordan gave Lou a little push toward the OPT. Hide. Without waiting to see if she obeyed him, he turned toward the fight.

Jordan watched Zakar’s struggle grow weaker as the hand squeezed his neck until its fingers gouged furrows in the ruptured flesh, and blood oozed in green, gleaming rivers down his chest. Before Jordan could take more than a step toward the sarcophagus, Zakar was dead.

The hand opened, and the deckhand fell to the floor with a solid, wet thud. A sick tide of fear surged through Jordan’s gut as the android rose out of the box, swaying unsteadily under the cargo bay’s harsh lights. Jordan skidded to a halt and spared a glance over his shoulder. Lou froze in place; her mouth stretched wide in a silent scream.

Run, Jordan shouted. His command broke through, and she sprinted for the OPT as her brother opened the all-call. Battle stations. Intruder in the cargo bay. Jordan pulled his blaster and raced toward the crate, skidding to a halt as the monster grabbed Suze, hoisting her high and breaking her back over its knee.

Jordan fired into the thing’s chest, sending it staggering back over the edge of the container.

It barely hit the ground before it was on its pins again, with two gaping holes in its torso. Reaching into the box, it pulled out its feet and dropped them on the floor. The metallic crack and shriek of metal joining echoed through the air, and the monster was suddenly several inches taller. It swung its gaze back and forth across the bay, the strange, gold eyes brightening as its gaze landed on Jordan.

You are human. We are HiveZ. You must die, but first, you will provide what we need.

Not on your life, you son of a bitch!

There is no choice, but if you resist us, all your people will die. It lowered its arm, and Jordan couldn’t believe his eyes. Its hand morphed into a blaster, the tip glowing red as it sprayed energy bolts across the bay.

Crew members dove behind cargo and equipment, seeking protection against the barrage. Since they were in port, most of them weren’t even armed.

Get out of range, he yelled. All of you. Running full steam toward the open container, he vaulted on top of it. Landing with one foot on the rim and the other on the lid, he rode it over, using his momentum and weight to topple it onto HiveZ.

Silence settled over the cavernous room. One crew member and then another peaked out of hiding. Gray slurry leaked out from under the sarcophagus, pooling in odd loops and whorls of iridescent sludge.

Relief and unease crowded each other in Jordan’s chest. He nodded at the crew. Get me a couple of those fire suppressor units. I don’t think it’s quite—

The box rolled under his feet, throwing Jordan to the floor. The container landed on its side, the concave lid open, exposing the stark, white interior.

The puddle of silvery liquid condensed into a mouth, fully fanged and raging. Around it, the metal frothed higher and higher, forming a head with staring eyes, then a torso, sprouting arms.

We will destroy you! it screamed.

Get those suppressors, Jordan yelled. But it was too late.

HiveZ surged to their feet, both hands morphing into blasters. Energy bolts sprayed from the muzzles in a constant stream, mowing down every crew member in sight. Jordan dove into the sarcophagus, his weight tipping it back onto its base. Momentum slammed the lid closed, the lock engaging with a metallic click.

Muffled thuds slammed into the unit, and it juddered and creaked, but held. The box lurched sideways with a muted screech, followed by forward movement and more screeching. That thing was moving him.

His world spun as the container rotated upright on its end, putting Jordan on his feet. A series of crashes, each accompanied by a sudden, fist shaped extrusion in the metal above him, suggested that the creature was trying to beat the box into submission.

From somewhere in the cargo bay came a muffled shout, and the pounding stopped. Streams of white mist seeped into the container with a low hiss. Jordan’s vision clouded.

The damn thing has activated the bio-freeze sequence. Crap! he muttered. What do I... How do I get out? His disjointed thoughts lurched and tumbled as if someone had drugged him.

The temperature dropped rapidly. His breath came in thick, white puffs as ice formed in his hair and along the folds in his clothes. He could feel the frantic hammering of his heart slowing, the blood in his veins congealing.

Oh gods. I’m going to freeze to death. The thought was sudden, clear, and completely lacking in emotional content, as if he was simply making an observation regarding events that had nothing to do with him. Lou? The name echoed plaintively in his head.

The pounding stopped. Distant shouts, and a sudden, violent impact sent his coffin spinning wildly. His head slammed into the unforgiving metal wall, and he was out.

Tessa burst into the Dark Heart’s cargo hold and skidded to a halt at the sight before her. Broken equipment lay wherever it had fallen. The stench of spilled blood and the groans of the wounded thickened the air. The fact that the cries were so few – indicating a sickeningly low number of survivors – twisted her stomach in knots.

Rakan? she called out. Start scanning the ship. We aren’t far behind them, maybe only minutes. We might be able to catch them yet.

Rakan nodded and Tessa looked around for her other team-member. Dash was standing over a familiar box, and she hurried to join him.

As she approached, Dash shoved the lid open and ran a bioscope over the unconscious male. Looking over his shoulder, Tessa stared down at the motionless figure. I don’t know who you are, but you really picked the wrong target this time.

Is he dead? she asked Dash.

Nearly, the daemon responded as he injected something into the man’s arm. Another few minutes in that thing and I wouldn’t have been able to help him. As it is, he should come out of it momentarily. He’ll be a bit shaky for a while, though. Don’t allow him to go running about.

Tessa gave him a sardonic grin. I’ll see what I can do, but I make no promises.

Very well. I’ll see to transporting the rest of the injured to the local medical facility. He fluttered off toward a quiet line of medilevs being loaded into a transport.

The man opened his eyes. Lou?

Tessa frowned at him. I don’t know who that is, Mr.— She paused and raised an eyebrow.

Captain Jordan Hightower. He braced his arms against the box’s top edge and tried to pull himself upright.

Mr. Hightower, Tessa said. Like I said, I don’t know who Lou is, but we’ll try to help you find him.

Jordan sat up, gingerly cradling his head in his hands. Why does everything hurt? Head, hands, body — everything I’ve got feels like it’s been beaten with a hammer, he said. 

Pretty normal, under the circumstances, Tessa said. You’re suffering from exposure. Dash gave you a restorative, but it’s going to take a bit to work.

Her, he muttered.

What was that?

Her. Lou is my sister. Have you found her? Is she OK?

Tessa glanced over his shoulder at Rakan, who shook his head. We haven’t identified her yet, but I’ll let my people know to look for her. How many humans were in your crew?

Only me and Lou. Suze is... He winced. Was, Lacertilian. Most of the rest are Indians, but we have a couple of— He cut himself off mid-sentence. What do you mean ‘were’?

She eyed him coldly, wondering how much he’d seen before freezing himself into a human icy-pop. Not that it mattered. HiveZ was at large again, and it was his fault. He didn’t deserve her sympathy. Most of your crew is dead, thanks to HiveZ, she said.

His head jerked up and he glared at her. That isn’t possible. There were fifty people on the Dark Heart. All of them handpicked badasses. I’d stack them up against any enemy in the galaxy, and we’d win.

Tessa almost felt bad for him. Almost. I promise you, it’s not only possible, it’s true.

The ruddy color granted him by his time in the bio-freeze drained out of his cheeks, leaving them pasty, but he brushed her back and swung his legs over the edge of the crate, barely catching himself as his knees buckled. I need to find Lou, he said.

You aren’t going anywhere until Tessa says so, friend. Rakan folded his arms across his chest and glared at Jordan.

You got no right to keep me here. I need to find Lou, Jordan said.

We have every right, Tessa countered. The ship you hijacked was carrying a synthetic nanocyte bio-weapon called HiveZ. They’re guilty of destroying entire towns, but we caught them. They were on their way to the Crab Nebula to be incinerated until you interfered. Now I need you to help me figure out where they went.

He stared at her. How the hell am I supposed to know that?

You probably don’t. But I’m betting HiveZ couldn’t resist leaving behind a little parting gift. She clamped her fingers around his bare wrist. The familiar tingle raced under her skin, glowing along her fingertips as the scanning device she and Rakan had developed activated. Her nails brightened to neon-blue and the light spread, disappearing under the cuff of his jumpsuit.

Hey! he yelled, trying to rip free of her.

Hold still. This won’t hurt and it will only take a minute.

That burns! Let loose!

It does not. Sit still. She released him abruptly, her expression grim. I was right. You’re infected, Mr. Hightower. It’s a tiny presence right now, but if you don’t let us reprogram them, they’ll convert the nanocytes you were born with one by one, until they have enough recruits to take you out.

That’s not possible.

You can bet it is. Unless they choose to use you as a sort of Trojan Horse.

A Trojan horse? What the hell is that?

When did they stop teaching old Earth history in the fleet schools? She flicked the errant thought away and answered him. A way of infiltrating human settlements. They let you live, at least until you enter a settlement with a large human population, taking them in with you. Then you die, along with every other human you encounter.

You think I’m stupid? You just want an excuse to confiscate my ship and detain my crew.

We don’t detain dead people, she replied, and waited for that to sink in before she went on. And by interstellar law, you gave us reason to confiscate the Dark Heart when you hijacked the Stalwart.

He stumbled away from her, and Tessa didn’t try to stop him, just kept pace as he reeled across the cargo bay toward the OPT.

Where are you going, Mr. Hightower?

To find my sister. Once I know she’s all right, we can talk.

A chill passed through her, but Tessa followed him without comment. She noticed he avoided looking at the bodies he passed. If he was telling the truth about being the only two humans on board, then none of them was his sister. Even so, she wasn’t optimistic. The chances of the girl surviving HiveZ were about the same as those of sunlight entering Hell.

Lou? Jordan called out. It’s OK. You can come out now.

No one replied, and Tessa’s heart sank. Mr. Hightower... Jordan...

A clatter in the far corner of the bay closed her lips.

Jordan lurched toward the noise and Tessa hurried after him, trying hard to ignore the scattering of broken equipment and dead personnel that told her they were following in HiveZ’s wake.

Lou? Jordan ran toward the wreckage of what might have been an autoloader at some point in the not-too-distant past. Both loading arms had been ripped free. One lay a few meters away; the other had clearly been used as a club on the body of the machine. The four giant wheels were tipped drunkenly in toward the body. The square cab’s sidewalls folded in toward the middle, creating a v-shaped depression that ran the full length of the roof. Underneath, she could see both axles, snapped in the center, leaking dark brown fluid onto the floor. Tessa stared at the trail of blood spatter leading into the pile as Jordan flung debris aside.

Jordan, take it easy. That pile doesn’t look too stable. You could bring it down on top of whoever is in there. Not only that but—

Jordan? The faint voice called from deeper inside the jumbled stack. Ignoring Tessa, Jordan grabbed the edge of the cab and pulled. The weakened structure groaned and gave slightly under his assault, but a human scream under the metallic screech assaulted Tessa’s ears.

Stop! she yelled. You’re hurting her.

Jordan froze in place, the mangled edge of the door frame in his hands, his face twisted in agony. Hold on, Lou. I’m coming, he said, his voice raspy with strain.

Tessa peered into the flattened driver’s cab and could just make out the shape of a thin, pale arm inside. Lou, this is Tessa Graham. I’m here to help. Can you move?

No. There’s something across my... her voice faded out as she took a ragged breath. I’m pinned next to the seat. I can barely breath.

Tessa met Jordan’s terrified gaze. Look, I need to see how she’s pinned, and I can’t do that from out here. So... She grimaced. Just don’t freak out, OK?

Stepping back from the wreckage, Tessa scanned the area. The only HiveZ readings she got were faint and sporadic. Likely from the infection Jordan carried. She’d have to worry about that later. With a sigh, she released her bioform, allowing her nanocytes to flow rather than holding a designated shape.

Jordan yelled something unintelligible and stumbled backward, but he didn’t attack her. Fluid now, Tessa streamed under the jumbled machine and up into its decimated structure. Traveling through it in multiple strands, her nanocytes provided a detailed