King of the Hive

Chapter 1: The Phone Call

Mozart swayed slightly as he flawlessly played Ode to Joy in the corner. Many drunken customers cheered him on and clapped to the beat. Some even though off-key singing was appropriate. Jeica had her eyes closed as she listened to one of her personal favourite violin pieces. Jake picked took a tray from Garry, who was at the bar, and took it around the room, serving drinks where necessary. She was glad Mozart had finally been able to live up to his name and perform one of the musician’s most famous songs.

“Do we tell her Ode to Joy was originally preformed by Beethoven?” Jake whispered to Garry, even though he could have shouted and not be heard over the ruckus of the bar. Garry shook his head.

“Let her be proud of him. After all, you might get lucky: Mozart may be content with this one song and not decide to try and learn another.”

“The world wouldn’t be the same without being dragged along to one of Mozart’s many violin practices,” Jake joked, downing a pint of beer.

“Oi! You’ve got a job to do. Ask that guy if he wants some beer,” Garry ordered in the sternest voice he could muster. Jake laughed and carried another tray of drinks around the room. As he passed by, he felt a tail curl around his waist. Advena pulled him in and kissed him, earning a few whoops and catcalls. The tray slid from his hand to someone else’s as they took over his job. Jake recognised him as Alistair, the ‘pregnant’ host of an Xenomorph. He winked at Jake as he started handing out drinks to those who wanted them. Advena placed Jake on her lap.

“Hello my love,” she greeted.

“Hi,” Jake answered dumbly.

“Hey, how come you never call her ‘baby’ or anything like that?” Jeica inquired as she slid into the booth with them. She sat across from them and stared at Jake questioningly. “You know. Like a normal guy?”

“You’re asking me why I’m not comparing my big scary alien wife to a harmless baby with a small and undeveloped brain? Hmm... That’s a tough one,” Jake replied sarcastically. They all laughed. Mozart, the one to be attention-seeking and jealous, jumped on the table between them.

“I get to call you that though,” Mozart chuckled, hopping onto the seat next to Jeica. “Isn’t that right, baby?” He slid an arm around her waist.

“We’re not mated yet.” Jeica pointed out, swatting his hand away playfully. “Maybe then you can.”

“I believe ‘yet’ is the key word there, yes?” Mozart grinned, rolling onto his back like a puppy wanting to have its belly scratched. Jeica blushed and stayed silent. Luckily for her, a faint buzzing noise was to be heard. Jake stood up and rummaged through his pockets, eventually finding his phone.

“I’ve got to take this,” he informed his friends. He left the bar for the peace and quiet of outside, then answered the call. Advena realised he had severed the link so she couldn’t hear the conversation. It must have been important, and private. Advena boredly tapped her claws on the table top. Eventually, Jake came back in wearing a confused look on his face.

“What is it?” Advena asked.

“My parents... they want to see how me and Garry are doing... they want to... apologise.” Jake seemed quite stunned as he plopped himself down on the seat.

Workers bustled as they busied themselves with loading the ship with provisions and supplies. Jake, Advena and Garry stood there watching. Jake was carrying his suitcase in one hand, and Garry’s in the other.

“Hey, wait up!” Jeica appeared, carrying a suitcase of her own. Mozart was hot on her heels with his violin case. Jake raised an eyebrow at her. “Mozart is Advena’s sister, which technically makes him your brother-in-law. And being his, er, host, I go where he goes. Like it or not, we’re part of your extended family. We’re coming with.” Jake shrugged.

“Okay, sounds like fun. A big family cruise,” Jake grinned goofily. Alistair appeared behind them.

“Okay guys, we should be ready to leave in five,” he told them. He made to move away, but Advena grabbed him and spun him around.

“You have to rest. For the good of you and your new friend,” she prodded his slightly swollen chest for emphasis. He blushed and brushed her hand away.

“Yeah well, all I’m going to be doing is sit on my ass and fly a ship all day, it’s not as if I’m going to over-exert myself or anything.” Everyone looked to Jake, who was apparently in charge. He sighed.

“We’re taking Joyous Ode and Princess technical so... why not? The more the merrier, right?” Jeica and Mozart both simultaneously pouted at their nicknames and Alistair grinned.

“Cool. You should probably get on board. Oh – and the cryo-pods are under repairs, so we’ll have to be awake for the week-long journey.” He jogged away to tell off one of the people loading the ship for being careless with a delicate crate. Jake, Garry and their ‘extended family’ all walked up the loading ramp and onto the ship.