Major Greg Hollander worked out of the United Survey Service base in Tampa, Florida. He was married to a beautiful blonde named Elizabeth, and they had two children, Darlene, age nineteen, and Rudy, twenty. He had a wonderful life and was happy with his work and his family.

All of which was about to be changed.

Darlene was the first to be taken. The Hive Mind targeted Greg because he was a high-level ESPer and a senior Survey Service officer, but they found it easier to get to him through one of his family members. The Hive Mind had quickly learned that once they Infected one family member, the rest could be converted with relative ease.

When Greg came home from work, he found Elizabeth there, looking grim, as well as Darlene, which surprised him. Rudy was nowhere to be seen.

"Darlene, what are you doing home so soon?" said Greg, reaching out to hug her.

"Greg, don't!" Elizabeth cried, as Greg hugged Darlene. But Darlene tightly hugged her father. For a moment it seemed she wouldn't let go, until she pulled back.

"What's going on here? And where's Rudy?"

"I sent him out to a movie," said Elizabeth. "I didn't want him to be here for this."

"For what?" said Greg. He turned to Darlene. "And what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be on a two-week Boy Scout trip?"

"I was, Father," Darlene grinned. She had dark hair and an easy smile. But there was something different about her face, her expression.

"Show him," said Elizabeth, looking unhappy.

"Show me what?"

Darlene took out a small holoprojector. "It was so nice of you to allow me to join the Boy Scouts, Mom and Dad. I know Dad had some reservations about allowing a teenage girl to join an organization with a lot of horny teenage boys, but Mom talked him into it. Didn't you, Mom?"

Elizabeth said nothing. She just looked unhappy.

"And guess what? I did meet a horny boy. His name was Billy Williams. Billy seduced me, Dad, and he gave me something special. Really special." And now she activated the holoprojector. They could see Darlene, in the woods, half naked with a young man who was kissing her.

"No, Billy, we shouldn't. It's too soon. We just met," said Darlene.

"We can. We should," said Billy, kissing her all over.

The scene jumped, and suddenly they were looking at Billy and Darlene, apparently just after having sex. Darlene yelled out. "I feel something on my back!"

"That's just your rider, dear," said Billy.

"My what?"

"Turn over so we can show it to the camera," said Billy.

"What camera?" said Darlene.

Billy turned Darlene over so they could see the pulsating mass between her shoulder blades.

"What is it?" Darlene asked.

"It's your entry to the Hive Mind," said Billy.

Darlene stopped the holoprojection.

"Darlene, are you saying that you have some kind of alien creature on you?" Greg asked.

"It's called a rider, Dad," said Darlene. "And just wait, it only gets better." She activated the holoprojector again.

They were now watching Darlene having sex with Billy. She was riding up and down on his shaft. The camera, which was behind her, was showing her back. Her rider was larger now, thicker, and it had the faint beginnings of a yellow band around the edges.

"You want to serve the Hive," said Billy.

"I want to serve the Hive," Darlene repeated. Her face was perspiring heavily as she rode up and down Billy's penis.

"You want to expand the Hive."

"I want to expand the Hive," said Darlene obediently.

"You want to bring your family into the Hive."

"I…." Darlene bit her lip.

"Say it, Darl! Say it!" Billy cried.

Darlene's face screwed up. She was in such tremendous sexual need, stoked by her rider. "I… I want to bring my family into the Hive," she gasped. Suddenly her body stiffened, and Darlene, impaled on Billy's penis, cried out. Then she collapsed on top of him.

Darlene turned the holoprojector off. "My training was a smashing success. This recording was made to convince you of what I have become."

Greg's eyes grew wide. "You've got one of the parasites on your back. One of the creatures the Survey Service is looking for. From that crashed ship."

"Yes, Dad," said Darlene, smiling broadly.

"Darlene, we can help you! Let us get you to a Survey Service medical facility!" Greg said. He reached out with his hand, but Darlene coldly slapped it away.

"No, Father. I serve the Hive now," said Darlene proudly.

Elizabeth looked horrified. What had happened to her baby girl?

"Darlene, think, remember. You're our daughter. You love us and we love you," said Greg. He knew Darlene was being heavily influenced by her rider. But if he could somehow get through to her….

Darlene stepped forward. She grabbed Greg and kissed him on the lips, embracing him tightly. Elizabeth gasped. When Darlene pulled back, Greg saw something alien in her eyes. "And I love you even more now, Dad. I love you so much that I want you and Mom to serve the Hive."

"We will never do that," said Greg, pushing her away. Something about her eyes unnerved him.

"Oh, I think you will," Darlene grinned.

"Why would I?" Greg asked incredulously.

"Well, for one thing… to prevent us from further infecting dear Elizabeth," Darlene grinned.

"Further infecting?" Greg looked at Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, what has she done to you?"

Elizabeth looked tearful. "It's a... worm of some kind. It's around my... private parts."

"I put it in her bed last night," said Darlene brightly.

"We'll get it off," said Greg. "I know some of the best doctors-"

"You won't get it off, not without killing your precious Elizabeth," said Darlene. "Would you like to see an example of what it can do?"

Suddenly Elizabeth grabbed her crotch and screamed. She yelled out, clearly in pain.

"Elizabeth!" Greg cried, running to her side.

"You can't help her," said Elizabeth.

Elizabeth felt like her clitoris was being ripped out at the roots. She sank into a chair, and screamed in agony.

"All right!" said Greg.

Elizabeth kept screaming.

"Do you agree to help us?" Darlene asked, her eyes stern.

"Yes!" said Greg again.

The pain immediately cut off in Elizabeth's clitoris. She stifled a sob. Her eyes were full of tears.

Greg rushed over to her. "Elizabeth, Are you all right?" said Greg.

"I... I think so," said Elizabeth, getting up, feeling a bit shaky. She wiped the tears from her cheeks.

Greg turned to Darlene. "Why didn't you give me the worm instead of her? You want me, don't you?" said Greg.

"We do, Dad," Darlene confirmed. It hurt Greg when she called him 'Dad'. "But we know that you work in a high-security data center, and that there are ESPers there. There is some concern that they might detect our presence."

"What do you want me to do?" Greg asked.

"Follow me and I will show you."

She led them to her parent's bedroom. On the bed was a black spider.

"That's one of the Hive creatures," said Greg.

"Correct. Lie face down on the bed, Father."

Greg looked reluctant.

"Lie down, or Mother will be screaming in agony in five, four, three..."

Greg reluctantly lay down on the bed. The spider started to move towards him.

"No, Greg!" Elizabeth cried, as the spider jumped onto his back. Greg started to get up but the spider was too quick, moving to the back of his head. Organic microfilaments came out of its legs and jutted into his skull.

Greg started to moan as he was reprogrammed.

"What are you doing to him?"

"Just teaching him the futility of resistance. And quashing any nasty ideas he might have about betraying us. We wouldn't want that, would we, Mother?" said Darlene, putting an arm around Elizabeth. Elizabeth shrugged her off, and lay on the bed next to Greg, watching his eyes roll up in their sockets, his eyelashes moving rapidly.

"Tell me, Mom, is Dad good in bed?" Darlene asked, her eyes sparkling.

"He's fine," Elizabeth snapped, focusing on Greg.

"When he joins the Hive, he'll be even better. So will you," said Darlene.

"No.. we won't…."

Darlene simply gave her a mysterious smile.

A few moments later, the spider pulled out of Greg's skull and slunk away. Greg slowly groaned and grabbed his head.

"Greg, are you all right?"

"I think so," said Greg.

"Your first task will be to download the directory of the secure database of the United Survey Service."

"But... that's top security," said Greg.

"Which is why it's undoubtedly called a secure database," said Darlene brightly. "You will bring the download here to me. If you attempt to betray me, or obfuscate, Elizabeth and your handsome son Rudy will suffer the consequences."

"No!" said Greg. "You have to leave them out of this. You have to promise to leave Rudy alone, and not to put any more worms in Elizabeth."

"If you obey," said Darlene, smiling.

"And what about removing the worm you put into Elizabeth?" Greg asked.

"If you complete your tasks, all is possible," said Darlene.

********

Greg and Elizabeth whispered together in bed that night. Greg had asked to get a better look at her worm and Elizabeth, after a pause, reluctantly agreed. She took off her skirt and panties and lay on the bed and spread her vaginal folds. Greg peered forward.

He saw the blood-red worm wrapped tightly around her clitoris. It looked almost embedded in her skin. As he watched, it pulsated.

"It's alive," Elizabeth whispered. "It's aware of you."

"How do you know that?" said Greg.

"I just do," said Elizabeth.

"Let me… let me try to remove it," said Greg.

"No!" Elizabeth cried. Even as Greg leaned forward, her legs snapped shut. "Don't go near it!"

She started to cry. Greg realized that the worm had already started to take control over her. Probably it would cause her terribly pain if he tried to remove it. There was no way he could even try without Elizabeth's permission… which seemed impossible to get now. He hugged her as she sobbed softly in his shoulder.

"Is the worm painful for you, Elizabeth?" he asked.

"Not... not right now," said Elizabeth. "Only when it gets angry. Right now it's not doing anything."

He heard the sound of her breathing slowly calming down to normal levels.

"Are you really going to do what she asked, Greg?" Elizabeth asked.

"What choice do I have?"

"Maybe you can get help from someone in the Survey Service," said Elizabeth.

"No," said Greg. "There's no one who can help us."

"How do you know?" Elizabeth whispered.

There's no one who can help us. We must obey.

"There's no one who can help us. We must obey," said Greg.

Elizabeth grabbed his hand. "Greg, that spider creature... it did something to you. It's making you think this way."

"Is it?" said Greg. "I just don't know. If I do tell the Survey Service, Darlene could kill you and Rudy. I can't take that chance." He looked at her in the darkness. "How are you coping with that worm? Is it controlling you?"

"No," said Elizabeth. "I mean, it can give me pain, but it can't tell me what to think."

"Then I have to do this," said Greg. "If she gives you more worms, you could fall under their control. I can't risk that. "

And so, the next day, Greg downloaded the directory for the Survey Service's secure database.

He thought of asking for help. He thought of going to Colonel Wemberly. But then he thought, to himself: there's no one who can help us. The only way I can save Elizabeth is to obey.

And so he did.

When he came home, Darlene was waiting for him in his bedroom. Now that Rudy was home, they needed to talk in private so keep him uninvolved.

Greg handed Darlene the datapad. He sat quietly with Elizabeth, hand in hand, while Darlene went over it. Finally, she nodded, and said, "Very good. Just as we thought. I see there is a list here of all ESPers in the Service. I want a list of all their profiles."

"All their profiles?"

"Is there an echo in here? All of them."

Greg knew what that meant. The aliens would be able to target all their ESPers.

"Are you about to refuse, Greg?" And suddenly, there was a worm in her hand. She went to stand next to Elizabeth.

"No," Greg said hastily, watching the worm. "I'm not refusing."

"Good. I'd hate to have to give Mom a second worm," said Darlene. She gave Elizabeth a very broad smile.

********

The next day Greg, with great reluctance, downloaded the profiles of all the ESPer's in the Service. He brought them home to Darlene that evening.

Darlene looked through the list. "Good, good, good... wait, where are the addresses?"

"You... you just asked for the profile snapshots," said Greg. "That doesn't include their addresses."

"You knew what we were looking for," said Darlene, taking a step forward. Greg took a step backwards.

"I would call this an act of disobedience. Wouldn't you, Elizabeth?"

"No... no…." said Elizabeth.

Darlene frowned. "Elizabeth, you must be punished for Dad's transgressions. Take off your shirt, and put your hands against the wall,."

"No....," said Elizabeth, shaking her head.

"If I have to ask again, it's going to hurt," said Darlene.

Elizabeth remembered the agony of two days ago. She found herself standing up and starting to unbutton her blouse.

"Elizabeth, no," said Greg.

Elizabeth looked at Greg, and then at Darlene, and finished unbuttoning her shirt. Darlene smiled. Even at this early stage of control it was the Hive, and not Greg, who Elizabeth responded to.

Elizabeth, with a blank expression on her face, removed her shirt, revealing her large white bra. She felt intensely vulnerable.

"Good work Mom," said Darlene soothingly. "You're learning to obey. You'll make an excellent slave for the Hive. Now lean against the wall, dear Mother, that's right."

Elizabeth looked to Greg for help with anxiety in her eyes.

"Don't do it, Elizabeth!" Greg snapped.

Elizabeth gasped as she felt a twinge between her legs. Then another, and another.

"Dad can't help you, Mother. You belong to the Hive now. Comply," Darlene snapped.

Elizabeth made a cringing expression, and bowed her head. She turned around and leaned against the wall, palms first, exposing her bare back to Darlene submissively.

Darlene went behind her, and gently rubbed Elizabeth's trembling back for a moment. Her fingers idly traced the horizontal lines of Elizabeth's bra strap as Elizabeth gave a single whimper.

"She looks so beautiful when she's submissive, doesn't she, Father?" Darlene said, giving a mocking smile.

"No she's not," said Greg.

"You won't always feel that way," said Darlene, even as Greg gave a puzzled frown. "Obedience is rewarded," said Darlene. And suddenly, in her right hand, she held a worm. She let it dangle above Elizabeth's back. "Ask for it, Elizabeth."

"No," Elizabeth said.

"Ask for it, or I'll give you two of them."

Elizabeth felt another painful twinge between her legs, more intense than the last one. She looked tearfully at Darlene. "Can I... Can I...." She felt horrified to be made to cooperate. She couldn't make herself say it.

"Can you what?" Darlene asked.

"Can I... have a worm?" Elizabeth fairly gasped. Her face twisted up. She hated to say it, but Darlene was in charge. The Hive was in charge.

"You want a worm on your back, controlling you, bringing you more into the Hive?" When Elizabeth didn't answer, Darlene's expression hardened. "Is that what you want, Mother!"

"Yes, yes!" Elizabeth cried. "I want another worm. I want to be controlled!" she gasped.

"Elizabeth, no!" Greg cried.

"This is none of your business, Father. This is between Elizabeth and the Hive," said Darlene. "Isn't that right, Mother?" She caressed her mother on her back with one hand while dangling the worm with the other.

"Yes," Elizabeth said, with a look of intense distress on her face.

And then Darlene dropped the second worm on Elizabeth's back.

Elizabeth stiffened, and shuddered as she felt the worm moving. In seconds, it was between her shoulder blades. But then she felt another sort of movement, inside of her. Something moving on her body. It was her first worm! She felt it climb up out of her pubic folds, moving upwards, ever upwards. She saw it starting to crawl up above her waistband. Elizabeth moved her hand instinctively to pluck it off, but Darlene said "Don't even think about it, Mother! Don't you dare!" and Elizabeth froze, her arm in mid-movement.

"Father, you may want to watch this, it is very educational," said Darlene.

Greg reluctantly came forward. He watched as the first worm crawled fully out of the waistband of Elizabeth's skirt. It wormed its way up her back, to her shoulder blades, where it joined tightly with the other worm.

"Two worms, Father. Two more and Mother will get her first rider. Do you want that?"

Greg shook his head.

"Then get me the home addresses of those ESPers."

********

Greg was in turmoil. He knew that if he gave Darlene the information she wanted, shortly every ESPer in the Survey Service would be compromised. He shook his head. It was asking too much. He couldn't do it.

He composed a network message to Internal Security. He told them his wife had been compromised and was being held hostage by an alien in their home. He arranged for the message to be sent right before he left to go home for the day. With any luck, the security forces would arrive and take Darlene by surprise.

But when Greg got home that night, he was the one in for a surprise.

He told Darlene that he couldn't get the information she wanted because the base network was down, undergoing maintenance repair.

"Lies!" She didn't believe him, as he knew she wouldn't. But he also knew that the base security should be breaking down his front door any second now.

"I can get it for you tomorrow, I'm sure of it," said Greg.

Darlene slapped him in the face. "You don't think I realize what you've done?" She held up her own datapad. "Internal Security. My name is Major Greg Hollander. I have to report that my wife and I are being held captive by an alien presence." She looked up at Greg.

"You knew?"

"Really, Dad, do you think we weren't monitoring your communications? You're one of our few operatives without a rider. Of course we were watching your every move! And now you will pay the price for it. Elizabeth! Off with the shirt, and up against the wall! I won't ask twice!"

"No, please, no!" said Greg.

Elizabeth looked from Greg to Darlene. She knew Greg was...