The HIVE Series is one filled with many twists and turns, and discussing later books without spoiling earlier entries is almost impossible. Beware of unmarked spoilers in the form of trope names in the examples list, which can and do give away many major plot points for the final installment, Bloodline, and the series as a whole.
Maximilian Nero
The Headmaster of HIVE.
- Affably Evil: He's very nice for a high ranking member of the world's largest criminal organisation.
- Bait-and-Switch Tyrant: He's technically a villain in book one, but that's just because Otto, our narrator, has not yet gotten to know him.
- Berserk Button Do NOT harm any of the students of H.I.V.E, or "there will be consequences."
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Captain Obvious Reveal: By the time it's officially revealed that Natalya is his daughter, thought to be long dead, it's incredibly obvious to the audience despite the fact that Nero has never even considered the idea. This doesn't stop it from being one of, if not the series Crowning Moment of Heartwarming.
Natalya: We've lost so much time.
Nero: No, we haven't. I've known you nearly your whole life and I could not be prouder of what you became... The fact that you're my daughter doesn't change any of that, and it never will.
- Deuteragonist: does about as much narrating as Otto, and has probably more impact on the story.
- Determinator: the construction of the Pacific Branch of the H.I.V.E. took what appears to be decades.
- Dragon Ascendant: If he could have been considered The Dragon to Number One, then his promotion counts as this.
- Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: not much is known about his mother, but she seems to have been an even more ruthless G.L.O.V.E. member.
- Heartbroken Badass: His pregnant fiancee's death preceded the founding of H.I.V.E.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: with Diabolus.
- Like Father, Like Son: is an architect by trade like his father.
- Noble Top Enforcer: before he takes over G.L.O.V.E.
- Parental Substitute: by the end of the series, he is this to half the cast, but especially to Natalya.
- Replacement Goldfish: Roughly 16 years after the death of his extremely pregnant fiancee Elena, Nero takes in a 16-year old girl named Natalya. It's also likely that the entire school was this, as the life he wanted with Elena became impossible.
- Sink or Swim Mentor: Not afraid to toss people in at the deep end as deemed necessary.Literally threatens Otto and Laura with this in Deadlock.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: with Cypher in Rogue.
- Unstoppable Force Meets Immovable Object: In a flashback, Diabolus comments that this is the clash between Nero and the Architect over Nero's mother's death at the Iceland branch of H.I.V.E., and whether a school can be built in a volcano.
- Your Son All Along: [[Natalya, his second-in-command who joined him after he rescued her as a teenager and raised her at H.I.V.E., is his biological daughter.]]
H.I.V.E.Mind
Not technically 'staff' but he does exist for the sole purpose of serving HIVE.
- Back from the Dead: in Rogue.
- Big Brother Mentor: Ironically, acts as one to his nephew Otto, who is older than he is.
- Big Good: can be a very powerful weapon when used for the right reasons, and he's committed to only the right reasons.
- Do-Anything Robot: Is responsible for the entire running of HIVE.
- Heroic Sacrifice: at the end of Escape Velocity. He gets better.
- Token Non-Human
- Sharing a Body: with Otto in books three, six, seven, and eight.
- Sibling Team: depending on whether Otto would be considered his brother or his nephew, the two share a body for most of the second half of the series, are close friends, and work together to accomplish most everything they achieve.
- The Paragon: see Big Good.
- The Power of Friendship: Later in the series, he and Otto call on this for attacks. It Makes Just As Much Sense In Context.
Raven/Natalya
Also not technically staff, but she works for Nero rather than GLOVE.
- Absurdly Sharp Blade: Her second pair of swords: black katanas with variable mono molecular edges (in laymans terms, they can cut through everything because their edge is so fine it can get through the space between the particles of an object). Did we mention they also glow purple?
- Action Girl: Yes, absolutely.
- Badass: her defining character trait.
- Badass Teacher: Eventually.
- Bodyguarding a Badass: is Nero's bodyguard.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Is very, very good at her job, but enjoys terrorizing her students for amusement and scaring people.
- Charles Atlas Superpower: The books repeatedly refer to her training having made her the lethal badass she is today. That said, when you see how she got those skills you might not want to go for it.
- Cool Sword: Her katanas.
- Designated Point Man: always leads the kids.
- Determinator: Despite eight or so years of life at the Glasshouse, she's a strong, independent woman dedicated to protecting her kids.
- Dual Wielding: Her katanas
- Dark and Troubled Past: at the Glasshouse.
- Good Scars, Evil Scars: Has the classic 'good' scar down her cheek.
- Happiness in Slavery: Her relationship with Nero has shades of this. He even offers her services to other people without her permission, but their interactions are still full of heartwarming moments.
- Hell-Bent for Leather: her normal outfit consist mainly of black leather.
- Mugging the Monster: she and Nero meet this way.
- Promotion to Parent: is this to the kids along with being a Cool Big Sis.
- Spotting the Thread: She knows Otto isn't actually Zero by his eye color.
- Student–Master Team: with Otto in almost every volume.
- Training from Hell: Underwent this when younger.
- Your Son All Along: Nero is her father. He took her in at the age of 16, they developed a close friendship, and she decided to stay at H.I.V.E. and work for him. At the end of the series, she's his right hand, and when she's 30 years old, the two of them find out they are biological father and daughter.
Professor Pike
The technology professor on the Island.
- Absent-Minded Professor
- Genius Ditz: Has been known to be very careless, despite some impressive technological feats.
- Mad Scientist: Discuss.
- Smart People Program AIs: H.I.V.E.mind was his creation.
Chief Lewis
The security chief on the Island.
- Dropped a Bridge on Him: In Zero Hour, after surviving all sorts for the last five books, he is killed early on by an animus controlled Raven.
- Killed Off for Real
Contessa Maria Sinistre
- Brainwashing for the Greater Good: When she decides to use her Compelling Voice for the good guys' benefit.
- Evil Matriarch
- Face–Heel Revolving Door
- Killed Off for Real
- Mind Control: Her special voice. Apparently it's genetic, too.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast/Adjectives
- Redemption Equals Death: Escape Velocity.
Ms Leon
- Cats Are Snarkers
- Forced Transformation: She doesn't really like being stuck in her cat's body.
Colonel Francisco
- Captain Smooth and Sergeant Rough: the Rough to Nero's Smooth.
- Drill Sergeant Nasty
Miss Tennenbaum
The Finances instructor.
