Rivers of Orion by Dana Kelly (a court of thorns and roses ebook free .TXT) 📕

Cajun kicked the reception table, and everything atop it clattered slowly to the floor. “Damn it! All o’ you, ya don’t need to be so damn cold about it! Once upon a time, Hector and me were the best o’ friends.”

“I’m sorry,” said Casey. “I really am. It’s just so much for us to take in.”

“I know,” said Cajun. “It’s a lot for me, too.”

“If it’s any help, I don’t think Hector’s dead,” said April. “I can still sense traces of his consciousness.”

Cajun glanced away. “So ya sayin’ wherever it is they stuck him, he’s tryin’ to get by with nothin’ below the waist?”

“I don’t sense any suffering attached to it. He may be in a dormant state,” said April.

“Don’t ya dare let me know if it gets worse, ya hear?” Cajun looked back at her. “I mean it.”

April smiled slightly. “You have my word.”

“I should’ve used my powers on them,” said Orin.

“Don’t go down that road,” said Casey. “There’s no guarantee you could’ve done anything to stop this. Even if you had, there’s no telling how many of them there are out there, how many ships they have, or how they would’ve responded to an act of aggression on our part. Don’t worry, I’ll send everything to First Contact. They’ll start tracking these things and come up with an effective response, like they always do.”

“C… Casey Cartwright, you pro… project certainty of an outcome w… without sufficient knowledge of our opponent,” said Nimbus. “You also lack comprehensive knowledge of the Bureau of First Contact’s tactical c… capacity.”

“I’m not in the mood to argue with a computer,” said Casey. “Nimbus, I’m aware of the assumptions I’m making, and I’d appreciate it if you save those kinds of comments until such time as you and I can discuss them in private. Okay?”

“Affirmative.” Nimbus stumbled slightly.

“I think it’s time we got back to the shuttle,” said Casey. “Shona, see if you can find some clothes for Nimbus to wear.”

“I saw a couple kiosks out in the concourse,” said Shona.

“Great,” said Casey. “Everyone, let’s be ready to ship out in ten.”

◆◆◆

A day later, docking clamps secured Casey’s shuttle to Watchtower’s hangar deck. Casey and April drifted into the passenger compartment, where Casey addressed the room. “Before we disembark, I wanted to let everyone know we’ve been offered a contract by Taranis Arms to investigate the disappearance of their entire workforce from the surface of Arsenal Bay. Before I say yes, I wanted to discuss opportunities to participate.”

“Like extending your deputy status,” said Edison, and he nodded at Orin and Mike.

“Also adding Nimbus, if you want in,” said Casey.

Nimbus stood proudly, gripping a handrail to remain in place. “Upon my activation, I was assigned both military and law enforcement status, Casey Cartwright. Both were required for optimal readiness to support any individual to whom I was assigned. Although I was assigned to neither a military nor law enforcement servicemember, my licenses were never revoked. I am not in need of deputization, as I am already an officer of the law.”

“When you were a medical fog, sure,” said Casey. “No one’s going to be able to scan you for those certifications anymore, and without a gene key, no one’s going to be able to cross-reference anything, either. But it sounds like you’re willing to take the oath, and that’s good. I’m grateful.” She regarded Orin and Mike. “What about you two?”

“I’m in,” said Orin.

“I came out here for Nimbus, so I need a little time to sort everything out,” said Mike. “I’ll let you know what I decide before we return to the nightmare gate.”

Casey nodded. “I’ll write you in for now, and we can take you off if you change your mind.” She regarded the rest of her team. “As soon as I send over the signed contract, we’ll have full access to the Taranis Arms logistics network, including their nightmare gates. We’ve gotten scattered reports of similar appearances on other countdown worlds, but nothing about how the enemy’s ships move or where they’re headed next.” She glanced at her team. “Cajun, please get a room together for Nimbus. Edison, why don’t you go with him, just to make sure Nimbus gets there in one piece. Orin and Mike, you should both grab a shower. I don’t know if it’s what you ate at the cantina, but you’ve both developed a certain funk since yesterday. The rest of you, please stay behind. I need a minute of your time.”

“Aye, Captain,” said Edison, and Cajun nodded. One by one, they both exited the shuttle, drifting out into the cargo hold. Shulana and Ikunku stepped through the door at the top of the stairs. Their mag boots clunked as they greeted their crewmates.

“Casey Cartwright, I will follow John LeKay and Dr. Edison Stone, as you have implied.” Nimbus gripped a pair of handholds mounted to either side of the open airlock door.

“It’s weightless out there too,” said Mike. “Just wait for the fire to appear around Orin’s hand and you won’t have to worry—”

“Miguel Santos, thank you for the words of caution,” said Nimbus, and with a grin launched through the passageway. Inside the hanger, Nimbus twirled and tumbled, jumping from one bulkhead to another. Nimbus sprang from the overhead to alight upon the ranch-hand and drifted toward the stairs.

“He took to his new body pretty quickly,” said Orin. “Or is it she, now?”

“‘They’ is polite enough, but we should probably ask Nimbus,” said Mike.

“I’ve never seen anyone move with such grace in zero-G.” Orin stared as Nimbus caught the rail and swung around to crouch upon the steps several paces ahead of Cajun. “Is it just me, or did Nimbus somehow manage to get a tan on the way over?”

“It’s not just you,” said Mike. “Cajun said it’ll be a few days—maybe weeks—until all the physical traits present themselves.”

“I wonder what they’ll look like,” said Orin.

They left the