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

Grostonk’s skin lightened, and his fur receded. His tusks retracted into his jaw as his snout shrank into his face and neck. “Actually, Grostonk was the first variable we eliminated,” said Eleski, and she returned to her human guise. The spare parts she had borrowed for added mass dropped weightily to the deck. Grostonk’s clothing hung like sheets upon her frame.

“Who the hell are you?” asked Bloodtusk.

“I am Eleski,” she said. “I was your swabby.” Grimly, she nodded at Torsha.

The knife flashed through the air.

Bloodtusk’s severed trunk dropped limply to the deck. At first, blood seeped from a paper-thin slice under his Adam’s apple. Mutely, Bloodtusk cried out, and he pawed at his throat. As he leaned back, blood rushed from his wounds, and he collapsed.

Eridani staggered, leaning heavily against the railing. “What’ll we do?” she asked. “His security team will be here any second!”

“They will not be,” said Eleski. “I foresaw this eventuality and disabled his alarm button an hour ago.”

“Then why did you kill him?”

“This was our backup plan,” said Torsha. “That nod was our signal. We didn’t tell you, because we didn’t want you involved if that’s what it came down to.”

“But why did you kill him?” asked Eridani.

“The entire starship is programmed to respond to his biometrics,” said Eleski. “He embedded dozens of voice-activated traps within each of Imperium’s decks. We never would have arrived at the brig with him as our prisoner. He would have recaptured you. Torsha and I would have been slain.”

Eridani rubbed her eyes and glanced at Bloodtusk’s body. “What did you do with Grostonk?”

“He’s in the brig,” said Torsha.

“Safe and sound,” said Eleski. She tugged on the clothes she wore. “He is naked.”

The lift chime clanked, startling them, and they faced the doors as they opened. Looking every bit Eleski’s twin, Katsinki stepped into view and stared wide-eyed at the scene before him. “Sister, who are these people? What has transpired?”

“Hello, Katsinki,” said Eleski.

“Ostonk and Husthar have perished,” whispered Katsinki.

“Ostonk’s not dead,” said Torsha. “He’s been tranquilized.”

“You are incorrect,” said Katsinki. “He has succumbed to respiratory arrest, likely as a direct result of a tranquilizer overdose.”

“Oh my god,” said Eridani. “That’s the one promise I made to Grostonk—that I wouldn’t kill his clone!”

“He did not honor his promise either,” said Eleski. “As it was contingent upon his honorable assistance, you are not bound by the vow you offered him.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” said Eridani.

“Regardless, we have secured the command deck,” said Eleski. “What next, Captain Webb?”

“I’m not captain of anything,” said Eridani. “But thanks for sticking around. Admiral Schurke’s after my brother, and we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us if we’re going to stop him. I hate to ask it of you, but we need to get rid of these bodies. Torsha and I can clean up the blood, but can you two engulf the corpses and walk them down to the incinerator?”

“Affirmative,” said Eleski.

Katsinki blinked. “It is a disagreeable request, but I… I will do as you ask. Sister, I call dibs on Ostonk.”

Eleski retrieved the severed trunk. “That is what I expected.”

Chapter 30

Building a Bridge

Overhead lamps shone softly upon Imperium’s command deck. Communications, the conn, the captain’s chair and the first mate’s chair all occupied her central bridge. The rest of her stations lined the aft bulkhead, distributed evenly on either side of the lift, tiered within a gently sloping footpath.

Eleski sat before the navigation console as Eridani pored over a holographic projection of Rhyon. “I definitely heard him say ‘Tiburón Dellasuerte,’” said Eridani.

“I am unable to locate anything by that name,” said Eleski.

“Maybe it’s a space station,” said Torsha.

“That is a distinct possibility,” said Katsinki.

“I had not considered that,” said Eleski. “One moment please, while I revise the search parameters… You are correct! Tiburón Dellasuerte is a privately owned space station that orbits Rhyon’s moon.”

“Well done,” said Eridani. “Now, how do we get there?”

“You will need a pilot and a crew,” said Katsinki.

“How’s that going to work?” asked Torsha. “We don’t have that kind of money.”

Eridani took a moment to consider. “We don’t, but we know someone who does.” She typed in Martin’s number from memory.

As the quantum transceiver placed the call, Katsinki looked at Eleski. “Sister, why did you decide against including me in the mutiny?”

“I forewent your inclusion due to the hyperbolic degree of concern you typically express for my wellbeing,” said Eleski.

“As your older sibling, I am compelled to serve as your oath-bound guardian. As such, I accept your reasoning as sound, but your wisdom is wholly questionable.”

“By your own assessment, you verify my decision,” said Eleski.

Katsinki frowned. “Regardless…”

Martin appeared on screen. “Eridani?” he asked. “Eridani, is that you?”

“It is. Torsha’s here too,” said Eridani, and Torsha stepped into view. “But I guess you already knew that.”

Martin smiled, relieved. “I did, but I’m glad to see you’re both okay.” Squinting, he leaned in close to the lens. “Torsha, what’s that on your shirt—and your fur?”

“Blood,” said Torsha, and she explained what happened to Ostonk and Bloodtusk.

“Wow,” said Martin, and his throat bobbed. “How are you handling that?”

Torsha took a deep breath and hugged her arms for a moment. “Okay, I guess. For now. Ask me tomorrow after I’ve had a night to think about it.”

“I’m going to put you on room cam while I go get your parents, if that’s okay,” said Martin.

“Of course,” said Eridani.

“Be right back,” said Martin. A moment later, he followed Iona, Aurora, and Oliver into view. “I told them what happened,” said Martin.

“You all right, kiddo?” asked Oliver.

Eridani nodded. “I’m fine, Dad. Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, sweetie,” said Aurora.

“This is Eleski and Katsinki,” said Eridani, and the denshi-tengu siblings stepped into view just long enough to exchange introductions. “Eleski’s the one who helped us take the ship.”

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” said Eleski.

“And yours,” said Oliver. “Much obliged to