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

Gretchen disembarked at the main deck, and Eridani stepped off three levels down. She entered a large, industrial hangar where she found several mech-suits leaning against the far bulkheads, secured within their bays. Scattered crewmates chatted with one another, dressed in orange jumpsuits and hardhats. If they noticed Eridani at all, they gave no sign of it.

Good, thought Eridani, and she kept to the shadows as she made her way to an old parts cage. Moments later, a pair of crewmen stepped into view, and one of them lightly rattled the door. “Hey,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

Eridani whirled around. Suddenly, the crewman grew slightly taller, and his features changed into Eleski’s human face. Katsinki revealed himself immediately after. “Not funny,” grumbled Eridani. “Were you seen?”

“We were not,” said Eleski.

“Well done,” said Eridani, and she slowly opened the parts cage door. It creaked and whined along the way, but none of the mech crews paid her any heed. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside and stood before a rack of power cells. “How many do you need?”

“While one is more than sufficient for our projected power needs, I have found it is always wise to bring another as backup,” said Katsinki.

Eridani gripped a power cell with both hands and grunted as she rolled it slightly forward. “It’s too heavy,” she said, and she jerked her hands away as the device rocked back into place. “I can’t move it.”

“I will collect it directly,” said Katsinki.

“No!” said Eridani. “The cage is rigged with a biometric alarm.”

“I will help you,” said Eleski, and she studied one of the forepersons. A moment later, she replicated his features exactly, and a soft, rosy glow washed up and down her body. Dressed now in an orange jumpsuit and hardhat, she stepped inside. “We will lift it together.”

With great effort, Eridani and Eleski walked the power cell out onto the hangar deck. As they prepared to set it down, the device slipped from Eridani’s grip, and it crashed down. The noise drew the attention of the very foreperson Eleski had duplicated, and he led his team toward the cage.

Eleski promptly took the form of a cylindrical crate. Katsinki shapeshifted around the power cell, adding it to his mass as he turned into Grostonk. Eridani faced the approaching team and waved politely.

“Oh, hey Grostonk. Didn’t see you come in.” The foreperson scooped up some cleanser and rubbed it over his hands for a moment before wiping them off with a shop towel. “Don’t think we’ve formally met, Captain Webb.” They shook hands and exchanged introductions.

“A pleasure to meet you,” said Eridani.

“So, what brings you all the way down here to the heart of the Seabees?”

“Grostonk thought it might be good for me to see the loaders in action,” said Eridani.

The foreperson nodded. “Sure, sure.” He noticed the cylindrical crate Eleski had become. “Well, that storage tube doesn’t belong here.” He placed his fingers to his mouth and whistled shrilly. “Fire up Old One-Eye, gentlemen! Let’s show Captain Webb what we can do!”

“Oh no, that’s not necessary,” said Eridani.

“Nonsense,” said the foreperson. “It’s no trouble at all!”

“In that case, can you walk me through the power-on cycle?” asked Eridani, and she pointed at one of the mechs. “I’m more of a hands-on learner.”

He grinned. “Heck yeah! Right this way.”

“Oh, I’m needed on the command deck,” said Katsinki, still wearing his disguise. “Sorry to cut this short.”

“Grostonk, I’ll see you there,” said Eridani, and she followed the foreperson to Old One-Eye.

As Katsinki walked past Eleski, she turned into a shadowy version of her human guise, and they slipped out of the hangar together. Eleski placed her hand on Katsinki’s forearm. Where should we meet her?

We will wait for her here in this storage room, said Katsinki. She will have to pass by on the way to the launch bay. He used his gene key to open a heavy steel door and left it ajar as they quietly entered the storage compartment.

A short time later, Eridani walked past them, and she yelped as Katsinki pulled her inside. She spun around, ready to fend off her attackers, and she sighed. “Come on, warn me next time!”

“Our apologies,” said Katsinki. “We had to make do. Are you ready?”

“Is there enough room in here?” asked Eridani.

“There is just enough room,” said Katsinki.

Eridani took a deep breath and nodded. “All right, I’m ready.”

Eleski embraced Eridani from behind. Slowly, she changed form as she completely engulfed Eridani. Technological components solidified on the surface, forming a fully articulated suit of armor. She painted herself white, with red, gold, and navy-blue accents.

Katsinki placed his hands on Eleski’s shoulders. Closing his eyes, he seated himself upon her back in the form of a rocket pack nestled between a set of folded, forward swept wings. He engaged the power cell, and a flood of energy surged through him and Eleski. Eridani, we are ready, he said.

You need only to move as you normally would, and we will take care of the rest, said Eleski.

“Sounds easy enough,” said Eridani. She stepped forward and paused at the door. Smiling to herself, she pulled it open and walked into the passageway beyond. Eleski generated a viewscreen overlay, providing tactical outlines and information for everything visible.

Together, they traversed the length of Imperium’s keel deck and entered the launch bay through a door near the lift. Gretchen whistled, impressed. “Damn, Captain! Nice rig!”

Eridani popped open her hawklike faceplate. “Thank you. Truly, I appreciate everything you’ve done up to this point. We could never have gotten this far without you.”

“It’s my pleasure, Captain.”

Eridani nodded. “See you for exfil.” She boarded the Starwind, closed her faceplate, and walked past Roscoe’s Reavers to sit down near the cockpit.

“I hope you know how to fly that thing,” said Roscoe.

“It’s move by wire,” said Eridani, hear voice broadcast from a set of speakers. “I’ll be fine.”

Hydraulic arms hissed, and alarms blared as the cargo ramp sealed shut.

◆◆◆

Wind roared around them as