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

Orin supposed with a smile, “I bet he’s already waiting for us in the truck.” He warmed his hands one at a time against an insulated cup. “Which one’s the hot chocolate?”

Mike turned the closer one toward Orin. “This one. I think.”

Cautiously, he sipped. With a contented smile, he nodded and asked, “You ready?”

“Let’s go,” said Mike, and they strolled through the crowd.

After they climbed inside, the truck growled to life. Orin craned around the cabin and asked, “Nimbus, you in here?”

A haze of nanobots thickened near the windshield, coalescing as a steel eyestalk rooted to the dash. Words scrolled across its brow. “ORINOCO|WEBB, affirmative!”

“Good to see you, man. It’s been way too long!”

“33D:23H:17M:01S passed between our last meeting. I began to experience a certain longing for your company within 8H of your departure.”

“Definitely way too long! You ready for Nostromo’s?”

“Affirmative.”

Orin grinned. “Excellent!” He executed a careful three-point turn, lined himself up with the lane, and jammed the accelerator. Orin and Mike devoured their breakfast dumplings as they traveled.

Opening his window a crack, Orin enjoyed the cold air blowing through his hair. Mike pulled his jacket tighter about him, prompting Orin to turn the heater on low. Nimbus settled down on the dashboard and switched off.

◆◆◆

Albert studied Casey’s badge and regarded her with narrowed eyes. “Earth, huh? You’re a few star systems out of your jurisdiction.” April stood at Casey’s side, while Shona and Malmoradan lingered at the university parking garage’s pedestrian entrance. Shona propped the door open with her foot.

“I’m with the Interstellar Police,” said Casey, “and our jurisdiction is the whole damn galaxy, got it?” She pocketed her badge. “Look, you either tell us where Orin went, or we start knocking on doors. And guess who’s showing us around?”

“Me?”

“That’s right.”

Albert fought the urge yawn. “Lady, I respect what you’re trying to do.” Shaking his head, he offered, “All he said was, ‘I’m rescuing a friend.’ It’s probably that ocelini girl that comes around sometimes. I don’t remember her name, but they usually end up at one of those dance clubs over in Van Alder.”

“That’s not very helpful,” said Casey, and she tapped her foot. “Can you be a little more specific?”

“You’re lucky I remembered that much,” said Albert, and he crossed his arms. “Maybe you should try talking to his RA.”

“I did. He sent me to you.”

Dryly, Albert laughed. “Well, I don’t know where Orin went, okay? He didn’t say.” A flicker of recollection brightened his eyes, but he immediately cleared his throat and shook his head. “Nope. Not a word about his destination.”

April nodded toward Casey. “He’s telling the truth.”

Disappointed, Casey glanced Albert’s way. “Thank you for your time. You’re free to go.”

“Gee, thanks,” said Albert. Muttering to himself, Albert returned to his booth.

As they walked toward Shona and Malmoradan, April whispered, “I saw a memory of a conversation he had with Orin a while back. The guard can’t quite recall what was said, but I bet I can find it.”

“I don’t know,” said Casey. “The target’s not technically a criminal. I can’t legally authorize a deep dive.”

April frowned. “Seriously?”

With a laugh, Casey replied, “However, what you do on your own time would be extremely difficult to prove in a court of law. Just be careful in there, okay?”

“I’m always careful,” said April, and she exited the pedestrian entrance to rejoin her crewmates. Closing her eyes, she slipped past the barriers of Albert’s mind.  After a moment, she whispered, “Nostromo.”

“Say again?” asked Malmoradan.

Casey shushed him and whispered, “She’s following a lead.” Quickly, she added, “Unofficially.”

“Oh,” he mouthed.

April opened her eyes, yawned, and stretched. “Here’s my report. The club’s name is Nostromo’s. I cross-checked it against other memories of conversations he had with Orin on the matter.” Rubbing her eyes, she said, “That’s all I was able to get.”

“I’m sure that’s enough,” said Casey, and she retrieved her phone. “Great work, April.” She dialed her starship, and Cajun answered. “I need you to get me an address—a dance club called Nostromo’s, in Van Alder.”

“Of course, mon Capitaine,” replied Cajun. “I’ll be in touch.”

Casey led her crew toward a large, black panel van. She and April took the front seats, while Shona and Malmoradan piled in through the back. “Here,” said Malmoradan, “catch!” He tossed April a bag of snack food.

“Thanks,” she said, and passed it to Casey. Malmoradan finished distributing snack bags and canned drinks. They settled in to wait for Cajun’s communication.

It wasn’t long before Casey’s phone lit up with the address and directions to the club. “Here we go,” she announced, and seated her phone upon the dash. “Everyone hang on tight. The target’s got a twenty-minute head start, which means we’ve got about thirty minutes to beat him there.”

She jammed the van in reverse and peeled out onto the road.

◆◆◆

Orin drove, while Mike and Nimbus slumbered. Orin’s resident advisor left a message warning about the police visit, but Orin had hardly been paying attention, and he hung up halfway through the playback. As they traveled the freeway, their college town vanished behind them.

Scattered habitats eventually gave way to well-lit, wealthy neighborhoods. From nearly every lawn, blue and yellow spore cluster trees climbed up from the ground, painstakingly trained to twist and bloom in line with adjacent multi-story houses. Vibrantly colored mushroom caps peeked up through the soil, huddled at the bases of the largest trunks. Masterwork ocelini crests sat above every front door.

Orin noticed a pair of headlights in his rearview mirror. Whether he sped up or slowed down, the vehicle they belonged to matched his speed exactly. “How about that,” he muttered. Leaning subtly toward Mike, he jostled his friend awake.

“What?” Mike yawned.

“I think we’re being followed,” said Orin.

“You’re being paranoid,” said Mike, and he repositioned himself more comfortably in his seat. “This is the only freeway that connects New Cal and Van Alder. I’m sure it’s just someone on their way to work.”

“They’re pacing us. Watch.”

Mike perked up as Orin accelerated and jammed on the bakes, alternating between the