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

There is a bomb implanted near his heart, and it is moments from detonating! said Eleski.

“Oh shit,” said Eridani, and she dropped Roscoe to the floor. Whirling around, she fired the rockets and raced along the passage to the lift, where she forced open its doors.

There is not enough time to use the elevator, said Eleski.

I realize that, thought Eridani, and they burst through the roof, soaring along the shaft as Roscoe’s bomb exploded. Pushed by its force, they crashed up through the lower levels, floor after floor. The detonation sent them careening toward the eastern foyer, where they struck the underside of the collapsed balcony and came to rest.

Drenched in Roscoe’s blood, Eridani’s armor smoldered. The leg compartment lay broken and empty. Grostonk’s voice came in as static. Dazed, Eridani pushed herself up to sit. Eleski, Katsinki, are you okay?

I still function, he said. For a moment, Eridani felt his pain tearing at the back of her mind.

As do I, but I am badly damaged, said Eleski. I will attempt to reconfigure my communication protocol. Please attempt to recover the drives, or all of this will have been for nothing.

You’re right. I’m sure they’re here somewhere, thought Eridani. Please be here somewhere… She sifted through the rubble until she located the data drives. Carefully, she collected them and breathed a sigh of relief. Can we fly?

The power cell is intact, said Katsinki. I have enough structural confidence to execute an aerial rendezvous with the Starwind. Eleski, are you able to continue?

I can do that much, said Eleski.

Affectionately, Eridani rested her hands on the faceplate and one of her wings. My heroes, she thought. Gears whirred and clicked as they slowly, painfully rose. Tucking the drives under one arm, she trudged through the rubble. Can you call for the Starwind?

There is no need, said Eleski. Fortune favors us for the moment, as the vessel is already here. Emerging into the debris-strewn courtyard, Eridani’s gaze befell the shuttle as she rested upon her landing struts, ramp lowered in place. The forward hatch rolled open, and Gretchen stepped out.

“Thank God,” said Eridani. “I’m glad you remembered to wear a mask.”

“Where’s Roscoe?” asked Gretchen.

“He betrayed us,” said Eridani. “They tried to kill me.”

Gretchen grabbed a blaster rifle from inside the cargo hold. “Are those the drives?”

Weakly, Eridani nodded. “They are, and you won’t need that. We’re safe, but we’ll need to get airborne as soon as possible. After that explosion, I’m afraid this whole place is going to collapse.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” said Gretchen, and she took aim with her weapon.

Eridani scrambled behind a broken pillar, and a plasma bolt sent concrete chips flying. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Set the drives down where I can see them. Do it now!” She fired several more times.

Eridani crouched defensively as concrete dust showered down around her. “Gretchen, I know something happened to you on the Black Doubloon, but we’re still on the same team! In your heart, I know you know that. Whatever they did to you, you can fight it!”

“Oh, I’m not Gretchen, but she is in here with me. What’s left of her, anyway.” The voice changed, gaining masculine qualities. “I’m the Grey Cardinal… And here’s my offer. Ditch the suit and come out with the drives. You’ll only have a couple minutes before you pass out, but that’s more than I need to make you my passenger. Do that, and I’ll let Gretchen live. She’ll be stuck here, but you won’t care.”

Katsinki, keep her safe, said Eleski. The data drives fell as she ejected herself from around Eridani. Katsinki reverted to his human guise as he tumbled from Eridani’s back, and the power cell thudded on the ground. For an instant, Eleski stood in her true form. Luminous, platinum hair flowed down past her waist, each end a prismatic point. Her enlarged silver eyes glinted under the noxious sun. With a faraway look, she nodded and perfectly duplicated Eridani, wearing her sweat clothes. She quickly gathered the drives, passed them to Eridani, and arranged a handful of junk to resemble the data disks. “All right, I’m coming out,” said Eleski.

“No!” hissed Eridani, and she coughed. “Eleski, no!”

Katsinki placed his hands on the sides of Eridani’s jaw and formed an enclosure for her head. Cool, filtered air flowed in. Breathe, he said. Eleski has made her choice, and we must not interfere. Focus on me if you do not want to listen.

Can’t we help her? thought Eridani.

We must not interfere.

Gripping the junk, Eleski stepped into view and froze. Her hair whipped in the wind. Perched upon Gretchen’s shoulders, a small, naked man gripped Gretchen by the forehead from behind, his body connected to hers by countless strands of clear mucus. He grinned with rotted teeth.

Eleski cleared her throat. “So, uh, how does this work?” she asked.

“Come closer,” said the Grey Cardinal. “Just give me your hand, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

Warily, Eleski approached. When she was close enough, she reached toward him. “Like this?”

“That’s perfect,” he said. “Now, let’s see those drives.”

“Here you go,” said Eleski, and she showed him the junk she had collected.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Fury twisted his face. “What are you trying to pull, here?”

Eleski scoffed. “You didn’t think I’d actually be stupid enough to hand them over without making sure Gretchen was safe, did you? She’s coming with us. We can do the exchange once we’re back aboard Imperium.”

The Grey Cardinal chuckled wickedly. “You don’t know how my powers work, but that’s all right. You’re about to find out!” His eyes flashed red, and he snarled as he launched from Gretchen’s back, sending her backward onto the ground.

Eleski tried to deflect him, but his mucus stuck to her. He cackled as he wrapped his limbs around Eleski’s forearm and began to ooze into her. “You’re mine now, Captain Webb! I can’t wait to meet your brother. We’re going to