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

She nodded pointedly at Old One-Eye as the mech reached down to rip up the portion of the deck Orin stood atop. Orin went flying and used another sphere to catch himself. With a look of determination, he marched back to the heart of the arena.

April gazed roguishly at Orin. “I believe the first point goes to Old One-Eye.”

Orin winked, still a bit breathless. “Let’s go again. I’m ready this time.”

“I’m sure you were merely warming up,” said April. “Execute Boxer-One-Five!”

The mech charged, and Orin threw spheres around its shoulder joints. He pulled up sheets of steel, forming a makeshift ramp in Old One-Eye’s path. As it drew close, Orin heaved, sending it onto its back. With its arms immobilized, the mech remained there until it powered down.

Facing April and Lafuega, Orin dismissed his spheres and took a bow as the Seabees applauded. “I’m here all day,” said Orin. He used his powers to restore the deck to its original state.

“Nicely done,” said April, and she raised her brow. “Execute Boxer-One-Six.”

Old One-Eye climbed it its feet, and Orin nodded as it charged.

◆◆◆

Sixteen days passed, and Earth at last appeared on Imperium’s main viewscreen. Down in the mech hangar, Lafuega concluded Orin’s training. Rather than escorting her back to the brig, April and Orin led her to the ready room, where Casey awaited them. “Is he ready?” she asked.

“As ready as he can be, under the circumstances,” said Lafuega, and she faced Orin. “I must admit, you’re a multi-talent. You’re quick on your feet, and you have a level of confidence in your powers that most people in the agency take decades to attain. You’ve demonstrated a high degree of skill in kinetic, atomic, gravitic, and temporal manipulations. If I had a certificate to give you, I would.” She chuckled dryly. “God help the galaxy if there are any more out there like you.”

“Thank you,” said Orin, and he grinned. “You’ve been a great teacher.”

“I’ve already received my crew’s assessment of you, Agent Fiero,” said Casey, and she shared a hopeful smile with April. “You’ve only shown the utmost in goodwill and professionalism. This question is really a formality, but I have to ask it for the record. Will you disavow Admiral Schurke and all his plans, foreswearing him in every way?”

“Sure,” said Lafuega. “He’s a two-faced scumbag murderer.”

“I need a yes or no,” said Casey.

“Yes,” said Lafuega. “Screw that guy.”

Casey stood up and smiled. “I see no reason why we can’t trust you. Will you take the Interstellar Police Force deputy’s oath? If you say yes, you’ll be joining us as a member of my contracted law enforcement team. All charges against you will be immediately suspended until such time as statutes of limitations expire, or until you cease to serve in a recognized law enforcement capacity, whichever comes first.”

“Sure,” said Lafuega. “I mean yes.”

Casey guided Lafuega through the oath and removed her disruption collar after it was over. “Welcome to Orion Force, Deputy Fiero,” said Casey, and she offered her hand.

Lafuega shook vigorously. “Glad to be part of the team!”

◆◆◆

The sun shone high overhead as Eridani’s Starwind rested atop a New York rooftop tarmac. Thick white clouds drifted across a bright blue sky. Gentle breezes rustled hundreds of world flags as they ringed a manicured courtyard. Empty food carts and shuttered coffee kiosks dotted the perimeter of a dozen government buildings.

April and Orin sat on one side of a wide stone bench that faced a dancing fountain. They shared the bench with a gray-coated ocelini woman who wore a Russian starfighter pilot’s uniform. Her name tape showed, “KOSHKA.” Quietly, she ate her lunch.

“Congrats on passing your Spacer’s Exam,” said April.

“It took me a couple tries,” said Orin.

She regarded him reassuringly. “Virtually no one passes it on the first try. In fact, I personally only know one person who did.”

“Let me guess…” He regarded her playfully. “You?”

April sounded happy. “Definitely not! That honor belongs to Cajun. It took me three tries to pass mine. I didn’t know it at the time, but if you fail it twice in a row, they make you wait a month to take it again.” She smiled wistfully. “That’s how I ended up flying with Casey. If I’d have passed my exam on either of the first two tries, I’d have been hired aboard the N.S. Hellhound. It was perfect timing that Casey reached out to me when she did, or I’d have ended up a drifter.”

“Yeah, about that,” said Orin. “There’s something I’ve been dying to tell you about her, but Casey swore me to secrecy.”

She rested her hand gently upon his forearm. “It’s okay, Orin. I already know. I sensed what she was planning when we met at the restaurant on Mars.”

He looked surprised. “You’ve been playing along this whole time?”

April gazed upon the fountain. “I didn’t know where things were going at first. By the time I realized I was safe, I was in way too deep to come clean without risking our friendship.”

“I think you could talk to her about it,” said Orin. “I think she’s ready.”

“I suppose I could, but what’s the point?” asked April. “She’s not really my cousin. I don’t know what she is. When I read her… Well, it’s difficult to explain it.” She glanced his way. “Normally, I perceive other people’s mindscapes like I’m walking through a museum. Depending on how recent or significant they are, their memories range from impressionist paintings to video panels. It’s all instantly recognizable for what it’s meant to be. Casey’s thoughts are more like… a big bowl of writhing, neon calamari.”

Orin winced. “That sounds very alien.”

“It is,” said April. “She looks like she’s human, but she’s not even close.”

“Well, one thing’s for sure,” said Orin. “Whatever else she is, Casey’s your friend. She loves you like a big sister.”

April sighed. “I suppose that counts for something.”

A quiet moment passed, and Orin looked upward. “It’s weird. There’s not a car in the sky.”

“Air traffic is