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

“You won’t even let me try?” asked Mike.

“My decision is final. Principito, we have personally completed dozens of rescues. Orin will be fine.” Izel glanced at a young man standing nearby. “Contramaestre, assign them something cozy. They’ve enjoyed each other’s company so far, and I see no reason to break them up.”

“Sí, capitán,” said the boatswain. He reviewed the deck plan. With a smile, he said, “I have the perfect place.”

“Bueno. Take these two marines with you and collect the others. Show them to their room.” With a disappointed sigh, Izel regarded Mike. “Get out of my sight.”

Chapter 11

Memento Vivere

“Have you had breakfast?” asked Casey. Standing in Orin’s doorway, she loomed over him as he sat within his bunk. She carried a bundle of clothing tucked against her side, and her expression was severe.

“I have,” said Orin.

“Good. Put this on,” said Casey. She tossed him his old prison jumpsuit. “These too.” She dropped a pair of black canvas slip-on sneakers. “Get showered and shaved. I’ll be back in an hour. Be ready when I return.”

“April told me what you’re doing,” said Orin.

“She did?” Instantly regaining her composure, Casey said, “Of course, she did.”

“You’re handing me off to a rogue smuggler?” Orin looked upon her with disgust. “Seriously?”

“Shut your mouth, prisoner. I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

Orin narrowed his gaze. “At the very least, you should think it through for yourself. Rogue smugglers specialize in extracting binaries from places like the assessment facility. I’m sure he’s on a watch list, along with his starship. I doubt they’d let him within a thousand clicks of the station, so why would he risk it? For the sake of his reputation? He’ll sell me to the highest bidder and retire with all the money he gets for me. Your friend has literally zero reasons to follow through on his deal with you.”

“You overestimate your worth, prisoner.” Casey looked unimpressed. “Besides, my guy would never betray me.”

“Those are famous last words, you know.”

She crossed her arms in response.

“I get it, though,” said Orin. “I terrify you.”

Casey’s expression darkened. “Get shaved, get clean, and get dressed.” Abruptly, she stormed out, slammed the door, and locked it.

Orin picked at his jumpsuit. With a sudden roar, he wadded it up and tossed it across the room. After a moment, he sighed and stooped low to collect it. He undressed, showered, and spent extra time shaving. When he had finished, he got dressed, and with a heavy sigh sank backward onto the bed.

◆◆◆

Casey returned with Shona, Malmoradan and April in tow. They escorted Orin to the hangar deck and boarded the shuttle. Moments later, the hangar door ground open, and Casey piloted the vessel out into the starry void. Sunlight splashed on the edges of the asteroid ring.

“Why is Watchtower pointed away from the asteroid belt?” asked Orin. “And why are we leaving now when the rendezvous point is still so far away?”

“You felt that spot of weightlessness last night?” asked Shona.

Orin nodded. “Sure.”

“That was Watchtower flipping around and firing thrusters back up to 1G. Since then, the old girl’s been decelerating, and she’ll keep decelerating until she reaches the edge of the asteroid belt. Once she’s there, Krané’s gonna cut thrust and wait for the rest of us to return.”

“Wait,” said Orin, and he thought about the physics involved. After a moment, he nodded. “Okay, I can see that. Cool, thank you for the explanation.”

“As to your second question, there are two reasons for leaving now,” said April. “One, between Watchtower’s rate of deceleration and the shuttle’s rate of acceleration, now is the most efficient time to make way. Two, even a pilot as skilled as Krané couldn’t thread the asteroids flying Watchtower, but Casey won’t have any problems avoiding them in the shuttle.”

“Sure, that makes sense,” said Orin.

“You pick up on things quickly,” said Shona. “You’d have made a fine spacer.”

“Yeah, well.” Orin chuckled dryly. “How much time until we get there?”

“Ten hours, give or take,” said April. “How are you feeling?”

“Oh, super excited about my future. Did you know in high school, I was voted must likely to get smuggled into a testing facility?”

Shona laughed. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

“Well, the one kid who wrote my name down sure did.” He sighed. “Of course, he wrote it in crayon, and no one else voted, but I still think it counts.”

“I suspect you’re not being completely honest with me,” said Shona.

“It’s right there in the yearbook,” said Orin. “Completely unrelated, but do you know how to hack a yearbook?”

Shona leaned in with exaggerated seriousness. “I assume you’re asking for a friend.”

“Oh, of course. A friend.” Conspiratorially, he glanced about. “So, do you?”

“I’m sorry to intrude on my own question, but I asked in earnest,” said April. “Orin, how are you feeling?”

“Sorry.” Orin stared at the airlock awhile. “Honestly, I’m scared. Memories are what make us who we are, and when mine are gone, I’ll be someone else. This me will just be…” He looked at his hands. “Gone. Forever.”

“Memories aren’t the only thing we’re made of,” said April. She looked into his eyes. “I promise that wherever you end up, I’ll find you and help you get your memories back. If I can.”

Orin glanced her way. “Why would you do that for me?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do,” said April. “Apparently, that no longer matters to Casey, but it matters to me.”

“April, hold on,” said Malmoradan. “How the hell are you going to track down Orin if you’re helping us fly Watchtower?”

April regarded Malmoradan matter-of-factly. “Clearly, I can’t do both.”

He grumbled, “Wait, but that would mean…”

“I’m headed to the cockpit,” said April, and she turned away. “Malmoradan, double-check our gear. Make sure everything is in order.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Shona squeezed Orin’s shoulder. “Hey, don’t look so