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

“You’re going to kill him?” asked April. Casey’s thoughts flashed through her mind, and she gasped. “That was your plan the whole time.”

“I’m sorry, but there’s no other way,” said Casey.

“Yes, there is,” said April, and she deactivated her commlink. She crawled under the boarding ramp and emerged with her hands up. “Hello, Orin.”

He regarded her curiously. “Do I know you?”

“It’s me, April. Don’t you remember me?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t,” said Orin. “Tell the rest of your people to surrender. Immediately!”

“She doesn’t give the orders,” said Casey. She stepped out from behind the jet blast deflector, set down her rifle and sidearm, and she put her hands behind her neck. “I do.”

With a discouraged sigh, Shona placed her weapon on the deck and stood at Casey’s side. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she muttered.

“This is April’s play,” said Casey. “Follow her lead.”

“Ah, hell,” grumbled Malmoradan, and he stepped into view with his hands clasped behind his head.

“Just the four of you?” asked Blacktusk.

“That’s right,” said Casey.

Blacktusk turned his attention to his buccaneers. “Check the hangar for others.” As his minions split up into teams, he addressed Broose and nodded toward Casey. “Search them. Bring me their ID cards and any hidden weapons you find.”

“Aye-aye, Captain,” said Broose, and he searched Shona first.

Before long, he handed Casey’s sidearm and all four identity cards to Blacktusk.

“Thank you. Please stay close,” said Blacktusk, and he retrieved his datapad. One by one, he scanned each card. “Cassiopeia Andromeda Cartwright, contracted deputy star marshal-errant in the employ of the Interstellar Police Force.” He tabbed through Casey’s public profile. “Much of this is redacted. How delightful! Drake, you will tie her up and put her in the warthog when I have finished my assessment.”

“Aye-aye, Captain,” said Drake.

Blacktusk studied his datapad. “April Sattari.” He glanced up at her. “No middle name.” He scanned her profile. “Independent binary. Deputized through association. Only child and cousin to Ms. Cartwright. How unfortunate for you that your parents are of modest means.” He shook his head and moved on to the next entry. “Shona Charlotte Chelsea. Orphan from Gladius Prime, adopted by an anonymous sponsor.” Blacktusk laughed. “You must have had great expectations, Ms. Chelsea. Next!” With a heartless smile, he scanned the last profile. “Malmoradan Taig, son of Moradrendan, son of Dalmoradur.” He sneered at the ocelini. “Dishonored and disgraced. What a shame. Broose, please tie these three up. Put them in the other shuttle with Ky Rego. Be quick about it. Fox Mendes is almost here.”

Broose mustered a rocky grin. “With pleasure, Captain.”

He and Drake set to binding their prisoners.

Blacktusk released the landing control operator. “You may return to your station. Please do what you can to restore power as quickly as possible. My men will be monitoring your communication, so please do not do anything foolish.”

“I won’t. You have my word. Thank you,” said the operator, and he hurried for the halls, quickly moving out of sight.

◆◆◆

Mike stood gazing through a tall viewport. Asteroid debris drifted away, cluttering his view of the stars. Torsha faced the door, draped across a large, luxurious, recessed bed. She pointedly ignored the periscopic viewport directly above her. In the form of a miniature blimp, Nimbus floated near the decorated overhead. He bumped against the nearest bulkhead until he reached the corner, at which point he drifted back to where he started and resumed bumping against the bulkhead. Upon his gondola, he repeatedly printed, “…”

“Do you have to keep doing that?” asked Torsha.

“Torsha Madagan, you are not required to observe my activity,” said Nimbus. “I have selected a low interaction mode that maintains continuous external input without draining unnecessary power. If you wish to suggest a more efficient configuration, I welcome it.”

“Efficient, huh? This coming from the guy who just took five minutes to ask me if I’ve got a better idea,” said Torsha, and she chuckled. “Whatever you say, Nimbus.”

“Five minutes did not elapse during the course of my response.”

“Okay, it just felt like five minutes,” she said.

Mike turned around. “Can we please try not to bicker? I don’t like being stuck in here any more than you do, but if we start turning on each other, this is going to be a very long trip.”

“As if it isn’t already,” she said.

“Torsha, please,” said Mike, and the room went dark. An instant later, emergency lights turned everything to shades of red. Claxons blared throughout Fox Mendes, and their room’s maglock disengaged.

“What’s going on?” asked Torsha.

Nimbus descended and assumed the form of a four-legged, clockwork spider. “Torsha Madagan, perhaps it is a drill.”

“I don’t think so,” said Mike. “They usually announce those kinds of things ahead of time.” Cautiously, he approached the door and heard shouts coming from the passageways ahead. “It’s definitely not a drill.”

“Then what is it?” asked Torsha.

Mike listened awhile longer. “It sounds like fighting. I think we’ve been boarded.”

“By the BICOM team?” asked Torsha, and she held up her arms.

“No, not them,” said Mike. “I’m going out there to have a look. You two can wait here if you want. I’m sure it’s much safer in here.”

“Fat chance of that,” said Torsha, and she hurried to his side.

Nimbus approached. “Miguel Santos, neither will I abandon you to the dangers of whatever awaits us in the passageways ahead. Unfortunately, I must dispute your assertion. Without the ability to secure the room, our confines offer little risk reduction.”

“Good point,” said Mike. “Thanks, guys.” He slid the door aside and exited, with his friends right behind. They saw a line of Fox Mendes crew members filing past with their arms behind their heads. Two armed buccaneers guided them along the passageways.

The moment they rounded the corner, Mike pounced. He pulled one of the invaders backward, bearing him down to the deck. Mike disarmed his foe and seized his plasma rifle, using its butt to strike the pirate