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

Fiedler’s fireteam took position on both sides of the doors. Torsha, Mike and the flight crew split up and did the same. “Alpha Team’s encountered some resistance,” said Fiedler. “Nothing serious, but we’ve got a heroes’ parade waiting for us.”

Bainbert leaned closer to Torsha. “That means there’s dead bodies visible.”

“Great,” she said, and she sighed.

The lift slowed, and the doors slid open. Red lights flashed silently, and rows of doorway access pads blinked a sea of error codes. With his rifle at the ready, Mastegar kept to the left side of the passageway as he led the team forward. Montaña stayed to the right, with Bainbert at his back. Fielder brought up the rear.

Along the way, they passed several pirates’ corpses, their bodies slumped and contorted as they lay in pools of their own blood.

“I can’t look at this,” whispered Torsha, and she clung to Mike’s arm.

He squeezed her hand reassuringly.

“Charlie Team’s here,” said Fiedler as they arrived at another lift. The other two fireteams emerged from either side of an intersecting passageway. All three groups settled in for a moment as the team leaders discussed.

Torsha approached a nearby bulkhead and leaned steeply against it. She drew several calming breaths. Glancing to her side, she caught sight of a slain buccaneer. Staring into the woman’s lifeless eyes, Torsha’s emotions overwhelmed her. Tears tumbled along her cheeks, and she sank down to a crouch, weeping as quietly as she could manage.

Mike stood next to her, resting his hand warmly upon her back.

“Handle your business, Fiedler,” said the Bravo Team leader. “Your little kitty’s losing it over there.”

Fiedler somehow looked even more dour than usual. “I know you ain’t talking shit about the civvie who saved all our asses out there. Yeah, I’m sure she’s having a hard time ‘cause she ain’t ever seen the shit we wade through every fucking day, but that’s pretty reasonable considering.” He leaned in close. “Am I right?”

“Roger that,” grumbled the head of Bravo Team.

Alpha Team’s leader laughed and slugged him.

Fiedler turned to Bainbert. “See if you can stabilize her. We got two minutes.”

“Don’t worry, LC. I’ll take care of it,” said Bainbert, and he jogged over to Mike and Torsha.

Mike regarded him sidelong. “Just give us a minute. Please.”

“Take all the time you need,” said Bainbert, and he squatted next to Torsha. With a kind look, he tapped the bulkhead, drawing her attention. “Hey,” he said, and he offered a kind smile. “This is some real shit, huh?”

“How do you live with it?” she whispered. “I can’t. I can’t do it.” Gritting her teeth, tears splashed down as she seized him by his vest. “Tell me how to live with it!”

Bainbert leaned into her. “Well, you talk about it. And you don’t stop. You talk about it, and you cry about it, and you feel your way through it for as long as it takes. It hurts a little less every day, and it will never be easy, but you’ll get through it. You will. I promise.”

“I don’t know if I’m strong enough,” she said.

“You are,” said Bainbert. “And you already know you are. It just hurts like hell right now, and that’s perfectly normal.”

Torsha wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly. “Thank you,” she breathed, and she pulled away. Collecting herself, she rose to her feet, and she pressed the tears from her eyes.

“Are you going to be okay?” asked Mike.

Torsha nodded and smiled bitterly. “Oh yeah. I’m great. What’s everyone waiting around for?”

“All right, marines,” said Fiedler. “Let’s finish this!”

With an enthusiastic oorah, they advanced up the emergency stairs. When they reached the command deck, Montaña kicked down the door. Falcon’s marines stormed the bridge and captured Bloodtusk, along with the rest of Excrucio’s command crew.

Bainbert hacked into Blacktusk’s network. He loaded a series of scripts that shut down all communication across the pirate fleet. “404 on the floor,” he said and gave his team leader two thumbs up.

Fiedler activated his commlink. “The network’s down, Captain.”

“Well done, Lance Corporal,” said Izel. “I will inform Lieutenant Belmont of your success. Hold the bridge until I receive confirmation of Orin Webb’s status.”

“Sí, capitán,” said Fiedler. “We’ll hold the bridge.”

◆◆◆

Blue fire roared from Orin’s hands as he gripped Ergo with oceanic waves of force. He lifted her off the deck just as the warthog fired, sending particle blasts ripping through the walls of the complex. They exploded some of the stone beyond, showering the hangar bay with bits of molten rock.

Orin’s flames guttered momentarily, and he let the shuttle drop. Dredging his reserves, he raised his hands as he focused on the warthog. Straining against its mass, he spun Blacktusk’s shuttle completely around.

“That will not save you,” said Blacktusk.

“But this will!” said Bianca as she led her fellow marines from asteroid’s halls. She pulled her trigger, and a rocket-propelled grenade streaked through the air, striking the warthog directly. The explosion tore through the vessel’s hull and set her listing to one side for a moment, before she lost power and crashed down. Fire raged through the warthog’s confines.

“Capture Blacktusk,” said Bianca. “Kill the rest! For Carmina!” The yell that followed chilled Blacktusk’s buccaneers to the bone, and Falcon’s marines swept into their ranks.

Orin formed a pair of tower shields from a mix of stone and steel, and he waded into the mêlée, bearing down on Blacktusk. Casey bellowed as she charged, wielding her shotgun like a cudgel. Shulana leveled her gun at her former shipmates, shooting to wound, while Misaki and April took cover next to Shona and Malmoradan, behind the airlock door. Sturmhardt raised her glowing blade and led the rest of Casey’s posse into battle.

Locking eyes with Orin, Blacktusk holstered his sidearm. He cast off his cloak, revealing a mechanized forearm prosthetic and a robotic lower leg. He slammed his metal fist into one of Orin’s shields, denting it,