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

“What?” Orin’s voice caught in his throat. “What are you saying?”

“One of the pirates surprised us and pulled a repurposer out of nowhere. He threatened to kill Nimbus if we didn’t surrender.” Mike shook his head. “We were already down on our knees, but Nimbus was so addled by all the electrical currents running through him that he just…” Mike popped his lips. “He dispersed, and that was that. The repurposer fried him.” He turned the orb slowly in his hands. “This is all that’s left.”

“No, Nimbus knew what he was doing,” said Torsha, and she wiped away her tears. “He knew how much he meant to us. Imagine what would’ve happened if he let us get captured. The pirates would’ve taken over Fox Mendes, and none of us would be sitting here right now.”

Mike leaned over his knees. “I hadn’t considered that. Somehow, that hurts even more.”

“Can I hold him?” asked Orin.

“Sure.” Mike passed him the orb. “Here.”

“Oh, Nimbus,” said Orin, and tears flowed freely as his body shook. “Damn it,” he breathed, and he held his friend’s remains against his forehead. “What happened to you guys out there?”

Mike and Torsha recounted the battle aboard Fox Mendes. Torsha continued with the telling of their deception aboard Blacktusk’s boarding sled, and they both spun a grim yarn of their time aboard Excrucio. “Would you like to know the last thing Nimbus said?” asked Mike.

Orin relaxed somewhat, and he sniffed. “What?”

Mike choked up and coughed away the rising sorrow. “The last thing he said…” Crushing away tears, he finally managed, “It was… He smiled, and he said, ‘Live well, always.’”

Mournfully, Orin laughed and returned the orb. “Of course.”

Torsha wiped her nose. “I don’t get it. Why would you say ‘of course’ to that?”

“Nimbus came from HealiOS,” said Mike.

“And that’s their slogan,” said Torsha. She smiled sadly. “Oh, Nimbus.”

With a cautiously hopeful look, April stepped closer. “I’m sorry to intrude, but I sensed Nimbus when you were outside the dance club on Rhyon. I’m aware of how lethal repurposers are to AIs, but they’re not necessarily deadly to DIs, and I believe Nimbus is a digital intelligence, not an artificial one.”

“His spec document says he’s an AI,” said Mike.

“Then something extraordinary must’ve happened,” said April. “I can’t sense artificial intelligences, and I distinctly sensed Nimbus.”

Torsha regarded April askance. “Can you butt out, please?”

“I just don’t want you to give up on him prematurely,” said April. “I don’t mean to kindle hope where they may be none, but if there’s even a spark of life in there, I’ll be able to sense it. Will you allow me to try?”

Torsha fumed. “He’s dead, okay? Butt out!”

Mike rested a calming hand upon her shoulder. “Torsha, it’s okay. What harm could it do?” Looking to April, he passed her Nimbus’s remains. “Here. Thank you. Please be careful with him.”

“I will be,” said April. Gracefully, she propped Nimbus within her fingertips, slowly turning him this way and that. Her awareness drifted through layers of ashen data, along crumbling logic paths and algorithmic wisps. She passed through a thick, black barrier and plummeted onto a colorful, glassy sphere. Its nucleus glowed brilliantly, and it rapidly pulsed.

Hello, Nimbus, she thought.

Unknown Visitor, please identify yourself, said Nimbus.

I’m April Sattari, the one Mike told you about when I visited your starship.

Nimbus flashed faster for a moment. April Sattari,I am unable to access relevant data indexes. How are you here?

Without your data indexes, I’m afraid you won’t understand, thought April. I don’t wish to clutter your memory with needless information.

Very well, said Nimbus. April Sattari, tell me why you are here.

All your friends think you’re dead.

Nimbus flashed faster and faster, until the glassy globe filled with light. Tell… Nimbus sparked. Tell the boy I cherish his love for… Sparks showered for a moment before radiant beams painted the form of an orb weaver and her web. Tell him I live. Tell them I live.

April slammed back into her body with a gasp. It took a moment to collect herself. “Nimbus lives,” she whispered.

Mike looked astonished. “He… He’s alive?”

“He is,” said April.

“How can you be sure?” asked Torsha.

She regarded Mike with a warm smile. “He wanted me to tell you how much he cherishes your love for spiders.”

Mike laughed. “Actually, spiders give me the creeps, but that was one of his first complex forms, and I didn’t want him to feel bad. So, he’s fine? Do we just need to be patient and wait for him to reboot?”

“No,” said April. “He’s not fine. He’s in emergency mode, and he needs help. We have a gifted engineer aboard Watchtower. If there’s a way, I bet he’d know how to safely restore your friend.”

“That’s John she’s talking about,” said Malmoradan. Shona helped him over to stand next to April. He leaned against a piece of the warthog’s engine. “He goes by Cajun, and he’s as skilled as they come. Damn fine cook, too.”

Clearing her throat, Shona brushed aside her bangs. “Hey, Orin. What you did back there was…” She shook her head. “It was amazing. I just wanted to say thanks for saving our lives.” She nodded toward Malmoradan. “Especially his.”

Orin dipped his head. “Any time.”

“I owe you one,” said Shona. “We all do.”

“That goes doubly so for me,” said Malmoradan, and he offered Orin his good hand. Within it, he held a folded cloth bearing the seal of Malmoradan’s family crest. “I hereby offer you the services of a disgraced, no-good, low-life, dishonored Taig—with only one good arm—as your nientaro.”

“What’s a nientaro?” asked Orin.

“An oathbound warrior,” said Malmoradan. “It’s part of ilvalori, the ancient ocelini code of honor. First off, I want you to know that I ain’t got any regrets about adopting my baby girl out of that hellhole.” He cast Shona a proud smile. “But my birth family practically disowned me for it. I’d like the chance to bring honor to my name, and serving as your nientaro until such time as I’m able to