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

she activated her shoulder camera. Mindful of their surroundings, they proceeded cautiously, methodically. At last, they reached the embarking chamber they had first arrived in.

“We’re right back where we started,” said Casey. “Where is everybody?”

“It figures, I’d end up on Space Station Roanoke,” said April.

“If I see ‘Croatoan’ scratched into any of the bulkheads, we are leaving,” said Casey.

Orin looked puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

“Real mysteries of ancient Earth,” said Edison. “Things to look up later on the t-net.”

“Gotcha,” said Orin.

Malmoradan pointed at a nearby ladder. “They’re upstairs, maybe?”

Casey shook her head. “Command deck’s up there, and even if everyone suddenly had command access, it’s cozy enough that they’d be spilling out.”

“What about downstairs?” asked Malmoradan.

“Engine room, and below that’s the shuttle hangar and reclamation reactor.” Casey crossed her arms and tapped her side. “I can’t think of a single reason for everyone to suddenly head down to either level.” She clipped one end of a nylon rope to her belt and the other end to a nearby rail. “I’m checking the hatch down to the engine room.” She retrieved a softly glowing rifle from one of the duffle bags and strapped the weapon across her back. “Shona, if the hull’s breached, you reel me in.”

“You don’t want my help?” asked Malmoradan.

“Your shoulder’s still healing,” said Casey. “Shona’s got this.”

“Yeah, Pops, I got this,” said Shona, and she secured herself to the top of the ladder.

Malmoradan chuckled. “I’m sure you do, baby-girl. Don’t take any chances, okay?”

“I’ll be safe,” said Shona, and she hugged Malmoradan.

Casey nodded toward April. “The rest of you should take refuge in one of the state rooms and close the door.”

“Take this with you,” said Malmoradan, and he passed Casey his camera.

“I’ve got one of my own,” said Casey.

“I know you do,” said Malmoradan. “But yours is glitchy sometimes, and mine can shoot holograms.”

“True,” said Casey, and she clipped his camera to her shoulder. “Thanks.”

Malmoradan hefted the duffle bags and joined the others as they entered the nearest residence. Once everyone was inside, April sealed the door.

“Stay frosty,” said Casey, and she glanced sidelong at Shona.

“Frosty as fish sticks,” said Shona.

Casey smirked. “I haven’t heard that one before, but it doesn’t sound very frosty.”

“Depends on the fish sticks,” said Shona, and she braced herself. She wound Casey’s rope around her waist and forearm. “I’ve got you.”

Casey turned the hatch’s wheel and heaved. The hatch swung back, clunking against the deck, and the atmospheric pressure held steady. “Oh, thank God,” said Casey, and she unclipped herself from the rail. “Follow me down. There’s still the hangar level to secure.”

“Aye, aye… um, yes. Casey.” Shona handed her the coiled rope. “Sorry.”

“It’s nothing to be sorry about. Old habits die hard.”

Casey descended the ladder, and as soon as she set foot on the engine room deck, she spotted a dark figure in the corner of her eye. Glancing back up to Shona, she gestured for her to proceed with stealth. Shona nodded, and Casey stepped gingerly aside as she joined her. They studied the individual across the way.

Slightly hunched and unnaturally thin, it stood some distance away at the reactor console, clad completely in a gloss black, pliable shell. The figure tapped through manufacturing schedules and flow charts, through residence tower rosters and quality of life reports. Each document reflected perfectly upon its elongated, faceless head.

“I think it’s learning about the people down on the surface,” whispered Casey. “Why would it be doing that?”

“Maybe it’s a corporate recruiter,” said Shona.

“It’s not a recruiter,” said Casey.

“I don’t know,” said Shona. “Why else is it looking through all the personnel files? Plus, it’s got tons of mods, and it’s dressed all in black. I’d definitely put my money on corporate spy of some kind.”

“Okay, let’s assume for now that thing’s here on a rival company’s dime,” said Casey. “I can assure you it’s not recruiting. Wiping out the station crew is the opposite of that.”

“Maybe it’s a new xeno,” said Shona.

Casey regarded her flatly. “Be serious,  please.”

“Hey, you never know,” she whispered. “Although… I’ve suddenly got a real bad, lump in my stomach kind of feeling about this guy.”

“So do I,” said Casey. “Let’s get Orin down here.”

“He isn’t exactly subtle,” said Shona.

“Have him wait at the hatch.”

Shona nodded. “Okay. I’ll be right back with Orin.” Moving silently, she ascended the ladder and vanished from sight.

The intruder deactivated the console. Silhouetted by sparse lighting, it lingered a moment longer. Abruptly, it turned and bolted toward Casey.

Leaping back, she drew her rifle and plucked a spherical probe from the trigger guard. The figure closed with alarming speed. Casey lobbed the orb over its head, and in one fluid motion brought the rifle to bear on her target. She squeezed the trigger until it clicked, and the orb zipped around to the far side of the interloper. Her weapon hummed, its pitch continuously increasing as it built up a charge. A digital meter counted down from three. I don’t have enough time, she thought.

Only a few paces away now, the figure stopped as suddenly as it had moved.

Casey’s weapon primed at last. Her heart pounded in her chest. She tracked the creature with her iron sights as it turned to face a nearby steel plate. Radioactivity warnings covered its broad surface, indicating the presence of fuel rods on the other side. If offered no direct access. After a moment of study, the interloper ran spindly fingers along its edge. Suddenly, its fingers dissolved, pooling against the adjoining plates. Still attached to its arm, the inky mass flowed into the seam. Ever so slightly, the steel plate’s edge bowed outward.

“Stop!” Casey shouted.

If it heard it her, it gave no indication. More of its hand liquefied, seeping into the gaps its fingers had created. Metal complained as one of the lower corners popped out.

“I said stop!” Casey prodded the back of its oblong head with the barrel of her gun. “Stop now, or I will shoot.”

Its forearm flowed into the space behind the access