Rivers of Orion

by Dana Kelly

  Casey shook her head and furrowed her brow. “Those are included in your base pay. This is what you get, split three ways. Or four, I guess, but it would be a little less since we’d have to refactor for an extra mouth to feed.”

  Misaki’s eyes went wide, and her ears faced forward. “No rent? Free food?” She practically squeaked with excitement, and she danced in place.

  “Take a deep breath, Saki,” said Sturmhardt, and she looked at Casey. “Can vee haf a moment?”

  “Sure,” said Casey, and she stepped away.

  They discussed, and after a few minutes, Ikunku waved Casey back over.

  “What’s the consensus?” she asked.

  “We’re in,” said Ikunku. “We’re all in!”

  Casey nodded. “That’s great!” With a hopeful smile, she gestured toward her shuttle. “Right this way.”

  ◆◆◆

  Mike, Orin, and Torsha sat across from Shona, April, and Malmoradan within the passenger compartment of a Sunhawk transport. A member of the flight crew checked their restraints before returning to the cockpit. The last of the corpsmen loaded their gear and boarded. Before long, the ramp sealed shut, and the starship disengaged from Rocksaugh’s docking clamps. The Sunhawk drifted out into the void, leaving the Starwind alone in the maintenance bay, leaving the mining complex quiet once more.

  Within his tower, the landing control technician yawned and stretched, and he settled in for the night.

  April focused on her datapad, while Malmoradan spoke with Shona in whispers, answering the many questions she had about the vessel and Falcon’s personnel. Torsha sat with her head in her hands, and she flinched as weightlessness took hold. She did her best to meter her breathing, and Orin gently rubbed her back. “Here,” he said, as blue flames sprang from his fingertips. “Let me know if it’s too much.”

  Torsha eased back down into her seat, the only one in the transport vessel to experience the effects of gravity. With wonder in her eyes, she regarded Orin. “Are you doing this?”

  He nodded as he concentrated. “I am, and I should have plenty of focus to get you over to Fox Mendes. I’m still figuring a lot of this out, so please let me know if it gets uncomfortable at all.”

  “It feels fine.” She patted his arm, gingerly at first. As she surrendered to the peace she felt within her body, she leaned against him. “Actually, it feels nice. Thank you.”

  Mike’s thoughts wandered as the transport closed on Fox Mendes.

  Once they had docked and disembarked, Mike guided his comrades to the quarters he shared with Torsha. He placed Nimbus within a recessed drawer, snug within rolls of clean socks. From there, the liaison officer joined them and showed the starship’s visitors down to Deck 4, to the rooms where April, Orin, Shona, and Malmoradan would be bunking. He led them to the ladderwells, the enlisted mess, the medical stations, and he explained how all the compartments were numbered.

  “Don’t worry, guys. I served a tour aboard the Foehammer,” said Malmoradan. “The numbering’s pretty much the same. I can help if you get lost.”

  The liaison officer raised his brows. “The Foehammer? I don’t know any ship by that name.”

  “It’s her nickname. She’s the UNSS Tolkien, but her crew never calls her that,” said Malmoradan.

  “Ah,” said the liaison officer. “A United Planets starship. Nice. Well, I look forward to hearing your war stories over chow. I guess you know better than to be late.” He smiled and took his leave.

  ◆◆◆

  Later that night as most everyone else slept, Shona rolled off her bunk, put on her boots and stepped into the passageway. She wandered, stooping through coamings, careful not to hit her shins against the lower jambs. Headed for the rear of the starship, she at last found a broad viewport, and she stood before it. Leaning against the sill, she lost herself in the stars, in the rhythmic hum of the vessel’s baritone creaks and shudders.

  “I think this might be the darkest part of the ship,” said Mike. Cloaked in shadow, he ambled close and stood at her side. “Can’t sleep?”

  “Not right now.” She playfully nudged him. “What about you? You gonna start stalking me or something?”

  “Ha! No,” said Mike. “A lot of people come down here. With that faint thruster glow lighting up the frame, and the sheer size of the viewport, this is probably the best view on the whole ship.” He quietly cleared his throat. “And now it’s definitely the best view.”

  “That was cheesy, Mike,” said Shona. “Not at all smooth.”

  He chuckled. “Hey, I only take out the cheese for special occasions.”

  “That’s because you’re not used to working for it. I bet you’ve got your own harem back on Rhyon. I bet every time someone recognizes you at a bar or a club, it’s all free drinks and let’s go back to my place. But sometimes it leaves you feeling empty inside, like something’s missing. Like you’re missing. I bet that’s why you avoided going inside the club that night.”

  “You’ve got me figured out,” said Mike, and he glanced away for a moment. “That’s not why I avoided Nostromo’s, though. I stayed outside because I hate that stupid club, especially since they exiled me for a perfectly logical reason.”

  Shona laughed, and she regarded him curiously. “But I don’t have you figured out, do I?”

  Mike shrugged and smiled. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Except it kinda does to me, now.” She leaned sideways against the bulkhead, gripping her arm at the elbow. “So. You got yourself eighty-sixed. How’d you manage that?”

  “Oh, I blacked out through most of it,” said Mike. “There were a few lucid moments, like when I threw up in one of the trash cans, and when I threw up a little in my own drink. The next thing I remember is a couple buddies from my criminology class helping me into the bathroom, and then nothing until I woke up the next morning in my dorm room—on my side with a bunch of pillows wedged against my back. You don’t want to know what was on the bed next to me. Suffice to say, that was the last time I went out drinking.”

  “I’ve been there,” said Shona. “A lot more than once.”

  “I’m glad you survived.”

  “Who said I was done?” asked Shona.

  “Ah, my apologies. I assumed,” said Mike.

  “I’m just messing with you,” said Shona. “But I know myself well enough not to use words like ‘last time’ and ‘never.’ It’s been a few years since I’ve been blackout drunk, but it could happen again. I was dealing was some serious emotional pain back then, and it’s better now, but… yeah, it could happen again.”

  Mike nodded, staring off for a while. “Anyway, I’m sure you’re here to be alone with your thoughts. I’ll leave you be.”

  Shona tilted her head. “Why? We can both be here with our thoughts. I’m totally okay with that. Besides, there’s no competition for the viewport if the only view you’re interested in is me.” With a warm smile, she nodded his way. “Your words, not mine.”

  “Words I wish I could take back,” said Mike, and he blushed slightly. “Or at least rephrase. Good night, Shona.”

  “Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

  “I guess I don’t have to be,” said Mike.

  “Good, because I can make room.” She faced the viewport again and scooted over slightly.

  “Thank you,” said Mike. He stepped close and rested his arms against the sill.

  Shona folded her arms next to his, brushing against Mike’s skin. “There we go,” she said. They spent a moment enjoying the warmth shared by their contact.

  “How long have you been doing this?” asked Mike. His heart raced, and when he glanced her way, he felt butterflies in his stomach.

  “Since I was nineteen. Since Malmoradan rescued me, so what… seven years, I think?” She gave the matter a moment more of thought. “I started in March of seventy-four, so I guess it’s more like six and a half years. What about you? You don’t exactly strike me as the spacer type.”

  “I’ve
been up here a few times, on vacation mostly,” said Mike. “I wanted to join the star navy reserve when I was in high school, but my doctor wouldn’t sign off on getting the plates and screws removed from my head. Probably for the best, considering what went down on Coroxico’s Moon three years ago.”

  Shona chuckled. “You really think your dad would’ve allowed you to be sent over there, even if you had joined?”

  “I thought you didn’t know anything about him,” said Mike.

  “I don’t, but I know money, and money looks after its own,” said Shona. “How’d you score the hardware?”

  “Air traffic collision nine years ago,” said Mike. “Just rotten luck. We got broadsided by a sky truck with a faulty autopilot. I was told Orin’s uncle died instantly, and Orin got banged up, but nothing serious. I wasn’t so lucky. My ejection pod jammed, and I took the ride all the way down.”

  “Oh my god,” whispered Shona.

  Mike shrugged. “I don’t remember any of it. Not for three months after it happened, either. I suppose I was lucky in that regard.”

  She took his hand and squeezed tenderly. Their eyes met, and her heart pounded. “I’m sorry that happened.” She leaned closer, her lips hovering near his. With a wry smile, she said, “This better not be part of your hustle.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s working,” she said, and she kissed him.

  He pulled her close, kissing her passionately in return.

  “Oh, whoops,” said someone from further down the passageway. Dressed in her Falcon star navy activewear, she cleared her throat and gestured back the way she had come. “I’ll, uh, go this way.”

  “It’s okay,” said Shona. She leaned away slightly, fixing her gaze on Mike. “We were just leaving.” With a longing smile, she felt her body pressed against his. “My place, I assume, since you have a roommate.”

  “Your place sounds great,” said Mike, and he caught his breath.

  Shona glanced up and around. “I might need your help getting back there.”

  With an excited grin, Mike took her hand. “This way.”

  They navigated the passageways until they reached Shona’s quarters. She closed the door, tossed her flannel aside, and pulled her blouse off over her head. Mike set down his jacket, and as he stood, Shona helped him out of his shirt. He pressed her against the bulkhead, kissing her body as he removed the last of her clothing.

  Seizing him in her arms, she lifted Mike off the deck and fell with him onto her bunk. Their breathing filled the room, their skin hot with sweat. Moving together, their bodies ached for release.

  Chapter 16

  The Way Home

  Five days later, April sat next to Shona within the Fox Mendes enlisted mess hall. Hunched over April’s datapad, they studied a starship’s sales profile. “Phlogiston Coachworks makes very nice ships,” said April. “I think we have almost enough money between the three of us to put a down payment… on the down payment.” She set a small stack of digital papers on the seat next to her.

  “Awesome, let’s do it!” said Shona.

  “I was being facetious,” said April. “Besides, a leviathan like that is a lot more starship than we’ll ever need. We should look for something a bit more sensible.” She changed how the list was sorted and tabbed through a few panels until she stopped at a much smaller starship. “This is what’s in our price range.”

  “Why can’t we put a down payment on a down payment?”

  April folded her hands together. “It’s just not a good idea. We’d be taking out a loan so we can take out an even bigger loan, and we have no idea what our income is going to look like.”

  “We’ll be fine,” said Shona. “Have a little faith.”

  “It’s not a matter of faith,” said April.

  They heard the boatswain’s call, and conversation quickly filled the adjacent passageways as the starship’s crewmembers started lining up for afternoon chow. They filled the mess deck with a lighthearted din. “Let’s resume this discussion with Malmoradan after he’s out of surgery,” said April.

  “Sure,” said Shona. “Did you add the Phlogiston to our list?”

  “I didn’t,” said April.

  “It’s okay, I’ll add it,” said Shona.

  April winced slightly. “Fantastic.”

  Mike appeared at the threshold with Orin and Torsha at his side. Spotting April and Shona, he waved them over. April gathered her electronic paperwork and joined the others in line.

  Sharing a brief and tender embrace with Shona, Mike glanced back the way he had come. “You know I can get us into the officers mess, right? The food all comes from the same place, but it’s a lot nicer up there.”

  “I like it here,” said April.

  “It’s roomier here, too,” said Shona.

  “Fair enough,” said Mike. With a nod toward April, he tapped his jacket pocket. “What’s the word?”

  “On Cajun?” asked April.

  “If you’ve got an update,” said Mike. “Not to be rude, but it’s been five days since we left Rocksaugh’s.”

  “Unfortunately, Cajun’s got his hands full training Watchtower’s new recruits. He sends his apologies and promises to have a look at Nimbus as soon as he can.” April regarded him sympathetically. “I wish Casey would’ve taken me up on my offer. I’m sorry, Mike.”

  “No, it’s okay. It’ll take time for Casey to pick up Blacktusk’s bounty. At worst, I hope Cajun and I can meet then.”

  “She was trying to keep that secret,” said April. “How did you hear of it?”

  “As the Falcon prince of this sector, Izel isn’t allowed to hide any tactical or logistical information from me,” said Mike. “Basically, I asked, and she answered. Anyway, I’ll arrange some time to meet with Cajun once we’re all on Rhyon.”

  Torsha looked first at her phone, then pointedly at April. “Which is in six hours, right?”

  “Well, we’re scheduled to reach the reactor-free horizon at that time, but it’s anyone’s guess when the Orbital Guard arrives,” said April. “When they do, it’ll take some time to fill out all the paperwork and ferry the prisoners over to the transport ship.”

  Suddenly irritated, Torsha asked, “So what, another day?”

  April shrugged. “Sure. Half a day, maybe up to a day sounds probable. If nothing goes wrong.”

  “Why can’t you ever give me a straight answer?”

  “I gave you a range,” said April. “I’m sorry, but it’s the best I can do.”

  Torsha stared sullenly.

  “Hang in there,” said Mike. “We’re almost home.”

  “I can’t wait,” grumbled Torsha.

  Orin indicated April’s paperwork. “What’s that?”

  “Something I think you’ll be very excited about, but I need to discuss it with you in private,” said April.

  “Interesting,” said Orin, and he sidestepped out of the line. “Where should we go?”

  She shook her head. “It can wait until after lunch.”

  “Sure, of course,” said Orin, and he got back in line just as it started to move.

  In short order, they all sat around a square table with fixed steel seats. Mike sat on the table’s edge as they talked and ate.

  As Shona returned with a heaping plate of thirds, the ship’s head nurse caught up with her. “Malmoradan’s doing fine,” said the nurse, as Shona scarfed down her food. “He’s in and out of consciousness, but he’s recovering nicely. Dr. Fairly says it’s okay for you to visit. Just you right now since you’re family.”

  With an enthusiastic nod, Shona gulped down the last of her sliders and drained a cup of water. She set her dishware down on the table and smiled at her friends. “Be right back.”

  “This way,” said the nurse, and she led Shona away.

  Orin delivered the used dishes and utensils to a wash bin near the scullery. When he returned to the table, April greeted him with an earnest smile. “Shall we?” she asked, and she aligned her st
ack of electronic papers.

  “Lead on,” said Orin, and he followed April out into the passageway.

  “Looks like it’s just you and me,” said Mike. “Would you care to check out the observation deck? This might be your last chance to do so.”

  “Do I have to look at stars?” asked Torsha.

  “It would be hard not to,” said Mike.

  “Then no,” said Torsha, and she buried her head in her hands.

  Mike sat next to her and rested his hand on her back. “Oh, hey now. Torsha, what’s wrong?”

  “It’s just that whether we’re slowing down, speeding up, or going really fast, the stars don’t move at all.”

  “That’s because they’re so far away, stars appear stationary no matter how fast we go,” said Mike.

  “I know that,” said Torsha. “I’m not stupid. You’re hearing when you should be listening.”

  “My apologies,” said Mike. “I’m listening now.”

  “What I mean is I can’t even tell how long we’ve been out here anymore. Not just on the spaceship, but the whole time we’ve been out here. Like, logically I know how long we’ve been on Fox Mendes, but in my heart, I can’t track it. The stars never move. It’s just constant nighttime outside every window.”

  “The simulated day and night cycles aren’t helping, huh?”

  “Not at all,” said Torsha. Tears rolled slowly down her cheeks. “What are we doing out here?” Looking up, she indicated the vents and the polished pipes spanning the bulkhead to her left. “What is that, and those?” Shaking her head, she dabbed at her eyes. “We shouldn’t be here.”

  “We’ll be home soon, and things will get back to normal,” said Mike.

  “Normal?” She regarded him icily. “I don’t know about you, but I’ll never feel normal ever again! We killed people. We killed people!”

  “I know,” he said. “I know we did.”

  “I just want to go home, but there’s always something getting in the way, and everything takes forever out here.” She regarded him with reddened eyes. “You know, I thought I could get into it, but I can’t. And every time I close my eyes, I see them, the people we killed—their empty eyes just staring back at me, into me. And that smell! It’s been almost a week, and I still can’t get it out of my nose.” She hunched forward and quietly wept. “I just want to go home.”