Rivers of Orion

by Dana Kelly

  As they swapped stories, Casey approached Eridani. “Captain Webb, I can’t thank you enough for saving my ship and the lives of my crew.”

  “Oh, it’s just Eridani from now on.” She bowed slightly. “Captain.”

  “Why’s that?” asked Casey.

  “I only took the job to try and keep Orin safe.” Eridani looked mournful. “Then to avenge our families, and apparently to commit an act of war against my own nation of birth. It feels like a pretty storied career already, so I thought I’d stop while I was ahead.”

  “There’s more than enough proof to make sure all the dust settles in our favor,” said Casey. “Flacon diplomats are already en route to Earth, and I think the United Planets diplomatic corps might actually be grateful for a much-needed shot in the arm.”

  “That’s good to know,” said Eridani. “Still, even if I wanted to stay out here, there was almost nothing left of Bloodtusk’s holdings. After I return what I borrowed from the Santos estate, I’ll still have to sell Imperium to cover the rest of the loan, and I’m not even sure that’s legal since she’s a warship with a military-grade armament.”

  “Even if you ditched the C-beam, she still may end up getting scuttled if you surrender ownership,” said Casey. “You wouldn’t see a red credit.”

  Eridani sighed. “Well, that’s just great.”

  “But I highly doubt Mike is going to force the issue,” said Casey.

  “He’s got three uncles and seven cousins higher up on the chain than he is,” said Eridani. “Someone’s going to try to collect, I guarantee it.”

  Casey quietly cleared her throat. “How deep in the hole are you?”

  “Almost a quarter million.”

  “You could sell her to me,” said Casey. “I can’t afford to pay you fair market value, but I can cover your debt fifty times over. Sixty times over, if I can short-sell Watchtower.”

  Eridani smiled. “Let’s say five times over, I keep the Starwind, and I get to stay on as a consultant.”

  “You’d let her go for that cheap?” asked Casey.

  “The more I take, the less you’ll have to pay us,” said Eridani.

  “Are you sure?”

  Eridani nodded. “Completely.”

  “Deal!” said Casey, and she grinned. “I’ll draw up the paperwork and ask my pilot to start moving everything over!”

  Chapter 36

  Basic Training

  Shulana carried a large crate into Casey’s shuttle and stacked it atop an even larger crate. Within Watchtower’s empty cargo hold, Casey and Ikunku stood side by side. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this clean,” said Casey.

  “We were only aboard for a few months, but she sure felt like home,” said Ikunku. “I’m a little nervous about transferring to Imperium, to be honest.”

  “Home is anywhere you can hang your hat,” said Casey. “Imperium’s big, but she’s not too big.”

  Shulana exited the shuttle. “I don’t think that’s what he’s getting at. Here on Watchtower, half of us were buccaneers.”

  “Yeah, and Imperium’s full of decent folk,” said Ikunku. “They have families they can spend time with and friends they can visit without stepping through a weapon detector.”

  “You’ll fit in just fine,” said Casey. “It may take a little while, but you’ll get there.”

  “According to the personnel report, both Bloodtusk and Ostonk were transferred off Imperium right before Eridani took over, yet Ostonk’s twin brother remains aboard,” said Shulana. “Perhaps my rapport with Grostonk will help with our integration.”

  Casey smirked. “I bet you’ll have fun finding out.”

  Shulana blushed. “I wasn’t even implying that.”

  “Implying or otherwise, please feel free to tell me nothing about it,” said Ikunku. “I’m heading inside. Unless there’s anything left?”

  Casey shook her head. “No, this is the last of it. The transport crew should arrive in a couple days and tow Watchtower back to Earth.” Casey’s mag-boots clunked as she crossed the deck and powered down the ranch-hand. Taking in the cool, dark extent of the chamber, she wore a bittersweet smile. “See you soon, old girl.” She clomped back to the shuttle and switched off the overhead lights along the way.

  ◆◆◆

  “There’s so much room,” said Shona, and she crossed through one of the doorways leading into Imperium’s primary mess deck. April, Orin, Mike, Nimbus, and Torsha followed. “It’s even bigger than Fox Mendes!”

  “Imagine how big Saxony’s mess hall must’ve been,” said Mike.

  “You employed the past tense, but Saxony wasn’t destroyed,” said Nimbus. “I expect her mess deck is the same size as it has always been.”

  “I’m sure you’re right,” said Mike, and he chuckled.

  “Told you it was amazing,” said Torsha. “And there’s gravity everywhere! I haven’t gone floating at all since I’ve been here.”

  “Weightlessness never bothered me,” said April. “I wonder if I’ll miss it.”

  “It didn’t bother me either,” said Nimbus. “I found moving through three-dimensional space without the aid of gravity to be a delightful challenge, one that required as much mental and physical agility as it did spatial awareness.”

  “Well, I hate it,” said Torsha.

  Across the way, Lanchelle disengaged from her peers and approached. She introduced herself with a bashful smile. “You’re… You’re the Rhyondan Rampart. Right?”

  “I guess that’s what the t-net’s calling me,” said Orin. He smiled uneasily and shook her hand.

  “I, uh, saw your videos,” said Lanchelle.

  “I should really get around to watching those one day,” he said, and he introduced his companions. “Please call me Orin.”

  Lanchelle’s crystals chimed faintly. “Oh! Um…” The chimes grew a bit louder. “Orin.” Shifting between shades of blue and purple, she glowed within her depths. Turning away abruptly, she returned to her table amidst teasing and laughter.

  Torsha jabbed Orin’s chest. “Do not let that go to your head! I’ll make Eridani kick you off the ship if you do.”

  April slipped her arm around Orin’s elbow. “She’s not in command anymore. Casey is.”

  “Then I’ll make Casey do it!”

  Orin laughed. “You know I don’t like being the center of attention—if you think that’s changed, ask Mike about the Cherry Grove Cantina.”

  Torsha studied him suspiciously. “Mike, what happened at the Cherry Grove Cantina?”

  “It’s kind of a long story,” said Mike. “Perfect for telling over evening chow.”

  In the depths of Imperium, something thumped. Suddenly, stars streamed across the viewports. Including Lanchelle, several crew members abandoned their food and raced for the passageways.

  “We’re changing course,” said April. She hurried to the aft bulkhead and activated the comm. “Casey, why are we in motion?”

  “We’re getting underway. There’s a flood of UFO sightings pouring in from starfarers across the galaxy—spherical ships, pitch-black like the ziggurats that appeared here and on Arsenal Bay, about thirteen kilometers in diameter each.”

  “How many?” asked April.

  “Almost a hundred, and still counting,” said Casey.

  “Do you know where they're headed?”

  “Vector analysis indicates they’re converging on Sol System,” said Casey. “I’m sure that means Earth.”

  “What’s the ETA?” asked April.

  “Just over three weeks,” said Casey. “The United Planets Star Navy is recalling every warship in their armada, and Falcon’s pledged their own fleet to the cause. At those speeds, if even one of those spheres hits Earth… April, that’s it. Everything on the planet’s surface dies.”

  “They’re asking for Orin,” said April.

  “I don’t have any details, but BICOM says they’ve got a Hail Mary in the works that could amplify Orin’s powers enough to shield the projec
ted impact sites,” said Casey. “I told them Orin hasn’t had any training, that he doesn’t know the limits of his power, but they don’t care.”

  “What about Orbital Guard or Interstellar Defense?” asked April. “They’re stationed all over the galaxy. Can’t they intercept?”

  “They’ve tried,” said Casey. “Those spheres are durable. Reports are still coming in, but so far nothing’s been able to penetrate their hulls.”

  April watched Orin as he laughed and joked with his friends. “How far away is Sol System from here?”

  “Ten days through the nightmare, and another six days to Earth’s point in the ecliptic.”

  “That’s not a lot of time,” said April. “And the only person I’d trust him to train with is in the brig.”

  Casey snorted. “Who, Schurke?”

  “No, Lafuega,” said April. “I’ve spent time in each of the prisoners’ minds, and she’s the only one who seems to have a conscience.”

  “Points for her,” said Casey. “Where would you practice?”

  “I was thinking the mech bay. It’s about the right size for a training arena,” said April. “With your blessing, there’s an old ManiTow Cyclops I’d like to requisition to run a few MABAS Academy skirmish routines.”

  “I’m fine with that.”

  “Do I have your permission to enlist Lafuega’s aid?” asked April.

  “Of course,” said Casey. “If she proves herself, I’d even be willing to consider inviting her to the team.”

  “The team, huh? What are we calling ourselves?” asked April.

  “Well, since the t-net’s already named Orin, I guess Orion Sky is off the table for him,” said Casey. “Which I’m kind of okay with, because the first time I heard it, I thought he said, ‘Orion’s Guy.’ Still, I’m fond of the constellation. How do you feel about Orion Force?”

  April weighed the name in her mind. “It’s not already taken?”

  “Surprisingly not.”

  “I like it,” said April.

  “Great,” said Casey. “I’ll add it to our IPF card. Do you want me down there with you while you talk to her?”

  “No, I should be fine, though the offer is appreciated,” said April. “I’ll grab Orin and head over to the brig. We’ll let you know how it goes.”

  “Good luck,” said Casey, and she ended the communication.

  Imperium raced through the stars, headed for the Trionides nightmare gate.

  ◆◆◆

  April and Orin walked past the brig’s control room and paused to update the guards. Upon reaching the cells, they found Frostshadow sitting on her bunk, tugging at her collar, staring pointedly as they walked by. Lafuega occupied the next cell over.

  “Agent Fiero, can I have a moment of your time?” asked April.

  Lafuega sat up and pushed aside her cherry-red bangs. “You ask like I’ve got a choice.”

  “You always have a choice,” said April. “However, I didn’t come here to debate philosophy. I came to ask for your help.” She told her about the spheres and their probable destination, as well as BICOM’s decision to utilize Orin’s abilities. “You’re the most accomplished member of your squad, and it is my belief that Orin would benefit greatly from training under you, if you’d be willing to teach him.”

  “Earth can burn, for all I care,” said Lafuega.

  “Billions will die,” said Orin. “How can you be okay with that?”

  Regarding Orin with a look of derision, she stood up and stepped close to the bars. “If you two honestly think training with me for a few weeks is going to give a UBA kinetic the power to shield Earth from a hundred 13-kilometer-wide asteroids, you’re out of your minds. Billions are going to die no matter what we do.”

  “I’m not what you think I am,” said Orin. “I’m a multi-discipline binary.”

  “Impossible,” said Lafuega. “There’s no such thing.”

  “You’re wrong.” He told her every way he had used his powers up to his return from Nathaniel’s exile. “That’s why Schurke couldn’t release the dead-man’s switch. That’s how I kept Watchtower safe.”

  “I’m tempted to train you just to see you eat your own words,” said Lafuega, and she smiled furtively. “If I agree to this, you should know I’m not a certified instructor. This is all going to be as best as I can remember, which means you’ll be learning all my bad habits.”

  April looked hopeful. “I find your caveats to be wholly acceptable risks.”

  “Good, good.” Lafuega tugged at her collar. “So, what’s in it for me?”

  “The satisfaction that comes with knowing you staved off the destruction of all life on Earth?” said April.

  “Assuming that’s still just as impossible as the first time you said it, I’d like to know what else you have to offer me.”

  April stood a bit straighter. “I haven’t been authorized to offer you anything yet. Captain Cartwright wants you to prove yourself before, first. As to your collar, I can’t do anything about it for as long as you have active criminal charges against you.”

  “I noticed how you mentioned the word ‘active,’” said Lafuega. “Are you implying your boss has the ability to dismiss my charges if I play nice?”

  “She has the power to suspend them indefinitely,” said April. “We can discuss the details later. Right now, I need an answer. Will you help or not?”

  Lafuega took a deep breath. “All right, I’m in.” She stepped back and offered her wrists.

  “That won’t be necessary,” said April. “I’m a psychic. I’ll sense your intent long before you can act, and Orin will have no trouble shutting you down if you engage in any form of aggression.” She nodded at one of the guards, and Lafuega’s cell door buzzed a moment later. With a polite smile, April pulled it open. “After you.”

  They made their way along the passageways to the forward lift and soon arrived at the entrance to the mech hangar. The Seabees greeted their visitors, and April explained what her team planned to do. “I can’t promise your ManiTow won’t get damaged, but I can promise it won’t get destroyed, and any damage will be fully repaired before it’s returned to service.”

  “Why’s everyone got it out for Old One-Eye?” chuckled the foreman. “Seems like noble work, heroes. We’d be happy to help in any way we can.” He glanced at his crew.

  “Can do!” said a woman in the back, and the rest of the Seabees echoed the sentiment.

  They spent some time setting up the arena under Lafuega’s direction. When it was ready, the pilots walked every mech except Old One-Eye back to their bays. April climbed inside and loaded the MABAS skirmish routines into its autopilot.

  Bulky in appearance, heavy steel plates enclosed Old One-Eye’s cockpit, and an armored camera turret rested between its shoulders. Painted black and goldenrod, a host of warning labels festooned its various joints and access points. Upon its chest, Old One-Eye wore a faded ManiTow company logo, and right below that, the word “Cyclops” in lightning-bolt script.

  “We’re starting simple,” said Lafuega. “The first thing I want you to do is use your powers to pick up the end of that hose without using your focus.”

  “My blue fire?” asked Orin.

  Lafuega nodded. “Relying on a focus gives your opponent the chance to plan their counterattack. You don’t need it anyway, so get rid of it.”

  Orin took a deep breath. “Okay. How?”

  “Let’s start by putting your hands behind your back and concentrating on the hose.”

  April sat down near the parts cage and watched as they spent hours in training. When they had finished, April and Orin escorted Lafuega back to her cell.

  ◆◆◆

  Two days passed, and Imperium crossed the nightmare gate. Despite the powers available to Orin in his nightmare body, Lafuega stuck to her training regimen. “If you can’t project in primary space, it’s a waste of time to train it.” Her nightmare body bore ebony skin infused with flowing lava.

  “All ri
ght,” said Orin. “Then what are we doing today?”

  “I’m done trying to get you past using your focus. If we had more time, I’d take it, but we don’t,” said Lafuega. “Today, we’re going to spend our time on barriers, both energy and physical.” She glanced up at Old One-Eye and cast a sidelong nod April’s way.

  “Execute Boxer-One-Five,” said April, and the mech animated.

  It stomped toward Orin with a steel fist raised high. He caught it with a momentum nullification sphere. “Piece of cake,” said Orin, and he smiled at Lafuega.

  She nodded pointedly at Old One-Eye as the mech reached down to rip up the portion of the deck Orin stood atop. Orin went flying and used another sphere to catch himself. With a look of determination, he marched back to the heart of the arena.

  April gazed roguishly at Orin. “I believe the first point goes to Old One-Eye.”

  Orin winked, still a bit breathless. “Let’s go again. I’m ready this time.”

  “I’m sure you were merely warming up,” said April. “Execute Boxer-One-Five!”

  The mech charged, and Orin threw spheres around its shoulder joints. He pulled up sheets of steel, forming a makeshift ramp in Old One-Eye’s path. As it drew close, Orin heaved, sending it onto its back. With its arms immobilized, the mech remained there until it powered down.

  Facing April and Lafuega, Orin dismissed his spheres and took a bow as the Seabees applauded. “I’m here all day,” said Orin. He used his powers to restore the deck to its original state.

  “Nicely done,” said April, and she raised her brow. “Execute Boxer-One-Six.”

  Old One-Eye climbed it its feet, and Orin nodded as it charged.

  ◆◆◆

  Sixteen days passed, and Earth at last appeared on Imperium’s main viewscreen. Down in the mech hangar, Lafuega concluded Orin’s training. Rather than escorting her back to the brig, April and Orin led her to the ready room, where Casey awaited them. “Is he ready?” she asked.

  “As ready as he can be, under the circumstances,” said Lafuega, and she faced Orin. “I must admit, you’re a multi-talent. You’re quick on your feet, and you have a level of confidence in your powers that most people in the agency take decades to attain. You’ve demonstrated a high degree of skill in kinetic, atomic, gravitic, and temporal manipulations. If I had a certificate to give you, I would.” She chuckled dryly. “God help the galaxy if there are any more out there like you.”