Rivers of Orion

to end up crewing a garbage scow.” Gloomily, he added, “Just like my dad.”
“Orinoco Webb,” said Nimbus, “do not surrender to dismay! The future exists in nearly infinite states. You will find your path to one of many successful futures if you do not give up.”
Orin drew a deep breath and smiled. “Thanks, buddy. Now let’s go find Torsha.”
Nimbus click-clacked rapidly along as he kept pace with his friends.

Chapter 5
The Big Score
“Hungry yet?” asked Orin, and he gestured toward an enclosed hoagie stand up ahead. At roof level, a weathered panel sign glowed faintly, emblazoned with “Milo’s Heroes” and an anthropomorphized cheese steak sandwich dressed in military fatigues. Inside, the cashier leaned forward over the counter, while the cook steam-cleaned the grill. In the far corner near the freezer, a florescent light buzzed and flickered, as a group of people huddled just outside the door. A blue-eyed ocelini with a Siamese coat glanced briefly at Orin before returning his attention to his comrades.
“Too bad we just ate,” said Mike. “Maybe on the way back, we can grab some cheese steaks to go.” Nodding toward the eatery, he muttered, “To be honest, I’m surprised this place is still in business.”
“No joke,” said Orin. “How many health code violations does it take to get a C-rating, anyway?”
Mike laughed quietly. “I have no idea, and for as many times as we’ve eaten there, I don’t think I want to know.”
As they neared the stairs leading down into the club, Orin sent Torsha a message announcing their arrival. Mike paused, and Nimbus slowed to stand at his side. “Good luck,” said Mike. “Don’t take too long.”
“You’d rather freeze out here?” asked Orin.
“I already told you how I feel about this place.”
“I don’t know how often she’s checking her messages, so it might take a while to find her,” said Orin. Down below, a set of double doors swung open for a moment, releasing a wave of dance music. “It’s a big club.”
“I’m aware,” said Mike. He smiled patiently. “We’ll wait.”
Orin squinted. “You know the owner un-eighty-sixed you, right?”
Mike crossed his arms and raised his brow in response.
Exhaling, Orin nodded. “All right. See you soon.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, he descended the stairs and passed a group of clubgoers headed up to street level.
When he reached the entrance, Orin’s face brightened. “Hey, Kondo. Nice suit. Is it new?”
With a deep voice, Kondo said, “Hey, Orin. New to you, but thanks for asking.” He was a mphuno, an ungulate people native to an arid world, and he stood nearly as wide as he was tall. A single horn angled up from his wrinkled forehead. “Let me guess. You’re here to pick up Torsha?”
“Gee, how’d you figure?” asked Orin.
“Because, smart guy, I happen to know she’s already inside, and she didn’t come here with you.”
“You’re far too intelligent to be a bouncer,” said Orin.
“I’m far too intelligent not to be,” said Kondo, and he passed a metal detector over Orin’s body. Satisfied Orin was unarmed, he glanced up the stairs and pulled open the doors. “What’s up with Mike?”
Orin stepped inside, lingering for a moment at the entrance. “Nothing. The music’s too loud.”
Kondo chuckled dryly. “Yeah, sure it is.”
◆◆◆
Parked on a nearby street within view of both the hoagie stand and the club, Casey watched Nostromo’s entrance through a pair of digital binoculars. “The target just went inside,” she said. “He left his passenger outside, probably as a lookout, and… They’ve picked up a spider robot, about the right size for a stun or EMP sentry.” Exhaling sharply, she lowered her binoculars and looked at April. “They made us, didn’t they?”
“It’s hard to say,” said April. “Either they made us, and they’ve accelerated their timeline, or he’s really just a guy going to a dance club.”
“But the target said he was ‘rescuing a friend.’ That’s obviously code for something,” said Casey.
“Oh yeah, obviously,” Malmoradan teased. “Hell, I’d hate to think we came all the way out here for nothing.”
“We dropped off Kendra. That’s something,” said Shona.
Casey shot them a warning look. “It’s code. The target’s a spy. Trust me. April, surface thoughts. Please.”
April smiled slightly. “One moment.” Her consciousness drifted out from the van. Soon, she sensed a mix of frustration and regret coming from Mike as he gazed at the entrance to Nostromo’s. He gave little thought to his physical discomfort. To her surprise, she sensed psychic energy seeping from Nimbus—he overflowed with gleeful data. Fluidly, April’s awareness glided into the club. She quickly located Orin but could sense nothing from him. “That’s odd,” she whispered, and she focused on him with growing intensity.
“What’s odd?” asked Casey. “Is the target rabbiting?”
“I don’t think so,” April replied, and she exhaled slowly as she came out of her trance. “Here’s my report. As to the matter of his passenger, the man simply doesn’t want to go inside. That’s why he’s out there. He’s not a lookout, and according to the robot, it considers itself a longtime friend of both men.”
Casey recoiled. “You sensed the robot?”
“It must be a digital intelligence of rare quality,” said April. “I didn’t get anything from Orin.”
“Damn it,” muttered Casey. “Kendra conned us!”
“Let’s not be hasty,” countered April. “There is something highly peculiar about Orin. When I said I didn’t get anything from him, I meant exactly that. I can’t sense his thoughts at all.”
“Does he have Mind Vault training?” asked Casey. “Was I right? Is he a spy?”
April shook her head. “When I study Mind Vault artists, I can still sense thoughts, but there’s a mental maze to conquer, first. With Orin, he’s like a block box. Or a void. It’s as if he has no psychic presence at all. I’ve never encountered anything like it.”
“Maybe he’s a cyborg, or an android,” offered Shona.
“Good thinking, but that’s not it either,” said April. “The inanimate reflects traces of psychic energy, akin to distant echoes or ripples in a pond. No, this is something else completely.”
Casey