Cali & Drake (The Alliance Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

command to her
second, if Vareen followed her, which she always did, then she would pass the command to the navigation officer.
    She walked away from the captain’s chair, through the main doors and
straight across the hall to her quarters. Around the corner from her room were
the other officers, among them, were Vareen, Nellia, and Diandra. The four of them had
schooled together at the Academy. Diandra was the daughter of a council member,
Nellia was the daughter of prominent scientists, and Vareen…well, she was a
ward of the state having been orphaned at a young age. Vareen had a “tainted”
pedigree, according to some of the close-minded of Cestori, but in Cali’s
humble opinion, she was the best of their group of friends.
    Upon entering her room, Cali went straight to the canister set on a small
table in the corner. After pouring herself a large drink of the ice blue liquid,
she walked over to sit on one of the three small couches set in a U shape. The
only other furniture consisted of four end tables. Those placed among the sofas were for holding books and
various knick-knacks, but her tables remained empty because the few items she’d managed to salvage during her escape were in her
bedroom.
    Settling down on the sofa, Cali let
out a long low sigh. She only indulged in this drink once every thirty days,
and she had just taken a sip when the door chimed.
    “Come in,” she leaned her head against the back of the sofa and closed
her eyes. She didn’t need to see who it was, she knew.
    “Cali.” Vareen entered and walked straight for the same canister behind
her. Her friends’ long legs ate up the short distance. Cali had always envied
Vareen. It was a joke among them that she had the longest legs on Cestori.
    “The probe is cloaked and we are doing maneuvers away from it. I wanted
to talk to you about how close we’re sandwiched between the edge of the Buffer
Zone and Titus.”
    Cali heard the clink of the glass as Vareen poured herself a drink. Then
the shifting of the cushions told her she had settled into a spot on the couch.
    “I—” her friend was interrupted by the chime of the door.
    “Come in, ” Cali called and opened
her eyes, this time, to see Nellia enter
the room. Now they just needed Diandra to show up and their group would be
complete.
    Just as she had the thought her door chimed another time. Nellia hadn’t
even gotten her drink in her hand before Cali was calling out, “Come in” yet
again.
    “I heard the probe was launched.” Diandra walked to the canister and Cali
waited patiently for everyone to settle into their seats. Vareen with her
flashing purple eyes and beautiful, black curly hair and alabaster skin. Nellia
with her brunette hair, intelligent hazel eyes and naturally tan complexion.
Diandra with her strawberry blonde hair, soft brown complexion, and bright green colored eyes.
    Cali wondered who would bring up their monthly discussion first. It was
Diandra, as the ships counselor she excelled at getting the feelings of the
crew, and her friends.
    “Cali, you know we’ll stay with you as long as you feel necessary. Are
your feelings still the same as when we left Cestori?”
    Cali had done nothing but think about her predicament since the day they
had fled. Moving her troubled eyes from face to face she sighed, “I still don’t
want to be sold off like some chattel to Vathral. My mother may want the
alliance with his family, but I want something more for myself. I’m not ready
to give up just yet.”
    “At the very least we’re getting good data from the Buffer Zone.” Vareen
offered helpfully.
    “We should never have read those forbidden novels on romance and love at
the academy.” Nellia tapped her fingers on her glass absently, “We would’ve
gotten higher scores for one thing and another is we wouldn’t have un-natural
views love…” realizing how that must sound she added, “Not that I think we’re
un-natural.” Her face blushed a becoming pink color