The Pearl Wars Read Online Free PDF Page B

gonna give you losers the safest possible city with the safest possible Pearl Traders so you don’t get yourselves killed”).
    Yeah. That went well.
    Eva flips a switch on the ceiling. “I’m stabilizing and setting the auto-pilot.”
    “Go for it,” Skandar answers half-heartedly. Eva’s always been one for protocol, though she knows she doesn’t need our advice. She’s the best pilot in Year Nine. I don’t e ven have my learner wings yet.
    Skandar unfastens his belt and moves across the shuttle, sitting backward on the seat nearest to me, face pressed against the window. “Polaris.” He grins. “I heard they’ve got this hotel … and there are these women, right? You walk in and they’ll do—”
    “Please.” Eva groans. “Please stop.”
    He makes a face out the window, though it’s meant for her.
    My e yes follow the enormous ship as we pass by. The neon towers stretching up from the top level create an unnatural glow in the atmosphere. The hull is dar k and wide—wedge-shaped, with space for thousands of tiny little rooms and corridors. The more money you’ve got, the higher you get to live. Nobody wants to try and sleep next to the thrusters on the bottom level. That’s why it’s reserved for docking bays. But Polaris isn’t much of a “settling down” ship, anyway. Not if you want peace and quiet. “We flew over there a couple years ago, right? For the opera?”
    Skandar rolls his eyes. “Ugh. The most boring night of my life. I’m telling you, mate. Someday we need to highjack a shuttle and sneak onto Polaris. Head up to the casinos. That’s where the real action is.”
    Somehow I can’t imagine that happening. After today’s little adventure, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Wilson kept us locked up in the Academy until we all turned eighteen.
    Skandar’s com-pad flashes at his side. He detaches it from his belt, reading the line of text on the shiny black surface. Rolling his eyes, he tosses it to me. “Romeo’s been buzzed.”
    I fumble with the device, glancing down at the words on the screen.
    Jesse, why are you ignoring me? Are you all right? - Avery
    Eva shifts in her seat, peering at the rearview mirror. “Is it Avery again?”
    Skandar nods. “You mean Fisher’s girlfriend?”
    I flip down the keypad, typing. “She’s not my girlfriend.”
    “Not if you keep denying it,” Skandar replies.
    “I don’t care who she is,” Eva huffs. “Academy CPs are not meant for socializing. How she’s managed to hack her way into our channel I’ll never know.”
    “She’s good at that kind of stuff,” I mutter, pressing the send button.
    Not ignoring you. Lost my CP, but I’m ok. - Jesse
    Seconds later, another message appears on the screen.
    Just wanted to congratulate you on your first mission. Dinner tonight? - Avery
    My heart swells as I reread the words. With all the negativity floating around this afternoon, the prospect of dinner with Avery Wicksen is more than enough reward for me. Ever since she was transferred from the Academy on Skyship Mira three years ago, she’s been the calm oasis after increasingly embarrassing mishaps—the only one I can really talk to. I quickly type a nonchalant “yeah” into the com-pad and send it.
    Eva frowns. “Give me one good reason I shouldn’t tell Mr. Wilson about you two abusing the CPs.”
    I toss it back to Skandar. “Um … your kind and generous nature?”
    She snorts with laughter.
    “Co me on, Eva.” Skandar attaches the com-pad to his belt. “Have a heart. Fisher’s gotta work on his game.” He slaps my shoulder. “So what’d you tell he r?” He purses his lips, adopting a ridiculous deep voice. “ Hey, baby, come to my room so we can get it on .”
    Eva rolls her eyes. “Real subtle, Harris.”
    I shrug. “I pretty much just said ‘yeah.’”
    He rolls his eyes, leaning back. “Well, that’s lame.”
    Our shuttle continues to zip along the thin layer of cir rus clouds beneath us. Soon Polaris is