Read Online Drifters' Alliance, Book 2 by Elle Casey - Free Book Online
Authors: Elle Casey
Tags: Science-Fiction, Space Opera
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almost everyone pretty much grows up learning how to do, even if they’ve been a Havenot all their lives like I suspect he has.
Baebong’s voice sounds almost robotic as he reads the numbers off his screen. “Unknown personal craft at coordinates: x-ray 432, yankee 661, zulu 89, trajectory bravo, 10 meters per second, this is the DS Anarchy in your eleven o’clock, approximately three klicks, extending a reach, over.”
We wait in total silence for a response but get none. A couple minutes later, I nod at Baebong to let him know he can re-transmit with the newer coordinates that have changed with every meter the ship has advanced.
“Unknown personal craft now at coordinates x-ray 438, yankee 672, zulu 71, trajectory bravo, 10 meters per second, this is the DS Anarchy in your eleven o’clock, approximately two klicks, extending a reach, over.” His tone is more aggravated, matching the status of my nerves.
I’m opening my mouth to tell Baebong to get our space junk vaporizers up and ready when we receive a response to our reach.
“Reach accepted, DS Anarchy. Hello there!” This man’s voice can only be characterized as … jolly? “This is the PC Cruiser Mahalo, Captain Bob at the helm. Not sure we’ve met, as I don’t recognize your voice. Who’s your captain?” He sounds way too friendly to be trusted. Nobody appears out of thin air and acts that casual in my experience, especially someone who appears to be experiencing some sort of mechanical distress. The idea that he’s pretending to be a lame duck strengthens in my mind.
I shake my head at Baebong when he looks at me for confirmation, so he sits back and lets me do the talking.
“PC Mahalo, advise your intent,” I say. Not buying the bullshit, dude. Give it up.
It takes him almost a full minute to respond. By that time, he’s less than a klick away, and we can see into his clearpanels. No one is visible, and that’s not a good sign as far as I’m concerned. I’ve heard stories about ships being piloted from a distance, being used as decoys, and it’s never for friendly purposes. And even though no one would have any call to use that tactic on us, I’m still on hyper alert. Cold sweats arrive, making me want to turn my seat’s heater on, but I ignore the impulse.
“My intent?” Jolly Captain Bob finally says. “Well, I don’t really have any intent, other than to just cruise around the galaxy, see what there is to see. The moons around Dalaga are especially pretty right now, in case you haven’t heard. They’re not that far from here if you’d like to tag along.”
Baebong and Jeffers both turn to stare at me, looking as lost as I feel. I shrug my shoulders in response. This has got to be a joke. This guy is acting like we’re best friends, but I’d remember a good old boy like this Bob person if I’d ever met him before, and I just don’t. So, either he’s a stranger who’s suffering a weird case of Darksickness, or he’s perfectly sane and putting on a hell of a show for purposes that could only mean bad news for my crew and me. He wants something from us, no doubt about it. But what could it be?
Chapter Ten
I PRESS THE COMM BUTTON to respond to Captain Bob’s invitation to visit Dalaga’s moons with him. “No, thanks. We’re headed in the other direction.” I mute the comm and look to my crew. “What the hell is this all about? Have either of you ever heard of this PC Mahalo or Captain Bob?”
They both shake their heads but say nothing.
I nod as I contemplate our options, staring out the clearpanel at the small ship still limping along. It’ll pass within ten meters of our starboard side shortly if we don’t change direction, and I don’t like the idea of it getting that close.
“That’s too bad,” Captain Bob says, sounding a little disappointed. Or stressed, maybe.
I’m not sure if I feel that way about the flavor of his transmission because I’m really sensing it or because I’m just paranoid
Baebong’s voice sounds almost robotic as he reads the numbers off his screen. “Unknown personal craft at coordinates: x-ray 432, yankee 661, zulu 89, trajectory bravo, 10 meters per second, this is the DS Anarchy in your eleven o’clock, approximately three klicks, extending a reach, over.”
We wait in total silence for a response but get none. A couple minutes later, I nod at Baebong to let him know he can re-transmit with the newer coordinates that have changed with every meter the ship has advanced.
“Unknown personal craft now at coordinates x-ray 438, yankee 672, zulu 71, trajectory bravo, 10 meters per second, this is the DS Anarchy in your eleven o’clock, approximately two klicks, extending a reach, over.” His tone is more aggravated, matching the status of my nerves.
I’m opening my mouth to tell Baebong to get our space junk vaporizers up and ready when we receive a response to our reach.
“Reach accepted, DS Anarchy. Hello there!” This man’s voice can only be characterized as … jolly? “This is the PC Cruiser Mahalo, Captain Bob at the helm. Not sure we’ve met, as I don’t recognize your voice. Who’s your captain?” He sounds way too friendly to be trusted. Nobody appears out of thin air and acts that casual in my experience, especially someone who appears to be experiencing some sort of mechanical distress. The idea that he’s pretending to be a lame duck strengthens in my mind.
I shake my head at Baebong when he looks at me for confirmation, so he sits back and lets me do the talking.
“PC Mahalo, advise your intent,” I say. Not buying the bullshit, dude. Give it up.
It takes him almost a full minute to respond. By that time, he’s less than a klick away, and we can see into his clearpanels. No one is visible, and that’s not a good sign as far as I’m concerned. I’ve heard stories about ships being piloted from a distance, being used as decoys, and it’s never for friendly purposes. And even though no one would have any call to use that tactic on us, I’m still on hyper alert. Cold sweats arrive, making me want to turn my seat’s heater on, but I ignore the impulse.
“My intent?” Jolly Captain Bob finally says. “Well, I don’t really have any intent, other than to just cruise around the galaxy, see what there is to see. The moons around Dalaga are especially pretty right now, in case you haven’t heard. They’re not that far from here if you’d like to tag along.”
Baebong and Jeffers both turn to stare at me, looking as lost as I feel. I shrug my shoulders in response. This has got to be a joke. This guy is acting like we’re best friends, but I’d remember a good old boy like this Bob person if I’d ever met him before, and I just don’t. So, either he’s a stranger who’s suffering a weird case of Darksickness, or he’s perfectly sane and putting on a hell of a show for purposes that could only mean bad news for my crew and me. He wants something from us, no doubt about it. But what could it be?
Chapter Ten
I PRESS THE COMM BUTTON to respond to Captain Bob’s invitation to visit Dalaga’s moons with him. “No, thanks. We’re headed in the other direction.” I mute the comm and look to my crew. “What the hell is this all about? Have either of you ever heard of this PC Mahalo or Captain Bob?”
They both shake their heads but say nothing.
I nod as I contemplate our options, staring out the clearpanel at the small ship still limping along. It’ll pass within ten meters of our starboard side shortly if we don’t change direction, and I don’t like the idea of it getting that close.
“That’s too bad,” Captain Bob says, sounding a little disappointed. Or stressed, maybe.
I’m not sure if I feel that way about the flavor of his transmission because I’m really sensing it or because I’m just paranoid
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