The Complete Atlantis Series, Books 1 - 5: Ascendant Saga

by Ellis, Brandon

  32

  Andes Mountains, Peru

  “Everyone, keep your Chi up,” said Jaxx, walking on a trail that the historians claimed was built by the Incas. He wished he could convince them otherwise, and that these were built by the Maya, but who the heck cared right now? “From the location we crashed, we are on what you’d call the third or fourth leg of a hike to Machu Picchu. We aren’t too far from the Machu Picchu ruins right now.”

  They were going up a hill. If they took the wrong step, they’d be sliding down the cliff to their ultimate end. If these kids weren’t special, Jaxx would be nervous as hell for them and probably wouldn’t permit them to go any further. But they’ve proven they could tackle a lot that came their way, and probably more than Jaxx ever could.

  “Don’t worry about us, Jaxx. Worry about yourself,” came Damion. “We’ll be fine.”

  Lily bounced her head up and down, her smile like a bright sun. “We’re going to make it faster than you think. Just speed up and we’ll follow you.”

  Mya was in the back. She was taking in the extraordinary view of lush meadows, hills topped with soft green grasses and cushioned mosses, and surrounded by giant mountain peaks.

  Jaxx huffed and puffed from the thin air and high altitude, but these kids were doing fine. How the hell was that possible?

  Mya pointed over Jaxx’ shoulder. “Horses. Can we ride them?”

  Up ahead and on a hill, horses were grazing. They were wild and most likely weren’t willing to let Jaxx or any of the kids jump on their backs to take them where they wanted to go.

  Jaxx shook his head. “No.” He pointed. “You see those steps?” Rock steps, cut in blocks, went six steps up, then turned at a right angle into more and more steps.

  “Yeah,” replied Damion.

  “There are roughly two thousand of those steps leading to the top of where Machu Picchu resides — home of the ancient Mayans. That is our entrance.” Years ago, the historians changed their stance on Mayan and Incan history. Much of what was once thought as Mayan creations changed to the Inca. Jaxx knew that if he was talking to a tour guide right now, he’d be corrected in a millisecond, being told these were the Inca’s civilization, not the Maya. “It’s about a thirty-minute climb.” But the Inca, according to Jaxx, simply took over ancient Mayan sites, including this one. The old historians and Peruvian myths were correct in Jaxx’s mind — the Maya were the ones who birthed this site.

  “And then what?” asked Lily, her excitement almost contagious. “What do we do after we get to the top?”

  “Then we find the way to the key pyramid. It’s somewhere underneath Machu Picchu,” responded Mya.

  “We just have to find the entrance to get underneath Machu Picchu,” said Jaxx. “That ought to be a pleasure.” His sarcasm wasn’t lost on the children.

  A hefty sound vibrated the ground and echoed across the sky. Jaxx turned and glanced at the clouds that slowly wafted like a smoky fog all around. He couldn’t see anything, yet the sound was unmistakable and something he’d heard all too many times. “Agadon ships are coming. We have to pick up the pace.”

  “Then go, old man,” hollered Damion. “We can keep up.”

  They reached the stairs and a boom shook the air. “They’ll be here soon,” cried Mya.

  “Run,” replied Jaxx.

  They pounded up the stairs like their lives depended on it. Jaxx didn’t know if the Agadon were on their way to kill him, but he was sure they were on their way to kill the kids. All the Agadon needed from Jaxx was for him to stay alive if they still wanted to run the entire galactic pyramid network. The kids, on the other hand, would be meaningless nuisances.

  Jaxx was sweating and it was getting even harder to breath at this elevation.

  The sky roared. The Agadon were coming closer. He hoped the Agadon didn’t know exactly where he was, but wishful thinking never got him anywhere.

  The air was damp and cold and the stone blocks he was stepping on, taking him higher and higher toward Machu Picchu, were strong and sturdy — something he wished he felt.

  He swallowed, pushing down his fear and trepidation. He glanced over his shoulder. The children were having a rougher go of it as well, something they weren’t displaying ten minutes ago.

  Moving faster up the steps, Jaxx eyed the green terraces that ascended at the same grade as the steps. “My guess,” said Jaxx, “is the entrance is somewhere in the sacred square.” He gasped, coming to an abrupt halt. “Duck.”

  Jaxx and the kids went to the ground, hugging the stairs.

  A lone starfighter zipped across the sky and just a ways off from Machu Picchu, but close — damn close.

  It disappeared into the clouds, and its rumble slowly faded the farther it traveled.

  “They don’t know exactly where we are yet,” explained Mya. “Let’s get up, Jaxx. Let’s go.”

  Jaxx blinked a few times, gathering his bearings. He nodded. “Okay, follow me.”

  He stepped onto a terrace, feeling the soft grasses underneath his boots. He ran, and the kids were hot on his tail, chasing after him as fast as their feet and Chi would take them.

  Jaxx jumped onto the side of a stone retaining wall that kept the terraces intact, a retaining wall that thousands and thousands of years of earth movement still hadn’t touched — a remarkable feat of engineering.

  He crossed onto another terrace, his legs carrying him faster than even he imagined he could run. “Are you all keeping up?” he asked.

  “Of course, numb nuts,” responded Damion.

  A growl filled the heavens and Jaxx took a nose dive on the grass. The kids did the same.

  “Everyone, stay down,” he whispered loudly.

  Two more Agadon fighters sped toward them and flashed by. The Agadon hadn’t spotted them.

  He stood back up and rushed forward, the Machu Picchu structures and buildings more in view now. He took a giant leap, landing on a thick wall built of ten to fifty ton rocks that were perfectly placed together, chiseled as if by laser technology. Not even a needle could fit between two stones. It was built without mortar yet able to withstand any earthquake or natural disaster that had pounded Machu Picchu over the thousands of years the city had been on Earth.

  This place had never ceased to amaze Jaxx. It never ceased to amaze Jaxx that people weren’t amazed that a civilization could build such a wonder without the use of wheels or iron tools. Hell, an amazing network of terraces kept the city from falling down the mountain side and a network of an incredible water supply system extends over the entire area.

  He jumped down, landing on more grass. He was on a walkway between buildings and another great wall, also terraced for more structures above him.

  He took another look over his shoulder. He nodded when he saw Damion right behind him, Lily in the middle, and Mya in the rear. These kids were troopers and hadn’t complained once.

  Damion gave him a thumbs up.

  Jaxx slowed down. They were somewhat hidden. He thumbed to his right. “That’s Nusta Palace.” He shrugged a moment later, figuring these kids didn’t give two rat shits about a palace at a moment like this.

  They strode past it, coming to the Temple of the Sun. The ground and walls shuddered, and Jaxx leaned up against one of the walls that rounded into the temple. He motioned for the kids to join him.

  They ran quickly, pressing their backs to the wall, and glaring up at the sky.

  “Holy mother of —” Jaxx exclaimed.

  A ship — perhaps the mothership — breached the clouds like a whale diving into the ocean. It was larger than any star cruiser in the Secret Space Program, and was the entire breadth of the sky, shadowing everything below.

  A blue haze from the ship’s belly flicked on and highlighted Machu Picchu’s entirety.

  The problem — other than the giant craft probably about to drop countless Agadon troops — where in the world was the entrance to the key pyramid?

  All Jaxx had was a hunch. And he had no other opti
on than to go for it, and now.

  He took a deep breath. “Okay, children. I don’t know if we’ve only got one shot, but I’m hoping we have more. We have to run for it.” Jaxx eyed them all individually. “Are you ready?”

  They all nodded.

  “Alright. Let’s go.”

  33

  Machu Picchu, Peru

  Jaxx turned, leaped on top of a short wall, and jumped down to the grass. The kids followed. “Hold hands.”

  They all grasped each other’s hands and rushed toward the central plaza. The wind swirled around them. A loud pop reverberated against the plateau and Jaxx let go of the kids, glancing up at the large ship’s underbelly. “Oh, crap.”

  A gang of combat-mechs were descending, fire raging out of their feet, slowing them down as they plummeted toward the grass covered plaza.

  Kunchi! Kunchi!

  They landed gently, the mech’s gyro’s absorbing the impact. They stood straight, their chests out, and their arms pointing in Jaxx’s and the kids’ direction. No, those weren’t arms. Those were big-ass cannons.

  “Get down.”

  Wapooojjj! Wapooojjj!

  Blasts of ion burst flew over their heads, barely missing them.

  “They won’t miss a second time.” Jaxx pushed to his feet. “Get up and run.”

  Jaxx took a left, heading toward his hunch — the Sacred Stone next to the Sacred Square. It was supposed to be a portal into the inside of the Huayna Picchu, a mountain next to the Machu Picchu plateau. It was a legend, but perhaps the legend was more than myths and fairy tales. He hoped beyond hope that it would lead him to the key pyramid.

  Damion ran passed him, then Lily, and finally Mya. She slapped his butt. “Hurry up, Jaxx.” Her hand was boiling hot. She, along with the other children, were bringing through a ridiculous amount of Chi, allowing them to move like a rocket across the flat plaza.

  Jaxx had to do the same. As he ran, he imagined a heat-sinking blast of energy rushing down from space, through the clouds, and directly into the top of his head. “More, more,” he yelled, as he ran after the kids. The energy warmed up his belly, then slid down into his legs. “Whoa.” A fire sensation ripped through him, flowing through his entire body.

  His speed picked up.

  Krackow!

  Dirt exploded behind him, coming up at his feet, nearly taking him into the air.

  Krackow! Krackow!

  An ion cannon blasted into the ground, slicing in front of Mya. The soil lifted, flinging Mya into the air, her arms and legs flailing. She screamed and twisted around, her arms now outstretched toward Jaxx.

  Jaxx picked up his pace and side-stepped the new indentation in the ground and put his hands out, catching Mya as she fell.

  “Nice catch,” she smiled. Her face quickly turned into a frown. “Jump away.”

  Jaxx jumped to the side. A blast punctured the grass where he once stood. The explosion picked Jaxx up, flipping him head over heels.

  He landed on his back with a grunt, his eyes wide. He patted his chest, feeling for Mya. He expelled his breath sharply. “Where is she?”

  “Over here.” She was standing, her face screwed up in worry. “Are you okay?”

  Jaxx leapt to his feet and pushed onward, grabbing Mya’s hand. They raced toward Lily and Damion.

  “Go up the steps in front of you and then take a right to a giant stone. You’ll see it. It resembles the Huayna Picchu mountain behind it. You can’t miss it,” Jaxx hollered over the wind and the giant mechs’ pounding, mechanical feet crashing onto the plateau at every footfall.

  The stairs were long and steep. Jaxx looked over his shoulder, and scrunched up his body when he saw a mech topple over an entire wall, sending the perfectly cut, puzzle piece, rock tonnage to the ground. The art history, the engineering of that wall — all shat on by a race that had no clue what beauty was or why the sacred walls of Machu Picchu were important.

  Hell, these assholes were an A/I programmed to only care about power, greed, and control.

  He turned back around, rushing up the stone stairs, his boots nearly touching the soles of the kids’ shoes. He just wanted to pick them up, throw them to the Sacred Stone, and get them out of danger’s way — at least for an instant.

  The mechs’ high speed and long strides brought them closer each passing second.

  Jaxx looked over his shoulder. “Incoming,” he yelled, stumbling up the stairs, pushing Mya farther ahead of him.

  He jumped high, using his Chi to propel him. A particle weapon hammered hot energy into the steps where Jaxx had been a moment ago. An explosion of stone and grit slammed into his body, tumbling him into a wall bordering the staircase.

  He turned and threw his hands forward, clasping his fingers around a jutting stone that had been pushed forward and out of alignment by the concussion. Jaxx squeezed his fingers against the rock and pulled.

  Shit.

  Something had a hold of his foot. He couldn’t move.

  He turned, seeing his lower leg buried in large, thick rock. He pulled harder, doing his best to jar his foot loose.

  Still no movement.

  He glance at the combat mechs. Several were closing in, now only about fifty yards away. One lifted its arm, readying to end Jaxx where he lay.

  “Jaxx,” screamed Mya, jumping in front of him. Lily came next and then Damion.

  Wapooojjj!

  A bolt of energy shot from the mech’s cannon, ripping toward Jaxx and the kids.

  “Move!” yelled Jaxx. “Move out of the way.”

  34

  Machu Picchu, Peru

  The kids grabbed onto Jaxx’s arms and pulled. Somehow, his leg slipped through the rocks. He grabbed the kids and rolled.

  Krackow!

  The energy blast erupted against the steps above them.

  Jaxx spun around, eyeing the divot in the hill and the staircase. He bit his lower lip. A portion of the wall had collapsed into the newly created hole.

  “Let’s go,” he bellowed, motioning for them to follow.

  He scaled the rocks, placing one perfect foot hold after another, grasping the broken wall chunks and landing on the untouched stairs beyond it.

  He twisted, holding out his arm. The kids grabbed his forearm, one by one, and he flung them to the next steps higher.

  Another crackle of energy pierced the air, then another and another. He hopped up a few more steps. Rocks splintered at his feet and fell away.

  “Dammit. Are you serious?” He shook his head, his shoulders wanting to fall to the ground in despair.

  Agadon troops had landed. They were rushing toward him, and running by the combat-mechs that continued their approach.

  He took two giant leaps and found himself at the top of the landing. He bolted toward a level floor made out of stone and clay, at the end of which was a giant stone — the Sacred Stone — that was shaped just like the mountain in the distance behind it.

  The kids were in front of the stone, watching Jaxx rush in their direction.

  He skid to a stop, pressing his hands on the Sacred Stone, breathing loudly. “Okay, what do we do? What do we do?” he repeated to himself, placing his palms all over the rock. “If I put my hand —”

  “What’s this?” asked Mya.

  Jaxx looked down. She had her palms on two glowing hand prints at its base. No matter how many times Jaxx had been to this rock in his years as a field researcher, he’d never seen those prints before.

  “How did —” He swallowed his question. Right now, who cared? He had to get to the key pyramid and perhaps this was how.

  He slid his hands down the rock and touched the hand prints. They fit perfectly.

  The crunch of Agadon feet made their way to Jaxx’s ears. They were heading up the stairs and were almost at the top. Any minute now and they’d be on Jaxx and the kids.

  “Am I doing this wrong?” Jaxx questioned. He had his hands on the glowing prints, but nothing was happening.

  Lily reached over and
slid Jaxx’s index finger a few centimeters to the right, fitting it perfectly in the print. “You were just a little off.”

  The middle of the rock opened up and a spiraling hole full of swirling stars was in the middle of the giant stone.

  Wapooh!

  A blast zipped into the top of the rock, singeing a black streak. A laughter that could only be Taz blew across the wind.

  “Taz?” Jaxx blurted out. That bastard again? There was no let up with that guy.

  “I just wanted you to see my face before I ended your friends.” Taz took a step forward and aimed an energy rifle at Mya.

  Jaxx shook his head and shielded Mya’s body with his own. “I’ll join your cause.”

  Taz chuckled. “Nice try. Now move.”

  “No.”

  Wapooh!

  Jaxx felt an ion blast dig into him. His eyes fell to his chest. Smoke rose and the smell of burning flesh carried to his nose. Taz smirked and continued to target Jaxx with his rifle, its barrel now pointed at Jaxx’s head. “I shoot you one more time and you fall. That kid you’re hiding behind you will be defenseless.”

  Jaxx muscles weakened and his heart slowed. His eyes rolled back and he put his arms out like he was about to fly. He felt Lily and Mya against the back of his arms and Damion grabbed grabbed him by his shirt. He teetered backward and fell into the portal, taking the kids with him.

  35

  Machu Picchu, Peru

  Jaxx landed on his back with a thud, the wind knocked out of him. He rolled to his side, doing his best to catch his breath.

  A hand touched his back and then several more. “Lay back down, Jaxx.”

  It was Mya.

  “My chest…it…burns.” Jaxx wanted to get out more words, but couldn’t. Each word slashed against his chest like a blow torch flaming his skin.

  And where was he? No wind swirling around his body. Very little light blaring in his eyes. And warmth?