Ascendant Saga Collection: Sci-Fi Fantasy Techno Thriller

by Brandon Ellis

  Megan put her hand on Drew’s shoulder. Her touch soothing and sensual. “Trust me, Drew.”

  Drew lowered the gun. “He isn’t right in the head.”

  “Not at the moment, but he’s usually as gentle as a bear.”

  Carl wasn’t kind to Drew earlier in the day. “Bears aren’t gentle.”

  “They can be.” Megan walked over to fetch another bag.

  Carl pulled something out of his pocket and Drew lifted his rifle, then put it down a moment later when he saw it. Was that a cigarette?

  It wasn’t. It was a joint.

  Carl placed it between his lips and slid a cigarette lighter out of another pocket. He put his hand over the lighter as if he was outside in the wind. Carl took one big puff, sucking in Drew’s salvation, Drew’s everything.

  “Do you have another joint?” asked Drew, forcing a smile, setting the butt of the rifle on the ground, leaning the barrel against the wall.

  Carl hacked a few times and pulled out another joint. “Always better to smoke with another.” He handed the second blunt to Drew.

  Drew put it to his lips, already smelling the marijuana pleasure. He leaned toward Carl, tapping the blunt between his lips, speaking through his teeth. “Fire me up, fella.”

  Carl flicked his thumb down on the lighter’s spark wheel and held the flame in front of Drew. Drew sucked in, lighting the joint’s tip. He pulled back and took a deep hit, held it in for several seconds, and let it slowly trail out of his lungs. His muscles relaxed, and his brain stopped doing cartwheels, allowing Drew to descend into Stonerville, where he loved to visit.

  “No worries, guys. I’ll just keep piling up these bags in front of this here door.” Megan patted the top bag. They were now piled three quarters the way up the door frame. At least it would be a little more difficult to break in.

  Yet, even more difficult to break out.

  A fog crept over Drew’s eyes, the weed running like a ghost through his veins and lungs. “Just quit for a moment, Megan. Take a load off and take a hit.”

  Megan rolled her eyes, her face showing her disdain. “And I was beginning to think you were cute.” She shook her head. “Last one.” She lifted a bag of flour and placed it on top of another bag. The door was now completely covered.

  “Oh my God, Carl,” Drew went over and sat next to the big man, who lounged back against a wall. “Why didn’t you tell me you had this on you? It could have saved us a lot of—”

  Knock-knock!

  Megan backed away from the door, putting a finger to her lips.

  “I’m looking for Drew Avera,” said a female voice on the other side of the door. “My name is Dr. Andrea Cross. I have word that he’s down here.”

  14

  J-Quadrant, Solar System - East Rise, Callisto

  Fox pointed the phaser at Jaxx. “Tell me what’s going on, and now.”

  The Kelhoon soldier, following Fox’s lead, aimed his ion rifle at Jaxx. “Ohinjaka.”

  Fox twisted on his heels, now targeting the Kelhoon soldier. “Don’t move.”

  The Kelhoon moved back a few paces, a confused expression on his lizard face.

  Jaxx put his hand up in a halting gesture. “Wait, don’t—”

  Whapoo! Whapoo! Whapoo!

  The Kelhoon jerked backward and back again as phaser fire after phaser fire riddled his body. Fox jumped in the Kelhoon’s direction and kicked him in the stomach simultaneously blasting the lizard in the chest. The Kelhoon dropped to the ground and slumped over, dead.

  Fox shook his head like a dog drying himself off after a bath. He blinked several times. “Don’t what?”

  Jaxx rushed to the electric bars, grabbing them without thinking. He yelped in pain, the shock zipping up his forearms, and down to his knees. He shook his hands to get the electricity out of them. He cringed, holding his wrist. “Get out of here, Fox. Find Rivkah.”

  “Find Rivkah?” He massaged his temple. “Goddamn, I have a headache.”

  “Again, you were mind controlled by the Kelhoon leader. Get out of here and when you do, act like you’re still controlled.”

  “Mind controlled? Are you mad, man?”

  Jaxx stood, slapping his palm against his face. “Oh my God. Please…just leave, now.” He shook his head. “No, no. When more Kelhoon get in here, they’ll see a dead Kelhoon on the ground. Where are we going to put him?”

  Fox went rigid. “Wait a minute.” His eyes widened. “You’re not screwing with me.” He paused, clearly thinking deeply. “I remember. I couldn’t get out of Okbak’s mind control. He had control over everything—” He glanced down at the dead warrior. “Shit.” He looked around, his eyes darting to every corner of the room. “The storage ambry.”

  “Where?” Jaxx followed Fox’s eyes.

  Fox ignored Jaxx, grabbed the Kelhoon’s arms, and dragged him across the floor to the other side of the room, leaving a long trail of green blood. He lifted a handle against a wall and a clank sounded. Fox pulled the door open, the hinges squealing in protest, and pushed the Kelhoon inside. He slammed the door closed, then pushed the handle down, sealing it shut.

  “I’m getting you out of there,” said Fox, walking over to a console on the wall. “I remember the code to dematerialize the bars around you.”

  “No, leave. I have to convince the Kelhoon to join our side.”

  Fox furrowed his brows. “Did I just hear you correctly? On our side? What the hell did I miss while I was away?”

  “Look, what I need you to do is get out of here before Okbak and his soldiers arrive.”

  “You’re talking nonsense.” Fox pressed a few buttons on the console. “We’re getting out of here together.”

  Jaxx took a deep breath and closed his eyes, bringing up a red, hot and angry energy. He opened his eyes and pushed his palms outward, sending scorching energy across the room and to the console. The console sparked, then lifted and popped off the wall.

  Fox spun around. “You son of a bitch. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

  “You won’t understand,” said Jaxx, standing in the middle of the energetic cage. “We have another threat out there and it’s not the Kelhoon. This one is worse.”

  “What’s worse than some bad breath, Kelhoon assholes?”

  “The Agadon. That’s why I have to convince Okbak to join our side and fight them.”

  Fox crossed his arms. “Those bastards are just a rumor. We heard about them in the Secret Space Program, but they don’t exist. If a race like that existed, we’d be shit for brains by now and under their galactic control.”

  “We are just about under their galactic control and we will be if you don’t leave and let me talk the Kelhoon into joining our side.”

  The entrance door clanked open. “Whata do we hab here-ja?” It was Kajka Okbak, leader of the Kelhoon. He stepped inside, then two other burly guards followed him. Okbak bent down and touched the streak of blood on the floor. He put his finger in it and brought it to his forked tongue, and licked. “Who-ja die here-ja?” And since when could he speak English?

  15

  J-Quadrant, Solar System - Nearing Namuh Farms, Callisto

  Rivkah raced across the snowy terrain, the snow battering her head and shoulders. She followed Slade’s energy ribbon. It led her south toward him and his screwed-up, perfectly walled city.

  She stopped and Abdu halted next to her. She felt something hit her stomach like a scream in the middle of a quiet night. She touched her abdomen as a burning sensation rose from the base of her spine to her solar plexus. The sensation was anxiety riddled with confusion and fear. She put her hand out, touching Abdu’s, then went limp against him.

  “Are you okay, Miss Rivkah?”

  Rivkah nodded, her eyes fluttering rapidly. “It’s Jaxx. He’s in trouble. He needs help, but he refuses to ask for it. He needs us.” She wanted to turn, to go after him, to find the man who seemed as impenetrable and unlikeable as he was stupid. It was a tough mix to love, but Rivkah couldn’t
help but fill up with emotions she’d packed away for so long for that man. “We have to turn back. He’s going to die.”

  She shuddered, then took in a deep breath, clasping her hand over her heart. A child, then another, and ten more appeared in her vision, bound in chains, no older than six years old and longing for their mothers.

  Rivkah had never known her mother. All she knew was a person like Slade, her dad, who had hurt her to no end.

  What Slade was going to do to these children was a lot worse than what her dad had done to her.

  “I’m sorry, Jaxx. I’m so, so sorry,” she whispered to her heart. A tear streaked down her cheek. “These children need me…more than you need me.”

  She wanted to tell Jaxx that it was over anyway, that any chance to fulfill the prophecy died when Bogle left this world. Bogle was the lucky one, the one that death grabbed. To Rivkah, there was no heaven. And after death, life’s shitty memories ceased. It was better that way.

  Abdu lifted Rivkah’s chin.

  There was no physical sensation, but she knew he was reading her thoughts.

  “You have a lot to learn. Death is but the next transition in life. Your scientists have probably found that all is energy, even the snow beneath our feet here. This snow will heat up, turn into water and evaporate instantly into water vapor that rises and is sent back into the atmosphere. You see, energy never ceases to exist. It always recycles and is the constant loop of life. Energy transforms and moves from world to world, from dimension to dimension. Bogle has moved on.”

  “I don’t have time for any of your babble, Abdu. I am grateful you are helping me, but leave me with my own thoughts, please.”

  “Aye, I will.” He smiled, then grabbed a handful of snow. He sat crossed legged on the ground, and stared up at the sky. “Callisto, you give us vital energy and allow us to live in each moment, even if our moments are soon to be short lived. Just as Rivkah gives thanks to me, we give thanks to you, beautiful moon. Allow us a safe passage to wherever our next destination may be, whether it be someplace in this life or if we are soon to be in the next.” He put the snow against his forehead, then touched his heart and gave a loud roar.

  “You about done there, Abdu?” Rivkah held her fists on her hips.

  “Let’s go,” said Abdu, jumping up. He gave her a nod, then raced forward.

  Rivkah dashed after him, seeing Slade’s energy ribbon in front of her, flowing in the wind. “We’re almost there Abdu.”

  They circled the base of a hill and crested a small incline between two more hills. There they stopped. In front of them was a magnificent wall with towers every few hundred feet, a city with skyscrapers, domes, and big landing pads on thick columns that rose above the walls. A big ass castle sat smack dab in the middle of the city.

  This was Slade’s new home.

  Rivkah noticed movement inside the closest tower. She narrowed her eyes and zoomed in, allowing Chi to move through her and enhance her sight. A Kelhoon stood watch behind a large tower window. He had binocular-like glasses around his eyes with a band attached to the back of his head. He held the tell-tale Kelhoon rifle by his side.

  “They’re keeping the children somewhere behind those walls. We need to get them…save them.”

  “I sense something.” Abdu crouched, then shifted quickly, grabbing his rifle. “Too late.” A loud crack pierced the air and his rifle went spinning down the small hill, bouncing on a rock, then sliding down the gravel to the hill’s base.

  Next to him stood a Kelhoon—a Kelhoon who wacked the rifle out of Abdu’s hand. The damned lizard face had come out of nowhere.

  Another Kelhoon landed next to Abdu with his rifle aimed at the lion’s face. Shit, they were dropping out of the sky. It was raining Kelhoon.

  Rivkah stood, ready to take on an army, especially with Abdu by her side. They could easily take these two reptile brains.

  A third Kelhoon dropped from above, then a forth, landing next to Abdu and Rivkah. One of them pointed up, a smirk on his face.

  Rivkah looked up. An army, a literal Kelhoon army, were on the hill adjacent to them, their cannons and rifles aiming at Rivkah and Abdu.

  She scanned the lizard-hybrid in front of her. The information wasn’t hard to find. It was etched on his synapses. The configuration of warriors on the far hill was the Kelhoon warrior way. They surrounded their prey, using any higher terrain they could find to their advantage. She touched on the Kelhoon’s deep, deep lust for her blood and backed her mind out of his swamp of a brain. What was going on in there was too awful to contemplate. They were creatures without remorse or conscience.

  “What do we do now, Abdu?”

  “We have to silence these guys, or let them take us in to the city as prisoners. It might be best if we surrender today to give us a gain tomorrow.” He eyed one of the Kelhoon soldiers. “I sense their orders are to capture, not to kill just yet.”

  Rivkah surveyed the area like a combat strategist looked over a map. This planet was filled with caves, canyons, and hills with caves. She spotted an indentation in a hill a few hundred yards away—the tell-tale sign of a cavern on Callisto.

  Rikvah curled her fingers in a fist. “Abdu, surrendering isn’t how I do things.”

  16

  J-Quadrant, Solar System - Namuh Farms, Callisto

  Namuh Farms—no doubt named by some Kelhoon who fancied himself a real joker—had only just been built, but they were state of the art. The sleek, silent elevator plunged below ground with barely a hiss. The doors dinged and Slade stepped out into a well-lit underground area the size of a professional football dome.

  “This is what you have to show—” Craig stopped mid-sentence. A black pyramid stood in the middle of a very large, sandy field. The ceiling was one big, natural light source.

  Slade enjoyed the interruption. It was exactly the reaction he was looking for. “Sleek, ain’t it?”

  “Sleek?” Craig walked toward the pyramid. “That’s not the word I was thinking. It’s a beauty. But the most important question is that since we just arrived, how the hell did you find this thing so quickly? It’s not like Namuh Farms is on the map.”

  “A Kelhoon soldier showed it to me just after I arrived. I’ve only spent an hour down here exploring, but holy shit, what you’ll see inside that thing is amazing. And it’s my kinda shit.”

  “Why isn’t the ground raised? Jaxx claimed that just about every pyramid raised the ground it sat upon.”

  The pyramid was about a hundred yards away. “Jaxx said pyramids are like gravity lenses. The other Jupiter moons, and Jupiter itself, can’t use their gravity pull to tug the ground upward through this pyramid because it’s so far underground. It’s that simple, Mr. President.”

  Slade walked forward. Craig followed. Their steps were light, slightly buoyant even. The gravity down here was different, less intense.

  Craig ogled the pyramid, awed and mildly confused.

  “I think the pyramid lowers the gravity forces down here,” said Slade.

  “Yes, everything seems so much lighter down here.” Craig put his hand out, stopping Slade in his stride. Craig backed up a few steps. “What are those?”

  Slade couldn’t help but smile. “Come on. Keep going. You haven’t seen nothing yet.”

  Beside the entrance of the great black pyramid were two men no less than twenty-five feet tall, holding spears even taller, and standing motionless. Their eyes were closed but based on the subtle movements in their chests, they were clearly breathing.

  Slade touched one of the giant’s boots as he gazed up at the forty-story high pyramid, it’s black walls sparkling with perfection. He turned back and winked at Craig. “These giants are in suspended animation. I don’t know how old they are, but my guess is that they’ve been suspended here for a long-ass time.”

  Craig looked the giants up and down, craning his neck to get a view at one of their shields. “It’s like they came straight from the middle ages.” He cleared his throat. “How can
they be suspended just standing there? Don’t they have to be hooked to machines?”

  “No idea. Not my area of expertise.” Slade pressed on a human-shaped handprint on the large entrance doors. This was unlike other pyramids, where doors were eerily hidden or were simply small passageways blocked by a large limestone square piece.

  This was an actual door, and when Slade removed his hand from the handprint, the door swung inward and a purple haze blasted outward. Slade covered his eyes until the purple light dimmed. “Come on.” His boots clanked on the polished, granite floor of the pyramid. “What do you think?”

  A low hum echoed through the structure. And before Craig could say anything, two women, his size, and definitely human or Atlantean, came into view. They sat cross legged twenty feet apart. They faced one another with their eyes and mouths closed, breathing in and out while humming. A square, black block bigger than a van, hovered in between them and spun end over end.

  “I think that’s how the pyramids were built, both on Earth and on Callisto. It was either by the strange hum that these two Atlanteans produce or from a technology that synthesizes with a Being and uses the Being to make those humming sounds. Or maybe they just have mutant powers like Jaxx.” Slade wanted to say like me as well, but he managed to keep his mouth shut on that score. It was a gamble just telling Craig what he’d learned from Jaxx’s whackadoo books, let alone that he’d been transfused with Jaxx’s blood. No way he wanted the President to know he had the same energy as Jaxx. He didn’t want to become some Government lab rat. Based on Craig’s slack-jawed look and saucer-like eyes, the man wasn’t going to ask where Slade had come by this radical information.

  Craig eyed the women in awe, his mouth still slightly agape, doing his best to process this new data. “What do we do with this whole…thing.” He waived his arms around, indicating everything inside this pyramid.

  “Look up,” ordered Slade, pointing to a ceiling.