Ascendant Saga Collection: Sci-Fi Fantasy Techno Thriller by Brandon Ellis (easy to read books for adults list txt) 📕

the key. One is the bull. You are the whisperer.” She pointed to Bogle. “She is the calm to you three’s storm.”

Rivkah rotated her back foot. She was ready to kick some ass. If she had to live her life fighting every day for the freedom she desired, so be it. She wasn’t going to fight for anyone else, especially not this woman before her. She spat on the ground. No more experiments. No more confusion. No more pain.

“I am Liberty Speidel and we’re not here to harm you. You’ll fight with us at your own free will.”

“Woman, you’re talking crazy.”

Liberty continued forward.

Rivkah stood fast.

“I don’t speak crazily. I speak with purpose and with truth. I speak with the Light of the Law of One. I am Liberty.”

Now a few feet from Rivkah, Rivkah jumped and directed a perfectly placed kick on this Liberty’s chest. Liberty caught it at the moment of impact and twisted, then bent on one knee and pushed upward with Rivkah’s foot. Rivkah fell hard on her back and rolled away, recovering quickly, and threw a right hook.

In a flash, the woman moved out of the way, then extended her hand outward. “Enough.”

A rush overcame Rivkah and a force rooted her to the ground. Her breath came hard and she energetically pushed the heaviness off her chest. Liberty’s power faltered. Rivkah dropped to her side, the wind knocked out of her. She clutched her stomach, gasping for breath.

“Captain Rivkah Ravenwood, are you okay?” A hand grasped Rivkah’s shoulder, then let go. “Liberty, leave Rivkah alone.”

Bogle stood between Liberty and Rivkah as a human shield.

Liberty dipped her head at Rivkah. “That is why we need you. Your mix of humanity and Atlantean is stronger than mine. Yet you are untrained and unskilled, which makes your power useless.”

Rivkah sat in a kneeling position, her breath coming slower, easier. “I’m not going to fight for you.”

“We wouldn’t allow it unless you trained and trained well,” replied Liberty.

“I’m not training.” She slowly stood. “I don’t know you, so why should I save you.”

“Save us?” Liberty cracked a smile. “No one here needs saving. We only hope you unlock the key. When the key is unlocked, so are you and the two others.”

“You can’t unlock a key, lady,” said Rivkah, rubbing her back. She glanced around to find a way of escape.

“In this context, key means two things. Key is what unlocks the door and key is the vital component to what is coming to our city, the city you stand in, Flood of Dawn. You’ll unlock the key, so the key can unlock the door. It’s up to the three to open the door.”

“The three?” God, the woman talks in riddles. The glass dome surrounding the city shimmered in a bluish-white haze. How the hell could she get out of here?

“You may leave when you so choose. In the forest and under its canopy of trees is a space craft.” Liberty gestured toward the forest. “Captain Katherine Bogle, you may join her.”

Rivkah shot a look at Bogle, then walked past Liberty without a second glance.

“Wait up,” said Bogle.

Rivkah rolled her eyes.

They walked around a downed branch near a tree a creature was crawling down. The creature moved like a caterpillar, though looked like a koala bear with a long, black and yellow ringed tail. Rivkah ignored it.

They came around a bend on the slated path and to a clearing where a wide transport craft sat waiting. Rivkah walked under its belly, touching the sleek body.

Pftcheeeee!

Rivkah and Bogle stepped back as a ramp descended from the middle of the craft, then shook as it touched the ground.

Rivkah shrugged. “It can’t be that easy.” Nothing in life was that easy.

Bogle crossed her arms at her stomach, holding herself tight. “Shall we go up there?”

Rivkah put a hand out. “Do you think these people would kill us? Or try to cause us harm in any way?” It was an honest question and all Rivkah wanted to see was Bogle’s reaction. It would tell her everything.

Bogle sniffed, shaking her head. “I don’t think so.”

“I see.” Rivkah moved up the ramp into a cockpit not much different than the Bulg transport ships she’d flown in the past. In fact, she wondered who stole who’s technology.

These cockpits were large, held several seats, and a holographic control panel.

Bvvvvvvv! Shhcah!

Rivkah and Bogle looked over their shoulders. The ramp had closed.

Rivkah pursed her lips and placed her hands on her hips. “That’s my cue to get out of town.”

Bogle came around the co-pilot chair. “I’ll take a seat.”

Rivkah sat and observed the flight console, taking in what looked familiar and what she would have to learn on the fly. She fingered her collar and gave a quick glance at Bogle. “Sit. Jump. Fart. I don’t care. Do what you want. I’m no longer captain of anybody.” She swallowed hard. “But myself.”

The craft lifted and Bogle fell into her seat. “Why did you do that?” she asked, and before Rivkah could answer, their seat restraints automatically wrapped around them, practically suctioning them to their chair.

The craft ascended and broke through the sparse forest canopy. It hovered in place. The domed city was like a framed picture. A massive lake was set in the distance, several rivers flowed to it, along with boats that traversed along the lake and rivers. A white temple stood behind the lake, a landing pad next to it where several crafts were parked. And tree forts everywhere?

These people are nuts.

Rivkah grasped the control stick, then pushed the holographic throttle. The craft didn’t move. She swatted the control stick and leaned back, hands behind her neck, biting on every nasty word she could come up with.

“What do—”

“Not a word.” Rivkah put a finger up, cutting Bogle off. Another race, yet the same results. She had no control of anything, especially her own life. Her dad would be laughing in his grave. Cole was right. She had daddy issues. She had a hydrogen bomb full of daddy issues.

The