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

and wrapped around his head in a ferocious vice grip. His head spun. He needed to puke, and swallowed hard to keep it down.

“That’s the girl,” said a guy walking from another section of the ship and into the ship’s cabin where Drew and the children lay. He glanced up. It was Anderle. The jerk was on this craft? He hadn’t seen Anderle since he and T-hacker had bolted from Anderle’s “hideout” with Mya in tow. That Anderle guy could not be trusted.

“Yep, that’s her.” T-hacker came into view.

Drew’s mouth dropped, and he reached out with his good hand, squeezing Anderle’s wrist, again gulping down more vomit. “Don’t touch her.”

Anderle tilted his head. “Drew? You’re awake? Hi, buddy.”

“What are you doing here?”

Anderle sat on the rim of a cot next to him, where a child lay. “This is my new job, Drew. I’m part owner of your dad’s business. Recruited earlier today.” He patted Drew’s head. He tapped a device-looking microphone attached around his ear and to his lower jaw. “Guards, we have another worthy child for our exports.”

Drew pulled away, then let out a loud yelp. The pain jumped all over his body.

Anderle’s eyes went wide and T-hacker stepped a few paces back. A violet haze entered the cabin.

Drew lifted his head. Mya had walked up the ramp and was in the craft, making her way toward them. Somehow the glowing aura around her grew bigger with every step.

“Go, Mya. Don’t come in here,” warned Drew.

What was she doing? Didn’t she know she’d get herself caught?

A guard, with Dr. Andrea Cross by his side, shuffled into the room, standing where the cockpit and the cabin met. He withdrew his gun. “Step back, little girl.”

Mya shook her head, and moved closer.

Dr. Andrea gently pushed the guard’s gun away from Mya, aiming it at the floor. “I think this is her.”

“Who?” asked the guard.

Anderle laughed. “Keep her for tests, Andrea. This girl has some strange voodoo shit going on with her.”

Dr. Andrea nodded. “You read my mind, Anderle. Now get out of my cabin and back into the storage where I asked you to stay.”

Anderle shut his mouth quickly, huffing. T-hacker pulled Anderle out of the room and around the corner.

“Mya,” Drew shook his head. “Get out of here.”

Mya didn’t say a word, and kept her eyes trained on the doctor.

“That’s a good girl. Come here,” said Andrea, motioning her to come closer. She glanced over her shoulder to the guard, whispering, “That has to be her. It has to be.”

Mya put her hand up, and smiled, walking even closer.

A click, and the ship vibrated. A low hum cut across the cabin. The ramp began to close.

Mya thrust her hand in the ramp’s direction. The hum ceased, and the vibrating stopped. The ramp dropped to the ground.

Andrea gasped. “She has Jaxx’s powers. How does she have Jaxx’s powers? I’d even say she’s more powerful.” She clutched her chest as if she was proud of the little girl. “We need tests.” She bent down, putting her hand out. “Now, come on sweetie. Let us close the ramp door, too. Okay?”

Mya shook her head and made her way to the back edge of Drew’s cot. She touched Drew’s foot and closed her eyes.

The guard stepped forward in a rush and Andrea put a hand against his chest. “No, no. This is part of testing. Let’s see what she has in store for us.”

A tingling went up Drew’s leg, through his abdomen, and into his shoulder. A warm sensation swirled around his injury and a heat encapsulated Drew’s body. He winced, not in pain, but because of the sweat that started seeping like a faucet out of his pores.

His shoulder involuntarily shifted inward, accompanied with a crunch and a sharp pain. In seconds, the rush, the blinding ache, and everything negative associated with his shoulder disappeared.

Mya patted his foot. “All better.” She stood, her head and face now defiant, her eyes like a devil ready to pounce. “Take the seatbelts off of him.”

Drew shifted in the cot. No pain. None whatsoever. He understood why they wanted to hold her for testing, but he was no asshole; he was never going to let that happen.

“You may point your gun at her again,” responded Andrea, crossing her arms at her chest. The guard lifted his phaser. “Now, darling. Don’t put me in a pickle here. I want to keep you alive.”

Mya slowly lifted her arm and even more slowly, swept her arm around the cabin, the violet energy becoming a bit thicker.

The children stirred in their cots, waking up.

“Take the seatbelts off of them, as well,” demanded Mya.

“Now, dear. I can’t take the restraints off.” Andrea tapped her toe, becoming noticeably irritated. “I’m going to count to three. If you don’t surrender yourself, and for the safety of my friends on this ship, I’m going to have to blow your brains out. Do you understand, little girl?”

Mya dropped her hands by her side, shaking her head.

“One,” counted Andrea. She took a step behind the guard that targeted Mya.

Mya got down on her knees, her hands curling into fists.

“Two,” continued Andrea.

Mya shook her head again and dropped her chin to her chest, taking in a heaving breath.

“Thr—”

Mya screamed and her head lurched backward and her back arched. A wave of energy blasted from her chest. The guard was picked up and thrown against a wall, Andrea with him. He smashed the doctor, and Andrea’s head clanked against a metallic beam, knocking her out cold.

The guard, now unconscious, dropped his gun.

The ship’s lights blinked off, the engine’s low purr ceased, and a bustle of guards ran into the cabin, barking orders here and there.

Everything was pitch black, and Drew couldn’t see a damn thing. He heard a slap, and someone fell to the ground. A bright glow emanated in the middle of the room, violet as well and obviously coming from Mya. A phaser went off, then a gun fell, clacking against the ground.

A grunt, and a guard