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

“Humans are an understanding lot, able to see both sides of a story. Okay, so I will tell you ours.” He tapped a few buttons on his chest console. “Our story is simple. We can’t get inside this city without you handing her over to me. And it’s in your best interest to let us inside because we will modify this town, just like we are modifying this world, and make it a better place for all interested parties.”

“If you can’t get inside, then how did you get here,” replied Drew, backing away and toward the bar’s main door.

Zec stood as still as a rock. “Many of us have made it into this city, yes, but this girl keeps putting a stop to the majority of our attempts. Thousands of my kind have died in this portion of your Earth, and it is in this portion that this one mere girl has almost single-handedly defeated us. Yes, granted, a few of your military personnel have ended many of our people’s lives, killing a few of our reconnaissance troops, but like me, a few of our scouts have managed to slip under your shields without being shot.”

The front door burst open, and as quick as a flash, a small mounted cannon popped out from Zec’s back, lifted above his head, and shot a myriad of fiery projectiles at the door.

Phckjrrr! Phckjrrr!

The bar rumbled and Drew fell back, Mya in his arms, and landed on his rear.

The projectiles hit the front wall, ripping the wall off of its foundation, and throwing flaming wood and shards of glass onto the street.

Wapooo! Wapooo!

Two ion bolts flew through the smolder and struck Zec in the chest. Smoke rose from two puncture wounds and he stood his ground, touching the holes in his torso. Blue blood oozed and Zec touched the blood with his fingers. He lifted his hand to his face and stopped. He stood like a mannequin, unmoving, unwavering. A spark blasted out of the back of his head and he teetered forward, dropping to the floor like a dead weight.

A person in a battlesuit, Marine insignia design on the suit’s chest, walked through the dying fire where the bar’s front wall used to be. He held phaser guns in each one of his hands.

The Marine turned his head, noticing Drew. He walked forward.

Tsche! Tsche! Tsche! Tsche!

He stopped and holstered his weapons and brought his hands to his mask and helmet. A sizzling sound and a pop. Both items dropped to the floor. “How the hell did you get my daughter?”

It was Segarra, his eyes shooting venom at Drew.

Drew looked at Mya. She blinked her eyes and rested her hand on his chest, her soft touch soothing Drew for the moment. She yawned, glanced at her dad, and wiggled out of Drew’s arms. She landed on her feet and rushed her father. “Daddy, daddy, daddy!”

Segarra scooped her up in his arms, kissing her face. “How did you get out, young lady?”

She shrugged. “I’m not telling.”

“We need you back at headquarters, alright?”

Her shoulders drooped and her happy expression faded. She fiddled with his battlesuit’s chest plate armor, curiously scratching it. “I don’t want to go, papa.”

“You’re helping—”

Mya put a finger to her dad’s lips, shutting him up. “I’m hurting people. Not helping.”

“They aren’t people.”

Drew set his rifle down, leaning it against a wall. “Who are they? I mean, who is this blue guy?”

Segarra lifted his chin. His stern, angry expression came back to life. “The Agadon. They are an extraterrestrial race hell-bent on destroying every world in its path. And Earth was one of the worlds in its way and we can’t let them do any more damage.” He gestured to his daughter. “That’s why we have Mya. She can defend the United States from these attackers.”

“How could you possibly know who they are and what they are up to?” asked Drew.

“That’s classified,” replied Segarra.

“Even now?” Drew put his hands out. “We don’t even have a standing government, let alone a damn reason to classify anything, but it’s classified? People see these aliens and—” He stopped himself. The reason he came to the bar in the first place was to help Megan. He rushed over to her. “I need a doctor.”

“Let me down, daddy,” said Mya. Segarra did and Mya walked over to Megan. “Let me do it, Drew.”

Drew leaned back and Mya placed her hands on Megan’s knees and closed her eyes. “She’s here to rule with you, Drew.”

Segarra gave Drew a hostile look, then brought his eyes back to Mya. “No, cupcake. He’s not here to rule over anyone.”

Mya took in a deep breath, her body lifting off the ground. “Megan is trying to leave her body. She can’t if she is to rule with Drew. I’ll ask if she wants to come back.”

Drew’s eyes went wide. This girl was levitating like it was no big deal. “How are you doing that?”

Mya didn’t respond, keeping her focus and concentration.

Drew watched, a million questions popping into his mind. What would he be ruling with Megan, and over who? Megan wouldn’t be ruling anything if she didn’t get fixed and quickly. Her skin was ashen and she was fading fast, and even Drew being an untrained doctor could see Megan was taking her last breaths.

Drew’s heart pumped faster and he rubbed his hands together. He barely knew Megan, but still, he wanted her to survive.

Mya came out of her hover and rested cross legged on the floor. She raised one hand, her eyes remaining closed, and wrote something in the air. A violet haze, the same color and fog-like thickness around her in Doctor Andrea’s ship, was forming around her again. “All sickness,” explained Mya. “Begins in a person’s energy field. It is easy to repair. A wound, on the other hand, is different. When a person is wounded, the hurt part of the body, along with the energy around the rest of the