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

Okbak? What the hell was Jaxx doing talking with Kajka Okbak and how did he convince the prick to go after the Agadon? Again, too many questions, too little time. “If we don’t get those kids secretly, we’ll have to deal with the Kelhoon assholes knowing we are stealing them from their business.”

Jaxx’s hand brushed against hers as they ran and a tingling went up her spine and encapsulated her heart. Just the touch, the need to be touched by him some more, riveted her soul. Later. That could all come later. She made her way to the warehouse.

She squeezed the latch and pulled down. A loud clank and the large warehouse door opened. The lights turned on, practically blinding them, then died down to normal.

Whispers and gasps filled the place, and the children pounded against the wooden shacks they were trapped in, their hands bound by energetic cuffs.

“Help us,” yelled an older girl. “Please.”

Rivkah glanced to her left, seeing a console. “Jaxx, figure that out.”

Jaxx placed his hands over the console and closed his eyes. It blasted apart, sparks shooting everywhere.

“It worked,” yelled the little girl. “My handcuffs turned off.”

A rumble filled the sky. Jaxx looked out the door. “Shit. It’s a Kelhoon ship. Let’s go.”

Fighting these lizard scum wouldn’t be so smart around these kids. Any errant shot would mean immediate death. They had to go. She ran to the closest shelter in front of her and threw the door open. Several kids stared up at her, their eyes blank, their souls crushed. She waived them out, her own eyes fierce, but her voice soft. “Get out. All of you. We’re getting you to safety.”

In under ten minutes they had exactly twenty-four children out of their cages. “Follow me, and Jaxx, take the rear. Make sure we make it safely and to the underground facility, no matter what.”

Jaxx nodded and prodded several children forward. “You’re doing good. But we’re not out of this yet.”

Exiting the warehouse, two dozen kids behind her, Rivkah dashed onward and down a street. A flash of light zoomed overhead, then slowed. It was a Kelhoon transport. It reversed course and hovered over them, then began to descend.

“Take the kids and go,” yelled Jaxx, eyeing the craft coming in for a landing. “They’ll want their child investments and I’m not giving any to them.”

Rivkah narrowed her eyes, throwing her hands in the air. “Keep going, children. We’ll be safe.” The truth is, she didn’t know if she was leading them to safety or not.

They rounded a corner and found themselves down the street from the skyscraper. Another ship came into view. Though it was far away, it was coming in fast. The Kelhoon knew something was up and they didn’t like it.

Wapooo! Wapooo! Krackow!

Phaser blasts and a ball of fire rose into the sky from down the street and around the corner. It was exactly where Jaxx had left them. She closed her eyes to scan his energy signature, then a roar filled the sky. Starfighters were on their way.

She stepped up the stairs into the skyscraper and opened the door, letting all the children run inside. “Press that elevator arrow down.”

A young girl pumped her little feet as fast as they could carry her and punched the down arrow. The elevator dinged and opened. That was fine and dandy, but twenty-four kids wouldn’t fit in that thing.

Crap.

She pushed in twelve, packing them in as best she could. She stood outside the elevator with the remaining twelve. The elevator doors shut.

Rivkah brought her fingernails to her teeth, tapping, waiting. “Come on. Hurry, hurry.” She waited a few more seconds and pressed the up arrow. Soon, the elevator would make its way back up and she’d shove everyone, including herself, inside.

Another blast rocked the building and Rivkah ducked. The kids ducked and screamed. This explosion was closer. Was Jaxx safe? Was he heading this way?

The elevator dinged open and she pushed all the kids inside, jimmying herself next to the digital buttons on a panel next to the elevator door. She pressed the down arrow. The doors closed.

She relaxed, for the moment. When she’d make it down there, then what? Would she take more information from the pyramid? She hoped so. Otherwise, they may be sitting ducks down here waiting for the Kelhoon to show up and make mincemeat of them.

The door opened. The twelve kids who took the first ride in the elevator were standing around, scared looks in their eyes. “To the pyramid. Go, every one of you.”

All twenty-four ran, Rivkah right behind them. They entered the pyramid.

Fox stood inside, looking nonchalantly at the kids like this was a normal affair. “Eh, now what?” He put his hands up, waiting for an answer.

“Where is the cat-lady?” asked Rivkah. She was nowhere to be seen.

“Around the corner. She doesn’t want to scare the kids any more than they already are.”

The kids have seen half-lizards, half-humans. A beautiful lioness would probably be a relief, but to each her own.

Rivkah went deep within, taking several large breaths, asking the pyramid her next step. She waited, listening. Finally, the answer came.

“We need—”

The elevator dinged and she turned, her hands in fists, ready to take on a thousand Kelhoon idiots if she had to. She dropped her hands. It was Jaxx and a momentary smile erupted on her face, her heart going to him. She hid it a second later.

He held out a Kelhoon rifle and blasted the elevator to shit, warping the inside, making it non-operational. But, how did he get that rifle? Must had taken it from a Kelhoon in the Kelhoon transport that had landed, then probably used the rifle to blow the transport to kingdom come. Hence the explosions outside.

Jaxx walked toward them, sweat dripping down his temples and cheek. “Kelhoon are crawling all over the city up there and are probably in the skyscraper now. Hopefully the broken elevator will keep them at bay for a while.” His eyes were full of doubt.

The