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

He checked in again with his newest friend; intuition. Apparently, he had the go-ahead. He dipped his finger inside. He leaned his head back and opened his mouth and held his finger over his tongue. The warm liquid streamed down his index finger until it came to a head at his fingertip. A drop touched his tongue.

Water. He expected the flecks to taste, but they didn’t.

He blinked, waiting for the effects to take hold. If it was poison, then a little amount probably wouldn’t kill him. He’d simply vomit.

He straightened his shoulders, then his spine, feeling a rise of energy. He took a deep breath, or rather, his body breathed more life into on its own accord. He yawned, taking in more air.

He felt alive. Strong. Energized.

He wanted to run, just for the sake of running. He wanted to move around, do push-ups, sit-ups. He didn’t care as long as he exercised.

He stretched, taking in another breath.

“Rivkah, you gotta…”

She slumped to the side, eyes closed. Hardly breathing.

He sprang to her, flask in hand, dropping to his knees and feeling for her pulse. She was alive, though her pulse more faint. He was losing her.

He opened her mouth, pouring in a small amount of the liquid. It dribbled out, the water merely dampening her lips and skin.

He lightly slapped her cheeks to wake her up. “Stay with me, Rivkah. Stay with me.”

She took in a deep breath and held it for a few seconds.

Then exhaled.

He felt her pulse a second time. Almost undetectable. He filled a cap-full of the water and gave her more.

Her pulse lightened.

“Dammit. Don’t leave me, Rivkah.”

He gave her another swig and checked her pulse yet again.

Nothing changed.

He slumped and sat hard on his butt.

I’m killing her.

This had to be poison and if it wasn’t, then he had overdosed her.

“Ne, Mishusta.”

Jaxx let out a sharp breath. He dropped the flask, the contents spilling out until there was nothing left. He grabbed for his IPG and pointed it at a man hanging from the outcropping by his feet. The man flipped to the ground and bowed.

Jaxx kept the IPG steady on the man’s forehead. “What do you want?”

The man pointed to his chest. “Kiyo-zan.”

“Kiyo-zan? Is that your name?” Jaxx had taken Japanese in high school. It sounded Japanese-ish. Perhaps he had an accent? Maybe his people had migrated from Kyushu, the southern-most island of Japan? Their accents were thick as molasses; wonderful to listen to, but hard to comprehend. It was so long ago that if this guy spoke Tokyo-style Japanese, which Jaxx highly doubted, he still couldn’t figure out what the man was trying to say.

He trained the IPG on the man more intensely. “Please leave.”

The man lowered and reached for something inside his cape.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

The man paused, then nodded. “Anashita no tame ni.” He slowly slid his hand out from inside his cape and put another flask on the ground. It stood upright and a neck popped out, exposing a cap over the flask’s mouth.

The man jabbed a finger at his chest. “Kiyo-zan.” He spread his arms out wide, motioning outward and at the entire forest. “Taiyo-zan.”

Jaxx shifted in his seated position. The guy’s name was obviously Kiyo-zan and they called the planet, Taiyo-zan.

Jaxx glanced at Rivkah. Her lips now a blueish pink, she trembled.

Another flask landed near Jaxx, startling him. He lifted his gaze. Kiyo-zan imitated drinking the flask by holding an imaginary flask in his hand, while simultaneously pointing at Rivkah with his other hand. “Shite kudazen.”

Jaxx snagged the bottle and untwisted the cap. He poured the water into Rivkah’s mouth, then let up.

Kiyo-zan shook his head, imitating drinking the flask but leaning his head all the way back more as if finishing the entire drink.

Even though Rivkah didn’t swallow, she by chance took some down her gullet. Maybe that’s what Kiyo-zan was getting at—the more, the better.

“Here goes. This guy better not be trying to kill her,” he said under his breath.

Jaxx emptied the flask into Rivkah’s mouth, the water dribbling down her chin and cheeks, drenching her jumpsuit collar.

Rivkah smacked her lips. Her eyelids twitched. Her skin tone morphed from “scary grey” to “healthy brown,” and her lips turned pink. He checked her leg but no change. It dribbled blood. He touched her neck, feeling for her pulse. Better, stronger.

Kiyo-zan made a click sound. Jaxx clutched his gun when brush moved and foot steps carried across the forest. Taiyonians came into view. Same outfit as Kiyo-zan, though a bow and arrow weapons strapped to their backs, glowing a hazy orange.

One woman held out a bowl and gestured to it, then placed her hand in it, pulling out a yellow cube. She put it in her mouth and chewed, rubbing her stomach. She smiled and placed the bowl in front of Kiyo-zan. She pushed it forward.

Jaxx shook his head. “Do you have anything for her wound?” He motioned to Rivkah’s leg. He didn’t know why they helped him, especially after his small starfighter squad just took out a quarter of their city, no doubt killing countless Taiyonians. Regardless of whether they were friendly or not, he held his IPG in front of him, making sure they could see it. Who knew, the Taiyonians might be massing in the hundreds on the ridge and outcropping above him, waiting for him to come out so they could seize their moment of glory.

A flash of light split the sky, followed by a boom. Everyone looked up, including Jaxx. A craft descended, smoke trailing from it. His belt vibrated, which meant the rescue team was well on their way.

That was fast.

He touched his belt, turning off the vibration revealer, and looked out across the forest. The Taiyonians were gone.

The ground shook. Jaxx held onto Rivkah, keeping her stable and secure. Cracking branches riddled the forest and an intense rumbling echoed against the ridge.

Then silence.

An Oospor Class-9 Dropship hovered ten yards away, broken branches littered the ground around it,