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

“They kept a log.” Laura smiled. “Do you need to take notes or do you still have a photographic memory?”

Drew tapped the side of his head. “Still got it.”

“The log recorded messages between GSA and Underfoot Black. The messages were short and confusing. The log numbers were in order, but the numbers weren’t sequential. Someone has doctored the log.”

Drew nodded. He was firing on all cylinders. His mother was brilliant. She was about to blow the whole thing open.

Laura closed her eyes and recited the list:

“Log 114: SSP doesn’t know anything yet. Keep it under wraps.

Log 181: SSP probed TECS IV, then left. We feel they are unaware.

Log 192: A few retired SSP agents work for us. Again, keep it under the radar.

Log 213: SSP is privy to our exploration.

Log 477: TECS IV has spotted an anomaly. Disregard. The anomaly is uninhabitable.

Log 599: TECS IV found what our scientists are calling the Golden Egg.

Log 611: SSP is investigating TECS IV and GSA. They have also found the Golden Egg.

Log 665: SSP will not cooperate with us.

Log 668: SSP’s recent communications say their scientists do not see global warming a deadly threat. Our scientists disagree.

Log 704: Stay underground.

Log 832: SSP knows we have Kaden Jaxx and demand him back.

Log 914: SSP and TECS IV has gone dark. No communication with SSP and TECS IV is offline.

Log 1043: SSP and GSA to cooperate.

Log 1096: Avera investigating GSA. Eliminate.”

Drew gasped. That was the kill order he was afraid of.

“What did you think when you went fishing in this pool? Of course, they want you gone.” She closed her eyes and continued:

“Log 1152: We move launch date up from June 11th to June 12th,. Launch location: Sandy Island, Caribbean, just east of Grenada.

Log 1163: Government evacuation procedures in place. Everyone is ready.”

“I don’t...” Drew wanted his bong in the worst way possible. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“There’s more, but we don’t have time. No one here has seen me string more than five words together at one time in ten years. You have to leave and you have to stay safe.” Laura squeezed her son’s hand, got up and left without looking back.

Drew didn’t need to open his palm. He knew what she had given him. It was a thumb drive. Laura Avera knew what a thumb drive was? Hell really was going to freeze over. He pulled his coat up around his ears and smiled his way past eight G-men.

44

June 9thUnderfoot Black, Grenada

“In five seconds, you’ll be coming back to the present,” said Donny. “One, notice how comfortable and relaxed you are. Two, you’re becoming more aware of my voice. Three, you are about to wake up as if you were in a deep, healthy sleep. Four, your eyes are becoming lighter. Five, you’re here, now. Your eyes are opening.”

Jaxx opened his eyes, blinking several times. He gazed at the ceiling, bringing himself from the Oospor Class-9 Dropship to the room. Donny had pulled him out of a hypnotherapy session where he recalled the same memories he had in his private session last night. Donny also stopped when Jaxx volunteered to give Rivkah his blood. But Jaxx needed more. He wanted the rest of his memories. He wanted every last drop.

“Take me back under.”

Donny glanced at his watch, then shook his head. “We’ve got what Slade wants.” He tilted his head to the side. “Why do you want to go back under?”

“I have to know.”

“Know what?”

“Why they say I defected.”

Donny huffed. “Alright, close your eyes.”

Jaxx closed his eyes.

A gun went off outside the room, then another.

Jaxx sat in a start. Did that come from inside the facility or was it the beginning of his trance?

The door burst open. Rivkah. She pointed a rifle at Jaxx. She returned. The second time in so many days. You couldn’t keep her locked up if she was cemented into the walls.

Donny pushed back into his chair, hands up.

She motioned with her rifle to the door. “Get up, Jaxx.”

“All right.” Jaxx walked to the door, hands raised, his mind racing. In a way, he was happy to see her again. He felt he knew her better, at least a little. That happiness was tempered somewhat by the rifle.

Donny eyed over Rivkah’s shoulder.

Rivkah caught the look and twisted on her heels. A guard pushed his way in. Rivkah went for him. His gun went off. Donny took it between the eyes, killing him before he hit the floor.

Rivkah swiped the guards’ leg. He tossed to his back. She slammed her boot on his chest and aimed her rifle at the guy’s head.

“No,” yelled Jaxx. He leaped for her arm, grabbing her trigger hand by the wrist.

She dropped to her knees. The rifled slipped from her fingers. She screamed and wrenced her arm out of Jaxx’s grasp. She covered her ears and touched her head to the floor. “What the hell did you do that for?”

“Do what?”

“Zap me, you asshole. You didn’t feel it? When you grabbed me?”

He felt nothing of the sort.

Guards entered the corridor, their boots clomping hard on the tile. Rivkah slammed the door with a swift kick. More than anything, Jaxx wanted to talk to Rivkah. But they were trapped. The guards, Slade, Fox, everyone, needed to leave him alone, give him time to speak with his old friend. But they wouldn’t. He squeezed his fingers into fists and grind his teeth. His mind focused, his heart pumped full of adrenaline, emotion, life—everything he had. And, calm as could be, he pushed the energy outward. It was like being back in a starfighter.

The door broke off its hinges, flinging at the approaching guards. A few went to dodge. Too fast, the door slammed into them. Like dominoes, they fell hard.

Rivkah pushed to her usual defensive crouch and grabbed her weapon. She peeked around the doorway and glanced at one of the downed guards. Before Jaxx could react, she pounded the butt of her rifle against his temple, knocking him out