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

a triangle with his thumb and forefinger on the other side of his fictional Earth. “On the other side—at precisely one-hundred and eighty degrees from the unstable Earth object—we have a pyramid.” He glanced around the room. He couldn’t read the faces of his colleagues, but he at least had Slade’s attention. “You understand what I am saying?”

Slade shook his head. “You lost me at volcano.”

“These pyramids, along with the majority of the pyramids built on Earth, have been strategically placed to lessen the impact of Earth changes, while simultaneously lengthening the time between magnetic pole swaps. It’s all about gravity.”

A scientist—all scraggly beard and lank hair—scoffed, then shook his head. “Here we go.”

A titter went through the ranks. The assembled scientists obviously read Jaxx’s research papers, articles, and maybe a few pages of his books. Jaxx had been ridiculed before and it hurt every time. He hoped someday he’d get over it, but his research was his baby. A criticism of his work was like tossing his baby off a cliff.

The guy with the scraggly beard smirked. “Can you tell all of my colleagues which culture you think built these pyramids?”

Jaxx could tell that the man already knew the answer. The leading question a dead giveaway. A flush swept across Jaxx’s cheeks. He took a deep breath. “These structures are built by those who created Atlantis. They are Atlantean. That’s why pyramids are so similar throughout the world. They were created by the Atlanteans with the help of other cultures.”

Slade placed both hands on the desk and leaned forward. “I see.” He scanned the scientists around the room. “None of these scientists believe you. If you want their respect, prove your theory right and without a shred of doubt, because right now, I’m even doubting you. Atlantean or not, I want you to figure out everything about these pyramids. Such as, how they got there. How they were built. And, most importantly, why these specific pyramids are there.”

“You need me to decipher symbols and translate them to English?”

Slade nodded, then tapped the desk. “Do you even know where Callisto is?”

“I don’t. I can only speculate that it’s a region on Earth I’ve never been to or heard about. That’s why I said Antarctica.”

“Callisto is a moon around Jupiter. Satellite images reveal a lot more than just these pyramids. Nonetheless, you’re supposed to be an expert on this stuff, so this is what you’ll be focusing on along with the rest of this team here. So get to know these scientists well.”

Jaxx stepped back. The pyramids were off-world? That opened a crap load of questions. He gathered himself. “I don’t think I’m hearing you correctly. Are you saying these are on a moon orbiting Jupiter right now? Not a region called Jupiter with a city named Callisto. You’re saying the actual planet and the actual moon?”

“Yes.”

Jaxx’s world imploded, threw him in a blender, and pressed the high button. He froze, planted his feet firmly on the ground, and willed the spinning to stop. “I’m here to study off-planet pyramids?”

“You and the rest of the scientists here.”

Jaxx’s mind went on the fritz for a moment and the world stood still. Everything blanketed in silence. He huffed. If he wanted to be part of the biggest discovery of his life, perhaps the biggest discovery of all time, then he’d better center himself. Be professional, Jaxx, and calm your shit down. “Do we have any up-close shots of the pyramids? I see hieroglyphs on these but I can’t quite make them out.”

“When you get there, you’ll be up close and personal. But, to answer your question, we can zoom in and out on these images. We have hundreds upon hundreds of photos, all at different angles.”

Jaxx tutted. It took him a moment to find the right words. “You said when I get there?”

The scientists’ talk died down. All eyes targeted him. This information regarding Jaxx getting there was new to them as well.

Jaxx dared not concentrate on the scientists. Were they jealous? Did they despise him even more? He worked alone for a reason.

Slade touched his fingertips together.

Ironic, he’s making pyramid hands. Jaxx racked focus. Couldn’t be making lame-ass jokes right now.

“I’ve been told you’ve written about pyramid power and the possibility that pyramids act as a giant power station, along with this nonsense that they are Atlantean constructions. I’ve also been told that you’ve drawn blueprints in your books of how a pyramid takes power from gravity, the Earth, the moon, and other such things. But more importantly, I’ve also been briefed that if a pyramid is fully functioning, unlike any pyramid on Earth, then you understand how to hook into their power.”

Jaxx fidgeted with his shirt. “I’m pretty sure they were used to power entire cities when we were in a more technological age. That wisdom has been lost.”

“But, not lost to you.”

“I…don’t know.”

“Screw ‘I don’t know.’ You know. You wouldn’t have spent the last 20 years writing books and having these jackasses sneer at you if you didn’t think you were onto something. If there was someone who knew more, I’d take them, but as it is, you’re what we’ve got. You’re our Atlantean-Pyramid expert. I don’t want you stepping on your dick and falling flat on your face. Translate what you can here and when the time comes, you’re going with me and my crew.”

“I’m going with your crew to where?”

“On a starship to Callisto.”

“A starship? Wha—”

“Damn echoes. You have to stop this parroting shit, Jaxx.” Slade cracked his knuckles, then walked out of the room.

As soon as the door closed, Jaxx’s colleagues burst out laughing. There were pyramids in space and the assholes thought they had time to ridicule him. Jaxx grinned. Might as well let them believe they had the upper hand. You always learn more when you fly below the radar anyhow. He straightened his spine and squared his shoulders. I’ll be laughing up the other side of my face when I get on that ship,