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

bent over and tossed a shirt on Drew’s lap, tapping her foot. She held her chin high. “Get packing. We have a long road ahead.”

“A long road where?”

She stiffened. “I know you’re a genius and all, but what about not having a government hasn’t gotten into that genius brain of yours? Who is going to step into the power vacuum? And, by God, who is going to restore food flow, electricity, and water if that goes offline? There are a million scenarios in play here, Drew. We need to act swiftly. You’re the one who’s going to make it safe for humanity.”

She vanished before Drew could respond. He laughed so hard he blew snot out of one nostril. It was just like Mom to say he was going to save the world.

“Not the world, Drew. The world can take care of herself. You need to worry about humanity. We’re teetering on the brink of self-annihilation. You’re the only one who can stop what’s coming.”

He took a hit and looked back at the TV.

WNN news started again, Connor looking deep into the camera lens. “As the stock market plummeted yet again today, we have more sobering news. Reports are coming from our agents in China claiming that China has amassed a large fleet and is sailing out of Zhanjiang. Chinese President Biming Chen was there to witness the spectacle, calling this 'a historical event'. The North Korean leader, Kim Kye Kwan, was by his side. Chinese President Biming Chen never made clear which historical event he was speaking about.” He cleared his throat. “As of now, we don’t have any reports as to where the fleet will be going or why. All we know is that this is the largest fleet to ever leave the Zhanjiang Naval Base. Our attempts to contact China, Russia, and Britain for any information in regards to the fleet have been met with silence.”

“They aren’t wasting any time. We are free game,” Drew said. His mom didn’t reappear, but he knew he was supposed to go somewhere; do something. Reluctantly, he put down his bong and got dressed. “Don’t say I never listen to you, Mom. I’m listening all the time.” He slipped his sneakers on. “Now, where to?”

6 Starship Atlantis - M-Quadrant, Solar System

She felt Jaxx lasso her heart. Buttmuncher. Was it longing? Did she miss him? No, she hated him. That turd, Kaden Jaxx, had gone through weeks of deep-regression, remembered all the shit they’d been through when they were up against the half-human, half-lizard freaks known as Kelhoons, but still failed to offer up an apology. He could take his 'cord of protection' and shove it up his backside.

Rivkah ducked as Fox pulled the trigger, a stun dart zapping past her ear. The electric charge stung as it whizzed by. She rolled as another shot popped out the stun rifle, missing her.

She jumped to her feet. Another shot and she flipped, avoiding it, inching closer to Fox like a gymnast with a mixed martial artist’s heart, the special pineal gland abilities quickening her reflexes, focusing her mind more.

The other men took aim but it didn’t matter. She dodged again and again. Rivkah focused on the team’s focal point; Fox. He stood in the middle, two soldiers at his sides. She pulled up every emotion she had: her father’s verbal assaults when she hightailed working for him at the construction sites and went straight to the Navy; her first step into Disneyland and the wide-eyed childhood glee when she went on the space rides; the time she actually had an attraction to the weasel Jaxx; and more. She screamed and blasted it toward his solar plexus, flinging her hands outward as if throwing everything she could muster.

It knocked her back, the intense force too much for her too handle. It came from her without thought, without her own will, as if the power controlled her. She landed on her back, and slid, her shoulder smacking into a wall.

Dazed, she pushed to her feet and shook her head. “Dammit, Jaxx. What did you turn me into?”

Fox lay on his side, and the men had tumbled backwards. He twisted and pressed his palm on the ground, his rifle in the other hand. She jumped and kneed Fox in the chin, “Oomph!”

She swiped the rifle and pulled the trigger several times, connecting point blank to everyone in the chest. Their bodies writhed and twitched, temporarily paralyzed.

She dropped the weapon and pulled off Fox’s badge and flipped it over. There was an ID chip on the other side. It might come in handy. With a weak movement, he reached for it. She kicked his arm to the side. “Close those eyes of yours, Foxy, and sleep for a while.” She smashed a blow against his temple with her free hand.

He kicked at her and she tumbled slightly, but righted herself. He sprang to his feet and threw a wide, arcing punch. He connected to her lip, and blood flew. She reeled back as he spun into a roundhouse kick. She ducked, the rush of the shoe slicing through the air, missing.

“You’ve got a little kick in you after all, old man.” He wasn’t much older, but she knew men hated that term.

She twitched. Her heart pumped and skipped a beat, the strange power coursed through her more as if someone turned up the volume. She screamed as her muscles convulsed and spasmed. The lights above sparked and shattered. Glass fell on top of her.

She twisted, and slammed an elbow across Fox’s cheek. He dropped and rolled to the side, bumping into one of his own downed men.

Rivkah blinked as her vision faded. Then black. She backed up, her back against the wall. “What the hell?” She rubbed her palms over her eyes and opened them. Her vision had changed and she now peered through Jaxx’s eyes. He was hacking through a corridor three stories up, bent on a mission of his own. The cord he’d created