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

prompt. 'Adaptive Boost'. A new icon appeared inside the hologram, one with a rainbow of lights turning into a spiral. He moved his finger over the icon, tapping on it, his finger partially going through. “This will detect energetic anomalies. It’s like a space Doppler system, detecting Alfven waves, which are magnetic waves from coronal mass ejections from the sun. In a sense, it locates any possible space turbulence, or plasma turbulence, that this ship may pass through and tells the ship’s captain where to steer clear.” He snuck a look at Jaxx. “That’s what you’re looking for, isn’t it? You’re looking for energetic anomalies that suggest a portal…”

Jaxx was impressed. He’d always known Shaughnessy was smart, but he’d seriously underestimated just how smart his friend’s brain ticked. He hadn’t said a word about believing the glyphs indicated a potential portal, but somehow Shaughnessy had worked it out on his own.

Jaxx smiled. “Do you think the captain or anyone else sees any vortexes from this Doppler program?”

“If they saw energy that swirled in one place, then you betcha they have. My guess is they don’t know what the hell it means because they aren’t scientists, so they’d just steer clear of it...” He pressed on another holographic icon. “Here, I’ll show you the Alven waves.”

Jaxx glanced at the door. “No need. Just have to know exactly where those vortexes are.” He tapped his finger on his leg, willing Shaughnessy to pick up the pace.

Here Jaxx was, taken from Earth and onto this flying cruise ship to steal him to Callisto. He’d figure out the pyramid power blueprint and Slade and the politicians would live happily ever after on his back. But Callisto most likely had inhabitants. In Jaxx’s mind, ancient Atlanteans populated the Jupiter moon. Currently, he didn’t know for sure. No steel bullet proof evidence. But if so, whether they were hostile or not didn’t matter because Slade no doubt had it in mind to take out whatever stood in his way. If by chance establishing a new government, a new world bothered the Atlanteans—if they existed—a war may ensue. And Jaxx doubted Slade and these cronies would survive, unless Slade had something evil up his sleeve. And the more Jaxx got to know this guy, the most likely Slade did.

All of this seemed too much for Jaxx. It happened so quickly, so he took a deep breath. He couldn’t get out of this mess at the moment, so slowing the craft down by potentially masking any energy anomaly may be his best bet. Until he figured out what to do next.

“You really think we need to do this?” asked Shaughnessy.

“The scientists may have learned from my models. If they decipher what I just did, they could send us to Jupiter now.”

“I don’t know, Jaxx. Would save us a long trip.”

“What if people resided on Callisto? Do you think Slade would be all open arms and excited? No. He’d want them out of the way so they didn’t interfere with his plans. I know the guy. He gets what he wants, when he wants, and if he doesn’t, he finds a way. And that way usually involves some type of violence.”

“If people are on Callisto now, they no doubt have more fire power and better technology than us. Slade wouldn’t gamble everything he’s strived for with a fight.”

“That’s why I need to understand his plan. He’s got an ace up his sleeve, but what is it?”

“We don’t even know if there’s a presence on that moon anymore?”

“There’s a lot we don’t know, so we search.” Jaxx gestured to the Lectern.

The hologram displayed Mars, stars, and waves of energy pulsing off the ship’s course. Shaughnessy jabbed a finger at one of the energetic waves. “Those are Alfven waves. Imagine plucking a guitar string. You send waves up and down that string. That’s what you’re seeing right there, except a finger ain’t plucking that string. The sun is.” He swirled his finger on an energy pattern next to Mars. “And you see that?”

Jaxx’s eyebrows rose. That had to be a vortex—one of the star portals. It spun clockwise. It was faint, but there. “The vortex.”

Shaughnessy smiled. “Yep, your star portal.”

Jaxx eyed the door yet again. He swallowed. Slade came nearer. “How do I map this and keep it on hand?”

“And do what with it?”

“Actually, if I want to see the map in a starfighter, how do I put this in a helmet’s system or in the starfighter’s holographic display console?” There had to be a reason the Secret Space Program had taught him to fly starfighters. Perhaps this was it. Perhaps it was finally coming together. Perhaps he was the bridge between Callisto and Earth? He was the one who would bring a lasting peace?

Shaughnessy shot Jaxx a look, his lips pressing together. “Don’t do it, Jaxx. I like you better alive than dead.”

“If I can investigate before everyone gets there, the better.” Jaxx put his hands on his hips. “Or, better yet, if I need to escape or if all hell breaks loose and the ship is falling apart, you and I can get out of here in a transport craft and slip through one of those star portals. I can fly these things, you know. Like a damned boss.”

“All right.” He let out a loud sigh. “The Adaptive Boost program is in every craft, though no jock pilot ever uses it. Just command the holographic display for Adaptive Boost. The program will come up.” He leaned on the edge of the Lectern, accidentally pressing a button.

The display beeped on. An admiral came on the holographic screen.

Jaxx lurched back, waiting for the admiral to ask them who they were, what they were doing, and why Slade wasn’t in the room. Instead, the admiral was already in discussion, as if they had accidentally joined in on a three-way call.

Jaxx turned his ear toward the screen. He could hear two other people talking in the background. He listened intently. It was Slade