Ascendant Saga Collection: Sci-Fi Fantasy Techno Thriller Brandon Ellis (ebook reader for comics txt) 📖

Alta, or in your words, around Callisto, and let ourselves be known to the rest of the Galaxy. We’re here to teach and in order for us to spread light throughout the Galaxy, Jaxx needs to protect us first and foremost.”

“No can do, Chief.” Bogle leaned back, crossing her arms over her stomach. “I haven’t seen Rivkah since I first enlisted. From what I’ve heard, she’s dead.”

Liberty smiled. “She’s on her way, child. And if you lean forward for me, I must fulfill a prophecy.”

Bogle shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be rude, but I’m not here to complete prophecies. I’m here for—” Bogle’s body moved against her will, leaning forward for Liberty.

Liberty pressed her index finger against Bogle’s skin between her eyebrows. A wave of light shot through Bogle’s mind, her vision blanketed with white. She closed her eyes and ecstasy ran through her as if she’d just been shot up with some mind and body altering drug. Her extremities tingled, her cells danced, her brain flipped and twirled and swam in a tsunami of good chemicals. She soared above the treetops and snacked on stardust. She was free of cares, of pain, of all her former anguish. She was Katherine Bogle, Bringer of Light.

She drifted back to Liberty’s side. Her eyes closed and she took in a deep breath. “They’re on their way, Liberty. I can feel them.”

“Who, my child?”

“Jaxx and Rivkah, and another.”

22

Charlotte, North Carolina - Earth

Whapooh! Whapooh!

Two stationary tanks let loose in the city street. Drew, Mya, and Camila—with the baby bundled in her arms—leaned against a laundromat building. The cement wall shook, and smoke rose from around the corner building.

“Go,” said Drew. He prodded Mya and Camila forward. They ran, crossing the pocked road and ducking behind the next building. So far, they’d only made it a few miles from Drew’s house.

“Me cago en la madre,” said Camila. She threw her words in Drew’s direction. “Hijo de la gran puta, Drew. You brought us right in the middle of danger.”

“Keep running and follow me.” That’s all Drew could say, other than questioning her about what the hell she just called him. Drew hadn’t foreseen a military battle on his way to his friend’s business. He also didn’t believe another military force would ever invade the United States. Yet they had, so what else could be pulled out of the holy-shit hat?

There was a moment of quiet, but he knew it wouldn’t last, then Bvvvvvvv as a tank rotated its turret, readying another shot.

Whapooh!

The side of a building across the way sunk in. Cement and wood crumbled from the explosion. Soldiers ran out of the building. They let off some rounds with their rifles, then hustled around the corner.

A US tank pulled forward from behind the building.

Bvvvvvvvvv! Whapooh!

Bratatatatat Ratatatat!

US Marines emerged from another building and raced by Drew. One soldier waved them down, urgent and angry and pissed at the world. “Get the hell out of here.”

It was like they were in a war zone. The United States didn’t have war zones. This wasn’t right. This didn’t happen.

Another missile landed somewhere in the distance. An explosion. Dirt, asphalt, and parts of a car rose into the air in a small cloud. Car alarms joined the fray like a tone-deaf symphony.

He led Mya and Camila around another building. They stopped and pressed their backs against a wall. Camila held the duffel-bag tightly to her side as if it was their lifeline, her mouth drawn in a straight line. She rubbed her shoulder. “You trying to kill us?”

Drew put his hands on his knees. A drop of sweat fell from his nose. He’d carried Mya half the distance, figuring it would be faster.

It wasn’t.

He shook his head as he panted like a dog. “I didn’t know...they would be here. I thought we were running away from the fighting, not—”

“Cállate!” Camila dropped the bag. Mya came in closer and Camila kissed her on top of the head. She looked at Drew. “What now, genius? Where do we go?” Her accent was sweet, her tone harsh as a bomb striking the ground.

Drew pointed at a car dealership. “My friend Ethan works there.”

Camila put her hands on her hips. “No one’s there. All the lights are off.”

Drew gave a thumbs up. “Good. ’Cause I’m not fixing to buy a car. I’m going to steal one.”

More gun fire echoed down the street. A black pickup truck, big tires, shook back and forth. Bullets and bullet holes made their home in its side. Smoke rose toward the sky as the city rocked with several more concussion blasts. A red, brick building took a hit, perhaps from tank fire and the side wall toppled.

“Come on,” yelled Drew. They ran across the way, jumping over a road divider. Quickly striding to a sidewalk, they hurried up the car lot steps to the showroom glass doors.

Locked.

He went to grab a rock—something to break the glass—then jumped back as the glass shattered inward. Shards splashed over the entryway floor.

Camila handed the baby to Mya. “Move.” She leaned back and threw another rock, this one bigger. It bashed through the other glass door, creating a bigger hole.

Camila passed her hand through the opening and unlocked the front doors. She kicked the doors open and Mya and Drew rushed inside.

Drew hurried by desk after desk and veered toward an office. Mya and Camila followed close behind.

A high explosive shell boomed out of a nearby tank. The building shook. That was close. Too close.

Drew twisted a door knob. It was locked. He stepped a few feet back and slammed his foot near the door’s latch. The door broke open.

Machine gun fire reverberated off the walls as if it came from inside the dealership. They all instinctively ducked. The shelling was getting nearer.

Drew crawled inside the room and dug through a drawer. No keys. He put his hands up, then scratched his head. “I swear I read that it was in that drawer.” He opened another