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

Program trained Jaxx for? As a weapon? He kept reading. Jaxx was a very particular kind of weapon, built for space combat and keyed into Atlantean wavelengths that the SSP couldn’t decode. They needed him on ice until they reached Callisto.

Craig stopped for a moment, trying to let the explosive data sink in and the puzzle pieces find their home. This is why they’d wiped Jaxx’s memory and shuffled him back into society? The tech the SSP had employed, to keep Jaxx’s powers, and any memory of who he was or what he’d done with the space program, from him, was out of this world. Craig snorted at his own joke, then gathered himself. This was serious business. The SSP had trained a warrior, then switched him off until he was needed.

Craig returned to the document. He was almost done but given that there were information bombs on every page, he knew he couldn’t do his usual 'skip to the end and rely on the cliff notes' move. He had to read every word.

This guy, Jaxx, was known all over the universe as a half-breed, feared by all warring races. Jaxx was the Secret Space Program's secret weapon, the key to a network of pyramids that spanned the galaxy. His DNA sequence was calibrated in a way that could open the pyramids. Jaxx was a damn pyramid-opening, weaponized alien.

Craig shook his head. “Why, in the name of all that’s holy, did we let him escape?” He pressed the button on his desk again. “Loraine, where did you find this document?”

“In Jon Shaughnessy’s office, almost exactly where you told me to look.”

He rolled his eyes. “Right.” Shaughnessy sent her that sticky, not Ken or Boz.

“Why does Shaughnessy want me to know this?” He leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers together. “And why is Slade constantly holding back on me?”

He pressed the button. “Tell Colonel Slade Roberson to meet me in my suite, ASAP.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

17

J-Quadrant, Solar System - Flood of Dawn, Callisto

The dome sizzled with electricity around Fox and Rivkah. Another Bogle stood in front of the dome. Or, in other words, another Zompawan. The real Bogle was someplace on Callisto, maybe over in East Rise, the city to the east. Perhaps hiding away in Flood of Dawn. Who knew.

“Omka oovka jana,” said the leader of the Kelhoon squad.

“Kajka Okbak wants you to know that you are in mortal danger,” said the Bogle look-alike.

Fox holstered his weapon. “Holster your gun, Rivkah.”

Rivkah threw dirt at Okbak, only to have it repel against the translucent dome and crackle at her feet, as if the dirt had been on a hot grill for a half an hour. “Tell your Zompawan slave that—”

Fox grabbed her arm and brought his lips close to her ear. “That’s the leader,” he whispered. “Holster your Goddamn gun if you want to live through this.”

Rivkah swung her arm free from Fox’s grip. “Yes, I know who he is, shit for brains.” She pointed her pistol at the leader. “He—”

Fox cut her off. “Kajka Okbak, we’ll tell you what you’d like to know as long as you let us go free.”

Rivkah’s insides squeezed. “No, we won’t tell him anything.”

“Holster you gun,” demanded Fox.

Rivkah huffed and pushed her weapon in its holster. She put her hands out to show the green lizard-heads that she was cooperating.

Okbak gave an animated laugh, then wiggled his finger at Fox. “Koovja no shikagoj’n leshkwo, hija kogma.”

“Kajka Okbak would like you to know that he likes you. You are not loyal to the human race, which makes you a king among kings,” said the Zompawan.”

Rivkah stepped back. “What are you doing, Fox?”

He looked over his shoulder, mouthing, “Trust me.”

Then she saw her, the real Bogle, hidden among the rocks. Bogle was watching, but Rivkah could barely see her but for an arm and a breathing chest, her face camouflaged in a boulder’s shadow.

Fox saw her too, saying between his teeth, “Bogle is a short ways behind you.” He turned, facing Okbak. “Will you honor my wishes?”

Okbak slammed his fist into his chest. “Goovmajga hoombaka.”

The dome disintegrated and Fox extended his hand to Rivkah. “We have our own race to turn against.”

Rivkah slowly shook her head. “Never.” She stepped back a few more steps. “Why are you doing this? You call me a traitor? Jaxx a traitor? Look at you now, cowering in fear to a bunch of scaly skins.” She spit at his feet. “Bite me.”

“Oomka jivashka, monja,” grumbled Okbak.

“Kajka Okbak wants you to know that he will only take one of you. The other will die,” said the Zompawan.

“I don’t need a translator, Okbak.” Fox looked at his gun and fidgeted with it for a moment. The Kelhoon readied their guns, grunting unintelligible sounds.

Fox lowered his weapon. “Whoa, whoa lizard-breaths. This gun isn’t for you. It’s for my friend here.”

Rivkah went for her gun. It wasn’t there.

Fox tapped another gun in his holster. “Here’s your gun, sweety-pie. Now, run.” He pointed his weapon at her.

Rivkah’s eyes grew wide and she brought up every emotion she could think of, ready to pound some energy into Fox.

Fox pulled the trigger and a zap went across her chest and her hands unconsciously rose, touching the pain spreading into her torso. She let out a yelp and fell back hard on the rocky terrain. She convulsed, her arms and legs spasming against her will, her heart palpating at a rhythm she’d never experienced before.

She went to take a breath, but it wouldn’t come. It was stuck, as if the blast that went into her chest had blocked her airways.

The guy just up and killed her. He got the upper hand on her twice in one day. She had to at least give him that. He did what he always wanted to do, end her shitty life. In truth, it was for the best—better for rest of the galaxy. How many more people would she let down in her short existence?

She eyed the purple, blue sky,