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

bit his lip. “It hinders your slave trade…” He tuned into Okbak’s thoughts, to try to get the whole story. “And lifts the fear you have thrust upon all other races you control because now they have a way out. Interesting.”

Okbak tapped his temple. Several pyramids set back against a mountain range appeared in Fox’s mind. The sky was black and stars hid behind dark clouds.

A Kelhoon fleet consisting of large cruisers, a destroyer, and a battleship with dragon insignias and several starfighter squadrons in the lead, approached the mountains.

Throngs of Atlanteans and their human counterparts—Homo sapiens—along with several races Fox hadn’t encountered before, surrounded the pyramids. They held hands. Iron chains were fastened around their ankles and wrists. Some Beings were bloodied and battered, perhaps Kelhoon slaves.

A squadron of starfighters broke from the fleet and dove. Cannons glowed at the starfighter wing tips, then hot flashes of bolts zipped forth. Each bolt dug into the ground and moved toward the slaves.

A slave jerked away, then twitched back and forth as he fell, struck by several bolts, then another Being fell, then another.

A bright orb enveloped the slaves.

The starfighters pulled up. They flew over the slaves’ position and dropped round, amber charges.

Waaaaapooom! Waaaaapooom!

Small explosions littered the ground, sending rocks and dirt into the sky like a geyser.

And then the concussion blasts stopped. Silence filled the area. After a few moments, everything stilled, all but Fox’s mind. When the dust settled, the slaves were gone, vanished.

Okbak spoke into Fox’s mind. The slaves hadn’t been incinerated by the hot bombs, burned to ash. They had simply, unbelievably disappeared en masse, as one group, as one people.

Fox opened his eyes and crashed back into the seat’s backrest. His temples were red, hot, and perspiring, beading sweat down his cheeks. He attempted to rise but was too weak. “What did you show me?”

Okbak’s lips curled downward. “Jajakonj laskna honjana.”

“That’s ascension? That’s how these people you’ve enslaved break their shackles? How does an entire civilization, let alone several civilizations, up and disappear like that?”

“Jiijonka noij,” Okbak replied.

“You don’t know the mechanism. Understood. And you want me to help you stop the Atlanteans, I’m guessing.” He feigned a smile and rubbed his index finger and thumb together. “Okay, I get it. They leave and do this weird disappearing act and you lose deniro, mula, the mighty dollar, or in your terms, lots and lots of gold and emerald, don’t you, buddy?”

Okbak nodded.

“But I’m not going to inform Rivkah and Bogle that ascension is a negative thing. No can do. They won’t be convinced.” Fox couldn’t care less what happened to the Kelhoons if the Atlanteans ascended. Why should he? It didn’t hamper his life. As long as he had some steak and eggs once a week and was able to yell at new military recruits in whatever job he was given, then he was fine. In fact, he was better than fine, as long as they don’t betray him or his country. Though that didn’t do much for him in his current predicament. As a Kelhoon hostage, he had to find a way to fake that he gave a damn about their agenda.

Okbak glanced at one of his guards, then dipped his head toward Fox. The guard slapped his hands together and bowed at his leader.

Several steps toward Fox, the guard pulled a small, peach-colored device about the size of a pill out of a pouch around his waist.

Fox shoved his palms in front of the soldier’s face. But it was slow, his body tired and heavy. “Stay away. Whatever that is, I don’t want it.”

The soldier shook the pill. Two silver prongs jutted out its backside. He released his grip and it hovered, moving in Fox’s direction.

Fox swatted, sorely missing. He attempted to jump off the chair and managed to move a few inches before his body gave into the weakness.

The prongs pricked into his skin, then broke through Fox’s temporal bone behind his ear. It sucked in and went flush against his skin, splattering blood down his neck and shoulder. Fox stiffened and his eyes widened, his breaths short and quick. He yelped and stiffened like a board.

He was no longer in control. They were.

Fox relaxed and eyed Okbak, saying nothing, doing nothing.

Okbak grinned. “Monjkaja nonjanka hominashjaka.”

Fox repeated his leader’s words. “I will respond to your commands.”

Okbak landed his palm on Fox’s shoulder. “Omganjaka nonjanka zanka Rivkah naj ascension.”

“I will convince Rivkah to help us and to stop the ascension process.”

Okbak took Fox’s forearm and lifted him into a standing position. He led Fox to the door. “Inkajnak dandanja ompakja.”

Fox bowed to his master. He pulled up the door’s locking mechanism. The door clanked. He pressed down on the handle and pushed open the door. The cold, outside world blew a cool breeze onto his skin. He turned and bowed. “I will follow you into the depths of darkness.”

Okbak, in his best English, replied. “I k-know you’ka will.”

36

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

Another pound on the door and Rivkah backed away. “We have to get out of here.”

Bogle patted Rivkah’s back, doing her best to console her. “We have time. Fox is next door.”

“Out of all the rooms, you had to choose this one?”

“They won’t blow this one up, Riv. That’s why.”

Rivkah bent down, searching the floor for her flashlight. The door vibrated and screeched. “Are they breaking through?”

“It looks like they’re attempting to burn a hole in the door.”

The metallic door glowed red and began to warp.

“We have like ten minutes,” said Rivkah.

“Less than that.”

Rivkah touched a round, hard object. Her flashlight. She stood and turned it on, sweeping a beam of light across the ground until it landed on the door, a door that began to bulge. “I thought you had some type of energy lock on the door or something?”

“I do,” said Bogle.

Rivkah flashed the light on Bogle, then backed up, bringing her hand to her mouth, the gorge rising in her throat. She nearly