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

in firing position, aiming them at the helicopter’s cabin door. Two or three Marines exited each Humvee, using the vehicles as shields.

Anderle had driven the Range Rover for several hours, finally ending here, Sumner County’s Regional Airport. Mya was awake and the Marines were here, setting up a perimeter around the helicopter that held Mya’s dad, all its doors internally locked by T-hacker’s remote.

“Here we go,” said T-hacker. He went to press the button to open the helicopter cabin door.

Anderle pushed T-hacker’s hand away. “Wait.”

“For what?” asked T-hacker.

“Just let them all sweat for a moment. Let them know who’s in control.”

Drew crossed his arms and leaned against the seat’s backrest. He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be an asshole, Anderle.”

Anderle snickered. “Long enough. Do it.”

T-hacker tapped the button and the cabin door swung. The Marines yelled commands and the two Chinese soldiers came out with a blind-folded and handcuffed Angel Segarra. Hands up, the Chinese went to the ground, face down.

“That was easy,” said Drew. “Almost too easy.” He eyed a building connected to a hanger a short distance away. He glanced at Mya. She was innocent, wide eyed, and scared; leaning all her body weight against him.

“Who is that?” said Maya.

“Your dad.”

Mya smiled and went for the door.

Drew held her tightly. “Not yet.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see him in a second.”

She frowned and Drew curled his fingers around the door handle. All he’d need to do was fling the door open, grab Mya, and throw his hands up as well. With Mya by his side, the Marines would make sure he was safe, make sure Angel got his daughter back in one piece. Or, if that didn’t work, he could attempt a run for it to the building across the way where he knew that by himself, with Mya, he wouldn’t be beholden to anyone.

But where would he go? How would they survive? He flashed to the dead people on the side of the road on the way here; the adults and children begging for food; people waiving guns around. It was a free-for-all out there.

He did the mental calculation and tensed his muscles and pulled Mya into his lap, ready to escape from the Rover.

“Stay,” came Drew’s mom. “There are more important days ahead, more important than your life. Stay.”

He eased up on the door. It was a stupid plan anyway.

“Get out,” said Anderle. “We show ourselves.”

Drew pushed the door open and stood on the tarmac, the morning breeze touching his skin. He set Mya on her feet. She took off in a run, too excited to see her father. Drew lunged for her, barely grabbing her by the back of the shirt and pulled her in close. “Not yet, Mya.”

“Why?”

“Your daddy’s still working. He can’t be bothered right now.”

Anderle walked to the helicopter, then sat on the edge of the helicopter’s cabin entrance.

“The Marines just let him walk into the open like that?”

“They know we sent the communication,” said T-hacker.

“What’s he doing?”

“Follow me. Let’s get our reward.”

“Reward?”

T-hacker bobbed his head up and down. “You’ll see.” He did a piss poor job at hiding a smile.

Drew picked up Mya and followed T-hacker just as the Marines pushed the Chinese soldiers into their Humvees. The Marines pulled Segarra’s blind fold off and fidgeted with his handcuffs.

Anderle stepped into the cabin, then came out a moment later. “You’ll need these.” He yelled, jiggling a set of handcuff keys.

Drew, holding Mya’s hand, stopped in front of the cabin.

A Marine stepped around Segarra and walked toward the helicopter.

Anderle folded his arms across his stomach. “No. You can’t have it. Sorry, my friend.”

“Excuse me, sir?” said the Marine. He lifted his rifle, aiming it at Anderle. “Give me those, sir. I will not ask twice.”

Anderle shot Drew a look. “We have his girl strapped with bombs. If you don’t give us Segarra, then we’ll detonate her. Got it?”

Drew shot Anderle a look. The guy was a nut-job. Screw it. He whispered in Mya’s ear. “Go get your daddy. Go to him.”

Segarra spun on his heels. “What’s the problem, lieutenant?”

The lieutenant glanced at his Master Sergeant. “They claim this girl has a bomb on her. They want you or they detonate her.”

Mya let go of Drew’s hand. “Daddy, Daddy.” She raced to him.

Segarra’s face turned white as his daughter ran under his arms, his hands still cuffed in front of him. They embraced. “Mya?” He glanced at Anderle. “You have her hooked up to a bomb?” He swept her into his arms. “Take the bomb off of her, now. That’s an order.”

Anderle snorted. “Thanks for the order, but no.”

“Anderle, don’t do this,” said Drew.

Anderle smirked. “Come into the helicopter, Master Sergeant Segarra. If you don’t, T-hacker will blow you and her the shit up.”

T-hacker held up the remote and nodded before stepping into the cabin.

Segarra lifted his hand. “Marines, stand down.” He walked forward, pulling Mya closer to his chest, worry written all over his face.

“Get in, Drew,” said Anderle. “We’ll be making several stops to refuel. We gotta go now.”

Drew shook his head, watching Segarra and Mya come closer. The girl deserved safety and her father, and away from the two clowns whose end game was to find a way to run the country. “There’s no bomb on her.”

Segarra grimaced and hesitated, then continued toward the helicopter. Drew could tell Segarra didn’t want to take the risk.

“Come inside, Drew,” said T-hacker as he sat in the co-pilot’s seat and pressed several buttons on his remote. The helicopter revved and the rotors spun.

Segarra eyed Drew and shoved a finger toward the cabin. “Get in there. If you care one iota about my daughter’s safety, then follow my lead.”

Drew pulled himself into the cabin, bending so his head didn’t meet the ceiling. He sat in a cabin seat.

Segarra stepped inside as well, placing Mya next to him and on the seat across from Drew. The helicopter lifted off the ground.

Segarra pulled his daughter in close and they hugged. Tears welled in Segarra’s eyes as he mouthed, “I love you.”

He