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

then shuttle “everyone who wants to leave our beloved Planet Earth” on the next round of evacuations, the people, his network, his peers—sheep—had believed him. Why? Why did people always plump for the easy answer? It was beyond Drew’s comprehension.

The image of the ship was still on the screen, Connor’s voice narrating the history-making event, “In less than one minute, we’ll hear the countdown. We are bringing the ship’s crew live to you right now.”

Colonel Slade Roberson appeared on the screen, speaking into his intercom. The traitor dared wear a red, white, and blue bandanna.

The rest of the crew was partitioned on the TV screen around him like the opening credits of the Brady Bunch.

“That’s corny,” Drew shouted at the screen.

“Roll call,” Slade announced, giving the camera a wink, doing his politician act. “First Mate, Executive Officer, Richard Fox?”

Fox dipped his head. “Here, Colonel.”

“First Helmsmen, Bonnie Monroe?”

“Here,” she said, beaming a smile for the camera.

“First Engineer,” continued Slade, “Maya Lou Mills?”

“Aye, Colonel.”

“Information Systems Technician, Nick Thacker?”

“Yep. I’m here.”

He continued to name off names for the next ten seconds. Names that no one had heard of, including Drew. Going from ship doctors to ancient culture researchers, he finally ended at a linguistic, physics, and pyramid expert, Jon Shaughnessy.

The one name he didn’t call was Kaden Jaxx.

Drew’s heart sank. Maybe his uncle had truly been eliminated. Drew wasn’t able to fulfill his uncle’s desires, but at least he had gotten the word out, even if the whole thing had backfired. Drew had propelled Slade to a level of notoriety only enjoyed by a handful of humans.

“Helmets on. Get ready for takeoff.” Slade gave a thumbs-up to the camera, then put his helmet on.

The crew fastened their helmets to their jump suits. A bit too aware of the camera for Drew’s taste.

“Bonnie,” ordered Slade. “Turn on the engines and let her fly.”

“Oh my God,” said Drew. “That’s not even a launch protocol.”

A moment later, the craft started to shake and the TV screen changed from the Brady Bunch view to Slade’s ugly mug, filling the entire screen.

Connor Eve’s voice came over the TV, “Each rocket contains 12,000 pounds of rocket fuel, making it the heaviest and most dangerous launch of our lifetime—of any lifetime. Get ready, because the countdown is about to proceed.”

In spite of his hatred for Slade, Drew’s stomach swam somersaults, much like the rest of the world. The ship, which was the tip of a larger starship, would eventually dock with the starship in Earth’s upper orbit. Once it docked, they’d be on their way to Callisto.

The camera panned out. The ship was on a launch pad somewhere offshore, in a beautiful ocean seascape, blue sky above. At this moment, the world, including the news, saw the location for the first time. Yet, no actual location scrolled across the screen.

The rockets spewed fire, and the craft moved upward as if inching along, then blasted off the launch pad and into the sky.

Drew couldn’t take his eyes away as the camera followed the craft’s trajectory. His tongue tingled, and his heart beat faster. He clenched his fists, biting his bottom lip. He, like everyone else, didn’t know if he was breathing or not, and didn’t care.

He thought of his Uncle Jaxx. Was he watching as well? Either from the other side of death or here on Earth?

Drew took his focus from the ships ascent to the camera panning on Slade. He squinted and cringed, as if he had a million pounds sitting on his chest.

Connor’s voice came over the TV, but it was more of a distant distraction. “They have 3G’s pressing on them. This is a tough go. But it’s all looking good so far. Nothing to worry about.”

They entered space in six minutes, which passed like six seconds. Slade smiled, going from Earth’s gravity one second and into space’s nearly non-existent gravity the next. He floated off his chair a few centimeters and into his straps and shoulder harness. “That was a rush.”

“Yeah, I’ve got a headache,” Fox complained.

“Me too,” said a couple more voices.

“I feel like I’m going to throw up,” Bonnie mentioned.

“Please don’t,” Slade responded. “We’re on national TV.” He corrected himself. “No, worldwide TV.”

“Everyone relax; we rendezvous with the rest of the ship in a few hours.” said Fox.

Drew’s eyes widened. Even though he was against every aspect of the launch and Slade’s idea of getting the government off the planet—starting with himself and this ship—Drew was riveted. It was a rush, like watching a car chase on a film or watching a jet fight on blue-ray. If he had popcorn, he’d be shoving fist-fulls in his mouth.

“Strap back in, crew.” Slade’s voice was low and urgent. The camera caught his worry. He tried to smile, but it was tight, forced.

“What’s up, Colonel?” Fox asked.

Slade’s eyes dashed back and forth. He looked at something Drew and the cameras couldn’t see.

“Something’s wrong.” He pressed some buttons. “Do we have a leak?”

The TV screen went white.

Connor blinked back on the screen; his mouth open. “There are no words…” he faltered, then touched his earpiece. “We’re going to show it.” He held back the tears, but was caught looking down and sobbing just before the TV cut to an image of the debris falling back through the clear blue sky. “As you can see, it launched without a glitch. It…it seems to have exploded just above the atmosphere.”

Drew’s mouth gaped.

Connor nodded several times, pressing his finger in his ear. He folded hands together. Wrinkles grew with his downcast face. “God Bless Colonel Slade and his brave crew. May they rest in celestial peace.”

Drew looked past the TV, shaking his head. This wasn’t right. This didn’t happen. He wanted to laugh, he wanted to call everyone he knew and tell them to settle down and that this was just another conspiracy. He imagined people placing their heads in their hands. Some crying, others bemoaning the fact that humanity’s greatest triumph had disintegrated in front their eyes. Their excitement, their one