Ascendant Saga Collection: Sci-Fi Fantasy Techno Thriller by Brandon Ellis (best novels to read in english .txt) 📗

She pushed forward, slamming him into the wall, then jumped and spun in the air, her heel connecting to the side of his head. “It’s your chest, too.”

He stumbled into the growing fire, motionless as the flames consumed him.

Wapooo! Wapooo!

A second and third Kelhoon jumped into the room, guns blazing.

Rivkah brought up her Chi, doing her best to shield herself from the incoming phaser blasts, then curled over as one shot hit her stomach. She flipped back as another shot slammed into her chest, a streak of cold ice penetrating her torso.

She unclipped a KH Whistle from her belt. “If I die, you die.” She brought the knife to her mouth and clinched down on the blade, her hand readying to turn the detonation dial.

Another shot landed on her leg, taking her off her feet, a forth shot whizzed by her head and cracked into the wall behind her. The KH Whistle flew out of her hand, landing next to the large windows. She was unable to set the detonation switch. Falling to her side, she reached for it, but it was out of reach. She scrunched up into a ball, readying to take the brunt of the shots that were no doubt coming to end her life.

Ksshhhh!

A window broke. Glass splashed across the room, covering Rivkah, and riddling the two Kelhoon aiming their weapons at her.

Rivkah rolled to her back, clutching her chest and stomach, feeling the blood well up under her hands. But when she saw Jaxx, a moment of triumph came over her and for an instant, the pain travelling throughout her body subsided.

Jaxx held two phasers and with both his arms extended, he popped shots into the two Kelhoon standing over Rivkah.

Green blood splattered on the walls as the Kelhoon jerked back and dropped dead to the floor, twitching. Jaxx raced forward, sending another shot at a Kelhoon rushing through the doorway, ending that lizard’s miserable life.

A wall of fire consumed the hall and doorway, and Jaxx backed up. Anyone deciding to come in and go out this doorway would be insane.

Rivkah reached up with her hands, her arms shaking, her body going weak. “Help.”

Jaxx grabbed her, pulling her close to his body, and carrying her to the window. “Back the craft up, Kiyo-zan,” he shouted.

A cool wind blew against Rivkah as Jaxx took a step off the window sill and onto a ramp. He hurried her into the craft’s cabin and laid her onto a row of seats.

Her body was cold, her breaths short. She wanted to give up, to let life take her to the next stage, the stage of blackness, of nothingness.

Zara pushed Jaxx out of the way and touched the top of Rivkah’s head. The lioness nodded, her eyes sad. She unclipped a red vial from her chains and parted Rivkah’s lips. “Drink up, darling. Drink up.”

Warm liquid touched her tongue and made its way down her throat. Rivkah blinked, then blinked again. Her third blink didn’t open, and her eyelids remained closed. She took a long, deep breath, her body tingling, and her vision fading.

She lifted her head a few inches, whispering, “I think I’m dying.” She let her head fall back onto the seat cushion. “Save the kids, Jaxx. Please save them.”

28

E-Quadrant, Solar System - Whitefish, Montana

The blue man stared at him, his eyes calculating who Drew was and why the intrusion, almost as if it was completely out of place for Drew to be in the bar, and not the other way around.

The alien pressed a few buttons on a console fitted on his chest. Several buttons lit up in different colors. He moved his gray lips, though no sound came out of his mouth.

Drew picked up Megan’s rifle and slowly stood, keeping his eyes on the big guy. He held the rifle in one arm, its weight almost too heavy. Drew backed up with Mya still in his arms. She stirred and yawned. She rubbed her eyes and rested her head back on Drew’s chest, her leftover sweat and tears cold against his neck, matching the icy feeling taking over Drew’s gut.

“Who are you?” asked Drew, his voice sharp, strong. The exact opposite of what he was feeling.

The blue man pressed more buttons on his chest console. “Is this your language?”

Drew nodded. “Yes, I understand what you’re saying.”

The man nodded in response. “And I understand what you’re saying.”

The guy’s voice had a robotic and metallic resonance. It held no emotion, no sympathy, no care, just like the guy’s face.

The blue fellow didn’t have a weapon in his hands, and from first glance, Drew didn’t spot one on the guy’s body. Drew lifted his rifle higher, aiming it at the man’s head.

“Why are you lifting a weapon in my direction, human? I did nothing to initiate combat. Or perhaps I scare you?” He glanced around the room. “None of my other comrades are here either, so you’re safe.”

“Who are you?” Drew walked a few paces closer to Megan, who still lay unconscious on the ground. “Better yet, what do you want?”

He patted his chest. “My name is ZEC-B5. My name is much longer than that, and has a different tone when speaking in my formal language. You can call me Zec, for short as I understand from my initial input that your culture has a tendency to cut longer names in half.” He washed his hands together, his big biceps and triceps bulging with every movement. “I’m not here to kill you, either. I’m here on a peace mission—” He paused. “My readings suggest you like peace? It’s a good word? Is that correct?”

Drew puffed out his lower lip. “Sure.”

“Fabulous,” he pumped his fists up in the air. “Let’s raise the roof, shall we?” A fake smile lifted his cheeks up. “I’m here on a peaceful mission to take that girl that you’re holding.” He put his hands out, waiting for Drew to drop her in his arms. “Come on. Give her to me.”

Drew pulled Mya closer