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

building. This one was farther away, but nonetheless, another street or building had most likely been torn to shreds.

“Stop playing dead,” Segarra ordered into his mic. The Marines outside and laying on the ground, stirred and rose to their feet. “Fan out to the east. My visor HUD readings show that Echo company is in bad shape.” Segarra made the sign of a cross in the air as his men rushed down an alleyway, moving east. “Playing dead actually works with the Agadon. Our battlesuits hide all body heat and circulatory functions from the outside world. We act dead, and the Agadons move on. Don’t try that outside these suits, though.” He put his hand up for Drew to grasp it. “Help me up.”

Drew interlocked his hand with Segarra’s. He leaned back, helping the Master Sergeant to a standing position.

A faint cough echoed in the room. “Megan,” said Drew, hurrying to her side. She was growing stronger, but still unconscious. “We have to get Megan out of here.”

“She’ll be a drain on resources. She’ll slow us down too much. Put that girl in the basement and we’ll come to get her if we live through this mess,” replied Segarra.

Mya touched her dad’s fingertips with her own. “She and Drew are important. They will rule.”

Segarra gave her a pinched expression, clearly frustrated. “Mya, stop saying such nonsense.” It was obvious Mya had told him this before.

Mya stomped her foot. “Don’t be stubborn, Daddy.”

Segarra went to say something, then covered his mouth. He swallowed, holding back a tear. “Your mother used to say that, Mya.” He bent down on one knee, then flinched and closed his eyes tight when another blast rocketed against the ground somewhere in the vicinity. “Okay, but we have to hurry. You have my permission to do your thing on her.”

Mya nodded slowly and made her way over to Megan. Her shoulders lifted and her body tensed as another concussion somewhere in the distance shook the bar. Mya made a squeaking sound in surprise, glancing over her shoulder and up at the ceiling. The hanging lights swung back and forth.

“It’s okay, Mya. Do your energy thing.” Segarra gave a sideways grin. “That’s what we in the military call her stuff.” He used his fingers to show quote marks in the air.

Mya put her hands on Megan’s knees, just like she did when she helped that Chinese soldier with his broken nose back in Anderle’s old, underground hideout in Tennessee.

Megan began to stir, her eyes blinking. This was the second time in twenty minutes that Mya had worked on her. Maybe it would do the trick.

Megan yawned. “What’s going on?” A boom sounded from several streets away. Megan dropped her head and a picture fell from the wall, shattering on the floor. “Oh, yeah. The alien invasion shit.”

“Now, Mya,” said her dad in a strict tone. “Do your other energy thing.”

Mya shook her head like a beaten dog.

Segarra’s posture stiffened. Clearly, he didn’t like being told no. “Now, Mya, we’ve talked about this. You’re the only one who can defeat these evil-doers out there.”

Mya shook her head a second time. “No more killing. I don’t like it.” She rubbed her heart. “It hurts me here. Every time. And it hurts them too. They are learning just like us, but a little slower. Our learning is accelerating.”

Segarra’s eyes didn’t hide his confusion. “Accelerating? Who is accelerating?”

“Humans. Me, you, and all people on Earth. We are learning so much, Daddy. So much.”

“Mya,” said her father with a warning tone. “Do as you’re told.”

“We can close the doors and not let the mean people come through with their spaceships anymore, Daddy. There are more around this city that are like me and we’ll be meeting with Jaxx soon. We’ll connect like polka-dots and win.” She threw her hands up in excitement, then died down a moment later, seeing her dad didn’t respond in a like manner.

“Again, Mya, those are fantasies. You are the only one,” continued Segarra. “Now do as you’re told, young lady.”

Mya’s chin quivered. “I’m hurting people.”

“They are not people,” continued her father. “They are evil-doers, like in a game you play on television. You remember those games? Those weren’t really people, more like cartoons.”

Mya lowered her eyes. “I’m supposed to help people, not kill them, Papa.”

Segarra bent down and lifted her chin. “Listen, I know what you have said and I’ve heard your arguments before.” Phaser fire zipped outside and Segarra turned in its direction, then brought his eyes back to Mya’s. “We have a whole lot of people to protect, and you’re going to protect them now, do you understand?”

Mya nodded.

“You’re bullying her,” said Megan, her legs wobbly as she leaned on Drew.

Segarra shot her an angry look. “No, I’m being a protecting servant for the United States of America and this city. My daughter, believe it or not, can manipulate energy in a way to kill these bastards.” He brought his eyes back to his daughter. “It’s our obligation to help these people, even if it means hurting the bad guys. Do you understand, Baby Doll?”

Mya nodded again, her lips curling downward.

Drew cleared his throat. “Let me get her to a safe place.” A safe place was looking more or less like getting her away from her father.

Segarra dipped his head. He kissed his daughter’s cheek. “I love you, Mya.” He closed his visor and rushed off toward the battle.

Drew picked Mya up and turned to Megan. “Where to, Beautiful?” He caught his breath. That slipped out.

Megan put her hands on her hips. She didn’t like being called beautiful, or probably any other name other than her own by a guy she barely knew. “My name’s Megan. And that’s all the name you need to call me.” She pointed across the street. “We high tail our assess away from here and to the train station. There is an old underground bunker there that I bet people have occupied by now.”

“Let’s go,” said Drew, running out of the