Anderle dropped to the floor, using his desk as cover.
Bratatat!
Yu twitched wildly as if electrocuted. Yu, much like his soldiers, was dead before he hit the floor.
A young man in black clothing, couldn’t be more than eighteen-years-old, and skinny like most hackers, rushed into the oval office, hot machine gun pointed toward the ceiling.
“We got ’em, sir.” His ashen face said he’d never ended the life of another, and probably never cared to do it again.
Anderle stood, fingers pressing into the sodden mess, where the bullet had grazed his shoulder, cringing. “You extracted Mya too?”
More gun fire riddled the hall outside the oval office. They all instinctively ducked and T-hacker ran into the room.
Anderle jutted his finger toward the gun fire. “Go, help them.”
The young man in black nodded and hurried out of the door, joining his friends lined up against the wall, exchanging fire with Chinese soldier’s out of view around the corner and down the hallway.
A man in black fatigues pointed his gun around the corner.
Bratatat! Bratatat!
His hands and arms vibrated. He let go of the trigger, pulling back, and resting against the wall. Everything about the way he was handling himself said he’d learned the art of war on a video screen and was not prepared for combat.
Drew made his way over to Anderle. “What’s happening?”
“I told you Drew. If the General ever did something I didn’t like, I’d end his life. And that’s what’s going on.”
“Where’s Mya?”
An explosion rocked the hallway. Drew covered his head, then turned, his ears ringing. A cloud of white dust filled the hall, remnants of a Chinese explosive blasting a hole in the wall.
Several young men—Anderle’s men—lay motionless on the floor. Others rushed over, pulling them out of the way, and returned fire.
Drew looked around. There was no escape, no way out. They were sitting ducks.
“T-hacker, get over here,” said Anderle.
T-hacker rushed to the desk, where Anderle and Drew stood.
Anderle turned on his computer, his hands typing as fast as Drew had ever seen someone type, sweat beading off his forehead.
“Hurry, Anderle. Hurry,” moaned T-hacker, constantly looking over his shoulder.
Another ally fell, a bullet lodged into his neck, blood squirting outward. He rolled onto his back, his legs bouncing up and down, hands sliding over his neck, trying to stop his own bleeding. The other men continued to fire, continued to ignore the young man on the floor, his legs slowing down, his kicks ceasing, his hands falling to the side.
A yelp and another man fell. Only two left.
Drew swallowed hard, his chest tightening. The Chinese would be here any minute. He had to get out. He had to fight his way to Mya, wherever Mya was, and to somehow get her to her father. She could save the world, according to the Status Report he’d read. What that meant, he had no idea. How could a little girl save anything besides a stranded puppy?
“Hurry,” pleaded T-hacker.
“Shush! I’m going as fast as I can.” Anderle looked up. “Shit, one guy left.”
Drew took his eyes off Anderle and back to the fight. A lone man, again young, skinny, muscles that hadn’t come close to maturing, was on one knee shooting back and forth with the Chinese. There was no way this guy was going to survive.
Drew had to get a machine gun, had to shoot his way down the hall. He took a step forward.
Anderle caught his arm. “Stay.”
Drew wiggled his arm away. “We won’t make it in here.”
Anderle looked back at his computer, typing away. “Trust me.”
How could he trust the guy? The guy was a piece of shit times ten, much like his father—Slade.
“I gotta get Mya.”
“It’s done.” Anderle stood straight, pulling Drew by his side, T-hacker close to his other side.
Metal walls extended from the floor to the ceiling, encircling them around the desk, creating a barrier between them and the rest of the office, and most importantly, from the hallway where the Chinese soldiers continued to lay down fire.
The floor shuttered, clicked, then descended like an elevator.
21
Near Taiyo Orbit, Sector 9 - Galactic Arm, Milky Way Galaxy
Jaxx stared at his reverse vid cams, the blue-flaming Agadon ships and Agadon mechs slowly gained on him and the Leonians. He took his eyes off the vid screen, the camera’s automatically adjusting with his eye movement, the vision of the blue-green world, which glowed brilliantly in front of him, was marred by more Agadon ships and mechs, all closing in on him and the Leonians.
“We’ve brought these Agadon assholes to Taiyo. Let’s change our path. I can’t bring this evil upon my friends.” Jaxx’s heart went into his throat. It might be too late to change course.
“Yes, you brought them upon us, Jaxx. It is good that you not forget. But you would do well not to dwell in the inky swamplands that the Agadon thrive on. Turn yourself to the light. Allow your gift to shine. Use it to bring them to their knees,” replied Zara.
“First, we lure them away from Taiyo,” responded Jaxx.
“I don’t think the Taiyonians see it your way, Jaxx,” said Zara.
“I think they would.” Jaxx brought his reverse vid cams back online. The Agadon had accelerated and were approaching fast. “Not good.” The lead ship, a massive carrier, was amassing electric charged energy at its bow. Lightening-like tentacles crawled over the nose. “Is that a weapon?”
“A massive weapon and like I said, Jaxx, the Taiyonians don’t see it your way. They’re in attack formation.”
Jaxx glanced out his cockpit window. “Holy shit.” Up ahead, coming in quickly, were hundreds of Taiyonian starfighters. “Taka-zans are coming in fast.” He grinned.
“Split!” ordered Zara.
Jaxx banked left with his control sticks, one in each hand—both controlling opposite sides of the mech’s body. Half of the Leonian fleet went his way, the other half the other way. Almost instantly, tracer rounds from the Taiyonians followed by plasma blasts zoomed past Jaxx, impacting the Agadon carrier.
The lasers met the heavy impulse cannon at its head. The massive carrier flashed a dense, blue light, then all lights on the behemoth went out. The carrier split in two, half of it careening into a handful of frigates, crushing into them like a planet colliding into small moons. The frigates erupted, tearing apart into a thousand fragments, slamming into Agadon mechs and starfighters, spinning them out of control.
Untouched Agadon carriers re-calibrated their turrets, switching from the Leonians to the incoming Taiyonian starfighters; the Taka-zans. The Agadon let loose a barrage of blasts and torpedoes, their heavy ships moving forward as if nothing could change their path.
The Taka-zans avoided every shot, moving in one, beautiful motion. It was smooth and effortless, the way the Taiyonians did everything, like a choreographed dance.
“Time to engage,” said Zara. Her mech spun around. “Show ’em our claws, cats!”
Jaxx flipped his mech to face the Agadon. His eyes brightened. The Taka-zans were having their way with the Agadon, dropping plasma bombs on the large Agadon cruisers. Bright flashes and purple blazes lit up the stars, withdrawing to nothingness seconds later. Chunks of the ships floated off into space.
“Move above, get them from atop. That’ll keep the Taiyonian starfighters safe from our fire,” suggested Jaxx.
“Already on it, flat-teeth. Follow our lead.” Zara ignited her mech’s extra boosters, raising her above the rest of the mechs. Jaxx did the same, mimicking her movements.
Zara darted forward and Jaxx clicked his mech’s feet rockets, pushing him closer. Yet, the Leonian mechs were the only ones engaging. All other Leonian ships continued toward planet Taiyo.
“We’re being left to handle this on our own?” asked Jaxx, his eyes moving quickly from one po
tential target to the next.
“Our mechs are the ultimate warriors. We’re faster than starfighters and more powerful. Now, everyone, fire at will,” grumbled Zara.
Jaxx aimed at a large Agadon ship, his turrets rotated and its cannon barrels spun in place, shooting one bolt after another. Jaxx flipped his missile batteries on and opened the missile compartments, then pressed his weapons trigger, firing half a dozen missiles.
He glanced at the side view vid screen. His first shots hit true, and the largest of the Agadon ships took much damage. Its port side went offline. Its aft rockets, on the other hand, straightened the mammoth back into formation.
“Almost got ’em,” he said under his breath.
He banked right. An Agadon mech came into target, this one having his way with a Taka-zan, chasing it, badgering it.
“You have the Agadon in your sights, Jaxx. Engage, engage!” said Zyra.
“Don’t mess me up, Zara,” said Jaxx. He didn’t need to be guided. He didn’t need to be taught the intricacies of war. War seemed to follow him wherever he went. Something at which he was more than an expert.
He took a deep, powerful breath, and an invisible energy swirled down his skull and into his mind. His eyesight enhanced, zooming in and out like a powerful camera, his brain synapses firing in perfect harmony, zipping electrical impulses faster.
He was a warrior.
He pulled his blade from his mech’s back. He threw it. It spun tip over hilt, heading for the Taka-zan, increasing in speed at every second.
“Stay,” whispered Jaxx. “Don’t move, my friend.” He watched, waiting, the sword zipping closer and closer to the Taka-zan. “Now!”
He knew the Taiyonian pilot couldn’t hear him, but the Taiyonian veered right regardless, exposing the Agadon mech behind it.
The Agadon reversed thrusters as fast as he could, slashing his mech’s arm upward to hit and redirect the sword away from him.
A moment too late.
Sparks flew as the sword sliced through the Agadon mech’s forearm, then rammed into its chest, sticking halfway through.
“They’re retreating,” said Zara. “Head to Taiyo.”
An Agadon destroyer lit up in a flash, then disappeared. A large carrier vanished, then a starship. One by one, more Agadon mechs and ships left the system.
“They initiated their portal drives connected to the pyramid network. They’re probably back in Leonia orbit. Let’s regroup on Taiyo,” said Zara. “They’ll be back soon and with more battleships and artillery at their disposal.”
Jaxx nodded, then pressed his combat-mech forward, heading to retrieve his heavy, striated Ashanti sword, deep inside the Agadon mech’s chest. So, the Agadon left their dead behind. Assholes. He should have known that was the case.
Jaxx grasped the sword with his mech’s hands, placed both feet on the floating Agadon mech, and pulled.
The sword didn’t budge.
He twisted it, then pulled again.
Nothing.
His comm line blared and laughter filled his cockpit. That wasn’t Leonian laughter, nor Taiyonian. Who was it? He eyed the Agadon cockpit. An Agadon glared, blue blood oozing out of his mouth, dripping down his gray chin, as he laughed. How did the Agadon tap into Jaxx’s comm line?
The Agadon coughed and blood squirted out of his mouth and onto the Agadon cockpit window. If this was an Artificial Intelligence Being like Zara said, hell bent on destroying planets, and wiping all living things out of existence, it was well made with blood and flesh—and all other human-like biological systems, except perhaps the brain; maybe substituted with a central processing unit and a hard drive that was hardwired to kill.
The Agadon wiped his blood away from the cockpit window with his gray forearm. He then jabbed his finger at Jaxx and pointed the finger at his control panel. The Agadon paused, then hit a button with his fist.
The Agadon mech exploded, shredding Jaxx’s mech’s feet and shins, shards of the Agadon mech’s armor shot into Jaxx’s mech, sinking into his hips, chest, and all the way up to the cockpit, shattering the cockpit window. A glass barrier from Jaxx’s helmet extended and folded over Jaxx’s face, leaving a few inches of space between the helmet’s glass and his nose. The bottom portion of the glass barrier curved under his chin, clicking into his jumpsuit’s collar.
In seconds, all air was sucked out of his mech, and what was left of the cockpit window was pulled off its hinges, jettisoning out into space. His cockpit seat pushed forward, then launched him straight through the cockpit opening, spinning him wildly in into the deep, dark void.
He sucked in a breath, but nothing entered his lungs but searing pain. His eyes widened. The helmet was malfunctioning. He pressed a few buttons on his jumpsuit, hoping to close the tube’s oxygen flap.
He attempted another breath.
Pain, as if the tissue holding his lungs in place was tearing, ripping. He slapped his helmet. This was it. This is how he was going to die.
Kaden Jaxx, archeologist, Atlantean expert, warrior, prophesied savior of the known worlds: dead.
His vision narrowed and his sight began to fade. His arms slackened, weakness and sleep overtaking him.
A crackle and hiss.
His jumpsuit and helmet filled with air, giving him ample, clean oxygen.
He took in a deep breath, his body regaining strength.
“Oh my God!” He blinked several times, his vision widening, his body tingling, bringing fresh oxygen through his veins.
He floated, slowly spinning in space, the stars twirling around him. All he could hear was his breath.
He pressed a button on his jumpsuit.
“I need...help.”
Static filled his helmet.
“Anyone?”
He spun farther away from his badly damaged mech. He turned, seeing his mech’s wires and tubes hanging from its legs, its torso caved in, cracked open, and its head hanging to the side, a thread of armor keeping it from following Jaxx into space.
Blue booster fire from the Leonian and Taiyonian ships and mechs were far in the distance, heading for the blue and green planet.
Shit!
“Hey, guys?”
22
E-Quadrant, Earth - Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
Drips reverberated against the tunnel walls and every other step landed in a thin puddle. They were guided only by Anderle’s cell phone light.
“Where is she? Where’s Mya?” asked Drew, trying to avoid a puddle, only to land in another.
“Up ahead,” Anderle went into a quick jog. “She should be.”
“Should?” Drew’s voice echoed against the walls, louder than he meant it to be.
“Keep your voice down, and keep up the pace,” said T-hacker, glancing over his shoulder.
“My guys are waiting for us at the end of this tunnel. We’ve got four Range Rovers ready to drive the shit out of here,” explained Anderle. He picked up his pace, his breathing heavier. He looked behind him, worry in his eyes, probably imagining Chinese soldiers coming out of the shadows and shooting them full of bullets.
“What do we do when we get out of here?” asked Drew.
“We have another Range Rover being chased and riddled with bullets by the Chinese right now.”
“What do you mean?” said Drew. He stepped into another puddle.
Anderle let out a nervous laugh, the phone he carried for their light shook. “We have many safe-guards set up. We hooked up another Range Rover with a manikin a long time ago. If anything went wrong, we’d drive it remotely with T-hacker’s phone. It actually drives itself, but it’s fitted with explosives. Once they disable it, they’ll check for me inside and badda-bing, badda-boom. They go up in flames. In the meantime, we’re driving off in our own Range Rovers, me and my hacker boys, safe and happy.”
Anderle was a genius, but a fucking nut job to boot. “Why would you choose a Range Rover for our getaway and a Range Rover for your fake getaway?”
Anderle lif
ted his shoulders nonchalantly and pushed out his lower lip. “It’s my favorite car.”
“If they see a second Range Rover, a third, and forth, maybe even just an hour after we drive off into the sunset, they will check it out immediately. You pick a different car and they might bypass it, thinking it’s just another American driving down the damn road.” How stupid could the guy be?
Anderle paused, thinking for a moment. He shrugged it off. “We got this. We’ll be fine.” He put his hand up. The end of the tunnel was coming near. “Where are the rest of them? Where are the other Range Rovers?”
At the end of the tunnel sat a white Range Rover covered in dust and dirt, as if it had been there for months without anyone touching it, which was probably the case. Early dawn light sprinkled past the lip of the tunnel. Beyond was a gravel road surrounded by ferns, grasses, and trees.
Drew stopped dead in his tracks, his stomach falling. His body turned cold. “No, no. Mya’s gone?”
Anderle walked over and kicked the wall, pulling his hair way too violently. “Son of a bitch! They took her. Our guys turned tail and ran.” His arms went rigid by his sides, his hands in a fist, his shoulder’s up toward his ears. “We needed her. They knew that.” He jabbed his finger in Drew’s face. “She is more powerful around her dad and we need her to be powerful, way fucking powerful.”
Drew pushed his hand away. “She is just an eight-year-old. You piece of shit. You used her and look where it got her.” He reared back, ready to throw a punch.
T-hacker grabbed Drew’s hand, preventing him.
Drew shrugged T-hacker off of him and ran his hands through his hair, thinking. “Where would they have gone? Can we locate her? Find her, or something?” He started pacing, his hands going numb. This wasn’t even his own daughter and he was having a panic attack. Was it because she was his responsibility and he screwed up? “Why do you need someone like her? Who cares if she’s powerful.”
T-hacker shoved the phone in Drew’s face. “This is why.”
Ascendant Saga Collection: Sci-Fi Fantasy Techno Thriller Page 59