Ascension: An Alpha Units Novel

By Brandi Lynn Smith

Kates life has been fairly quiet since rescuing her friends in the Alpha Units from Blade, but the short reprieve doesnt last. The pendant she obtained, the one Blade had been searching for, seems to be causing a stir with Kates powers. What are these strange foreign symbols she is now seeing? Does the necklace have anything to do with what is happening? Kate knows who to turn to for help but getting that help means returning to the one place she never planned on ever going back to.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524645502

Brandi Lynn Smith

Brandi Lynn Smith was born in Colorado and is a cake decorator by day and a fiction writer by night. She’s had an interest in writing since picking up a Lisa Frank folder and creating her own world in the second grade. Most of her characters have moved on from fluffy, colorful creatures to more people-based; her inner child tends to lend a hand for creating the impossible. When not writing, she tends to roam the outdoors and look for inspiration in small places.

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© 2016 Brandi Lynn Smith. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse    10/20/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-4551-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-4552-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-4550-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016917328

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

About The Author

This book is

dedicated to my family, for all of the encouragement

and support you have given me. Thank you, and I love you all.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I’d like to give a very big thank you to Aaron Kellough at [e-mail], for designing the amazing cover. You took my ideas and made them come to life in a very unique and beautiful way.

CHAPTER 1

The sun gleamed intermittently through the trees as Kate trekked through the Green Mountain National Forest in New York. Commander O’Riley gave Kate, Zach, and Rick leave from Alpha 5 after Kate single-handedly rescued the captured Alpha Units the previous month. The trio, along with Kate’s childhood friend John, were on their second week of three weeks of leave. The reprieve was much appreciated after constantly having to dodge Blade, although Rick and Zach had become steadily more protective since informing Kate of her past. The vacation also gave them time to catch up.

Kate had no recollection of Zach being her brother or of Rick being her neighbor before entering the Alpha Units. Both men were taken into the Units when they were six; since Kate hadn’t shown signs of the power, a block had been placed in her mind so she wouldn’t recognize them. After realizing someone had tampered with her mind, she’d been on constant alert, hoping to figure out not only who put the block in place but also keeping it from happening again.

As the small group followed the path, Kate let her senses go, hearing the sound of a waterfall in the distance. Having the power had its perks; extensive hearing was just one of many things she could do. Estimating the distance before they’d reach the falls, Kate glanced sidelong at the others, her maroon eyes holding a mischievousness she rarely showed. John was the first to notice her look.

What’re you planning? John asked. At just over six feet, Kate could easily look her friend in the eyes.

Just planning on taking a detour, Kate stated, white teeth flashing in a grin.

Kate loved the outdoors, and being away from the city made her more relaxed than ever before. Part of that was due to not having to hide her powers from the group. She felt she could finally trust them, and herself, enough to open up slightly. The other part was she’d shed some of the guilt and pain from her best friend, Emily’s, death. Getting back at Drake for helping murder the young girl had healed some of the wound that’d been festering since Kate was nine.

Where exactly? Rick asked, glancing at the large trees and vast undergrowth surrounding them. A soft breeze floated through the forest, bringing the scent of dirt, pine, and a hint of rain.

There’s a waterfall a few hundred yards from here, Kate replied. Race you there! With that she took off. Her brother and Rick glanced at each other and followed, leaving John gaping after them.

This isn’t a fair race, guys! John yelled as he went after them.

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The sound of thunder ripped overhead as Kate burst through the trees, stopping just at the edge of the cliff overlooking a flowing waterfall. Water crashed down into a small lake. The river carved a path through the forest, disappearing around a bend like a snake. The river had a decent current at the outer edge of the lake, causing Kate to wonder if the pool was deep enough to cliff-dive into. Different shades of green rose up from the ground as the tops of various trees reached toward the sun.

Kate cheated in her trek to get to the waterfall, using her power for a burst of speed, allowing her a few moments to relish the site without the others. Mist-filled air rushed past her, bringing the pleasant scents of water mixed with plant life. Emily’s family had brought Kate there when they were five. Such memories were ones Kate intended to hold on to, even as she planned to rid the world of Blade.

As the wind slowly picked up she could hear Rick and Zach’s fast approach, knowing John would be slightly behind. The smell of rain intensified to mix with the aromas of the forest, and lightning danced across the clouds as the storm intensified. Kate always loved the rain, and her energy swelled with the storm.

As she turned back to greet her friends, an odd aroma caught her attention. The hair on her arms began to stand on end as the odor of sulfur engulfed her. The necklace she wore beneath her shirt, a pendant Blade had been searching for that Kate had found hidden right under their noses, felt like a burning pulse against her skin. She didn’t have time to ponder the jewel before a bolt of lightning hit her. Her muscles spasmed with the jolt.

The intense force seemed to last forever. Kate’s blood felt like it was boiling. Her entire body was enveloped in a blinding light, and she couldn’t tell if her eyes were open or closed before darkness finally enveloped her.

What happened? Kate asked, sitting up. Her skin tingled, and she felt a bump on her forehead. Touching the spot, she found a cool, smooth surface. What the heck? she thought to herself, hiding her concern as she glanced at her brother crouched next to her.

You were struck by lightning, Zach replied softly, reaching for her, only to stop before making contact. How many times do I have to tell you to stop running off? You could’ve been killed!

Really, because I knew there was going to be a lightning strike in this exact spot? Come on, Zach, Kate retorted. What’s on my forehead?

A crystal, Rick stated. Everyone turned to him, all but Zach wearing a puzzled expression.

I thought your dad said the crystals weren’t appearing anymore? Zach stated.

John had been informed of the Power and what was known about the history of it upon Kate’s return from Alpha 5. He’d seen her eyes change color when she lost her temper at a party before she was recruited. CJ, the now-deceased leader of the New York Blade gang, had appeared, making an already bad situation worse. Though it took some getting used to, John had gotten over the strangeness of her abilities, and their friendship remained strong.

Not very many people know, Rick answered. It’ll show up in very rare instances; supposedly everyone with the Power has one. There’s a thought it’s where the source of our power is stored.

In a jewel? John asked.

Zach shrugged. Just hearsay.

It’s strange you got yours now. Usually those who have it find it at a young age, when their abilities first appear, Rick added.

Do you two have one? Kate asked, her concern hidden. Having known about her powers most of her life, she figured there wasn’t much that would surprise her. This new occurrence made the pit of her stomach roll with unease. Something with my Power’s been changing since I found the pendant.

We both do, though we’ve put an illusion on them so they can’t be seen or felt. Honestly, until I saw yours, I forgot about mine, Zach replied. Rick nodded in agreement.

How’d you guys get yours? John asked, concerned about the extreme way Kate received hers.

I don’t remember, Zach answered. Just woke up one morning with a crystal on my forehead and called Rick.

Mine was a little different, Rick stated quietly. His body was tense, as if the ordeal of Kate’s experience had made him prepare for an attack.

Different how? Kate asked when her brother choked back a laugh.

Just different. The look he gave her had her lip twitching. The silence dragged on until Rick mumbled, I hit my head on a rock.

After falling down a mountain, Zach coughed out.

What! John said.

I was six, Rick said shrugging his broad shoulders. Anyway, I wouldn’t worry about the way you got your crystal, Kate, as crazy as the situation was. I’ve heard from a very knowledgeable source when we got our crystals in the past, the scenario ranged from how Zach got his to more violent situations.

Like falling down a mountain? Kate asked. The others laughed, and Rick flashed a deadly smile.

Yeah, keep laughing, Sparky, Rick said, sobering. You hurt?

Actually, I feel better than before, if that makes sense. She’d always been active, having the energy to go for days. Other than the pinkish tint of her skin, similar to a light sunburn, she felt completely normal. What color is the jewel?

It changes, like our eyes do depending on mood, Zach answered, which is why we hide ours. You could change it with your thoughts too; people in the past have color-coded it to match their clothes.

I see.

Hiding it’s easy. It’s like turning yourself invisible, but you focus on specific details. You can make it so you can’t feel it the same way, Rick stated.

You mentioned the Power possibly comes from the crystal, Kate stated. But both of you seem to think differently.

Her brother shrugged. Honestly, I think what we can do is something in our blood, but who knows? We have limited information on the Power and its origins.

Feeling more relaxed now she knew she wasn’t abnormal, Kate hid the crystal. The illusion in place, they headed back to their campsite. Though she wanted to run, she kept a casual pace, sensing her brother was watching after what happened. Since finding out about her past with Blade, he’d been trying to make up for lost time in the big brother department. Her annoyance rose with the concerned looks her brother and Rick shot at her, but as the first drops of rain began to fall, she let it go. The drizzle turned into a torrential downpour, soaking them by the time they reached camp.

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Kate sat under the tarp they’d raised when they arrived at camp to give them more space to sit outside the tent without getting wet. Their walk back took longer than before; no one wanted to push Kate after her ordeal. The storm raged, alternating between little drops and hard rainfall. Beneath their feet the ground quickly became muddy, and she was glad they’d decided to camp on higher ground. The guys were in the massive ten-person tent, changing out of their wet clothes. Zach insisted Kate change first in case she went into shock after the lightning attack.

Smiling to herself, she listened to them crack jokes. The wind picked up, sending a light shower against her skin. Though the weather had become colder with the rain, Kate felt contentedly warm. When she’d changed into dry clothes she chose a sweatshirt to ward off the chill, but she peeled it off as soon as she left the tent because she was too hot.

Kate breathed in the scent of rain, finding comfort in the storm. While most children hid under tables at the sound of thunder and flash of lightning, Kate was thrilled, often watching the lightning through her window as it lit up the night sky. A blaze of light flickered, and she closed her eyes, waiting for the crack of thunder. She jumped when it came, but not because it sounded like a shotgun going off overhead. Rick had come out of the tent, touching her arm, which shocked both, at the moment the thunder hit.

Whoa! Rick said.

Well, that was interesting, Kate said softly. She noticed he was holding her sweatshirt in his other hand and shaking the one that had touched her arm. Kate assumed he wanted her to put the coat on.

Everything all right? Zach asked, looking from his sister to Rick. Kate glanced at Rick and shrugged.

We just shocked each other, Kate replied.

That, Rick said, "was not just a shock."

Kate’s arm was numb where Rick touched it, and the way he shook his hand clued her that he’d had a similar reaction. Eventually the feeling became a soft tingling, like tiny bolts of lightning crawling over her skin in a web-like pattern.

Aren’t you cold? John asked.

Nope, Kate answered. Zach gave her a curious look. I was wearing that sweatshirt, but I got too hot. Right now the breeze feels kinda nice.

You sure you’re okay? her brother asked. Kate just stared at him and rolled her eyes.

I’m fine, she answered. Zach continued to stare until Kate, with a huff of impatience, took the sweatshirt from Rick and