Isaac Hess lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with his family, three dogs, and evil cat. He likes to read, play video games, and watch movies when he’s not fending off ninjas or escaping alien spaceships. He currently attends Missouri State University and is also the author of The Altered Revenge series, Chomped, Speechless, and James Wallace, a novel for young adults.    

In a distant future of interstellar travel, planetary colonization, and rampant strife, super-powered humans once known as Altered are forced to live their lives in secrecy under a cruel new regime, the New Human Sovereignty. Now called Remnants, they must try to survive in the face of overwhelming forces. But there is hope. Teth and Pyra, two teenage siblings and Remnants, are getting by. Their lives aren't easy, but they manage to make do with what they have. When a simple mistake drives them apart, Teth must do whatever it takes to get his sister back. Royce, a new recruit in the Hunter Guard Corps., a task force designed to hunt down Remnants, is assigned to his first post. When he finds himself in opposition to his former allies, he is forced to find a way to survive with no powers and some very unlikely new friends. Eve, a Remnant from the desert planet Thirst, sets out on a quest for revenge against one of the most powerful men in the galaxy. Too little too late, she realizes she's in way over her head. On an icy planet in the middle of nowhere, Madlyn "Mad" and Taps Cobb are soldiers in the United Revolution, a rebellious force that stands against the authoritarian New Human Sovereignty. When they are ambushed, Madlyn is forced to make decisions which will determine the fate of her squad and the fate of the Revolution itself. Together or alone, they must face whatever comes at them. For family, for friends, for country, for revenge, or for their very survival.


The Altered Revenge

People may say I invented the Hop Drive to advance humanity, to further extend its reach into the stars. Or, they might say I did the same for my fellow super-powered individuals, if one can describe them as such. Truthfully, my daughter lived on Mars. I could not let her starve.


-Altered Scientist Richmond Harding, January 9th, 2097 CE


ROYCE AND PETER approached the Hunter Guard in distress as he laid down suppressing fire on a pitiful-looking shack sitting on the side of the street. Royce thought he saw a head poke around the side of the shack as they approached, but it disappeared too quickly for him to be sure.


A girl was lying on the ground beside the Hunter Guard, unconscious, as he continued to put round after round into the shack. Peter knelt beside the other Hunter Guard and switched over to his comms channel. "Situation report." 


"Two Remnant contacts," the Guard said, momentarily ceasing fire. "One subdued, the other active and highly dangerous. Almost fully Developed. My partner took a lightning bolt to the chest. Probably KIA."


"Roger," Peter said. "Are you extracting the girl for Containment?"


"Continue the extraction. Collins and I will lay down coverª"


A burst of light appeared around the side of the shack and a figure stepped into view wreathed in blue, crackling electricity.


"Go! Go! Go!" Peter said, taking a few shots at the figure as the other Guard slung the girl over his shoulder and made a hasty retreat.


The figure dove out of the way, and Royce took a few shots of his own, though the Remnant was moving eerily fast and managed to dodge each round with relative ease. The figure reared hits fists backward and Peter shouted to move, but it was too late. 


The ground under Royce's feet lurched, and the HUD in his helmet fluctuated violently before dying entirely. Somehow, Royce managed to keep his footing, but Peter wasn't so lucky. One of the lightning bolts the figure threw struck the ground by their feet, but the other slammed directly into Peter's shoulder, knocking him flat onto the ground. 


"Peter!" Royce called, though the comms in his helmet were surely dead. He removed his helmet and threw it aside, rushing to Peter's side and flipping him over. His entire shoulder plate was gone, and the jumpsuit underneath still smoldered, the stench of burning flesh permeating the air. 


Royce heard footsteps approaching and was about to bring his rifle to bear, but a voice stopped him.


"Don't try it," the voice said. "Move and I fry you."


Royce faced the figure, realizing it was a boy no older than eighteen. The lightning coating him reflected hungrily off his ocean-blue eyes, ready to put an end to Royce's life at will. The boy's nose bled profusely, staining the collar of his shirt.


"Where will they take her?" the boy asked. "Tell me."


"No," Royce said, and the boy stepped closer. Royce felt the short blond hairs on his head stand straight up, and his skin tingled as electricity danced inches from his face. "I can't."


"I'll make it simple," the boy said. "Tell me or I will kill you."


"She's being taken to Containment," Royce said. "You'll never catch her."


"Fine, then. If you won't tell me" the boy leaned down until his face was mere centimeters from Royce's. "Show me."


Chapter 11