Ava Altair grew up reading fantasy and science fiction novels. She graduated from Florida Tech with a BS in Science Education – Physics and a minor in Computational Mathematics. She taught as an AP Physics teacher for five years in Florida. She now lives in Oregon, teaching horseback riding lessons and managing the stables with her mom. She enjoys hanging out and talking about science concepts and story ideas with her dad.

What it is to be human doesn't apply anymore. The surface of the Earth has been poisoned by years of abuse and now most life lives beneath the waves of the ocean. Over the last 500 years, humans have become fragmented and specialized by genetic manipulation, but two main factions exist in the Undersea. The hybrids, a race that continues to genetically modify themselves to climb the social ladder, and the humans, the unmodified organic race that makes up the lowest tier of society. 

Alex, a Delta Six hybrid, finds an unlikely companion in a human man, Jack, while on a mission to steal the Athena file. Alex withholds the file to elicit help from Jack and they set out on an adventure across the Surface. Their relationship is tenuous until a device mysteriously links them together. Now, running from Alphas, an elite group of hybrid assassins, Alex and Jack must weather the hostile surface of the planet to reach their common goal. They soon find they can't both have the thing they want most, but also can't seem to let each other go.

FLUX

Jack trudged through the deep waves as they ran back past his legs. He held Lexi's hand and helped her jump up and over the ridges in the sand as the waves pushed passed her. Once they reached the shoreline, Lexi collapsed onto the hot dry sand.


"It wasn't that bad." Jack set the packs down next to her and knelt to them. He fished out a set of clothes for her. "Here you go."


She held up the white and brown camouflage patterned clothes. "This isn't going to fit."


"That's what this is for." He held out a roll of duct tape.


Lexi sighed and flopped back on the sand. "The warmth feels so good."


"What are you talking about? The water was warm."


"That would be the radiation. If you stay out in it too much you'll burn."


Lexi lifted her head. "I will?" She asked with a lilt in her voice.


Chapter 68: Land, Part 1