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

Tom woke up on the floor of the train car. He felt rather chilled even though the hot, humid air was pressing in on him. He raised his head and looked. He was lying naked except for his boxer shorts. Brooke was curled up on a crate above him and Ellie was looking down at him with a smile.


Her hand brushed through his hair. "Hey, there. I hope you're feeling better."


He arched an eyebrow at her. "Where are my clothes?"


She shrugged. "You were overheating. They're drying in the sun."


"How convenient." His stomach growled. "Got anything to eat?"


Ellie nodded. He sat up and she handed him a bowl of finely chopped vegetables in a red sauce.


Ellie cocked her head. "Not sure. Cameron brought it over for you a while ago. It tasted okay. Not my favorite."


Tom took a taste. "Yeah, it's okay. Seems like it should be warm."


The train car rose up and rushed forward, then settled back down again.


Chapter 111: Heat, Part 1