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

Alex slurped the rest of her soup and set her bowl down in front of her. Lexi already finished and was sitting quietly watching the people around them. Jimmy sat across from them looking grumpy while he ate. Seana sat at his elbow carrying on about how hot it had been that day.


Jimmy's eyes lifted to Alex's as he listened to Seana. His eyes squinted like he had a headache. He cut Seana off and glared at Alex. "Hey hybrid, why don't you get a haircut? I'm sick of looking at you. You look like we pulled you out of a dumpster."


He furrowed his brow. "If you won't, then put your hat back on. You're making me depressed."


Alex rolled her eyes and caught Lexi doing the same. She smiled as she looked over to her. Lexi's own blonde hair was growing out at the roots, giving her a two-toned look. Alex flipped out her knife and handed it to Lexi. "Would you like to do the honors?"


Chapter 179: Loss