“Don’t do this,” I plead with him, even though he’s not wearing his communications cap and can’t hear me. “This isn’t how we make Europa our own. Please—”
I break off as the flash of red returns, and a spiraling shape materializes ahead. The massive bioluminescent snake is back, inching toward Beckett and me. Terror seizes my chest. I can’t think, can’t move, can’t do anything but stare at the long, winding red scales circling us.
It’s just another form of life, I tell myself over and over, until I feel my limbs start to move again. But Beckett is back at the submersible, his face wild with fear as he reaches inside, about to press the button that will send drones exploding out of the sub.
I hurtle forward, side-slamming Beckett with all the force I can underwater. As he tumbles backward, I swim up to the submersible, scanning the command screen and trying to make sense of the acronyms and symbols. Finally, I spot a red circle that looks similar enough to the ABORT key on the WagnerOne. I hold my breath and give it a shot.
Just as soon as I’ve pressed the button, a heavy weight clocks me in the chest, sending my body falling. It’s Beckett, clocking me with his life support backpack. And then, just as I’m recovering my breath, I discover that I didn’t succeed in stopping him after all. I watch it unfold like a horror movie in slow motion, as the first drone barrels out of the submersible, a heavy sphere of sizzling metals and chemicals. It’s aiming straight for the red bioluminescence—but when the sea snake darts upward, the drone misses. It hits the black smokers instead, exploding into pieces and sending metals flying, chemicals seeping, into the black cloud.
Fumes start to rise. The hum goes quiet; the anemones start to wilt. But that’s not all.
Two of the shards ricochet, slicing open Beckett’s sleeve—and my diving mask. Beckett starts gasping and choking from the pressure change and exposure of his bare arm, while the remaining anemones surround him, clamping their tentacles down on his skin . . . as if they somehow understand what he just did to them. And I wonder if the others can hear me screaming underwater. Beckett, the larger-than-life nemesis who I figured would always be there is dead.
I reach out to touch my diving mask, my fingers tracing the jagged tear with my bare cheekbone behind it. How is it that we were both exposed to Europa’s atmosphere and ocean pressure, but Beckett died instantly . . . while I’m still here?
The flashing of red surrounds me, and just as I reach out my hands in surrender, slimy wet scales catch me in a death grip. The scales tighten around my body, my throat, and I find myself praying to my parents, my sister, through what will likely be my last moments. Please, don’t let me go like this. Please.
That’s when I realize that we’re starting to move. Up.
We move at such dizzying speed that my vision blurs, and I grab the sea snake’s scales involuntarily, to keep from going flying. And then, with a thunderous crash, we break the surface. The sea snake rears its head and then shakes me loose onto the ice, where I land in a heap.
They didn’t hurt me.
Twenty-Nine
NAOMI
BEFORE WE CLIMB INTO THE ROVERS TO BEGIN THE FIRST OF many back-and-forth moving treks, Leo and I take one last walk, stopping just short of the field of ice spikes.
“All along, we thought the universe revolved around us,” Leo says, looking out at the ice-covered ocean in wonder. “But it was never true.”
“There was a whole symphony out there this whole time,” I add. “And we were only just hearing one part.”
He takes my gloved hand in his. “Do you want to hear the rest?”
I look up at him with a small smile. “I can’t say I’m not afraid, but . . . yes.”
Epilogue
THREE WEEKS LATER
SAM ARDALAN SITS IN DR. TAKUMI’S OFFICE, WATCHING WITH rapt attention the scene playing on the screen before them. It’s his sister, Naomi, climbing out of a rover alongside Leo Danieli. Sam holds his breath as the two of them step onto the smooth, pale, undisturbed terrain of Agenor Linea.
“We made it,” Naomi says, turning her face up to the sky: a darkness illuminated by Jupiter’s brilliant colors.
“We made it,” Leo echoes.
Sam inches forward in his seat, studying every sight on the screen. The inflatable habitat is already set up in the new location, and the canvas structure makes Sam think of a grand flag: waving their arrival to this formerly lifeless stretch of Europa.
“It’s hard to believe that, after everything we’ve been through, this part of the journey is just beginning,” he hears Naomi saying quietly. “It’s not about getting there anymore—it’s seeing if we can terraform this world. If we can make it safe and fertile enough for everyone else—for my family—to join us.”
“It’s going to be a while,” Leo tells her gently.
“I know.” She looks up at him, taking a deep breath. “But I have you.”
“To the moon and back,” Leo says with a smile.
And then the screen fizzles to static. Dr. Takumi stands up from behind his desk, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
“There you have it. The five survivors passed the test.”
“What test? What do you mean?” Sam frowns at the enigmatic man in front of him. He came to Houston for answers, but instead all he’s found so far are more questions.
“Can we change the physiology of humans to adapt to any environment? Can the science that allowed Leo Danieli and your sister to survive the alien waters of Europa be used in a different way, to help the rest of us adapt to living on our changing Earth?” He raises an eyebrow at Sam. “Can we use this science to cure someone for whom traditional medicine has failed?”
“What are you saying?” Sam asks, his voice coming out louder than usual. “I thought the plan was to send humans from Earth to Europa as soon as it’s terraformed—”
“Europa was the beginning of a larger, more universal goal,” Dr. Takumi says smoothly. “One that could benefit you, in particular.”
“But—but—how long will they be alone there?” Sam sputters.
Dr. Takumi lifts his shoulders, looking at Sam as though the answer should be obvious.
“However long we need them to be. As I said when you first arrived—we have a number of classified programs in place to help humans survive and thrive in this new chapter for our species. The progress of each program informs the others.”
Sam’s head is spinning. He sinks back into his seat, looking around suspiciously.
“What is this place, really? I know it’s more than a training camp.”
“You’re right. This is the DARPA Deep Space Agency.” Dr. Takumi’s eyes glitter. “Welcome to the future.”
Acknowledgments
First and foremost to you, the reader: thank you, with all my heart, for coming on this journey with me! When I was writing The Final Six, I never could have imagined how many of you would connect so deeply with Naomi and Leo’s story, and I am beyond grateful to everyone who has read, recommended, and even created amazing fan art (!!) about the book. Thank you for continuing on the ride with me to The Life Below—I hope it’s just what you were waiting for! <3
To my guardian angel on this project, editor extraordinaire Alexandra Cooper: I appreciate you beyond words! Thank you for believing in and championing this series since the very beginning, for making my writing so much better with your brilliant editorial insights, and your kindness and understanding as I juggled new-mom and then toddler-mom life with our book schedules. You are the best of editors and the best of humans, and I feel so lucky that I get to work with you!
Many thanks to my amazing representation team at Gersh and Energy. Joe Veltre, thank you for making my publishing dreams come true and being the best agent an author could wish for! Brooklyn Weaver (aka Super Manager!), signing with you was the first big win for this series. Thank you for all those early brainstorming sessions that helped me get to the heart of the story, and for guiding my career with such sav
vy! Greg Pedicin and Lynn Fimberg, you are two of my favorite people, and I am so grateful for your support. (Screenplays for you coming up next!)
To the dream team at HarperTeen, starting with the incredible Rosemary Brosnan: thank you so much for your support and for the opportunity of a lifetime to publish with you! I’ve been blown away by everything Harper and the Epic Reads team have done for The Final Six, with special thanks to Cindy Hamilton, Sabrina Abballe, Olivia deLeon Russo, and everyone in publicity, sales, and marketing who’s helped spread the word and given me such wonderful opportunities to connect with readers. Erin Fitzsimmons, Joel Tippie, and Molly Fehr, I already loved my cover for the first book, but you’ve somehow topped yourselves with this one! Thank you for designing my fave cover ever. And thank you to Alyssa Miele and Allison Weintraub, for all your help at every stage in the publishing process!
I’m enormously grateful to the Man Ed team for putting up with my eleventh-hour revisions and always finding room in the schedule—thank you, thank you, thank you, Kathryn Silsand, Mark Rifkin, and Josh Weiss!! You three are heroes, and I am incredibly thankful for all your hard work. Many thanks also to Kathryn and Veronica Ambrose for your sharp copyediting skills!
Thank you so much to Josh Bratman, producer and friend, and the first person who said yes to this series back in 2016. You changed my life in the process, and I’m forever grateful to you!! All my love to you, Alex, and the whole Bratman fam—you guys are truly family to me.
It’s the biggest thrill to see this series translated in different languages around the world, thanks to Hannah Vaughn at Gersh, and Allison Cohen prior. To my foreign publishers: Ediciones del Nuevo Extremo, Jangada, Epsilon, Imagine YA, HarperCollins Italy, Jaguar, and Editura Art, I’m so honored to have my books in your countries!
Megan Beatie, dream publicist—thank you for all your help launching this series, and for bringing me so many amazing opportunities. Caitlin O’Brient Bauer, digital marketing maven, thank you for designing me the most gorgeous website, introducing me to all things #Bookstagram, and helping to make The Final Six’s launch a success! Crystal Patriarche and Keely Platte at BookSparks, thank you for joining the team and helping us spread the word far and wide!
To the four amazing authors who graced The Final Six with blurbs—Kendare Blake, Alyson Noël, Beth Revis, and Romina Russell—I’m still so blown away every time I see your quotes on the back cover!! Thank you for your kindness and generosity in reading and blurbing—it meant the world.
I’ve been so lucky to get to consult with brilliant science experts on this series, including my good friend Dr. Teresa Segura. Thank you for helping me put the science in the science fiction, Teresa! ☺ Dr. Robert Pappalardo, it was a true bucket-list thrill to get to tour JPL with you and learn all about Europa from the expert himself—thank you so much!!
To my beautiful Iranian American community—I am so blown away by the way you rallied around me and helped support the Final Six’s book release! Special thanks to Mariam Khosravani (you are a hero!!) and the Iranian American Women Foundation, Ali Razi, the Farhang Foundation, Phillip & Josiane Cohanim, and Haleh Gabbay. I love you all!!
And now, to my family, who are the reason and the meaning behind everything I do . . .
Chris Robertiello, my love, best friend, husband, inspiration: I’ve written you into all of my love stories, and I am so grateful to be living in ours. <3 Thank you for being the most supportive husband and partner, and putting up with all my deadline days and nights! I couldn’t do any of this without you—it’s a true team effort, and you are my MVP. I love you forever.
Leo James, my everything: I wrote these books for you. I can’t wait for you to one day read the adventures of the fictional Leo, and see my love for you—more than the whole wide world!—written in the pages. Thank you for making me the happiest mommy on earth!
My parents and best friends, Shon and ZaZa Saleh: there are no words big enough to thank you! I would be nowhere without your support and love. (Not to mention—these books would never get written without your incredible help with Leo!!) I don’t know how I got so lucky with you two as my parents, but I will spend the rest of my life doing all I can to make you proud and earning it! <3
To Arian, the best big brother in the world: so much of who I am is because I was blessed to grow up alongside you. Thank you for bringing so much love, laughter, and creativity to my life! And of course, many thanks to you and Sai for giving me the best little niece!!
All my love and gratitude to my amazing family on both the Saleh and Madjidi sides, and my awesome Robertiello in-laws! To my angels, Papa, Mama Monir, and Honey, thank you for inspiring me every day.
Mia Antonelli, you’re the best friend I could have wished for—thank you for cheering me on during all the deadlines and being such a great bestie.
To all the booksellers, librarians, and teachers out there who have recommended The Final Six, thank you so much for getting the book in readers’ hands!
And if you’re still with me now, reading this last page, thank you! I am so incredibly excited to share this new book with you.
About the Author
Photo by Kerem Hanci
ALEXANDRA MONIR is an Iranian-American author and recording artist. She is the author of the hit novel The Final Six as well as four other published young adult novels, including the bestselling time-travel romance Timeless. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California. To learn more about Alexandra, visit her online at www.alexandramonir.com.
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Books by Alexandra Monir
Timeless
Timekeeper
Suspicion
The Girl in the Picture
The Final Six
The Life Below
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Copyright
HarperTeen is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
THE LIFE BELOW. Copyright © 2020 by Alexandra Monir. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
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Cover art © 2020 by Shutterstock
Cover design by Erin Fitzsimmons and Molly Fehr
* * *
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019951567
Digital Edition FEBRUARY 2020 ISBN: 978-0-06-265899-9
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-265897-5
* * *
2021222324PC/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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