Storm (Swipe Series)

inflexibility, or pessimism regarding the impending merger of our Union’s great East-West IMP system will be classified as destructive rumormongering, and it will be heresy punishable by a stay of any length necessary in the helmets of Level Six.”
    A silence spread through the house like ice crystals across water.
    “Now. Any questions?”
    Lily expected not. The consequences, already, were clear. And yet, several rows in front of her and over to her left, one brave Champion surprised her.
    “I have a question, sir.”
    For a moment, the Presider just stared. Already, the Council behind him was whispering, and IMP guards at the back of the auditorium began to shift and prepare.
    But finally, the Presider answered, glancing down at hispodium first to see its tablescreen’s display of the Champion’s personal Markscan. “All right, Champion. This Council welcomes your interest.”
    The Champion took a deep breath, perhaps gathering his resolve.
    “Presider . . . for weeks now, the official story from on high is that everything among our ranks will be business as usual. Your statements today confirm this, and I am glad for it. But the fact remains that you still haven’t told us who is actually in charge here. The general? Or the chancellor?”
    “As I’ve said, Champion, both men will be—”
    “Yes, I know what you’ve said. And I understand that your answers will suffice most of the time. But, Presider—there simply has to be one, ultimate leader. What if there’s a disagreement between the general and the chancellor? What then? Whose orders would we follow? Will the International Moderators of Peace remain neutral in cases of discordant command? Or does one vote supersede the other? How is no one considering this? It is imperative that we know the answer!”
    The Presider grimaced a bit before answering. But finally, he said, “Champion, I can assure you—there is absolutely no reason to believe that Lamson and Cylis will ever be anything but completely Unified . Any suggestion to the contrary is an outrageous speculation, and there is simply no place for it in this assembly hall. There will not be disagreement—”
    “Yes, but what if there is ?”
    “There won’t be. End of story.”
    Behind him, the Council members nodded. Quietly, IMP guards descended upon the questioner. The Controllers around him sat rigid, staring at the ground. The Presider smiled. “Thankyou, IMPS. That is all for today. Controllers dismissed.” And the meeting ended as abruptly as that.

    Coming out of Roll Rank, Lily found herself walking slowly, aimlessly through Acheron’s winding halls. She’d been blindsided by the clear undercurrent of division over Global Unity. And even more so by the suggestion that Lamson and Cylis could ever be anything but totally United. For several minutes she walked, wondering how these developments changed things.
    But her train of thought had not gone far before a lone man stepped forward, weaving in front of her against the current of Controllers as the assembly’s crowd dispersed.
    “Advocate Langly?” the man said.
    “Yes?” Lily froze. This man was no IMP. But she recognized him, all the same. His was the last face she expected to see in these halls. Immediately, cold sweat beaded at her hairline and down her back.
    “Advocate, my name is Michael Cheswick, former director of DOME’s Umbrella out west in Spokie.”
    “I remember, sir.” How could she forget the man who’d assembled the Trumpet Task Force last summer? How could she forget the man who’d personally ordered the murder of nearly two dozen innocent Marked at Lily’s hands? She nodded now and saluted him, but it took much of her willpower to do so.
    “Quite a remarkable few months, huh, Advocate Langly?”
    Lily nodded. “Please forgive my surprise, sir. I . . . I didn’t know you’d been transferred to Beacon.”
    Michael Cheswick nodded. “When the riots began.” Helaughed. “Oh, I don’t work here , of course, in Acheron! No, no. I work with the general, in the Capitol Building. One of several advisors, made useful by my knowledge of Trumpet, as I’m sure you understand.” He gestured ahead. “Please. Advocate. Will you walk with me?”
    Lily hesitated. She wanted to be very far away from this man. Slowly, she shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m occupied, sir. I have a Moderator in Revision, and it’s important that I check in on him. So if you’ll excuse me, with your