Storm (Swipe Series)

“Then I just know that Olivia and I could figure out a way to help. There must be something we can do from here.”
    Olivia sat forward on the couch, begging the Dust now. “But the SSC’s scientists don’t trust Charles and me enough to tell us what’s really going on. We can’t get through to Erin on our own.”
    “And that’s where you kids come in,” Charles said. “You’re Erin’s closest allies. A call from you is totally different than a call from Olivia or me. She trusts you. She’ll talk to you.”
    “Please,” Olivia begged. “We just want to know our daughter’s safe.”
    “Could be a trick,” Blake said to the others. “He does still work for DOME.”
    Mr. Arbitor sighed. “Think about it, Blake. If I were working with the Department on this, I’d have just ordered a raid on the place by now. The whole point here is to prevent DOME fromfiguring out what I’m up to. The whole point is to do this without them.”
    Olivia smiled hopefully. “And you kids are the key.”
    “I’m sure I don’t need to remind you,” Mr. Arbitor added, “that right now, a plan to help Erin is a plan to help Peck.”
    Blake looked like he was about to speak up. But Jo stopped him. “They’re right,” she said. And she turned to the Arbitors. “We’ll do it.”
    3
    The town hall meeting in Lahoma was in full swing now, and Sally held Connor’s hand supportively as the two of them entered and watched the end of the mayor’s speech from the back of the riled crowd.
    “Lahoma! The Goodmans’ psychotic, reckless, and systematic sabotage of our great weather mill these last few months is unthinkable, unbelievable, unconscionable . . . and, indeed, their final, heinous act of destruction has only cemented the legacy of hardship, suffering, and hatred these traitors leave behind. For the foreseeable future, it would appear as though these two terrorists have succeeded. The mill is down. Its computer system has sustained irreparable damage and will need to be fully replaced. Now, unfortunately, DOME’s Meteorology Bureau, so far, seems somehow to be tied up in enough red tape that we cannot rely squarely on them for the funds and support necessary to repair this damage in a timely way—”
    An uproar of anger filled the town hall, but the mayor spoke on.
    “That said, Lahoma has dug deep into its own pockets, and,with the help of a flood of generosity from fellow Marked across the country, we believe we have the foundation necessary to begin repairing and rebuilding within the immediate future.
    “Let me be clear. This damage has no easy fix. Programming and calibrating a new supercomputer system from scratch, without the Goodmans’ unique expertise in the field, will take time to get right. Of course, with thirty acres of missile launchers at our command, it is our duty not only to get Lahoma’s weather mill back online but to do it in a safe and responsible manner. We therefore ask for everyone’s patience as we embark upon this long and arduous recovery.
    “However, hear me today, and mark my words—this mill will be up and running by the end of business day on April 1. America’s rainy season will not be missed.”
    The crowd cheered and hollered its approval.
    “Our great town of Lahoma will make up for lost time—not with a drizzle, not with a sprinkle, not with a shower, but with the biggest man-made rainstorm this continent has ever seen!”
    The town roared, and the mayor of Lahoma reached his crescendo. “And with Cylis as my witness, this long, national drought will be over. Our public health, our economy—our very ecosystem —will be restored. We will not go hungry, we will not go thirsty, we will not go powerless. We will storm into this new year, we will give this great Union the weather it deserves, and the fruits of our hard and honest work will rain down on our fellow Marked—stronger, better, and safer than ever before!”
    Connor stood silently at the back of the hall as the applause drowned out the end of the speech. He let go of Sally’s hand. He knew what he had to do.
    He ducked out of Lahoma’s town hall without anyone else noticing he’d come or gone.
    4
    Logan, Hailey, and Peck had spent the day hiding among the storage shelves of the SSC’s basement, keeping Erin company, reading Swipe aloud, and trying their best to dissect all the stuff they found in there.
    “So what do you guys think?” Peck asked once they’d finished.
    Logan shrugged. “I’m