Storm (Swipe Series)

But a tidal wave is about to hit. And when it does, you, me—everyone—will be woefully unprepared.”
    Logan would ask Peck what he proposed any of them do about it. He asked Peck what, in all his research, he’d discovered in the way of solutions to this impending Armageddon—the one that made even Project Trumpet look like a frivolous concern.
    “I don’t know,” Peck would say, again and again. “I just don’t know.”
    But of all of them, it had been Erin’s time that was the most valuable these last three weeks. In her days with Dr. Rhyne, she’d become more than just a test subject for Trumpet cures. She’d become a partner, learning the science behind the medicine, learning the theories behind the research, suggesting her own solutions, fiddling with her own ideas for treatments during Arianna’s off hours, experimenting a little here and there.
    In all of this, the doctor had grown quite fond of Erin. She hated herself for it—how stupid, Arianna knew, to grow attached to a science experiment—but it was a hatred that pushed her forward.
    “I just don’t understand it,” Arianna said to Erin now, examining her vital signs. “What kind of scientists with knowledge of Trumpet and access to its materials could have been so careless as to manufacture an activation protein that targets Trumpet’s vaccine ? I mean, who is responsible for this? Their PhDs should be revoked!”
    Erin rested back on the bed, closing her eyes.
    “Another headache?”
    “Yeah,” Erin said. “It’s fine.”
    “Are you sure you saw nothing in all your hacked Trumpetmemos about who might have been responsible for this protein release? Or its manufacture? Nothing ?”
    “Nothing,” Erin said. “You?”
    “No,” Arianna sighed. “Not a thing. If it’s DOME, there’s no trace of it. And if it’s someone else . . . well, where would one even begin?”
    “It’s a mystery,” Erin said.
    “Bad at science, but good at hiding.” Dr. Rhyne clucked her tongue. “A strange, baffling combination.”
    “And we’re sure we can’t blame this on a fault in the vaccine? You’re sure we’ve ruled that out?”
    “ I’m sure ,” the doctor said, putting a quick end to that discussion. “Hey, speaking of which—your father called again, while you were sleeping.”
    “Oh yeah?”
    Dr. Rhyne nodded. “The Dust made it through DOME. They got the samples. You’re dad’s already mailed them our way.”
    “That’s good,” Erin said. “Really good.”
    “Really good is an understatement,” Arianna said. “If those friends of yours found anything . . .” She shook her head excitedly. “You know, you’re pretty lucky to have parents like you do,” Arianna said.
    Erin laughed. “Just a few weeks ago I would have said the only reason Dad was doing any of this was to get me back in DOME custody. For years, I was sure the only thing he cared about was his career.”
    Arianna nodded. “Well, whatever loyalty he does have to that department of his . . . apparently it doesn’t much compare to what he has for you.” Arianna leaned over and fixed the IV in Erin’s arm, swapping out one clear plastic bag’s substance for another.
    “I miss them,” Erin said of her parents. “I never thought I would.”
    Arianna didn’t look up from her notes and charts. “That’s probably for the best. I’d be more worried if you didn’t.” Then she peeked up and smiled. “I have a son of my own, remember.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “ Family .”
    Erin laughed. “Yeah,” she said. “I know.”
    6
    That night after curfew, Lily Langly snuck off into the farthest corner she could find of Acheron’s vast, underground labyrinth, and she placed a private call on one of the many Markscans that lined the prison walls.
    “Hello?” Lily whispered, leaning down toward the computer terminal.
    Normally, a Markscan call automatically brought up a video on its small screen. But not with this call. This call’s video was only static. And Cylis’s voice on the other end was masked with a deep filter.
    “It’s me,” Lily said. “You were right. Lahoma’s weather mill remains in jeopardy.” She looked nervously over her shoulder as she spoke. The coast was still clear.
    “But I have a plan,” Lily continued. “I know how to handle it. And all I need from you is a quick look at DOME’s database.”
    In deep, nearly alien tones, Cylis asked what for.
    “I need to trace the last-known whereabouts of a