Storm of Lightning Read online

  Everyone clapped at the commercial’s conclusion.

  Hatch continued. “Concurrent with our campaign, we will fund major conservation groups and lobbies to oppose all our competition—to fight offshore drilling and the creation of nuclear power plants and nuclear dumps, as well as additional coal mining sites.

  “This will raise the price of energy for everyone else, making our alternative even more appealing. Then, as more and more consumers leave the grid for our Nova systems, the average cost of traditional energy per person will increase, making our alternative still more appealing. Eventually our energy will become so inexpensive, and theirs so expensive, that we will control ninety-eight percent of the commercial and residential market.”

  EGG Despain raised his hand. “Once we’ve spread our mini-plants, how do we still make money?”

  “By providing fuel, of course. Our special Rabisk.”

  “. . . But what if people just start feeding the rats their own food?”

  Hatch looked at Despain as if he were an idiot. “They won’t know that our Nova plants contain rats. The units are completely self-contained, and the new Rabisk has been liquefied and looks like oil, which we’ve named Petrox.

  “The consumer just inserts a canister, and the pod time-feeds the rats. If the proper canister isn’t used, the rats die and the energy fails. As part of their contract, they will be fined a substantial amount for repairs.”

  “What if someone tries to take apart the pod?” EGG Bosen asked.

  “Of course someone will try. The Nova Pod is marked with warning labels and double-secured with an intrusion trigger. The interior pod is lined with magnesium panels that will reach heat in excess of two thousand degrees if the pod is tampered with. Once opened, they will find nothing inside but ashes.”

  “This is brilliant,” EGG Bosen said, clapping. Everyone else began clapping as well.

  “Thank you,” Hatch said.

  EGG Grant raised his hand. “Sir, how can we be sure that corporate America will buy into our process?”

  “Are you a fool or an idiot?” Hatch asked.

  The EGG didn’t answer.

  “I asked you a question.”

  “I hope neither, sir.”

  “Then quit asking foolish, idiotic questions. Of course they will buy into our process. What part of capitalism do you not understand?”

  Grant shrank with embarrassment.

  “What we are doing is creating an unfair competitive advantage. Let me explain this so a five-year-old could understand. We have two bread companies, Bakery A and Bakery B. They both bake bread. They both have the same basic expenses: material, labor, and energy prices. So the cost of their bread is roughly the same.

  “But let’s say that Bakery A installs a Nova Pod system. Their energy cost is now eighty-seven percent less than Bakery B. They can now produce bread for less money and make more profit.

  “Bakery B is now in trouble. In order to compete with Bakery A, they have no choice but to come to us. Our success will fuel our success. And this ball will roll down the mountain until it covers the world.” Hatch paused for emphasis. “Elgen, this is our path and our destination. This is the day of our glory. In the words of the great Russian leader Stalin, ‘the capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them.’ ”

  The room broke into wild applause.

  After the meeting concluded, all the attendees went up to congratulate Hatch. Quentin and EGG Daines were the last to leave.

  “Brilliant, sir,” Quentin said. “Just brilliant.”

  “Thank you, Quentin,” Hatch said, then added, “King Quentin. How are things progressing in your kingdom?”

  “Well,” he said. “We’ve started the remodeling of the palace, the construction of a stadium, and the new educational curriculum is complete and is being taught in the schools.”

  “Excellent,” Hatch said. “Keep me informed of the progress.” He turned toward his EGG. “I’m tired, Daines. What do you need?”

  “A moment of your time, sir.”

  Hatch frowned. “Is it important?”

  “Vitally,” Daines said.

  Hatch nodded. “All right. Proceed.”

  Daines glanced at Quentin, then said, “In private, sir.”

  “You’re sure it can’t wait?”

  “It’s best that it doesn’t, sir,” Daines said. The EGG was known to be a man of few words but much violence and action.

  Hatch sighed. “Very well. We’ll meet in my office.” Hatch turned to Quentin. “Carry on.”

  “Yes, sir,” Quentin said, walking off.

  Hatch led Daines down the corridor to his private office. Once they were inside, Hatch asked, “What is it?”

  “We’ve discovered video of criminal Welch leaving the ship, sir. He was, as we suspected, accompanied by the two guards, Hill and Rawlings.”

  “As we suspected,” Hatch said. “Was Welch wearing some kind of disguise?”

  “No, sir.”

  “And no one questioned them?”

  “No, sir. They exited the boat through the aft loading dock.”

  “The place was swimming with guards,” Hatch said angrily. “Someone must have noticed.”

  “The whole escape was very peculiar. No one they passed showed the least amount of interest in them.”

  “That is peculiar,” Hatch said, rubbing his chin. “Very peculiar.”

  “There’s more, sir.”

  “More?”

  “They were not alone.”

  Hatch’s eyes narrowed. “It was a conspiracy?”

  “Yes, sir,” the EGG said. “Three of the electric youths were with them.”

  “Which ones?”

  “Quentin, Torstyn, and Tara.”

  Hatch’s face turned beet red. “What were they doing?”

  “They were walking behind him.”

  “How closely?”

  “Within ten meters.”

  Hatch clenched his jaw. “That explains why no one paid attention. Tara must have made him look like someone else. Probably a Taiwanese.”

  “That’s a possibility, sir.”

  “It’s not a possibility,” Hatch shouted, slamming his fist onto his desk. “It’s what happened.” Hatch began to shake with anger. “I made him a king, and he repays me with betrayal? He will pay for this. They will all pay.”

  “What are your orders, sir?”

  Hatch carefully thought over the situation. “We must proceed cautiously. Especially with Torstyn. He’s very dangerous and loyal to Quentin. I want you to arrest all of the youths in their sleep, RESAT them, and then isolate them from one another.”

  “What of the two not involved?”

  “All of them. The other two must have at least known what was going on. Instruct the guards to use the new RAVE to apprehend them and lock them separately in T block. But leave Quentin to me.”

  It was three in the morning and Quentin was fast asleep when Hatch opened his door and turned on the light. “Wake up, Quentin.”

  It took Quentin a moment to get oriented. He shielded his eyes from the garish light. “Dr. Hatch . . . what are you doing here?”

  Hatch looked around the messy room, then walked to the side of Quentin’s bed. “I think you know what would bring me to your room at three in the morning.”

  Quentin sat up. “No, sir.”

  Hatch sighed a little. “No, I didn’t think you would be eager to confess your crime.” He sat on the side of Quentin’s bed. “So if you are insistent on playing this little game, I’ll oblige you. I know what you did, Quentin. Unfortunately, Tara’s powers don’t work through video.”

  “I don’t follow, sir,” Quentin said.

  “Of course you do. You know exactly what I’m talking about. I trusted you. I made you a king, and you betrayed me.”

  Quentin stared into Hatch’s eyes for a moment, then shouted, “Guards!”

  An amused grin crossed Hatch’s face. “How optimistic of you. And pathetic. Yo
u actually thought that your guards would be loyal to you in the face of certain death? No, no one will be coming to your aid.” His eyes narrowed. “I’ve taught you thousands of lessons, and now you have taught me one. There is no loyalty. Not even between us. You’ve shown me that.”

  “Sir, I don’t know what you’re—”

  Hatch slapped Quentin hard enough to knock him back into his bed. A thin stream of blood dripped from his nose. “Quit lying to me! Tell me the truth. Tell me that you escorted Welch off the ship. Tell me now!”

  Quentin held a hand to his stinging face. He was shaking with fear. “Yes. I saved him. He was like a father to me.”

  Hatch stood, then grabbed Quentin by the foot and dragged him off the bed. Then he kicked him while Quentin tried to protect himself from the blows. “I am your father,” Hatch shouted. “And your king. And you turned on me. Your betrayal is worse than Welch’s. And so your punishment will be worse as well.”

  Quentin coughed up blood. “How could it possibly be worse?” he said bitterly.

  “You should know better than that by now. Things can always be worse.”

  Quentin, still on his back, feebly raised his hand to put out the power, but nothing happened.

  Hatch shook his head. “And to think I had so much hope for you. Foolish, stupid boy. You didn’t think I would be prepared for that? We have a new invention just for you. That slight headache you feel . . . that’s me. The RESAT darts were too cumbersome. Too unreliable. So we invented this.” Hatch brought out a small hand remote about the size of a bar of soap. “The scientists who invented it named it the RESAT 2.0, but I renamed it the RAVE. It’s a remarkable improvement. I just slightly turn the knob . . .”

  Quentin screamed out in pain.

  “Think of it as a handheld version of Nichelle. We created it based on her powers. Do you remember her? She’s one of the losers you let escape.” He turned the dial up more, and Quentin screamed out even louder.

  “Please, stop. Please.”

  “You’re begging for mercy? Wasn’t it you who said whoever helped Welch is a traitor and deserves the same punishment? You, of all people, should know that there is no mercy for kings. Kings are on thrones or in graves. There are no exceptions.”

  “Then kill me,” Quentin said.

  “Quick death would fall under the category of mercy. An example must be made of you. We will build a special monkey cage just for you, and that is where you will spend the rest of your life.”

  “Please. I’ll do whatever you want.”

  “What I want is for you to not have betrayed me, but it’s too late for that. Bad eggs don’t get good again.” He turned back toward the door. “Guards.”

  The room echoed with the clash of trooper boots on the marble floor as an Elgen patrol ran into the room, lining up at attention behind Hatch.

  “Captain, take Quentin to cellblock T. Keep your RAVEs on six. I don’t want him damaging any of the electronics on the way in.”

  Sweat dripped off Quentin’s face. “What about the others?” he asked. “What are you going to do with them?”

  “Your immediate accomplices have already been arrested and are awaiting their punishments. Bryan and Kylee have also been arrested until I can determine how much they knew.”

  “They didn’t know anything.”

  “I’ll determine that. As far as Torstyn and Tara, I haven’t yet decided what their fates will be, but rest assured their punishments will be commensurate with the crime they committed. Treason is always punishable by death. It’s the going rate. The only question is, how long and how painful will that death be?” He turned back to the captain. “Take him.”

  The guards quickly surrounded Quentin. They rolled him onto his stomach, secured his hands, then lifted him to his feet.

  “Prisoner is secured,” the zone leader said to Hatch.

  Hatch walked up to Quentin until their faces were six inches apart. “So, Quentin. How did it feel to be good? Was it worth it?”

  For a moment Quentin looked Hatch in the eye, then said, “I would do it again.”

  Hatch slugged him in the stomach, and Quentin fell to his knees, gasping.

  “Get him out of here,” Hatch said. “Lock him in Cell 25.”

  The next few weeks at the ranch were the most peaceful we’d had in months. It was nice to have nothing to do. I mean, we helped out with chores and stuff; I even helped harvest honey, but there really wasn’t that much they needed help with.

  We played a lot. There was a sand volleyball pit down near the pond, which everyone spent a lot of time at. Even Ostin. What a sight that was. Ostin played volleyball about as well as I did advanced calculus. Bad, but entertaining to watch.

  It was about two weeks after our return from Idaho when Taylor and I went on a hike in the nearby mountains. We had just started climbing the first small hill when I asked, “How are your parents doing?”

  Taylor shrugged. “Not so well,” she said. “My dad’s still freaked. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a nervous breakdown.”

  “I’m not surprised. He just lost his job, his home, and everything he thought he knew about the world. I’d be freaked too.” I put my hands into my pockets. “Actually, I am freaked.”

  Taylor was quiet a moment, then stopped walking. She turned to me. “Michael, what if this is it?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What if this is as good as it gets? Seeing that marquee at Meridian High for cheerleader tryouts . . .” She shook her head. “Everything’s just moving on without us. I feel like I’ve been waiting for everything to be good again so I could be happy. But what if that day never comes?”

  “It will come,” I said. “The Elgen can’t last forever.”

  She frowned. “Yes, they can. And they might. Good doesn’t always win.” Her eyes began to well up. “Why is it that good always has to fight an uphill battle?”

  I thought for a moment, then said, “I don’t know. Maybe that’s the point. Good things are higher up.”

  She began to cry. “I’m tired of fighting uphill. We almost died on the Ampere. And for what? To slow them down?”

  I put my arms around her as she started to sob. When she could speak, she said, “I’m just tired of being afraid.”

  I slowly rubbed her back. “Me too,” I said softly. “Me too.”

  Just then we heard the ringing of the dinner bell.

  I glanced down at my watch. “I wonder what that is. It’s not time to eat.”

  Taylor wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. “Something must be going on. We better go back.”

  * * *

  We hiked back down to the dirt road and had been walking for about ten minutes when Jack drove up on an ATV. “Hey, everyone’s waiting for you two.”

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “The chairman called a meeting in the main house. They sent me to get you. Hop on.”

  Jack drove us back to the house. When we got there, the main room was crowded. Not surprisingly, the three of us were the last to arrive. The feeling in the room was tense and uncomfortable. The chairman walked to the front of the room.

  “Thank you for coming on such short notice,” he said. “I called this meeting because we’ve been contacted by the voice.” He paused, looking at us. “Things are in motion. Big things.”

  I wondered what he was talking about.

  “I suppose it’s a good time to be an Elgen, if there is such a thing. The Elgen have overthrown the island nation of Tuvalu and established a base. In the last year their force has tripled in size to more than six thousand soldier-guards, and they have doubled their planned Starxource plants.

  “But that is not why I called this meeting. An opportunity has presented itself that could allow us to destroy Dr. Hatch and the Elgen once and for all.”

  We all sat up at attention.

  “Their electric youths have rebelled. Hatch has sentenced their leader, Quentin, to lifetime incarceration in a monkey cag
e.”

  “Where he belongs,” Jack whispered to me.

  “Tara and Torstyn have been sentenced to death. Kylee has also been imprisoned. Only Bryan remains free. They believe that he is the last loyal electric youth.”

  “That’s only because he’s too dumb to rebel,” Nichelle mumbled.

  The chairman looked at us for a moment, then said, “They could be invaluable allies. Not only because of their gifts, but because of their knowledge of Hatch’s plans and how he thinks.”

  He was quiet again as he looked over at me. I suddenly had the sinking feeling that he was going to say something I wasn’t going to like.

  “The entire Elgen fleet is docked at Tuvalu. One of those boats is the Joule. For those not familiar with the Elgen fleet, the Joule is their most unusual and secretive boat. In fact, it’s not only the fastest in the fleet, but it’s part submarine. It can submerge to nearly a thousand feet. It is also the most valuable boat in the fleet. It is a floating Fort Knox. It holds billions of dollars of gold bullion, foreign currencies, and diamonds.”

  “Why don’t they just put their money in banks?” I asked.

  “They do, but only five percent. The rest they physically cache. Hatch is paranoid by nature, but especially of banks. And for good reason. If you’re declaring war on the world, someone is eventually going to freeze your assets. He’s not going to allow that. The voice tells us that right now there is currently more than nine billion dollars on board the Joule.

  “We’ve also learned that the treasure won’t be there for long. One of the reasons the Elgen overthrew Tuvalu was to build a secure facility for their treasure. Their own Fort Knox.” He took a deep breath. “Wars aren’t won with guns; they’re won with checkbooks. Without that money, the Elgen can’t support their growth in troops. At least for now. Nine billion dollars is enough money for us to turn it on the Elgen and shut them down. That is, if we can find the Joule and hijack it.”