A 13-year-old orphan named Piper Linny lives in Scrap Town Number Sixteen in the Merrow Kingdom in a world called Solace. Merrow and its rival kingdom, the Dragonfly territories, exist in a world that resembles late 19th-century industrial America. Piper survives by scavenging valuable items that fall through an atmospheric rift during the frequent meteor storms that afflict the region. She is also a talented mechanic who can repair virtually anything. One night, her young friend Micah brings her a damaged music box, which she is able to fix in a matter of minutes. Some of the residents of Scrap Town think that Piper’s abilities with machinery are supernatural.

Piper advises Micah on how to sell the music box at the trader’s market, where wealthy people come to purchase items like these. She also warns Micah about going out to scavenge during the dangerous meteor storms. The air is toxic, and it is illegal for residents to be caught outside of the underground shelters during a storm. Micah leaves the shack, assuring Piper that he will be careful. The glow in the pre-dawn sky warns Piper that she has very little time to pack up a few supplies and head to the shelter before the next storm hits.