12.05

Chapter 12.05 Summary (836 words)

Skitter contemplates a suicidal attack on Jack, Bonesaw, and Cherish. Their proximity makes them vulnerable to her bugs, and the thought of avenging Tattletale and potentially saving countless lives is tempting. However, Siberian’s invincibility and Bonesaw’s medical expertise make success unlikely. The potential consequences, including the lives of her friends and Dinah’s freedom, weigh heavily against this rash act.

She grapples with the moral dilemma: is her life and the lives of her loved ones worth less than the countless people the Nine could kill? The decision isn’t binary, she realizes. She can’t sacrifice everything for a slim chance at victory. Instead, she resolves to save who she can now and prepare for a more strategic confrontation later.

Her urgency to reach her father intensifies. The flooded streets and her unsuitable footwear slow her down, but she can’t dwell on the morality of killing now. She must save people. Using her power, she begins a massive multitasking effort, checking for glass hazards and waking residents through open windows in the powerless downtown area.

She contacts Sierra and Charlotte, urging them to warn the hospital and others about Shatterbird’s imminent attack. Her range and fine control increase, allowing her to reach more people. The physical strain is immense, and the terrain treacherous, but she pushes on.

A detour at a construction site forces her to stop for the first time. She climbs a fence, wasting precious minutes, and realizes she won’t reach her father in time to get him somewhere safe. Her only option is to save him using her powers, just as she’s doing with others.

She discards her phone, knowing the time is uncertain and the device is now a liability. Sirens approach as she nears her neighborhood. She wakes more people with her bugs, then focuses on her house.

Her father is in bed, alone. The image is a painful reminder of their isolation. She draws bugs to his room, preparing to wake him, but a high-pitched sound from the windows signals Shatterbird’s attack. She knocks over his alarm clock just as the glass shatters, a wave of destruction washing over the city.

The sound is deafening, like a colossal impact followed by the rain of trillions of glass shards. She rushes to her father, finding him bloodied but alive. He had taped his windows, heeding her earlier warning.

Relief is short-lived. He’s badly injured, and internal bleeding is a concern. They need a hospital, but she knows they’ll be overcrowded. As she’s assessing the situation, two figures appear in the house.

Her first thought is the Nine, but they’re paramedics. She prepares to fight, but they’re helping her father. Relief turns to suspicion – their timing and preparedness don’t add up.

They load her father onto a stretcher, and one takes her aside. He hands her a bundle containing her mask and armor, revealing they’re with Coil. They were sent by her teammates but couldn’t find her in time.

Then comes the gut-punch: Coil wants her to attend to her territory, to leave her father in this critical moment. He offers a choice, but it’s clear what he expects. The paramedic promises the best care for her father, but it’s a hollow comfort.

She kisses her father goodbye, ignoring his pleas to stay. She orders the paramedic to take care of him, then turns away, tears streaming down her face. A torrent of curses fills her mind, directed at everyone and everything that has led to this moment, especially herself.