13.07

Chapter 13.07 Summary (803 words)

“Where is he?” Skitter demanded, facing Cherish, the captive member of the Slaughterhouse Nine.

Cherish, despite her injuries, was uncooperative, refusing to give up Grue’s location. Tattletale intervened, attempting to negotiate. Cherish, however, wanted medical treatment, safety, and a billion dollars for her cooperation. Coil, present through his earpiece, implicitly refused the monetary demand, leaving the team in a bind. Trickster threatened her, but Cherish revealed Bonesaw had reinforced her body, making her more resilient to injury.

They discussed where to safely hold Cherish. Skitter suggested a buoy in the water, considering the coastline’s state after Leviathan’s attack. Coil agreed, ordering a soldier to find a medic to sedate Cherish. Tattletale deduced that Cherish planned to meet Imp downtown at six in a bathroom, likely in the same building as the rest of the Nine. She proposed setting up a dead man’s switch to deter Cherish from attempting suicide by cop, which Trickster agreed to arrange.

Cherish, trying to distract and demoralize them, taunted Trickster about his leadership and hinted at internal strife within the Travelers. She claimed Skitter had failed to save someone she cared about. Skitter, enraged, attacked Cherish, kicking her in the face before Coil intervened. Cherish continued to sow dissent, claiming Coil was using them and would discard them once the Nine were dealt with.

The team was left to ponder Cherish’s words, the trustworthiness of which was questionable. They shifted focus to rescuing Grue. Skitter suggested seeking help, despite the pact other factions had made against them. She pointed out one group hadn’t agreed: the Protectorate.

Trickster and Skitter set off to contact the Protectorate using surveillance equipment. Skitter assembled a swarm decoy and contacted the local heroes, including Legend, Miss Militia, and others. She offered to hand over Cherish in exchange for their help in rescuing Grue and stopping the Nine.

Miss Militia was skeptical, suggesting they simply kill Cherish instead. Legend questioned Skitter’s motives, referencing her past actions and ambiguous morality. Skitter defended her actions, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need to stop the Nine. She criticized the Protectorate for their inaction, comparing them unfavorably to Armsmaster.

Miss Militia revealed that Armsmaster had escaped from the hospital, adding another layer of complication to the situation. Skitter tried to convince the Protectorate to join forces, emphasizing their knowledge of the Nine and the unique opportunity to strike. However, Miss Militia and Legend ultimately refused, citing the risks and their commitment to a more cautious approach.

Skitter shared a final tip about Bonesaw’s enhancements to the Nine before ending the communication. Disappointed, she and Trickster were left to face the Nine without the Protectorate’s help. Trickster, however, had an idea inspired by the conversation. He urged Skitter to hurry, hinting at another plan.