14.6

Worm, Arc 14.6 Summary

Weld rallies the remaining Wards, Vista and Flechette, to shield the acid-drenched Glory Girl from Crawler. Miss Militia coordinates the adult heroes, flanking Crawler with Ursa, Assault, Prism, Battery, and Triumph. Vista manipulates space, hindering Crawler’s attacks and movements, while Flechette pierces his face with a specialized bolt. Crawler, seemingly enjoying the pain, is barely fazed, even by Miss Militia’s rocket launcher and Triumph’s sonic blasts.

Prism and Battery engage Mannequin, their powers synergizing for a powerful offensive. Prism’s duplicative ability allows her to survive, while Battery’s charged attacks deliver devastating blows. Mannequin, agile and resilient, counters effectively, using his grappling-hook hands and harpoon to injure Prism’s duplicates.

Skitter, unable to use her swarm effectively in the intense fire, seeks a way to assist. Weld instructs her to drop more bombs on Mannequin, but she’s out. He then orders her to evacuate Glory Girl and Cache, a daunting task due to the beetle’s limited carrying capacity.

Cache uses his power to retreat into another dimension, giving Skitter an idea. She asks Weld if Glory Girl can fly, hoping to utilize her powers for escape. Despite Glory Girl’s insensate state, Weld catapults her towards Skitter.

Skitter catches Glory Girl, urging her to fly. The beetle struggles under the added weight, and Skitter fears Glory Girl’s touch. Glory Girl begins to lift, and they escape the battlefield, flying over Genesis.

Skitter names her beetle “Atlas.” They land near her teammates, and Amy’s reaction to Glory Girl’s injuries is one of shock. Skitter demands Amy heal her sister, but Victoria weakly refuses. Despite Victoria’s protests, Tattletale insists Amy proceed, and Glory Girl is paralyzed.

Amy explains the venom’s complexity, attempting to create a firebreak and stabilize Glory Girl. Tattletale prioritizes undoing Amy’s alterations to Victoria’s mind. Amy, desperate, works to slow the dissolving and repair the necrotized tissue.

Skitter suggests using bugs as a source of protein and other nutrients for Amy’s work, an idea she’d researched for potential food shortages. This sparks a discussion about the ethics of her plan and the creepiness of her power.

Amy incorporates the bugs into Glory Girl’s body as a temporary measure. Glory Girl’s condition improves, but she remains severely scarred. Amy insists on staying to fully heal her, but Tattletale argues for Victoria’s right to choose once her mind is restored.

Amy reveals she intends to leave after fixing Victoria, having “burned that bridge” with her family. Tattletale criticizes Amy’s actions as selfish, a means to soothe her guilt. Amy thanks Skitter for her help but reveals she’s made Atlas and the other modified bugs with no digestive system, ensuring their death.

Skitter, furious at Amy’s betrayal, is restrained by Tattletale. Grue attempts to modify Atlas’s digestive system using his power, but the outcome is uncertain. Skitter, restless and frustrated, decides to scout for Jack and Bonesaw.

Tattletale deduces their likely hiding place: the Endbringer shelters. She bases this on their last known direction and the shelters’ specifications: unoccupied, fortified, and stocked with supplies. Skitter agrees, realizing it’s the most logical location.