15.1

Worm, Chapter 15.1 Summary

Skitter orders her followers to clear debris, enforcing safety rules for power tool usage. Bitch arrives with her monstrous dog, Bentley, and Skitter offers her lunch as a peace offering, hoping to rebuild trust after past conflicts. Bitch, Biter, and Barker join Skitter in her lair, where Charlotte prepares food. Biter inquires about Skitter’s relationship with Bitch, and she offers them advice on how to deal with their leader, emphasizing honesty, assertiveness, and respect.

Barker tests Skitter with a concussive blast, but she retaliates swiftly, incapacitating him with pepper spray-laced bugs. Bitch returns, observes the scene, and accepts Skitter’s explanation after Biter confirms Barker started the altercation.

A conversation with the unpowered girl in Bitch’s group reveals her desire for a greyhound, leading Bitch to offer her Ink, a dog from her shelter, under the condition that the girl provides a proper home. Skitter is relieved, seeing this as a step towards improving Bitch’s relationship with her underlings.

Lisa calls, informing Skitter of their imminent arrival. Skitter takes a moment to reflect on the draining nature of managing people and maintaining her image. She then presents Bitch with a custom-made spider silk jacket and a mask resembling her power’s effect on dogs. Bitch accepts the gift, though her reaction is difficult to read.

Grue, Tattletale, Imp, Regent, and Shatterbird arrive, and Skitter distributes their new costumes, each tailored to their needs and preferences. She emphasizes their collective change since the Slaughterhouse Nine incident.

Lisa initiates a discussion about their future with Coil, prompted by Skitter’s concerns about Dinah’s captivity. They acknowledge the risks of continuing to work for him and the need for a unified approach. Alec and Rachel, initially motivated by self-interest and Coil’s offerings, agree to support Skitter’s plan, despite Alec’s cynicism about the world’s impending end.

Bitch expresses her resentment towards Coil for his broken promises and confirms her willingness to oppose him. The team agrees to stand together, acknowledging the challenges ahead, including the upcoming mayoral elections and the possibility of the city being condemned.

Lisa outlines the threats they face: the Chosen, Coil’s forces, the Travelers, the heroes, and Coil’s own strategic mind. The team recognizes the need for a different approach, one focused on subterfuge and control, as direct confrontation could be disastrous. They have a short window before Dinah’s powers return, making Coil significantly more dangerous.

Despite the grim outlook, the team finds a sense of unity and purpose in their shared opposition to Coil, viewing it as a way to make the most of the time they have left before the predicted apocalypse.