16.1

Worm, Chapter 16.1 Summary

Skitter hosts a feast for the people in her territory, offering food and drinks to boost morale after a week of hard work clearing and settling. The delicious smell of pork shoulders cooking in beer, carrots, onions, and garlic fills the air, attracting around sixty people. Charlotte and Sierra manage the food and drinks, ensuring everyone gets their share. Despite the temptation to push for more work, Skitter decides to let her people enjoy the day, recognizing that their happiness will contribute more in the long run.

Grue arrives, checking in on Skitter after her mission with Coil. He understands her decision to participate, despite the risks, and they discuss their complicated relationship. Skitter reassures him that she understands his priorities, and they agree to fit each other in during breaks. Grue expresses a desire to kiss her but refrains, not wanting to disrupt her image among her people.

Their conversation is interrupted by a tremor sensed by Skitter’s swarm. A massive machine resembling Dragon settles on a nearby building, prompting Skitter to order her people to evacuate. She identifies the threat as Dragon and realizes it’s a retaliation for their actions against the mayor. Skitter calls Tattletale, who warns them not to fight and to run and hide. Dragon cuts off their communications, announcing her intent to capture Skitter.

Dragon deploys numerous drones, each equipped with an electric pulse weapon. Skitter and Grue work together to evade the drones, using Grue’s darkness to disrupt their signals. Dragon attacks with a focused blast of wind, forcing them to retreat further. They manage to escape into a building, with the drones unable to follow in the darkness.

They reach Coil’s base, where they find the other Undersiders and the Travelers. Regent and Shatterbird led the way, their silence indicating losses. Imp reveals that Ballistic, Genesis, and Bitch are missing. Tattletale explains that Dragon hit multiple territories simultaneously, using different machines to target each cape. Her team barely escaped, losing half their squad. Sundancer recounts her near-death experience, trapped by forcefields and nearly falling into molten sludge.

Coil addresses the group, expressing his disappointment but urging them to deal with the situation. He suspects a traitor but acknowledges that no one could have known his plans. Tattletale confirms that communications are down, and they can’t coordinate attacks. Trickster suggests using Regent or Shatterbird, but Skitter warns of Dragon’s potential countermeasures. Coil insists they resolve the issue, rescue their missing members, and dispatch Dragon.

Imp expresses her reluctance to participate in such a dangerous mission, questioning Coil’s expectations. The tension rises as Coil asks if others feel the same. Skitter admits the danger and the unreasonable timeframe, stating she would only go in to rescue Bitch. Coil offers compensation, but Skitter demands a promise regarding her previous request to find Dinah. Coil agrees, provided they deal with Dragon and reclaim their territories within twenty-one hours.

Imp demands her own territory, which Coil agrees to discuss later. Tattletale asks for the degraded PRT data, and Coil complies. She also inquires about Coil’s financial resources, and he agrees to discuss it with her.

Too easily, Skitter thinks, as Coil made that promise too easily. But it was something. They had less than a day to save their teammates and defeat Dragon. They would need a solid plan, and fast.