16.10

Worm, Chapter 16.10 Summary

The rusted door to Coil’s base was unlocked, and every door beyond it. No guards, no active cameras. The base was emptied - trucks, weapons, supplies, furniture, all gone. Taylor used her swarm to navigate, a sense that was both limited and enhanced compared to sight. It wasn’t a new experience, but without her vision as a fallback, it felt different.

The Travelers were there, gathered near Noelle’s vault. Trickster, Ballistic, Sundancer, Genesis, and Oliver. They were in civilian clothes. Trickster was wary, asking if Taylor was alone. She explained the Undersiders were waiting for a sundown meeting with Coil, and she’d decided to explore, having sensed movement.

Trickster mentioned Coil’s death. Taylor, carefully choosing her words, indicated she knew the truth. Trickster was hostile, especially when Taylor mentioned keeping an eye on Noelle. Their conversation was strained, Taylor’s blindness hindering her ability to read their body language.

Trickster made it clear they weren’t friends, just allies of convenience. He didn’t care about territory or the people in it, and the Travelers planned to leave soon. He saw no common ground, no reason for a friendly relationship. Taylor extended an invitation to their meeting with Coil, but Trickster declined, maintaining the facade of Coil’s death. He didn’t care about the Undersiders or what happened to them.

Genesis, lagging behind, revealed Trickster’s tension, a lot riding on the next forty-eight hours. She wished Taylor luck but hoped their paths wouldn’t cross again.

Taylor realized Dinah wasn’t there. She pondered Coil’s deal, whether he’d truly release Dinah. She had proven herself valuable, but Dinah’s power was invaluable to a man like Coil.

Reaching the roof of a partially constructed building, she found her team. Imp was reckless, sitting at the edge, but Grue and Taylor urged caution. They discussed the possibility of Coil attacking, of having no escape. Taylor had a plan, using spider silk to create escape cords, but it was risky and uncertain.

They debated the merits of planning for every possibility. Taylor argued it was better to be prepared, even if their plans were wrong. Regent thought she was overthinking, but Grue agreed with her.

Coil, now Director Calvert, arrived with a PRT squad. He dismissed them after Taylor’s request, a subtle acknowledgment of his true identity. He apologized for the attack, claiming it was carefully planned, with most casualties being staged. Circus, Über, and Leet were revealed to be alive, their actions orchestrated by Coil.

The reporters, the bomb, everything was staged to make Piggot look ineffectual and pave the way for Calvert’s rise. He explained his plan to oust the Travelers and manipulate the Undersiders, using them to solidify his power. Tattletale seemed to grasp his plan, even predicting their future roles.

Calvert offered a compromise, a restoration project for the North End in exchange for a year’s delay on Dinah’s release. Taylor refused, demanding Dinah’s immediate release. To her surprise, Calvert agreed. He offered to return Dinah to her family, with covert surveillance to ensure she didn’t reveal his plans.

Taylor was stunned. She hadn’t expected him to agree so readily. She was on edge, wary of a trap, but Calvert seemed sincere. He asked Tattletale to stay behind to talk to the Travelers, and Grue insisted Regent and Shatterbird accompany her.

The PRT squad left, leaving one officer to escort Taylor and the others to Dinah. They flew to a brick building, Taylor’s bugs confirming Dinah’s presence inside. Dinah emerged, hesitant but unharmed. Taylor reached out, taking her hand.

As they turned to leave, the truck’s engine roared, its high beams blinding. Taylor tried to squeeze Dinah’s hand but found it empty. She was teleported, surrounded by containment foam, facing Calvert and his squad.

“You bastard,” Taylor said, but Calvert didn’t respond. He aimed his weapon, ready to fire. Taylor could attack, but it would only provoke them.

“No monologue?” she asked, but Calvert answered with a pull of the trigger.