16.12

Worm, Chapter 16.12 Summary

Calvert had strategically positioned his soldiers around the Undersiders, a byproduct of his meticulous planning. Skitter, driving blind but guided by her swarm, noticed the squads encircling her team three blocks away. They shifted positions, always half on the move, a tactic that hinted at Calvert’s dated or lacking battlefield experience. He could have made tracking her team much harder without this perimeter.

The squads were equipped with radios, checked in regularly by Calvert. He’d dropped Skitter in Genesis’ territory, far from where she wanted to be. Driving was slow and treacherous due to damaged, flooded roads and slick surfaces. Despite being blind, relying on her swarm, Skitter found driving manageable.

She stopped to assess the situation. If she charged, Calvert’s men would converge. There were 25-50 soldiers, well-equipped, including sniper rifles and what looked like a mortar. Calvert likely had this perimeter to prevent Dinah’s escape, or to keep Skitter from reuniting with her team.

A pressing concern was how Calvert had teleported her. He must have tagged her somehow. She didn’t want to be seen, risking being teleported to another trap. Staying hidden was crucial, as Calvert’s power was less effective with incomplete information.

An offensive was tempting, but attacking individual squads would alert Calvert, risking her team’s lives. Mortar fire was a real threat. Why hadn’t he used similar tactics at the house? Had he expected her to escape? Helped her, even?

Skitter needed more information. The Undersiders were walking. Atlas was missing, likely due to Dinah’s aversion to riding the dogs. Skitter positioned bugs on the soldiers, moving closer on foot, gathering more insects along the way.

It was evening, the city dark. Soldiers were likely using night vision. Skitter followed a squad, getting within half a block, hidden behind a van. Her goal wasn’t to attack, but to get close enough to reach her team with her power.

She sensed her team, including a doppelganger walking hand-in-hand with Dinah. The fake Skitter was a near-perfect copy, complete with a similar costume, weapons, and even pinned bugs. This solidified Skitter’s belief that Calvert’s betrayal was premeditated.

Dinah was still with them. Fake Skitter was likely leading her back into Calvert’s custody. What was Calvert’s plan? Why hadn’t he simply bombed them? The immediate threat was the mortars, the larger one, the soldiers ready to fire. The Undersiders were unaware.

Communication was difficult. Bugs couldn’t spell messages in the dark, her phone was locked, and the fake Skitter made direct contact risky. Imp was a potential go-between, but Calvert might be monitoring her. Rachel was out, unable to read well.

Skitter sent a ladybug to Dinah, her last hope. Dinah hid the bug, confirming she knew the truth. They’d never spoken, yet everything hinged on this interaction. Dinah scratched her collarbone with the bug. Was she signaling? Did she even want to be rescued?

Dinah repeated the gesture, touching the bug to her chest, near her heart. Fake Skitter warned her not to scratch. Dinah was signaling, but the message seemed suicidal. Come to her? What was the advantage?

Calvert must anticipate Skitter’s rescue attempt. What did he expect her to do? She was versatile, unpredictable. Common elements in her approach? Her power, her lack of dynamism. She needed time to set up. Calvert knew this.

They were walking, letting her catch up. How would he capitalize on her methodical approach? Dinah struck her leg with the bug. Now. Dinah urged immediate action. Skitter ran.

She found a route through the storm drains, a noisy, painful journey. She realized the advantage of being in the mortar’s target area. She pushed on, reaching her team. Her extended range allowed her to strike at all four mortars simultaneously.

She attacked the soldiers, disabling the mortars. Fake Skitter knew, alerted by a hidden communication device. She turned, drawing her gun, holding Dinah. “Got no more use for you,” she said, sounding just like Skitter.

A trap sprung. Bugs attacked Skitter’s team, following a crude, overriding command. “Betraying us!?” Bitch screamed. “Sorry… the plan,” fake Skitter said. “No!” Skitter shouted, too far away to be heard.

The other Skitter shot Bitch, then dropped her gun as Grue’s darkness fell. The center of the bug-controlling effect was a box in a building. She had to shut it down.

Fake Skitter threw a flashbang. The mortar crews retreated. This was Calvert’s plan: make it look like Skitter betrayed her team. But she could still fix this. Shut down the box or reveal the fake?

She had to stop the box. Dinah signaled: S. O. R. R. Then she and the fake were gone, replaced by rubble and another flashbang.

Skitter broke into the building, fighting through the swarming bugs. Grue, Bitch, and Imp found her, Imp threatening her. “Turn off your fucking power,” she snarled.

Grue and Bitch entered. “Taser won’t do anything,” Grue said, strangely calm. “What about if she’s dead?” Bitch asked, furious. Grue knelt beside Skitter. “Why?” he asked.

“Use… dark,” Skitter gasped. Grue’s darkness enveloped them, weakening her power. He stood, gestured to Bastard. “Yeah,” he said to Bitch. Bastard destroyed the swarm box.

“It wasn’t her,” Grue said to Imp. “Explain,” he told Skitter. “Tattletale. Regent,” she coughed, “They’re in trouble. With Calvert. With Coil.”