18.8

Worm, Chapter 18.8 Summary:

Skitter messed up. Noelle absorbed her bugs, spitting out uncontrollable ones that methodically hunted her swarm and attacked people. Skitter and Bitch, riding Bentley, decided to deal with unpowered clones, using the swarm for communication. Tattletale, taking Imp, planned to use a phone and computer, as Imp was injured.

Entering a building lobby, they found victims and aggressive clones. Bitch used a chain to clothesline the clones into a tangle. Skitter freed an innocent, then, with Bitch’s dogs, confronted three more clones. The clones were twisted, caring only for their mission. Skitter’s injuries slowed her, but she used her swarm and weapons to fight. One clone, obsessed with a girl named Steph, killed his counterpart for rejecting him. After revealing his plan to burn and kill, Skitter had Bitch’s dogs finish him.

They couldn’t track Noelle without bugs, but Grue spotted her. She’d absorbed more capes. Tecton identified them as Chronicler, Strapping Lad, Intrepid, and Young Buck, a harassment-focused team. They planned to support from the ground, prioritizing safety.

Noelle, resembling Bitch’s dogs, fought the young heroes. Young Buck used a projectile-like attack, while Chronicler created semi-solid duplicates. Tecton shattered the ground beneath Noelle, creating an antlion pit. Regent struggled to affect Noelle’s mixed form. Grue signaled Eidolon, seeking cooperation, then borrowed Grace’s power for an attack.

Noelle vomited into the pit, an ambush with a two-dimensional Vista. Tecton shattered more ground, revealing an Über and a Circus clone. Über threw knives, injuring Young Buck and Chronicler. Circus used a vacuum to pull in fliers, setting one on fire. Grace and Regent took her down.

Noelle, still in the pit, vomited a massive geyser, depositing clones and a real Leet. She used the bodies to climb out. Eidolon used desiccation, killing bugs and drying Noelle, but she regenerated. Ballistic, Scrub, and Trickster arrived, intending to “fix” Noelle.

Noelle, shot through the heart and brain, was still alive. She called them traitors. Trickster argued that the old Noelle was gone, and after a tense exchange, agreed to her demand. He swapped Grue with himself, placing Grue near Noelle, who absorbed him. Trickster then teleported Skitter in front of Noelle. She was caught and pulled into Noelle’s body, her power cutting out as she was enveloped in darkness.