19.4

Worm, Chapter 19.4 Summary:

“Perfectly happy,” Scapegoat said, wallowing in self-delusion about Brockton Bay’s safety despite evidence to the contrary, until Tattletale shattered his blissful ignorance. Tattletale, ever the strategist, proposed a daring plan: tear a hole in reality using Scrub’s power combined with another’s. Her target? Noelle, also known as Echidna, the monstrous parahuman wreaking havoc.

Tecton, a seasoned hero, questioned the wisdom of such a risky move, but Tattletale was adamant. This wasn’t just about containing Noelle; it was about striking at the source of parahuman abilities, a chance to shut them down. The Travelers, a group displaced from their reality by Cauldron, held the key. Their desire to return home was Tattletale’s ultimate bargaining chip.

Skitter, weary but resolute, agreed to gather supplies with Scapegoat, accompanied by Rachel and her mutant dogs, as well as the heroes Gully and Wanton. As they navigated the evacuating city, Skitter used her bugs to guide them, her mind drifting in and out of a restless near-sleep.

Upon reaching their destination, Skitter found Atlas, her giant beetle, weak but unharmed. She fed him and prepared for their return, only to find the others gone. A tense reunion with Tattletale and a group of heroes revealed a standoff. Tattletale, pushing her risky plan, had provoked the heroes, leading to a confrontation with Miss Militia.

Accusations flew, revealing a hidden truth about Cauldron, the organization behind the creation of many parahumans. The Triumvirate, the world’s foremost hero team, was deeply involved. Legend himself arrived, confirming the shocking revelation and explaining Cauldron’s motives and the origin of the Travelers.

As the ground trembled, signaling Echidna’s imminent arrival, Legend revealed another bombshell: Manton, the Siberian’s controller, was responsible for the “case fifty-threes,” individuals altered by a Cauldron formula. Despite the gravity of the situation, Tattletale’s triumphant smile hinted at a deeper game, one Skitter couldn’t fully grasp.

With Echidna’s emergence, the fragile peace shattered. The monstrous parahuman, now larger and more developed, attacked, her Grue clone creating a wave of darkness to engulf the heroes. Legend, Alexandria, and Eidolon took to the air, their subtle nod to each other confirming Skitter’s suspicions of Legend’s earlier omissions.

The battle was about to begin, and Skitter, caught in a web of secrets and lies, knew that the truth, like Echidna, was a monstrous force, difficult to contain and impossible to ignore.