20.x (Bonus Interlude #1; Stan)

Worm, Chapter 20.x (Bonus Interlude #1; Stan) Summary:

Stan, a reporter for channel twelve, arrives at Arcadia High School with his crew, Nipper and Marshall, to cover the aftermath of the confrontation between Dragon, Defiant, and Skitter. The humidity is brutal, clinging to Stan’s back, but he powers through, determined to get the story.

They park uphill from the school, strategically positioning their van for a quick getaway if needed. The school is surrounded by police cars and PRT vans, but it’s the uniformed guards with “Arcadia High School” stenciled on their sleeves that catch Stan’s attention. It feels more like a prison than a school.

Principal Howell, a woman with old acne scars and a nose that doesn’t quite fit her face, confronts them at the gate. Stan tries to negotiate, offering her a favor in exchange for access to the school and her students. Howell refuses, well aware that Stan is trying to bait her into giving him a sound bite.

Stan pretends to give up, but it’s a ruse. He instructs Marshall to find students willing to talk, particularly those who attended Winslow and might have known Skitter’s civilian identity, Taylor. He sends Nipper to film the uniformed guards, then approaches a group of teenage girls for an interview.

The girls reveal that Skitter is indeed Taylor, a former Winslow student. They recount the events, mentioning Dragon, Defiant, Sere, Adamant, and Clockblocker’s involvement. Marshall returns with a student who has cell phone video of a long conversation between Defiant, Dragon, and Skitter in the cafeteria. Stan pays her for the footage, deciding to watch it later.

He interviews two more groups, learning that Channel four has arrived, and the race is on. He returns to the van with Marshall and the laptop, deciding to watch the video to understand the narrative. Nipper connects the laptop to the studio, allowing the editors to access the footage.

The video shows a tense conversation between Taylor, Defiant, and Dragon. Stan takes notes, highlighting key phrases and questions. He identifies the heart of the story: students siding with Skitter over the heroes. He cuts the scene, titles it “The heart of this story?”, and the editors at the studio agree.

Marshall returns with a despondent young man who claims to have known Taylor. Stan smiles.

The news segment begins, with Stan reporting on the confrontation at Arcadia High. Clips of the mechanized dragon suit and the conversation between Taylor, Defiant, and Dragon are shown. The segment raises questions about the Protectorate’s actions, Skitter’s knowledge, and the involvement of the Slaughterhouse Nine.

Sophia, watching from prison, is enraged. She kicks the television screen, shattering it, and is tackled by guards.

Danny, watching with Kurt and Lacey, is devastated. The segment shows Taylor admitting to gruesome acts, and Danny wonders if it’s his fault. Kurt turns off the television, and they decide to take Danny to their place.

The segment continues, questioning what drives students to side with a villain over heroes. Director Tagg, Piggot, Defiant, Dragon, and other officials watch the segment in a meeting. Tagg blames Defiant and Dragon for the incident, but Piggot suggests they listen to Defiant’s demands.

Defiant wants the Directors to admit culpability and clean house, with in-depth background checks and investigations into PRT members. He also wants to stop censorship, starting at midnight. Tagg is aghast, but Piggot agrees, calling it a misuse of resources.

The Chief Director turns down Defiant’s demands, revealing that they’ve been in contact with Saint, the leader of the Dragonslayers, who is eager to step into Dragon’s shoes if she takes a leave of absence. Defiant is outraged, but the Chief Director prioritizes security over morality.

The Chief Director then asks what will happen when the next Endbringer arrives. Defiant admits that it won’t go well, even with the Protectorate at its peak. The Chief Director insists on a middle ground. Defiant and Dragon agree to get through the next fight, then clean house.

The news segment ends, and Jack Slash watches with Hookwolf and Bonesaw. Bonesaw is preparing Hookwolf for an experiment, and Jack expresses his desire to inject more drama into the world’s end. The lights flicker, revealing rows of glass cases containing clones of the Nine, except for Jack and one other: Gray Boy. Bonesaw hauls on a lever, plunging the room into darkness, signaling the start of their plan.