21.y (Interlude, Parian)

Worm, Chapter 21.y (Interlude, Parian) Summary:

Sabah, also known as Parian, walks through her territory, feeling the weight of leadership. She inherited this area from Bitch, and despite her efforts to be a different kind of leader, people still don’t respect or trust her. They reject her gifts or take them without thanks, as if she owes them something. She’s frustrated and suspects it’s because she wasn’t there during the city’s worst disasters, unlike Skitter or others who stood as a line of defense.

This feeling of being rudderless isn’t new to Sabah. It’s a recurring theme in her life, a constant uphill climb. High school was hard due to her immigration from Basra and her struggles with English. She tackled it alone, her parents too busy with their own adjustments. She found solace in math and engineering in college, but faced harassment from a male student who wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer. It escalated to the point where she caved, apologized, and pretended to be interested just to survive the social pressure. Her father’s heart attack was the last straw, triggering her powers one lonely night in her dorm room.

She abandoned engineering for fashion design, hoping for a fresh start. She made friends, moved into a shared dorm, but doubts crept in. Leviathan’s attack and the Slaughterhouse Nine’s killings of her family and roommate shattered her world. She joined Skitter’s Undersiders, hoping that this time, working out of necessity rather than desire, she’d find her direction. She didn’t.

Her headquarters, her atelier, is where she feels most out of place. People stare or ignore her, unlike the natural respect Skitter commanded. A text from Flechette shatters her thoughts: Skitter has surrendered to the PRT. Confused, Sabah tries to contact Tattletale, but gets a busy signal. She texts instead and receives a cryptic reply to meet at the usual place.

Using her powers, she deconstructs her cloth unicorn, creating a smaller quadruped for transportation. She reflects on her powers, how she manipulates fabric, creating shells filled with telekinetic energy. It’s clumsy, but it works. She arrives at the Forsberg Gallery to find Tattletale, Regent, Imp, and Grue gathered around a TV. Skitter is in a containment cell, authorities discussing her fate.

Grue is a storm of darkness, demanding answers from Tattletale, who claims her power is out of commission. Tattletale admits she had an idea about Skitter’s plan but kept it secret on Skitter’s request. Skitter believed it would fix more than it broke. Bitch arrives with her dogs, demanding to know what’s happening. Regent carelessly reveals Skitter’s surrender. Bitch is ready to break her out, but Regent explains it was intentional.

Bitch insists it’s part of Skitter’s plan. Grue reveals Skitter visited him, a silent goodbye. Tattletale confirms she and others received similar visits. Parian realizes Skitter wasn’t planning a short absence. Bitch remains loyal, believing Skitter will defeat the PRT and return. Grue, designated interim leader, focuses on damage control, especially regarding Accord, who arrives with his Ambassadors, earlier than expected.

Accord, a meticulous and dangerous villain, expresses his dislike for surprises. Tattletale, despite her throbbing headache, confronts him, asserting the Undersiders’ authority. Accord complains about Skitter’s absence and risky decisions, but Tattletale reminds him they are not partners but landlord and tenant. She offers to consider his ideas for city management, a generous bonus to their existing contract.

Accord accepts, hoping for stability and no further national news about the Undersiders. Parian is stunned by the mention of national attention, thinking of her family and friends who are undergoing facial reconstruction surgery. After Accord leaves, Tattletale explains her strategy, using old information and bluffing to maintain their position. She admits she hasn’t even read Skitter’s management booklet.

Parian, feeling out of her depth, finally speaks up, suggesting that Skitter’s actions are a way to protect them all, using herself as a bargaining chip with Director Tagg. She also believes Skitter is seeking personal redemption, maybe making peace with her guilt and her father. Tattletale agrees they should trust Skitter’s plan. Bitch, in a burst of frustration, smashes the TV. They decide to wait until nightfall, Skitter’s deadline.

Back at her atelier, Parian finds Flechette waiting. Flechette, avoiding the PRT, admits she doesn’t know why she’s there. They talk, reminiscing about their past. Flechette, once confident, now feels lost. She admits she was most comfortable with Parian during the post-Leviathan chaos. Parian removes her mask and wig, a symbol of her past failures and a reminder of the Slaughterhouse Nine’s brutality.

Flechette reveals Skitter asked her what she wanted, and she answered “Parian.” Parian, having been manipulated before, is wary. Flechette insists her motives aren’t carnal, but Parian sees through her poorly-timed glances. Flechette asks what Parian wants, and she answers “direction,” specifically excelling at something meaningful. Flechette realizes Parian is referring to her people in Dolltown, who need money for reconstructive surgery.

Parian explains she needs to be part of the Undersiders to influence them and protect people. Flechette offers to join as her lieutenant, giving up her arbalest and the Wards. Parian accepts, seeing a chance to make a difference. She kisses Flechette, feeling a sense of rightness she hasn’t felt before, a partnership that might finally make the uphill climb a little easier.