25.4

Worm, Chapter 25.4 Summary:

Weaver’s distress call to Glenn Chambers is urgent, but not urgent enough to warrant a ‘nine’ on his automated system. She settles for ‘one’, barely holding it together, a stark contrast to her usual composure in a crisis. Glenn reveals that the PRT’s plan is a twisted version of his own, but the timing is off, making it a gamble. The jazzy fanfare of a show starting cuts their conversation short, with Tecton providing a pillar of confidence amidst the chaos. Glenn’s advice to Weaver is to play the part of the teenage Ward, to be engaging, and to avoid being clever, as the show isn’t live and can be edited.

The Wards take the stage for “Mornings with O, J and Koffi,” a show that’s a condensed version of everything Weaver finds irritating. The costumes, the small talk, the fake laughter – it’s all a performance. Tecton fields questions about the team’s changes, deflecting talk of his old costume and highlighting Weaver’s contribution of spider silk to the new ones. The hosts, O, Jo, and Koffi, probe into Weaver’s past as a villain, her house arrest, and her encounter with a fake Alexandria. Weaver navigates the questions, trying to steer the conversation away from herself and towards the team.

The hosts’ questions are a minefield, designed to make Weaver look bad. She talks about her past, trying to explain her actions without revealing too much. The hosts press her on her villainous past, her relationship with Grue, and her claim of being “a little bit heroic” as a villain. Grace and Tecton come to her defense, but the damage is done. The conversation shifts to the other Wards, with Wanton teasing Cuff about her girly-girl nature, and Annex and Golem discussing their experiences.

Weaver praises Golem’s heroic qualities, trying to build the camaraderie Glenn suggested. The hosts ask about relationships within the team, and Wanton brings up Weaver’s past with Grue again, much to her annoyance. O mentions a “tender moment on the battlefield,” which Weaver wants to dismiss as a personal matter. Jo asks Weaver if she considers herself heroic, and Weaver admits to being “a little bit villainous as a hero.” Koffi challenges her on this, bringing up her past actions.

As the show nears an ad break, Annex volunteers for a power demonstration, but a series of beeps from their phones interrupts them. A yellow-bordered text message appears: “Stand by. Disturbance recorded. Possible Class S threat.” The backdrop changes to a grainy image of a city in Asia, and the audience reacts with alarm. A new Endbringer has appeared, and it’s unlike any they’ve seen before. The Endbringer, later codenamed Khonsu, is a Buddha-like figure, black as night with silver accents, with a sphere at his core. He’s not a fighter like Behemoth or Leviathan, but he has a power that’s just as devastating.

Khonsu creates circles of altered time, trapping people and objects within. The circles move, consuming everything in their path, leaving behind only skeletons and ruins. The Wards watch in horror as Khonsu effortlessly destroys a building, trapping people inside. They realize that Japan, where Khonsu has appeared, doesn’t have many dedicated heroes anymore. Khonsu creates two more circles, and they begin to orbit him, trapping more people and leaving a trail of death.

Weaver notes that movers and shakers might be useful against Khonsu, but the others are too stunned to respond. Cuff is in tears, and Grace tries to comfort her. The Wards receive another text: “Ship is outside if you want it, Chicago Wards. Attendance not mandatory. Temp. codename is Khonsu.” Cuff decides to stay, while Weaver prepares to go. As they watch, Khonsu reverses the direction of the circles and extends their range, trapping more capes.

The Wards board the dragon-craft, but it doesn’t take off. The monitors show Khonsu in a different city, Cape Verde. He’s teleported across the world. The Wards receive another text: “Cannot deploy until we have a way to pin him down. Stand by until further notice.” Weaver explodes in frustration, destroying a laptop. The other Wards are silent, haunted by what they’ve seen.

Khonsu begins to fight in Cape Verde, easily weathering attacks. After several minutes, Eidolon manages to knock him back, but Khonsu doesn’t pursue. He disappears in an explosion, and the Wards receive yet another text: “Cannot deploy until we have a way to pin him down. Stand by until further notice.” Weaver’s anger turns to despair as she realizes the implications of Khonsu’s appearance. The Endbringers have never attacked so close together before. If they’re sticking to their usual rules, it means a fifth Endbringer is waiting.