26.2

Summary of Worm, Chapter 26.2:

Killington was a smoldering ruin, eradicated by a conflagration engineered by Pyrotechnical and Dragon. The town’s obliteration was a necessary evil, a quarantine to contain the horrors left by the Slaughterhouse Nine. Not a graceful solution, but a necessary one, cleansing the area of Breed’s spawn and eliminating any lingering traps within the countless corpses.

Standing on a porch overlooking the scene, Skitter organized her notes, a compendium of braille and handwritten text. Defiant joined her, his augmented armor a stark reminder of the battles they had faced, the battles yet to come. He spoke of Alcott, the precognitive, and her grim predictions. The chance of the world’s end had risen from 83.4% at the start of the Brockton Bay crisis to a staggering 93.8% after the Nine’s escape. Each missed opportunity to kill Jack Slash had increased the odds, a chilling testament to his role in the impending apocalypse.

Defiant outlined the consensus among the thinkers: Jack’s death could drastically reduce the probability of the end, potentially down to 22% or even 1%, depending on the method. Nuking the northeast corner of America was a gamble, with only a 60% chance of success and a risk of triggering the event prematurely. The conclusion was stark: Jack’s survival was inextricably linked to the apocalypse, but his death wasn’t a guaranteed solution. He was a catalyst, a facilitator, not the sole cause.

Skitter speculated about the nature of the end, suspecting a catastrophic trigger event, a power unleashed without the usual limits. But dwelling on the unknown was a distraction. The immediate focus was Jack and his clones. Dragon would jam communications when the time came, allowing a coordinated assault on the Nine.

The heroes and villains gathered, a formidable force against the coming darkness. Chevalier, the leader of the Protectorate, addressed them briefly, acknowledging the gravity of their mission and the roles each would play. No grand speech, just a simple wish for luck and a call for faith.

As the teams boarded their transports, Golem, the target of Jack’s twisted game, approached Skitter. He apologized for his earlier harshness, and she offered a gesture of support, a hand on his shoulder, a silent acknowledgment of their shared burden.

In the cockpit of the Dragonfly, Skitter turned inward, seeking guidance from the enigmatic entity within her, her passenger. A silent plea for assistance, a desperate hope for any edge in the coming fight.

Their destination: Schenectady, shrouded in an unnatural white mist, a clear sign of Winter’s presence. Screamer’s voice, insidious and manipulative, echoed through the area, taunting Golem, probing for weaknesses. The password system was implemented, a precaution against Screamer’s ability to mimic voices.

The enemy’s composition was deduced: Winter, Crimson, Cherish, and Screamer, a team built for attrition and psychological warfare. Golem engaged, his movements guided by Skitter’s instructions, relayed through coded messages spelled out by her bugs. The goal: isolate and eliminate Cherish and Screamer, disrupting the Nine’s communication and sensory network.

The battle commenced, a carefully orchestrated dance of powers and tactics. Golem, using Wanton’s telekinetic storm as a cover, navigated the rooftops, evading Crimson’s relentless assault. Skitter, unable to speak due to Screamer’s interference, directed the fight through her swarm, creating distractions, setting traps, and guiding Golem’s attacks.

Screamer’s voice, a weapon in itself, filled the air, a cacophony of taunts, threats, and imitations of loved ones’ voices. Skitter’s own voice echoed in her mind, urging her to end it all, a tempting escape from the impending horror. But the illusion shattered, a reminder of the enemy’s manipulation.

The fight escalated as Skitter identified Screamer and Cherish’s location, relaying the information to Golem. A massive hand of concrete, Golem’s creation, grew from the street, a towering weapon against the villains. Crimson, fueled by bloodlust and enhanced strength, scaled the building, only to be thwarted by Golem’s strategic use of his powers.

Screamer unleashed her namesake power, a deafening shriek that incapacitated Golem, leaving him vulnerable to Crimson’s attack. Skitter, similarly affected, sent her bugs to silence the villain, a desperate attempt to regain control.

The signal was given, an all-out attack. Stinging insects swarmed Cherish, targeting her eyes, nose, and mouth. Screamer choked, her voice momentarily silenced. Winter, emerging from the basement with a grenade launcher, joined the fray, her synergy with Crimson a deadly combination.

Skitter, using her flight pack, closed in on Winter, her silk cords reaching out to ensnare the villain. A near miss, a moment of confusion, a sign of Cherish’s interference. But Skitter adapted, her swarm redirecting the silk, creating a noose around Winter’s neck.

Golem, meanwhile, faced Crimson, using a combination of Wanton’s telekinesis and his own powers to keep the villain off balance, denying him leverage. A series of strikes, each timed and positioned to exploit Crimson’s movements, culminated in a fall, a brutal takedown in the alley below.

Chuckles, another member of the Nine, appeared, attempting to extract Screamer and Cherish. But Skitter’s silk, strung between the villains and their computers, ensnared them, preventing their escape. Chuckles, unable to free them, fled as Golem’s massive hand crashed into the building, crushing the two villains within.

The battle ended, a victory hard-won. Four members of the Nine were down, but the victory was tainted by the knowledge that Jack had likely received a report of their involvement. The rules of his game had been broken, and the consequences were unknown.

As Skitter and Golem regrouped, Chevalier contacted them, revealing the Nine’s next move: multiple locations, a choice for Golem to make. The realization dawned on Skitter: Jack was doubling down, escalating the challenge with each victory.

Golem, exhausted and overwhelmed, was directed to one location with the Chicago teams, while Skitter would take the Undersiders and Brockton Bay Wards to the other. A statement had been made, a declaration of intent. The fight was far from over, and the odds were stacked against them. But they would continue, driven by the slimmest hope of survival, a 6.2% chance to save the world from the encroaching darkness.