27.5

Summary of Parahumans: Worm, Chapter 27.5:

(Compression Goal: 5/5, Target Word Count: 1503)

Scion’s attack begins. A sphere of golden light drops from the sky, obliterating everything it touches. I use my flight pack to gain speed, trying to escape. Lab Rat throws a device into the water, and I use my bugs to push it further away from the platform. Lustrum uses her power, momentarily disrupting everyone’s abilities, including mine. The sphere hits the platform, shearing through it. I jump off, falling towards the water, feeling a disconnect between my senses and my body.

I’m injured, missing my right hand and legs, with organs spilling out. A memory of Legend talking about hitting water at high speed surfaces. I use my bugs to assess my condition and try to slow my fall with the flight pack. I focus on the bugs and the antigravity, timing the flight pack to my heartbeat. I see Scion hovering over the water, holding a giant, smoky figure. The oil rig collapses.

I manage to get some air, but I’m in critical condition. I think about my tools, but they’re either useless or destroyed. I’m not ready to die, remembering how I’d tested the limits even near Gimel’s Brockton Bay. Lab Rat’s device beeps, and a wave washes over me. I manage to get a little air, feeling the device prodding my arm. My bugs help free it, moving it to my back where the skin is exposed. A needle pierces my skin, injecting something.

The pain fades, but I’m not healing in the traditional sense. My body is changing, flesh knitting together but also breaking down. Water seeps into my throat, but I manage to breathe easier. My mouth opens wider, stretching horizontally. My legs kick, pumping air in and out of my abdominal cavity. I use my remaining hand and a newly forming paddle-like limb to swim towards the platform. I reach an intact leg and start climbing, my body fueled by a foreign rage.

Lab Rat’s serum is turning people into weapons. I could turn away, but I’m drawn to the fight, fueled by emotion. I reach the top of the pillar, then swing across the underside of the platform. The fighting is more of a systematic elimination, with only Legend, Glaistig Uaine, Pretender, and Eidolon holding their own. The Irregulars are tending to two injured capes.

I communicate with Weld using my bugs, explaining Lab Rat’s devices. Weld uses the devices on the injured, triggering transformations. They discuss Gully’s potential survival, and I think about Grue. Glaistig Uaine creates a spirit that spreads across the sky, distracting Scion. The Irregulars talk about the temporary nature of Lab Rat’s transformations.

I suggest driving Scion away or killing him, fueled by the programmed bloodlust. The tendril-girl suggests they retreat, but Weld argues there’s nowhere to run. They debate their options, with Weld expressing a desire to stay and help. I order them to leave, feeling anger I can barely express. Scion attacks, and I grab one of the injured, taking cover under the platform.

The light fades, and I see the damage. The cloud cover is gone, and Glaistig Uaine’s sky-spirit is falling apart. Scion turns his attention to her. Eidolon and Legend appear, attacking Scion while Alexandria gets behind him. The tendril-girl, Sveta, urges them to leave, but Weld refuses to swim. They argue about his options, with Sanguine suggesting he walk on the ocean floor.

Scion attacks capes in the water. Glaistig Uaine traps Scion in a time-loop using a Gray Boy spirit, but he breaks free. My swarm is agitated, and Glaistig Uaine continues fighting, using a spirit that grants her enhanced movement. Weld agrees to leave, and they start preparing. I create a rope from my silk, and the others begin to descend. Weld and Sveta say their goodbyes, with Weld handing her to Sanguine in a protective sphere.

I refuse to leave, believing there’s still a chance to hurt Scion. Weld argues it’s hopeless, revealing his fear of sinking and his deception in getting the others to leave. He plans to stay. I nod, understanding his fear but determined to fight. Weld admits the morale is broken, and they can only run and seek revenge. I urge him to prove otherwise, then move to the edge of the platform.

I watch the last of the Irregulars enter the water, using debris for flotation. I use my bugs to create a long silk cord, attaching it to Scion’s eyes. I pass the other end to a Thanda, who freezes it in space, immobilizing Scion. Glaistig Uaine, Legend, and Eidolon attack. I retrieve the silk, realizing it’s not long enough to use the Thanda again.

I create a swarm decoy, hoping to exploit Scion’s possible weakness to creations. He destroys the decoy, then turns towards me, realizing I’m the controller. Glaistig Uaine creates another set of spirits, including Clockblocker’s, which freezes Scion. She banishes it, replacing it with the spirit that creates dark blotches. The blotches gravitate towards Scion, forming a single point.

Eidolon detonates the effect, sending Scion into the water. I realize they can repeat the process, but I’m out of bugs. I dive into the water, searching for simple lifeforms to control. My claw twitches, biting into soft flesh. I’m deteriorating, losing limbs and strength. I refuse to stop, focusing on gathering krill for another decoy.

My body continues to break down, and my consciousness fades. I see Glaistig Uaine watching me, a look of disappointment on her face as a portal opens, pulling me in. I realize Scion is gone, and they won’t be able to recover. I black out, thinking they’ve lost.