AFTERWORD

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Overview

Carl and Donut are summoned to meet with Orren, a Syndicate Liaison investigating Admin Loita's death. Orren methodically reconstructs how the toy cat's panel fell off and triggered its self-destruct mechanism, concluding it was a brilliantly executed assassination. Carl refuses to confess or name any sources of information, and Orren ultimately recommends closing the case, though he privately disapproves. The group learns they've been away for five days and that no crawlers can be teleported by third parties for the remainder of the floor.

Summary

After the repair subs fix the damage from the explosion, Carl and Donut are teleported to Orren's office at the Desperado Club rather than their personal space. Orren, a tall figure in a dark cloak with purple hands (later revealed to be a Valtay worm in a liquid-filled face), is a neutral Syndicate Liaison investigating admin deaths. He explains that fifteen admins have died this season to crawler attacks—an unusually high number—and presents his findings: Admin Loita's death resulted from the toy cat's back panel dislodging when it jumped, activating its self-destruct sequence. Orren theorizes the panel was weakened by disco ball residue reacting with the panel's reactive polymer coating, enhanced by moisture from Loita's rebreather. He accuses Carl of engineering this assassination, calling it "one of the most brilliant" he's seen. Carl refuses to sign a confession or reveal any sources of information, claiming the entire event was accidental. Orren cannot establish legal cause for conviction and recommends the Syndicate close the matter, though he reveals the kua-tin intervened to protect Carl, deeming him too valuable. As punishment, the Syndicate bans all crawlers from being teleported by third parties for the remainder of the floor, canceling Odette's show. When Carl and Donut return to Hump Town five days later, they learn Katia has advanced to level 41 and successfully moved the house to the land quadrant by modifying its stairwell like Louis did to a minivan. Mordecai expresses alarm at Syndicate involvement, and Carl reveals he looted Loita's rebreather as a trophy.

Characters

  • OrrenSyndicate Liaison who interrogates Carl and Donut about Admin Loita's death, reconstructs the assassination method, and ultimately recommends closing the case despite believing Carl responsible
  • CarlProtagonist crawler who refuses to confess to killing Admin Loita or identify his information sources, and successfully leaves the interrogation without penalty
  • DonutCarl's small companion who joins the interrogation, attempts to defend Carl with jokes and arguments about his lack of subtlety, and later excitedly recounts the encounter to the group
  • KatiaCarl's partner who advances to level 41 during his absence, successfully moves the house to the land quadrant, and updates the group on their situation from the land zone
  • MordecaiParty member who was absent during Carl's interrogation and expresses alarm upon learning about the Syndicate Liaison's involvement
  • MongoCreature who feeds off Donut's excited energy upon hearing about the interrogation
  • ZevTemporary PR agent who contacts Katia and Donut with updates about the situation
  • LouisReferenced as having modified the house's stairwell and left a controller that allowed the house to be flown to the land quadrant
  • FirasPilot on the way to pick up Carl and Donut from Hump Town
  • GwenCharacter Katia has been arguing with during the five-day absence
  • ChrisTrapped character being monitored by Langley on an upper floor
  • MaggieTrapped character being monitored by Langley on an upper floor
  • LangleyGuard keeping watch over Chris and Maggie on an upper floor