Eight

As military attacks begin and alien forces invade the planet, Nöl and Synnia are killed in their garden by the Carryx's demonstration of dominance. Campar, rushing to evacuate them, arrives too late and discovers Nöl dead. He flees the city with Synnia through combat zones but becomes separated from her when captured by Soft Lothark soldiers serving the Carryx.

Explosions strike a military base near Nöl's home as the alien attack begins. Nöl receives a communication from Else Yannin, who has prepared a hardened shelter in her arcology and urges him to come. Rather than flee, Nöl and his wife Synnia remain in their back garden, observing the alien ships forming a grid pattern in the sky. They discuss their choice to stay, and Nöl expresses doubt that they are important enough to target. An invisible voice announces that they are now under the authority of the Carryx and that one-eighth of the planet's population will be killed to demonstrate submission. A weapon strikes Nöl, killing him. Campar, a colleague who had volunteered to retrieve Nöl and Synnia from Else's group, races across the war-torn landscape in a transport. He arrives to find Nöl dead and Synnia in shock. He evacuates her toward Else's arcology, but their transport breaks down near the city center, which is engulfed in chaos and combat. As they flee on foot through smoke and gunfire, Campar encounters alien soldiers—creatures with thin jointed limbs and fur-covered bodies—who identify themselves as Soft Lothark serving the Carryx. When confronted by them, Campar defies them verbally and attempts to fight, and the creatures strike him down. Synnia's location and fate become unclear as Campar loses consciousness.