Twenty-Six

After Jellit's reunion with his sister Jessyn and the arrival of Allstin and Llaren Morse, the prisoners celebrate their connection through stories and laughter. However, the chapter ends with an unsettling encounter between Llaren Morse and Synnia, suggesting hidden tensions beneath the joy.

The chapter opens with Jessyn euphoric at seeing her brother Jellit alive and meeting new faces: Allstin, a charismatic newcomer who regales the group with humorous stories about his capture, and Llaren Morse, the scientist from Anjiin, now gaunt and weathered from captivity. The group crowds into their limited quarters, with Jessyn observing Tonner teaching Jellit research protocols while the others bond. Allstin, Tonner, Campar, and Rickar eventually depart to the other workgroup's quarters, leaving the core group to share their experiences of captivity. Jellit and Llaren recount their shared passage and subsequent placement in a research facility; Dafyd and Synnia describe the attempted coup and its consequences. When asked how Jessyn was located, Dafyd explains his clever use of chemoreceptive logic to ask other inmates about someone matching Jessyn's scent, leading to Jellit's discovery of multiple captive groups. The conversation turns to speculation about the Carryx's knowledge and the red cleanser's effects on human odor. As the evening wanes and participants retire, Llaren Morse is given Tonner's room. Late that night, unable to sleep, Jessyn encounters Llaren Morse in the hallway outside Synnia's open door. She observes an intensity in their interaction—Synnia looking at Llaren with hunger, agreeing to tell someone Llaren will help with something unspecified. When Llaren notices Jessyn watching, he simply nods and leaves. Synnia insists everything is fine, but Jessyn doubts it.