AFTERWORD

Chapter 96

Chapter 80

Overview

Carl's team attempts a daring rescue of the possessed Louis from inside the Reaver castle while defending against waves of automated security robots. The rescue succeeds, but the explosion of anti-personnel bombs triggers a chain reaction that destroys the castle and kills Warlord Fang of the Reavers, ending the threat. Meanwhile, Kiwi enters labor back at the Larracos castle.

Summary

Carl's team secures the damaged Reaver castle entrance while waiting for Juice Box to rescue the wraith-possessed Louis from deep within the structure. Katia maps the castle's shifting honeycomb corridors, which operate on a security credential system similar to starship designs. Donut receives an urgent message that Kiwi, Mongo's mate, has gone into active labor at Bucket Boy's clinic and is asking for Mongo. The team accelerates their timeline. As Juice Box closes in on Louis, the castle's security robot dogs—called Ditch Diggers and larger variants—begin emerging in waves. Samantha, currently possessing a wraith form in the castle, warns that the robots are fleeing and mentions she has named one "Buster" as a pet. When the sentry dogs attack the team's position, Jamal uses his flamethrower to destroy many of them while Donut's upgraded Magic Missile evaporates others. Juice Box retrieves Louis and reports readiness to teleport. Carl instructs Louis to use No Disassembles—EMP-equivalent bombs—from his inventory to disable the robots. As the team retreats to their transport, Louis teleports out and collapses. Carl remotely detonates the No Disassembles, causing a catastrophic chain reaction that destroys the castle from the inside and triggers the explosion of mini-nukes, killing everyone including Warlord Fang, who was hidden inside Calliope the drake. The system awards the Reaver Warlord kill to Carl, giving the Princess Posse control of all Reaver assets. Juice Box, now in human form, reveals that Louis's heart and lungs have been surgically replaced with mechanical versions containing biological material—pieces of Epitome Tagg—as part of an incomplete surgical procedure. Louis remains unconscious and connected to life support systems. Samantha, scorched and reduced to a floating head after the explosion, returns asking for her robot dog pet.

Characters

  • CarlLeader coordinating the rescue operation and defense; decides to use No Disassembles to destroy the robots and triggers the bombs that destroy the castle
  • DonutTeam member providing firepower with upgraded Magic Missiles; receives news of Kiwi's labor and pushes to accelerate the timeline
  • TipidProvides technical expertise about the castle's shifting corridor system and starship design parallels
  • LouisThe trapped crawler possessed by a wraith; rescued by Juice Box and teleported to safety; discovered to have mechanical replacement organs containing pieces of Epitome Tagg
  • Juice BoxWraith who possesses Louis to rescue him; transforms into human form and reveals details about Louis's surgical modifications
  • KatiaMaps the castle's changing hallway system using stuffed animals positioned by Bautista
  • BautistaTracks positions of stuffed animals thrown into the castle honeycombs to help map the structure
  • MongoTeam member excited about becoming a father; initially reluctant about teleportation but present during the battle
  • RendAppears alongside Mongo; smiles and shows enthusiasm during the chaos
  • HolgerBuilds defensive positions with sandbags and provides combat support; spots incoming threat
  • ImaniCreates a shield protecting Elle, Holger, and the strippers during the explosion; attempts to wake Louis
  • ElleExamines honeycombs with the team; frozen a large robot dog with ice magic; criticizes Jamal for nearly roasting her
  • JamalShark-like team member who uses flamethrower to destroy incoming robot dogs from the honeycombs; legs are wrecked by the No Disassemble explosion
  • GonkYak companion knocked over by the explosion but survives
  • BigsStays with Gonk and shouts for the yak to get up after the explosion
  • SamanthaCurrently in wraith form inside the castle; warns about robot dogs; bonds emotionally with a robot dog named Buster; returns as a scorched floating head asking for her pet
  • FlorinSends urgent message about Kiwi entering labor
  • KiwiPregnant mate of Mongo; enters active labor at Bucket Boy's clinic
  • CalliopeBleached drake used by Warlord Fang as a hiding place; spirals from sky and explodes
  • Warlord FangReaver leader who dies after being hidden inside Calliope when the castle explodes
  • Epitome TaggNon-corporeal entity whose biological material has been incorporated into Louis's replacement heart and lungs
  • Bucket BoyRuns a new clinic where Kiwi is in labor