Contents
Chapter 6
Overview
Travis Redden broadcasts a formal war declaration, threatening Aberrants and any aiding Primes with detainment or execution, hardening public lines. Adrienne summons Wren, secures her nearby quarters, and warns Xavier refuses to cooperate. Adrienne then reveals the nature and history of her rare corruption power—admitting past abuses and targeting Vinessa—pressing Wren to choose absolute commitment to the Uprising’s war.
Summary
In the mess hall, a holoscreen ignites with Travis Redden’s speech from the Capitol. He claims Aberrants can “corrupt minds,” blames them for his father’s collapse, and declares war, threatening Mods and any aiding Primes with camps or firing squads. The Uprising crowd bristles; Wren worries for Cross and the widening divide.
After mixed reactions, Gray checks on Wren, prompting tension with Karra over his “cowgirl” nickname. Adrienne then summons Wren to her quarters. There, Adrienne reports Xavier refuses to cooperate and faces a red threat; she also assigns Wren a nearby room at Gray’s request.
Adrienne pivots to purpose, asking Wren’s goals, and reveals details of corruption. She alone perceives “thought strands” like golden threads when reading minds and can twist or sever them. As a child, she accidentally rewired Authority reader Khem, erasing his marriage to Milla. Later, with Kallister’s help, she intentionally shredded a condemned Prime’s mind, leading to execution.
Confronted by Wren over ethics, Adrienne insists corruption isn’t physical torture but admits each act costs her. She denies mass civilian corruption in Ward C but confirms slowly corrupting Vinessa Redden to destabilize the regime, arguing wartime necessity and strategic targets.
Wren argues not all Primes want Mods dead, citing allies; Adrienne counters that survival demands hard choices and triage. The meeting ends with Adrienne challenging Wren to decide how far she will go and whether she will fight this war at the Uprising’s side.
Who Appears
- Wren Darlington (Stella Hess)Protagonist; watches Travis’s war broadcast, questions ethics, learns Adrienne’s corruption history, and is pressed to commit.
- AdrienneUprising leader; assigns Wren quarters, reveals rare corruption ability, past abuses, Vinessa targeting, and demands wartime commitment.
- Travis ReddenNew General; broadcasts war declaration, stokes fear, threatens Aberrants and aiding Primes with camps or execution.
- Gray (Grayson Blake)Uprising operative close to Wren; checks on her, requested nearby quarters, nickname sparks Karra’s jealousy.
- XavierCommand lieutenant held by Uprising; refuses to cooperate and carries a Company red threat.
- Cross ReddenTravis’s brother and Mod; off-page focus of Wren’s concern amid war declaration and family peril.
- KarraGray’s girlfriend; bristles at his nickname for Wren, masking jealousy with politeness.
- EvlynneUprising member; mocks Travis during the broadcast, voicing group defiance.
- HenleyUprising member; quips during the broadcast, easing tension.
- KallisterAuthority member; helped Adrienne explore corruption by providing a condemned Prime test subject.
- KhemLate Authority mind reader; first victim of Adrienne’s accidental rewiring, forgetting his marriage.
- MillaKhem’s wife; erased from his memory, left to Bramble Base and avoids Adrienne.
- FionaAuthority member; momentarily misidentified as Khem’s wife after Adrienne’s first corruption accident.
- Vinessa ReddenGeneral Redden’s wife; confirmed target of Adrienne’s long-term corruption to destabilize the regime.