A Parade of Horribles
by Matt Dinniman
Contents
Chapter 45
Overview
After One Fine Pig’s APV kills Finley, Quemada, and Olga, Carl nearly loses control and attacks the vehicle in open fury. Donut and Imani stop him after the APV’s defenses kill Lipstick and a dromedarian attacker, forcing Carl to confront how badly his team has been weakened. By overhearing the Tigrans discuss Penelope’s importance, Carl gains a new strategic angle just as Louis warns that the next phase will require acid-rain protection.
Summary
Carl charges into One Fine Pig’s garage, furious that their APV has just run over Finley, Quemada, and Olga. The Tigrans respond by firing a powerful ethereal gun from the vehicle, blowing out the garage wall and setting the neighboring bus on fire. Three dromedarians with spiked bats rush in and begin smashing the APV while Carl pounds on the door, consumed by rage.
The fight turns disastrous when the APV’s shield reactivates. The shield throws Carl out through the ruined wall, kills one of the attacking dromedarians by launching him into the garage door, and crushes Lipstick the gremlin against the back wall. Penelope squeals from inside the truck, lightning flashes overhead, and Donut and Imani physically stop Carl before he can throw himself back at the vehicle and make things worse.
Once Carl is pulled away, the shock of the losses hits him. He stares at the remains of Finley, Olga, and Quemada and fixates on how suddenly Finley’s attempt to help his friends ended in all three deaths. Donut calms Carl by reminding him they still have contingency plans, and Carl slowly regains control, realizing that reckless revenge will not solve their new problems: their team is short on help, cannot replace mercenaries between heats, and has fewer options for driving.
Thinking strategically again, Carl listens to Nico and Dario argue inside the APV. Their conversation reveals that Penelope is the true priority, that they intend to get her to a safe place, and that Lipstick’s death means they must find another gremlin or rely on Emergency Gremlins. Carl concludes that One Fine Pig must be eliminated carefully, and Penelope may be the key to doing it.
The chapter closes with an update from Louis over chat. Louis reports that his team is doing unusually well, that Prepotente seems to know the best route through the tube-filled course, and that vendors in town are selling acid-rain protection that may soon run out. Carl answers that his team is on the way, showing that he has shifted from blind anger back to survival-focused action.
Who Appears
- CarlEnraged by his allies’ deaths, he attacks One Fine Pig, regains control, and shifts to a smarter plan.
- DonutCalms Carl, warns him not to hurt Penelope, and helps collect the bodies.
- ImaniPhysically restrains Carl and helps prevent his rage from turning into suicide.
- NicoAggressive Tigran who wants to keep racing and treat Penelope as the team’s priority.
- DarioMore cautious Tigran who fears Carl and wants Penelope kept safe inside the APV.
- PenelopePig inside the APV whose panic triggers ominous lightning and whose safety drives the Tigrans.
- LipstickOne Fine Pig’s gremlin, killed when the APV’s shield crushes him against the garage wall.
- LouisSends a race update and warns Carl’s team to buy acid-rain protection in town.
- FinleyNPC mercenary whose attempt to help Olga and Quemada ends in his sudden death.
- OlgaRecently soul-drained ally whose body Carl recovers after the APV attack.
- QuemadaAlly killed by the APV; his death deepens Carl’s grief and anger.
- The dromedariansNearby camel fighters who attack the APV with bats; one is killed by the shield.