Tied to a mess hall table, Lyria is brutalized by Harmony, who demands to know how Duncan died. Lyria stalls, lies about acid in her shoe, and finally declares herself the last Gamma of Lagalos, triggering Harmony’s hatred. Screams from outside interrupt as acid victims stumble in—evidence the poisoned swill plan has detonated the township.

Harmony rushes off with most of her men, leaving Picker to extract answers. As Picker threatens mutilation, Vanna (“Freckles”) slips in with a small pistol, hesitates, then shoots Picker in the head and chest. Shaken but resolute, Vanna cuts Lyria free.

They move through a township in chaos: men melt from the haemanthus, bridges fail, and childwives try to flee. Spotting Lion shepherding girls, Lyria directs them to wait, then with Vanna climbs toward the Can. Along the way, Lyria senses the positions of men and movements as a low hum—the parasite’s residual effect—helping them avoid patrols.

Inside the Can, they slip past storerooms to Harmony’s quarters, finding razors, armor, a map, and a communications console. Vanna, recalling her father’s radio work, coaxes a broad transmission mode online. Weighing the risk of alerting enemies, Lyria decides a call for help is their best chance and leans to the microphone to broadcast.