The Peripheral

Flynne returns and offers to take Netherton with her to eat. First, she must travel through the maze of tunnels that have been constructed between headquarters and Sushi Barn. Netherton points out, ironically, how what they have constructed is like some kind of primitive game. Flynne tells Netherton that Griff and Lowbeer are sort of the same person. Netherton then reveals to Flynne that he hates the world he lives in.

Tommy arrives and visits Flynne. He notifies her that Homes is sending a contingent force to take apart Coldiron USA. Tommy indicates that Homes has been corrupted, though by whom he does not know.

This is a short chapter in which Netherton tries to sleep and reflects on what Flynne revealed about Griff and Lowbeer. He is thankful that he is not as old as Lowbeer and has avoided the same kind of disjointed timeline in his own life.

Ash prepares the peripheral for Flynne’s arrival prior to the main event at Daedra’s. Flynne occupies the peripheral and immediately mentions that Homes is bearing down on the headquarters. She asks Lowbeer, who has called, if there is anything Griff can do. Lowbeer says that, at the moment, there is not much that can be done, but it is possible that it can be averted if all goes well at Daedra’s event. Flynne then sees Connor and Burton play fighting in their peripherals.

A Zil is a vehicle from 2029, and this is the vehicle in which Ash will drive them to Daedra’s party. Connor will escort Flynne as her bodyguard. Burton’s peripheral will be placed in the trunk.

On the way to the party, Flynne asks to call home. Macon provides her an update suggesting that nothing has changed and that in short order, Homes will be arriving to dismantle the operation. As the chapter concludes, they have arrived at Daedra’s.

Netherton and Flynne pass through a complicated and super high-tech security apparatus. Connor also passes through but must keep his distance from Netherton and Flynne according to the robot’s instructions. They discover that the party is billed as a celebration of Aelita’s life, suggesting that Daedra has accepted that Aelita has been killed. Netherton is not convinced, however.

The trio ascends in the elevator. Netherton tells Connor to stay two meters apart from them, double that when they are talking. After they make their entrance, they are soon greeted by Daedra. Netherton introduces Flynne as Annie Courrèges, and after a few exchanges, the cognitive bundle kicks in. As they are talking, Flynne sees the assailant she is there to identify. As he walks past, she utters a swear word, and her accent changes.

Daedra then orders her and Netherton to go downstairs and Lowbeer, in Flynne’s ear, tells her to follow. Daedra tells Flynne that she has made a huge mistake by allowing Netherton to bring her there. Connor is walled off and apprehended by two robots after Daedra orders them to take apart his peripheral. The man from the balcony appears and explains to Flynne that he is a protean, or “without fixed form” (455), and provides Flynne with a demonstration when he puts his hand through a wall. Netherton and Flynne are rendered immobile.

Netherton and Flynne are only able to move when they are commanded to move. Daedra orders them to move toward an elevator, which they take to ground level. They then are ordered to climb inside a vehicle that is waiting for them. Just as they are about to get in, something comes crashing down from above, and there is an explosion of blood.

Flynne recalls a memory from childhood when Connor, Burton, and Leon did cannonball jumps at a pool. As it turns out, this is what came crashing down from above–Connor and a robot. Connor was attempting to take out the balcony man but only partially caught the man’s arm and took out the robot instead.

Netherton and Flynne are driven to Newgate, the site of an infamous former prison that has been reassembled for the purpose of holding Flynne and Netherton. The balcony man, now referred to as the bearded man, after being cared for by a Medici, threatens to injure Netherton in the same way he was injured by the falling Connor.

They arrive at Newgate, and the robots escort the hand-tied Flynne and Netherton into the prison. The bearded man explains to Flynne that they are waiting for the City Remembrancer because he wants to see Flynne die. Flynne hears Lowbeer’s voice internally imploring her to remain calm. Flynne tries to bargain with the bearded man but is denied and told that very soon, Homes will descend on her family and friends and will kill all of them, including her. The bearded man also threatens Netherton and promises that he will have him continuously beaten, treated by a Medici, and beaten again.

The Remembrancer, named Sir Henry, arrives, and he finally reveals the bearded man’s name. It turns out that he is Hamed al-Habib, the man who faked his own death in the Garbage Patch. Hamed implies that he planned to instigate some kind of catastrophe in the Garbage Patch. Though he does not explicitly say it, it is probably the release of “party time.”

Flynne hears Lowbeer’s voice again and responds to it, which prompts Hamed to become suspicious. Just then, the shackles that hold Flynne’s wrists begin to crumble into dust, just as the candy cane guns appear. She aims at al-Habib, and in no time, he is entirely consumed by the swarming weapon. Then, through a series of odd visuals, which include a red, twisting cube, Burton appears in the homunculus and kills Sir Henry. Meanwhile, Flynne asks Lowbeer what she needs to do to save her people back in Clanton, and Lowbeer assures her that Homes has been called off as a result of all that has just transpired.

Everyone is escorted back to Notting Hill in the Zil. Lowbeer’s sigil appears to Netherton. They discuss the events at Daedra’s party, and Lowbeer tells him that he did a good job simply by not making any critical mistakes. Also, Lowbeer reveals that Daedra’s father was a coconspirator in the assassination of President Gonzales.

Janice sees Flynne and comes over to tell her that she has saved everyone, a compliment that Flynne deflects to Griff and Lowbeer. Pickett is still alive and operating out of Nassau. Connor tells Flynne that the peripheral he used to dive bomb al-Habib was destroyed, but he had them make a replacement. Tommy arrives at the end of the chapter, smiling and happy to see Flynne.

Flynne has made a regular habit of taking walks with Ainsley, aka Griff. Flynne and her compatriots have taken to making new things look old. Flynne is pregnant, and it is revealed that she and Tommy have formed a relationship. They are visited by Felicia, who we know from previous chapters is the president. Connor, meanwhile, has prosthetics that allow him to move around much more easily. He is even able to play squash.

Netherton is now living with Rainey. They live in Soho, where there is no cosplay zone, so things there are somewhat more authentic than the reader has seen previously in the novel. Rainey sends Netherton to a coffee shop. Macon calls and mentions that Netherton’s PR services are needed. Macon asks him if he will attend the barbeque they are having, and he says that he will, along with Rainey. Netherton says to Macon that it is relaxing to visit Clanton, suggesting that it provides an escape from the world he lives in.