Champion
Chapter 24: June 12
by Lu, MarieThe chapter begins with the protagonist, June, staying behind at a hospital for testing after discovering her connection to the plague. She is hooked up to machines while Eden, Day’s younger brother, comforts her despite his own illness. Eden’s resilience and kindness remind June of Day’s younger self, and she reflects on the harshness of the experiments Eden endured. Their conversation shifts to the looming threat of the Colonies, whose airships dominate the skyline, raising doubts about Day’s mission to secure the airship bases. June’s anxiety grows as she wonders about the risks Day faces and the possibility of failure.
After hours of testing, the lab team returns with promising news: June’s blood sample was a close enough match to develop a potential cure, now being tested on Tess. This breakthrough offers hope for combating the plague and gaining support from Antarctica. However, June’s relief is short-lived as communication with Day becomes impossible due to static interference. She realizes the Colonies are jamming frequencies, signaling an imminent takeover. Her dread intensifies when Day’s fragmented transmission reveals he is aboard a Colonies airship, vulnerable to their control.
June’s fears are confirmed when Colonies soldiers storm the hospital, announcing the Republic’s surrender. They demand Eden, revealing their true target. June, unarmed except for a hidden knife, prepares to defend him. The soldiers’ arrival underscores the Colonies’ swift and ruthless advance, leaving June to grapple with the urgency of protecting Eden and the dire consequences of Day’s precarious situation. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, emphasizing the escalating tension and June’s resolve to confront the looming threat.
The chapter masterfully intertwines personal stakes with broader conflict, highlighting June’s internal struggle between hope and despair. Her bond with Eden and concern for Day underscore the emotional weight of the narrative, while the Colonies’ aggression heightens the sense of impending crisis. The discovery of the cure offers a glimmer of hope, but the sudden invasion and communication blackout leave the characters—and readers—on edge, anticipating the next move in this high-stakes battle for survival.
FAQs
1. How does June’s discovery about her connection to the plague alter her immediate plans?
Answer:
June initially planned to join the Patriots and assist Day in setting up airship bases. However, upon learning that her biology holds a key to curing the plague, she stays behind at the hospital to undergo extensive testing. This shift underscores her prioritization of finding a cure over direct combat support. The lab teams isolate her as the “missing piece” to develop a solution, which could strategically benefit the Republic by proving the Colonies’ biological warfare and reopening Antarctic aid. Her decision reflects both her scientific value and the urgency of the plague crisis.2. What critical realization does June have about the Colonies’ tactics during her communication breakdown with Day?
Answer:
When June experiences severe static during her call with Day, she notices the Colonies airship hovering over their building and smaller planes descending. This, combined with the jammed frequencies, leads her to deduce that the Colonies have actively seized control of communication channels—a tactical move to isolate Republic forces during their invasion. The realization heightens the stakes, as it suggests the Colonies are executing a coordinated takeover, potentially endangering Day’s safety during his forced announcement aboard their airship.3. Analyze the significance of Eden’s character in this chapter. How does his role advance the plot and themes?
Answer:
Eren serves as both a symbolic and practical catalyst. His resilience during testing (despite being a child) highlights themes of sacrifice and innocence amid war. His question—“What happens if they find out that you match?”—forces June to confront the broader implications of their scientific breakthrough. Additionally, his capture by Colonies soldiers shifts the chapter’s tension from medical urgency to immediate physical threat, propelling the plot toward a rescue or confrontation. His vulnerability mirrors Day’s past, deepening June’s emotional investment in protecting him.4. How does the chapter use dramatic irony to create tension around Day’s situation?
Answer:
Dramatic irony arises when June learns of the cure’s success but cannot relay it fully to Day due to communication jamming. Readers understand the cure’s potential to change the war’s trajectory, but Day remains unaware as he prepares to make a coerced announcement aboard an enemy airship. This disconnect amplifies tension, as Day might compromise his position without knowing the Republic has gained leverage. The irony underscores the chaos of war, where critical information often fails to reach those who need it most.5. Evaluate the soldiers’ demand for Eden. What strategic and ethical dilemmas does this pose for June?
Answer:
The Colonies’ demand for Eden introduces a tactical and moral crisis. Strategically, capturing Eden—a key figure in plague research—could allow the Colonies to suppress the cure or reverse-engineer it. For June, protecting him becomes a test of loyalty to Day and the Republic’s future. Ethically, she must weigh immediate survival (complying or fighting unarmed) against long-term consequences (losing their scientific asset). The scene mirrors earlier themes of sacrifice, as June’s instinct to shield Eden clashes with her limited resources, mirroring the Republic’s broader vulnerabilities.
Quotes
1. “THE REVELATION ABOUT MY CONNECTION TO THIS PLAGUE changes all of my plans.”
This opening line sets the stage for the chapter’s central conflict, revealing the protagonist’s pivotal role in the plague crisis and how it forces her to abandon her original mission. It underscores the weight of personal responsibility in a larger societal struggle.
2. “‘What happens if they find out that you match?’ Eden asks after a while. His eyes have started to droop, and his question comes out slurred. ‘What happens, indeed?’”
This exchange captures the moral dilemma at the heart of the chapter - the tension between personal sacrifice and potential global consequences. Eden’s childlike questioning juxtaposed with the protagonist’s heavy internal response highlights the gravity of their situation.
3. “‘Ms. Iparis,’ one of them says, adjusting his MIKHAEL name tag. ‘It wasn’t a perfect match, but it was close—close enough that we were able to develop a solution. You were the missing piece. Right under our noses.’”
This breakthrough moment represents the turning point in the medical crisis, revealing the protagonist’s unexpected but crucial role in finding a cure. The “missing piece” metaphor emphasizes how solutions can come from unexpected places.
4. “‘With the Republic’s surrender,’ he says in a grandiose voice, ‘all reins of power have been transferred to Colonies’ officials. This is your commander telling you to stand aside and let us pass, so that we can run a thorough search.’”
This chilling announcement marks the chapter’s climax, showing the swift and brutal transition of power as the Colonies take control. The military’s formal language contrasts with the terrifying reality of occupation and loss of autonomy.
5. “The soldier answers, ‘A boy named Eden Bataar Wing.’ I know better than to suck in my breath and thus give away that Eden’s on this floor—but a tidal wave of fear washes over me. I was wrong. They’re not after me. They…”
This revelation creates intense suspense at the chapter’s end, shifting the threat from the protagonist to the vulnerable Eden. The protagonist’s visceral reaction (“tidal wave of fear”) underscores the personal stakes and sets up the next chapter’s conflict.