Rebel
Chapter 26: Ross City: Daniel 13
by Lu, MarieDaniel and June arrive at AIS headquarters, their interactions marked by unspoken tension from the previous night. Daniel shares an update on Eden’s possible location—a neglected underground sector abandoned after a catastrophic fire. Despite June’s skepticism about his readiness, Daniel insists on pursuing the lead. As they discuss their next steps, a sudden, citywide system failure occurs, wiping out all Levels, virtual displays, and communication networks. The outage leaves them stranded in an elevator, forcing them to navigate the darkened city on foot.
The blackout triggers immediate chaos, with Daniel and June realizing the severity of the situation. They encounter Jessan and Director Min, who confirm the system’s complete collapse, including government data. June warns of impending societal destabilization, drawing parallels to her experiences in the Republic. She predicts rapid unrest in the Undercity, where the Level system’s absence removes barriers for the oppressed. Director Min dismisses her concerns, but June’s analysis proves prescient as the group witnesses the first signs of upheaval.
As they descend to the streets, the scale of the crisis becomes clear. The Undercity erupts into pandemonium, with people flooding previously restricted areas and clashing with authorities. Daniel notes the eerie absence of virtual overlays, emphasizing the system’s total erasure. The collapse of Ross City’s class hierarchy creates a power vacuum, and isolated scuffles escalate. June’s grim assessment underscores the fragility of societal order without the Level system’s control.
Daniel’s focus remains on finding Eden amid the chaos. He and June plan to head northeast toward the suspected underground location, though the path ahead is uncertain. The chapter ends with them stepping into the chaotic streets, highlighting the immediate consequences of the system’s failure and the looming threat of widespread rebellion. The incident’s connection to Hann’s actions and Eden’s captivity adds urgency to their mission.
FAQs
1. What caused the sudden blackout of Ross City’s Level system, and what are the immediate consequences described in the chapter?
Answer:
The blackout is triggered by an unexplained electrical phenomenon—a sudden charge in the air followed by a loud crack—that completely wipes the city’s Level system. The chapter suggests this may be tied to Hann’s activities and his exploitation of Daniel’s brother, Eden. Immediate consequences include: the disappearance of all virtual overlays and data tracking, disabled communication systems, elevator failures trapping people mid-transit, and the erasure of the class-based access system. Most critically, this leads to instant social chaos as Undercity residents realize their “chains” (systemic restrictions) are gone, with early signs of civil unrest and clashes with authorities.2. How does June’s experience in the Republic inform her grim prediction about Ross City’s blackout?
Answer:
June draws parallels between Ross City’s crisis and systemic collapses she witnessed in the Republic, particularly during citywide blackouts. She recalls how Los Angeles descended into riots within hours when oppressed sectors (like the poor and Gem districts) realized enforcement systems were down. Her analysis suggests Ross City is even more vulnerable due to its hyper-concentrated inequality—the Undercity’s physical segregation and reliance on the Level system make destabilization swifter. Her warning about military deployment reflects firsthand knowledge of how power vacuums escalate violence, contrasting with Director Min’s initial denial about Ross City’s fragility.3. Analyze the symbolic significance of the abandoned Undercity expansion tunnels where Eden might be held. How does this setting reflect Ross City’s societal flaws?
Answer:
The tunnels—originally designed to cram more Undercity residents underground—embody Ross City’s systemic neglect. Their abandonment after a deadly fire (due to inadequate safety measures) mirrors how the city prioritizes containment over welfare for lower-Level citizens. Daniel’s observation that Eden’s prison resembles this failed infrastructure underscores how marginalized groups are literally buried beneath the city’s glossy surface. The tunnels become a physical manifestation of structural violence: out of sight, poorly maintained, and lethal for those trapped within, much like the Level system itself. This history foreshadows the broader societal collapse when the system fails.4. Compare Daniel and June’s contrasting reactions to the system failure. What do their responses reveal about their characters and priorities?
Answer:
Daniel immediately focuses on practical next steps: checking systems, contacting AIS, and redirecting efforts to find Eden despite the chaos. His reaction shows mission-driven determination and personal stakes in the crisis. June, meanwhile, rapidly assesses the societal implications, drawing on her strategic training to warn about civil unrest. Her priority is systemic stability, while Daniel’s is familial rescue. Their synergy emerges when June accepts Daniel’s plan to head northeast—blending his intimate knowledge of Ross City with her crisis management skills. Their unspoken tension about the previous night’s intimacy also reveals their shared tendency to compartmentalize emotions during emergencies.5. Why is the complete deletion (rather than reset) of Levels particularly catastrophic for Ross City’s social order? Discuss both technical and philosophical implications.
Answer:
Technically, deletion means the system isn’t merely offline but requires rebuilding from scratch—all access hierarchies, transaction records, and identity verification are irrecoverably lost. Philosophically, it represents the erasure of Ross City’s foundational social contract: that compliance with the Level system guarantees security and mobility. With no data to restore, the city faces a Hobbesian “state of nature” where prior inequalities (now invisible) clash with sudden physical freedom. The chapter emphasizes this when Daniel notes people flooding previously restricted spaces—without Levels to enforce boundaries, the city’s entire architecture of control collapses, making violence inevitable as groups redefine power structures.
Quotes
1. “When people who have been held down for decades suddenly realize that their chains have been removed, things unravel quickly. It can take less than an hour for a society to destabilize.”
June warns about the immediate societal consequences of the system collapse, drawing from her Republic experience. This foreshadows the chaos about to erupt in Ross City’s class-divided structure.
2. “In one fell swoop, Ross City’s Level system—the class system I’ve always argued about with AIS, the same system that Eden rebelled against by constantly coming down here—has been cleared.”
Daniel realizes the profound implications of the system wipe, connecting it to his brother’s rebellion. This marks a pivotal moment where the city’s foundational social hierarchy vanishes.
3. “People are now able to enter the stations and stairwells, no matter their Level. Local police patrolling the streets struggle in vain to control the flood of people.”
This shows the immediate breakdown of social barriers and authority. The physical manifestation of the system’s collapse demonstrates how quickly enforced structures can disintegrate.
4. “I’ve seen too many goddy impossible things come true to believe those words.”
Daniel’s internal reflection captures his growing awareness that reality can surpass expectations. This mindset shift prepares him for the unprecedented events unfolding around them.
5. “All around us, the names and data hovering over each street stall, each shop, each person, are gone. When I look up, I notice that virtual overlays have vanished from over the elevator stations too. There’s nothing we look at that isn’t already real.”
This vivid description of the system’s disappearance emphasizes how deeply embedded the Level structure was in daily life. The sudden return to unmediated reality marks a profound shift in the characters’ world.