Rebel
Chapter 28: Ross City: Daniel 14
by Lu, MarieDaniel reflects on his shared grief with Pressa, a girl who has just lost her father, as they leave the hospital. He recognizes her silent anguish, mirroring his own past trauma of losing a parent and fleeing home. The group, including Daniel’s brother Eden and their ally June, moves quickly to escape the collapsing city. Daniel observes the chaos around them—police violence, protests, and a system crumbling under its own corruption—drawing parallels to his experiences in the Republic. His priority is protecting Eden, but the scene evokes painful memories of past conflicts.
The urgency to leave intensifies as June reminds Daniel of their tight schedule to board the Elector’s plane. The city’s descent into violence is evident on screens displaying police brutality against Undercity crowds. Daniel forces himself to focus on the task at hand, pushing aside the haunting visuals. The elevator ride to the top floor, powered only by emergency systems, adds to the tension. The sight of the Elector’s jet, with its striking red and black design, feels surreal, underscoring the disparity between the privileged few and the suffering masses below.
As they board the jet, Daniel’s thoughts linger on Pressa’s loss and Eden’s unspoken emotions. Seated across from Anden, he watches the city shrink beneath them. The view reveals a stark contrast: smoke rising from the lower streets while the upper levels still glitter, now stripped of their artificial glamour. The city’s vulnerability is laid bare, its white buildings and frantic, tiny figures resembling a war zone. Daniel’s perspective shifts from personal grief to a broader critique of societal collapse, questioning the cyclical nature of violence and oppression.
The chapter closes with Daniel’s grim contemplation of humanity’s relentless cycle of destruction. As the jet ascends through the clouds, he wonders if true peace is possible or if history is doomed to repeat its patterns of chaos. The scene below—a microcosm of conflict—reinforces his disillusionment. Despite his efforts to protect his brother, Daniel is haunted by the realization that escape is temporary, and the roots of suffering run deep. The chapter leaves readers with a somber reflection on systemic failure and the elusive hope for change.
FAQs
1. How does Daniel relate to Pressa’s experience of loss, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Daniel deeply empathizes with Pressa’s grief, recognizing in her a mirror of his own past trauma. The text states, “In her eyes, I can see a mirror of my own grief from the past,” showing his ability to connect with others’ pain through shared experience. This reveals Daniel as a compassionate and introspective character who has endured significant personal loss (the death of a parent and displacement from home). His awareness of this parallel also suggests he has processed his grief enough to recognize it in others, indicating emotional maturity.2. Analyze the symbolism of Ross City’s appearance from the air as Daniel’s plane departs. What commentary does this make about the society?
Answer:
The aerial view of Ross City serves as powerful social commentary. The “stark white” buildings “empty of substance” beneath the fading glitter suggest the city’s polished exterior hid systemic decay. The smoke rising from lower streets contrasts with higher floors’ lights, emphasizing class division. The “web” of pathways evokes both interconnectedness and entrapment. This imagery aligns with Daniel’s observation about “a flawed system…rotting underneath,” portraying a society where inequality and unrest were inevitable due to structural failures rather than external threats.3. What dual purpose does the Elector’s private jet serve in this chapter, both practically and thematically?
Answer:
Practically, the jet represents immediate physical salvation, transporting characters away from the violent uprising (“the only path to safety”). Thematically, its “red and black” coloring and privileged status contrast starkly with the chaos below, embodying the elite’s detachment from societal collapse. The surreal quality Daniel notes underscores how crisis exposes inequality - while most fight in streets, a select few escape effortlessly. This dichotomy reinforces the chapter’s critique of systemic injustice, making the jet both a literal and symbolic vehicle of disparity.4. How does Daniel’s final reflection about cycles of destruction contribute to the novel’s larger themes?
Answer:
Daniel’s existential question - “if we can ever find a way to escape the cycle of destruction” - encapsulates the chapter’s central theme of historical repetition. His war-weary perspective (“something I’ve seen all too much”) suggests societies inevitably self-destruct due to human nature or systemic flaws. This reflection deepens the narrative’s exploration of whether true change is possible, positioning Daniel as both participant and observer in these cycles. The absence of hopeful resolution (“I sure as hell haven’t seen it”) establishes a tone of hard-won realism that likely permeates the novel’s larger political commentary.
Quotes
1. “I know what it feels like to be forced to leave your home behind. I know what it’s like to lose your parent. To feel helpless as the world around you burns.”
This opening quote establishes Daniel’s deep personal connection to the trauma of displacement and loss, setting the emotional tone for the chapter. It reveals his empathy for Pressa while foreshadowing the societal collapse unfolding around them.
2. “But this is no battle from an outside force. This is the consequence of a flawed system, something that had been rotting underneath a glistening exterior.”
This pivotal observation captures the chapter’s central theme about societal decay and systemic failure. Daniel contrasts the current crisis with past wars, highlighting how internal corruption can be more destructive than external threats.
3. “Without the colorful overlays on the city, the place looks more vulnerable than I ever imagined—the buildings stark white, empty of substance.”
This vivid description symbolizes the harsh reality beneath Ross City’s glamorous facade. The imagery reflects the chapter’s exploration of truth versus illusion, showing how crisis strips away superficial beauty to reveal structural fragility.
4. “I find myself wondering if there is ever a time in history of peace, if we can ever find a way to escape the cycle of destruction we bring upon ourselves.”
This philosophical reflection serves as the chapter’s poignant conclusion. Daniel’s existential questioning encapsulates the narrative’s deeper meditation on human nature and the recurring patterns of violence throughout history.