Rebel
Chapter 9: Ross City: Eden 5
by Lu, MarieThe chapter opens with the protagonist, Eden, trapped in a cycle of vivid nightmares, reliving traumatic memories of his mother’s death, his brother John’s execution, and his own struggles during a plague. These haunting visions leave him restless, and he copes by obsessively sketching engine designs until dawn. Exhausted, he heads to the university for final exams, finishing early to avoid interactions. The halls are quiet, bathed in golden simulated light, but Eden’s tension rises as he overhears Emerson and his friends—his longtime bullies—laughing near the exit. He attempts to slip away unnoticed, but Emerson spots him and taunts him, escalating the confrontation.
Emerson and his friends deliberately provoke Eden by mocking his brother John’s execution, a deeply painful subject. Eden freezes, overwhelmed by memories of John’s sacrifice and his family’s tragedies. The bullies revel in his distress, feigning sympathy while pushing him to react. The Level system, which governs their society, fails to penalize their cruelty, highlighting its flaws. Eden’s anger erupts, and he punches Emerson, triggering a fight. The crowd gathers, cheering, as the system deducts points from Eden for instigating the altercation. Emerson, aware of the system’s bias, refrains from retaliating to avoid penalties, leaving Eden to bear the consequences alone.
Pressa, a friend from the Undercity, intervenes, dispersing the crowd and chastising Eden for risking further point deductions. She understands his frustration, sharing his disdain for the rigged system. Their bond is underscored by mutual dreams of escaping their oppressive reality. Pressa advises Eden to skip the drone race finals to cool off, but he rejects the idea, unwilling to suppress his emotions any longer. The chapter captures Eden’s simmering rage and grief, as well as his determination to defy the system that has failed him.
The chapter concludes with Eden’s resolve to attend the drone race, symbolizing his refusal to conform or retreat. His actions reflect a broader defiance against the societal structures that have marginalized him. The encounter with Emerson and the memories of John’s death crystallize Eden’s disillusionment, setting the stage for his potential rebellion. Pressa’s empathy offers a fleeting solace, but Eden’s path seems increasingly solitary, driven by a desire to reclaim agency in a world that has repeatedly betrayed him.
FAQs
1. What triggers Eden’s violent outburst against Emerson, and how does this reflect his emotional state?
Answer:
Eden attacks Emerson after he cruelly mocks the execution of Eden’s brother John, mentioning a leaked video of the event. This deeply personal taunt triggers a flood of traumatic memories—John sacrificing himself for Daniel, their mother’s death, and Eden’s own plague-induced suffering. The chapter shows Eden’s emotional fragility through his physical reaction (freezing, muffled senses) and his subsequent uncharacteristic violence. His disregard for the Level system’s point deduction demonstrates how grief overrides his usual self-control, revealing how unresolved trauma can erupt unexpectedly when provoked.2. How does the Level system’s limitation regarding emotional intent create an imbalance in social interactions?
Answer:
The system penalizes Eden for instigating a fight (-50 points) but cannot detect Emerson’s psychological provocation (“the tech still can’t tell the difference between a hard heart and a bleeding one”). This flaw allows bullies like Emerson to weaponize painful topics (e.g., John’s death) without consequences, while victims face punishment for reactive violence. The imbalance is highlighted when Emerson restrains himself from retaliating physically—not out of remorse, but to avoid point deductions. This exposes how automated justice systems may fail to address nuanced emotional abuse.3. Analyze how Pressa’s role contrasts with the university students’ behavior. What does this reveal about Ross City’s social hierarchy?
Answer:
Pressa (a janitor from the Undercity) shows genuine empathy by breaking up the fight and advising Eden, while the privileged university students either mock him (“Fight!” cheers) or passively observe. Her understanding stems from shared marginalization—she recognizes the system’s unfairness (“the system’s rigged”) and dreams of escape. This contrast underscores Ross City’s class divide: the elite exploit systemic loopholes for cruelty, while the lower-class Pressa demonstrates solidarity. Her practicality (“cool off”) versus Eden’s impulsiveness also reflects differing survival strategies between social tiers.4. How does the author use sensory details to convey Eden’s psychological distress after the fight?
Answer:
Physical sensations emphasize Eden’s turmoil: his “hands scrape raw against the ground” during the fight, mirroring his emotional rawness. Earlier, traumatic memories manifest as sensory overload—the “muffled” sounds of laughter and footsteps, the vivid hallucination of John’s execution site (“high stone walls… smeared with dark stains”). The “simulated afternoon light” painting halls gold ironically contrasts with his inner darkness. These details immerse readers in Eden’s dissociative state, blurring past trauma and present conflict.5. Evaluate Eden’s decision to attend the drone race finals despite Pressa’s warning. What might this reveal about his coping mechanisms?
Answer:
Eden rejects Pressa’s advice to “cool off,” preferring the high-stakes drone race (likely an Undercity event) as an outlet for his pent-up anger and grief. This aligns with his established pattern of avoidance—he distracts himself from nightmares by “scribbling engine ideas” and rushes to exams to evade social interaction. His choice suggests he copes through adrenaline-fueled activities that mirror his internal chaos, possibly seeking control in competitive environments. The drone race may symbolize a desire to escape his emotional confinement, much like his brother Daniel physically escaped execution.
Quotes
1. “I toss restlessly in a series of nightmares. My mother, getting shot over and over again. Me, locked in a glass cylinder in a forever-rocking train car, weeping and waiting for someone to let me out.”
This opening quote vividly captures the protagonist’s psychological trauma, setting the tone for the chapter. The recurring nightmares reflect deep-seated fears and unresolved grief that haunt the narrator throughout the story.
2. “The Level system doesn’t penalize them for talking about my oldest brother. The tech still can’t tell the difference between a hard heart and a bleeding one.”
This powerful statement critiques the dystopian society’s flawed justice system. It highlights how technology fails to account for emotional cruelty versus genuine concern, emphasizing the system’s cold indifference to human suffering.
3. “John. I still in Emerson’s grip. My heart freezes. Emerson senses my tension and knows he’s hit a nerve, because the edges of his lips tilt a little in grim satisfaction.”
This moment represents a key turning point where the protagonist’s trauma is weaponized against him. The visceral reaction to his brother’s memory shows how raw these wounds remain, setting up the subsequent violent outburst.
4. “I couldn’t care less. I swing down again. Emerson is so surprised by my attack that I manage to catch him on the chin again.”
This quote marks the climax of the chapter’s conflict, showing the protagonist finally breaking under pressure. The uncharacteristic violence demonstrates how systemic oppression can push even reserved individuals to their limits.
5. “You don’t have to explain it to me. Someday, we’re all gonna get out of here. Find adventure and happiness somewhere else.”
Pressa’s comforting words offer a rare moment of hope and solidarity. This quote represents the chapter’s underlying theme of escape and the human need for connection in oppressive circumstances.