The Fever Code
Chapter 28
by Dashner, JamesIn Chapter 27 of *The Fever Code*, Thomas witnesses a harrowing experiment conducted by WICKED, where Minho is subjected to psychological and physical terror. A grotesque creature called a Griever emerges from a pod, its metallic appendages threatening Minho, who is restrained and helpless. Thomas pleads with Randall, the lead scientist, to stop the ordeal, but Randall justifies the brutality as necessary to maintain control and enforce the rules of their experiment. The scene underscores WICKED’s ruthless methods and Thomas’s desperation to protect his friend, highlighting the organization’s manipulation of fear and power.
As the Griever advances, Thomas’s attempts to reason with Randall grow increasingly frantic. He threatens to withdraw his cooperation, emphasizing Minho’s value to the trials, but Randall remains unmoved. The creature’s saw-like appendages hover inches from Minho’s head, amplifying the tension. Thomas’s internal screams to Teresa go unanswered, revealing WICKED’s ability to block their telepathic communication. The chapter vividly portrays the psychological torment inflicted on both Thomas and Minho, as well as the scientists’ cold detachment.
At the last moment, Randall halts the Griever, leaving Minho traumatized but physically unharmed. Randall explains that the display was meant to teach obedience and demonstrate the creatures’ lethal potential. Thomas, however, is left shaken and disillusioned, unable to reconcile the cruelty with WICKED’s supposed mission. The scientists’ clinical analysis of Thomas’s emotional response further emphasizes their dehumanizing approach, treating the boys as mere data points in their experiment.
The chapter concludes with Thomas being dismissed, still reeling from the ordeal. Randall hints that other subjects will undergo the same experience, reinforcing WICKED’s systematic use of fear as a tool. Thomas’s realization that the entire event was a calculated lesson underscores the moral ambiguity of WICKED’s methods. The chapter leaves readers questioning the ethics of the organization and the true cost of their pursuit of a cure, while foreshadowing deeper conflicts to come.
FAQs
1. What is the primary purpose of the Griever demonstration that WICKED conducts with Minho, according to Randall’s explanation?
Answer:
Randall explains that the Griever demonstration serves as a disciplinary measure to maintain control in their experiment. By showing the consequences of disobedience—in this case, Minho’s attempted escape—WICKED reinforces the importance of following rules to all subjects. Randall states, “If we don’t act on our threats… what does that tell the other subjects?” The spectacle is designed to instill fear and compliance, emphasizing that defiance will be met with severe, albeit controlled, consequences. However, Randall later reveals they never intended to actually harm Minho, underscoring the psychological manipulation at play.
2. Analyze how Thomas’s reaction to the Griever attack reflects WICKED’s broader goals for their subjects.
Answer:
Thomas’s visceral response—pleading, bargaining, and threatening to withdraw cooperation—demonstrates the emotional engagement WICKED seeks to cultivate. Randall notes that Thomas’s “pattern of empathy” could be pivotal to their research, suggesting WICKED values subjects who form strong bonds, as these connections make them more manipulable. Dr. Leavitt’s comment about the Psychs having “a field day” with Thomas’s reaction further reveals that WICKED studies these emotional responses as data points, likely to refine their control tactics or assess subjects’ suitability for their trials.
3. How does the chapter illustrate the theme of psychological manipulation in WICKED’s methods? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
WICKED’s manipulation is evident in multiple ways:- False Threats: The Griever attack is staged to terrorize Minho and Thomas, but Randall admits they never planned to kill Minho, showing the cruelty is performative.
- Isolation Tactics: Thomas’s telepathic plea to Teresa fails because WICKED can “turn it off,” reinforcing their omnipotence and cutting off support systems.
- Gaslighting: Dr. Leavitt dismisses Thomas’s distress as “expected,” reframing trauma as valuable data. These tactics highlight WICKED’s reliance on fear and isolation to break subjects’ autonomy.
4. Why might Randall describe the Griever as “the greatest soldier,” and what does this reveal about WICKED’s priorities?
Answer:
Randall’s awe at the Griever’s precision (“blades and saws and claws that snapped open and closed”) suggests WICKED prioritizes engineered efficiency over humanity. By calling it a “soldier,” he frames the creature as a tool for enforcing order, revealing WICKED’s militaristic approach to their experiments. The remark also underscores their obsession with control—the Griever is both a weapon and a symbol of their dominance. This aligns with their broader disregard for subjects’ well-being, as they value obedience and fear over ethical considerations.
5. Critical Thinking: Evaluate Thomas’s ultimatum (“If Minho dies, I’m not helping you anymore”). How effective is this defiance, given WICKED’s power?
Answer:
Thomas’s threat is emotionally compelling but ultimately futile. WICKED holds all the power: they control communication (blocking Teresa), manipulate scenarios (the fake Griever attack), and dismiss his protests as data. Randall’s calm response (“We never would have let the Griever hurt Minho”) shows WICKED anticipates and neutralizes resistance. Thomas’s defiance is valuable to them as a metric of his loyalty and fear, not as a bargaining chip. This moment highlights the asymmetry of power—WICKED’s experiments are designed to render such threats meaningless.- False Threats: The Griever attack is staged to terrorize Minho and Thomas, but Randall admits they never planned to kill Minho, showing the cruelty is performative.
Quotes
1. “If we don’t act on our threats, then how will we ever have control in this experiment? If we let people escape—or try to—with no consequences, what does that tell the other subjects?”
This quote from Randall encapsulates WICKED’s ruthless philosophy of control through fear and consequences. It reveals the organization’s justification for using extreme psychological manipulation on their subjects.
2. “I need you to understand the power and the danger of these creatures. The pattern of your empathy could end up being one of the biggest pieces of our puzzle.”
Randall’s chilling statement highlights how WICKED views both the Grievers and human emotions as tools for their experiments. It shows their cold calculation in studying emotional responses to violence.
3. “We only want everyone to learn a valuable lesson: the rules must be followed. Going outside, much less leaving the WICKED compound…Now you know the consequences.”
This quote demonstrates WICKED’s authoritarian control methods, using Minho’s traumatic experience as a warning to others. It reveals how they maintain obedience through psychological terror rather than physical barriers alone.
4. “Don’t worry about your reaction today, Thomas. It was pretty close to what we expected, and it’s not lost on us the passion you threw into trying to save your friend.”
Dr. Leavitt’s clinical observation shows how WICKED analyzes every emotional response as data. The quote reveals the disturbing detachment with which they view human suffering as merely experimental data points.