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    Science FictionYoung Adult

    The Fever Code

    by Dashner, James
    “The Fever Code” by James Dashner is a prequel to the “Maze Runner” series, exploring the origins of the Glade and the Maze. The story follows Thomas and his childhood friend Teresa as they navigate the sinister experiments of WICKED, the organization behind the trials. Key themes include trust, survival, and the ethical dilemmas of scientific experimentation. The novel provides crucial backstory, revealing how the characters’ pasts shape their futures in the Maze. Dashner’s tense narrative and world-building deepen the series’ lore, making it essential for fans.
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    The Fever Code

    Chapter 35

    by Dashner, James

    The chap­ter opens on the morn­ing before the first inser­tion into the maze, with forty boys from Group A lined up for final med­ical exam­i­na­tions. Thomas and Tere­sa observe the scene, includ­ing famil­iar faces like Min­ho, Newt, Alby, and Gal­ly. Min­ho appears agi­tat­ed, his body tense as if ready to act. The med­ical rooms are equipped with intim­i­dat­ing devices, hint­ing at the harsh exper­i­ments ahead. Thomas feels a deep sad­ness, aware that this is a farewell to his friends, though he and Tere­sa are only present to offer moral sup­port under Chan­cel­lor Anderson’s orders.

    Tere­sa takes the lead, approach­ing Min­ho to calm him, plac­ing a hand on his shoul­der. Min­ho ini­tial­ly reacts with anger but then seems to relax, though tears well in his eyes. When Min­ho asks if Tere­sa and Thomas will join them in the maze, their hes­i­ta­tion sparks sus­pi­cion. Alby and oth­ers quick­ly voice their frus­tra­tion, accus­ing Thomas and Tere­sa of com­plic­i­ty with WICKED. The boys feel betrayed, real­iz­ing Thomas won’t face the same fate as them. Thomas is stunned, unable to defend him­self as his friends’ resent­ment grows, their trust shat­tered in an instant.

    The con­fronta­tion esca­lates as Min­ho and Alby open­ly accuse Thomas and Tere­sa of aid­ing WICKED’s plans. Min­ho rejects Teresa’s attempts to explain, shout­ing at her to leave. Gal­ly, des­per­ate and fear­ful, breaks from the line, plead­ing for Thomas’s help before being dragged away by order­lies. Thomas feels pow­er­less, heart­bro­ken by the anger in his friends’ eyes. He tries to gath­er his thoughts, deter­mined to explain that he and Tere­sa are not the ene­my, but the moment slips away as the boys are tak­en for their pro­ce­dures.

    In a chill­ing twist, Thomas los­es con­trol of his own body as an exter­nal force takes over his speech. Against his will, he cold­ly tells his friends, “There’s noth­ing I can do,” as they are led away. Inter­nal­ly, Thomas screams in hor­ror, unable to inter­vene as the sys­tem he’s part of sep­a­rates him from those he cares about. The chap­ter ends with Thomas frozen in help­less­ness, wit­ness­ing the irre­versible rift between him­self and his friends.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What is the significance of the medical devices described in the chapter, and how do they contribute to the tension in the scene?

      Answer:
      The medical devices, described as “menacing robot masks full of wires and tubes,” symbolize the dehumanizing and oppressive nature of WICKED’s experiments. They are designed to capture extensive physiological data from the subjects, reinforcing the idea that the boys are being treated as test subjects rather than human beings. These devices heighten the tension by visually representing the fear and uncertainty the characters feel about the Maze Trials. Minho’s reaction—his body coiled like a “cocked gun”—reflects this anxiety, as the machines underscore the loss of autonomy and the unknown horrors awaiting them in the maze.

      2. How does Thomas’s internal conflict manifest in his interactions with Minho, Alby, and Newt?

      Answer:
      Thomas’s internal conflict arises from his dual role: he is both a friend to the boys and a perceived collaborator with WICKED. His inability to explain his true position or help his friends leads to feelings of guilt and powerlessness. This conflict manifests when Minho, Alby, and Newt accuse him of betrayal, their resentment palpable in their body language and words (e.g., Minho’s “coiled-snake look,” Alby’s sarcastic remarks). Thomas’s failed attempts to reassure them—culminating in his involuntary, robotic apology—highlight his psychological struggle and the irreversible breakdown of trust.

      3. Analyze Teresa’s role in this chapter. How does her approach to the confrontation differ from Thomas’s?

      Answer:
      Teresa adopts a calmer, more authoritative stance, attempting to mediate the conflict with practical reassurance (e.g., telling Minho, “Everything will be fine inside the maze”). Unlike Thomas, who is paralyzed by emotion, she initially maintains composure and tries to de-escalate tensions. However, her efforts fail when the boys reject her explanations as insincere. Her reliance on WICKED’s authority (“we just do what they ask”) backfires, revealing her limited influence and the boys’ distrust of anyone associated with the organization. Her approach contrasts with Thomas’s emotional turmoil but ultimately proves equally ineffective.

      4. What does Gally’s desperate plea to Thomas reveal about the broader themes of power and helplessness in the chapter?

      Answer:
      Gally’s plea—”You have to help us! Can’t you help us?“—underscores the theme of powerlessness. Unlike Minho and Alby, who direct their anger at Thomas, Gally clings to the hope that Thomas might intervene, revealing his desperation and fear. His abrupt removal by orderlies reinforces the futility of resistance, mirroring Thomas’s own helplessness when he is “possessed” by WICKED’s control. This moment highlights the oppressive system’s grip on both the subjects and those like Thomas, who are trapped between loyalty and coercion.

      5. The chapter ends with Thomas losing control of his words and actions. What literary or symbolic purpose does this serve?

      Answer:
      Thomas’s involuntary apology (“There’s nothing I can do”) serves as a climactic moment of psychological horror, symbolizing WICKED’s absolute control over its subjects. The “click” in his brain suggests implanted manipulation, stripping him of agency and forcing him to betray his friends. This moment underscores the novel’s themes of autonomy vs. control and the dehumanizing effects of the experiments. It also foreshadows future conflicts, as Thomas’s inability to act here may drive his later rebellion against WICKED’s influence.

    Quotes

    • 1. ““It’s okay,” Teresa said to him. “Don’t make it worse by fighting them. Everything will be fine inside the maze. You’ll see.””

      This quote captures Teresa’s attempt to calm Minho and the others, revealing her role as a mediator and the false reassurance given to the boys before their traumatic insertion into the Maze. It highlights the tension between authority and rebellion.

      2. ““What exactly are you doing here, Thomas? I don’t see you being poked and prodded like cattle.””

      Minho’s accusation underscores the betrayal felt by the Gladers as they realize Thomas and Teresa are complicit in WICKED’s plans. This moment marks a turning point where trust fractures irreparably.

      3. “Thomas’s friends were being sent into the maze and he wasn’t. He didn’t know if he’d ever be sent in. He was different from his friends, and no one could ignore it anymore.”

      This internal reflection by Thomas reveals his crushing realization of his privileged separation from the others, emphasizing the theme of isolation and guilt central to the chapter.

      4. ““Thomas!” the boy yelled, picking up his pace, only now that he was closer Thomas could see that his expression wasn’t anger—it was fear. “You have to help us! Can’t you help us?””

      Gally’s desperate plea humanizes the Gladers’ terror and helplessness, contrasting with Thomas’s powerlessness. It amplifies the moral conflict and the weight of Thomas’s inaction.

      5. ““I’m sorry,” he said, the tone and pitch of it sounding as foreign as if it came from another person altogether. “There’s nothing I can do.””

      This chilling moment, where Thomas loses control of his own words, exemplifies WICKED’s manipulation and the horror of his forced complicity. It serves as the chapter’s tragic climax.

    Quotes

    1. ““It’s okay,” Teresa said to him. “Don’t make it worse by fighting them. Everything will be fine inside the maze. You’ll see.””

    This quote captures Teresa’s attempt to calm Minho and the others, revealing her role as a mediator and the false reassurance given to the boys before their traumatic insertion into the Maze. It highlights the tension between authority and rebellion.

    2. ““What exactly are you doing here, Thomas? I don’t see you being poked and prodded like cattle.””

    Minho’s accusation underscores the betrayal felt by the Gladers as they realize Thomas and Teresa are complicit in WICKED’s plans. This moment marks a turning point where trust fractures irreparably.

    3. “Thomas’s friends were being sent into the maze and he wasn’t. He didn’t know if he’d ever be sent in. He was different from his friends, and no one could ignore it anymore.”

    This internal reflection by Thomas reveals his crushing realization of his privileged separation from the others, emphasizing the theme of isolation and guilt central to the chapter.

    4. ““Thomas!” the boy yelled, picking up his pace, only now that he was closer Thomas could see that his expression wasn’t anger—it was fear. “You have to help us! Can’t you help us?””

    Gally’s desperate plea humanizes the Gladers’ terror and helplessness, contrasting with Thomas’s powerlessness. It amplifies the moral conflict and the weight of Thomas’s inaction.

    5. ““I’m sorry,” he said, the tone and pitch of it sounding as foreign as if it came from another person altogether. “There’s nothing I can do.””

    This chilling moment, where Thomas loses control of his own words, exemplifies WICKED’s manipulation and the horror of his forced complicity. It serves as the chapter’s tragic climax.

    FAQs

    1. What is the significance of the medical devices described in the chapter, and how do they contribute to the tension in the scene?

    Answer:
    The medical devices, described as “menacing robot masks full of wires and tubes,” symbolize the dehumanizing and oppressive nature of WICKED’s experiments. They are designed to capture extensive physiological data from the subjects, reinforcing the idea that the boys are being treated as test subjects rather than human beings. These devices heighten the tension by visually representing the fear and uncertainty the characters feel about the Maze Trials. Minho’s reaction—his body coiled like a “cocked gun”—reflects this anxiety, as the machines underscore the loss of autonomy and the unknown horrors awaiting them in the maze.

    2. How does Thomas’s internal conflict manifest in his interactions with Minho, Alby, and Newt?

    Answer:
    Thomas’s internal conflict arises from his dual role: he is both a friend to the boys and a perceived collaborator with WICKED. His inability to explain his true position or help his friends leads to feelings of guilt and powerlessness. This conflict manifests when Minho, Alby, and Newt accuse him of betrayal, their resentment palpable in their body language and words (e.g., Minho’s “coiled-snake look,” Alby’s sarcastic remarks). Thomas’s failed attempts to reassure them—culminating in his involuntary, robotic apology—highlight his psychological struggle and the irreversible breakdown of trust.

    3. Analyze Teresa’s role in this chapter. How does her approach to the confrontation differ from Thomas’s?

    Answer:
    Teresa adopts a calmer, more authoritative stance, attempting to mediate the conflict with practical reassurance (e.g., telling Minho, “Everything will be fine inside the maze”). Unlike Thomas, who is paralyzed by emotion, she initially maintains composure and tries to de-escalate tensions. However, her efforts fail when the boys reject her explanations as insincere. Her reliance on WICKED’s authority (“we just do what they ask”) backfires, revealing her limited influence and the boys’ distrust of anyone associated with the organization. Her approach contrasts with Thomas’s emotional turmoil but ultimately proves equally ineffective.

    4. What does Gally’s desperate plea to Thomas reveal about the broader themes of power and helplessness in the chapter?

    Answer:
    Gally’s plea—”You have to help us! Can’t you help us?“—underscores the theme of powerlessness. Unlike Minho and Alby, who direct their anger at Thomas, Gally clings to the hope that Thomas might intervene, revealing his desperation and fear. His abrupt removal by orderlies reinforces the futility of resistance, mirroring Thomas’s own helplessness when he is “possessed” by WICKED’s control. This moment highlights the oppressive system’s grip on both the subjects and those like Thomas, who are trapped between loyalty and coercion.

    5. The chapter ends with Thomas losing control of his words and actions. What literary or symbolic purpose does this serve?

    Answer:
    Thomas’s involuntary apology (“There’s nothing I can do”) serves as a climactic moment of psychological horror, symbolizing WICKED’s absolute control over its subjects. The “click” in his brain suggests implanted manipulation, stripping him of agency and forcing him to betray his friends. This moment underscores the novel’s themes of autonomy vs. control and the dehumanizing effects of the experiments. It also foreshadows future conflicts, as Thomas’s inability to act here may drive his later rebellion against WICKED’s influence.

    Note