The Fever Code
Chapter 44
by Dashner, JamesIn Chapter 43 of *The Fever Code*, Thomas seizes an opportunity to explore a stolen research tablet while alone in the lab. After hiding the device, he retreats to his room, bypassing his usual routine to investigate its contents. Though most files are password-protected, he discovers an open-access section labeled “History,” revealing the original names of his friends and early WICKED documents. A memo referencing memory tampering shocks him, hinting at erased encounters with Teresa, which deepens his distrust of WICKED’s experiments.
Thomas delves further into the tablet, uncovering classified files about the origins of the Flare virus. He learns it was deliberately released by the Post-Flares Coalition to control overpopulation, a plan that catastrophically backfired. The revelation horrifies him, especially when he connects the order to Chancellor John Michael, a figure he’s encountered. The documents expose WICKED’s dark roots, suggesting the organization was founded to rectify a man-made disaster.
Thomas shares his findings with Teresa, expecting solidarity, but her reaction is dismissive. She downplays the significance of the past, arguing that focusing on solutions matters more. Her indifference stuns him, as she admits to knowing rumors but never disclosing them. Their disagreement escalates, with Thomas insisting that understanding the problem is crucial, while Teresa withdraws, ending the conversation abruptly.
The chapter concludes with Teresa and Dr. Paige both refusing to engage with the revelations, preferring to focus on the future. Thomas, however, vows never to forget WICKED’s culpability in creating the very crisis they now aim to solve. The chapter underscores his growing isolation and moral resolve, setting the stage for his deepening conflict with WICKED’s leadership.
FAQs
1. What significant discovery does Thomas make while exploring the research tablet, and how does this information impact his understanding of WICKED’s origins?
Answer:
Thomas discovers a series of memos labeled “Deleted Com,” which reveal that the Flare virus was intentionally released by the Post-Flares Coalition (PFC) as part of a population control initiative. The executive order, signed by Chancellor John Michael, authorized the release of the virus to reduce the population size, unaware it would mutate into a deadly pandemic. This revelation shocks Thomas, as it directly links WICKED’s predecessors to the creation of the crisis they now claim to be solving. It forces him to question WICKED’s morality and motives, realizing they are attempting to fix a problem they helped create.2. How does Teresa react to Thomas’s discovery, and what does their disagreement reveal about their differing perspectives on WICKED’s mission?
Answer:
Teresa responds with indifference, dismissing the importance of the past and focusing instead on WICKED’s efforts to find a cure. She admits she had heard rumors but saw no value in dwelling on them. This contrasts sharply with Thomas’s outrage and desire to confront the truth. Their disagreement highlights a fundamental divide: Teresa prioritizes pragmatic solutions, trusting WICKED’s current mission, while Thomas believes understanding the full context of the problem (including WICKED’s culpability) is essential. Her emotional detachment and refusal to engage further suggest a willingness to overlook moral ambiguities for the sake of progress.3. Analyze the significance of Thomas finding the file labeled “Deleted Com.” What does its existence suggest about WICKED’s transparency and control of information?
Answer:
The “Deleted Com” file contains sensitive memos that were likely meant to be erased or restricted, indicating WICKED’s deliberate efforts to conceal its controversial history. The fact that these documents were misfiled in an accessible folder suggests either negligence or internal dissent within the organization. Their contents—detailing the intentional release of the Flare virus—reveal WICKED’s origins in unethical decisions, undermining its self-portrayal as a benevolent research organization. This discovery underscores WICKED’s manipulation of information to maintain control over subjects like Thomas, who are kept ignorant of their true history.4. Why does Thomas’s discovery about his erased memories of Teresa disturb him, and how does this connect to broader themes of autonomy in the chapter?
Answer:
Thomas is unsettled by the memo referencing A2 (likely himself) having his memories altered after a “disastrous” first meeting with Teresa. This implies WICKED has been tampering with his mind long before the Maze trials, erasing experiences without his consent. The realization that his identity and relationships may be artificially shaped by WICKED challenges his sense of autonomy. It ties into the chapter’s broader theme of control—WICKED not only manipulates the present (via the virus cover-up) but also the past, rewriting personal histories to serve its agenda.5. Evaluate Dr. Paige’s response when Thomas confronts her about the virus’s origins. What does her dismissal suggest about WICKED’s institutional culture?
Answer:
Dr. Paige deflects Thomas’s concerns by stating the decisions were made “well before her time,” avoiding accountability or meaningful discussion. Her reaction reflects WICKED’s institutional tendency to sideline ethical questions in favor of forward momentum. By distancing herself from the past, she implicitly endorses a culture where ends justify means, and uncomfortable truths are suppressed. This mirrors Teresa’s attitude, suggesting a systemic pattern within WICKED: dissent or historical scrutiny is discouraged, and compliance is enforced through silence or dismissal.
Quotes
1. “He remembered the day he’d first officially met Teresa. How he’d been dizzy with déjà vu. Had WICKED been experimenting with their implants and memories that long ago?”
This quote captures Thomas’s unsettling realization that WICKED may have manipulated his memories far earlier than he suspected, raising profound questions about identity and agency in their experiments.
2. “Executive Order #13 of the Post-Flares Coalition… We the Coalition hereby grant the PCC express permission to fully implement their PC Initiative #1… The virus will be released in the locations recommended by the PCC”
This shocking document reveals the horrifying truth that the Flare virus was deliberately released as population control, forming the moral foundation for WICKED’s existence and actions.
3. “The past is the past, Tom… At least they’re trying to fix what they screwed up… I just don’t see the point.”
Teresa’s chilling pragmatism contrasts sharply with Thomas’s moral outrage, highlighting the central ethical conflict about whether ends can justify WICKED’s means.
4. “Didn’t you learn anything from our puzzle lessons with Ms. Denton? To know a solution, you have to know the problem through and through. This is a problem.”
Thomas’s rebuttal to Teresa encapsulates the chapter’s core theme - that understanding historical truths is essential to solving present crises, no matter how uncomfortable those truths may be.
5. “He swore to himself that he’d always remember this. That he’d always remember that WICKED was trying to fix a problem their predecessors had created in the first place.”
This concluding thought marks a pivotal moment in Thomas’s development, showing his determination to retain moral clarity about WICKED’s origins despite others’ willingness to forget.