Firefight Read-Along Chapters 34-39

Chapter 34

"I feel like a teenager too," I said. "Because I am one."

Gah, it's hard to remember he's only 19.

Blushing at the thought, I reminded myself that Megan would probably end up stabbing me or something if we were confined in such a tight space.

Yeah…good luck with that, David.

She cocked her head. "Did you just invite me on a date…to spy on a deadly Epic planning to destroy the city?"

Honestly, these two have the most adorably weird and awkward relationship.

Chapter 35

"With my powers," she said, a hundred different versions of her face passing in a few minutes, "I can reach into, and touch, other realities."

What? Wow…that is incredible! A few sentences later, she talks about reading a book that posited that theory…I wonder if she was thinking about it when she gained her powers and that had something to do with shaping her powers.

Also, the bit about the motivators is a lot more creepy than I originally thought.

She shrugged. "It's better this time than it has been in the past. I don't know why--thought, despite what it might seem, I'm not really that powerful."

I stand by my theory that something about David negates or at least counteracts the negative effects of Epic powers. I honestly have no clue what that could be about him--whether it's his belief that Epics can be good, whether it's that he just doesn't seem to fear Epics as much as others, or something else that remains to be seen.

Chapter 36

"Wait! David, Prof is here."

I have to say, I am getting more and more antsy about Prof the longer this book goes on. He's starting to get erratic and secretive, and that never spells good things coming when it involves an Epic.

"If you do manage to interrogate other Epics, David…ask them what their nightmares are about."

As good as it is to finally have a theory mostly confirmed, it still gives me chills. Now I'm wondering if whatever triggers an Epic's powers also triggers a sort of panic state about their weakness.

Sure. Yeah. They cut something outta him. You're sure this isn't a dream?

How…how does removing something make an Epic more powerful?

Oh.

I wonder if the theory Brandon Sanderson is working on here is that a person's soul or their moral center is tied to something physical in their body. Maybe removing that somehow removes any slight inhibitions an Epic might retain, allowing them to become more and more powerful.

(Yes, I love positing fan theories…can you tell?) ;)

"You're improvising, aren't you?"

Prof is NOT going to be happy if he sees this.

Chapter 37

I felt a stab of jealousy, which was utterly stupid. It was just a gun.

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My chase wound through the waterway streets of Babilar, passing people on rooftops who pointed and cried out.

And you think this isn't going to be noticed and reported back to Newton? This is exactly what Prof was talking about, David!

"How long have you been working for Regalia?" she replied. "Since the beginning? Was she the one who sent you to Newcago to infiltrate the Reckoners?"

Aghh. I'm honestly not sure who to be mad at here. Just listen to him, Val!

Chapter 38

Those words crushed me.

Just…urgh…agh…I. Can't. Even. Begin to unpack this right now.

"Fish him out," he said to Val, loud enough that I could hear. "And let's get back to base."

Whew! Okay, first off…

Prof had David bugged. Without anyone else but Tia knowing. And he brought David to Babilar for the express purpose of luring out Meghan. While I totally understand (and share a bit, however much I ship David/Megan), I find this a bit upsetting. And disturbing. Because clearly, if Prof can 'read his men' as well as he claims, he'd see what David sees in Megan. But he is letting his suspicions and his hatred of Epics (self-hatred, I might add, which never ends up anywhere good) blind him to even the possibility that Megan might be good.

I mean, seriously, does Prof think he's some sort of special snowflake that he's the ONLY good Epic?
Secondly…David. You slontze. Out of all the things you could do, keeping secrets like this from the team…bad move, man. Bad move.

Chapter 39

"Do you know how dangerous this talk of yours is?" he asked softly. "For me?"

I don't like this. I don't like how Prof is blaming David for this. Just because David is talking about it doesn't mean he's to blame for Prof using his powers. Prof should know better.

"Lincoln went bad--you call him Murkwood these days."

(I'm just going to pause all the drama here for a moment to softly squee about this because hello, Lord of the Rings reference.)

I saw a High Epic who had been defied.

Oh, not good. Not good, not good, not good.

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These last two chapters pretty much ripped my heart out and stomped all over it. I'm actually scared of what Prof is going to do. His talk about using his powers, actually using one of his force fields to lock David away--that is heads and tails different from the Prof in book one.

What did you guys think of these chapters?