Stunned, Tally and the others watch as an army of hovercrafts destroy Diego’s Town Hall. Tally spies some children being evacuated from the hospital into waiting helicopters, and she realizes that those aircrafts could be considered targets. She must get the adults to lead the children elsewhere. Nobody but the Cutters understands that this is an actual war.

After she diverts the children, she returns to Town Hall, trying to bring down some of the invading machines. Though she stops some, Town Hall has been too damaged; it collapses as the former Cutters pull Tally to safety. Afterwards, one of the Cutters tells Tally what Dr. Cable’s larger plan is. Cable is not intent on the destruction of Diego; rather, she wants to use the war as an excuse to expand her authority and her vision of how a city should be run. Tally cannot believe it, as cities cannot interfere with each other’s governance—yet the evidence is before her.

Tally and the Cutters go back to the hospital to check on any remaining patients. Tally knows she could simply escape, but Tally has nowhere else to go if Dr. Cable is instigating the war. Meanwhile, she wonders if she really is a dangerous weapon, as Diego claims, or if she is merely Dr.