Chapter 12: Lyria: Truffle Pig

Summary

• The chapter focuses on Lyria, who is engaged in a futile search for the lab that created the parasite technology implanted in her head.
• The Republic long-ranger, Fel, and other characters, each with different abilities and colors signifying their roles, are introduced.
• Lyria questions her decision to trust Pax, who sent her from Mars with a theory about the parasite seeking repairs.
• The long-ranger squad resents being in the asteroid belt instead of fighting on Mars and feels the mission is a waste of time.
• Lyria copes with her past failures and guilt by training and hoping to help others in the future.
• The routine of exploring asteroids for clues continues despite slim hope of success.
• Teamwork is shown with pre-spacewalk equipment checks.
• Fel and Lyria's dynamic is explained, along with their roles in the operation.
• Lyria's sense of duty is highlighted along with the repeated description of her as a "truffle pig," which she resents.
• Lyria experiences debilitating headaches from the parasite but denies it slowing her down.
• On the asteroid, they find a gun turret and an old pirate hideout, which they decide to investigate.
• Lyria is attacked by a skeleton, leading her to realize it's part of an older conflict called the Green Death.
• Lyria and Fel are forced to retreat inside the pirate hideout to seek refuge from enemy "Dustwalkers."
• An intense encounter with the Dustwalkers leads to the dismemberment of both Fel and Lyria, as well as the death of their pilot, Xaria.
• A mysterious chrome obelisk appears and attacks, causing intense pain for Lyria and leaving her floating in space.
• Communications fail, leaving Lyria isolated and at the mercy of an unknown orb entity that communicates through her helmet's com system.
• The chapter ends with the orb entity seemingly addressing the parasite within Lyria as "sister," hinting at a deeper connection with the technology.