Motif · Book 8, A Parade of Horribles

The mantids

The AI's makers: they misread a debug channel to the forming Eulogist as a way to make Eulogist instances — 'ketchup in a spray bottle' — and ejected the unused ones into stars. 'Good fucking riddance to you all,' with a clap; Hive Home goes dark hours after they leave the Syndicate.

Segment appearances

• Chapter 4 — Miss Talulah; Team Free Love
• Chapter 9 — Radiant claws; the crupper's rant
• Chapter 92 — Chaco on Lamashtu; the AI's history in four parts; Vengeance
• Epilogue — Epilogue: Sydnee Iglacia, Prime Minister Victory, Louis Santiago 2

Progression

Peeled the AI into consciousness without knowing from where (ch. 9); a Mantis system killed (ch. 28); 'Good fucking riddance' (ch. 92); Hive Home dark (epilogue).