Chapter 2 Summary: Vagus Nerve — The Blackout

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Chapter 2 opens on a flight to Houston, where Bee Königswasser and her research assistant Rocío banter about armadillos carrying leprosy. Rocío, a self-described chaotic goth with a deadpan sense of humor, often tells Bee absurd stories that occasionally turn out to be true. Bee reflects on how much she values Rocío, even as she feels guilty for pulling her away from her boyfriend Alex for three months. Rocío, however, is excited about the NASA line on her CV and the chance to see La Llorona, a legendary feminist ghost.

During the flight, Bee secretly checks her anonymous Twitter account, @WhatWouldMarieDo. She created the account during her first semester of grad school after receiving appalling, sexually harassing feedback from students in a mid-semester survey. Her male cohort, including her then-boyfriend Tim, dismissed the comments as harmless pranks and discouraged her from reporting them. The next day, Bee impulsively made the account, using a poorly photoshopped image of Marie Curie and a bio that read "Making the periodic table girlier since 1889 (she/her)." To her surprise, the account gained traction, and it has since become a therapeutic community for women in STEM to share stories, exchange advice, and vent about sexism. Bee regularly interacts with another popular account, @Shmacademics, who she has never met in person but considers a friend. They joke about trolls like @SteveHarrison, who dismisses women's contributions to science. Bee also tries to email Levi Ward about the BLINK project but receives no reply, which she interprets as contempt.

After landing, Bee and Rocío settle into furnished apartments near the Johnson Space Center. Bee is delighted by the amenities—a balcony, a dishwasher, and a toilet that flushes reliably—and decorates with her Marie Curie magnet and a hummingbird feeder. Eager to explore, she visits the Sullivan Discovery Building on Friday, even though she doesn't start until Monday. The receptionist denies her entry without an ID badge, but astronaut Guy Kowalsky, who was her point of contact for BLINK logistics, recognizes her and offers a tour. Guy is warm and complimentary, and Bee is struck by how much more pleasant he is than Levi. He shows her the engineering labs and mentions that BLINK is everyone's favorite project. During the tour, Guy takes a phone call from his young daughter, and Bee wanders down a hallway where she encounters a calico kitten. She squats to pet it, and the kitten jumps onto a cart piled with heavy equipment, dislodging it. The equipment begins to fall directly toward Bee, and she freezes in terror.

Just as the equipment is about to crush her, Levi Ward slams into her, shoving her aside and pinning her against the wall. The equipment crashes to the floor. Levi checks her for injuries, his touch gentle and urgent, and Bee notices his intense green eyes and the deep concern on his face. She thinks he might be mouthing her name. Then her eyelids close and she blacks out.

Key Events

Bee and Rocío fly to Houston, discussing armadillos and leprosy.
Bee reveals her secret Twitter account, @WhatWouldMarieDo, and its origin story.
She DMs with @Shmacademics, who mentions a woman from his past who is back and married.
Bee emails Levi Ward about BLINK but gets no response.
Bee moves into a furnished apartment near the Johnson Space Center.
She visits the Discovery Building and meets astronaut Guy Kowalsky, who gives her a tour.
A calico kitten dislodges heavy equipment, which nearly crushes Bee.
Levi Ward shoves Bee out of the way, saving her, and checks her for injuries.
Bee loses consciousness.

Character Development

Bee is revealed to be a resilient but scarred scientist. Her backstory with the harassment survey explains her deep distrust of male-dominated academic spaces and her need for anonymity. Her secret Twitter account shows her commitment to supporting other women in STEM, even as she hides her identity to protect her career. Her interactions with Rocío and Guy highlight her warmth and humor, while her reaction to Levi—a mix of dread and unexpected vulnerability—sets up the central tension of the novel.

Levi Ward appears only briefly, but his actions speak volumes. He saves Bee without hesitation, and his careful, almost reverent touch suggests a depth of feeling that contradicts Bee's perception of him as cold and contemptuous. His concern is so intense that Bee wonders if he is mouthing her name like a prayer, hinting at a history that Bee may have misread.

Guy Kowalsky is introduced as a friendly, supportive colleague, providing a stark contrast to Levi. His warmth and enthusiasm for BLINK make Bee feel welcomed, and his role as a grounded astronaut adds credibility to the project.

Rocío continues to be a comic foil and a loyal assistant, grounding Bee with her deadpan humor and practical advice.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Sexism in STEM: The chapter directly addresses the harassment and dismissal women face in academic science. Bee's survey experience and the troll comments on her Twitter account illustrate the pervasive misogyny she fights against.
Online anonymity and community: @WhatWouldMarieDo serves as a safe space for women to share their struggles. Bee's friendship with @Shmacademics, built on anonymity, shows how online connections can provide genuine support without revealing identities.
Marie Curie as a symbol: Bee repeatedly invokes Marie Curie as a model of scientific brilliance and resilience. The magnet on her fridge and her Twitter handle reinforce this motif, linking Bee's mission to Curie's legacy.
The calico cat: The kitten is a catalyst for the accident, but it also represents unpredictability and the small, seemingly innocent events that can upend a life. Its appearance right before Levi's rescue adds a touch of whimsy to a dangerous moment.
The vagus nerve and blackout: The chapter title references the vagus nerve, which is involved in the body's stress response. Bee's paralysis and subsequent blackout during the accident highlight the physical and emotional overwhelm she experiences, tying the title to her state of mind.
Fresh start vs. unresolved past: Bee's excitement about the new project is tempered by her anxiety about working with Levi. The chapter sets up a tension between the promise of a new beginning and the weight of old grievances.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 2 establishes the core conflict of the novel: Bee's professional and personal entanglement with Levi Ward. It provides crucial backstory for Bee's motivations, including her secret Twitter account and her history of harassment, which shape her worldview and her interactions with male colleagues. The chapter also introduces the setting—the Johnson Space Center—and key supporting characters like Guy and Rocío, who will likely play significant roles. The dramatic rescue scene creates a powerful emotional beat, revealing Levi's protective instincts and hinting at a deeper connection between the two leads. Finally, the chapter's themes of sexism, anonymity, and community set the stage for the novel's exploration of gender dynamics in science and the possibility of redemption and trust.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why did Bee create the @WhatWouldMarieDo account, and what does it reveal about her character?

Bee created the account after receiving sexually harassing feedback from students in her neuroanatomy class and being dismissed by her male peers, including her then-boyfriend Tim. The account reveals her resilience and her desire to create a supportive community for women in STEM, as well as her need for anonymity to protect her career. It shows that she channels her anger into constructive advocacy rather than letting it defeat her.

2. How does the chapter portray the contrast between Guy Kowalsky and Levi Ward?

Guy is warm, complimentary, and immediately welcoming, making Bee feel valued and excited about the project. Levi, on the other hand, is absent and unresponsive to Bee's email, and Bee remembers him as cold and contemptuous. However, Levi's rescue of Bee—his urgent, gentle touch and his visible concern—complicates this contrast, suggesting that his outward behavior may not reflect his true feelings.

3. What role does the calico kitten play in the chapter's climax?

The kitten serves as an innocent catalyst for the accident. By jumping onto the cart and dislodging the equipment, it creates the life-threatening situation that forces Levi to act. The kitten also adds an element of unpredictability and charm, contrasting with the high-stakes, serious environment of NASA. Its presence underscores how small, random events can have major consequences, and it sets the stage for the pivotal moment of physical contact between Bee and Levi.