Chapter 9 Summary: The Sacred Duty

⚠️ 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 9, “The Sacred Duty,” is a deep dive into Xan’s past, told through his own account to Mallory. The chapter opens with a parallel to Mallory’s own college dropout story: Xan also left college, but for reasons rooted in family tragedy. When he was eight, his parents died in a car accident caused by an earthquake in the Smoky Mountains, leaving him and his three-year-old brother Phineas in the care of their harsh grandmother, Norma Morgan. Xan escaped to college on a scholarship, but at twenty, his grandmother had a stroke, and he dropped out to enlist in the army so he could send money home for her care and his brother’s schooling.

The army placed Xan in supply lines, and he eventually served in Afghanistan with a quartermaster battalion, mortuary division. He found the work grim but sacred, cataloguing injuries and collecting personal effects from fallen soldiers. After a traumatic incident on US soil, he was transferred to Fort Bowser, a secret base established to prepare for alien encounters. There, he was promoted and given a high security clearance, and his job became studying alien corpses—work that required absolute secrecy.

A few months into his assignment, Xan attended a party hosted by fellow quartermaster Billy. He was carrying a copy of Slaughterhouse-Five that contained classified data for a covert drop. At the party, he was drugged, and when the lights went out, someone tried to stab him. He dodged, but Billy was stabbed instead. Xan fled, stumbling into a field, where he passed out.

He woke aboard a Gneiss shuttle, having been picked up by three young Gneiss—Tina, Stephanie, and Ferdinand—who had given him a translation bug and some healing treatment. They were on a joyride and couldn’t override the autopilot, so they were taking him to Station Eternity. Xan protested, but had no choice. Upon arrival, he met the sentient station, which granted him sanctuary, promising no one would extradite him. He was given the shuttle Infinity as his living space.

Back in the present, Xan finishes telling this story to Mallory, but she is unsatisfied. She presses him for more details about the murder, noting that both he and Stephanie knew more than they had revealed. Xan admits he was the intended target, but he refuses to explain why, citing classified information. Mallory’s suspicion grows, and the chapter ends with her demanding the truth, while Xan worries about what will happen when she finds out.

Key Events

Xan’s parents die in a car accident when he is eight; he and his brother are raised by their grandmother.
Xan drops out of college to enlist in the army, serving in mortuary affairs, including in Afghanistan.
After a traumatic incident, he is transferred to Fort Bowser, a secret base for alien encounter preparation.
He is assigned to study alien corpses and given a high security clearance.
At a party, he is drugged and someone attempts to stab him; Billy is stabbed instead.
Xan flees, passes out in a field, and is picked up by three Gneiss on a joyride.
The Gneiss give him a translation bug and take him to Station Eternity.
Xan meets the sentient station, which grants him sanctuary.
He later tells Mallory this story, but she presses for more information about the murder.

Character Development

Xan is revealed to be a man shaped by duty and trauma. His sense of obligation to family—first to his brother, then to his grandmother—drove him to enlist and later to accept a dangerous assignment. His mortuary work instilled in him a belief in the sacredness of caring for the dead, which he defends against Rodriguez’s dismissiveness. Yet his past is riddled with secrets: he hides the truth about the assassination attempt, and he is haunted by what Eternity might have seen in his mind. His fear of being known is palpable, and his reluctance to trust Mallory stems from a history of being burned by impulsive people.

Mallory shows a new side here. She is no longer the terrified or reckless woman from earlier chapters; she is sharp, observant, and insistent. She notices the gaps in Xan’s story and refuses to let him deflect. Her demand for the truth signals a growing need for trust, even as she herself has secrets.

Stephanie and the other Gneiss are portrayed as well-meaning but chaotic, having accidentally abducted Xan. Their casual attitude contrasts with the gravity of Xan’s situation, highlighting the cultural gap between humans and Gneiss.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Sacred Duty: Xan’s mortuary work is described as a sacred duty, a phrase he repeats to Rodriguez. This theme extends to his broader sense of responsibility—to his family, to his country, and later to the station.
Family Obligation and Sacrifice: Xan’s enlistment is framed as a sacrifice for his brother and grandmother, even though his grandmother was cruel. This tension between duty and resentment recurs throughout his story.
Secrecy and Classified Information: The chapter is steeped in secrets—Fort Bowser’s existence, the alien corpse study, the assassination attempt, and what Eternity might have seen. Xan’s refusal to share information is both a military obligation and a personal defense.
Trauma and Breaking Point: Xan’s transfer to Fort Bowser follows a “horrific incident” on US soil, and his later breakdown at the party suggests unresolved trauma. His emotional numbness during the abduction (“emotions felt plastic and distant”) underscores his psychological state.
Sanctuary and Trust: Eternity grants Xan sanctuary, but he is unsure whether she has seen his hidden truths. This uncertainty mirrors his relationship with Mallory, who also offers a kind of sanctuary but demands honesty.
Mind Reading and Privacy: Eternity’s ability to touch minds raises questions about privacy and vulnerability. Xan’s fear of being exposed is central to his character.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it provides the backstory that explains Xan’s presence on Station Eternity and his guarded nature. It also deepens the mystery of the murder: we learn that Xan was the intended target, but not why. The chapter establishes the stakes of his secrecy—he is hiding something that could destroy his credibility or his life. Additionally, it develops the relationship between Xan and Mallory, showing that trust is a fragile commodity on the station. The revelation that Eternity can read minds adds a layer of tension, as Xan’s secrets may already be known.

Study Questions and Answers

Why did Xan leave college and enlist in the army?

Xan left college because his grandmother had a stroke, and he felt obligated to send money home for her care and his brother Phineas’s schooling. He chose the army over returning home because he wanted to escape his grandmother’s harshness while still fulfilling his family duty.

What was Xan’s role at Fort Bowser, and why was it kept secret?

Xan was assigned to help establish a quartermaster battalion for alien encounters and to study alien corpses. The work required a high security clearance because the military wanted to prepare for potential alien threats without revealing their intentions to aliens or the public. The official cover story was that Fort Bowser was a temporary base due to renovations at Fort Bragg.

Why does Mallory press Xan for more details about the murder, and what does this reveal about her character?

Mallory presses Xan because she senses gaps in his story and needs to trust him before she can feel safe. This reveals that she has become more analytical and less impulsive, willing to confront difficult truths rather than run from them. Her insistence shows that trust is a prerequisite for her cooperation on the station.

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