The Fail-Safe

Carl fights the swarm off the truck with Biscuit Packs and a disco ball while the Royal Court waits for Imani and Elle to reach their gate, and Imani's Confuzzled spell buys the whole room twenty stunned seconds. Imani reports that her family's what-if did her a favour by proving her uncle would have died whether or not she left, then asks why her dog was the only one in the room without sewn eyes. Apartment 214 is not an apartment but a dormitory of bunk beds and industrial cleaner, and Carl recognizes the kind of building instantly. Apartment 231 is the ground floor of Carl's own building, where Gravy Boat sleeps at the top of a cat tree and Marjory Williams is being talked out of going back to an abusive ex. Then Jurgen calls for help at apartment 130, Osvaldo claims to be crossing the finish line, and Carl detonates the explosive he had hidden in Team Free Love's beer cooler as a fail-safe against finishing last, killing both bugbear racers.

First appearances (2)

• The Death of Team Free Love (Event) — A fail-safe, spent to avoid finishing last
• Apartment 214 (Youth Facility) (Place) — A what-if room that is not an apartment at all

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