Uglies

Tally is taken to the rabbit enclosure where the other Smokies are held. Croy apologizes for distrusting her, noting that they have not seen David or Shay. The Specials separate the Smokies, preparing to send them to their home cities. Tally realizes that she no longer thinks of the Smokies as ugly but believes the Specials are. Shay is brought to the enclosure, where she accuses Tally of being a spy. Croy is taken away, and Shay continues to throw accusations at Tally, not giving her a chance to explain. When a Special scans Tally’s eye and confirms her identity, she is taken to Dr. Cable. Enroute, the Specials congratulate her.

Tally is brought to Dr. Cable in the library. She lies and claims she pretended to resist so the Smokies wouldn’t suspect her. Dr. Cable complains about how long Tally took; she reveals the locket was designed to activate if damaged. Dr. Cable asks where the locket is, and Tally says she hid it to avoid detection once activated. Dr. Cable sends Tally and a Special to retrieve the locket. Tally guides the Special to the roof of the trading posts, where the hoverboards are charging. She gives vague instructions until he lifts her onto the roof with him; she then pretends to fall. The Special saves her and removes her bonds. Tally calls a hoverboard to her with a snap, hitting the Special in the process. She escapes by flying away.

Tally flies over the Smoke, trying to keep her footing on the hoverboard without shoes. She takes the railroad path out into the woods as hovercars begin their pursuit. She uses her knowledge of the forest to her advantage but knows it won’t be long before the Specials catch sight of her. She travels to the cave David showed her and then sends the hoverboard careening down the river in hopes the Specials will follow it. In the cave, a voice calls to her. It belongs to David.

David and Tally embrace. David says he couldn’t sleep, so he decided to hoverboard up the mountain, getting a bird’s-eye view of the Special invasion. Tally describes the scene at the Smoke but does not confess her role in the invasion, too overwhelmed with guilt. Tally insists they must rescue the Smokies headed to her home city, but David does not think them capable. Tally lies again, saying she once played a prank bad enough that she was taken to the Special Circumstances headquarters, which is where they will take the Smokies. Awed that Tally would risk everything to help his family, David tries to kiss her. Tally avoids his kiss out of guilt.

Tally and David hide until the next morning, when they ride his hoverboard to the Smoke. They find the encampment burned to the ground. Tally convinces David to let the hoverboard recharge before they search the remains. Tally is shocked to find that the prisoners left their shoes behind for her, guessing that Croy recognized her when she flew overhead. Tally selects a pair as her guilt resurges. They find the burned remnants of the library, destroyed to keep Rusty secrets away from the cities. Tally follows Boss’s retreat through the woods and finds the duffle bag of magazines before she finds his body. She takes the bag back to David, and they depart for his parents’ house.

At the path leading to his parents’ house, David jumps off the board. Tally unfolds it to charge before following him. At the top of the path, David stands outside the charred remains of his childhood home. Tally goes inside and examines what is left, realizing there are no bodies. She emerges to tell David, who then goes inside to search for himself. When finished, he tries to cut the handcuff pieces off Tally’s wrists. He notices she has two pairs, and when he cannot cut the cuffs with a knife, he doubts her story as to how she freed herself. He reaffirms that she wants to help him rescue his parents before taking her to a cave near the home where they store emergency gear. They eat some rehydrated meals as they brace for what is to come.

That night, Tally and David take off with extra hoverboards and loaded with gear. They follow an alternate route to the city, a 10-day trip reliant on water and ore veins. They cross a desert using the remnants of fallen electrical towers and then take shelter in an old newspaper factory for the day. Tally muses on the collapse of the Rusty era, and David teaches her about a pathogen that targeted petroleum. It changed the oil to phosphorus, which then exploded when it contacted air. The Rusty reliance on oil caused the collapse of their society and killed most people. Tally ruminates on what could cause the collapse of modern society as they eat their dinner.

Tally and David travel for days, teaching each other skills. A hurricane delays their travel for three days—a wait that culminates in a fight. Afterward, Tally tries to comfort David, who grapples with his parents’ inevitable pretty surgery. They arrive at the Rusty Ruins outside Tally’s city and stash their gear. They follow the whitewater rapids to the city. Tally finds she is no longer drawn to it like she once was. They travel to Special Circumstances headquarters, flying past many places that hold memories for Tally. After ascending a hill overlooking the headquarters, they try to plan for entry. The headquarters is surrounded by sensors that will detect them if they hoverboard too close. Tally realizes they could safely jump from a significant height if they have bungee jackets.

David expresses anxiety at being around so many people as Tally guides him to Uglyville. She easily breaks into the basement of the art building and takes two bungee jackets, impressing David with her abilities. They decide to enact their plan that night. Tally feels increasingly disheartened as they prepare to return to the Rusty Ruins, but they stop when they see sparklers in one of the skyscrapers. They wait on the path, scaring three uglies as they walk by. The uglies introduce themselves as Sussy, An, and Dex. When they say they want to see the Smoke, Tally claims it has temporarily disbanded so it can move to a new location. Tally asks for their help in executing a massive trick, and they eagerly agree.