First, Chapters 6 through 10; Second, Chapters 1 and 2 Summary

In the sixth chapter, Harmony says they are joined outside the store by Melody's friend, Zen Chen-Chavez, who says he hacked through Melody's MiNet password to discover her current location. Harmony notes the two obviously have some connection. When Zen makes a reference to a party, Melody becomes strained but Zen doesn't seem to notice it. Zen makes note of how Harmony is dressed in a long gown, gloves, and a veil and asks if she's allowed to take off the veil. She says she is but doesn't want to. Zen responds that some people believe the higher pregnancy rates of women into their twenties and thirties in Goodside is because the veils and gloves provide protection from the Virus.

In the seventh chapter, Melody says that four years earlier, blood tests on...