Along their walk to Oklahoma, the group encounters more evidence of climate change and natural disasters; tornadoes have destroyed many of the structures that once stood along this route. Their progress is slow but they are moving and evading detection by the DF. They stop to sleep, and Vali notices that the chip in her wrist is now glowing blue. This must mean the system upgrade has occurred and that her chip is no longer going to function properly. Malakas’s and Rosa’s chips are also blue now. Ernie and Tomas have legitimate chips. They can’t see Volcanoman’s because he is asleep in a position that prevents view of his wrist.

While others sleep, Vali and Malakas chat. Malakas is from the Philippines. After cyclones destroyed his childhood town, Malakas’s mother had a friend help Malakas get to New York so he could live with his lola (grandmother). He lived with her until she was taken and her apartment ransacked. His mother is dead. Without options, Malakas ran away and hired the coyote.

After five days of walking, the group arrives at BJ’s house in Scutter, Oklahoma. A man named Ronny rushes the group inside and Vali immediately feels unsafe.