biotechnological-augmentation

The narrator, Dez, is struggling with feelings of inadequacy and social exclusion due to lacking a 'set'—a specialized bio-tech rig—and being disconnected from the influential Body Artists set. After a disappointing encounter with his friend Casio, Dez wanders through Television City, reflecting on his low status and the city's gritty, graffiti-covered environment. The chapter culminates with Dez attending an underground club where he reconnects with Casio and the Nerveless band, only to be confronted unexpectedly by Turbo and his influential set, highlighting Dez's outsider status and social tension.

The chapter follows a group of specialized workers, known as gips, as they receive news of their new assignment to dismantle the defunct Superconducting Supercollider (Slikslak) in Waxahachie, Texas. The protagonist, Lew, navigates complex interpersonal dynamics, particularly with his colleague Geraldine and roommate Benzene Bill, while reflecting on cultural and biological themes such as genetic splicing and identity. The chapter concludes with the team's arrival at their new base and a communal Tex-Mex barbecue, highlighting their camaraderie and anticipation for the long-term job ahead.