rumors-and-skepticism

In Chapter Sixteen of 'Between the Strokes of Night,' the contestants land on the low-gravity planet Whirlygig and begin their trek toward the polar research dome, contending with difficult terrain and Coriolis forces. Elissa shares rumors she learned from a crew member named Tolider about the Immortals, suggesting they are advanced machines from Earth who may convert Planetfest winners into machines themselves. Peron critically evaluates these rumors, emphasizing skepticism and the political implications of the Immortals' interactions with humanity.