Phobos is alive???

You don't bundle the dead to protect their eyes, keep their airways open, and keep them warm. So, yes, he must be alive. I don't feel we were fairly prepped for this. A possible explanation is that Carter is letting Edjamin and crew believe Phobos to be dead while trying to determine who to trust.

If you mean that you're surprised, John, I'll take that as a compliment. :D

The story has the readers in the same place as the characters right now; off-balance, not sure where to step or who to trust. However, there is a strong clue in an earlier episode suggesting that, barring underhanded trickery on my part, Phobos can't be dead.

We can rebuild him. We have the technology...oh, wait!

I've never been a big fan of people who died being alive again. It's not a bad thing exactly, just really over-used so it's hard to pull off.
Assuming Phobos is alive and this isn't misdirection; it is in this case not bad since it hasn't been that long in real time since he 'died.' Some stories bring back characters from months or years ago and that's always pretty uninspired. Come to think of it, almost every manga ever has done that.

I don't mean the time/multiverse sort of bring-backs we have in Westward like seeing Rex after he died, that's quite different. I just mean a single version of a person dying then showing up later, saving the day, and having a sandwich.

Not that I'm against sandwiches.

I tend to agree with you, Katawa. It's a bit of a shame that, in the world of fantastic fiction, you can never really feel the full weight of a major character's death. There's always a chance that somehow they'll come back. Superhero comics are another big culprit.

And how is Santana taking all this?

You'll actually find out on Monday, John!

oooh man, sammiches ....
By the way, Thank you, this story is the main entertainment
of my life right now....

I've been reading the archives & comments for a few days now and am caught up. I follow about a dozen web comics and this one is by far the most dramatic. The story is complex and at times confusing. But I've persevered and each time you reveal a new connection, shed light on another secret, it's been worth the wait. Thanks.

This installment didn't need Phobos to be awesome... "another treatment"? "more monsters"? "sacrificed so much"? I want to hear more about all of these backstory bits. And then there's Rosemary's references to "waking up"

Re WAKING UP,
It's my impression that Rosemary has been reevaluating her Spy role and belief system, perhaps due in part to a relationship with Carter that has grown in respect and emotions in a direction she had not anticipated. I think she was as surprised as Carter when she confessed... surprised that she confessed. Her expectations have been shattered, and she's in a grey spot. She may end up at political odds with Milo, her accomplice at least until now.

High praise, Sorcerer Tim, and most appreciated! Westward certainly does take perseverance at times—a theme I explored a bit in my latest blog.

Number12: Phobos is there for a reason—you'll find out why on Monday. And the meaning of her allusions will be revealed in time...though some will take more time than others!

John: I think you've hit the nail on the head. Her interactions with Carter back on the planet all point to a kind of vulnerability that she doesn't quite know what to do with.