The Kill Order

“The smells hit Mark first. It was always that way when going to the Central Shack. Rotting undergrowth, cooking meat, pine sap. All laced with that scent of burning that defined the world after the sun flares. Not unpleasant, really, just haunting.”

This description allows the reader to center themselves within the genre, expressing through sensory detail that this is a dystopian society. The setting plays an important role in the novel in orienting the reader to the genre and providing contrasts that divide the survivors between those living in settlements and those living in upscale neighborhoods who have risen to power in the new government.

“It was the first time Mark had seen one of the enormous airships since the sun flares happened, and the sight of it was jolting. He couldn’t think of any reason a Berg—one that had survived the disaster—would have to come flying through the mountains.”

Mark describes the arrival of an airship that is a relic of the past. This airship is a part of the technology that was common in society before the solar flares but has since become a thing of the past. The sight of it takes him back to a different time, making the Berg a symbol of the modern conveniences and technology that disappeared along with most of the human population during and after the solar flares.

“Ever the soldier—even after all these years—the man had a plan, and he needed help. He was going to fight back against these monsters. And so was Mark.”

Mark reveals his respect for Alec as he watches Alec arrive with equipment he can use to board the Berg and stop the men from shooting darts at innocent people. Both Alec and Mark’s characters are revealed here as people who are not afraid to step up and fight when necessary. Their relationship is clearly one of respect, bordering on a father/son bond. This moment launches Mark and Alec’s quest to stop the attack and find out the reason behind it.

“There was a warning symbol plastered across the top, the kind that indicated the contents were some sort of biohazard. A label below the symbol said:

Virus VC321xb47

Highly Contagious

24 Darts, Extreme Caution

Mark suddenly wished he hadn’t touched the thing.”

This is the first introduction of the virus. Mark is instantly wary of this box and its contents, but he does not yet know the full impact of the box’s contents. This virus was discussed in the first three books, and the epilogue of The Death Cure does mention both the solar flares and the purposeful exposure of the population to the virus that caused the Flare. This finding connects Mark’s story to Thomas and Theresa’s, and it presents a conflict that Mark and Alec will be faced with resolving in this novel.

“Bodies litter the floor, naked and burned. Screams and cries of pain pierce his eardrums and echo off the walls. People are limping about, arms outstretched, their clothes on fire and their faces half melted like wax. Blood everywhere. And an impossible surge of heat washes through the air, like they’re inside an oven.”

Mark’s memories of the day the solar flares hit are vivid and frightening, setting a tone of survival that touches on the theme of Survival and Found Kinship. James Dashner uses Mark’s memories to offer a contrast between a natural disaster that destroyed an entire society and the man-made disaster that is beginning to unfold in Mark’s dystopian world through the release of the virus. They both come suddenly and without warning, but one offers hope, as humans gather together to support one another, while the other is without hope, as humans turn on each other.

“The smell was awful. He could taste it on his tongue—dank, rotten, moldy—all the way to his stomach, as if he’d swallowed something that had begun to decompose. Fighting the urge to throw up, he took one step after another, breathlessly waiting to see what horrors lay in the aftermath of the attack.”

Dashner once again uses smell to describe the setting of Mark’s settlement. This time, the smells are drastically different, taking away the comfort Mark found in the new home he had made for himself in the aftermath of the solar flares. The changes described here not only introduce the death that comes quickly after the release of the virus, but it shows a complete alteration to the tone of the novel, as Mark and his friends deal with the plague the PFC has rained down on them.

“Alec had saved them that day, and countless times since. But Mark felt solid knowing that he’d returned the favor on more than one occasion. Their lives were as linked together as the rocks and earth of the mountain they’d just slept upon.”

Mark reflects on his relationship with Alec; there is clear respect and trust between them based on their shared experiences. There is also a bond that becomes clearer as the novel progresses, and Mark and Alec find themselves fighting against the PFC and the infected. This moment shows that Mark appreciates Alec’s knowledge and bravery, but it also shows that Mark feels he is an equal to the older man even as they share a father/son type of relationship.

“Alec walked straight at Toad, then grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him to his feet, dragging him deeper into the woods. The screams didn’t stop, just became more hitched and sporadic as he sucked in breaths and struggled to break free. Soon they were lost in the shadows of the trees, but Mark could hear the scraping of the Toad’s body along the ground. The sound of his wailing faded as they got further away.”

Mark describes the first mercy killing Alec performs in an attempt to quicken Toad’s death. This moment is significant not only because it takes place early in the novel, at a time before anyone can question Alec’s sanity, but also because it is the first of three acts of mercy Alec will perform for the people in this group in moments that call for mercy. This moment shows the depth of Alec’s courage and the extent of his empathy, as well as his understanding of the human condition. It also touches on the theme of The Greater Good and the Value of Human Life in that Alec weighs the benefits of allowing Toad to continue suffering with the mental health condition caused by the Flare or to allow him the peace that comes with death. Alec’s choice is not unlike that of the PFC, but Alec’s choice is more personal and on a smaller scale.

“Deedee held up her right arm, the hand balled into a fist. She pulled up her ratty sleeve to reveal a circular wound near her shoulder, scabbed over but looking poorly cared for. She didn’t say anything, just held the arm straight out for everyone to inspect.”

Deedee reveals that she was shot directly with a virus dart, introducing the idea that she might have natural immunity to the virus. This is a significant moment because it not only explains why Deedee’s village abandoned her and will later accuse her of being a demon, but it also plants the seed of the possibility of using her to search for a cure. Deedee’s immunity also introduces the idea that there might be other Immunes, suggesting that it is not a given that everyone exposed to the virus will get sick.

“The girl nodded vigorously, still with a mask of fear, then burst out talking—saying more than she had in all the time since they’d found her. ‘The people I lived with. It’s them. I know it’s them. They turned weird, started…doing things. Saying trees and plants and animals are magic. They left me because they said I was…evil.’ She broke into a whimper on the last word. ‘Because I got shot and didn’t get sick.’”

Although Mark and his friends have already seen the way the virus affected Darnell and Toad, this is the first time they come face to face with a group that has been infected with the virus for a long period of time. This is their first true introduction to the altered sense of reality that the infection can cause in some people. Deedee’s description of her villagers sounds more like a group of religious fanatics than a group of people suffering from the effects of a virus, but they also sound like the Cranks that appear in the previous three novels.

“‘It’s happened twice now,’ Jed replied, showing no sign that he’d noticed Alec’s sarcasm. ‘Both times it came from the heavens—once from the sun, once from the ships. We think they may visit annually, to punish us for becoming lax and to remind us of what we need to become.’”

Jed shows the thought process of a group of people who do not understand what is happening to them and have become unstable due to a virus that attacks the brain. This group has turned to mythology and religion to explain the unexplainable, choosing to turn their backs on a child because they cannot explain her survival while those around her have died. This is an example of a society reaching for answers that fit their ideology, which often happens when people fear the unknown.

“Alec was working about twenty feet farther outside the camp, actually on his hands and knees and literally sniffing along like a dog. He looked ridiculous, but there was something about it that touched Mark. The old grizzly bear rarely showed the slightest hint of emotion—unless he was yelling or screaming or pounding on something…or someone—but he often showed how much he genuinely cared. Mark had no doubt the man would give his life today if it meant saving one of their three missing friends.”

This description of Alec shows a softer side of the former soldier. Alec is a man of action, someone who is always in control. However, there is an obvious amount of empathy and compassion in the man that is hidden in his need for control and action. This moment shows Mark that Alec is more than just a soldier, but a man who takes his relationship with his chosen family very seriously. This observation on Mark’s part not only solidifies the affection that is clearly shared between the two men, but it shows that Alec is not inhuman or lacking in compassion.

“Within a minute or so the round piece of land was exactly vertical, half in the ground and half out, still rotating. Soon the earth and buses were descending upside down and Mark could finally see what lay on the opposite side of the coin: a flat, gray, concrete-like surface with small grooves cut across it in perfectly straight lines. It wouldn’t be long before the large circle rested flat on the valley floor, facing the sky and waiting for something to land on it.”

Mark and Alec finally reach the Berg headquarters and discover that it is hidden underground, accessible through a landing pad that rotates to hide itself in the landscape. This moment again highlights the technology of a past as something that is no longer accessible to most people in the present. This moment also explores the science fiction aspects of the novel, as it provides a futuristic landing spot for futuristic airships.

“Anton took a few low, deep breaths and a tear trickled out of his right eye. ‘We chose a settlement two months ago,’ he finally said. ‘As a test. Not that the disastrous results changed the overall plan in the end. But the girl changed it for me. So many dead, and it was the one who lived who made me realize what a horrible thing we’d done. Like I said, I didn’t want them to give her back to her people today. That’s when I was truly done. Officially done.’”

Anton, the man Mark and Alec find inside the Berg headquarters, talks about the attack on Deedee’s village and how the results did nothing to change the minds of the PFC members in Alaska about the soundness of their plan to release the virus. This is an example of how distance can make it easier to lack empathy for a whole group of people, but being in the presence of these people and seeing their suffering can result in a different perspective. This is a theme that is explored in the previous three books as well, the idea that the PFC was okay with exposing hundreds to the virus until they realized they might become infected without a cure available to them.

“‘We had no choice. They used the very resources they’re trying to preserve against us. We have to eat, too, right? It’s not our fault the virus wasn’t quite what they expected. All we can do is what we’ve done since the sun flares struck the Earth: fight tooth and nail to live. Darwin taught about survival of the fittest in the natural world. Well, the PFC is trying to cheat nature. It’s time to stand up for ourselves. We…will…live!’”

Bruce says these things in a speech to the PFC members inside the Berg headquarters before sending his people after Alec and Mark. This speech is similar to the one Jedidiah made to the villagers, showing the passion and fanaticism that comes along with the heightened emotions associated with survival at all costs. It also shows how the Flare effects people’s reasoning. Bruce truly believes he has been wronged by the PFC by being forced to expose the villagers to the virus, and there is some merit to his argument. What stands out about the argument is the emotion and anger, and the idea that the only way to make things right is to turn to violence and injustice that is similar to what the PFC did when they ordered the release of the virus.

“Mark had it. His every instinct told him so. No wonder his head had been hurting so much.”

All through the novel, Mark has noted odd behaviors from Alec but none in himself. Yet, after he falls into a rage as he attempts to free the stolen Berg from the interlopers, Mark finds himself questioning his own sanity. Due to noticing a few symptoms he saw in the villagers and Anton, Mark begins to fear he has the virus. His rage and headache could be the virus or could be from a lack of sleep, food, and water. There is no way of knowing for sure if Mark is exhibiting signs of the virus, and this is one way the novel maintains suspense about the characters’ fates.

“Scared. That’s good. A fine soldier is always scared. Makes you normal. It’s how you respond to it that makes or breaks you.”

Alec’s advice to Mark underscores the difference between the healthy people, who act cautiously, and the infected, who throw themselves into violence without regard for their own wellbeing. It also shows that Alec still has control of his faculties even though he is infected, emphasizing his strong will and determination.

“It haunted him through and through, witnessing what the disease did to people. Was doing. It had to be getting worse. That guy had been utterly nuts. And Mark had already felt something like it—the faintest trace—starting within him. There was a beast hidden inside, and soon it might come out and make him look like the man Alec had zapped with the Transvice.”

This quote not only foreshadows the obstacles Mark and Alec will face as they attempt to rescue Lana, Trina, and Deedee, but it also shows Mark’s fear of the virus. Mark is a realist, and he understands that they have all been exposed to the virus; therefore it is likely only a matter of time before it begins changing their behavior like it has the other infected. This also foreshadows Mark’s realization that a cure is necessary: Although it might be too late for him and those he loves, it is not for those who will survive past the initial wave of infection.

“A woman eating a cat. A man chewing on a rug in the corner of his living room. Two kids throwing rocks at each other as hard as they could, bloodied and bruised from head to toe. Laughing all the while. People standing still in their yards, staring at the sky. Others lying facedown in the dirt, talking to themselves.”

Mark describes the sights they see as they walk among the infected, which show the unspeakable effects of the virus. The world is once again experiencing unprecedented disaster; the difference this time is that it is a man-made disaster that could have been avoided. The tragedy is that the virus is torturing against people who have already suffered immeasurably.

“Mark’s eyes drifted up from the bloody patch on the ground and fixed on Alec. The man had a look on his face that said a thousand things. But laced through it all was a profound sadness. Though Mark never fully understood what kind of relationship the two veterans had shared, it had been deep and full of history.”

This is a description of Alec after he performs the second mercy killing in the novel. Alec is clearly a kind, loving man who cares deeply for those around him, especially his former coworker, Lana. To be placed in a position where he has to choose to kill her over allowing her to live with wounds is horrifying, but Alec decides that it is kinder to end her suffering. His façade breaks for a moment, and Mark can see humanity inside of him, something that is becoming rare in the faces of those around them.

“All of the house occupants seemed to scream at once, and their bodies swarmed in, pressing against Mark and his friends. Mark lost hold of Deedee’s hand and saw her disappear into the crowd, her sweet little cry like that of an angel among demons.”

Mark’s comparison of Deedee to an angel among demons touches on the religious ideation the villagers chose to embrace in the aftermath of their exposure to the virus. Not only this, but it equates immunity to an angel and infection to a demon, the opposite of what Jedidiah believes about Deedee. In this way, Mark is already placing the mantel of savior on Deedee by virtue of her innocence and her immunity, foreshadowing his decision to send her back to the PFC as a possible solution for the cure.

“I’m sick, Mark. I’m really, really sick. I need to die. I need to die and I don’t wanna die for nothing.”

Alec’s declaration that he is ill underscores Mark’s fear that he is also infected. Alec’s insistence that he does not want to die for nothing inspires Mark and leads to the actions that come next in sending Deedee to the PFC, which is the catalyst for the events in the first three Maze Runner novels.

“Monstrous noise and quaking took over the world, but he still heard what she whispered into his ear before the Berg came crashing into the building.

‘Mark.’”

Alec’s final act of mercy is to destroy the Flat Trans so that none of the infected can escape to Alaska and infect the people there. This is a mercy killing for himself, Mark, and Trina because they are doomed anyway, and at least their deaths can ensure that Deedee gets to Alaska safely. At the same time, Mark and Trina’s love story comes to a satisfying ending, as she battles the symptoms of the virus and recognizes him, offering him a last kiss before they both die. It is a similar ending to that of the first three novels in that Theresa sacrifices herself for Thomas, an ending that would not have been possible without the sacrifices of Mark, Alec, Lana, and Trina.