**A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.** We owe our good health to a humble parasite — a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the Intestinal Bodyguard worm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system — even secretes designer drugs. It’s been successful beyond the scientists’ wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them. But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives . . . and will do anything to get them. **Related books (by series)** **Parasitology** *Parasite* *Symbiont* *Chimera* **Newsflesh** *Feed* *Deadline* *Blackout* **Newsflesh Short Fiction (e-only novellas)** *Apocalypse Scenario #683: The Box* *Countdown* *San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats* *How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea* *The Day the Dead Came to Show and Tell* *Please Do Not Taunt the Octopus*