Chapter Twenty-Seven: Melba

Amid the fleet’s enforced stillness, Melba EVA-transits from the Thomas Prince toward the Rocinante, intent on destroying James Holden’s ship as vengeance for her family. She breaches the cargo bay through a repaired seam, enters unnoticed, and moves toward engineering to induce a reactor overload rather than risk confronting the crew directly.

In engineering, Melba finds Naomi Nagata repairing systems. Naomi immediately attacks, and a vicious zero-g fight erupts. Using a utility mech, Melba injures Naomi and reaches the reactor controls to begin a sabotage sequence.

Naomi counters by dumping the Rocinante’s reactor core, nullifying Melba’s plan to overheat it. Wounded and bleeding, Naomi continues the fight, but Melba regains control with the mech and seizes Naomi by the throat, preparing to kill her and savoring the personal vengeance against Holden through Naomi.

Melba declares herself as Clarissa Melpomene Mao and blames Naomi and her crew for her family’s ruin. Before she can crush Naomi’s neck, a sudden electrical shock from behind paralyzes Melba and freezes the mech. Naomi collapses against the wall, alive but badly hurt.

Anna Volovodov reveals herself as the one who intervened, asking if Naomi is all right. The Rocinante is saved from destruction, Melba is subdued, and Clarissa’s identity and culpability are exposed.