The Expanse, #2
Caliban’s War
by James S. A. Corey
Contents
Chapter Thirty-Four: Holden
Overview
Holden repairs part of the emotional damage with Naomi by admitting that fear has made Holden reckless, controlling, and cruel. Naomi does not fully forgive Holden, but Naomi agrees to return to the Rocinante after repairs, giving the crew a chance to become whole again.
The rescue effort for Mei gains both money and direction when Prax’s fund surges past half a million dollars and Strickland is identified as Carlos Merrian. Holden’s investigation links Merrian’s unethical bioscience work and corporate recruitment language to Protogen, suggesting Mei’s abduction is tied to the same forces behind Eros.
Summary
Holden goes to the Blauwe Blome on Tycho to find Naomi. Although Holden is still afraid of what happened on Ganymede and what may be growing there, Holden feels newly clear because he has stopped denying that fear and recognizes how it drove Holden into violence, bad decisions, and alienating Holden’s crew.
In the club’s Golgo room, Holden finds Naomi playing with Sam and other Belters. Naomi agrees to talk privately, and Holden apologizes without deflecting blame. Holden admits that Naomi was right, that Holden had been turning into a version of Miller, and that Holden’s refusal to face fear cost Holden trust, love, and judgment.
Naomi listens but does not immediately forgive everything. Holden explains that Fred fired Holden after their confrontation and that Holden no longer has a patron or paying job. Naomi points out the practical consequences: the Rocinante now must pay for repairs, supplies, docking fees, and weapons. Holden has no plan yet, but Holden asks Naomi to return to the ship because the Roci and the crew need Naomi, regardless of whether their romance recovers.
Naomi tells Holden that she is not ready to move back immediately, but that by the time the Rocinante is repaired, Naomi will need Naomi’s cabin back. Naomi says she loves Holden and that they are not okay yet, but the conversation is a good beginning. The reconciliation gives Holden a sense of hope and steadiness.
The next morning, Holden wakes on the Rocinante feeling better than Holden has in months. Amos and Prax arrive with major news: Prax’s public fund for Mei has grown to more than half a million UN dollars, enough to finance the rescue mission. Amos also shows Holden a message from an elderly academic who recognizes the man called Strickland from Prax’s security footage and says Strickland’s real name was Carlos Merrian.
Holden contacts Dr. Moynahan at Ceres Mining and Tech University. Moynahan explains that Merrian worked in biosciences on biological development constraint systems, crossed ethical lines, and quit before an ethics review while boasting of a corporate job with vast resources and no petty ethical restrictions. The language reminds Holden of Antony Dresden and the Eros project, leading Holden to conclude that Merrian likely joined Protogen, vanished, and returned as Strickland, the kidnapper and murderer of children.
Who Appears
- James HoldenApologizes to Naomi, accepts fear-driven mistakes, and traces Strickland toward Protogen.
- Naomi NagataHears Holden’s apology, sets boundaries, and agrees to return to the Rocinante after repairs.
- Praxidike MengReceives major donations for Mei’s rescue and provides the message identifying Strickland.
- Amos BurtonBrings Holden news of the growing fund and the Strickland lead.
- Dr. MoynahanCeres academic who identifies Strickland as Carlos Merrian and describes Merrian’s unethical past.
- Carlos Merrian / StricklandFormer bioscientist exposed as Mei’s suspected abductor, likely connected to Protogen.
- Sam RosenbergTycho engineer playing Golgo with Naomi when Holden arrives to talk.