Holden sits alone in the damaged Rocinante’s engineering bay, making repair notes he knows Sam does not need. The work lets him avoid confronting Fred Johnson about the possibility that Fred used the protomolecule on Ganymede. Holden is torn between fear for humanity, his anger over the experiments, and the possibility that his suspicions may prove Naomi right about what he is becoming.

Alex and Sam arrive to inspect the ship. Sam estimates several days of repairs for the damaged bulkhead, power junction, cargo bay door, and cargo airlock. She also tells Holden that Naomi is staying with her and warns him not to have hurt Naomi, making Holden’s personal losses harder to ignore.

After Sam leaves, Alex confronts Holden about Naomi’s role as executive officer. Alex explains that the Rocinante’s crew stays together by choice and shared purpose, not pay or formal obligation; without Naomi, the ship may not function. Holden accepts that he has damaged the crew dynamic and decides he must speak to Fred, though Alex notes the situation changes if Fred really is guilty.

Holden goes to Fred’s office, where Fred asks for Holden’s impressions of Ganymede. Holden struggles with his fear of Fred’s power and history, then accuses Fred of possibly using the protomolecule to push the inner planets off Ganymede and expand OPA influence. Holden’s anger escalates until he threatens to shoot Fred if Fred is responsible.

Fred responds by asserting his authority and condemning Holden’s self-righteousness. Fred says Holden assumes anything outside his knowledge cannot exist and has spent too long using righteous indignation as a weapon. Fred fires Holden from future contracts, though he promises to honor the current repair and payment agreement, and warns he could argue ownership over the Rocinante because of Tycho’s contributions.

As Holden leaves, Fred states twice that he was not responsible for Ganymede. Holden accepts the denial and, in the corridor, recognizes that fear since Eros has been driving his behavior. He prepares to call Naomi, then realizes that being fired means the Rocinante is truly independent again, without Fred as patron, and the realization unexpectedly feels freeing.