Holden watches the protomolecule creature huddled in the Rocinante's cargo bay and struggles to keep panic from overwhelming him. He orders Alex to enrich the ship's oxygen, seal himself in the cockpit, and be ready to destroy the ship if the protomolecule gets loose. Naomi and Amos join Holden, and Holden decides that he and Amos will suit up, open the cargo bay, and try to drive the creature into space.

While arming and armoring themselves, Holden feels trapped by the ship and by memories of Eros. Amos notices Holden's fear and admits that he is frightened too. Holden confesses that seeing Amos apparently killed during their earlier kidnapping made him realize how fragile the Rocinante's crew-family is, and Amos reassures him that he is hard to kill.

Holden and Amos enter the depressurized cargo bay on magnetic boots while Alex cuts thrust and Naomi opens the cargo doors. The creature appears dormant, and they consider physically shoving it out, but the idea of touching it is too dangerous. When the creature looks at them, Amos fires on it before Holden can finish planning, knocking it loose toward the open doors.

The creature reacts with terrifying speed, stretching an arm to the bulkhead, launching itself upward, and slamming into the crate shielding Holden. The impact traps Holden's injured leg beneath the magnetized crate, while the creature swats Amos into the airlock hard enough to damage the inner door. Holden empties his recoilless pistol into the creature, tearing chunks from it and nearly blasting it out of the bay, but it catches itself just short of space.

Amos tries to reopen the airlock to free Holden, but the creature throws a heavy container at him, forcing the door closed again and leaving Holden more trapped. Alex suggests a high-g burn to throw the creature out, but Naomi and Amos reject the plan because it would likely crush or kill Holden. Holden acknowledges the danger but does not rule it out, just as Prax unexpectedly speaks up and says he has noticed something interesting.