Prax collapses emotionally in front of Amos, blaming himself for Mei’s abduction and for failing as a father. Amos, drunk but steady, tells Prax that caring about Mei already makes him a better father than many children get, and insists that the search is not over.

Holden arrives visibly changed and explains that Fred Johnson has fired the entire Rocinante crew. Holden wants to find Naomi and apologize for how things ended between them, but when Amos mentions that Prax tried to hire private security to find Mei, Holden is surprised. Holden tells Prax that the Rocinante crew is already going to find Mei, whether or not Prax can pay.

Holden proposes asking everyone for help. Prax and the crew assemble a public appeal: Holden introduces the case, Prax explains Mei’s illness and abduction, and the package includes security footage of Strickland and the unknown woman, data from the secret lab, images of protomolecule material, and personal videos of Mei. Alex warns Prax that broadcasting the appeal will bring uncontrolled attention, especially because it effectively announces that protomolecule activity continues, but Prax sends it because Mei matters more than the risk.

After a troubled sleep on Tycho, Prax wakes to an expensive breakfast from Amos, who is in a good mood after both a personal encounter and the prospect of a new job. Amos shows Prax that donations through the new credit-union account have already raised enough money to keep the Rocinante flying for a month, meaning Prax has effectively hired the crew.

Prax begins reading the flood of responses from across the system. Strangers send sympathy, anger, money, and offers of help, and Mei becomes a human face for the catastrophe on Ganymede. Among the messages, an elderly man tells Prax that he recognizes the man in the security footage—but says the man is not named Strickland.