Avasarala speaks with Souther after the fighting at Io. Souther says the rescued children are being processed medically and matched with parents, while the protomolecule packages launched from Io are being tracked as they coast sunward. Avasarala refuses Souther's offer to ride home on a military ship because returning on the Rocinante with Holden, Bobbie, and Mei has useful political symbolism.

On the Rocinante, Avasarala finds Prax and Holden discussing the donation account created to fund Mei's rescue. Now that Mei has been found, Prax wants the fundraising stopped, but Holden explains that Prax and Mei will keep the surplus. Avasarala realizes Prax's sudden financial independence may complicate her plan to recruit him for rebuilding Ganymede, so she considers appealing to his civic duty instead.

Avasarala then finds Bobbie and Amos playing with Mei in microgravity. After scolding them for using the machine shop as a playground, Avasarala takes Mei briefly, then lets Amos return the girl to Prax. The scene shows Mei safe and delighted, while also underscoring how unaccustomed the Rocinante crew is to caring for a child.

Alone with Bobbie, Avasarala reports that Earth technicians detected another energy spike from Venus and that Prax was right: the protomolecule appears networked without normal communication lag. Avasarala and Bobbie discuss what comes next. Avasarala expects Errinwright to be quietly removed and herself to inherit his power, while Bobbie admits that surviving has not ended her trauma. Avasarala advises Bobbie to think about who she wants to become and offers to help her when she is ready.

During the flight back to Luna, Avasarala manages politics remotely, watches Errinwright retire from power, assembles her new office, plays with Mei, endures medication and exercise, and has nightmares while the Rocinante passes the tracked protomolecule monsters headed for destruction. When the ship reaches Luna, Avasarala longs for Earth but is met by Arjun with lilacs. In his arms, she feels that his presence is home enough.