Gideon, still controlling Harrowhark’s body, fights off a swarm of Heralds in Harrow’s bedroom. Gideon struggles because Harrow’s body lacks Gideon’s strength, weight, and reach, but Harrow’s body repeatedly survives catastrophic injuries: a stinger tears open Harrow’s abdomen, a Herald bites off Harrow’s thumb, and another fractures Harrow’s skull, yet each wound heals almost immediately.

After the battle, Gideon realizes the Mithraeum is overrun and that staying or leaving will both mean fighting. Gideon removes Harrow’s ruined robe and the bones attached to Harrow’s skin, ties back Harrow’s hair, takes Harrow’s sword, and follows the sounds of combat and screaming through the station.

Gideon finds Mercymorn fighting a Herald in a side passage. Mercymorn destroys the creature by touching it, then sees Harrow’s face and initially seems to think someone called “First” has come to her. Mercymorn quickly realizes the body is Harrowhark’s but the soul inside is Gideon Nav, and Mercymorn admits she stabbed Harrow and left Harrow in the corridor to be eaten by Heralds.

Mercymorn becomes increasingly disturbed as Mercymorn studies Gideon in Harrow’s body. Mercymorn speaks cryptically about the “failure of the Ninth House operation,” dolls, an emission, a commander, and another Gideon sent to kill Gideon Nav’s mother. Mercymorn concludes that Gideon Nav’s eyes are proof that “he lied,” calls Gideon an abomination and a mistake, and decides to “clean up” Mercymorn’s errors.

Mercymorn attacks with rapier and net, stabbing Harrow’s body through the heart, but the wound seals immediately. Gideon fights defensively, but Mercymorn entangles Harrow’s ankle and prepares to drive a rapier through Harrow’s brain. Before Mercymorn can strike, Cytherea’s body appears in the doorway with a double-barrelled gun and blasts Mercymorn in the chest.

Mercymorn collapses screaming in terror but does not clearly die. Cytherea’s body, moving painfully and speaking in a voice unlike Cytherea’s usual tone, says goodbye and leaves with the gun. Gideon is left standing over Mercymorn, baffled by Harrow’s regeneration, Mercymorn’s revelations, and Cytherea’s sudden intervention.