Murderbot books a more private hotel room after returning to the station with Pin-Lee, then waits while infiltrating the hotel security system. Pin-Lee brings Ratthi and Gurathin, and the group focuses on rescuing Mensah rather than interrogating Murderbot about its absence. Murderbot explains that directly attacking GrayCris headquarters beyond the main security barrier would put them inside GrayCris jurisdiction, where GrayCris could easily capture or destroy it.

The group discusses GrayCris' likely motives: delaying Preservation, raising funds to pay off the bond company, and using Mensah's ransom as part of that payoff. Murderbot explains that GrayCris may be desperate because evidence from Milu makes its alien-remnant trade harder to profit from. Pin-Lee proposes pretending to have the ransom to lure GrayCris into moving Mensah outside the station security barrier, where Murderbot can track Mensah's company implant and attempt an extraction.

Although Gurathin challenges whether Murderbot can decide when lethal force is necessary, Pin-Lee, Ratthi, and Gurathin agree to the plan. Murderbot moves to the lobby for a better tactical position while the others arrange the fake exchange. Pin-Lee calls the GrayCris contact and convinces them to send a representative to inspect the supposed funds authorization before bringing Mensah.

While waiting, Murderbot monitors the lobby, reflects uneasily on seeing Mensah again, and exchanges a tense but more personal conversation with Gurathin. The GrayCris representative, Serrat, arrives, apparently armed despite a clean security scan, and Gurathin escorts him to the room. Murderbot spots additional likely GrayCris backup in and around the hotel, then moves closer to the room as the situation grows riskier.

In the room, Serrat realizes the ransom document is fake, draws a small energy weapon, and sends a signal that Murderbot assumes is an abort or backup order. Murderbot cuts the hotel's relays to block the signal, enters the room, disables Serrat's gun, pins him, and blocks his feed and comm device. Pin-Lee confronts Serrat, calls Murderbot a person rather than a weapon, and presses him about Mensah, while Serrat reveals GrayCris blames Preservation and Murderbot for exposing Milu.

Just as Murderbot fears the plan has failed, Mensah's implant finally pings. Murderbot knocks Serrat unconscious without killing him, traces Mensah to a transit pipe, and orders Pin-Lee, Ratthi, and Gurathin to abandon the hotel and return to their shuttle without contacting Murderbot. With GrayCris carrying Mensah less than two minutes away, Murderbot breaks contact, enters a pod, and shuts down its risk assessment module before acting.