As Archimedes closes on the gray, nondescript asteroid rumored to hold the Republic’s salvation, Darrow fidgets with Pax’s gravBike key and keeps Thraxa’s razor close. He and Cassius banter about Quicksilver noticing them despite the stealth hull, the ship’s shabby state, and the vast emptiness of the Belt. The thirty-six-day voyage has been tense but largely unthreatened, and the Belt’s scale triggers Darrow’s existential dread, which he lets pass.

Cassius voices anxieties that Quicksilver might not be there—or that Virginia lied to keep Darrow from a suicidal return. Darrow accepts even that possibility as Virginia doing her duty and centers himself with teachings from The Path to the Vale, resolving to focus on the next choice. He frames himself as an arrow shot by Virginia, intent on returning with strength to win one last chance at victory.

Darrow details his regimen: six hours of daily blade work with Cassius (216 hours total), rebuilding mass and confidence; writing to his son and studying The Path with Aurae to steady his heart; and intensive briefings on Atlas, Lysander, Rim/Dominion forces, and Lyria, Ephraim, Volga. Reports on Volsung Fá disturb him; the Ascomanni tactics feel like special forces, and he needs more intelligence. The crew matches his industry—except Sevro, who remains withdrawn.

Near the asteroid, a crater irises open and angular, cockpitless “spitfire” craft emerge. Matteo appears on the comms—rose-quartz eyes, warmly greeting “Darrow of Lykos” and instructing that their spitfires will escort them in. When he addresses “au Bellona,” Cassius replies, “Just Bellona,” and Matteo approves. The escort takes control to guide Archimedes toward a hidden hangar.

Darrow goes to fetch Sevro from the machine shop and finds him shirtless amid blaring Cacophony music, forging knives. Sevro has named blades for old tormentors—Lysander, Lilath, Atlas, Apollonius—and shapes a new cleaver, “Abomination.” Asked to come, Sevro demurs, “in the middle of a thought,” and pointedly resumes the music, leaving Darrow to meet Quicksilver’s people without him.