Carl and Princess Donut are transferred up to the space station and dropped into the familiar underwater production trailer where Carl once met the Popov brothers. Waiting inside are Administrator Zev and a towering caprid liaison from the Plenty, Harbinger, present as a hologram. Carl immediately recognizes Harbinger as the same liaison who previously helped Maggie My and the Skull Empire target Carl, raising concerns about intimidation and conflict of interest.

Quasar, Carl’s attorney, hurriedly appears as a holo through a cloud of vape smoke and orders Harbinger not to speak to Carl, arguing Harbinger’s presence is improper given the prior attempted murder and because Harbinger is a caprid tied to Carl’s sponsor situation. Zev explains that because the show they are attending is owned by the Open Intellect Pacifist Network, Valtay rules require a liaison when a crawler might be alone with a sponsor. After a brief translator malfunction, Harbinger’s speech becomes understandable and the group proceeds.

Zev reveals the show is Shadow Boxer, hosted by Rosetta Thagra, a former crawler and former game guide who has recently been released from indentureship and is known for a “raw” interview style. Carl is shaken because Rosetta’s name and explosive reputation strongly suggest she is the same Rosetta who left impassioned notes in the cookbook’s ninth edition. When filming begins, Rosetta focuses first on Donut, asking about Donut’s obsession with television and how those stories shaped Donut’s feelings and worldview; Donut is initially snobbish and corrective, then warms into an animated, insightful conversation.

During a break, while Donut excitedly selects numbered screencaps from various shows, Quasar quietly updates Carl on Faction Wars developments: Carl’s team’s castle landed in the Lemig Sortion battlefield and crushed part of their forces; the Lemigs are now using a damaged elf castle as a stronghold; their commander remains trapped in the Desperado Club; and legal arguments framed the catastrophic castle placement as an AI action. Quasar adds that Zerzura-created ghoul problems persist, the tattoo memory golems remain active and popular, Tina the allosaurus is still causing trouble, Ferdinand has moved into the city, and changelings are building Carl’s stronghold—warning Carl that surviving this floor will matter for building a larger army later.

Rosetta returns in a new outfit and transitions to Carl’s segment, projecting personal photos, including Carl’s parents’ wedding picture, to push the conversation into grief and trauma. With Harbinger looming and the interview’s stakes suddenly personal, Rosetta opens bluntly: she wants to talk about Carl’s dead mother.