Miller calls Holden from Eros’ exterior, revealing he is already on the station and that Eros behaves like a ship, not a rock. He refuses Holden’s rescue, recognizing the danger to the Rocinante and accepting his likely death. As micro-impacts confirm acceleration, Miller feels awe at the station’s alien-driven motion.

Returning to his small ship, Miller preps a fusion bomb from the cargo hold, reflecting on his life and imagined conversations with Julie Mao. He begins the arduous process of moving the heavy device across the docks under spin gravity while Eros “sings” through strange transmissions.

Naomi calls, endorses Miller’s plan to seek Eros’ control structures and provides a dead-man switch program for his terminal: if his finger leaves the button for five seconds, the bomb will detonate. She reports Eros is ramping past four g, faster than the Roci can sustain. Miller arms the routine and continues hauling the bomb inward despite increasing impacts.

Before entering a service hatch, Miller contacts Holden one last time. Holden offers automated help but accepts Miller’s choice. Miller asks Holden to pursue Mao-Kwikowski for their likely Protogen ties and to tell them he’s sorry he failed Julie. He enables the dead-man switch, restores the eerie Eros feed, and pushes the bomb into the dark interior, intent on disabling the station’s control.