Over breakfast on Eros, Miller explains that Sematimba’s lockdown keeps Holden’s ship docked until the investigation is safe for him, and asks for a berth to Julie’s asteroid. Holden refuses to take anyone he doesn’t trust with his life. Miller’s stopgap plan to raise money via side bets fails to persuade Naomi.

A priority message from Tycho reports a comms mole who leaked Holden’s presence and destination, plus an intercepted note: the sample was recovered and stage three has begun. Miller and Holden assume the sample is Julie’s infected body, but Miller doubts Eros is a target worth destroying and senses something missing.

A tremor hits; alarms blare as Eros declares emergency radiological lockdown and orders everyone to the casino level. The crew joins the crush of evacuees, debating whether the station is holed or facing radiation, and decide to push for the Roci despite the chaos.

At a choke point, men in riot gear direct crowds toward the casino. Miller recognizes one as a thug he arrested on Ceres and notices the gear is stolen Ceres kit. He connects CPM’s earlier appearance with a long-prepared operation now using fake security to control the evacuation.

Keeping a low profile, Miller edges away from the gunmen and, finding a brief gap, takes Holden’s elbow and warns, “Don’t go,” signaling that following CPM’s orders is part of the trap now unfolding on Eros.