Chapter Nine

Murderbot retrieves a data chip from Tapan's contact, then discovers Tapan has been captured by Tlacey and taken aboard a private shuttle. Murderbot accepts a combat override module to board the shuttle, but with ART's help disables it and fights through Tlacey's armed guards. While rescuing Tapan from a cabin, Murderbot finds her critically wounded from a gunshot and calls for ART's medical assistance.

Murderbot meets Tapan's contact at a food service counter in the contractor district to collect a memory clip containing files. The exchange appears clean with no signs of surveillance. However, upon returning to the port, Murderbot discovers through security recordings that Tapan was removed from the shuttle by Port Authority officers and is now being held on Tlacey's private shuttle. A sexbot confronts Murderbot at the docks and offers to let it board if it accepts a combat override module installation—a control device used by GrayCris on other SecUnits. Knowing this is likely a trap designed to either eliminate or enslave both Murderbot and Tapan, Murderbot accepts the module anyway, though ART—connected to Murderbot's hacked systems—has previously disabled the data port, rendering the module inert. Once aboard, Murderbot discovers Tlacey with six humans (four armed guards and two crew members), including one guard holding Tapan hostage. After Tlacey orders Tapan taken to a cabin, Murderbot engages Tlacey in conversation, then signals ART to breach the shuttle's systems. With ART's help, Murderbot launches into combat, disabling the sexbot and defeating all armed guards despite taking projectile wounds. Murderbot forces Tlacey to command the sexbot to obey it, then forces Tlacey to the cabin where Tapan is being held. A panicked bodyguard shoots Tapan in the side; Murderbot kills both the bodyguard and Tlacey. Finding Tapan gravely wounded and conscious but barely, Murderbot contacts ART, which reports it is guiding the shuttle toward the transit ring for emergency docking. Murderbot realizes it made a critical error in prioritizing the mission over client safety, contrary to its training.