Chapter 2

Murderbot responds to an armed raid on the research facility by swimming under the raiders' vessel and systematically neutralizing the hostile crew. After Dr. Thiago is taken hostage on the observation deck, Murderbot eliminates the remaining threats, and Dr. Arada shoots the raider leader. The facility launches and escapes as the raider vessel loses targeting capability.

The chapter opens with Murderbot underwater beneath a raider vessel attempting to board the sea research facility. Murderbot surfaces and observes Dr. Thiago negotiating on the observation deck with the raider leader, who shoots Murderbot in the shoulder when Thiago violates security protocol by approaching without protective gear. Murderbot enters the raider ship through the stern, systematically disabling crew members: choking and breaking the arm of a scanner operator, disarming and head-slamming another hostile, then using an energy pulse and physical combat to incapacitate four hostiles controlling the large bow-mounted weapon. Murderbot notes that earlier groups of humans encountered on the planet had been non-hostile and followed different protocols, but Thiago did not heed Murderbot's assessment of this group's threat profile. While Murderbot fights the raider crew below deck, Thiago stalls the raider leader with elaborate negotiation. When Murderbot emerges topside, the raider leader takes Thiago hostage and threatens to kill him. Murderbot circles and attempts to position for a shot as Thiago suggests offering himself as hostage instead. Dr. Ratthi inadvertently broadcasts that Murderbot is a person; Murderbot responds by uploading a violent SecUnit attack sequence to the raider ship's media feed. The raider leader attempts to take Thiago aboard his vessel when Murderbot destroys the raider's engines. As the raider leader drags Thiago, Dr. Arada emerges from the hatch and shoots the raider leader in the exposed gap between his armor plates. Murderbot throws the raider leader back onto his vessel. Overse, coordinating from the command center, initiates the facility's launch sequence. The facility's supports extend from the water, creating waves that destabilize the raider ship and break its targeting lock. The facility launches skyward as the raider vessel's engines fail to pursue.