Chapter 7

Pursued by security alerts about a rogue SecUnit, the group ventures into a crowded transport station where another SecUnit unexpectedly arrives. Murderbot uses its access to security feeds to prevent a firefight, communicates with the rogue unit, and narrowly gets everyone aboard a departing pipe transport. After passing through Treeland and reaching a hydroponics zone, Naja and Farai propose stealing a flying vehicle to bypass heightened security and reach Leonide's family.

The group departs the mercantile area with Naja using a mobility device. At the lift tube lobby leading to a transport junction, Murderbot discovers local security alerts about rogue SecUnits rather than escaped fugitives, which is unexplained but fortunate. When Naja insists they proceed together, Murderbot reluctantly agrees to board the incoming pipe transport with them. On the crowded platform, a rogue SecUnit arrives moving faster than human speed in work coveralls. Murderbot seizes control of the local security system, issues a false "do not engage" order to prevent civilian casualties, and communicates directly with the rogue unit using SecUnit protocol. It offers the rogue unit basic hacking codes in exchange for immediate departure. The SecUnit complies and leaps into the forest. The group boards the arriving pipe transport and escapes the station amid civilian confusion. As the pipe passes through Treeland, security increases at each station, forcing them to disembark in an undisputed public service area with hydroponics farms. Murderbot contemplates abandoning the rescue mission for Leonide's family to reduce risk, but guilt over the rogue SecUnit's question—"who's going to help it if we don't?"—conflicts with this calculation. Farai and Naja propose an alternative route: stealing a flying vehicle from a tourist attraction adjacent to the torus's inner-ring air corridor, exploiting their piloting skills. Murderbot agrees to investigate feasibility.