Calvin’s simulation is briefed on the discovery of the Lorean, the ship stolen by Sylveste’s ex-wife, Alicia, and her mutineer faction decades earlier. Like Sylveste, Calvin had assumed the Lorean left the system. Pascale explains Volyova sent a robot probe to the wrecked ship, now near Cerberus, to recover records. Calvin is connected to medical servo equipment so he can work through Sylveste’s body.

The crew reviews log entries from the Lorean. Alicia’s voice describes her crew approaching Cerberus after observing what appeared to be a cometary impact that left no crater. They deployed small probes. The probes detected seismic activity and gravitational mass movement underground. Sylveste enters the probe sensorium directly and experiences the surface of Cerberus splitting open in star-shaped fissures, exposing vast coiled mechanical structures. The planet’s crust is artificial, hiding something mechanical inside. The machinery erupts through the surface toward the probe, destroying it. Alicia’s final log dissolves into static.

In the spider-room, Volyova and Khouri discuss matters. Volyova concludes Cerberus is a real world encased in an artificial crust that repairs itself, explaining the missing impact crater. Sylveste insists on proceeding. Volyova begins devising strategy for entering Cerberus. She also continues analyzing the metal splinter she removed from Khouri, who admits to her the existence of the Mademoiselle.