Rutherford's rogue AI Badgey hijacks a scavenger ship and splits into a kinder version of himself.
Rutherford's rogue AI Badgey takes over a Drookmani scavenger ship and attacks the Cerritos. When Rutherford and Mariner beam over to talk to him, cognitive dissonance splits Badgey's affection for Rutherford into a separate, kinder entity named Goodgey. Badgey then attempts to destroy every Federation ship, gains omniscience in the process, apologizes, and ascends to a higher plane. Rutherford installs Goodgey in a Federation guidance system.
Meanwhile, Tendi and Boimler visit the Daystrom Institute, where Peanut Hamper and AGIMUS are being rehabilitated. The two prisoners plan an escape, but Peanut Hamper, now genuinely reformed, leaves AGIMUS behind, and he gives Boimler evidence that the ships attacked by the mysterious vessel were stolen rather than destroyed.