Episode 3 of Murderbot unfolds with the Preservation Society gearing up to traverse to the adjacent laboratory. Prior to their departure, Mensah, with a gentle nudge, persuades Murderbot to descend his helmet, integrating him visibly as a member of their unit.
Onboard the ship, our protagonist is engrossed in his sci-fi soap operas, clearly annoyed by the constant interruptions from the group's attempts to engage him in conversation. This irritation is particularly evident when Ratthi addresses him, leaving Murderbot utterly frustrated by the entire situation.
Back at the Preservation Aux habitat, Bharadwaj, though physically healing well, remains deeply traumatized by her recent ordeal. Gurathin offers her behavioral modules as a form of assistance, but she politely declines. Meanwhile, Murderbot keeps a watchful eye on Gurathin as he stealthily enters Mensah's room, sneaking a sniff of her pillow, evidently pining for her presence.
When the group discovers that Murderbot has been reading their logs, Mensah steps forward, striving to discern whether he poses a threat to them. Murderbot's lengthy pause does little to reassuring her, especially given his humorous but disdainful monologue about humanity.
His witty remarks serve as the comedic lifeblood of this episode, propelling it forward amidst laughter. Eventually, the group arrives at the habitat, landing on the outskirts near a serene lake. They approach cautiously, with Murderbot taking the initiative to lead the way inside the base, given the others' lack of military-grade weapons training.
Inside, Murderbot swiftly discovers the destroyed SecUnit that briefly appeared at the end of the previous episode. His curiosity piqued, he uncovers the entire team lying lifeless, victims of a grim fate. Mensah urges Murderbot to retreat, but their communication is abruptly cut off due to radio interference—an interference that Murderbot inadvertently caused, as he is not yet ready to abandon the scene.
It seems evident that one of the SecUnits has turned rogue, having dispatched the rest, ultimately prompting Murderbot to neutralize the incapacitated bot before it could wreak further havoc. As Murderbot examines the fallen bot's remains, it dawns on it that someone had commandeered the SecUnit. But who could it be? The answer materializes dramatically with the entrance of another bot, which promptly opens fire on our protagonist.
