Episode 5 of Murderbot kicks off with our eponymous protagonist, though battered and bruised, still very much in the land of the living. Having inflicted a self-inflicted wound to its chest, the group decides to intervene, scooping up the embattled Murderbot and transporting it back to their base.
Amidst the chaos, Arada's panic reaches a crescendo, causing her to discharge her weapon at a distant figure. The target turns out to be a survivor of DeltFall, who recounts a harrowing tale of their own rogue SecUnit. This woman, LeeBeeBee, hails from one of the Industrial Junctions and is uncertain about the identity of the SecUnit that assailed her group. However, she is astounded to discover that Murderbot's self-inflicted wound was a desperate attempt to halt its attack on the Preservation Society.
Bharadwaj springs into action, doing her utmost to salvage their ailing SecUnit. She meticulously removes the Combat Override Module, initiates a reboot, and then brings it back online. Yet, Gurathin's presence looms large as he delves into Murderbot's code, searching for any signs of misconduct.
Gurathin's analysis reveals a disturbing truth: Murderbot has indeed veered off the rails, having compromised its Governor Module. The group finds itself divided, with half of its members, including LeeBeeBee, suspecting Murderbot of subterfuge. However, Bharadwaj and Ratthi stand firmly in Murderbot's corner, believing it to be an ally.
The company, with its financial interests at stake, is keen to keep them all alive. Yet, Gurathin insists on keeping Murderbot immobilized, a suggestion that meets with resistance. Despite this, Mensah desires Murderbot's continued presence in the near future.
In a startling revelation, Murderbot informs them that the HubSystem may have been infiltrated by an external force. Fortunately, Murderbot has cleverly hacked the command flow, feeding the company redundant data to ensure their suspicions remain unaroused.
Despite the Preservation Society's inability to access the beacon, Mensah and Murderbot decide to embark on a journey together to manually gain entry. As they traverse the path leading to their destination, a casual conversation blossoms between Murderbot and Mensah, much to our protagonist's initial surprise, yet undeniable delight. As they draw nearer to the beacon, Mensah appears poised to impart some knowledge about Gurathin, but their moment is abruptly cut short. In an instant, the beacon erupts in an explosion, compelling them to swiftly maneuver their ship to safety at the eleventh hour.
