The EXPANSE 1.08 – ‘Salvage’ The Blue Fungus of Death, Convergence & Heartbreak!

Miller is on his way to Eros Station with Julie’s bracelet as his good luck charm. His nervousness is noticed by a Mormon who chooses this moment to proselytize the weary detective. Mormons keep popping up in unexpected ways. Something tells me this is a bread crumb for us later.

The Fabulous Four arrive to the appointed rock using the coordinates Mr. Johnson provided and struck gold. It’s a stealth ship! Despite a twitchy trigger finger from Amos the team decides to board the mystery ship. I got the shivers remembering how well their last exploration on The Canterbury ended.

This time Holden has a plan to use their captive Kenzo as a canary in the coal mine! With the irritating Kenzo as a human shield our team finds clues from the Scopuli, no survivors and no bodies. Upon discovering the apparently sentient blue glowing fungus everyone agreed! The time for immediate departure was at hand.That’s not the kind of souvenir anyone wants! At least Amos got his wish when he torpedoed the Anubis once they were all safely away.

Mr. Johnson for his part is keeping busy trying to analyze the chip taken from the dead Martian while at the same time dealing with an incoming UN Battleship Nathan Hale claiming engine trouble. He wasn’t fooled by their ruse. Careful! Fred’s not called The Butcher for nothing!

Miller’s nose knows and he soon tracks down a name related to the Anubis, Lionel Polanski, the same Lionel Polanski Fred Johnson sent Holden’s team to locate! And, thanks to Millers good friend Sematiimba, we learn Lionel IS JULIE! Whoa!

It all converged at the Blue Falcon Hotel. Gotta love that muzak! It was a lovely backdrop to the gunfight that broke out once Kenzo called in the calvary! Not to worry! Miller crashed their party just in time to finish the kerfuffle in grand style.

Miller was a man on a mission and Holden’s crew had no choice but to take Joe’s lead in search of Polanski’s room. Sadly it was not a happy occasion. Miller found the object of his affection far too late. Juile Mau is very much dead. And, in that quiet moment we all heard Miller’s heart shatter.

Observations & Questions:
• I LOVED the little tidbit Naomi dropped regarding McDowell’s ceramic cats. “He said they were investment grade antiques.” Were they really?

• Who keeps shutting down things properly and why? An excessively tidy terrorist? I blame the malevolent blue fungus!

• Sematimba asked what we were all thinking! “Where is your damn hat?”

• I got the distinct feeling our wayward Canterbury survivors dodged a major bullet with the blue fungus of death!

• What did Fred Johnson’s tech show him from the decrypted Martian chip?

• Did anyone notice the devil faced pin Amos was wearing? Is it a clue to his past?