This Expanse Novella tells the story of Dr. Cortazar, who was one of the Protogen researchers on Thoth Station. The novella tells the back story of his rise from a life of basic income on Earth, to go to University in Tel Aviv and eventually become one of the researchers who were overseeing the release of the protomolecule on Eros Station. This was an interesting if bleak look into one of the darker parts of the Expanse story. It does explain how a person can choose to loose their conscience in a series of steps that lead to doing monstrous things in the name of science. It tells what happens to a brilliant but broken mind that totally lacks empathy and concern after everything falls apart.