A physically intimidating Europan construction worker returns to beating his wife and is trapped into attacking Pastor Anna.
Nicholas Trubachev, who insists on Nick, works surface construction on Europa, spending long days in a heavy vacuum suit. He uses the toughness and physical authority associated with that work to intimidate others, especially his wife Sophia Trubachev. After previously attending church-funded anger counseling and quitting, he begins hitting her again.
Anna Volovodov summons him to St. John's United, where he lies that Sophia fell in the kitchen and assumes fear will keep her silent. Anna tells him she will report a threat against herself, deliberately inviting him to stop her. He grabs and bruises her wrist; she tasers him, calls Sophia and the police, and shocks him a second time when he tries to rise and insults her.
Nick is a tall, narrow, raw-boned outer-planet man hardened by surface construction. He has large bony hands, long legs, and a physically competent manner he deliberately turns into threat.
Nick is the abuser whose escalating violence forces Anna to choose protective deception over strict honesty.