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Feb. 2nd, 2026 04:08 pmThey’ve been in this city for two days, and already Graham and Joshua have realized that Detective Sousa was right. They can’t leave. And they’d tried. Graham’s body had been exhausted by the time they’d finished trying to walk out of the city. They’d caught the train, followed a Nile delivery truck, paced the border where the world seemed to end… Nothing worked.
Graham had slept hard that first night, and Joshua had replayed Detective Sousa’s words and actions over and over again while he’d waited for Graham to wake. The man was clearly military, or had been at one point. That wasn’t the problem, though. The problem, as far as Joshua could see, was that Detective Sousa wouldn’t be any real help to them. Most likely he wouldn’t be a direct hindrance, which only means they won’t have to disable him. But they’ll need help if they’re going to get out of here: supplies, equipment, connections. Without Liz and Robin, they’ll have to find something new, someone new.
The entire morning of the second day had been spent going through the welcome packet and the new apartment. Sleeping in it the night before hadn’t been an issue only due to how tired Graham had been, but after a solid ten hours of rest, it occurs to them that there might be a risk in using an apartment supplied by an unknown entity within an unknown city government. So they’d gone through the packet together, used the phone to try to call Jamie, text Talia, call Morgan or Brooke and Deirdre.
Of course, nothing had gone through. Graham doesn’t lose his temper easily, and when he does, he isn’t one to throw things around, but the temptation to throw the phone across the room is strong.
I just need time, Graham, Joshua tells him. Once I have the right equipment, I will rip a hole into this biosphere large enough for us to leave. You know I can do it.
“And then what?” Graham asks tiredly. “We don’t know where it connects to our Earth, if it even does. We could end up ripping ourselves in half.”
You know I won’t let that happen, Joshua insists. I miss Jamie just as much as you do. I miss Brooke and Deirdre and all the others just as much as you do.
“They’re our family,” Graham murmurs.
Yes, they are.
They need some air. The apartment is too empty, too quiet, too close. Graham takes them out of the apartment and out for a walk. The city is as cold as it was yesterday, but one of the first things they’d done with the money in the packet was buy a jacket suited to the weather. With that shrugged onto their shoulders, it’s easier to handle. All the same, it isn’t long before they end up ducking into a cafe — not the Ahab’s they’d seen the day prior, just something small and kind of quaint.
Watch it, Joshua warns, but too late: Graham’s body bumps into another's, and Graham grunts softly.
“Fuck, we’re sorry,” he says. I’m not, Joshua says. I saw them coming. You’re still tired and it’s slowing you down.
Graham had slept hard that first night, and Joshua had replayed Detective Sousa’s words and actions over and over again while he’d waited for Graham to wake. The man was clearly military, or had been at one point. That wasn’t the problem, though. The problem, as far as Joshua could see, was that Detective Sousa wouldn’t be any real help to them. Most likely he wouldn’t be a direct hindrance, which only means they won’t have to disable him. But they’ll need help if they’re going to get out of here: supplies, equipment, connections. Without Liz and Robin, they’ll have to find something new, someone new.
The entire morning of the second day had been spent going through the welcome packet and the new apartment. Sleeping in it the night before hadn’t been an issue only due to how tired Graham had been, but after a solid ten hours of rest, it occurs to them that there might be a risk in using an apartment supplied by an unknown entity within an unknown city government. So they’d gone through the packet together, used the phone to try to call Jamie, text Talia, call Morgan or Brooke and Deirdre.
Of course, nothing had gone through. Graham doesn’t lose his temper easily, and when he does, he isn’t one to throw things around, but the temptation to throw the phone across the room is strong.
I just need time, Graham, Joshua tells him. Once I have the right equipment, I will rip a hole into this biosphere large enough for us to leave. You know I can do it.
“And then what?” Graham asks tiredly. “We don’t know where it connects to our Earth, if it even does. We could end up ripping ourselves in half.”
You know I won’t let that happen, Joshua insists. I miss Jamie just as much as you do. I miss Brooke and Deirdre and all the others just as much as you do.
“They’re our family,” Graham murmurs.
Yes, they are.
They need some air. The apartment is too empty, too quiet, too close. Graham takes them out of the apartment and out for a walk. The city is as cold as it was yesterday, but one of the first things they’d done with the money in the packet was buy a jacket suited to the weather. With that shrugged onto their shoulders, it’s easier to handle. All the same, it isn’t long before they end up ducking into a cafe — not the Ahab’s they’d seen the day prior, just something small and kind of quaint.
Watch it, Joshua warns, but too late: Graham’s body bumps into another's, and Graham grunts softly.
“Fuck, we’re sorry,” he says. I’m not, Joshua says. I saw them coming. You’re still tired and it’s slowing you down.
