[ Amos can’t quite wrap his head around the way people act like the fact that their world are dead is no big deal, around these parts. Maybe it’s because it’s not the first time, for him - he set Baltimore ablaze before he ran from it, and he watched, didn’t act, as Holden sat on the powder keg that was the protomolecule. For all that Amos knew, this man here, in this tube, was responsible for the Universe imploding. And yet, there was no question that Amos would get him out if he could.

But, for sure, he could use more of a toolbox than the trusty knife that Lydia gave him, so many years ago. ]

Yeah, I’ve been given the spiel. Sounds like nonsense to me. These people? They’ve always been more ready than I’ve ever been for all the shit we’ve gone through.

[ Amos is not really the feelings kind of guy, but when it was the truth, it was the truth. Sure, Holden was the one that led us into all sorts of shit and trouble they never asked for, but he’d also kept Amos alive. He’d always been ready to make the tough decisions, to fight for what he believes in. To work for it, too. Idealistic asshole, maybe, but a truthful one.

Don’t get Amos started on Naomi. Talk about being ready for anything.

He looks down at the panel he’s now opened, hands on either side of it as he leans over. ]

Okay, this looks like a straightforward mechanism. The tricky part is opening the right one without hacking the system. [ A pause, hesitating. ] This can’t kill them, can it?