audio;

[secretlabtech]

[ He's not believing any of this. Any of it. Either everyone's cuckoo or he's on some kind of drugs, and Dexter isn't certain which of those sounds more plausible. ]

Someone mind telling me where I can get a plane ticket back to Miami? I'll settle for a freighter at this point. A helicopter? Seaplane? [ Pause. ] A yacht?

I get it. First thing everyone asks is how to get home, but I'm not the kind of guy to kick up my heels and take it all for granted. Crime scenes to get to, work to do, and there's my son--he needs me.

...

How about a kayak?

Comments

[Video]

[doctor_mccoy]

Sorry pal, you're better off asking for a pair of ruby slippers to click together.

[Video]

[secretlabtech]

Around here? I'm guessing it wouldn't surprise anyone if that were true. Women's clothes, though? That the best you got?

[Video]

[doctor_mccoy]

Hey it's early and I haven't had my coffee yet. [cheers]

If it makes you feel better, your kid won't even notice you're gone.

[Audio | Private | unhackable]

[magnetic_magpie]

[He's been sticking to text for a month now. But people are starting to show up so he is, at least, watching the Network. And this...that 'there's my son--he needs me' - that gets to him.]

I'm sorry. I truly am. I know how it feels to have this place take you away from your children.

[Audio | Private | unhackable]

[secretlabtech]

[ He wouldn't admit it even to himself, but that's the bit that hurts the most. That he isn't there to go home to his son, bath him, tell him his bedtime story and tuck him in--protect him from all the monsters. He'd almost lost him. ]

Harrison's just turned one. He hasn't got anyone else; just me.

[Audio | Private | unhackable]

[magnetic_magpie]

[Wanda is at home, in bed, waiting for the next chapter in 'The Fellowship of the Rings' and for him to brush her hair.]

Wanda is older, but very ill. And it's just myself and her brother.

I know it's difficult to believe, but while you are here, time doesn't pass back home. So while you will miss him, he won't even notice you've been gone a moment.

It took me many months to believe that, but after watching a few come and go...

[It's the only comfort he can offer, but it is sincere.]

[doeswhathewants]

What is a kayak? Some kind of water beast?

[secretlabtech]

[ Maybe a little incredulously. ] It's a boat. One man, shallow draft, fast. Not much good for crossing open sea but I'll take my chances.

[doeswhathewants]

Ah. I would caution against it.

A sort of acquaintance tried to cross on an actual boat. He died. Some combination of magic and technology makes up the thing keeping us here. Possibly an advanced life form controlling it.

Audio

[cowboycop]

[Howdy Dexter, have a Texan drawl on the other end of the line.]

Funny thing 'bout this place, hombre - folks 'round these parts can come from lots of places in time. Y'might meet someone you know, but they're from years down the road than you are. [It's happened to him and his best friend, who's two years in the future compared to him.] Yer kid's fine. If you ever leave this place, you'll be goin' right back to the same time, the same place y'left from. Least, that's how it seems to have worked for most folks who've left and come back.

[There's a pause on the other end of the line.] You said crime scenes. That mean you're a detective back in the States?

Audio

[secretlabtech]

[ It's almost nice to hear a Texan accent, but not the news it brings. Years separating them? His son frozen in time? ]

I wish I could believe that, but it sounds like it's come out of a trashy pulp sci-fi novel. Real life doesn't work like that.

[ In real life you don't wake up in Canada either but there's a first time for everything. Everything except magic. ]

I work with Homicide. Miami Metro PD.

Perma-audio

[cowboycop]

Heh. Sure does, don't it? But bein' here a year now, well, I've seen some pretty strange things. Darkness is the worst of 'em. When I first came here from L.A., I didn't believe none of it it neither.

[Dexter can almost detect some delight in Jake's voice at hearing that news.] Well fancy that! I'm a homicide detective myself. Was with the LAPD, then I get sent to this lil' island and I work fer the department here. Ain't sure how long you're gonna stay here, but if you find yerself here and lookin' for a job, well... reckon we could always use your talents, if you're up fer it.

[bloodthirsts]

Crime scenes? Are you with law enforcement back at your home?

[Says the blonde girl with the bright red eyes. She looks sympathetic though.]

I'm sorry, there's really no way for you to leave the island.

[secretlabtech]

What about hot air balloon? That's how Dorothy gets back from Oz, right?

[ He's officially reached air balloon desperate. ]

I'm with forensics. I know, I know; flashy, right?

[bloodthirsts]

I'm sorry, sir. There's plenty who can fly and can't leave either. [Herself included.] It's very nervewracking... I'm sure your son will be alright though.

[She smiles.] I'd say so, I'm just a regular copper.

video;

[paterelohim]

Hey, uh, if it makes you feel any better, I've actually done the going home and coming back thing- and it's not bullshit. You really do zap back to the exact moment you left. Nobody notices anything. Basically this whole place just turns into a... sitcom dream sequence.

You're gonna get back to him, but you just need to... have a really strong drink and do something that looks like relaxing if you squint hard enough.

[Hey, he's realistic.]

video;

[secretlabtech]

Sitcom dream sequence, huh? I always thought my life was a bit more gritty and realistic than that, but the more you know.

How many beers is it gonna take?

written text.

[brushy]

You are a father?

written text.

[secretlabtech]

I am. I have a little boy.

[ It still seems a little weird even now. Daddy Dexter. ]

[voice]

[rapturescreed]

[He understands this feeling. So much.]

I'm sorry. It truly is unfortunate that you've been taken here without your son. As a parent, I understand the difficulty in being without your child. There are many others here who are in the same position.

[voice]

[secretlabtech]

Don't suppose there's a support group or something?

audio;

[reginagloriae]

Huh. I'm sorry but we're all stuck here. No flights are going to take us home, sir.

audio;

[secretlabtech]

That's what I keep hearing. Guess I'm just getting desperate.

voice;

[sharp]

A kayak? [ that's a new one. and amy has heard a lot being a greeter. ] You know, that'd be pretty impressive even if we could leave.

voice;

[secretlabtech]

It's better than swimming, right?