As things settle down in the world that those remaining alive after the terrorist attack of 2102 were trapped in, the victims find themselves having to deal with the consequences of being stuck long term. The people inside change as lawlessness spreads in a world with little order.
Meanwhile in the real world, people are starting to move on and give up on those still alive, even as a few people try to keep their hopes up. Even those closest to the victims try to push them out of their mind as they treat the victims as dead rather than struggling to live.
Maxwell Cross tries to come to terms with his new role in Venture Online following the conclusion of Our World's Despair, even as his past continues to trouble him. George Athens presses forward the initiative he started as the "reinforcement group" prepares themselves for the challenge he had them train for.
Will Max be the person the new world needs him to be? Will George's initiative be successful at its goal?
Find out in the penultimate entry of Divided Worlds, Our World's Light.