(( No worries! It's been a bit hectic in the World of Squeaky, so I forgive you. May I ask where you are? I'm always so curious about where in the world folks come from. ))
"Earth wasn't destroyed," Wash said, "least I don't think it was. Stories get a might fuzzy, general thought is that it got all used up. But I don't suppose you much care, because here she is."
He ran his hands through his hair. If he was dead, he was stuck here. If he wasn't dead, and this was some sort of wacky time-bending crazy, then he might not be stuck here. If the choice was being impaled and dead versus being stuck here and alive, maybe being stuck wasn't so bad. Then again, the notion of living the rest of his life in some displaced city without Zoe was a terrifying thought.
As soon as his wife's name popped into his head, he felt his adrenaline go up again. Was she okay? That landing had been pretty rough. And even if she was all right, where was she? Did she get pulled in, too? Was she wondering where he'd gone? Was his body still there with her crying over it? No, Zoe didn't cry. Not ever.
"Huh?" He looked back at his new acquaintance. "Uh, they were humans once, until the government dosed 'em with something that was supposed to pacify them, but it made them crazy. Like, eat your skin crazy."