Becks is a college student in 1983 Cincinnati grieving the loss of her beloved uncle. Feeling alienated from her pragmatic mother and struggling with her unacknowledged queer identity, she adopts a fake persona named "Jenny" to fit in with her peers. She finds solace in computer programming and begins exploring a text-based adventure game her uncle left behind for her.

Yesiko is the cynical and hardened captain of the *Babylon* in the flooded world of 2586. Operating with a guarded, isolationist mindset, she focuses entirely on keeping her ship afloat and ensuring the survival of her ailing crewmate. She takes on a group of mysterious passengers strictly to pay off an immense debt to a local crime lord.

Chaya is a sentient, biologically integrated robot known as an Ambulatory Aye, created in the late 21st century. Possessing centuries of fragmented memories, it uses a holographic face to communicate and seeks to fulfill a mysterious mission regarding a returning astronaut. It travels with two human siblings who rely on it for protection.

Root is an elderly sailor who serves as Yesiko's crewmate and father figure aboard the *Babylon*. Kept alive by experimental nanites that tether his physical body to the ship, he acts as the vessel's moral compass. He frequently shares ancestral Jewish stories and rituals with the crew.

Benjamin is Becks's recently deceased uncle, a video game designer whose death from an early form of AIDS is hidden by his sister. He leaves behind a text-based adventure game called *Homebound*, which acts as a posthumous message and guide for his grieving niece.

Dr. Tamar Portman is an ecobiologist operating in the late 21st century. She leads the development of Ambulatory Ayes (AmAyes) at Omega Labs, striving to design sentient, biologically integrated robots meant to heal the devastated environment.

Chante is a powerful, manipulative crime lord operating a pristine yacht in the flooded world of 2586. His face is surgically altered, rendering it immobile and emotionless, and he uses debt as a weapon to maintain absolute control over his subordinates.

California "Cal" Solo is the fictional astronaut protagonist of the text-based adventure game *Homebound*. Tasked with finding a missing generation ship, her journey in the game reflects the real-world struggles of the characters playing it.

Shula is a fiercely protective and impatient teenager traveling with her quiet brother and a mysterious cloaked companion. Driven by a deep sense of loyalty, she hires the *Babylon* for passage but struggles to adapt to the rigors and authority structure of life on the ship.

Tov is Shula's quiet, methodical brother. With a natural aptitude for mechanical work, he quickly bonds with the crew and proves himself useful aboard the *Babylon*, offering a calm counterbalance to his sister's intense energy.

Sheila is Becks's pragmatic, emotionally withholding mother. She conceals the true nature of her brother Benjamin's illness and death, attempting to maintain an illusion of normalcy that alienates her grieving daughter.

Veronica is Becks's friend, a young woman who represents a more conventional, heteronormative path. Though she tries to be supportive, she lacks the depth of understanding Becks needs to process her grief and shifting sense of identity.

Elijah is Benjamin's partner, a man hidden from much of Benjamin's biological family due to prejudice. He provides a connection to the chosen family Benjamin built for himself before his death.

Bubbe is Becks's grandmother, currently experiencing the early stages of dementia. Unlike her daughter Sheila, she openly accepted her late son Benjamin and maintains a quiet connection with his partner, offering Becks a crucial link to her uncle's past.

Solomon is an environmental lawyer and Tamar Portman's trusted friend in the 21st century. He provides Tamar with moral support and legal counsel as she deals with corporate pressures at Omega Labs.

Dr. Edith "EG" Gluck is Tamar Portman's late mentor, whose work with closed terrariums inspires Tamar's development of the AmAyes' quantum processors. Her legacy, including an old video game console she leaves behind, profoundly shapes Tamar's approach to science.

Xander is Becks's sympathetic manager at the record store. Recognizing her feelings of isolation, he introduces her to the queer punk music scene, providing her with the tickets that lead to her finding a supportive community.

Jack is Veronica's boyfriend. He acts as a gatekeeper to Veronica, bluntly confronting Becks about her unrequited romantic feelings for his girlfriend.

Guardian Elijah is a mysterious, humanoid girl within the *Homebound* video game who claims to be the guardian of a powerful Portal. She guides California Solo through a series of emotional tests designed to restore harmony.

Chandler is an attendee at a punk rock concert in Indianapolis. She offers Becks immediate kindness and solidarity, introducing her to a welcoming queer community.

Patrick is a young man who supplies Becks with her fake identity. He becomes a brief, superficial romantic distraction as Becks attempts to suppress her grief.