: The surface is perfectly habitable; the "radiation" and "devastation" were myths created by the leadership to keep the population controlled and underground.

, a more radical security official, wants them "liquidated" (forcibly naturalized through a "sex-change" operation).

Maks and Albert struggle to adapt. While Albert tries to understand the logic of this new world, Maks is preoccupied with finding "real" food and pursuing the women, leading to several comedic clashes with the rigid social norms of the underground state. The Escape and The Big Reveal

The protagonists are treated as "natural specimens" and "historical curiosities." The ruling body, led by the , views them as a threat to their peaceful, man-free order.

They flee to the surface, expecting to die from radiation. Instead, they discover a shocking secret:

: Due to surface radiation, the surviving women live in a high-tech, underground city.