WEBVTT - Ep10 | Message in a Bottle 0:00:06.400 --> 0:00:10.800 Int request created by Michael Freiberg, a production of iHeartRadio 0:00:11.000 --> 0:00:14.440 and Astro Media. Listen with headphones for three D audio. 0:00:26.640 --> 0:00:39.519 Winds approaching gale force, feed pressure, rising sandstorm imminence. We 0:00:39.600 --> 0:00:42.320 have to keep going. It's the last leg of the journey. 0:00:42.560 --> 0:00:44.519 We can reach the lighthouse at the desert end to 0:00:44.600 --> 0:00:47.560 drop off the satellite dish by nightfall, assuming we find 0:00:47.560 --> 0:00:52.839 a way to fix it. Either we're completely exposed to 0:00:52.880 --> 0:00:55.400 the elements. If we can trap in the sandstorm, we'll 0:00:55.440 --> 0:00:58.640 be defenseless against an endless torrent of high velocity rock 0:00:58.680 --> 0:01:05.120 and debris. Highly advise me to immediate shelter. Storm coming 0:01:05.680 --> 0:01:10.759 serious feeling balls. But we're so close to reaching the seaport, 0:01:11.160 --> 0:01:16.399 to delivering the satellite dish, to completing the mission. I'd 0:01:16.400 --> 0:01:19.200 find nothing more satisfying than delivering the satellite dish and 0:01:19.200 --> 0:01:23.840 completing the agency's mission. However, giving current conditions, continuing onward 0:01:23.920 --> 0:01:26.600 puts us at a risk of losing everything. The best 0:01:26.600 --> 0:01:29.840 course of action is defined it enclosure suitable for overnight 0:01:29.880 --> 0:01:32.399 rest and resume our journey in the morning. Once weather 0:01:32.480 --> 0:01:41.320 patterns of normalized logo right shield from storm. All right, 0:01:42.040 --> 0:01:44.560 looks like there's an end nearby. We could stay there 0:01:44.640 --> 0:01:59.440 until the storm's passed, then pick up again tomorrow the 0:01:59.520 --> 0:02:09.639 front desk. Let me do the talking, real shiny. We 0:02:09.720 --> 0:02:13.400 welcome to the desert end, the last inn at the 0:02:13.560 --> 0:02:17.040 end of the Azrael Desert. How can I help you? 0:02:17.280 --> 0:02:23.240 Three bells? Serious? Please refrain from ringing the bell. I'm 0:02:23.240 --> 0:02:27.839 standing right before you. We'd like a room for the night. 0:02:28.080 --> 0:02:34.359 I'm sorry, no rooms available. Oh, no rooms. But there's 0:02:34.360 --> 0:02:37.919 gonna be a sandstorm. We need someone to stay. Unfortunately, 0:02:38.080 --> 0:02:43.000 nothing I can do now. If you'll excuse me, I 0:02:43.160 --> 0:02:47.280 have guests to attend to. Please exit out the end, 0:02:47.800 --> 0:02:51.520 no inn. How are you crazy? You can't send us 0:02:51.520 --> 0:02:56.280 back out there. I won't go, I won't Please. We 0:02:56.400 --> 0:02:58.480 have nowhere else to go. You have to help us. 0:03:00.919 --> 0:03:06.200 There is one vacancy. We'll take it, but it's not 0:03:06.840 --> 0:03:14.080 n arm. Why not in policy? Please? If I were 0:03:14.120 --> 0:03:17.280 traveling alone, I wouldn't even bother to ask. But my partners. 0:03:18.040 --> 0:03:20.519 Look at them. One's all bulk and brawn out in 0:03:20.560 --> 0:03:24.799 the sands, he'd sink like a stone, and the other 0:03:24.960 --> 0:03:27.280 is nothing but skin and bones. He'll blow in a 0:03:27.360 --> 0:03:30.880 light breeze. Let alone a sandstorm. I'm aerodynamic to a fault. 0:03:31.240 --> 0:03:33.800 These two are goners on the outside. I'm not asking 0:03:33.840 --> 0:03:35.720 you to help me, I'm asking you to help them. 0:03:36.600 --> 0:03:42.280 Please have a heart well, seeing as you all have 0:03:42.640 --> 0:03:46.640 no other option, and given how I pitied you three 0:03:46.800 --> 0:03:52.080 from the moment you walked inside, I suppose I could 0:03:52.280 --> 0:03:58.000 make an exception. This one's thank you, But I must 0:03:58.360 --> 0:04:02.880 warn you stay in the room at your own Read 0:04:04.040 --> 0:04:09.840 the last guest who checked it, never checked out, never 0:04:10.000 --> 0:04:20.880 checked out. O go serious sandstorm. Remember we appreciate the warning, 0:04:21.040 --> 0:04:24.040 but we'll take our chances with the room, Room five 0:04:24.480 --> 0:04:29.800 o five. And don't forget enjoy your stay in the 0:04:29.960 --> 0:04:55.880 desert d This is it, room five o five. Nothing 0:04:56.000 --> 0:05:02.279 left but go in a Maybe the sandstorm isn't so bad. 0:05:02.839 --> 0:05:10.720 Violent winds, low visibility, serrated projectiles could be refreshing. Don't 0:05:10.760 --> 0:05:14.320 be goobers. It's one night's stay in an ordinary old room. 0:05:22.279 --> 0:05:28.760 Large bed, closet, window, writing desk, with various knickknacks, bookcase, cabinets, 0:05:29.000 --> 0:05:35.480 grandfather clock, even a fireplace. How hospitable. See just a room. 0:05:36.200 --> 0:05:43.080 Nothing to be scared of. On bed chocolate it's candy. Serious, Wait, 0:05:43.480 --> 0:05:47.440 don't eat that candy. We should ration it. There's still 0:05:47.680 --> 0:05:49.520 the remaining part of our journey ahead of us, and 0:05:49.600 --> 0:05:52.000 who knows if we'll find ourselves in some dire situation 0:05:52.240 --> 0:05:55.240 in desperate need of that chocolate decadence. It must be 0:05:55.320 --> 0:06:02.920 preserved in case of absolute emergency, right either, sure, whatever, Now, 0:06:03.040 --> 0:06:05.840 you two quit your bickering. It's time we rest and 0:06:05.920 --> 0:06:13.120 recharge before the final stretch of our journey. Serious, get 0:06:13.160 --> 0:06:16.280 out of that closet. It's probably full of dust and debris, 0:06:16.480 --> 0:06:18.880 precisely what we're trying to avoid out in the sandstorm 0:06:18.960 --> 0:06:27.000 to begin with. Look, what's serious? Find white coat? Good? 0:06:28.279 --> 0:06:30.800 If fits like you ate the sad sacket belonged to 0:06:31.160 --> 0:06:35.120 and are now wearing their coat as a girdle, fit's great? 0:06:35.960 --> 0:06:42.440 M did it belong to? What if the white coat 0:06:42.800 --> 0:06:44.960 was property of the last guest who never checked out? 0:06:45.120 --> 0:06:47.960 Look Emblazoned in gold thread on the coat's left breast 0:06:48.000 --> 0:06:53.440 pocket the letter d well. No use wasting energy trying 0:06:53.440 --> 0:06:57.320 to solve this mystery. Besides, the beds looking pretty comfy 0:06:57.440 --> 0:07:05.880 right about now? Left side, right side, I call the 0:07:05.960 --> 0:07:17.640 bed's middle Finally, good night's sleep. Eat their logo serious, 0:07:18.040 --> 0:07:22.400 sandlich Serious? Would you mind shifting over? I feel your 0:07:22.480 --> 0:07:26.679 rather bulbous knee protruding into my section of the bed. Serious, 0:07:26.800 --> 0:07:31.880 no touch logo side if everything logo touch serious side? Ah, 0:07:32.240 --> 0:07:35.600 you too. It's one night's stay and a big bed. 0:07:36.320 --> 0:07:42.320 Make it work. Go to sleep. The only thing left 0:07:42.480 --> 0:07:44.840 is to put out the gas. Laugh on the night's day. 0:07:49.120 --> 0:07:52.080 Now close your eyes, let the quiet carry you off 0:07:52.160 --> 0:08:18.480 to sleep. Ninety nine, Good night, M serious? What is it? 0:08:19.200 --> 0:08:22.720 What if room haunted by ghost of last guest? Nonsense? 0:08:22.880 --> 0:08:26.920 There's absolutely no scientific evidence that ghosts exist. Right either, 0:08:27.440 --> 0:08:55.920 Right now, both of you go to sleep. M that buzzing. 0:08:56.080 --> 0:09:00.640 I can't take it, agreed. What's making that noise? Something 0:09:00.720 --> 0:09:06.960 like phantom cry of glows? You think it's a beatle? 0:09:09.559 --> 0:09:14.240 No good beetle? Sneak to room? Wake? Serious up? Stare 0:09:14.360 --> 0:09:24.360 with buzz? Serious, no burner live my legal fast? Serious? 0:09:24.480 --> 0:09:41.959 Serious hurt someone where bees will go? It's landed on 0:09:42.000 --> 0:09:48.440 the dresser by me. Serious. This is knowing that serious? 0:09:48.640 --> 0:09:57.640 I said, careful enough, this is unacceptable. Where to go? 0:09:58.520 --> 0:10:15.560 M serious? Wide, here's the bookcase and the books. Oh, 0:10:19.360 --> 0:10:21.440 let's collect the books and clean up the broken shells 0:10:21.480 --> 0:10:23.400 before we get thrown out for trash in the place. 0:10:27.120 --> 0:10:32.520 There are some really fascinating reads. Here the Anatomy of Melancholy, 0:10:35.880 --> 0:10:40.680 Dialectics on the Nature of Pain. Oh, and looky here 0:10:41.320 --> 0:10:46.040 Treatments and trempid Nations for cognitive maladies. All medical texts. 0:10:46.840 --> 0:10:51.319 Interesting right, No, behind the bookcase, there's something hidden in 0:10:51.360 --> 0:11:04.640 the wall. Serious, help me clear a path. It's a 0:11:04.760 --> 0:11:09.000 safe safe what's a safe doing concealed in the wall? 0:11:09.280 --> 0:11:12.080 The innkeeper alluded to the room being vacant for some time. 0:11:12.600 --> 0:11:16.120 I wonder what's inside. Could be anything like mountain of 0:11:16.320 --> 0:11:20.840 chocolate or a rare addition book, maybe even a treasure 0:11:20.840 --> 0:11:23.079 of black apples, enough to buy our way back to 0:11:23.160 --> 0:11:33.160 imperiod clot serious break unlikely. The safe door appears to 0:11:33.240 --> 0:11:37.559 be made of impenetrable black stone. Logo. Can you open it? 0:11:38.840 --> 0:11:41.960 It's a combination lock and dial mechanism requiring a three 0:11:42.040 --> 0:11:45.080 digit numeric code to access two complex to solved by 0:11:45.120 --> 0:11:47.839 trial and error alone. For now, I'm afraid it's a 0:11:47.920 --> 0:12:03.160 dead end. A beetle A serious no, sounds like we'll 0:12:03.160 --> 0:12:06.160 be up for a while. I'll get the fireplace started, 0:12:08.760 --> 0:12:11.360 by the way, serious, Chasing after a beetle is not 0:12:11.480 --> 0:12:13.199 the way to catch it. You have to let the 0:12:13.280 --> 0:12:17.599 beetle come to you to catch our intruder. All we 0:12:17.720 --> 0:12:20.319 need is a simple box and stick contraption. I'll show you. 0:12:22.160 --> 0:12:25.480 Let's see what's around the room. On the desk, an 0:12:25.600 --> 0:12:31.600 ice pick and bucket. The ice picks, rusty and covered 0:12:31.640 --> 0:12:36.199 in red specks, shouldn't be an issue so serious. What 0:12:36.360 --> 0:12:39.000 I need to do is first remove the ice bucket 0:12:39.080 --> 0:12:45.720 lid and oh there's a bottle inside Miracle tonic herbal 0:12:45.760 --> 0:12:48.480 anesthetic for natural pain relief. Take orally, do not exceed 0:12:48.559 --> 0:12:53.960 one droplet. It's empty, into the trash. It goes, as 0:12:54.000 --> 0:12:56.679 I was saying. After removing the lid, I chased the 0:12:56.800 --> 0:13:00.240 upturned bucket on the desk, propping it up from the 0:13:00.280 --> 0:13:05.480 inside and leaning against the rusty ice pick, thereby creating 0:13:05.520 --> 0:13:08.280 a small opening in one side of the otherwise sealed 0:13:08.360 --> 0:13:13.679 bucket brim. To complete the trap just requires bait. Serious 0:13:14.240 --> 0:13:19.400 the chocolate candy, Please serious chocolate. It's essential to catch 0:13:19.480 --> 0:13:23.400 the beetle. But I assure you it's only a decoy, 0:13:29.960 --> 0:13:35.679 wha a fully functional homemade box and stick beetlecatcher. The 0:13:35.800 --> 0:13:38.120 chocolate's odor will first lower the beetle to the desk 0:13:38.160 --> 0:13:41.160 containing the trap. Once the beetle reaches the ice buckets perimeter, 0:13:41.320 --> 0:13:43.520 it will proceed to crawl underneath in an attempt to 0:13:43.559 --> 0:13:46.440 retrieve the bait. In so doing, the beetle will inadvertently 0:13:46.480 --> 0:13:48.600 bump and trigger the collapse of the red and ice pick, 0:13:48.800 --> 0:13:50.880 causing the bucket to fall down and seal it within. 0:13:51.400 --> 0:13:54.000 All we have to do now is sit back and wait. 0:13:56.559 --> 0:14:04.240 Let's head of the bat and weight. Then. I didn't 0:14:04.240 --> 0:14:06.720 notice it before, but there's a series of scratch marks 0:14:06.800 --> 0:14:10.880 clawed into the wall beside the bed. Scratches made record 0:14:10.960 --> 0:14:16.079 of the demon beetle victims, Black fate of Last Room Gaston. 0:14:17.960 --> 0:14:20.880 It's probably nothing, just the scribbles as someone who went 0:14:21.000 --> 0:14:27.360 mad passing the time during a sandstorm. So the trap? 0:14:28.400 --> 0:14:37.080 How long do we wait? Any moment now, any moment, 0:14:39.040 --> 0:14:48.600 any moment now, Marny moment now? How should we pass 0:14:48.680 --> 0:14:52.000 the time? We could discuss a fascinating study I read 0:14:52.040 --> 0:14:55.080 on the mathematical properties of bacteria colony growth rates found 0:14:55.120 --> 0:15:03.680 in ingrown toenails and serious no story time slumber? What's 0:15:03.680 --> 0:15:07.200 a story time slumber? We stay up, we tell story 0:15:07.600 --> 0:15:15.400 We are fun sure? Serious story time slumber sounds agreeable 0:15:15.440 --> 0:15:20.240 to me. Either tell a story? How we meet that 0:15:20.360 --> 0:15:27.320 old story again, Yes, again again, I've never heard it. Well, 0:15:28.920 --> 0:15:33.120 all right, then, this was a long time ago, back 0:15:33.160 --> 0:15:36.120 when a young Serious no more than several years old, 0:15:36.240 --> 0:15:40.200 was living amongst his noble clans. There were a clan 0:15:40.280 --> 0:15:42.640 of nomadic titans who lived off the land and found 0:15:42.680 --> 0:15:46.000 harmony in nature. Fearsome warriors, they were believed to be 0:15:46.040 --> 0:15:50.080 able to harness the flow of energy itself. They struck 0:15:50.240 --> 0:15:52.720 fear into the hearts of those who crossed them. Really 0:15:53.080 --> 0:15:56.000 much like Serious, they were a group of gentle giants 0:15:57.840 --> 0:16:00.280 at the time. They were crossing through the outskirts of here, 0:16:00.720 --> 0:16:03.200 just beyond the gates of my homeland where I grew up. 0:16:03.640 --> 0:16:07.080 What happened out there on that faithful day I will 0:16:07.160 --> 0:16:11.240 never forget. Without warning, out of nowhere, a rival group 0:16:11.280 --> 0:16:15.040 of soldiers ambushed Serious clan, a surprise attack that lets 0:16:15.120 --> 0:16:19.080 all out war. Thinking back, the whole thing went by 0:16:19.200 --> 0:16:25.320 like a blur. It was a shameful affair, a massacre. 0:16:26.480 --> 0:16:29.720 Though Serious side fot valiantly to the end, They're outnumbered 0:16:30.120 --> 0:16:34.720 and outmatched. Wasn't a fair fight. Soldiers sent endless cohord 0:16:34.800 --> 0:16:39.560 after Cohord to their death, equipped with cannon fire, steel armor, 0:16:39.880 --> 0:16:42.800 no matter how many soldiers they lost, more kept coming 0:16:42.840 --> 0:16:47.040 in their place. Ultimately they overwhelmed. The clan slaughtered every 0:16:47.120 --> 0:16:50.640 last one of them. But not Serious or not Serious 0:16:51.720 --> 0:16:55.680 for whatever reason, the soldiers spared his life a single 0:16:55.760 --> 0:17:03.040 blessing that cursed Dayious town, Serious town Okay after battle 0:17:03.120 --> 0:17:08.920 clear Serious stand alone, bloody field. Ether come from nowhere 0:17:09.320 --> 0:17:15.520 like like beam of light, drop everything, Rescue Serious, Take 0:17:15.680 --> 0:17:23.280 Serious home to Imperia, show serious love, give serious purpose together, 0:17:24.160 --> 0:17:30.800 clan up, brothers, family. Oh I wish I could have 0:17:30.840 --> 0:17:36.840 done more. Ether. It sounds like you did everything in 0:17:36.920 --> 0:17:41.200 your power. Besides, it's not like you're at fault, of 0:17:41.320 --> 0:17:48.560 course not Yeah, but who were the rival soldiers? Let's 0:17:48.560 --> 0:17:51.639 hold you. It was all blur? And what were you 0:17:51.760 --> 0:17:55.359 doing that day outside the gates of Imperia. What I 0:17:55.520 --> 0:17:57.800 just find it rather intriguing is all that the same 0:17:57.920 --> 0:18:00.680 day Serious Is Clan was attacked, you happen to see 0:18:00.720 --> 0:18:04.600 it all unfold from outside the gates, And I don't remember. 0:18:05.760 --> 0:18:08.280 I must have been harvesting crops in the high fields 0:18:08.400 --> 0:18:14.480 or something. Still quite the coincidence, is it? Not? Ether 0:18:14.720 --> 0:18:22.280 saved Serious life? No coincidence, fate ha, only wincidence here 0:18:22.560 --> 0:18:25.840 is Serious hand smack logo face if keep up big 0:18:25.920 --> 0:18:42.920 a mouth? No the trap? Did it catch the beetle? 0:18:44.240 --> 0:18:47.600 I'm certain of it, but just to make sure, I'll 0:18:47.640 --> 0:18:49.640 carefully raise one edge of the bucket off the desk 0:18:49.760 --> 0:18:57.439 to look under it and confirm. Okay, then no beetle, 0:18:58.119 --> 0:19:06.120 No chocolate, Ah dropping a work beatles steel serious chocolate 0:19:06.200 --> 0:19:26.399 it escape bucket, serious swat beetles serious? Are you okay? 0:19:29.680 --> 0:19:35.640 Haunted floorboard trips, serious hurt, serious knee tear, serious white 0:19:35.720 --> 0:19:42.359 coat beetle, Get away your knee it's bleeding? Just scratch logo? 0:19:42.440 --> 0:19:44.760 Is there anything around the bandage them up? I can look, 0:19:44.960 --> 0:19:47.320 but I wouldn't count on anything in this room being sterile? 0:19:48.359 --> 0:19:55.240 Beat crawl under bed and a coward? See what is that? 0:19:57.359 --> 0:20:04.680 What beneath the bed? I freaking just reach it? Forgot it? 0:20:07.720 --> 0:20:13.720 Black bag? It's a black medical bag. There's a golden 0:20:13.840 --> 0:20:17.320 letter d on matching the one on serious coat. What 0:20:17.600 --> 0:20:21.200 can side bag? We're about to find out logo. You'll 0:20:21.240 --> 0:20:23.680 likely be more familiar with its contents. Mind taking a look. 0:20:23.960 --> 0:20:32.879 Sure thing either scalpel, razors, stepastoke, gauze. This mysterious d figure. 0:20:33.040 --> 0:20:35.840 The former occupant of Room five h five. Must have 0:20:36.000 --> 0:20:43.679 been a doctor. Oh, doctor, d hand me the gauze. Serious, 0:20:43.760 --> 0:20:49.359 I'm gonna band it you up. Make sure to apply pressure. 0:20:53.240 --> 0:20:55.520 Are you sure you're okay? There's a lot of blood 0:20:55.560 --> 0:20:58.320 on the floorboard logo. Is there anything else from the bag? 0:20:58.400 --> 0:21:02.840 We can use? M serious strong, heal fast, blood on 0:21:02.960 --> 0:21:09.960 floor dry already? How is that possible unless the floor 0:21:10.160 --> 0:21:15.119 was already like that before for serious's knee? No? The safe? 0:21:16.720 --> 0:21:19.720 What do you mean? The wall safe utilizes a combination 0:21:19.840 --> 0:21:22.480 lock and dial mechanism, requiring three digits to be entered 0:21:22.520 --> 0:21:25.600 in proper sequential order. Behind the dial is a cylindrical 0:21:25.640 --> 0:21:28.800 spindle that operates three parallel wheels. Each wheel contains an 0:21:28.840 --> 0:21:31.760 internal notch belong its circumference corresponding to the correct number 0:21:31.800 --> 0:21:34.000 in the code, with the first wheel synchronized with the 0:21:34.040 --> 0:21:36.240 first number, and so on. When all three digits are 0:21:36.400 --> 0:21:39.520 entered correctly, the notches align and the safe unlocks. Notably, 0:21:39.600 --> 0:21:41.760 as the wheels click into position, they emit a faint 0:21:41.840 --> 0:21:45.320 but distinctive sound, normally imperceptible to the naked ear. Using 0:21:45.359 --> 0:21:47.840 the stethoscope, I can amplify the volume to listen in 0:21:47.920 --> 0:21:50.960 and identify the correct numbers. That unlock the safe so 0:21:51.440 --> 0:21:55.119 you can crack the code precisely. How do you know 0:21:55.240 --> 0:21:59.320 all of this? Oh, it's common knowledge to anyone within 0:21:59.320 --> 0:22:03.040 an advanced understanding gives system security design. Now, I'll need 0:22:03.080 --> 0:22:04.560 you to to be quiet as I listened to the 0:22:04.640 --> 0:22:08.359 turn of the dial through the stethoscope. I'll count out 0:22:08.359 --> 0:22:24.360 the numbers as I go, m H five zero, keep 0:22:24.400 --> 0:22:33.320 it in five, yes, five zero five, same as the 0:22:33.400 --> 0:22:37.560 room number. Genius in its simplicity. Now to see what's 0:22:37.560 --> 0:22:44.040 inside the safe? What was that? Serious? No, don't touch 0:22:44.119 --> 0:22:56.480 the stethoscope. You two settle down. I'll check the safe. Ah, 0:22:57.480 --> 0:22:59.600 there's nothing in here but a small locked chest. This 0:22:59.680 --> 0:23:05.760 is a joke, nested safe inside safe. Quite the elaborate ruths. 0:23:06.680 --> 0:23:08.680 I have a feeling that inside this chest is the 0:23:08.720 --> 0:23:12.640 answer to what happened here to doctor D before checking out. 0:23:13.240 --> 0:23:15.879 But doctor D didn't check out. I'm not talking about 0:23:15.920 --> 0:23:21.959 from the room. Oh. Anyhow, the chest requires a key 0:23:21.960 --> 0:23:26.680 to open another dead end for now? Yeah? Serious, how's 0:23:26.680 --> 0:23:35.840 your need doing? Okay? But story make me feel better? Story? 0:23:36.840 --> 0:23:43.920 Storytime slumber? Okay, okay, story time slumber. Anyone have a 0:23:43.920 --> 0:23:47.040 story to share? Who's next? Ether? I'm curious to hear 0:23:47.080 --> 0:23:50.480 the story of your amulet the eye of imperiod. Well, 0:23:51.400 --> 0:23:54.280 that story is not that interesting and I went already. 0:23:54.960 --> 0:23:57.960 Technically you only provided a setup. It was serious who 0:23:58.000 --> 0:23:59.840 told the story of how you two met, and I 0:24:00.160 --> 0:24:03.240 really would like to learn more about it. Serious also 0:24:03.359 --> 0:24:08.199 want to hear amulette story. But it's story time number 0:24:09.040 --> 0:24:14.840 all right, Fine, what do you want to know? For starters? 0:24:15.160 --> 0:24:17.399 How did it come into your possession? It was a 0:24:17.480 --> 0:24:19.520 family heirloom, gifted to me by my mother on my 0:24:19.760 --> 0:24:22.800 name day. I think, at least that's what I remember. 0:24:23.480 --> 0:24:27.920 I was only an infant when she passed. When she 0:24:28.280 --> 0:24:31.119 passed down the amulet, I only have vague memories of 0:24:31.200 --> 0:24:33.320 our short time together, and I was told she was 0:24:33.400 --> 0:24:36.200 pregnant with me when she began to show signs of 0:24:36.320 --> 0:24:40.000 umbre came on suddenly after my father was taken away 0:24:40.680 --> 0:24:43.360 sentenced to death by the mad tyr and Akasha, who 0:24:43.440 --> 0:24:48.440 ceased control over our homeland and mother. She she chose 0:24:48.480 --> 0:24:52.000 to isolate herself as her condition worsens, saw less and 0:24:52.080 --> 0:24:55.000 less of her, and eventually heard she passed from complications 0:24:55.080 --> 0:24:58.359 soon after. It all still feels like a bad dream, 0:24:58.440 --> 0:25:01.000 But I didn't know everything she did, she did to 0:25:01.040 --> 0:25:06.400 protect me final time together. She gave me her only possession, 0:25:06.640 --> 0:25:09.960 miss Ambulance, the Ivan period. She told me it would 0:25:10.000 --> 0:25:17.560 watch over me. Can you say I'm sorry either? How 0:25:17.640 --> 0:25:24.120 does it work? And is what work? Your ambulant? I'm 0:25:24.160 --> 0:25:27.119 not familiar with the mechanics. How does it protect you? 0:25:28.280 --> 0:25:33.560 I am? I don't know, but you must have some idea. 0:25:33.880 --> 0:25:38.399 You've experienced its powers, after all. When I wear it, 0:25:38.560 --> 0:25:42.320 I fill her warmth around my heart, and her spirit 0:25:42.480 --> 0:25:45.280 alive and my soul and the words from the lullaby 0:25:45.359 --> 0:25:50.159 she would saying, come back, don't be sad, don't be blue. 0:25:51.080 --> 0:25:55.840 I'm the bird who will worry for you. I can't 0:25:55.840 --> 0:25:58.320 remember how the rest of it goest, but reminds me 0:25:58.359 --> 0:26:02.240 of the promise I made in memory of her one day. Somehow, 0:26:03.000 --> 0:26:06.720 some way, a free imperia from that mad tyrants hold. 0:26:08.359 --> 0:26:11.920 But as far as the inner workings are concerned, either 0:26:12.119 --> 0:26:18.760 saying no, no, he no, no. The beetle, it's by 0:26:18.800 --> 0:26:24.200 the window, sill, beetles. Listen. If we crack open the window, 0:26:24.359 --> 0:26:26.240 there's a chance the beetle will just fly right out 0:26:26.440 --> 0:26:30.680 and like that free room from beetle hole. Yes exactly, 0:26:31.480 --> 0:26:34.160 But the sandstorm is likely at its apex, the force 0:26:34.240 --> 0:26:36.080 from the window alone could knock us to the floor, 0:26:36.240 --> 0:26:39.040 if not sweep us straight out into the vortex. Opening 0:26:39.080 --> 0:26:42.920 the window now opens ourselves up to unquantifiable levels of risk. 0:26:43.760 --> 0:26:47.480 I know, but some risks are worth taking. I hope 0:26:47.520 --> 0:26:50.080 you know what you're doing. I'll tie down and secure 0:26:50.119 --> 0:26:55.960 the satellite dish pieces so they don't blow away. Serious 0:26:56.000 --> 0:27:00.240 scare beagles, so beatles fly out. That leaves me to 0:27:00.320 --> 0:27:23.080 open the window on my account one two three, I'm 0:27:23.200 --> 0:27:34.160 trying to get stuck. I take it into shiner. Serious 0:27:34.400 --> 0:27:51.760 h m hmm, thanks serious, serious bird who worry for eat? 0:27:54.080 --> 0:27:58.359 Our backs to the floor, sand in every crevice. The 0:27:58.520 --> 0:28:02.080 room in complete disarray. That one about as well as expected. 0:28:02.600 --> 0:28:13.800 But at least we survived and beetle. That buzz would 0:28:13.840 --> 0:28:20.720 indicate that the beetle is alive as well. Well. This 0:28:20.880 --> 0:28:23.320 place is a total mess holm who ever has to 0:28:23.400 --> 0:28:27.879 clean this up. The innkeeper did do us a favor 0:28:28.000 --> 0:28:30.119 in rending us this room. I'm not claiming it to 0:28:30.160 --> 0:28:33.560 be legally binding, but social contract dictates we return it 0:28:33.680 --> 0:28:36.439 in like condition. At the very least we owe him 0:28:36.480 --> 0:28:42.280 that as good house guests. I'll start swipping up the sand. Serious, 0:28:42.320 --> 0:28:45.600 pile up the broken furniture logo. Start with getting the 0:28:45.600 --> 0:28:47.680 pillows and blanket off the ground and back on the bed. 0:28:47.720 --> 0:28:55.360 I trust you can handle that. Of course, what is it? Skull? 0:28:55.760 --> 0:28:57.720 There's a skull on the bed. It must have been 0:28:57.800 --> 0:29:00.560 under the blanket the entire time I knew I out something. 0:29:01.680 --> 0:29:05.600 Doctor D come back from dead to haunt us John 0:29:05.720 --> 0:29:11.560 serious for wear white cold. Let me take a look 0:29:14.160 --> 0:29:18.080 this skull one with the color coded markings and labeled sections, 0:29:18.520 --> 0:29:23.720 and probably did belong to doctor D. It's ceramic. Oh, 0:29:25.960 --> 0:29:29.360 it's only an anatomical model. They really do make them lifelike. 0:29:33.920 --> 0:29:37.200 Good observation. Either Doctor D must have used the ceramics 0:29:37.240 --> 0:29:40.800 skull to aid in medical research. It appears doctor D 0:29:40.920 --> 0:29:45.440 specialized in matters of the mind. Well, at this rate, 0:29:45.480 --> 0:29:47.320 it'll take all night to get this place cleaned up. 0:29:47.600 --> 0:29:50.320 We should get back to it, but first I need 0:29:50.400 --> 0:29:58.959 a break on the bed. I am high agreed. Logo. 0:29:59.240 --> 0:30:03.200 You might giving us status report. Certainly on the beatle front, 0:30:03.360 --> 0:30:06.040 we've made limited progress as our attempts to silence its 0:30:06.080 --> 0:30:08.800 buzz have failed and turned the room into shambles. As 0:30:08.880 --> 0:30:11.160 far as the safe goes. We found a hidden chest 0:30:11.280 --> 0:30:14.120 located inside the concealed wall safe behind the bookcase, but 0:30:14.240 --> 0:30:17.280 lack the missing key to unlock it. And Lastly, although 0:30:17.320 --> 0:30:20.640 we've uncovered some of doctor D's belongings, including the white coat, 0:30:20.800 --> 0:30:23.720 medical texts, black bag, and ceramic skull, as well as 0:30:23.800 --> 0:30:26.920 encountered several peculiarities around the room, such as the empty 0:30:26.960 --> 0:30:29.320 bottle of miracle tonic, scratch marks on the wall, and 0:30:29.520 --> 0:30:31.800 dried blood on the floor, we have yet to determine 0:30:31.840 --> 0:30:34.440 what happened to doctor D or the events that unfolded 0:30:34.520 --> 0:30:37.280 in this room. Across all avenues, we seem to have 0:30:37.360 --> 0:30:40.360 reached a proverbial dead end. I see no clear path forward, 0:30:40.480 --> 0:30:47.600 and sleep eludes us. Thanks serious idea, you do story 0:30:47.840 --> 0:30:54.840 time slumber. I can appreciate the interjection of levity, but 0:30:55.000 --> 0:30:57.680 given the gravity of our situation now, it is really 0:30:57.760 --> 0:31:00.800 not the time to distract ourselves with frivolous activity. Our 0:31:00.880 --> 0:31:03.320 attention would be better directed to the final segment of 0:31:03.400 --> 0:31:06.160 our journey, plotting our safe return by reviewing the map 0:31:06.280 --> 0:31:12.840 in detail. Not so fast, logo serious wind, I went, 0:31:13.720 --> 0:31:20.960 it's your turn, m logo turn, I mean, really, I 0:31:21.440 --> 0:31:25.200 appreciate the gesture but I don't have any relevant stories 0:31:25.280 --> 0:31:43.120 suitable for sharing. Story time slumber, I I storytime slumber. Okay, okay, okay, 0:31:43.440 --> 0:31:49.040 story time slumber. I'll tell you anything I want to know. Mmmm. Well, 0:31:49.120 --> 0:31:51.720 we've gone on a score of missions for the agency, 0:31:51.920 --> 0:31:55.880 but still know next to nothing about them, except as 0:31:56.000 --> 0:32:00.720 serious can tell you very well, but no pay enough. 0:32:01.400 --> 0:32:05.200 This mission, however, marks the first time we've been lucky 0:32:05.360 --> 0:32:08.440 enough to have one of the agency's own officers accompany 0:32:08.600 --> 0:32:14.800 us as a mandatory escort, one of their best and brightest. 0:32:15.240 --> 0:32:21.600 I presume, So tell us how'd you get involved with 0:32:21.680 --> 0:32:25.640 the Agency? Well, there's an easy answer to that. The 0:32:25.760 --> 0:32:29.960 information is classified. I mean, of course, it'd be my 0:32:30.040 --> 0:32:33.560 pleasure to recount the story. That is, if I were 0:32:33.680 --> 0:32:36.720 privy to the details. What are you talking about? The 0:32:36.800 --> 0:32:39.680 information is not just classified to those outside the agency, 0:32:40.000 --> 0:32:44.520 it's classified to me as well. Similarly to YouTube, The 0:32:44.680 --> 0:32:47.880 true nature of my origin remains an enigma. I never 0:32:47.960 --> 0:32:50.680 knew who my biological parents were or why they abandoned me. 0:32:51.200 --> 0:32:54.640 My earliest childhood memories stem back to the agency's headquarters, 0:32:55.160 --> 0:32:59.160 wandering the permissible boundaries, familiarizing myself with facility protocol, and 0:32:59.360 --> 0:33:02.160 nurturing my burgeoning curiosity about the world through books and 0:33:02.280 --> 0:33:05.480 thought experiments. The more I learned about life and the Agency, 0:33:05.800 --> 0:33:08.680 the more I realized how limited my perspective truly was. 0:33:09.320 --> 0:33:11.360 From a young age, I tried to be a productive 0:33:11.400 --> 0:33:14.680 and contributing member of the organization, but largely kept to myself. 0:33:15.280 --> 0:33:18.440 It became clear that the Agency's principal tenet of secrecy 0:33:18.720 --> 0:33:22.600 is integral to their success. Divisions are siloed, clearance levels 0:33:22.640 --> 0:33:25.800 strictly enforced, and access to information restricted to a need 0:33:25.840 --> 0:33:30.440 to know basis, unencumbered by complex bureaucracy or restraining ideologies, 0:33:30.720 --> 0:33:34.440 free of temptation and ego, agents are blank slates, able 0:33:34.480 --> 0:33:38.400 to dedicate themselves fully to their work. Confidentiality is believed 0:33:38.440 --> 0:33:41.680 to be the cornerstone of progress, with each individual entity 0:33:41.960 --> 0:33:45.200 unwittingly playing a small part to advance a much greater whole, 0:33:45.600 --> 0:33:49.360 really a microcosm of life itself. All of this to 0:33:49.480 --> 0:33:52.480 explain the rationale behind my ignorance of my initial involvement 0:33:52.520 --> 0:33:54.840 with the Agency. I'm not certain I'll ever know the 0:33:54.880 --> 0:33:57.600 details of the arrangement made by my parents, and perhaps 0:33:57.760 --> 0:34:00.520 that's for the best. In fact, I don't even know 0:34:00.560 --> 0:34:03.640 what the agency's central objective is but I'm told it 0:34:03.720 --> 0:34:07.160 has the power to change the world, and this ancient 0:34:07.240 --> 0:34:11.080 satellite dish for reasons untold, is critical to their mission. 0:34:13.000 --> 0:34:18.960 Ah And yet despite these core operating principles, I've spent 0:34:19.160 --> 0:34:22.000 my life trying to learn life's secret truths, to make 0:34:22.120 --> 0:34:26.080 sense of the world and feel connected. Our mission has 0:34:26.160 --> 0:34:29.520 only exacerbated my desire. This is the first time I've 0:34:29.560 --> 0:34:32.440 been tasked to lead an assignment outside the agency's purview. 0:34:33.000 --> 0:34:35.720 With its success, I hope to prove that their decision 0:34:35.760 --> 0:34:38.640 to overlook my inborn deficiencies and invest in the potential 0:34:38.680 --> 0:34:41.440 of my future, a conclusion not foregone to my own parents, 0:34:41.800 --> 0:34:44.840 was indeed the correct one. In spite of the limitations, 0:34:45.120 --> 0:34:47.719