1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and welcome to Steffan Never Told 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: You production of iHeartRadio. Yes, I am still by myself, 3 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: but Samantha will be back. Never fear. And this is 4 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: another installment of Sminty Fiction, which is a once a 5 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: month thing we do. Has a bit more special effects. 6 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: Well I guess a lot more because most of the episodes 7 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:40,160 Speaker 1: have none. But yeah, you know what I mean. And 8 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: if that's not you're saying, that's totally cool. But yeah, 9 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: we are close to the end. I'm getting excited. This 10 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: episode does have a lot of content warnings though, so 11 00:00:54,400 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: for illness, virus' death, gun violence, explosions, car crashes. It 12 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: is your very action packed kin ultimate ish episode, So 13 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: if you haven't heard the rest of the episodes, I 14 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: would recommend going back and listening to them if you're interested. 15 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: But yeah, we are close to the end. This episode 16 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: also contains a hilarious amount of me once again going 17 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: all in on directions, which I'm not sure was necessary, 18 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: but I certainly did it. I did this for Nana 19 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: Raimo National Novel Writing Month and twenty ten. It's not 20 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: very edited, if at all, because I kind of just 21 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: wanted to look and see what was going on my 22 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: head at that point, which is before I started on 23 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: this show. I mean, it was around the same time, 24 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: but it was before i'd really kind of accepted that 25 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: I was indeed a feminist. So I just was curious 26 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: your recap. So, in a world where humanity is done 27 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: out because of this virus, and because of that, any 28 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: children who are produced go to the board of better 29 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: parenting and that determines where they go. Our main character, Tilda, 30 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 1: has run away with her child, Madison, who is conceived 31 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: illegally outside of a conception center. She has been pursued 32 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: for seven years with her child by enforcers. She is 33 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: a priority number one, as there called from the government 34 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 1: in arm which is the religious organization that leads alongside 35 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: the government, and they've had a lot of close calls, 36 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: including one where Tilda was shot and she had to 37 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 1: heal up. And through this, through the person that helped 38 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: heal her inn she learned about a potential cure. So 39 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: she went and sought out this resistance who might know 40 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: more about it, and it turns out that there isn't 41 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: a cure, but there is a vaccine, and she also 42 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 1: learns that the resistance is not exactly what she thought 43 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: they were, and they're willing to use her son as 44 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: sort of bait, and she's not cool with that. Also, 45 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: her mother makes a very impassioned message about her daughter 46 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: coming home that is broadcasted through the state's kind of 47 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: radio system that they have set up. And now they 48 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: are on their way with the resistance to potentially find 49 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: this vaccine. So that is where we are. Please please 50 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: mind the content warning for this one, but enjoy. Her 51 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: eyes opened slowly, so gradually she wasn't aware of it 52 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: at first, her mother's words echoing in her ears. Night 53 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: had faded, giving way to a twilight morning. Around her, 54 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: people rustled conversing lowly, fiddling with belts and checking weapons. 55 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: Tilda took a deep breath of cold air. Madison snuggled 56 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: closer to her Mark pressed two energy bars into her hand, 57 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: murmuring we're almost there. She took the bars and pulled 58 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: off the wrappers, nudging Madison awake with her shoulder, placing 59 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 1: the bar in her hand and closing his fingers around it, 60 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: urging him to eat. She finished her as quickly, nerves 61 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: making it difficult to keep still. Madison only nibbled at 62 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: his face, puffy with sleep. Should we give her a 63 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:40,239 Speaker 1: gun zo like A questioned, Gesturing to Tilda, Mark shook 64 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: his head. She won't need one. The truck dipped as 65 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: it passed over a pothole. The labs north of the 66 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: city center. We loop around and enter through the top end. 67 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 1: If we meet any enforcers Teams one and two, we'll 68 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: take them on and provide us a distraction to get 69 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: into the lab. Do you know where the lab is? 70 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 1: Tilda asked, under the impression that they were only guessing 71 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:05,119 Speaker 1: at its existence. No, but Merlin does, and he's driving 72 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: the lead van. Mark's response through her, and she furrowed 73 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 1: her brow. Merlin's are acquisitions and communications experts, Ylike explained. 74 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: Tilda didn't inquire about the rest of the plan, focusing 75 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: on forming one of her own. That sole purpose was 76 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: to keep Madison, to protect him. She'd fight for him 77 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: just as her mother had fought for her. Mostly, that's 78 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 1: all her plan involved. She'd hammered out the details when 79 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: she got to them. A static transmission issued from the 80 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: radio in the front of the truck. We must be close. 81 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: Mark leaned forward to speak with the driver when an 82 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: explosion in front of them propelled the tires off the ground. 83 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: Mark was shouting, but another explosion to their left knocked 84 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: the truck to its side, where it rolled once, sending 85 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:53,479 Speaker 1: its passengers sprawling into a massive bodies. Tilda clutched Madison 86 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: to her, trying to shield his body with her own. 87 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: There was stillness, weaponry, and explosions ripping the air as 88 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: every one tried to make sense of what had happened. 89 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 1: Arms and legs squirmed, stepping and hitting in their frantic 90 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: desperation to pull themselves free. Tilda's task was made more 91 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: difficult by the child in her arms, and she got 92 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,239 Speaker 1: stepped on and struck more than once, kicking against the metal, 93 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: sighting to slide herself incrementally forward before someone jerked her 94 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: to her feet. She was pulled forward, forced to run 95 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: to keep up or tumble to her knees. Her feet 96 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: met pitted and cracked road Smoke thickened the air. The 97 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: sharp ports of rapid firing guns filled the air, but 98 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 1: Tilda could only see flashes of movement. This way, Mark 99 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 1: motioned them forward, keeping his gun at already in front 100 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 1: of him. He led them toward a building with collapsed 101 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 1: upper floors, only the ground floors and parts of the 102 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: seconds still standing. Looking around revealed that most of the 103 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: buildings in the area had been decimated, walls crumbling, craters 104 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,119 Speaker 1: in the side making them look like open faced dollhouses, 105 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 1: complete with furniture and clocks and picture frames, floors and 106 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: rooms stacked on top of each other. Another explosion tore 107 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: through the air, sending Tilda careening off her feet. Fire 108 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: ate up her shoulder, and her vision faded out for 109 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 1: a moment. Her arms went numb and Madison rolled out 110 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: of her grasp. Blood ran into her eye, and she 111 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: blinked it away, forcing herself up, pulling Madison back into 112 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: almost unresponsive arms. Next to her was the bloody body 113 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: of Adam, eyes wide and staring into nothing. Crimson streaked 114 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: across his face and leaking from his side. His outstretched 115 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 1: fingertips reached for a gun. The ground shook again, until 116 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: the fault to stay on her hands and knees. Reaching 117 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: tentatively for the weapon with her shaking hand, she grasped it, 118 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: looking around for someone else in the vicinity, but they 119 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: were all engaged in whatever battle was being waged just 120 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: out of her sight. Sliding the gun into the waistband 121 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: of her jeans, she pushed to her feet, Madison fisting 122 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: his hands in the back of her jacket. The ground 123 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: was uneven under her feet. Everything seemed to be various 124 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: shades of gray. She stumped ford, barely able to keep 125 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: her feet beneath her. Falling hard into the doorway knocked 126 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: the wind from her. She could hear shouting as she blinked, 127 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 1: fireflies from her vision. The corridor she found herself in 128 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: was dark, the shafts of light from behind her and 129 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: in the cracks of the floor above the only source 130 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: of light. Tilda strained her eyes in the darkness, feeling 131 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: her way along the hall. Her fingertips met empty space. 132 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: There was a stairwell, but the baris traces of artificial 133 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: light coming from below. Instinct compelled her to descend the stairs, 134 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: the yelling growing closer, acting as a stimulant. She practically 135 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: ran down the stairs, hoping no one had seen her 136 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: take them, that she wouldn't hear footsteps stomping after her. 137 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: Coiled like a snake, the stairs took her down two levels. 138 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,199 Speaker 1: Tilda's knees jarred and buckled as she hit the cement floor, 139 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: and she relied on the railing to right herself. The 140 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: depth dulled the sound of fighting above, allowing Tilda to 141 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:01,719 Speaker 1: hear clattering, breaking glass, rifling, paine, and swearing coming from 142 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: the room at the end of the hall. Tilda glanced 143 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:08,199 Speaker 1: behind her, slowing her jog to a creep, Balancing Madison 144 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: on her hip. She reached behind her and fished the 145 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: gun out of her waistband. She felt the weight of 146 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: it in her hand, her grip intuitive. The gun trembled 147 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: as she held it in front of her, a particularly 148 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: loud swear causing her finger to twitch over the trigger. 149 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 1: As they approached the doorway, Tilda quietly set Madison on 150 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: his feet, whispering his ear for him to stay behind her. 151 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 1: He hunched at her back, clutching her shirt with her 152 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: other hand. She steadied the gun, but still it shook 153 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: in her grasp. She peered into the room. It was 154 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: a long, rectangular space lined with benches, shelves, isolation labs 155 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: and refrigerators, lab tables and bats down the center. The 156 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: floor was littered with glass, metal instruments, and paper. At first, 157 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: Tilda mistook it for empty, but a loud crash drew 158 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,959 Speaker 1: her attention to the back corner of the long room. 159 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: A man tall and Slen cursed loudly, sweeping his arms 160 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: along a black countertop and sending beakers smashing into the floor. 161 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,559 Speaker 1: Madison whined, hiding his face into Tilda's back. The man 162 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: whipped his head around and til to raise the gun, 163 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: training it on him. He froze, staring at her in surprise. 164 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: Who are you? He demanded, and Tilda swallowed, wishing her 165 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: hands would stop shaking. The ground rumbled above them. I'm 166 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: looking for the vaccine. Contrary to her grip, her voice 167 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: was quite steady. Only the smallest wobble betraying her anger, 168 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: twisted the man's features. You're too late. The enforcers destroyed it. Why, 169 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 1: she demanded, Because they don't want a vaccine, he growled. 170 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,959 Speaker 1: Seeing the confusion painted on Tilda's face, he expounded, they 171 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 1: want to hold onto their power, and how better than 172 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: to rule by fear and keep our numbers low. He 173 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: kicked a chair over and Tilda took an involuntary half 174 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: step back. My life's work. I was going to be 175 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: remembered as the man who cured HSV five idolized the 176 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:10,079 Speaker 1: savior of the human race, but they destroyed it. He 177 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: flung a microscope at the wall Madison whimpered at the 178 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: fury in the raised voice, and the man stopped dead. 179 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: Noticing this shuddering child crouching behind Tilda, The anger fled 180 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: his face, stunned, wonder taking its place. He moved forward, 181 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: and Tilda raised the gun, her shaking more pronounced than ever. Stop. 182 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: She commanded, hating the quaver in her voice for betraying her. 183 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: He spared her the briefest of glances, fixated on the 184 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: small sliver of Madison he could see. Is that a child? 185 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: A loud bang from above sent a cloud of dust 186 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: into the air. Madison shifted so Tilda's body hid him completely. 187 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: The man continued to stare at the spot where he 188 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: had been for several seconds before he finally raised his 189 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: eyes to meet Tilda's. He's yours. Tilda didn't respond, but 190 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: he nodded as if she did. You came to get 191 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: the vaccine for your son. He stared at her and 192 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: muted amazement, as though he'd stumbled on something unexpected, rediscovering 193 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: the last missing peace obvious all along, I had forgotten. 194 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: It's been so long since I've seen one a child, 195 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: I mean. He gave a breathy laugh of aw he's 196 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: so small. He stepped forward, and Tilda took a corresponding 197 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: step back. She didn't know what to do in the 198 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 1: face of his shocked wonderment. Something akin to a rapturous 199 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 1: light in his eyes. She swallowed delicately, darting her eyes 200 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: to the side, looking for an escape route. I've never 201 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: seen one this close. He clapped his hands together and 202 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: held them in front of his mouth, as if in prayers, 203 00:12:55,400 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: smiling a few at the conception center. But never I 204 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: have forgotten the whole reason why I wanted to cure, 205 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:06,479 Speaker 1: right in front of my very eyes. But I had forgotten. 206 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: A shaky laugh punctuated his sentence. Tilda tried to regain 207 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: control of the situation, hazily, wondering where Mark or Zuleika 208 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: or the enforcers were. Did the resistance die? How could 209 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: she be the first one here, the only one here? 210 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: There is no cure? No, the man agreed readily, distractedly, 211 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: still trying to get a glimpse of Madison. But I 212 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: did discover a vaccine, or I helped discover one. We 213 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: had two labs, one public one and this one secret. 214 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: Even then we didn't want to state or arm knowing 215 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: the extent of our operation, where our entire stock would 216 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 1: be if we started manufacturing something. We didn't trust them 217 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: to not take everything from us. He paused briefly. Tilda's 218 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: calves twitched with the bursts of muffled gumfire. When we 219 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: realized that we had a vaccine, we started synthesizing it 220 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 1: in mass before we told anyone. Somehow the enforcers found 221 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 1: out anyway. They destroyed the main lab, killed the other scientist. 222 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: We thought this one had escaped their notice. He looked 223 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,559 Speaker 1: up as more dust billowed from above. We were wrong. 224 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: They came here and destroyed our stock and shot my 225 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: colleagues except for me. When I heard, he broke off, 226 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 1: averting his gaze. I heard them talking. They kept one sample, 227 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 1: stored it in a cold transport container. Said they were 228 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 1: taking it to arm headquarters in DC. I don't know why, 229 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 1: and by the sound of it, neither did they analysis. 230 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: Maybe they want to be the heroes, the ones that 231 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: develop and mass produce a vaccine. Think of the power 232 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: that would come with that complete control of the vaccine supply. 233 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: Another beat of silence, Tilda, not daring to hope her 234 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: throat dry. There's still one vaccine left. The man nodded, yes, 235 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: they just left with it too. If you're quick and 236 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: you're smart, you might be able to get it back 237 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: from them. Of course, you're more likely to be killed 238 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: in the process, he added, in a detached scientific way. 239 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: But for a child, please may I see him? Tilda 240 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: shook her head automatically, Madison's hands clenching in the fabric 241 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 1: of her jacket. Please, the man begged, is quietly, almost 242 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 1: lost in the increasing volume of the ruckets taking place outside. 243 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 1: I'll tell you how to get to DC and into 244 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: arm headquarters undetected. Just please let me see him. The 245 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: gun shook until his grip. Going to d C to 246 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: arm Headquarters did not appeal to her at all. It 247 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: sounded like a one way trip that ended with her 248 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: dead and Madison award of the state. But she couldn't 249 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: get the idea out of her head, the chance for 250 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: him to have a hopeful future in all of the 251 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: dark and decay around them. She had to do something 252 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: right by him. Just once, Tilda coaxed a trembling Madison 253 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: out from behind Her Terrified hazel eyes glistened up at 254 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: her as she stroked his hair clumsily. Her other hand 255 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: still pointing the gun at the stranger. He knelt reverent, 256 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: reaching a large, callous hand out, tracing his finger down 257 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: Madison's cheek. Madison started violently at the touch, and the 258 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: man retracted his hand. I promise, I don't want to 259 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: hurt you. I would never want to hurt something so beautiful, 260 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 1: so perfect. I can't believe i'd forgotten. That's enough, Tilda 261 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: gritted out, allowing Madison to retreat behind her. Once again, 262 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: tell me how to get an arm with great effort. 263 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: The man stood and tore his eyes from spot Madison 264 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: had just occupied. There's a train half a mile east. 265 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: The state transports cargo, heavy machinery and applies from Chicago 266 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: to DC and back again on the rail. The front 267 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: few cars are enforcers, other state officials, and people, but 268 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:10,880 Speaker 1: the back cars are all equipment. He glanced around, striding 269 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:13,640 Speaker 1: over to a drawer and rifling around through the papers inside. 270 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 1: The train leaves in a couple of hours, maybe last 271 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: with all the fighting. Hop on it and ride it 272 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 1: to terminus. It lets off in North d C. He 273 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: pulled out a folded map triumphantly and held it out 274 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:30,479 Speaker 1: to Tilda. She took it hesitantly, stuffing it in her 275 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: pocket and regripping the gun. The man's voice increased in tempo. 276 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: The scuffle and shouting sounded closer. It'll take about eleven hours, 277 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: but once it starts slowing, get off. You don't want 278 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: to get spotted by d boarding passengers. You'll come out 279 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: in a train yard. On the south side of the track. 280 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: You'll see a line of old metro trains. Follow them 281 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,160 Speaker 1: into a tunnel. Should be a door on either side. 282 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: That'll lead you into the old subway tunnels. You're going 283 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 1: to have to travel down the red line to the 284 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: Metro center and take it for Kunny access letter up. 285 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:05,439 Speaker 1: Once inside, you're on your own. There was a loud bang, 286 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: very close in proximity. Tilda jerked all of her muscles, tensing. 287 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: Whatever you do, protect the child. What's his name? Madison, 288 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 1: Tilda replied, held hostage by the deep stair, he pinned 289 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: her with whatever happens, keep Madison safe. We need him 290 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:31,919 Speaker 1: to remind us find the vaccine. Footsteps thundered down the stairs, 291 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 1: and Tilda swung her gun around just in time to 292 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 1: see a bloodied enforcer's slam into the doorframe. Take aim 293 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 1: and shoot the man next to her in the head. 294 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: As his victim crumpled to the floor, he opened his 295 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,160 Speaker 1: mouth to alert the other enforcers, and Tilda reacted her 296 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 1: fingers squeezing the trigger. The gun jumped in her hands, 297 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 1: driving her back a step. The enforcer collapsed to one side, 298 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: weapon clattering to the floor. Tilda stared, unable to comprehend 299 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,919 Speaker 1: the magnitude of what she had just done. Shouting and 300 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: more pounding on the stairs jolted Tilda out of her shock, 301 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: and she grabbed Madison's hand, pulling him down to the 302 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:07,880 Speaker 1: far into the room and taking the back door out, 303 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: pushing open the emergency stairwell door. It slammed shut behind them, 304 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: and Tilda powered up the stairs, Madison doing his best 305 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: to keep up behind her. She could hear muted yelling 306 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: from behind the thick door, and she rammed open the 307 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 1: first door she came across. After two flights of stairs, 308 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: Tilda nearly tripped over some debris, blinking as the gray 309 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: light assaulted her unaccustomed eyes. Taking a second to orient herself, 310 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: Tilda figured out which direction was east and started to 311 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: sprint along the street, dodging chunks of rock and metal. 312 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:40,479 Speaker 1: Smoke burned in her lungs, every gasping breath like fire. 313 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: Gunfires shredded through the air, grazing the side of the building. 314 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: Tilda and Madison ran past, shrap and abiding into their 315 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: exposed faces. More shouting assaulted her ears, but Tilda didn't 316 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 1: turned to look. The dust and smoke provided them some cover. 317 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 1: No one pursued them. Tears streamed down Tilda's face, whether 318 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 1: from irritat due to the smoke, or the grief at 319 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: her decision, the knowledge that the closer they got to 320 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: that train, the closer she got to the possibility of 321 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 1: never seeing Madison again. She couldn't be sure. She felt 322 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,640 Speaker 1: like she was buying a ticket to her own death. Still, 323 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: Tilda forced burning legs forward, one in front of the other. Dazedly, 324 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 1: she realized she still held the gun in her hands. 325 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: Tracks to the left caught Tilda's attention. There was a 326 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 1: train yard ahead, and tiled a cross to it, slowing 327 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 1: her pace to a fast walk. Mass and gas wildly 328 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 1: next to her, coughing intermittently. The ground beneath her feet 329 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: was packed dirt, overgrown with dry grass and weeds. Rows 330 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: of tracks led to the station behind them, crossing and 331 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: criss crossing again. How is she supposed to know which 332 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: train to get on, she asked herself, desperately, cursing the 333 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: man from not clarifying and herself for not specifying. A 334 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: clacking sound ripped her from her recriminations, and she jogged 335 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:04,640 Speaker 1: to ducking between abandoned trains. Through the slats between cars, 336 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 1: she could see movement a gray snake, slow now but 337 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: gaining speed. Tilda and Madison hopped over a metal bar 338 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 1: connecting two cars, just as the last few cars of 339 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: the train started to stream past them. Luckily, the train 340 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 1: had yet to gain any real momentum. The rusted cars 341 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: of red, green, and black missing strips of paint. Tilda 342 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: broke into a jog, glancing down the ends of the 343 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: train to make sure they had no observers. Finding none, 344 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 1: she ran for the tracks, looking for the safest option 345 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,159 Speaker 1: for them to hop on the cars sliding past. She 346 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: saw an open car a few sections down, running alongside 347 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: the train. She waited for the car to catch up 348 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:42,640 Speaker 1: to them, swinging Madison up into it and then hoisting 349 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: herself inside and swinging her legs over the edge. Coughing, 350 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: she rolled into her back and propped herself up on 351 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: her elbows, checking her surroundings, half heartily lifting the gun. 352 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: There was nothing in the car with them but textiles 353 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:59,199 Speaker 1: and some other construction materials, no en force hers. She 354 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: flopped into her searching out Madison with her eyes. He 355 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: crawled over to her, tears leaving streaks in the dark 356 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: soot on his face. She propped herself up, scooting backwards 357 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 1: until her back met the wall, and opening her arms inviting. 358 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 1: Madison melted into her embrace, sobbing, Tilda petted his hair, 359 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: turning her neck to watch Chicago disappeared, becoming smaller and 360 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: smaller as the train gathered speed. Just a little later, 361 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:26,640 Speaker 1: the smallest delay and they would have missed the train. 362 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 1: Smoke billowed from the streets. Hilda tried to piece together 363 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:35,360 Speaker 1: the morning's events. Everything had happened so fast. Only hours ago, 364 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 1: she was in the cab of a truck, part of 365 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:39,120 Speaker 1: a convoy of at least thirty people, on her way 366 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: to Chicago looking for a vaccine. Where was everyone now? 367 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: For all she knew, everyone that had accompanied her was dead, 368 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 1: and now she was on a train to DC, to 369 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: the very heart of everything she'd been running from all 370 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:56,120 Speaker 1: of these years. The stronghold of those who would take 371 00:22:56,160 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 1: Madison from her and see her dead? Was she insane 372 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: acting on the word of a man she barely knew. 373 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 1: But the sheer awe in his eyes as he beheld 374 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:11,200 Speaker 1: Madison made Tilda believe him. She shuddered, remembering his gasp 375 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 1: of surprise and the sound of his body falling lifelessly 376 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 1: to the floor. One second alive, the next not. It 377 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 1: took only a millisecond to rip the life from someone, 378 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: and now Tilda had killed someone herself. The gun was 379 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: still in her hand. Disgusted and frightened, she tossed it 380 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 1: over the side, a feathery sob escaping past her lips. 381 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:38,719 Speaker 1: Did she kill him? Madison rose his gaze to meet hers, 382 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: tears shimmering, making round hazel orbs appear even larger. Tilda 383 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 1: regarded him for a long moment, her own eyes leaking steadily. Yes, 384 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:56,120 Speaker 1: she whispered, terrified of his rejection. His body convulsed silently, 385 00:23:56,160 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 1: and he huddled into her side, apologizing profusely. Why are 386 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:05,359 Speaker 1: you sorry, Tilda asked Madison's grief, pulling her from her own. 387 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:10,440 Speaker 1: You did it to protect me, Tilda stroked his hair. 388 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: It's not your fault, baby, I'm the one that killed him, 389 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: not you. Madison only wept harder. I don't need a vaccine, please, 390 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:25,360 Speaker 1: I don't want to go where the enforcers are part. Clinching, 391 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: Tilda shushed him, cooing it's gonna be all right. Madison 392 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: shook his head into her shoulder miserably. I've never seen 393 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: anyone die before. Neither have I, Tilda confided to him, 394 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 1: hating that he'd seen so much bloodshed at such a 395 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 1: young age. I wish you hadn't seen any of that. 396 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 1: Wish you hadn't either, he stammered timidly. None of this 397 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 1: is your fault, she reiterated. But it's because of me, 398 00:24:55,000 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 1: he argued. No, Tilda disagreed. It's because of me because 399 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: I love you so much. Madison stilled at that. Tilda 400 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: attempted to recall the last time she had told him 401 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: she loved him. She hugged him closer to her. We'll 402 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 1: get through this. His sobs quieted the steady forward motion 403 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,640 Speaker 1: and hum of the train damp and Tilda's overactive nerves, 404 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: And that brings us to the end of this installment. 405 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 1: As you can tell I did. I also had to 406 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:51,879 Speaker 1: split this one up so if it ends sort of 407 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: her properly, that's why. But yeah, a lot happens in 408 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: that one. I want to reiterate this. I wrote this 409 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 1: before the last of Us, but I keep finding similarities. 410 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: But we're really getting down to it now. And this was. 411 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:10,919 Speaker 1: When I was reading this, I was like, this is 412 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 1: more dramatic than I thought. It also had a phrase 413 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:16,399 Speaker 1: that I was unwilling to change fireflies from her vision. 414 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,640 Speaker 1: I don't think that's what you say, but that's why 415 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: I left it in. But yeah, it does feel very 416 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 1: you go to this place, and then you go to 417 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 1: this place, and then you have to go to this place, 418 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:30,200 Speaker 1: and then it's video game like that's what a video 419 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 1: game is like. But I hope you're enjoying it. We 420 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 1: are getting we're close. We are close to the end, 421 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 1: but there are two other installments, so we'll see. But 422 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:41,639 Speaker 1: I hope that you're enjoying it. I love hearing from 423 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,120 Speaker 1: people about it, even if it's just like I like this, 424 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: That mean it makes my day. So thank you for that. 425 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 1: And thanks as always to Christina or a super producer 426 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 1: who makes these possible. She makes them sound so much better, 427 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 1: so amazing. Thank you. If you have any thoughts, theories, 428 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 1: suggestions for other things we could do like this, Please 429 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:04,679 Speaker 1: let us know. You can emailus at Stephanie your Mom, 430 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 1: Steff at iHeartMedia dot com. You can find us on 431 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:10,800 Speaker 1: Twitter at moll Stuff Podcasts, or on Instagram and TikTok 432 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 1: at Steffman Never Told You. We have a tea public store. 433 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,160 Speaker 1: We have a book that you can order at stuff 434 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:18,320 Speaker 1: you Should Read books dot com. Thanks as always to 435 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 1: our super producer Christina, our executive producer Maya, and our 436 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:24,719 Speaker 1: contributor Joey, and thanks to you for listening. Stephan Never 437 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:26,920 Speaker 1: Told You is production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from 438 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 1: my Heart Radio, you can check out the heart Radio 439 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: app Apple podcast, where you listen to your favorite shows