transcript

Speaker 1:
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Speaker 8:
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Speaker 9:
[01:41] You're listening to The Strata, a Beyond The Dark production. Season 13, Downfall, part 12.

Speaker 3:
[02:10] Kav, what's going on? Why are we waiting?

Speaker 10:
[02:13] Just cool it, Summers. We're still trying to get things straight before we consider our next move. I called Rust and he said he's on his way. Should only be a few minutes.

Speaker 3:
[02:25] Okay, but we really can't afford to sit on this much longer. Keeping Jade and Solari here in the apartment is no longer a safe option. Sooner or later, someone is going to show up on your doorstep looking to collect that bounty.

Speaker 10:
[02:40] I'm aware of that, but on the same token, we can't just go running blindly out there on the streets.

Speaker 3:
[02:47] Is there something I'm missing, Kav? Now that you know the truth, why don't you cut loose of this girl?

Speaker 10:
[02:53] I wish I could, Summers, but I just can't. For whatever reason, I just have to see it through to the end.

Speaker 3:
[03:03] Right. Well, I guess we'll just wait then.

Speaker 5:
[03:07] Detective Kavanaugh, is everything okay?

Speaker 10:
[03:10] Fine, Jade, fine. So, what about you, Summers? What do you make of these two?

Speaker 3:
[03:20] Jade and Solari? Well, they've been talking over there for a while now. From the body language, it seems to me that Jade is still conflicted by this whole situation.

Speaker 10:
[03:31] Ah, it can't be easy for her. Finding out about all the horrible shit those two have done.

Speaker 3:
[03:37] Solari, for his part, he seems proud of that horrible shit.

Speaker 10:
[03:41] To him, this whole thing is war, and the innocent workers who were killed in those factories were just inevitable casualties.

Speaker 3:
[03:52] That kind of mindset doesn't sit well with me. Don't get me wrong, I've seen plenty of bloodshed, and I waged my own personal war with the Fortunatos, so the whole concept is something I can relate to. But through it all, I never put the lives of innocent people in jeopardy. Quite the opposite. I went out of my way to make sure they were spared.

Speaker 10:
[04:13] I'm with you there. Silari has let his hatred of Blaine industrial cloud his judgment, twist his perspective of right and wrong.

Speaker 3:
[04:23] So that means we're harboring criminals here.

Speaker 10:
[04:25] It's not that black and white. Not to me.

Speaker 3:
[04:30] Well, this is your show. I'm not going to tell you how to run it. But I sure hope you know what you're doing, Cav. In the meantime, I have a few calls to make. My grid crawler just released a whole load of dirt on Strickland, and I have to take care of some things. Just excuse me for a second.

Speaker 10:
[04:47] Yeah, yeah. No problem. Do whatever you need to do. Oh, that should be Rust. Everyone, stay back till I made sure it's him. Yeah, we're good. Come on in, Rust. Good to see you again, big guy.

Speaker 11:
[05:09] Cavanaugh? Ah, I see Summers got roped into this too, huh? And who's this?

Speaker 10:
[05:16] Ah, it's Jade. You've met before. And this is her brother, Solari.

Speaker 11:
[05:22] Okay, great. One big happy family. So, what's going on?

Speaker 10:
[05:27] All right. We're on the clock here, so I don't want to draw this out. I'll give you a brief rundown of what's going on. First the situation with Jade. It turns out Solari had quite the tale to tell. He's filled in some back story about how Jade got into this predicament. To make a long story short, these two had been conducting a series of attacks against a company called Blaine Industrial, using Jade's neuro-shard as a kind of advanced hacking tool. It's payback for Blaine causing the death of their parents, among other things. As the attacks escalated, Blaine began to use countermeasures. They employed some heavies to track down Jade and neutralize her. She evaded them for a while, but eventually her luck ran out. They cornered her, and she only managed to escape by performing a wipe on the neuro-shard. That's why she lost so much of her memory.

Speaker 11:
[06:26] Hang on. How does a memory wipe take out a crew of heavies?

Speaker 10:
[06:30] We believe a pulse from the shard sent some armed security systems that were nearby in the meltdown. They started attacking indiscriminately, and Jade escaped in the confusion. That's when I came across her outside Overton's bar.

Speaker 11:
[06:46] Okay, so now the family's back together and we know who she is. What's the problem?

Speaker 12:
[06:52] We need to get her memories back. Restore them from the latest backup we downloaded a few weeks ago.

Speaker 11:
[06:58] Wait a second. You've been screwing around with neuro-shard memory dumps? That kind of memory restoration has always been a risky proposition. At least that's what I observed back when these shards were in wider circulation. People who messed with that shit, well, it usually wasn't a good outcome. Maybe you should reconsider going through with it.

Speaker 12:
[07:16] Thanks for the advice, but that's not your decision to make.

Speaker 10:
[07:19] And it's not yours either, Solari.

Speaker 12:
[07:22] Jade wants this. We sat down together and planned this exact scenario months ago.

Speaker 10:
[07:29] I'd like to hear from Jade herself. Jade, do you have anything to say?

Speaker 5:
[07:38] Right now, I don't know exactly what to think. I mean, I understand Solari's perspective. We've been talking, and he's told me a little about what it was like before the wipe, some of the things we did together. And if, well, if the old me wanted this, that's one thing, but...

Speaker 12:
[08:01] She did want it, with all her heart. So what else is there to discuss?

Speaker 5:
[08:07] The thing is, I don't know if I want it, Solari.

Speaker 12:
[08:12] What are you talking about, Jade? You're still the same person you were three days ago.

Speaker 5:
[08:17] No, I'm not. Those things we talked about, attacking Blaine Industrial and destroying their shit, killing those workers, I honestly don't think that's something I could go through with anymore.

Speaker 12:
[08:31] That's because you're confused. Your brain is scrambled. But guess what? I have the key to putting everything back to normal. Once you have your memories again, you'll be fine.

Speaker 5:
[08:43] What memories are those, Solari? Seeing my parents get sick and wasting away before my eyes, living on the streets for years, cold and starving, and doing all kinds of horrible things just to stay alive. Why would I want to remember that?

Speaker 12:
[08:59] Because those memories made you who you are. Yes, all of that shit was terrible, but it's what shaped your entire life.

Speaker 5:
[09:07] And what would I gain from going back to the way I was? If I get my memories back and we continue with this project downfall of yours, does that mean we're just going to be on the run from Archer for the rest of our lives?

Speaker 12:
[09:21] Yes, because that's what we signed up for when we started this whole thing, Jade.

Speaker 5:
[09:27] How long before he catches up with us again? Days? Weeks? And then what? Archer is going to be prepared this time. I won't escape. And then what do I have to look forward to? Living out my final days in some concrete basement while they torture me to death and experiment on me?

Speaker 12:
[09:47] Why are we even discussing this? You're not yourself right now, Jade. I'm arguing with a shadow, a ghost of who my sister really was.

Speaker 5:
[09:58] Maybe I... Maybe the best thing for me is just to forget.

Speaker 12:
[10:04] Please don't stand there and tell me you're prepared to throw away everything we worked for, everything we are. We gave up so much to get here. Believe me, once you get your memories back, you'll understand.

Speaker 10:
[10:21] Sorry to step in here, but isn't all this a moot point? Stiller is missing, probably dead. He's out of the picture. So how would we even restore Jade's memories? We need someone who can perform the operation.

Speaker 11:
[10:36] I might be able to provide an option here. My old friend Crowe used to work with this kind of tech. It's possible he could help out.

Speaker 12:
[10:43] You have access to another clinic?

Speaker 11:
[10:45] Possibly. I'd have to talk to him first, but I think it could be done.

Speaker 12:
[10:49] Then what are we waiting for?

Speaker 10:
[10:51] Slow down, Solari. Jade hasn't even made a decision about whether she wants to do this or not.

Speaker 12:
[10:58] She's not capable of making this decision because she's not herself.

Speaker 10:
[11:03] That's not for you to say. Jade, it's up to you. Do you want to go back to the way things were?

Speaker 5:
[11:13] What's the alternative?

Speaker 10:
[11:14] You can't stay in The Strata. It's not safe. We'd have to get you out of the city somehow.

Speaker 5:
[11:21] Leave everything behind?

Speaker 10:
[11:24] I don't see any other way.

Speaker 5:
[11:26] I... I need some time to think.

Speaker 10:
[11:32] Sure. Take a while. We can't wait forever, though.

Speaker 5:
[11:37] I understand.

Speaker 11:
[11:38] In the meantime, I should go and talk to Crowe in person. This isn't the kind of thing I'd want to discuss over the phone. I'll pick Sienna up on the way. Her expertise will come in handy.

Speaker 10:
[11:48] I'd appreciate that, Rust. You be safe out there, okay?

Speaker 11:
[11:53] Always. I'll be in touch as soon as I've figured something out.

Speaker 13:
[12:02] Tax Act is here anytime you want to easily file your taxes. Tax Act is here for the early birds who like to knock them out as soon as the season opens. And for the procrastinators who like to wait until the very last minute. Tax Act is also here for the middlers who file right in the middle of tax season. No one ever talks about the middlers, but Tax Act sees you and Tax Act respects you. Tax Act, let's get them over with.

Speaker 2:
[12:30] So you're saying with Hilton Honors, I can use points for a free night stay anywhere?

Speaker 14:
[12:35] Anywhere.

Speaker 2:
[12:36] What about fancy places like the Canopy in Paris?

Speaker 14:
[12:39] Yeah, Hilton Honors, baby.

Speaker 2:
[12:40] Or relaxing sanctuaries like the Conrad and Tulum?

Speaker 14:
[12:44] Hilton Honors, baby.

Speaker 2:
[12:46] What about the five-star Waldorf Astoria in the Maldives?

Speaker 14:
[12:49] Are you going to do this for all 9,000 properties?

Speaker 15:
[12:52] When you want points that can take you anywhere, anytime, it matters where you stay. Hilton, for the stay. Book your spring break now.

Speaker 4:
[13:01] K-pop demon hunters, Saja Boys' Breakfast Meal and Huntrix Meal have just dropped at McDonald's. They're calling this a battle for the fans. What do you say to that, Rumi? It's not a battle.

Speaker 15:
[13:11] So glad the Saja Boys could take breakfast and give our meal the rest of the day.

Speaker 16:
[13:15] It is an honor to share.

Speaker 4:
[13:16] No, it's our honor.

Speaker 12:
[13:18] It is our larger honor.

Speaker 3:
[13:20] No, really, stop.

Speaker 4:
[13:22] You can really feel the respect in this battle. Pick a meal to pick a side.

Speaker 1:
[13:29] And participate in McDonald's while supplies last.

Speaker 16:
[13:40] Gentlemen, let's be reasonable here. I can bring you the goods you need at a better price than any trader in Southern Camps 1 or 2, let alone here in the mud pit. All I ask is that you sign a contract demanding me exclusive rights to your business.

Speaker 17:
[13:57] Darro, what's going on here?

Speaker 16:
[13:59] Ah, Crichton. I was just brokering a deal with my new friends here. Gentlemen, this is my associate, Crichton.

Speaker 17:
[14:08] There's no deal here. Not today. You need to come with me, Darro.

Speaker 16:
[14:12] Crichton? Maybe you should leave the business side of things to me. Don't worry. I won't be much longer.

Speaker 17:
[14:19] I said there's no deal. You lot clear out. And you come with me.

Speaker 12:
[14:25] Hey, watch it.

Speaker 18:
[14:26] You're hurting me.

Speaker 17:
[14:28] It's no less than you deserve, putting yourself at risk like that.

Speaker 16:
[14:31] At risk? What are you talking about? I practically had those chumps eating out of my hand.

Speaker 17:
[14:38] They were criminals. Can't you see that? They were sizing you up.

Speaker 16:
[14:41] Do you think this is my first gig, Crichton? I've spent years working over gullible idiots just like that in the Southern outposts.

Speaker 17:
[14:49] You already have a deal set up with your associates in The Strata. Why bother with these petty trades in the mud pit?

Speaker 16:
[14:56] See, that's the difference between you and me, Crichton. I never let an opportunity pass me by. I'm on the prowl every second of the damn day hunting for the next deal. That's the only way to get ahead in life. Trust me.

Speaker 17:
[15:13] Well, be that as it may, we still have a job to do here. We have a transport full of cargo that needs protecting, remember? Your cargo?

Speaker 16:
[15:22] That's your job. You're the security around here.

Speaker 19:
[15:27] Ah, there they are. Back again. Just in time, guys. I'm almost done here. Uh, what's the matter? You two get into trouble out there?

Speaker 16:
[15:38] No trouble. Crichton just decided he wanted to ruin my fun. That's all. I'm gonna go wait in the rig. If that's okay with you, boss.

Speaker 17:
[15:48] I'll go right ahead.

Speaker 19:
[15:51] Ugh, don't worry about him, Crichton. I think he's just nervous about finishing this deal. We're close now, and there's a lot on the line for him.

Speaker 17:
[15:59] He should appreciate the fact that someone is looking out for him. That is a luxury most never get to enjoy.

Speaker 19:
[16:06] Hmm. You don't take this job lightly, do you? Protecting Garo and me.

Speaker 17:
[16:11] I swore that I would keep you safe until we reached The Strata. I intend to follow through on that oath.

Speaker 19:
[16:18] What happened to your friend back in Amity, Crichton? Were you her protector as well?

Speaker 17:
[16:23] I was her protector and she was mine. That seems to be the inevitable truth about this life. We need others to help us along the way. If it weren't for Adana and Jonas... Hmm.

Speaker 19:
[16:45] Did you come to The Strata to find someone?

Speaker 17:
[16:47] No. My companions are all gone now. I'm on my own again.

Speaker 19:
[16:55] So if you're not looking for anyone in The Strata, why are you going there?

Speaker 17:
[17:01] I came to heal this failing body of mine. If I don't take action soon, it'll be too late. I was told that I might find physicians in Highgate City who could help me.

Speaker 19:
[17:13] Highgate City? You've really got your sights set high, huh? You're gonna need a lot of creds if you want to walk those streets.

Speaker 17:
[17:22] Yes, I suppose I will. Or maybe Darrow's associates will come through as he promised. As annoying as he is, maybe this is one thing he can do for me.

Speaker 19:
[17:33] Don't worry, Creighton. I'm sure we'll sort something out. Before you know it, the two of us will be sharing a drink at the pump house and planning the next step in our journeys. I guarantee it.

Speaker 7:
[17:50] Are you sure you want to get Crowe involved, Rust? This whole thing sounds like a bit of a mess.

Speaker 11:
[17:55] It's a mess, all right, but I figure it can't hurt to ask. If Crowe is up for it, that's his decision. Either way, I've done my part. After this, I'm gonna wash my hands of the whole thing.

Speaker 7:
[18:07] Honestly, I was surprised you stayed involved this long.

Speaker 11:
[18:10] Well, Kavanaugh seems really invested in this one. It means a lot to him.

Speaker 7:
[18:14] Why is that?

Speaker 11:
[18:16] Beats me. Maybe there's something he's not telling us. Anyway, I know one thing. It's good to have someone inside the department who owes me a favor. It's not a luxury I get to enjoy very often.

Speaker 7:
[18:27] You hope an old Kavanaugh is going to wipe a few parking tickets from the system for you or something?

Speaker 11:
[18:32] I was thinking it might give me some leverage in case I ever get to thrown into Blackhall again or something like that.

Speaker 7:
[18:37] Oh man, don't even talk about that place. My skin crawls every time I think about it. All right, this is it. Let's get up there and get this over with.

Speaker 11:
[19:13] It's quiet again. Doesn't Chloë ever get any customers here? Either business is slow or...

Speaker 7:
[19:19] You don't think they got to Chloë too, do you?

Speaker 11:
[19:22] Only one way to find out. Keep your voice down. Let's keep it quiet.

Speaker 18:
[19:34] This operation is time sensitive, and so far, you've done nothing but stall and make excuses.

Speaker 11:
[19:41] Hello?

Speaker 18:
[19:43] Mr. Crowe? Are you still there?

Speaker 20:
[19:47] Yeah, I'm here.

Speaker 18:
[19:48] I'm just...

Speaker 11:
[19:49] I'm thinking.

Speaker 12:
[19:50] Oh, you're thinking?

Speaker 18:
[19:52] Please do excuse the interruption. I'm sure whatever has captured your attention is of the utmost importance, but you don't seem to understand the gravity of this situation.

Speaker 4:
[20:02] Why does that voice on the phone sound familiar?

Speaker 11:
[20:05] Keep it down, C. Stay out of sight. I want to hear this.

Speaker 20:
[20:09] I understand the situation, Mr. Valdis. Really, I do. Shit! Kroo's talking to Valdis!

Speaker 4:
[20:16] Isn't that guy supposed to be in the lockup?

Speaker 18:
[20:18] Well, I'm not prepared to wait that long. I've told you what this man Rust did to me, didn't I?

Speaker 20:
[20:24] Yes, you told me.

Speaker 18:
[20:25] Let me reiterate so that there's no chance of misinterpretation. Until recently, I enjoyed a prosperous and luxurious life here in Highgate City. I had friends, the admiration of my peers, and a thriving business. And Rust took that from me in one fell swoop. In fact, I'm lucky not to be in the lockup right now. Can you imagine that? If I hadn't been able to organize a few gifts for the officials, I'd be rotting away in some dank cell at this very moment.

Speaker 20:
[20:57] Now, when you say gifts, you mean you paid them off, right?

Speaker 18:
[21:01] It's little consolation, I'm afraid. Remaining a free man, even though I avoided imprisonment, the scandal spread across Highgate City like wildfire. My friends and companions turned their backs on me, every single one of them. With my social network destroyed, I now forced to sit here at home by myself, wallowing in hatred and futility. And all I can think about is that moment in my basement when that simpleton Rust stood there lecturing me about morality and how I deserved my punishment. All the while it was he who was stealing from me.

Speaker 20:
[21:40] He stole a power core or something, you said?

Speaker 18:
[21:44] Oh, he didn't just steal a power core, no. He stole my life.

Speaker 20:
[21:49] I get it, Mr. Valdis. I know you want him bad, but I'm telling you, I have to do this my way. It won't work if we try to rush it.

Speaker 18:
[21:57] I'm relying on you, Mr. Crowe. I can't find anyone else to do this job, not with my reputation in tatters. Keep in mind the incentive I offered. If rust is delivered in the given time frame, there will be a significant bonus for you.

Speaker 20:
[22:17] Yeah, I'll give it my best shot.

Speaker 18:
[22:19] Good. I'll be waiting for your next call. And I hope for your sake, it will happen soon.

Speaker 20:
[22:32] Why did I ever agree to this?

Speaker 11:
[22:35] Come on, C. I think it's time we had a talk with Mr. Crowe. How you doing, Crowe? Working late.

Speaker 1:
[22:44] Oh, shit!

Speaker 20:
[22:46] Rust, Sienna. Oh, God, what are you doing here?

Speaker 7:
[22:51] Oh, you're in for a world of hurt, Crowe.

Speaker 11:
[22:55] I told you to look into your security setup, old buddy. Someone could just walk right in, hear an eavesdrop on an entire conversation.

Speaker 20:
[23:03] Okay, look, this is not what you think.

Speaker 11:
[23:05] Isn't it? I don't know. Seems pretty clear to me, you double-crossing piece of trash.

Speaker 20:
[23:11] Rust, come on, I just...

Speaker 11:
[23:13] Give me one good reason why I should have ripped your head off right now.

Speaker 7:
[23:18] Uh, pal? I think he's trying to say something.

Speaker 11:
[23:22] Go on, Crowe, you've got about ten seconds to explain yourself, and you better make it good.

Speaker 20:
[23:31] I was... I was trying to help you, Rust... and help myself too at the same time.

Speaker 11:
[23:38] Help me, huh? By handing me over to that psychopath, Valdis? Do you have any idea about this guy's history?

Speaker 20:
[23:47] He told me a little.

Speaker 7:
[23:48] Valdis is the guy who was responsible for manufacturing that nightmare drug Prism. You know, the stunt that was scrambling the brains of all those rich people in Highgate City?

Speaker 11:
[23:57] Until we ruined the party by uncovering the drug lab in his basement. We busted a hole in the wall so we could take the power core he was using to manufacture the drug.

Speaker 7:
[24:06] Yeah, we figured the cops would find the lab and take it from there, but apparently, even though we gift-wrapped it for him, they still couldn't put him behind bars.

Speaker 11:
[24:15] Amazing what a few bribes will do. Anyway, back to the question at hand. How did you get involved with Valdis Crowe?

Speaker 20:
[24:24] He contacted me not long after you came to visit me here.

Speaker 11:
[24:28] The bastard must have been tracking our movements.

Speaker 20:
[24:31] I guess. I mean, at first, he tried messaging me through a scrambled link to protect his identity, but that's not how I like to do things, so he ended up revealing himself. Didn't seem too happy about it, but I think by that stage he was out of options.

Speaker 7:
[24:46] This all sounds very familiar. The scrambled link. It's just like the situation with Dreyfus.

Speaker 11:
[24:51] Yeah. I guess Dreyfus was Valdis' first option for taking me down, and when that fizzled out, he turned to Crowe. I should have known it was Valdis all along. This is his MO. Send in hired goons to do his dirty work.

Speaker 7:
[25:04] What was the plan, Crowe? You told Valdis on the phone you had to do it your way. What does that mean?

Speaker 20:
[25:12] Okay, so Valdis wanted me to get Rust into the clinic and sedate him somehow. Come up with an excuse to get him in the chair and incapacitate him.

Speaker 11:
[25:23] He wanted me alive?

Speaker 20:
[25:24] Well, he said he wanted your body preserved, specifically that steel rig of yours.

Speaker 11:
[25:30] He wanted my steel? Why?

Speaker 20:
[25:32] I don't know. He just said he wanted it taken quietly, without a fight.

Speaker 11:
[25:37] That's the same thing Dreyfus wanted. He said something about taking me without a scratch.

Speaker 7:
[25:41] Ew, is this some weird fetish thing Baldus has with steel or something?

Speaker 11:
[25:45] I don't even want to think about that. But I guess this clears up a lot, doesn't it, Chloë? All this bullshit about you wanting me to get inside a regen tank so I could undergo rejuvenation. That was a lie.

Speaker 20:
[25:57] No, that was all true. I swear. I figured out a way we could all benefit from this.

Speaker 11:
[26:02] Oh, this is going to be good. Alright, let's hear it.

Speaker 20:
[26:07] Alright. First, I have to come clean about a few things. Yes, I did lie about some stuff, just maybe not what you suspected. The first day you dropped by, I gave the impression that I was doing great here in Highgate City. Business was on the up and up, right? But unfortunately, that's not how it is anymore. In the early days, sure, I had plenty of customers and the clinic was thriving. But as time went on, newer techniques started to emerge from my competitors. They were faster, more reliable, but they also used equipment that was cutting edge, expensive. It became harder and harder for me to keep up with the big players, the corporations with endless cred reserves and vast resources at their disposal. I tried to stay in the game, but over time, my customer base started to dwindle. I got into debt, and then my wife left me and she took the kids with her. I haven't even seen them in months, and my finances are at rock bottom. I can't even afford to employ a receptionist anymore, and stuff is wearing out and malfunctioning left, right and center.

Speaker 11:
[27:13] That's a sad story, Crow, but I don't see how it relates to you screwing me over.

Speaker 20:
[27:17] When Valdis contacted me, he made me an offer that was too good to ignore. It was a lot of creds, enough for me to fit out the place with a bunch of new gear. With that, I could get back in the game, put my whole damn life back on track. But by the same token, I couldn't just kill you in cold blood, Rust. Whatever you think of me right at this moment, I can assure you, I am not a murderer.

Speaker 11:
[27:41] So why did you agree to Valdis' terms?

Speaker 20:
[27:44] At first, I just dismissed the whole idea entirely. But then, when I thought about it, I realized there was a solution where everyone benefited. Valdis, me, and even you, Rust. It all came down to the fact that Valdis only wanted the steel, and there was a way we could give him that without hurting anyone.

Speaker 11:
[28:02] Rejuvenation. If you could grow an organic body for me in that regen tank, I wouldn't need the steel anymore.

Speaker 20:
[28:09] Exactly. And the thing is, Valdis' offer was substantial. I'm talking a lot of creds, enough to cover the cost of the rejuvenation treatment and still leave plenty for me to pocket afterwards. In the end, Rust gets a new body, I get some creds to pay off my debts, and Valdis gets the steel.

Speaker 11:
[28:28] That's why you've been pushing so hard for me to choose rejuvenation. I knew something was off, but I wasn't sure of the reason until now.

Speaker 20:
[28:35] Yeah, I mean, I hope you understand now, Rust. I would never intentionally hurt an old friend like you.

Speaker 11:
[28:41] Don't think for a second that I was forgiven here, Crow. You lied to me, manipulated me, and in the end, we only got the truth out of you because we overheard that phone call. I'm not just going to let this blow over.

Speaker 20:
[28:54] What are you going to do to me?

Speaker 11:
[28:55] Well, as it turns out, we might need you. So we're going to have to put all that other shit aside for a second.

Speaker 20:
[29:01] Need me for what?

Speaker 11:
[29:02] Remember the girl we told you about? The one with the NeuroChard? It turns out she might be in need of a memory restoration procedure, and with Stiller's disappearance, you seem like the next best option.

Speaker 20:
[29:14] A mind restore? In my experience, that's usually a bad idea.

Speaker 11:
[29:19] Tell me about it. I tried to talk him out of it, but it sounds like they might still go ahead anyway.

Speaker 20:
[29:24] Well, there's all sorts of complications that can arise from that kind of operation, Rust.

Speaker 11:
[29:28] Can you do it or not?

Speaker 20:
[29:30] Well, not here. All of this modern gear is useless for that. It won't interface with the NeuroShard. Back at the old workshop in Midtown, with all my old equipment, that would be our best bet.

Speaker 11:
[29:43] So you'll do it?

Speaker 20:
[29:46] What am I stepping into here, Rust? The whole thing with Stiller, it seems like a bad situation.

Speaker 11:
[29:52] I think you can handle the risk, Crowe, to help get yourself back in my good books. What do you say?

Speaker 20:
[29:59] I guess that's fair.

Speaker 11:
[30:01] We still have to confirm the girl wants to go ahead with the procedure, then organize the time. I think it would be best if you ride with us, Crowe. We don't want you getting picked off by the bad guys.

Speaker 20:
[30:10] What about this girl? Does she have protection?

Speaker 11:
[30:13] Yeah. She's under the care of her midtown carpool.

Speaker 7:
[30:18] What's the matter, pal? You okay?

Speaker 11:
[30:20] Actually, before we go anywhere, I'd like you to make a call, Crowe, to Valdis.

Speaker 7:
[30:26] Valdis? Um, if you're thinking of venting your frustrations or something, Rust, you might want to reconsider that.

Speaker 11:
[30:34] No, nothing like that. I have something else in mind.

Speaker 20:
[30:38] Do you want to be included in the call?

Speaker 11:
[30:40] Hell, no. Don't let him know we were even here. I want you to pretend like he just thought of something after your last conversation.

Speaker 20:
[30:47] And what's that?

Speaker 11:
[30:49] Tell Valdis you can close the deal. Tell him to meet you at that workshop in Midtown. If it's steel he wants, well, why don't we go ahead and give it to him?

Speaker 9:
[31:12] This podcast is made possible by my supporters on Patreon. If you'd like to hear ad-free early release episodes, as well as my exclusive series The Strata Luna, head over to patreon.com/beyondthedark. Your support means I can keep bringing you more seasons of The Strata. Season 13, Downfall. Starring Jason Churray, Rhiannon Moushall, Trent Trachtenberg, Michelle Mosley, Paul Warren, Jenna Sharpe, Chloë Elmore, Rebecca Tanwen, Martha De Silva, Sara Seferian, Larry Oblander, Thomas Barker, Marlon Dance-Hooi, Liz Morey, Kyle Kazmazic, Nikolas Yuen, Brad Gilliam, and Alexander Hackim Stravinski. Created by Mark R. Healy. I'll be on The Dark Production.

Speaker 14:
[32:12] The Fable and Falling Network, where fiction producers flourish.

Speaker 21:
[32:18] Graham Shapiro is a decent man.

Speaker 22:
[32:21] Gideon Media's hit sci-fi thriller, Give Me Away, returned. There's a lot of people screaming in that prison right now.

Speaker 14:
[32:27] So scream me.

Speaker 19:
[32:28] Just know up front, I'm going to have input.

Speaker 21:
[32:30] What happened? Are you all right?

Speaker 19:
[32:32] Dad.

Speaker 21:
[32:33] Tell us everything.

Speaker 22:
[32:34] It seems like you wanna scare us into thinking you're gonna let us starve.

Speaker 21:
[32:38] But should your treatment of us ever cause this decent man to let me off the leash again? Anything is possible.

Speaker 19:
[32:46] Give me away season two, starting April 11th.