Episode 11.7 - Sanctuary - Part 7

Summary

The Strata: Episode 11.7 - Sanctuary - Part 7 Summary

Release Date: October 8, 2024

Overview

In Episode 11.7 of The Strata, titled "Sanctuary - Part 7," host Mark R. Healy delves deeper into the dystopian underbelly of the city, intertwining the lives of multiple characters as they navigate perilous missions, uncover hidden truths, and confront their haunted pasts. This installment masterfully balances intense action sequences with profound character development, providing listeners with a compelling continuation of the overarching narrative.

---

1. Pursuit of the Power Core: Sienna and Pal

Plot Progression

The episode opens with Sienna and Pal, engaged in a tense operation to locate a mysterious power core. Their mission brings them into the affluent yet sinister neighborhood surrounding Valdis Mansion, hinting at deeper conspiracies tied to high society.

Key Interactions and Quotes

• Sienna's Frustration:
  [01:24]
  Sienna: "I'm pretty sure the cops are going to turn up asking questions before long. Surely one of these rich assholes must have noticed this big ugly van cruising past over and over again."

• Pal's Determination:
  [02:09]
  Pal: "I'm checking the data again now. I think we almost got it."

• Discussion on PRISM Drug:
  Midway through their mission, Pal introduces the topic of a drug named Prism, revealing its destructive effects and the systemic cover-up surrounding it.
  [04:21]
  Pal: "PRISM isn't some happy and cuddly drug. That's just good, clean fun. It's a nasty piece of work and has some rare but incredibly bad side effects."

  Sienna's Skepticism:
  [05:18]
  Sienna: "Is this for real?"

  Pal's Revelation:
  [05:55]
  Pal: "Hargraves was working security for Valdis. I found evidence that they were together at a whole bunch of events stretching back at least a couple of years. This is the connection we were looking for."

Insights

The dialogue between Sienna and Pal uncovers a significant connection between Valdis Mansion and the Prism drug, suggesting that Valdis may be orchestrating events from behind the scenes. Pal’s unwavering focus contrasts with Sienna’s growing frustration, highlighting their differing motivations and coping mechanisms under pressure.

---

2. Exploration and Discovery: Olga and Tessa

Plot Progression

Parallel to Sienna and Pal’s mission, Olga and Tessa undertake a perilous descent into the lower levels of a structure, seeking the elusive power core. Their journey is fraught with environmental hazards and mechanical challenges, emphasizing the deteriorating state of their world.

Key Interactions and Quotes

• Preparing for Descent:
  [09:03]
  Olga: "After the next bulkhead, the air is going to be considerably worse. So it's about time we get these air tanks ready."

• Encounter with a Fellow Treasure Hunter:
  [11:53]
  Olga: "Looks like it. Never seen that one before."

• Facing Environmental Decay:
  [12:14]
  Olga: "The air is corrosive down here. See the stains all over the walls? It eats away at metal and flesh alike."

• Discovery of a Damaged Core:
  [14:16]
  Tessa: "Well, there's still a core here. No one's taking it."

  Olga's Realization:
  [16:04]
  Olga: "So this device is pretty much like the one you have back in the vault. A lost cause."

Insights

Olga and Tessa’s expedition underscores the theme of decay and abandonment pervasive in the city. Their discovery of a severely damaged core not only halts their mission but also serves as a metaphor for the ruined state of their society. The environmental hazards they face highlight the constant struggle for survival in a world teetering on the brink of collapse.

---

3. Haunting Memories and Brotherhood: Crichton and Adana

Plot Progression

The episode shifts focus to the deeply personal and emotional dialogue between Crichton and Adana, delving into their shared traumatic past and the enduring bonds of brotherhood forged in the darkness of the mines.

Key Interactions and Quotes

• Journey Towards the Dome:
  [17:20]
  Crichton: "How far away is the dome? Are we close?"

  Adana's Reassurance:
  [17:35]
  Adana: "We waited years for this moment, brother. A few more hours won't hurt."

• Recounting Traumatic Past:
  [20:33]
  Crichton: "What was your home like before you were sent to the mines?"

  Adana's Memories:
  [20:39]
  Adana: "We had a cottage, my husband and I. A small, plain thing, white, with a garden bed at the front... They took me with them. They wanted me alive as a breeder... I think it was my thirst for revenge."

• Crichton's Transformation:
  [24:57]
  Adana: "What happened then?"

  Crichton's Revelation:
  [24:59]
  Crichton: "I awoke later... they ripped my ruined body apart, limb from limb, and replaced it with this. Mechanical monstrosity... The mites, as it turns out, eat through everything, skin and bone, flesh and, yes, even metal."

• Hope and Vengeance:
  [27:14]
  Adana: "Once your body is whole again and you are strong, once your legs can sustain you for the journey, you will return. And you will make them pay, brother."

Insights

This emotional exchange between Crichton and Adana provides profound insight into the personal costs of survival in The Strata's world. Crichton’s transformation into a mechanical entity symbolizes the loss of humanity amidst relentless oppression, while Adana’s unwavering support and shared pain highlight the strength found in brotherhood. Their dialogue explores themes of revenge, loss, and the enduring hope for redemption and reclamation of their past lives.

---

Conclusion

Episode 11.7 - "Sanctuary - Part 7" of The Strata adeptly intertwines multiple narratives, each enriching the overarching storyline. Sienna and Pal's investigation into the Prism drug and their connection to Valdis Mansion unveils layers of societal corruption, while Olga and Tessa’s exploration of decaying infrastructures emphasizes the environmental decay of their world. Meanwhile, Cheevon and Adana’s deeply personal story provides emotional depth, illustrating the human cost of their dystopian reality.

Notable Quotes:

• Pal on PRISM’s Danger:
  [04:35]
  Pal: "PRISM isn't some happy and cuddly drug. That's just good, clean fun. It's a nasty piece of work and has some rare but incredibly bad side effects."

• Crichton on Transformation:
  [24:59]
  Crichton: "They ripped my ruined body apart, limb from limb, and replaced it with this. Mechanical monstrosity."

• Adana’s Promise:
  [27:14]
  Adana: "Once your body is whole again and you are strong... you will make them pay, brother."

This episode poignantly captures the essence of survival, the quest for truth, and the enduring bonds that sustain individuals in a fractured society. As the characters inch closer to their goals, the intricate web of alliances, betrayals, and hidden agendas continues to unfold, promising even more gripping developments in the episodes to come.

Transcript

[Narrator]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Podcast Host]

You're listening to the Strata A Beyond the dark production season 11 Sanctuary part 7.

[Sienna]

Sienna. What took you?

[Pal]

Sorry, pal. I've been juggling a lot of stuff here at home.

[Sienna]

You sure you didn't kick back and take a nap?

[Pal]

Of course not. I've been busting my ass over here.

[Sienna]

If you say so.

[Pal]

How are things with you?

[Sienna]

Me? Oh, just fine. My brain is turning to mush while I keep driving around and around in circles. But you said that's what you wanted.

[Pal]

I know it's boring. But you're doing a valuable job for me out there, trust me.

[Sienna]

So can I stop yet? There's only so many times I can see the same damn houses slide past over and over again. If this keeps up, I'm going to go nuts.

[Pal]

I'm checking the data again now. I think we almost got it.

[Sienna]

You really think this is going to work?

[Pal]

Of course. The detector you've got with you in the van is working just like I intended. It's picking up the signals from the power core from a much greater distance now.

[Sienna]

So why the hell do you keep telling me to do more laps?

[Pal]

Every time you complete another lap around Valdis mansion, the detector sends me more data points. And any minute now, I'm going to have enough to pinpoint the exact location of that core. We're that close.

[Sienna]

I'm pretty sure the cops are going to turn up asking questions before long. Surely one of these rich assholes must have noticed this big ugly van cruising past over and over again.

[Pal]

Just tell the cops you're house hunting.

[Sienna]

Oh, yeah, this is exactly my kind of neighborhood. I'm sure I'd fit right in with this billionaire art dealer crowd.

[Pal]

A few more minutes, that's all I'm asking.

[Sienna]

Don't sweat it. It's all good.

[Pal]

Hey, while we're waiting, there's a couple of other things we need to talk about. For a start, we need to talk about those capsules again.

[Sienna]

The ones from the bathroom at that club in Highgate City, right?

[Pal]

Yeah, the ones I showed you right before that Hargaves guy got creamed. You said the drug that comes in those capsules is called Prism, right?

[Sienna]

You got it. I'm surprised you never heard of it. Before now.

[Pal]

Honestly, I've never seen those capsules in my life.

[Sienna]

Well, I guess that makes sense. Prism is a high end drug, bought and sold exclusively in Highgate City. It's too pricey for Midtown and Darkerton, that's for sure.

[Pal]

So how do you know about it?

[Sienna]

I know people in Highgate City and I hear it mentioned from time to time.

[Pal]

Is there anything else you can tell me? I need details.

[Sienna]

It's a recreational drug. Makes you feel all happy and spaced out and cuddly, like you don't have a care in the world. Or at least that's what I've heard.

[Pal]

Never tried it yourself?

[Sienna]

When was the last time you saw me all happy and cuddly?

[Pal]

See, yeah, good point.

[Sienna]

Even if I was into that shit, there's no way I could pay for it. But anyway. Where are we going with this?

[Pal]

The guy who tried to kill us, Hargraves. It looks as though he was a dealer. He was selling Prism capsules at that fancy club. Glitter.

[Sienna]

Yeah, so what?

[Pal]

Well, as it turns out, I've been doing a little more research on this PRISM stuff. Digging pretty deep, actually. And I think there's a lot you don't know about.

[Sienna]

Why would I give a shit about PRISM in the first place? It's not relevant.

[Pal]

I think it is. See, there's a big cover up going on with this drug. Has been for years.

[Sienna]

A cover up? Wait a second. This is starting to sound like one of your conspiracy theories again.

[Pal]

I verified this information from as many sources as possible. I may not have all the facts. 100 correct, but I think I'm pretty close.

[Sienna]

All right, hit me.

[Pal]

Okay, so the first thing you have to know is that PRISM isn't some happy and cuddly drug. That's just good, clean fun. It's a nasty piece of work and has some rare but incredibly bad side effects.

[Sienna]

Such as?

[Pal]

The drug has some hallucinogenic properties that can really mess people up. I read that it can cause psychotic episodes that result in extreme violence and sometimes murder.

[Sienna]

What? I never heard of it.

[Pal]

No one has. Because the truth has been concealed.

[Sienna]

By who?

[Pal]

The cops? Who else? See, they don't want anyone knowing that there's a drug problem in Highgate City. They want everyone to think their life is perfect and there's nothing to worry about. So the incidents involving PRISM are swept under the rug. Usually the victims are portrayed as having a history of mental illness or labeled as psychopaths. Anything to avoid a link to the drug.

[Sienna]

Is this for real?

[Pal]

Confirmed it on the grid in Multiple places. Like I said, I had to dig pretty deep to get it, but it's there.

[Sienna]

Okay, let's say PRISM does what you say it does. How is that relevant to us?

[Pal]

That's where things get interesting. I've been cranking up the grid searches on all sort of things, including our friend Hargraves, and guess what?

[Sienna]

What?

[Pal]

Here. I'm sending you a wire snap I found. It's a little grainy, but you should be able to see what's going on just fine.

[Sienna]

Okay, I got it. Looks like a party in Highgate City or something. Bunch of snobs and fancy clothes.

[Pal]

See anyone you know?

[Sienna]

Is that Valdis?

[Pal]

None other. Picture was taken at one of Valdis's art auctions about three months ago. Now take a look behind him and to the left. What do you see?

[Sienna]

It's Hargraves.

[Tessa]

Sure is.

[Sienna]

What's he doing there?

[Pal]

Hargraves was working security for Valdis. I found evidence that they were together at a whole bunch of events stretching back at least a couple of years. This is it. This is the connection we were looking for.

[Sienna]

So you think Valdis sent his enforcer to come kill us? Why?

[Pal]

Maybe it has something to do with prism. Like? I don't know. Could it have been a side hustle for Valdez?

[Sienna]

Who knows?

[Pal]

Yeah, well, whatever the connection is, I'll find it. Just give me some more time and I'll figure it out.

[Sienna]

What's that? Alert.

[Pal]

Oh, we've done it. The data set is finally complete. I've got a lock on the exact location of the power core.

[Sienna]

Well, don't keep me in suspense. Where is it?

[Pal]

Sending it through to you now.

[Sienna]

Okay, I see it, but I'm not sure I can make sense of it. This location looks like it's way down below the ground.

[Pal]

Yeah, that's what I'm seeing, too.

[Sienna]

Did someone bury the damn thing under a landfill?

[Pal]

Here, let me overlay the original design specs from Valdis mansion. There, take a look.

[Sienna]

So Valdis had a basement installed. That's pretty clear. But the location you sent for the core is way down. Too low to be in the basement. Could this paracord be in the sewer or something?

[Pal]

The sewer doesn't run through there. Not even close. But there is a tunnel for the Highgate City glider rail service. It goes right through that area.

[Sienna]

Well, I can guarantee you it's not sitting in the Glide Rail tunnel. That thing runs non stop. Thousands of commuters pass through every day. Someone would have noticed.

[Pal]

Maybe there's a connection to the glider rail.

[Sienna]

Look. See? You've done some good work. Really? All this is great, but you're starting to clutch at straws here. Foul this. Hargraves prism. The glide rail. I don't see how it fits.

[Pal]

Yeah, I guess. But at least we know where the core is at now. That gives us something to go on.

[Sienna]

It's a step in the right direction. Sure.

[Pal]

Hey, why don't you come on home? You must be due for a rest.

[Sienna]

You don't have to ask twice. I'm on my way.

[Pal]

Oh, and one other thing. Could you by any chance stop on your way and grab me a Crash Burger? I don't think too well on an empty stomach. And one of those babies sure would hit the spot right about now.

[Sienna]

Consider it done. One Crash Burger coming right up. See you soon.

[Olga]

All right, Tessa, this is it. After the next bulkhead, the air is going to be considerably worse. So it's about time we get these air tanks ready. You remember what to do?

[Tessa]

Yeah, sure. Just give me a minute to fasten it here.

[Olga]

That looks good. Pull that strap a little tighter. There you go.

[Pal]

Okay.

[Tessa]

I think I'm good.

[Olga]

These masks are equipped with short range comms. So we'll be able to keep in contact the whole time. Just make sure you don't wander too far away.

[Tessa]

I'll try not to turn that valve.

[Olga]

Yeah, that's it. Keep an eye on the gauge. Like I said, we should be good for half an hour or so. So just remember to regulate your breathing. Nice and steady. And keep your scan light on. It's darker than the belly of a grinder worm in there.

[Tessa]

Got it.

[Olga]

Follow me. Over this way. See this big ass door? We need to use the manual crank to open this thing. Give me a hand, will ya?

[Tessa]

Yeah. Ready?

[Olga]

That's it.

[Tessa]

Nice.

[Olga]

So these are the lower levels. It's been a while since I've been here, but I doubt much has changed.

[Tessa]

What brought you down here in the first place?

[Olga]

Same thing as everyone else, I guess. Searching for buried treasure. I heard the stories and I suppose I was curious. I had to know for myself if there were really any valuables down here. Turns out no such luck.

[Tessa]

How far did you venture?

[Olga]

I took five or maybe six trips in total, exploring a different section each time. Eventually I figured out there was nothing here though, so I gave up.

[Tessa]

So there are still sections that maybe no one has explored?

[Olga]

Trust me, T, this place is empty. It's dead.

[Tessa]

Well, hopefully there's still one thing left in here, Right?

[Olga]

The core. Do you know how to Find it?

[Tessa]

Yeah. Keep going. This way.

[Olga]

So is the layout here much like that vault of yours?

[Tessa]

Similar. Yeah. I can see a lot of the same design principles, even if the layout is switched around.

[Olga]

Wonder what it was like down here back when things were humming.

[Tessa]

Would have been a sight.

[Olga]

I'm sure the living quarters were over that way. As far as I can tell. If we. Hey, watch your set.

[Tessa]

What is it?

[Olga]

Point your scum light over there.

[Tessa]

Another treasure hunter, huh?

[Olga]

Looks like it. Never seen that one before.

[Tessa]

How long do you think he's been here?

[Olga]

Judging by the decay, maybe a year. That's what happens when you don't bring a mask.

[Tessa]

How many like him are down here, do you think?

[Olga]

Hard to say for sure. And anyway, they don't last long.

[Tessa]

What do you mean by that?

[Olga]

The air is corrosive down here. See the stains all over the walls? It eats away at metal and flesh alike. Anyone who dies down here, well, over time, they end up as nothing more than piles of goo. And eventually, even that melts away.

[Tessa]

Yeah. Makes sense. I thought I could hear something before. It's metal fatigue.

[Olga]

Metal fatigue?

[Tessa]

I'd say that whatever this gas is, it's eating away at the very walls in here. One day in the not too distant future, this whole structure is going to implode and fall in on itself. Most likely.

[Olga]

Well, as long as it doesn't happen today.

[Tessa]

Come on, let's stay focused. The core shouldn't be too far. Okay, this is it. See that hatch in the floor? If we go through there, we should be able to make our way down to the core room.

[Olga]

How are we gonna squeeze the coal through that tiny little hatch?

[Tessa]

No need. Down below, there's a release mechanism that opens up this whole section of floor to allow for the core to be extracted.

[Olga]

Okay. Do you want to go down first?

[Tessa]

It's pretty cramped down there, so why don't you just stay up here? This shouldn't take too long.

[Olga]

It's your call.

[Tessa]

Give me some light over here and I'll get started. Come on.

[Olga]

Problem?

[Tessa]

It's just seized up a little over the years. Let me get some leverage here, Ant.

[Olga]

Ah. You got it?

[Tessa]

Yeah. Okay, I'm gonna start down the ladder.

[Olga]

Watch your step.

[Tessa]

I'm at the bottom.

[Olga]

How's it looking down there?

[Tessa]

Well, there's still a core here. No one's taking it.

[Olga]

Well, that's the start.

[Tessa]

It looks, I don't know, a little different somehow.

[Olga]

Ah, shit. Did we come all this way just to find a core that doesn't match.

[Tessa]

What you need no, it's not that. The model looks correct, but there's a weird stain all over it. It. Damn it.

[Olga]

What's the matter?

[Tessa]

This chamber is supposed to be sealed, but it looks like the corrosion might have gotten in here too.

[Olga]

Doesn't sound good.

[Tessa]

Let me get my tools and I'll run some diagnostics. That's the best way to tell what we're dealing with here.

[Olga]

Sure we still have time?

[Tessa]

I'm not getting anything at all through this management port. Let me try the backup controller module. Edison. Okay, I see a response this time. Data's coming through, but it's really slow. And?

[Olga]

What is it?

[Tessa]

The total capacity is showing at less than 1%. That's bad.

[Olga]

Do we have to wait for it to cycle up or anything like that?

[Tessa]

No, that's not the way these things are designed. Hang on, I have more diagnostics coming through. Yeah, here we go. There are warnings for broken conduits all over the place.

[Olga]

What does that mean?

[Tessa]

As far as I can tell, the interior of this core is riddled with decay. It's shut.

[Olga]

Is there anything we can do?

[Tessa]

I don't think so. Once those conduits are gone, that's it. You have to replace the whole core.

[Olga]

So this device is pretty much like the one you have back in the vault. A lost cause.

[Tessa]

Oh, this one is considerably worse than the one we've got back home. God damn it.

[Olga]

I can't say I'm completely surprised. With all the toxic chemicals floating around down here, there was bound to be an effect on the equipment. The corrosive air must have been eaten away at the core for years now.

[Tessa]

Yeah, I guess you're right.

[Olga]

But this trip wasn't a total waste.

[Tessa]

At least you know for sure you.

[Olga]

Can strike the dome off your list.

[Tessa]

Thank you for this, Olga. My apologies for wasting your time.

[Olga]

It's fine. I'm happy to help. Sorry you didn't find what you wanted, T. Yeah? What now?

[Tessa]

Well, first we get the hell out of this oversized tomb. Then I guess I'm going to have to come up with a new plan.

[Crichton]

How far away is the dome? Are we close?

[Adana]

Still a couple of hours to go, as best I can tell.

[Crichton]

Can this thing go any faster?

[Adana]

Patience, Crichton. Once the weather brightens, we'll make better time.

[Crichton]

Just our luck. The skies turned dark at the worst possible time. Not only that, but we managed to steal the slowest crawler in the entire wasteland.

[Adana]

We waited years for this moment, brother. A few more hours won't hurt.

[Crichton]

I know. But we're so close. If only we. I'm sorry, Adana. Sometimes I wonder why you've kept your patience with me all these years.

[Adana]

You know why I keep telling you.

[Crichton]

You should have cut loose from me a long time ago. You squandered what little time you have left. And for what?

[Adana]

You dragged me out of the darkness, Crichton. You carried me bloodied and broken, and fought your way through insurmountable odds so that we could both find freedom. I would be nothing without you. For that reason. And so many others. You know I can never leave the darkness.

[Crichton]

I still dream about it. Do you?

[Adana]

Always. But dreams or not, it can't hurt us anymore.

[Crichton]

I suppose not.

[Adana]

Its hold over us is broken. Now we are the ones who control the darkness. We'll never be slaves to it again.

[Crichton]

Is there a part of you that's still afraid of it?

[Adana]

We should talk about something else.

[Crichton]

What do you have in mind?

[Adana]

Anything.

[Crichton]

Maybe we should talk about before.

[Adana]

Not that.

[Crichton]

Why not?

[Adana]

I told you, I would never talk about before. My life only began after we left the mines. Everything that came earlier is.

[Crichton]

As. What?

[Adana]

We were remade down there in the darkness, Crichton. Both in our own ways. We came out different people. It doesn't matter who we were before that. Part of us died long ago.

[Crichton]

I want to know why. Because soon there will be nothing left of you but memory. Sedana. And the more you give me me, the longer I'll be able to keep you in my thoughts.

[Adana]

No, I.

[Crichton]

Just tell me about one moment, one event. That's all I ask.

[Adana]

Are you sure about this?

[Crichton]

Yes.

[Adana]

All right, I'll tell you. Go ahead and choose something you'd like to know.

[Crichton]

What was your home like before you were sent to the mines?

[Adana]

We had a cottage, my husband and I. A small, plain thing, white, with a garden bed at the front. It was situated on a hill that overlooked a beautiful valley. And in the spring, tiny pink flowers would bloom in the fields around us. We worked the land and traded goods at a village nearby. It was a simple life, but we were happy.

[Crichton]

Was he a good man?

[Adana]

He was.

[Crichton]

What happened to him?

[Adana]

They. They came for us in the night. Dragged us out of our bed and torched the cottage. Forced us to watch as it burned to the ground. Our crops, too, were set alight. My husband. They cut him down right there in the garden. They left him there for the flames. For me. They took me with them. They wanted me alive as a breeder. But once they discovered I was barren, they were furious. As if I'd intentionally brought disgrace upon them. They lashed me and sent me to the mines as punishment. Most of the slavers, they. They didn't think I'd last. They kept taunting me and telling me how the shadow mites would make sure work of me. But something kept me going all those nights, longer than anyone gave me credit for. I think it was my thirst for revenge. I wanted to get back at them somehow.

[Crichton]

In the end, I made them suffer for both of us.

[Adana]

Yes, you did. There. I've done as you asked.

[Crichton]

Thank you, Adana. I won't forget it.

[Adana]

And what about you?

[Crichton]

Me?

[Adana]

Or don't you have something to tell? Choose a memory and share it with me.

[Crichton]

Choose. There's no need. I have only one memory. The years of my childhood and youth are a blank slate. However, there is a single event that sticks in my mind from before. I was remade. I had been thrown into the mines like you, forced to work deep, deep down. There were others with me, but I don't remember their names, not even their faces. I only know that one of them was careless with his carving tool, swinging it against the wall and sending dirt flying with reckless abandon. With one of his strikes, he managed to gouge a chunk of amber hidden in the soil. It sparked and spat fire, drenching him in flame. The sudden cascade of light roused the shadow mites from their slumber, whipped them into a frenzy unlike anything I'd seen before. They jumped from man to man, gouging through flesh like it was tissue paper. And the screams. Such agony. I tried to run, but they caught me. There was no escape. The shadow mites blasted through me, a thousand ribbons of fire amid the torment. I could only manage a single coherent thought. That this was the end. And that I would finally be a slave no longer.

[Adana]

What happened then?

[Crichton]

I awoke later, I don't know how long, and to my chagrin, found that I was very much still alive. But I was utterly changed. The slavers had collected my body from the deep and taken me to one of their facilities, the ones where they torture and experiment on slaves. And there they did the unthinkable. They ripped my ruined body apart, limb from limb, and replaced it with this. Mechanical monstrosity. I was meant to be the first, the prototype for their new breed of worker. The steel was supposed to make me impervious to the shadow mites, but all their efforts were in vain. The mites, as it turns out, eat through everything, skin and bone, flesh and, yes, even metal. Their experiment failed, but they sent me back down there anyway. And I was condemned to live. Once more as a slave, knowing that death would eventually come for me a second time. And until it did, I would be forced to wander the darkness in a body that was slowly and painfully falling apart.

[Adana]

No one deserves such a fate, brother.

[Crichton]

No. I wouldn't wish it upon my most hated enemy.

[Adana]

Don't you have memories of anything else? Any happier times?

[Crichton]

No. I've only ever known ruin. That's the life I've been forced to endure.

[Adana]

The ones who did this to you deserved their punishment. A good thing you were able to take your revenge.

[Crichton]

I took revenge on some, yes. But most of those slavers still walk the Western Reaches to this day. Happy, Content with their lot.

[Adana]

Once your body is whole again and you are strong, once your legs can sustain you for the journey, you will return. And you will make them pay, brother. You'll drive them out and reclaim our home for you, me, and all of our countrymen who have suffered at their hands.

[Crichton]

Home? Yes. One day, Adana. I only wish that you could be there with me when it happens.

[Adana]

Maybe I'll live long enough to see it, brother. The shadow mites have left me with many wounds, but they haven't managed to kill me yet.

[Crichton]

No, they haven't.

[Adana]

Ha. Look at that. The sky is opening. Clear weather ahead. We should make good time. After all.

[Crichton]

Maybe things are finally turning in our favor.

[Adana]

Have faith and stay the course. In the end, we will get what we came for. You'll be made strong and whole again. I promise you that, brother. With all my heart.

[Olga]

Foreign.

[Podcast Host]

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 11 Sanctuary Emma Shurzhako Jason Jury Michelle Mosley Brian Jeffts Peter Wicks Paul Warren, Chloe Elmore Corey Kohler Rebecca Tamlin, Jimmy Yamaguchi, Max Hertzfeld, Eric Wilmot and Philip Krienhoff Created by Mark R. Healy A Beyond the Dark production.

[Narrator]

The Fable and Folly Network where fiction producers flourish.

[Olga]

What's this all about?

[Pal]

What about nightmares?

[Adana]

You promised you might have loved it. They can't tear out your soul anymore.

[Pal]

Stupid.

[Unknown Character]

The Rot Ominous Thrill A full cast anthology of horror thrillers and suspense.

[Narrator]

I've done horrible things.

[Olga]

Tell them what you did.

[Adana]

I didn't do anything.

[Unknown Character]

To me no character driven tales of obsession.

[Sienna]

I'm no psych.

[Adana]

I'm no sight.

[Olga]

Banging on my door and streaming it on the Internet.

[Unknown Character]

Revenge.

[Adana]

Don't mind if I sit here and.

[Pal]

Watch lights go out, do you?

[Unknown Character]

The unexplained.

[Adana]

So lazy out here.

[Narrator]

We can't help her.

[Adana]

I have a doctor.

[Tessa]

We're leaving.

[Podcast Host]

I need the light.

[Pal]

You want me to fall down the stairs? No.

[Adana]

I want to push you. I love you so much.

[Unknown Character]

Ominous thrill. Available now on Spotify, Apple, Apple, Podcasts, Amazon Music and everywhere. Thrill you later.