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Narrator
Today's episode is supported by the Folium Diary, an intriguing new audio drama set in the Pacific Northwest. The show follows the host Sherry as she gives her impressions of a new program called the Folium and what is the Folium? In short, it's a collective of people from many different disciplines that is planned to, quote, synthesize planetary biometry, creating an experience beyond artificial intelligence and bring the benefits of the Earth's collective wisdom to everyone, everywhere, all the time. There's a little bit of everything in this show. Mystery, humor, drama, and a touch of romance as well. I listened to the Folium Diary and found it to be an intriguing show with a great setup. There's a really interesting format being used here. The show releases a new episode every single day and each release is short and to the point, just a few minutes each. It's a fun and interesting spin on audio fiction and I'm looking forward to checking in every day to hear the latest page in the Folium Diary. The the Folium Diary is available anywhere you listen to podcasts and@thefoliumdiary.buzzsprout.com Our thanks to the Folium Diary for their support.
Davina
If we knew more about our sleep, what would we do differently?
Detective Kavanagh
Would we go to bed at a.
Davina
Consistent time or take steps to reduce interruptions to our sleep? With the all new Sleep Score, Apple Watch measures your bedtime consistency, interruptions and sleep duration. Then every morning it combines these factors into an easy to understand score from 1 to 1100 so you'll know how to take the quality of your sleep from good to excellent. Introducing the new Sleep Score ON Apple Watch iPhone 11 or later required this.
Rust
Episode is brought to you by Amazon Prime. Black Friday Game day on prime is an epic day of live sports. It all starts at 9am Eastern with the Capital One skins game. Then Black Friday football returns when the Bears take on the Eagles at 3pm and it culminates with the final night of Emirates NBA Cub group play with Bucks Knicks at 7pm and Mavs Lakers at 10pm Black Friday game Day only on Prime.
Narrator
You're listening to the Strata a Beyond the dark production season 13 downfall part 2.
Davina
Hey Rust, you made it.
Rust
Hey Davina. Sorry I'm late. I was on the other side of Darkon and got caught up in some traffic.
Davina
It's all good. Sit down. Take a load off. So the streets are still a mess out there, huh?
Rust
Yeah, this rain is causing havoc. Some of my usual routes were flooded and I had to double Back once or twice, but anyway, I'm here now.
Davina
Thanks for coming over to see me. I hope it wasn't too much trouble.
Rust
Trouble? A bit of traffic and a few puddles on the street. Come on, it's me you're talking to, Davina.
Davina
Trust me, it'll be worth your while. This place is the best. You're going to love it. And as it turns out, you arrived at the perfect time. Our meals should be coming up any second.
Rust
Meals? Oh, you went ahead and ordered some food.
Davina
Don't worry, it's on me. My shout.
Rust
That's nice of you, Davina, but you really didn't have to do that.
Davina
It's fine. Don't worry about it. Anyway, tell me about this thing you got mixed up in with Strickland. I mean, you said you ended up out in the Deadlands again.
Rust
Oh, that thing with Summers. Yeah, the whole ordeal was pretty crazy. It's a long story, but the gist of it is that Summers and me tracked down another one of Strickland's biomod facilities. It was south of the Strata, on the coast.
Davina
Another island? Was it like the place out of Ripshore?
Rust
It was similar in some ways. Just as secluded as Rip Shore, I guess, being out in the middle of nowhere. But the layout of this one was different. They set everything up in an old bunker system that had been built into the side of a cliff.
Davina
And they were experimenting on people?
Rust
Yeah, same old story. Seems like these get a kick out of that.
Davina
Was Argento there? Did you see her?
Rust
No, she wasn't there, but the place had her stink all over it. It was definitely her handiwork.
Davina
So you shut it down, right?
Rust
In a manner of speaking. There was an explosion that leveled the place, sent it crumbling into the ocean. Luckily, we managed to get the captives out in time before it pancaked. After that, Summers and me helped organize transports for the survivors to get back to their camps and shelters out in the Deadlands. There were a few we helped return to the Strata too.
Davina
You know, you're a good man, Rust. I'm. I'm really proud of you.
Rust
Nah, this was. Well, it was Summer's gig. I was just along for the ride.
Davina
I don't believe that for a second. I bet she couldn't have done it without you.
Rust
Anyway, it's all done with now. Another one of Strickland's facilities wiped off the map. That's all that counts.
Davina
Oh, I'll bet Argento is pissed. Damn, I wish I could have seen her face when she found out it'll.
Rust
Be a gut punch, no doubt about that. Hopefully it sets her program back a few steps, but I imagine she's busy figuring out a way to make up lost ground even as we speak.
Davina
So what's the next step? Is there any way you can keep the pressure on her?
Rust
Like I said, Summers is in charge of this stuff. She's the one driving it, and right now she's working her ass off to keep things moving. We managed to infiltrate Strickland's data store at the facility and make an extraction, but there's some high level encryption on the data. She needs to find someone who has the ability to crack it.
Davina
Any idea who that someone might be? Could Sienna do it?
Rust
Nah, not Sienna. Not with this. She's got some decent skills when it comes to grid stuff, but this is next level. Summers has been talking to a couple of grid crawlers. I think. It's not really my field of expertise, and. Hey, this looks like our order.
Davina
Oh, yes. This is it. I just put it right here. Thanks.
Rust
So, a couple of Crash Burgers, huh? You went with the classics.
Davina
Hey, I know it doesn't look like anything special, but there's this secret sauce they use here that you just can't get anywhere else. And the way they prepare the buns is. Rust. Is something the matter?
Rust
No, no, it's. It's nothing. They. They look great.
Davina
You don't like Crash Burgers?
Rust
Everyone loves Crash Burgers, right?
Davina
So why are you. Oh, my God. Rust, I'm so sorry. You can't eat this, can you?
Rust
Well, the thing is, Davina, I'm not good with shallots. With the way my digestive system works, it can be, you know, tricky.
Davina
Of course. How could I have been so stupid? You have to ingest everything through that valve in your neck. Why didn't I think of that?
Rust
Yeah, you got it. That's pretty much the way it works. Sorry.
Davina
No, no, not at all. This is totally my fault. I just got carried away with the whole Crash Burger thing and thought it would be fun to. Damn it. I'm such an idiot.
Rust
I've got to say, they do look great. Mouth watering.
Davina
Actually, can we order something else? Something that might be a bit more suitable?
Rust
If they've got a blender around here, I could whip mine up and eat it like a paste.
Davina
Come on. You can't experience a Crash Burger like that.
Rust
How about I shred it with my fingers? If I mush it up a little bit, it might fit through the valve.
Davina
No, Rust, it's okay. Let's just Forget about it. We can eat something else.
Rust
You can't let a couple of perfectly good crash burgers go to waste.
Davina
Like I said, maybe there's something else on the menu that would be a little more palatable. Let me see if. What's the matter? What are you looking at?
Rust
Sorry. It's nothing. Just those guys sitting over in that booth by the window. They've been staring for a while now. At first I wasn't sure if I was just imagining things, but now I'm sure they're looking right at me.
Davina
What friends of yours? Do you recognize them?
Rust
No. I've never seen them in my life.
Davina
So does that mean there's a. A problem?
Rust
It's probably nothing. Maybe they're just waiting to see me make a mess with this crash burger. I've got to admit, most people would find that pretty amusing.
Davina
Look, let's just get out of here, Rust, okay? I'll get these crash burgers to go, and then we can just go and find somewhere else to.
Rust
It's okay, Divina. We can stay.
Davina
No, really. Let's go someplace else where we can just relax. Okay?
Rust
Sure. Whatever you want. The vein's just outside if you want to lift.
Davina
That sounds great. Thanks. Rust.
Rust
I'm really sorry about this whole thing, Divina. I know you wanted to have some fun tonight, and, well, I feel like I screwed everything up.
Davina
What? What do you have to be sorry about? This wasn't your screw up. It was mine.
Rust
I know I'm not the easiest person to hang out with. In fact, I can be a downright pain most of the time. I don't always fit in, you know, with all these little idiosyncrasies of mine.
Davina
Are you kidding? I love all those idiosyncrasies, Rust. That's what makes you so special.
Rust
Even so, it would be nice to sit down and eat a crash burger once in a while, wouldn't it?
Davina
Well, I have a blender back at my place. Maybe you'd like to drop in and we can give it a spin.
Dreyfus
Hey. Hey, you. We need to talk.
Rust
So you finally decided to make a move, huh?
Dreyfus
What do you mean, make a move?
Rust
I saw you watching me inside the diner. What's the deal?
Dreyfus
Nothing serious. We just wanted to have a brief discussion.
Rust
A discussion? Is that right? Sorry, but that's not exactly the vibe I'm getting from you and your goons.
Dreyfus
Let's get out of the rain, Rust. What do you say?
Rust
Who the hell are you guys?
Dreyfus
My name is Dreyfus, but I wouldn't Expect that to mean much to you? I'm nobody important. And this isn't about me.
Rust
So who or what is it about?
Dreyfus
We have a car waiting over there. If you'd like to step inside. We can get to know each other a little better. I'll explain everything.
Rust
How about we cut to the chase? What do you want?
Dreyfus
Like I said, we just want to talk.
Rust
Not interested.
Dreyfus
Well, this isn't really negotiable. There's someone who wants to see you. And it's my job to make sure you get in that close car. Simple as that.
Rust
So who wants to see me? What's the name?
Dreyfus
Forget about them. Right now. You're dealing with me. And I don't like being told no.
Rust
Well, that's too bad. I'm leaving.
Dreyfus
We can do this the hard way, Rust. If that's what you want.
Davina
Rust. We're kind of outnumbered here. Badly outnumbered.
Rust
Just get behind me, Divina. I'll take care of this.
Dreyfus
Last chance, Rust. What's it gonna be?
Rust
You want me to get in that car? How about you make me?
Dreyfus
Alright, so be it. Spread out. Get on the other side of him. Remember, our guy doesn't want to scratch on him. Not a mark. We have to do this clean of.
Rust
Hey, Jup. Asshole.
Narrator
Look out.
Davina
Rust, behind you. Got him with my zapper.
Rust
Nice work, Davina.
Davina
Are you okay?
Rust
Yeah. I think that's all of them.
Dreyfus
Fall back. All of you. Let's go.
Rust
Hey, I haven't finished with you yet, asshole. Who the hell are you working for?
Davina
Not so tough now, huh? Oh, it looks like they're not so interested in talking anymore, huh? Should we go after them?
Rust
Nah, forget it. Not tonight. They'll keep. Hey, Dreyfus, a word of advice. Tell your boss to hire some goons who can handle their shit next time.
Davina
This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast. Smart move being financially savvy.
Jade
Smart move.
Davina
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Detective Kavanagh
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Rust
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Davina
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Jade
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Davina
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Detective Kavanagh
Okay, Jade, we made it. We're here. Take a load off while I get a few things together. All right?
Jade
Thank you, Detective.
Detective Kavanagh
How are you feeling? Still a bit lightheaded.
Jade
I am. I'm feeling better than I was, that's for sure. Got some feeling back in my legs at least.
Detective Kavanagh
Well, the good news is we seem to have lost those feelings. Friends of yours? The guy with green eyes and his three accomplices? Things could be worse.
Jade
Yeah, that's good news. That it was a close one.
Detective Kavanagh
A good thing we were able to slip down that side alley unnoticed. I didn't see any sign of him whole way back here, so I think we're in the clear.
Jade
What is this place?
Detective Kavanagh
Your apartment sure is not exactly luxurious, I have to admit. But it's safe, and that's all that matters right now.
Jade
What are you looking for over there?
Detective Kavanagh
Just a couple of gadgets, medical tools I had lying around. Where the hell are they?
Rust
Ah.
Detective Kavanagh
Okay, here they are. Let's take a look.
Jade
What are you doing? What is that?
Detective Kavanagh
Hey, relax, Jade. I'm just giving you a once over to make sure your vitals are okay. Hold still a minute, will you?
Jade
So what does it say? Am I gonna be all right?
Detective Kavanagh
Well, I'm no medic or anything, but to my untrained eye, it looks like you're in the clear for now. Vital signs are green. You're a little dehydrated, though. I'll get you something to drink.
Jade
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Detective Kavanagh
So are you gonna tell me what this is all about? Who are you really?
Jade
Well, my name is Jade, I think.
Detective Kavanagh
And you already told me that you got something else. A name alone doesn't give me a lot to go on. How about you give me something a little more substantial so I can fill in a few of the blanks?
Jade
Like what? If there's something you want to know, just ask and I'll try my best to answer.
Detective Kavanagh
Here, take this and have a drink. Now, let's hear it. Where'd you come from? Do you remember what happened earlier tonight before I found you in the alley?
Jade
I am. I'm not exactly sure.
Detective Kavanagh
Well, you must have some idea of how you ended up there behind that dumpster.
Jade
I'm sorry, but nothing's coming to me.
Detective Kavanagh
What do you mean, nothing's coming to you? Think, Jade. How'd you get there?
Jade
My memory, it's. It's all fuzzy. I. I can't figure out what's going on.
Detective Kavanagh
Really? Seems you know plenty.
Jade
What? How do you figure that?
Detective Kavanagh
Well, for example, when you were lying in that alley, you knew the guys in the van were coming. So that means you must know who they are.
Jade
I've never seen them before in my life.
Detective Kavanagh
Yeah, right. Somehow I find that hard to believe.
Jade
Believe what you want, but it's the truth.
Detective Kavanagh
Well, at the very least, you must have known that they were looking for you, right? You knew all those details about the van, right down to the color. And that guy with the green eyes. You knew about him. How do you explain that?
Jade
I. I saw visions in my head. Right there, while I was talking to you in the alley. And I knew those guys were trouble.
Detective Kavanagh
You saw visions in your head? Come on, Jade. You're gonna have to do better than that.
Jade
No, really. That's exactly what happened.
Detective Kavanagh
So how does that work? Are you a mind reader or something?
Jade
I honestly don't know.
Detective Kavanagh
And how do you know about me? About my girl Annie? More visions in your head?
Jade
Annie.
Detective Kavanagh
You said her name in the alley.
Jade
Oh, it must have been another vision.
Detective Kavanagh
Cut the shit, Jade. I'm not an idiot. I know this is a setup. You picked me as a mark, didn't you? You were waiting for me in that alley.
Jade
No, they. That's not true.
Detective Kavanagh
You ran some background checks, found my details on the grid. That much is clear. What I want to know is why. What's your angle? Who sent you? And what do they want from me?
Jade
Detective Cavanagh, I'm telling you the truth. I can't remember a thing about myself, who I am, or why I was in that alley.
Detective Kavanagh
You expect me to believe that you know all this shit about me and the guys in the van, but you can't even tell me what you had for breakfast this morning?
Jade
Believe me, I'm as frustrated as you are. I want to know what's going on. I really do. But for some reason, when I think about it, all I see is just a bunch of stuff that doesn't make sense. Like that girl Annie, sitting on that stool over there eating pancakes.
Detective Kavanagh
Whoa. What did you say?
Jade
Annie? The one you said was your little girl.
Detective Kavanagh
How could you know about that? That she used to sit there when I Made pancakes for her. And it. There can't be more than one or two people in the whole damn strata who knew that?
Jade
Like I said, I just. I just know.
Detective Kavanagh
Yeah, okay. Two can play at this game. Let's do a little background research on you, huh? How about that? Jade, hold still while I scan your face.
Jade
Yes, please do that. I want to know just as much as you do.
Detective Kavanagh
Okay? Let's find out who you really are. What the hell?
Jade
What is it?
Detective Kavanagh
Nothing.
Rust
I'm.
Detective Kavanagh
I'm getting a weird error here. Search prohibited.
Jade
What does that mean?
Detective Kavanagh
That's a damn good question. I do these kinds of searches all the time. When a citizen's ID record has been wiped off the grid, it comes back with no record found. But this is something I've never seen before, not in all my years. It's like the search is being blocked somehow.
Jade
Oh, shit.
Detective Kavanagh
Jade, what's the matter?
Jade
I just got more visions in my head, and. And there's a voice.
Detective Kavanagh
What voice?
Rust
Oh.
Jade
Do you know someone named Angela Graham?
Detective Kavanagh
Angela Graham? Yeah, she. She works for the pd. She's my captain, as it turns out.
Jade
She's. She's about to call you. She's looking for me.
Detective Kavanagh
Captain Graham wants you. What the hell for?
Jade
She's working for them. The men in the van.
Detective Kavanagh
What? Come on, Jade, this is ridiculous.
Jade
Please, Detective, you can't tell her about me. You can't tell her that I'm here.
Detective Kavanagh
Oh, just calm down. You're safe here. And by now, I'll bet Captain Graham is tucked away safe and sounded bad. She definitely won't be.
Davina
I told you.
Detective Kavanagh
What the hell?
Jade
Please, Detective, don't mention my name. Don't mention anything about me.
Detective Kavanagh
Just. Just hang on a second. Yeah, this is Kavanaugh.
Captain Graham
Kavanaugh. Sorry to call you at such a late hour. Do you have a minute to talk?
Detective Kavanagh
Captain Graham? What's going on? Is something up?
Captain Graham
Just a minor situation, Detective. I got a call from Brass about an incident earlier tonight, and I'm hoping you can help me out.
Detective Kavanagh
Incident? What incident?
Captain Graham
Apparently, there's a wanted fugitive on the loose in Midtown. Female, early 20s. She was last seen on surveillance not far from Overton's bar.
Detective Kavanagh
Oh, really?
Captain Graham
What she wanted for, that's above your pay grade, Cav. And mine, as it turns out. Brass wants her taken into custody. That's all I know.
Detective Kavanagh
All right. And how can I help?
Captain Graham
I checked surveillance logs for any units that might have been in the area at the time, and your name came up.
Detective Kavanagh
That sounds about right. I was at Overton's bar earlier. I was having a quiet drink for my birthday.
Captain Graham
Oh, yes, of course, your birthday. Sorry I couldn't make it.
Detective Kavanagh
Actually, I don't remember inviting you in the first place.
Captain Graham
No, I guess that would explain it. Anyway, since you were in the area, I thought I'd check to see if you might be able to help. Well, did you see anything? I'm sending you a composite of the girl they're looking for. Take a look.
Detective Kavanagh
No, can't say I've seen her.
Captain Graham
Take a good look, Kavanagh. There were a lot of surveillance blackouts in the area tonight, so we're going to have to rely on eyewitnesses.
Detective Kavanagh
I said I haven't seen her, Captain. Now, is there anything else I can help you with? I'm beat. And if it's all the same to you, I'd like to get some chalet.
Captain Graham
No, of course. I'll let you get some sleep. See you at the station house tomorrow.
Detective Kavanagh
Yeah, see you there, Captain.
Jade
Thank you, Detective. I know it's a risk for you to lie to your boss like that, but I. I really appreciate it.
Detective Kavanagh
Don't thank me yet, kid. I still don't trust you.
Jade
You don't? Then why did you just cover for me?
Detective Kavanagh
Because Graham's an asshole. And because I want to figure this mess out myself. Now she's involved, One way or another, this whole thing is gonna turn into a shit show.
Jade
Okay, so what's next?
Detective Kavanagh
Pull up a chair here, Jade. I've got a few more questions for you. And believe me when I say it's in your best interest to start telling me the truth.
Narrator
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 of 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 Turoi, Brianna Marshall, Trent Trachtenberg, Michelle Mosley, Paul Warren, Jenna Sharp, Chloe Elmore, Rebecca Tamman, Marta Da Silva, Sarah Safarian, Larry o', Blander, Thomas Barker, Marlon Dance, Huey Liz Mori, Kyle Kacmazic, Nicholas Ewan, Brad Gilliam and Alexander Hakim Stravinsky. Created by Mark R. Healy A Beyond the Dark production.
Davina
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Detective Kavanagh
Not half the service.
Davina
Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means half day. Yeah. Give it a try at Mintmobile.
Rust
Com.
Davina
Switch upfront payment of $45 for three months. Plan equivalent to $15 per month. Required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow. 135 gigabytes of network busy. Taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.
Rust
Com.
Host: Mark R. Healy
Release Date: November 25, 2025
Downfall – Part 2 continues the story in the gritty, dystopian cityscape of The Strata. An ageing and physically compromised courier named Rust, entangled with underworld kingpin Strickland to finance his life-preserving medical treatments, must deal with dangerous consequences. This episode explores themes of trust, survival, identity, and the costs of defiance against oppressive powers. As Rust and his allies try to disrupt Strickland’s sinister operations, new threats emerge—including enigmatic foes and mysterious anomalies of memory and technology.
Setting: Rust arrives late to a rendezvous with Davina at a diner, explaining he was delayed by severe rain and flooding.
Debriefing: Davina presses Rust for details on his dangerous run-ins with Strickland’s network.
Ongoing Mission: Data was extracted from the facility but remains highly encrypted; Summers is searching for a skilled grid crawler to help.
Personal Moments:
Tension Building:
Rust Refuses:
Aftermath:
Safe House:
Mystery Deepens:
Technological Anomaly:
Premonitions:
Interrogation via Phone:
Decision Under Pressure:
Unstable Alliance:
Rust on Survival:
Crushing the Enemy:
Davina Defends Rust:
Tension with Dreyfus:
Tech Intrusion:
Supernatural Intuition:
Downfall – Part 2 thrusts its characters onto diverging but perilous paths:
The city’s underworld is shifting—and alliances, identities, and old certainties are under threat.