Episode 73
Episode 73 - The Fragile State
With bolstered ranks, the team sets off to interview the survivor of their enemy's hidden machinations.
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Transcript
Hello?
Speaker B:What time is it?
Speaker C:Who is it?
Speaker A:I don't know.
Speaker D:Situation green.
Speaker C:Mind your minder.
Speaker E:Sorry, love, I have to take this.
Speaker B:Rocky mountain outlook Castlegard tragedy 5 still missing presumed Lost Canmore I actually don't know what AB is.
Speaker C:You are Canadian and you don't know what AB is? Alberta.
Speaker B:Oh boy. Okay. Canmore, Alberta.
In a devastating turn of events, a team of experienced explorers approved by Parks Canada to venture into the depths of Castlegard Cave have been struck by tragedy, with most members of the expedition losing their lives in the treacherous underground labyrinth.
The ill fated journey, which initially began with high hopes and meticulous planning, took a tragic turn as the team encountered unforeseen challenges within the cave's sprawling network of passages and chambers.
Despite their expertise and preparation, the explorers found themselves disoriented and unable to find their way back to safety after unexpected rising waters cut off a return passage. Parks Canada officials who had granted approval for the expedition expressed profound sadness and regret over the loss of life.
We are deeply saddened by this tragic outcome and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the explorers involved, stated a spokesperson for Parks Canada. Our priority now is to provide support to the survivors and to assist in any way possible with recovery efforts.
Efforts to locate and rescue the missing explorers were hampered by the complex and hazardous conditions within Castleguard Cave, including narrow passageways, steep drops and unpredictable terrain.
Despite exhaustive search and rescue operations conducted by Parks Canada personnel and specialized teams, the remains of the missing explorers were deemed irrecoverable, leaving their fate shrouded in mystery within the depths of the cave.
Among the survivors of the tragic ordeal are three individuals who managed to navigate their way back to the cave entrance and raise the alarm, prompting a swift response from the rescue teams.
Their harrowing accounts of survival shed light on the perilous conditions faced by the expedition members and serve as a reminder of the inherent risks associated with cave exploration.
As the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy continues, questions arise about the safety protocols and precautions taken by the expedition team.
Park officials vow to conduct a thorough review of the incident to identify any lessons learned and to enhance safety measures for future cave explorations.
The loss of life in Castleguard Cave serves as a sobering reminder of the unforgiving nature of the natural world and the importance of vigilance, preparedness and respect for the inherent risks involved in exploring remote and hazardous environments.
Speaker C:Thank you and a couple of pictures there. Some rescuers around the cave mouth and some rescue choppers going through some highly. An area With a high population of glaciers and ice. Cool.
Thank you again. You also noticed that there's quite a bit about this. This isn't the only newspaper article. This was a highly publicized tragedy. Snedger returns.
Okay, you two. I have you a flight Alberta asap. Braden's your key here. I need you to get to him before he's gone, too. Something's wrong.
Now, Canada's crew isn't really fond of us, of our organization. So you'll have to meet with Elizabeth McKenzie at a DoubleTree Hotel. I'll get you all of that when you're in the air.
It's gonna be about two hours post landing. She's gonna vet you. Don't. Don't. Bitch. He tries to stop anybody from saying anything. Neither of you really showed any intention to do so. Just do it.
She'll handle things across the northern border if she likes you. So you might need her. You're Elliot Shanks and family. I'll get you the rest of the information again when you're in the air. Now.
Can't bring any heavy stuff on the plane. This is commercial rules. I had to move quick, so. He glances at the artifact on the table. Still, that thing's smart. Customs won't care, but I do.
Questions. Ask now or call from the air. We're on the clock.
Speaker B:Do you happen to have any other information on this Castleguard cave? Perhaps the mountain range, the terrain around it?
Speaker C:That's all going to be awesome. That you're going to need to peruse in the air. They have WI fi on the flight.
Speaker A:We're also gonna need an update to an. To our armaments. I'm tired of coming into this war zone unprepared. I'll send you a list.
Speaker C:He purses his lips. I'm hoping you impress mackenzie up there and she can assist once you're across the border. But you can call me if things. Things fall out with her.
But please, please play nice. He's gonna now roll. One second. No. Fair enough. You might want to reach out to your. To your folks, too. They might be able to help. Flight's in an hour.
Anything else?
Speaker B:I have nothing at this time.
Speaker C:He nods. Felix, I'm ready. Okay. Touch base with me when you're. When you've touched down. Otherwise, be seeing you. He nods towards the door.
Speaker A:I grab a couple of fast food tacos and then I walk out.
Speaker C:Yep. Snedegar follows you out and you're back in the blaring sun of Tijuana.
He quickly lets Caracas and Lopez know that they're on airport duty yet again, heading right back to the Tijuana airport. If they're upset, they don't really show it. They already look tired. They really say nothing in response to this new directive, Dr.
Vega, your eyebrow might raise hearing about this back and forth. Snedegar does turn directly to you, though. Dr.
Snedeker, we're gonna need you for a few days as your expertise is, I've been told, some of the best, bar none.
Speaker F:A couple of days, okay?
Speaker C:At least. We're sending you up to Alberta, Canada, within the hour. He checks his wristwatch.
Speaker F:Canada?
Speaker C:Yep.
Speaker F:I mean, as long as the fee works out. I am. I am here to serve my friends.
Speaker C:Any firearms you're carrying with you, we don't have time to get registered. And across both borders. You probably need to leave him here with me. Unless he turns to Felix and Forrest.
Unless folks across the water can pull some strings. I'll let you work that out among yourselves.
Speaker B:I think I can help with that.
Speaker C:He nods. That'd be great.
Speaker F:If it's okay, I won't take any chances. And Dr. Vega pulls his pistol out and offers it to Snedeker.
Speaker C:Snedeker takes it with a practiced practice grasp. Excellent. Okay, all three of you be careful, and I'll be seeing you. Get on that plane. Find out what happened to Dr. Braden.
You can see real worry in his eyes as you all pile back into the vehicle and head straight back to the airport. When Caracas and Lopez drop you back off, they help you with your minimal amount of baggage.
Otherwise, don't say much unless you say something to them.
Speaker B:Forest is going to. She's going to look over at Karakas and Lopez and say, sorry, just let's not die. Okay?
Speaker C:Lopez purses her lips, kind of looks away. Karakas meets your gaze. Be seeing you, he says. Nos bemos. You three have to really struggle to make your flight.
You've only got about 40 minutes, but if you want to make a call to Horatio or to one of the Pegasus handlers, you might be able to. Might be a little bit rushed, but it is something you can do.
Speaker A:Yeah, I'm good. I've talked to the people that I trust.
Speaker C:Got it.
Speaker F:I'm gonna have Dr. Vega do something while he's on the plane, so I just didn't want you to skip over that part. Yeah.
Speaker C:Okay, cool. And Forest, if you want to, like, call Tennis McIntyre and see if he can help you, that's totally fine as well.
Speaker B:Yeah, no, I do want to do that, but Also, but also, real quick sneak. You're giving us this name, Mackenzie, who was. Did he say who she works for? With like.
Speaker C:He didn't. He said our northern neighbors. So assuming Canada don't get along with our organization.
Speaker B:Okay, yeah, I think I want to call McIntyre just to see if he can help get any information on her so we get a better idea of what we're dealing with. So we can schmooze her when we're there.
Speaker C:Sure. Let me roll for that. Oops. That is a critical failure. Unfortunately, it goes straight to his voicemail service. He does not answer.
Speaker B:I will try when we land.
Speaker C:Fair enough.
Speaker B:Again, that is. Try again. Yeah.
Speaker A:Mm.
Speaker C:Mm. Okay, y' all are wheels up. Dr. Vega, what are you up to?
Speaker F:So after Dr. Vega settles into his seat and orders a drink, he takes out his iPad and pays for the Internet, the WI FI connection.
And he is going to do a bit of googling and he's gonna look at Dr. Braden in Alberta, Canada, and spend some time seeing if anything comes up for him. Just curious.
Speaker C:Oh yeah, plenty. Plenty will come up for you. I'll get to that in just a sec. One other thing, Felix.
I am sorry to say that you're getting buzzed from an unknown number on the plane.
Speaker A:I'll pick it up.
Speaker C:Familiar voice is on the other end.
Speaker D:Felix, my dear Felix. This is Karen speaking. It has been an unconscionably long interval since your last communique. Several days, no less. I trust you are not indisposed.
Do provide me with an update of your current situation.
Speaker A:Um, well, we're on our way to Canada. We got a lead on a possible location where the. The bugs are interested in.
Speaker D:So pray tell me dear, what secrets did you unearth in the land south of the the border?
Speaker A:Well, we discovered some sort of cave formation, but it might have been a crash site.
Speaker C:Hmm.
Speaker D:Crash site? Is this one of their infernal contraptions? Perhaps. Are you able to determine if this is a recent occurrence?
Speaker A:Oh, no, long time ago.
Speaker D:Hmm, I see.
Speaker A:And we found guy with the bug in his head, but he was. He was already half dead. Seemed like there was some creature there, big long tree looking thing that was controlling the village and.
And torturing this. This guy when we got there. And then I think it self self imploded or something and we just high tailed. But we did get a lead.
Speaker D:So the extraterrestrial has met its demise, has it?
Speaker A:I sure hope so. We didn't stick around to find out.
Speaker D:I must say that this is most disconcerting. It Appears they have successfully infiltrated the American continent.
And according to the intelligence provided by your Snedigar, also prompted this fleeting alliance with his so called program. They have also breached our defenses. Precisely as we dreaded.
Speaker A:Yeah, I mean, it does seem that there's a lot of these bugs around these days.
Speaker D:So there are others you say? This lead you speak of, it suggests a deeper infestation, does it not?
Speaker A:I mean, I don't know. This is what we're trying to find out.
Speaker D:And precisely where, may I ask, are you bound for?
Speaker A:I'm not 100% sure.
Speaker D:I can plainly discern that you are on board an airplane.
Speaker A:Yeah, I'm head heading to Canada. I mean, I don't know what airport we're landing at. What airport are we landing at?
Speaker B:Alberta.
Speaker A:Alberta.
Speaker D:I've instructed one of the chaps in the laboratory to retrieve the particulars of your flight as we speak.
Speaker A:Right. Yeah. I'm. I'm tired. I don't. It's been through hail. I'm sorry if I'm. I'm being short.
Speaker D:I must assist you and indeed I wish to do so. I see that you are due to land in six and a half hours. Splendid. I shall arrange for an operative to meet you upon arrival.
Tell me, is Snedigar accompanying you?
Speaker A:No.
Speaker D:I dare say he has a contact you are set to rendezvous with in Canada. I presume they belong to a comparable organization. Are you privy to that contact's name? Or perhaps their call sign?
Speaker A:We're supposed to meet with Elizabeth McKenzie. She. She's gonna vet us, I guess, and then we might have access to this miss.
Speaker D:Oh, Liz MacKenzie.
Speaker A:You know MacKenzie.
Speaker D:Yes, I am well acquainted with Liz Mackenzie. It is in fact rather comforting to know she has some affiliation with Snedigar's associates. Or perhaps even the man himself.
I shall notify Smiley at once. He will be utterly delighted to learn of this development.
Speaker A:Yeah, supposedly she's got a. A tip on a. There was a missing operative that came back all squirrely, just like our last friend. And. And they went to explore this cave.
So there's some survivors from the expedition that we want to interview.
Speaker D:Understood. I shall authorize another field deployment immediately.
This should prove advantageous in the pursuit of a target whose facilities may have, shall we say, absconded and perhaps wandered into rather murky waters. That said, a demonstration will be required. Felix.
I shall arrange for one of Holmes operatives to furnish you with the requisite intelligence in person. And Felix, might I inquire, would additional manpower be of use? Perhaps? To fortify your ranks a touch.
Speaker A:Yeah, that. That we definitely need.
Speaker D:I can certainly arrange that. This Snedegar chap isn't the only one capable of orchestrating a last minute flight to Edmonton, you know.
Speaker C:You realize that she has, at this point, pulled all of your flight details.
Speaker D:We shall have an operative awaiting your arrival in the admiral lounge at Edmonton International once you've landed. Thereafter, I trust you'll attend your meeting with MacKenzie, prove your worth, and then kindly report back to me.
Speaker A:Felix, you'll hear from me.
Speaker D:Proceed with your investigation with utmost diligence and do not concede even the slightest ground chains up.
Speaker A:I let the group know that we'll be meeting another operative. Just so not. It's not like. Oh, who's this?
Speaker C:Hello, Governor. Yeah, I get you. So your plane climbs to cruising altitude. It's a comfortable aeromexico flight. You all have adjoining seats in business class.
And with intrusive phone calls behind you, the events of the last week start to settle in your minds. Felix and Forest, it's time for sanity, penalties and rewards. Huzzah. Huzzah.
Speaker A:Huzzah.
Speaker C:So the survivors you freed, the villagers from Ishiotl's enslavement.
Whether you understand that as characters or not, when you were leaving Ysenpl, the villagers were no longer in the throes of madness, but wandering around in a haze, slowly rediscovering themselves. The terrible grip that the creature had over them. Perhaps for hundreds of years and generations.
Not hundreds of generations, but several generations, that grip released the moment that you destroyed, or at least precipitated the destruction of El Pinon. So both of you gain 1d4 sanity. Roll that for me.
Speaker A:Woo. A mighty one.
Speaker C:Mm.
Speaker B:I got two.
Speaker C:All right, two. And that's it. That's all. But no penalties. You got a lot of penalties during that scene, though, that's for sure.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah.
Speaker C:All right, great job, y' all. Got a little. Got a little extra sanity.
So what that means, narratively, is that all the hell that you went through, you do feel like some good came of it. You do feel like maybe those villagers have a chance to live their own lives. Does that make sense?
Speaker A:Absolutely.
Speaker B:Yeah, definitely.
Speaker C:Okay, so upon landing at Edmonton International Airport, you three make your way to the Admiral's Lounge. Dr. Vega, you're intrigued. Another new recruit is about to join this motley crew.
The Admiral's Lounge is dimly lit and seems to be a very upscale area. And although none of you have club passes, you are escorted there by airport security as if they're expecting you in Aladdin's side.
It has plush leather chairs arranged in clusters for privacy, walls adorned with oil paintings of non confrontational art. The carpet is a deep cerulean and there are large windows that offer a view of the very busy airport tarmac.
Now, as you wait for your contact who doesn't seem to be here, at least no one's giving you the tell tale special secret handshakes or hand signals. You're welcome to take advantage of the lounge's restrooms and shower facilities. They're here for just this purpose.
Busy passengers who don't have a chance perhaps to visit a hotel room. Is that something you would like to avail yourselves of?
Speaker B:Yes?
Speaker A:Yeah, I'd like to take a shower.
Speaker B:Just don't look in the mirror, please.
Speaker A:I won't. I remember you looked in the mirror.
Speaker C:Whoopsies. So yeah, you guys wash off the layers of grime collected from jungle treks over the last few days and feel much better, more refreshed.
I'll let you get a 1D4 willpower back for a lovely experience that you have been missing. She's been roughing it through the highlands of Oaxaca.
Speaker A:Another powerful one.
Speaker C:Yeah, you're knocking those ones out of the park.
Speaker B:I got a three.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker B:Got a five out of ten willpower right now.
Speaker C:You're also welcome to order anything off the a la carte menu at what is a beautiful wood paneled full bar if you're hungry.
Speaker F:When Vegas sees them walk up, he looks over, sips on a martini and says, well, who are these two? And what happened to the two vagabonds that were on the plane with me? Looking better already. I'm good, but I'm not that good.
Speaker A:What kind of doctor are you?
Speaker F:The kind that you clearly need, apparently.
Speaker A:Well, the kind that I need would have a nice couch that I can sit in and tell me all about how everything's gonna be okay.
Speaker F:My friend, I am not that kind of doctor. But if you get shot, let me.
Speaker A:Know, you'll hear from me.
Speaker B:Well, we'll discuss that. We're not gonna get shot. I mean. Oh shit. Is there any wood around? Can I knock on wood?
Speaker C:There's a wood paneled bar that I mentioned.
Speaker B:Anyways, I'm gonna order a steak, rare, assuming that's on the menu.
Speaker C:Nice. Yeah, why not? Filet mignon.
Speaker B:Wow, that's the best kind of. Make it a 12 ounce dang.
Speaker E:A Philip Mignon.
Speaker A:That's right.
Speaker C:Yeah. I apologize that I am such a poor pronouncer. Minutes turn into an hour as you three watch carefully for any sign of this contact.
And you know that there is a meeting with Liz Mackenzie in just another hour at a Doubletree Inn nearby. Snedgar sent you the details for that.
Speaker B:And just before we move forward real quick too, Forest wanted to call McIntyre just to discuss MacKenzie with him.
Speaker C:Got it. Yeah, let's do that call real quick. We have to roll for that again. Sorry. One second. Another exact same critical failure. He is not available. Damn it.
Speaker B:Well, I'm going to throw my phone down on the bar because I'm a little bit ticked off. Yeah, or a lot. TikTok.
Speaker C:Yeah, that sucks. I'm sorry. Didn't expect that to happen again. Pretty awful.
Speaker B:Carry on.
Speaker C:Okay. Finally a short, real thin man in a fine pressed white dress shirt. He steps out of the elevator.
He wears plastic rim glasses perched on the end of a crooked nose and a well worn tweed jacket draped over his slender frame.
The angular features of his face make it difficult to ascertain his age, but upon the elevator door sliding open, he almost immediately locks eyes with you three and he strides straight towards you. But before, before he speaks, I'm going to do the same thing that we did with Dr. Vega.
This is Bertrand, and we're going to visit Bertrand Some hours ago. There are three figures facing one another in a dimly lit room.
The room's walls are slick with damp faded blue frog wallpaper peeling like dead skin under a lone bulb spitting erratic light. Traffic rumbles outside, a dull roar through cracked glass. A tiny aged figure in a whirring electric wheelchair fixes a withering glare on two men.
One is hunched in a stained jumper, his oversized spectacles glinting. Then there's Bertrand, rail thin in a black turtleneck, bristling with defiance. On a rickety table nearby is a leather hatbox.
It hums faintly, filling the air with an uneasy buzzing. Its straps are taut, as if something inside wants out. The woman's voice is like cracked porcelain, cuts through the air.
Speaker G:How gracious of you to deign to appear, Bertrand. Summoning me to this ghastly hovel is hardly my notion of an outing. My chair finds these deplorable streets quite intolerable.
Speaker E:You see, Bertrand sneers. I beg pardon, Governor. Been a right palaver getting here.
Three months sniffing round Severn's lot, worming into their good books, and now you've yanked me off for what? Another errand for the bloody Yanks.
Speaker G:Circumstances evolve, my dear boy, and I will not indulge your petulant clamor. For a treatise on the matter. You're bound for America on a flight within the hour. Our delightful transatlantic brethren mislaid an asset in Mexico.
Bungled it spectacularly, I'm afraid. You will deliver the Wellesley 43 and remain as liaison until they are less dreadfully adrift.
Speaker E:Bertrand's face sours as he adjusts his glasses. Smashing problem. Knees up with the septic tanks. What's the catch? Mopping their brows or spoon feeding their spooks?
I'd sooner ram this cursed gizmo up the shand's backside and call it a day.
Speaker C:Right there, the man who hasn't spoken yet. Holmes. Another older gentleman, hunched over, his back crooked. He nervously laughs and fidgets. Not so easy, mate.
Them over there, they've proper bollocks it. Alien gubbins, hyper whatsit. And now we're on the back foot stateside. They need help. One of the three Hobjecs. He gestures over to the hatbox.
You're the only Burke who's worked it without going full on. Dooley.
Speaker E:Not Dooley. Tell that. The bloody shrieks rattling in my skull at night. You're all off your tits, sending me to fetch, carry this abomination. What's next?
Tea and biscuits with Nylafotep?
Speaker C:With the mention of that name, the bulb above sputters, casts jagged shadows across the room temporarily. Horatio's chair whirrs as she leans forward. Her eyes are gray.
Speaker G:Bertrand, you are not here to bleat about it. Pegasus needs boots on their ground. Only two of ours left over there are worth a damn, and I will not see them sink.
Snedegar's pulling strings and we can't break up this alliance just yet. Do grow up, Bertrand, and stop being so damn dramatic.
Speaker E:Bertrand leans in defiantly. What am I running the rabble that's left?
Speaker C:The hunched over man stammers. He glances at Horatio briefly. Uh, Mum, that. That is a good point. After the shambles, are we taking the wheel?
Speaker G:No, not outright. But do keep them on a leash. And please do check in with me more often. I fret for them, especially Felix and Bertrand.
If he asks after his brother, you know nothing. Are we clear?
Speaker E:Clear as gin, Mum. Secrets are my stock in trade. Right. I'm off picking up the pieces as per bloody usual.
Speaker C:Bertrand snatches the hatbox off the table, the muffled hum inside spiking briefly like a trapped scream. The room holds its breath and the sea stalks out into the Thames fog. We're now in a cramped, turbulent Red Eye flight to Edmonton.
Bertrand slumps in a middle seat with the hatbox wedged under his legs, a plastic cup of gin in hand. The cabin is dark save for the flicker of a muted safety video. His glasses glint as he mutters to himself.
Speaker E:Nine hours of this cack, Turbulence, screaming brats and bloody artifact that'll make Lovecraft wet himself. Cheers, Pegasus. You absolute wankers.
Speaker C:Bertrand holds up his glass to no one in particular and then and taps the hatbox, grimacing. The Wellesley 43 inside continues to hum faintly. It's inaudible to others, but he feels it.
It's a pulse that dredges up memories, a suspect's mind flayed open, eyes melting, his own skull throbbing for weeks after.
Speaker E:Eclipse resonate on my ass. Should have called it Nightmare mill. Two uses and I'm still seeing that pulsar's brain leak out of his ears. Hope the Yanks choke on it.
Speaker C:A flight attendant passes and Bertrand forces a thin smile masking his dread. He's a soldier, not a mystic, plain courier. It's most certainly not his style. And we return to the present day.
Upon landing at Edmonton International Airport, Bertrand makes his way to the Admiral's lounge, striding through customs as if unnoticed by security. And when the elevator doors open, he sees them.
They're sticking out like sore thumbs, staring in his direction, making it obvious that they're waiting for someone.
And there's no one else but businessmen and women speaking in hushed whispers, whispers relaxing with tall drinks who don't even start up when the elevator opens. Bertrand leaves the elevator, walks straight over to them right away.
Speaker E:Alright, I'm Bertrand. Don't reckon we've met, but I've got your number, haven't I? Flight was a bloody nightmare, so let's skip the pleasantries. Me Moozin the shitter.
Tell Holmes and Horatio I was a proper gent though. Yeah, Reviews are looming and I'd owe ya.
He sets a hatbox down, unbuckling it with a grimace, revealing the Wellesley 43, a toy like device with a blue helmet. Yeah, holmes says you're already clued up on field tech, so no safety lecture from me. This little gem's the Wellesley 43 Eclipse resonator.
The lab tossers back home who think they're in a sci fi flick. Slap on the helmet, thumb the symbols here. He gestures to some symbols that are engraved on the side of the gun.
Point it at some poor sod's head, you'll see what's in there. Everything. Probably can't vouch for the bugger's survival though. Fries him Every time. He leans back, smirking faintly. Side effects?
Gives you the creeps. For years I've used it twice. Still dream of melting faces, but it does the job. So have at it. Questions?
Speaker F:Vega downs his drink, sits down the bar, looks over and says, Bertrand, I'm Dr. Vega and I have no fucking idea what you're talking about.
Speaker E:Oh, and before you say another word, I'll be tagging along with you. Sorry, solids for. For the bloody foreseeable. Not my call, mind. I ain't the top brass. So you're lumbered with me and I'm lumbered with you lot.
It's easy to reckon me your minder after that almighty cock up in Mexico. Well, fair enough. Never gets you through the night. I'm just here to stop the whole sodding show from going tits up again.
Speaker A:Well, you seem to be a very, very nice feller.
Speaker C:Alright, can somebody besides my wife making me jealous describe what this guy looks like?
Speaker F:Well, I'd say his chin, his jawline is not quite as sharp as Dr. Vega's. Skin's not quite as smooth as Dr. Vega's. And his hair is not quite. Quite as full as Dr. Vega's. Otherwise similar.
Speaker B:But you still might want to put your fingers through his hair, that's how.
Speaker A:Yeah, it definitely is.
Speaker C:Yeah, it's full.
Speaker A:It's full for sure.
Speaker C:Lustrous.
Speaker A:Kind of looks like a skinny Clark Kent.
Speaker C:Yeah, that's pretty good. Skinny Clark Kent. I like that.
Well, the device that he's put in front of you in quick, rapid fire fashion has given you a ambiguous lowdown of how to use. Looks like his strange shimmering blue visor. Like that a maybe a poker dealer would wear.
And there's a silvery metallic rod that has some very basic symbols etched into the side of it. Now, previously, Eric described it as a gun. It's more of.
It's more of a strange kind of fragile looking rod with these crude etchings or symbols on it. And so what he has just described to you is confusing. Most likely. Obviously Dr. Vega is confused. You're welcome to ask this gentleman questions.
Now, he's also indicated that he's going to be tagging along, which I think Felix did warn you about. So. Yeah, please.
Speaker A:Well, I figure since you've already used it, you probably should hold on to it.
Speaker E:That's not for me to decide. Isn't it?
Speaker A:Well then who's it to decide?
Speaker E:I've been told to bring it to you. And here it is.
Speaker C:He sort of edges it closer towards you on the table when he says.
Speaker A:That I edge it back with like my little fingers.
Speaker E:Turnabout's fair play. But as I said, I'm to bring this to you. And I'm your minder.
Speaker B:Our minder? What does that mean?
Speaker A:He's our babysitter.
Speaker B:Listen, you're going along with us on everything we do. You're going to have to be prepared as well.
We appreciate that you've got some things to help us out and I guarantee if you have anything else, we're gonna need it. But in the meantime, maybe you should hang on to that. By the way, you can call me Forest.
Speaker A:I'm Felix.
Speaker F:And my friends. I feel like this is a good time for me to use the bathroom. I will let you all sort out whatever this pissing match is. I'll be right back.
Speaker A:Enjoy your pissing match.
Speaker F:I always win. I don't know why I said that.
Speaker A:Sa.
Speaker C:So, after a fairly, I don't know, peaked tense introduction to this Pegasus operative, Bertrand, who is a self professed minder for you, you all decide, pursed lips, checking your watches, checking the clock to quickly move to meet Liz Mackenzie, your north of the border contact, according to Snedger, your main gateway to be allowed to operate here in Canada before you can interview Aleister Braden. The Doubletree Inn that you're supposed to find her at is airport contingent, so it's not far away this time.
You are the ones who have kept someone waiting. When you walk into the Hubble Hotel's lobby, you do spot your contact and she spots you.
She's a tall woman with sharp features and she's sitting on one of the ugly pastel couches there. Her impatient gray eyes are scanning the large glass entry doors as you walk through them. She looks like she's about 50.
Her hair's neatly styled, salt and pepper, and even from here she exudes a confidence and authority. She rises, she strides over, dressed in a sleek black jacket over a white dress shirt and slacks.
Speaker E:Well, she looks icy as fuck.
Speaker C:She walks over to you. Yeah, there's no doubt about it. You gotta be the ones I'm meeting. You're just as I pictured.
Let's mosey on over to a quieter spot away from all this hubbub, huh? She motions toward one of the more tucked away couch abominations in the lobby.
Speaker A:Real quick.
I know that the topic of structure and form of our group was brought up before as something important, but was that something established as like a team leader and all that stuff? Like I just know that it was like a thing that we it Got brought up. I would hate for us to, like, kind of lose that.
Speaker C:It certainly hasn't happened on air yet. Although, again, in the last scene, Bertrand did assert himself as your new minder, so that may be your new. Your new hierarchy.
No one really challenged him on that yet.
Speaker F:If I remember correctly, when they started talking, Dr. Vega left to go to the bathroom because it seemed like they were getting into sensitive material. So does he?
Speaker C:Does he.
Speaker F:How much of that. I don't remember how much of that conversation I actually. My character actually heard.
Speaker C:He came back and there was pushing this artifact back and forth to one another and arguing about who was going to take possession of it.
Speaker F:They're having a tiff.
Speaker C:Okay, Yeah, a little bit of a tiff. And Dr. Vega made a funny quip. And then we closed down that. That scene completely. So that's what he knows. All right, we can definitely flesh that out.
Probably not here because we gotta meet this lady, but if y' all want to have like a really passive aggressive conversation with her as you try to assert dominance over one another, that could be pretty funny.
Speaker A:Oh, I'm pissing.
Speaker C:I know.
Speaker E:Thank God.
Speaker C:Okay, you all sit down facing one another. This circular divan like structure. I'm Elizabeth Mackenzie. The folks around here call me Liz.
Our buddy in common already gave me the lowdown on who you are. She leans back a bit, trying to get comfortable. Really an impossibility with how these things are upholstered and structured. Very cheap, I would say.
So he talks y' all into joining up with his crew, huh? I gotta say, it's no small thing to pull in a group like this. Especially you. You watch as her icy gray eyes flicker over in Forest's direction.
She gestures lightly with her left hand. Yeah, I can tell. You've got a real sharp eye for things, don't ya? Her tell of someone with that kind of gift, making waves up the chain. Oh, geez.
A real whiz at spotting what's what. Makes me think you're no stranger to the tricky stuff, huh? She seems to be talking directly to you, Forest.
Speaker B:I'm sorry, do we know each other?
Speaker C:Oh, I wouldn't say that, but I know of you. She smiles.
Speaker A:Striker. Is that too much? Is that too. Never mind.
Speaker C:As that kind of hangs in the air, she gets a little sterner. The looseness there dissipates. Anyhow, we've had our differences with his bosses, but he is a decent sort.
Funny thing is, my higher ups seem to get along just fine with your crowd. Seems like you lot across the pond are the go to when things get hairy. So pleasure's all mine to meet you.
She pauses for a moment, her eyes moving from face to face, lingering as if waiting for something.
Speaker A:Pleasure's ours. We're just here to do the work.
Speaker C:What should I call you then?
Speaker A:I'm Felix.
Speaker C:She nods curtly.
Speaker E:You can call me Birchland.
Speaker F:Governor Elizabeth, Liz. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Dr. Vega. She smiles, flashes a big old grin.
Speaker C:And what are you going by? She looks at Forest last.
Speaker B:Well, you already know I'm Forest. And I've seen you before too, I think. Just not here. Not like this.
Speaker C:Oh, best we catch up after all this is done and through then, don't you think?
Speaker B:I'm good with that?
Speaker C:Well, then, let's cut to the chase. Why are we heading to the loony bin?
Speaker A:Well, we're. We're out here to do an investigation on this gentleman. Alistair Braden came out of some odd cave, his friends didn't, and he came out all scrambled.
We're finally see where it takes us.
Speaker C:She nods. She pauses for a moment before she says anything, letting her eyes flicker over the entire group. Well, seems straightforward, she finally says.
So I'll need to tell you how things go up here. I will be with you every step of the way while you're on this side of the border.
But this little friendly inconvenience does come with whatever resources I have at my disposal. Which are fairly considerable, if I do say so myself. So I suppose I should drive you out to Alberta Hospital, Edmonton immediately then.
You don't look like the type who want to take in the sights first. She smiles widely.
Speaker E:If you don't mind, Mom.
Speaker C:That is, if you don't have any questions for me.
Speaker A:Only thing in mind, ma' am, is we didn't really clear customs with all our gear. Hoping that your agency can supply some sidearms.
Speaker C:Oh, that won't be a problem at all. Is there something you prefer? I'm.
Speaker A:I'm good. But maybe some of my compadres here.
Speaker B:I just wanted to go back to the part where you said friendly inconvenience. Just a bit of a contradiction, isn't it? What's the inconvenience for you?
Speaker C:Oh, there's a lot of contradictions up here, but we'll just call this some red tape that we can't cut just. Just yet. Not until we see you through whatever you're looking for up here.
Speaker F:Well, if it's not too much trouble. Oh my God, I just sound like.
Speaker A:British Sorry, Eric, too many accents I lost. Okay, I'm getting all scrambled.
Speaker F:If it's not too much trouble, a SIG Sauer P365. Preferred weapon for me.
Speaker C:Okay, I'll take it down. We'll see what we can dig up for you, Dr. Vega.
Speaker F:Thank you, Liz.
Speaker C:Ah, yeah, you betcha.
Speaker E:I got everything I need. Think I'll be fine.
Speaker C:She nods, her eyes glittering.
Speaker B:Weapons training. They all need trained. We all need. We all need a chance on the range before we go into whatever we're going through.
We've got to work on some things, some teamwork.
Speaker C:Well, if you want to sharpen your skills, I can arrange for that as well. But chances are. Well, at least from the missive that I received. You want to speak with the good doctor as soon as possible.
Speaker F:That would be ideal.
Speaker B:All right.
Speaker A:We may be in a limited time frame.
Speaker C:She nods. She goes ahead and rises and guides you out of the doubletree towards a nearby parking garage.
She helps you squeeze into a Jeep Grand Cherokee and begins taking you in the direction of the hospital. The drive takes you across well maintained highways. These are surrounded by vast expanses of pristine white snow.
The skies today are crisp, icy blue and the sun is casting a scintillating shimmer across the spreading crystals that are clinging to every man made surface that passes you by. You can see the urban areas bustling with activity despite the cold.
You all feel woefully underdressed for the frigid, frigid air of an Albertan winter. And you watch, shivering a bit despite the heat pouring from the Jeep's vents.
You watch snowplows work tirelessly outside to clear parts of the roads where nearby pedestrians are bundled up in warm winter gear, going about their day as if it's just another. Liz chatters as you drive. She seems unwilling to let silence last for too long. You folks ever been to Alberta before? It's quite the place, I tell ya.
You got your big skies, you got your open fields, and of course plenty of snow this time of year. Makes for some mighty pretty scenery if you ask me.
Speaker F:It is very beautiful here, but no, I have not been to Canada before.
Speaker C:She glances up in the rearview mirror, smile lines crinkling around her eyes. Well, about this hospital we're heading to. Been around for ages. It has got quite the history, if you can believe it.
Some folks say it's haunted, but I reckon that's just a bunch of hogwash.
Speaker A:Haunted? Like ghosts?
Speaker C:Spooky, don't you think?
Speaker A:Well, you know, haven't met a ghost I didn't like.
Speaker C:She laughs.
Speaker F:Dr. Vega laughs, says no. There are enough real monsters in the world. We don't have to worry about make believe haunted hospitals.
Speaker C:Oh, I don't know about that. I've been working in this line of business for quite some time now. Seen my fair share of strange things, I have.
But you learn to roll with the punches, eh? Gotta keep your wits about ya. Especially in our line of work.
Speaker E:You tell me you've seen real ghosts?
Speaker C:Oh, gee, sometimes I wish we could just point and say, well, there's a ghost right there, you betcha. But the spooky stuff, I've seen, it. Don't like to be pinned down, don't you know?
Her eyes look up at you through the rearview mirror expectantly, her glance knowing.
Speaker F:Dr. Vega's eyebrows furrowed. He kind of looks at the rest of his team like he's a little confused.
Speaker E:Bertrand just kind of bites his lip and then just stares out the window.
Speaker C:Anyway, we'll be arriving at the hospital shortly. I'll sweet talk us in to see Dr. Braden.
Can't say what we might find out from the poor fella, but if you're here, it'll be something, that's for darn sure.
Speaker A:Eric, I pictured your character like biting his lips, like he's mewing, like sensually. I don't know why. You're like. I look out the window, bite my lip. I'm like, is he. Is this. Is this going to happen finally? Will they? Won't they?
Speaker C:Between Virtue and Elizabeth, I'm glad we're already shipping this. This is great.
Speaker E:Anyhow, please tune into After Dark for that sesh.
Speaker C:But oh yeah, that'll be after. After dark. After when the feet come out as the. Oh my God.
As you approach Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, the landscape becomes quieter, more serene, with snow covered trees lining the streets and the hospital grounds adorned with sparkling icicles. The hospital building itself, it radiates a sense of calm amidst this winter landscape. It almost seems like it's providing a refuge from the cold.
A welcomed one for you who again, are not quite prepared for the chill and the frigidity in the air.
Speaker E:Bertrand pipes up it don't look haunted.
Speaker A:Usually there's scare. Scare lines coming out of it, right?
Speaker F:That's so funny.
Speaker C:Liz MacKenzie laughs like she just.
She just kind of belly laughs as she parks near the entrance and you all disembark and walk inside the hospital and it is just as serene as the outside suggested to the bright white walls are accented with calming watercolor hues the faint scent of disinfectant lingers in the air. Dr. Vega, this is a very nice hospital. You would be so happy to work in facilities like these more often.
It's rare, however, in your line of particular work. Skullduggery at the front desk. You watch as Mackenzie approaches and smiles.
She politely introduces herself and flashes a small black leather folding wallet. Anybody watching?
Speaker E:Mm.
Speaker C:Get a roll in the alertness. Success.
Speaker B:Billier. 90 out of 80.
Speaker E:2 out of 30, 6 out of 50.
Speaker B:What the hell?
Speaker C:What the hail, Bertrand, You're a nosy fella.
Speaker E:That's my job.
Speaker C:You can see just by surreptitiously poking your eyes over in that direction you can see her identification badge. It reveals that she's acting as an agent of something called the Environmental Policy Impact Commission. Never heard of it.
Speaker E:He thumbs at it and rolls his eyes, looking at them. She's for fucking green. Peace. Unbelievable.
Speaker B:What's her issue there?
Speaker E:Tough crowd, all right.
Speaker C:The intake clerk raises her eyebrows and soon produces a magnetic access card and pushes it toward Mackenzie through the slot in a transparent plastic divider here. Before long, she's leading you through a labyrinth of hallways.
You're passing by nurses and light blue scrubs and patients in various states of distress.
And after traveling through several maglock doors, each opening with a clunk before Liz's new procured card, you arrive in the quote, secure assessment and treatment unit here. There are thin reinforced windows on patients, doors lining a long hallway. As you pass by, they reveal their inhabitants are restrained in some way.
You hear yelling, mumbling and muffled screaming throughout. This hallway feels very different than the rest of the hospital you've explored thus far.
There are no staff present, another change from previous hallways and floors. Mackenzie turns to you as you walk, wryly grinning, she points to one of the many dusty CCTV cameras tucked away in each corner of this hall.
Well, it seems like the folks keeping an eye on the cameras are taking an early lunch break. Her eyes glitter. Gives us about 40 minutes or so to chat with the doc. Room 8. Everybody, let's get moving.
Speaker A:You got it.
Speaker E:Rolling out the red carpet, ain't they?
Speaker C:She laughs again. You all look through the window of room eight. You can see a clipboard outside identifies that. Well, this is Dr. Alistair Braden's room.
Upon peering through the window, you can see him bound to his bed rails by thick leather straps. His eyes are wide with fear, darting around the room as if he's searching for an escape route that doesn't exist.
And the room itself is stark with peeling paint on the Walls and a flickering fluorescent light overhead casting long shadows in the corners. His labored breathing echoes in the silence of the room. Next to the door. On the outside is a small steel cart.
On its thin surface is a paper lined tray and several sealed hypodermic needles and some small bottles there, arranged carefully. Dr. Vega, go ahead and roll your. Actually, what's your pharmacy? You may not have to roll.
Speaker F:Oh, 50.
Speaker C:Okay? Yeah. You recognize these? No problem.
Speaker F:So I was going to also ask is there a like. Does he have like a. The word just escaped me. There is a file or something hanging on the door next to him or anything like that.
Speaker C:It does look like there's some materials there and so you can have a chance to review them in just a moment.
Speaker F:Okay.
Speaker C:And so you do notice first, since it's just sitting there on a cart right in front of of the room, more or less, that there is a little cocktail, or at least the beginnings of one. On this cart there's an antipsychotic haloperidol. There's also a benzodiazepine under the name lorazepam. You go ahead and reach toward the clipboard.
Liz pauses and watches you carefully as you flip through the pages. Go ahead and roll your medicine.
Speaker F:Success. 48 out of 60. We have a doctor on the team.
Speaker C:So it doesn't look like there's any, you know, test results or anything here. This. This looks more like a log for different shifts of nurses and physicians. He's on a fairly heightened schedule.
One rung under suicide watch more or less. So he's being checked on quite often. Apparently he. If he is not restrained, he tends to self harm.
And you can see the last time he hurt himself was about two days ago when he began to drive deep gouges into his arm with his fingertips, causing quite a bit of blood loss. That did require him to go to the downstairs infirmary for half a day.
Speaker F:May I go in and speak to the patient?
Speaker C:Oh yeah. That's the plan. We're all going in.
Speaker F:Dr. Vega opens the door and strides in. Dr. Brayden, my name is Dr. Vega. How are we doing today?
Speaker C:The man is startled by the loud sound of the door and your voice booming against the wall. He abruptly jerks against his restraints and it causes the bed to creak ominously behind you.
Mackenzie pushes in the squeaking drug covered cart from the hallway and once all of you are inside, it's a bit cramped. She shuts the door behind you with a click. He doesn't answer you. Dr. Vega. He's bound and he's struggling now. His eyes bulge with fear.
He's staring not at you, but up at some unseen terror. His mouth foams and his hoarse voice sputters out unintelligible words while his body twists in pain and fear.
Mackenzie actually walks past you, surprising you. And she approaches the struggling man. Her hand reaches out to gently touch his forehead.
Speaker A:Now that's bedside manner.
Speaker C:She speaks in a soothing voice, trying to calm him down. Oh, Dr. Brayden, don't you worry now. You're safe with us. We're here to lend a hand, don't you know? But Dr. Brayden only becomes more agitated. Dr. Vega.
He begins thrashing against his restraints and screaming incoherently. Mackenzie turns to you and the rest of the team with a grim expression. Well, he ain't responding to me. Not a bit.
Seems we'll need to calm him down before we can have a chat. Wanna have a go?
Speaker F:Dr. Vega walks closer. Dr. Brayden, can you hear me? Dr. Brayden?
Speaker C:He screams and sputters incoherently, looking at something beyond you.
Speaker F:Dr. Vega pulls out a small pen light and does a attempts to do a check his pupillary response with his light.
Speaker C:His pupils do react normally to the light, but he seems to try to avoid you, holding his head still enough for you to get a good response. It takes you a few tries before you can confirm you're getting a normal or a nominal response from him.
Speaker F:I'd also just like to do a quick physical check on him to see if there's any other marks or damages. Malnutrition, dehydration, I don't know. How's this guy doing?
Speaker C:Yeah, you don't have to roll for that because of your profession and your current medicine rating. He's doing okay now. It does appear that he's lost weight. That could have been from the expedition.
That could have been from whatever tragedy befell the group. You don't see any other injuries on him? Except for some bruising around his left wrist that looks fairly old by your measure.
But you do see where he was recently bandaged for the injury you spotted on his charts up outside? While you're doing this, Mackenzie begins speaking. So I've had these drugs brought in for us. One of these.
Well, hopefully both of them will help calm them down. I've never administered anything like this on. On anyone.
So I do have some dosage metrics I got off of the Google and maybe we can have some luck getting him to talk. What do you think, Dr. Vega?
Speaker F:Sure, if it's all the same. I'll. I'll handle administering the. The sedative, if that's. If that's all right.
Speaker C:You're the experts here, so I'll just lean up against this door here and let you try to get something out of him. I wish you the best of luck. She does just that. She backs up, makes room for all four of you to crowd around this restrained individual. Dr.
Vega, you're closest right now, and you look over at the others as they join you around Dr. Alistair Braden's twitching, struggling form.
Speaker A:SA.
