E6 | The Missing Pieces

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Immerse your family in the thrilling adventures of the kids podcast, "Critter Protectors," where courageous heroes unite to protect the natural world. In a universe already filled with stinky villains and ninjas, the Critter Protectors face a new formidable adversary: Victor Von Smog. Teaming up with the renowned Mr. Jim and the Spyology Squad, our heroes find themselves in a desperate race against time.

Led by Mr. Jim, Mr. Luke, Marcus, Ally, and Gabe join forces to save animals, decode mysterious messages, and uncover crucial clues. Will they be able to save their hometown before it's too late? Tune in to "Critter Protectors," a podcast packed with action, where brave heroes rise against evil forces to protect the innocent and preserve the natural world.

Perfect for young listeners, this kids podcast offers a blend of excitement, mystery, and valuable lessons about teamwork and environmental stewardship. Join the Critter Protectors on their epic journey and experience the captivating stories that will keep your kids entertained and inspired.

Whether you're searching for engaging stories for your children or an adventurous kids podcast featuring Mr. Jim, "Critter Protectors" is the perfect choice.

Producers: Storybutton, Chelsea Bowman, Steven Forbis, Lisa Biggs

Writers: Chelsea Bowman

Sound Design & Mastering: Nicolas Gutierrez Garcia

Voice Actors: Elvis Barksdale, Dustin Reedy, Jim Jacob, Max, Ian O'Donnell, Ginger Sue, Brett Schwartz, Callie Forbis, Mason, Max

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, fam, Before we get back to the show, I
have some major news to tell you. For over a year,
I've been building a brand new app called Button Plus
spelled bttn. So if you love our shows like Miles
the Brave, Pixel Quest or Critter Protectors Parents, you're gonna
need to download our Button plus app to get unlimited

(00:22):
access to all of our Story Button and Mister Jim
shows completely add free. Thank you to everyone who has
supported us so far. It's truly amazing to have you
a part of our family. From all of us here
at Story Button, we really couldn't continue to do this
without you, so it would be really helpful to us
if you went to the app store and searched for

(00:43):
Button spelled bttn, gave it a download and a five
star review, that would be awesome. Thank you, and now
back to the show.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
After finding the old school recorder, we headed back to
HQ thinking we had the upper hand. The defeat we
felt when we saw those missing batteries was well like
something you never want to feel. That kind of kicking yourself,
guilt and regret isn't something I'd ever wish on anyone,
But we just had to keep putting one foot in

(01:28):
front of another. Yes, Von Smog tricked us big time,
but we had something valuable to him, and we were
about to add another important member to our team. A
tight knit team isn't something you can steal, that's for sure.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
Chin up, guys, nobody wins with the spirit of defeat.
Now we have a huge job to do. That contaminated
pond isn't going to clean itself. Marcus Gabe, Hello, anyone
who might be able to help with all this, or
maybe someone more.

Speaker 4 (02:04):
Qualified, someone interested in cleaning up dead fish.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
That's a hard one.

Speaker 5 (02:10):
Hmmm.

Speaker 6 (02:11):
My sister's definitely qualified, probably overqualified, but she's doing an
internship right now and she's never home.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yeah, that doesn't help us too much. Hey, Marcus, didn't
you mention someone you did a research project with this
last year? What's her name? Uh? Ali? I?

Speaker 4 (02:32):
Yes, I can't believe I didn't think of her first.
Ali pretty much ran our science class last year, and
let's just say she's much more qualified than most people
even teaching science. She's the one we need for sure.

Speaker 3 (02:47):
Sounds like we found our person. Let's give her a call.
Wait now, no better time than the president, Marcus.

Speaker 4 (02:54):
If you okay, just just give me a minute. I
hope she remembers me.

Speaker 5 (03:00):
Dude, it's been like two weeks since you were in
class together.

Speaker 4 (03:03):
Right, Yeah, I guess you're right. Okay, no time like
the present. At a boy here goes nothing.

Speaker 7 (03:15):
Hello.

Speaker 4 (03:16):
Hello? Is this is this Ali?

Speaker 7 (03:20):
Yeah? This is Alie.

Speaker 4 (03:21):
Hey, this is Marcus from school. From science class. We
did a project last year.

Speaker 7 (03:28):
Marcus, I remember you. How's it going. How's your summer bend?

Speaker 4 (03:32):
Oh? Good? Staying really uh busy?

Speaker 2 (03:37):
I remember mister Luke looked at me in motion to
get to the point already. I don't know what it
was about talking to kids at school that got me
all nervous. I guess it was the fact that I
didn't feel like they knew I was good at anything
or had anything to offer. But mister Luke definitely pushed
me in that area, always making calls and chatting with
whoever would lend an ear. He smiled and gave me

(03:59):
an encourage thumbs up.

Speaker 4 (04:01):
Actually, I was calling you because well, I recently joined
a team called the Critter Protectors. It's kind of a
long story and we've had a difficult start to say
the least, But I wondered if you might be interested
in hearing us out and maybe well joining the team.

Speaker 7 (04:18):
Oh. I'm flattered that you think of me, but I'm
not sure if i'd be a good fit.

Speaker 4 (04:25):
Alie. We both know you carried us through that project
last year. You're basically this mornest one in the whole school,
and we could really use some help right now.

Speaker 7 (04:34):
Well, I guess I could stop by tomorrow afternoon and
hear you out.

Speaker 3 (04:40):
Great.

Speaker 4 (04:41):
Our headquarters is over at s Biology Squad HQ.

Speaker 7 (04:44):
Awesome. I've actually always wanted to get an inside look
at that place.

Speaker 3 (04:48):
Cool.

Speaker 4 (04:49):
How about you come around noon?

Speaker 7 (04:51):
Perfect?

Speaker 3 (04:51):
Thanks?

Speaker 4 (04:52):
Ali?

Speaker 3 (04:52):
Bye.

Speaker 2 (04:55):
The next day, Ali stopped by and met us all.
She loved the research that and the idea of making
a real difference. Once Ali saw the place, it was
as simple as that she officially joined the team. We
didn't even know how much of an asset she'd actually
be to us. After getting her all caught up on
the O and D, the stinky pond, purple blimp spotting,

(05:17):
and all of our suspicious findings, Ali wasted no time
jumping into her role.

Speaker 5 (05:24):
All right, everyone, let's start by cleaning the pond. I've
been dying to see this mess yikes, this is worse
than I thought.

Speaker 4 (05:33):
Yeah, it's bad.

Speaker 5 (05:35):
Well, i'd say get a pond that going. We need
to get this algae taken care of. Then we can
add in some good bacteria.

Speaker 4 (05:44):
More bacteria.

Speaker 5 (05:46):
Yes, the good stuff will restore some balance and get
things healthy again. Break down the sludge and get ourselves
a clean pond.

Speaker 4 (05:55):
Okay, well, I trust you.

Speaker 3 (05:58):
What's first?

Speaker 5 (05:59):
First we suit up and get these nasty dead fish
out of here.

Speaker 4 (06:02):
I was afraid you were gonna say that. Okay, I'll
go get the waiters.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
I'll let your imagination fill in the gaps with the
rest of that job. And yes, we found another unfiltered
deep in the sludge that confirmed what we already thought.
Doctor Stinkybreath planted the other one at the marina. The
only other thing I can remember about that job is
bags and bags of fish guts to dispose of.

Speaker 1 (06:31):
Ugh.

Speaker 2 (06:32):
That smell stayed in my nose for days. Anyways, with
us three handling cleanup, mister Luke spent most of his
day barely looking up from his computer. He clicked and scrolled,
clicked and scrolled, searching for anything and everything that would
help us put the pieces together. About von Smogg, the
O and D Doctor Stinky Breath, and their next move.

Speaker 3 (06:58):
Let's see something will show up if I search Eagle
Eye metal logo. No, that's just a bunch of collectible coins.
How about O and D Eagle projects. This just isn't

(07:19):
getting me anywhere, mister Luke. Oh sorry, I didn't realize
you guys were done already.

Speaker 5 (07:28):
Yeah, done for now. Marcus went straight home. Too many
fish guts all over him to walk in here.

Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yikes. Well, I've been reading through articles for hours here
without much to show for it. I was hoping i'd
have made some connections by now. All this stuff, the recorder,
the strange symbols. There just has to be something I'm missing.

Speaker 5 (07:53):
This unfilter in this metal.

Speaker 3 (07:57):
Thing, it's a stinger that kind of started this whole mess.
Those prongs went straight into my tire. See that mark,
This Eagle Eye keeps coming back. It seems some kind
of logo or secret code name.

Speaker 5 (08:13):
Well, I like research, as you know. If you want,
I could see if I can make any headway at home.

Speaker 3 (08:20):
That would be great. Ali, I'd really be in over
my head without you guys.

Speaker 6 (08:28):
Well, I'll get a new system rigged for our traveling
crewter enclosure, but there's nothing to keep them powered when
we're out. I'm afraid those battery packs and chargers aren't
the easiest things to replace.

Speaker 3 (08:39):
Wow, thanks Gabe Man again, I'd be lost without you. Guys.

Speaker 5 (08:45):
We're in this together, mister Luke, totally. I'll see you tomorrow. Guys.

Speaker 3 (08:50):
Bye, Alie, see you tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (08:52):
When Ali made it home that night, she didn't waste
any time. Her parents were used to her having projects
to work on. She tried to always have something taking
up her time. As soon as she finished dinner, Ali
jumped on her computer. What most people didn't realize, including me,
at that point, was that Ali used her brains and
knack for science as a way to kind of cover

(09:15):
up what she didn't really feel good at. Her sister, Sarah,
was an amazing gymnast. Most weekends in her family were
scheduled around meats and competitions. Ali's parents tried to convince
her to do gymnastics too, but it just wasn't her thing.
Staying busy meant less time to be pestered about being

(09:36):
an athlete.

Speaker 5 (09:38):
Okay, Now, to get to the bottom of the stuff
once and for all, there has to be something out
there that can give us some answers. This is fun
and all, but I'm going on two hours of nothing.
Wait is that a picture of doctor Stinkybreath and Victor
von Smock.

Speaker 4 (09:54):
Huh?

Speaker 5 (09:55):
Why are they shaking hands with that guy? And what
is this article? Operation of Nature's Destruction makes Peace Treaty
with Endangered Enterprise? Wait until I show the team.

Speaker 2 (10:11):
The next day, Ali came rushing into the critter queue
and startled us all. She flung her bag on the
closest chair and pulled out her laptop faster than you
can say, critter.

Speaker 5 (10:21):
Everybody, look at this. I found something last night.

Speaker 4 (10:25):
Check this out.

Speaker 5 (10:26):
No way, are you kidding me?

Speaker 3 (10:29):
Doctor Stinky Breath and Victor von Schmock. What kind of treaty?
Is this? An endangered enterprise?

Speaker 4 (10:39):
Mister Luke, haven't we heard of endangered enterprise before?

Speaker 3 (10:44):
The message on my computer? Marcus, You're right. Listen, guys,
all the pieces are starting to come together.

Speaker 5 (10:54):
The structure it's taken. So now the question is do
we have three villains or do we have an ally?
This endangered enterprise?

Speaker 3 (11:12):
Great question. I guess that's another thing we need to
figure out.