April 7, 2023 • 40 mins
Aether, Sirius, and Logo wait out a sandstorm and spend the night at a desert inn. They investigate the mystery of the last guest who checked in but never checked out.
Intra Quest – Created by Michael Freiberg
A production of iHeartRadio and Astrum Media
Executive Produced by Michael Freiberg and iHeartRadio
Co-produced by Adam Raymonda and Chelsea English
Sound Design and Mix by Dennis Dembeck
Music by Trey Toy and James Newberry
Episode written by Michael Freiberg and Will Julian
Performances by:
Matthew Broussard | Aether
Mike Lebovitz | Sirius
Myq Kaplan | Logo
Lucie Pohl | Umbra
Featuring:
Tom Thakkar | Innkeeper
Director and Head Writer: Michael Freiberg
Writers: Tom Delgado and Will Julian
Story Editor: Chelsea English
Dialogue Editor: Ja-Ann Wang
Foley: Post Red
Key Art: Rich Davies
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Int request created by Michael Freiberg, a production of iHeartRadio
and Astro Media. Listen with headphones for three D audio.
(00:26):
Winds approaching gale force, feed pressure, rising sandstorm imminence. We
have to keep going. It's the last leg of the journey.
We can reach the lighthouse at the desert end to
drop off the satellite dish by nightfall, assuming we find
(00:47):
a way to fix it. Either we're completely exposed to
the elements. If we can trap in the sandstorm, we'll
be defenseless against an endless torrent of high velocity rock
and debris. Highly advise me to immediate shelter. Storm coming
serious feeling balls. But we're so close to reaching the seaport,
(01:11):
to delivering the satellite dish, to completing the mission. I'd
find nothing more satisfying than delivering the satellite dish and
completing the agency's mission. However, giving current conditions, continuing onward
puts us at a risk of losing everything. The best
course of action is defined it enclosure suitable for overnight
rest and resume our journey in the morning. Once weather
(01:32):
patterns of normalized logo right shield from storm. All right,
looks like there's an end nearby. We could stay there
until the storm's passed, then pick up again tomorrow the
(01:59):
front desk. Let me do the talking, real shiny. We
welcome to the desert end, the last inn at the
end of the Azrael Desert. How can I help you?
Three bells? Serious? Please refrain from ringing the bell. I'm
(02:23):
standing right before you. We'd like a room for the night.
I'm sorry, no rooms available. Oh, no rooms. But there's
gonna be a sandstorm. We need someone to stay. Unfortunately,
nothing I can do now. If you'll excuse me, I
have guests to attend to. Please exit out the end,
(02:47):
no inn. How are you crazy? You can't send us
back out there. I won't go, I won't Please. We
have nowhere else to go. You have to help us.
There is one vacancy. We'll take it, but it's not
n arm. Why not in policy? Please? If I were
(03:14):
traveling alone, I wouldn't even bother to ask. But my partners.
Look at them. One's all bulk and brawn out in
the sands, he'd sink like a stone, and the other
is nothing but skin and bones. He'll blow in a
light breeze. Let alone a sandstorm. I'm aerodynamic to a fault.
These two are goners on the outside. I'm not asking
you to help me, I'm asking you to help them.
(03:36):
Please have a heart well, seeing as you all have
no other option, and given how I pitied you three
from the moment you walked inside, I suppose I could
make an exception. This one's thank you, But I must
(03:58):
warn you stay in the room at your own Read
the last guest who checked it, never checked out, never
checked out. O go serious sandstorm. Remember we appreciate the warning,
(04:21):
but we'll take our chances with the room, Room five
o five. And don't forget enjoy your stay in the
desert d This is it, room five o five. Nothing
(04:56):
left but go in a Maybe the sandstorm isn't so bad.
Violent winds, low visibility, serrated projectiles could be refreshing. Don't
be goobers. It's one night's stay in an ordinary old room.
(05:22):
Large bed, closet, window, writing desk, with various knickknacks, bookcase, cabinets,
grandfather clock, even a fireplace. How hospitable. See just a room.
Nothing to be scared of. On bed chocolate it's candy. Serious, Wait,
(05:43):
don't eat that candy. We should ration it. There's still
the remaining part of our journey ahead of us, and
who knows if we'll find ourselves in some dire situation
in desperate need of that chocolate decadence. It must be
preserved in case of absolute emergency, right either, sure, whatever, Now,
you two quit your bickering. It's time we rest and
(06:05):
recharge before the final stretch of our journey. Serious, get
out of that closet. It's probably full of dust and debris,
precisely what we're trying to avoid out in the sandstorm
to begin with. Look, what's serious? Find white coat? Good?
(06:28):
If fits like you ate the sad sacket belonged to
and are now wearing their coat as a girdle, fit's great?
M did it belong to? What if the white coat
was property of the last guest who never checked out?
Look Emblazoned in gold thread on the coat's left breast
pocket the letter d well. No use wasting energy trying
(06:53):
to solve this mystery. Besides, the beds looking pretty comfy
right about now? Left side, right side, I call the
bed's middle Finally, good night's sleep. Eat their logo serious,
(07:18):
sandlich Serious? Would you mind shifting over? I feel your
rather bulbous knee protruding into my section of the bed. Serious,
no touch logo side if everything logo touch serious side? Ah,
you too. It's one night's stay and a big bed.
Make it work. Go to sleep. The only thing left
(07:42):
is to put out the gas. Laugh on the night's day.
Now close your eyes, let the quiet carry you off
to sleep. Ninety nine, Good night, M serious? What is it?
(08:19):
What if room haunted by ghost of last guest? Nonsense?
There's absolutely no scientific evidence that ghosts exist. Right either,
Right now, both of you go to sleep. M that buzzing.
(08:56):
I can't take it, agreed. What's making that noise? Something
like phantom cry of glows? You think it's a beatle?
No good beetle? Sneak to room? Wake? Serious up? Stare
with buzz? Serious, no burner live my legal fast? Serious?
(09:24):
Serious hurt someone where bees will go? It's landed on
the dresser by me. Serious. This is knowing that serious?
(09:48):
I said, careful enough, this is unacceptable. Where to go?
M serious? Wide, here's the bookcase and the books. Oh,
(10:19):
let's collect the books and clean up the broken shells
before we get thrown out for trash in the place.
There are some really fascinating reads. Here the Anatomy of Melancholy,
Dialectics on the Nature of Pain. Oh, and looky here
(10:41):
Treatments and trempid Nations for cognitive maladies. All medical texts.
Interesting right, No, behind the bookcase, there's something hidden in
the wall. Serious, help me clear a path. It's a
(11:04):
safe safe what's a safe doing concealed in the wall?
The innkeeper alluded to the room being vacant for some time.
I wonder what's inside. Could be anything like mountain of
chocolate or a rare addition book, maybe even a treasure
of black apples, enough to buy our way back to
imperiod clot serious break unlikely. The safe door appears to
(11:33):
be made of impenetrable black stone. Logo. Can you open it?
It's a combination lock and dial mechanism requiring a three
digit numeric code to access two complex to solved by
trial and error alone. For now, I'm afraid it's a
dead end. A beetle A serious no, sounds like we'll
(12:03):
be up for a while. I'll get the fireplace started,
by the way, serious, Chasing after a beetle is not
the way to catch it. You have to let the
beetle come to you to catch our intruder. All we
need is a simple box and stick contraption. I'll show you.
Let's see what's around the room. On the desk, an
(12:25):
ice pick and bucket. The ice picks, rusty and covered
in red specks, shouldn't be an issue so serious. What
I need to do is first remove the ice bucket
lid and oh there's a bottle inside Miracle tonic herbal
(12:45):
anesthetic for natural pain relief. Take orally, do not exceed
one droplet. It's empty, into the trash. It goes, as
I was saying. After removing the lid, I chased the
upturned bucket on the desk, propping it up from the
inside and leaning against the rusty ice pick, thereby creating
a small opening in one side of the otherwise sealed
(13:08):
bucket brim. To complete the trap just requires bait. Serious
the chocolate candy, Please serious chocolate. It's essential to catch
the beetle. But I assure you it's only a decoy,
(13:29):
wha a fully functional homemade box and stick beetlecatcher. The
chocolate's odor will first lower the beetle to the desk
containing the trap. Once the beetle reaches the ice buckets perimeter,
it will proceed to crawl underneath in an attempt to
retrieve the bait. In so doing, the beetle will inadvertently
bump and trigger the collapse of the red and ice pick,
causing the bucket to fall down and seal it within.
(13:51):
All we have to do now is sit back and wait.
Let's head of the bat and weight. Then. I didn't
notice it before, but there's a series of scratch marks
clawed into the wall beside the bed. Scratches made record
of the demon beetle victims, Black fate of Last Room Gaston.
(14:17):
It's probably nothing, just the scribbles as someone who went
mad passing the time during a sandstorm. So the trap?
How long do we wait? Any moment now, any moment,
(14:39):
any moment now, Marny moment now? How should we pass
the time? We could discuss a fascinating study I read
on the mathematical properties of bacteria colony growth rates found
in ingrown toenails and serious no story time slumber? What's
(15:03):
a story time slumber? We stay up, we tell story
We are fun sure? Serious story time slumber sounds agreeable
to me. Either tell a story? How we meet that
old story again, Yes, again again, I've never heard it. Well,
(15:28):
all right, then, this was a long time ago, back
when a young Serious no more than several years old,
was living amongst his noble clans. There were a clan
of nomadic titans who lived off the land and found
harmony in nature. Fearsome warriors, they were believed to be
able to harness the flow of energy itself. They struck
(15:50):
fear into the hearts of those who crossed them. Really
much like Serious, they were a group of gentle giants
at the time. They were crossing through the outskirts of here,
just beyond the gates of my homeland where I grew up.
What happened out there on that faithful day I will
never forget. Without warning, out of nowhere, a rival group
(16:11):
of soldiers ambushed Serious clan, a surprise attack that lets
all out war. Thinking back, the whole thing went by
like a blur. It was a shameful affair, a massacre.
Though Serious side fot valiantly to the end, They're outnumbered
and outmatched. Wasn't a fair fight. Soldiers sent endless cohord
(16:34):
after Cohord to their death, equipped with cannon fire, steel armor,
no matter how many soldiers they lost, more kept coming
in their place. Ultimately they overwhelmed. The clan slaughtered every
last one of them. But not Serious or not Serious
for whatever reason, the soldiers spared his life a single
(16:55):
blessing that cursed Dayious town, Serious town Okay after battle
clear Serious stand alone, bloody field. Ether come from nowhere
like like beam of light, drop everything, Rescue Serious, Take
Serious home to Imperia, show serious love, give serious purpose together,
(17:24):
clan up, brothers, family. Oh I wish I could have
done more. Ether. It sounds like you did everything in
your power. Besides, it's not like you're at fault, of
course not Yeah, but who were the rival soldiers? Let's
(17:48):
hold you. It was all blur? And what were you
doing that day outside the gates of Imperia. What I
just find it rather intriguing is all that the same
day Serious Is Clan was attacked, you happen to see
it all unfold from outside the gates, And I don't remember.
I must have been harvesting crops in the high fields
or something. Still quite the coincidence, is it? Not? Ether
(18:14):
saved Serious life? No coincidence, fate ha, only wincidence here
is Serious hand smack logo face if keep up big
a mouth? No the trap? Did it catch the beetle?
(18:44):
I'm certain of it, but just to make sure, I'll
carefully raise one edge of the bucket off the desk
to look under it and confirm. Okay, then no beetle,
No chocolate, Ah dropping a work beatles steel serious chocolate
(19:06):
it escape bucket, serious swat beetles serious? Are you okay?
(19:29):
Haunted floorboard trips, serious hurt, serious knee tear, serious white
coat beetle, Get away your knee it's bleeding? Just scratch logo?
Is there anything around the bandage them up? I can look,
but I wouldn't count on anything in this room being sterile?
Beat crawl under bed and a coward? See what is that?
(19:57):
What beneath the bed? I freaking just reach it? Forgot it?
Black bag? It's a black medical bag. There's a golden
letter d on matching the one on serious coat. What
(20:17):
can side bag? We're about to find out logo. You'll
likely be more familiar with its contents. Mind taking a look.
Sure thing either scalpel, razors, stepastoke, gauze. This mysterious d figure.
The former occupant of Room five h five. Must have
been a doctor. Oh, doctor, d hand me the gauze. Serious,
(20:43):
I'm gonna band it you up. Make sure to apply pressure.
Are you sure you're okay? There's a lot of blood
on the floorboard logo. Is there anything else from the bag?
We can use? M serious strong, heal fast, blood on
floor dry already? How is that possible unless the floor
(21:10):
was already like that before for serious's knee? No? The safe?
What do you mean? The wall safe utilizes a combination
lock and dial mechanism, requiring three digits to be entered
in proper sequential order. Behind the dial is a cylindrical
spindle that operates three parallel wheels. Each wheel contains an
internal notch belong its circumference corresponding to the correct number
(21:31):
in the code, with the first wheel synchronized with the
first number, and so on. When all three digits are
entered correctly, the notches align and the safe unlocks. Notably,
as the wheels click into position, they emit a faint
but distinctive sound, normally imperceptible to the naked ear. Using
the stethoscope, I can amplify the volume to listen in
and identify the correct numbers. That unlock the safe so
you can crack the code precisely. How do you know
(21:55):
all of this? Oh, it's common knowledge to anyone within
an advanced understanding gives system security design. Now, I'll need
you to to be quiet as I listened to the
turn of the dial through the stethoscope. I'll count out
the numbers as I go, m H five zero, keep
(22:24):
it in five, yes, five zero five, same as the
room number. Genius in its simplicity. Now to see what's
inside the safe? What was that? Serious? No, don't touch
the stethoscope. You two settle down. I'll check the safe. Ah,
(22:57):
there's nothing in here but a small locked chest. This
is a joke, nested safe inside safe. Quite the elaborate ruths.
I have a feeling that inside this chest is the
answer to what happened here to doctor D before checking out.
But doctor D didn't check out. I'm not talking about
from the room. Oh. Anyhow, the chest requires a key
(23:21):
to open another dead end for now? Yeah? Serious, how's
your need doing? Okay? But story make me feel better? Story?
Storytime slumber? Okay, okay, story time slumber. Anyone have a
(23:43):
story to share? Who's next? Ether? I'm curious to hear
the story of your amulet the eye of imperiod. Well,
that story is not that interesting and I went already.
Technically you only provided a setup. It was serious who
told the story of how you two met, and I
really would like to learn more about it. Serious also
want to hear amulette story. But it's story time number
(24:09):
all right, Fine, what do you want to know? For starters?
How did it come into your possession? It was a
family heirloom, gifted to me by my mother on my
name day. I think, at least that's what I remember.
I was only an infant when she passed. When she
passed down the amulet, I only have vague memories of
(24:31):
our short time together, and I was told she was
pregnant with me when she began to show signs of
umbre came on suddenly after my father was taken away
sentenced to death by the mad tyr and Akasha, who
ceased control over our homeland and mother. She she chose
to isolate herself as her condition worsens, saw less and
(24:52):
less of her, and eventually heard she passed from complications
soon after. It all still feels like a bad dream,
But I didn't know everything she did, she did to
protect me final time together. She gave me her only possession,
miss Ambulance, the Ivan period. She told me it would
watch over me. Can you say I'm sorry either? How
(25:17):
does it work? And is what work? Your ambulant? I'm
not familiar with the mechanics. How does it protect you?
I am? I don't know, but you must have some idea.
You've experienced its powers, after all. When I wear it,
(25:38):
I fill her warmth around my heart, and her spirit
alive and my soul and the words from the lullaby
she would saying, come back, don't be sad, don't be blue.
I'm the bird who will worry for you. I can't
remember how the rest of it goest, but reminds me
of the promise I made in memory of her one day. Somehow,
(26:03):
some way, a free imperia from that mad tyrants hold.
But as far as the inner workings are concerned, either
saying no, no, he no, no. The beetle, it's by
the window, sill, beetles. Listen. If we crack open the window,
(26:24):
there's a chance the beetle will just fly right out
and like that free room from beetle hole. Yes exactly,
But the sandstorm is likely at its apex, the force
from the window alone could knock us to the floor,
if not sweep us straight out into the vortex. Opening
the window now opens ourselves up to unquantifiable levels of risk.
I know, but some risks are worth taking. I hope
(26:47):
you know what you're doing. I'll tie down and secure
the satellite dish pieces so they don't blow away. Serious
scare beagles, so beatles fly out. That leaves me to
open the window on my account one two three, I'm
(27:23):
trying to get stuck. I take it into shiner. Serious
h m hmm, thanks serious, serious bird who worry for eat?
(27:54):
Our backs to the floor, sand in every crevice. The
room in complete disarray. That one about as well as expected.
But at least we survived and beetle. That buzz would
indicate that the beetle is alive as well. Well. This
(28:20):
place is a total mess holm who ever has to
clean this up. The innkeeper did do us a favor
in rending us this room. I'm not claiming it to
be legally binding, but social contract dictates we return it
in like condition. At the very least we owe him
that as good house guests. I'll start swipping up the sand. Serious,
(28:42):
pile up the broken furniture logo. Start with getting the
pillows and blanket off the ground and back on the bed.
I trust you can handle that. Of course, what is it? Skull?
There's a skull on the bed. It must have been
under the blanket the entire time I knew I out something.
Doctor D come back from dead to haunt us John
(29:05):
serious for wear white cold. Let me take a look
this skull one with the color coded markings and labeled sections,
and probably did belong to doctor D. It's ceramic. Oh,
(29:25):
it's only an anatomical model. They really do make them lifelike.
Good observation. Either Doctor D must have used the ceramics
skull to aid in medical research. It appears doctor D
specialized in matters of the mind. Well, at this rate,
it'll take all night to get this place cleaned up.
(29:47):
We should get back to it, but first I need
a break on the bed. I am high agreed. Logo.
You might giving us status report. Certainly on the beatle front,
we've made limited progress as our attempts to silence its
buzz have failed and turned the room into shambles. As
(30:08):
far as the safe goes. We found a hidden chest
located inside the concealed wall safe behind the bookcase, but
lack the missing key to unlock it. And Lastly, although
we've uncovered some of doctor D's belongings, including the white coat,
medical texts, black bag, and ceramic skull, as well as
encountered several peculiarities around the room, such as the empty
bottle of miracle tonic, scratch marks on the wall, and
(30:29):
dried blood on the floor, we have yet to determine
what happened to doctor D or the events that unfolded
in this room. Across all avenues, we seem to have
reached a proverbial dead end. I see no clear path forward,
and sleep eludes us. Thanks serious idea, you do story
time slumber. I can appreciate the interjection of levity, but
(30:55):
given the gravity of our situation now, it is really
not the time to distract ourselves with frivolous activity. Our
attention would be better directed to the final segment of
our journey, plotting our safe return by reviewing the map
in detail. Not so fast, logo serious wind, I went,
it's your turn, m logo turn, I mean, really, I
(31:21):
appreciate the gesture but I don't have any relevant stories
suitable for sharing. Story time slumber, I I storytime slumber. Okay, okay, okay,
(31:43):
story time slumber. I'll tell you anything I want to know. Mmmm. Well,
we've gone on a score of missions for the agency,
but still know next to nothing about them, except as
serious can tell you very well, but no pay enough.
This mission, however, marks the first time we've been lucky
(32:05):
enough to have one of the agency's own officers accompany
us as a mandatory escort, one of their best and brightest.
I presume, So tell us how'd you get involved with
the Agency? Well, there's an easy answer to that. The
(32:25):
information is classified. I mean, of course, it'd be my
pleasure to recount the story. That is, if I were
privy to the details. What are you talking about? The
information is not just classified to those outside the agency,
it's classified to me as well. Similarly to YouTube, The
true nature of my origin remains an enigma. I never
(32:47):
knew who my biological parents were or why they abandoned me.
My earliest childhood memories stem back to the agency's headquarters,
wandering the permissible boundaries, familiarizing myself with facility protocol, and
nurturing my burgeoning curiosity about the world through books and
thought experiments. The more I learned about life and the Agency,
the more I realized how limited my perspective truly was.
(33:09):
From a young age, I tried to be a productive
and contributing member of the organization, but largely kept to myself.
It became clear that the Agency's principal tenet of secrecy
is integral to their success. Divisions are siloed, clearance levels
strictly enforced, and access to information restricted to a need
to know basis, unencumbered by complex bureaucracy or restraining ideologies,
(33:30):
free of temptation and ego, agents are blank slates, able
to dedicate themselves fully to their work. Confidentiality is believed
to be the cornerstone of progress, with each individual entity
unwittingly playing a small part to advance a much greater whole,
really a microcosm of life itself. All of this to
explain the rationale behind my ignorance of my initial involvement
(33:52):
with the Agency. I'm not certain I'll ever know the
details of the arrangement made by my parents, and perhaps
that's for the best. In fact, I don't even know
what the agency's central objective is but I'm told it
has the power to change the world, and this ancient
satellite dish for reasons untold, is critical to their mission.
(34:13):
Ah And yet despite these core operating principles, I've spent
my life trying to learn life's secret truths, to make
sense of the world and feel connected. Our mission has
only exacerbated my desire. This is the first time I've
been tasked to lead an assignment outside the agency's purview.
With its success, I hope to prove that their decision
(34:35):
to overlook my inborn deficiencies and invest in the potential
of my future, a conclusion not foregone to my own parents,
was indeed the correct one. In spite of the limitations,
I'm grateful for the life the agency has given me
that I was until this journey changed my perspective by
illuminating an unknown truth, showing me one of life's greatest wonders,
(35:00):
something inaccessible through books or study. Friendship. The time we've
had together has truly been the most meaningful time of
my life. Only the knowledge that it will soon be
over dulls this blissful feeling. Though perhaps it's ephemeral nature
makes me value it even more. I'll always consider myself
lucky to have known YouTube. After we've completed the mission
(35:22):
and I've shown you the path home to Imperia, I
will miss you too, dearly. I only hope to some
degree you both feel the same Stickman no friend of
Serious or even Oh logo family logo Astrom Yeah, family
clan of Astrom brothers grow bigger. Oh hug Okay, Serious,
(35:53):
put me down. You're squeezing too tight. You're jest. It's
poke me Serious, heart filled with love boads the cheese logo.
What is it? I found the key to the locked
(36:15):
chest that's inside the safe. It was in the left
breast pocket of doctor Dee's white coat that Serious has
been wearing. O Ether take it. You should be the
one to open the chest. You've led the way. Okay,
this is it? A locked chest from inside the safe,
(36:36):
Doctor Dee's final surprise. Ready m hm inside chest bottle
A serious Wait. There appears to be something inside the
glass bottle. Open it. It's a rolled up piece of
(36:59):
parchment paper sealed with a golden letter d wax emblem
identical to the symbols found on the white coat and
black bag. Must be a letter Doctor D's last words.
Either open paper, read letter. All right, the beetle on
(37:20):
my head, get it up, hit it up? Serious of
the bottle, be logo, stay still? Are you crazy? He's
gonna hit me in the head with the last battle serious? Here,
take the letter, give me the bottle here. Remember either
let the beetle come to you, Let the beetle come
(37:42):
to me. Concentrate me, don't chase the beetle. Let the
beatles come to you. Now, got it? Serious, the beetle,
(38:11):
the bottle, corkid Yeah, no, no, no, no, no, no,
the letter. Let's send the fireplace. I guess we'll never
know what happened to Doctor Dean. What was written in
(38:32):
the letter? A life lost of the world forever? Either letter,
just words on paper. Stories keep doctor D's spirit alive.
And look outside the sandstorms ended and the stars are out.
I bet Doctor Dee's watching over us right now. Yeah,
(38:52):
you're right. Something tells me everything's gonna be okay. Something
you feel in your amulet. I just know. I guess
we have each other, astrom family, hard dude, fight against
Now let's finally get some sleep. Introquest created by Michael Freiberg,
(39:31):
the production of I Hear Radio and Astro Media Executive
produced by Michael Freiberg and I Hear Radio co produced
by Adam Raimundo and Chelsea English. Sound design and mixed
by Dennis Denbeck. Music by Trey Toy and James Newberry.
Performances by Matthew Brossard, Ether, Mike Leibovitz, Serious Mike Kaplan,
(39:53):
Logo Lucy Paul Umbra featuring Tom Takar, Innkeeper director and
head writer, Michael Frebrick, Writers Tom Delgado and Will Julian,
story editor, Chelsea English, dialogue editor jay Anne Wang Foley,
Post Thread, full cast and crew in the description. Find
(40:14):
more podcasts from my Heart Radio on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts
Int request created by Michael Freiberg, a production of iHeartRadio
and Astro Media. Listen with headphones for three D audio.
(00:26):
Winds approaching gale force, feed pressure, rising sandstorm imminence. We
have to keep going. It's the last leg of the journey.
We can reach the lighthouse at the desert end to
drop off the satellite dish by nightfall, assuming we find
(00:47):
a way to fix it. Either we're completely exposed to
the elements. If we can trap in the sandstorm, we'll
be defenseless against an endless torrent of high velocity rock
and debris. Highly advise me to immediate shelter. Storm coming
serious feeling balls. But we're so close to reaching the seaport,
(01:11):
to delivering the satellite dish, to completing the mission. I'd
find nothing more satisfying than delivering the satellite dish and
completing the agency's mission. However, giving current conditions, continuing onward
puts us at a risk of losing everything. The best
course of action is defined it enclosure suitable for overnight
rest and resume our journey in the morning. Once weather
(01:32):
patterns of normalized logo right shield from storm. All right,
looks like there's an end nearby. We could stay there
until the storm's passed, then pick up again tomorrow the
(01:59):
front desk. Let me do the talking, real shiny. We
welcome to the desert end, the last inn at the
end of the Azrael Desert. How can I help you?
Three bells? Serious? Please refrain from ringing the bell. I'm
(02:23):
standing right before you. We'd like a room for the night.
I'm sorry, no rooms available. Oh, no rooms. But there's
gonna be a sandstorm. We need someone to stay. Unfortunately,
nothing I can do now. If you'll excuse me, I
have guests to attend to. Please exit out the end,
(02:47):
no inn. How are you crazy? You can't send us
back out there. I won't go, I won't Please. We
have nowhere else to go. You have to help us.
There is one vacancy. We'll take it, but it's not
n arm. Why not in policy? Please? If I were
(03:14):
traveling alone, I wouldn't even bother to ask. But my partners.
Look at them. One's all bulk and brawn out in
the sands, he'd sink like a stone, and the other
is nothing but skin and bones. He'll blow in a
light breeze. Let alone a sandstorm. I'm aerodynamic to a fault.
These two are goners on the outside. I'm not asking
you to help me, I'm asking you to help them.
(03:36):
Please have a heart well, seeing as you all have
no other option, and given how I pitied you three
from the moment you walked inside, I suppose I could
make an exception. This one's thank you, But I must
(03:58):
warn you stay in the room at your own Read
the last guest who checked it, never checked out, never
checked out. O go serious sandstorm. Remember we appreciate the warning,
(04:21):
but we'll take our chances with the room, Room five
o five. And don't forget enjoy your stay in the
desert d This is it, room five o five. Nothing
(04:56):
left but go in a Maybe the sandstorm isn't so bad.
Violent winds, low visibility, serrated projectiles could be refreshing. Don't
be goobers. It's one night's stay in an ordinary old room.
(05:22):
Large bed, closet, window, writing desk, with various knickknacks, bookcase, cabinets,
grandfather clock, even a fireplace. How hospitable. See just a room.
Nothing to be scared of. On bed chocolate it's candy. Serious, Wait,
(05:43):
don't eat that candy. We should ration it. There's still
the remaining part of our journey ahead of us, and
who knows if we'll find ourselves in some dire situation
in desperate need of that chocolate decadence. It must be
preserved in case of absolute emergency, right either, sure, whatever, Now,
you two quit your bickering. It's time we rest and
(06:05):
recharge before the final stretch of our journey. Serious, get
out of that closet. It's probably full of dust and debris,
precisely what we're trying to avoid out in the sandstorm
to begin with. Look, what's serious? Find white coat? Good?
(06:28):
If fits like you ate the sad sacket belonged to
and are now wearing their coat as a girdle, fit's great?
M did it belong to? What if the white coat
was property of the last guest who never checked out?
Look Emblazoned in gold thread on the coat's left breast
pocket the letter d well. No use wasting energy trying
(06:53):
to solve this mystery. Besides, the beds looking pretty comfy
right about now? Left side, right side, I call the
bed's middle Finally, good night's sleep. Eat their logo serious,
(07:18):
sandlich Serious? Would you mind shifting over? I feel your
rather bulbous knee protruding into my section of the bed. Serious,
no touch logo side if everything logo touch serious side? Ah,
you too. It's one night's stay and a big bed.
Make it work. Go to sleep. The only thing left
(07:42):
is to put out the gas. Laugh on the night's day.
Now close your eyes, let the quiet carry you off
to sleep. Ninety nine, Good night, M serious? What is it?
(08:19):
What if room haunted by ghost of last guest? Nonsense?
There's absolutely no scientific evidence that ghosts exist. Right either,
Right now, both of you go to sleep. M that buzzing.
(08:56):
I can't take it, agreed. What's making that noise? Something
like phantom cry of glows? You think it's a beatle?
No good beetle? Sneak to room? Wake? Serious up? Stare
with buzz? Serious, no burner live my legal fast? Serious?
(09:24):
Serious hurt someone where bees will go? It's landed on
the dresser by me. Serious. This is knowing that serious?
(09:48):
I said, careful enough, this is unacceptable. Where to go?
M serious? Wide, here's the bookcase and the books. Oh,
(10:19):
let's collect the books and clean up the broken shells
before we get thrown out for trash in the place.
There are some really fascinating reads. Here the Anatomy of Melancholy,
Dialectics on the Nature of Pain. Oh, and looky here
(10:41):
Treatments and trempid Nations for cognitive maladies. All medical texts.
Interesting right, No, behind the bookcase, there's something hidden in
the wall. Serious, help me clear a path. It's a
(11:04):
safe safe what's a safe doing concealed in the wall?
The innkeeper alluded to the room being vacant for some time.
I wonder what's inside. Could be anything like mountain of
chocolate or a rare addition book, maybe even a treasure
of black apples, enough to buy our way back to
imperiod clot serious break unlikely. The safe door appears to
(11:33):
be made of impenetrable black stone. Logo. Can you open it?
It's a combination lock and dial mechanism requiring a three
digit numeric code to access two complex to solved by
trial and error alone. For now, I'm afraid it's a
dead end. A beetle A serious no, sounds like we'll
(12:03):
be up for a while. I'll get the fireplace started,
by the way, serious, Chasing after a beetle is not
the way to catch it. You have to let the
beetle come to you to catch our intruder. All we
need is a simple box and stick contraption. I'll show you.
Let's see what's around the room. On the desk, an
(12:25):
ice pick and bucket. The ice picks, rusty and covered
in red specks, shouldn't be an issue so serious. What
I need to do is first remove the ice bucket
lid and oh there's a bottle inside Miracle tonic herbal
(12:45):
anesthetic for natural pain relief. Take orally, do not exceed
one droplet. It's empty, into the trash. It goes, as
I was saying. After removing the lid, I chased the
upturned bucket on the desk, propping it up from the
inside and leaning against the rusty ice pick, thereby creating
a small opening in one side of the otherwise sealed
(13:08):
bucket brim. To complete the trap just requires bait. Serious
the chocolate candy, Please serious chocolate. It's essential to catch
the beetle. But I assure you it's only a decoy,
(13:29):
wha a fully functional homemade box and stick beetlecatcher. The
chocolate's odor will first lower the beetle to the desk
containing the trap. Once the beetle reaches the ice buckets perimeter,
it will proceed to crawl underneath in an attempt to
retrieve the bait. In so doing, the beetle will inadvertently
bump and trigger the collapse of the red and ice pick,
causing the bucket to fall down and seal it within.
(13:51):
All we have to do now is sit back and wait.
Let's head of the bat and weight. Then. I didn't
notice it before, but there's a series of scratch marks
clawed into the wall beside the bed. Scratches made record
of the demon beetle victims, Black fate of Last Room Gaston.
(14:17):
It's probably nothing, just the scribbles as someone who went
mad passing the time during a sandstorm. So the trap?
How long do we wait? Any moment now, any moment,
(14:39):
any moment now, Marny moment now? How should we pass
the time? We could discuss a fascinating study I read
on the mathematical properties of bacteria colony growth rates found
in ingrown toenails and serious no story time slumber? What's
(15:03):
a story time slumber? We stay up, we tell story
We are fun sure? Serious story time slumber sounds agreeable
to me. Either tell a story? How we meet that
old story again, Yes, again again, I've never heard it. Well,
(15:28):
all right, then, this was a long time ago, back
when a young Serious no more than several years old,
was living amongst his noble clans. There were a clan
of nomadic titans who lived off the land and found
harmony in nature. Fearsome warriors, they were believed to be
able to harness the flow of energy itself. They struck
(15:50):
fear into the hearts of those who crossed them. Really
much like Serious, they were a group of gentle giants
at the time. They were crossing through the outskirts of here,
just beyond the gates of my homeland where I grew up.
What happened out there on that faithful day I will
never forget. Without warning, out of nowhere, a rival group
(16:11):
of soldiers ambushed Serious clan, a surprise attack that lets
all out war. Thinking back, the whole thing went by
like a blur. It was a shameful affair, a massacre.
Though Serious side fot valiantly to the end, They're outnumbered
and outmatched. Wasn't a fair fight. Soldiers sent endless cohord
(16:34):
after Cohord to their death, equipped with cannon fire, steel armor,
no matter how many soldiers they lost, more kept coming
in their place. Ultimately they overwhelmed. The clan slaughtered every
last one of them. But not Serious or not Serious
for whatever reason, the soldiers spared his life a single
(16:55):
blessing that cursed Dayious town, Serious town Okay after battle
clear Serious stand alone, bloody field. Ether come from nowhere
like like beam of light, drop everything, Rescue Serious, Take
Serious home to Imperia, show serious love, give serious purpose together,
(17:24):
clan up, brothers, family. Oh I wish I could have
done more. Ether. It sounds like you did everything in
your power. Besides, it's not like you're at fault, of
course not Yeah, but who were the rival soldiers? Let's
(17:48):
hold you. It was all blur? And what were you
doing that day outside the gates of Imperia. What I
just find it rather intriguing is all that the same
day Serious Is Clan was attacked, you happen to see
it all unfold from outside the gates, And I don't remember.
I must have been harvesting crops in the high fields
or something. Still quite the coincidence, is it? Not? Ether
(18:14):
saved Serious life? No coincidence, fate ha, only wincidence here
is Serious hand smack logo face if keep up big
a mouth? No the trap? Did it catch the beetle?
(18:44):
I'm certain of it, but just to make sure, I'll
carefully raise one edge of the bucket off the desk
to look under it and confirm. Okay, then no beetle,
No chocolate, Ah dropping a work beatles steel serious chocolate
(19:06):
it escape bucket, serious swat beetles serious? Are you okay?
(19:29):
Haunted floorboard trips, serious hurt, serious knee tear, serious white
coat beetle, Get away your knee it's bleeding? Just scratch logo?
Is there anything around the bandage them up? I can look,
but I wouldn't count on anything in this room being sterile?
Beat crawl under bed and a coward? See what is that?
(19:57):
What beneath the bed? I freaking just reach it? Forgot it?
Black bag? It's a black medical bag. There's a golden
letter d on matching the one on serious coat. What
(20:17):
can side bag? We're about to find out logo. You'll
likely be more familiar with its contents. Mind taking a look.
Sure thing either scalpel, razors, stepastoke, gauze. This mysterious d figure.
The former occupant of Room five h five. Must have
been a doctor. Oh, doctor, d hand me the gauze. Serious,
(20:43):
I'm gonna band it you up. Make sure to apply pressure.
Are you sure you're okay? There's a lot of blood
on the floorboard logo. Is there anything else from the bag?
We can use? M serious strong, heal fast, blood on
floor dry already? How is that possible unless the floor
(21:10):
was already like that before for serious's knee? No? The safe?
What do you mean? The wall safe utilizes a combination
lock and dial mechanism, requiring three digits to be entered
in proper sequential order. Behind the dial is a cylindrical
spindle that operates three parallel wheels. Each wheel contains an
internal notch belong its circumference corresponding to the correct number
(21:31):
in the code, with the first wheel synchronized with the
first number, and so on. When all three digits are
entered correctly, the notches align and the safe unlocks. Notably,
as the wheels click into position, they emit a faint
but distinctive sound, normally imperceptible to the naked ear. Using
the stethoscope, I can amplify the volume to listen in
and identify the correct numbers. That unlock the safe so
you can crack the code precisely. How do you know
(21:55):
all of this? Oh, it's common knowledge to anyone within
an advanced understanding gives system security design. Now, I'll need
you to to be quiet as I listened to the
turn of the dial through the stethoscope. I'll count out
the numbers as I go, m H five zero, keep
(22:24):
it in five, yes, five zero five, same as the
room number. Genius in its simplicity. Now to see what's
inside the safe? What was that? Serious? No, don't touch
the stethoscope. You two settle down. I'll check the safe. Ah,
(22:57):
there's nothing in here but a small locked chest. This
is a joke, nested safe inside safe. Quite the elaborate ruths.
I have a feeling that inside this chest is the
answer to what happened here to doctor D before checking out.
But doctor D didn't check out. I'm not talking about
from the room. Oh. Anyhow, the chest requires a key
(23:21):
to open another dead end for now? Yeah? Serious, how's
your need doing? Okay? But story make me feel better? Story?
Storytime slumber? Okay, okay, story time slumber. Anyone have a
(23:43):
story to share? Who's next? Ether? I'm curious to hear
the story of your amulet the eye of imperiod. Well,
that story is not that interesting and I went already.
Technically you only provided a setup. It was serious who
told the story of how you two met, and I
really would like to learn more about it. Serious also
want to hear amulette story. But it's story time number
(24:09):
all right, Fine, what do you want to know? For starters?
How did it come into your possession? It was a
family heirloom, gifted to me by my mother on my
name day. I think, at least that's what I remember.
I was only an infant when she passed. When she
passed down the amulet, I only have vague memories of
(24:31):
our short time together, and I was told she was
pregnant with me when she began to show signs of
umbre came on suddenly after my father was taken away
sentenced to death by the mad tyr and Akasha, who
ceased control over our homeland and mother. She she chose
to isolate herself as her condition worsens, saw less and
(24:52):
less of her, and eventually heard she passed from complications
soon after. It all still feels like a bad dream,
But I didn't know everything she did, she did to
protect me final time together. She gave me her only possession,
miss Ambulance, the Ivan period. She told me it would
watch over me. Can you say I'm sorry either? How
(25:17):
does it work? And is what work? Your ambulant? I'm
not familiar with the mechanics. How does it protect you?
I am? I don't know, but you must have some idea.
You've experienced its powers, after all. When I wear it,
(25:38):
I fill her warmth around my heart, and her spirit
alive and my soul and the words from the lullaby
she would saying, come back, don't be sad, don't be blue.
I'm the bird who will worry for you. I can't
remember how the rest of it goest, but reminds me
of the promise I made in memory of her one day. Somehow,
(26:03):
some way, a free imperia from that mad tyrants hold.
But as far as the inner workings are concerned, either
saying no, no, he no, no. The beetle, it's by
the window, sill, beetles. Listen. If we crack open the window,
(26:24):
there's a chance the beetle will just fly right out
and like that free room from beetle hole. Yes exactly,
But the sandstorm is likely at its apex, the force
from the window alone could knock us to the floor,
if not sweep us straight out into the vortex. Opening
the window now opens ourselves up to unquantifiable levels of risk.
I know, but some risks are worth taking. I hope
(26:47):
you know what you're doing. I'll tie down and secure
the satellite dish pieces so they don't blow away. Serious
scare beagles, so beatles fly out. That leaves me to
open the window on my account one two three, I'm
(27:23):
trying to get stuck. I take it into shiner. Serious
h m hmm, thanks serious, serious bird who worry for eat?
(27:54):
Our backs to the floor, sand in every crevice. The
room in complete disarray. That one about as well as expected.
But at least we survived and beetle. That buzz would
indicate that the beetle is alive as well. Well. This
(28:20):
place is a total mess holm who ever has to
clean this up. The innkeeper did do us a favor
in rending us this room. I'm not claiming it to
be legally binding, but social contract dictates we return it
in like condition. At the very least we owe him
that as good house guests. I'll start swipping up the sand. Serious,
(28:42):
pile up the broken furniture logo. Start with getting the
pillows and blanket off the ground and back on the bed.
I trust you can handle that. Of course, what is it? Skull?
There's a skull on the bed. It must have been
under the blanket the entire time I knew I out something.
Doctor D come back from dead to haunt us John
(29:05):
serious for wear white cold. Let me take a look
this skull one with the color coded markings and labeled sections,
and probably did belong to doctor D. It's ceramic. Oh,
(29:25):
it's only an anatomical model. They really do make them lifelike.
Good observation. Either Doctor D must have used the ceramics
skull to aid in medical research. It appears doctor D
specialized in matters of the mind. Well, at this rate,
it'll take all night to get this place cleaned up.
(29:47):
We should get back to it, but first I need
a break on the bed. I am high agreed. Logo.
You might giving us status report. Certainly on the beatle front,
we've made limited progress as our attempts to silence its
buzz have failed and turned the room into shambles. As
(30:08):
far as the safe goes. We found a hidden chest
located inside the concealed wall safe behind the bookcase, but
lack the missing key to unlock it. And Lastly, although
we've uncovered some of doctor D's belongings, including the white coat,
medical texts, black bag, and ceramic skull, as well as
encountered several peculiarities around the room, such as the empty
bottle of miracle tonic, scratch marks on the wall, and
(30:29):
dried blood on the floor, we have yet to determine
what happened to doctor D or the events that unfolded
in this room. Across all avenues, we seem to have
reached a proverbial dead end. I see no clear path forward,
and sleep eludes us. Thanks serious idea, you do story
time slumber. I can appreciate the interjection of levity, but
(30:55):
given the gravity of our situation now, it is really
not the time to distract ourselves with frivolous activity. Our
attention would be better directed to the final segment of
our journey, plotting our safe return by reviewing the map
in detail. Not so fast, logo serious wind, I went,
it's your turn, m logo turn, I mean, really, I
(31:21):
appreciate the gesture but I don't have any relevant stories
suitable for sharing. Story time slumber, I I storytime slumber. Okay, okay, okay,
(31:43):
story time slumber. I'll tell you anything I want to know. Mmmm. Well,
we've gone on a score of missions for the agency,
but still know next to nothing about them, except as
serious can tell you very well, but no pay enough.
This mission, however, marks the first time we've been lucky
(32:05):
enough to have one of the agency's own officers accompany
us as a mandatory escort, one of their best and brightest.
I presume, So tell us how'd you get involved with
the Agency? Well, there's an easy answer to that. The
(32:25):
information is classified. I mean, of course, it'd be my
pleasure to recount the story. That is, if I were
privy to the details. What are you talking about? The
information is not just classified to those outside the agency,
it's classified to me as well. Similarly to YouTube, The
true nature of my origin remains an enigma. I never
(32:47):
knew who my biological parents were or why they abandoned me.
My earliest childhood memories stem back to the agency's headquarters,
wandering the permissible boundaries, familiarizing myself with facility protocol, and
nurturing my burgeoning curiosity about the world through books and
thought experiments. The more I learned about life and the Agency,
the more I realized how limited my perspective truly was.
(33:09):
From a young age, I tried to be a productive
and contributing member of the organization, but largely kept to myself.
It became clear that the Agency's principal tenet of secrecy
is integral to their success. Divisions are siloed, clearance levels
strictly enforced, and access to information restricted to a need
to know basis, unencumbered by complex bureaucracy or restraining ideologies,
(33:30):
free of temptation and ego, agents are blank slates, able
to dedicate themselves fully to their work. Confidentiality is believed
to be the cornerstone of progress, with each individual entity
unwittingly playing a small part to advance a much greater whole,
really a microcosm of life itself. All of this to
explain the rationale behind my ignorance of my initial involvement
(33:52):
with the Agency. I'm not certain I'll ever know the
details of the arrangement made by my parents, and perhaps
that's for the best. In fact, I don't even know
what the agency's central objective is but I'm told it
has the power to change the world, and this ancient
satellite dish for reasons untold, is critical to their mission.
(34:13):
Ah And yet despite these core operating principles, I've spent
my life trying to learn life's secret truths, to make
sense of the world and feel connected. Our mission has
only exacerbated my desire. This is the first time I've
been tasked to lead an assignment outside the agency's purview.
With its success, I hope to prove that their decision
(34:35):
to overlook my inborn deficiencies and invest in the potential
of my future, a conclusion not foregone to my own parents,
was indeed the correct one. In spite of the limitations,
I'm grateful for the life the agency has given me
that I was until this journey changed my perspective by
illuminating an unknown truth, showing me one of life's greatest wonders,
(35:00):
something inaccessible through books or study. Friendship. The time we've
had together has truly been the most meaningful time of
my life. Only the knowledge that it will soon be
over dulls this blissful feeling. Though perhaps it's ephemeral nature
makes me value it even more. I'll always consider myself
lucky to have known YouTube. After we've completed the mission
(35:22):
and I've shown you the path home to Imperia, I
will miss you too, dearly. I only hope to some
degree you both feel the same Stickman no friend of
Serious or even Oh logo family logo Astrom Yeah, family
clan of Astrom brothers grow bigger. Oh hug Okay, Serious,
(35:53):
put me down. You're squeezing too tight. You're jest. It's
poke me Serious, heart filled with love boads the cheese logo.
What is it? I found the key to the locked
(36:15):
chest that's inside the safe. It was in the left
breast pocket of doctor Dee's white coat that Serious has
been wearing. O Ether take it. You should be the
one to open the chest. You've led the way. Okay,
this is it? A locked chest from inside the safe,
(36:36):
Doctor Dee's final surprise. Ready m hm inside chest bottle
A serious Wait. There appears to be something inside the
glass bottle. Open it. It's a rolled up piece of
(36:59):
parchment paper sealed with a golden letter d wax emblem
identical to the symbols found on the white coat and
black bag. Must be a letter Doctor D's last words.
Either open paper, read letter. All right, the beetle on
(37:20):
my head, get it up, hit it up? Serious of
the bottle, be logo, stay still? Are you crazy? He's
gonna hit me in the head with the last battle serious? Here,
take the letter, give me the bottle here. Remember either
let the beetle come to you, Let the beetle come
(37:42):
to me. Concentrate me, don't chase the beetle. Let the
beatles come to you. Now, got it? Serious, the beetle,
(38:11):
the bottle, corkid Yeah, no, no, no, no, no, no,
the letter. Let's send the fireplace. I guess we'll never
know what happened to Doctor Dean. What was written in
(38:32):
the letter? A life lost of the world forever? Either letter,
just words on paper. Stories keep doctor D's spirit alive.
And look outside the sandstorms ended and the stars are out.
I bet Doctor Dee's watching over us right now. Yeah,
(38:52):
you're right. Something tells me everything's gonna be okay. Something
you feel in your amulet. I just know. I guess
we have each other, astrom family, hard dude, fight against
Now let's finally get some sleep. Introquest created by Michael Freiberg,
(39:31):
the production of I Hear Radio and Astro Media Executive
produced by Michael Freiberg and I Hear Radio co produced
by Adam Raimundo and Chelsea English. Sound design and mixed
by Dennis Denbeck. Music by Trey Toy and James Newberry.
Performances by Matthew Brossard, Ether, Mike Leibovitz, Serious Mike Kaplan,
(39:53):
Logo Lucy Paul Umbra featuring Tom Takar, Innkeeper director and
head writer, Michael Frebrick, Writers Tom Delgado and Will Julian,
story editor, Chelsea English, dialogue editor jay Anne Wang Foley,
Post Thread, full cast and crew in the description. Find
(40:14):
more podcasts from my Heart Radio on the iHeartRadio app,
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