In short
Part 3 of 3. The crew deploys and tests multiple “beacons” to stabilize a multi-reality, moving station that will vanish again soon. A supposed intruder panic turns out to be mostly technical glitches and misread signals, but it’s revealed there was a planned “lone actor” stowaway: Lars from an alternate reality plus Detective Richard Johnson as a puppet handler. Near the end, Jocelyn Fowler’s paranoia escalates into electromagnetic hypersensitivity from time-travel energy, leading to her being sedated and taken to medical care. Meanwhile, the station’s beacons mostly hold; Unit 3 needs firmware repair, and the team prepares for the next phase before leaving.
Guests / guest backgrounds
No named “guests” appear as interview subjects; the episode is narrated by station personnel. Key figures include Supervisory U.S. Marshal Bass Marlow; Dr. Wainwright (station doctor/scientist); Dr. Jovac (coding/physics refraction review); Dr. Delham (systems/firmware); Dr. Lorenz (medical); Kylie (AI/system monitor); Agent Jocelyn Eleanor Fowler (paranoid/hostile; later diagnosed); Emery and Mr. Todd/Mr. Waters (future-knowledge holder); Patrick Dauber (electrician); Detective Richard Johnson (1945 puppet-handler); Lars (German, alternate-reality, silent).
Key claims
Beacons use electromagnetic waves to hold the station “through the bulk” between reality sheets; time travel can cause fatal timeline changes if future knowledge is used improperly; Jocelyn’s symptoms are EM hypersensitivity (“allergic to time travel”); Lars/Johnson were intentionally hidden to intervene without alerting Kylie or the crew.
Notable examples
Unit 3 beacon power failure and firmware reset; door 19D and hatch 19-425 reported opened; Jocelyn’s firearm safety deactivated; Johnson’s sedative propofol contingency; final reveal that the “intruder” was Lars and that Johnson’s recordings are clear while Lars distorts audio.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOStation Update and Tensions
0:45 to 7:14
A detailed account of the current situation at the station and interpersonal tensions among crew members.
“Well, the exact date is kind of complicated, but for now, let's just call it April 13th, 2023.”
Beacon Installation and Intruder Concerns
7:14 to 12:32
Discussion on the installation of beacons and the ongoing concerns regarding a potential intruder.
“Why is this taking forever and a day to have ready?”
Personal Relationships and Station Gossip
12:32 to 14:02
Casual conversation about personal relationships among crew members and station gossip.
“Oi, Gemma, Dobber, what's your progress?”
Station Gossip and Dynamics
14:02 to 14:42
Discussion about relationships and promotions at the station.
“I guess the Deputy Marshal's unexpected appearance really got her worked up.”
Antarctica Has Talent Recap
14:42 to 15:40
Light-hearted conversation about a talent show and its winner.
“Did you know that Fred is in a relationship with Dr.”
Sci-Fi Debates and Preferences
15:40 to 16:48
Characters discuss personal preferences and debates about sci-fi topics.
“Now you're getting just as jumpy as Jocelyn, take breather.”
Anecdotes of Station Life
16:48 to 17:58
Sharing of anecdotes and experiences from life on the station.
“You don't have to get a word in every conversation.”
Exploring the Station Further
17:58 to 19:08
Enthusiasm for exploring the station and its amenities.
“You don't need to eat like a swarm of locusts, Kenan.”
Future Knowledge Discussion
19:08 to 20:23
A debate on the implications of knowing future events.
“Fortress of Solitude, it's right on the nose!”
Consequences of Time Travel
20:23 to 23:08
Deep discussion about the risks and consequences of time travel.
“Yeah, good luck trying to pick that locked up, Marsh.”
Show all 22 chapters
Secrets and Trust in Time Travel
23:08 to 25:50
Negotiation of trust and secrets related to time travel knowledge.
“But that doesn't mean we have to make the same mistakes.”
Beacon Test Preparations
25:50 to 27:54
Preparation for a critical technology test involving beacons.
“All are set up in the precise location the AI provided.”
Unraveling the Mystery of the Station
28:00 to 30:46
The crew investigates anomalies and potential intruders on the space station.
“In the time we were on Level 4, South Tower, was there any recorded openings of doors or passageways?”
Tech Troubles and Equipment Retrieval
30:47 to 33:19
The team resolves technical issues and retrieves lost equipment amidst tension.
“Turns out the connection just, like, wiggled itself loose.”
Confrontation: Who's Behind the Infiltration?
33:20 to 36:24
Tensions rise as Jocelyn confronts the crew about potential infiltrators.
“Patrick is already on his way back to you.”
Descent into Paranoia: Agent Fowler's Revelation
36:25 to 42:00
Agent Fowler reveals her suspicions about infiltrators, leading to a critical standoff.
“Lone actor, extremely covert, professional.”
Confrontation at the Station
42:00 to 43:30
Tensions rise as characters discuss options in a challenging situation.
“Back when my cousin Jimmy was cooking up his primo strain, some of his early batches had me tripping balls.”
Revelations and Surprises
43:30 to 45:20
Characters reveal unexpected truths about their mission and its challenges.
“I have Detective Johnson sedate you with a propofol tranquilizer we had prepared as a contingency.”
Understanding the AI and Alternate Realities
45:20 to 48:40
Discussion shifts to AI capabilities and effects of alternate realities.
“We didn't know where the station was going to appear.”
Medical Condition Explained
48:40 to 52:30
A character's medical condition related to time travel is diagnosed and explained.
“At least it's less confusing than Game of Thrones.”
Emery's Departure and Future Plans
52:30 to 55:00
Plans for departure and the implications of leaving Emery behind are discussed.
“And thankfully, she was pumped with enough sedatives that she'll sleep the entire way.”
Emotional Farewell
55:00 to 59:04
A heartfelt conversation highlights the emotional stakes of leaving someone behind.
“Supervisory Marshal Bass Marlow, April 18th, 06.05 hours.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:22为道不能
0:42Recording started.
0:48Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Marlow. Today is... Well, the exact date is kind of complicated, but for now, let's just call it April 13th, 2023. Current time is 0200 hours. We've been on station for half a day now and have three more remaining.
1:10I realized last night before sacking out that I left my digital handheld recorder in the naughty. Being as tired as I was and despite it's my go-to for work updates, there's no sense in heading all the way down back when the body cam will suffice. Wow. I feel really good. I'm not sure what it is about these particular bursts, but just like last year, I slept like a log and I feel incredible. I don't normally get six hours back in a month since then. If not for the alarm I'd set, I'd be willing to bet I'd slept in for two or three more hours. After the Atlas team came back in from talking with Jovac, Kylie experienced a glitch in her computing systems, I guess.
1:57Jocelyn being the ever-loving psycho I've known for 10 years went to all military and declared it was an intruder last thing I wanted was everybody to get worked up in an environment like this especially after the ice spiders from last year I tried to convey to her and others just how unlikely the potential of an intruder was how the closest station is us at a Munson and that's 200 miles away nobody is going to suddenly come upon the station and break in in the middle of darkness in minus eight degree temperatures and wind gusts at 20 miles per hour at a station that randomly moves location and is only accessible four and a half days a year oh and sitting on a continent one and a half times the size of the united states but less than 1 000 people on it presently simply not possible.
2:47Jocelyn being Jocelyn, got all defensive and had to take control. Despite Kylie only showing malfunctions on six doors total since they reappear, and all six of those being non-secured areas, she had Emory locked down everything sensitive. The more logic we tried to use to persuade, the more agitated she became. We were finally able to convince her, searching the entire station would take way too long given the limited number of people here and even more limited time. Time we had to spend towards protecting the station. The compromise was to secure one single floor in the north tower we all slept in last night.
3:25Given a long drive just to get here and with everybody starting on at 4 a.m. that day, nobody was in any shape for a long search, let alone a fight if somebody was discovered, possible as it is. The floor with our berths had one primary doorway in and two emergency staircases in the rear that led down to the ground and outside. We swept all the bursts on the floor, the storage rooms, the restrooms, and lounge. And as I knew it would be, nobody else was here. We barricaded the emergency stair doors from opening and stationed two people at the only remaining entrance in four two-hour shifts so everybody gets six hours rest.
4:01It's as secure as we can make it for the moment. Hopefully, Jocelyn got some sleep herself and will be less tense and more level-headed. I have enough on my plate without having to keep an eye on her. After we get some breakfast, the doctors are going to start implementing their modification to the gear they brought with them. Not sure the full extent of their techno babble, but Emery said he'll make sure Kylie monitors them and guards against shenanigans.
4:31Mr. Waters. Emery. It's great to see him after all this time. Just great.
4:42but in doing so it stirred up some emotions and guilt that I really thought I'd fully come to terms with. I knew it was the right decision to bring Mr. Todd with me. I mean after all I doubt I would have been able to stop him but learning that we can't take him back with this that he's more or less a prisoner of this complex is something, well, it's something I'm still digesting. He still has knowledge that he is not willing to share with me, knowledge apparently not only about myself, Dr. Wainwright, and a few others on station, but the whole station. He is overly worried about this time travel.
5:28don't change the future of sci-fi nonsense. And as mad as I'd like to get, the man is a hero. And that's not a word I use lately. I'm hoping we can have a conversation or two in the next few days and hopefully get him to see wisdom. That said, I can't help smiling ear to ear seeing him and Chris back together. They retired to their birth last night discussing Jabberjaw or Speed Buggy, which was more useful. It was oddly teary. Finally, there is the Atlas crew. There seems to be an easy alliance taking place. Whatever their original motivations were for being at this station, I'm sure are still in the forefront of their minds.
6:19After all, this is their cheese at the end of the maze, their trophy, their holy grail. More disciplined people than them have been tempted by far less. For the moment at least, the priority seems to be ensuring the station is made stable and stops suffering damage as it goes back and forth. So, just to summarize what I have before me, a station that will disappear in the ether and take us with it for another year in three days, A man who holds knowledge that could save countless people, including my best friend and woman I love, but won't give it up. A sadistic and unstable government assassin in charge of an egomaniacal team bent on obtaining and exploiting future technology for economic and geopolitical gain.
7:05And it's what I've come to call a standard Thursday around here. Supervisor W.S. Marshall Bass Marlow, case update paused. Recording stopped.
7:20And number 24 is now uploaded. Linux system code is holding. Shell scripts are in place. Just 17 more to go. Come on, come on already. Why is this taking forever and a day to have ready? This isn't a tune-up on the family automobile, Agent Fowler. These are the most sophisticated signal beacons made today. We are having to modify. In less than ideal conditions and for purposes never tested, one does not simply flip the protect the future station switch to on position on these apparatus. Oh, whatever. Just shut your gob and work faster. The sooner we get back to the main station, the sooner I can track down that intruder.
7:59Working as quickly as possible and doing the best we can, Mugent. Well, then do the best of someone better. Physical electrical connect is in place and ready for the Beatnik Doctor to complete installation. What was Dr. Jovac's impression of the coding and magnetic wave refraction estimates? He reviewed the general theory provided, a few modifications which made sense. The AI simulation tested them out and actually improved refraction by almost 8%. More than significant to block any adverse shearing damage from the gravimetric shear experienced inside the bulk. What? Bulk of what? What are you on about?
8:38As we explained previously, Agent, our universe is like a floating sheet or surface. The bulk is the biggest space that sits around that sheet, like air around a piece of paper. This station is traveling from one sheet to another sheet through the bulk. Upload 24 complete, now uploading 25. Too long, too long! OY! Gemma! Dobber! What's your progress? Uh, well, we finished deploying the beacon one hour ago, and we just got to the South Tower area, and we're setting up the last of the four units. Finally! Halfway acceptable news for once. You have no idea just how much I want to thank you, Gemma.
9:22Okay, just doing what we said we were going to do, but you're welcome. ETA for the last beacon, another two hours. Any sign of the intruder? I thought we landed on an intruder wasn't possible out this far. We did. Just contact me when you're finished. Must you continue pacing back and forth? Perhaps sitting still may reduce your impatience and agitation. It doesn't make sense. None of it. What's not making sense, Agent? I've made a career of getting in and out of places I'm not supposed to be. Buildings, towers, corporations, military bases. It's never routine. There's always purpose. Always direction.
10:09Mission objective. 25 uploader was faster than anticipated. Now starting 26. Hand me that, would you, Dr. Wainwright? Every infiltration, there's a plan preset. Objectives. The location is staked out and observed. Perimeter security assessed. Vulnerabilities identified. No. No. No. No. No. That's if you have a proper team composition. Leader, techie, infiltrators, and a combat specialist. 26 uploading halfway. The patches are holding. Agent Fowler. I understand in your vocation, and paranoia and strategic planning are commonplace. But this behavior is approaching the need for concern. And then you have to think about concern?
10:52Wainwright, when you have need to be worried, I mean seriously worried, there will be no mistaking it. But this isn't an infiltration unit. This is a lone actor, a single asset, which means the target is simple and solo. So happy I could impress upon your aptitude for rational thinking. I want to get another look at that physics lab on level three of the station. Fairly sure I could jot down some notes from the textbooks on legal pads we brought with us. They'll be able to leave the null bubble without disappearing. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that even 40 years from now, we still aren't all digital society and textbooks and binders are still around.
11:33So then, what's their objective? Nobody's been attacked as of yet. Nothing nicked other than a bag of sweets, crisps, and whatever Keenan keeps in that bag that makes him smell the way he does. It makes zero sense. What are they after? Perhaps focusing on some other task at hand will help you deal with your conundrum. Do you still have the virus ready to transmit? What? The phone with the virus is in my bag here. All I have to do is turn it on and hit send. When the time comes... Just focus on your task at hand, Wainwright. Stop multitasking. This is why I don't make attempts to be social. That program will slowly ensure we get access for Event 5?
12:17Yes, yes. The brain boys in the lab all but ensured it. The actor is out there biding time. I need to be out there hunting them, not here babysitting. Now chop chop, let's speed this up, lads. Recording has concluded.
12:41Oi, Gemma, Dobber, what's your progress? This is the fourth time in 20 minutes. What is going on with her? We finished deploying Beacon 1 an hour ago. We just got to the South Tower area and are setting up the last of the four units. Finally! Halfway acceptable news for once. Oh, you have no idea just how much I want to thank you, Gemma. Whoa. Did she just say she wanted to spank you? Well, you just got a lot more interesting, Dr. Renz. Good for you. Knock it off, Emery. That's okay. Just doing what we said we were going to do. But you're welcome. ETA for the last beacon, another two hours. Any sign of the intruder?
13:29I thought we landed on an intruder. It wasn't possible out this far. Nobody's after your lucky charms. Just contact me when you're finished. Okay, so like, is it just me or is she having like a really bad sativa reaction? No, it's not just you. Ever since we've arrived, she's been really on edge. Well, that and I'm pretty sure she made a pass at me last night. Ah, that explains the spanking thing. An unsuccessful pass, thank you, Emery. From what I've observed, she's, well, extremely aggressive. I guess the Deputy Marshal's unexpected appearance really got her worked up. We were setting up Topper's weather gear and soundtracks and followed them.
14:15Honest, that's what happened. It's okay, Patrick. Unlike the others, I don't really care that you're here, so please relax. I'm here to do my job and get another peek at everything around here. Beyond that, it's all politics and maneuvering, which I don't care for and don't want to be a part of. Okay. Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All that's very exciting and well, but tell me more about what's going on back at the station. Oh. Did you know that Fred is in a relationship with Dr. Thames now? Catherine Thames? Oh, no. No, I did not. There's a love connection. I would have never guessed that. Oh, I hope for Danielle Steele's sake, it's a long, happy relationship.
14:59I don't get that reference, but what about the scene? Chris told me last night he was promoted to station leader, and Doc Wainwright is out. How's that going? It was rough on the chief at first. Lots to get used to with, like, zero help from Doc Wainwright and, like, helping him end the job. But my guy stepped up, and he is killing it. Really surprised they didn't offer it to Thomas. You know what? I bet Seek's an even better captain than Picard. Father! These stations are not starships. We've talked about this. You guys hear that? Now you're getting just as jumpy as Jocelyn, take breather. Kyla, is there anyone in this area other than the three of us?
15:49No, Father. See? Nothing to worry about. Well, I mean, except for the multi-reality moving station, I'm tethered in time and space, which does shift out of access for a year at a time. Okay, we're ready to start up. Oh, by the way, who won Antarctica Has Talent last year? Keenan did, actually. He did beatboxing to Ave Maria. It was beautiful. Who did he beat out? Um, some DeWalt who did armpit noises to Valencia. And Landry who played spoons to an old Cajun song.
16:35Nikola Tesla? Shhh. Didn't take long for them to start arguing about stuff again. Surprise is not cartoons, though. I was always on brand for those two. Kenan, slow down and chew your food, son. You don't have to get a word in every conversation. Keep eating that quickly and you're going to choke. You know, I for one never really minded the sci-fi band-dude debates in the galley. Some were actually really fun to listen to. Although some people, however, did not really seem to appreciate them. You mean like Dr. Wainwright? That's not surprising. No, I think he means like others on the station who would listen and felt they were cliche or stereotypical or I don't know, maybe just too formulaic for people like them.
17:25People like them? You don't mean... Nerds. Oh, okay then. Yeah, I suppose their debates may not be everybody's cup of tea. I'll admit that upon occasion, they did hit a nerve with me. I didn't warm up all at once. Darpa, are you kidding me? No. Shh. I don't... Aw, dude. I'm just so stoked to see those two back together. You know, like, totally vibing and going off on some deep convo that probably only makes sense to the two of them. But hey, that's their thing, man. Mm-hmm. Kenan agrees. Hear, hear. You don't need to eat like a swarm of locusts, Kenan. Regular people bites. We're coming up on 36 hours remain before the station travels again.
18:20I don't want to jinx anything, but it seems like this may go smoothly. Oh, I hope so. I know Dr. Wainwright is going to want us to do some stuff we are supposed to do. but Emery promised to take me over to the accelerator chamber so I can perform my dissection on the spiders. Oh, how I wish I could add one to my scrapbook. Doctor, do you have a dissection scrapbook? Most entomologists do. Oh, okay. I learned something new today. Well, I don't know about you guys, but I want to go exploring the station some more. You know, find some hoverboards and dehydrated pizza snacks. See what else the future holds.
19:09Maybe place a bed. The barn? Oh, come on! Fortress of Solitude, it's right on the nose! I tried, and by the last son of Krypton, I tried. Well, I hate to get in the way of whatever they're debating over there, but I do need to finish a conversation with Emery. Doctors, if you'll please excuse me. Of course, Deputy. Oh, good, my dude. Kenan, just give me the old high sign if you mean to come back and do the Heimlich on you. Enjoy that metabolism, son. You'll miss it after your late 30s. Unsold. There are two different factions after the journal. Madeline Dante is a foregarde, Lowing, and Avery Maddox of DARPA.
19:57Both want the journal for their own glory, financial greed, and for the honor of their houses in Westeros. You know, I'd forgotten how much I really loved your woven stories, Chris. Lord of the lore. I apologize for interrupting, gentlemen. Emery, I was hoping to finish that conversation we started yesterday. Oh, about knowledge from the future? Yeah, good luck trying to pick that locked up, Marsh. I'm his boyfriend, and he won't even tell me about what comes next for Star Wars live action shows. Trust me, Chrissy. It's forbidden knowledge, and honestly, sometimes there is some bliss and ignorance.
20:41What thine eyes have beheld. So much worse than Jar Jar. You said there would never be anything worse than... I'll just help her to mingle with the others while you two chat. Don't forget, still have a full crate of strawberry Pop-Tarts with your name on it. Oh?
21:03Emery, I wanted to talk about what happens to us. What happens on June 12th, 2024. Bass, you have to understand. It's not that I don't want to tell you exactly what happens. It's that I don't know what the consequences would be if you use that knowledge to change the timeline. Look, Emery, I'll be the first to admit that when it comes to alternate realities, time travel, to this future affects the past, affects the whatever, I am nowhere near as educated as you, Chris, and the Beakers. But remember when we first got here last year? Kind of hard to forget. Okay, remember Kylie, all confused because I was reported dead at a month since Scott, myself, and Dr.
21:45Wainwright. But later, she confirmed it was only six people, not the entire station. And again, that does get etched into the old brain there, Bass. But as of a few months ago, everybody gets killed. And that's exactly my point, Emery. The timeline already changed. The moment we got here, things were already different. The past wasn't set in stone then, and it sure as hell not set in stone now. If time were really set in stone, then why are we even having this conversation? If everything was already decided, you wouldn't be hesitating. You'd already know what you were going to do. But you don't.
22:26You're fighting yourself over it. That means there's still a choice to be made. No, Bass. That means the choice has already gone wrong before. You don't get it. In the original timeline, six people died, including you. But because someone used future knowledge, that number jumped to everyone. So how do I know that telling you anything right now won't make things even worse? Because doing nothing already made it worse. Silence didn't save anyone. Emory, it killed the whole damn station. Maybe the problem wasn't that someone used future knowledge. Maybe the problem was how they used it. Maybe they panicked.
23:12Maybe they overcorrected. But that doesn't mean we have to make the same mistakes. Bass, you don't know that. And neither do you. You may know what happens, but you don't know why it happened. You want to talk about paradoxes? Here's one for you. If the future is already locked, we wouldn't be standing here right now. You wouldn't be debating this with me, but here we are. So that means this timeline isn't set. That means there's still a way to do this right. The only thing I know for sure is that if we just sit here and do nothing, we already know how that ends. And I don't plan on watching that ever happening again.
23:54You know, for somebody not versed in time travel theory, you seem to know an awful lot about Newcomb's paradox. One could almost say you were coached. All right, maybe Mr. Todd gave me a few pointers, points I could consider. When did Chris get to be so confident? I used to have to give him a pep talk just to submit his 1040 form each year. After he thought, well, we all thought you had died, he took it the worst, really hard. He was hurting for a long time, Emery. It took all of us a while to get him to even come out of the IT room. Even longer before you participate in anything. But little by little, he managed to stand up again.
24:45Actually, he kind of helped save the station. Halen jumping, it's a long story. If we do this, if we do this, if we do this, we do this my way. My rules are no deal. Okay, what are you proposing? Anything I have to tell you is only for you. You don't tell Chris or Zeke or Kendra, your priest, your doctor, nobody. All right? No. All right is not good enough. I want your word. I know your word is something you never break. You would rather die than break it. If we do this, if we do this, I need your word that you tell nobody. Emery, I'm honored you'd accept that. And I give you my word. Whatever you're about to tell me will never be told to anybody else unless you tell me I can.
25:47Turn off your body cam. Recording stopped. All are set up in the precise location the AI provided. The final sequence was uploaded just now in the Northern Science Building, and we're ready to activate all the units for an actual test run. So as long as there isn't anything critical in the external huts outside of the protection area, which can't be lost, I think we're all set. Then by all means, let's crack on, shall we? At the risk of being pummeled by Agent Fowler, I'll dispense with any speech and just ask to proceed with the test. All right, here we go. Powering all units slowly, starting at 20 % max.
26:31All four beacons are communicating with one another. Electromagnetic waves are properly fluctuating. Bringing it up to 40 % max. Oh, wait, what is it? What's happening? That is not a happy noise. Oh, units one, two, and four holding firm. Everything looks good with them. Three, on the other hand, just suffered a power failure. Kylie, can you please diagnose? Okay, looks like Unit 3's power coupling detached. The sudden interruption of electricity has caused a corruption in the beacon's operating system firmware. The BIOS UEFI settings have reverted to default. Minor repairs will be required. You will need to re-flash the firmware and restore previous configurations.
Read the full transcript
27:21Ugh, bloody hell. No, no, no, this is good. All things considered, this could have been a lot worse. I'm more than happy to head over to the South Tower and reset Unit 3. Patrick, go with him as our resident electrician to make sure nothing's wrong with the power feeds to the beacon. Refresh of the computer systems on that beacon should take no longer than 20 minutes. I would tend to concur with Dr. Delham. This minor annoyance could have been a much larger calamity. Wait. Unit 3 is one of the beacons we deployed. Emery, Patrick, and I. It's also where we... Kylie? Yes? Oh, it's still not used to.
28:02Holograms just appear in front of us. Weird. In the time we were on Level 4, South Tower, was there any recorded openings of doors or passageways? Besides the ones opened by us, of course. Yes, Dr. Jamiya Tova-Lorenz. While you, Dr. Norville, Patrick Dauber, and my father were deploying the deep space beacon, it appears stairwell door 19D was opened, as well as maintenance access hatch 19-425. Norville? What's that? Ugh! I told you, Tossers! I told you it was an intruder! Jocelyn, not necessarily. Kylie just said there are still occasional glitches popping up in her systems due to the station damage.
28:41This is true, U.S. Marshal Bass Wyatt Marlow, but do you have to put me on center screen? Ah, dude, oh, I was hoping this wasn't going to turn into like a whole thing, you know, but... Like, when we were packing up after getting the beacon set up and all, uh, beaconing, my cable splicing knife just, uh, vanished. Man, like, gone. I swear I must have grown legs and dipped, but it's missing. Kylie, are you detecting anybody other than us in operations? No, Father. Anomalous heat signatures. No, Father. Motion sensor hits. Go fish. I honestly think we're dealing with nothing more than your garden variety.
29:28Oh, less chat, chat, chat, more action. You, Delum, Dabber, grab your shit. We're moving now. If this mystery bloke shows up, I'll handle it. Repair your toys so I can get to hunting. Jocelyn, I really don't think this is a good idea. Oh, and I don't care, Marshmallow. I don't tell you how to let your family die. Don't tell me how to do my job in return. Fair? Bitch. I am detecting cardiovascular and autonomic instability in Special Agent Jocelyn Eleanor Fowler. Heart rate, blood pressure, and core body temperature continue to exhibit erratic fluctuations beyond normal physiological variance. Rapid pupillary dilation, heightened photosensitivity, and increased submotor activity indicate a potential autonomic dysregulation.
30:08I recommend contacting her primary physician as soon as possible for a complete physical. Is she always that intense? No. She is prone to agitation and has something of a short temper, but this is a level of hostility I have not witnessed in a short time. She's been with us. Please pardon me a moment. I need some air.
30:38Recording stopped.
30:47Okay, nice! Hey, this mystery is solved, dudes. Turns out the connection just, like, wiggled itself loose. It wasn't messed with or, like, totally yanked out like we were all stressing over. So, you know, all things being chill and whatnot. I wrapped this bad boy up with so much electrical tape, man, it ain't going nowhere, no way, no how. Why is it so bloody hot in here? Feels like a Sunday roast in the oven. The temperature is pretty normal, Agent. No worries, I'm almost done here. And I am all done. Even found my missing knife. Sorry, I left it in the bathroom when Major made her call. It's my bad.
31:31Oh, it sounds like it was all a random set of events and a simple error, and not an intruder after all. Well, with everything wrapped up all nice and a little rolling paper, I think I'm going to head back to operations, check in with the other cats, and then recreate while I stay up late. Catch y 'all later.
32:10Are you serious? Oh, that does it. Oi, listen up. Dobber is on his way back to you lot. Delam is almost done here. I'm tired of you all going on about this not being an infiltrator. I'm going after them. Jocelyn, this is not a good idea. We are sure there is not an intruder. And what's more, Kylie is saying you... Take me coat. Take me gear bag here and take this bloody camera back too. All this shit is going to slow me down. Torch, knife, spare mags, radio. M4A1, safety off. Everything else stays here. This isn't good. Agent Fowler, Jocelyn, wait. At least head back and get the Deputy Marshal so you'll have backup in case you...
33:02Oh, fuck Marlo. Fuck backup and fuck whoever is out there. Great. Just great. Now in addition to getting all my equipment, I have to haul first pack two. Wonderful. This is Dr. Delham. System is reflashed and it's ready for me to cross-connect and upload the Linux software again, but I need access to Kylie's mainframe. I'm not comfortable with that, Doctor. Put Patrick on, please. Patrick is already on his way back to you. It is just me here. Oh, ma 'am. I highly grant limited permission for upload of system software only to Dr. Delham. Five minutes and then revoke. Are you ready, Doctor? Your trust and faith in me is flattering, Mr.
33:52Waters, really. Yes, I'm ready for the upload. Grant him limited permissions, five minutes, and mark. Eww! Limited access granted to Dr. Creepypervert for 5 minutes. All access will be deleted thereafter. Ticklerker. Even the AI females find me repulsive.
34:34I'm sorry.
35:15I don't know.
35:31They all think me mad, you know. They think I've been a right nutter believing somebody somehow managed to breach the perimeter. Oh, but we both know what a dedicated, disciplined mind can accomplish. On the clock, on mission, even way out here. You should stand, mate. Take the bow you deserve. We're in the station theater, after all. I'm only seeing one doorway for this picture house. only one way out for you, love. And that's the door I just came in. Well, technically, there is another way you can get out. I'd be happy to speed you on your way.
36:16What agency? Whose house am I up against this time? CIA? No. Not a Yank operation. They'd have screwed it up already. Mossad. Perhaps. Lone actor, extremely covert, professional. It's always been my honor to kill the best that Tel Aviv can throw my way.
36:42No way, you're fair, S.B. Fair S.B., nyet, nyet, nyet. Russian Federal Security Service is a poor copy of the Cold War KGB. Oh, but come on, let's be honest, mate. Russian covert operations is like saying a drunk bear could make it through a china shop with no wares broken.
37:14I can't believe I fell for that. I truly can't. More surprised you didn't use the distraction to put a few through me heart. Oh. Or are you like me? Ah, you like me. We don't go straight for the kill. We hunt. We play with our prey. We savor the chase. Like they told us in training, the best meal is one you work for and prepare yourself. Get the blood flowing. The adrenaline pumping. Have them be so afraid of what you'll do to them that you're literally in competition with the Grim Reaper. Death himself to see who claims the kill first. You by hand or him by heart attack. This front row is the last bit of concealment you'll have at your disposal, love.
38:15One more step is what sits between you and the business end of this rifle. So with that said, you lose!
38:28No! No! Where? Where? Oh, cork it! Another bleeding maintenance hatch! What's this? Property United States Marshal Service. Oh. Oh. Oh, this time I'll shoot more than your leg, Marshmallow.
39:08From everything I'm seeing here, the beacons are holding constant with the bee field density at 30 ,000 gauss. Given the time to go fully through the bulk is about eight hours, this should be more than sufficient to hold. I can't thank you all enough for helping. You are welcome, Mr. Waters. With this, I will rightly consider the debt for saving my life during the last trip here paid. I'm leaving one of our iPads with the proper coding to repair and refresh the software if there should happen to be any more technological hiccups. And we still have 24 hours left before we need to leave. I don't know about the rest of you, but I intend to make the most of every minute.
39:53I still have spider carcass dissection on my to-do list. Let's not put, well, pleasure in your case, Dr. Lorenz, above the tasks we are here to do. For the remaining 24 hours, Dr. Delham and Dr. Lorenz will be coordinated with myself and with... Oh, no. With everything going on, we have forgot about Agent Gung-Ho is out there hunting ghosts. Let me take care of this. If things get intense, I'm the only one here who stands a chance of containing her. No offense intended, anybody. Yeah, no, that's okay. No offense comprehended, my man. I guess the first thing we need to do is find her. Kylie? Where is Agent Fowler?
40:40I don't have to do what you say. You're not my real dad, father usurper. Whoa! Whoa! You watch your tone with adults, young lady. It was a simple question. Now you answer him. Where is Jocelyn? Then you apologize, you hear me? Agent Jocelyn Eleanor Fowler has just entered the galley. Huh? Oh, Agent Fowler. You're back and holding a rifle. Should I apologize to the Father Stealer now? Honey, not the time. Agent Fowler, given your recent behavior and outburst, I think it wise we have you taken to the station's medical quarters. Dr. Lorenz, would you please ask... Nobody moves! Everybody stays where they are!
41:26You all thought I'd gone around the bend. Jocelyn, you're not well. Oh, I'm seeing clearer than I have in years, Marshmallow. You see, all this time, I thought whoever infiltrated the station was sent in by unknown benefactors. DARPA contractors by the Maddox Lad, any one of the several people from the CIA, hell, I'll even throw in the Germany's B &D for kicks. Stop moving, doctors! U.S. Marshal Bass Wyatt Marlow, please be advised that she has deactivated the safety on her firearm. Hey, Agent Dude, hi. I totally get where you're at. Back when my cousin Jimmy was cooking up his primo strain, some of his early batches had me tripping balls.
42:10like full-on paranoia mode with a side of brain fog, you know, you know, right? But don't even stress about it, Agent. We got you. We'll bring you back down nice and easy. What are you even on about, Burnout? I went to go find our uninvited guests. Oh, but they didn't make it easy to track them. But I managed to corner them. Almost got to end them proper, but they rabbited through a workman's hatch. And then they dropped this. property of the United States Marshal Service. Oh, come on now. He forgets and leaves that thing behind all the time. Happens at least once a month. Jocelyn, this needs to stop.
42:55We have three options in front of us right now. Option one, and honestly, I think it's the best option, is for you to put your weapon on the deck and let us get you some help. Please, Agent, we're only trying to help. Enough of all your lies. If there is nobody out there, then it's one of you doing this. And that's all the reason I need. Option two on me, Jocelyn. Eyes on me. I draw my sidearm and try to kill you before you're able to take a shot, likely killing me and one or more of the rest of us. Nice try, Marlo. Seems I've heard this, this, this little speech beef.
43:35Or option three. I have Detective Johnson sedate you with a propofol tranquilizer we had prepared as a contingency. Lights out, sister. You're only two steps from the deep end, and I just threw you a life jacket. Did somebody send out engraved invitations to attend this station and I wasn't made aware? Hey, it's Lars! With a puppet on his right hand. I am so lost with what's happening here. You're not the only one, Em. How did he even get here? I should probably explain. Kenan, Johnson, can you please take Jocelyn to the clinic and make sure she's comfortable and restrained? I'd be happy to meet Kenan, them, in the med bay and perform a full exam, Father.
44:21Just on Agent Fowler, not Kenan, right? Her? No problem, G-Man. Just happy I don't have to soft shoe through the trenches no more. Come on, kid. You grab the chopper, and I'll hoof it with the limey. I'll send you my bill when we get back home, Marlo. And by the way, my fee doubles when a trigger man tries to throw lead my way. Now, perhaps an explanation? Whenever you're ready, Deputy Marshal. This may come as a surprise, but our primary trip was not to deploy atmospheric weather equipment for Dr. Hunt. You don't say. Bro, wait, wait! No way! Who could have foreseen such a wildly predictable turn of events?
45:08Certainly not I, no. No, no. I was too far busy not at all expecting this exact outcome to even fathom such a thing. So like, does anybody have any snacks? We didn't know where the station was going to appear. We didn't know that Emory was stuck in the station and unable to leave. We didn't know who amongst you was going to be on the expedition. There was a lot of things we didn't know. And in situations like that, I always found it best to plan for the worst possible outcome. Now and again, Marshall may need to call for backup, so I hired Detective Richard Johnson. Okay. Yes, we knew we were coming here to the station, but why didn't you tell Patrick or I about him stowing away?
46:01Okay, so, to be clear, you knew Lars or the public, whomever, was on this station the whole time. But you kept that to yourself, pretending to know nothing about it. I needed to make sure him being here was a complete surprise. I couldn't risk the chance that Jocelyn would pick up on any cues that you were aware something was going on. I mean, you could have told us something, Depp Marsh. I have a solid poker face. Oh, you so do not. You folded like a deck of cards when I asked what your Nana got me for her high school graduation present. You folded on your own dear sweet Nana Chris. Poor woman was crying for days.
46:47Nana, can we please focus on the moment at hand? All right, my instructions to him were simple. Don't tell anybody he would be going. Hide himself in the naughty the night of the 12th, and that once we got to wherever we were going, to sneak in and stay in the shadows until he was needed. My intention was to let Emery in on the secret once we got inside. I didn't want Kylie to announce his presence once she detected him. Turns out it wasn't a problem after all. Hey, yeah. Why couldn't the AI sense him? She can detect body heat, breathing, and respiration, as well as physical motion. Hmm. I'd surmise it's due to originating from an alternate reality.
47:31Just as with Miss Sandra de Retcha. I see. As I inform the Deputy Marshal upon his first arrival, Miss de Retcha naturally blocks electron and muon neutrinos. but she emits tau neutrinos. While still purely hypothetical, of course, it's theorized. While all three neutrinos, electron, muon, and tau, typically pass through solid matter without detection or disruption, tau neutrinos can cause unexpected interactions with standard technology. Sometimes Sandra's voice will be heavily distorted on my recordings. It appears Lars has a similar effect. Wait, so then Puppet Johnson's recordings are all distorted too?
48:13No, no. Everything from Detective Johnson is clear. Remember, Patrick, he's not from alternate reality, just from our 1945. Okay. I've been away for a while. But just to clarify, Lars, the tall German person who never speaks, is from an alternate reality. And the puppet, Detective Johnson, on Lars' hand, was sent from 1945? That's correct. Huh. At least it's less confusing than Game of Thrones. Go on. Obviously, while I might have needed Detective Johnson to step in and intervene, I didn't want him shooting anybody or giving him what he called a billy club shampoo. We needed some way to incapacitate.
48:58It took some convincing, in my solemn word, not to use it except for extreme emergencies. I gave it where it wouldn't divulge exactly if provided it for concerns about their career. So then, there really was an intruder all along. Jocelyn wasn't imagining it. But what about her odd and erratic behavior? That was nothing I anticipated. I honestly thought if we're going to have to tranquilize anybody, it was going to be Dr. Wainwright. Preposterous! Utterly ludicrous! Well, obviously, Agent Fowler is experiencing... something. Hopefully, Kylie can identify it for us. So that, in a nutshell, is what's been happening.
49:41And the plan worked perfectly and as intended. Why, Bass? I... I don't get the question, Emery. It worked perfectly because you didn't describe the plan until afterwards. Jinkies, Fred. You really can't teach an old Marshall new tricks. Oh, you have to say it, Depp Marsh. It's a time-honored tradition. Say what? No, I'm not. Oh, come on, Bass. Play along one time. Please. Bro, even I know where they're going with this. And besides, when will you ever have this awesome of a setup, my dude? Deputy Marshall, I've been told I have a Velma-coded personality. Please.
50:28Fine. Scooby-dooby-doo. He said 13. That was worth the whole trip right there. Zoinks! Zoinks! Children. Recording stopped.
50:45Oh. Just fantastic. My recorder now reeks of nicotine and whiskey. I'm going to have to hit this thing with like a massive amount of antiseptic wipes when we get back home. Damn it, Johnson. okay it's april 18th 2023 0600 hours two hours before we need to depart for the one mile safety line three hours until the station returns to the alternate reality taking with it one of our family we had jocelyn taken down to the roberta bondars hospital kylie ran a series of tests with equipment and technology i don't understand and i won't even try to pronounce and the way i've understood it is she is suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity.
51:34Dr. Loren said it's an extremely rare condition and makes people act well like Jocelyn's acting when they're approximately too large and very specific electrical fields or energy. I guess it's like being surrounded by a bubble of energy a mile in every direction and it comes from an alternate reality. I think it was our AI Kylie who explained it best. In essence, she's allergic to time travel. And I have to believe this is more of the ISIS sense of humor. Send somebody down to provide security allergic to time travel. Okay, all kidding aside, Patrick Keenan and Detective Johnson offered to drive her back to our station a day early.
52:20They left yesterday and should be back home by now. Dr. Loren said when they drove out of the time bubble to speak with Dr. Jovac that Jocelyn's symptoms got better fairly quickly. And thankfully, she was pumped with enough sedatives that she'll sleep the entire way. At least she won't have to listen to Keenan go on and on and on. Mr. Todd and I will catch a ride back with the Atlas team later this morning. Once the guys departed with Jocelyn, we had the rest of the day to ourselves. The doctors all got to work cataloging everything on station, taking notes, making diagrams, and in general plotting and scheming, I'm sure.
52:59We had Kylie keep an eye on them. Anything physical they tried to take with them would have the incompatible entropic decay signature and would fade out of existence upon leaving the bubble area of effect. just as in the case with Emery. Speaking of, as you can imagine, he and Mr. Todd have been spending all their time together, catching up, chatting, and just being with one another. And I didn't want to be a third wheel, so I just want to explore it on my own. And I found a greenhouse complex Emery restored and is growing food in. Real vegetables he's grown using heirloom seeds that he'd found in storage.
53:41He said although the printed food is good, nothing beats fresh carrots or newly squeezed beet juice. I mean, look, to each his own, but who in the right mind would ever drink beet juice? I got to help out by collecting the vegetables that were ready to harvest, and I can't tell you how long it's been since I had my hands in soil and farming. I really miss being on a farm. It was good to be out there working like when I was a kid again. Okay, Emery told me some things about the future, and I won't, no, I can't go into what was said as I gave him my word. He didn't tell me everything. He told me only what was important and what the response will be to things that take place.
54:36If those actions are taken, everybody dies. Yeah. So, let's just say there's never been a need to come up with a plan B more so than now.
54:52I'm no stranger to having weight placed on my shoulders, but this, this is... I almost wish I knew it. Bass, who do you think you're kidding? This is something I have to do. I must do. no i will do for them okay moving on um okay just enough time for a quick shower grab some breakfast and we'll head back to our own station although we have no choice but to leave emory behind once again there is comfort in knowing he is safe uh has sufficient food and protective shelter and he and kylie are going to begin working on theories on how to untether him and realign his interrupt that. Whatever. U.S. Supervisory Marshal Bass Marlow, April 18th, 06.05 hours.
55:45Johnson, this thing really stinks.
55:54I'm not leaving you here. Yes, you are. Emory, you can't ask me to do this. You can't just send me away like this. I have to, Chris. No. No, you don't. We can find another way. We always find another way, right? You sound like me. The old me. The one that thought love could fix everything. That love alone could bend time and could rewrite fate. Well, maybe love can fix this. No. No. Love can't fix this, Chris. You have to help fix this, and you can't do that if you stay. You're asking me to walk away from you. Just accept that this is how it has to be. You're asking me to be okay with leaving the man that I love in a goddamn ghost station that disappears into the fucking unknown.
56:52I'm asking you... I'm asking you to live. I don't know if I can do this. I know you can. And you will. But Emery, what if we never see each other again? We'll always have the Shire. Mr. Todd, I know what you're trying to do, Emery. You want me to leave, but I can't. I don't care about what's ahead. I just want to be with you. You don't know what you're saying, Chris. You stay here. You're going to be trapped just like me. And I will not let you do that. It's not just about you and me. You have to help fast with what's coming. It's bigger than all of us. I don't care about what's bigger. I care about being with you.
57:51Chris, if we didn't love each other this much, leaving wouldn't hurt like this. But if I didn't believe, honestly believe, that we will have a tomorrow, I wouldn't tell you to walk away. That's the faith that I have in you. Chris, I'm sorry, but it's time. I love you. You scruffy-looking man, Murdered. I know.
58:33I'm sorry.
59:03Hi, Brian Bradley, your creator of 90 Degrees South. We made a promise from day one. No ads. No awkward breaks for mattresses, meal kits, or magic racers. Just story. Start to finish. That choice lets us keep you fully aware of still a world of 90 Degrees South. But it's not without cost. Producing a show like this takes time, gear, coffee, and a lot more coffee. If you love what we're doing and want to help us keep doing it ad-free, consider joining our Patreon. We're here because of you, and with your help, we'll stay right here, edge of the world, commercial-free, ready to entertain. You can find our Patreon page at patreon.com.
59:42Search for 90 Degrees South. To close, as we always do, we do want to thank our Patreons who joined at the end credit steer. Nick Wolfe, Tatum Adams, Monica David, Thomas Reiske, Rob Burrell, Michael Buckland, the Harbinger Pulsar and L. Link. Thank you for your sponsorship. This has been 90 Degrees South. On behalf of the cast and crew, I'd like to thank you for listening. If you liked the episode and are enjoying the series, please remember to give us a like, a share, a tweet, send a raven, or review on iTunes, Audioboom, or your favorite podcast site. It helps us to get the word out and keeps the cold at bay.
1:00:29Until next time. 31 hours earlier. This is Dr. Delham. The system is reflashed and it's ready for me to cross-connect and upload the Linux software again. But I need access to Kylie's mainframe. I'm not comfortable with that, Doctor. Put Patrick on, please. Patrick is already on his way back to you. It is just me here. Oh, ma 'am. I kindly grant limited permission for upload of system software only to Dr. Delham. Five minutes and then revoke. Are you ready, Doctor? Your trust and faith in me is flattering, Mr. Waters, really. Yes, I'm ready for the upload. Grant him limited permissions, five minutes, and mark.
1:01:22Ew! Limited access granted to Dr. Creepy Pervert for five minutes. All access will be deleted thereafter, ticklerker. Even the AI females find me repulsive. Where is her bag? Oh, here you are.
1:01:46Okay, and Beacon number three software now being re-uploaded. Five minutes.
1:01:57And Agent Fowler's malware virus being uploaded. Three minutes.
1:02:05This has been a BNB production.
From the publisher
Internal conflicts plague the team on Roberta Bondar as they race the clock to ensure their plan to protect the station is in place. 36 hours until the station travels back through the bulk and into another dimension for a year. Part 3 of 3.
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SONGS FROM THE EPISODE
· “New Land” (90 Degrees Theme Song) by Ian Post.
· “Fire & Ice” by Alon Peretz
· “Black Eyes” by Dani HaDani
· “Searching in Shadows” by Inon Zur
· “Café de Philosophie” by Kyle Preston
· “Super Secret Spy” Mark Fabian
· “Mon Amour” by Odelly
· “Heavy Farewell” by Pavel Stefanenko
· “Paris Sans Toi” by Retrophonic
· “Oscillating Form” by Solis
· “The Cat and the Panther” by The Original Orchestra
· “Gueule de Bois” by Tom Agad
All songs were properly licensed and obtained through Artlist.io or Pond5.com.
90 Degrees South
A BMB Production, LLC
Transcripts can be found at: https://90degreespodcast.com/transcripts
90 Degrees is in no way affiliated nor endorsed (that we’re aware of) by the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) nor the United States Marshal Service (USMS) nor the United States Department of Justice.
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Why is no one talking about the fact that there are 49 million kangaroos in Australia and 3.5 million people in Uruguay which means if the kangaroos were to invade Uruguay, each person will have to fight 14 kangaroos
