Chapter 27 - The Inter State (Part 2)

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3:23On to the show. For the best listening experience, Headphones are recommended. Now, where did we keep the whoppers? Wait, Cash? Darn, I thought that would work. Oh, hi. Hello. Where did you come from? We were already here. Where did you come from? I think I better get back to my friend. Stay. But I can't. You can go back to your friend when she's done with him Who? Mother Hi there, Mac What in the hell? What are you doing here? I just want to talk I thought I made it clear that I'm not interested in whatever it is you have to say I think you misread my intentions, Mac I think you made your intentions more than clear You want to tear me and my friends apart?

4:25Convince me they don't love me? I don't know what kind of sick person does that, but... I'm not a sick person, Mac. And you lied to me, didn't you? About what? About being the attendant of the rest area. Oh, that. Yes, that was a lie. Where's Tandy? He should have been back by now. He's fine, Mac. He's with a friend. Listen, big guy. I don't want any trouble. No trouble? You stay. I can't. I told my friend I was going to bring him some Whoppers. Whoppers? Yeah. These here. See? Whoppers. What are Whoppers? They're candy. Would you share with me? Um, yeah. Hold out your hand. Go ahead. Try them.

5:18Good. Good. Very good. More? If I give you more. Will you let me go? Mother says keep you inside. Why? So she can talk with the bad man. Bad man? You mean Mac? Mac's not a bad man. Mother says the man is damn bad. Like us. You don't seem bad. I am bad. What makes you bad? I swear. You swear. Yes, I damn do. Damn do? Abso-shitly-lutely. Wow, you are bad, but just bad at swearing. Yes, I am bad at everything. There's a lot to unpack here. Let's start with what's your name? I am Apple. Hi, Apple. My name is Tendi. Here, have some more whoppers. Mind if I ask you some questions? Like hell I do. I'm sorry, is that a yes or a no?

6:32Yes, hell the yes. Hey, sock it to me. There's more of you. This is little boy, little boy. This is Tendi. Alright guys, let's talk.

6:53Thank you.

7:22Would you just give me a moment to explain? You don't need to explain. I already know. It's simple. Lady, there's something wrong with you. That's true, Mac. Something is wrong with me. And something's wrong with you. We're the same. We're not the same. I'm getting my friend, and we're getting out of here. I planted a seed, Mac. I planted a seed in your mind. What do you mean? I didn't mean to come across so harsh, but that's the way seeds have to be planted. You gotta stir up the soil a little bit if you want it to take root. Quit talking in riddles and explain what you mean. You're bad, Mac.

8:05We've covered this. But I don't mean it the way you think I mean it. Oh, really? Do explain. When I was just a little girl, my parents took me to see Lambert, the sheepish lion. It was one of those Disney cartoons. You ever heard of it? Nope. What does this have to do with anything? I'll keep this short. So, a stork delivers a lion to the wrong place. He ends up getting raised by sheep. Great story. I'm gonna go now. They make fun of him, Mac. He's different. He doesn't belong. He's not like them. He kind of knows it, but he thinks he's a sheep. And then one day, a wolf comes. And Lambert scares the wolf off and then headbutts him off a ledge.

9:00That story got stuck in my head, Mac. I never liked cartoons that much, but that one was pretty boss. The point, please. You're a lion, Mac. I've seen it. Seen it how? In the interstate. What do you mean? You're a lion, but you think you're a sheep. You're always looking for a fight, aren't you? Well, kinda, yeah. And you make fun of your friend quite a bit. Yeah, I do. You're just bad. You're just a bad man, hanging out with some little goody two-shoes. Mac, when we pretend we're not bad, something inside us is always telling us different. When we act like we're good all the time, We get all out of whack.

9:51Things feel all grody. We're not in our lane. Tell me you don't feel it. I feel it. I think. I don't know. I know I felt it when I got here, but I've tried to change. And where did it get you? You acted like a sheep and let them lead you from your home. Your robot friend? She's already forgotten how much you grieved her while she was gone. I love my friends. I know you do. And they love me. Maybe, but you know what they say, Mac. You can't love what you don't know. They don't know you, but we do. And we love you. And he wants to love you. He? He who? He thinks you're groovy. Just absolutely groovy.

10:41He wants you to join us. What are you talking about? Not yet, Mac. He's not quite ready to reveal himself to you, but let me tell you about him. Okay. He wants to love you, Mac, but there's a condition. You have to acknowledge how bad you are. He can't love you till you do. He can't love you till you know that there's nothing good about you. But then, when you confess it, he's gonna think you're the bee's knees. So that's it? I tell you I'm bad? Totally. Even though, even though I know I'm not, not like that. Sure, I got some bad in me. Maybe even some really bad things in me. I don't know, but I'm not all bad.

11:24Like Tendi says, nobody is all bad or all good. We all got a little bit of both. Just different amounts in all of us. And it's because you believe that lie. That's why he sent me to plant the seed. That seed is gonna sprout, Mac. It's gonna grow in your mind and your soul. I know it. Just like it grew in all of us. Then you can join us. Us? Join us, Mac. In the interstate. Interstate? Join us in our suffering. What? Let me tell you my story. Maybe then you'll understand. I'm gonna make sure Tendi's okay. And then I'll listen to your story. Go ahead, Mac. Take a look through the window. What in the hell are those?

12:09You mean who in the hell are those? The big one is Apple. He's not as scary as he looks. And the wrinkly small one? That's little boy. They're both very kind. They're bad? Of course they are, Mac. So how can you say that they're kind? Just because they're bad on the inside doesn't mean they can't be good on the outside. You should know that. A pirate can be polite. A trickster can treat. A sociopath can be so, so sincere. Even a bad clock is right twice a day. Never seen a clock, but I'll take your word for it. Well, Tendi looks like he's having an okay time. Come sit with me, Mac. I brought chairs.

12:53Those weren't here before. How did you do that? I'll tell you all about it. That's it. They haven't emerged, and neither has the woman I saw. I'm going in. Then I'm going with you. I'm sure they're fine, but I understand your concern. Should I go with you? We'll be fine, Corson. This frame may not be fit for a soldier, but it still has plenty of fight in it. Why don't you head to the Long Paws and call the station? The sooner we can get those new tires, the sooner we'll be able to be on our way. Can do. Meet me there when you've secured the attendance. I hate going in there. Come on, Cash. It's not that bad.

13:32What do you hate about it? I've always had a difficult time with things I can't explain. Then you must hate the astral plane. No, this is different. This feels like something that shouldn't be messed with. Like it's sacred, powerful, not a place for mere mortals. Then it's good that we're not. Not what? Mere mortals. You said it yourself, Cash. We're different. Yeah, I guess we are. Different is as different does. Come on, let's go in and find Macintendi. Okay. Let's go. So, how'd you guys get your names? Mother gave them to us. And why do you call her Mother? Is she your actual mother? She is Mother.

14:15What about you, little boy? Got any more context to add? You unlock this door with the key of imagination. What? Twilight Zone. I'll repeat the question. What? When I arrived here on the astral plane, I was the first of many. A group of us died at the same time. An incident at the Corsicana Opry. Ever heard of it? Can't say as I have. There was a gas leak in the basement. I smelled it first. Went to check it out. Probably a bad idea. You smell gas, you should probably go the other way. I'll try to remember that. You probably don't have to worry about it. Touché. Well, as I said, I got here and the first thing I did was visit that cave or mine or whatever it was underground.

15:05And I waited for my friends there. The ones that died with you? Yeah, them. I had to wait a long time. Can I ask you something? What? Why is it that people who die at the same time don't arrive at the same time? I must have waited ages for my friends, but we couldn't have died more than seconds apart. Milliseconds. Well, I used to wonder the same thing, but now that Cash is back, I finally understand. Oh? Yeah, time's slower here. Like, a lot slower. Seconds apart on the physical plane count for a lot more here. That's pretty far out. Indeed. Well, anyways, I waited until they were all here, and we made the journey together, all the way to the 33rd Sphere.

15:51That's where we met him. The Prime Mover? No, we never saw him. Someone else. Someone amazing. He was the one to plant the idea in our minds. The same one I planted in yours. The seed that blossomed into an understanding of ourselves. He taught us that we were bad, but he didn't shame us for it. He convinced us of the truth. It truly set us free. Our suffering is the price we pay for freedom. What suffering are you talking about? I'm so confused. The interstate. What is it? It's our recompense. Our way of saying thanks for showing us the way. What is the interstate? I know what you're really asking, and I can't really tell you.

16:43Not the whole truth about it, because he hasn't told us. How do I know you're telling me the truth? Because of this. What are you doing? Wrap your pinky around mine. Why? Just do it. Uh, okay. Uh, nothing's happening. I pinky promise. What? I pinky promise. A pinky promise is the only way you know a bad person is telling the truth. I disagree with that whole premise. The potential for it to lead to even greater depths of deception is... Here's what I know. The interstate is like the glue that binds realities together. In here, the physical and the astral coexist. They overlap, and they dance, and they move in and out of each other's spaces.

17:32It's a soup, both orderly and disorderly. You sound so smart. I'm just repeating what he said a million times. But how is this suffering? Because. Whoa, wait a second, Cash. Look, what is it? Is that? It's one of my eyelashes. Why is that a big deal? I don't know, but it feels significant. I've never lost an eyelash before, not here. Really? No. The entire time I can remember, which, granted, isn't that long, but still kind of long. I've never lost an eyelash. What do you think it means? I told you, this place is weird. Do something for me. What? Bite off a fingernail. But I just painted my nails.

18:24With what? Some ketchup I let dry on them. Please try for me. I have a theory. Okay, fine. Mac better have brought more ketchup. Now wait. What are we waiting for? One time Mac was biting his fingernails. A lot. Ew. I asked what he was doing, and he showed me. He would bite off a fingernail, and it would grow right back. Because? Because not only is it impossible to die on the astral plane, people heal very quickly here. And? And they don't age. Are you saying? The reason you're surprised about your eyelashes, people don't lose eyelashes here. Not unintentionally. Nani, I think you're aging. No stinking way.

19:06Really? I can't say for certain. But look at your nail. It's the same. Still bitten off. And I guarantee it'll grow right back the moment we leave here. So, I'm getting older? My body is acting like it did on the physical plane? I think so. You know what this means? What? If I hang out here long enough, I can finally get gray hair. I have always wanted peppered hair cash, even at the expense of losing what's left of your youth. Youth is overrated. I want to look wise, but still dress young and talk young. Young at heart, wise in hair. I love you. I love you too, sweetie. Come on, let's find the boys.

19:52You're aging? Yeah, but it's the price we pay. The price for being bad. I'm sorry. That just kind of sounds sadistic on the part of this dude you keep saying is so awesome. He just makes you sit in here and get old? No, we don't just sit. We have a job to do. We seek and we find. Find what? Wrinkles? No, Mac. Not wrinkles. Facts. Facts. Our leader. He's a collector. A gatherer of information. From all planes of existence. He's the one that figured out that the interstate binds realities together. Connects the spheres. Connects the planes. Connects time. But how'd he figure it out? What makes him so special?

20:41A curiosity that knows no bounds. And now we serve him. We seek. We find. So you're a seeker. Oh no, Mac. I'm a level six finder. I'm getting stronger all the time. You see, a regular person, they enter the interstate. And maybe they'll pick up a whiff of some random scent. Or feel a familiar feeling. Like the wind. Or a ray of sunshine. But there's so much more here if you know how to find it. And he knows how to find it. He's the best at it. So does that have something to do with the station being here? Very good. A finder can do things in the interstate that others can't. The stronger the understanding of a fact, the greater the ability to interact with it.

21:38The station's existence is a fact. And we understand it because we've studied it. We know all facts about it. Things on the astral plane are easy to understand because we've seen them with our own eyes. Now, I can interact with the fact. The fact that is the station. Is it really here? It is, and it isn't. It's more like an interactive model. It's just an image. More like a reflection. One you can touch. One, in this case, that's not even of this time. I pulled an old fact, like the squeeze-its box that Apple left in your way, or the Whoppers bag that I pulled in. We need to do some updates in our understanding of the station, though.

22:26What's the point in collecting all of these facts, so you can play with them? With images of them? No, interacting with facts is fun, but that's not what he's after. He believes that if one is able to collect enough facts, they could traverse the fabric that binds realities. You mean like, go to the physical plane? Go to the physical plane. Go to the next life. And not only that, but at any point in time, completely unbound by the laws that govern the soul. So a human could go back to the physical plane? Now you're getting it. Why me? I don't know, Mac. But you're very special to him. He wants you.

23:14All you have to do is accept that you're bad. Really bad. And you can join us. You see, Mac, I'm not just a finder. I'm a recruiter. And I'm good at my job. You told me you and your friends are trying to make your way back to the physical plane. Live your life again. Yeah. He can help you. He can help you to step out of place. He can help you to step out of time. I can't go back without my friends. You wouldn't have to. If you learn this power, if you let him teach you, you can master the interstate. You can teach your friends. You lied to me once. How do I know you're not lying to me again? Do you want to see?

24:02I can show you. Show me what? Take my hand, Mac. Why? You're not strong enough to see it on your own. Trust me. Fine. Why is your hand so cold? Oh, that's just a side effect of prolonged exposure to the interstate. It's okay. Our suffering is the price we pay for his power. When he shines, we all shine. You're ready to learn? Learn what? Just how bad you are.

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25:44I can see the shape of the shaker. Slap! Where did the shaker go? Where did the shaker go? Now, that's a well-kept secret, Apple. My friend Mac would be so mad if I showed you. But, I suppose if you were to let me go outside to check on him, I could get permission to show you how to do this trick and the other three I already showed you. No. Attendant cannot go outside. Please. No more attendant. Like I said, call me Tendi. I'm sure Mother wouldn't mind if I... Tendi cannot go outside. Tendi cannot go outside. Tendi cannot go... Okay, okay, okay. They're a big guy. I can take a hint. You want to see another magic trick?

26:35Hell for sure. Okay. Hell for sure. How did it get here? Your guess is as good as mine. Ronnie! Cash! Tendi, are you alright? Whoa. Tendi, who are your friends? Oh, this is Apple and his friend Little Boy. They're holding me captive. Why? And that's the way it is. The way what is? Ruh-roh. What? Nani, there's no point. How's Mac? They won't let me outside to see him. We haven't seen Mac. He should be right outside with Mother. Mother? Mother! He's not there. He's okay. He's with Mother. Mother will take care of him. Gosh, maybe I shouldn't have encouraged Mac and Tendi to walk around the interstate.

27:22You think? Don't get sassy with me. Come on, Tendi. Let's go find Mac. No. You all stay. Let Mother finish with him. Hey, big guy. I will fight you. Like, damn you will. Okay. Maybe not me. Cash, sweetie, take him. Wait, wait, wait. We don't need to fight. I'm sure things will turn out just fine. Right, Apple? Right, Tendi. It will be okay. Hey, just wait here. Your friend will come back. Good. Well, if we're stuck here, why do they call you Apple? Sounds like a kid's nickname. You're not a kid. Well, funny story, actually. Where exactly are we? We're still in the interstate. I can't make things out.

28:11Are those people? This looks like a city. Why is it so blurry? Well, like I said, I'm a level six finder. Which means I can see different times in different places, but not clearly when it comes to the physical plane. If I focus in, things become a little clearer. Look here. Where? There. Is that a... what is it? It's a postal collection box. I'm going to focus on it. Look. Oh, yeah. I can't see that. Kinda. Like I said, I'm level six. Can't quite make out letters yet, or particularities of faces. I can kind of hear voices. There, see that person talking? Yeah, I can kind of see a person. I'm gonna focus on him.

29:05Listen. What's she saying? I have no idea. So, what are we doing here? There, down that way, there's a factory near the pier. Pier? Like, are we near the ocean? Yeah, Mac. We are, sort of. Come on, to the factory. Hold tight. Whoa, that was freaky. How long did it take you to get where you could navigate the interstate like this? Are you ever going to stop pronouncing it interstate? No. It took me a long time, a very long time to learn to navigate it like this. Well, we're wherever we're supposed to be? Yes, but not whenever we're supposed to be. How do you know? Because there's still people here.

29:49We need to go to the moment in history when the people left. Who are all these people? There's so many. Why are they just standing around? I don't know for certain. But I know who that is. Up there. On the scaffolding. Who is it? Listen. That's me. That's me on the physical plane. What in the world is this place? What am I saying? Why are there so many people? Why are they making that sound? Are they upset? Oh, I believe so. Because of something I said. Do you believe me now, Mac? That you know how to go about the interstate. That you're a bad person. Maybe I was, but this, whatever it is, it was so long ago.