Episode 89: "In Yon Strait Path” – The Sheridan Tapes
CONTENT WARNING: Multiple character deaths, elements of police violence, strong elements of pyrophobia and the uncanny, unreality, existential dread, coughing and choking sound effects, and loud noises including screams and explosions
02142020c: As Oslow rises from the earth, the staff of the ISPHA Observation Post realizes they are not alone…
Starring Kris Allison as Dana Caldwell, Kirsty Woolven as seismography, Athena Lee as Imaging, Jenna Rose as Medic, Dontae Majors as Sensors, Josh Beard as Coordination, B. Narr as Drone Control, Stephen Indrisano as Communications, Mike LeBeau as Security, Mihai Matei as North Guard, Marnie Warner as East Guard, Michael McCue as South Guard, Michael Mishkin as West Guard, Nikolas Yuen as IT, Mike Kennedy as Edgar Morrison, Sneha Kumar as Lab Tech, and Adrian Gibbs as Adrian Briggs, with original music by Jesse Haugen. Written by Van Winkle, directed by Madeleine Regina, and produced by Virginia Spotts, with dialogue editing and sound design by Van Winkle.
For more information, additional content, and episode transcript, visit thesheridantapes.com
This episode was made possible by our supporters at Patreon.com/homesteadcorner, ko-fi.com/homesteadcorner, and our backers on Seed&Spark.
Script
Transcript
CONTENT WARNING: Multiple character deaths, elements of police violence, strong elements of pyrophobia and the uncanny, unreality, existential dread, coughing and choking sound effects, and loud noises including screams and explosions
[Cassette noises]
[Click]
[Static fades]
[A quiet office]
Dana Caldwell
Personal log, Daniela Miriam Caldwell: 4:14pm Pacific Standard Time, February 10th, 2020. The following is not recorded as part of my duties as director of experimental projects, and as such may not be used in whole or in part by ISPHA or any affiliated individuals or organizations, present or future.
[Creak as she leans back in her chair]
[Sighs] I haven’t had a chance to record one of these since… well, since before Meriwether collapsed. I just haven’t had a moment to myself, not between coordinating rescue efforts and setting up this observation post. It’s funny… how quickly I pushed us to get here. The moment we secured the ruin and had everyone accounted for, I requisitioned the prefabs and moved all essential personnel to Oslow… everyone who was still alive, that is.
[Brief pause]
Should I have taken more time to mourn them? To feel that loss? Meriwether… it was my home for more than a year. I can’t deny that seeing the ruins every day was… unpleasant. Maybe that’s why I rushed over here so quickly, once I realized what Ren was up to. I didn’t want that reminder of my failures. I was so sure we’d dealt with the Ouroboros, so certain that Meriwether was safe… and I didn’t notice the threat until it was too late.
I’ve always held on to that certainty. I had to — in this job, you have to ground yourself in that certainty just to keep going. Certainty that you’re sane, that you’re doing the right thing, and that the mission comes before everything else. But… that certainty has never been as strong in the quiet moments. And now… Ren has all but officially resigned from their position. Morrison is… I don’t even know. Isn’t that strange? We spent nearly a year monitoring him, and I can’t even say for certain what’s happened to him. And Meriwether’s gone. Decades of research and so much potential just… erased. Rubble and ash. I guess that’s one thing I can still be certain of… Entropy always wins. Sometimes sooner than anticipated.
I shouldn’t be so blasé about it. It wasn’t entropy that killed those people. Entropy wasn’t the reason most of them are out of a job now. I fought to move as many of them over to this observation post as I could, but… I could only justify so much reallocation before the board shut me down completely. And that’s down to me, deciding to abandon ship and save lives. It was the right call, ultimately… but I can’t help thinking about how many of them had family to support too.
[Brief pause]
I’ve been in contact with the hospital… and my accountant. I’ve barely spent a cent on myself in the last five years, and she estimates that what I have saved up already will be more than enough to pay for my parent’s care… at least, for as long as the doctors say they have left. No matter what happens to me, they will be taken care of. But… I have to wonder how many Meriwether staff members weren’t so well prepared.
[Brief pause]
I’ve hurt a lot of people over the years. I’m not blind to that fact, nor am I slightly comfortable with it. But I’ve always been able to justify it, compartmentalize it as part of my job — a necessary compromise for the good of all humanity. But no matter how much I tell myself that, this isn’t a humanitarian organization. We’re a research institute, and the data we’ve gathered at the expense of those people’s suffering has made ISPHA’s shareholders millions. That’s why the board funds these projects. Sure, they don’t want the world to end either… that would be bad for stock prices. But even if the reasons I was out here were purely noble, purely to save the world from destruction… who decided that was my responsibility in the first place?
I’ve been thinking a lot about Ren’s comment about my “God Complex.” It’s put me in a… strange headspace. I don’t think I have a god complex, per se. I’m far too aware of my own flaws to ever think that I’m above reproach. And yet, I’ve been put in a position where I answer to almost no one, surrounded by scientists and technicians all ready to ask “how high” the moment I tell them to jump. I’ve taken it upon myself to make unilateral life and death decisions — not just for the people I work with, but for all of humanity. Everyone, except myself.
[Brief pause]
I used to be more willing to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak. I’ve led field missions into the fire ever since I joined experimental projects, and I always walked away unharmed. But Babia Góra was… it was closer than I like to admit. I never told anyone, but I almost got caught in that avalanche. It was pure luck that I found a cave to shelter in, and even more so that it wasn’t the one Craig found. And his death… we weren’t close, but it still shook me. It was a horrible way to go, and he didn’t deserve that. But all I could think about as we went through quarantine and debrief was how easily it could have been me, taken over by the fungus and turned into… something else. To lose myself to the things I’ve been seeking out for years.
It’s not death I’m scared of… not really. I don’t want to die, of course.. But I refuse to be scared of dying. Once my body ceases to function, I know that I’m just… gone. I won’t even be aware that I’m dead — there won’t be a me to be aware of it. But the future… that’s what I’m having trouble letting go of, it seems. If it came down to it… if my only choices were laying down my life for the greater good or allowing others to continue suffering — could I make that call? Could I give up my own life, my own ability to change the world for the better? I really don’t know if I could… I don’t think anyone really does, not until the moment arrives. I’d like to think I would, but… [she laughs lightly]
“To every man upon this earth, Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better…”
[She cuts off, unable to finish the quote]
[She leans forward]
End of personal log.
[Cassette noises]
[Click]
[Main Theme]
Recording Begins
[Tapping on a keyboard as someone accesses a digital file]
[Beep]
[Distortion fades]
[Frantic radio chatter]
Seismography
Shit, did you all feel that?
Imaging
What the hell is that?
Medic
Is anyone hurt?
Sensors
Look at the size of that thing…
Coordination
All stations, tell me what you see.
Sensors
There’s nothing on any of the scopes, sir, but it could be a technical issue—
Drone Control
Forget the scopes, just look at it!
Communications
It’s a… it looks like Oslow, but… something’s wrong…
Seismography
Yeah no shit! There’s a fucking pyramid in the middle of it!
Coordination
Please limit the color commentary, seismography.
Medic
They’re right though… there’s some kind of large structure in the center of the city… Possibly a ziggurat.
Sensors
I’m seeing walls and guard towers too, sir… this really doesn’t look like any of the pictures of Oslow we have.
Coordination
Imaging, are we picking up anything?
Imaging
Negative, Coordination — no visual on camera, spectrograph, or x-ray, just a fuzzy black spot in the middle of the image. Some hazing around the edges, but nothing I can positively ID.
Seismography
But I can see it! It’s right fucking there!
[Brief pause]
Coordination
I’m patching in Director Caldwell’s office. [Beep; static pop] Director?
Dana Caldwell
I hear you, Joshua. What’s going on?
[Beeps during radio messages with distant team]
Coordination
Doctor Caldwell, it appears Oslow has re-emerged into normal space time, but it’s… different, somehow.
Dana Caldwell
Understood. All control personnel, remain at your posts and continue observations. Security, lock down all entrances and exits, I don’t want anyone getting in or out without my say-so.
Security Chief
Roger that, director.
Dana Caldwell
I’m on my way down, standby.
Security Chief
Security stations, sound off.
North Guard
North entrance, secure.
East Guard
East entrance, secure.
South Guard
South entrance, buttoned up tight.
West Guard
West entrance, secure.
Security Chief
Facility is secure, sir. All stations, stay on your toes and watch your six. Good luck.
[Beep]
[Silence]
[Beep; new CCTV footage in central observation]
[Caldwell buzzes the door to request entry]
[The sound of busy tapping]
Dana Caldwell
Caldwell to Observation — unseal door one.
[Footsteps to the door; beeps and chimes]
[The door unlocks and slides open with mechanical clunks and a hiss of air]
[Caldwell steps through, the door is sealed behind her]
Dana Caldwell
Status.
Coordination
Unchanged, Doctor Caldwell. We’re still receiving no usable data from the anomaly. Seismography detected a short burst of Rayleigh waves, but it barely registered a 1.6.
[Door finishes locking]
Dana Caldwell
Still nothing on any of the cameras?
Imaging
No sir… I’m running a full spectrum analysis and I’m still getting nothing. It’s almost like it’s being… censored, somehow.
[Caldwell steps forward]
Dana Caldwell
And yet we can all see it. Hmmm. [Muttering] What have you done, Ren?
IT
Did you say something, director?
Dana Caldwell
Nothing, it’s nothing. [Into radio; BEEP] Security team, report in.
Security Chief
All stations, sound off.
North Guard
All clear.
East Guard
All clear.
“South Guard”
All clear, chief.
West Guard
All clear as well, sir.
Security Chief
Facility is secure. Still recommend that all personnel remain at their stations until we know more.
Dana Caldwell
Agreed. We’re not going anywhere… not until we figure this out.
[Beeps of radio messages cease; looks around the room]
Where’s drone control?
Drone Control
Uh… right here, sir.
Dana Caldwell
Can you send something up to get a closer look?
Drone Control
Um… I should be able to. It might just be difficult figuring out a flight path if the onboard camera still doesn’t pick anything up, but I can give it a shot—
Dana Caldwell
Just get it done.
[Drone Control stammers slightly, then presses some buttons on their console]
[They grab the joystick]
Drone Control
Quadcopter one is in the air… I have picture.
Dana Caldwell
On monitor one.
[A flat-panel screen displays the drone’s picture, the whine of the drone’s motors heard over the speakers]
Drone Control
No change, director… the image is still negative.
Dana Caldwell
Move in closer, I want to see if the effect holds.
Drone Control
Roger that.
[The whine of the drone increases]
[Caldwell steps forward]
Dana Caldwell
Imaging, is that hazing I’m seeing consistent with the spectrographic images you took earlier—
Drone Control
AHHH!
[The image on the screen suddenly vanishes in a rush of static, a whine of feedback]
Dana Caldwell
What happened?
Drone Control
I uh… [They turn off the feed] the drone is offline, sir. It uh… something hit it.
[The room has grown quiet]
Dana Caldwell
What do you mean, something? Did you see it?
Drone Control
I, uh… I think I did, sir.
Dana Caldwell
…well?
Drone Control
…It looked like some kind of… hand.
[Pause]
[Caldwell’s phone buzzes]
Dana Caldwell
Excuse me for a moment. [Beep as she picks up; into phone] Caldwell.
ISPHA Lab Tech (over phone)
Director Caldwell, so sorry for calling you unannounced. This is Doctor Kumar… from the gravity observatory?
Dana Caldwell
Keep it brief Doctor, we’re dealing with a bit of a situation here.
ISPHA Lab Tech (over phone)
Sir, we just picked up a massive spike on our laser interferometer… we’re on call with LIGO to see if it was a glitch, but so far it seems to be an accurate reading.
Dana Caldwell
And?
ISPHA Lab Tech (over phone)
Doctor Caldwell, we’re detecting a large spike in gravitational waves, seemingly originating from a terrestrial source. Wherever they’re coming from… it’s close.
Dana Caldwell
…Doctor Kumar, there’s something unusual happening at Observation Post Ganymede — could the two be connected somehow—
[The phone call is interrupted with the sound of static and interference]
Dana Caldwell
Hello? Hello, Doctor Kumar? Can you hear me?
[The call hangs up]
Dana Caldwell
I need to borrow a cell phone… does anyone have reception in here?
[The members of the team check their phones and answer “No” in their own surprised and dismayed ways]
[A landline is hung back up]
Communications
The landline is dead too, Doctor Caldwell… not even getting dial tone.
[Typing]
IT
Looks like our internet connection is cut off too. I can only connect to the internal server.
[Radio beeps in conversation]
Dana Caldwell
Caldwell to security — anyone have eyes on the transmission array?
East Guard
Copy that director… I’ve got a visual, it looks like it’s still intact.
Dana Caldwell
Something must be interfering with the signal, then… [She steps towards Communications] are there any local radio stations we’ve been able to pick up from here?
Communications
Uh… I’ve been able to get the classical station from Arrowhead occasionally.
Dana Caldwell
Try to tune into that, then run a full sweep of AM and FM frequencies. We need to know if we’re not completely cut off.
Communications
Got it.
[Communications turns the radio on, the static shifting and whining as they search for a signal]
Communications
Ah… Negative on FM… [The radio turns off] checking AM.
[The AM section of the radio turns on, and they attempt to scan as before]
[A muffled voice emerges from the static]
Communications
I think I’ve got something, but it’s not—
Adrian Briggs
…oh children of Oslow! Behold, your king has risen from the depths of the earth out of the waters of creation, bringing with him this new paradise remade in the image of our savior! You may feel fear at a change so great and terrible, but fear not — for the fear of the god-king casts aside all troubles and woes. [The technician attempts to change the channel, but the message continues] He has come to judge the world in fire and spirit, and the wicked shall be cast down and utterly destroyed before him. But worry not, you who listen and watch from the dark, for he brings salvation even to you who rebel against his will… the annihilation of the self in service of the god—
Dana Caldwell (over the last line of the message)
Switch it off.
[Communications turns the radio off]
[Silence; pause]
[Radio beeps in conversation]
Security Chief
Security to Observation, come in Observation.
Dana Caldwell
Go ahead, Security.
Security Chief
Director Caldwell, we have a situation at the South entrance. We found a body.
[Pause]
Dana Caldwell
Can you identify it?
Security Chief
It’s Michael, sir… he was posted down here.
Dana Caldwell
How did he die?
Security Chief
…sir, it seems he was… burned to death.
[A distant, bloodcurdling scream]
[People react in quiet alarm]
IT
That came from the west entrance.
Dana Caldwell
Chief Thomason, gather up everyone you can find and report to Central Observation… I don’t want anyone else getting picked off.
Security Chief
U-Understood, sir. All hands, code red. Abandon your stations and gather everyone you can on your way to central observation.
East Guard
Copy that sir… I’m on my way.
“West Guard”
Roger WILCO, chief.
[Radio beeps in conversation cease]
Dana Caldwell
Stephen, we need to get word out to ISPHA HQ, now — they need to know what’s happening.
[Typing]
Communications
I’ve been trying to raise them on shortwave, but I can’t get a response — satellite and cell communication are still down.
Dana Caldwell
Whatever’s happening in Oslow, it must be interfering with the signals somehow… what about the high-gain antenna?
Communications
There aren’t any receiving stations in visual range, sir… Closest one is in California.
Dana Caldwell
That’s not what I’m suggesting. Could you tune into NASA’s deep- space network and bounce a signal off one of their lunar satellites?
Communications
A strong enough directional signal might be able to cut through this interference… but NASA probably wouldn’t be too happy about us hijacking their network for private communications.
[Distant scream]
Dana Caldwell
Inter arma enim silent leges. We need to warn them, now.
Communications
Understood, sir.
[They prepare the signal]
[A distant scream; then another]
Dana Caldwell
Stephen…
Communications
Mayday, mayday, mayday! This is ISPHA Observation Post Ganymede, transmitting in the blind. We are under attack by forces unknown and seeking immediate assistance in the Churchill County area. Mayday, mayday, mayday! Is anyone receiving?
[Tense moment of silence]
[A muffled voice becomes clearer]
Adrian Briggs (through the transmitter)
Trouble yourself not, oh watchers in the dark — for the silence beyond our dread lord’s domain is complete, that no word of heresy may pass between you and the apostates beyond. For lo, the only voice you need to hear is the voice of our savior and his heralds, and in time you shall all know the—
Dana Caldwell (over the message)
Shut it off, Stephen.
Communications (over the message)
…sir, we could still get a response through the deep space network if we—
Dana Caldwell (over the message)
I said shut it off!
[They shut off the message]
[A moment of tense silence]
[Caldwell’s personal radio beeps to life]
Adrian Briggs (through radio)
Do you think you can so easily ignore the voice of your messiah, your god-king incarnate returned from perdition? For all voices shall one day rise in the chorus of the lord of Oslow, the lord of the Earth, the lord of all earths and heavens that ever were or ever could be—
[Beep as Caldwell answers on her radio]
Dana Caldwell
Whoever this is… if you can hear me, then you should know you won’t be able to block our communications forever. This room is full of the most gifted technicians and engineers alive today, with access to some of the most advanced communication equipment and scientific instruments on the planet — we will find a way to reach our organization, and when we do, they’ll send every law enforcement agency in the state here to deal with you.
[Beep as she finishes]
[Beep as someone else answers, continuous beeps in conversation]
Security Chief
…Doctor Caldwell? Can you hear me now?
Dana Caldwell
I’m sorry, Roger… whoever’s attacking us piggybacked your frequency.
Security Chief
I… I didn’t hear anything. I’ve been trying to reach you for the last few minutes.
Dana Caldwell
What’s wrong?
Security Chief
We’re… I tried to find as many of us as I could, but whatever this thing is, it keeps picking us off one by one the moment we’re alone. I’ve gathered as many of us as I could find in one of the supply caches, but I don’t know if—
Dana Caldwell
All of you, get to Central Observation as quickly as possible. I’ll be standing by to open the door as soon as you get here. Don’t stop for anything or anyone else, understood?
Security Chief
Copy that sir. Moving out now… ETA, 30 seconds.
[Radio conversation finishes]
Dana Caldwell
Medic, prepare to receive survivors, they may be injured.
[The Medic begins moving, preparing for trauma response]
Medic
Already on it, director.
Dana Caldwell
Coordinator, clear your workstation, we may need additional space for patients.
Coordination
Understood, director.
[Desks being cleared, medical supplies being prepped]
[Caldwell stares out the door window, stepping forward]
[Tiny, mechanical beeps as she preps the door to open]
Dana Caldwell
I have a visual! Four survivors, one with burn injuries and one limping. Medic, standby to—
[A sudden roar of flames on the other side of the door]
[The Security Chief and the rest of the survivors scream as they burn, collapsing to the floor]
[Eventually, the screams subside, and the flames slowly die down]
[Everyone in central observation is locked into stunned silence]
Dana Caldwell
I… I don’t…
Communications
Orders, director?
Dana Caldwell
[Brief pause] The Observation Post is compromised. We need to get word out to ISPHA and warn them about Oslow. Nothing has changed.
Seismography
Nothing has changed? The entire security team is fucking dead!
Coordination
Watch your tone, seismography.
Seismography
My name is Kirsty, you bureaucratic wanker! And I’m not just going to sit here and wait for whatever’s out there to kill us all!
Dana Caldwell
Central Observation has not been breached, Kirsty. There is only one way in or out of this room, and no one is opening that door from the outside. If you leave now, you’ll be exposing all of us to even greater danger.
Seismography
…shit.
Dana Caldwell
Coordinator, make sure that door remains locked tight until I give the order to evacuate.
“Coordinator”
Of course, director Caldwell.
Dana Caldwell
Drone Control, does anything in our fleet have automated guidance?
Drone Control
Uh… some of the high-altitude birds have GPS capabilities, but with the level of interference we’re dealing with I don’t think that’ll really work—
Dana Caldwell
Then point it south and tell it to fly away from Oslow until it gets a signal… if we load it with our most recent communication logs, it may be able to reach the ISPHA field station in Death Valley on its own.
Drone Control
U-understood, Doctor Caldwell. I’ll… I’ll see if the onboard drives can handle that kind of uplink.
Dana Caldwell
Do it.
[Drone Control types rapidly]
[Caldwell looks out at Oslow, talking to herself]
Dana Caldwell
[Muttering] Broad-spectrum EMF interference… hacking into encrypted communications… terrestrial gravity waves… [Out loud, without turning] Seismography, has anything else showed up on the sensors after that initial rumble?
[No response]
Seismography, this is no time to—
[Caldwell turns and gasps]
[The other technicians react in alarm]
IT
Shit, where did they go?
Medic
Did anyone see what happened?
Imaging
I just saw them a second ago!
Sensors
Holy shit we’re all going to die in here…
Dana Caldwell
Everyone, get in a circle between the work stations — do not take your eyes off the people across from you for any reason.
Communications
Doctor Caldwell, what the hell is going on?
Dana Caldwell
Whatever was out there is in here now, and I’m not letting it pick anyone else off. Circle! Now!!
[Movement of bodies as they move into a small circle in the center of the room]
Imaging
Doctor Caldwell, we can’t just stay like this forever, we have to—
Dana Caldwell
—We won’t. We’re going to establish a baseline of safety before we make our next move, whatever that is. Now keep your eyes on the people across from you, and don’t look away unless I tell you to.
[A moment of silence]
[Nearby radio sparks to life, staticky]
Adrian Briggs (through radio)
You think you are wise, don’t you? You watchers in the dark. You seers without sight. Turning your back on the holy city and the danger it presents to those beyond the light of the god-king’s mercy. You were here to watch, but now you have turned your gazes inward upon yourselves, unaware of the dagger that is already—
Dana Caldwell (over the message)
Ignore that. Do not turn around, do not look out the window. Stephen, can you turn that off without looking away?—
Communications
—Already on it, director.
[Not taking their eyes off anyone, they walk backward, type a quick command, and unplug the radio equipment]
[The eerie message disappears]
Dana Caldwell
[Sigh of relief] Much better… now— [cuts off, looking at Coordinator] Coordinator? Why are you looking at me like that?
“Coordinator”
You know, it’s funny you keep calling me that… I’d thought that of all people, you might be the one to see through the lie.
[The sounds of the room fade]
[An odd crackle]
Dana Caldwell
What are you… What are you doing?
Edgar Morrison
It’s very simple, Doctor Caldwell… I am reminding you and your employers of your place in my new world.
[The sound of crackling fire grows]
Dana Caldwell
[eyes wide] Morrison. [snapping into action] Everyone, get away from the Coordinator! Now!
[The sound of fire fades]
[The normal noises of Central Observation return]
[People react in alarm]
Medic
Doctor Caldwell? Doctor Caldwell, are you okay?
Communications
What’s going on?
Dana Caldwell
Get away from— [She cuts off] Oh my god…
Drone Control
Holy shit… where did they go?
IT
They were right next to me!
Medic
Where’s Coordinator Holt?
Dana Caldwell
Gone. Along with Dontae and Athena.
Communications
Did someone grab them? I didn’t even see anyone come into the room—
Dana Caldwell
No, of course you didn’t see anything, because there was nothing to see. Coordinator Holt has been dead since the security team was killed. Maybe even before.
Communications
Then who was…
Dana Caldwell
It was Morrison, Stephen. He replaced the Coordinator to… I don’t know what, besides toy with us.
[Brief pause]
Medic
Then what do we do, Doctor Caldwell?
Dana Caldwell
[Brief pause] Live to fight another day. Again. [Deep breath] Everyone, we’re going to make a beeline for the garage and load into one of the personnel transports. Pick a partner and keep one hand on their shoulder at all times. Do not let yourself get separated from the group, no matter what happens. We are all getting out of here alive, understood?
[Each Technician gives a quick, nervous “Yes Sir”]
Dana Caldwell
Jenna, prepare to unseal door one.
Medic
Copy that, director.
[She begins the unsealing process on the door]
Dana Caldwell
As soon as that door is open, we move — do not stop for anything unless I tell you to.
[The door slides open, the corridor beyond echoing]
Dana Caldwell
Alright — on me—
[The breakers trip, and all equipment powers down]
IT
Shit, they’ve cut the power.
Dana Caldwell
This changes nothing. Flashlights, everyone — keep them moving, I don’t want us to get blindsided.
[People pull out their phone flashlights and switch them on]
Communications
Ready, Doctor.
Dana Caldwell
Let’s move.
[Footsteps on metal]
[Beep]
[Silence]
[Beep]
[Quiet sound of remaining flames]
[Footsteps on metal]
[Distant alarm blaring]
Dana Caldwell
Watch your step up ahead.
Drone Control
Why, what’s—? [Sounding sick] Oh, fuck…
Medic
Permission to look for survivors, director?
Dana Caldwell
No. They’re all dead.
Medic
We don’t know that for sure, some of them might be—
Dana Caldwell
We can’t risk the delay. Keep. Moving.
[They continue]
[The CCTV feed shifts, following them with the camera]
Dana Caldwell
Hold up.
Communications
What’s wrong?
Dana Caldwell
…does anyone else hear that?
[Metallic clanks, repeating every few seconds]
Drone Control
What the hell is that?
Communications
Could it be another survivor trying to get our attention?
IT
It’s getting closer.
[He starts backing away]
Medic
Nikolas, stay with the group, don’t—
[The IT Technician screams as he’s grabbed and pulled into the dark]
Communications
Shit, what happened to them? Did anyone see?
Medic
They’re just… gone. Something grabbed them and they’re just—
[Clanking is becoming louder]
Dana Caldwell
Flashlights on that noise. Now.
[They all point their lights at the approaching figure]
[Footsteps and clanking continue]
Communications
Is that a… police officer?
Drone Control
Maybe someone heard our messages and called for help! Maybe they’re here to get us out—
Medic
No… that’s not a police officer.
Drone Control
How do you know?
Medic
Look at its head.
[They adjust their lights, and gasp in horror and disgust]
Communications
It’s… where is it’s face?
Dana Caldwell
Fall back. We need to get to the generator room.
Drone Control
What good will that do?
Dana Caldwell
There’s an emergency exit near to the backup generator, we may be able to sneak around to the garage from there. Jenna…
Medic
I know the way. Follow me.
Drone Control
Oh god oh god oh god…
[They retreat as the “officer” raps its baton against the wall, still approaching]
Medic
Turn left… Down this way.
[Another “officer” and their baton are heard in the new area]
Communications
Shit, there’s another one!
Medic
Hurry, this way!
Drone Control
Oh fuck this, I’m not dying here!
[Drone Control charges the nearest officer to fight their way out]
Dana Caldwell
B, get back here! Don’t—
[The “officer” swings its baton, and the technician collapses, dead, their final scream barely heard]
[The thing continues to approach]
Communications
Shit… are they…
Dana Caldwell
Dead. Whatever you do, don’t let these things get close enough to use their batons.
Medic
Christ Caldwell, would it kill you to show a little humanity for once?
Dana Caldwell
Not until we get out of here. Now keep moving, or it won’t be these “officers” you need to worry about. MOVE!
[They follow Caldwell closely as they head down the corridor]
Communications
How far?
[The CCTV cameras follow them as they move]
Medic
Just past this last corner, we’re almost…
[A pair of “officers” lay in wait for them, ahead]
Communications
Shit, we’re trapped!
Medic
Not yet we’re not!
[The medic breaks glass and takes down a fire extinguisher]
[The pin is pulled and she squeezes the trigger, spraying foam on the “officers”]
[The “officers” screech unnaturally]
Medic
Keep going! This extinguisher won’t last long, you need to get the door open! Come on!
[Caldwell and Communications approach the generator room door]
[They begin winding the manual crank to open the door]
Dana Caldwell
Here… this crank works the manual override — we need to get it open.
Medic
Stephen! Help!!
[They look up as Medic drops the empty extinguisher]
[The “officers” recover, pick up their batons, and begin to approach her again]
Communications
Jenna, come on!
Dana Caldwell
Keep cranking!
Communications
We need to help her, those things are going to—!
[The Medic grunts as one of the “officers” kills her instantly with a blunt hit]
Communications
NOOOOOOO!
Dana Caldwell
Stephen, wait—!
[They bolt down the hall with a scream]
[Their scream is cut short by a baton, and their body falls]
[The “officers” begin to move towards Caldwell]
Dana Caldwell
…Goddammit.
[Caldwell cranks the door as fast as she can, panting]
[Just in time, the door swings open, she slams the door behind her, and cranks it shut]
[The “officers” continue to mutely rap against the door, unsure how to get inside]
[Beep]
[Silence]
[Beep]
[Caldwell breathes heavily, trying to catch her breath]
[The batons lightly rap against the door]
[Caldwell’s breath catches in her throat, terrified]
[The batons rap against the window again]
[Silence]
[The “officers” retreat, moving down the corridor beyond]
[Caldwell finally exhales and begins to cry]
Dana Caldwell
I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry. I thought I could get you all out of here alive… I really thought I could.
[Moment of quiet pain]
[They recover enough to stand up and begin walking through the room]
Okay Dana… focus. The emergency exit should be on the other side of the backup generator, just… ah. [she laughs nervously, pained] Sabotaged. Something punched a hole in the bottom of the fuel tank… no wonder it didn’t switch on when the primaries failed.
[She unscrews the lid of a fuel drum]
They left the fuel itself alone… twenty barrels of gasoline for a generator that doesn’t work. Brilliant. [She lets the lid fall] Doesn’t matter, just need to get out through the…
[She cuts off, confused]
The exit’s… it’s gone. How can it be…
Don’t ask how, just accept it. The door is gone. There is no emergency exit any more. Whatever Morrison is now… he can change things. Like he made Joshua disappear.
And now I’m trapped in here with him.
[She stands frozen for a moment]
[She begins walking around the room again]
Alright — don’t focus on what’s missing, focus on what you have. Resources: a broken generator. Not much help, unless Morrison leaves me alone long enough to build something out of it. One cell phone with no signal and a flashlight that is rapidly running out of battery… [she flicks a zippo open] one old zippo lighter. Huh. Guess I shouldn’t have given Ren so much shit about his newfound smoking habit. Not like I could light up in here even if I had a cigarette, not with all the gas—
[She cuts off]
[She sighs and laughs, sad… knowing]
[She steps into the center of the room and calls out]
Dana Caldwell
Morrison! Edgar Morrison, I know you can hear me! Show yourself! Or is the god-king too scared to face one of his subjects?
[A faint sound of air movement from the darkness, his voice fading in along with him]
Edgar Morrison
Not scared at all, Caldwell. Just… patient.
Dana Caldwell
We have that in common, then.
Edgar Morrison
Oh, I think we have a lot more in common than that, Dana. And you don’t have to pretend you’re not afraid anymore. We both know better than that.
Dana Caldwell
Fine. Yes, I’m terrified. I have no idea what you’ve turned yourself into or how you’ve done it, but it scares the living shit out of me. But you know what else I am, Morrison?
Edgar Morrison
What are you?
Dana Caldwell
Pissed. Off.
[Morrison just laughs]
Dana Caldwell
You killed my entire team — everyone in this facility, everyone I was supposed to keep safe. Everyone who trusted me with their lives. And you’re going to pay for that.
Edgar Morrison
[Recovering from his laughter] Oh come now, Dana — I’m far beyond your ability to hurt me now.
Dana Caldwell
Wrong. I’m the one you can’t hurt any longer.
Edgar Morrison
Don’t be so sure. You think you’ve suffered just because I killed your team? No… that was just the prelude.
Dana Caldwell
Prelude to what?
Edgar Morrison
The example I will make of ISPHA… of you. There will be no pretenders to the throne, no rival powers within my realm. And I will make sure the Source itself cries out that warning to all who hear it.
Dana Caldwell
…no.
Edgar Morrison
No?
[She steps towards him]
Dana Caldwell
You’re going to kill me? So what. I’ve already accepted that. I’m not afraid of death. You’ve got nothing to threaten me with.
Edgar Morrison
I said nothing about death, Dana… not yet, at least. You know, I’ve never been much of a history buff, but you have to admire the Romans. They maintained peace across their entire empire for nearly 200 years… and all it took was the brutality of crucifixion to make it stick.
Dana Caldwell
No, Morrison. That’s not where my story ends. You’ve already taken everything that you could from me… but now, it’s my turn.
[She steps towards the gas drum]
[She pulls the zippo lighter out and flicks it open, holding it over the drum]
[Brief pause]
Edgar Morrison
So. Fire, then.
Dana Caldwell
It seemed to work well enough for you. One spark, and all the gas in this room goes up. This whole place becomes a funeral pyre for the both of us.
Edgar Morrison
Unless…?
Dana Caldwell
Unless you go back to your city and stay there. Leave this facility in peace. Let us bury our dead.
Edgar Morrison
You’re bluffing.
Dana Caldwell
[laughing wildly, dangerously] Am I?
Edgar Morrison
You would never give up your own life like this. You’re too much like me, Dana. You’ve got too much to live for.
Dana Caldwell
Death isn’t something I can run away from. Not forever. And neither can you.
“And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds, For the ashes of his fathers, And the temples of his gods?”
Edgar Morrison
Dana… Dana, don’t…
[Click; the zippo ignites]
[Sudden, violent rush of flames]
[CCTV feed vanishes quickly with a Beep]
[Silence]
[Beep]
[A dying CCTV camera flickers on in the burning wreckage of the ISPHA Observation Post]
[After a few moments, movement is heard]
[Morrison gasps in pain, crawling out of the rubble]
[He gasps and coughs, dragging himself towards his city]
[The CCTV camera succumbs to the flames; BEEP]
Homestead on the Corner 