02 | Run for your life

This is an ABC Podcast. Hey Truth Squad! I want to keep you updated on every step of our investigation. So here's a quick reminder of what we already know.

Follow the data. Who is this? Hello? Hello? It looks like some Computer server? Then that makes total sense for it to be using heaps of bandwidth. computer. No way He's not actually plugged in, right? Ugh! What is that smell? I have no idea. Don't touch him! You don't I need to get a closer look at what's in his head. Well, yep. Definitely a cable plugged right into the back of his skull. Okay, that's a simple explanation for all of this. Duh, yeah. Zach is a robot. How about an explanation?

That isn't completely nuts! Keep your voice down, you wanna wake the robot? Zack is not a robot. Fine. Synthetic, android, whatever. He's obviously not human, unless you can think of some other reason. We don't know what he is. He's our story is what he is. We have our next show. How quick? Let's get out of here! Yep, let's go before... He opens his eyes. Don't look back. Just keep pedaling. Did Did it see us? I don't think so. His eyes were open.

But it seemed like he was booting up. Yeah, kinda. So you admit it? Zach's a robot!

We should report this. To the cops? No, NASA. Yeah, the cops. We can't tell the cops about Zach. We need to keep it on the down low while we research for our show. How do we even research this? We go through his social media, see what he's been up to. I bet his feed doesn't even go that far back. Uh okay, I'll check it out tonight. It's not like I'm going to sleep anyway.

Hi! So what did you find on Zack's feed? Nothing. It looks like any other kids. Exactly. Exactly. This proves there was a Zack. Real flesh and blood. Human Zack but he was replaced by a robot yes Zack might be the first of his kind or he might not So Any one of these kids could be a robot. Hey guys! Ah Zach, hey! Are you okay, Mitchell? You look a little pale.

Wait, have you had your iron levels checked? You should try one of my triple boost multivitamins. You're not getting enough iron from the rat meat, Zach? What? T, you're so funny. Don't worry about her, Zach. T's latest theory is there's rat meat in the sausage rolls. Gross. Bunkers, right? But now that you mention it, I did feel kind of weird last night. Why? Did you see something unusual last night? Dang.

No. Why? Did you? Uh nah, nothing unusual. Well, I gotta go. But hey, the rat meat thing would be a great topic for your next show. Think about it. See you on the bus. Oh, thank goodness he's gone. What?

Excursion to the red gum forest. Ugh, what a waste of time. We've gotta find out more about Zack and whoever put those cameras outside his house. Yeah, but at least with the other students around us, we'll be safe. Won't we? Okay, okay, Sally, Jake, come on on the bar. Ugh, seriously? Bird watching? Even if we didn't have something better to do, I'd rather do anything else. At least we can keep our distance from Zack for a bit. Alright, everyone, come on, quiet down.

I need you to all be in groups of three by the time we get to the forest. Jeez, Mr. Pollock just loves the sound of his own voice, doesn't he? Well, he is the principal. Acting. Acting principal. Anyway, did you want to be in a group with Bippin or Lana? No, I've got a better idea. Yeah? Tang, what are you doing? Are you in a group yet? No. You are you trying to get us killed? Shhh, trust me.

Wanna join us? Yeah, sure. Great! Just the three of us and the great outdoors. This will be fun. Yeah. So fun. Alright, gather around. Okay. That was the mating call of the black throated finch. If you hear that today. Found a finch. But we'll need photos of the bird or even better a nest. The area that you'll be searching is here. You've gone out of bounds if you hit the river or the ocean. The bus will be back at 2. Don't be late.

Okay. Water? I need a refill. Me too. Can you do mine, Zach? Sure, T. Thanks. Mitch, we need a plan. My plan was not to be in a group with that terrifying robot. Well, now you need a new plan. How about survive? That's not terribly ambitious. It's realistic. We're about to head out alone into the forest with a robot who knows. We know he's a robot. We don't know he knows, but we'll soon find out. How? Here's your bottle, tea. You ready? Thanks. Almost. Bippin, Lana, wait up. What is it, T?

Subambulate! Huh? If I don't repeat that exact word to you on the bus, then Mitchell and I have been replaced by robots and you all need to get out of town. Let's go find that fin!

So Zach, it feels like we never see you outside of school. What do you get up to? Tea? Sport? Hanging out? IT class. Lots of stuff, I guess. I watch your show. Oh yeah? Yeah, it's great. You're so brave. I mean, don't you get worried about what might happen to you if you start asking The truth is too important to worry about that, Zack.

The squad deserve to know. We all do. Well, I think what you do is awesome. Thanks. How long have you lived in Makaroy? Uh not long. You? Dad moved us here when I was little. Oh. Wha what about your mom? It's just me and Dad. Oh, sorry, I didn't mean What about your parents? My parents? Yeah. I mean, you have parents, right? Maybe my dad and your folks could hang out sometime. I don't think Zach really was dead love.

hang out with your daddy. What does he do? Oh, he hang on. Do you answer every question with a question? Did you hear that? There you go again! Over there. Let's check it out. Shouldn't we stick to the track? Come on, Mitchell. Whoever learned anything by staying on the track? The ones that made it home? Hey, wait off! Stop! You hear that? The river! It's just through here. Come on!

Guys, I think I see a finch nest! What where? In that tree across the river. About halfway up on that crooked branch. Ugh, I don't see it. Let's go over and get a photo of it. Come on, we can cross on that log over there. Yeah, but Mr. Pollock said not to cross the river. What? Afraid of a little water zak? Uh no. Detention. Pollock will totally forgive us if we get a pick of that net.

Hey Mitchell, can you come here for a sec? What are you doing? Did you really see a nest? No, but I've got an idea. We can give Zack a little test. You should film it. Film what? Remember last year when Bippin dropped his phone in the pool? I remember it totally glitched out and he needed a new one. Yeah, well let's see if the same thing happens to Zack. Going!

Just make sure you're filming it, okay? What are you doing? Shh, he's coming. Just trust me. When they give you the signal, start recording. I don't think I trust that log. He's right. It doesn't look safe. Sure it does. See, it'll be fine. It's taking my weight, no problem. As long as we go one at a time. You first, Mitchell. You're too kind. It seems pretty solid. Okay, not that part. Easy Mitchell. I'm good, I'm good. It'll hold. Made it! Nice one, Mitchell. Okay, you go next, Zach.

It's not too bad. As long as you take it slow. Cool. I'm coming too. Hey Mitch, you should film us! T, what are you doing? You said one at a time. I'm sure it's fine. T, go back! Zach, just keep going forward! Whoa? Whoa! Tang! Tank! Grab my hand! Thanks, Mitch. Okay. Are you okay? Yeah, I'm okay. Where's Zach? He's further downstream. Seems to be getting out on his own. Did you get anything? Yeah, but there was nothing to film. Just two people falling in a river. Zach! You okay?

He's not saying anything. Is he malfunctioning? Dunno. He's coming back. Zach, are you alright? Maybe he's glitching. Can you see any sparks?

Can't tell, but he looks mad. Why did you do that? He sounds mad. What if the water made him go all terminatory? He's starting to run. What do we do? We have to go! Mitch run Mitch! Tang! Come back! Come on! He's catching up! For here! I can see all I do! Mitch! Stop! There's a cliff! Ah! Help me! Grab my hand! Now! I've got you. You're not gonna fall! I'm slipping! Just hold on! Tan! Mitchell! Stay away! We know what you are! Mitch! What are you waiting for? Grab my hand, Mitchell! No!

I'm trying to help you! Just do it, Mitchell! We've got no choice! Okay. Okay. On three, we both pull. One, two, three. Mitchell. You're heavier than you look. Zach! Thank you! Mitch, you okay? I'm okay. I'm okay. I can't believe you are so weak, Zack. What? I can't believe you're so rude. Why did you run? Because we thought you were trying to kill us. What? That's absurd! Zach, do you know what you are? What do you-

Hey sir, sir. Zach Mitchell and Tang aren't back yet. Should we call the Rangers? Yes, of course I'll call the rangers. Hey Mr. Pollock. Where have you been? We got a bit lost. Yeah. Are you okay? Some ambulate. Ugh, they're fine. Hey T, you look terrible.

Didn't sleep either, huh? I couldn't shut my brain down. Same. All I've got is more questions. Like, if Zack's not an evil killer robot, then what is he? Hey guys. Uh, Zack! Uh I y are you okay, Zach? You look like you've seen a ghost. I have kind of After what you said about not knowing what I am, I did something I've never done before. I thought about it. Thought about What? What I am. And I've realized something.

There's someone in my head talking to me, making me think things, do things, want things, a voice, giving me the instructions, telling me what to do. Who's controlling you Zack? I was hoping you'd help me find out. You've been listening to Macaroy Uncovered, an eight-part adventure series made by the ABC.

We've got heaps more podcasts you might like to listen to, like short and curly, which is about some of life's curliest and trickiest questions. Things like are parents hypocrites and should we ban birthday projects? You can hear short and curly for free on the ABC Listen app. or podcast apps like Apple and Google.