07 | Lost and found

This is an ABC podcast. Hey True Squad. I don't know where to start. The more we uncover, the more we find new mysteries about what's going on in Macroy. So here's a quick reminder of where we're at. The squad is going on T's feed. If if Madeline can make us say and do whatever she wants online, trouble. Just know if you release that video. Things will get bad for you in the

But you are making a mistake. Madeline is evil. Every shady corporation and government agency in the world will want to pull Zach apart. We are going to find Zack. I bet he's been kidnapped! And I'm not going to stop fighting until he's safe. Uncovered. Dad, the cops have to listen to us this time. I agree, Tang. If Zack really has been kidnapped. There's no if, Dad. Constable Fernandez! Alright, alright. Don't get your knickers in a twist. Oh, it's you tank.

I haven't got time for another one of your fairy tales. You have to listen! It's urgent! Wait, let me guess. You want me to arrest the mayor because he's an alien. What? No. That's stupid. It's our friend. He's missing. Oh, right. What's his name? Zach. Last name? We don't have time for this. Zach's not missing. He's been kidnapped. Kidnapped? How do you know that? I know that because Zach's a super high-tech robot and Madeline Tillinski made him.

So she thinks she owns him. Yeah, I heard about your tantrum at the town meeting and your latest story. But it's all true! Either way, if a boy's missing, surely it's worth looking into. Unless this is another of Tang's wild theories. It's not. Madeline's evil and Zack's in trouble. Macroy police. Oh yes. Of course I think Yes, I see how that would be upsetting. Yes, Miss Way's standing right here, ma'am. Mind if I put you on speaker so she can hear this?

Go ahead. I've had enough of these rumors about Zack. I want some kind of intervention order. Sorry? Who is this? I'm Zack's mother. Sax what? And where's your son now, ma'am? I'm looking at him right now. He's here with me. Do we have any more ice cream? Lies! She's making it up! Like the video Madeline made of us bagging tease fans. Sorry, ma'am. I'm just gonna put you on hold while I deal with this. That isn't a real person! Shouldn't you investigate the call or something? Check she was real?

Kid, maybe we should just head home. I think that'd be smart. You're not gonna do anything? Leave Zack and his family alone, Miss Way, or I'll be forced to charge you. There are serious consequences for false allegations. Let's go. Apologies, ma'am. Hopefully your family won't be bothered anymore. You've been sucked in. That woman on the phone doesn't exist! Madeline Talinsky needs to be stopped!

We could put up missing person posters around the town. Sure. We can find a good selfie on his socials. Oh, but first, we should check where he supposedly lives with his parents. Gather evidence. Good idea. Dad, take There's next left. It's the old mansion on Udana Road. You missed it, Dad. What are you doing? Tang, Zach's mom said he was safe at home. You don't believe me. Let's just sleep on it. See where we're at tomorrow. By then, Madeline could have taken Zach miles away or done something.

horrible to him enough you two this is your stop Mitch try to get some sleep right sure meet me at the creepy mansion in half an hour Anyone see you sneaking out? Nope. Not that it matters. My scholarship's stuffed anyway. That's a spirit. Helping Zack is more important. T, look. The security cameras are gone. You're right. Listen. Do you hear that? The sound of us about to bust open the story of the century? No, T, it's quiet. Zach's servers should be humming. They're through here, right?

This is the right room, but where's all the stuff? The computer hubs and the cabling? They've stripped the place and wiped it clean. Don't touch anything. This isn't good tea. No kidding. It also means Madeline's moves act somewhere new. The old sugar refinery. of finding him. In fact, it's kind of our only chance I've got no idea where else I could be. T, just face it, he's not here. He has to be. She's probably got a secret door or a hidden passage. Come on, T. Uh I'm getting some uh

Maybe he's inside the factory. There must be heaps of places to hide him in there. It'll take us hours to search this whole place. If Madeline's left town, she's taking Zack further away by the minute. We'll never catch up with them. But if she hasn't left town, we might waste hours searching in the wrong place. Then what do we do? Should we split up?

Hey! Shh Behind here. Quick! Book the car to the airport for 7 a.m. It's her. Who's she with? No one. She's on the phone. Uh-huh. I'm getting out of here. This place has way too many troublemakers. She means us. I know T. Book me two seats. Although depending on how my next meeting goes, that might Change to one seat plus a lot of excess bag. Sounds like she still has Zack nearby. Yeah.

But wherever she's going tomorrow, she's taking him with her. Dead or alive. She's not going to her office. I was right. She must have Zack inside the refinery. So what are we waiting for? Let's see where she goes. These corridors are like a maze. I want to crash tackle her right now. Make her tell us where Zach is. Quiet and careful is better, T. We don't want her to know she's being followed. She's leading us nowhere. This corridor is clearly a dead end.

Whoa! How did she open that wall? It's a secret door! I told you she had one. Quick, don't let it close! Slide your bag! Nice! Oh, this place is huge. Look! It's Zack! Hello, Zach! How are you going in there? Well, I've been kidnapped, so how do you think I'm going? Come on, we've got to hide. Are you comfortable? Oh yeah. Thanks for using such high quality restraint. I do not remember programming you to be this sassy. You can't keep me locked up here. I can do anything I want. I made you.

And I figured out how to bypass your program. So who's the real genius here? Have I ever told you my middle name? What? I programmed you to think it was your mum's maiden name. Well of course you don't have a mum. My middle name is Lovelace. You're trying to put me in analysis mode. I learned to override that ages ago. Fine, we'll do this old school then. I've got an adapter right here.

Now, enter analysis mode. Nah, not in the mood. How awesome is Zack? Yeah. Well, I don't know if it's smart to make her mad. You really are in full control of yourself. I'm even more of a genius than I thought. Does that mean you won't reprogram me? Well you're too hard to transport like this, but it does seem a shame. What do you need now? I'm in the middle of something. We should go now. Quick!

It feels wrong to leave Zack here. It won't be for long, but before we can get Zack out, we need to make sure Madeline's not around. Sure.

So how are we gonna do that? I've got a plan, but we'll need my dad's help to pull it off. Are you kidding me? I'm sorry, Ken. I'm so very sorry. You're supposed to be my friend, but you knew you were putting my daughter in danger by sending her those messages. No one else would have believed me. She's right. Even you didn't believe me, Dad. That's not the point. You should never have lured Tang towards this conspiracy. For the record, not complaining. It was the story of a lifetime.

But still, this means you owe us, Miss Duval. But what you're asking me to do It has to be done, Penelope. No more stalling. All right. Yes. Is that Madeline Talinsky? Who is this? It's Penelope Duval. I am surprised. You've got the guts to rear your head. Don't let her scare you. Now I know what Jethel's really up to. I'm gonna bring you down. Seriously? Is that a threat? Exactly. I want cash. Lots of cash. And I want to meet you in person. Or what? Or

Or you go in public. I'll go public with everything I know about you and the asset. I've shot down those allegations once I'll do it again. You might have been able to bring down a couple of teenagers. But I'm a respected adult in this community, and I've got concrete evidence. What evidence? You'll find out when we meet. You're bluffing. Do you want to take that risk?

Fine. Come to my office. Not the refinery. Absolutely not. It has to be on neutral ground. Be at the Retunda in Main Street at 5 a.m. Don't be late. I need a cup of tea. You did well, but that was only step one. Now you've gotta actually go through with the meeting. And keep Madeline busy for as long as possible. Make that tea extra strong, please, Mitchell. You can do it. I'll be there to keep watch. Thank you. To make sure you don't back out.

I just wanna bust in there and get Zack. What's taking so long? Be patient. Madeline must be meeting with Duval any minute now. And you've definitely got that thing, Alex lent us. Yes, for the fifth time. Ugh you know I can't do relax. Well, checking your phone every five seconds isn't gonna make it Dad, what's happening? Madeline's arrived. Great.

So the coast is clear. Should be. But Tang, Penelope already looks like she's struggling. She won't be able to keep this up for long. We'll hurry. And Tang, be careful. Dad, I'm always careful. Alright Mitch, showtime. Do you remember the way Madeline went earlier? Uh, I'm pretty sure. This is where Madeline opened the secret door. So how did she do it? Um has to be a lever or a latch or something. Nope. Not here. Anything? Nothing. This sucks. We have no idea what we're doing.

Ow! You alright? Oh, yeah. Guess you figured out how to open the secret door. Oh he's still there. Hey Zach, can you hear us? Hey! You're not hurt, are you? Nope all good. Wait. Listen. It's the song Madeline and Pollock were playing to control him. She must have left it on repeat, just to torture him. She really is a monster. We're gonna get you out, okay? Okay, I'll wait here.

Seems to be a pretty standard keypad like we thought. So where's that thing Alex gave us? Uh here. She said if we attach it, it should be able to crack the code. It's working. Ugh. Estimating time remaining. This could take forever. It's dead. Duval's already caved. If Madeline's on her way back? Yep. We need to get out of here. Not without Zach. The code break is taking way too long. A wise person once told me, sometimes you gotta go low-tech. That was me. Stand back. This is heavy as.

Wow, you guys, that was amazing. I'll untie him, you turn off the music. On it. Zach! Oh, are you okay? Did any of the gloss hit you? Nope, I'm fine. We did it! Oh, I can't believe it! Let's get going. Where? Anywhere but here. Madeline's going to freak out when she realizes what we've done. I know, right? You guys are weird. I'm Zach, by the way. It's autumn today. What? I said I'm Zach. We're too late tea. He's been erased.

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