3 - Decidedly Not Feeling Okay

have your favorite music on? Something is up? Well? I wanted to do something special to celebrate, to celebrate what I offered a promotion today. You did. That's wonderful. Congratulations, thank you. What is it? It's um, it's a pretty huge one, actually, a once in a lifetime kind of deal. Well, don't keep me in suspense. It's it's for Project Magma. That that's great. Oh, I knew you'd get on board. What do they have you doing? Are you on the

sustainability portion? You know I put in a good word with you with Dr Fry, So I was just hoping she would get around to making sure that the pilot keV what they asked me to pilot the mission? Are you fucking kidding me? Hang on, don't get upset. Don't get upset. How can you expect me not to? I know, I know, it was just very unexpected. I mean, they called me in to talk about what I thought was my application for the sustainability role, but they wanted to

and you turn that fucking music off. I can't even hear myself think, Kevin. Three years, three years, Jenna. I've been working on this project for three goddamn years of my life, trying to make this project work, working towards this goal, and then you swoop in and take it behind my back. It's not like I stole it from you. I wasn't even going for it. They came to me, they asked me, you know how badly I wanted that, Jenna.

So now I'm the guy for getting an amazing opportunity. No, you're the bad guy for taking the opportunity away from your husband when you know how much it meant to me. Jesus, Kevin, It's not like I was actively volleying for the position. I wasn't working against you. I went and thinking it was for something else entirely. But you accepted it anyway, didn't you, Kevin? Didn't you? Yes? Un fucking believable, Kevin, I love you, but you were acting like a real

dick right now. I can't you be happy for me? This is a huge deal, not just for me, but for the both of us. We are both going to make history. But history doesn't remember the guy on the ground. They remember the guys on the ship. Can come on, Jenna, I love you, but I just I need some time. Yeah, yeah, okay, wait where are you going out? I need some space? Mag Mel Episode three, decidedly not feeling okay. Jesus, this thing is really jammed in here having some trouble. What

was that I said? Are you having some trouble? Hang on what I said? It looks like you're having some trouble. Just give me a minute. Well, when you're done playing handy woman here, I just wanted to let you know that sandwiches are done, Sydney sandwiches. You're pulling out all the good stuff today. What do you stress eating or something? Do you want to eat or not? I do? I do? Thanks. I wanted to get cleaned up after this, but I am starved. Hey, can I ask you something? What's up?

When you were over on that ship? What happened? What do you mean you were practically there with me the whole time. I mean when we lost transmission for a bit, you were gone an awful long time. I was offline for only like a minute or two, said relax. I know, I know, but I don't know. I just had this terrible feeling while you were over there, and I was worried. Yeah, but I came back, didn't I? Yeah? But did anything happen?

I thought I heard voices. I did too, but I think we were just getting some I don't know, electronic interference from the ship or something, just artifacts from some of their previous transmissions. You know how those radio waves work sometimes, got it? Te warp drive back online? Yes, Okay, back in business, baby, Finally we should set a course for shit. Yeah, where exactly are we going to go? Tee? Is there anything around here? Again, we are an uncharted territory,

so my star maps cannot help. But with the warp drive back in place, I can use the sensors to try to find something. Yes, do that. I gotta eat and then get cleaned up and then find a way home. Took the words right out of my mouth, Magmal were returned after these messages, and now back to Magmal said see Seish keeps free Jesus Earth to sid I've been standing here for like ever. Sorry, sorry, I was just somewhere else. What did you say? I said, the wonders

a steaming hot shower can do for you. Oh good, feeling better? I take it much. How's things going in here? What? What the hell were you just up to? You were staring at this thing? What? Oh? Right? Yeah? Do you know what it is? I don't know, but you were probably right. It looks like an idol of some kind. It's not really clay, though, like you thought, well, then what is it? Stone? Maybe? But I've never seen stone that looks like this before. Somebody carved this thing out

of stone. They used to carve intricate statues out of marble and ancient Greece, so this would have been easier. Okay, but still, I mean, what the hell is it? I didn't take that good of a look at it when I was over there, but now, my god, it's ugly as Hell's that ugly? Different? You would say that kind of just looks like a man sitting on a box, but like a man with like weird growths coming out of him. It looks like a guy I dated in

high school. Yeah, your high school sweetheart had tentacle appendages coming out of his face. No, he had an uncompt beard, which was even worse. Regardless, I only grabbed it because it like called out to me. I guess. I mean, I can't imagine they brought this thing from home me either. Maybe they stumbled across some huge new discovery with it. It's interesting, though, where did they get it from? It doesn't look like any deities the ancient tribes on Earth

used to worship. What about the Mars stuff? I don't know. I was just about to check that before he came in, before you went off into day dreamland. You mean, hey, T, can you see if this thing matches anything in your files? Of course I'll start looking. Hey, how's that? Reading? That ship's log coming along to slowly? As I said, it is badly damaged, and I keep running into errors. How come the log keeps showing up as ours and refusing to read ours? What do you mean? I mean as

the Magma's log? I think due to the ships being so similar and the extreme damage done to it, there is a glitch in which our ship is reading it as its own log, hence causing another error is that normal? Truthfully, I am unshore, but much of this backup technology has a terrible retention rate, so I am not entirely surprised. So if I bang on some panels, do you think it would work? I mean that usually does the job

for me. I was joking. Mostly I will keep at it and try to get some answers, provided you do not harm my panels, I said, I was joking. God, with a billion dollar program, you think they would create technology that would I don't know work correctly. As an aside, we need to have our check in Janna oh Man, can't said go first? Already had mine? Seriously, this is what happens when you take two hours hours? Do we

have to? I mean, we're in the middle of a crisis here, which is exactly why we need to do these It's not like command is going to get these ports back anyway right now, Janna, Fine, let's go get it over with. Today is March. This is Jenna Session number six one seven. Hello Jenna, how are you today? Dude? We were seriously just talking in the other room. Do

we really need to start each session with that? You know what my programming dictates, it's better to start fresh with each of these, to get a clearer head so you can talk freely. I always talk freely. I don't just mean with your language. You know what I am referring to. So let us begin again. Hello, Janna, how are you today? I'm absolutely amazing, proteus. How are you? I'm glad to hear it. How are you holding up

with everything going on? Dude? This is important, Janna. The more you comply, the faster this session will be over. It's fine, okay, everything, it's fine. I'm just one big ball of fine. Forgive me for prying, but you don't seem fine. Your heart rate is elevated. Can you stop checking my vitals please? You know it's part of the standard procedure. Yeah, and it's fucking creepy. What's worrying you?

What's worrying me? Oh? I don't know. Maybe it's um the overwhelming sense of dread of being stranded out in uncharted space, far from home, with no idea how the hell we got here or what the hell we're going to do. But yeah, everything is just peachy. Fucking keen in't it your sarcasm aside? I do understand the gravity of the situation. But do remember that the ship is well stocked, and should it be an emergency, you and SID will be able to sustain yourselves for many years

if necessary. Gee, that does make me feel a whole lot better. Wow, Why don't we change topics for a moment and focus on new developments. That's the newest development I've heard. Why do you have some other bad news to tell us, Tea? Let's talk about what happened on the other ship, the coast ship? You mean, yes, if that is what you wish to call it. What about it? You were there with said you saw it all too,

But I wasn't there with you. I can't see what is inside your head unless you tell me that's a brain t and not one made of circuits and hard drives. I know when you are deflecting. How did you feel going over there? It was standard up, not a big deal, yes, But how did you feel? You said yourself. We are in an extreme and abnormal situation, so visiting another vessel

was bound to elicit some emotions from you. I mean it was fine, Sure, a little scary since I didn't know what I was walking into, But look it all turned out okay, Now, didn't it. Did you hear the things that Sid claimed to do? You mean the whispering? Yes? No? Well, I mean I thought so at first, but I think it was just the interference and my nerves getting to me. There was nothing they are. Sid was being all paranoid and it just got into my head. And what did

they say? What did who say? The whispering voices? You said you thought you heard them at first, Yeah, but as it turns out, I didn't. What did you think you heard? Then? How could you do this to me? Nothing? You hesitated for a moment. Why you know you can trust me, Janna? You can tell me. There's nothing to tell Okay, what about when the transmission was lost? What about it? Do you want to tell me what happened then? Well, when a device isn't broadcasting or receiving properly, generally the

signal is lost until it is restored. What happened on the ship, Janna? What was that loud noise before the transmission cut out? I already told Sid my elbow hit a pan, knocking it to the floor, and after that nothing. I waited until the signal came back. I'm surprised us to Janna about you hiding things puts us all at risk? Well I didn't. Did you look around at all? Did you see anything else you might want to share with me?

I look at me, Jenna. No, okay, I won't push if you are not ready to talk about it, but at some point you will need to. I know. It's just I'm fine, it's nothing. Nothing happened, and I'm back now, safe and sound. Okay. Let's just move on and try to figure out how to get us home. Okay, And how are you doing otherwise? Do you want to talk about the other? Is T enough? I said nothing happened over there. I wasn't going to ask about that again. I was going to ask about the other elephant in

the room, so to speak. I'm not talking about the said thing, and neither am I. I mean the recording, the one from your hut. Yes, I know, the one T. You don't need to remind me. Last time we spoke, you were still defiant about its contents. Have you processed it at all? Yes? And I'm feeling okay about it. There is nothing I can do about it now. So your body says you are decidedly not feeling okay. You cannot keep holding things in, Janna, it is unhealthy. Please

let me help you. I said that I'm fine. Why do you insist we talk about this right now? I am here to ensure your well being as well as help you overcome behavioral patterns that may compromise the success of the mission. Right now, you are displaying signs of deception, and without confronting the betrayal of your husband, you may repeat the same mistake. Believable. You know why don't when you stay out of my fucking business, you fucking machine.

Your business is my business, Janna. Your well being and mental health are essential not only to me, but also the mission. I only have two mission functions on this trip. While my primary mission was to help you both explore the Helix stampula, my secondary mission is to assist those also on the mission in whichever way possible, including these therapeutic check in sessions while on board the Magmaal. You are in my care and I need to make sure

that you continue to function at optimal levels. Optimal levels. I'm not a fucking robot t I'm a human being. I'll process my own fucking emotions on my own fucking time, not when a goddamn tin can tells me to do you understand I did not mean to make you upset. Jack a little too late for that. If you just give me a minute to expect. We're done here, Jenna,

We're done. Engage computer mode, computer mode engaged, fuck off from a computer mode, engaged for horror and programming to detected Magmaal will returned after these messages, and now back to macmill. Okay, Tee, let's try Tamil. No matches detected. Damn, how about Varsie, no matches detected. Jesus, what is this thing? What are you doing? I'm just trying to figure out this idol you brought back. I can't make heads or tails of this thing. You still can't figure out what

language it is. We really don't have it on file. No, I've tried a ton and nothing matches up like Hebrew, no matches detected. I haven't got a clue then, and you've got nothing, Tea, No, I have been unable to no. Wait, hang on, what is it? I've had a background process working on decrypting the ship log. Did you do it? No? But some bits and pieces have come across that may be helpful. Well, spit it out already. According to a

bit of data I was able to uncover. The language appears to be an offshoot of ancient Sumerian Sumerian that's from like three tho b C. How do you not have that in your memory? Banks, I said, an offshoot of Sumerian. Sumerian is effectively a dead language. It went extinct around eight hundred BC and used very sparingly until one hundred a D. I was not programmed to know it, nor was I programmed to know languages deriving from it. Well, can you translate for us? No, the data from the

ship log does not contain an accurate translation key. I might be able to surmise some of it or find already translated portions as I continue to decrypt it, but at the moment it cannot be fully translated. Well that's just great. Okay, are you Are you able to find out what happened to the other ship yet? No? Not yet, But there is more in this data package more bullshit. I've managed to uncover or where the other ship retrieved

this idol? Wait, what you mean like a location? Yes, it appears to be from a planet approximately two thousand kilometers away. Um, that's not much further away than the black hole? Is there anything else on it? To atmosphere readings and their findings unknown? Great? Okay, but do you know what that means? What they found this stuff on some alien planet one that hasn't been discovered yet by command back home. That that means there is other life

out there. We don't know that, Sydney. How can we not? That ship is one of ours, and and it definitely came from somewhere. What is it doing all the way out here? Yeah? But more importantly, why is all the crew missing? You should be thinking about that. If they did visit some alien world, what happened that they're no longer on that ship? Okay? Okay, but this is still

a huge discovery. What if what if they were sent all the way out here, like like on a secret mission or something, and they found what they were looking for? What if they got out here the same way we did, Sydney, did you ever think of that? Okay? Then then maybe they're in trouble too, and we could help them. The crew might still be alive out there and we could save that. I can't even save ourselves. We're stuck. Maybe maybe it was a generational starship maybe a mission we

hadn't heard about yet. Maybe they found a whole new world and are setting up shop there, but they can't get in touch with command either, so they're just waiting for someone to find them. We could help with a scientific breakthrough, Sydney, I need you to get real. Okay. I know this is your first big mission, but I've been on hundreds of expeditions in our Solar System and stuff like you're saying that doesn't happen. I'd know about it.

Besides entering into an unknown atmosphere in an unknown planet, we'd have a whole list of issues and complications that we'd have to deal with. It's dangerous. Okay, then what do you suggest? Well, we could try and set a course for home to how far away is it? Again? One systems are fully restored. Return trip estimated at eight years, seven months, and three days. You want to wait eight years? Yeah, it's a long time and it sucks, but we have

enough food and fuel to make it back, don't we teach? Indeed, success rate of a return trip is set at nine percent. See, we've already been on this ship for two years, and even I can see the seems unraveling. Do you do you really think we can handle another eight years. Look, I know that theoretical science isn't all there, but we can try to slingshot ourselves back in that direction using the black hole. It's a risk, but we could try to set the correct course and hope for the best

possible outcome, though possible. Without the correct calculations, there is no way to know exactly where the magma would wind up or if the ship would even survive the trip. So you're telling me the options are either wait another eight years or or fly into a black hole. That's it? Oh? Those both both seemed reasonable to you. I didn't say reasonable, but they are the sensible ones. Yes, you're willing to wait eight years as opposed to taking a detour to

a planet that may possibly have a way home for us. Yes, you would wait eight years, So so what difference does another few hours make? Because it's uncharted territory, Sydney, we could be walking into a hostile situation. This whole fucking thing is a hostile situation. No, I can't calm down. I've been trying to be calm around you for months and you keep throwing everything in my fucking face and now we are really in a life or death situation, and your solution is to sit idly or instead of

actually doing something about it. I'm just trying to make sure that we are safe. Can't you see that? Funk being safe? We're beyond that now we need help. This place might have it. Why can't you fucking get that through your head and see that if not turn around and we go home. You feel that strongly about it? Huh? Yeah, I do. What's it going to hurt? It's just a few hours. What's the worst that could happen? Proteus? Are you able to set a course for that planet based

on the information in the ship's log? Yes, based on current functional systems, we can make it there in approximately four hours. Okay, are you really sure about this? Yes? Please? You don't really have any other options? All right, fuck it, set the course. Let's go setting course now. I'm coming up to the bridge to prepare for the ship for manual control, just in case, of course, Channa, Yeah, thank you, Yeah, don't mention it. Mag Mel starring Ali Trasher, Julia Hennig,

and b J. Gribb. Additional voices in this episode provided by cat Ton Chanko and mac Manson, written by Jeff Heimbuck and Lindsay Skagin, Directed and edited by Jeff Heimbuck, Produced by Jeff Heimbuck and Ali Trasher. Executive produced by Holly Fry. Audio engineered by Corey Celeste and Alex Gona. Original musical score by Corey Celeste. Additional songs by The Ramikins as played by Roscoe SoulTrain. Magmal is a production of I Heart Radio and Bamfer Productions. Questions comments email

us at Project magmaal at gmail dot com. Until next time, We'll see you when we see you