You are listening to the new Mutual Audio Network. Welcome home. The following audio drama is rated PG-13, suggesting that all children under the age of 13 should listen accompanied with an adult. Welcome to the world's largest and longest running showcase of modern audio drama. I'm your host, Jack Ward, with... David Ault. Jack, you certainly look a lot less green around the gills. Well, the tortoise certainly has taken a whole lot less...
the jumps and bumps this time around. Where are we? Well, apparently we're at the phenomenon. This week it's a trilogy of tales to get us started with The Swarm, The Days That Follow, and The Lantern Is Lit. And it all begins right here on the Sonic Society. We interrupt this programming at the request of the White House. This is the emergency alert system. All normal programming has been discontinued during this national emergency.
Please remain in your homes. If you are not at home, find shelter immediately. Close all blinds and shades. Block out all windows. look outside. Do not look at the sky. Do not make noise. Your cooperation is vital to your survival. Appointed government personnel will update you shortly. Where is it? An Amber Alert? Can you get yours? What could possibly be happening at this time?
Are you reading this? Don't look outside. Don't look at the sky. Don't make noise. What is this talking about? No, I... Why the sky? What's happening? This is a joke, right? You think someone hacked the emergency broadcast system? It makes more sense than don't look at the sky. Ugh. Where are you going? I'm looking. Are you crazy? It says to keep the blinds shut. Laura, what do you think is going to happen? Don't, please. Just listen to the message. Laura, just please.
What's out there? Nothing. The street is empty. It's quiet. Pretty normal for the middle of the night. Yeah. What about the sky? Eric? Eric? Oh my god! Eric! Eric! Wake up! No, no, no! Hmm. Hi, Dr. Walther. Good. I was just heading out and saw your light on. Thought I'd say hello. You're here late tonight. We had a meeting for a group project, and then I just stayed to get some work done. It's easier to focus here than my apartment. What about you?
Just grading some papers and waiting for my wife to finish her shift at the library. Your wife is still working? Isn't she, like, super pregnant? Yeah, she's very pregnant. But she's gonna work till the baby comes. She loves a late shift, huh? Yes, unfortunately. Excuse me one second. Hello? Oh, God. Dr. Walters, are you okay? Look outside, do not look at the sky, do not.
What? Susan, this is real. I can't explain right now, but you have to get to C building now. C building? Yes. The kitchen on the first floor. Well, this says stay inside. What's going on? You have 15 minutes. You have to trust me. I have to go to the library, but I'll meet you there. Go now. Okay.
Dr. Walther? Did you get the emergency alert? Yeah, don't look outside. What's that supposed to mean? Listen, this is not a joke. You need to get to C building now. Why? Just go and listen to the alert. Something is coming and it's coming soon. Get inside and stay away from windows. Get everyone you can along the way, but don't wait. The kitchen on the first floor. Go. Now.
Mom, listen. I know it's late, but just listen for a second. Something is happening. I need you to wake up Dad and get to the basement now. Do not look outside. Just get to the basement and turn on the news. They'll be reporting about... something. I know, and I'm sorry. I'm scared too, Mom, but you have to listen to me. I have to go. Get into the basement, and don't look out the windows. I love you. Bye. Evelyn! Evelyn!
Evelyn, we need to go. Henry? What the hell? Something's happening. I don't know what, but there's an emergency alert out. I've been activated. We have to get to the bunker, and we have to go now. What? Okay. Everyone listen up! This is an emergency! What's happening? All I know is what it said in the emergency alert, and that whatever's coming will be here in a few minutes. What emer- What? Jesus Christ, turn your phones on! We don't have much time so please listen.
As your phones are telling you, there's something happening. Something serious and something dangerous. I don't have time to explain, but there's a survival bunker next door in the C-Build. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true, and I'll explain the details to everyone when we get there. If you want to come with us, we're leaving now. If you want to stay here in the library, please listen to the message. Stay away from the windows and be quiet. Whatever's coming will be here soon. Let's go.
Did you talk to anyone? Did they tell you what's happening? I got a call. All they said is that we have 15 minutes. Thank God I was in my office. Do you think we're being attacked? I don't know. They didn't give me any information. It could be nuclear. Or some kind of solar event. It could be anything. All I know is that we have to get to that phone. Everyone into the kitchen, quickly. I need to get to the microwave, excuse me.
There's more people here than the bunker was designed for. So everyone go through the fridges, freezers, pantries, cabinets, grab up anything and everything edible and march it down this path. At the end, you'll find a locked door with a keypad. The code is 031537, okay? 031537.
Okay, folks, you heard him. Start reading the fridge and the cupboards. Careful as you go down the stairs. There's broken glass and who knows what else. Don't slip and fall. We do not need any broken bones. Let's go. Move it. And where do you think you're going? We need the classroom for state kids. The medical supplies are going to be limited. The baby. Exactly. We don't know how long we'll be down there. What if...
Whatever it is hits before you get back. It won't. How do you... Evelyn, it won't. Henry, we can do without that stuff. No, we can't. We'll need it. Then I'm coming with you. We'll cover the building twice as fast. That's completely out of the question. Why? Because you're eight months pregnant. Evelyn, we're wasting time. You're not coming. Dr. Walters, let me come help.
I'm not sure if you know this building, but it's all windows in that hallway. If you look outside, something bad could happen. We don't know what, but just don't look anywhere near the windows, okay? Okay. Don't look outside. Got it. Good. Let's go. Evelyn, please keep them from panicking. I'll be right back. I love you. I love you, too. Be careful.
We have to make this quick. I'll take the second floor, you take the third floor. Grab the first aid kit and any medical supplies from each classroom, and then head back to the bunker, okay? Yep, got it. クリームチーズ Don't look at me, don't look at me, don't look at me. Go, go, go, go! Huh? Jesus! What took you so long? Eyes down! Eyes down! What's that noise outside?
Where's Mike? He's coming. Can you see him? Don't look at the window out there. I'm not. Yes, I can see him. Shit! Eyes down, Mike! Don't look at the window! Oh my god. What? Oh god. What's happening to him? I have no idea. he's gone. Come on, into the bunker. Let's go. Yes, very much. It's nicer than the last one. But you know I don't do this for the hotel room.
You know that nobody else gets such prompt and personal attention. And what about me? Am I your favorite? Of course. Not your husband? My husband hasn't looked at me like you do for years. What are you looking at? It's just... You're so beautiful. And I am so lucky to be at your service. I wish we could meet without all this sneaking around. You know, that's not possible.
It will be a scandal. And my work for the LDP and the people of Japan are too important to risk. What's going on out there that's so damn important? Don't get me started. What is it? You have to come with me. Wait, what? Put your shoes on. We have to leave. Now. But what about the press? That's no longer a concern. What do you mean? They'll see us. They'll see you. Victor, none of that matters anymore. What? Are you ready? Yes, I'm ready. Let's go.
Not that way, the stairs, the elevator is too slow Oh, God. Yuriko, I know I've been curious about your job before and you've been Very accommodating to my inquiry, so I hope I'm not being too forward, but what exactly is going on here? There's an emergency, and we're being evacuated to a secure location. What kind of emergency? Please, hurry!
Yeah. getting not until you tell me what's going on I will but right now I need you to trust me we are running out of time fine LDB報道官の小池由里子です。はい。市民一名と一緒です。いえ、主人ではありません。ビクター・リート・マイヤーというアメリカ人です。私の知る限りではありません。 If you call the phone, I'll put the phone in immediately. I understand. Nobody knows the whole story, but there's something coming.
Everyone's always on high alert in case something ever happens. And I guess something finally did. Victor, where are we going? They might not like that I brought an American. So for both our sakes, if anyone asks what you're doing there, just tell them that you're my option. I can't tell you what that fully means, but it'll keep you out of trouble, I think. Okay, Yurko. I understand. Are you okay? I'm terrified. There's one more thing.
You have to drink this. It's going to knock you out. Excuse me? My government is very protected with secret. The less you know about where we're going, the better off you'll be. Please. I am not okay with this, Yurga. Victor. You have to trust me. Please. Fine. How long will this take? Any second now. This is the emergency alert system. All normal programming has been discontinued during this national emergency.
Early this morning, North American Aerospace Defense Command detected a cloud of objects of indeterminate mass entering the atmosphere over the eastern seaboard. The swarm of objects spread at low altitude over the entire North American continent and eventually expanded their coverage to the entire planet.
At this point, there is no habitable safe zone. All personnel who have attempted to observe these objects either directly or indirectly have been reported as entering a catatonic state, shortly followed by exsanguination through unknown... light, and movement. Visual contact with the phenomenon is lethal. Physical contact with the phenomenon is lethal. Remain where you are. For your own safety, we repeat, do not look outside. Do not look at the sky. Do not make noise.
leave your shelter. Your cooperation is vital to your survival. To personnel with Delta-6 clearance, Blue-12 procedures are in effect. The phenomenon is written and directed by Jared J. Smith. Based on the novel The Phenomenon by R.K. Kadick. It's produced by Andrew Pomeroy and Jared J. Smith. And co-produced by Aiku Chakar Smith. Sound design and music by Andrew Pomeroy. This episode features the voices of... Addison Anderson. Aiku Chakar Smith.
Dan Eberle. Peyton Michelle Edwards. Leslie Frey. Ben Lorenz. Miss Sandra Mathango. Jerry J. Smith. Mimi Sullivan. Patrick... The phenomenon is a production of Luciola Creative. This is the emergency alert system. All normal programming has been discontinued during this national emergency. Remain where you are. For your own safety, we repeat. Do not look outside. Do not look at the sky. Do not make noise.
Do not leave your shelter. Do not generate any more heat or light than is absolutely necessary for your survival. Your cooperation is vital to your survival. To personnel with Delta 6 clearance, Blue 12 procedures are in effect. Mmm. What the fuck? I can tell you're awake. Being so still gives it away. I am sorry I hit you. Pulled a gun on my daughter. I lowered my weapon the second I saw her. How could I know that it wasn't a trick? Will you knock me out with... I am sorry.
We were out looking for supplies when we ran into you, and I didn't mean to hurt you, but I couldn't take the chance. You had a gun. You snuck up behind me. And I am sorry. It's been... chaotic here. You're kidding. Why am I handcuffed? I don't know you. I have a child to protect. Why didn't you just leave me? Why bring me here? So you could have been raped or killed? No. Allah would never forgive such mercy.
For better or worse, you had to come with us. You think God is going to save us from this? Maybe. Maybe not. But he's spared my daughter and I so far, and for that I am grateful. So what are you going to do with me? I'll tell you. Eventually. What? Once you know if you can trust me? That's right. You had a gun and a bag of ammunition. Yes. I'm protecting myself. There are crazy people out there who might ambush me from behind. There are crazy people out there doing unspeakable things.
Bands of people roaming the tunnels. I am not one of those people. I was scared and all I could think about was protecting my daughter. I am sorry. I am not going to hurt you. And I'm not going to hurt you either. I've run into some of those people in the tunnels too. And I'm not one of them. So untie me. I believe you. But time will tell. Is your girl okay? Yes. Thank you. Saria, you can come out now. It's all right. This is my daughter, Saria. Say hello. Hi. Hi. And I am Emil.
You are? Still very upset that I'm handcuffed to a radiator. Sharon. My name is Sharon. It's nice to officially meet you, Sharon. Again, my apologies for our rough start. How long have I been unconscious? And where are we? we're underground in the subway office under the grand center We brought you here a few hours ago, but we've been hiding down here since the phenomenon arrived. The phenomenon?
Is there any new information? No. Just the same alert. Hour after hour. Don't look outside. Don't look at the sky. Don't make noise. And you two have been down here the whole time? We stayed in our apartment for the first few days before we needed to leave for some... We encountered some unpleasant people along the way and had to retreat to this office. Aside from a few trips into the station for food and water, we've been here ever since...
We were lucky to find this place. Underground, windows, thick doors. Yeah. New York sure went to shit pretty quickly, huh? Indeed. What about you? How did you survive? I got the alert just like everyone else. If they send an alert like that they aren't fucking around. I couldn't risk getting stuck in my building, so I took my bug out bag and got underground. I've been navigating New York by tunnels since, trying to find some kind of surviving authority. You've been in the tunnels the whole time?
How did you survive? You ever been to a war zone, Emil? No, I haven't. Well, I have. A couple, actually. You learn how to be careful. How to not die. Not even a war zone could have prepared you for this, for those things in the sky. No. I assume you've seen the dead? The people who look into the sky, I mean. Yes. Many of them. Or what's left of them. It's... Estaria. Go listen to your headphones, please. Okay. It's like all the blood is sucked out of their body.
Just a glimpse of those things and you're an instantly shriveled corpse. Yes. I'm not sure where it all goes, but we've seen the same. It happens immediately. One glance and... Quiet. I'm scared of what will happen to my daughter and I if the wrong group finds us. They will certainly take our supplies. And possibly worse. People are scared. And they're panicking. They'll do what they need to survive.
I've seen it many times. And what's happening outside in the sky? Have you seen that many times? Well, no one's seen anything like that before. So, Professor Walthers, are you going to tell us why you have a bunker under the culinary building? Listen, I know you, a lot of you, are angry that I haven't told you what this place is or why it was built, but like I said, it's kind of a long story.
We have time. It was a government job, right? You can tell from the construction. Everything's up to code. There's ventilation and a water supply. There's an emergency exit. And obviously all the appliances came from the lowest bidder. Are you a secret agent or something? Okay, fine. This is very confidential but I suppose you're all in the thick of it now. I'm part of a secret government organization called The Project. We're 26 specially trained individuals working with the U.S. government.
We were positioned all over the globe, Japan, Europe, here in the US, and each given a specific assignment for safeguarding humanity in the face of a globally cataclysmic event. So you are a secret agent? No, I'm just a professor. But I was given an enormous responsibility. What? What's your specific assignment? Protecting this bunker. What do you mean? What you have to understand from the outset is that this place was purely precautionary.
Nobody ever expected it to be used, much less for it to be used within my lifetime or for so many people. Alex is right about this being a government facility. I knew it. But the door at the back isn't an emergency exit. What is it? Exactly. It's a secure underground facility that holds an enormous bulk of seas.
If the world were to experience a major disaster, an asteroid collision, thermonuclear war, irreversible climate change, we might suddenly lose a large portion of the seeds necessary to plant the crops for the next year to sustain us. So what does the seed place have to do with this place?
This place is part of a government initiative based on the same idea. To preserve the necessary materials to ensure the long-term survival of the human race. But this facility isn't for storing seeds. It's for storing knowledge. What kind of knowledge? Well... It's a server, isn't it? A huge server with every book on it. Not a server, Alex. A whole farm of them.
And not just books. We saved everything here. Literature, technical manuals, textbooks, every form of printed work that will or might be or won't be needed. From VCR manuals to step-by-step guides for brain surgery. Everything ever written is stored in there, complete with all illustrations, diagrams, and readouts. Beyond that door is a room with 50 servers, two master control computers, and the sum total of all human knowledge.
It's what we were charged with protecting. It's why we're here. All of us. We realized a long time ago that if we were alone here, there was a good chance we'd be killed by whatever was left out. So without the government say so, we privately agreed that if the day ever came, we'd save as many people as we could. So that there would be others to guard this trove, and to see that it's kept for the time after. Wow. what the hell Mr. Reitmeyer, welcome back.
Where am I? Who are you? Mr. Reitmeyer. Victor. Victor. My name is Dr. Ito. I'm a representative from the Emperor. The Emperor? Yes, the Emperor of Japan. What? What is going on here? How long have I been out? There has been an event, and you are in a secure facility here in Japan. What kind of event? Did people get hurt? Yes, many people I'm afraid. Where's Yuroko? She's working. Miss Koike is safe. And you'll be seeing her soon. How soon? Why am I locked up? Tomorrow.
You'll only be secured for one more day. All the companions brought in must undergo a thorough delousing and a battery of tests before we can let you rejoin your adversaries. As of this morning, the primary cultures were ready, and you and others who earned carriers of a specific list of unacceptable diseases will be allowed out into the facility. What's the delay? If I pass the test, then why am I still locked up?
We are very careful here. We have a backup panel of culture that were taken, just in case the first panel missed something. With a primary past, the secondary is mostly a formality, so I'm confident you'll be reunited with your advocate tomorrow. And then what? And then Victor, you survived. Was that in doubt? More than you think, given the current situation. What is the current situation? What are we hiding from? What is this event? War? No, this was an external event.
something mankind didn't do, and without certain precautions couldn't have survived. And there's no way to break this gently, so I won't patronize you. Within 24 hours of your entrance to the facility, the world was devastated by an event which we estimate has killed, at this point, more than 90% of the world's population. So, it's likely everyone I know, except Yuroko. Yes, unfortunately. What was it? An asteroid? A solar flare? No. Nothing so mundane.
Hello? George, are you still there, my friend? Roger that, Timur. We're reading you loud and clear on the ISS. Things still status quo down there? Yes, things are the same here, George. Is there anything new from the U.S. or Japan? Indeed there is. The U.S. has updated their emergency broadcast. There's some code phrase at the end, but nothing anyone in California understands. What did Japan say about this? Japan's official representative had no comment...
I thought they'd seemed surprised by the news, but who's to say? Did they have any updates about Tokyo? No, they were tight-lipped as usual. I don't suppose you've been able to get in touch with Moscow, am I right? Ah, unfortunately not. Still no word. I am sure I am the last person anyone is thinking about that.
You'll probably forget about me. Assuming there's anyone left. Well, keep at it. You never know when you might get a response. We know it must be awfully lonely down there with just us to talk. It can be, yes. Are things okay up there? Well, Timor, I wish I could say so. Truth is, we just finished... We've got enough food for another two weeks. After that, we'll be getting awful grown.
If I could do anything, I would. You know that. But with no way of communications with Moscow, and even if I could... We're well aware of that, Timor, just letting you know. But there is something you can't... Of course, anything. Well, you're the best supplied of any of the surviving tracking states. Be honest, Timor, we feel you're going to outlive the rest.
That makes you our best chance for carrying messages through once this whole thing is over. Do not say that, my friend. I'm sure that some government somewhere is working on the way to clear our skies of these things. And once that is done, I'm sure they will bring you home. That's awfully nice of you to say, Timor. We've detected a few things up here that make us think otherwise. When we go over the South Pacific, the radiation detectors go nuts. We think that somebody...
A nuke? Why would someone nuke the South Pacific? It's an uninhabited area of the South Pacific. We assume they're trying to kill those things in the sky. But radar still puts coverage of them over that area unchanged. So the nuke did nothing. It would seem so. But even if it did something, they still move right back into the area, unaffected by the radiation. When was this? When did you detect radiation?
Truth be told, we're not quite sure. The indicator on that panel had burnt out. We were doing a maintenance check over the Atlantic when we noticed and repaired. And then we got over the Pacific and the thing lit up like a damn Christmas tree. We were still talking with the university in the US at the time and gave them the data. They're crunching the numbers and seeing how long ago it was, checking decay rates and all that. We'll let you know on the next pass if they're finished. Fair enough.
Thirty seconds until you are gone. Roger that. And ask for those messages? I am hopeful it does not get to that point. But I am happy to help you and your crew however I can. We appreciate that, Timor. Thank you. Enjoy the weather down there. Good tidings. See you in 80 minutes. Copy that. ISS out. Thank you. Three VLF messages in as many days. Jesus Christ. At least we know we're not the last people on Earth, right, XO? Yes indeed, Captain. What's this one say?
To USS Oregon. Blah blah blah, bunch of procedural bullshit. Here we go. Despite your successful deployment of a thermonuclear warhead to the precise coordinates and its subsequent detonation... Coverage of the area of the South Pacific inside the radius of the detonation has remained unchanged as measured by satellite radar. Son of a bitch! So what exactly does that mean, sir? That XO means that last night we utilized a 100 kiloton, 200 million dollar warhead for precisely squat.
Yes, shit. How could that be, Captain? What kind of thing survives a nuke? Hell, I don't know. Maybe whatever these things are are immune to radiation. Maybe they're machines. Maybe they're indestructible. Or maybe they're ghosts. How the hell should I know? So what are our new orders, sir? Uh, let's see. Proceed at flank speed to such and such coordinates and... Holy hell. We're putting ashore. Sir? Subpen? They've got a damn subpen! A subpen, sir?
It's a goddamn covered offshore dock. Concrete and steel, meant to be a reload and resupply facility in wartime. Haven't been put into practice since World War II, and then by the goddamn Nazis. Where the fuck did comps have packed to dig up a motherfucking pen? An indoor dock? I think we should be glad they did, sir. Hell yes, I am. I was beginning to worry. All this shit they've thrown at us.
Don't use the periscope. Don't put men on deck when you surface. All exterior repairs to be done at night by divers out of hatches. And then they finally give us the story about some strange clouds from space killing people who so much as look at them, and then they have us nuke someplace in the empty ocean. If it weren't for the proper confirmation codes and the civilian radio, I'd have thought our comms have been compromised. This is the first order that's made since.
Should I have Thompson set a course, sir? Damn straight. Here's the coordinates. Flank speed, just like it says. This is a unique phenomenon we're dealing with, sir. It has a radar signature, but it's decidedly not metallic, or at least it's not ferrous. They're wingless, yet they fly. They do not seem to consume anything, neither flesh nor fuel, yet they're highly active. We cannot observe them directly or indirectly, nor touch them without dying.
They seem to react like a predator, hunting by sight, sound, movement, heat. They're patient. Seeming to interlock and form cocoons over buildings and vehicles that emit signs of life. Waiting for an entrance. Waiting for a gap. For a way in. They do not conform to anything we've previously encountered, biological or technological. They do not stop when hit with any form of weaponry. After attempting every method of communication and combat, we've learned exactly nothing of use.
We've utilized agents all over the globe to preserve and isolate pockets of survivors as best we can. Most major cities have one or two confirmed populations of survivors, notably large in cities with major underground rail installations. New York, London, Moscow, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Paris, though some of them are not in the most organized or civilized fashion.
Mr. President, it's at this point that we've exhausted all options except some attempt at surrender, which we currently do not know how to do, or if it's even possible to do so. The Phenomenon is written and directed by Jared J. Smith, based on the novel The Phenomenon by R.K. Kadick. It's produced by Andrew Pomeroy and Jared J. Smith, and co-produced by Aiku Chakar Smith. Sound design and music by Andrew Pomeroy. This episode features the voices of...
Peyton Michelle Edwards. Leslie Frey. Dai Ishiguro. Ben Lorenz. Miss Sandra Modongo. Devin Nelson. Michael Paladine. Walter John Parks. Jared J. Smith. and Jason E. York. The Phenomenon is a production of Luciola Creative. This is the emergency alert system. All normal programming has been discontinued during this national emergency. We highly encourage remaining survivor groups to coordinate. Movement across the surface is possible in closed vehicles with their windows blacked out.
infrared and ultraviolet vision is safe. The phenomenon will interlock and cover any moving vehicle, heat source, or structure emanating sound. The phenomenon will lose interest after several hours without further stimulus. When moving on foot, stay under covered areas and move as quickly and quietly as possible. Thick fog or low altitude cumulus clouds can also provide visual cover, but will not protect from heat or noise.
Do not look outside. Do not look at the sky. Do not make noise. Generate as little heat as possible. Move as slowly as possible to avoid accidental noise. For personnel with Delta 6 clearance, blue 12 procedures are no longer in effect. Red 4 procedures now supersede all previous orders. Do you need a pillow? What? A pillow for your head. You look really uncomfortable. Sure. Thank you. Are you supposed to be talking to me? It's okay. My dad told me not to, but he knows you're not bad.
Guess how old I am. I don't know. Guess. Eight? I'm nine and a half. My dad's gonna keep us safe, you know. I know he will. He's very important. He works for the government and helps them make friends. Make friends? Yeah. He and the ambassador go to Qatar to make friends there for the U.S. He works for an ambassador? Yep. Do you know what happens to people when they look at the things in the sky?
I do too. I saw it when my mom looked out the window. After the phones all started beeping, she looked out the window and fell down. Her body got all shriveled. I'm sorry you had to see that. My dad cried. I never saw him cry before that. I cried too. That's my dad. Hello little one. Hi dad. Was everything okay here while I was gone? Yep. I told Sharon about mom. Emil, we need to talk.
Okay. Saria, go listen to your music. Here, I brought you some new batteries. But dad, I want to... Saria, please. Sharon and I have to talk about adult things. Oh. How are your wrists? They would be a lot better if you uncuffed me. What are the Red Four procedures? What are the Red 4 procedures? And what are the Blue 12 procedures? How am I supposed to know? Emil. I'm former military. I'm also not an idiot. I don't know what those procedures entail, but I know they're operational and structure.
I've seen how your ears perk up when those instructions are broadcast, and you've disappeared a few times and returned with very few details about where you've been. I would assume you're not intelligence, and I know you're not military, so I need some answers. Now. Emil, the world has gone completely to shit. Billions of people are dead. Tell me what those messages mean. About 10 years ago, I was translating for Homeland Security and there was a call for volunteers for a new initiative.
A joint venture between Homeland, CIA, FBI, the Pentagon, and... I don't know. I have a dozen other federal agencies. It was a chance to earn an extra paycheck, all for just a few weeks of training at Langley and being called on for specific instructions in case of disaster. Bet you never planned on this. No. It's safe to say that this was not one of these scenarios we trained. I assumed I would never even be called upon. They gave us a variety of packages and instructions for how to use them.
Blue 12 is prepare and hold all packages. Detonators, transmitters. Red 4 is deploy Red Package 4. All other orders supersede. Detonators? Yes. Some plans call for controlled demolition of strategic sites, but I don't know where or why. It's not my place to know. I'm only Delta-6, a footstool. What was Red Package for? Transmit I had to find an area close enough to the surface to activate it. A detonator? I don't know. I'm extremely low level in New York.
So what now? Now, I wait for my next instructions. Wait? It's not safe here. We need to get out of here. We need to find somewhere safe. I know it's not safe here. But I can't leave yet. Well, I can! How much longer are you planning on holding me? You need to let me go! Soon. Soon. I am sorry about all- I'm sorry about your wife. Thank you, Sharon.
So these things, they just came out of nowhere, from space? Essentially, yes. We calculated their trajectory, and it showed them coming in from outside the solar system. The damage they have done to the planet's population is already considerable. But the Emperor intends Japan to rise from the ashes and become the dominant power around the world. There will be other survivors.
Of course, but they will more than likely be concentrating on agriculture to begin with. They will not interfere with our plans for several decades, by which time it will be too late. And you've stored up enough food to make you the exception. Not exactly, but Japan has always been reliant on the seas for the bulk of our nourishment.
in the aftermath of this event, that will remain true. Japan's shores are replete with thousands of fully equipped ships ready to go. We just have to go and get them once the skies are clear. Doesn't all this rest on the presumption that the skies will clear? That this will end and shortly? What if it lasts years or never ends?
If that becomes the case, I've been assured there's an alternate plan. You've been assured? I'm afraid telling you the plan is above my authority. Oh, that's bullshit. I'm sorry you feel that way. So is that it? I mean, the world ends and simply because I'm cared for by someone who is important, I get to survive and others don't? I'm afraid fate rarely indulges our sense of egalitarianism.
Now that you've been medically cleared, you'll be discharged from the medical wing and escorted to the quarters you'll share with Yuriko. You'll begin a battery of skills and aptitude testing alongside the other companions who've been cleared, so we can find you something to do. You'll be a part of Japan's new empire, assuming you earn your keep.
And I suppose trying to contact my family or anyone outside this facility isn't a possibility. Unfortunately not. The outside world cannot know what we are doing here. You must have been contacted by other governments. Of course. And we told them about the devastation happening here in Japan, which I assure you is significant. Millions are dead and the country is in chaos. But you didn't tell them about this place. Or your future plans. I think you know the answer to that, Victor.
Please reestablish protocol. Containment is paramount. No, no, no, no. This sort of event was never even conceived when this facility was built. There is no SOP, there is no protocol, don't you understand? This is an exception to the rules, an aberration, a possibility unaccounted for. There is no sample! There can't be, there is no way to study the phenomenon. We can't even look at it, much less capture it and analyze it.
Secondary sample of elimination will occur in 45 seconds. Please reestablish protocol. God damn it, we can't. There is no... Sample, there's nothing to contain. We can't open the doors. We can't look out the windows. We can't go outside. We can't leave. Please! Secondary sample elimination will occur in 20 seconds. Please reestablish protocol. I am telling you that compliance is impossible.
There's no danger! Deactivate all elimination protocols now! Secondary Sample Elimination Protocol will be initiated in 10... Oh God, no! Stop it! Why would you fucking listen? Stop! Stop counting money! Stop it! No! This is the emergency alert system. All normal programming has been discontinued during this national emergency. Do not look outside. Do not look at the sky. Do not make noise. To personnel with Phi-1 clearance, be aware that the lantern is lit. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Dr. Alvarez?
This new broadcast, the lantern is lit. What does it mean? It means that hands-on analysis of these things is now totally out of the question. That there's absolutely no way to isolate or contain one of those... Well, we figured as much, Doctor. But we've collected a large amount of our own preliminary analysis. Autopsies, file analysis. And everything we found is information we already have.
We could continue trying. Mara, every corpse is the same. No blood, total dehydration, every single one, and we have no idea how they're doing it. I was hoping it wouldn't come to this. Ma'am? Secondary analysis. We have to conduct secondary analysis. It's our only hope. I'm sorry, I... I don't follow... This whole damn thing is a pain in the ass. Let's go. Excuse me, can everyone please gather around for a moment?
You've all heard the emergency broadcasts, and I know there's been some discussion about what the cryptic messages at the end mean. I don't know anything about the Delta parts, but I do know what the Phi-1 part means. How do you know? How I know is not important right now All that matters is that I do PHI-1 is a contingency planning code meant for people like me, the heads of a few research facilities entrusted with finding answers in the face of unforeseeable disasters like this one.
the lantern is lit means that a specific one of these facilities has been destroyed. What that means is that the job has fallen to us and us alone here to find out just how these things in the sky kill. Lucinda, we've already been working around the clock to try to isolate the cause of death and nothing has been conclusive. Well, Doctor, it's true that we've exhausted every post-mortem approach, but we can still try to isolate a cause through pre-mortem methods. Pre-mortem?
exposing a test subject to the phenomenon and recording every bit of information we can from the body as it dies. Lucinda, we're out of lab animals. Even the mice are gone. Much less more human-like animals like chimps. Or animals with similar systems like pigs. You're suggesting we sacrifice one of ourselves? Yes, Lucas. That's exactly what I'm suggesting. Are you fucking crazy? I know. I know. Please calm down.
I know it's not what any of us want. Of course it's not what we want. But there's a whole world out there that's under attack from these things. People dying every day. All the while we sit in here comfortable and secure twiddling our damn thumbs and finding nothing new since day one. Listen, I would certainly prefer just about any alternative. But if you could sacrifice yourself and end this for everyone, save them, maybe even find a way to prevent it from happening again, wouldn't you?
How would we go about deciding on who... On who's gonna die tomorrow? Well, the only thing I can think of that would be fair is to draw straws. The Phenomenon is written and directed by Jared J. Smith, based on the novel The Phenomenon by R.K. Kadick. It's produced by Andrew Pomeroy and Jared J. Smith, and co-produced by Aiku Chakar Smith. Sound design and music by Andrew Pomeroy. This episode features the voices of...
Brianne Bushes. Donovan Christie, Jr. Leslie Frey. Dai Ishiguro. Lara Lambertu. Gary Lee Mahmood. The Phenomenon is a production of Luciola Creative. And that's this week's show. Please don't forget to check out all the show notes at sonicsociety.org and send us your thoughts on the season at sonicsociety at gmail.com. We love to hear from you. Until next week. It's going to be smooth sailing next week, right, David?
Uh, yes, Jack. Completely. I wouldn't bet on it. I'm Jack Ward. And I'm David Olt. Keep your pecker up, Jack. You're listening to a Sonic Cinema production.