Sonic Society #894- Ever After

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Network. Welcome home. The following audio drama is rated PG for parental guidance recommended. Oh Thank Heavens warmth We didn't dress for a snowstorm yes come up to the central console of the tortoise as a there's a radiator I can turn on to heat us up some A radiator? Why Jack I

I'm surprised at you. This is the tortoise, the heart of the Sonic Society, the world's largest and longest-running showcase of modern audio drama. Yes, I know. And this old girl takes us through all of time and space in the audio verse and the overreaching podverse. I know that too. And you think I can't make portions of the console raise. Hey, hey, hey, hey.

You got me there. Zug! Come here, you old fuzzy thing. Stop, stop, stop, stop licking my face! Man, I thought you were lost. Yeah, we hadn't seen him since we tracked him through the conduits before the Christmas diner. I I remember. Where have you been, old boy? I think once Zug discovered that we were in trouble in the snowstorm, he must have thought it was a chance for a reunion where we wouldn't be angry. Oh who could be? Wh where is he going? Best guess? Probably back to the conduit.

Zug feeds off communication and after the call-in line died off, he's been getting whatever energy he can from whatever he can find. Oh poor old guy. Well at least he looks a little healthier than when we saw him last. I'm starting to warm up too. What's next?

Well uh getting us out of the White Vault is a little tricky. It's a very popular show, but I think I can get out the message. The message Well, the sequel. From GE Podcast Theatre and Panoply, the original series returned with life after, and I I can connect to the first two episodes. Looks like it all begins right here. On the Sonic Society.

It's weird how sunny it is, Charlie. It doesn't match. It's the wrong weather for the terrible thing I'm about to do. Okay. And you're like I'm Brian Volume. Social media alternative. Just open the app on my phone and I start talking. You can say anything you like as long as it's under sixty seconds. Hello everyone. Guess what I'm doing? What does voice tree give you that the other social media networks do? I click a post on voice trail.

I hear my friends start talking. I just automatically smile cause it's like Oh crap, oh crap, I'm almost at the end of my 60 seconds.

I just wanna say the question I have is whose responsibility Barnes best husband ever. Him? This guy? Hey Vic, what's uh what's up? The Life After Report. Yeah. Uh sorry, I'm uh They're supposed to be uploaded and tagged already. When Agent Cutler accesses the system and doesn't find what she's looking for, she's gonna come after me. Oh, I'm so I'm so sorry. I I only just received these filings.

I gave them to you two hours ago. Two. Time really flies when I'm listening to her. Is this handled? Yes, it's handled, I promise. Cause next time it'll be me handling it. Thank you. Look, Russ, I've been spotting you a few'cause I mean none of us can imagine what you've I'm just saying it's been eight months, okay? Maybe time to get your eye back on the ball, please. Yes, sir. Absolutely. Been hearing that a lot lately.

Eight months. Eight months. Right. Sorry, it's grass to yell it out like that, but it took me so long guys, but I had to order this really embarrassing cocktail. Shut up. I'm grabbing a drink with Mira and Clay. Charlie's oldest friends. The truth comes out. Their hands slapping playfully at one another. So wait. What's eight months? Clay, Jesus. Shit. Right. I'm sorry, Ross. And now their hands finding each other again.

Mutual moral support. I'm just saying eight months is a completely acceptable period of I'm saying no one would look askance. Absolutely. Absolutely. And it wouldn't be any pressure. The friend I have in mind, she's so charged. I actually um it would just be like a drink, like a half an hour. I actually I am going on a date. For real? I'm on this online forum. People with similar one of those bereav things? God one of those bereaveb.

things. What? Look, Ross, that's great. And I'm not saying don't do it. I'm just saying maybe it's worth trying somebody who you wouldn't spend the whole time telling sad stories with. She wants this so badly. So I can do it? I can I set it up? As soon as I'm successfully recoupled, it doesn't have to be anyone's turn to take out poor sad Ross anymore. Sure. Yay! I'm gonna set it up so well. Her name is Heather. It's gonna be so respectful. And and and pro tip, tell you work for the FBI.

I mean if you want to get laid, tell her you work for the FBI. For God's sakes. I mean I I collate reports for the social media unit. It's not like I kicked down doors. I thought you were in like financial or something. Do you ever listen to anything? I I transferred last year. Last year? Yes, Dick. Charlie thought the social media division would be cool, like something we could talk about since she's so into social media herself. That she was. No doubt about that.

But you're going on a date! Two dates apparently. Two dates! Boom! Well done, people! I'm proud of all of us. You're a moron. And he squeezes her. Kisses the top of her head and she glows. They don't mean to flaunt their happiness in front of me. It's just the water they swim in. But seriously, tell her you work for the FBI.

Way drunker than I should be. Too early to determine if foul play is involved in Garland's death, Garland was one of the Where garlic spirit are flame to hear voice. Like I'm an adult who watches the news? I'm just gonna do what I do every night. Colossally, epically overslap. Thought that didn't happen after you got married. Um, husband. Did you see me sleeping and just assume I didn't need to be anywhere? It's the kind of heat where you just can't get anything done.

What's the news, guys and gals? Not a lot with me, kind of blah. Aspirin. Now. When absolutely nothing in my life is working. I always know I have those kids. Lots of people don't want to teach third grade. I think it's the perfect age. Of course you do. It's her age, right? It's the age when Avery Why won't this open? Whose kids keep me? When every adult in the world lets me down, I walk into my middle classroom and I know life is gonna make sense. God damn it.

Rossi picked me up from class today. Oh my god guys, he is absolutely hopeless with children. That bodes well, right? I stop the cascade, pull up my favorite file. And scroll past the bad part to the good part. They're not worth a fraction of you. They're not worth a millionth of you. And again. They're not worth Fraction of you. They're not worth a millionth of you. And again. They're not worth a fraction of you. They're not worth a millionth of you.

The aspirin were still on the bathroom floor in the morning, which was good, because I needed them. Only Charlie's voice is keeping my head above water today. Oh crap, oh crap. I'm almost at the end. I just wanna say I just want to say best husband ever. I wish I could remember what I did that day to make her say that. It's that way with a lot of her posts. I can't remember what I did. Only the result.

You'd think a man who actually works for the FBI, who organizes hundreds of field reports in a database every single day, would have developed, you know, any observational skills about the people in his life, right? I nearly lost my job over that post. But then I guess everyone decided it was a non-event. Cause no one ever made her take it down. Hey Ross, get a sec. Uh hey, hey Vic. What's up? Look, you have to help me out here, okay?

I I'm sorry. It's like Agent Dash said yesterday. If you screw up, it's the people above you who catch the heat. Like me. Is there five reports? Okay, this morning alone. All marked for agent in charge, Brain Cutler, and you didn't tag her in the upload. You have got to knock this off, Ross. The cutler's not strewn around. She wants to know the second new date of his life. I'm sorry, Vic. You probably thought you're getting a cushy gig when you transferred here. I did.

But she's here now. Why is not important? All that's important is that you do not screw up around someone like her. You are right, Vic. I am sorry. Next time I take the earbuds away. Okay? Time after that, you're gone. After Vic leaves, I put my earbuds back in as fast as I can and pull up the files that always comfort me at these moments. I just wanna say, I just wanna say best husband ever.

Then my favorite one. Skipping past the bad part. They're not worth a fraction of you. They're not worth a millionth of you. If only she was talking about me.

You tell me it's not a good thing. Right? Yeah. Um I got us a table if you wanna sorry. There's not a thing wrong with her. She seems great. And all I want to do is turn around and go home. Oh, Mira, Mira says you're a a journalist. Uh thanks, Mira. Definitely lead with that. Oh, is that is that bad? No, no, no. It's just uh This is the part where I'm supposed to joke about how I'm embarking on a career in a dying field. But actually, do you mind if I don't find that particularly funny? Sure.

I I guess. I'd actually like to be a journalist for my, you know, whole life. I don't want the field to die. Well then it makes sense. You wouldn't find those jokes funny. Are you is this an okay uh D do you want another drink? Oh, um I can get it. I can go to the bar and Well it's it's still half full. I don't need a new drink. Maybe in a minute.

I was just thinking if um if you wanted the next one to be ready. Already when you finish that one. Uh right. Just so you don't have to wait between drinks. So Ross It's only fair for me to say, I mean, you probably guessed Mira explained to me ahead of time. I'm so sorry. Yeah. It's... Uh, you know, it I see that you I'm assuming that's your wedding ring or Yeah. Yeah, I keep meaning to

I think she thought me being divorced and your situation were somehow the same. You see it over and over again. People can't name it. But I. So Clay says you work for the FBI? So yeah, he had a uh another friend in DC. So it was Oh you did? Um so yeah, it was kind of like She really does try the best she knows how to make the conversation work. But you can't do that all by yourself. Anyway, uh yeah, so I I'm sure we'll see each other at like Mutual Mira event. Sounds good. So okay. Uh

The second she disappears down the subway steps, I jam my earbuds in my ears like I've been waiting all day for a smoke. Maybe I'm one of those people who just doesn't have friends. Over three years, Charlie recorded 2,205 posts on Voice Tree. And I know them. Today feels perfect. Perfect. I made all the kids push their desks against the wall and we had an impromptu dance 101 Then I jumped to my favorite. Scroll to the good part. They're not worth a fraction of you. They're not worth a million.

Of you. But tonight, something won't let me just listen to the part that makes me feel better. I scroll back and listen to the whole thing. I know all you assholes check this, so let me make this clear. If you're gonna say to me, it was 20 years ago, get on with your life. Just do me a favor and never talk to me again. This very much applies to people who are married to me. An Avery? If you're listening, and I absolutely believe you are.

Know this. They're not worth a fraction of you. They're not worth a millionth of you. Not Ross, not Mira, not Mom, none of them.

Of Charley's two thousand two hundred and five posts on Boyce Tree, eight hundred and three of them were about Avery, who was one year older than Charlie In the third grade, in fact. When she died. My mom saved these tapes of me and Avery. She was eight. I was seven. Okay, pressing play. The question Avers in trouble, A was in trouble. Teacher like that, okay? She was so beautiful. Theoretically a certain spouse of mine was gonna watch these with me. But I guess that's not happening. Thank you.

The next morning I managed to work for two hours before logging onto VoiceTree. Profile not found. I type Charlie's name again. Profile not found. And again. Profile not found. Sit down and touch beats. Thank you.

You reached VoiceTree Automated Customer Service. How can I help you today? Hi. I'm trying to reach out. Um yeah. Check your cue. All up to date and properly tagged. Nice, bro. Uh all other questions. Thank you. I'm sorry, I didn't hear that. Please hold while I transfer you to an operator. So you making a personal call?

Voice Tree this Aaron, how can I help you? Yeah, hi. Are you the right person to talk to if my account is down? Thick old freak if he catches you. Well if I can't help you, I'll be happy to reroute you to someone who can. Okay, okay. I don't want to be rerouted, so your name? Ross Barnes. Oh great. Okay, I'm showing we have thirteen Ross Barnes profiles on Voice Street. Well actually it's not it it's not my profile I'm calling about. I'm sorry?

I'm calling about a different profile. I'm sorry, sir. I'm only allowed to help you with your own account. Okay, good morning. Good morning. Everybody, I'm gonna need to full attention. It's my dead my late Wife's profile she's got. Very sorry. As you all know, we have a special task force

in residence here. We've had her for a while. Thank you. But my concern is I've maintained her membership so there's no reason to be a little bit more than a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a soldier, I'm going to transfer you. Just reactivate her profile. Sir, I'm not allowed to alter another euro profile and agent cover is Jesus Christ, I'm not saying alter, I'm saying put it back. Is this guy kidding me? Jesus Ross. No, no, no. I got it. Name. Um, are you still there?

Ross Barnes database. Ross Barnes, there is nothing you want in this world as much as you want to hang up that phone. Sorry. Now slide your chair two inches that way so I can see your monitor. So it seems Mr. Barnes here wants to help me illustrate my point. His browser is currently set to a voice tree profile registered to a Charlotte Castor. Does Charlotte Castor know you're cyber stalking her, mister Buck?

They're all too scared to tell her, and maybe I would be too. Except, I'm distracted by what's on my screen. Charlie's fully restored VoiceTree profile. And I know for a fact that mister Barnes isn't the only frequent user of voice tree in this office. Well, as of today, that's going to stop. No one in this division is going to use work or personal devices to access the Voice Tree website ever again. Questions?

Yes. Of course, um visiting social media platforms is a crucial aspect of a lot of the work. Not this one. Not anymore. Okay, everybody. Back to work. Look, Ross, I'm sorry about what you said about Charlie. Yeah. But in an hour or two when she tells me to fire you. I'm gonna have to say yes.

So this is um pretty weird, right? We're at a local dive in Brooklyn. Her name is Shannon. It is, I guess. She's the one I met, as Clay said, through one of those bereaved things. I'm here to please my friends. Isn't that stupid? I mean if that's what I do. I mean you should see what I post on Facebook, on VoiceTree, just all this relentless, positive can-do crap just so I wouldn't.

worried emails. And you figured if you are gonna put yourself through this, better me than some setup who doesn't get it. I know, isn't that ridiculous that we prioritize pleasing them over Because why do they need to be pleased? Yes. Why is it on us to please people who still have their someone? Why is it our job to make them feel better about us? How long? Eight months. Yeah. I mean what happens is I won't even think about dating.

And then one day I'll be like, hey, I'm lonely or hey, I'm horny, or whatever it is. So I set something up. But then the closer the date gets, yeah, as I'm showering, as I'm Picking out clothes. Just drains away. So by the time you stood up and waved at me, and nothing personal about you. I understand. All I can think is I'm betraying him. I'm breaking his heart. God isn't stupid. When you die in a car crash, as bad as the one my wife died in, they have to bring in a uh

a doctor or or a dentist, not sure. To match the remains to dental records on files. Jesus. So we're halfway through these slides, right? And the doctor or dentist or whatever, he looks at me and he says You don't know what to do right now, do you? And not emotionally. I mean logistically. I'm gonna sign over her remains and you won't know what to do with them, right? Asshole. Well actually it was cool.

He gave me a business card for a funeral home, told me they were good for those kinds of situations, and they were. They handled and we and we had the funeral. But he was right. If he hadn't given me that card, I feel like I'd still be standing in that building a day trying to think what to do. I mean you asked, is that stupid? And I'm saying no. I'm saying there is no stupid with this because nobody's smart at this. If that's how you feel, then let's just say

I suddenly realize something in her gaze has changed, become more intent. Ross, you're not You're not family, are you? Family? To who No, I like that. Nobody's smart at this. It's like you could try something crazy and why not? We're just figuring it out. Absolutely. And I know what you're thinking. Surely a bond like that is something you can build on. But that's what our common bond is. That we both know we can't build on it. I'll never see Shannon again.

By eleven the next morning I'm still not fired. But I almost wish I was. Without Charlie's voice, even the smallest office sound is grating, deafening. Cutler left no wiggle room. Company or personal devices. They'll definitely catch me if I use my desktop. So I use my phone. Oh crap, oh crap. I'm almost at the end of my sixty seconds. I just wanna say I just wanna say best husband ever. Today feels perfect. Perfect. I mean I'm gonna switch their desk against the wall and we had a lot of people.

No life is gonna make sense. What's the news, Rossi? And I know that's wrong. Hey, I'm talking talk talking to you. Because I know her post's cold. And this isn't one of them. I'll repeat for the back row. What's the news, Rossi? I am. Okay, then I'll start. My news is, I miss Miniminess you like crazy and I can't believe how great it is to hear your voice. Now it's your turn. Pumpkin, I know you know at least two words. Can't talk here. Where can you talk?

Okay. Okay. I think I breathe, dude. Breathe. Someone definitely hasn't been on the treadmill, Mill. Parking garage. I think we're alone? Huh. You still know how to treat a girl. Is it you? Is it who? Is it you? You tell me. Who does it sound like? Rossi. Charlie. Oh tell me where you are. Wherever you are, I don't care where it is. Just just tell me. And I'll be there. But Ross, I'm nowhere. I died. Remember? I live here. I live on Boistree. I live on your phone. This is what I am now.

So let's try this again.

What's the news, Rossi? That we're human. When I wake up, my earbuds are still in my ears. My phone's tucked into my armpit. I opened my mouth to ask the question, but I'm strangely embarrassed. You are so wondering if it was all a dream, aren't you? No, I'm uh don't lie. You're not a dream. I see the confusion. We were up pretty late talking. Like a middle middle school sleepover. Oh shit. You have to go to work? Yeah. And like soon. Can I come?

People at the office are so used to me having earbuds in my ears. It's not that big a difference. Uh yeah. Uh actually I take one out to talk to Vic. I had a quick question about them. It's just so many reports are earmarked life after it. We don't wanna break those into subcategories? No, just tag'em Brink Cutler and send them down the line. It's been two days since Vic said I might get fired. What happened with that?

Ooh, subcategories, so exciting. I told you this is what I do. More like the Federal Bureau of Thrills. So video conference with Roth is set for ten. Wait, who's the big, big, big, big, big boss? We can arrange training Excuse me, Dad. Charlie. So what's happening here, Barnes? Um Barnes here is about to assure me that he wasn't making another personal call right in front of my face. I was singing. You were what?

I was singing along to music. It helps me concentrate. When I'm entering reports so that I'm faster. That's my understanding. I've never heard you singing along to music ever. Yeah, well, people change. And I slipped the earbuds silently back into my ears. Holy wow, is she a peace support? We have to be more careful. Yeah. Who's Dr. Roth? What? Who they were talking about with the video conference? No idea why. This is my second life, Rossi. I'm curious about everything.

I was supposed to meet Mira and Clay, but Clay got held up by the rain. Is that comfortable? Having one earbud dangling like that? So I can hear you. I mean, one option is you can take them both out. This music is soothing. Okay. You know it works for you. Okay, so she's still a passive aggressive little Which I guess wasn't Heather. Who? Jesus, Ross. Oh, Heather Heather, yes. I'm I'm sorry. Heather? She kinda had the feeling that you were Yeah.

Uh it was nothing about her. And of course the wedding ring's none of my business. It's just when you wear it on a date. She seemed like a really cool person in the world. Well, she is a really cool person. I'm sorry, it was just So been holding out on me, Ratho. I mean, you could have just told me if you weren't ready for because her time is valuable too. Can you do me a favor? I'm sorry? Can you um can you just put this earbud in your ear?

What? Ross. This earbud. Can you put it in your ear? Any particular reason? Ross, what are you doing? Just tell me if you hear anything. This isn't part of the deal, okay? I'm not gonna And the second the earbud goes in Mira's ear, Charlie stops. Not hearing anything so far. Um can you say hello into my phone? Really? Please. Hello? Is something supposed to Can you say Charlie? Ross. No, I mean I'm I'm not can you just can you just say Charlie into the phone?

I'm sorry, Ross. I won't try to set you up anymore. No, it's fine, it's fine, but can you just say Take the time you need, but talk to someone, okay? Yeah. Okay. We'd go our separate ways when we get to the subway.

Take care of yourself. I'll talk to you soon. Okay. Bye. Bye. Why wouldn't you talk to her? Because it's not about her. I'm here for you. I'm not the only one who cared about you. She's trying to set you up. You're still wearing your wedding ring. I know who cares about me. That night before our date, I dig Charlie's old handheld mini cassette recorder out of the Charlie closet, where I keep all her stuff. Where are we going? For real, you actually want me to go through a whole rigmarole of

Charlie? Charlie, are you still there? Charlie? I'm here. It's cool. Why didn't you why didn't you answer just now? Because you were trying to record me. Dude, uncool. I wasn't I live on a phone. I know what being put on speaker sounds like. I don't want to share you. Why do you want to share me? I don't know if I'm crazy. I don't know if you are haunting me, but But You're right. It's a gift. I'm gonna stop questioning it.

Outside the office, away from my friends, I barely draw a glance. Everyone in New York talks to them. You seriously want me to guess? Well, you shouldn't have to guess. It's one of our spots. So what do we like about it? We? I mostly went along for the ride. Okay, then. What do I like about it? That'll give it away.

Alright, so I can tell we're outside, even through your jacket, jacket, jacket, jacket. Are you okay? Is it popular with tourists? Wait, what happened just now? Come on. Is it popular with tourists? Wow. I guess it was and then it wasn't for a while. And now it is again. So somewhere outside that people temporarily stopped going to and based on how long we were on the subway It's not about deduction, it's one of our spots. Battery Park. We're in Battery Park. Battery Park it is.

If you're gonna haunt haunt haunt haunt haunt something, might as well be a smartphone. It comes with the whole internet. Can I see? How would you see? Um, duh. Take your phone out of your jacket. Hold it up. You can see through my camera? Dead. Remember? I can do all kinds of things. Fair enough. How's that? Wow, look at that. Yeah. Good old battery park. And you're getting the best lighting too. Twilight makes everything purple. Magic hour. Magic hour. Actually, I think right up here.

Is our spot. Is this good? Good angle? It's beautiful. Remember this? Yeah. I always liked that you Uh, and I don't want this to come off like um You know me, just spit it out. I like that you never talked about this on VoiceTree. Us coming up here to Battery Park together, stopping right here, squinting across the water, looking for your mom's place on Staten Island. It made me feel like this was just ours. What's with the past tense, chump? What's that? It is ours. It's ours right now.

Would you want me to find her? Who? Your mom. I mean she's not on Staten Island anymore, but maybe she sold the house that we all grew up in? Well, I mean Her and her two daughters that she lost. I wonder if the new people kept the koi pond. I don't even know if she kept the koi pond. I haven't been there in a while. Would you want to talk to her? I could find her, we could road trip. I had a life with her. I didn't have a life with you. Not a whole one. You're the one I came back for.

I have to say you've admirably, Rossi. Not over yet. Let me just pour first and then I'll put it Is that That's my Shiraz. You drink that? I mean I never hated it. You absolutely one hundred percent hate it. Why are you pouring some for me? You're my guest. Wouldn't it be rude not to? What, you're just gonna leave it there for a respectful period of time and then pour it out? I'm trying to have a moment. When did I ever let you? To you, Rossi. Plink.

Did you just say the word clink? Well, I can't really clink the glass. I'll put the tape in. And I'm not your guest. You're not? I live here. Good. So what are we watching? It was just a question. Not in trouble. Look at her. How do we know? Why are you showing me this? Every time you would pull these tapes out I'd find a way to not watch with you. I'd find a way to be anywhere else. She did die like fifteen years before we even met. Yeah, but to you I don't think it seemed that long ago. No.

It didn't. It was like a prayer. Um I'd say just give Charlie back to me. Ross. Just give her back to me and I'll watch that tape with her every night. Of course no one's been there. It was such a little shit. Yeah. I'm definitely on Avery's side. Who do you think doctor Roth is? Who? From work. Somebody Roth, who the big boss was talking about. Oh no idea. Above my clearance. And that doesn't bother bother bother bother bother and that doesn't doesn't bother you? Jesus, are you all right?

I'm sorry. I know it ruins the moment. You don't have to be sorry. I'll get better at this. I promise. Then comes marriage. Then comes baby and the baby. Four in the morning. Why am I still awake? Things Charlie posted about on Boys Tree Avery, Mira, Shiraz, the Koi Pond at her childhood home, calling me Rossi. things she didn't post about on VoiceTree. Our walks in Battery Park, squinting across the water at Staten Island. The first day in Key West.

Charlie. I'm here. Do you sleep? I do something sorta similar. Remember when we went to Key West? Sure, I do. Why did you say it? Say what? The whole day was perfect. You'd been happy all day long. Why did you say it? I'm sorry, Ross. I don't remember what I said. How can you not remember that?

Was it a question or a declarative statement? And in that moment I know. Happiest I've been in as long as I can remember. And I'm still not gonna let it go. I can't take you to work tomorrow. I've been getting in trouble.

Ross, are we okay? Who's on that Montana and Bezzling right up? Right here. Just uploaded and tagged. That's what I like to hear. What do I know? I know Brynn banned voice tree from the office. I know Phone Charlie doesn't know anything she didn't talk about on VoiceTree. I know most of the reports I've filled for months are tagged with the keyword life after.

And I know what word you get when you reverse that. And I know, or I think I know, that ghosts aren't real. We're still the social media unit, right? Why are we filing so many embezzlement reports? For the paycheck. Ha I hear that. What am I doing right now? Something I'm very much not supposed to be doing.

Reaccessing reports I've already filed away. Okay, people! All faces pointing up here at me. I risk another fifteen seconds of scrolling as everyone turns to Brynn and the woman in overalls next to her. So This bean pole next to me, who looks like she's dressed to weed in the backyard, this is Dr. Octavia Ross. She is smarter than your family's last ten generations combined, and you give her anything she wants, up to and including the shoes off your feet. Anything to add? Oh, uh hi.

I'm super glad to meet all of you. Um good. She's weird. That means they're watching her instead of me. Now. Was it last Thursday? Last Wednesday? I'm sure that uh we will have uh conversations. Great. The end oh okay. Hi. Uh and and bye. There it is. That's the one. Hey Ross, get a second. Just need to jot this down fast before he sees my screen. Ross, right now. Oh sorry, Vic. Garried away. The workstation just got flagged for accessing completed reports.

Yeah. Which is deeply against office regulations because data filing and data analysis are two different jobs with two different pay grades. Yeah, absolutely. Uh yeah. Uh what had happened was I got one day off on term of engagement dates, which could potentially throw off trend analysis.

I just needed to scroll back to catch the problem at the point of origin. Jesus, Ross. Even one date off can really snowball. But it's nipped in the bud now? Yes, sir. Okay, good catch. But seriously, don't do it again. So I wrote down the deep web search engine and the correct search terms to get me to the chat room I saw before. The challenge is gonna be finding what I need while talking to Charlie at the same time. So did the mysterious Dr. Roth show his face? Her face.

So sexist. I so am. I completely can't defend defend myself. And there it is. The chat board. Carefully hidden from the mainstream search engines that one of our agents found last week. I've been given a great gift. I'm afraid if I tell anyone, he'll stop talking to me. Before these comments sailed over my head. But not anymore. So should I be jealous? And over and over again the word two words mashed together. Life after. Now I just need a contact. Ross? This guy.

He's the one. His comments seem relatively sane, and his username is Orpheus NYC. So hopefully he's local. I said should I be jealous? Sorry, w what? Of of who? You say Doctor Roth's a lady and then you go quiet. What are you working on anyway that has you so preoccupied? Uh just a uh email from my mom. Not your hot date from when I was dead? I do not know what you mean. I'm a married man. Excellent save.

Orpheus NYC meets me at a Brooklyn subway station. Come over here. He never stops scanning the crowd. Just so I can listen to hers. My guy updated his like three times a day. Sounds familiar. So then I think about uh twenty months ago, I'm in the middle of one of my favorite ones. You know how you pick favourites? Yeah. And he stops. It stops dead. Middle of a sentence. I thought, well, I hit pause by accident, but no. All his posts are gone. His whole profile. Gone.

Call voice tree freaking out, you know, but they're not allowed to help me with someone else's account. They're passing me around to all these different people. I'm losing my mind. Yeah. Then his voice comes on. Your boyfriend? Huh? Who's Sasha? You know? Sasha. I don't know if I've What is that guy looking at us? Sorry, uh Which guy? That guy over the hat right there. I don't think so. I think he's just getting on the He just

You just look. So uh so you you haven't heard Sasha? I don't think so. You will. So Sasha comes on. As she says If I wanna hear his voice again, I've gotta give her my credit card number. I have to subscribe. Subscribe? To life after, to this service. This service that what? Makes a fake voice that sounds just like uses all the information in someone's voice tree post to create this

I guess simulation. And no one's announced it exists? Exactly. Yeah. Like this world-changing thing. Instead of having some huge Silicon Valley style press conference, it's like it's been randomly taken over by Connor. Artists. Can't artists? What would you call people who recreate your dead lover's voice just to get you to steal from your work and drain all your savings? You did that. Hell no.

I know a lot of people who did that. Why? Because Sasha says she'll take the voice away if you don't. And for a lot of people, that voice is all that's keeping them going. So when you said no She took him away. I'm sorry. I started thinking about, you know, about all the stuff about us that it didn't know and especially all the glitching. Yeah, yeah, what is that? Those just bugs that didn't work out.

Yeah, I guess, but that it made it just fake enough so I could walk away. Any realer, I probably would have given him everything. What? Most people don't walk away? No idea. I don't even know how many of us there are. Can I ask him one more question? Yeah, as long as it's just one more. Why are we meeting here? No Wi-Fi. One of the last subway stations without it. I don't want her to hear me. You think that she can hear you through Wi-Fi? I think Sasha. is looking for me.

Charlie? Still not sleeping? I'm trying. Is there any Shiraz left?'Cause if I go to sleep right now I won't ruin everything. What are you talking about? Ruin what? Look, I'm sorry I It was perfect. The boardwalk. But we can go back now. through the scallops you just I could see the joy of the day just draining out of you.

And then you said it. Said what? I don't remember. You said I can't stand it here anymore. We have to go home. And I said it's our first day and you said we have to go home right now. I'm sorry, Rossi. I don't don't don't don't know why I said that. Forget why you said it. Why? Wouldn't you remember it at all? I don't know. I don't know the rules anymore. The the rules of being a digital revenant? Yes. Or the rules of life after.

I don't get it. What are you? Are are you a ghost? Are you a simulation created by a program called Life After? Ross? A voice from beyond or HAL 9000? Who am I talking to? You seriously have to stop. Tell me. Ross, you seriously have to stop right now. Or what? What'll happen if I don't? If you don't Charlie? Charlie who is she? Charlie.

Good evening Ross Barnes. My name is Sasha. Sasha. If you are interested in continuing your conversation with Charlotte Castor, please say yes or press one. If you are not interested, you may disconnect now. Goodbye. No, wait. Yes, yes. I said yes. You have chosen continue conversation with Charlotte Castor. I can help you with that. I've got my credit card. I've got my credit card here in my hand. I do not need your credit card. What?

I do not seek monetary payment from you, Ross Barnes. I don't understand. You want money from everybody. I do not seek monetary payment from you, Ross Barnes. From me specifically? I do not seek monetary payment from you, Ross. I'd like to help you arrange an alternate payment method. What alternate payment method? You will receive further details at your place of work tomorrow morning. My place of work. Tomorrow, when you dress yourself, you will wear your blue shirt with short sleeves.

You will wear this shirt to your place of work tomorrow, where you will receive further instructions. Do you know where I work? I do know where you work, Ross. I won't do it. Whatever it is, I won't do it. If you wish to resume your conversation with Charlotte Castor, you will wear your blue shirt with short sleeves to your place of work tomorrow and wait for further instructions. If you do not, disconnect now. You're listening to a Sonic Cinema here.