1 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:14,040 Hello and welcome to this pod episode 11. I'm your host D 2 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:17,610 Mitas. Our first story for this episode is the quest giver by 3 00:00:17,610 --> 00:00:22,140 Joe ProSet. Joe ProSet write sci fi, horror and psycho fiction. 4 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,290 He has been previously published in Chatwood magazine, the no 5 00:00:25,290 --> 00:00:29,640 sleep podcast and athletic realm magazine. He lives with his wife 6 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:33,360 and kids in the Brainerd Lakes area of northern Minnesota. If 7 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:35,850 you're an adept stalker, and you can find him at one of the many 8 00:00:35,850 --> 00:00:40,380 lakes and rivers or lost deep inside the Great North Woods, or 9 00:00:40,380 --> 00:00:43,800 you can just find them on the internet at Joe proz.com or on 10 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:48,090 Twitter at Joe ProSet. Helping me tell this tale we have a full 11 00:00:48,090 --> 00:00:52,080 cast, starting with Elijah Moore, an actor based out of 12 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,230 Chapel Hill, North Carolina he can currently be seen on CW is 13 00:00:55,230 --> 00:00:59,310 legacies. He likes puzzles long walks on the beach and treating 14 00:00:59,310 --> 00:01:03,480 podcast BIOS as his own personal dating site. Mandy Wong, a Japan 15 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,030 based voice actor who specializes in character voice 16 00:01:06,030 --> 00:01:09,060 work. She loves collaborating with creatives to help bring 17 00:01:09,060 --> 00:01:12,090 their stories to life. We're not behind the mic, she can be found 18 00:01:12,090 --> 00:01:15,330 with her nose in a novel going on a foodie travel adventure or 19 00:01:15,330 --> 00:01:18,900 fawning over fluffy bees. You can also hear her as Melissa 20 00:01:18,960 --> 00:01:24,450 inside fictions casual magics Michael Blakey, voice actor, 21 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:28,590 musician, human, he writes songs and brings messages to life with 22 00:01:28,590 --> 00:01:31,830 his voice, and Missouri boy who wants the people the world to 23 00:01:31,830 --> 00:01:35,370 just be nicer to each other. Angelo Toledo a 20 Something 24 00:01:35,370 --> 00:01:38,310 voice actor undergoing college for the second time, he's also 25 00:01:38,310 --> 00:01:42,030 the author of a poetry book titled binding blindness. Lila 26 00:01:42,030 --> 00:01:45,210 metus. My daughter and co host of me this media is new show Fun 27 00:01:45,210 --> 00:01:48,630 Fact Friday, coming soon to a podcatcher near you. And last 28 00:01:48,630 --> 00:01:51,990 but not least, we have XMRV Chris, all of our actors and 29 00:01:51,990 --> 00:01:54,900 authors links will be in the show notes without further ado, 30 00:01:55,650 --> 00:01:58,140 the quest giver by Joe ProSet. 31 00:02:09,810 --> 00:02:16,470 It's dangerous to go alone. Take this. The kid and he was just a 32 00:02:16,470 --> 00:02:20,010 kid, too young to be called a man looked funny had the long 33 00:02:20,010 --> 00:02:24,630 steel blade resting in my open poems. What is it? Now the head 34 00:02:24,630 --> 00:02:28,950 for smart's this one? He had an unblemished face and youthful 35 00:02:28,950 --> 00:02:34,890 beauty. All his days spent maturing and none aging. Oh yes, 36 00:02:35,190 --> 00:02:39,090 he was going to need a weapon where he was going. The Last 37 00:02:39,090 --> 00:02:43,830 Blade handcrafted by Master swordsmith Masamune at his forge 38 00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:49,800 high atop the mountains of mist careful. Its honed to a razor's 39 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:54,780 edge in case the monsters have thick hides thick hides. 40 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,960 Listen, mister, I'm not hacking at anybody when those sword 41 00:02:58,590 --> 00:03:04,410 so petulant, so certain of his purpose in the world, or rather, 42 00:03:04,650 --> 00:03:11,370 lack thereof. Apparently, I needed to speak more slowly. You 43 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:16,680 clearly don't have a handle on the situation in which you find 44 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:21,750 yourself. I said. It's dangerous to go alone. 45 00:03:22,050 --> 00:03:24,930 Nah, no, thanks, man. I think you're dangerous. 46 00:03:25,290 --> 00:03:29,340 He said Well stepping away. When he had backed far enough to bump 47 00:03:29,340 --> 00:03:33,450 into the glass door of the pawn shop. He smirked later weirdo 48 00:03:33,540 --> 00:03:39,000 and then pushed open the door slipped out and was gone. Yes. 49 00:03:39,630 --> 00:03:44,070 I'll be seeing you again shortly. When the boy left the 50 00:03:44,070 --> 00:03:49,260 pawn shop fell quiet once again. Ambient Music blinked on Twain 51 00:03:49,290 --> 00:03:52,800 from invisible speakers only audible when everything else was 52 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:57,360 not. I sighed and slipped the sword rack under the counter. 53 00:03:58,590 --> 00:04:04,140 He'd be back. May came here to hock car stereos and buy used 54 00:04:04,140 --> 00:04:07,800 guitars that would make them stars and their dreams but in 55 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:12,600 reality would sit unpracticed in the corners of their rooms. They 56 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:17,370 came in with petty desires and unmotivated dreams but left with 57 00:04:17,370 --> 00:04:23,400 so much more. I have to admit when the phone rang, It startled 58 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:29,190 me, if only for a moment. Only after I answered that I realize 59 00:04:29,190 --> 00:04:36,570 how boring this conversation would be. Merrill how good to 60 00:04:36,570 --> 00:04:42,060 hear from you. I said after recognizing His voice. He droned 61 00:04:42,060 --> 00:04:46,500 on with his usual complaints and threats never changing his tune 62 00:04:46,500 --> 00:04:50,940 this one. Of course you're always welcome in my humble 63 00:04:50,940 --> 00:04:56,160 place of business come down any time. His voice continued even 64 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:59,970 as I pulled the receiver away from my ear and didn't stop 65 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:04,350 until I set it back in his cradle. Merrill believed nothing 66 00:05:04,350 --> 00:05:09,480 in life was more important than his rules and regulations. My 67 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:16,380 time was best spent on other things. And speaking of the 68 00:05:16,380 --> 00:05:19,800 front doors, electric chime, Bing Bing Bong, and another 69 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:24,990 character entered the pawn shop. This one was a girl, big hair, 70 00:05:24,990 --> 00:05:31,110 vapid smile short skirt, a suit coat with big shoulder pads. She 71 00:05:31,110 --> 00:05:34,440 strolled to the center of the pawn shop like a models runway. 72 00:05:35,580 --> 00:05:39,240 She stopped in the middle of all of the used electronics and old 73 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:45,510 romance novels tossed her hair and winked at me. I nodded back. 74 00:05:47,190 --> 00:05:51,630 She showed no reaction. A few seconds later, she tossed her 75 00:05:51,630 --> 00:05:55,500 hair again, flipping it back with her fingers and followed it 76 00:05:55,500 --> 00:06:02,460 with another wing. A non player character, cliched, but on cue. 77 00:06:03,840 --> 00:06:07,350 And just as timely, another unwitting hero appeared to the 78 00:06:07,350 --> 00:06:12,150 front door. This one also a girl but not so designed and 79 00:06:12,150 --> 00:06:17,340 polished. This one more soaked in her own idiosyncrasies her 80 00:06:17,340 --> 00:06:23,310 hair undone shoes untied eyes she kept to herself and cast 81 00:06:23,340 --> 00:06:27,600 downward whenever not stealing glances sideways. She wore 82 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,890 enough black to be a villain, but I knew better. She moved to 83 00:06:31,890 --> 00:06:36,090 a selection of old DSL cameras and lenses. The non player 84 00:06:36,090 --> 00:06:39,960 character did her best just show the new girl how well she could 85 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:44,340 flip her hair and wink. The girl by the cameras didn't notice. 86 00:06:44,820 --> 00:06:49,530 But when the three oversized brutes shoved their way through 87 00:06:49,530 --> 00:06:53,760 the door, their crunching footsteps drowning out the Bing 88 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:59,190 Bong Bell. The girl by the cameras looked up. Perhaps she 89 00:06:59,190 --> 00:07:04,020 had potential after all. The three brutes ignored her and 90 00:07:04,020 --> 00:07:08,070 moved to the winker and hair flipper. One quick uppercut to 91 00:07:08,070 --> 00:07:13,410 the gut and she crumbled over. The mute brute caught her before 92 00:07:13,410 --> 00:07:17,640 she had a chance to fall to the linoleum. He slung her over his 93 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:22,890 wide muscular shoulders like a sack of potatoes. And once they 94 00:07:22,890 --> 00:07:27,030 had her, the three about phased and stretch it back out the door 95 00:07:27,030 --> 00:07:32,940 having not said a word. The girl by the cameras her eyes wide and 96 00:07:32,940 --> 00:07:38,700 alert now stabbed out from under the overhanging bangs. Her back 97 00:07:38,910 --> 00:07:42,660 pressed against the shelves, Jesus Christ. She said as soon 98 00:07:42,660 --> 00:07:46,410 as the non player characters were gone. Quick. They've taken 99 00:07:46,410 --> 00:07:50,910 the mayor's daughter. I said to her, the girl said to me, 100 00:07:50,940 --> 00:07:52,650 aren't you going to call the cops 101 00:07:52,710 --> 00:07:56,010 after them? They have the mayor's daughter, I said, 102 00:07:56,250 --> 00:07:57,930 emoting as much as I could 103 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,860 forget that old man and calling the cops and getting the hell 104 00:08:01,860 --> 00:08:03,630 out of here, she said, 105 00:08:03,870 --> 00:08:07,950 dug out her cell phone and fled to the exit. I watched her go 106 00:08:07,950 --> 00:08:11,580 out the door and check up and down the sidewalk. She took a 107 00:08:11,580 --> 00:08:14,610 step in the opposite direction of the brutes and kidnapped 108 00:08:14,610 --> 00:08:19,920 girl, then doubled back and broke into a sprint after them. 109 00:08:20,970 --> 00:08:25,710 The boy who would go alone to dangerous places, nearly knocked 110 00:08:25,710 --> 00:08:30,360 into her as he came back into the pawn shop. His face was 111 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:36,540 pale, his eyes electric, how much he hurried me how much for 112 00:08:36,540 --> 00:08:40,830 the sword, as if the weapon had never left my hands. I raised my 113 00:08:40,830 --> 00:08:44,610 palms above the counter and displayed masa moons last work 114 00:08:44,610 --> 00:08:49,920 of art to the boy. It's dangerous to go alone. Take 115 00:08:49,950 --> 00:08:51,660 this. Yeah, you said it. 116 00:08:51,660 --> 00:08:52,440 How much? 117 00:08:52,799 --> 00:08:58,109 No charge, but do not dawdle adventure awaits. I told him, 118 00:08:58,469 --> 00:09:03,029 and this time he listened. The boy snatched the blade and held 119 00:09:03,029 --> 00:09:07,109 it aloft for just one frozen moment. From the measure of 120 00:09:07,109 --> 00:09:11,819 still time, the steel emitted an unearthly gleam, and sung like a 121 00:09:11,819 --> 00:09:15,929 tight violin string. When the moment had passed, he looked 122 00:09:15,929 --> 00:09:19,589 only slightly more bewildered than he had been when he first 123 00:09:19,589 --> 00:09:23,519 returned to the shop. But he didn't let that second of 124 00:09:23,519 --> 00:09:28,079 sentience betrayal distract him. He brought the hilt of the 125 00:09:28,079 --> 00:09:34,349 weapon down to his solar plexus. Thanks, old man, the boy said 126 00:09:34,409 --> 00:09:41,759 and rushed out the door. Another satisfied customer. He was 127 00:09:41,759 --> 00:09:47,939 barely out the door when Merrill entered. Merrill, the 128 00:09:47,939 --> 00:09:55,439 bureaucrat, tall plain faced dull hair, and somehow boring 129 00:09:55,439 --> 00:09:59,759 and featureless black trench coat and dark sunglasses and 130 00:09:59,759 --> 00:10:04,589 appear Since that was almost a non appearance, a man you only 131 00:10:04,589 --> 00:10:09,209 thought you saw. He approached the counter with confidence in 132 00:10:09,209 --> 00:10:14,519 the smirk that crawled under my skin. Hello Merrill. Behind him, 133 00:10:14,549 --> 00:10:18,269 the door being bombed and another unknowing adventure came 134 00:10:18,269 --> 00:10:24,179 closer to his destiny. A teenage boy. Not from the city. flannel 135 00:10:24,179 --> 00:10:26,519 and jeans long uncombed hair. 136 00:10:26,969 --> 00:10:30,539 Hello, adore rich. Up to your old tricks again. I 137 00:10:30,540 --> 00:10:36,870 see Merrill said tricks what tricks I asked behind Merrill a 138 00:10:36,870 --> 00:10:41,340 TV popped to life right in front of the Biff landlord youth, his 139 00:10:41,340 --> 00:10:44,940 eyes locked on the screen. In an instant he forgot whatever 140 00:10:44,940 --> 00:10:48,780 trivialities had occupied his life before this fateful moment. 141 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:53,490 The entire width of the 42 inch monitor was consumed by the 142 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:57,570 image of sky Admiral Angus cloud cleaver. 143 00:10:59,460 --> 00:11:03,780 Red alert, Red Alert, the evil dinky crowds have invaded the 144 00:11:03,780 --> 00:11:08,700 galactic colonies, all pilots that are starfighter. This means 145 00:11:08,700 --> 00:11:09,240 you 146 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:15,150 just outside the bounds of light came down and shown on a plastic 147 00:11:15,180 --> 00:11:19,230 quarter operated amusement ride molded in the shape of a rocket 148 00:11:19,230 --> 00:11:23,760 ship. What tricks mineral turned from the boy in his Starfighter 149 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:24,390 to me? 150 00:11:25,470 --> 00:11:28,710 Come on at all rich. Do we really have to play this game? 151 00:11:29,490 --> 00:11:33,420 My eyes were still in the boy whose eyes were flashing between 152 00:11:33,420 --> 00:11:37,980 the ride the TV and the two of us at the counter. The TV was 153 00:11:37,980 --> 00:11:42,030 looping its message over and over again now. short blasts of 154 00:11:42,030 --> 00:11:46,740 static between each of the sky admirals alerts when I caught 155 00:11:46,740 --> 00:11:50,730 the boy's eyes, chin in the direction of the amusement ride, 156 00:11:51,090 --> 00:11:56,070 encouraging him on. They all needed an extra push from time 157 00:11:56,070 --> 00:11:56,610 to time. 158 00:11:57,899 --> 00:11:58,979 A door edge, 159 00:11:59,549 --> 00:12:05,009 Merrill, we both know that I'm too old to change my ways. I've 160 00:12:05,009 --> 00:12:09,329 been around this globe for too long. I'm not like these brave 161 00:12:09,329 --> 00:12:12,749 hearted souls that come to me. They're just beginning their 162 00:12:12,749 --> 00:12:16,919 journeys that will shape and develop them me. I've had my 163 00:12:16,919 --> 00:12:20,069 Ark. I've fixed my beliefs. 164 00:12:20,399 --> 00:12:24,989 Stop. You've been warned. reprimanded fined and 165 00:12:24,989 --> 00:12:29,159 sanctioned. The next step is to shut you down and bring you in. 166 00:12:29,579 --> 00:12:30,779 Is that what you want? 167 00:12:31,230 --> 00:12:35,370 blather rings I've heard it all before and none of it interested 168 00:12:35,370 --> 00:12:40,350 me. My eyes were still in the boy and waited for his decision. 169 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:45,960 When I saw his confusion, beat out his curiosity and drive his 170 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,600 feet through the door and away from the quarter operated 171 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:54,780 amusement ride. My shoulder slouched inside Why are you here 172 00:12:54,780 --> 00:12:55,320 Meryl? 173 00:12:56,279 --> 00:12:59,609 Haven't you been listening to a word I've said? I'm here to shut 174 00:12:59,609 --> 00:13:02,939 you down a doll rich. I promised the council that come here and 175 00:13:02,939 --> 00:13:06,479 find you abiding by the terms of your probation that you learned 176 00:13:06,479 --> 00:13:09,419 your lesson that you only issue about adventure by the approved 177 00:13:09,419 --> 00:13:13,979 means. books, movies, stories planted inside their minds by 178 00:13:13,979 --> 00:13:18,869 hypnotic suggestion. You know how the rest of us do it. But 179 00:13:18,869 --> 00:13:22,619 here you are quest giving again like a bearded old wizard they 180 00:13:22,620 --> 00:13:27,180 need it was all I said all I felt I needed to say 181 00:13:27,990 --> 00:13:31,230 it's dangerous a doll rich. There's a boy out there swinging 182 00:13:31,230 --> 00:13:34,830 a katana at ravenous monsters in the street. Right outside your 183 00:13:34,830 --> 00:13:35,490 store. 184 00:13:36,809 --> 00:13:40,619 I leaned an ear towards the front of the shop. Of course 185 00:13:40,619 --> 00:13:44,309 there was the quiet ambient sounds of guitars, guitars and 186 00:13:44,309 --> 00:13:48,359 shamisen playing peaceful in the store but now that he mentioned 187 00:13:48,359 --> 00:13:52,229 it I did hear the distant sounds of screams of growling beast 188 00:13:52,229 --> 00:13:56,549 clanging of steel in the wind police sirens in the distance a 189 00:13:56,549 --> 00:13:59,699 shrug? Someone had to kill those monsters 190 00:14:00,150 --> 00:14:04,230 $1 Rich there were no monsters until you issued them out. Just 191 00:14:04,230 --> 00:14:07,410 like there were no kidnap mayor's daughters and no 192 00:14:07,410 --> 00:14:11,610 invading Zika cones until you created them. You're causing all 193 00:14:11,610 --> 00:14:13,770 this and a lot of people are noticing 194 00:14:14,490 --> 00:14:19,020 sometimes I create evil for them to defeat sometimes I send them 195 00:14:19,020 --> 00:14:22,320 against pre existing evil so what I shrugged 196 00:14:22,409 --> 00:14:26,159 So what So last time I brought you in you signed an affidavit 197 00:14:26,189 --> 00:14:29,129 specifically stating you'd stop creating real life dangers for 198 00:14:29,129 --> 00:14:31,979 susceptible frail humans like these wonders and vagabonds come 199 00:14:31,979 --> 00:14:36,329 strolling through your door. Fiction adore rich. You signed 200 00:14:36,329 --> 00:14:39,389 the affidavit swearing you were going to stick with fiction. And 201 00:14:39,389 --> 00:14:42,569 now I come here to see this nonsense. And there's no way I 202 00:14:42,569 --> 00:14:45,539 can hide this. No way I can cover it up or brushed under the 203 00:14:45,539 --> 00:14:48,419 rug. You he stopped. What? 204 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:54,480 I held up a finger long and thin of flesh but thick of knuckle. 205 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:59,430 What is that supposed to mean? It means nothing but I have to 206 00:14:59,430 --> 00:15:05,190 correct You the term you're looking for is heroes. 207 00:15:05,910 --> 00:15:09,750 Heroes. When did I ever say anything about 208 00:15:10,140 --> 00:15:16,380 susceptible, frail humans? Wonders, vagabonds, that's what 209 00:15:16,380 --> 00:15:22,650 you called them. But the term you're looking for, is here 210 00:15:22,650 --> 00:15:28,380 rows. Behind Merrill's back, the young man in the flannel crept 211 00:15:28,380 --> 00:15:33,240 back into view. Just outside the glass storefront, he on the 212 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:38,070 left, the quarter operated Starfighter on the right. Ever 213 00:15:38,070 --> 00:15:41,370 so slowly, he stepped closer to the fighter. 214 00:15:42,330 --> 00:15:44,940 And what happens when one of your heroes gets killed? 215 00:15:46,470 --> 00:15:50,280 I didn't mean to roll my eyes. It was just this was so 216 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:56,640 tiresome. I give them extra lives Merrill. Frustrated, he 217 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:59,910 tried another attack from another front. 218 00:16:01,950 --> 00:16:04,470 They didn't ask for you to interfere in the life they had. 219 00:16:05,010 --> 00:16:08,010 They come in the shop to look for a cheap deal to make a few 220 00:16:08,010 --> 00:16:11,910 quick bucks to waste time to sift through the debris of other 221 00:16:11,910 --> 00:16:16,050 safe terrestrial lives. Not to be sent on some wild goose chase 222 00:16:16,050 --> 00:16:17,520 by a crazed old man 223 00:16:18,059 --> 00:16:22,859 and you approve of that sort of life. I took my eyes off the 224 00:16:22,859 --> 00:16:28,019 youth outside and fix them on marrow of common lives lived 225 00:16:28,019 --> 00:16:33,149 commonly of time wasted looking for cheap deals or swapping 226 00:16:33,149 --> 00:16:37,979 stolen goods for worthless paper money. If that's what you'd like 227 00:16:37,979 --> 00:16:41,999 for yourself, I have all the money you can carry. I popped 228 00:16:41,999 --> 00:16:45,779 open the register and began shoveling Dollars and Euros and 229 00:16:45,779 --> 00:16:50,999 pesos and denarii and yen out onto the counter. Here. Take it 230 00:16:51,509 --> 00:16:54,659 if this is what our lives amount to I should consider mind 231 00:16:54,659 --> 00:16:58,259 fulfilled. And you should consider yourself lucky to have 232 00:16:58,259 --> 00:16:59,279 come in today. 233 00:17:00,299 --> 00:17:04,679 Quit that adore rich. Quit. Quit this money. 234 00:17:04,799 --> 00:17:08,549 Merrill shoved all the bills mounting on the counter. I kept 235 00:17:08,549 --> 00:17:12,479 shoveling some of it spilled over onto the floor some of it 236 00:17:12,509 --> 00:17:13,859 he managed to grab and 237 00:17:13,859 --> 00:17:17,249 throw back at me stop this insanity right now. 238 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,790 I slammed my fist through the money and against the display 239 00:17:20,790 --> 00:17:25,500 case. Before my fist met glass every scrap of money vanished 240 00:17:25,500 --> 00:17:29,910 from the floor to counter to register and pushing by currency 241 00:17:29,910 --> 00:17:35,730 the glass cracked my eyes locked on Merrill's this world has been 242 00:17:35,730 --> 00:17:39,870 without true adventurers for too long and you know it. It is 243 00:17:39,870 --> 00:17:44,880 decaying their souls they lumber about with no mission or purpose 244 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:50,460 without pride or perspective. They are gorged with money and 245 00:17:50,460 --> 00:17:55,740 wealth and peace and pacified by poor electronic simulations. But 246 00:17:55,740 --> 00:17:59,340 they have never tasted the one food that will truly make them 247 00:17:59,340 --> 00:18:03,060 whole the meal that will feed their spirits and banish the 248 00:18:03,060 --> 00:18:07,920 likes of you back from whence you came. They have never tasted 249 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:09,780 true adventure. 250 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:14,880 And they never will. Not while I'm here. There's a cost to the 251 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:18,930 product you sell. And it's got nothing to do with money. Pain, 252 00:18:19,140 --> 00:18:23,760 misery, destruction, loss of life. You call them out of the 253 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:27,420 norm like the crooked pawnbroker you pretend to be. You think 254 00:18:27,420 --> 00:18:31,410 you're so noble but look around. You think it's all a fast Sade. 255 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:35,340 But this is exactly who you are. An old man hocking broken goods 256 00:18:35,370 --> 00:18:36,330 to broken people. 257 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:41,610 So leave me be I enjoy being this old man Hawking these old 258 00:18:41,610 --> 00:18:46,530 ideas of danger and far off destinations. If I'm an obsolete 259 00:18:46,530 --> 00:18:51,090 relic of time long forgotten, then forget me. Leave me to the 260 00:18:51,090 --> 00:18:52,560 waistband of legend. 261 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:55,589 And what about this, 262 00:18:55,709 --> 00:18:58,829 Meryl half turned and stretched a poem out to the youth of the 263 00:18:58,829 --> 00:19:03,989 Starfighter, the boy climbed inside. And as he did, the craft 264 00:19:03,989 --> 00:19:10,199 grew around him. A poly Carbon Alloy airframe unsheath around 265 00:19:10,199 --> 00:19:14,279 the plastic molding of the child's ride. A canopy 266 00:19:14,309 --> 00:19:18,449 highlighted with laser green electronic readout slide over 267 00:19:18,449 --> 00:19:22,379 his head and sealed him inside. He strapped into the flight 268 00:19:22,379 --> 00:19:25,769 harness and began flicking switches like he was born to 269 00:19:25,769 --> 00:19:30,449 fight the Ziqi Crohns thrusters fired and rumbled to life 270 00:19:30,449 --> 00:19:35,369 against the sidewalk. Launch in t minus five. 271 00:19:36,089 --> 00:19:38,819 What am I supposed to do about this? 272 00:19:40,020 --> 00:19:45,600 Nothing for we're clear of the blast area free but I would 273 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:51,420 avert your eyes to the ion thrusters are rather bright one. 274 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:57,510 Smoke consumed the star fighter a moment before it punched 275 00:19:57,510 --> 00:20:01,170 spaceward and out of the atmosphere in On supernova 276 00:20:01,170 --> 00:20:05,910 bright flash, we were left deafened by the roar and blinded 277 00:20:05,910 --> 00:20:09,930 by the blaze. The exhaust cloud choked to the entire street and 278 00:20:09,930 --> 00:20:12,780 blocked any view beyond the shop windows. 279 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,370 That's it. It's alright, that's the last straw. Merrill pointed 280 00:20:17,370 --> 00:20:21,270 a finger at me. We've known each other for a long time, and I've 281 00:20:21,270 --> 00:20:24,180 given you more than ample opportunity to change your ways. 282 00:20:24,570 --> 00:20:27,570 But you've worn out my patience. I'm taking you in the 283 00:20:27,570 --> 00:20:32,610 cloud outside the shop was slow to dissipate. It hung there like 284 00:20:32,610 --> 00:20:37,980 a thick fog in through it. For short, humanoid shapes began to 285 00:20:37,980 --> 00:20:44,940 take form. Okay, I'll go quietly. I said to Meryl stuck 286 00:20:44,940 --> 00:20:51,600 out both wrists ready to be cuffed. But before we go, answer 287 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:57,180 me this. Do you really think I'm the only one who still has a 288 00:20:57,180 --> 00:21:03,420 taste for pitfalls and perilous journeys, for heroism? For 289 00:21:03,420 --> 00:21:09,930 adventure? Do you really think I'm the last quest giver? 290 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:16,050 Don't be so proud of yourself. Your kind are a dime a dozen. 291 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:19,680 Merrill said and went about fishing handcuffs out of his 292 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:24,420 back pocket. He slapped one cuff on to a wrist. And who do you 293 00:21:24,420 --> 00:21:28,410 think us quest givers sin our adventurers out to protect? 294 00:21:29,190 --> 00:21:35,310 Don't you think we have each other's backs? Who Merrill down 295 00:21:35,310 --> 00:21:41,790 here on this terrestrial plane as your back the pawn shop door 296 00:21:41,820 --> 00:21:47,550 being inbound Merrill turned. The cloud had been enough to 297 00:21:47,550 --> 00:21:50,790 show us for young human silhouettes and the familiar 298 00:21:50,790 --> 00:21:56,580 outline of BMX bikes leaning against the windows. As the 299 00:21:56,580 --> 00:22:01,200 first boy entered smoke from the ion thrusters rolled in with him 300 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:05,940 and his crew. Another boy followed he with a flashlight 301 00:22:05,940 --> 00:22:09,630 and bandana tied around his head. The third member was a 302 00:22:09,630 --> 00:22:14,880 girl with a ponytail and a slingshot at arm's length. The 303 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:18,030 fourth held an ancient time yellowed map. 304 00:22:18,570 --> 00:22:20,370 Yes, sure this is the right place. 305 00:22:20,430 --> 00:22:21,600 The first boy said. 306 00:22:22,470 --> 00:22:25,140 I'm sure the mat leads right here. 307 00:22:25,950 --> 00:22:29,940 The last answered his eyes never leaving the sand colored sheet 308 00:22:29,940 --> 00:22:34,440 of parchment to the lair of the man in black flashlight boy said 309 00:22:34,950 --> 00:22:39,030 slingshot girls stepped around him and pulled the rubber bands 310 00:22:39,030 --> 00:22:40,170 of her weapon taught. 311 00:22:40,410 --> 00:22:44,040 We've come a long ways for you Meryl. We're gonna send you back 312 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:46,110 from whence you came 313 00:22:46,710 --> 00:22:52,200 down to see Merrill. I smiled at him. I just send out the call to 314 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,220 adventure. They're the ones who answered 315 00:23:07,950 --> 00:23:13,140 our second story the new God comes to us from lol Asher lol 316 00:23:13,140 --> 00:23:16,320 Asher lives in Dallas, Georgia and works in quality assurance 317 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,680 at a large blood donation manufacturer. lol is a member of 318 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,500 Sigma Tau Delta and has published short stories with 319 00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:26,040 money Zimba House Publishing bewildering stories cast about 320 00:23:26,070 --> 00:23:29,940 art and literature the Raven Chronicles, Blue Moon rising 321 00:23:30,060 --> 00:23:33,540 things in the wall Fantasia divining publishing bending 322 00:23:33,540 --> 00:23:37,410 genres writers club and the Signet ll has a bachelor's 323 00:23:37,410 --> 00:23:39,900 degree in psychology and is currently working on a second 324 00:23:39,900 --> 00:23:42,330 degree in English with a concentration in writing. 325 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:46,470 Helping me tell this tale or Nicole Good night voice actor 326 00:23:46,470 --> 00:23:50,460 Narrator forever locked away the no sleep podcast dungeon. She 327 00:23:50,460 --> 00:23:53,730 does speed runs of The Lion King for Super Nintendo and Genesis 328 00:23:53,730 --> 00:23:57,000 over on Twitch, Mandy Wong who was also in our first story. 329 00:23:57,030 --> 00:24:00,660 Thanks Mandy for pulling double duty on this episode Phaedra 330 00:24:00,660 --> 00:24:04,500 metus my amazing wife of 16 years and we've never had a 331 00:24:04,500 --> 00:24:09,420 fight without further ado, the new God by L L Asher. 332 00:24:22,349 --> 00:24:24,569 Not today mom Octavia isn't 333 00:24:24,569 --> 00:24:27,719 well Antonia said into the phone as she bounced her crying 334 00:24:27,719 --> 00:24:28,169 daughter 335 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:29,100 constipated. 336 00:24:29,099 --> 00:24:33,119 I think tinting worships important, dear. It's not just 337 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:34,259 12 Gods anymore. 338 00:24:34,350 --> 00:24:37,560 My mother's voice said through Antonia's earpiece. You need to 339 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:41,550 praise all 85 of them. Baby Octavia needs all their 340 00:24:41,550 --> 00:24:42,180 blessings. 341 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:46,080 There's 97 now and don't worry, I downloaded the worship now app 342 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:49,110 and sacrifice lamps for about half this week. My paycheck will 343 00:24:49,110 --> 00:24:51,570 have to clear before I can afford sacrifice anymore. 344 00:24:51,599 --> 00:24:55,739 She turned on the TV setting her groaning baby on the floor. Her 345 00:24:55,739 --> 00:24:58,679 phone buzzed and she glanced at the notifications 346 00:24:58,890 --> 00:25:03,600 blessings received vanguard of health six blessings received 347 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:05,730 from God of love three. 348 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,700 Welcome to Channel Two Roman news 349 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,760 reporter said from the television, sitting next to a 350 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:16,890 man four times her size, he held a great platter, his skin 351 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:20,010 glittering and casting golden light across the reporter's 352 00:25:20,010 --> 00:25:20,520 face. 353 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:24,930 I'm here with the newest Roman god Raha thanks so much for 354 00:25:24,930 --> 00:25:25,650 joining us. 355 00:25:25,859 --> 00:25:29,099 God flicked the grape into the air and caught it in his mouth. 356 00:25:29,639 --> 00:25:32,099 Antonius phone buzzed with another notification. 357 00:25:32,670 --> 00:25:38,130 New God added. Mr. Rohit, if I may ask. We've seen quite an 358 00:25:38,130 --> 00:25:42,180 influx of Gods over the past few decades. How does one become a 359 00:25:42,180 --> 00:25:45,270 god? And how is it decided what you'll be God 360 00:25:46,619 --> 00:25:50,609 lifted an eyebrow? If none of the others told you he erupted 361 00:25:50,609 --> 00:25:54,449 into a roaring fit of laughter shit. He slapped his thigh 362 00:25:54,479 --> 00:25:58,169 laughing harder. The reporter looked at the camera with a half 363 00:25:58,169 --> 00:26:02,399 smile. You know what? I don't give a shit. I'll tell you. 364 00:26:03,389 --> 00:26:09,719 Where Martians Antonia dropped her phone. Yeah, he nodded dead 365 00:26:09,719 --> 00:26:14,819 ones. When we die. We become the gods of the other worlds. 366 00:26:15,299 --> 00:26:17,999 Actual Martians from Mars. 367 00:26:18,180 --> 00:26:25,590 dead aliens yet baru. He popped another grave. Wait. Antonia 368 00:26:25,590 --> 00:26:31,380 leaned forward, squinting at the screen. Those are prunes. We're 369 00:26:31,380 --> 00:26:37,470 going through a mass extinction. Hence the influx. 370 00:26:39,180 --> 00:26:43,260 But Mars is void of life. 371 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:49,950 The reporter said she looked off camera and mouth, right? It's a 372 00:26:49,980 --> 00:26:54,870 time continuum thing. Humans are too stupid to understand. But 373 00:26:54,900 --> 00:27:01,440 really the Olympus Mons on Mars the peak of the solar system, he 374 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,470 tapped the top of the reporter's head with his glimmering index 375 00:27:04,470 --> 00:27:11,700 finger. We live on Mount Olympus connect the dots. The reporter 376 00:27:11,700 --> 00:27:12,900 glanced at her notes. 377 00:27:13,319 --> 00:27:16,889 Let's move on. How does the divine power work? 378 00:27:17,190 --> 00:27:23,400 Raha clear his throat? The way we died? contributes the 379 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:24,840 reporter's face contorted. 380 00:27:25,530 --> 00:27:26,850 So you 381 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:32,609 died and boop Yes. drowned in it an unforeseen sewage mishap. 382 00:27:33,089 --> 00:27:39,929 Rojas eyes drifted quite painful. Antonia grimaced, then 383 00:27:39,929 --> 00:27:43,739 looked at Octavia screaming red face. She picked up her phone 384 00:27:43,739 --> 00:27:45,239 and click the notification. 385 00:27:45,900 --> 00:27:50,700 real hot god of fecal excrement added to list of Roman gods 386 00:27:51,030 --> 00:27:53,010 would you like to send a sacrifice? 387 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:58,709 Octavia screamed her face turning purple Antonia selected 388 00:27:58,709 --> 00:28:04,079 to sacrifice a pig and then tap Submit. rihards eyes snapped to 389 00:28:04,079 --> 00:28:11,639 the screen. Octavia giggled, and a stench plume around Antonia as 390 00:28:11,639 --> 00:28:14,489 her daughter's diaper filled with squishy heat. 391 00:28:26,099 --> 00:28:28,829 As mentioned earlier, meet US media has a new show coming 392 00:28:28,829 --> 00:28:33,119 soon. Fun Fact Friday is the brainchild of my child. Lila 393 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:35,729 wanted to make a show where we tell fun facts about various 394 00:28:35,729 --> 00:28:39,059 topics and discuss them there will be an accompanying blog and 395 00:28:39,089 --> 00:28:42,479 new episodes will be released each Friday starting Friday, May 396 00:28:42,479 --> 00:28:47,159 22 2020 Our theme music comes to us from odd Sprite, you can 397 00:28:47,159 --> 00:28:50,129 catch more of their work at odd sprite.com If you're interested 398 00:28:50,129 --> 00:28:52,709 in supporting the show, just head over to me this pod.com and 399 00:28:52,709 --> 00:28:55,889 click the donations link. All money goes to making the show 400 00:28:55,889 --> 00:28:58,529 better. Me this pod is released under a Creative Commons 401 00:28:58,529 --> 00:29:01,079 Attribution non commercial no derivatives license. That means 402 00:29:01,079 --> 00:29:03,449 you can share it all you like just don't change it or sell it. 403 00:29:04,469 --> 00:29:07,349 We'll see you next time folks. Have a good one.