The Exile - Part 2: Where the Graft is Greener
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Welcome to Curious Matter Anthology. I am Jonathan Pezza, your host. First and foremost, if you haven't listened to The Exile Part 1, you might want to turn around and listen to it before venturing forth.

Consider yourself warned, because there are spoilers ahead. Humanity's fascination with Mars goes back almost two centuries. Our sister planet's similarity to Earth first became apparent in the late 1800s, with the discovery by astronomers that its climate, orbit, tilt, and rotation all closely matched our own world.

But it was the discovery of mysterious canals, believed to be proof of life on Mars, that sparked the imagination of a writer named H.G. Wells, who in turn wrote War of the Worlds. Though the canals were later proven to be an optical illusion, life on Earth was never the same. Scientific achievement and science fiction go hand in hand to this very day, one inspiring the other, inspiring the other, like the chicken and the egg.

As our understanding of the universe evolves, so do our stories. But one thing remains true since that first look through the telescope: humanity believes its destiny lies on Mars. And that day is marching ever closer. As we speak, technologies are being tested on the surface of the Red Planet that will one day allow us to go there.

NASA's Perseverance rover recently completed the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Utilization Experiment, or MOXIE for short. This little magic box has successfully proven that we can harvest enough oxygen from the Martian atmosphere to survive there. Oh, and the Perseverance rover has done one other really amazing thing of note for our little podcast. It has sent back the very first sounds recorded on Mars. Sounds like the wind,

the rover's helicopter drone ingenuity, and even our friend the Moxie, all of which have been lovingly incorporated into the sound design of this production.

So, on that, let's jump back into our tale. In our last main episode, Bryce Gordon finds herself deported to the halfway terraformed, rough-and-tumble colony of Mars. She has a single goal: make enough money to buy a fake identity and return to her daughter on Earth or die in the attempt. But after stealing from the wrong people, being double-crossed and finding a bounty on her head, Bryce's situation has gone from bad to much worse.

With the help of Mother Cory, Bryce tries to flee Marsport. But just as she thinks she is home free, someone else has plans for our exile. Curious Matter Anthology is an immersive HD audio experience and is best enjoyed via high-quality headphones or speakers. This story contains explicit content that may not be suitable for younger audiences and includes adult themes, language, and violence similar to an R-rated film. So without further ado,

Sit back, grab a bowl of popcorn, and enjoy The Exile Part 2, where the graft is greener. We need to go. Turn on the radio, at least. What? It's a long trip. Good morning, all you sexy desert cats. The sun is high, and it's another beautiful day overlooking the majestic Capri Chasm here in Larsport.

News out of the Hall of Justice is that Commissioner Arliss has set up a special precinct to deal with the ongoing attacks on MPF personnel in District 6. I guess the Redbacks don't like having rocks thrown at them all that much. Now a new track out of Olympus City from the band Holy Sea. This is You Better Run. I met your friend the other day Heard you've been trying to reach me

Hey! Hello! If you're going to kill me, we can just get this shit over with! Anything is better than this damned music! The waiting is the worst part. Darkness and time and...

My own thoughts. Oxygen supply at 14%. The phase recharger supply at the series remains. I've been bound and tied to this goddamn chair for almost a day. Time moves very slowly when your rig constantly reminds you that you are getting ever closer to asphyxiating. Come on! Are you seriously gonna let me suffocate in my rig? Have some fucking balls! My suit's rebreather supply tank gives me about...

30 hours of air before needing to be replenished. That clock is ticking down, one song at a time. I've been blackbagged exactly two times in my life. And let me tell you, the Brazilian cartel were a lot more pleasant than this lot, whoever the fuck they are. Hey, hey, hey! Look, let's talk about this. There's gotta be a way to figure all this out. Turn off her helmet radio and get the bag off her.

and check the ties while you are at it. Thank God. The ties look good. She's not going anywhere. This is gonna hurt, cupcake. Oh, Jesus, that's bright. I had known I wasn't in a dome, otherwise the suit would have auto-charged. But when the bag was pulled from over my helmet, I almost couldn't believe my eyes. I was tied to a metal chair, welded to a steel plate on the very edge of the plateau.

Capricasm, the largest canyon on Mars, spread out to the horizon before me. Agent Gordon, formerly of United Earth Bureau of Investigations. Career cops tend to know not to kick a hornet's nest. You, however, seem to prefer stomping on them. There were three of them. No insignias and mirrored face shields hiding their features. Hey, pal.

Hornets? They're extinct like almost everything else except the roaches and us. Time to update your metaphors. I take it you haven't breathed free air in a while. You are quite something, Bryce. You managed to infiltrate deeper into the Crimson Hand terrorist organization than any other agent in the Bureau's history. I must just have a friendly face. Making those documents, you had to have known what would happen. Earth doesn't particularly like its secrets getting out.

Oxygen supply at 13%. Please recharge your supply at the soonest convenience. Look, stroll down memory lane is nice and all, but if you aren't the MPF hit squad here to execute me, can we, you know, move this along a little? I have other things to do. We should just kill her. Why would we ever want a piece of shit traitor like this with us? She's no use to us now. She walked right into a den owned by the Seven and spat in their face.

She's damaged goods, if nothing else. Right. Do you know why the tribunal on Earth did not execute you for treason? I guess I'm just lucky. It's because I told them not to. I told them you were needed here on Mars. You were needed here on Mars. Those six words. They hit harder than the swatter. They hit like a supernova. Inescapable. I know you think you are breathing dead man's air.

Just as every society has a shadow, it also needs a boogeyman lurking within.

A nightmare to scare those who would subvert the order of things. Terran security is all that and more. For every great stride humanity has made out of our own near extinction, TSEC has been the knife in the night that made that recovery possible. We have plans for you, Bryce. Do the job I brought you here to do, and perhaps there is a way home.

Can I help you? I have an envelope here for the Orphans Fund. And a signed application to join up. Bryce Gordon. Newly from Earth. That obvious. Jeeban, have a walk. It's funny, we've been looking for someone who fits your exact description in relation to a major case. Any luck finding them? That's the envelope for the Orphans and Homeless Fund? All of it.

You know how these things go. One minute somebody is fugitive number one. The next... They slide off the radar. Welcome to Mars. What rank are you buying in at? Corporal. Head upstairs to requisitions to collect your kit. And just like that, no more Markov. No more hit squad. The money T-Sec gave me for the bounty bought my skin at the price of my soul. What little was left anyway.

They assigned me to the District 9 precinct. Made up of three small domes and a shanty town in their shadows called No Name. They might as well have called it Nowhere. And just like that, I was back in. I'm really slow. I'm going to make a little bit. All my money's going into the goddamn money. And it's like, what am I supposed to do?

Oh, look at you, copper. I heard we're getting a new G-man today. Never thought it'd be you. After that disappearing act, we thought they pinched you. What the hell happened? Found option B. Mother is a little... Okay, ladies, stop the ass-grabbing. Get the shit show moving. Eyes front.

Captain DeLeon ran the District 9 precinct of the Municipal Police Force. The way she stormed in?

was a cliche right out of pre-melt TV. I'd met a hundred Captain DeLeones before. Dramatic for effect, but just grease in the cog.

Political animals ready to pounce on any opportunity to climb the ladder. Dangerous, but predictable. Okay, we have a new addition today. Corporal Gordon, welcome. Thank you. I hear you have law enforcement experience. A little, sir. We like team players here. Follow the other officer's lead, hit your quotas, we'll get along fine.

Seems like you're acquainted with our other recent recruit, Izzy, here. There's an opening in Northside Heights. You two can work it together. I expect better numbers than your predecessor. You can count on us, Cap. Everyone else has their assignments? That's all, people. Hit it. Northside Heights was one of the smaller domes in Marsport. Only about a click and a half from end to end, but denser than any of the others I'd been to.

The kind of borough where working class people packed in like sardines built lives for themselves. The citizens Izzy and I passed marked us as threats and gave a wide berth. The planet may change, but that look is the same. Everything I needed to know about how the MPF was keeping order here was written on their faces. What's that look, Dada? Just getting my bearings.

Feel good to be back in uniform? Looks right on you. Like you were born for that shield. Suit fits. Funny. It'll wear in. These rigs are primo. Nano-weave. Straight from Earth. More like some abandoned military installation. Earth is lost as is his game. Gonna take more than a stick-up kit to put a hole in one of these. How'd you join up? Oh, the idea was yours, compadre. I just borrowed it.

Gotta see all the angles if you're gonna make your way, you know? Mother Corrie fronted me a few chits, even set me up in her new flop. It's a legit life of luxury under the dome in Watney. Got my own head and everything. And all you have to do is what, exactly? I carry this in that fur. Hand it off to the right people in the MPF. Drugs. Well, people are gonna buy it somewhere. I bet Mother will offer you the same deal. She was real distressed when you went missing. Mui afli gila.

What do you know about the officer we're replacing? Name was Indio. Ex-South Edge crew, I hear. They'll take anyone, huh? All you gotta do is eye the badge. Works for you and me. No one hides the way it is. It's honest. You got a strange view on honesty, kid. This is us. Pull over. Our patrol was an eight block quadrant right in the middle of the dome beneath the central support tower.

The desk sergeant had handed off a data stick with a list of local businesses on our beat. No instructions, just names. First stop, Medusa Liquors. Just a minute. Take a look around. I'll be right with you. Whiskey, vodka. They make all this on Mars? Yeah, I think so. This stuff is a lot fancier than what we had in my neighborhood. Not from around here?

Haven't seen many new Earthers since we kicked all the jackboots off planet. Got any recommendations? We have a nice tequila made in Nicholson that I put up. Where your new MPF day shift patrol? Look, I know I was a little short with Officer India. He normally picks up on Fridays. I gave him what I had. I won't have your next payment for at least a few days. Hey, we aren't here to hurt you. What's the fee? What's the fee, citizen?

It keeps going up. 1800 is almost everything we take in a week. Well the figure just went up again, Pops. Gordon, what's 15% of 1800? We'll call it 1200 total. Friday, we'll be fine. What the hell are you doing? Are you flipping nuts? No! What do you think is gonna happen if you don't turn in better than what India was taking? It's no good for anyone. I'm not playing this game. It's the only game.

The last patrol squeezed this turf too hard, that's clear. But if we don't turn in our share, they take it out of our skin. And then they come back for Pops and me. Everyone loses. They'll get their cut. And we get what? See, that ain't honest. Every other business on our list was the same. The Marsport Municipal Police were just another gang on Mars. Only they worked directly for the people in power.

Back on Earth, police had largely shed their legacy of oppression. It's not to say things were perfect. Far from it. But at least we tried to serve and protect. Here, it was only take and take. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Whether you're selling a little or a lot.

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The sullen realization we wouldn't be making a take on our beat didn't stop Izzy from inviting me back to his room at Mother Corrie's new building in Watney. I knew I owed her some sort of explanation, but had no idea what I was going to say. You're supposed to be dead, baby.

And after what I did for you, you better be. Life seems to be full of little disappointments. Ain't that the fucking truth? Can I come in? I think I'm gonna need a drink for whatever you have to say. Are all the apartments are medically sealed? Only the best, beautiful. I'm going legit, haven't you heard? I searched the caverns for you. You know that? Thought you got crushed in a cave-in or something. When I saw your tracks led to the hatch...

I thought those MPF motherfuckers got you somehow. From that uniform, I see I was half right. Drink. That might be your last if I don't like your answer. A gun on Mars? Are you nuts? They would make you take a long walk with no rig for that. It's a good thing I know a few cops then. Low velocity composite rounds. It'll go right through you just fine, but not through that lovely wall behind. Each bullet cost me a small fortune.

So I really don't want to waste a round on you, darling. It's not what you think. I don't even know what you think. Look, I was following our plan. Not going well, honey. I'm not gonna lie to you. I can't tell you either. Put us both at risk. You're gonna have to trust me. Baby, please. I'll keep up my end. I'll still work for you. And the MPF, and whoever the hell else.

You're a walking, talking liability. A liability that can guarantee your packages go in and your money comes out. Izzy is green as grass. He doesn't see what I see in there. And if push comes to shove, who do you want protecting your investment? Here, baby. Badge don't change anything. The machine of Mars takes in raw materials and only spits out poison and promises. There ain't nothing more dangerous than someone thinking that they can change the way of things. I'm just...

trying to stay alive at this point. That's the only thing I want to change. You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. Mother ended up offering me the same deal as Izzy. A room in the new building for the courier service. Not that she needed to pay me anything. She already had me in her pocket, and she knew it. The old bird said it wouldn't look right for a municipal to be squatting out in a dead dome like Kinross. Guess I'm moving up in the world.

Better lists in the red light. None at all, Captain.

Good. I knew you looked like natural-born police. Unlike the attitude. That's it, people. I didn't blame Izzy for transferring. Growing up like he did, joining the MPF was a ticket to print money like he's never seen. The kid would do well for himself with the badge. That was clear enough. Northside 2148. This is Northside 2148. Go ahead. We have a report of an 1179 on the corner of Morella and Johnstown. 2148 en route.

I preferred working Northside Heights alone. As the weeks passed, it all grew unsettlingly easy. Repetition can normalize anything, I guess. Good morning, Marsport. Another rotation on station. Repairs to the Goatsville Dome started yesterday after structural issues were discovered in the central pylon. I brought in the packages for Mother on schedule, and I turned in my orphans and homeless fund envelopes heavy, using every chit I was forced to take off the streets. As atmospheric pressures...

The citizens even thanked me for it. To them, I was a cop finally doing them a solid, making it a little easier to scrape out a life. Every few nights I made my dead drops to TSEC at an abandoned warehouse in Shadow Town. Out in the raw elements of the Capri Plateau, Shadow Town was a ghetto of repurposed cargo units and massive, derelict storage tanks converted into makeshift habitations by the poorest citizens of Marsport.

It was eclipsed on three sides by domes, including the massive Grand Dome, which dwarfed all the others in the city. The encrypted reports were left under an ancient ration canister. Names, patrol schedules, drug deliveries, all the graft on everyone. TSEC wanted it all, and I spilled it like the Boston Tea Party.

Dispatch 2148, possible armed robbery at 623 Eos. Location is the Osterman Clinic. Requesting additional units. Copy 2148, the north side heights dome, officer let's- It's everything we have! We know the med shipments distroed two days ago. Xyloprene, ephenoxidone, xanadrine. Three assailants. Two with long blades, two victims. I can see a woman and a male, late 60s, prone. Doesn't look like he's moving. Send a med team.

They shorted us like everything! Take the medicine, the money and go! Lady, I am not going to ask you again. I told you, they- Go, dispatch. I'm gonna give you exactly the procedure, and then the surgery, and I am fresh out of anesthetic. Is anyone in wait? There isn't anything! One. All you do is take! Two.

Haven't you taken enough? The decision to roll solo suddenly felt like a dumb rookie move. The whole thing had a stink to it. There wasn't time to worry about ramifications. Here we fucking go. Three. Police! Drop your weapon! Redback! I became the demon they all kept calling me. A brutal and unforgiving weapon unleashing violence against the violent. And it felt good. Simple.

to have a clear target, a focus for a lifetime of rage. In that moment, I was free. You are under arrest! Your rights under the marching charter entitle you to representation. You have no idea what you're doing, Cobber! You have the right to shut the hell up. Everything is going to be alright, ma'am. You're safe. Are you hurt? The med team is en route.

Dispatch 2148. Three suspects in custody. One of the victims, a 60's male, appears to be deceased. How far is that med team? Med team is 3 help. Hey! Shut up. Dispatch revision. Two perps in custody. One deceased. What's your name, shithead? You are so fucked. Fine. I'll find out myself. Dispatch, IDs on the perps.

Valorio Ansada and a Baldus Jergens. Looks like nine vials of synthedream and several thousand in cred chips. That's everything they took. Here you go. Oh, hold on. Sorry. Here you go. What do you mean? It's all the merchant money they grabbed. Oh.

I'm sorry about... He was my father. Yeah. Mind if I sit? Uh, please. Sorry about the mess. I've never seen an officer do that before. Yeah. I recently migrated from Earth. It's tough to know. No. You returned our money and the medications. They're yours. Thank you. Here comes the cavalry.

Are you hurt, ma'am? No, I'm all right. It's my fault. Corporal Gordon. Hey, Cap. You hurt? No. Just some post-game jitters. You're a first caller. You handled yourself well. How many were there? Three. Not sure who they're affiliated with or if they're just raiding for meds. Leader's name is Jergens. Yeah. I'm familiar with him. The other one's there. And the third's...

They're in the back. I put 'em through the wall. You look pretty shaken up. We'll take care of the OID reports. Medical examiner's en route. All three were armed? Yeah. Wish we had body cams. Closest part shop to keep those things running is on Earth. We work with what we got. Welcome to Mars. Doesn't matter anyway. Jurgens will be out in the morning. What the fuck do you mean he'll be out in the morning? He's all Morden. Big Seven. And, more than that, he's part of Wayne's personal task force.

What kind of backwards ass- Look, you didn't know. Chalk it up to being new. No harm that can't be smoothed if we handle this correctly. I'll do what I can, make it clear to the commissioner's office. Just gotta throw a little extra on O and H for the one you KO'd. He murdered the old man, he should- It's unfortunate, to be sure. But it's mitigatable. Fuck mitigation. We have a problem here. Go home. Cool off. We'll handle the paperwork top of shift tomorrow. Mendez!

Boss? Escort the perp to the station and process him. Copy. Come on, shitburger, you're a jerk. You've got quite a pitbull there, Dalio. Needs some breaking in, though. Moving. After you. See you around, Officer Gordon.

It's a beautiful night here in Marsport. This is my favorite time, just before I sign off for the evening. On a night when the particles of our old friends Phobos and Deimos have cleared enough to see the stars, and the light catches the ice particles on the valley floor, lighting up the whole Mariner Valley. It's almost magical. Sometimes people ask me if it's lonely being out in my tower on the radio all day, talking to nothingness.

F that noise. I like it right where I am. Just me, you, Mars and the toons. Speaking of which, night night, Marsport. Being a spy is starting to feel like a church confessional. A box in which to confess my myriad sins and pray for some sort of absolution that I know will never appear. The only thing giving a shit about anything has ever brought me is misery. Earth is a mess.

A rat race where you have faith that every bad thing that happens is for a reason because it has to be, right? Of course, that was all just part of the illusion. Earth is three millennia of lies stacked on one another like a house of cards. It's flawed to its core, but it is home. Mars. Mars is something else. It's like a feral animal. It is absolutely committed to its own insanity even as it eats you alive.

Fuck this place. I figured you'd make a drop tonight. Just being a good little spy. Your reports are very thorough. Thank you. You come all the way out here tonight, Chief, to give me a good ol' attaboy? No. Yeah. So what's the rub? They're transferring you tomorrow. You are already being flagged as a problem. And that's a problem. Yes and no. So what do you want me to do? Nothing yet.

They were bound to be suspicious of him. Anyone who walks in and buys their freedom and a badge for that kind of cash is obviously on a leash. You aren't in danger. At least, until they know what that leash is attached to. This love and the dog analogies. Taking out Wayne's men and arresting Jurgens has them on edge. Right now, they either think you are legit dumb enough to try and police this planet, or...

You're working for one of Wayne's enemies. Are you one of Wayne's enemies? They are moving you tomorrow. New assignment. I see. Fuck. Just came out here to give you a heads up. Now consider me informed. I should get back to Watney. Back to the drug dealer. At least I know where she and I stand. We aren't here to meddle, you understand. War regime change.

Yeah. I'm sure it's all just altruistic hearts and rainbows. We protect humanity. That's what we were created to do. So long as it's Earth at the wheel. No. Mars needs to stand on its own. Earth started this great endeavor, and it's Earth that cocked it up. Only Martians as a world unto themselves, with their own self-determined path, can see this thing done.

The future of all humankind, everything depends on it. I hope you enjoyed this installment of The Exile. Want to dive even deeper? Join us for a live listen. Meet the cast and go behind the scenes on our aftershows, presented at twitch.com slash effin' funny. For more information about the show, merch, and a whole lot more, check us out online at cmanthology.com.

You can connect with us at Facebook and Instagram under the handle @CMAnthology. Tonight's show starred Tiffany Smith as Bryce Gordon and featured the voices of Malcolm Barrett as Honest Izzy, Anjali Bhimani as Captain DeLeon, Celine Gench as Nia Osterman, Phil Lamarr as the Station Chief, Trace Lissette as Mother Corey, Sandeep Parikh as Rand, Melissa Starr as Mendez, Todd Stashwick as Juergens,

Steven Weston as Skagg, Amy Vorpel as Three, with additional voices by Chris Amick, Jonathan Edelman, Jason Ervin, Philip Gray, Matt Hoban, Alex Mercado, Tien Nguyen, and Blythe Renee.

This episode was written, designed, and edited by me, your host, Jonathan Pezza. Voice directing by Tiffany Smith and Jonathan Pezza. The Exile was made possible by the amazing support of our Kickstarter backers. Executive produced by Scott Pezza and

and Dan Evans. Co-executive produced by Richard J. Pezza, Patrick Lepilato, and Derek A. Hughes. It was produced by Jonathan Pezza, Tiffany Smith, and Sandeep Parikh, and co-produced by Ali Mashayekhi and Jack Bowman. Assistant editing by Mohamed Moiz Riaz and Francis Pezza. Original score composed by Jonathan Pezza, with additional tracks provided by Epidemic Sound and featuring the musical talent of Ayo,

Eden Avery, Bazooka, John Bjork, Cushy, Hey Son, Chester Malone, and Holy C. The Exile is based on Police Your Planet by Lester Del Rey, a literary work in the public domain, and was produced in accordance with U.S. copyright law. Curious Matter Anthology is produced by the Knightsville Workshop in association with FNFunny Productions. Copyright Knightsville Workshop 2024. All rights reserved.

Make sure to tune in next week for our mini-sode titled Honest Izzy, The Long Con. See you then, and as always, thanks for listening. The Fable & Folly Network, where fiction producers flourish. Mount Absalom. A community. A heritage. A home. The green jewel in the majestic crown of Ohio. For 200 years, Mount Absalom has been a place to play. N32? Bing!

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