The Exile - Part 3: The Huddle
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Welcome to Curious Matter Anthology. I am your host, Jonathan Pezza. I want to let you jump back into the story, so I'll keep today's intro short and sweet. When fleshing out the city of Marsport, it was important to me that the city feel real and lived in, with a cultural history that carried the legacy of having been around for more than a hundred years.

And the only way to do that was to map it all out dome by dome, shanty by shanty, and utilize it as a guide as I wrote the episodes. But now that the episodes are coming out, we've decided to share that map with you too.

We are excited to announce that our first visual guide and interactive map ever in the Curious Matter Anthology history is now available on our website for you to explore and learn more about this unique city on Mars. You can check it out now by heading to cm-anthology.com and clicking on the option in the menu. We will be updating it throughout the season, so keep checking back to discover new locations, art, and added content.

Okay, so let's jump back into the story. In the last episode, Bryce was forced to enlist into the secretive and clandestine organization known as Terran Security, and instructed by the mysterious Station Chief to join the Marsport Municipal Police Force as a spy.

Once she hits the beat, she discovers that the MPF are just another gang on Mars, hiding behind their authority as they squeeze the lifeblood from the citizens living in the shanties and domes alike. As she makes her reports to her new handler in TSEC, Bryce can't sit idly by. But even when she stops a violent crime, she finds out that there is no place for justice in a city like Marsport.

Curious Matter Anthology is an immersive HD audio experience and is best enjoyed via high-quality stereo 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 that bowl of popcorn, and enjoy The Exile Part 3: The Huddle.

Today is that day we remember and pay homage to the sacrifice of Deimos and Phobos. 151 years ago we set off the biggest fireworks show in human history, Kaboom! And blew our moons to smithereens. All in the name of making Mars habitable.

The old folks like to say that what makes a Martian is lack of fear and dread. We know them not because we blew them from the very heavens. Deimos meaning dread, you see, and phobos fear in some long-forgotten dead language. I say what makes a Martian is not that we lack fear or dread, it's that they are now sewn into the dust and fiber of every new generation born here. Because of that, they no longer hang over us. They no longer oppress us.

Today is the day we celebrate destruction and our reborn. Happy Moonless Night, Mars. This one is gonna go down in the record books. The news came down just as the station chief's intel suggested. I was immediately transferred to a special unit on the edge of the city in a shanty called The Huddle. Arresting that piece of shit, Jurgens got me a first-class ticket onto someone's shit list.

The huddle and the majority of District 6 was barely a shanty in truth. This section of the city sat precariously close to the edge of the plateau, looking straight into the abyss of Capri Chasm, the deepest canyon in the solar system. This left it exposed to the fiercest storms, and the buildings here looked more like barnacles clinging for dear life to the hull of a wrecked ship than a town. If hell had a name, it was District 6.

Good work last year. Thank you, sir. How's the arm? It's on the mend. Good. But just to be safe, I'm moving you to the reserve squad. That'll keep you a little farther from the action force. Captain Oni Murdock, my new CO, had been handed this assignment as a punishment, just like the rest of us. He was a Marine stationed on Mars before all the Earth military forces were recalled after the independence. He stayed and joined the MPF. He was an outlier.

You learn to know real police when you see it. Someone who tries to do the closest to right thing in all the madness. This was a precinct for outcasts. Okay, ladies and gentlemen. We have some new reinforcements with us today. This is what they call reinforcements? Hey, fuck you! Marines make do as they say. I'm not sure how much they informed you about what we are doing here.

Your presence is appreciated and we plan to put you all to good use. But don't mistake this. The huddle is a red zone. Several of the larger gangs have aligned themselves and declared war on the MPF. This isn't a turf squabble. They're headhunting and have killed 16 officers since it all began.

This precinct was set up to dismantle those organizations and take back District 6 by any means necessary. Fuck yeah, we get to crush some chumba skulls. If they don't get you first. We've managed to take back everything north of View Despoil. Today, we are making a run at the barricades that have been erected across the thoroughfare. We believe the shot callers are set up just south in a complex of old, derelict drop pods left over from the construction of the Grand Dome.

The mission is to dismantle those barricades and force the enemy back before making the big push into the lion's den. You've each been issued a face sheet with the leaders. Study them. This is standard command and control play? Valenks and Kettle? Exactly. You done this before? I was swat in New Los Angeles for a minute. Long time ago. Corporal? Gordon, sir. Oh, you're that Gordon. Afraid so.

Need a new squad leader. Lost the last one yesterday. You up for it? Wherever you need me, sir. I'm moving you up to sergeant. Squad 4, Gordon is your new chief. Fel, Lativski, Harwick, you three newbies are also with her. Yes, sir! Anyone new, listen up. And get this through your thick skulls, because I'm only going to say it once.

This is a no-take assignment. There will be no graft, no collections, no protection. We're all getting double combat pay, and you'll like it. But if I hear any of you making a play, you're going to get the same as the bad guys. That work for you, Gordon? Yes, sir.

Disperse immediately. This is an unlawful descendancy. Marshal of the City, direct warrant for members and affiliates of following organizations. The Fox Street Brothers, the Sleepers and Affiliates, the Huddle Club, The Wall, and 8th Avenue SUK. Those who provide information, care about, or other useful information on persons of interest will be deemed non-combatants and receive FDF assistance vouchers.

Humanity had traversed the solar system only to find itself mired in the same medieval quarrels that plagued us throughout history.

One side, an armored shield wall of red Kevlar that could have fit in with the Romans or the Vikings. The other side, a chaotic press of anarchy as feral as any barbarian horde. But in the middle of it, the rules stayed the same. There is no room for questions in the heat of battle when you and your team's lives are on the line. Life and death leaves only space enough for the mission.

We are coming for every last one of you. We'll see how that goes for you, pal. Get the arm, incapacitate, and zip cut. Squad behind us, we're processing. Push forward. Get everyone home. That was the job I was given, and that was the job I did. We got three. For two straight weeks, shift after bloody shift, it was all out warm. They came for us, and we hauled in anyone we could. Check the corner.

They ambushed us in an alley. We raided their homes. They set off a bomb. We stormed their secret meeting places and still the barricades held. Blood ran in the dusty, thin, atmosphere streets while the citizens in their domes went on like nothing was wrong. With every passing day, it became clearer and clearer that the faces on the other side of the helmets were not the faces of hardened criminals.

They were not the faces of an enemy. They were the young and old, hungry and tired, pushed to the very edge with nothing left to lose. On day 15, we were once again making a push to break through the barricades that protected the enemy leader's HQ. We were exhausted, injured, and on the very brink when an opportunity to break the cycle finally presented itself. Eyes left, Chief. That one's on the face sheet.

Good eyes, Harwick. Squad 4 to Murdock. Go ahead, Gordon. We have eyes on a probable shot caller. Albor Freetag. Looks like he's running an OP just to the south of Barricade 3. He's the head of the Wall Gang. High value. Do whatever it takes to apprehend. I'll send a reserve squad to your position. Copy. You heard the man, squad. We are gonna make a path to that observation post between the barricades, where the defense line is weakest.

Split into two teams. Half with me, the other half on Harwick. I'll make a hard push through the press. Harwick, your team envelops to cut off access to that alley. Don't let Freetag grab it. Copy, Sarge. Move! Lee cut through the crowd like a hot knife. My G-men's strength behind the riot shield acting like a battering ram. Freetag made a run for it and Harwick was right there to catch the ball. Textbook. Come on!

Cover polka! Get the stinkin' finger out of my... This ain't gonna be the end of you! Ah, shut it. Oya! Bring 'em out of ship! Fighting the piggies makes us thirsty. Good work on the snatch and grab. How many did we lose out there today? Four casualties. No deaths, luckily. Though, one of my heroes touch and go. Oya! Oya! Gotta use the head!

Make a deposit to the recycler, eh? Piss your rig, dirtbag! Ain't that fancy shit you wear? I'm gonna blow a seal, chumba! Captain, squad nine. Go ahead. Last barricade is clear. Setting the magnesium burn charges now. Good. Set up a perimeter to keep the area clear as we take 'em down. No unnecessary collateral damage. Copy. It'll be a clean burn down. Free tag was run the show.

Once we nabbed him, resistance fell apart. Most of the street-level personnel melted back into the lion's den, but we were processing about sixty nabs. How many of them are actually affiliated? A handful at best. Won't help 'em with judicial. It's unfortunate, but they'll all end up out at the mines for one stint or another just for being out there today. I thought they were all shut down after the uprising. Earth doesn't ship us her convicts anymore, but someone has to work the mines.

The roads must roll. What's the play with FreeTag? Needn't tell on the lion's den. It's a labyrinth of hidey holes and ambush points. A complete shit show. And if we raid it without our heads screwed on straight, none of us will come out of that place alive. Doesn't seem like the type to spill. He's hardcore, that one. But this may be our only chance at getting the interior layout of their HQ. Can I take a run at him, sir? I was going to let Lativsky have him.

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Find exclusive new episodes from shows like Civilized and Realms of Peril and Glory. Fable & Folly Plus. Sign up today at fableandfolly.com slash plus. You the big one who bum-rushed me, Icobber? That was me. Not many G-men in Marsport know. Wonder where they all went. Don't much care. They all meatballs now. Mars makes you all meatballs. You some kind of merc? Why does a Earther go right back?

Better plays, or ya? Enough about me, Freetag. Your friends. They call you Albor. Ain't got no friends, copper. Harwick! Two water bulbs and two ration packs! Got the dark? With some H2O and synthetic kibble post to make me get all cuddly? Nope. But it's what you asked for. You deserve to be treated humanely. Even in custody. Humanely? Your dinner is served.

I sent Harlan for that. I volunteered to- Uncuff Freetag and escort him to the head. But- Problem? No, Sarge. No matter the planet, organized crime sprang up for all the same reasons. Some crews were built with the intention to profit on misery in a corrupt system: the cartels. They came from money, and collecting more from people who had less was their only agenda. Violence was simply a means of operation.

They were one side of a bloody coin. But then, you had organizations that formed because of that misery. Built in the slums, barrios, ghettos, and shanties. Crime as a means of survival. The grouping of people as a way to claw back what little was possible by any means necessary. That was the Wall Gang. They hailed from the dome just south of the huddle. A neighborhood named Elysia. And their plastic and Kevlar habitat was dying.

Whether from blatant neglect and disrepair, or the rising atmospheric pressure that threatened to eventually crush all the fragile bubbles clinging to Mars, Elysia would die soon, casting its residents out into the inhospitable wind and sand. Scumbag is out of shit in the shave. Should I shine his boots next? Thank you, Lativsky. You can go. Okay, back in the chair, hands on the table! I don't think that's necessary.

Mr. Freetag, please sit. Be good for the boss lady, or you and me are going to dance. Maybe we dance anyway. Tivsky! Right-o, Sarge. Sit, please. Yeah, okay. You can eat while we talk. Why did the Wall and the other gangs start killing cops? Shit. They've been killing us long as any chum has been on this rock. So then what changed?

Everything is changing. The problem with the Elysia dome. What the fuck you care, Earther? Call it newcomer curiosity. Enlighten me. Enlighten... Hmm... I like... Okay, Cobber. You see, Mars here is free now. That's what the big domers say in their penthouses anyway. They happy little turtles free from Earthers like you. But what we out here free from? Elysia? The huddled Southie? Nadege?

Nothing free. No air we don't steal, no food we don't take, no water that ain't recycled from our blood and piss. Anyone stands up, they nap. Sometimes even if they don't, red backs sweep and poof, anyone could just disappear. Wayne is just a G-Star in a fancy rig, and you're just another street soldier like me. Soldiers die in a war. You know that they're coming for you.

You and all the shock collars in the other gangs. No, you no listening, Cobber. Let them. We ready. Mi casa es su muerte. I need you to tell me what defensive capabilities you have set up in the complex south of the view despot. And I need you to map out the layout inside. That all? Thanks for the meal, though. You haven't even heard my offer yet. Are the redbacks gonna leave and no never come back?

Then we are at an impasse, eh? See, I know a 50-chip word or two myself. You give me the intel I need, and I release every one of your people we arrested today. And as a bonus, anyone else we still have at the holding facility here in District 6. All of them.

The look on his face said everything I needed to know. I had been listening and watching. He had people in holding. People he cared more about than the other gang leaders. This was my opening. "We just let them go. Nothing on their records, no mining camps. We just let them out in exchange for your cooperation." "What is that? 200, 300 lives for what?"

A handful of gangbangers putting out hits on cops? If this is a war, then you are losing. It's that simple. You might kill a few more of us before it happens, put a few more badges in your trophy cabinet, but you will lose. Question is, how do you want it to end? You can do that. Just let them all go? Yes. Problem is, you don't look like you got that level of juice. A shot caller knows a shot caller.

And that ain't you. I can get it done. I will get it done. Gordon, step out of the holding center. So that's the real Rangatira, huh? Ha ha. Bye bye, buttercup. Captain, I am close to flipping him. I can feel it. He has people in holding. You could see it in his eyes. Loved ones. I could never approve that deal. One, two prisoners maybe. He'll never go for that.

He'd know that once MPF had the names of whoever we had of his, they'd never be safe. It's an impossibility, Gordon. What the fuck do you care about the politics of it? It gets us everything we need to dismantle all the gangs and maybe, maybe bring a little peace to the huddle. The leaders are holed up in there. We can take out their entire command structure in one fell swoop. With his intel, we can complete this mission without civilian casualties, maybe even take the leaders alive.

You need to give the people here something. We need to change the paradigm or... or even if we succeed... This thing starts all over again in what? Six months? A year? The Commissioner wants this district wiped clean. If I make that deal, they replace me with someone else. Someone who is going to go out there and massacre anyone they can lay their hands on. I'm trying to keep that from happening. These are not crime lords.

These are people trying to survive who admittedly made some really bad choices. That's not how Governor Wayne sees it. They are killing cops. He sees it as an insurrection. Yeah, with good reason. You know the conditions in shanties like the Huddle. We are the ones that need to change. We should be out there helping these people, not putting them in mines. For what it's worth, I agree with you.

But I have no choice. You were a marine stationed here with the Earth Expeditionary Force, right? Why the fuck did you stay? Why would you subject yourself to all this? I fell in love. I have a family. A husband and a daughter. Then think about them. I am. Is this the Mars you want your daughter to inherit? What the fuck is wrong with this place?

Captain, please listen to me. Enough. What then? Are you just gonna let Lativsky go in there and do- I said shut the fuck up, Gordon. Holding Delta Six, this is Murdo. This is Holding. Go ahead, Captain. Start prepping your team for a prisoner release. Copy, sir. Who are we letting out? Everyone. Excuse me, say again? Just get your people ready for when the order comes down. You have 24 hours. Copy, sir. Let's go see if your new friend in the holding cell will make the deal.

"Freetag gave us everything. The full command structure, all the defenses in place inside the lion's den, every aspect of how the gangs had operated." The raid on their HQ was ordered for the next day under the cover of an incoming dust storm. The prisoner release was to take place simultaneously, hoping that the storm would force everyone to take cover and negate any violence as 363 people in our custody were let back onto the streets.

I went home to Watney that night weary to the bone, but triumphant. There are a few days where you feel like you did something right, and I knew well enough to relish the small victories. You look like a ten-ton pile of shit, Cobber. It's been a day. Ain't it always? I think I'm gonna go. Crash. You know, honey, why don't you come on up to my room? Got a few people over for a friendly game. Come join us.

I really need to get some shut-eye. I'll see you in five. Change out of that uniform. I had been neglecting my responsibilities to Mother since moving to District 6. Mother Corey had done some digging on Murdock. When the word came back he was clean as a whistle, she gave me a pass. Man wants to try and run a clean district? I ain't gonna stand in his way, was all she had said. I had a feeling that pass was about to be revoked.

Here, as requested. Come on in, baby doll. Hey, Mother! Found some new blood. This is the associate I mentioned. Might be joining us. Bryce, Gordon. She's currently with the municipal police. Deera here is cleaning me out of house and home. You familiar with Stellar? Cod Shark like you might give these three a run. I prefer to play when the game is rigged. Aw, don't worry. Mother never plays anything that isn't. Vilas, Baby, do shut up and deal her in. She's a quick study.

There are six suits in a stellar deck. Terra, Mars, Venus, Luna, Ganymede, and Titan. Each suit has eight cards with different ranks. The goal is to appropriate full suits using alliances or wars. Sounds easy enough. The pot is a hundred a game. That's a bit rich for my blood at the moment. I'll spot you. Desert Cat, you take the seat over here. That's Vilas and Indira.

I know you. Oh, he just has that kind of face. That's what I've been told. A face fit for... The radio. You're that guy. Just a car of series is on the field. Got red-handed.

My name's Randall, but everyone just calls me- Rand. Alliance, Justicar of Terra. Ooh, war. Two Kindred takes the pair of Justicars. Rand is the closest thing we have to a free press in Marsport. Alliance, matched. Two Kindred and two Justicars. Beat that. It's to you, Bryce. But that's a hard spread to beat, so no one will hold it against you.

Sorry. Alliance, I think. Four apex beats Kindred, right? She is a quick study. So I gotta ask, can't you play anything better on the radio than... I don't even know what to call it. Nice. It's rock and roll, have you no good old Martian rock? Why it is that ancient crap is making a comeback here is beyond me, baby. Kids, I guess. It changed the world on Earth once upon a time. I'm not afraid to say I like it.

I did something more important than changing the world on Earth. I changed the conversation. And that's exactly what we're doing here. Conversation is nice, but we are far beyond words here. Conversation incites action. Nolan likely has the numbers.

Numbers are not the problem. Have you ever seen a Martian election? No. Hold on to your seat. They are a farce. A pageant put on to make people think they have freedom of choice. No one in Marsport thinks they have a choice. The only thing that's gonna change the violence is violence. Swift and precise. Just another knife in a knife fight. Then don't bring a knife. Here we go again. What did I walk into?

It's an old, old, tired argument. If we don't, they will. It's just a matter of time. And Deera, you maintain the domes. You know what would happen. As the atmosphere gets thicker, they are coming down no matter what we do. You work with the trades guild? Yeah. That surprising? Only that I've never seen any of you on my beat in the city. We have a compound in the Grand Dome. Under the thumb of Wayne. Just another silo to protect his... What...

Is the plan when the air pressure can't support the domes anymore. Your guess is as good as mine. Anyone who knew the plan is long dead. The Trades Guild might have been architects once, but all that's left are janitors and handymen. What about the rumors coming from the enclaves out west? Come on, breathers. It's a fairy tale. Violus here helps oversee food production at the farming enclaves.

Honestly, I've never seen anything like what you're talking about. One of those "I heard it from someone who heard it from" you know, you get my gist. I don't know, man. Algae is the most robust life form on Mars, and it can't survive outside. How's a person supposed to? Okay, it's been fun meeting you. Honestly, I didn't think Mother here had any friends. Oh, I don't. We love you too, you old sow.

All the same, I really do need to hit the sack. Yeah, alright. Go ahead, baby doll. We'll pick this up another time. Hey, I mean, it's your money to lose. It was a pleasure meeting you, Officer Gordon. As I went back to my room and laid down for the night, I couldn't shake the feeling I had missed something. That nagging pull in the back of your mind when everything calms down and the stress...

finally clears, but your mind still races through the emptiness, like the dizzying of waves crashing. Whether it was something with Freetag and the coming raid, or the strange air of tension that permeated Mother's card game, I couldn't pinpoint it. Today had been a strange day, one where everything seemed to be spinning onto its head. Mars, as insane and unjust as it is, might just make an ounce of sense if I could figure it out.

Whatever I had missed, it was lost to me. Somewhere out there, just beyond consciousness. Out there, in the darkness. Sleep. Bryce, wake up! What the fuck? We need to go. There isn't time. You need to come with me. I don't understand. How did you get in here? There's a mil-spec rig on the chair. No, I need to report to District 6 in four hours. There won't be a prisoner release or a

Arliss got word of your plan and is transferring everyone from holding as we speak. Of course. Arliss and Wayne have a mole in District 6. But how... how did you get this intelligence? You are the only one I have on the inside. Captain Murdock...

They relieved me of command. We need to move. They're gonna firebomb the lion's den at sunrise. It's filled with civilians. Then we need to make sure that doesn't happen. I put on the mil-spec stealth rig as ordered and we made for the huddle as fast as Murdock's transport would carry us. We need to make for the precinct. We gotta spring FreeTag. That'll put a target on your back. I always keep a couple cards to play with Arliss and Wade in the pocket. We are going to need FreeTag's help to get everyone out of the lion's den in time.

And me. When we get to the building, you're gonna take out any of Wayne's goons you can. He wouldn't trust the MPF with arson. He'll use his own people for that. Copy that. Just my kind of party. Keep your face shield activated. They can't mark you in any of this. You still need to report for duty once we've gotten everyone out to keep the MPF off your scent. Captain Murdock. Sergeant.

I wasn't expecting you in. We received word from the Commissioner's office that a Captain Trench would be covering for you for the next few days. Trench, huh? Is everything alright, sir? Of course. I've been tasked with a new mission. I need you to release Free Tag into my custody. He's being moved to another facility. I don't have a transfer form. Didn't come through last night? No. I've been on since second shift.

Fucking hell. Those goddamn pencil pushers in the big dome. I can radio them in the morning to see what the holdup is, sir. I'll sign for it. Arliss is expecting me to deliver him to the transfer depot. Copy that, sir. Wake up, Free Jack. Put on your helmet. You are coming with me. We need to move. Hang on. What about our deal? Lieutenant Grace, I work for the commission. I have a transfer form for prisoner Albor Frizzard. We don't have time. If you want to save the lives of everyone in the den, come with me right now.

Where are my people? When are we getting them out? They're already gone. Oh, you better be joking, Cobber, or things are about to get real ugly in here! Higgs, sit the fuck down! Your people have been moved to the transfer depot near the starport. Then why are we headed this way? Turn this dust rabbit around, Cobber! Who do you have in there? Maybe we can get them before they're shipped out. You think I'm gonna tell you? There's no time! We need to get everyone out of the lion's den now, or everyone in there dies!

What the fuck do you mean? Wayne is going to burn you out. The gang leaders, along with anyone else inside. There's hundreds of people holing up there. Families! That's why we need your help. To get them all out. These are your fucking soldiers. Stop them. Wayne isn't using the MPM for this. He doesn't trust us, especially now. Then we find and kill those chumbas. And if we can't get them all? Turn left here.

We have a secret entrance close to the war room. Stop. We have a broadcast system. There will be riots in the streets again for this. At least those people won't burn in their sleep. Auntie Epone. What? She's my half-sister. Only family I got left. She got picked up in one of your sweeps. I'll do whatever I can. You better, or I'm coming for you, Cobber.

I headed west along the giant complex and Murdock headed east, but in the darkness, it was impossible. People began streaming out of the entrances minutes after we split up, and in the chaos that followed, there was little I could do except trying to get the people as far away as possible. "Get away from the building! You need to get as far away as you can!" Then, just as the sun crested the eastern edge of the plateau, it happened.

There are no words in the face of terror, only rage and helplessness. As I watched the fires reach up and choke out the lightning Martian sky, one thing became crystal clear. Governor Wayne was a dead man. Hey, listen up, I've tried to tell you this a hundred times. Not to cry, you won't repeat. You can't see shit cause you have closed your eyes. You say you don't change, I don't.

I hope you enjoyed this installment of The Exile, and if you just can't wait for that next episode, you know you can listen to it right now?

That's right, you can get early access and ad-free listening to every episode in the series by subscribing to CMA Universe Plus exclusively on Apple Podcasts. Want to dive even deeper? Join us for a live listen, meet the cast, and go behind the scenes with our aftershows, presented at twitch.com/effinfunny, recorded live 7pm ET on the Tuesday each main episode airs.

Connect with us online via Facebook and Instagram under the handle @CMANthology. And if you like the show, please like, subscribe, and give us a review anywhere you listen. For more information about the show, our visual guide, merch, and a whole lot more, check us out online at cmanthology.com. Tonight's show starred Tiffany Smith as Bryce Gordon and featured the voices of Chris Amick as Lativski, Sujata Day as Indira,

Jonathan Edelman as Harwick Kelly Dawn Hancock as Fel Phil Lamarr as Captain Murdock Raymond Lee as Albor Freetag Trace Lissette as Mother Corey

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. It was executive produced by Scott Pezza 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 Mashiecki and Jack Bowman.

Assist in 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 Black Bamboo, Elot, Xperia, Luvian, Luwax, Umi, Scyther,

Silver Maple, Soleil, Segoy, and Jay Vartan. 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 next mini-sode titled Mother Cory, Butterflies. See you then. And as always, thank you for listening.

Dum Dums and Dice would like to welcome you into The Mythos Mysteries, a live play pulp Cthulhu podcast where improvisers and comedians venture into dangers beyond their wildest imagining. Our story begins with two erstwhile companions on a long and winding road.

They think they are fleeing danger, but greater horror awaits them when they arrive. For they are not just running away from mortal danger, but towards the Mythos Mysteries.

Whoever you are, we're not scared of you. You hear a voice from inside that says, please help. I'm inside the dresser. Help. Now I need you to listen to my very explicit instructions here, Adrian. Okay. Please ready your punching fists. Yeah, they're always ready. Now I'm going to open the door. Okay. And we're going to look inside the dresser. What if we don't? Could we not? I need you to be brave for me. Okay.

You were always very brave. Okay, okay. So we're going to open the door and you're going to look in the dresser and then what? And then if I tell you to, we're going to punch it. The dresser? No.

He said I had to be very... He said explicit. If there is someone in the dresser... I'm punching. We're going to punch him. What if it's a ghost? Well, then we're going to have ourselves a fun time. Like a party? Like a birthday party. Okay, so we'll do some dancing and there will be a cake. Hopefully the ghost brought it. Yes. Okay, I can do this. Okay.

I'm going to open the door now. Okay. I'm going to open the door. You open the door and the dresser is back upright. All the drawers are back inside. But now it is next to the window and the bed is in a different corner. Of course it is. And the blood is pooling on the floor instead of the ceiling. It's dripping up. The Mythos Mysteries episodes are available now.