Philip K. Dick's Second Variety - Part 2
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Welcome to episode 5 of the Curious Matter Anthology. I'm Jonathan Pezza, the creator and host of the series. It's been an amazing two weeks here on the podcast, and I'm

I'm so grateful to all you new listeners. Thank you to everyone out there in the quickly growing Curious Matter Legion. I know you're all eager to find out what's in store for Major Hendrix and the rest of X-Ray Company, so I'll keep my intro short today. We live in an amazing time of technological advancement.

For fans of science fiction, it's an almost daily exercise in what new magical technology from the stories of yesterday will become today's newest tech trends. Tricorders became iPhones, Cortana became, well, Cortana, one of many advanced virtual assistants now found in gadgets all around the home. We even have artificial intelligence that deeply dreams of sheep as it happens.

It came out in the news last week that a speculative technology included in our own story has just become a reality. If you were paying close attention in part one, Oda mentions that the CLAWS drones use QE band transceivers to communicate. Now, before your eyes roll back in your head, just check this out. QE stands for quantum entanglement. In layman's terms, it's when two particles sometimes great distances apart act as though they are connected.

It's a phenomenon scientists have been studying for years, and even Albert Einstein wrote about it. These two separate particles spin and move in unison, cosmically linked. Now that's all well and good, but how do I use it to DM my buddy on another planet?

Well, that's just it. Scientists from the University of Bristol and the Technical University of Denmark have achieved quantum teleportation of data between two computer chips, thanks to, that's right, quantum entanglement. So you never know, the Combat Logistics Autonomous Weapon System, or CLAWS, may be a lot closer to reality than you think. Okay, let's get on with the show.

This episode of Curious Matter is rated explicit and includes adult language and violence comparable to a NAR-rated film. Our show is designed to be a completely immersive HD audio experience, and it is best when played through high-quality speakers or headphones. So grab your popcorn, turn off the lights, and enjoy the continuing story of Philip K. Dick's Second Variety. Ambush!

Oh god! Just stating! Frag out! Major, they have us cut off. We can't stay here, sir. We're about to be overrun. If we go back, we'll get caught between both enemy units. The only way is through. We got more tangos! Stay with me, Preston. We got tangos coming through the gate! Hold your fire! But you need to hurry. Looks like we have an escape route, folks.

Everyone, through the gate, into the maintenance corridor. We're on the move. Team 1, use grenades to cover our retreat. Let's move, move, move! Get up, Professor. Shorty here just saved our bacon. I never fired my gun. Okay, everyone, Oscar Mike. Go, go, go. We're getting the hell out of here. Quickly. We need to go this way. There's a secret tunnel that can take you to the other side of town. How far? Not far. Come. We really owe you, kid.

My name is David. Get her in here! Lay her down, I need room and light. Major, we need to stop. It's Pressman. Alright, hold up here. Sergeant Marks, make sure we aren't being followed. Copy. Setting up a defensive position. Teams, inventory ammo and resupply from what Oda and I were able to grab in the square. Catch your breath, folks. We aren't out of this yet. Corporal Adeyemi, keep an eye on the kid. Copy, IOT.

Get that light over here. Hold her down, damn it. Please, don't. It's her femoral. She blew the stent. Get that light in here. I need to clamp it. Pull the pressure cuff from my pack, quickly. I need to... Doc! You gotta do something, Doc. She's bleeding out. Stay with me, Pressman. Almost there. Feel the artery? Cauterizer, now. Almost there. No, you... Pressman. Pressman, you asshole. You wake up.

Pressman! You wake up! No! Come on, Gray. I can't. There's nothing else you can do here. This is Corpsman Aldo. We lost Pressman. Copy that, Doc. That makes four. ProStack, Loom, Briggs, and Pressman. Ramirez and Nakamura still haven't reported him. We should retreat back to Lima Whistle Base and then return in force. Buck up, Lieutenant. I've been in tighter spots than this and come out the other side.

This is the risk we signed up for. It's up to us to get this done. We need to find a safe exit and continue north. Best guess, we're about two clicks west of Adrian. These tunnels must have been the loop lines they were building before the war. They were supposed to run all over the country. Just another ruin now. What do we do about the kid? For now, we take him with us. How did he even find us? If I were the religious type, I'd say we just experienced a miracle.

It just doesn't make sense. If you were looking for sense, you picked the wrong career path. What is your name? David. Hello David. Very nice to meet you. I am Natasha Adyami. We shouldn't stay here. It's not safe. We will only be here a little while, I am sure. Would you like something to eat? It's not fresh, but it's banana peanut butter. Do you like banana? I'm not hungry.

When is the last time you ate? Where are your parents? Gone. Are there other people that you live with? I don't live with anyone. You live all by yourself out here? There's no one but the bad men and the others. The others are the machines? Yes. You are very brave. How long have you been alone? How long have you been a soldier? A long time. Feels like forever.

Feels like forever. Well kid, you aren't alone anymore. Who's that? Your bear there. Does he have a name too? Just Bear. I like it. Very direct. Hello bear. It is very nice to meet you too. He says we should go. X-ray, X-ray. This is Nadeau.

I popped my head out for a look-see. The service ladder from the tunnel leads to some kind of maintenance and ventilation building adjacent to Gilbert Highway. This position holds a decent lay of the surrounding area. Abandoned farmland on both sides of the highway, a few ruined buildings about to click out. Ain't the best western, but could be a good place to hole up for the night.

Good work, NATO. X-Ray, we're going topside. Team 2, you're on first watch. Everyone else, sack out and get a couple hours of rest. We are moving out at 0600. Hey, Doc. Brought you water and ammo. Mookie, thank you. You doing okay? Fine. Okay. If you, you know, if you need to talk... Why would I need to talk? Pressman for one. She's dead. It's just...

It's been a while since you were on patrol. For all of us. Yeah, yeah, true enough. But no one else here ever stripped down to their birthday suit and just sort of walked off the line. We all have our bad day. And they just decided to let you out of med sec like nothing happened? Yes, because I'm fine. Why didn't you come to me when you got out? We were... You never said anything. I could have helped you. I would have helped you.

How does someone just go? Is there something I owe you? Yeah, an explanation for one. There isn't one. I don't even remember doing it. Which the doctor said is common enough. I just remember First Platoon finding me in that ruined town. Like, waking up from one bad dream into another bad dream. And that's it? That's it. But...

I'm here to do my job. Same as you. Heads up. We got Claws heavy assault units inbound. Maybe five clicks out. Oda.

Do you think they picked up our ident tags and decided to give us an escort? After the shit those mules pulled on us, it's the least Twitchy can do. That seems a likely answer, though I doubt the arrival of these units has anything to do with yesterday. The units are individuals. Each one makes its own decision based upon complete awareness of all the other units' sensory data. You tell us they can see everything. That means our mules knew we were about to get ambushed and decided to save their own skins. I've been trying to reason why the Type 3s left us the way they did.

The only conclusion I can see is that they came to the consensus that there was a higher priority task. What is higher priority than defending your own team? Digital versus analog logic. It's why OCOM doesn't assign joint missions. The two don't mix well. This. This whole thing is about attrition. Six months ago, we were within a breath of total annihilation. The SRE hit almost every major population center in North America and Europe. How many friends have you lost fighting this war? Family.

Do you know what the latest population estimate is? 1.5 billion. That's it. That's all we have left. The Sino-Russians were within a year of perfecting stealth trans-orbital weapons. Once the SRE could hit us with impunity on lunar soil, that would have been it. Lights out. We put every available resource we had left into getting CLAWS into service. AI logic may be impossible for us to understand, but they are our only hope.

Claws has one core objective: end the war as fast as possible and ensure that life can survive on whatever is left. No, no, no. Miss General Captain Lady! Sorry, sir. He got away from me. He is fast forward peep squeak. We have to go now. You aren't safe here anymore. They're coming.

Kid, the machines are on our side. You need to believe me. Please. We need to go now. Leon, you see anything else out there? Nada. Nothing on thermal. Just a column of heavy assault Type 5s. Best reckoning they're eight, maybe ten minutes out. You sure about this, kid?

We can't stay here. Bad things will happen if we stay here. Type 5s would come in really handy in another firefight, sir. We're down to maybe two mags per man. We won't survive another surprise like yesterday without Twitchy's help. I'm with Lieutenant Scott on this. Claws may not follow traditional logic, but they are on our side. We should wait and see. Please! You have to believe me. We need to leave now. After yesterday...

The kid says something's not right. I've got a mind to believe him. Grab your gear. We're moving out. Double time. Adeyemi, carry the kid. We're going to put as much distance between them and us as we can. Smoke, sir. From back, towards the highway. How did the Khan sneak up on our position? Unless the SRE has heat-deflecting camo, I would have spotted them on the scope, sir. Well, clearly you missed something, Corporal. David.

How did you know we were in danger? You aren't going to believe me. I'll try. I promise. Bear told me. Sir, this is preposterous. He did! Can I see Bear? I guess... here. Did Bear also tell you to help us yesterday? Uh-huh. Well then, he's my new best friend. You take good care of him. Mr. Oda.

Is there any possible way the SRE has somehow managed to take control of clause units? It's simply impossible. Are you suggesting that the Type 5s meant us harm? I mean, even if they did, why would they fire on an empty building? I left Pressman and ProStack's ident tags. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Whether you're selling a little or a lot...

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Fans make the network what it is. Thanks for listening, and we can't wait to hear from you. Find our listener survey at fableandfolly.com slash survey today. A band's team to X-Ray. I have eyes on the enemy base. From the looks of the outside, they took a hell of a beating. Multiple breaches in the Palisade. The Autotour towers are gone. Gates wide open. Looks abandoned.

That is a motherfucking kill box right there.

100. You go in there and Khan wants your number, it's gonna be splat splat. You gotta have a death wish to take that walk. Where's all that "get some Reaper of Death" shit now, Rook? You nervous in the service? This whole mission is straight foobar.

If the old lady thinks I'm committing suicide for her, she's fucking nuts. Let's get one thing straight. Any of us would swallow a frag for Hendrix. You have no idea what it was like during the Blitz. She is anything but stupid. Most of us vets are only alive because of her. If the Major says walk, you better get in step. Get me? I ain't no pussy, but I know a trap when I see one.

What is it that you know, Patraca? Nothing. Sounds about right. How we looking? Not a peep. I'm glad we never had to storm this place. Claws sure did a number here. They cracked this place like a walnut and ate the guts. C.O. wants you back for the briefing. You too, numbnuts. I'll keep an eye on this ghost town for you. Everyone knows their tasks. I'm counting on each of you. We go in there, meet with the SRE brass, then hightail it home.

Now David, I need you to stay here with Corporal Adeyemi. But I don't want to stay. It might be dangerous, and I want you to stay safe so that you can come back with us. You want me to live with you? For now, you'll come back to Lima Whistle Base until we can find you someplace safe, with all the food you can eat. But what if you need me? I can help. I know you can, but I need your help here.

We need you and Adeyemi to protect the escape route. Keep your weapons down. Arms up. Shoulder to shoulder. Slow and steady. No sudden actions. No aggressive movements. This is Overwatch. Major, I have you and the platoon 200 meters from the gate. Still no signs of enemy movement. I really wish you'd let me stay with Adeyemi and the boy. Where's your sense of adventure, Mr. Oda? You came all the way here. Don't you want to see the inside of a con base for yourself?

Think of all that enemy tech. Besides, Mr. Priority One, you have override authority, remember? All you had to do was say no. Hendrix is intimidating. That she is. 150 meters. Keep it going. Halfway there. It's okay, Deva. There is nothing to fear. I need to be there with them. I shouldn't have stayed. It is much better here with me. Do you know any games? Why don't we play a game while we wait for them to get back?

She doesn't like that I'm not with them. She wants me to stay with them. Who told you this? Mother. Hold up. I need you to stay here. I can't let you go. I have orders. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. 100 meters. Still clear. Wait. Talk to me, Leon. It's David, sir. He's running. He's heading your way.

I gotta glint in the tower! Sniper! They just laced you with a target lock! Everybody, down! David, get down! My god, those motherfuckers! They shot the kid! Tango sighted in the tower. Takin' the shot. Tango down. Doc Aldo, get to David! Hold your fire! Cover the Major and Doc Aldo! No. No! He's not breathing. What is this?

LT, I need you to see this. Impossible. The kid was a frickin' twitchy. Major, he... David, he's not human. Mr. Oda, what does this mean? This just simply isn't possible. Is he part of Claws? I don't know. Major, I would have of she mother. Mother.

No! He was trying to tell us something! He was- Tangoes! Enemy sighted! You got company. Pick your targets. Get ready. Looks like four foot mobiles. They have their hands up. No weapons. Stand down. Everyone, stand down. We were worried our message didn't make it. I'm Major Hendrix. I'm here as a sanctioned representative of the UN High Command.

Go to hell, you dirty American scum! You should die!

My friend here is not happy that you returned our effort to protect you from this childlike infiltrator by killing one of our men. He's quite adamant that we should kill you. Just try it. Lieutenant Scott.

I'm sorry for our response to your help. We are just trying to get our heads around all this. I'm sure once I've had a chance to communicate with the ranking officer... This is the first infiltrator you have encountered. They are quite effective. The boy, whatever it is, helped us. We were attacked by an SRE unit yesterday, 20 miles south in the town of Adrian. Defectors. All companies have abandoned their posts. Those that haven't been slaughtered by your machines, yes?

How long this one been tagging you? Tagging? The machines are quite good at blending in. Finding ways to be invited in. So to say. But once we are in... Well, as you see... There's just the four of you. It appears to be so. Major, may I? Go ahead. These infiltrators... When did they first appear? Do they all look like David? For that we should go inside. It's not safe in the open.

Your tiny ones like to hide in the nooks and then pop and shake, shake. There is much to share, I think. The kind of thing what goes best with drink. Yeah? Did you bring any American cigarettes? I could murder for a good cigarette.

We hope you enjoyed this presentation of Second Variety Part 2. If you haven't yet, please subscribe for free on the podcast platform of your choice and rate us with five stars today. You can connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook under the handle @CMANthology.

This episode was dramatized, directed, and edited by me, your host, Jonathan Pezza. Additional sound engineering by Jeremy Pezza and Ivan Kozlov. Our ensemble cast includes the talented voices of Sandeep Parikh, Kelly Dawn Hancock, Leonid Andronov, Alexandra Amick, Christopher Amick, Darren Cummings, Philip Gray.

The score was provided by EpidemicMusic.com. Sound effects were provided by SoundSnap.com.

Second Variety is a work in the public domain and was produced in accordance with U.S. copyright law. Curious Matter is a production of Jonathan Pezza, Inc., copyright 2020, all rights reserved. If you have a question or feedback about the podcast or suggestions for future episodes, I'd love to hear from you. So reach out to Jonathan at CuriousMatterPodcast.com or check us out online for more information, www.CuriousMatterPodcast.com.

Each episode on the website includes a blog article with additional information about the story, links to interesting historical information, and suggested reading and viewing to continue the experience. Here on Curious Matter, we dedicate each episode to a used bookstore. This one goes out to the Talk Story Bookstore in Hanapepe, Hawaii. This one-of-a-kind shop is the westernmost bookstore in the United States. It's the perfect place to pick up a beach read and say hi to the official cat mascot, Celeste, while you're there.

With over 150,000 titles, you're sure to find your next favorite. Do yourself a favor and check them out online at TalkStoryBookstore.com. Or better yet, if you find yourself on the tiny island paradise of Kauai, stop in and buy a book. Coming up on the next episode of Curious Matter, the mysteries continue to unravel as X-Ray Company's adventures continue in Second Variety Part 3. So make sure to subscribe for free today, and thank you for listening.

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Find World Gone Wrong in all the regular places you find podcasts. I love you so much. I mean, you could like up the energy a little bit. You could up the energy. I actually don't take notes. That was good. I'm just kidding. You sounded great. So did you.