This episode contains mature language and situations. A listener discretion. They advise you
wake to the sound of a train, the clack clack clack of wheels in
the distance. Is that the sound of birds in a forest. No,
it's angels in a choir? Or is it demons from hell? It doesn't
matter. You have no memory of how you got here. All you know
is that you are lost and that now you belong to the Gray Rooms.
Welcome back, roomies. As we push forward to our season finale, i'd
like to thank you for your time. The staff of Gray Rooms Productions continues
to shine the light in dark corners, of course, the light of tracks
the monsters. So join us now as we enter the tunnel of the second
half of our season narrative. The finale is on the other side, all
aboard the Silver Express. Hell awaits those who continue to lag bind. And
we'd like to remind everyone that Gray Room Production has expanded its reach. We
now have access to control Operator Jeff and the Ghost Signal podcast, True tales
about haunting, sightings, the paranormal and exorcisms from beyond the Grave. Search
for the Ghost Signal on Spreaker or your favorite podcatcher. Visit Jeff and the
Ghost Signal at the Ghost Signal podcast dot com. So, without further ado,
please enjoy our compilation episode, Part two of two. Hello, sir,
Yes, I've spoken to Beckett. He's on his way down. That's
good to hear. Yes, I believe the warden is being seen too,
though from past experience, I imagine he'll need little more than a steady supply
of mortal blood to hear his injuries. Will you be joining us or Ah?
That's good to hear, even if the timing is a bit difficult.
Today we attack first. Ma'mon. Never was much for patience, was he?
All right? I'll pass along your apologies, I sir, of course
if you think it wise. I'm not one to argue. But this is
an internal matter. Do you really think I understand? Of course, as
you say, sir, good luck with Lucifer. I'm sure the meeting will
go. I'm sure the meeting will go very well. Oh damn it,
besil, Come apologies. I'm not interrupting anything, am I No, no,
madam rule. You are not the source of my eire ah. Actually,
credit where it is due. I just got off the phone with the
founder your disinformation campaign has borne fruit. Oh, Mammon has declared war on
Levistus, the fourth Layer marches on the fifth, and Besiol has gone to
a council of the dukes down at the palace. So then everything is working
out just as we'd hoped, Yes, just as we'd hoped. Actually,
I wonder how much credit should go to you and how much we owe to
your shade companion. Is Samuel with us right now? Yes? He is?
Why Samuel, I do not know what you are or what you purport
to be, but early you provide considerable aid to the Admiral here and for
the moment, Admiral Beckett and I are allies. We have some guests coming
to the tower. They're on their way right now. If you'd be so
kind as to keep your eyes open look for any unusual actions they might take.
It would be a service to both your father and myself. He says
that he'll do just that. Excellent. Perhaps one day we'll be able to
chat face to face. Perhaps in the meantime, who are these guests you're
expecting? Speak of the devil and he shall arrive, or in this case,
the Angel come in. Sister, dear, so God you could see
us on short notices and this must be Admible Beckett. We've heard so much
about you. It's a pleasure to meet you in person. Finally, the
pleasure is all mine, Basil. You're even more beautiful than the images than
your darcier. Oh, I don't think so, dear. If I wore
my true form in front of you, you'd go quite quite mad. Can
we get on with this time's wasting, Admiral, This snarky model is more.
I don't believe you've had a chance to meet either. We have not
a pleasure, sir. Yeah, yeah, kid, I'm glad you're on
board. This place means all the perspective it can get. If this rainy
a the time, I'd love to sit and share a cigar, maybe some
brandy, chat about all the little things. But we have a bit of
a situation here, don't we, Yes, come in, sit down.
You hear about Bob's escape, Yes, we very much are. How did
dear Woe managed to slip his bomb? Sister? We were all and your
pardon my language, we were all pretty fucking surprised to hear he'd managed to
escape from the Gray room. Yeah, architect, shouldn't that be impossible?
It should have been impossible. Yes, But as I'm sure you read in
the letters I sent along, he had external assistance, unexpected shocking. Who
helped him, you said, Toad? Yes, and and Samantha Winters,
the previous guest of the rooms. I forgive me, madam, but I
thought Samantha was dead. Nope, not as dead as one would have hoped.
She and Todd somehow broke into the rooms bound Barbin, then managed to
open a way out. Yep, that's yes, It's impossible, bez both.
An investigation is underway even as we speak. I've called Alma back from
the lodge to look at the sigles underpinning the rooms. Whatever the error here,
it will be corrected. This will not happen again. I recognize that
this is most irregular, but in the grand scheme of things, what harm
has been done? I mean, I somehow doubt that the loss of our
groundskeeper will undo all of the hard work we've done over the centuries. Don't
you agree, Architect. I don't know what you think this visit is,
but it is not a friendly one. We're not here to listen to your
excuses, not this time. Sorry, kid, run with a deep end.
I guess I'll manage. The Queen is pissed pen and when she is
pissed, she throws things, and not like vases of books, she throws
knives and fire, enlightning people die. Our dear mother is just as angry,
sister. The loss of Wolveriki is incalculably banned. He knows everything.
If the wrong someone were to acquire him, if he were to speak into
the wrong ear, we're all dead. And not the fun kinda dead either,
the really painful, excruciating kinda dead. There you go, exaggerating things
as usual, my friends. The project is stable. The subjects in this
iteration of the rooms are perfect fits. The returns we've seen, even at
this early stage are unlike anything we've managed before, even better than impressive guests
like Miss Winters or the Admiral. Here we will find Todd, we will
find Bob, we will find Samantha Winters, and they will be dealt with.
And if Queen Titania or dear Mother have a problem with that, then
please take back to them a very simple message. This is my office.
I run this project, not them. If they have a problem with how
I run the gray rooms. They can take it up with the founder.
Are you sure that this is the tone you wish to take system the message
you wish us to convey. Yes. Now, unless there's anything else.
The Admiral and I have a number of things to see too. Are you
Are you kicking us out? Yes? Thank you both for coming. It
was It was a pleasure to meet you both. Yeah, kin, the
pleasure was all mine. Dear boy, I do so hope we get a
chance to speak again. Sister Bess, what are you going to tell her?
Moth? Yeah, yeah, hold up a set. She's got ears
everywhere. This won't last long, but we won't need it. She's scared,
right. It's not just me. No, it's not just you.
She's hiding something and it's not just this business with woe. And that's what
I thought. What is it? You are? You might if I hit
your ride back to the mount with you, You're not returning to the grove.
If I go back to the Queen with no answers, with nothing actionable,
I've seen her smite people for way less than that. Why them out?
I know a guy I don't want to say, but I might be
able to work a deal get some answers, get a real lead on our
wayward babes. All right, sure take my arm dear more, of course,
my dear lady, by your leave. Early morning on the mount.
Beautiful sunshine, birds, singing angels we have heard on high. You know,
it's all great right up until you realize it's like this all day,
every day, forever, fucking insufferable. Most of the folks I deal with
up here pay for really thick walls. It's on an inside in the dark
that you can hear yourself. Think. That's why I like Mac's place.
People get this image of the mount like it's all halos and harps, and
there's definitely places like that up here. But even in the holiest place in
all the realms, people still have needs. Hey there, long years,
Jeb, what are you drinking? Absentthe Jeb is my kind of mortal,
dumb as a box of hammers, and just as attractive. He's loyal to
his boss, though, and doesn't water down his drinks. The green fairies
not my thing. Got anything new. Lady of the house just got in
a barrel of mead from the far side of the mount. Once on the
label suit to endure sure, I'll try anything once. You here for companionship
or to talk to the Lady of the house. The lady of the house,
Maggie, the Magdalena, Mary, Magdalene, whatever you want to call
her. She's been called worse neither for a change. I should think I
are gonna have a little chat she here. Yeah, came in a little
while ago. Corner booth at the back. You're paying off a debt or
making a new one. Not sure yet. Let's see how the day goes.
Damn, that is a tasty mead. Yeah, that bunch ain't good
for much way, I hear it, But they can ferment it. Damn,
find me and put it on my tab. Your souls ain't any good
here, moth. You know that standing orders from the lame, the lady
of the house. Yeah, yeah, I know. Thanks Jib, you
keep your nose clean, pretty boy. I did a favor for the lady
of the house once a while back. Not bad having free drinks at the
best bar in heaven or worst, I suppose, it depends who you ask.
I crossed the bar and saw her the moment I turned the corner.
She was kind of hard to miss. I shift towered over me even sitting
down, six wings tucked neatly behind her back. Her hair was a bone
white, her eyes daly gray. She took my breath away. I spend
a lot of time with beautiful people, mind you, So that's saying something
better? Stop staring. Ah, you came, and you're only an hour
late, our refreshing princess. You wound me. I would never leave a
lady of your standing waiting. Does that kind of flattery work with the boys
and girls upstairs? Of course, I'm in a bit of a bind.
I need some rather unique information, just the kind of thing that comes across
your plate, hound roll, I expected as much. Set. Would you
like some meat? I can get Jeb to pour us another. Not my
kind of drink? Too sweet? All right, probably best if you're just
out with it, moth. This is about as chatty as I get.
Our prostitutes supposed to be good conversationalists. Maybe the new ones are. I've
been in the trade for a few centuries too long for that bullshit. Fair
enough. I'm looking for a lost demon, lost as in you don't know
where a demon is, or lost as in the Lost Demons, The twelve
Demonic Soldiers that followed abadon into the far and were never seen again. The
former I had a demon until recently I knew where he was. Now I
don't, ah, carry on, how much do you know about the The
Gray Rooms project scammed a skimmed souls out of Hell. I assume started by
one of the dukes I don't know who, and I have a gas and
backed by funding from a diverse group of investors. You're tied up and then
interesting, that makes sense. So your Queen Titanius certainly has been spending lavishly
of late. Yeah, that's our gal. Anyway. One of the demons
work in the project had a falling out with management, so they tucked him
away in a nice little hole. Somehow he managed to escape from a place
where well I don't completely understand it myself, but the word impossible got thrown
around a lot. No way he should have been able to do what he
did. And who is this wayward soul? Her name is Woverich and gets
called Bob a lot I guess by the mortals. Ah. Interesting, I
knew right away that the Princess of Consorts, this angelic queen of hookers,
knew something about our missing Bob. She wasn't any kind of liar. She
didn't have to be. They call whorring the world's oldest profession, and the
joke goes that the second oldest profession is spying. But aescheth would tell you
straight faced they're one and the same. Other information brokers I deal with can
tell me the whats and the winds, but the wise for those I go
to the Princess. I can't give this to you for free, moth,
not this one, not figured. What do you have to trade? And
don't say souls? I'm not interested. Oh you know me secrets of the
trees? Right? I know all sorts of things you might like to know.
Am I to interpret that as you'll tell me anything I want to know?
I just have to ask a little more coy with me, Princess,
I still have my pants on. Your proposal is acceptable. I have a
number of things I'd like to ask you. I'll contact you with the specifics
once I've narrowed it down. Agreed, Agreed. You really need to find
this demon, don't you. I don't recall you being nearly this generous before
I really do. All right, let me answer your question with a tail.
Do we really need this. At the beginning of the universe, reality
was an ocean of souls, the miasma of potential, untapped and untamed.
Things slipped through the cracks of the still cooling universe. Titanic beings that swam
along the soul currents, feeding on the potential of life itself. These were
the creatures we would come to know as the Far. In response, the
factions formed a tale you know all too well, and so I will not
bore you with the retelling thank you. A great war was fought to end
the dominance of the Far. Those that were not slain were sealed away forever,
mere shadows of their former selves. After the battles were done, the
factions retreated to their corners. They formed retreats from the soul currents, gathering
potential that had not already settled down into the mortal realms. Great workings that
serve them to this day. Am I boring you? Kinda is going somewhere.
Your people built the grove, mine, the mount and the demons.
The Hell's Lucifer had very specific ideas in mind. Demons need strong boundaries to
be successful, you know, so Hell's army is quite rigid, quite structured
each layer for such and such type of mortal, a duke for each layer,
etc. Etc. Yeah, bullshit, what come again? Now have
you met Lucifer? I can't say I've had the pleasure. His reputation is
largely good public relations. He's fallible, the definition of fallibility, one might
say. And on his first try creating an entire realm, he nailed it,
created the perfect structure for the demons, their armies, and their soul
harvest. He what the hells are try number two? Yes? Wait,
so there's a realm out there made out of the stuff from the start of
the universe. Yes, that's not the growth, the mount the Far or
the Hells. The Far isn't really much of a place technically, but yes,
and it's just sitting there. Yes, wait, wait, wait,
wait, this is fascinating. But what does this have to do with Bob.
You tell me Bob was in an inescapable prison in the hells. I
know something of how those magics work. Some of the alienists who might have
worked on such a project. They're clever, too clever. Their spell work
would have had to be very specific. The most powerful magics always are.
And if you say he escaped from an inescapable place. Well, there is
a place in all of reality that their gray rooms almost certainly did not account
for. Princess. I could kiss you, but I won't. Don't really
want to be devoured today. How do I get in there? I don't
know, but that shouldn't be a problem. If I'm correct and a duke
is involved in the creation of the project, they'll know how to get there.
Just ask them. There is a duke involved, that one's for free.
Hardly a revelation. I take it. You need to get going,
you bet your sweet ass, I do very well. I'll contact you with
the details of my request for information. Don't be surprised when it's more than
you want to give up. If we find this guy, Princess, it'll
be worth it, very very worth it. Care for a smoke, Admiral,
No, thank you, sir, I'm good with the bourbon for now.
Suit yourself. This facade here at the top of the hotel, it's
supposed to be a mortal city right before my time. But yes, it
was a tool to control the guest. Samantha Winters. Yeah, yeah,
I get that. I know how the Brimstone crew thinks. I'm morment like,
how accurate is it? Oh, fairly accurate, I'd say, the
smell of pollution and filth packing the population into tight, substandard conditions. Why
do you ask the grove is? It's nothing like this? Trees, as
far as the eye can see, our cities hang among the branches. The
towers soar above the canopy, with their roots in the loam. Birds move
in great flocks that blot out the sun. Beasts leap and bound wherever they
please, down streets and over rooftops. If a servant of the Queen is
hungry, they merely have to reach up and pluck fruit off the vine.
And we have this plant that grows in most house courtyards. It draws water
up from the forest floor, and its uppermost cap ferments nectar into a delicious
mead form of music is associated with every day on our calendar. The youngest
servants of Her Majesty sit atop balconies overlooking the main thoroughfares. As the sun
begins to set, they strike up their instruments. The fiddlements, pipes,
and drums are chaos at first, just noise, but one by one the
musicians fall into sync with each other until you can walk from one end of
the city to the other, and hear a chain of music unbroken, a
score for the universe, the heartbeat of the grove made manifest until the last
rays of sunlight fade beneath the horizon. That's the growth, That's where I
come from. It sounds, it sounds quite beautiful. It is, Oh,
it is. I think I like it better here. Mother is just
going to have to understand that there are larger concerns. Sister dear. When
have you ever known Mother to be understanding about anything? Fair enough? Any
news? Oh? Yes, the best kind you clever boy. Sit,
gentlemen, we have much to tell. I will start with I will start
with an apology whatever for well, it's possible I may have been to dismissive
during our last meeting. You have to understand Bob's escape is unprecedented in the
project's history. I was still digesting it when you arrived. I sought to
contain and control the issue, but as Besial has pointed out to me,
we are ultimately on the same side here. Thank you Math for showing initiative
for seeking answers. The fact that we can stand here today with a plan
of action in hand, and ratified. It's impressive, most impressive, just
doing what I do, Panna, If you don't mind my saying so,
Architect, it's still a lot for me to take in as well. What
did the founder have to say? Mother and Buriel have approved a bold plan
of action. It will resolve the issue of Bob and Samantha Winters and allow
the Gray Rooms to step out of the shadows. It will be something of
a coming out party for all of us. I'm not sure I follow.
We were just talking about your hard work, Admiral. Yes, the skirmish
between the upper layers could not have come at a better time. Belial's invitation
to the meeting with the Dukes was the perfect opportunity to speak with Lucifer,
to show him everything we've accomplished with the project, to describe some of the
challengers we've faced, and thanks to Moth here to offer solutions to those challengers.
We got the arcade to go into the wherever it is, the old
version of Hell. As it turns out, this highly hole has been a
problem for Mother as well. Apparently some delinquents from the Mount are using it
as a mustering ground. Demons and angels side by side is that unusual?
Not our word for ourselves, Admiral, But yes, my people in Pens
are related. Obviously, ours is not the only blood tie, so not
so unusual. Not unusual, but problematic. I confirmed it with Alma.
This other space was not accounted for in the design of the project, so
the wards that disallow travel beyond the gray rooms would not have worked properly against
this unexpected magic. She's shoring them up now. This will never happen again.
That's great for tomorrow. What about today? What's the move? The
move I believe is a show of force, Admiral. How much strength do
you think we should muster in the next few hours? In the next let's
see. I'm still getting acquainted with the commanders, but I'd say the Founder
can muster a half dozen legions. Most of the rest of its forces are
deployed to ensure the other layers play nice. I can issue the orders now
if you like, but in the meantime, I'd very much like to go
and retrieve another John from a locust. He's incredibly powerful and could mean the
difference if things get strange. Excellent work, Admiral, and I approve of
your plan. Bess. Mother has agreed to lend us a pair of cohorts.
Not many soldiers, but everyone a power. They'll be carrying their shields
and spears, armed for battle. We just have to be careful. For
obvious reasons, they can't muster out of the hells. I think I can
help with that. I'm assuming we want to move as soon as possible.
Quite so, right, talking to her Majesty will take time. Convincing her
even longer troops from the grove would be a hell of a right hook.
But I think I can pitch in another way. Did the Founder tell you
how to get to this place? Yes, with permission from Lucifer himself to
enter his ancient realm? Defucking lightful? Do you have to be here in
the hills to open the door? I what an intriguing idea, I'd have
to ask, Alma, But I don't think so. No. Why great?
Then that's how you get a bunch of angels and demons to march together,
have them meet in the grove. If I go now, I can
have a sit lined up by the time you're ready to muster. Just send
along one or two of your fancy alienists and you can open the door from
our end, Titania won't be annoyed at having soldiers from other realms walking through
her delaise. Tis better to ask for forgiveness than permission, Milady. If
I can go to the royals with the tale of how we sorted this all
out ourselves, well it'll go a long way towards earning favor at court.
I know I'm still new at this. What you mentioned this is our coming
out party. What did you mean by that? It's quite simple, Admiral.
The Gray Rooms have operated in the shadows these long centuries, avoided the
spotlight, done our best to maintain the secrecy of the project. From today
forward, that ends. The Founder is going to announce the rooms to the
dukes. Mother will do the same for the choirs. Does that mean her
Majesty can finally lord it over the other courts as resolutely. Uh. It'll
be nice to be on our good side again for a while. Anyway.
The direct answer to your question, Admiral, is that things are about to
get much more interesting around here. The Hell's, the Mount, the Grove,
and the far united in common cause, a new faction in the universe
standing alongside the old ones. And now everyone will know but first, yes,
quite right, But first we hunt down Woe far right, we hunt
down Bob and we end him. Were you shure you caren't like whamming to
rag Away for the last time. That's not how all this works. I
can't just make it do whatever I want. Who's magic? Call you just
magic one thing into another? No, Todd. Given that she survived to
such unusual circumstances and escorted us across this strange realm for the last few weeks,
perhaps we should take Miss Winter's at her word. It'd just be nice,
not gonna be dripping all over your nice captain's cabin away. But disease,
I think I've got some snaretails. Hang on, this is where you've
been living. Yep, she's called the last. I doubt she'll ever sail
again, but a lot of the others live here by the water, by
the docks, and she makes for a heck of a scenic apartment when it's
not raining. Yeah, where did all this come from? The ship or
my things? Both? You said we're still in the hills, But I've
been to every layer, and I've never seen a place in Lucifer's domain that
looked like this. Yeah, who it was that foolist a few days ago.
All those ruins are on the roadside. Who gives Miss Winters? You
you guys want tea? Oh? Yes, please good, I want tea,
Samantha, this is it's complicated. We're in the Hells, yes,
but not your Hell's come again. Look, I've had it explained to me
a few times by the other members of the group. Lucifer screwed up,
I guess the first time he tried to make the Hells. So instead of
scrapping it or remaking it entirely, he just abandoned this place and then made
the multi layers shit show we all know and love. Paul Ico, isn't
he who? I never heard of an old version. I've heard rumors a
long time ago, but I thought they were just that. If we are
where you say we are, Samantha, this is a dear secret, indeed,
and we are considerably safer than we might be otherwise. I'm not even
sure the warden knows of this place, so saying keeping a dollar's whole time?
Who people, there's a whole little turnier and the people in the road
blue black who kinds? I couldn't figure out if I'm a more usual way
woos or angels or what they were all kinds. This place is a kind
of refuge from the factions, from the exploitation of mortals by the Grove,
the mount and the hells. Bob, I'm part of a resistance. They
don't call it that, not really. They call themselves defiant resistance, some
kind of terrorists. So what's their goal? They didn't well, they didn't
really have a goal at all before I showed up. Apparently folks just bound
their way in dribs and drabs. Over the centuries, words spread, and
people from the different factions that didn't want to play their parts or whatever ended
up here and this while you reached out, well, we've got bomb out
of the rooms. Yes, Bob, you said. He wanted to understand
why you were changing, right, whatever I did to you, you want
to figure it out very badly. As I said, demons are not supposed
to be able to I can. That's my power. See, it has
something to do with the very nature of reality. That's why my whammy or
whatever, why I can't just flip the weather on a whim, Todd.
I don't want to mess around with what rain is. Both of You know
what I used to be before I died. I was a I was a
monster. I used this gift to twist people up. I did things to
my world. I invited powerful creatures, beasts, and monsters to join me
in ruling the lesser people. After I died. Well, I've met some
people that I think came from my world here. Their lives were brutal,
even after the bitch Queen was dead. That's why I'm here, guys,
That's why I reached out to you, Todd. That's why we needed you.
Bob. The resistance didn't have a purpose before I came along, and
now it does change. Yes, sorry, you lost me. You said
in the rooms, you said that you weren't that man anymore. Remember the
Todd that blew up the domes. Damn right, I'm not. And you
wanted to prove that. That's why you helped me. Well, then you're
my friend. You'd have don't go out. Yeah, I needed to prove
I ain't him this refuge it's you said. It was Lucifer's first iteration.
I knew you'd get it. Untouched and excited and at the same time,
Bob, I'm still in the dark here you want to let poor old grandscaper
in it on his big secret. She means to undo it all man,
to upturn the realms and unseat the factions. Holy hell, oh wow?
Why you know why? You've seen what the factions mean? Scraping and backstabbing,
fighting over every scrap mortals nothing more than coins that can scream. Some
of the others told me about why the factions came into play, the old
war, the far I guess you call them. But that was a long
time ago. Things are different now. We don't need a bunch of queens
and dukes and angelic hosts running things well any morning they yeah, Bob oh,
don't eating a big button or whatever? Would he? Would he unshine,
order demons free to grow from the coach that the host do whoever they
want. I don't. I don't know, but I assume that's the supposition.
Your friends are running with cookie for the smart demon. Okay, right,
so that's why carnegee if our squinab how wo's the bottom war? You
need both. We may look like we're seated on a sailing ship, floating
in choppy seas, but in truth we are swimming in pure soul stuff.
If Lucifer created this place during the faction war and then abandoned it. The
essence of this place is well, it's pure. It's untainted by the Dukes,
or the hosts or the courts. I'm new to this stuff too,
Todd, But the way I understand it, the factions have made and remade
their symptoms over and over and over again. So the stuff that makes up
say the sixth Layer, it's been around the block, or more recently,
it's been imported from the mortal realms as a product of the Gray rooms.
Those souls are valuable, mutable, but tarnished. So are you saying he's
what you? Are you saying these this place is a woman? Yep,
say you need Bob Fiery. Maybe there are a bunch of mortals here,
folks from the grove and the mountain. Even a guy from the far comes
here every once in a while, but until recently, no demons. I
guess your people. They do not call us the chained ones without reason.
Some others have arrived from the hells. Yeah, they were the ones who
told us about you and Admiral and everything. They're why I knew to reach
out to Todd, Steve and Molly. Interesting, I'd like to speak with
them, But why did you bring up my people? And how can I
fire the weapon? Lest heart put it? No idea, That's why we
came to get you. I'm about as good at magic as I was at
keeping plants alive back at my apartment, Whammy notwithstanding, and Stephen Molly seem
young for demons. Yeah. So the hope is that a group of individuals
from the mortal realms, the Hells, the mount and the Grove might be
able to figure out how to unseal the potential of this abandoned realm and unto
millennia stagnation. Yep, and I'm the old man in the room. Sorry
it come get you just for old time's sake. But yeah, I haven't
heard that sounded in a while. So does that creepy mannequin laugh mean you'll
help us, Miss Winters? I would be honored. How do we get
started? Well, let us get some sleep, then tomorrow we go meet
the rest of the crew. Todd, Bob, Welcome to the Defiant.
I stepped back into Hell, the heat and sulfa washing across my face.
It was almost soothing, now, comforting, strange as it might sound,
a home coming of sorts. At my side was under the warlock of Astroth,
under the John. He was too useful to leave to the whimbs of
the universe, and so I had plucked him from another locusts, a loyal
soldier for my army. I left him in the care of Rasputin, Brand,
the Witch, Nolan, and the others. They'd get to know each
other again, make themselves ready for what was to come. That was my
hope. Anyway, I'd done everything I could, prepared them every way I
knew. How I stood with the shade of my son on the balcony,
looking down on the sixth layer from Belisle's tower. We were quiet as we
considered the future, a future we'd forged together, two Becketts against the universe.
It had always been that way, even when I was alive. My
family had been just an afterthought in galactic politics. Well connected, wealthy,
certainly, but of no real merit. My grandfather had changed all of that.
He'd set out a vision for the future, started a plot that would
take three lifetimes to see completed. Now Here we were again, the Becketts
against the universe. If we were going to survive, if we were going
to thrive as servants of hell. It would be on our own merits.
Our choices drove us, they defined us. Now we would see our choices
made real. We would grasp the future in both hands, and if everything
went to plan, we would once again sit atop the throne of our own
making. It had not quite occurred to me until the second or third day
of freedom from the rooms just how much of myself I'd lost in my escape.
I didn't care about the project, not anymore. After everything that had
happened. It was clear whatever relationships I'd had with the other members of management
were ashes in the wind. But my few tangible belongings, the things I'd
left behind, I found that I missed them quite terribly. My journals cataloging
my time with the project, my books of haigh Coup, the few little
knick knacks and souvenirs I'd acquir'd during my time with Belisle as my chain holder.
It was also mortal, I suppose to grow attached to parchment and ink,
to see your own vein scribblings as a testament to the passage of time.
And yet as I perus'd this tome lent to me by Miss Winters,
I found myself profoundly saddened, with my belongings destroy'd as they no doubt had
been. What was left to mark the centuries I'd been attendant to the Gray
Rooms. The future was a mystery, which was a novelty I was growing
to appreciate. But I'd long found that reflecting upon the past was a form
of easy solace and a way to give context to troubling events in the present.
I had no idea what was to come, and without my past to
guard my spirit and strengthen my resolve, I supposed I would have to rely
on my friends, these mortal allies who had braved the Gray Rooms to free
me from maternal torment. It was an uneasy feeling, knowing I owed so
much and could offer so little. But then, if Samantha's power was change
itself, if the goal of the Defiant was to reshape the realms, then
I supposed I would have to acclimatize myself to a bit of uncertainty, wouldn't
I. Here we are on the precipice of a brand new day, at
the threshold of reimagining the very firmament of the cosmos, and I find that
redefining the realms requires a frankly's shocking amount of paperwork. We may be living
in the most interesting of times, but the bureaucracy of the realm's grinds ever
onward. My quill scrawled endlessly across statements of intent, true mustering forms,
and byzantine inquiry letters. These parchments were to be forwarded to every Duke of
Hell, every king and Queen of the courts, every principality and heavenly choir.
Then there were the endless questions arriving from Moth and Bess. The luminaries
of the Mount and the Grove, sought clarity on every decision we'd ever make,
aid why every guest was chosen, why each iteration of the room was
selected. It was exhausting, to be quite honest. I pinched my nose,
massaged my temples, terribly mortal gestures. I know I would never have
used them if anyone else had been present, but they were soothing none the
less. I noticed that my drink had cooled, and resisted yet again the
urge to call for my attendant. Another disappointment, another substandard employee that I'd
need to see dealt with. Eventually, in the meantime, I would roost
atop the towel as Beckett and the Founder take the field. My battles will
be with paper and ink and pleasantries. Our new faction, our new power,
shall stand and be counted alongside the greatest of the old. I bent
my head to yet another page and began a new missive, the same way
I had done so many others before. We are called the Gray Rooms,
and we will be hidden no longer since we got here. Wherever here is,
I've taken a rising with the dawn. Why there's a sunrise, or
dogs or water or any of it is beyond me. I tried to ask
Miss Winters a few times when she started nattering on about original scene in the
True Nature Elusive best I got out of it. He's like he only got
as far as making a place where he could make mortals feel comfortable when he
called it quits, sort of like the Gray Rooms. Don't I figure it?
M anyway? This is the nicest place I've lived in wild since I
died. I suppose nobody here threatening to take out my eyes or staple my
mouth for any of it. A good change of place. A couple of
weeks since we left. The gray rooms have been some of the calmest,
easiest, and hey, oh god, for all good friends. It seems
like Bob has finally come around. Managed to get him to laugh a few
times. Miss Witness is so intense hardly laughs for smiles. Really, he's
always been a good sort. Must have to get past all the destiny and
drama. I see it as for old Todd. Nice to be a part
of something. I can actually believe him, feel like I'm contributing. We're
not just tidying up. After the demon told to drag that carcass over here,
Todd cleaned up by explosion of blood over there. I told Bob bra
I wanted to prove I ain't that guy the me what blew out the domes.
I think I've done that and more. Now I'm just happy to be
whoever I am, to sitting look out over the war, help out with
odd jobs, handy men to the resistance. I suppose the only thing is
I've got a bad sort of feeling. But when there was a storm blowing
in over the habitets, you feel it in the air, all up and
down your skin. I've got that feeling now. I spent a long time
too long. Being that psychopaths mortal, the warden ain't going to give up
looking for us, nor the Founder, nor Bleeding, nor of the architects.
Boy, But that's a problem for the todder tomorrow. Today I just
have to worry about what's for lunch. One are of these angels and elves
and things I've ever had a good batch of chili. I signaled down the
bar and Jeb made his way over. He poured me another drink, and
I nodded in thanks for his trouble. Maggie's was quiet tonight, an unusual
state of affairs. But then there was something in the air, wasn't there.
All the good little winged boys and girls must be feeling the change as
much as I was. The realms had been settled down for a long long
time, too long. In theory, I served beings that were immortal.
The queens and kings of the Court had been around at the dawn of time.
But on the job, I'd gotten to see entropy death up close and
personal. There are few constants in the universe, and one that far as
I could tell, was inescapable. Entropy gets paid. It's stew one way
or another. Every single time. I had spent the day speaking with pen
In Besiel's mother, charming woman. I'd walked away from that handshake with a
host of warriors in my proverbial pocket, trained in spoiling for a fight.
The Gray Rooms, as a faction of its own was looking less and less
like a pipe tree and more like an all too real reality. I should
have been happy, should have downed my Viking juice with a grin, walked
out of this brothel with a skip in my step. But I wasn't,
and I didn't. Something ain't sitting. Something ain't sitting right about all of
this. Too many coincidences, too many unknowns. Maybe I'm just showing my
age here, but it feels like too much change all at once. That's
the problem, I suppose, when you serve greater beings whose plans span the
ages, you end up feeling like a cog in a machine spinning and spinning.
And I'm not sure you're really ever going anywhere. And I'm sure us
I sit out. I always do. That's what I'm good at, after
all. So I'll just sit here at the bar, maybe go upstairs and
pay some nice boy or girl a visit, and in time. This will
work itself out. After all, what else have we got but plenty of
time? The shots sting says, it goes down warm, tasting a bit
of blood and a bit of bile. I make a face, but I'm
glad I've got the bottle for company tonight. The liquor that our runaways bring
to the sanctuary is well, it's weird. I've had the stuff the servants
of the mount consider whiskey, honeyed booze from the grove, and of course,
who can forget demon gin. I still remember Jake, poor old Jake,
standing behind the bar, just trying to poor lady a drink. Most
days, I consider myself a lucky woman. I'm still alive, I have
a purpose, and the universe has seem fit to give me a gift,
A weird, sometimes annoying, often repellent gift, but one that lets me
punch my way above my weight class. So it's nice. Still, I've
seen and done things I desperately wish I hadn't forget the days of the bitch
Queen. Just like Todd, I want to believe I was a different person,
not even me, not really, no, just me me. Samantha
winters. I've done things that I think would make even old Bob Raisen nyebrow
all for survival, all just to be able to open my eyes at the
start of a new day and say I'm here, I still exist. Crazy,
how desperately all of us mortal or no cling to exist stans. It's
one of the few things we all have in common, all of us defiant.
It's why I think in the end we're gonna win. Why no dukes
of Hell or angelic hosts are going to get in the way of our simple,
visceral response to their bullshit. We aren't machines. We aren't cogs in
a machine, or coins to be spent where people, damn it, not
pieces on a chessboard or coins in a vault. We deserve the right to
exist, same as any of them, high falutin, banged or winged or
pointy yeared, fuckety fucks. I just hope the price we have to pay
is one worth paying rand. Looked down across the sixth layer of Hell,
my eyes traced the terrain I knew so very well. Valleys and choking black
rivers, dark woods and decaying churches dotted the landscape in everywhere in tens and
twenties, the dark and silent tombs that once bellowed with fire, the signature
torture I had worked out with the Morning Star so very, very long ago.
I could see it on his face when I sat with him in the
palace. It had been some time since I'd been down to the tenth layer,
a few centuries at least. Lucifer looked tired, the same exhaustion I
feel in my blood and in my bones. Since the announcement of the project
to the other Dukes, to the courts and the hosts, and I've been
asked one question over and over again. Why why come out of the shadows?
Why hang out a banner as a new faction? Why upset the ballance
like this, even if we are doing it with the blessing of our collective
masters. It's because everything ends. We built the factions eons ago in self
defense for a war that's long since over, for an enemy that doesn't even
exist anymore. I've gripped the range of power here in Hell for countless mortal
lifetimes, and now it's time to make way for something new. I can't
remember the last time I saw change on the horizon, That's why we're going
to war. That's why my armies march, why I'm going to smash my
enemies on the other levels into shards of bone and meat. That's why we
will hunt down Woe and his mortal friends and tear them asunder. I am
Belial, Duke of the sixth Layer of Hell, Lord of her say,
and master of the walls of dis If my time is coming to an end,
let it be such an end, and let the universe remember my passing
long after I am gone. Yeah, let me out out darting. Sorry,
friend, no can do. The boss Man was super clear about what
he wanted us to do with little Oldieu. Indeed, we have been given
a virtuous task by our mixto. We will not fail. Brand say where
we were taking this guy? Yeah, he said that once we are on
the field of battle, we must simply open the cage. Is that is
um had a good idea? It doesn't seem to be in the best of
moods. Yeah, open the gage. Let me taste your eyes intense.
Yeah, but he's fuel is not the directs? Oh? Is that so?
Big guy? Who is it you want to kill? Oh? Boe?
Oh all right? Oh, I think he's asleep. Oh would approach
Lys taking a nap? Boy? Oh m hm? What will you asleep
just now? I m hmm. I suppose I was. I didn't know
that was a thing you guys could do. I I believe it's I believe
it's the first time something about this place. Perhaps you have any good dreams?
I don't. I don't remember. It was most agreeable, drifting just
below consciousness, quite pleasant. Actually you do this every day, all at
once, if I can get why were you? And now? It refinds
me he's leaping beyond the barn, or an injuring goalie, those clouds who
were not quite so close when I began to rest my eyes. Yes,
tools rowling in, Miss Winner says this hasn't happened to you once, nor
that anyone can remember. Chief inches are sawing. I didn't say. Can't
be too careful, is what I said. We've never seen bad weather like
this. It has to mean something a bit literal. Don't you think things
just knows to ever be able? Age? Man again? I the others
are mustering in the big field outside of town. Folks from the mount,
the grove, the hell's everyone. We need to be ready in case you
know company comes knocking. It's been months and no side, no pursuit.
Why now you understand Ni's bad? Where's are you out? When Bove management
comes looking for a lawyer, will Bread rises job? M magnificent, isn't
it? It's damned impressive, sir. It's a beautiful sight. Founder.
When was the last time your armies mustered out like this? Oh, it's
been sometime too damn long. If you ask me, Oh, I don't
know. I could have gone another few centuries without having to see this,
well said Becausin. But isn't there a certain poetic beauty to the scene.
It's hard to get a sense from up here to how big are those things?
A good question? So Samuel is curious how large those young scaly fellows
are the ones dragging the chains in the war? Oh to shy from the
ash manner, i'd say, give their tank. Does you, good Luck
Charm, have any observations about our campaign to come? Admiral good Luck Charm?
You haven't heard the admiral here has got a ghost of his dead kid
following him around. I'll ask him, what are you say? So?
Maybe I think I think maybe I can the banner of the gray rises,
but not alone. I see blood un chains. Those chains are shattered,
the writer approaches as the page turns. The journals hold the key, but
will they know how to turn it? The sea swell with souls, and
those long contains stir in the depths. Which of their tendrils will be the
one that snap free? Trusts not the secrets of the grove nor the light
of the mount. Only the child of both will be the one to stand
alongside the chainless and calm of the rising tide. Admiral did he have anything
to say? Oh? Yes, apologies, it was just a bit vague.
I'll talk to him about it later. Dat what did it? Did
it? I say? Later? Son? Ah the shame, This glorious
moment will usher in a new era, the most pleasant thought, architect.
Yeah, yeah, hoist the sails and whatnot? Are we ready to do
this? Founder or you want my cousin here to flatter them to death?
I fail to see why a little bit of decorums out of line, even
on the eve of battle where after punch, Admiral, your operations aren't complete.
Yes, yes, sir. The contingent from the grove is in position
as well as from the mouth. Your forces will move in from the front,
and my recruits will attempt a sort of blanking maneuver. Once we have
the gate open, which of you is coming with us, perhaps resolutely?
I wouldn't miss it for anything. We'd better get down there, then,
Bounder Architect. We'll see you when it's done. Good luck to you all.
I cannot wait for the next meeting of the board. It will be
ever so engaging. Good luck, Admiral. I know you have this swell
in hand. As for me, I suppose I still have one thing more
to do. The alienists are ready, then, circle prepared and all that,
Yes, sir body, and so they are yours, ready for what
will be asked of them. Alrighty, then let's go spills some blood and
open that gates. You definite bastard, to get down. I don't suppose
you had drawn something like that on the gate to see it up. This
is going to get very bad, very quickly, if we can't stop their
reinforcements. The demons out front of the shop troops. The Founder has endless
war plans for situations like this, and there no doubt our soldiers from the
throne flat about investments from the board that they didn't expect our little crew though
to didnay, no, they did not. But we will be quickly overwhelmed
if we do nothing, greed Todd. You've got to do the thing,
Bob, and I will stop. Whoa the thing? The ritual one in
the black books what running a black groups can put few ship never you for
the look out or we can think about you. Aren't that rich? True?
Yep, that one happen is emergencies only. I am not sure how
much more emergent things can get. Todd. Oh, all right, he
told the risk you again. All right. I hope you too don't get
the wisdom of waters. I mean, it's not the worst advice. You
said we would install them. Do you have any ideas on how to do
that? Or was that just hopeful thing came in. I have an idea,
but you are not going to like it. Try me. I could
use my power on you. You're right, because I don't like it.
Listen to me. I thought you told Todd that your power was changed.
It is, and I'm hoping a nice powerful demon like you amped up with
some of whatever my wear me. We'll make for a nice big distraction.
Must not like I'm going anywhere. I'll be right behind you. The last
time of how I touched me, you set me on a downward spiral that
saw me lose my position, my self confidence, that trapped me in the
very project I administered for centuries. Yes, and you threw me into the
pit and I felt forever. And there were a lot of bugs, Bob,
did you know that? A lot of bugs? In hell? It
was gross. You and I both know you are in no shape to go
full demon and fight them right now. No, I'm not. And what
do you have to lose? Very well? Agree, here we go,
get ready now? Nah so our try wi ye macs corder shipshoking my gifts
such time? Okay, boy, cold matters. This is maybe the most
important moment of your life. You and you just gotta do the one thing
Miss Wind has told you never ever to do. I just got crack the
black book, contact our tentacle, Boddy, an environment to our little hardy.
How were no, no, no problem? Are yous? Frowning him
repartially. Hey, h Alice, beautiful, I know I am. I
never talked to you anymore. It's it's been a long time. Well to
be honest, been a long time since I for what I deserved him A
real scarce for you. We're way out on the point of end here,
and I don't know what's going to happen. You remember why I used to
say to you right as I was edited out at the door every day,
What good could I do this day? Well? I'm not sure this is
good byes. What I gotta do? You know? Keep Bob and Sam
and all them folks out there just trying to live their lives safe. Here's
a case, sweetheart. One more time for luck, ladies and Gentlemening's welcome
to us. The first fuck fixcellent work, su would thank you Queen.
The court was the perfect mustarding ground. We'll do. Did we all make
it through? Sound off? Let me out of them. We are used
to command Comester ready when you are boss, of course, whatever you need.
Admiral Samuel Boss, no, no matter. I'm sure he's back on
the sixth layer. Pull the cads through, Oh blood, Chris Morth Caliban.
I want the three of you to head up to the middle real was
belis to put the soldiers from behind and getting hammered up there, and we
need to buy time for the others to make it through because cries. Let's
go call some man well sick. Yes, John Gregory, there's a group
of gross separatists making trouble down along that side of the field. See if
you can deal with them. Their arrows will outrage even the soldiers from the
mountain. They could prove deadly at once. Mister, are you sure you're
okay? I'll leave you alone with him. Don't worry, John, I
can handle the warden and go have some fun. That's what I do best,
Boss Warden, Either admiral's been too long. Open up the cage,
head, Patty, please, and you get a taste of that mortal meet
again. I'm going to open the cage, Warden, but you're not going
to lay a finger on me. Oh I'm not, Damn I No,
you're not because you don't want me. You want Samantha Winters. You want
Todd, mathis Todd want Bob? Yes? Let me please let me low
pleas, Let me out of the hors. Hunt them warm, find them,
and you can do whatever you want for as long as you want.
H mh break here we go, get ready? Hell? Yeah? What
where am i? Samanta? Samanta? Todd? Hello? Who are you.
Oh, now, this is a little embarrassing. You don't recognize me.
I would have fought in the face, gave it away. You can't
be of course, I'm you, your demon self. The I sules make
sense. Don't recognize me? You notice hard for us to sharrow your hower
to escape the gray rooms is right? The warden tortured me. I was
weak. Oh are we all right? That was true long before the water
never laid a hand on you. I escaped the mace. I am not
weak. We don't have a lot of time here war. I'm just here
to say goodbye. What are you talking about? You change too much.
That's the nature of her powers, she said. Demons can't change. We
can't. It's a fundamental truth about those shames of the rock at the bottom
of the world. So if you're changing, I'm I'm not a demon.
No, you're not. What am I? I don't know something else,
something you're going to have to figure out without me. Powers allowed us to
reconnect just for a moment. Together, will hold off a liles forces for
as long as we can. But afterwards, afterwards, you're not overrank,
not anymore. You're just Bob. What if I don't want to change.
Sorry, mortal, but I don't think that's a choice you get to make.
M No, No, bubble bubble who who ships? Oh so sorry,
little one. I'm not gonna let you do your nasty little trick again.
No, No, you've hurt such language I can hurt. Need me
be quick now, my dear I thought this was going to be a grand
hunt, but you all put a hand in yourselves to me. I mean,
I can see where dear old Bob is clear as day. He won't
be able to see it like that for long. No, No, I'll
deal with him when he goes back to that meat he loves so much.
I've got you, of course, So that just leaves one more person time
and that's that's it. Thank you, Sam, thank you, Alice,
thank you whoever? Oh bloodio excuse me, sir, I hope you don't
buy if I look away right, this is a regular Yeah, I know.
But the Gray Rooms, sir, management, they've they've they've they've found
us. They're attacking in force. Bob thinks they've got more reinforcements on the
way. We need help when we need it fast, am I envying you?
In Yeah? All that was what his winnows said to say. Yeah,
bloody hell, all right, exhibits of the farm, I formally invite
you to the realm of the Defiant. A rise should be welcome here.
They're good enough where your right running let him now, we'll see you soon.
Bloody heah, Alice, Alice, I really thought maybe this time,
Tad. How'd you find me? Miss witness? She Oh she's alive.
She wished she wasn't. I want to play with her some more later,
you don't watch. It turns out I also can make people say and do
things they don't want to. I just use pain. It works every time.
There you come. Oh no, no, sorry, he's far too
busy fighting at the gate. Rather, dude, it'll do them. Oh
yeah, you were my favorite ones, you little worm. You remember on
the fun times we had, oh so much fun? You fucking psychopo.
It was never fun. You broke me, wound me up like a damned
toy, and used me. That's all any of you fucking demons know how
to do. His use people. Oh so angry. I love it.
I know I ain't coming back this time. You know what it don't man,
You're gonna fuck off back to the sixth Layer and play your little games.
But the people there ain't gonna sup fight. I want to see the
realms be different, better, and that there's something worth fucking bleeding for.
So go ahead, your piece of sheet, go ahead, and ah alice
that. Oh what's this? Mm hmmm this book so mm hmm delicious?
Just him to hang onto this, Todd, tod, todd him what a
shame and wrong, so wrong worm. I'm not going back to the sixth
Layer. They don't Yeah, they don't appreciate me like they used to.
Now I think I'll go collect good old salmon Bob and I'll hold up somewhere
to have a vacation. Yeah, yeah, the warden. Warden deserves a
little bit of fun. Now, what what the fuck is that? Day
ten? I've been trapped on a strain for over a week. Every day
it's the same thing. Either me or my companions must choose, then we
die. Zog is handling him better than most. He is a soldier,
after all, but suddenly he seems more frantic. His brain's a bit more
rattled each time. They may have something to do with him being more machine
in man. There's no other way to explain it. Each train car exhibit
significant signs of being larger on the inside rather than the outside. Looking out
the window, it's painfully obvious the scene is too too perfect. Outside appears
to be a hellish landscape, similar to trips I took to the Cairo Wastelands.
The set pieces are like an elaborate stage play or projection that zuck,
what the hell imani get back? I bet they're carrying Findlay back towards the
front of the train. Know what you are? Shut the hell up?
You get throw him off the train, not ocol Daniel? Your coat for
you? Do you want? They're gone? It's clear what the hell is
that about? Who's Daniel? I don't know. I noticed it the last
few times they brought him back. Every time he goes through one of the
doors, he comes back either completely zonked or raving like a madman. Something
different is happening to him. Wait, do you see that there in the
hallway? Is that Finlay's recorder? I guess I pretty much threw mine away
when I got it. I've been using mine to keep track of some random
things I've noticed around here. My head always feels like mush when I get
back from one of the platforms survive, evade, resist, escape What it's
just saying that my mercenary crew adopted basic instructions on what to do when captured
by enemy forces. How much of your life do you remember before waking up
on this train? I'm not sure I know my name and what I do
for a profession, but beyond that, it's easy, just bits and pieces.
Give me the recorder, let's see what's on it. Your mommy,
look, I don't know how much time we have left or if you'll even
receive this message, but I'm out the bumption. My name is doctor Finlay
Montgomery. I'm a cybernetic researcher and a genetic modification specialist. My life's research
was dedicated to prolonging humanoid life and integrating technology with biological tissue. A few
years ago, that goal was redirected to another, creating an artificial soul.
Did he just say an artificial soul? Every attempt to harness the power of
contain or creator's soul failed. There were rumors, but some of the more
extreme religions went through unconventional measures to stop such a process from occurring. I
needed funding for my research and turned to organized crime. To fulfill the darker
aspects concerning my projects. A local crime boss named Ripper supplied me with test
subjects equipment and kept me off the authority's radar. I in turn provided him
with cyber enhancements and repairs. Thousands of life forms were sacrificed in the name
of research. Thousands of souls were lost, mutated, or destroyed. Then
the true disaster, Admiral Beckett, burned through our sector and his crew slowly
took over a twelve galaxy. Admiral Beckett was he some kind of space Navy
commander. Admiral David Beckett was a legendary tyrant that conquered the twelve civilized galaxies.
It took a large scale rebellion to finally destroy his regime and eliminate his
bloodline. I thought this was common knowledge. I was busy fighting for my
own existence from unknown interdimentential threats. Sorry, my civilization couldn't build a moon
base big enough to impress Supreme Captain Dave, Lord of the Spacefish fretis.
Excuse me. My people are known as the free tis Fish. We're not
the only intelligent to quite a grace and FIREX. The Beckett clan. He
was dus as frand line soldiers until we find I resisted whatever hit play and
let's get through this. Rippa came to warn me that trouble was on its
way when the animal p soldiers attacked. The resulting flight took the only thing
I cared about as much as my research, my son Daniel. Daniel was
my assistant, but more than that, it was my last reminder that underneath
the circuits, I was still human. He shared my love of research and
was more obsessed than me with the desire to be the first to harness the
power of a soul. He was the one that discovered how to use the
power of the occult to overcome my scientific face. Together we created the first
machine to trap the human fol Unfortunately, it caught him know well, what
in the hell is going on? And he I was about to ask you
the same thing you get to ask me anything. Right now, meet Sack,
somebody's come up and it's time for one of you to pick door one
or door two. So soon after Findlay Findley didn't produce the desired result on
his last trip through, we had to hand him over to management. Management,
the people who run this shit show. You want to meet the warden
or maybe then that's enough, cries fine, bottom line, it's time to
choose who's next. There's something that's bothered me about you. And what's that
your face? Oh that's fucking funny right there. I think it's your eye
twitching under the bandages. I know your face. I've seen it before.
Hey, stunned, you move from the floor, a bitch, and I'll
rip your thin skin from your bones. We won't need either of you to
choose who's next. We have a volunteer. Come along, Zuck, it's
time for you to go through another door. What's with the titles on these
doors? Falling or bequest? Who comes up with these goofy names? What'll
it be, ZUCKI snuck. If you don't choose a door, I can't
guarantee that anyone will be in a safe place when you wake back up.
You think dying inside the door shurts? Wait till it happens here, don't.
I think this is over? What's with the guests and these attitudes?
Have all the attendants had this problem with him? It doesn't matter. You're
still mad at what he done? Do He didn't do anything. I don't
enjoy the gains of mortals. Things tend to get messy. I like it
when you talk rough and scary. Let's see if we can work out this
frustration in another way. Another time. We need to attend to the good
doctor and find out why his memory walls are not holding. Yeah yeah,
yeah, work work, work, w cal. All I'm saying is that
I like this side of you. You turning a blind eye while letting me
play it rough with fish boy. Well it excites a girl. You're not
going to let this go, are you? No? I'm not. What
are we going to do with the one we had to put in chains?
That robot fuck will be fine. He's just he just needs to shut the
fuck up. No, our special angelic friend, oh him. I think
we should recheck his restraints in the warding. I don't trust those restraints.
If the architect wanted him out of the picture, she should have just let
us kill him. Do you have that kind of power? Why don't you
come back to my room and I'll show you. Why don't you check on
the doctor. I'll see if I can convince your money to make her next
choice without all the mortal drama associated with making a decision. Sure, I'll
do all the heavy lifting. Wouldn't want you to ruin those soft hands or
evade or the escape. That was one of the last things took said to
me before they took them away. Really, suspicions have been confirmed. Each
train car is exactly like the interdimensional pockets that popped up all over Earth.
These spaces are connected by doors that serve as portals to pass between them.
The transition between the rooms confirmed by suspicion when no movement was detected in the
confined area. Also, the interference on these magnetic records easily picks up the
changes. Moving from one caller to the other isn't random either. By hid
in sensor reads the desire of the front occupant and manifests the desired reality.
The only thing I can't figure out is the whind movement is simulated in all
the rooms. Why a train I think that you need a bell or something
makes some noise. Next time come dine with me, we'll talk. Do
I have a choice? Ironically, yes, you do. I could force
you, but things around here run much smoother when you comply. I think
I'll just go. Then why is it that humans always put up the most
resistance. A little thing called free will. Ah, Yes, the infamous
free will of humans. Give me a break. In almost every reality,
all you do is destroy yourselves with your free will? What do you mean
in almost every reality? Have a seat? How's your time being in the
gray rooms? Constant paranoia and demonic captors? Oh, and dying all the
time. It's been a great stay. Well, it's all part of the
process. Wine. You keep saying that, But I'm having a real hard
time believer in you, and no, I don't want your damn Wine.
I wish management would just send you to us. Intact. I think it
would make this process easier. Intact. Is there something we're missing? What
is the last thing you remember before arriving on this train. I was separated
from my battle group in London. No I I isolated myself. I found
information at a dig site about a weapon that could help us fight back against
the monsters. Libert Altierramundi, the Book of the Other World. How did
you? How did I know? I arranged for you to find it?
Well, my mother and her associates. That doesn't make sense. Hmm.
But do you remember what happened afterward? I? I I don't know I
woke up here? Huh? What's it worth to you to know how you
got here? I'd rather know why I'm here than how I don't even know
where here is. Those are easy questions to answer. You are here to
choose, and you're on the Gray Room's silver Express Choose? Do you mean
the platforms? The doors? Yes? Does it matter which door I pick?
Why do I even have to pick a door at all? It doesn't
matter what door you pick, only that a choice is made. If you
don't, the results are less than optimal. How about we make a deal?
Not interested, I'll return some of your memories to you. It will
help fill in some missing pieces, but only if you pick a door with
no resistance. How does that help me? It will grant you some much
needed clarity, and you can help us with the other guest at Findley,
his mind is fracturing beyond our ability to repair. I think you may be
able to help him. How can I help? I can't fix a brain.
That's where your return to memories come into play. You unlocked the secrets
of the book once. I believe the knowledge will help both of us reach
the same goals, get this project back on track. What about Zuck,
What about it? You and your partner what's her name? Cries? You
were pretty rough at the last platform. His people are difficult under the best
of circumstances. I think he was sent here as my punishment. You don't
exactly look like you're suffering. He's the reason I'm stuck in servitude to this
damn place instead of at my mother's side. He's the reason I have to
wear this mask. Hmm, do we have a deal or not? All
right? Deal, excellent, Let's move to the exit. We'll be stopping
soon. Serious, su Holy shit, you spark pretty good. This is
great. Fuck you you deepon, bitch Ah. That's the nicest thing anyone
said to me in a while. Talk. How are you overcoming the memory
blocks? What makes you so goddamn special? M h where's my son?
Where's Daniel? You can remember everything, but you don't remember killing your own
son. Interesting. He didn't die. He transcended, That's what I said.
He died. Impossible. Nothing in any reality is created or destroyed.
It merely changes form. Daniel transcended into a pure soul, and you stole
him before I could stabilize his vessel. You aren't going to give a robot
a soul. That's not how any of this works. You talk of rules
and natural laws, How about machines don't get fucking souls? Why not?
Because then the soul would be trapped on the ephemeral plane. Do you think
hell is going to be denied? It's soul traffic or the mouth all because
of a fluke loophole? I knew it. I knew this was hell.
Fuck. It appears Daniel was more right than he will ever know. Which
master do you serve? Which circle do you serve under? If? If
I tell you, you're gonna spill? How you overcame the memory blocks?
Never? I think your usefulness to this project is over there you are?
What the fuck? Come on now we gotta go, Luke, how did
you find me? Never mind? Get me off this contraption? Entitlement or
thank you for calling? I appreciate your cooperation. I don't know how I'm
supposed to help Finny or how you're going to return my memories? Have you
made your choice? Entitlement somehow feels fitting given the nature of this place.
Are you going to return my memories? Right now? We're fucked, We're
completely fucked. Calmed down, all we have to do is what has anyone
calmed down after being told to do so? You tree hugging elves are all
the same. I wasn't the one who questioned him alone. You were impatient
as always? Where were you management want's answer? And you just disappeared.
I ensured that our female guest would no longer be a problem. Yeah,
well, if we did have the extra protections put in place by the Alienist
lodge, they might have found a way to escape. Escape where further into
hell. Seriously, we'll be lucky if management doesn't erase our existence at this
rate. We didn't exactly leave the big battle at a good time. Balliol
is going to be pissed when he binds out. I should be sum any
more demon spawned for use. They're not here in the gray rooms. And
how the fuck did that bitch get her magic back? I only meant to
return some of her non essential memories. The very nature of these rooms makes
magic tricky at best. At least we still have the angel contained. The
Roboman thinks he's his son. We need to keep Azrael away from them.
I all renew the awards on his chains. Then we'll take care of our
guests being glu God there. That should hold until we deal with our other
problems. I'll help guide the one called Findlay, He'll lead the group here.
Then we can spring our trap. Call upon your minions to help motivate
our guests. We're fucked, We're so fucked. Let me in the dark
and pick me up afterward. Trip through the doors. But I still don't
understand. Now along the side of a mountains and still inside we a train
card. Jesus fuck, I thought soldiers paid attention to little detail for the
last time. The train cards are pop. It's of an alternate reality,
a subspace. And if we're in the hell sure science stuff. God,
I don't even know what system hell is it about? Whatever? H I
don't think our escape when it is working. I'm not leaving without Daniel,
and there could be an infinite amount of training cars. We don't even know.
If you're Son's here, I say you let me try to manipulate the
space, as your type of energy could be very disruptive, unintended consequences and
all that. But if you think you can control it, Hey, Warner
guy, next time before you throw half a mountain. What did I say
about control? You're going to collapse for space with us inside it or worse.
IM sorry, it's also coming back to me. This power sometimes kind
of feels like holding a skillet overstone. I won't be here. I found
the passage to the next car Imani pleas for all our sakes, see if
you can exercise just a bit more restraints. Bella, I hate being nearer.
When she uses her mojo makes me feel like static inside of her radio.
This is now. This room is different from the others. That's because
it's been altered. So we're in a giant, abandoned factory at night.
I wish I could talk to the madman who created this place. Huh.
They're keeping with the we're on a train motif. Feels on being in an
open space, but I like out the window. Everything is in motion.
Technically, the spaces are in constant motion. Did you hear change? Look
they're at the end. I see someone. They're changed the wall. Daniel,
Wait something smash. It feels like someone's watching you. You're my fit.
Bring it on? Yeah, hellosuck Watch out. He's charged with a
strange energy. I can see it glowing beneath his skin. I don't think
he needs your mask anymore. It was somewhat restrictive. What the hell nice
shouting the face? I'm moving sad. I think it's about time we settle
this here to tell me who paid you to do it? Dear mother,
Queen Tatiana liar, who do you think su blind ammunition? D get down?
That's a fay ogre, Daniel, Daniel, stay there, I'm on
my way hole stale, How free you? I thought this was supposed to
be your domain. It is My mother would never consult with your guid wasn't
the first job she's asking me to do? Your royalty dumb like doing your
hands turning Christ call them in now, zuck bit like we gotta go too
much? Or lock? You're locked? Dangieous? What are you zu?
Are you okay? Rispon Ley? Who is that ground zero of that last?
I don't think you mean it? Shit? My rifle broke. I
tried to save him. It was it was too much snot out of it.
You still need to find to seize place to lew that hell? Did
the train survive all of that energy? Looks like most of it's still intact,
but we're there. Looks like part of a platform I like the look
of a beast. Yeah, there's only one door. Do you think of
one? I'm thinking I don't know if it'll allow both of us to enter.
No time to test any theories. Go go go. The Architect's going
to be pissed that we let the angel free. Not as pissed as Billy
I was going to be if we don't get back to the real battle in
that other realm. Did they both go through the door at the same time?
Is that dangerous? I don't really know. The rooms are a unique
place in the realms. It may be just a struggle of luck we needed.
Regardless, souls will continue to flow into the gray rooms, and our
guests will both be weakened on their return. Where did Roboman go? He
was destroyed, along with most of our reinforcements from Azriel teleporting it back to
the mount. The amount of energy needed to escape almost destroyed the rooms.
The girl the Imani saved everything. Yeah, but not everyone. Sorry but
not sorry about your beast. We need to return to the Attlefield Mouth needs
our assistants. I doubt your cousin needs anyone's help. He is a just
fine on his own, which worries me. Why he's reaching out. Now,
let's go. We can worry about the Rooms later. Bring your Baylor,
we may need him. Yea of Choices and Flames, Part two written
by Michael Zinkie and Arthur Runk. Musical composition is by J. M.
Schurf. Episode artwork, web development and creative direction by Kathie bertide Social media
and Patreon management is by Brooks big Lee. Videography is by Hale Shurf.
Community management is by Tory Miller, and audio engineering and sound design is by
me Jason Wilson Well. Season four of The Gray Rooms is in the books
and the Silver Express is running full steam ahead towards the finale. So join
us next week for that epic ending and all the horrors that come with it.
We hope you enjoyed walking with us down memory Lane. It was great
to see new faces and old rip Todd Mathness, your chilly recipe will forever
be edged in the dark corner of our hearts. Can boast myself. We
would like to take the time to thank our patrons and to any of those
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we wonder sometimes anyway, that's the conclusion of our compilation. How fun was
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We still have that finale next week. But don't think that's the end of
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