Season 4 - Episode 1
General Summary
It is a weekend near the end of SEPTEMBER. School started a few weeks ago. Still, no one in town remembers the STORM or the FALLING SHIP. We have all been trying to lead normal lives though this incident is in the back of our minds.
On one SUNDAY, we see CASSIUS has been spending some of his time researching the KLEIN HELMET. CASSIUS wants to find out who was KIM’s BOSS at the LOOP.
Taking his UNCLE’s COMPUTER, he hacked the DARPA NET. He isn’t good but got quite lucky and found the name ROBERT DUNCAN.
ROBERT DUNCAN was educated at MIT in aeronautical engineering, has a military background, and is the current director of DARPA. The hacking itself was quite hard for such a small bit of info so CASSIUS wishes he knew someone who was better at COMPUTERS than him. He vows to find a better hacker.
XANTHI meanwhile spent some time at AEROBICS class. Trying to wind down, she attempts cooking again. Hoping to make a BLT (Butter, legumes, and tofu) It goes about as well as you think and she ends up giving up. She buys some twizzlers to cover up her slop. She also spends some time reading a BOOK on conspiracies.
BARBRA RIVERA is at home listening to music with BUMBLEBEE. She asks BUMBLEBEE about the kids he tells her about a boy named CASSIUS in CHURCH who had a MEGATRON down his shirt. He was also next to an OLDER LADY who might be related to GLORIA. BARBRA is wowed by such cool people and dreams about how to approach them. She says: “You’re my best friend, BUMBLEBEE.”
TOMMY, having some catharsis from the last adventure, is hoping to build some relationships with some others in the community. He has gone to MAVIS’ house, his grumpy old neighbor hoping to clean her gutters. She hates him because of all his loud ROCK MUSIC. TOMMY charms her and gets to work. He does a good job but slips and falls into a bush. He tells MAVIS he can trim that too but she tells him to rest and gives him some LEMONADE.
GLORIA, meanwhile, has been trying to save up like mad. She wants to study elsewhere and needs MONEY for her future. She has taken a lot of extra shifts at the record store. Sunday is the best because MR.GORDON is not present, just the cool assistant manager, FREDDY. He is a stoner who loves the TALKING HEADS. He comments on how weird it is there are now EXTRA COPIES of the DEVO album. There was 1 yesterday and 13 today.
GLORIA goes to check and realizes he was just counting the same album again and again. Shaking her head, she heads to the back to take a break. In the front she hears a customer come in who is starting to get agitated. She gets her stuff and pops her head out- the customer is relieved to be pointed in the right direction. It turns out that, against her will, GLORIA is actually quite good at her job.
Just before MIDNIGHT, XANTHI puts on some whale noises on cassette tape. GLORIA is back at home wiping off her caked on eyeliner. CASSIUS wants to call his friends but instead takes the time to consolidate his data. TOMMY has miss-set an ALARM which wakes him after being dead asleep, while both GRIMEY and BARBRA know how important sleep is. (Early bird catches the squirrel after all!)
However, at the stroke of MIDNIGHT EVERYTHING GOES DARK.
BARBARA is sleeping but BUMBLEBEE notices and tries to wake her. She is still sleepy but decides she probably has to flip a breaker. Her parents are on a trip so she has to do it herself, thinking it can’t be that hard. Nevertheless, she opens an electric panel and does her best. She flips some switches and feels like this should have fixed it but it is still dark. She wonders if perhaps the problem is on the cities’ end. BUMBLEBEE suggests looking outside.
Elsewhere, TOMMY has the same idea and tries to tinker with the fuse box outside his home, but still nothing seems to be working. Suddenly, a strange ORB of ELECTRICITY pops into being in the middle of TOMMY’S BASEMENT. Startled he attempts to jump away, it’s too sudden though and he gets spiked by ELECTRICITY. A large arch burning the floor in the room.
Back with GLORIA, she also sees the lights go out and starts to get a sense that this black out is a CONSPIRACY. “Not you again,” she sighs. She sees the towers from the LOOP in the distance and notices the LIGHTS on TOWER 3 are OUT. She decides to head to the centre of town hoping to bump into someone. She doesn’t see anyone at first but starts to notice some strange bubbles of ELECTRICITY form and deform. She continues walking but starts to feel very alone.
XANTHI’s whale noises are rudely interrupted so she goes to light some oil-infused candles (Eucalyptus). After a moment she decides to go outside a little to look around. As she leaves she hears a bubbly-electric noise behind her. Hair standing on end, she decides to book it down the street decisively not wanting to deal with whatever DEMON was making it. She heads to the RECORD STORE and eventually meets up with GLORIA.
At CASSIUS’ HOUSE, he is just putting the last bit of information on his growing “CRAZY-PERSON” BOARD in the BARN when suddenly the LIGHTS go out. He wants to pretend it is rodents but the SANCTUARY is remarkably rodent free after the RAPTOR showed up. Starting to shake he runs inside to check on his UNCLE. JIRA is alive and well if not a little startled by CASSIUS.
JIRA gets up and checks the GENERATOR but finds it in normal working order, perplexed, he asks if CASSIUS wants to check the wires on the roof, but CASSIUS already knows the answer. “I think I have to go, Uncle.” “But it’s 2am?” His UNCLE protests. CASSIUS just shakes his head and says “I know, I'm sorry but It’s important.” UNCLE JIRA seems to understand and gives CASSIUS a hug. “Okay, please be safe. I’ll fix things up here.” Swallowing, CASSIUS grabs his trusty CROWBAR and starts running to the RECORD STORE, the worry for his friends making his legs work overtime.
GLORIA, XANTHI, CASSIUS, and the mysterious BARBARA finally meet at the RECORD STORE. GLORIA, XANTHI, and CASSIUS are amazed at the new GIRL who hurriedly holds up a BUMBLEBEE as a means of explanation. BUMBLEBEE is excited to finally meet the CHOSEN ONES and greets the KIDS as such. This is a bit perplexing for GLORIA and CASSIUS, but extremely STRANGE for XANTHI who was not present for the fight against the ROGUE AI, 2. She takes it all in stride though figuring this is just what un-cool kids do.
“I want to reunite with my family.” BUMBLEBEE says after some more fawning, GLORIA looks pointedly at CASSIUS who grows even more embarrassed and flustered. “I think I only know a DECEPTICON.” He amends quietly, much to BUMBLEBEE’S disappointment.
The conversation continues amicably. BARBARA seems to be excited to meet everyone but is having a hard time expressing it.
CASSIUS and GLORIA recognize her a little from school- CASSIUS in particular knowing she has skipped some grade just like him. BUMBLEBEE tries to explain this behavior by saying she just doesn’t have that many friends. It’s rather lighthearted until it becomes clear that TOMMY should have arrived by now.
“We should go look for him,” CASSIUS declares, clearly worried. “Yeah, but how! We don’t know where he lives. It’s not like we can just yell at every door.” GLORIA counters sensibly.
Because they are at the RECORD STORE and there are RECORDS of where MR. GORDON has to send the cheques, GLORIA and XANTHI figure they can skulk around the office and get the information. XANTHI goes with BARBARA to do just that when CASSIUS reveals he ALREADY KNOWS where TOMMY lives.
GLORIA has been growing more and more distrustful of CASSIUS and knows for a FACT that he doesn’t know this particular piece of info.
“How do you know this?” she asks. “He, uhh, told me? I went there.” CASSIUS tries but she isn’t having it. GLORIA grabs CASSIUS by his collar and demands to know how he knows where TOMMY lives, CASSIUS can’t give a satisfying answer though so she lets go in disgust, vowing to continue the conversation when it isn’t so dire. XANTHI finds the address in the meantime anyway so we head to TOMMY’S HOUSE.
CASSIUS gives GLORIA embarrassed looks the whole way which she ignores. When we arrive GLORIA goes into full snoop mode and goes down the side of the house through the weeds. BARBARA is still happy to be included but distressed we are probably doing something illegal.
GLORIA’S snooping pays off and she finds a SMASHED WINDOW. Using her LEATHER JACKET, she clears out the broken bits remaining and allows everyone to get inside safely.
Rashly, CASSIUS goes in first and sees TOMMY’s unconscious body laying on the ground. CASSIUS rushes over without checking for traps or dangers. The others note the massive burn marks left on the ground, but luckily the danger doesn’t seem to be present anymore.
CASSIUS shakes TOMMY until he starts to come to. “Huh, what.” He says at first, “CASSIUS, what are you doing in my house?” At the first sign of disapproval, CASSIUS releases TOMMY like he was burned. He shakes himself and backs off saying, “We were really worried! Something clearly happened!”
TOMMY has a hard time piecing it together for a second but then the ELECTRIC ATTACK comes back to him. He does his best to relay what information he has to the others. XANTHI wonders if the same fate would have befallen her as she also probably had an electric ‘DEMON’ in her house. CASSIUS agrees running away from SATAN is always a good call while GLORIA crosses herself.
With TOMMY feeling a little better we elect to go somewhere to regroup. CASSIUS HOUSE is good but quite far. XANTHI’s house is also good but apparently is full of monsters. That leaves GLORIA who has her mom and BROTHER to think about, as well as BARBARA.
BARBARA’s parents are out of town so she quickly offers the space.
At 2 AM we head to BARBARA’S HOUSE. It is an average 2 bedroom bungalow with brown walls. There are a number of awards everywhere in the living room including sports participation ribbons. XANTHI snoops through the mechanical magazines asking “what language is this, ‘Deciti-bot’?” while BARBARA tries her best to be a good host. She brings everyone water- and later ADVIL after CASSIUS prompts TOMMY to ask for whatever he needs. It’s an easier alternative to HOSPITALS, which are much too expensive and probably fake. GLORIA takes this to mean TOMMY definitely does not have insurance.
While Tommy takes his medicine and gives a thumbs up, CASSIUS asks about the LOOPS and the TOWERS. BARBARA does some calculations and knows that the TOWERS being out means the LOOP is out, which is EXTRA WEIRD because it has its own power supply. We understand that we are on a CLOCK because something below has gone terribly wrong- a critical failure. Everyone but CASSIUS understands that there are at least some ISSUES, though he catches on quickly.
We all sit quietly for a second stewing in the knowledge that we are in DANGER when suddenly we are TRANSPORTED. Everyone finds themselves trending WATER to the point where we are all almost DROWNING. The WATER is rising fast and poor XANTHI gets knocked out. Just as fast as the rising water appears- it DISAPPEARS and we find ourselves back in BARBARA’S LIVINGROOM drenched and gasping for air.
XANTHI comes to, wondering why her clothes are ruined. CASSUIS meanwhile is still feeling quite emotionally vulnerable so he spits out some water and starts shaking and mumbling about a DREAM.
The other kids, including BARBARA startle because they have had the SAME DREAM. “I thought it was because I fell into a pool,” BARBARA says.It is a stunning revelation and the KIDS are not sure how to approach what it means. BARBARA rushes to make some hot chocolate while CASSIUS goes to find towels, The others go to help BARABAR but GLORIA takes her chance to corner CASSIUS (Of course after choking up her own water).
CASSIUS is being avoidant but GLORIA finds him in a bedroom. She blocks the door and opens by saying: “Are you looking for towels or are you hiding those too?” CASSIUS startled and naturally hides the towels in his hands behind his back, before sheepishly apologizing and handing the towel over to the still soaked GLORIA. She continues to press him bearing her feelings about how she has taken a lot of risks in their friendship and she is quite hurt that he hasn’t in return. CASSIUS grows progressively upset and shaky. The water making him look shrunken and smaller than he normally is.”I wish It was simple.”
He says before he eventually comes clean and tells her †̵͍͎̲̰̘̋̊̒̓̆̌ͅḩ̴̟̞̩͇̺̂͋̆̀͌̚ê̷̼͉̬̞̱͚͒͛̀̉̂͘ ̴̥͓̖̪͈̟͛́̓̂̕͝†̷̧̤̹̗̭͚̉̊̇̈́̓̕r̷̗͉͇̪̥̣͊͑̈́̎̾͆µ̵̨̫͎̘̹͔͗͆́̋̄̀†̸̢̮̥̠̩̟̓̌̃̂̀͆ḩ̸̮͎̼̥̟́̅̌̋͑͝ but she can’t hold onto it.
CASSIUS is talking and GLORIA feels like she is listening but alarmingly, her brain grows FUZZY and the words simply SLIP AWAY.
GLORIA excuses herself feeling very ILL but SATISFIED the matter is closed, though this closure is shaky in an odd and DISTANT WAY.
She stumbles out the door with two thoughts: 1) It IS still strange that CASSIUS knew TOMMY’S ADDRESS, and 2) it was strange he knew everyone’s phone number and favourite SONGS on his first day meeting everyone. How could he? In fact, CASSIUS seems to know a lot of stuff he isn’t supposed to.
The ODDNESS of it all doesn’t seem strange in this moment, which in and of itself leaves GLORIA with at least some unease. She is not likely to actually drop her investigation as her scattered thoughts strat to reconfigure on her way back to the group.
GLORIA does not look back, but if she had she would have seen CASSIUS on BARBARA’S BED curled up into himself shaking and trying desperately hard not to cry- He does not succeed.
Report Date
09 Jul 2023
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