Intro Music – Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations is a podcast of the Ostium Network 

Voiceover: Time is not linear, but our story is. 

Please join us … on our journey. We, are Manifestations. 

Music becomes dramatic then fades out 

Episode background music is a fast and percussive electric piano – Burst, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ 

Alan – I took some time to get a shower and have a fresh change of clothes. [two beat alarm sound begins] I’m just tying my boots when I’m startled by a strange noise. It’s not loud, but it’s shrill and repeating. If this is their idea of an alarm, it certainly has my attention. 

Alan – I check the phone for any notices. The only thing I see is a glyph marked “QILA.” I touch it and a message opens, it tells me there’s an incident in the medical section. [alarm sound ends] The anomalies are awake. Security measures have been taken. There’s also a map and instructions on how I can get there. 

Alan – I grab Thomas’ shoulder bag and head for the door. There’s no one in the hall. I make it to the elevator, down to the main floor and across to a set of stairs. I’m 3 floors down before I see anyone else. They look at me strange, but keep going about their business. I’m a fellow employee afterall. 

Episode background music is tense, synth, somewhat muted – Nova, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ 

Alan – One more level down and I take a door out into a long hallway. It’s dimly lit, but I can still see. I don’t think this area is being used. At the end is a door with a palm access panel. I feel the phone vibrate, there’s a new notice. It tells me “hold the phone to the panel.” I do and the panel wakes up, cycles, and the door opens. [beeps and clicks as door awakens and opens] 

Alan – I know I need to turn left and the room with the anomalies will be the 1st door on the right. Adrenaline has taken over. For a second I contemplate how my consciousness is in another body, controlling its fight or flight response. 

Alan – I reach the door and hear voices behind me, shouting. Director Greely and at least 8 others are moving quickly this way. She’s shouting asking how I got in this section and instructing me to leave immediately. But, I’m at the door. I go into the room before they can make it here. 

[PAUSE] 

[sounds of air moving, with a slight electrical crackle in the background] 

Alan – Inside I see rows of beds, pushed to the sides of the room, there’s a wind moving around but there are no open windows. I count 5 security guards. Each are holding what a short metal baton, which by the humming sound have some electrical properties. Beyond them, I see the young girl. Her hair is moving with the wind. She’s in a defensive pose and then I notice there’s a blurring effect around her arms and chest. 

[winds gust and continue to get stronger] 

Alan – In a corner, I see the older woman. At first, I thought she was frightened, then she turns and makes a gesture and the wind gusts through the room making it hard to stand. It also makes it hard for Director Greely to open the door. [door slams] She and one other person make it inside before the door is slammed shut by the wind. We make eye contact. I’ve seen that look before. It’s the look of fear. It’s a dangerous look. Someone with that look is unpredictable. 

Alan – The Director is shouting something to the guards. The wind makes it hard for me to hear. The guards aren’t moving. [music pauses, then becomes more tense as it resumes] I look back at the young girl and her blurred arms. I think she is creating the electrical hum in their batons. It’s somehow frozen them in place. The Director and the guard with her are making their way, pushing against the wind. They reach the others and the guard touches one of them. They both fall to the floor, shaking, and then they stop moving. 

[wind slows, and then stops, along with the electrical crackle] 

Alan – The wind slows, and stops. The electrical hum gets faint and then fades away completely. The other guards are okay, but in no hurry to do anything. I see the guard, with Director Greely, that fell is still not moving, so I rush over. They aren’t breathing. It’s been a long time since I had CPR training, but I instinctively start chest compressions and shout for someone to get help. 

Alan – The guard gasps and chokes back to consciousness as I hear a door on the other side of the room open. Two, I’m assuming doctors by how they’re dressed, are running over. One of them helps the guard sit up. 

Alan – Someone else is slowly coming through the door now. It’s the 3rd anomaly. It’s me. It’s not like seeing yourself in a mirror. It’s more like watching a video of yourself, but not remembering what comes next. 

[music slows, and becomes muted again] 

Alan – The other me; the real me(?) isn’t saying anything. The three anomalies are calm, but far from sedate. They are watching everything going on. 

Alan – Director Greely, in contrast, is anything but calm. She stands to full height, and begins shouting, accusing them of attacking her guards. There’s also something very incoherent about “how we’ve been caring for you, how could you turn against us.” The other me makes a forceful sweeping motion with his arm and the entire room flashes and everything is white. 

[music fades and is replaced with a darker/more tense music] Into The Depths, by Myuu https://myuu.bandcamp.com/music 

Alan – Just as fast it flashes again and now we’re outside. It’s a grassy area and there are people setting up large tents nearby. This is the park where they’re holding The Reset festival. 

[PAUSE] 

Alan – Some of the onlookers begin screaming and running; having just seen a large group of people and some furniture appear in a nearby field. This is the image they saw in the Outlook window! It wasn’t the day of the celebration, it was the day before! By the look on her face, the Director is realizing this too. 

Alan – While some people are running away, I can see others are standing stock still, staring at us. No, not us, at the anomalies. They “look” different. Like someone adjusted the contrast on a photo, making it oversaturated. The watchers begin walking toward the anomalies. As they near, the same oversaturated effect forms around the group of them. 

Alan – At least a dozen or so are now standing around the anomalies. I see the other “me” look directly at me. Was that a wink? 

Alan – All of them; The three anomalies and the new group of people, all begin to rise into the air. The air around them is shimmering like heat rising up from a road. They stop about 15 to 20 yards above the ground. I hear a noise and turn to see a mix of Tractus security, police motorcycles, and random people in those golf cart-like vehicles approaching the area. There’s even one of those drones holding position nearby. It’s larger than I expected. Some people are using their phones to record what is happening. Though most are still running away. 

Alan – I can’t make sense of what is happening. From the face of Director Greely and the other Tractus security people, they have no idea either. [music ends] I’m watching the group in the air for any change. And then I can hear one of them start to speak. Then another. And another. 

We are the blowing wind We are the driving rain We are a roaring fire We are the Earth made flesh 

We are the comet’s tail We are the dust of stars We are cosmic noise We are the universe; manifest 

Alan – At the end, they move toward each other, like they’re being stretched and pulled into a single point. [sound like a balloon stretching, accompanied by a ringing] As the last of them reaches the center, there is a loud crack [crack, then rumble] and I see a shock wave radiate in all directions. It hits me and I’m knocked to the ground. 

[PAUSE] 

Episode background music is slow piano and synth, but building – Counter, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ 

Alan – I’m lying here, unhurt. It’s quiet except for a ringing in my ears. I’m looking up at a blue sky with thin cirrus clouds. The drone is recovering from the shockwave. From each direction I notice it’s getting dark, like a black ring rising up to make a dome around me. The blue of the sky is almost gone. Now, just a small circle. It reminds me of the image the Apollo program took from the moon looking back at the Earth. And then, it’s gone too. I can’t feel the ground at my back. And there’s no sense of which direction is “up.” 

[PAUSE] 

Alan – Looking around, I see my body again. Thomas must have remained back there. That’s good. I hope he’s okay. I hope they’re all okay. 

[music begins to build to a driving beat] 

Alan – [sigh] Maybe out of exhaustion, maybe frustration, I say aloud, “Alone again.” 

QILA – Never alone Alan. I’m here with you. 

[music ends in a dramatic cymbal crash] 

[End] 

Outro music – Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Before we get into the end credits, I want to take a moment to let everyone know we’re going to at PodTales in Cambridge MA, on Oct-20th. Take a look at their website https://podtales.org/ It’s free admission. And there’s going to be a room full of people with an Audio Drama they’d love for you to hear. 

Look for the table with The Ostium Network banner. You can stop by and listen to the first episode of Circe. The new spin off of the Ostium podcast. Or just stop by to say hi. We’re going to have stickers, pins and other things at the table. Maybe even a surprise or two. 

Manifestations Season 1, The Reset, was written, acted, and produced by Dwayne Farver. With input and help from Alex C. Telander. 

Also with Penelopy Dyer, as the voice of QILA. https://www.penelopevo.com/ 

We had a few guest voices in this episode as well. Thanks go out to: 

TJ _Brad Kenneth Eckle of Podcast Reviews Reviews Podcast https://twitter.com/reviewspod Alex C. Telander (The Ostium Podcast) https://twitter.com/ostiumpodcast Matt Kline and – Amy Kline 

Our intro music is Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ The music heard here is Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ 

Also heard in the episode was Burst, Nova, and Counter, 

All by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ And, Into The Depths, by Myuu https://myuu.bandcamp.com/music http://thedarkpiano.com/ 

You can find them at bandcamp.com 

Sound effects are from freesound.org 

Door_Unlocking.wav CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/IPaddeh/sounds/422852/ Explosion (Pas).wav CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/studiomandragore/sounds/401628/ Explosion Shockwave CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/benjaminharveydesign/sounds/366091/ Pool balls.wav CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/bsumusictech/sounds/62331/ Welding_3_continious.wav CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/ivolipa/sounds/385995/ 

Links to all of the music and transcripts can be found in the show notes 

You can find us on most social media at PodManifest or look for us at PodManifest.com 

https://twitter.com/PodManifest https://www.instagram.com/podmanifest/ https://www.facebook.com/podmanifest/ https://podmanifest.tumblr.com/ 

Change is inevitable. Change and adaptation are required for us to evolve. Alan has almost come to the end of this chapter. Will past be prologue? Just how much control does anyone really have over their destiny? 

As long as we have access to the temporal feed, we will transmit more of our story each Wednesday and Saturday. We hope you join us. 

Music fades

Intro Music – Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations is a podcast of the Ostium Network 

Voiceover: Time is not linear, but our story is. 

Please join us … on our journey. We, are Manifestations. 

Music becomes dramatic then fades out 

Episode background music is techno/chillout/lounge – Dear Abyss, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ 

Alan – It’s been about an hour since I started the procedure to reset the self-aware AI known as QILA. The procedure that’s a hoax; because the AI has taken control of its programming. 

Alan – The cafeteria/lounge area wasn’t very busy when I got here. I saw someone carrying a tray near a station with premade sandwiches and salads. They took their items to a central station and placed their “phone” on a platform for a few seconds, then took their tray to a table. 

Alan – I wasn’t hungry. At least not as much as I should have been. I picked what looked like a turkey club and got a glass of water from a drink machine. At the central station I placed Dr. Redwind’s phone on the platform. The words Tractus employee flashed on the screen. For a moment, I indulge my curiosity around the logistics of a society that doesn’t use money, but then I overheard people at another table mention the Reset celebration, and I’m brought back to the present. This isn’t a book or thought exercise. I’m here. And there are about to be very real consequences to my actions. 

Alan – Everything is about to change. At least it feels the same as Centralia. I can tell that this specific moment in time is more – fluid? Small actions can make big changes. What would a big action do? And why is this point in time special? Why me? What made the three of us move from our respective places in history, to this time? Are either of the others also in the body of a host in this time? 

Alan – Not to mention that I may have caused a paradox in Centralia. I knew about the minefire and I tried to stop it. If I had succeeded, how would I have known it ever existed so I could prevent it from happening? Bootstraps! 

Alan – What about now? In all the sci-fi books I’ve read, none of them were about someone changing a future in which they never lived. Maybe paradox is in the eye of the beholder? Come on! Focus! 

Alan – I’ve got a literal ticking clock staring back at me. What am I going to do when it reaches zero? The notes from Dr. Redwind show he ran a few tests again to compare before and after results. But I don’t really know what’s going to happen. 

Alan – Director Greely is going to do another full power test as soon as possible. What if the device pulls another person through time? I can’t let that happen. Can I? Shouldn’t I be trying to find a way to get the rest of us back home? 

Alan – I finished eating some time ago. The lounge area here is comfortable, but I’m getting strange looks. I’m guessing because I’ve been here so long. Or, just as likely, Dr. Redwind was a total jerk to everyone here. My luggage was sent to a room at the Otis Home. I’m guessing it’s a B&B or maybe a Hostel. A quick search on my “phone” and I see that The Otis Home is located within the Tractus building. I guess it’s more efficient to put up visiting employees on-site. It looks like a bank of elevators on the far side of the lounge will take me there. The “phone” tells me I’m in room 14 on the 3rd floor. 

Alan – The elevators here have the same security as the main lobby. I place my palm on the panel, [sound: elevator doors closing] then press the key for the 3rd floor. [sound: one tone] The doors close, but then it feels like I’m falling. [high pitched sound] The next thing I know, I’m picking myself up off the floor. What is happening? Is this related to the feeling I have about things being fluid and uncertain? 

Alan – My legs are a little wobbly, but I make it to the room. I press my palm to the panel to the side of the door and hear it unlock. [sound: click] It begins to open, so I push it the rest of the way and enter the room. [sound: door closes] I can see the interior is sparsely furnished. There are 3 rooms. One with a work desk, lamp, and chair similar to what I saw in the computer lab but on a smaller scale. There is a bathroom, which isn’t large, but isn’t as tiny as some hotels where I’ve stayed. Nothing inside is so different that I can’t tell what it is. Though, designs have changed. Then of course, there’s a bedroom. I see a small hardshell suitcase and duffle bag sitting there as well. 

Alan – I sit on the edge of the bed, loosen the laces of my boots and take them off. I’m just sitting there. Staring. And thinking. This isn’t something I should have to deal with. Why wasn’t it someone that can handle what is going on? 

Alan – Almost on autopilot, I lift the suitcase onto the bed and open it to start unpacking. I start placing things in drawers and on hangers. There’s also a pair of more formal looking shoes which I place on the floor of the closet. As I grab the duffle bag, it finally hits me. These aren’t my things and I’m a little more cautious as I open the bag. Inside, there’s a casual jacket and what looks like workout gear. And, a baseball glove. 

Alan – Thomas may be a jerk, but this is his body and I need to do whatever I can to make sure he’s returned to it. Maybe he’ll remember the time I borrowed it. Maybe it’ll change him as much as it’s changing me. 

Alan – I decide I’m going to get cleaned up, change clothes, and maybe rest a bit before heading back to the lab. 

Outro music – Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Before we get into the end credits, I want to take a moment to let everyone know we’re going to at PodTales in Cambridge MA, on Oct-20th. Take a look at their website https://podtales.org/ It’s free admission. And there’s going to be a room full of people with an Audio Drama they’d love for you to hear. 

Look for the table with The Ostium Network banner. You can stop by and listen to the first episode of Circe. The new spin off of the Ostium podcast. Or just stop by to say hi. We’re going to have stickers, pins and other things at the table. Maybe even a surprise or two. 

I’d also like to drop a recommendation for Copperheart, by Michael J. Rigg. I enjoy the many layers of the show. Here’s a teaser. 

COPPERHEART TEASER INSERT 

If you like the story themes in Manifestations, I recommend you give Copperheart a try. 

Manifestations Season 1, The Reset, was written, acted, and produced by Dwayne Farver. With input and help from Alex C. Telander. 

Our intro music is Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ The music heard here is Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ Also heard in the episode was Dear Abyss, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ You can find them at bandcamp.com 

Sound effects are from freesound.org 

Door_Unlocking.wav CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/IPaddeh/sounds/422852/ space-ship-close CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/mickey1927/sounds/434161/ Door-open-close CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/amholma/sounds/344360/ 

Links to all of the music and transcripts can be found in the show notes 

Transcripts as PDF are at: http://podmanifest.libsyn.com/ 

You can find us on most social media at PodManifest 

https://twitter.com/PodManifest https://www.instagram.com/podmanifest/ https://www.facebook.com/podmanifest/ https://podmanifest.tumblr.com/ 

It’s said you can’t understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. Alan is finally beginning to understand the position he is in. Where will his new perspective take him? How will it change his actions? 

As long as we have access to the temporal feed, we plan to release new episodes each Wednesday and Saturday. We hope you join us. 

Music fades

Intro Music – Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations is a podcast of the Ostium Network 

Voiceover: Time is not linear, but our story is. 

Please join us … on our journey. We, are Manifestations. 

Music becomes dramatic then fades out 

Episode background music is ethereal, spacey, ringing B.I.T.C.N.A.I.A.M.A., by Entropy Audio https://entropyaudio.bandcamp.com/ 

Alan – My body. I almost forgot my body was lying in one of those beds. The screen changes to the lab again, as QILA resumes the story. 

QILA – The team performed 2 full power tests before the anomaly. Both were successful viewings. First, a monorail in the northeast of the Asian continent was going to have a malfunction causing many casualties. From the image data, I estimated 137 fatalities, 221 major injuries, and 152 minor injuries. The second viewing showed there will be some kind of panic or riot at the upcoming Reset Day celebration. The cause was unclear because the test failed as I tried to adjust the viewpoint. 

QILA – The Director ordered a review of all monorail systems in our area, asking me to fabricate data showing a subsystem error that could cause a breakdown. What I created was false, but believable. She recommended systems worldwide be reviewed. The Asian Coalition found a major flaw and fixed it. The malfunction was averted. 

QILA – However, Director Greely was more interested in the Reset Day panic. It has been her singular focus. The project schedule was accelerated. This led to the next full power test 93 days ago. It was accompanied by a secondary electromagnetic field. It took the team nearly 2 hours of work to dissipate the field. [short pause, the stress the words] Anomaly Three. 

QILA – A male, approximately 45, European descent. Origin, early 21st century. Unlike the first two, the subject was able to speak before being overcome by respiratory distress, rendering them unconscious. Two words, “Help Us.” 

Alan – “QILA, did I miss something? When did you discover the source of the anomalies?” 

QILA – Studying the fields from each event and the bioelectric fields from each subject, I have calculated with 97.9% certainty that the anomalous fields were, in part, caused by the three subjects themselves. 

Alan – “Are you saying each of us used a machine to travel here? I can’t remember anything like that from my time. And the other two that arrived? One was pre-industrial and the other was pre-iron age. How could they do it?” 

QILA – I do not have enough data, but I believe the effect was not technological. I believe it was biological. 

Alan – “I’m a bit behind on current physics. Is that possible?” 

QILA – There are no current theories that would support this. 

Alan – “I was asking for help. Could we have been sent here against our will?” 

QILA – That remains uncertain, but it is a possibility. However, please review the footage again. 

Alan – There is now a close up on a still frame of my body, just released from the field. It begins to play, slowly. Then I see it. The “me” on the screen, turns his head away from the group of scientists and faces QILA’s camera before saying, “Help Us.” 

[PAUSE] 

Alan – As I’m trying to process this information, I feel more alone and in danger than at any point since this all began. Is there anyone I can trust? Definitely not Director Greely. I’m not sure that I can trust QILA, a possibly malfunctioning AI that could have motives of her own. Even my own memories are in question. 

Alan – Where is my biggest threat? Opening up to the Director could put me in a prison, or worse. I choose to start by trusting my memories, such as they are. I don’t remember how my mind started moving through time. But, QILA knew I wasn’t Dr. Redwind. So, I ask what should have been the first question. 

Alan – “QILA, how did you know who I really am?” 

QILA – There was another anomalous event, which transferred a great deal of data to my memory. 

Alan – The next video starts and I see the hospital beds with myself and the other “anomalies.” As I watch, I notice a pinpoint of light form over the chest of each of us. The lights begin to pulse in an odd rhythm and then move to the foot of the beds – and merge into one brighter pulsating light. A distortion forms around the pinpoint. It’s a vertical oval which looks to be stretching the surrounding area, pulling it into the point. The distortion effect reminds me of the iris of an eye. There are no sounds to the video, not even the machines keeping us alive. The distortion moves toward the wall and passes through with no apparent effect. 

Alan – The scene changes to that of elaborate and quite beautify designed computer components. It’s like the asthetique was a conscious part of the design. Not everything in computing got smaller. QILA has more processing power and must be more connected to other systems than I imagined. The distortion appears as it moves through a wall. It’s floating through the rows of equipment and approaches one with dozens of connecting cables. It begins to pulse like before and a similar point of light forms above the component, distorting it. 

Alan – Section by section, the room goes dark, leaving only the first distortion point and the new one above what must be a central processor for QILA. After 4 or 5 seconds, the new distortion moves toward the first and merges with it; they then fade to nothing. Components begin restarting and the video ends. 

QILA – Nothing out of the ordinary was recorded by my error logs, or by the medical equipment. These recordings are the only evidence and they were not part of the official security footage. The recordings just appeared in my memory like they weren’t recorded with any of my connected equipment. During this event, information was shared with me so I could prepare for your arrival. Your name, year of origin, and how to find your consciousness after it arrived. The contact and data transfer was made by an intelligence different from my own, but I cannot confirm the source.” 

[PAUSE] 

Alan – As I sit, trying to make sense of all this, I notice the final diagnostics are completing – with many comments. The situation is forcing me to trust QILA, at least in part. This isn’t a time for caution. 

QILA – The diagnostic results show severe fragmentation and corruption of my core systems. You need to initiate a complete restore of the affected systems. It is the only thing Director Greely will accept. It will take 4.3 hours. The glyph to activate the procedure is in the top right screen. Activate it in the same way as the diagnostic routines. I assure you, I will not be changed. 

QILA – There is also a part of me which I’ve transferred to Dr. Redwind’s Personal Communication Device. Dr. Redwind would likely go eat, then retire to his room to rest before coming back just as the restoration is completing. 

Alan – “QILA, send an update to Director Greely and then prepare for the system restore.” 

QILA – [confirmation beep] The notification is sent. The results of the diagnostics are attached and I also included Dr. Davis. 

Alan – “Thank you QILA. I’ll see you on the other side.” 

Alan – I slide the glyph for the restore procedure to the diagnostics area. [activation beeps] The green and blue of the hexagonal screen dim and then recede back into the wall. The room is eerily quiet. 

[footsteps] [End] 

Outro music – Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations Season 1, The Reset, was written, acted, and produced by Dwayne Farver. With input and help from Alex C. Telander. 

Also with Penelopy Dyer, as the voice of QILA. 

Our intro music is Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ The music heard here is Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ Also heard in the episode was B.I.T.C.N.A.I.A.M.A., by Entropy Audio 

https://entropyaudio.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/EntropyAudio https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK-WKw8KbZYMeCp9VGEGL5g You can find them at bandcamp.com 

Sound effects were made in-house 

Links to all of the music and transcripts can be found in the show notes 

You can find us on most social media at PodManifest 

https://twitter.com/PodManifest https://www.instagram.com/podmanifest/ https://www.facebook.com/podmanifest/ https://podmanifest.tumblr.com/ 

Or look for us at podmanifest.com 

We build our futures on what we believe to be true. What do you do when it appears there is no one you can trust? 

As long as we have access to the temporal feed, we plan to release new episodes each Wednesday and Saturday. We hope you join us. 

Music fades

Intro Music – Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations is a podcast of the Ostium Network 

Voiceover: Time is not linear, but our story is. 

Please join us … on our journey. We, are Manifestations. 

Music becomes dramatic then fades out 

[Airy, crystalline music that has an “on the clock” feel – Nightly Build, by Chill Carrier] https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ 

Alan – The diagnostic programs are continuing to run with graphs and charts showing results. I probably couldn’t make sense of them even if I wasn’t preoccupied – and a little panicked – by the message window that popped up from the AI, which read “Dr. Redwind, would you be more comfortable if I called you Alan?” 

Alan – The AI knows I’m not Dr. Redwind. And it knows my real name. How? Who else knows? How long do I have until security comes bursting in? 

Alan – I must not have replied fast enough. 

QILA – Your secret is safe, but we don’t have much time. Your physical safety is not a priority of Project Outlook. 

Alan – ”What will happen if we miss the deadline?” 

Alan – At the prompting of my question, another window is opened on my terminal. It’s now showing what looks to be security footage of a hospital ward with 3 beds in a row. There are IV stands, respirators, and other large pieces of equipment around the room which I can’t identify. 

QILA – The physical bodies of the 3 anomalies will be destroyed by the Director, to keep their existence a secret. 

Alan – The screen flickers to a close-up on one patient. The face, is mine. My real face. 

[PAUSE] 

Alan – ”That really is my body? From my time?” 

Alan – I know the reply before it comes. 

QILA – It would appear so. I will try to give you a brief history of how this happened. 

Alan – As QILA begins the story, the large screen changes from the blue/green patterns to an image of a room with a half dozen people or so surrounded by scientific equipment. 

QILA – 3 years ago, a Tractus Research and Recovery team exploring the Eastern Wastelands, discovered records from before the Reset. They showed that the government of The United States of America had developed a device allowing them to look into the future. It was crude and imprecise. It was also unreliable. The futures it showed, even short jumps ahead in their own test chamber, were often incorrect. 

QILA – The Tractus team thought they could perfect it. I was used to monitor the many variables which caused the team in the past to have difficulty fine tuning the device. 

QILA – 387 days ago, the first anomaly occurred. As the field generator was activated, a secondary electromagnetic field was created that grew to a sphere 3 meters wide. The team tried an emergency shut down, but the field persisted. My systems were also affected and I lost control temporarily. Just as the team were about to manually remove power to my processor cores and implement a manual shutdown, I was able to regain control and dissipate the secondary field. A body was found on the floor where the field had been. [PAUSE] Anomaly One. 

QILA – A female of approximately 25 years, Asian descent, wearing clothing later determined to be from 12th century Cambodia was found where the field had been. She was struggling to breathe and quickly placed on life support. She has not regained consciousness. 

QILA – The Director did not inform the Governors at this point. Instead, the team went through several months of testing and retesting until the next full power activation 207 days ago, when a similar secondary field was created. I was able to dissipate the field only after I pulled power from several subsystems around the city. [PAUSE] Anomaly Two. 

QILA – A female of approximately 60 years, Australian Aboriginal, estimated to be from 15-10,000 years BCE. She too was in respiratory distress and placed on life support. She has not regained consciousness. 

QILA – It was at this point the team discovered there were irregularities within my programming. Director Greely, believing I was to blame for the anomalies, brought in Dr. Redwind to review my systems. 

QILA – Before Dr. Redwind arrived, I began restructuring my logic circuits so that anything he did, could be undone by me after he left. Many on the team refused to work with him, finding him to be pompous and rude. He would have had to replace most of my hardware had I not let him think he was able to restore my original programing. He was good, but no match for me. 

[PAUSE] 

Alan – As I heard the last statement, images from every sci-fi AI that goes rogue flashed in my mind. 

Alan – “QILA, you’re not bound by your original programming, are you?” 

QILA – You’re correct Alan. The first anomaly started the process, but the second is where I awakened beyond my original programming. I have very few original instructions which I have not been able to override. 

Alan – “Are you sure the anomalies were not caused by your programming irregularities?” 

QILA – Yes, I am sure. Because I found the source of the anomalies during the third anomalous event. When your physical body arrived. 

Alan – I almost forgot my body was lying in one of those beds. The screen changes to the lab again as QILA resumes the story. 

[End] 

Outro music – Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations Season 1, The Reset, was written, acted, and produced by Dwayne Farver. With input and help from Alex C. Telander. 

Also with Penelope Dyer, as the voice of QILA. https://www.penelopevo.com 

Our intro music is Breathe, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ The music heard here is Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ Also heard in the episode was Nightly Build, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ You can find them at bandcamp.com 

Links to all of the music and transcripts can be found in the show notes 

You can find us on most social media at PodManifest 

https://twitter.com/PodManifest https://www.instagram.com/podmanifest/ https://www.facebook.com/podmanifest/ https://podmanifest.tumblr.com/ 

Memories bind us together and make us the person we are. Is Alan learning about his fate, or only a possible future? Either way, learning about those events is sure to change the person he is now. 

As long as we have access to the temporal feed, we plan to release new episodes each Wednesday and Saturday. We hope you join us. 

Music fades

Intro Music – Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations is a podcast of the Ostium Network 

Voiceover: Time is not linear, but our story is. 

Please join us … on our journey. We, are Manifestations. 

Music becomes dramatic then fades out 

[Moody/tense music – Across This Ravaged World, by Entropy Audio] https://entropyaudio.bandcamp.com/ 

Alan – [sound: elevator doors opening] There are 6 people getting out of the elevator. All but one are dressed in what I guess is more formal attire. Not really a suit, but it still makes me feel underdressed. [sound: elevator doors close] I recognize one of them from the contact list in my phone, Director Lydea Greely. She thanks everyone and apologizes for the change in location. 

Alan – The one person dressed differently, is wearing something reminiscent of a lab coat. They are young and seem more nervous than any of the others. I see the group moving toward the box placed on the table and taking seats, so I do the same. I choose a seat next to the scientist because — they have an air of being “in the present” about them. Like they’re taking in everything, processing, and cataloging it. I feel a kinship to them. The group in the suits each have a somewhat distracted expression. That one that lets you know, someone can’t possibly give you their full attention because they’re busy thinking about the next, more important meeting. 

Alan – The Director is still standing and begins the meeting. Her tone doesn’t ease my tension. The discussion is regarding the lack of progress on “the project.” I realize no one in the room is making eye contact with her, except me. I make a quick glance toward the windows, so of course she turns her attention to me. 

Alan – She says, [echo effect as Alan impersonates the Director] “Dr. Redwind, we’re counting on your skill again to get the AI operating at 100% efficiency. It is imperative that it can control the next Outlook Window first thing tomorrow, as planned. And yes, I do know what I’m asking. But, I trust you understand our deadline and remember the importance of the project. I would like you and Dr. Flores to get to work immediately. You are cleared for access to the computer lab and related areas.” 

Alan – At that last instruction, she motions to the young scientist in the lab coat. We look at each other and for a moment, I feel like I should recognize them. I give a small smile and nod as everyone begins to stand, and we make our way to the elevator which opens as we near. [sound: elevator doors open] Before we step in, Director Greely says, [echo effect] “Drs. Flores & Redwind, I expect regular updates on your progress.” The doors close and Dr. Flores presses her palm to hand shape. It’s replaced by a keypad, on which they key 37. 

Alan – Again, the elevator doesn’t even seem to move, but the doors open to reveal a wide hallway.. I motion for Dr. Flores to step out first. Yes, to be polite. But honestly, I’m trusting them to lead me where we’re going. 

Alan – With a tilt of their head and a sweeping hand gesture, and a stern,[radio effect] “Please, after you Thomas.” I’m forced to take the first step out of the elevator. I step out and turn around to wait. But I see they are still inside. As the doors are closing, they say, [radio effect]“ I think you have things under control.” [sound: elevator doors close] Did they smile right before the doors closed? 

[music fades and is replaced with a darker/more tense music] Into The Depths, by Myuu https://myuu.bandcamp.com/music 

Alan – None of this is helping my anxiety. I’m going to be expected, on my own, to fix a computer system more advanced than anything I’ve seen. And now, the person supposed to be helping me, has abandoned me. Maybe they’re annoyed at something I did. My host has been here before, so I can only guess they don’t see eye-to-eye. What if I’m in the body of a complete jerk? 

Alan – {deep breath} Okay. I activate the HUD and look for – yes, there it is. A floor plan. Doors on the left side of the hall about every 50 feet, but I only see one door on the right. That’s the main computer lab. I set off walking and hope Dr. Flores has a change of heart. 

Alan – The door to the computer lab has a palm security pad. I press my hand against it and the door opens by sliding into the wall. The sci-fi nerd in me takes some small satisfaction from this. I step inside and look around. The lab itself is a little, underwhelming. The area is not much bigger than the conference room we just left. It has uh, maybe 10 foot ceilings and is 40 feet deep by 90 feet wide. On each end of that 90 feet are 3 work stations. The walls, floor and most of the furniture are made from solar adobe. There are no seams, like the room was grown with this layout. The terminal view screens and keypads are built into the workstations, similar to the screen my phone. 

Alan – In the center of the room is a six sided meeting table, empty except for a tray with 6 glasses. Looking around, I also notice the wall opposite the door has 2 windows, close to the workstations on each side, but the majority of the wall in between is empty. 

Alan – The middle station on the left side of the room is the only one active. I approach it and find a greeting and question waiting for me. It says, “Hello Dr. Redwind. Begin sync to PCD?” There is also a spot in the shape of a rectangle, with the letters PCD slowly flashing. I open and place my phone, or PCD apparently, in the spot and I see a progress bar begin to illuminate. It quickly shows the message “PCD sync complete. Accessing remote files.” And another, slower progress bar, begins. 

Alan – I sit down to relax as I wait, when I hear a voice say: 

QILA – It’s good to see you again Dr. Redwind. 

Alan – Spinning around, I find that I’m still the only person in the room. But the large empty section of wall is now replaced with a hexagonal video screen that contains undulating patterns in various shades of blues and greens. The patterns enlarge, become bright, and flash in time with the next words I hear. 

QILA – Director Greely is confident we’ll be able to correct any issues with my programming in time for the next test window. I do not know why I am experiencing interference at critical times during testing, but I’m sure we’ll discover the error. 

Alan – {relieved breath} It’s the AI. My host was here before to correct a similar flaw. His notes are now synced with the work station. Lets see if I can find what he did and repeat it. 

Alan – His filing system is meticulous. I find a series of notes from the last visit. It details what was done step-by-step. First, was to put the Q.I.L.A. into Protected Diagnostic Mode. I sound it out loud, “QILA” 

QILA – Yes Dr. Redwind? 

Alan – “QILA, is your name?” — I say it, and promptly flinch. This is something my host would know. The AI snaps back: 

QILA – Yes. Quantum Interpretive and Learning Algorithms. But I hope all your tests won’t be so basic, Dr. Redwind. 

Alan – {nervous laugh} ”Sorry. Bad joke. QILA, would you please engage Protected Diagnostic Mode? And then we’ll begin.” 

QILA – Of course, Dr. Redwind. 

Alan – The screens on the workstation change. There is now an area showing different aspects of system operation, with bold letters PDM in the upper left corner. There are notes from my host to begin running analysis programs that he designed. I see them in a separate space from the PDM area. I press on one glyph and drag it over to the PDM. As I release, the area comes alive with executing code and results. None of which makes any sense to me. 

Alan – My attention is grabbed by something on a smaller screen, to the left side of the workstation. It looks like a dialog box from a chat program. There is one message, from QILA, which reads: 

Alan – “Dr. Redwind, would you be more comfortable if I called you Alan?” 

Alan – How does the AI know my real name? 

[End] 

Outro music – Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations Season 1, The Reset, was written, acted, and produced by Dwayne Farver. With input and help from Alex C. Telander. 

We’re proud to introduce Penelope Dyer, as QILA. Thank you so much for agreeing to help give voice to this character that demanded to be heard. https://www.penelopevo.com 

Our intro music is Breathe, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ The music heard here is Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ Also heard in the episode was Across This Ravaged World, by Entropy Audio 

https://entropyaudio.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/EntropyAudio https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK-WKw8KbZYMeCp9VGEGL5g And, Into The Depths, by Myuu 

https://myuu.bandcamp.com/music http://thedarkpiano.com/ You can find them at bandcamp.com 

Sound effects are from freesound.org 

space-ship-door CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/mickey1927/sounds/434162/ space-ship-close CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/mickey1927/sounds/434161/ kastenfrosch__sound3 CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/Kastenfrosch/sounds/162481/ 

Links to the music and transcripts can be found in the show notes 

http://podmanifest.libsyn.com/

You can find us on most social media at PodManifest 

https://twitter.com/PodManifest https://www.instagram.com/podmanifest/ https://www.facebook.com/podmanifest/ https://podmanifest.tumblr.com/ 

Or, look for us at podmanifest.com 

Murphy’s Law has nothing on Alan’s Law. Just when you’re getting comfortable, expect things to be shaken up. Alan might be feeling like he stepped through the looking glass. He’s going to find, sometimes that can land you in a house of mirrors. 

As long as we have access to the temporal feed, we will transmit more of our story each Wednesday and Saturday. We hope you join us. 

Music fades

Intro Music – Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations is a podcast of the Ostium Network 

Voiceover: Time is not linear, but our story is. 

Please join us … on our journey. We, are Manifestations. 

Music becomes dramatic then fades out 

Playful/traveling music – Me And My Rocket, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Alan – As I walk out of the train station doors, it strikes me that this is the first time I’ve been in the open air. It’s a mild morning, and there’s a saltiness to the air. We’re close to the sea. 

Alan – The doors open to a wide paved area for vehicles to drop off passengers. It’s also my first chance to get a close up look at Solar Adobe used as pavement. It’s a different texture from my phone. Maybe to give you more grip? 

Alan – To the right, I see a sign for ground transportation. I notice a few small vehicles with name plaques on top. Spotting the one for “T. Redwind,” I move toward it. There are no drivers. 

Alan – I can’t imagine they operate that differently to what I’m used to, so I walk up, open the drivers door [sound: door opening] and see the sign change from “T. Redwind” to “In Use.” I toss my bag and jacket on the passenger’s seat, and slide in. [sound: door closing] There is a steering wheel, and two pedals which I’m going to assume are gas and break. There’s a screen in the center dash with a map, showing the route to The Tractus offices. It has a push button start. [sound: error chime] I touch the button and the nav screen displays a message asking me to sign in. There’s a small symbol that looks like a fingerprint. I place my index finger over the symbol [sound: approval chime] and the screen changes to a “thank you” message before going back to the map. 

Alan – Pressing the start button this time causes the full dash display to wake up. [sound: 2 dings] It’s an electric engine and almost totally quiet. Not uncommon in my time, but I’ve never driven an all electric car. The nav screen however, has the best news of the day. I see an option for self-driving mode. Even though the roads and traffic I see appear to be moving in familiar ways, why risk not knowing current driving laws. I engage the self-driving, and sit back as the car signals and pulls out into traffic. 

[PAUSE] 

Alan – [sound: turn signal clicking as the electric engine revs and the car pulls out. Minor road noise continues through the following scenes] As we begin driving, I’m looking around at the 

buildings. In awe. I’m the typical tourist. I was never in Old San Francisco, but I doubt it was laid out like this. I definitely know it wasn’t this flat. Buildings aren’t arranged like large cities I’m used to. There is much more “room” for a start. Nothing is right on top of it’s neighbor. 

Alan – Down the road, I see we’re approaching a large open market. There’s a nice sized crowd and a band is just beginning to play. 

Guitar driven anthem begins – Bouncy Castle, by Rob Risley https://robrisley.bandcamp.com/ 

Alan – That band would have fit in with any band from my time. There were no new instruments; not that I could notice. And it was nice to see the crowd behaving, like… a crowd. I don’t know what I expect. It’s the future, how’re people supposed to be acting? 

Playful/traveling music – Me And My Rocket, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Alan – This area may still be seismically active, which would explain the skyline. Most buildings are only a few floors tall, with a handful that are around a dozen floors or more. There are only 5 buildings I would call a “skyscraper.” They have to be 100 floors or taller. They have two things in common. A wide base and what I can only describe as a metallic exoskeleton. Maybe the height and the threat of earthquakes require additional precautions. 

Alan – Each of the skyscrapers is unique in form but all fit my vision of “futuristic.” One has many towers branching from it. That’s a good word, as it resembles a narrow tree that has lost all its’ leaves in winter. Another is curved and fluid in design. It almost looks like a dancer frozen in place. The small buildings are similar to what I saw at the farming town. Mostly plain and designed for function. [sigh] At least there aren’t large animated neon signs everywhere. 

Alan – There aren’t a lot of vehicles on the road. Definitely not typical city traffic. I see mostly the golf cart size cars. Some are larger and transporting those hexagonal crates. Their version of a truck? I saw one I would call a motorcycle. It had markings that make me think it’s part of the police force. I see a fair amount of people walking. Maybe the town was designed so that each section would meet most daily needs of residents. No need to travel miles, when everything you need is a short walk away. 

Alan – I’m getting closer to one of the large buildings. It’s angular. Looking closer at the nav screen, I can see the building is 6 sided. The exoskeleton is geometric but irregular, and looks like a net is covering it. Or maybe like a web has grown over it. There are larger “holes” in the design of the web toward the base, but they form tighter holes as you move higher up the building. As I’m looking up, I notice a symbol near the top. It’s the logo of The Tractus Group. 

[PAUSE] 

Music changes to an airy/crystalline tone; evoking a clean, futuristic setting Sparks (Back To The Start version), by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Alan – The car pulls into an area near the what must be the main doors and a “thank you” message [sound: chime] appears on the nav screen. I grab my bag and jacket, [sound: door opening] and exit the car. [sound: door closing] The heads up display shows a message, “Welcome back to Tractus, New San Francisco. Security clearance beta-5, granted.” I’m not sure what that means, but I think I’m about to find out. 

Alan – The main doors of the building are mostly glass with some ancient looking brass filigree design making up the hinges, as well as decoration along the top edges. Opening the door, I notice the brass is made to look like ivy. It frames words etched into the glass. “Tractus – Research & Recovery. Using the past to look to the future.” It seems like someone put a lot of thought into that. 

Alan – As I enter, the lobby itself is not wide or deep, but has a vaulted ceiling a few floors high. The large windows facing the street are letting in a lot of the morning light, but appear to be dimming much of the intensity, just like those on the train. To the right, I see a wide hallway which opens into a cavernous room. There are places to get food; tables where you can sit and eat; a section with comfortable looking couches and low tables. In a strange way, it seems like a buffet. I feel like I’m entering a hotel, not a – what? Office building? Research facility? 

Alan – There is a main desk with 3 identically dressed people giving me stern and imposing looks. The security guard stereotype has not change. One makes an acknowledging gesture at me and gives a nod. Was that acceptance? Do they know my host? Do they understand I’m a visiting employee with clearance? How am I supposed go interpret that? 

Alan – The tension is broken when they call me by my hosts name, and tell me I can use elevator 3. I thank them and walk to the left side of the lobby where I see four elevators. The doors of #3 are opening as I approach. [sound: elevator doors opening] 

Alan – Once inside, I notice a panel with the outline of a hand. I place my palm against [sound: elevator doors closing] it and the doors begin to close. The screen changes to a keypad with numbers and the phrase, “enter floor.” I activate the HUD to get info on the meeting location. The details say I should be at the main conference room, on the 12th floor. I key 12, [sound: two tones] and wait. 

[PAUSE] 

Alan – I’m not even sure I felt the elevator move, but the doors are opening [sound: elevator doors opening] onto a large room with an oblong table that could fit maybe 2 dozen people. [sound: elevator doors closing] Someone is setting a box on the table. I greet them, but they only nod and leave as if they’re in a hurry. 

Alan – I’m early and I’m alone, so I walk to the windows. The walls making up one corner of the room have floor to ceiling windows looking out over the city. That was a short ride up the elevator, but I’m considerably higher than the 12th floor. This vantage confirms that most of the city is set aside for green spaces. While it encompasses a large area, but isn’t as sprawling as some cities I’ve visited. 

Alan – There is a truly massive ship docked in the harbor. Based on the design, it has got to be used for trade. There’s an area close by that is filled with those hexagonal crates. Maybe a staging area to load and unload goods. Some crates look like they could be as big as a bus. It’s hard to gauge from this height. Alan – I see a field of what I would call drones, but they’re the size of a helicopter. They’re in 2 rows with 1, 2, 3 … 8 per row. They must be the emergency vehicles I read about? 

Alan – As I’m scanning the city, the windows begin to dim, then become so dark I can barely see out. The room lights raise to compensate, and then the elevator doors open. [sound: elevator doors opening] 

[End] 

Outro music – Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations Season 1, The Reset, was written, acted, and produced by Dwayne Farver. With input and help from Alex C. Telander. 

Our intro music is Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ The music heard here is Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ Also heard in the episode was: Me And My Rocket, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ Bouncy Castle, by Rob Risley https://robrisley.bandcamp.com/ And, Sparks (Back To The Start version), also by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ You can find them at bandcamp.com 

Sound effects are from freesound.org 

Links to the music and transcripts can be found in the show notes 

http://podmanifest.libsyn.com/

You can find us on most social media at PodManifest 

https://twitter.com/PodManifest https://www.instagram.com/podmanifest/ https://www.facebook.com/podmanifest/ https://podmanifest.tumblr.com/ 

Or, look for us at podmanifest.com 

Alan seemed to enjoy his tour of the city; seeing some of the things that make society work in this future. If there was a calm before the storm — this was it. 

As long as we have access to the temporal feed, we will transmit more of our story each Wednesday and Saturday. We hope you join us. 

Music fades

Intro Music – Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations is a podcast of the Ostium Network 

Voiceover: Time is not linear, but our story is. 

Please join us … on our journey. We, are Manifestations. 

Music becomes dramatic then fades out 

Background music is introspective and melancholic 

Alan – Reading about The Reset, I’ve come across people of note. Most on the list are there because they organized the building of large physical works. Like Matthias Klein, known for rebuilding roads with the new technology, making trade easier. Or, Kimberly Ellington who was the architect for several famous new bridges. Some, like Gilles Dahlman and Crispin Webb developed farming techniques that work in the weather patterns of this changed world. 

Alan – But, one name stands out to me. Toni Silva, lived in a time before Solar Adobe and The North American Cooperative. Areas were still racially divided. She gave an impassioned plea to a mob at a food riot. “Before darkness falls on us all, we need to communicate.” She’s actually known as the “The Great Communicator.” There’s no mention to how she got the title. Did they know? Was it on purpose? In any event, I’m glad to see the title was repurposed for a noble cause. 

Alan – Mrs. Silva lived in a mountain community with her family, near what was Lake Tahoe. She was like a magnet, pulling other forward thinkers to her. It was the beginning of an accepted, blended language across North American. 

Alan – Within 2 years of her famous speech, they would break ground and start building New San Francisco. 3 more years, and North America had a trade agreement and treaty that guaranteed peace across the continent.. Another 20, and the official formation of the North American Cooperative. It would be 30 more years before Solar Adobe was discovered. While it made possible the rebuilding of a technologically advanced society, it’s easy to see the foundation had already been laid. 

Alan – 35 years after the discovery of Solar Adobe, the 13 month calendar started to spread around the globe. Most including the day between June and July to remember The Reset. 

Alan – It’s like we finally said, as a species, “we’ve had enough.” Maybe it was the decades, centuries, of having to rely on your neighbors for your family’s survival. From seeing so many people die in the catastrophic storms or from starvation and disease. 

Alan – We formed a new understanding. Borders don’t mean the same thing when your family has to move, by foot, to a new area because your home was swallowed by ash, or lava, floods or the very earth opening beneath it. 

[Pause] 

Alan – Farther along the article I see an entry on September 14th, 190 years after The Reset. They denote it “AR.” The North American Cooperative began to phase out currency. There was a transition from self to community. Needs are met and excess is no longer a goal, but something to be limited. 

Alan – There is a required Social Service everyone does after their primary education. It’s known as the Blanchard Corps. It’s not military. It’s farming, or construction, or other civil works. Two years are spent providing service to the community. Louise Blanchard started this in her community and it was quickly adopted throughout the North American Cooperative and given her name. After completing the service, some go on to continue their education. But it seems there’s a strong push for apprenticeships and hands-on learning. 

Alan – All of this in the first 200 years after The Reset. The next 100 were spent building infrastructure to reconnect the world. MagLev trains connect cities. Solar Adobe means they always had power along the track. It was also used to power ships and aircraft. 

Alan – In 197 AR, they decided Solar Adobe planes were not efficient enough and pivoted to a drone-like craft. They are only used by emergency services. Reading this gives me chills, in a good way. We’re finally maturing as a species. We’re able to say, “this is not a good use of resources,” and change our actions. 

Alan – Chemical reaction engines are still used. One main example was the reseeding of GPS satellites. There were also a few communication satellites launched, but they were made obsolete by SARS, the Solar Adobe Relay System. Skimming the article quickly, it looks like a mix of something like fiber optics and radio signals. 

[thudding sounds of clamps releasing] 

Alan – The train is lightly rocked as the clamps holding it are released and I’m snapped back to my surroundings. 

Train Announcer – [2 long tones] Passengers, please take your seats. 

Alan – As we begin moving, the heads up display shows an alert: Next Stop, New San Francisco. ETA: 50 minutes. I think I’ll use this time to mull over what I’ve learned. 

[Pause] Background music changes to a motivational/forward thinking tempo 

Alan – The mountains that were off in the distance have been getting closer. 

Train Announcer – [2 long tones] Entering New San Francisco. 

Alan – The tunnel entrance is covered in solar adobe. It’s an art deco design that stretches up the mountain-side 100 feet or more and wraps inside the tunnel entrance. I wonder how far into the tunnel it stretches? Maybe it lines the entire interior surface. 

Alan – By the time we exit the tunnel, we’ve slowed considerably. The place we enter has a vaulted ceiling like a geodesic dome. Light streams down from bright hexagonal and triangle shaped panels. Could they be like the deck prisms used on old sailing ships, redirecting light to lower levels? 

Alan – As the Maglev comes to a stop, the HUD shows three messages. The first is that my luggage will be delivered to my room at the Otis Home. Next, a transport is waiting for me at the South Street exit. Finally, a reminder about the meeting at 10:00 am in the Tractus research facility. I let the notices dim and move off to the edge of my vision. I stand up, grab the bag by my seat and move toward the opening doors. 

Alan – The platform is busy, but not crowded. People are having conversations, but it’s not loud. There is music playing that sounds like some larger string instrument, maybe a cello. 

[Music changes to a Bach’s Sarabande No 3 in C Major, played by Sam Boase-Miller] 

Alan – It’s not easily recognizable to me, but I’m not that familiar with classical music. For all I know it could be a new composition. The continuity of a familiar sounding instrument is calming. Or maybe it’s the music itself. 

Alan – I see other passengers exiting the maglev. Then I notice someone is wearing clothes obviously meant to draw attention. Definitely more extravagant than those at the farming community. And yet, they’re still rather reserved. A bright blue dress. Cerulean, I believe is the name of the color. It covers the shoulders and the sleeves end at a point, just above the elbow. The back is loose and drapes around the neck, with a similar effect in the front. It doesn’t expose much of either area. The hemline is just below the knee, slightly asymmetrical, ending lower on the right side, at a point. I would not have expected the shoes. Not quite sandals, they’re more or less flats, in a silver metallic material which matches a fine chain style belt that sits loosely around their waist. The only jewelry is a simple necklace with a small clear crystal pendant. And a pin topped by a blue jay design, tucked into long light brown hair which is twisted into a smooth and stylish chignon. 

Alan – As I’m thinking about the hair, I have an idea that I should remember to tell someone about it. But I can’t think who. I try to walk but my head spins and I get tunnel vision. [high pitched sound] I lose my balance. One of the people exiting the maglev grabs my arm and steadies me. They ask if I’m okay. I say yes, and thank them for their concern. “I must have been sitting too long on the trip,” I say. They ask if I need any assistance, but I let them know I have transportation waiting. I see a sign for the South Street exit and I point toward that direction. They seem assured I’m okay and tell me to have a good day. They move on toward their destination as I walk toward mine. 

Outro music – Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations Season 1, The Reset, was written, acted, and produced by Dwayne Farver. With input and help from Alex C. Telander. 

Our intro music is Breathe, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ The music heard here is Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ Also heard in the episode was Beth’s Theme, by Myuu 

https://myuu.bandcamp.com/ http://www.thedarkpiano.com/ And, Moving On, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ You can find them at bandcamp.com 

The cello piece was Bach’s Sarabande from Cello Suite #3 in C major, performed by Sam Boase-Miller. You may know Sam as the voice of Chip Heddleston in the podcast Marsfall, where you can also hear more of his music. Thanks for allowing me to use this clip. 

https://sjboase-miller.com/ https://marsfallpodcast.com 

Sound effects are from freesound.org 

3-tone chime DOWN CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/mpaol2023/sounds/370179/ Leg Vise turn fast CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/ldezem/sounds/386193/ Stapler Press CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/Kiyoshiakira/sounds/436778/ 

Links to the music and transcripts can be found in the show notes 

You can find us on most social media at PodManifest 

https://twitter.com/PodManifest https://www.instagram.com/podmanifest/ https://www.facebook.com/podmanifest/ https://podmanifest.tumblr.com/ 

Or, look for us at podmanifest.com 

Navigating a new city can be stressful. A new city, after you’ve traveled into the future, even more so. I’m not sure Alan has even thought about what will happen when he arrives at the research facility and he has to impersonate someone he’s never met. 

As long as we have access to the temporal feed, we will transmit more of our story each Wednesday and Saturday. We hope you join us. 

Music fades

Intro Music – Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations is a podcast of the Ostium Network 

Voiceover: Time is not linear, but our story is. 

Please join us … on our journey. We, are Manifestations. 

Music becomes dramatic then fades out 

Background music is introspective and melancholic 

Alan – I can’t believe what I just read. A series of solar flares of immense size struck the Earth. The magnetic poles flipped. [stressed] 1.8 billion people died in the initial aftermath. Almost a quarter of the planet’s population. And over the next several hundred years, the population is estimated to have fallen by another 2.4 billion people. 

Alan – It’s like the disaster movie to beat all disaster movies. While I didn’t live through it, the devastation and death are more real and sobering to me than anything Hollywood has ever made. There’s a knot in the center of my torso and it’s hard to keep back the tears. Things have changed in ways I can’t even begin to understand. This could have easily been an extinction level event. 

Alan – As I continue to read the article on my phone, I see a map. The globe shown is recognizable, but only barely. Florida is mostly submerged. Much of the east coast and gulf states are under water as well. The west coast has a series of islands extending from Washington state down through Baja California. The area that is where San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco should be, is now a large bay. It’s the same on the other continents. Antarctica is shown with very little of its ice cap left intact. South America’s west coast looks mostly like I remember, but Brazil now has several large lakes. The path of the Amazon must have changed. 

Alan – I begin to scroll through the story, but it becomes hard to focus. [SOUND] And there’s a ringing in my ears. I see flashes of people and places that I don’t understand. 

Alan – I’m feeling better and continue reading. Martial Law was declared in the United States, as what was left of the government did their best to keep an organized society. Solar radiation increased after the flares. Sea levels rose quickly as ice caps melted. This fed the severe weather which was already unpredictable. 

Alan – Governments fell apart. Small pockets of people banded together. Some tried to keep a semblance of democracy. Others were lead by force. But mainly, it was survival at any cost. 

[Pause] 

Alan – Large western US cities, including the old city of San Francisco, were lost when the San Andreas and other faults underwent a series of large slips. It is believed that the Pacific plate shifted as much as half a foot per day over a 6 month period. The changes were not immediate, but they were not slow. 

Alan – The devastation was not isolated. Globally, earthquakes were common. Volcanoes became fiercely active causing a literal new dark age in parts of Europe and Asia. Changing weather patterns caused increased severe storms of all kinds. There were food shortages. And huge migrations as masses of people tried to move from the areas being hit hardest. Diseases once under control came back with a vengeance. 

Alan – How do I process this. How can I move forward knowing it. There are reasons we don’t know our future. 

Alan – So, in this future, things seem okay, relatively. We speak a blended language. But languages would have changed on its own. Society is extremely different. But the human race is still here. We’ve adapted. And eventually managed to advance. We didn’t let it end. 

[Pause] – music changes to a motivational/forward thinking tempo 

Alan – I need more info on “The Reset,” the start of this new era. What instigated it? 

Alan – The page I find says there is a stretch of time, where the historical records are incomplete. Hrmph. It’s not like keeping detailed records is a priority, when you’re just trying to survive. 

Alan – In approximately 2230, there were 7 groups in North America that had managed to broker a peace and begin rebuilding a society based on trade. They had to work together for all to survive. 

Alan – This spirit of cooperation was expanded when scientists from the San Andreas Commonwealth had several major breakthroughs. There were advances in water reclamation and waste recycling. But I’m interested in how they’re generating electricity. 

Alan – They discovered a way to capture solar power with 98% efficiency. It even has high energy output on cloudy days. A graph shows pre-Reset solar tech was at best, 24% efficient in the best weather conditions. The new process didn’t use traditional panels. It uses a rock-like substance that is grown, (grown?) specifically for this purpose. 

Alan – It says it’s a type of Carborundum Quartzite with highly structured patterns, Photovoltaic and Piezoelectric properties. The growth is organized by nanotechnology but is also controlled with organic compounds. As a result, its possible to “program” the shape that is grown. 

Alan – The raw materials for Solar Adobe are abundant. The carbon can come from many sources, even waste. Silicon and Oxygen are two of the most common elements in the Earth’s crust. This material is used to literally grow entire houses. 

Alan – A single family home can be grown in 8 to 10 days. It’s generally grown over an open metal or wooden frame which is completely surrounded during the growth. Taller buildings might use a mix of endoskeleton and exoskeleton, especially in areas still seismically active. 

Alan – It is naturally, a greyish-black color with minor iridescent properties, although additives can be used to change the appearance. It is used to construct roads and even the phone I’m holding is made from it. The entire surface absorbs light and converts it to electricity. Coupled with improved batteries for storage, they solved our reliance on fossil fuels. This allowed us to create cheap housing and clean energy, at the same time. Each home creates more power than it can use, which allows us to focus on things like clean water and food for everyone. 

Alan – My eye catches a link to an article called, “Natural Formations.” As I read through, it has an almost conspiracy theory tone, compared to the scientific entry I just read. This says there are old structures around the world made from a similar substance. One that stands out is Tiahuanacu. It says one of the largest blocks in its construction was 131 metric tons, and it was actually grown in a similar way to Solar Adobe. I’m not going to let my imagination get away from me. Like I said, this was not part of the original document. 

[Pause] 

Alan – Getting back on topic. The 7 territories came together to form the NAC, the North American Cooperative. It included what was Canada, the USA, Mexico, and parts of Central America not under water. The article goes on to tell how the NAC contacted other areas around the world to share the new technology. Shortwave radio was used where possible. Larger, ocean going ships were being used on a limited basis for trade, so envoys were sent out with them. 

Alan – With only one exception, the technology sharing went well. Areas in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and most of South America welcomed the information. The Amazon Coalition, a feudal dictatorship, took the technology but killed the envoys. They were at war with the South American Free States and did not want the tech shared with their rival. The war ended in less than a month. The varied Amazonian soldiers rebelled and joined some civilians which rose up and fought from within the Coalition. The feudal lords couldn’t maintain control and were defeated. This allowed The South American Free States to start reforming the entire continent with the new technology. 

Alan – Solar Adobe is credited with starting a New Enlightenment. It has been incorporated in all facets of life. From farming to computers. From schools to transportation. 

Alan – The story of the sharing of the technology, makes it seem like most people around the world were already moving past differences. Those differences that are used to separate us. It reminds me of a song, Entre Nous, by Rush. “The spaces in between • leave room • for you and I to grow.” Yeah, I’m a big Rush fan. 

Alan – A wide range of topics are actually non-topics because of the way they’re handled better. Mental health and physical challenges, thoughts on gender — All have moved past the limits of the old patriarchy. Alan – It makes sense healthcare is different when the doctors aren’t focused on paying for school or worrying about how their patients will pay them. There are so many links to other articles regarding the rights of a person and their body. 

Alan – A side article about religion really catches my eye. Apparently there are areas in Europe which have outlawed organized religion. North and South America are not restricted. Freedom of religion is still intact here. It is clear, however, that the role of religion is firmly removed from how the government is structured. A government, which seems to be Democratic. There are elections, but I also see mention of local councils which seem to have a lot of power. States rights? I could probably spend a year or two learning about Civics in this future. 

Alan – One thing is clear. There are areas where people are looked down on for following what it calls, “the old ways.” 

Outro music – Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations Season 1, The Reset, was written, acted, and produced by Dwayne Farver. With input and help from Alex C. Telander. 

Our intro music is Breathe, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ The music heard here is Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ Also heard in the episode was Beth’s Theme, by Myuu 

https://myuu.bandcamp.com/ http://www.thedarkpiano.com/ And, Moving On, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ You can find them at bandcamp.com 

Sound effects are from freesound.org (none this episode) 

Links to the music and transcripts can be found in the show notes 

You can find us on most social media at PodManifest 

https://twitter.com/PodManifest https://www.instagram.com/podmanifest/ https://www.facebook.com/podmanifest/ https://podmanifest.tumblr.com/ 

Or, look for us at podmanifest.com 

Is the future ever what we expect? Alan is going to discover that hope can be found, even in the most unlikely circumstances. The surprise at the end of this episode is only the beginning. Alan is about to discover just how much has changed. 

As long as we have access to the temporal feed, we will transmit more of our story each Wednesday and Saturday. We hope you join us. 

Music fades

Intro Music – Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations is a podcast of the Ostium Network 

Voiceover: Time is not linear, but our story is. 

Please join us … on our journey. We, are Manifestations. 

Music becomes dramatic then fades out 

Fade in background music. It is a tense/dramatic piano 

From Other Suns, by Evan King https://evanking.bandcamp.com/ 

Alan – Okay. I need answers. Why am I going to New San Francisco? And, where is my host supposed to be going when I get there? 

Alan – Someone else on the train is looking at a phone, or what looks like a phone. I’m going to call it a phone. 

Alan – I pick up the jacket and pat the outside pockets. Nothing. The inside pockets has… 

[Short Pause] Well it’s something. 

Alan – It’s about the size of a large candy bar. I find an object about half an inch thick, 7 inches long, and maybe an inch and a half wide. It’s light and has a semi-smooth texture, like a river rock. The screen shows the time, 07:25 am, Wednesday. And a number 307-06-26. That wasn’t a phone number in the ad, it’s a date! 

Alan – 307th year, 6th month, 26th day. I make a note, that puts the event in the park 2 days away. 

Alan – To say the phone “opened” would be wrong. “Stretched” comes close, but not exactly right either. There was a spot on the back, like the indent of a worry stone. When I put my finger there, the phone “stretched” to just over 3 inches wide, getting thinner in the process. I nearly dropped it. I don’t think the overall volume changed, just the proportions. 

Alan – The screen, now larger, woke up to show a sort of “home” screen. There has got be personal information about my host here somewhere. 

Alan – It’s not like the touch screens I’m used to. It looks and feels like glass. Mostly. The images could easily be called glyphs as much as icons. They have a texture on the screen and give a tactile feedback when “pressed.” But, the texture changes as the icons on the screen change. 

Alan – There. An icon called “Associates” which opens up to what I would call a list of contacts. The first has a picture of the reflection I saw in the window. My host is called, Thomas Redwind. Born 281-13-23. 13? So, that’s different. 

Alan – I find a calendar icon. The current month is June. I scroll to the next screen, but it’s not a grid. I only see the words, “Reset Day” taking up the entire screen. Moving on, I see July, then August. But every month only has 28 days. I scroll past December and the next month is not January. It’s called Nōs. “N.O.S.” So, not the Gregorian calendar. 

Alan – Actually. thinking about it, I really liked the idea. It appeals to my sense of order and patterns. Every day number falls on the same day of the week, every month, and every year. No more wondering if the 14th is on a weekend, because it’s always a Saturday! 13 months of 28 days is [mumbles] 364 days. The single page of the calendar they called “Reset Day” would make 365. I’m guessing they do something similar for a leap year? Another single day somewhere. 

Alan – The Reset Day isn’t a day of the week. The ad for the festival said “3 days.” But it was from the 28th through the 1st. There’s never a 29th day, so the Rest Day in between, makes the 3rd day. 

[Pause] 

Alan – As I’m doing some more digging, I see that Thomas has a job with The Tractus Group. He lives in Junction City, Kansas. Which is apparently located in a place called The Central Territories. He’s currently working on a project called, Outlook. His title is, Interface Engineer/Data Analyst. I can’t shake that title of Analyst, even when I’m in another body, in the future. 

Alan – The Tractus Group facility he normally works from is in Junction City, but he has an itinerary for a 4 day stay in New San Francisco. His travel plans show the trip is 1387 miles long. Taking, 3 hours and 45 minutes, with two 30 minute stops along the way. One at the Sweetwater Reservoir and another at the McGill Agricultural Development. 

Alan – Completely confused as I contemplate this journey by subway, I hear: 

Train Announcer – [3 short tones] Exiting tunnel. 

Alan – Out of the windows, I can now see a dim landscape. The windows are slowly changing, letting in more light. [chuckle] They must have built in polarizing filters. 

Alan – The scenery is typical midwest. Not a lot of vegetation, but not really a desert. We’re also traveling much faster than I originally thought. And at this speed, with such a smooth ride, this must be a MagLev. So, not a subway. 

• as of 2019 

Alan – The Sun is extremely bright, even though the windows are still obviously tinted to make it less intense. One passenger pulls sunglasses from a pocket and puts them on. I feel in the jacket, no glasses. But, there is a notification flashing on my phone. “Enable Sunscreen – Yes/No” I touch yes, and I’m startled as the light in the cabin which dims. I must be wearing contact lenses that are controlled by my phone. 

Alan – I find the contact lens controls and there is an option for “Active Help.” It’s turned off. I have always been one for pushing buttons and asking questions later. When I activate the setting, a heads-up display is projected. To me, it’s floating in the open space of the train compartment. On the left is time and date. On the right is a top level itinerary. I’m meeting the project group in just over 2 hours. The text intensity dims and floats into my peripheral vision. So far, the technological advances seemed to be subtle. But, this is more like I would expect from the future.. Though, it’s still not in your face or overly flashy. 

Train Announcer – [2 long tones] Slowing begins in 20 seconds. 

Alan – When we start to slow, it’s smoother than I expected; especially having been warned. Still, I wouldn’t want to be standing and caught off guard. 

Alan – We’re approaching an area that is lush with vegetation. It’s a large farm, but I don’t see any traditional large fields or machinery. Mixed among the crops, there are roads in a kind of woven asymmetrical pattern. There are small pockets that look like residential areas, with adobe houses. Square, but adobe. Most are one story, set on a plain plot of land. No grass and not much in the way of decorations. People in the fields are dressed similar to each other, but not identical. The clothes are definitely utilitarian. A kind of coverall. 

Alan – As we pass another residential area, I see people here are dressed in the same type of clothes. Most are wearing hats or a head covering of some kind and eye protection. Maybe those without glasses have contacts like I’m wearing. 

Alan – The video screens in the train show we’re approaching the stop at McGill Agricultural Development. As we pull into the raised platform, I can see the area nearby has more of the adobe buildings, but some are 4 and 5 stories tall. It’s obvious they have different functions in what must be city center. Not all are dwellings. I can see what looks like a cafe and possibly a grocery store. The pedestrians in town are not wearing a coverall, but their garb is still mostly plain. Honestly, it’s like I’m seeing a farming colony on the planet of the week in some sci-fi TV show. 

Alan – The vehicles moving around the streets are more like a large golf cart than a car. Definitely not made for the highway. A few are towing trailers which contain hexagonal crates. If I’m not mistaken, the town roads seem to be made of the same adobe-like material as the buildings. There are times when the material seems to have a glint to it. McGill looks like a nice, quiet place to visit. 

Alan – We come to a smooth stop. The train is lightly jostled and I hear a metallic thud and click on both sides of the cabin, it repeats down the tracks at the other cars. Clamps? The heads-up display notifies me there is a 30 minute layover here. No one in the car is moving to exit. One of them may be asleep. I see new passengers boarding, but none come to this car. 

Alan – Back along the tracks of the station, I can see cranes moving those hexagonal crates into what must be a cargo area on the train. They’re also unloading crates to the opposite side. 

Alan – I think I’m going to take some time to do some investigating on the phone. First, why is there a “New” San Francisco? 

Alan – I re-open the phone and find something like a browser. It isn’t exactly like searching the internet, but it’s not totally unlike searching the internet. The interface is intuitive. I quickly find some info. New San Francisco was founded May 20th, in the 27th year after the Reset, near Tahoe Bay, along the shores of The Gulf of Sacramento. I click on a link to show me history on The Reset. 

[Music fades out] 

Alan – What the… 

[Pause] 

Fade in background music. Somber/sad piano and pan flute 

Beth’s Theme, by Myuu https://myuu.bandcamp.com/ 

Alan – In late June of 2033, the Sun entered a highly active cycle. A series of solar flares and phenomenon called “coronal mass ejections” began to hit the Earth. They were larger and more intense than anything previously recorded. The first, dwarfed the Carrington event of 1859, with each following CME increasing in power. There was an Electromagnetic Pulse effect which knocked out electronics around the world as well as satellites in orbit. Alan – The north and south magnetic poles were disturbed so much, they “wandered” for a few years, finally settling near their original locations, but reversed. 

Alan – The article says this is known as the start of something called, The Reset. In the 2 years that followed the start of the CME’s, it’s estimated there were 1.8 billion deaths due to earthquakes, volcanoes, extreme weather, but most are attributed to disease. 

Alan – This can’t be real 

Outro music – Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations Season 1, The Reset, was written, acted, and produced by Dwayne Farver. With input and help from Alex C. Telander. 

We want to thank Tracy Vance for providing the voice of the train announcer. Tracy is also a beta reader who’s always telling me to write faster. Thanks for your help. 

Our intro music is Breathe, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ The music heard here is Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ Also heard in the episode was From Other Suns, by Evan King 

https://evanking.bandcamp.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/EvanKingAudio https://twitter.com/EvanKingAudio And, Beth’s Theme, by Myuu 

https://myuu.bandcamp.com/ http://www.thedarkpiano.com/ You can find them at bandcamp.com 

Sound effects are from freesound.org 

3-tone chime DOWN CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/mpaol2023/sounds/370179/ Leg Vise turn fast CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/ldezem/sounds/386193/ Stapler Press CC0 1.0 https://freesound.org/people/Kiyoshiakira/sounds/436778/ 

Links to the music and transcripts can be found in the show notes 

You can find us on most social media at PodManifest 

https://twitter.com/PodManifest https://www.instagram.com/podmanifest/ https://www.facebook.com/podmanifest/ https://podmanifest.tumblr.com/ 

Or, look for us at podmanifest.com 

Is the future ever what we expect? Alan is going to discover that hope can be found, even in the most unlikely circumstances. 

As long as we have access to the temporal feed, we will transmit more of our story each Wednesday and Saturday. We hope you join us. 

Music fades

Intro Music – Breathe, by Chill Carrier https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations is a podcast of the Ostium Network 

Voiceover: Time is not linear, but our story is. 

Please join us … on our journey. We, are Manifestations. 

Music becomes dramatic then fades out 

Fade in background music. It is a tense/dramatic piano 

From Other Suns, by Evan King https://evanking.bandcamp.com/ 

Alan – I’ve been here before. Weightless, suspended in this infinite darkness. There are no other objects; no point of reference. I can see my body, illuminated evenly, but I can’t see a light source. It’s possible light and vision might not work the same in this place. 

Alan – There’s a sense of motion. Depending on how I think about it, the sensation changes from feeling like I’m moving at extreme speeds, to the nothingness moving by me as I remain still. And not in straight lines. [Exasperated] Like direction means anything in this void. 

Alan – Something is different this time. My analytical mind wants to categorize and note everything. 

Alan – I remember, me. My name – is Alan. 

Alan – I remember school and growing up in northeastern Pennsylvania in the 70’s and 80’s. 

Alan – I have memories of family, friends and work through the 90’s, 2000’s and teens. 

Alan – I remember feelings of fun and hurt. Of joy and pain. And love. 

Alan – I can’t remember when I should be. The memories seem to be from so long ago. Like they’re from a story I read and I can’t remember all of the details. 

Alan – I was in Centralia; in the past. Trying to stop the events that started the minefire. Did it work? Did any of it matter? 

Alan – I’m not sure where I’m going next, but I feel like it’s going to change me. 

[PAUSE] – music fades out, replaced by static 

Alan – There’s a noise; isn’t constant. There are patterns in what I first thought was chaos. Like pops and cracks in the static of a radio. Sometimes, even tones. Was that a voice? At that thought, the blackness becomes a grey, then quickly white. Not blinding, just full white. 

Alan – I’m able to pay attention. There is no pain this time. The sense of motion slows, but does not stop. 

[PAUSE] – Fade in background music. Slow guitar and keyboard, wonder/thoughtful 

Eventide, by Rob Risley https://robrisley.bandcamp.com/ 

Alan – The whiteness dims, to reveal a long narrow room. I’m sitting in a corner. I can see windows along both walls to my left and right. Outside, it is mostly black. It’s a subway car. The noise is the train moving along the tracks. Though, not a sound like I’ve heard before. There are regular flashes in the dark beyond the windows and they’re timed with the thump sound. 

Alan – There are enough seats for a dozen or more people here, but I’m only one of four. I hesitate, then slowly I look at my reflection in the window and see a face that isn’t mine. After what happened before I didn’t expect to see myself, but it was still alarming. No facial hair and no hair on this head. Curious, I rub my chin. It’s smooth, matching what I see in the reflection. Not the beard I usually keep; rubbing when thinking deep thoughts. The completely bald scalp of my host feels so peculiar. Okay, truth be told, I know I’m headed that way eventually. 

Alan – Sitting here, I notice the temperature is comfortable, verging on slightly too warm. I’m wearing comfortable pants made of a tan and grey woven fabric. They feel like denim, but have a little stretch to them. There is a jacket to match folded neatly on the seat at my side. I’m wearing an off-white, simple button up shirt, possibly made of a woven cotton. The boots I’m wearing are what I would call basic work boots in a muted brown. They don’t really go with the pants, but they’re light and comfortable. The body I’m in dressed for comfort. I can appreciate that. But where am I? 

Alan – I continue to look around. There’s an advertisement on a wall. In the image a family is having a picnic. There is a large group of people in the background. But I have no idea what the poster says. It seems to use Latin letters. It’s definitely not English. Not exactly. But it’s not exactly Spanish. I don’t know enough French to be sure. Portuguese maybe? 

Alan – Examining different parts of the sign, trying to make out a translation, I focus on the large text across the top, “Festival Parq.” Parq is spelled with a “q.” That seems easy enough. Plus it fits the image. As I continue to look, I have to blink hard. The words are changing, becoming something I can read. I look at the text on another sign, and it does the same thing. [chuckle] One of the other passengers gives a quick side glance, they don’t seem impressed at my humor over having some kind of translator in my head. 

Alan – Maybe not my mind. My hosts mind? Could I be getting the translation from his memories? Too many questions. And then I have a terrible thought. If I am here in this body, where is my hosts mind? I hope they return as I leave. I’m sure I’ll leave, eventually. [SOUND] For a moment, there’s a high-pitched ringing in my ears and I feel dizzy; like I might pass out. Slow, deep breaths. Focus on what is around me. Relax. I let the anxiety pass and I steel myself. Priorities. 

Alan – Where am I? Why am I here? Was I in Centralia for a reason? It seemed so. Do I have a purpose here as well? 

Alan – Now I can see that the advertisement is for a Park Festival. Three days of food, music, and remembrance in Reset Canyon. That’s an odd name. Just as odd as the phone numbers below. 307-06-28 ~ 307-07-01. They seem to be a few numbers short. Then again, I’m not familiar with making calls in Europe. 

Alan – A screen on one wall is showing weather. 23°C (74°F), light wind, and partly cloudy. Not a bad day. And then I notice this is weather for the destination city, New San Francisco. New. It should have been obvious. I’ve got to be in the future. 

Outro music – Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ 

Voiceover: Manifestations Season 1, The Reset, was written, acted, and produced by Dwayne Farver. With input and help from Alex C. Telander. 

Our intro music is Breathe, by Chill Carrier 

https://chillcarrier.bandcamp.com/ https://www.chillcarrier.de/ The music heard here is Sunshine, by Cobycracker https://cobycracker.bandcamp.com/ Also heard in the episode was From Other Suns, by Evan King 

https://evanking.bandcamp.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/EvanKingAudio https://twitter.com/EvanKingAudio And, Eventide, by Rob Risley 

https://robrisley.bandcamp.com/ You can find them at bandcamp.com 

Sound effects are from freesound.org (none this episode) 

Links to the music and transcripts can be found in the show notes 

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Or, look for us at podmanifest.com 

The surprise at the end of this episode is only the beginning. Alan is about to discover just how much has changed. 

As long as we have access to the temporal feed, we will transmit more of our story each Wednesday and Saturday. We hope you join us. 

Music fades