In Which Our Hero Listens to a Melody

It’s only a few miles to the last sanctuary, our thermoses are full of hot cocoa, our backpacks are full of donuts, it’s ten degrees Fahrenheit outside and we’re not even wearing jackets. Hit it!

The Chosen Four make the trek to Stonehenge, where the elusive last melody waits for Ness to record in his Soundstone. But if you think they’re getting at it without tangling with a fearsome guardian, meeting an odd companion, and learning a thing or two about the world they live in first, well… have you even been listening to this podcast all this time?! 

Will Ness and his friends devise a winning strategy against the dynamo of destruction itself, the Electro-Specter? Will they discover the secrets of the Stonehenge monument’s long (and I do mean loooong) existence? And will Ness finally hear the complete melody of the Soundstone at long last?

Find out on this week’s episode of… The Podcast Against Giygas!

ROCKIN!!!

Chapters

• 0:00 It’s The Podcast Against Giygas!
• 0:32 The Last Sanctuary and Its Guardian(s)
• 18:49 The Lumine Hall and What Ness Saw There
• 32:27 The Full Melody, At Long Last
• 36:14 Thank you for listening!

Transcript

Garrett McMahon: 0:00

You're listening to the podcast against Gaius Episode eighteen, in which our hero listens to a melody. Morning came bright and early for the chosen four, and after a quick breakfast of tea and donuts, and after Ness borrowed a winter's postcard from Jeff's father to mail to his mother, Dr. Andinut saw off his son and his three friends for the next long leg of their journey. Well, the fate of the world calls us fourth once again. We're off to Stonehenge. What in the places is a Stonehenge? Oh, that's what they call that stonking great stone circle up ahead. Oh, so that's what they call that stonking great thing. Well, Godspeed, children, and do try to keep the apple of my eye in one piece, eh? You betcha we will, Dr. Andonuts, and thank you for everything. Farewell, father. Farewell, double cheeseburger. Double cheeseburger It was a few hours' walk to Stonehenge, but remembering how much it smarted when they slapped against those big black monoliths, they were more than willing to make that trade-off. And thanks to Dr. Andonuts' miracle compound, and with plenty of donuts packed in their backpacks and hot cocoa in their thermoses, the children were more than able to make the trek on foot. Despite the cold air and the heavy snowfall, there was no wind to speak of, and the sun was bright and high in the sky when they reached the great stone edifice. Aside from one very peculiar thing, the Stonehenge Monument was as imposing, majestic, and what they imagined from the pictures and school books as the children figured it would be. That one peculiar thing, of course, was that one of its 88 upright stones holding up the flat stones was a large black monolith in the shape of a pencil. Well, the children were lucky it was that and not a gigantic eraser, or the quest would have been good and derailed for the day. Jeff produced his trusty machine that opens most doors, especially when you have a slightly bent key, portable and limited trout flavored yogurt dispenser, and pencil eraser, and made short work of the obstacle. The pencil's disappearance revealed a part of the stone that looked like a doorway, with a staircase leading underground, which the children wasted no time in entering. They found at the bottom of the staircase a cavern, decently spacious, but unfortunately pitch black, and with no detritus for Paula to make into a quick torch. Ness took careful steps with his hands out before him, until he touched the cavern wall. The moment he made contact, a rush of red neon light and a pleasant little chime coursed through the cave. What was that? I don't know. I just Ness tapped the wall again, and a yellow flash of light blazed through the cavern. Jeff touched a wall himself, to no effect, which got him scratching his chin. Interesting. Ness, try holding it longer. Ness placed his whole palm on the wall. A blue light flashed along the walls and just barely illuminated the cave. It looked like a chromag cave, with drawings of hunters chasing huge beasts on the walls. Incredible and surprisingly intact. To think hundreds of years of archaeology, and not one scientist ever thought to invent a pencil eraser. Well, I shall have to have this all published. It's sure to get me at least second place in next year's science expo. Jeff walked to Ness, who was still holding his palms on the walls. And as to this light, it must be the way of interacting with this sanctuary, perhaps through direct contact with you and no one else. Your fingerprints, or more likely, your nervous system. The way Jeff said that gave Ness an idea. There seemed to be one common denominator in each visit to these sanctuaries, wasn't there? And only now did it all make sense to him. It was as if these sacred places full of concentrated power were grounding him, gifting him their knowledge, their power, or energy, something, through the great stores of energy within the planet itself, via direct physical contact through his nerves. While still keeping one hand on the wall, Ness kicked off his sneakers, leaving Jeff staring perplexed. Ness! What in the blazes? Ignoring him, he peeled off his socks and stuffed them into his shoes. Placing his feet on the ground, a rush of red, blue, and yellow light coursed through the cavern, revealing no longer a primitive caveman's dwelling, but instead a huge, futuristic hall, a buzz with machines and blinking lights. Oh my. Well, I suppose that is the logical conclusion to my prior statement, but still it must be cold and filthy. Ness looked up at the hall in awe. The lights revealed a sprawling array of hollowed out grottos bearing surprisingly advanced living spaces. Crow mags they may have been, but there were rock solid couches and chairs, tables with stone plates, even lamps, even television screens, powered by the light and energy coursing throughout the hall. There was even wall-to-wall carpeting. It all reminded him of a cartoon he saw once, a futuristic world according to what someone fifty years ago might have thought it would look like. One crude mural hanging framed on the cavern wall made Ness giggle when he saw it. It was a crow mag, big and hulking like the one he saw at Dr. Antonetz's lab, messy hair, big goofy bare feet. The caveman stood in his house, holding up his hands, fingertips splayed out, and from them burst out jagged rays of yellow. It was depicting exactly what happened when Ness stepped on the floor, as a crow mag would have centuries ago. The children were interrupted by a loud whirring throughout the grand hall of lights, as if a massive computer were being turned on. They quickly turned around and saw in the middle of the hall a cluster of metal junk slide to a blinking node as if magnetized. The metal chunks clanked and clanged together, accumulating more and more mass until it turned into something resembling a humanoid. The kids gasped and flinched when that humanoid thing swung its head at them and bright yellow eyes glowed at them, activating. Jeff stepped in between the scared kids and the metal being, holding up his hands. Wait, everyone! There's a chance it may not be hostile. Perhaps a service protocol. Or before Jeff could finish, the thing held its arm out and fired a huge blast of electric energy at him, knocking him to the edge of the wall. Jeff rose to his feet, shook off the blast, and joined his friends, who were drawing their weapons at the ready. All right, you convinced me. Let's bludge in the thing to smithereens. The metal monster stomped its foot, and the next thing they knew, the kids were all yanked to the floor. It was the metal in their hands, pulled by an overwhelming magnetic force. Paula fell as she held her iron pan, clanking to the floor and would not budge, while Prince Pooh hit the floor along with his sword of kings, as good and stuck as Excalibur in its stone, and he anyone but Arthur. But poor Jeff had it worst of all, as his rucksack was full of metal weapons and doodads and spare parts. He sank back first to the floor and flailed his arms and legs up in the air, hopelessly stuck like a beetle upside down. Prince Pooh was miffed by the loss of his sword, but he quickly adapted, rising to his feet and clenching his fists. With lightning speed he rushed at the monster magnet and pummeled him with blazing fists and feet. If it had been anyone else, they would have been on the floor out cold in seconds. But while his blows did fracture the beast into several cracks along its joints, it reassembled itself with electromagnetic power just as quickly. In one piece again, the monster swung at Prince Pooh and sent him careening across the room. He struggled to rise from the floor, the wind knocked out of him. Now the monster had its glowing, beady eyes set on Paula. Without her main melee weapon, all she could do was launch peals of fire at her enemy with her mind. They worked about as well as you'd expect. As the thing advanced closer and closer, she backed away, terrified, helpless. Once the monster was within reach of her, it lifted a metallic arm above her, poised to send it crashing down. Paula braced herself with her arms and screamed, and then something smacked the beast in the face with a loud bonk and broke it apart. When Paula regained her bearings, there was Ness, standing in front of her, brandishing his well, how about that? His wooden baseball bat. Pressing this advantage, Ness wailed on the metal beast, widening the fissures on its body and slowly breaking it apart. But as Ness relented, out of breath, he watched helplessly as the monster reassembled itself yet again. Ness wound up to swing again, but the monster got the drop on him and swung his arm into his chest, knocking him onto the floor. Ness slid and hit the cavern wall, and while he struggled back to his feet, he coincidentally saw the same mural from before. Now that he had a little more time to put eyes on it while he convalesced from that smack, he noticed something that he plum missed before. The Crow mag in the painting, he wasn't just in the grand hall, sending light all throughout. He was standing in his own house, standing on wall to wall carpeting. A rush of adrenaline came to him and he rose to his feet, running to one of the same carpeted grottos. Prince Pooh, I have an idea. Hit him with your kung fu one more time. Are you crazy? He'll wipe the floor with me again. Just do it. Anyway, I face the diamond dog by myself. You owe me one. Fair enough. Prince Pooh grumbled off the floor and then zipped toward the monster, letting loose another barrage of powerful punches and kicks. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nest Wait, what on earth was he doing? Just standing there, pacing back and forth on the carpet, dragging his feet, back and forth, back and forth. I'm almost ready. Hold it off a little longer. The prince groaned and gave the monster all he got, then backed up and took in deep breaths, completely spent. As Pooh really let loose with the martial arts this time, it took longer than usual, but nonetheless the thing began to put itself back together. No worse for wear, not any weaker, but certainly much angrier than before. It was then that he saw Ness running toward the monster from behind. His hat was gone, and his hair was sticking up on end, just before the middle man finished reassembling, finishing up one big crack in its torso, near where its heart would be, Ness reached out and touched it with one crackling fingertip. A pop burst from that single touch, deafening, concussive. The blast knocked back Prince Pooh and Ness, and it made the monster explode, sending its huge component parts flying across the room. When it looked as though the metal monster was not going to put itself back together anytime soon, and when indeed the magnetic trap seemed to be averted, the children all rose to their feet, grabbed their metallic weapons or personal effects, and warily advanced toward their fallen foe.

SPEAKER_02: 11:53

Ow please don't hurt me.

Garrett McMahon: 12:02

I give up. A mechanical voice boomed throughout the room, coming from the beast, but also from everything else, the walls and the little caveman houses. The children warily kept their weapons pointed at the pile of junk on the floor. I assure you I mean no harm. In fact, you have caused me quite a bit of pain as well, and considering I am an inorganic entity, that is really saying something. I beg you, drop your weapons, and I will explain everything. Fine. But any more funny business and I'll go right back to that carpet and blast you again. Forgive me, children, for attacking you. I am programmed to implement the Electrospector Protocol for anyone and everyone who wishes to enter the sanctuary. The Electrospecter would you say that's the guardian of the sanctuary? I would, because that is indeed what it is, designed to keep out modern evolved human intruders, those who rely on metal weaponry and electronic gadgetry. An enemy designed to be beatable only by a chromag. Like your leader, for example Who you don't mean Ness Hey, I'm not a caveman, I'm a boy. You could have fooled me, kiddo. Ness gave himself a once over, and the others couldn't help but do the same. There he was, filthy, barefoot, hair a complete tangled mess, and wielding a club made of petrified wood. If you squinted hard enough, he was as good a caveman as any. The other kids giggled at the sight of their unkempt friend, who grumbled and went to pick up his red baseball cap, which fell on the floor during the fight. Jeff, meanwhile, paced around the room and scratched his chin, up to some real good thinking. All these empty houses then. So there were prehistoric men living here. And what does that make you? I am the artificial intelligence that governs the Lumen Hall, and it is a pleasure and honor to finally meet you, Ness Elliot of Earth, and of course, Paula Carpainter, Jeffrey Andinuts, and Prince Puyi. Now that hostilities had ceased, the voice seemed to calm and quiet itself. It was now instead a soft, feminine robot voice that emerged from the halls, filling Ness's head with a warm, pleasant feeling, a lot like when BuzzBuzz first spoke to him, like some kind of dear friend he hadn't yet met before. You govern this place. What does that entail? Do you take care of the Cromags who live here? Oh yes, or at least I did. The alien race who touched down on this planet, built the Lumen Hall, to train the primitive inhabitants in the basics of modernity. You know, the usual archery, written language, basic astronomy, irrigation and agriculture, sanitation, and the construction of several large tombs in the shape of pyramids. That last bit was a joke, by the way. Wait a second. The aliens who created you just let you loose to impose civilization on another race? That's unethical, isn't it? The prime directive and such. Oh, it was nothing as serious as all that. Progress would have been made here with or without my input. It was simply a little push in the right direction, if you will. Even so, I performed my duties with them kicking and screaming all the way. People are so silly. They always think their way is right. They cause the fire, and then beg you to help them extinguish it. But that's the one trait I so much adore. What do you think? I see. And the cromax, where are they now? Why, they went off and evolved into the highly advanced species they were meant to be. Witches you people, of course, though I got to tell ya it sure took you all long enough. Do you know how long it took just to convince them to wear shoes? At least a million years Oh well Ask any parent and they'll tell you the hardest thing you can do is convince a kid to put on and tie their shoes.

SPEAKER_01: 17:12

Once you get that down, they're pretty much out the door.

Garrett McMahon: 17:17

A million incredible Just how many years has this place been here? Oh much longer than that. You'd certainly need more than two hands and two feet to count them. Anyway, now that the battle is over and won, let us proceed at once to the Illumen Hall. Right this way, children. Machines word, lights blinked, and after their side a part of the wall let loose pressurized air and opened grand mechanical doors. The chosen four, trusting the pleasant voice governing the place, proceeded deeper into the strange halls of Stonehenge. The weird high-tech hall underneath the Stonehenge monument was impressive enough, but it did not prepare the children for the Lumen Hall itself. A wide underground expanse, with each wall bearing countless glowing nodes of red, blue, and yellow lights. Not even the post square and fourside lit up at night with its dozens of neon billboards could compare to the dazzling arrays they saw before them, and now they had it all to themselves. This was it, the fourth sanctuary at last. And so many adventures, so many scary close calls, but so many good things too. It sure was a long road getting here. It Shaw was a long road getting here. What was to become of him now? Soon he'd receive the last snippet of the soundstone's melody. Soon he'd witness whatever great lesson in his former life the stone had for him in the usual long visions. And after that, well, soon he'd most likely be facing down Gigas. Soon he'd be soon he'd be and what would happen to them? Soon I'll be soon I'll be what will happen to us? Ness grumbled and turned to Jeff. What are you doing that for? Cut it out I'm just reading what's up on the walls, old boy. On the walls What do you he looked up at the walls and gasped. Dozens of strings of words in neon, red, yellow, and blue whizzed by an electronic ticker tape.

SPEAKER_01: 20:26

It's my thoughts. I'm I'm thinking that.

Garrett McMahon: 20:30

The children all looked up to see zipping by them the bright neon words. My thoughts are being written out on the walls. Or are they whoa Paula chuckled when the room became illuminated by scores of red, yellow and blue instances of one word Rockin' Heh That's you all right, Ness Impressive, isn't it? I am glad the Lumen Hall is to your liking. Now I would like to personally invite you to, as they say in the traditional homespun colloquialism, come on in and take a load off. Would you like to be served a refreshing glass of traditional Tucson style sweet tea? Ooh, yes, please. A compartment in a wall opened and a large glass of golden brown iced tea appeared before us. He took the drink and gulped it down, letting out a satisfying ah Paula, still looking up at the walls, let the words Paula makes really good sweet tea too flash over her in bright neon red, and smiled. Downloading additional homespun colloquialisms. Did that beverage hit the spot? Was it just what the doctor ordered? Oh yeah, thanks. How much sugar did you put in it? Eight cups No Nasaliot of Earth, please produce the soundstone and listen to the last of the four melodies. We are currently expending a great deal of available sunlight. Ness didn't have to be told twice. He took the soundstone out of his pocket, and only one more etching on the thing was not yet lit, the one depicting Stonehenge. A song came into his ears, danced around in his head, and settled deep into his heart. But just as two bars passed, just when it was about to get good, the melody stopped just as suddenly as it started. His vision went blank, though his eyes weren't closed. The movie started, and it went way back. Ness saw himself in kindergarten, gravitating toward who would become his two best friends back in Winnette, George and Bill. Time went on, he went through more grades in school, and then he met the remainder of those who would become the tree house squad, Gordy, Maxwell, and Avery. He saw himself and the other five playing around on the train bridge, then jumping into the sludgy river below, then helping out their fathers occasionally, as they built the big house on the biggest tree in Gordy's backyard, and then long, sleepless nights hanging out and goofing off. And then he saw himself meeting Paula for the first time, putting the face to her warm, gentle, telepathic voice. In the vision, he could also sense Paula's great relief at the sight of this boy after being locked in the iron cage, and maybe an exhilaration at something new to come after being metaphorically locked for so long in her steel reinforced bedroom. He saw the joy she felt seeing her first live concert. And yeah, he kind of had to admit the runaway five show was kind of fun too, I guess. He saw Jeff crash landing into the dungeon at Threed, on a spaceship or some such weird thing. You might have thought him a nerd if you first saw him, and there was a sliver of worry on Jeff's mind that they would think so too, but Ness thought it was the coolest thing he'd ever seen. He remembered how scared he was, facing the puke monster in the sewer, and how glad he was that he had Paula and Jeff to help him out. He was on the side of the road in the dusty dunes, crying his eyes out, feeling weigh in over his head after seeing Paula's nightmare for the first time, but also feeling devastated that he had hurt Paula's feelings so badly. How could he have said those things? Where did they even come from? And he saw Paula's heart just as wounded as he was. No, not for that smack in the jaw, that Brad had it coming for that. But for showing him the nightmare. The poor thing, he's just a boy. What a fool thing I went and done. Neither of them had the slightest idea what to say to each other, until Jeff sat by his side and gave him a hanky and put his arm around his shoulder. And then Paula came by and did the same. He saw Paula snatched away by that freaky alien in Foresight, and he remembered how helpless he felt watching her go further and further away from him. And it was thanks to Jeff that he found the courage in himself to try and rescue her. As much as Paula didn't want to admit it, she actually was scared out of her mind when that thing dragged her away, and Ness could see what a huge relief it was for her to see those two silly boys barreling into Mr. Monitoly's office. He saw the fun ride on the Skyrunner. He really liked that marmite, and he saw how glad Jeff was for that. He saw how his friends were just as scared as he was when the Starmen attacked. But Paula bravely went up to the crow's nest, her wish to defend her friends overcoming her fear, and Jeff piloting the ship while also teaching Ness how to shoot, calm as a cucumber all the while. And as much as that endless delay at Summers irked him, he'd be lying through his teeth if he ever said that the magic cake wasn't delicious, and the time spent on the beach wasn't a whole lot of fun. Even Jeff thought so. And there was Prince Pooh, frightening, furious, a bully to Ness at first. But even while he was getting smacked around and yelled at on the beach, Ness could see the same fear and uncertainty in the Prince's heart that was on full blast in theirs. Then that horrible fight on the ship, which led to some good after all. Ness saw the house of cards that was Prince Pooh's worldview come crashing down when he saw his sword lying on the deck, and remembered how desperately he wanted to make amends with him even then. Funny enough, Prince Pooh felt the exact same way. What do I do now? he thought. I'm such a jerk. I blew it. He'll never forgive me. I'll never be one of his friends. He'll never like me as much as he likes them. There they were in the pyramid, Jeff defeated by the puzzle on the inscription. I'm such a nerd already, he thought, and now I'm not even a good nerd. How could I possibly face Dr. Andinut's d I mean my dad, over this? He'd solve it in an instant and then reprimand me for it. But all that changed when Ness sat beside him and put his arm around his shoulder. He said, I'm the smartest person he knows. He really thinks I'm cool. He really said I'm awesome. And then Ness found himself in the firespring. He remembered how sad he felt when he had to pick only one of his friends. Even though the talking rock assured him it wasn't picking a favorite, he couldn't help but feel like it was anyway. He made sure to tell Paula and Jeff why he passed them over. It wasn't just strategic thinking. He didn't want them in that fiery cave because he truly cared for them. And then fighting that monster, alone, with Prince Pooh grabbing him by the shirt, assuring him he could do it, encouraging him in his own little Prince Pooh way. He taught Ness how to be strong that day, how to stick up for himself and for his friends, and it was a lesson he'd never forget. It was the announcement that Ness had seen visions of his father that sent Prince Pooh over the edge. Ness could see the turmoil in his heart, pacing up to Ness at the fire, then backing away, over and over until he finally found the courage to ask him to come to Delam and offer his apology. Ness had taught him that day how to be humble and gentle, and that if you gave someone a chance, you never know, you might become fantastic friends with them, and hey, maybe you'll even learn how to play baseball. That was a lesson he'd never forget. Then there was the perfect night at Jeff's house. Jeff was just glad that he had friends who thought he was cool enough to hang out at his house for once. And Prince Pooh, as much as the fireworks set his heart on fire just as well, was glad that he could share a night where he was finally on equal footing with the chosen four, as much friends with Paula and Jeff as he was getting on brilliantly with Ness. In that magical moment by the fire, that smile that helped Paula stop being afraid. And when she put her head on his shoulder, he never felt anything like that before. He never really hung out with girls back in Winnette. But Paula was different. She was kind, but also funny and tough and kind of scary, too. He liked Paula's head on his shoulder, and he really meant it when he invited her back to his house. And then he saw a moment in time, one that had not happened yet, one he didn't recognize. He saw the three of them before him, cheering, absolutely screaming out their lungs, going out of their minds jumping for joy, all for him. In short, he saw every single angle and shining facet of the jewel that was his deep and abiding friendship between him and Paula, Jeff, and Prince Pooh, and theirs with him. Then the movie ended. He put the soundstone in his pocket and looked to his friends, who all had tears in their eyes, just like he did. This time Paula didn't have to ask what he saw, as they all read his vision upon the ticker tape lights on the walls. Every single one of Ness's memories of their friendship, their little quirks and spats and kindnesses and heroism, flashed before them in neon, red, yellow, and blue. They read words like Now that Paula is here with me, it's gonna be alright, and I'm so sorry I said those things to you, Paula. I hope you forgive me, and I really liked sitting by the fire with Paula last night. I hope she liked it too. And Jeff is so cool, he really can invent anything he puts his mind to. And well maybe not that stupid yogurt machine, and I hope I can hang out with Jeff again soon, and I'm so glad Prince Pooh and I are friends now, and I'm lucky to have a fighter like him on my side, and he's not bad at baseball, too. And finally, over and over again. I love them all so much. Thank you, Paula, Jeff, Prince Pooh, thank you so much for everything. I couldn't have done it without you all. You're all worth fighting for. I love you all, I love you all so much. He looked back at his friends, tears coming out of his eyes, but not even sad, rather deliriously happy that after that wonderful vision of his friends, those friends were still there in the real world, right in front of him, and they still cared for him just as much as he did them. Not because he was some chosen one spoken of in ancient prophecy to save the world, not because he drew some magic sword or slayed some dragon or solved some impossible riddle, not because he was mightier than a full speed freight train or faster than a cheetah, not for any other reason than he was simply Ness Elliot, a kind, strong, and courageous boy. Paula, Jeff, and Prince Pooh gave Ness a big group hug for a long while. Then, after they all broke away, Paula patted Ness on the shoulder. We love you too, Ness. Now get your shoes on before you stink up the whole place. Although they had plenty of warm weather juice left in them to make it back to the Andinut's laboratory, the effects were starting to wane, and Ness and Paula shivered just a little bit. But none of that was on the minds of any of the chosen four, but rather that remarkable sanctuary spot. Their hearts were so full, they left the underground monument with so much love for each other that Ness was almost afraid to take the soundstone out of his pocket. He wanted nothing in the world to change the feeling that he had for his friends and that they had for him. He wanted it to last forever. Well, this is it, Ness. That was the last one. Why don't you take out the soundstone and see what happens? It was usually Paula who made sure Ness kept his eyes on the finish line, and so it was her this time as well. Ness nodded and produced the stone. While now all four sides of the shiny red rock were glowing through their etchings, it otherwise did nothing at all. Undeterred, Ness held out his open hand with the soundstone resting on his palm, as if giving it to someone before him. He had no idea, he just thought it was the right thing to do. Apparently it was. The soundstone floated in midair, right in front of Ness's face, gently spinning around like a top. It began to play a melody. There it is. Do you hear it? The melody Shh just listen, Ness. It's for you. He did. It chimed in his mind, playing every two bars of the song he heard from the giant step all the way to the Lumen Hall. And then, right before his eyes, the soundstone disintegrated, blew away like someone blowing dust off the cover of an old book, and finally vanished. But the melody didn't stop in his mind. It played over and over again, a music box his mother turned on before he went to bed, or a tune his father whistled while reading the paper with a cup of black coffee. It felt like one he had heard his whole life, but even right then and there, he could still not place a name. Oh man, it's so beautiful. It took over every sense in his body. It was all he could hear, all he could think about. His arms and legs became heavy as he struggled to keep his balance. His eyelids drooped. He struggled to keep his head from slumping forward. Paula gasped as Ness almost staggered to the ground and caught him in time. Ness, are you okay? You really don't hear it? It's so. It was the only thing on his mind. Even though he could feel the massive alien mothership vibrating the very air above them, even though he could see the hordes of starmen flanking their dread leader, the Starman Deluxe, floating in the sky and setting foot before the children, and his friends surrounding him, drawing their weapons. He let the melody wash over him like cool blankets on a warm summer night. Even though he could hear the blasts of Starman Death Rays and Prince Pooh zipping back and forth, slashing his sword, and Jeff's laser guns and booming bottle rockets, and worst of all, Paula's desperate, terrified screams begging him to wake up, Ness fell on his back and hit the snowy ground, and let the melody lull him into a deep sleep. The podcast against Gaius is an audiobook written and performed by me, Garrett McMahon, based on Earthbound, the Super Nintendo game directed by Shige Sato Itoi, with production by William Pulowski, and thumbnail design and art direction by David Peters. This podcast stinks. It is also a fan-made project affiliated in no way whatsoever with the Nintendo Corporation or Mr. Itoi. This podcast is free to listen to, ad free, and always will be. I hope you enjoyed this week's episode, and I'll see you back next Monday. Till next time.