The Magnus Protocol 33 - Peer Review

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Hi everyone, it's Billy Hindle, the voice of Alice in the Magnus Protocol.

Today, I'm here to advertise Frights by Fire, a new storytelling and horror anthology podcast that recently launched on the Archie Network.

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Have fun, and see you later.

This episode is dedicated to Addison Wagner.

You may write me down in your statements with your bitter twisted lies.

The eye's seat of power may be vacant, but still, like dust and ashes, the archivist shall rise.

Rusty Quill presents

The Magnus Protocol.

Episode 33 Peer Review

I think you should be able to go,

and I'm going to

Statement and research lead for location CD771, Magnus Institute, Manchester.

Private and confidential.

Viability as subject, low.

Viability as agent, low.

Viability as catalyst, low.

No follow-up recommended due to potential acquisition risk.

Interviewer comments redacted at request of Dr.

Welling.

Interviewer comment redacted.

Of course.

Victoria Marcario.

Interviewer comment redacted.

That's M-A-R-C-A-R-I-O.

Interviewer comment redacted.

Yes.

Yes, that's right.

Can I get you some tea?

Interviewer comment redacted.

If you're sure.

And it's James Dawn.

As in Always Darkest Before.

Interviewer comment redacted.

It was our second date.

We met online.

I move around a lot for work and they sent me to their blackpool offices for a four-month posting.

James lived there all his life, he said.

Our first date was good.

Really good.

And I was keen to meet up with him again.

So we met by the beach.

Had dinner.

Everything was going great and

yeah, he

wanted to take me to the pier.

Said he'd spent a lot of time there growing up and wanted to share it.

Interviewer comment redacted.

Yes, we went.

It was a beautiful night at first.

The perfect temperature, people out, drinking, playing music.

The pier was everything you'd sort of expect from a slightly run-down British seaside.

Ferris wheel out at the end, games, twinkling lights, a view down the shore.

We decided to check out the arcade at the end of it.

We stopped and played a few games, which...

Turns out we were both terrible at.

James even got a bit frustrated at one of those punching bag ones, but still, we were having a good time.

Interviewer comment redacted.

I don't know.

Nothing obvious.

It happened gradually.

The first thing I remember noticing was just after he took me outside.

I remember it was cool, almost cold, despite being summer with a stiff breeze coming off the Atlantic.

James walked towards the railing, and he was telling me these little stories about being there as a kid.

The time he snuck onto the ferris wheel, failing to surf in the weak swells.

As we got up to the railing, he put his arms around my waist and said, this spot, right here, is where I had my first kiss.

He said, I was looking right out there at the coast.

But when he turned and pointed, we couldn't see the town lights.

There was just a dark kind of shadow obscuring it.

We could see the rest of the shoreline, but it was like a thick bank of fog had rolled in and blocked that one spot.

James got a bit flustered and muttered something about the weather turning.

I think in his mind he'd blown it, but it was sweet.

So I just told him my view was perfect, and I went for it.

Interviewer comment redacted.

No.

Earlier that night, we'd passed an artist inside the arcade, one of those cartoon people with the caricatures.

I remember because he'd been giving James a real long look when we first saw him, like he was sizing him up.

And after that kiss, I was feeling...

So we said, what the hell?

It's cheesy, but let's go for it.

But as we went back inside to find them, there was a man standing at the door.

He turned to us and said, well, don't you too make a darling pair?

And I remember that phrasing because he stressed the syllables weirdly.

as if he wasn't used to speaking words like that.

Interviewer comment redacted, I think so.

I mean, I don't know why he'd be standing there if he wasn't.

We were making our way through the arcade looking for the cartoonist when James...

Well, I was kind of chasing him.

We were just being silly and I was doing this Velociraptor impression, but he sort of jumped away from me and crashed into this woman.

She had a hot dog and a drink and it went all over her.

And we were saying, oh my god, you know, I'm so sorry, and asking her if she was okay, and she just smiled.

She smiled and nodded her head, like she didn't understand what we were saying.

Interviewer comment redacted.

No, it was more like she didn't understand anything that was happening.

She just kept looking at us with a big, toothy, friendly smile.

She didn't look at her shirt, she didn't look at her food on the ground, she just kept staring.

Then she turned and walked away.

So then James looked at me and I looked at him and I didn't really know what to say.

I was freaked out but I didn't want to bring down the vibe and I don't think he did either.

So he made a joke and I went along with it.

We decided to skip the caricatures, reset the mood a bit on the ferris wheel and then hop in a cab back to my place.

It was much colder now.

It had only been a few minutes, but the wind was really picking up and a mist was rolling in, giving the lights of the arcade this sort of eerie, multicoloured glow.

We headed towards the Ferris wheel, but as it came into view, it was dark.

Completely shut off.

Lights were off, no one was around, the whole area was roped off.

It didn't make any sense.

It wasn't that late, and we'd seen it full of people not five minutes before.

But now there was no one.

And the fog was...

Interviewer comment redacted.

Yeah.

It was huge.

Interviewer comment redacted.

I don't know.

I couldn't...

I thought I was being paranoid.

So we went back towards the arcade.

They had a little cafe and James thought a hot chocolate might chase away...

whatever we were feeling.

When he suggested it, I was so relieved.

Relieved to finally be in it together with someone I

hadn't had that in a long time.

We started back inside.

But as we went in, the same man looked at us as though he'd never seen us and said, well, don't you two make a darling pair?

Interviewer comment redacted.

No, different door.

Same man.

Interviewer comment redacted.

What?

No, why would we?

I thought it was just...

Besides, I was embarrassed of how scared I was getting.

Of course, the concession stand was closed.

The whole arcade was wrong.

Like, some of the lights were out and it made all the posters and games look sharper and meaner somehow.

Then we saw the same woman from before, with stains all down her shirt still grinning away.

Interviewer comment redacted, well I certainly was.

We walked back out onto the pier and it was even darker than before.

At least half the illuminations were out.

One was flickering.

We were the only ones on the pier.

I could hear the waves roaring beneath the pier, shaking it with force, spray floating up through the wooden slats, tasting of salt.

I looked out and and I swear to you, I couldn't see land.

At all.

The pier just extended out into darkness and that shadow, the one I thought was fog,

it wasn't fog.

Interviewer comment redacted.

I don't know, but it was huge and it was moving in the darkness.

That was when I started to panic.

I pointed it out to James and he saw it.

I know he saw it.

I saw a brief wash of fear over his face, but then his expression changed, became casual, like he was still trying not to ruin the mood.

He made some joke about sea monsters and suggested we have another look for the artist.

I couldn't believe it.

I just kept telling him that we had to go.

We had to go.

But instead, he started saying we should go and see if the gift shop still had any of those ugly sweatshirts we saw earlier.

I looked where he was pointing and the gift shop was dark and empty, chained shut with one of the windows broken.

I told him I was leaving.

Then I turned towards where the land should be and started to walk, deliberately not looking at the shape looming in the darkness.

I'd only gotten a few steps when I felt James grab my arm.

Please don't go, he said.

We're having such a lovely time.

There's nothing wrong.

There's nothing wrong.

He was obviously terrified when he spoke, and I still don't understand what was happening in his mind.

Whether it was some sort of denial or

interviewer comment redacted.

I don't know what that means.

Maybe?

It doesn't matter.

The thing was getting closer, towering above us now, so I took his hand and begged him to run with me.

But instead he just pulled me in and whispered, please say it's okay.

Please say it's okay.

Tell me it's okay.

I tried to pull him and he tried to hold me.

So I broke free.

And I ran.

It was so dark, impossibly dark, every light was out and the pier was shaking.

I was at a full sprint even though I could hardly see where I was going.

I pulled out my phone for the torch but it was dead.

The only way I could make out the edge was by the sound of churning water below.

I half expected the boards to finally give way under my feet and then I'd plunge into the cold water roar.

It wasn't long before I heard him screaming behind me.

Interviewer comment redacted, if you say so.

I don't know how long I'd been running when it hit.

I couldn't tell the difference between what I heard and what I felt.

It was so loud.

It threw me to the ground and it felt like the whole pier went, but when I looked back, nothing but that paralyzing, impossible darkness.

And I was still there.

I turned to start running again, and...

That was when I saw the lights on the shore.

Interviewer comment redacted.

You tell me.

I'm sure you've done your research.

Find any news articles about the destruction of Blackpool Pier?

Interviewer comment redacted.

Yeah, didn't think so.

James is gone, though.

Filed a missing person report, but no luck so far.

I gave the police an...

edited version of the story.

Told them the last place I saw him was on the pier and I'd gotten some...

Weird vibes before leaving.

Interviewer comment redacted.

I don't know.

I guess I just wanted to tell someone the real story.

Someone who'd believe me.

Interview a comment redacted.

Of course, I.

Interview a comment redacted.

Please don't go.

Interview a comment redacted.

What do you make of that?

It's a notebook?

Thank you, Chief Inspector.

Another case solved.

Collins?

Only one I could find in that bomb site of an office.

The man was.

What's a less tactful way to say Omega level hoarder?

Alice.

Oh, don't you start.

As his only friend and the one who found him, I'll respect his memory however I damn well want, okay?

Okay.

So, what does it say?

I don't know.

I was actually hoping you might be able to help with that.

Do you know anything about computer codes?

No.

Do you speak German?

I did GCSE French.

How about the kind of ciphers a paranoid tech recluse might use to keep his dentist appointments top secret?

Not unless it's a crossword.

Well, that's a real shame because this here seems to be written in a combination of all three.

Ah,

well, if you tried.

Oh, I'll figure this out.

One way or another.

You're starting to sound like him.

Good.

Maybe it'll help.

Christ, do you think they'd have a fast track for official?

Yes, hello.

This is Gwendolyn Bouchard with the OIAR.

Oh, uh, of course.

One second.

Sorry about that.

Still there?

Uh yes, it's five three nine nine seven five two.

Thank you.

I'm checking on a recently dismissed employee by the name of Alina Kelly.

I've taken over her role and I have a bit of mail that needs forwarded to her.

I'm hoping you can give me a forwarding address or...

right, yes, I understand.

I'm not asking you to break GDPR, I just

no, I'm her.

She used to be my manager, and I've been promoted into her role, and I need to

She did, but she must have changed phones.

And the only email I have is her old civil service one, so

No,

of course.

I understand.

Yes, fine.

Thank you so much for your help.

Alice, I told you I'm not.

Oh.

Sorry, don't mean to interrupt.

The young lady at the desk said you were in charge.

Did she?

I mean, yes, I am.

I

don't believe we've met, Mr.

Lars.

Call me Brett.

And I'm guessing you're Miss Bouchard.

I believe we have an appointment.

We do?

Set up a few weeks ago.

You emailed us?

Oh, of course.

My assistant must have neglected to update my calendar.

My apologies.

It's all good.

God knows I'd struggle to be on the ball working these hours.

Latest meeting I've had in years.

Since her predecessor, actually.

Right.

Must be a lot of pressure filling her shoes.

A lot of cleanup, certainly.

Speaking of which, I'm afraid we've been having some issues with our email systems.

Do you remember what exactly I wanted to discuss?

Oh, well, I believe you said something about budget adjustments and reconsidering whether Starkwall had anything to offer the OIAR in terms of security services?

Ah, of course.

Well, firstly, I'm so glad you could make it.

Pleasure's all mine, Miss Bouchard.

You're a breath of fresh air compared to my other clients.

Yes, well, I'm afraid this meeting is purely exploratory, you understand.

Exploraway.

As the new manager, it behooves me to check these things.

And although our current security arrangements are satisfactory, I'm interested in hearing your pitch as to why we need the services of a private military company.

Well, let's start with tonight.

I walked right in, and you know how many people challenged me?

Zero.

There was one locked door with a basic RFID reader.

When I knocked on it, a tired young woman let me in as soon as I said your name.

I'm not sure I'd describe that as a satisfactory security arrangement.

I see your point, but we can solve that with some basic training and some new locks.

Of course.

But that isn't going to help with off-site security, is it?

True.

But we do have other assets at our disposal, should we need them?

them?

Yes.

You know, I warned Lena against the wholesale shifts who were,

how shall we put it,

unpredictable external agents.

Well, it was a bad idea then, and it's a bad idea now.

In the past, Starkwall has been a major factor in keeping those agents in check.

And I think we could both admit that Lena's decision to part ways with us has left your situation precarious.

It's not ideal, I'll admit.

But I have a few reports here that seem to show Starkwall actually increasing the precarity of a few situations over the years.

What would you say to that?

Hey, I'll be the first to admit our record isn't spotless, but when you're working in dangerous situations with incomplete intel and unreliable allies, things can get hairy.

But let's be honest.

As far as I'm aware, that's pretty much the standard MO at the OIAR, and we never left a job unfinished.

I still believe there's a bright future for us if we work together.

A lucrative future for you, perhaps?

And a secure one for you and your team.

We can protect you from whatever comes your way.

I guarantee it.

Thank you for your time, Mr.

Lars.

But I think we'll have to decline your offer for now.

I understand.

How about we leave you to think it over, and if the situation changes, we'll be ready to help.

Here's my card.

Drop me a line when you reconsider, and we can set up some sort of trial or demonstration, maybe.

We'll see.

Sounds good.

Well, take care of yourself, Miss Bouchard.

I can't deny I'm a little disappointed, but it's still nice to be invited back.

Speaking of, you know, I never realized how big this office is when I was talking to Lena.

Good night, Mr.

Lars.

I'm sure you can find your own way out.

The Magnus Protocol is a podcast distributed by Rusty Quill and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Sharealike 4.0 international license.

The series is created by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J.

Newell and directed by Alexander J.

Newell.

This episode was written by Aaron Blanton and edited with additional materials by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J.

Newell,

with vocal edits by Nico Vitesse, soundscaping by Meg McKellar, and mastering by Catherine Rinella, with music by Sam Jones.

It featured Billy Hindle as Alice Dyer, Anusha Battersby as Gwen Bouchard, Lori Ann Davis as Celia Rickley, with additional voices from Jonathan Sims.

The Magnus Protocol is produced by April Sumner with executive producers Alexander J.

Newell, Danny McDonough, Lynn C.

and Samantha F.

G.

Hamilton, and associate producers Jordan L.

Hawke, Taylor Michaels, Nicole Perlman, Cetius de Raven and Megan Nice.

To subscribe, view associated materials or join our Patreon, visit rustyquill.com.

Rate and review us online, tweet us at the RustyQuill, visit us on Facebook, or email us via mail at rustyquill.com.

Thanks for listening.

Hey, this is Aaron, the writer of the episode you just listened to.

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Coach, the energy out there felt different.

What changed for the team today?

It was the new game day scratchers from the California Lottery.

Play is everything.

Those games sent the team's energy through the roof.

Are you saying it was the off-field play that made the difference on the field?

Hey, a little play makes your day, and today it made the game.

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Coach, one more question.

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It's Shahan, voice of Sam in the Magnus Protocol.

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Hi everyone, it's Billy Hindle, the voice of Alice in the Magnus Protocol.

Today I'm here to advertise Frights by Fire, a new storytelling and horror anthology podcast that recently launched on the Archee Network.

Frights by Fire Fire is a weekly community-driven series bringing immersive sound design to live performances of spooky stories provided by the audience.

Created and hosted by Jonathan Magno, creator of The Grotto, and Jamie Petronas, creator of The Seller Letters.

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Have fun and see you later.